19 May

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

40 PAGES

Egypt asserts right to block Nile dams

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2010

JAMADA ALTHANI 5, 1431 AH

Astronauts attach new room to space station

Morale sinks but defiant Thai protesters fight on

PAGE 7

NO: 14733

Lakers eclipse Suns in opener

PAGE 14

PAGE 10

150 FILS

PAGE 20

Detained Kuwaiti blogger ends hunger strike

KUWAIT: Kuwaitis protest outside the National Assembly building yesterday in support of Mohammad Abdul-Kader Al-Jassem. Arabic writing on portrait showing Jassem behind the bars reads: “Release Jassem.. No for silencing writers and breaking pens.” — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

‘Sexiest video’ attack Facebook users warned GAPORE: A computer security company yesterday warned Facebook users against clicking on a link claiming to be the “sexiest video ever” which is actually a trap designed to infect computers.

The firm, Sophos, said that thousands of users have been hit by the malicious post, which appears to come from a friend’s Facebook account.

The posting reads: “This is without doubt the sexiest video ever!” and is accompanied by what seems to be a movie thumbnail of a woman wearing a short skirt on an exercise bike. Sophos warned Facebook clients against clicking on the thumbnail, which does not play the video but takes users to a page telling them they do not have the correct software installed.

It then tricks users into installing adware, a software package that automatically

plays, displays or downloads advertisements to their computer. “You may want to watch a sexy video, but you’re more likely to end up being plagued by pop-up advertising,” said Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at Sophos.

“Not only is adware being installed in your computer, but the rogue Facebook application is posting the same message to all of your friends’ accounts,” he said.

“It’s no surprise that your friends might click to watch the movie when it looks to all intents and purposes that you are the person who has sent it to them.” Cluley advised those who had been affected by this attack to scan their computers with anti-virus software, change their passwords, review their Facebook application settings and remove whatever was installed. — AFP

‘Jihadist tourism’ in Hezbollahland MAROUN EL-RASS: Ten years after Israel pulled out, south Lebanon is solidly controlled by Hezbollah which is even organizing “jihadist tours” along one of the tensed borders in the Middle East.

About 500 young men and women, both Christian and Muslim, took part at the weekend in the latest such field trip intended to garner support for the militant group which is considered one of Israel’s fiercest enemies.

“We want to familiarize young people with the achievements of the resistance and show them how unjust the Israeli occupation was and how glorious the liberation by the Islamic resistance,” said Mohammed Taleb, 23, a Hezbollah militant who is studying environmental science. The tour took place just days before May 25, which marks the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon following a 22-year occupation.

It also comes amid Israeli charges that Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war with the Jewish state in 2006, was stockpiling sophisticated weapons in preparation for a new conflict. Sunday’s field trip included a workshop on how to handle weapons, close contact with Hezbollah fighters who spoke of their exploits in the face of the “enemy” (Israel) and a reenactment of battles at the border village of Maroun El-Rass, where some of the fiercest fighting took place during the 2006 war.

“Every year, we organize a different program,” said Taleb, who spoke fluent French and, like the other 30 or so tour guides accompanying the group, sported a vest emblazoned: “Love of the South.”

He said the 2008 and 2009 tours included a visit to the infamous prison of Khiam, where Lebanese prisoners where held and interrogated Continued on Page 14

IQLIM AL-TOUFFAH: A Lebanese Hezbollah militant speaks to students on a ‘Jihadist tour’ in southern Lebanon. — AFP

KUWAIT: Health concerns have forced a Kuwaiti blogger to end a hunger strike he began in protest against his detention over accusations he insulted the ruler, his lawyer said yesterday. Blogger and journalist Mohammad Abdul-Kader Al-Jassem was hospitalized after he started refusing food and medicine last Wednesday. He was detained on May 11 following a complaint against him from Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah’s office.

“He stopped the hunger strike on the advice of doctors who warned him he could have kidney failure,” attorney Jasser Al-Jidei said. Jassem, a staunch critic of the government, was accused by the authorities of insulting the Amir, inciting the overthrow of government, and spreading false news that

could affect Kuwait’s national interests, according to Jidei.

If the case goes to court and he is convicted, he could be sentenced to 18 years in prison, the lawyer said. Kuwait, the world’s fourthlargest oil exporter, has a free press but many writers have been questioned and tried for libel. The Amir is protected from criticism by the constitution. Jidei said he was allowed to meet with Jassem on Monday and his client’s morale was “very high.”

“He says the accusations are false and he just expressed views about the political situation in Kuwait,” the lawyer said. On his website, Jassem has criticized the ruling family and blamed Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah for mismanagement and

cor r uption. Another lawyer, Abdullah Al-Ahmad, said the blogger was questioned about three political books he published after they were licensed by authorities.

It was not clear if the writer, who is also a lawyer, was going to face trial.

“I’m ver y proud of what my father is doing. He is taking a stand against repressing freedoms,” Jassem’s daughter Sumayah said. Freedom of speech campaign group Reporters Without Borders has called for Jassem’s immediate release and all charges against him to be dropped. It said the writer was sentenced in April to six months in prison for slandering the prime minister, but the cour t suspended the sentence pending an appeal. — Reuters

MPs blast govt over price hikes Tabtabai, Barrak eye early election

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The National Assembly financial and economic affairs committee yesterday strongly criticized the government for failing to attend three meetings that were due to discuss reasons for high consumer prices. Head of the committee MP Youssef Al-Zalzalah said the panel decided to prepare its report on the issue without including the government opinion and unanimously decided to hold the government responsible for the price hike.

Zalzalah hoped that MPs will seriously grill the government for the unjustified and astronomical increase in consumer prices, urging the assembly to use constitutional tools to hold ministers who failed to check prices responsible accountable. The lawmaker also said the report will be prepared and sent to the assembly for debate next Tuesday based on a previous decision by the assembly.

Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi said the assembly will discuss the price hikes next Tuesday and if the government objects, it will be firmly told that it was invited to attend the financial committee meetings three times and it did not attend. Several MPs last month filed a request calling for a special debate on what they claimed ever rising prices of consumer commodities and the failure of the government to take the necessary actions.

In the meantime, Islamist MP Waleed AlTabtabai yesterday joined opposition MP Mussallam Al-Barrak for calling for early elections to get rid of this assembly which they claimed is pro-government. Barrak on Monday night said that he prefers early elections “to clean up the current assembly” while Tabtabai said yesterday that “if this assembly completes its term, it will be catastrophic for the country”.

The current assembly was elected in May last year and came after two snap elections held in 2006 and 2008 which followed dissolution of the assembly over political disputes between MPs and the government.

Continued on Page 14

JERUSALEM: Israel has rejected two offers from Qatar to re-establish diplomatic ties and reopen an Israeli trade office in the Gulf state, Haaretz newspaper reported yesterday. The overtures were rejected due to a demand from the Qataris that they be allowed to carry out massive reconstruction in the besieged Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, the paper said, quoting an unnamed senior Israeli official.

Qatar severed ties with the Jewish state and shut the trade office in Doha to protest Israel’s fierce 22-day assault on Gaza that began in December 2008 to end militant rocket attacks. Some 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed in the fighting. Since the end of the

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michel Suleiman welcomes Kuwaiti Amir Sheikh Sabah Ahmed Al-Sabah (right) during an arrival ceremony at Beirut International Airport yesterday. The Amir is on a two-day official visit to Lebanon. — AP

Egyptians go online to seek political change signed up to Facebook after ElBaradei returned to Egypt in February, adding tens of thousands in a few days, reflects pentup frustration before parliament and presidential elections this year and next, analysts say.

But they say the challenge is galvanizing the masses in a country where opposition parties are weak, where police crush even modest protests and where the banned Muslim Brotherhood, the biggest opposition group, has shunned action on the streets. “It’s unrealistic to think that online activism can turn things around without the existence of an opposition that can challenge the state,” said political analyst Amr Hamzawy. “There is a clear lack of constituency building on the ground.”

Iran is cited as an example of how social networking tools can help rally hundreds of thousands. In the Islamic Republic, Twitter and other sites were used to draw protesters out against the 2009 presidential election result they said was rigged. But opposition voices in Iran, even within confines set by the Islamic Republic’s political system, are a more potent force than in Egypt where opposition parties are fragmented and have limited popular following.

“What bloggers did was expose the power of Iran’s opposition ... Egypt does not have this grassroots audience,” said Rabab el Mahdi, a professor at the American University of Cairo.

Continued on Page 14

conflict Israel and Egypt have maintained a strict blockade of the strip, allowing in only humanitarian aid.

Haaretz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman initially welcomed the move but ultimately baulked at allowing the import of large quantities of cement and building materials into Gaza. Israel feared the material would be used “to build bunkers and reinforced positions for missiles,” Haaretz quoted the official as saying.

Israeli officials were not immediately available for comment. Israel has agreed in the past to let Qatar and France reconstruct the AlQuds hospital in Gaza City which was destroyed in the war. — AFP

World powers snub Iran fuel swap deal Sanctions looming WASHINGTON: Major powers, including China and Russia, have agreed on a new United Nations sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear program, the United States said yesterday. The announcement was a tacit rebuff to a deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey and made public on Monday in which Iran agreed to send some uranium abroad. US officials regard that deal as a maneuver by Iran to delay more UN sanctions.

“This announcement is as convincing an answer to the efforts undertaken in Tehran in the last few days as any that we could provide,” Clinton added, repeating that Washington has many questions about the fuel swap deal.

The deal revived the idea of a nuclear fuel swap devised by the United Nations last year with the aim of keeping Tehran’s nuclear activities in check.

But Tehran made clear it did not intend to suspend domestic uranium enrichment that Western governments

Egyptians on e-revolution CAIRO: Eman AbdelRahman is one of 200,000 people who have signed up on Facebook to back Mohamed ElBaradei, the former UN nuclear boss who has said he wants to shatter 30 years of political stasis in Egypt by running for president.

Despite a surge in online support for political alternatives to President Hosni Mubarak, 82, and who has been in power since 1981, even ardent supporters acknowledge that online activism in Egypt cannot deliver change without action on the streets.

“We need collaboration from everyone in Egypt, including those who are online and those who are not-students, workers, housewives,” AbdelRahman, a 25-year-old engineer, said. The speed supporters

Israel rejects Qatar’s diplomatic overtures

have said appears aimed at giving it the means to make nuclear weapons. Western nations have reacted skeptically to the deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil, although China-the major power most reluctant to impose more sanctions on Iran- welcomed it and urged talks with Tehran.

Clinton, speaking to lawmakers in Washington, said: “We have reached agreement on a strong draf t with the cooperation of both Russia and China,” She did not give details of the draft, but said it would be circulated to the full Security Council later. She said the agreement was reached among the five permanent Security Council members-Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States-and Germany, which have been engaged in talks on ways to address any nuclear threat from Tehran. The Security Council was to hold a closed-door session yesterday afternoon to receive the draft, diplomats said.

Continued on Page 14

Saudi forces rescue 2 German hostages RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s security forces have rescued two young German girls held hostage for nearly a year in neighboring Yemen, Riyadh said yesterday, but a family spokesman said their toddler brother was likely dead. The girls, reported to be between 3 and 6 years old, were members of a German family of five who have been held by kidnappers the Yemeni government believes have links to Al-Qaeda. The pair were said to be in a good condition.

“Saudi Arabia has retrieved two German children kidnapped in Yemen,” a Saudi interior ministry spokesman said. “The two children were in a border area between the two countries.” Yemen, next door to the world’s top oil exporter, surged to the forefront of Western security concerns after the Yemen-based regional arm of Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for a failed attempt to bomb a US-

bound plane in December.

The United States and Saudi Arabia want Yemen to focus its efforts on fighting AlQaeda, fearing the global militant group will take advantage of Yemen’s instability to spread its operations to the neighboring kingdom and beyond. The German family was among a group of nine foreigners taken hostage in northern Yemen in June, of which three women-two Germans and a South Koreanwere later found dead. Three German family members and a Briton remain missing.

“We received good news and bad news,” Reinhard Poetschke, the mother’s brother, was quoted telling the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung newspaper according to an advance release. “Both daughters are free but the son is probably no longer alive. We don’t know anything about the fate of the parents.”

Continued on Page 14

NATIONAL

2

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Get married with...governments

Privatization in Kuwait: ‘A dream that will never become a reality’

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Privatization is a dream that will never be made real simply because Kuwaiti culture doesn’t allow it, insists Ali Mubarak, a Corporate Affairs and Development Manager at the Australian College of Kuwait. “When you see

KUWAIT: His Highness the Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday the Senegalese President’s envoy, Minister of Culture, Francophony, and of National Languages Serigne Modou Bousso and his accompanying delegation. The Senegalese envoy presented His Highness the Deputy Amir with a letter from President Abdoulaye Wade addressed to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The letter concerned bilateral relations and ways to boost them in various fields.

‘Enemies of constitution’ KUWAIT: MP Saleh Al-Mulla has condemned fellow parliamentarians’ calls for the introduction of amendments to a number of constitutional clauses, calling on his parliamentary colleagues to first demonstrate their full commitment to the constitution as it stands.

In an interview with Al-Qabas, Al-Mulla said that several of the existing clauses in the constitution, including the one related to public freedoms, have not been observed. The MP expressed con-

cerns at the actions of those calling for amendments, calling them “enemies of the constitution” and accusing them of increasing their efforts to hinder those working to implement the constitution. Al-Mulla further accused those calling for amendments of opposing the constitutional benefits granted to citizens and MPs, as well as seeking the creation of a legislative body with carefully selected members, which would have greater powers than the current National Assembly.

Stage set for war games MANAMA: Kuwaiti Army Chief’s Envoy Maj Gen Abdelrahman Al-Othman has arrived here to watch joint war games involving forces from Kuwaiti, Gulf, Arab and friendly countries.

He was received at the airport by several Kuwaiti diplomats in Bahrain and commander of Kuwaiti forces participating in the joint exercises, Colonel Mohammad AlKandari.

Commander of the Kuwaiti Navy Maj. Gen. Ahmad Al-Mulla had earlier arrived here to attend the 10th meeting of Gulf navy chiefs. The war games, which started on May 5, are to wind up today, with military chiefs to deliver lectures.

Kuwait’s privatization law has been the talk of the town recently, especially after the National Assembly last Wednesday (May 12) overwhelmingly passed the privatization bill. The new law virtually opens the door for transferring the local public sector to local and foreign private ownership. Many have commended this landmark decision but a number of people continue to view privatization in Kuwait as a dream that will never be fulfilled.

“Talk to any person responsible for the economy in Kuwait and ask them about the meaning of privatization; they’ll tell you, but in reality it’s not what’s happening in Kuwait,” Mubarak said.

Mubarak noted that privatization means transferring full control of public companies to the private sector - in theory at least.

In reality, however, he says, this is not the case in Kuwait.

“Although [nominal control of] a public company, for example, will be given to the private company, all the rules and regulations concerning the [privatized] public company are to be written and approved by the government. If the government is setting these rules and regulations what is the meaning of privatization?” he asked.

Mubarak asserted that genuine privatization means giving the company a complete free hand and a freedom to explore the maximum potential. “Privatization means being fully independent so as to render services way beyond what they were when they were in the hands of govern-

Kuwait and its economy and when you see the history of Kuwait, starting from the discovery of oil up until now, it is very sad that for a long time we have been talking about privatization, privatization, privatization, but nothing has happened,” said Mubarak, who is the author of a book called ‘Get Married with Governments,’ which comprehensively examines the whole issue of privatization.

Ali Mubarak ment’s bureaucracy,” he explained.

Mubarak cited the example of a well-known Kuwaiti firm that operates gas stations in the country, claiming that while the company had been allowed to manage Kuwait’s gas stations for some years, the services it provides remain the same as they were when it was under public sector management.

“They have been providing services to us now for over two or three years, but what changes have you noticed so far? Nothing, because when I spoke to [senior management figures at the company], they said that governments set the rules and regulations. This has become a barrier to any improvement they wanted to make and introduce. So where is privatization in that context?

There is no privatization,” he argued.

Private Vs Public He pointed out that because the government sets the rules and regulations, private companies’ abilities are being limited.

“So I ask the government, what’s the benefit to us if the public company is turned into a private company? They’ve said

nothing. But we are losing the assets and important entities and giving them up to the private sector without benefits,” he lamented.

Mubarak claimed that the principal problem with the government is that it is not challenging private firms to improve.

“This is not the meaning of privatization.

Besides, Kuwaitis come from the culture that we have to work for the government, not otherwise. Privatization cannot go anywhere, because we have the wrong impression about the private sector. People are saying, ‘Privatization will eat us; privatization will eat the public interest.’ The reality is that our culture cannot accept privatization; that is a very sad fact, which I blame on our own Parliament,” he observed.

Mubarak explained his book aimed at explaining the ‘hows and whys’ of how the government and private sectors will work.

“Alliance is very important.

In simple explanation, alliance means marriage, it’s a relationship between the government and private sectors. Know your function/responsibility.”

What can we do for marriage

to last and succeed?

Mubarak compared the relationship between a public and private company to a marriage of a husband and wife.

“Let’s say, the private sector is a wife, and the government sector is a husband. In reality, the private sector (wife) is always systematic; they take a systematic approach to any given situation, they have a kind of well-planned strategy - in return, they make money. As for the government, they are messy, they have no plan, or even if they have a plan it’s carried out slowly and unsystematically, so it’s tedious and some people will say the plan or projects suck, they’re no good, and the last time, you know, they cancelled projects,” he explained.

Mubarak reiterated that if the government continues to set rules and guidelines for private companies, the privatization plans will never take off.

“I am pessimistic on the privatization issue in Kuwait. If we don’t allow the private sector to do what it needs to do, the dream will be shattered and will never come true.”

Mubarak also stated that the privatization of Kuwait Airways will never succeed if the govern-

ment imposes the same rules and regulations that it has on the aforementioned gas station company.

“If Kuwait Airways is privatized, their services will never improve for the same reason I mentioned,” he noted.

Private and independent Mubarak said private companies should maintain total independence so as to produce quality products and services.

“Globalization is fast, quick, must be fast and it should be now. In my book I suggested that a strategic alliance which I called marriage is very important. Let’s face it, the private sector needs the government, but then again, the government needs the private sector too,” he said suggesting: “Work together to achieve strategic goals.”

Mubarak insisted, however, that individuals and firms should ensure that they first find the right partner before marrying.

“Check your compatibility.

Whether both of you can work together like husband and wife, whether you can share the same strategy to reach specific targets? The husband and wife need to be compatible to share moments,” he explained.

Mubarak noted that the government’s negative approach towards the private sector should be stopped. “Work both on your own respective strengths and learn from your weaknesses. Know your culture.

For the private sector being fast, quick, reliable; for the government having power and resources, if you combined all these, something very positive will come into existence,” he said. “Replace the laziness of the people in the government with systematic and hardworking people from the private sector, then you are creating vibrant, dynamic people that can supply brilliant services and products to clients’ delight,” he enthused.

The simple but mysterious phrase on the cover of Mubarak’s book tells readers how to discover the power of joining forces between the government and private sectors to create energetic alliances. The book will be published initially in the United States and will be simultaneously released this coming July in Kuwait, Dubai, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Taj Mahal-inspired mosque under construction in Abdullah Al-Mubarak KUWAIT: Construction work is currently underway on the Fatima Al-Zahra Mosque, whose design was inspired by one of the Seven Wonders of the World, India’s Taj Mahal. Once finished, the mosque, located in Block 6 of Abdullah Al-Mubarak, west of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, is expected to become one of the country’s most outstanding architectural features, with construction expected to be completed within a year.

A number of local businessmen were originally inspired to build the new mosque by the sight of the Taj Mahal in the Agra region of India, the stunning complex and mausoleum built in the 17th century on the orders of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

The mosque’s design and form are strikingly similar to those of the world-renowned site, reported Al-Watan. After deciding to build the new mosque, the founders established a charity to raise funds for its construction, as well as contacting a specialist architectural consultancy to design the project. The businessmen also met with representatives of the Indian Embassy in Kuwait to explain the concept to them, meeting with great enthusiasm and support.

Once completed, the Fatima Al-Zahra Mosque will have three floors, including the basement, with this 280 square meter cellar area containing bathrooms and storage areas, while the 1,340 square meter ground floor will house the main prayer hall, with space for 1,060 worshippers, in addition to a library and other facilities.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

3

NATIONAL IOM holds Gulf workshop in Kuwait

Governance of temporary labor a complex and difficult issue

By Ahmad Saeid KUWAIT: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) yesterday held a workshop addressing the issue of temporary contractual labor in GCC nations. Representatives of labor-related authorities from the six GCC states, as well as heads of diplomatic delegations in Kuwait, attended the event, which took place at the local UN headquarters in Meshref yesterday morning. The “The governance of temporary labor is a complex and difficult issue to hand, and this workshop is an attempt to understand these complexities and the best ways to deal with them,” he added.

The IOM official also stressed the importance of foreign workers to the functionality of the GCC nations’ economies.

The UN resident coordinator Adam Abdelmoula also pointed on the important role foreign workers play in the development of GCC economics, and the benefits which ‘labor exporting countries’ obtain as a result.

“The exporting and importing countries, as well as the workers themselves, will all benefit from investing in developing efficient procedures that facilitate smoother mobility for temporary labors,” he noted.

Iman Erigat, the Officer-inCharge at the Kuwaiti IOM office, said that the importance of workshops of this nature comes from the fact that GCC states attract workers from all over the world, who form 65 percent of the population in these countries.

Erigat commended the role of the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Meshary AlAfasi, in advancing the livelihood of migrant workers in Kuwait.

“We praise and support his bold and promising decisions, beginning with the gradual cancellation of the Kafeel system, and the amendments made recently to the labor law,

and with an upcoming legislation that will correct many unfavorable conditions affecting domestic workers in Kuwait,” she explained.

Another of the prominent figures attending yesterday’s event, Dutch Ambassador Ton Boon von Ochssee, said that the interaction between policies on human rights and labor represents a challenge for the GCC countries, that should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a threat.

“The human rights-based labor policies represent a strong stimulus for the role of the labor market in the continuous development of a prosperous society,” he noted.

Deputy Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Muhammad Al-Kandari also delivered a speech on behalf of the minister, in which he emphasized the Kuwaiti government’s

workshop, entitled, ‘Management of Temporary Contractual Labor in the GCC,’ was held in order to identify the challenges facing the GCC states concerning easing workers’ mobility within the GCC region. “We are living in an era where people are extremely mobile; some studies indicate that at any given moment every sixth person is on the move, and a new consensus is emerging in the UN suggesting that human mobility is directly related to countries’ development” said Muhammad Shahidul Haq, the IOM’s Middle East representative.

readiness to amend its labor polices if there is a need to do so. “The State of Kuwait will not hesitate to amend its labor-related legislation to comply with the development the country is witnessing,” he stressed.

The deputy minister pointed that the government works constantly to simplify and ease the visa registration procedures, by opening service centers in many areas, as well as making efforts to resolve any conflicts that might occur between employees and employers in the interests of both parties. The two-day workshop, which concludes later today, is sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherland in the State of Kuwait, and is being held under the auspices of the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Dr. Mohammad AlAfasi.

KUWAIT: Muhammad Al-Kandari delivering the speech.

KUWAIT: A group photo of the diplomatic delegations attending the opening ceremony of the workshop. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

in the news KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society volunteers counting the cash collected from the KAC aircraft.

KRCS seeks support for its local ‘Balsam’ campaign KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) urged the public to extend support to its local “Balsam” campaign projects to aid families in need.

A KRCS press statement yesterday noted that “Balsam” is active in helping needy families and providing medications for patients in need of support, as well as in distributing meat after the Eid sacrifice, in and out of Kuwait. It urged all members of the public to support this noble cause to guarantee strong continuation of such efforts.

Balsam also provides clothing for needy families, gifts for the elderly, the handicapped, and

children in hospitals and nursing homes, and had donated rare currencies to the UNICEF. “Balsam” is the name of the joint humanitarian project sponsored by Kuwait Airways Corporation and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society, the statement added. The project is based on providing envelopes to collect donations on KAC aircraft, so that travelers may donate any currency they have on hand, banknote or coin.

The collected sums are handed over to KRCS for spending in charity projects that contribute to alleviating the suffering of those in need, without regard to their nationality or color. — KUNA

kuwait digest

Cabinet takes control

By Rashid Al-Radaan fter the failure of six interpellations and after the enforcement of the privatization law, which featured vicious objection, it’s safe to say that everyone will be looking for the Cabinet’s favor.

This includes businessmen, companies and MPs aspiring to take part in the privatization process.

This will put the ball in the Kuwaiti government’s court and make them a main player in the development process. This makes them stronger than any previous Cabinet.

We must admit that all economic bodies are trying to befriend the Cabinet in order to gain from the imminent development process.

Businessmen and companies have no other choice but to compliment the Cabinet for reaching their goals, and securing a parliamentary majority by which they can have their projects approved.

At the same time, I believe that the Parliament’s influence will become more diminished as oppositionists find they have no weapons to use against the Cabinet but interpellation threats, which have proved insufficient.

After realizing that the Cabinet has become fearless, oppositionists will have no other choice but to accept reality when all their maneuvers fail.

This was proved with the passing of the privatization law, which was passed despite the parliaments effort to describe it as an attempt to sell the country.

On that regard, the Cabinet should realize that the public has high hopes for the development plan and the privatization law.

Should they make the right moves, this Cabinet could be known in history as the most successful Cabinet in the country’s history. — Al-Watan

A

Unemployment crisis unlikely KUWAIT: The head of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) has rejected fears of a looming unemployment crisis for Kuwaitis, saying that this is unlikely given the Kuwaitization policy and the CSC’s close work with government bodies to fill civil service vacancies. Speaking to Al-Qabas, CSC chairman Abdulaziz Al-Zibn indicated that 17,279 Kuwaitis are currently on the commission’s employment register, adding that the Kuwaitization policy, which sees Kuwaitis favored for positions over non-Kuwaiti applicants, is set to continue. The CSC chief also revealed that the CSC had submitted a draft legislative bill to the cabinet regarding requests from government bodies to increase the retirement age to 75 and 70 for men and women respectively, in addition to another bill concerning the appointment and contractual renewal of administrative personnel.

MoH report of fake medicine KUWAIT: Official sources with the Ministry of Health (MoH) revealed that assistant undersecretary Dr Omar Al-Sayid prepared an important

report on the quality control of medicine, reported Al-Anba. The report was sent to the Minister of Health, Dr Hilal Al-Sayer, and addressed the prevalence of fake medication in Kuwait and how to put an end to it. The presence of fake medication is an international concern and is hard to regulate, despite attempts from concerned authorities. Medicinal forgery is most often found in expensive medication and in multi-use prescriptions like hormones and sexual aid medications.

Physiotherapist investigation KUWAIT: MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri has urged the health minister Dr. Helal Al-Sayer to launch an immediate investigation into what he alleged were “offensive violations” committed by a physiotherapist working at a local hospital. AlMuwaizri accused the unidentified male physiotherapist of failing to treat patients equally and of being extremely selective in which patients he would refer for treatment abroad, reported Al-Rai. The MP claimed that the medic’s choices of which patients to send were based on his suspicious relations and connections with staff at the hospital in Ukraine where some Kuwaiti

patients are referred for treatment.

Sha ria fa culty holds Tra ffic Aw a reness Sem ina r KUWAIT: The Sharia society recently held a seminar that discussed the Ministry of Interior’s role in addressing the traffic accidents and logjams issue, which was organized at the Sharia and Islamic studies faculty of the Kuwait University. The Ministry’s head of the traffic awareness sector of the security media department, Maj. Abdul-Elah Abdul-Salam, spoke at the seminar, as he indicated that traffic accidents take place as a result of some of the drivers’ lack of awareness in traffic regulations, despite the continuous efforts that the ministry carries out in regards to spreading traffic awareness. He further blamed these people of causing logjams due to lack of attention on the road. Furthermore, Maj. Abdul-Salam indicated that the traffic regulations were put to insure the safety of drivers and passengers on the road, calling all citizens and residents to cooperate with traffic officers and abide by these rules in order to help tackle the traffic logjam problems.

4

NATIONAL

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Kuwaitis see gender discrimination

Social norms against women in judiciary

By Nisreen Zahreddine KUWAIT: Kuwait has a very liberal constitution. It guarantees equality amongst people regardless of their race or gender.

This, however, has not stopped the issuing of laws that oppose the constitution. For instance, appointing women to the state judiciary does not oppose the constitution, but there are laws in place that prevent women from being appointed. It is quite disappointing for women with judicial ambitions in Kuwait. Last month, a woman filed a lawsuit complaining that her application to be appointed to the public prosecution was rejected because of her gender. Some say that there are political barriers and that the matter needs political attention to be overcome. Others say that the country's Islamic movement, and several of its MPs, are not welcoming to the idea.

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and other officials pictured during the inspection tour of Failaka Island yesterday.

Premier pays inspection tour of Failaka island KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Jaber AlSabah yesterday paid an inspection tour of Failaka Island, which is 20 km off the coast of Kuwait City in the Arabian Gulf.

He was accompanied by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs and Minister of Justice, Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Rashid Al-Hammad and several other ministers, governors and officials.

During his short stay in the Kuwaiti tourist island, HH the premier met a Kuwaiti municipal team charged with developing Failaka Island on their rehabilitation blueprint.

He was briefed by the team on all details bearing on the plan as the island development project will be carried out by the private sector.

Afterwards, HH the premier toured key historical and archaeological sites and ancient mosques at Failaka Island.

He then took a helicopter tour of the northern area, including existing projects at Boubyan Island, Subiya and Doha areas. —KUNA

State Lawyer for the Fatwa and Legislation Authority, Najlaa Al-Naqi pointed out another obstacle, which is the law itself.

Al-Naqi explained that the law prevents women from earning the right to be appointed to the judiciary, even though the 29th article of Kuwait's constitution guarantees equality amongst all Kuwait citizens and rejects any differentiation in terms of color, religion or gender.

She demanded an amendment of the current law, which she described as unequal between men and women. She does not deny that these matters, in a society such as Kuwait, takes time, effort and

years of struggle and pressure on public opinion.

She explained that women managed to attain their political rights after a long struggle, even though it was guaranteed in the constitution. She said that a law cannot be imposed immediately, it has to be done gradually.

Al-Naqi demanded that the media, in addition to the Ministry of Information, raise the social awareness of this issue.

She said that in order for this change to happen it needs to be accepted that women are equal participants in building this society. She said that she hopes the day will come when women will be treated equally

and believes that the issues have gained lots of attention recently. Al-Naqi confirmed that women have a great role to play in terms of developing this country.

Women have served their country just as much as men have and this makes their value no less than men's, she pointed out.

They are qualified to be in the judiciary, she said, especially when it comes to helping fellow women who suffer from sexual abuse and feel more comfortable talking to female judges.

Kuwait is the only Gulf state that does not allow women in the judiciary. States like Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE all have female judges.

Kuwait plans to establish Russian language center

KUWAIT: Officials addressing the meeting. — Photo by Hanan Al-Saadoun

Awareness 'only way' to prevent drug abuse KUWAIT: The sixth symposium on the fight against drugs was held under the patronage of the Director General of the General Department for Drug Control Maj Gen Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdallah at the Sabah secondary school in Ferdous.

Capt Thamir Al-Hajiri, who spoke at the event, said that drugs are a global problem and that the speed at which drug use has increased is because of a lack of awareness amongst the public.

He said the GDDC does not neglect any part of society and that they reach out to students with the goal of providing them with information to

help them avoid falling into a world of drugs.

Dr Ayed Al-Humaidan, an expert on drugs and mind altering substances, spoke on the important role families play in protecting children from being hooked on drugs. He said parents need to make sure children are protected by keeping them close to Islam and healthy social values.

He added that all parts of society should promote awareness programs and attempt to eliminate the drug epidemic. He said that we should educate the youth on the dangers of drug abuse so that they are not fooled by drug dealers.

KUWAIT: President of Kuwait University Dr. Abdullah AlFuhaid discussed with Russia's ambassador to Kuwait Alexander Kinshchak the possibility of establishing a center for teaching Russian language affiliated to the Kuwait university.

Amb. Kinshchak said in a statement today that his visit to the university's president aimed at discussing the details of a joint project between the Kuwait university and Russiky Mir Foundation, a specialized organization on spreading Russian culture and language all over the world.

He also said an agreement was made on a future cooperation formula on this regard in preparation for opening a Russian center at the Kuwait university specialized in teaching the Russian language.

On his part, Al-Fuhaid welcomed the idea of this project wishing sustaining cooperation between the two sides till it culminates in reaching the desired result soon.— KUNA

NA rights panel to visit prison Privatization laws to be ready soon

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: The parliamentary human rights committee plans to visit the central prison tomorrow (Thursday) to check on the conditions of inmates there. The committee has received a number of complaints demanding an improvement in conditions after an increase in the number of inmates, with discussions during a recent parliamentary alien phenomena committee session suggesting that a number of drug dealers are running their trade from the jail.

Meanwhile, human rights committee

chairman MP Dr. Walid Al-Tabtabae said the committee will invite the Kuwaiti delegation which participated in the international human rights meetings in Geneva to accompany them during their visit to the detention facility.

He asserted that despite the committee's frequent demands for the establishment of an independent human rights authority, the government has ignored its calls, adding that it seems the government prefers such demands to come from abroad before it will act, since after the Geneva meeting it approved the establishment of

such a body.

Al-Tabtabae said that it was illogical to have such chronic overcrowding of detainees in police station holding facilities, particularly in the Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh station's facilities, that police felt they had no option but to dismiss cases in order to make room for other prisoners.

The committee has already asked the interior minister during previous meetings to establish a Ministry of Interior department specifically to handle human rights issues and investigate and stop any maltreatment detainees may be subjected to.

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: The practical steps to be taken by the government to implement the privatization law will include a decision by the judiciary that will establish the mechanisms of litigation governing aspects related to privatization and

cementing the transparency principle for all.

They said that the intention of the new regulations would be to create a circuit court which would consider all aspects related to privatization, whether regarding investors' concerns, bids for contracts or any other related issue.

Another opinion expressed was that these cases do not need a specific independent legal framework because there are relatively few cases of this nature compared to cases in other fields.

The sources said the new privatization-related laws will be ready before the start of the next parliamentary term.

in the news GCC chief nomination KUWAIT: Official sources said the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) asked Kuwait to help finalize the nomination of the new GCC Secretary General. It was expected that the new GCC Secretary General was going to be nominated at the latest GCC summit, which was held in Kuwait last December, but was delayed due to differences between Bahrain and Qatar. Qatar asked for an extension of the current Secretary General, Abdelrahman Al-Atteya's term but Bahrain insisted that the new Secretary General be from their own country and nominated the GCC's former information minister Mohammad Al-Mutawa for the position. Qatar asked for another nomination and cited Al-Mutawa's remarks during the two countries border dispute that would make his nomination for the position inappropriate. The sources added that Kuwait will facilitate talks between Manama and Doha in an attempt to reach a compromise.

Sanitation plant closure KUWAIT: Assistant undersecretary general for labor unions at the Ministry of Public Works, Ahmad Al-Azemi called upon the Minister of Public Works, Fadhel Safar, to close down a sanitation plant in Jaber Al-Ali as soon as possible due to the bad smells emitting from it, reported Al-Anba. It has been requested that the station, which is located in the middle of a residential area, be closed for the past several years or be moved to another location. AlAzemi urged the minister to reconsider the matter because the plant is in a very populated area where children are forced to breathe polluted air daily. He added that this condition deteriorates the health of residents nearby and requires an immediate shutdown of the station.

'Ideal relationship' KUWAIT: Commenting on His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah's proposed visit to Lebanon, Samir Gagea, the leader of the 'Lebanese Forces' party, said on Monday that KuwaitiLebanese relations had come a long way, adding that the two nations might be the only ones to have had what he called an 'ideal relationship,' with no turbulence. Gagea highlighted that HH the

Amir's visit to Lebanon, part of an upcoming visit to a number of Arab states, had been scheduled during what he described as the "last-minute efforts" before a regional crisis could start. In an interview with local daily Al-Rai, Gagea further emphasized that in order to protect Lebanon from the expected crisis, the decisionmaking process in the country would need to be left to the Lebanese government alone, with no interference from any other parties. "The time might not be appropriate to speak about Hezbollah's weapons, wherever they are, but we will only be able to avoid the crisis if Hezbollah makes its decisions without being affected by Iran, Syria or any other foreign powers," he asserted.

Victims describe abusive stepdad KUWAIT: Investigators continue to search for the man accused of sexually assaulting his three stepdaughters, reported Al-Watan. His whereabouts remain unknown after he disappeared and turned off his cell phone, while the girls' mother has been summoned for questioning. The three victims, whose ages range between eight and eighteen-years-old, explained to the prosecutor that they were mistreated by their stepfather and treated like prostitutes. After hearing the victims' testimony, the prosecutor issued a subpoena for the stepfather and the search for him is ongoing.

Kuwait-Iran relations KUWAIT: While cutting a cake in honor of the recent Public Authority for Applied Education and Training graduates (PAAET) Jassem Al-Khorafi, speaker of the National Assembly (NA), made statements regarding his recent visit to Iran, reported Al-Shahed.

He said that he made his visit because Kuwait is interested in maintaining its developing relation with Iran, due to their role to stabilize the region. He added that his visit was to support the importance of bilateral relations on a parliamentary level. Al-Khorafi also mentioned the honorable stance Iran had during Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. When asked about the reason behind the delay of the construction of the Al-Shadadiah University, he responded that the NA council did its part to allocate the required budget and financial resources to the project. He suggested that the Minister of Public Works or the executive authority be asked about the delay.

Al-Tijari holds children's art competition KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait sponsored Radisson Blu 15th Art Competition that was held on May 15. The children between 10 to 14 years old were allowed to participate and the theme for this year was a very important one: The Climate Change.

This year CBK customers of My First Account were also allowed to participate and to compete with the private schools

and the centers for children with special needs as well.

This unique competition has been going on successfully for the past fifteen years since it encourages students from different school in Kuwait to develop their artistic talent and creativity. The topic chosen this year is also very important which focus has been recently under the slogan: less paper... more green.

A selection committee selected 15 of the best paintings, including 3 from the special needs schools out of more than 200 paintings. The 5 winners from CBK received a cash prize that was deposited in their existing My First Account while the rest received new Tijari accounts with a cash deposit. Some of the paintings were sold and all the proceeds went to the World Childhood Foundation.

NATIONAL

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

5 KFAED plays prominent role

Lebanon thankful for Kuwaiti financial aid BEIRUT: Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon Riyadh Salama praised here yesterday the support Kuwait provided to help sustain the Lebanese economy. Salama’s statement came on the occasion of the visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Lebanon. He said that the visit was important to stress trust and the strong historic relations between the two countries. Lebanon benefited a lot from the Kuwaiti support and the job opportunities provided to the Lebanese in Kuwait. During the Israeli aggression on Lebanon in 2006, Kuwait provided a $500 million deposit to Lebanon, he pointed out.

BEIRUT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah (left) steps down from a podium as other Lebanese and Kuwaiti officials stand next to him, upon his arrival at Rafik Hariri international airport, in Beirut, yesterday. The Amir arrived in Beirut on a two-day visit to meet with Lebanese officials and to sign agreement between the two countries. —AP

Kuwait-Syria relations ‘deep-rooted’ DAMASCUS: Syria cherishes a lot of love and affection toward Kuwait “represented by the Amir, government and people” Syrian vice-president Dr Nagah Al-Attar said here yesterday, hailing the deep-seated ties between Kuwait and Syria, describing them as “historic ones”, especially in the cultural decade-age domain.

This remark was made during the meeting between Al-Attar and board’s chairman of the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation in the presence of Director General and Editor-in-Chief of the Syrian Aran News Agency (SANA) Dr Adnan Mahmoud.

“No Arab can disregard the Kuwaiti cultural endeavors and books that spread all over the Arab world through a collection of distinctive cultural magazines and at their forefront Arabi magazine, the World of Thought magazine and the Arab theater magazine, besides the Kuwaiti cultural, literary and theatrical movement,” Al-Attar added.

She also expressed her admiration for the distinctive level of daily Kuwaiti newspapers

and Kuwait’s keen interest in protecting the Arab and Islamic heritage through the special attention paid by Sheikha Hafsa Al-Sabah, asserting the important role played by KUNA and its pioneering cooperation with Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).

Further, Al-Attar hailed the efforts of H.H. the Amir of Kuwait in boosting joint Arab action in political, economic and cultural fields, deeming the visit paid by H.H. to the Syrian capital of Damascus as a new boost to the bilateral relations.

On his part, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij AlSabah expressed his happiness for visiting Damascus and meeting the Syrian vice-president for the second time, asserting the deepseated historic ties binding the political leaders of the two Arab countries.

Sheikh Al-Duaij described the KuwaitiSyrian relations as distinctive and intimate in what was reflected in a positive way on the Kuwaiti and Syrian media institutions and all staff working in the media sector, asserting that cooperation and coordination is sustained with SANA’s director general for the benefit of developing the media action

between the two countries.

Meanwhile, a round of media talks kicked off here between Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah and Dr. Adnan Mahmoud.

These talks aim at bolstering ties of joint cooperation through activating the previous signed agreements between the two Arab news agencies.

Dr. Adnan welcomed in his address the visit paid by Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij to Syria, asserting the significance of these talks in evaluating the joint cooperation between KUNA and SANA and pushing toward achieving concrete steps on this regard at a time when media became a strategic force parallel to other influential present day forces.

He also pointed to the importance of media in serving the common issues between the two countries, hailing the role played by KUNA in presenting events professionally in a way that serves the public policy and catches up with contemporary media milieu and the modern theories upon which international media is based. —KUNA

kuwait digest

Private sector fragility Dr Yaqub Al-Sharrah he concept of the private sector and its role in developing society depends on the principles and foundations it has adopted from the government’s establishments.

These principles may be related to the administrative, technical or financial aspects of managing economy, but also be associated with developing human resources and rules. All indicators demonstrate that the private sector is more effective when it comes to developing societies and executing various development projects.

When it comes to developing communities, the private sector is usually responsible for fundamental scientific, economic and social progress.

The rate of development is closely linked to the private sector’s commitment to quality, performance, experience and efficiency standard specifications within a framework of law, rules, transparency and effective performance. The pri-

T

vate sector is profit oriented, regardless of its commitment to rules. Such establishments are usually fragile.

The private sector and laws governing it are still immature as many private sector establishments deal with the government through wasta and common interests, which could cause the collapse of many private sector companies for the most trivial of reasons.

The problem is that many companies have repeated the same mistakes, over and over again, and often fail due to a lack of accumulated experience.

In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, many private companies are unable to even pay monthly wages. They only exist on paper and many have laid off several citizens.

The government needs to establish more rules and regulations that will contribute to the proposed development plans, namely with regard to recruiting citizens and the national labor support act. —Al-Rai

Salama also praised the support provided to Lebanon through Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). Salama said that the Arab Economic Summit that was held in Kuwait in 2009 clearly reflected the importance His Highness the Amir gave to stability and economic growth in Arab countries. The summit was the first of its kind in the Arab region, he noted, praising the wisdom of His Highness in launching initiatives to invigorate joint Arab action.

The Lebanese official called for forming a joint Arab economic bloc and emphasized the importance of boosting trade among Arab states.

Salama revealed that assets of the Central Bank of Lebanon equaled $30 billion, while deposits in foreign currencies in Lebanese equaled $105 billion, saying he expects that economic growth in his country would be between 7 and 8 percent. The central bank’s budget is about $45 billion, he said.

Meanwhile, the representation of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) in the delegation accompanying the Amir comes to stress the importance of its role within the overall Kuwaiti contributions to regional development, a KFAED official said yesterday.

KFAED, a pioneer Kuwaiti institution in supporting Jordan’s development since 1962, will be exploring development opportunities in Jordan during the visit of His Highness the Amir, KFAED Director Abdulwahab Al-Bader said.

Al-Bader noted that his organization presented Jordan with soft loans to fund 24 social and economic projects at around KD 153.4 million from 1962 to 2010.

Kuwait funded major Jordanian

BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri greets His Highness Sheikh Sabah Ahmed Al-Sabah during an arrival ceremony for the Kuwaiti Amir at Beirut International Airport yesterday. —AFP development projects such as phase three of Es-Samra power station with KD 15 million, a project to transfer electrical energy of eastern Amman at KD 8.5 million, alongside a project to Fund Al-Aqaba hospital at KD 15 million.

Around $2 million was presented by Kuwait to fund a feasibility study for Al-Mafraq-Al-safawi-Iraqi borders road, in addition to a sewage treatment plant at $900,000 and the King’s Academy with $5 million, he said.

KFAED also funded development projects in the agricultural, educational, and health domains, alongside providing Jordanian cadres with work opportunities in Kuwait.

Jordan is one of the countries that have benefitted greatly from the loans presented by KFAED, established back in 1961 to support developing countries.

Jordanian papers issued yesterday praised the summit in which Sheikh Sabah met Jordan’s King Abdullah II here on Monday, stressing it reflected the warmth of ties between the two states and peoples.

Ad-Dustour paper editorial said the Jordanian-Kuwaiti summit was a starting point for a new phase of Arab relations. The talks between the two leaders reflected the strong relations between their countries and people and was a step to boosting cooperation further, it added.

The two leaders stressed the importance of having a joint Arab and Islamic stance to end the Israeli crimes and save Jerusalem and AlAqsa Mosque, it pointed out. The two countries were keen on moderation and on uniting Arab countries, it noted.

Meanwhile, Al-Rai paper editorial said the Jordanian-Kuwaiti talks reflected the same views the two states had regarding issues that were discussed.

The summit was held amid extraordinary Arab and regional circumstance, it said, adding that Jordan and Kuwait played a vital role in the region, had wisdom, and strongly supported just Arab causes. —KUNA

NATIONAL

6

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Domestic dispute in Salmiya

Building janitor rapes Indonesian woman KUWAIT: An Indonesian woman was raped by the Egyptian janitor of the building she lives in in Jeleeb Al-Shuyoukh, reported Al-Watan. After being assaulted, the woman filed a case with the local police department and informed police that the janitor threatened to harm her if she reported the inci-

Iranian arrested

Fugitives nabbed

Alleged kidnap

Police defused a potentially violent domestic dispute in which a young Iranian man attempted to physically assault his own father, reported AlWatan. The incident occurred in Salmiya where the father informed police that his son was trying to attack him. Police responded to the emergency and detained the young man before he could carry out his assault. When questioned, the son told authorities that his father forced him to work as a car mechanic against his will and refused to allow him to go back to his home country.

Mubarak Al-Kabeer police arrested a fugitive sentenced to 14 years in prison for selling and abusing drugs, reported Al-Rai. The arrest occurred in Jaber Al-Ali, when an inspection into the man’s identification after he was pulled over revealed his criminal history. He was taken to the proper authorities.

Meanwhile, Capital Governorate police arrested a bootlegger wanted for several cases related to the selling and smuggling of alcohol, reported AlRai. The man was apprehended after a car chase that began on Shuhadaa street and ended in Sharq. The pursuit started when the man fled from police after he was asked for his license and registration. He was taken to the proper authorities.

Jahra police detained a Sri Lankan woman and two Asian men suspected of absence and kidnapping, reported AlAnba. The incident occurred in Taima when police officers stopped a vehicle from which a woman was screaming for help. She explained to police that she was kidnapped by the two Asians. However, the two men rejected the accusation and said that they agreed to pick her up after she asked them for help to find a shelter and a new job where she wouldn’t have to work as a maid. During the investigation, police also discovered that the woman fled from her sponsor’s home three months ago. The three were held for further questioning.

Addicts held

AIDS test for expats protects country KUWAIT: Kuwait’s national policy to test expatriates for HIV before granting them residency has significantly helped curb the spread of the disease in the country, reported Al-Qabas. The statement was made in a study carried out by the head of the AIDS statistics and information department of the Ministry of Health, Dr Hind Al-Shoumar.

The study, which was sent to the regional UNESCO branch of the Arab region, indicates that among the expats who have to undergo HIV tests are teachers and other

workers in the educational sector, as well as students arriving to Kuwait on scholarships.

The study mentioned that the procedure has helped reduce the number of HIV positive people in the educational sector specifically.

Furthermore, the study highlighted the challenges regarding the manner by which the educational sector deals with the disease. They require that UNESCO’s EDUCAIDS initiative be implemented on members of the educational sector. This initia-

tive includes spreading awareness on how to be protected from HIV infection and requires that newly appointed teachers be required to undergo several programs to increase their awareness of HIV/AIDS infections.

The study added that current school curriculums have minimal material on addressing the hazards of AIDS. The report recommended that biology, environmental studies and Islamic curriculums be improved to include more information on the subject.

Two youths were arrested for possessing and abusing drugs in Sabah AlSalem, reported Al-Watan. Police discovered the illegal activity after approaching a suspiciously parked vehicle in the area.

During a search of the car, two pieces of hashish were found in their possession.

Police also discovered that one of them was wanted for a previous case. They were taken to the proper authorities.

Expired disinfectants

T

KUWAIT: Two Asian motorists were injured in a three-car collision on the Sixth Ring Road. Both were taken to hospital, while police worked on regulating traffic until the cars involved in the accident were removed. In another incident, an Asian bus driver working for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) was injured when the MoD vehicle he was driving overturned when he lost control of it on King Fahad Road opposite the Um Al-Hayman exit, reported Al-Watan. The driver was only slightly injured and was treated at the scene by paramedics, while police directed traffic until the overturned vehicle was removed.

Alcohol possession Jeleeb Al-Shuyoukh police arrested an Asian man in possession of 19 bottles of homemade liquor in his car’s trunk, reported Al-Seyassa. The contraband was found after the man was pulled over for driving suspiciously. He was taken to the proper authorities.

Rejecting Kuwait privatization

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

Three injured

Bomb defused Kuwait Army bomb squads defused a landmine found by a passerby in the Amghara scrap yard, reported Al-Rai. The area in which the explosives were found was searched for any other explosives. An investigation indicated that the landmine was a remnant of the 1990 Iraq Invasion.

kuwait digest

in the news KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health (MoH) committee which investigated a series of contamination scares at local hospitals which were ascribed to the use of disinfectants which had passed their use-by date has recommended firm legal action against those responsible for the use of the expired cleaning materials. The committee was formed after several cases of infection were discovered at local hospitals, with a number of patients’ health suffering as a result, reported Al-Watan. The problems were traced to the use of the expired cleaning materials, with the committee stating in its report that “dishonest business” had taken place in the purchase of the disinfectant in question, in addition to several administrative violations.

Health minister Dr. Helal AlSayer, who is currently on vacation, is expected to take decisive measures regarding the situation on his return, holding those responsible accountable for their actions.

dent. A case was opened and police detained the assailant. He was taken to the proper authorities. In another incident, a citizen in his 40s accused two fellow compatriots, aged 17 and 18, of sexually assaulting his 17-year-old son, reported AlSeyassah. Authorities are in pursuit of the attackers.

he fact that oppositionist MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun voted for the privatization law should make other oppositionist MPs, who not only voted against the law but accused those who did vote for it of treason, reconsider their stances.

Regardless of which party is right or wrong, this disagreement proves that parliamentary work can be done.

It also demonstrates that voting for or against a certain draft law should not be taken as a standard by which MPs are categorized. Al-Saadoun’s conflicted voting, unlike other members of his bloc, further proves that stances are made from convictions, not bad intentions.

Personally, I’m against the privatization law in its current ‘Islamic’ shape.

On the other hand, others that rejected the law base their stance on the belief

that this law is a theft of the country, carried out by merchants.

While I also think that this law is a theft, I believe that the thieves here are the employees and workers who look for the government to employ them and pay them salaries without having to actually work.

I’m against the privatization law from both scenarios, however, that doesn’t make me accuse those who support treason. —Al-Qabas

Six injured in car accidents

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A 39-year-old Bangladeshi man was taken to Farwaniya Hospital after complaining of severe back pain when he was hit by a car near Farwaniya General Park.

In another incident, three Kuwaiti citizens were taken to Jahra Hospital after suffering various injuries in a car accident in the area.

Meanwhile, a 21-year-old Kuwaiti man suffered broken bones in his left hand and a bruised nose in a car accident in Salmiya.

He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

In a fourth accident, a 15-year-old Kuwaiti boy was taken to Adan Hospital after sustaining a broken thighbone in a collision in Jaber Al-Ali. In a separate incident, a 50-year-old Indian man suffered extensive bruising

when he was hit by a car on a street in Salmiya. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

suffered an electric shock in Shuwaikh.

He was taken to Sabah Hospital.

Restaurant knife fight

A 60-year-old Kuwaiti man was taken to Jahra Hospital after suffering the effects of smoke inhalation and a sharp rise in his blood pressure in a house fire in Naeem.

Naeem fire A 40-year-old Egyptian man was taken to Jahra Hospital after sustaining stab wounds to the chest and right arm in a fight in a Jahra restaurant.

Painful fall A 22-year-old Indonesian woman was rushed to Mubarak Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after breaking both legs when she fell from an upper floor of a building in Hawally, suffering fractures to both legs, as well as other injuries.

Nasty shock A 39-year-old Egyptian man sustained various burns across his body when he

Stolen cars found Two cars that were reported stolen, were found in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. The vehicles have been impounded.

Police help out Police patrol officers rushed to the assistance of a pregnant woman who they found calling for assistance near the City Center mall, taking the distressed mother-to-be straight to hospital.

Fatal accident

UNESCO sub-regional forum KUWAIT: The first sub-regional meeting of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) committees for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, kicked off yesterday, under the patronage of The Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Moudi Abdulaziz AlHmoud. Al-Hmoud said on the opening of the event, that the meeting would tackle issues concerning childhood, environ-

ment, culture. Which are basic pillar of the mission of UNESCO. She stressed on the importance of benefiting from the studies of the national committees coming from various countries, and to follow up with the latest international developments in serving the educational and cultural society needs.

The Secretary General of Kuwait’s National Committee of Education, Science and Culture Abdullatif Al-Buajan stressed on the importance of discussing the

environmental issues and means to protect our enviroment, besides the culture which stores the creativity of the humanity through ages. He thanked the participating bodies and sponsors for serving their society and praised the exchange expertise through the formation of national committees. The meeting would include an exhibition for the GCC countries participating committees, besides acting scenes and music shows.

KUWAIT: One Asian man died while two others were injured when the vehicle they were traveling in overturned on Kabad Road after the driver lost control following a burst tire. Emergency personnel were quickly at the scene, with the two injured men having to be cut free from the wreckage of the vehicle before being rushed to Farwaniya Hospital.

The dead man’s body was removed for autopsy

Travel warning KUWAIT: The foreign ministry’s consulate department yesterday called upon Kuwaitis to not travel to Thailand, due to the current critical security situation there. Department director Humoud Al-Roudhan said in a press release, “The Foreign Ministry calls upon citizens not to travel to Thailand due to the critical security situation in the country at the current time.”

KUWAIT: GUST students in front of Gulf Bank’s main branch.

Gulf Bank hosts GUST students KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has opened its doors to a group of students from the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST). The visit was part of its partnership with INJAZ Kuwait, a non-governmental organization set up to deliver educational programs on entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness to students and young people.

During the visit to Gulf Bank the students learnt about the function of various departments including Human Resources, Service Quality Management, Marketing, Corporate Banking and

Facilities where they witnessed how the private sector operates. The tour included presentations from senior bank representatives about the Bank’s organization and how each department contributes to the Bank’s operations. The objective was to give students a sense of the numerous opportunities in the private sector, and more so in the world of finance.

Surour Alsamerai, General Manager Human Resources at Gulf Bank said: “Our purpose for this initiative is to give students a real-life experience, to devel-

op and educate the Kuwaiti youth, and to show them the benefits of working in the private sector. It is important to ensure that young people, who are planning their future careers now, receive a realistic understanding and are properly equipped to assess and take up the opportunities that lie ahead of them.”

The bank is deeply committed to its own corporate social responsibility mission focused on the development and employment of Kuwaitis working together towards a better and more prosperous Kuwait.

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

7

Minister says Egypt's quota should not be reduced

ISTANBUL: Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu speaks to the media in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday, a day after Iran agreed to ship most of its enriched uranium to Turkey in a nuclear fuel swap deal that could ease the international standoff over the country's disputed nuclear program, just as pressure mounts for tougher sanctions. Davutoglu has praised Iran for agreeing to ship some of its low-enriched uranium abroad and urged the West to try to end its diplomatic standoff over the country's nuclear program. — AP

Israel weighs response to Iranian nuclear deal JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met yesterday with senior cabinet members over Iran's nuclear deal with Turkey and Brazil, a move which officials in the Jewish state called a "trick." Israel, which considers Iran's nuclear drive a major threat to its security, has not formally responded to the accord signed in Tehran on Monday to ship Iranian low enriched uranium to Turkey. "The forum of seven (ministers) met this morning at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem," a senior official said.

"The ministers received a short update on the Iran-Turkey deal, which all agreed seems to be an Iranian trick," the official said without elaborating. The meeting ended without an expected announcement. Late on Monday, Netanyahu ordered his ministers not to discuss the deal until Israel issues a formal response, his office said. Earlier, a senior Israeli official accused Iran of having "manipulated" Turkey and Brazil, which brokered the deal.

"The Iranians have already pulled off such a trick in the past by pretending to accept such a procedure to lower tensions and reduce the risk of harsher international sanctions, then refusing to follow through," the official said on condition of anonymity. Iran signed the accord with nonpermanent UN Security Council members Turkey and Brazil to ship 1,200 kilograms of its low enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for higher grade fuel for a research reactor.

The deal was also expected to further complicate Israel's once-strong ties with regional ally

Turkey, which have seriously deteriorated since Israel's December 2008-January 2009 assault on Gaza to end militant rocket attacks. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on Western powers not to weaken the deal with talk of new sanctions, which Israel has long demanded. "An important psychological threshold has been crossed towards establishing mutual trust," Davutoglu told reporters in Istanbul.

"Sanctions, the discussions on sanctions will spoil the atmosphere and the escalation of statements may provoke Iranian public opinion," he added. Other nations which have been pressing for sanctions against the Iranian nuclear program reacted to the deal with skepticism, but China said it supported the agreement. "We hope this will help promote the peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations." foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said.

The issue could be raised in talks which US mediator George Mitchell is to hold with Israeli and Palestinian leaders later this week, a US embassy spokesman in Tel Aviv said. Israel, the region's sole if undeclared nuclear-armed state, has long viewed Iran as its greatest strategic threat because of Tehran's nuclear program and its leaders' repeated predictions of the demise of the Jewish state.

Like the United States, Israel has refused to rule out military action to halt Iran's nuclear drive despite Tehran's insistence that its program is purely for civilian purposes. — AFP

GAZA CITY: Palestinian men from the Al Quraan family hold signs as they demand that the Hamas government executes the Palestinian man who killed a family member, in Gaza City, yesterday. Gaza's Hamas rulers executed three convicted killers and dropped off their bullet-riddled bodies at a hospital yesterday, despite appeals by human rights activists to halt the practice. — AP

Hariri visits Syria amid spat with US, Israel over missiles DAMASCUS: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived in Damascus yesterday ahead of a planned trip to Washington, which accuses Syria of supplying Lebanon's Hezbollah with missiles. Hariri, who has rejected those claims, met Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, the official SANA news agency reported without elaborating.

Hariri's second official visit to Damascus follows accusations by Israel and the United States that Syria and Iran are continuing to supply the Lebanese Shiite movement with arms and undermining regional stability. The Lebanese premier is due to visit the United States at the end of May for a meeting with President Barack Obama, and is expected to address the United Nations Security Council, of which Lebanon is currently a non-permanent member.

Syrian presidential adviser Bussaina Shaaban hailed the improving ties between Damascus and Beirut, in comments published yesterday in the pro-government newspaper AlWatan. "Since his last visit to Damascus, relations (between the two countries) have deepened...President Assad warmly welcomes this visit, designed to coordinate policy ahead of (Hariri's) trip to Washington," she said.

"We look favorably on every Arab visit to Washington that

explains the Arab position." Israeli President Shimon Peres sparked controversy last month when he accused Syria of supplying Hezbollah with Scud missiles, a charge Damascus has staunchly rejected. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates made similar allegations at the end of April, saying Syria and Iran were providing

Hezbollah with rockets and missiles of ever-increasing capability.

During Hariri's December visit to Syria, the first since the 2005 assassination of his father, ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, he expressed his desire for "privileged, sincere and honest relations...in the interest of both countries and both peoples." — AFP

Egypt asserts right to block Nile dams CAIRO: Egypt insisted yesterday it can block dams and other projects upstream on the Nile, challenging a new deal among African nations seeking to alter historic water sharing arrangements and secure more water for farms and growth. Four African countries signed the agreement in Uganda last week in a bid to access a greater share of water from the Nile, despite "Egypt is closely watching energy generation projects in the (Nile) basin," he said. Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia signed the deal on May 14, creating a permanent commission to manage the Nile's waters that did not include Egypt or Sudan. Kenya, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to sign within a year.

The new commission would ostensibly have the power to veto energy and irrigation projects in signatory states.

Egypt, almost totally dependent on the Nile and already threatened by climate change, is closely watching hydro-electric dams in East Africa it fears may restrict the river's flow. Egypt has already warned

that the new agreement lacked legitimacy and plans to press donors for support.

Yet upstream countries say they need more water too. Power shortages have hindered investment in Africa even though alternative sources to hydroelectric power exist. The day the pact was signed, Ethiopia inaugurated its Beles Dam, which it says will produce 460 megawatts. After the inauguration, Egyptian media voiced concern the project could reduce the flow of water to Egypt. Some 85 percent of the Nile's waters originate in Ethiopia.

TARGETING DONORS Allam said Egypt had no objections to dams or other energy projects upstream

colonial-era pacts that give Egypt the lion's share of the water and allow it to veto upstream projects such as dams. "Any project that takes away from the river's flow has to be approved by Egypt and Sudan in accordance with international treaties," Egypt's Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Nasreddin Allam said. on the world's longest river as long as the international donors." One state newspacountry's share of 55.5 billion cubic per quoted Egypt's Prime Minister meters was not reduced. Analysts say Ahmed Nazif yesterday as saying: global donors and banks may be reluctant "Signing a unilateral treaty confirms that to finance projects that would harm the motivation behind it was political, so Egypt's and Sudan's access to water for it shall be dealt will politically."

Ethiopia, which rationed power for fear of getting entangled in a regional spat. Egypt is widely credited with having five months in 2009, when outages every blocked a loan from the African second day closed factories, hampered Development Bank for a dam project in exports and fuelled a currency shortage, says a new pact could help boost energy Ethiopia in 1990.

"Most donors see that consensus projects and shore up investment.

"Egypt is not trying to undermine between Nile Basin countries and the consent of Egypt as key to funding any development projects ... but it is trying to project," said Gamal Soltan of the Al- push for projects that could serve the Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic interests of all those states and Egypt Studies. "Egypt could work with these itself," Soltan said. — Reuters

Hamas 'executes 3 Israel fines firm for convicted killers' dealing with Guinean junta

GAZA: The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said three convicted murderers were executed in its Gaza enclave yesterday, in a move likely to draw fire from human rights groups. "The interior ministry this morning carried out the death penalty on three criminals who had committed murders after completing all legal procedures," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry said the three had been given "every right to defend themselves in open trials attended by their lawyers and family members." It also said that it granted the opportunity for the families of the victims to forgive the killers and accept blood money, in keeping with Islamic law, "until moments before the death sentence was carried out." It was not immediately clear how the three were killed, as Hamas would not comment on the matter and police refused to allow reporters to view the bodies prior to burial.

Hamdi Shaqura, of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, identified the three men as Rami Joha, 25, Mattar AlShobaki, 35, and Amer Jandiya, 33.

He said Joha was sentenced to death by a civilian court in April 2004 for his role in the gang-rape and murder of a 14year-old girl. Shobaki was also sentenced by a civilian court, in 1996, for the murder of another man. Jandiya, sentenced in March 2009 for the murder of a money changer, was the only one of the three to have been tried by a Hamas-run military court, Shaqura said, because he had been a member of Palestinian security forces ousted from Gaza by the Islamist group nearly three years ago.

Shaqura condemned the executions, calling the death penalty a "flagrant violation of human rights and a form of torture that does not deter crime." At a media conference hours after the executions, the victims' families thanked the government and said the move would prevent future crimes. The girl's brother said family members had been allowed to see Joha before and after he was killed but had not witnessed the execution itself.

He declined to say how it was carried out.

Last month, Hamas executed by firing squad two Palestinians convicted of collaborating with Israel. It was the first time the death penalty had been carried out since the Islamist group seized power in Gaza. Several human rights groups expressed outrage over those executions, with Amnesty International saying the men were found guilty in unfair military proceedings and calling the move an "extremely retrograde step." The last executions prior to the Hamas takeover were carried out in 2005 against five men convicted of murder.— AFP

JERUSALEM: Israel has fined an Israeli security consulting firm for negotiating a deal to provide arms and military training to Guinea's military junta without the state's prior approval, a Defense Ministry spokesman said yesterday.

The spokesman, Shlomo Dror, said the ministry fined Global CST for dealing with the West African nation's military government last year.

He would not disclose the sum of the fine but said Israel intervened before any deal was concluded.

Global CST is run by Yisrael Ziv, a retired Israeli general whose career included commanding the Gaza Strip area and heading the military's powerful operations branch. Since retiring, he has worked as a consultant in Colombia and Georgia, according to reports in the Israeli daily Haaretz. Israel has a long history of send-

ing mercenaries to African countries, dating back to the 1950s. But today, Israel's Defense Ministry says it closely supervises military exports, including training by private contractors, and denies permits to operate in nations with questionable human rights records.

Dror said the Defense Ministry authorized Global CST to carry out an initial survey for possible business deals in Guinea. When it discovered the company was negotiating an arms sale, it pulled the plug and ordered the fine, Dror said.

He said the penalty was imposed "in recent months" but gave no further details. Global CST said it was not fined, but was instead ordered to spend the money to tighten its oversight procedures to avoid similar "errors" in the future. The company says it has already implemented the changes but declined to elaborate. — AP

8

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Central Europe flash flood death toll reaches seven WARSAW: Two more people died in flash floods in Poland and one in Slovakia yesterday, bringing the death toll in central Europe to seven, as several days of heavy rains hit the region.

Poland's Interior Ministry said a fireman was among the deaths recorded yesterday in southern Poland, which was worst hit by flooding.

"If we have to declare the state of emergency then it will only be on some part of the country, not the whole of Poland, and definitely not for a long time," Poland's acting President Bronislaw Komorowski told reporters.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his internal affairs minister had been

touring four districts where a total of 2,000 people were evacuated from their homes, with more likely to follow.

The former Nazi concentration camp of Auschwitz in southern Poland was closed to visitors and some of the exhibitions were moved as water levels were rising on a river just outside the camp's fence.

In Poland's former capital, the southern city of Krakow, authorities were considering closing bridges over the Vistula river.

The rising waters were posing a threat to Krakow's Wawel castle, the ancient seat of the Polish kings, media

reported.

In neighbouring Slovakia a 62-yearold man drowned yesterday. The Slovak interior minister has travelled to the eastern parts of the country as Bratislava decided to deploy the army to help its citizens.

Slovak officials said the situation was likely to improve tomorrow, but Poland's meteorology institute said heavy rains would continue over coming days.

In the Czech Republic more people were being forced from their homes on Tuesday, but there were no more deaths reported in the country after a 69-year-old woman died on Monday.

Power cuts also occurred in several towns in the country.

Traders around central and eastern Europe said the weather was driving up power prices with the colder-thanaverage temperatures boosting spot electricity contracts and the heavy rainfall limiting hydro operation.

Czech day-ahead power prices were up more than 6 percent to around 49.25 euros per megawatt hour while spot electricity contracts were up about 5 percent in both Hungary and Slovakia. The unusually cold weather also brought some snow to the Tatra mountains in Poland and Slovakia. — Reuters

Assasin leaves under police escort for airport

French court frees man who killed ex-Iranian PM PARIS: A French court ordered yesterday the release of an Iranian serving a life sentence for the 1991 murder of Shahpour Bakhtiar, Iran's last prime minister under the Shah, the convicted man's lawyer said. The decision came

just two days after Iran freed French teaching assistant Clotilde Reiss, who was held on charges of spying during anti-government protests in Tehran last year.

POISSY: Ali Vakili Rad, center, who was convicted of killing Shahpour Bakhtiar, the last Iranian prime minister under the ousted Shah of Iran in 1991, leaves the Poissy prison, outside Paris, yesterday. Vakili Rad is the second Iranian freed by French courts in less than two weeks, leading to speculation of a deal between Paris and Tehran to obtain freedom for a young French academic convicted by Iran of spying, who returned home Sunday. The other people in the car are French police officers. — AP

Speaker row clouds return of British parliament LONDON: British lawmakers met for the first time since knife-edge polls brought a new coalition government to power, but calls for the House of Commons speaker to be sacked threatened to cloud the ceremomy yesterday.

Members of the 650-seat Commons were to take their seats with the first business the election of a speaker. Incumbent John Bercow was expected to be the first in living memory to have his re-appointment challenged by a vote.

The challenge was an unexpected distraction after the major changes brought by the May 6 general election which ended 13 years of Labour rule in Britain and led to the first coalition government since World War II. Prime Minister David Cameron's centre-right Conservatives won most seats in the elections, but not an absolute majority, and after five days of haggling they struck a deal with the third-placed centrist Liberal Democrats.

The 57 Lib Dem members of parliament (MPs) including their leader Nick Cleggnow Cameron's deputy premier-will take their seats on the government side of the house, next to the Conservatives' 306 deputies.

A speaker has not been voted out since 1835, and is usually re-appointed on the nod without a formal Commons vote at the start of each parliament.

But Bercow has drawn criticism because, although he sat as a Conservative MP, he was seen by some Tories as being close to Labour and the speaker is meant to be above party politics.

A small number of opponents were expected to shout "no" when the question of whether he should resume his chair is asked. Only one MP needs to oppose the motion in order to force a full vote, which would take place today.

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries, who is leading efforts to get rid of Bercow, said:

"It is going to happen, there will be enough," while Labour deputy Kate Hoey was also expected to back the move.

"If there is an opportunity to say 'no' I think the new parliament should have an opportunity to elect a new speaker," said Hoey.

Lawmakers will begin swearing oaths of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II over the next few days.

They must adapt to the first powersharing government in more than six decades: the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have long baited each other across the aisle in House of Commons debates, but will now have to sit together.

Every MP will also be under increased scrutiny in the wake of last year's expenses scandal, where the revelation that lawmakers claimed thousands of pounds for second homes, duck houses and swimming pools caused public outcry.

A record number of almost 150 MPs stood down before the election, some because it was time to retire but others because they were discredited in the row, which resulted in charges brought against three lawmakers and one peer.

A tough new set of rules has been introduced to ensure no repeat of the claims that caused many voters to see politicians as grasping and self-interested.

MPs living within 20 miles (32 kilometres) of parliament will not get an accommodation allowance; only one relative can be employed and, from July, all expenses claims will be made public.

The wave of MPs who quit has allowed a whole new generation of lawmakers to take over: out of 649 MPs elected, just over a third have never been lawmakers before.

Parliament has three female Muslim MPs for the first time among eight Muslim lawmakers. There are also a record number of black and ethnic minority MPs, but at 26 MPs, or four percent, this is far from reflective of British society as a whole. — AFP

Spanish town to debate veil ban MADRID: A Spanish town is to debate calls for a ban on wearing the full-face Islamic veil in public amid growing cross-party opposition to the burqa in the country, a local party said yesterday.

The moderate Catalan nationalists of the Convergence and Union (CiU) party proposed the ban, calling the veil "an obstacle to the dignity and integration of women in our society," they said in a statement.

The presence in the town Lerida "of Salafist representatives (hardline Islamists) has facilitated the spread of practices incompatible with the values of sexual equality and respect for women."

El Pais daily said the town's socialist mayor Angel Ros has also expressed his opposition to the Islamic veil in the past.

Spain's Labour and Immigration Minister Celestino Corbacho said Monday he was in favour of a ban on the full veil in work spaces.

"Totally covering women with a piece of clothing, whatever the symbolism, completely goes against our society and stops the move towards equality between men and women," he said.

The council debate in Lerida, a town of some 140,000 inhabitants in north east Catalonia, will take place on May 28.

Traditionally a nation that sent immigrants abroad, Spain has seen the number of foreigners living in its borders take off since 1996.

At the start of 2010 there were 5.7 million foreigners in Spain, which has a total population of 46.9 million, according to the National Institute of Statistics.

This includes 746,760 Moroccans, an increase of 4.0 percent on 2009.

France and Belgium are among a number of European countries currently debating a full-face Islamic veil ban in public places. — AFP

Both countries have denied the two moves were connected, but France's opposition Socialists are unconvinced and have urged Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to answer questions release from parliamentarians about the teacher's release.

Ali Vakili Rad was convicted in 1994 of killing Bakhtiar, a Sorbonne graduate and veteran of the French resistance who had fled to France following Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution and led an exiled opposition group from Paris.

Less than three hours after the court order was issued, Vakili Rad, 51, left a prison near Paris under heavy police escort and was expected to fly to Tehran later today.

His lawyer Sorin Margulis called his release "a godsend" and added: "But this cannot be interpreted as an exchange."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suggested a prisoner swap last year if France wanted to see Reiss freed.

France has released prisoners in Iran-related cases in the past, including a Lebanese man convicted for attempting to assassinate Bakhtiar in Paris in 1980.

Two weeks ago, France freed an Iranian engineer who Washington wanted to extradite on charges of illegally buying electronic equipment from US firms for military use.

Vakili Rad was one of three people who assassinated Bakhtiar, whose secretary also died in the knife attack at the exiled leader's heavily guarded home in a western Paris suburb.

The other two assailants escaped but Vakili Rad was arrested in neighbouring Switzerland and extradited.

It was widely suspected the killers were supporters of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Reiss was accused of aiding a Western plot to topple Iran's clerical regime after taking part in protests following the disputed re-election of Ahmadinejad, and posting photographs of the demonstrations on the Internet.

A former member of the French intelligence service has said Reiss did some espionage work in Iran, but the government has categorically denied this.

Bakhtiar, a scion of Iran's old tribal nobility, was educated in Lebanon and France and fought in the International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War. Repeatedly imprisoned in Iran for opposing the shah, he was persuaded in late 1978 to head a civilian government to oppose the growing Islamic opposition under Khomeini.

Bakhtiar served just over a month as prime minister before Khomeini came to power and replaced him with Mehdi Bazargan. — Reuters

TROUBKY: Firemen evacuate local people from flooded houses in Troubky, Northern Moravia, Czech Republic, yesterday. Troubky, a village of about 2,000 inhabitants, is considered a symbol of the disastrous floods in Moravia in 1997 which killed nine people and demolished more than half of the houses in the village. Current floods caused by heavy rain have been hitting northern and central Moravia since Saturday. — AP

Medvedev woos Ukraine on Russia-led security bloc KIEV: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Ukraine yesterday that the doors to a Russia-led security bloc were always open and pledged that the Russian navy based in a Ukrainian port would never attack its neighbours.

The Kremlin leader sought to draw Russia's ex-Soviet neighbour closer to Moscow's vision of European security on the last day of a visit in which the two sides have agreed to renew long-term cooperation after five years of cold relations.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who has tilted policy towards Moscow since succeeding the pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko, has aroused the wrath of his political opponents by agreeing to extend the Russian navy's stay in Ukraine's Crimea until 2042 in return for cheaper gas.

In a bid to shore up Yanukovich at home, Medvedev defended the fleet's presence in the Black Sea port of Sevastopol as a guarantee of stability in the region and he pledged it would never be deployed against Russia's neighbours.

"Will Russia use its Black Sea fleet to attack neighbouring states? No, it will not," he told a gathering of university students in Kiev.

He made no mention of the deployment of the fleet's flagship, the rocket cruiser Moskva, to blockade the Georgian port of Poti in 2008 during Russia's brief summer war with Georgia.

Yanukovich has endeared himself to Moscow by pushing possible membership of NATOpursued by his predecessor-off the agenda, but during Medvedev's two-day visit, he

KIEV: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich attend a conference in Kiev yesterday. Medvedev sealed Russia's lightning quick rapprochement with Ukraine's new leadership with a raft of new accords as he paid his first official visit to the country. — AFP stressed Ukraine's neutral status as a "non-bloc state".

Medvedev, however, told him that if Ukraine's circumstances ever changed the doors of the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) remained open.

"If in the future you would consider it proper to join the CSTO, we would be happy to invite you and accept you," Medvedev said in Kiev. "The CSTO is not the Warsaw Pact... we do not need confrontation with NATO or other military blocs."

The CSTO includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Members have conducted military exercises and in recent years some of them agreed to set up a peacekeeping force and a rapid reaction force.

Medvedev, in comments clearly directed at US and NATO ship movements in the Black Sea, said Russia was always uneasy "when foreign ships which have no links with the Black Sea basin demonstrate something or other".

The Ukrainian parliament was due later on Wednesday to debate a proposal by Yanukovich to authorise a series of naval exercises, involving the United States and other NATO allies, in the Black Sea in summer.

Last year, the Ukrainian parliament defied then-president Yushchenko and refused to allow the US-led multinational Sea Breeze military exercise to take place. But pro-Yanukovich deputies, who have a majority in the parliament, said they expected Sea Breeze and other exercises to be given the goahead this year. — Reuters

Pakistani suspects win UK deportation appeal LONDON: Two Pakistani men, arrested in a British anti-terrorism operation but never charged, won appeals against their deportation yesterday because of concern for their safety in Pakistan.

Abid Naseer and Ahmad Faraz Khan, both 23, were among 12 men, mostly students, arrested in high profile raids across northwest England in April 2009.

Police and the security services said at the time the men were part of a major plot. But there was not enough evidence to charge them and they were ordered to be deported.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), which deals with such cases, said the two men should not be sent back to Pakistan because of the risk they would be mistreated there.

However, it said it believed Naseer was a security threat and ideally should be removed from Britain. It said Faraz Khan could "safely be taken to have been willing to participate" in Naseer's plans, the Press Association reported.

"We are satisfied that Naseer was an al Qaeda operative who posed and still poses a serious threat to the national security of the UK and that... it is conducive to the public good that he should be deported," the commission said in a written ruling.

It said the government believed the men were part of a plot to carry out a "mass casualty" attack in April last year in northwest England.

However, no explosives were ever found, and the government's case was based around emails exchanged between Naseer and a Pakistan account believed to be registered to an al Qaeda

operative.

A third man detained in the raids in Manchester and Liverpool, Shoaib Khan, 31, who is already back in Pakistan, won his appeal against exclusion from Britain.

But two other men now back in Pakistan, Abdul Wahab Khan, 27, and Tariq Ur Rehman, 38, had their appeals against exclusion rejected.

Several hundred officers took part in the raids, which had to be hurriedly brought forward after Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer was photographed openly carrying a secret document detailing plans for the arrests.

The government said it was disappointed at the ruling but would not appeal.

"We are disappointed that the court has ruled that Abid Naseer and Ahmad Faraz Khan should not be deported to Pakistan, which we were seeking on national security grounds," said Home Secretary Theresa May. "As the court agreed, they are a security risk to the UK. We are now taking all possible measures to ensure they do not engage in terrorist activity."

The Home Office declined to clarify what measures would be taken.

Britain has demanded Pakistan do more to combat terrorism. Most terrorist plots in Britain since Sept. 11, 2001 have had links to Pakistan, including suicide bombings in July 2005 which killed 52 people on London's underground and bus network. Pakistan criticised Britain over the April 2009 arrests, saying more could have been done to check the background of foreign students. — Reuters

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

INTERNATIONAL

9

Oregon voters face deadline for returning ballots

4 states hold primaries, one House election WASHINGTON: Intensely competitive Senate primary races in three states yesterday will test the durability of incumbent Democratic senators in Arkansas and Pennsylvania and the strength of the conservative tea party movement to shake up the Republican establishment in

ARKANSAS: Arkansas Lt. Governor Bill Halter, left, shakes hands with an unidentified patron of a North Little Rock restaurant yesterday just before polls open in Arkansas' primary election. Halter is challenging fellow Democrat Blanche Lincoln in the race for US Senate.— AP

in the news Argentina appeal for talks MADRID: Argentine President Cristina Kirchner used an EU-Latin America summit yesterday to call for a resumption of talks between Buenos Aires and London over the disputed Falklands Islands. "I would like to ask, on behalf of my country and the countries of Latin America... please reopen our negotiations over the sovereignty of the Malvinas," Kirchner said in a speech at the opening ceremony of the Madrid summit. Argentina and Britain went to war in 1982 over the Falklands, a remote archipelago lying some 450 kilometres (280 miles) off Argentina's coast which are known in the Spanish-speaking world as Las Malvinas. Britain regained control of the islands but they remain a bone of contention, and Argentina was outraged when oil exploration began there in late February. Tensions rose further on May 6 when British firm Rockhopper announced a first discovery of crude oil in a well off the islands.

Baby for beer CHICOPEE: Authorities say a Massachusetts man offered to give his 3-month-old daughter to a maintenance man outside a gas station convenience store in exchange for a pair of beers.

Chicopee police say 24-year-old Matthew Brace of Northampton made the offer to swap the child for two 40 ounce (1 liter) bottles of

beer on Monday. The maintenance man called police, who found Brace hiding with the girl behind a trash container. State child welfare officials took the baby into custody. Police say Brace was not arrested but will be summoned to court to face a charge of reckless endangerment of a child. A phone number for him could not immediately be found. The child's mother was in the store at the time buying cigarettes.

She has not been charged.

Oil spill threat COCODRIE: For part-time fisherman and deckhand Randy Arceneaux, this season was supposed to mark his first chance to trawl for shrimp with his very own boat. And this was supposed to be the year he took his son out with him on the marshy backwaters of southern Louisiana's bayou country for the first time, to begin teaching the boy how to fish, catch crabs, hunt small game. But a deep-sea wellhead owned by energy giant BP ruptured just weeks before the shrimp season was due to open, belching millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico about 50 miles (80 km) off Louisiana's coast. The spill has prompted federal and state authorities to put much the Gulf Coast off limits to commercial fish, shrimp and oyster harvests. Here and there, the state has opened areas for fishing, only to close them again a day later.

Both political parties reported spending roughly $1 million to sway the race, turning it into a laboratory for the campaign for the November election when control of Congress will be at stake. Competing economic prescriptions, the appeal of President Barack Obama's health care legislation, the Republicans' ability to woo crossover support from independents and Democrats all are at issue in the House race, according to officials in both parties.

Oregon voters also faced a deadline for returning ballots in a statewide mail-in vote that began more than two weeks ago.

On the eve of the busiest primary night of the year so far, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday that President Barack Obama was following the races, but "not that closely." "We have supported incumbent Democratic senators and we've done a lot on behalf of each campaign," he added, referring to Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter.

It was not clear what impact Obama's involvement would mean for the incumbents, under extraordinary political pressure in a year of well-documented voter dissatisfaction with Washington.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made no attempt to minimize his own interest in the Senate race in Kentucky to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Jim Bunning.

McConnell made a late television commercial on behalf of Secretary of State Trey Grayson, battling Rand Paul, who has the

backing of the grassroots conservative tea party movement.

A spokesman, Don Stewart, said McConnell was watching the race in his home state closely.

While Grayson had support from the state's Republican establishment, Paul countered with backing from former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, retiring Sen. Jim Bunning and conservative Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

DeMint has interceded in several primaries in hopes of pushing his party to the right.

Paul, the son of libertarian Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, embraced the support from tea party activists.

The tea party movement complains about unchecked government spending, excessive taxation and what they consider the dangerous spread of governmental influence throughout American life.

The movement's name is taken from the 1773 Boston Tea Party, a protest in which activists in the then-British colonies in America boarded ships and threw their cargo of English tea into Boston Harbor in a symbolic protest against taxes.

Among Democrats, Kentucky Attorney Gen. Jack Conway collided with Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo for the right to take on the Republican winner.

Mongiardo lost a close race to Bunning six years ago.

In Pennsylvania, Sen. Arlen Specter, 80, quit the Republicans and joined the Democrats a year ago and drew the support of Obama, organized labor and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell as he set out to win a sixth term, his first as a Democrat. — AP

Kentucky. In a fourth race of national significance, Republican Tim Burns and Democrat Mark Critz battled to fill out the term of the late Democratic Rep. John Murtha in a congressional district in southwestern Pennsylvania.

10

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Philippine lawmakers to probe poll fraud allegations MANILA: Philippine lawmakers said yesterday they will hold an inquiry into allegations of fraud during last week’s national elections, but the move is unlikely to change the results for the country’s top two posts.

The elections body said last week it had discovered discrepancies involving around 150,000 votes but the number was not enough to affect the overall outcome of the presidential and vice presidential elections.

The House of Representatives’ panel on suffrage and electoral reforms will start public hearings on Wednesday to assess the credibility of the automated vote count, the country’s first, and evaluate evidence and claims of vote irregularities.

Prospero Nograles, outgoing speaker of the 264-member House of Representatives who lost a bid to become mayor of Davao City in the south, said the automation was not fool-proof, with sever-

al reports of pre-programming of tallies in memory cards used for the vote counting machines.

“What is even more disturbing is the recall of 76,000 memory cards just four days before the elections when there is no longer time to examine them,” Nograles told reporters.

Senator Benigno Aquino, son of the country’s revered democracy icon Corazon “Cory” Aquino, is expected to be

officially proclaimed as winner of the presidential race in coming weeks as he maintains a commanding lead of more than 5 million votes over his nearest rival, former president Joseph Estrada, in unofficial tallies by election watchdog PPCRV. Aquino is on course to grab the biggest mandate so far in any election since his mother was swept to power in 1986 through a bloodless, popular uprising that ousted the late strongman Ferdinand

Marcos. The unofficial PPCRV tally as of Tuesday show Aquino cornering nearly 42 percent of the vote, topping the record set

by Estrada who won with 40 percent in 1998.

The relatively smooth election process and the emergence of a clear winner with market-friendly credentials is seen as a positive development for improving longterm investor sentiment on the Philippines, although a messy transition

period could keep sentiment cautious.

Three other losing presidential candidates have called for an audit of poll results.

They claim about 8 million Filipinos failed to cast their ballots due to technical glitches and long queues on election day, and claimed high turnout of 95 to 100 percent in some precincts in the capital and southern Mindanao island indicated possible padding of results. — Reuters

Chinese officials avoid direct comment

China welcomes Iran nuclear fuel swap deal BEIJING: China welcomed a nuclear fuel swap with Iran agreed in talks with Brazil and Turkey and urged more negotiations, breaking ranks with Western powers who rejected the deal as too little to halt momentum for sanctions.

Iran agreed on Monday to send some of its uranium abroad, reviving a fuel swap plan drafted by the United Nations with the aim of keeping Tehran’s nuclear activities in check.

BEIJING: A Chinese policewoman helps schoolchildren cross a street as part of a new security beat outside an elementary school in Beijing yesterday. Five attacks at schools and kindergartens over the past two months have taken the lives of 17 people, including 15 children, as well as wounding 80 people. In response, police and schools have been ordered to beef up security in and around campuses to prevent what experts believe are “copy-cat” attacks. — AFP

UN to send review mission to N Korea GENEVA: The United Nations will send a team to North Korea in May to assess how aid funds have been used in the country, a spokeswoman from the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs told AFP yesterday.

“A working level UN mission will go to DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) in late May to review the implementation of central emergency response fund (CERF) funded projects there,” Elisabeth Byrs said, in response to queries from AFP. “The mission will comprise four UN staff from OCHA and from the CERF secretariat,” she said, confirming Japanese media reports.

The team would meet heads of UN agencies on site, in order to “better understand how funds provided by CERF are used,”

said Byrs.

The spokeswoman did not know if the team would also meet North Korean authorities.

The UN has allocated eight million dollars in 2010 in emergency relief funds for North Korea, which has suffered more than two decades of natural disasters.

While UN agencies such as the World Food Programme, Unicef and the World Health Organisation have offices in North Korea, visits by UN missions to the secretive communist nation are extremely rare.

In the past months, however, high-level UN officials have been travelling to the country, a sign that Pyongyang may be opening up, a source close to the UN said.

UN Under-Secretary-General for

Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe visited the country in February, and in April UN health agency chief Margaret Chan also made a trip there.

Chan said following the visit that North Korea’s health system would be the “envy” for most developing countries although it faced challenges.

“Based on what I have seen, I can tell you they have something that most other developing countries would envy,” the WHO director general told journalists, despite reports of renewed famine in parts of the country.

Good Friends, a Seoul-based welfare group with contacts in the North, had said in February that 2,000 people had starved to death there this winter. — AFP

Philippine rebels free town mayor, four bodyguards MANILA: Communist guerrillas have freed a Philippine town mayor and his four bodyguards after 12 days of jungle captivity in which the rebels interrogated him and he lived in constant fear of gunfire — and snakes, he said yesterday.

Mayor Roberto Luna and his security guards — two

army soldiers and two policemen — were turned over by about 30 heavily armed New People’s Army guerrillas to local officials late Monday in a mountain jungle in southern Davao Oriental province during a downpour, Luna said.

The rebels freed Luna, who has diabetes, on humanitarian grounds and after negotiating

DAVAO: In this May 17, 2010 photo, kidnapped Mayor Roberto Luna, right, of Lingig township, Surigao Del Sur province talks on a mobile phone prior to being released by communist rebels in the jungles of Davao Oriental province in southern Philippines. Communist guerrillas freed Luna and his four bodyguards after 12 days of jungle captivity in which the rebels interrogated him and he lived in constant fear of gunfire and snakes, he said yesterday. — AP

with Gov. Johnny Pimentel of the southern province of Surigao del Sur, where Luna is mayor of Lingig town, Pimentel said. Luna wept with joy after he was freed and said the rebels treated their prisoners “like VIPs,” although he constantly feared being bitten by snakes or being hit by gunfire while in rebel custody.

“We had to deal with heavy rains, fog, mud and nights that were super-cold,” Luna told The Associated Press by telephone. “But the thing I feared most at night were snakes, so I wrapped my head in cloth and wore socks on a hammock.” “I also told them I dread the sound of gunfire,” Luna said.

The rebels, who have been waging a rural-based Marxist rebellion since the 1960s, abducted Luna on May 5 in Compostela Valley province.

The rebels interrogated him, accusing him of involvement in the killings of three men as well as land grabbing and corruption. He said he argued his innocence to three rebels who interrogated him.

Luna will continue to be investigated by the guerrillas for the alleged crimes and could again face rebel attack if he “commits fascist acts and crimes against the people, the

revolutionary movement,” regional rebel spokesman Roel Agustin II said in a statement.

While in rebel custody, the mayor acknowledged that he has a huge private army, which was linked to human rights abuses, and apologized for it, Agustin said. Pimentel said the mayor did not have such an army but made the admission, thinking that it would help win his freedom.

The captives were fed corned beef and a local rice-chocolate drink.

When they found out he has diabetes, the rebels managed to get medicines for him, Luna said. The captives were not bound, but the rebels warned they would be shot if they tried to escape.

Outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has ordered the military to end the communist insurgency, one of Asia’s longest, by the end of her term next month, but the rebels have dismissed the deadline as propaganda.

Peace talks between the rebels and the government brokered by Norway collapsed in 2004 after the rebels accused Arroyo’s administration of instigating their inclusion on US and European terrorist blacklists. — AP

But Tehran made clear it did not intend to suspend domestic uranium enrichment that Western governments have said appears aimed at giving it the means to make nuclear weapons.

Western powers have said the fuel swap offer promoted by Brazil and Turkey will not be enough to ease their worries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened top advisers yesterday to assess the deal.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said he was encouraged. His reaction suggested that world powers discussing possible new UN sanctions against Iran may part ways on how much weight to give Iran’s offer.

“China has noted the relevant reports and expresses its welcome and appreciation for the diplomatic efforts all parties have made to positively seek an appropriate solution to the Iranian nuclear issue,” Yang said, according to the Foreign Ministry website (www.fmprc.gov.cn).

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu later said his government hoped the agreement would “benefit the process of peacefully resolving the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations”.

Neither Yang nor Ma said directly whether China believes the Western powers should now rethink their sanctions demands. Both stressed Beijing prefers a negotiated solution to the dispute.

“China has always believed that dialogue and negotiations are the best channel for resolving the Iran nuclear issue,” Ma told a regular news conference.

Beijing’s stance appeared more in line with Moscow’s position that although many questions remained, including whether Iran intended to continue enriching uranium, further consultations were appropriate.

“After this, we need to decide what to do: Are those proposals sufficient or is something else needed? So I think a small pause on this problem would not do any harm,” Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.

Israeli Trade and Industry Minister Binyamin BenEliezer, a former defence chief, said only more time would reveal if Iran was “continuing to toy with the whole world” or was open to placing curbs on its domestic uranium enrichment.

Iran says its nuclear activities are for peaceful ends.

Secular Turkey, which has a predominantly Muslim population, covets a bigger role in the international arena and has been working for months to mediate in the dispute between the West and Iran.

Its foreign minister praised the fuel swap deal on Tuesday, which Iran’s parliament also backed in a statement.

“There is no uncertainty left and Iran has shown a clear political will,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference in Istanbul, calling it Iran’s most important initiative in international diplomacy in 30 years.

“This is not the day to muddy the waters with negative scenarios including sanctions,” Davutoglu said.

“The discussions of sanctions will spoil the atmosphere and might create the escalation of statements and provoke Iranian public opinion.” — Reuters

BANGKOK: A Red Shirt anti-government protester uses binoculars to look at soldiers on the Rama 4 road in Bangkok yesterday. The Thai government said there would be no negotiations with protesters in the capital until they end their crippling rally, after a Senate offer to mediate crisis talks. — AFP

Morale sinks but defiant Thai protesters fight on BANGKOK: The number of Thai protesters hunkered down in their fortified encampment is dwindling. The jovial party atmosphere is close to fizzling out. All that lingers is the foul stench of rotting garbage and kerosene.

Morale is low among the mostly rural and urban poor demonstrators who have occupied the hotel and retail heart of Bangkok for seven weeks in pursuit of an immediate election that now seems a distant dream.

Many red shirt supporters have slipped away since peace efforts collapsed and troops unleashed deadly force to try to crush rag-tag fighters who are resisting military moves to enclose the encampment and interdict supplies to it.

Protest speakers and singers struggle to rouse their supporters. Some sing and dance, but most appear jaded, just not in the the party mood amid talk of a crackdown and a potential massacre by the military.

At its peak, the protest encampment was filled with tens of thousands of people, but on Tuesday only about 3,000 remained, including elderly women and a few children.

Still, they vow to fight to the end.

“The army have their guns, but we have the power of the people,” said Boonyeun Predaengnoi, a bank worker from Bangkok who has attended the rally every day.

“We have guards protecting us who will fight all the way.” The window for peace seems to be closing by the day. A call for dialogue by the red shirts was rebuffed by the government, which has steadfastly refused to withdraw troops.

The government yesterday said talks mediated by the Thai Senate would only go ahead if the red shirts left their encampment, a demand unlikely to be met.

Protesters echo their leaders’ call for international help. “The army is killing us. Why doesn’t the United Nations or the international community come to help us?”, shouted one protester who gave only her first name, Chompoo. “We are Thai people, we are not terrorists. Yes, we’re all scared to die, but we need help to bring back democracy,” she said. Despite the government’s vow to cut off utilties and block supplies, the encampment remains porous and open to deliveries.

Stacks of boxes containing bottled water surround tents, where protesters doze in the shade behind pictures of the dozens of demonstrators

killed in clashes the past six weeks. An angry rant by a speaker calling Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva a “tyrant murderer” echoes throughout the encampment.

Vendors serve fresh food. Bags of fruit and vegetables are piled up next to cooking gas cylinders and sacks of rice. No one seems to be struggling for food.

But stacks of smelly garbage bags are mounting as well. The city had been hauling away the trash, and taking care of the portable toilets, but that no longer appears to be the case.

The pulse and upbeat vibe inside the encampment seems to be waning. But behind the barricades of razor wire, bamboo rods and kerosenesoaked tyres that surround the encampment, red shirt guards stand ready to defend their territory.

The military’s moves to close off all roads to the site has allowed protesters to extend the encampment outward under the noses of hundreds of armed troops reluctant to stop them.

Fresh piles of rocks are mounting and empty bottles are being stockpiled for use as petrol bombs. The stench of fuel is overbearing even for guards who patrol the front lines in shifts and survey rooftops of office and hotel towers for snipers.

Behind the fortifications are piles of motorcycle helmets, slingshots, tanks of gasoline and bags of fertiliser and tubes to launch crude home-made rockets, At one entrance, 10 fire extinguisher casings loaded with gunpowder and wired to car batteries form an imposing defensive wall capable of inflicting huge casualties. “If the troops come close to us and want to crush us, we will detonate these bombs,” said Nui, who said he quit his motorcycle taxi job to fight for “democracy and justice”.

“This government must go now because so many people have been killed,” he said. “My patience has reached its limit and I can no longer stand this government.”

Ju Jantapanyo, a 69-year-old Buddhist monk who has camped out at the red shirt protest site for two months, warned of a violent backlash if the military launched a crackdown.

“They could win this battle if they really want to crack down on us, but I don’t think they want to,” he said from the back of a makeshift shrine on the back of a truck. “Balls of fire will spread out to the rest of the country. Soldiers will never dare to wear their uniforms again,” he said. — Reuters

QUEZON: In this photo released by the Liberal Party of the Philippines, Sen. Benigno Aquino III, center left in black shirt, the apparent winner in the May 10 presidential elections, visits the wake of Gov. Rafael Nantes of Quezon province before dawn, yesterday, in Lucena city, Quezon province south of Manila, Philippines after Nantes was killed in a helicopter crash Monday. The helicopter carrying Nantes and his entourage crashed into houses in Lucena south of the Philippine capital on Monday, killing all four people aboard and a girl on the ground, officials said. Nantes, a close ally of Aquino III, lost his reelection bid in the country’s first automated elections. — AP

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

11

Pakistan flood could affect 40,000 people: Official ISLAMABAD: Flooding from a lake in northern Pakistan risks affecting 40,000 people with residents from up to 34 villages already evacuated to safety, a top disaster management official warned yesterday.

The artificial lake emerged on January 4 as a result of a massive landslide that killed 20, left about 25,000 people stranded and blocked the Hunza river in a remote Himalayan region about 750 kilometres (450

miles) north of Islamabad. “We are preparing for a caseload of 40,000 that could be affected by flooding,” Nadeem Ahmed, chairman of national disaster management authority, told a press conference in the capital.

There were 4,000 people in the villages of Gulmit, Ayeenabad and Shishkat, where water had submerged some areas and from people have moved to safer areas, he said.

Only a few of the displaced are going to government-provided tents. “Most of the people had gone to live with their relatives or sheltered in school buildings, very few have opted to live in tents but the government is providing rations to all of them,” Ahmed said.

Flooding would put at risk 13,500 people downstream and about 25,000 people upstream who were “less threatened”.

He said evacuation had been completed in up to 34 villages downstream, but was not able to release a total number of people.

“There was some distress as people were compelled to abandon their homes, but it was necessary for their safety,” he said.

Ahmed said food, non-food items and generators had been stockpiled in the area and a distribution system set up. The United Nations has been asked to provide sanitation

facilities in the area. Pakistani soldiers and army engineers had deployed to provide assistance to civilian administration and seven helicopters would be in the area to evacuate any stranded people.

“An early warning system has been established in the area and people would also be warned via SMS if there is any danger,” he added. The official said that a ferry service to connect the people stranded due

to lake formation had been stopped today because of rain forecast.

Water in the 332-feet (101-metre) deep and 16-kilometre (10-mile) long lake was rising by one meter (yard) daily.“The water could start flowing downstream through spill ways in the next five to six days. Our aim is that there should be no loss of life, though many houses and buildings would be submerged,” Ahmed said. — AFP

Deadliest attack for NATO

Taleban suicide bomb hits NATO convoy, kills 18 KABUL: A Taleban suicide car bomber struck a NATO convoy in the Afghan capital yesterday, killing six troops, five of them American, officials said.

Twelve Afghan civilians also died — many of them on a public bus in rushhour traffic. The powerful blast occurred on a major Kabul thoroughfare that

KABUL: Relatives of passengers wait near the site where a passenger plane is believed to have been crashed, in Salang north of Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. Relatives of passengers aboard an Afghan plane that crashed with 44 on board joined a desperate search for the wreckage yesterday as government and NATO search helicopters whirred overhead. — AP

Afghan and Nato rescuers locate plane crash area SALANG: Afghan and NATO rescuers yesterday located the area where an Afghan passenger plane crashed with 43 people on board, including three Britons and an American, an official said.

More than 24 hours after the plane lost radio contact over the treacherous Hindu Kush mountains the chances of finding survivors appeared slim, as anguished relatives gathered at the foot of the mountain-pass near Salang.

The ageing Pamir Airways Antonov 24 turboprop was en route from the northern province of Kunduz to Kabul when it came down in bad weather. Officials said it was too early to judge the cause of the crash.

“We have managed to locate the crash area,” Yalda Natiq, head of communications at the transport ministry, told AFP. “It is in northern Salang but due to fog, bad weather and poor visibility the reconnaissance plane and helicopters now cannot pinpoint the wreckage,” she added. The area is one of harsh mountain terrain.

Asked whether signals from the plane’s black box had been picked up, Natiq said: “The systems show where the crash area is and helicopters are flying over the area to locate the wreckage now.”

Expressing his grief, President Hamid Karzai said: “Cloud, fog, lightning and rain does not allow the search in some areas.... We hope to be able to find the victims of this incident and hand them over to their families.”

Locals willing to help with the rescue were using horses to trek towards the suspected crash site, Parwan provincial governor Abdul Basir Salangi told AFP. “We were told the plane may have crashed on the northern side of Salang, which is in Khinjan

district of Baghlan province. Locals are using horses to climb the snowy mountains,” he said.

Rescuers were forced to suspend their search overnight due to bad weather. Freezing temperatures would make conditions extremely difficult for any survivors.

A highway task force, responsible for clearing snow from the Salang mountain pass-the main road between Kabul and northern Afghanistanreported hearing a blast at around the time the plane went missing, police said.

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), deployed in Afghanistan to fight the Taleban, dispatched a plane and two helicopters to the area, but also acknowledged they were hampered by poor weather.

According to the passenger manifest seen by AFP, six of those on board were foreigners and the rest Afghans. The British embassy said three Britons were on the plane and the US State Department said there was one American.

A Turkish aid organisation, the IHH, said two of its employees, both Turkish men, were on board the plane, but there was no immediate confirmation from Turkey’s foreign ministry.

Acting transport minister Mohammadullah Batash said the aircraft disappeared from radio contact 37 minutes after taking off on a return journey to the capital-normally around an hour’s flight-on Monday morning.

“We cannot rule out any of the usual causes behind crashes-which could be bad weather, technical error, thunder and lightning or even terrorist attacks,” he told reporters.

According to its website, Pamir Airways was founded in May 1995 and is the oldest private airline in Afghanistan. — AFP

India offers peace talks if Maoist rebels stop attacks NEW DELHI: India is willing to begin peace talks with Maoist rebels, but only if the insurgents halt all attacks for 72 hours, the home minister said yesterday.

The offer followed a rebel ambush Monday of a bus in central India that killed 31 police officers and civilians and highlighted the Maoists’ strength despite a government offensive aimed at ending one of Asia’s longest rebellions. The rebels, who have tapped into the rural poor’s growing anger at being left out of the country’s economic gains, are now present in 20 of the country’s 28 states and have an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 fighters, according to the Home Ministry.

Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said in a television interview yesterday that the government welcomes peace talks, as long as the insurgents halt attacks. “I make the offer now: The Maoists should say, ‘We abjure violence, we suspend violence,’ and actually suspend violence, from any date they fix for 72 hours,” he told the CNN-IBN news channel.

The government would then convene talks with the insurgents, he said.

But in a sign the government is also losing patience with the ongoing rebel attacks, Chidambaram expressed a willingness to authorize the use of air power in the fight. “The security forces, the chief ministers want air support,” he said in an earlier interview with NDTV. “They are the men on the ground.” When asked why he

JAGDALPUR: Indian security personnel injured in Monday’s Maoist attacks lie at a hospital in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh state, India, yesterday.

Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram called for the government yesterday to consider using the air force against Maoist rebels in the wake of an insurgent attack on a bus that killed 31 police officers and civilians. —AP cannot convince the Cabinet to authorize airstrikes, Chidambaram said: “I’ll try.”

Top Indian officials have been reluctant to escalate the fight, arguing it is inappropriate to use airstrikes against India’s own citizens.

The home minister said the government would need to revisit its policies after a spate of recent insurgent attacks.

Last month, the rebels ambushed a paramilitary patrol, killing 76 troops. They also kidnapped and killed six villagers over the weekend, alleging they were police informants.

In Monday’s attack, the insurgents remotely triggered a land mine under the bus carry-

ing civilians and police in Chhattisgarh, which has been the site of fierce fighting, said senior police officer Rajinder Kumar Vij. More than a dozen insurgents fired rifles at the survivors and tried to take away weapons from the slain police, but ran off when wounded officers fired at them, Vij said. The attack killed 16 civilians and 15 police, Vij said. The initial death toll was reported at 35, and it was not clear why it had been revised. Another 27 people were hospitalized, he said.

Police often ride in civilian buses, apparently hoping the insurgents would not target the vehicles for fear of losing local support. — AP

The attack — the deadliest for NATO troops in the capital since September — comes despite a ramped up effort by Afghan authorities to intercept would-be attackers and better secure a capital city that saw a spate of brazen attacks this winter.

In the last such attack in February, suicide bombers stormed two small downtown hotels and killed 16 people.

Taleban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told The Associated Press in a phone call from an undisclosed location that the bomber was a man from Kabul and his car was packed with 1,650 pounds (750 kilograms) of explosives.

The target of the attack was the foreign convoy, he said. US troops and Afghan police held a security cordon around wrecked vehicles at the blast site in the west of the city. Emergency workers zipped the dead into body bags and lifted the injured into ambulances. “I saw one person laying on the ground with no head,” said Mirza Mohammad, who was on his way to work when the blast happened up the road.

Police officer Wahidullah, who goes by one name, said he saw the body of woman in a burqa

Taleban bicycle bomb kills 12 in Pakistan DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A suicide bomber on a bicycle killed 12 people yesterday when he attacked a police patrol in an area of northwestern Pakistan where many citizens fled last year to escape a large army offensive against the Taleban, police said.

The attack, which killed three police officers and nine civilians, occurred as the patrol vehicle traveled through the town of Dera Ismail Khan, said Gul Afzal Khan, the police chief in the area.

The victims included a senior police officer in the area as well as his guard and driver, Khan said. The civilians who were killed included two schoolchildren, he said.

Another 15 people were wounded.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled to Dera Ismail Khan in mid-October when the army launched a big ground offensive against the Pakistani Taleban’s main stronghold in the South Waziristan tribal area. The displacement added to an already serious problem in Pakistan caused by similar operations launched earlier in the year, especially one in the Swat Valley near the Afghan border.

In total, an estimated 3 million Pakistanis fled to other areas of the country to avoid conflict last year, the highest number of internally displaced people anywhere in the world, according to a UN-backed report released Monday.

Around two-thirds were able to return to their homes by the end of the year, but some 1.2 million remained displaced, said the report published by the Norwegian Refugee Council, a non-governmental organization. That number has grown this year as thousands of people have fled smaller operations the military has launched in the tribal areas against militants who fled the offensive in South Waziristan.

One such operation launched in Orakzai in midMarch has killed hundreds of suspected insurgents and caused more than 200,000 people to flee. — AP

runs by the ruins of a one-time royal palace and government ministries. It wrecked nearly 20 vehicles, including five SUVs in the NATO convoy, and scattered debris and body parts across the wide boulevard. The body of woman in a burqa was smashed against the window of the bus.

KABUL: US soldiers load dead bodies on a vehicle after a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. A Taleban suicide car bomber struck a NATO convoy in the Afghan capital yesterday, killing six troops - five Americans and one Canadian, officials said. Twelve Afghan civilians also died, many of them on a public bus in rush-hour traffic. — AP smashed up against the window of the bus.

“Everywhere was dead bodies,” Wahidullah said. At least 12 Afghan civilians died and 47 were wounded — most of them in the

bus, the Interior Ministry said.

NATO said six of its service members were killed in the attack, and US forces spokesman Col. Wayne Shanks confirmed that five of those were American.

The nationality of the sixth was not immediately disclosed. It was the deadliest attack for NATO in the capital since a September suicide bombing that killed six Italian soldiers. The

attack comes as NATO readies a major offensive in the southern province of Kandahar, a major Taleban stronghold.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen condemned the attack and said it would not deter NATO’s efforts in Afghanistan.

“NATO remains committed to its mission to protect the Afghan people and to strengthen Afghanistan’s ability to resist terrorism,” Rasmussen said in Brussels.

President Hamid Karzai also condemned the attack. “There were casualties among the NATO forces as well as among civilians _ women, children and schoolchildren,” Karzai told a news conference.

NATO said that five of its vehicles were damaged as well as more than a dozen civilian vehicles. There were no obvious military vehicles among the wreckage, but NATO troops often travel in unmarked SUVs in the capital. The Feb. 26 attack against two residential hotels in the capital killed six Indians, along with 10 Afghans.

Afghan authorities blamed the attack on Lashkar-e-Taiba, the same Pakistan-based Islamist militia that India blames for the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks that killed 166 people. — AP

OPINION

12

Wednesday, May 19, 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

Iran deal could delay, not avert, sanctions

By Sylvia Westall

I

ran's nuclear fuel deal with Brazil and Turkey could delay new UN sanctions, but it may not be enough to avert them because Tehran vows to continue higher uranium enrichment and vital details on the plan are missing. Under the plan, aimed at easing nuclear tensions with the West, Iran said it had agreed to transfer 1,200 kg of its lowenriched uranium to Turkey within a month in return for higherenriched nuclear fuel for a medical research reactor. The idea bears similarities to a months-old UNbacked deal with major powers to ship the uranium to Russia and France for transformation into fuel. Iran objected to the original proposal saying it could not trust the West to deliver on its promise.

"Turkey and Brazil may have succeeded in filling the trust gap, both through the modalities of the new deal as well as by virtue of who they are," said Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian American Council. But while the deal pleases Iran, major powers said it did not address wider international concerns about Tehran's nuclear program. They appeared determined to push ahead with talks on a fourth round of UN sanctions. The new proposal could cause delays in doing so.

"This agreement doesn't end the controversy over Iran's nuclear program, but it buys time for more diplomacy," Sinan Ulgen, chairman of the Centre for Economics and Policy Studies in Istanbul said.

China and Russia, major trade partners with Iran, have been reluctant to back punitive measures and could say more time is needed for talks because Iran shows willingness to negotiate.

Turkey, which like Brazil is a nonpermanent UN Security Council member, said there was now no need for new sanctions.

Russia said it was studying the plan's details but said questions remained and there was no comment from Beijing. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), broker to the original deal, has declined to comment on the new proposal and diplomats say it is still seeking information. Among the missing details are who will enrich the material to higher levels, who will make the fuel assemblies and what will happen to the stock of low-enriched uranium shipped out of Iran once the fuel transfer has taken place.

VALUE OF THE DEAL Western diplomats say it is somewhat encouraging that Iran is offering a swap on foreign soil and allowing the amount of lowenriched uranium-enough for a single bomb if purified to a high enough level-to be shipped out in one batch, details which had led to a stalemate on the IAEA proposal.

But they said Iran was trying to give the impression that it was the fuel deal which was at the centre of problems with the West, rather than its nuclear ambitions as a whole. The West fears Iran aims to build atomic arms, a charge Tehran denies. Diplomats also said removing 1,200 kg is less valuable now because in the months of wrangling over the original IAEA deal, Iran's lowenriched uranium stockpile has almost doubled.

"A successful nuclear swap might be a short-term solution to delay further sanctions, but it does not change the fact that there are three Security Council resolutions which call for zero (uranium) enrichment by Iran," said analyst Nicole Stracke at the Gulf

Research Centre in Dubai. Iran's refusal to halt enrichment will be a powerful argument for sanctions, diplomats said. Apart from enriching uranium to lower levels for a program it says is aimed at nuclear power generation, Iran also started higher uranium enrichment in February, saying it would produce fuel for the research reactor itself.

The higher enrichment is a worry for the West because it brings the work closer to the levels needed to make bomb-grade material. Iran is thought to lack the technology to make the fuel assemblies for the reactor so the move raised suspicion. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said that Tehran would continue refining uranium to 20 percent purity even under the new deal. "If they refuse to stop enriching to 20 percent and make this proposal for fuel, then why are they continuing the higher enrichment?" a Western diplomat said. "There is no other peaceful justification."

BRAZIL, TURKEY COVET BIGGER ROLE By getting Iran to agree to swap stocks of low enriched uranium that could have been used for making a nuclear bomb, Brazil and Turkey have thrust themselves into the unfamiliar centre of a global dispute. They could have delivered a diplomatic coup with the deal struck in Tehran on Monday. Or the deal could be dismissed by world powers as too little and too late for failing to address core concerns over Iran's nuclear program.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan have staked their international standing on Iran honoring the commitments it made to them. Brazil and Turkey have rotating seats on the UN Security Council and covet a bigger role in the international arena. But critics say Lula and Erdogan could have overreached themselves over Iran. "Turkey has taken a big risk because this can turn out to be very embarrassing," Faruk Logoglu, a former Turkish ambassador to Washington, said. "Iran is a very astute player in this game."

The United States sees Iran playing on uncertainties and divisions between the Western powers, Russia and China over sanctions. The sceptic in Washington might see the fuel deal as just another ploy, with Turkey and Brazil unwitting instruments.

Erdogan's desperation to break the stalemate between the West and Iran, and stop more UN sanctions being imposed on his country's neighbor is, however, understandable. "The experience of Iraq is very fresh in the memory of Turkey," Logoglu said. "More than the prevention of sanctions, Turkey does not want to see another war in the region."

FRONT LINE Turkey is rebounding strongly from recession, and Erdogan, a moderate Muslim leader, albeit with an Islamist past, is banking on the economic recovery helping him win a third term when the country votes next year.

Sanctions on Iran would hit Turkey hard. It has an $11-billion trade with neighboring Iran and buys nearly 30 percent of its gas from the Islamic Republic.

Should it come to a vote, the only Muslim nation with NATO membership could risk Washington's ire by abstaining. Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu have risked irritating their US ally by speaking out against sanctions. — Agencies

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.

Viewing 'the other China,' beyond the economic boom

By Trudy Rubin

W

ith all the media focus on "Rising China," another side of China gets far less attention. Call it "the other China," the bulk of the country's population that hasn't fully shared in the astonishing economic boom of the last 30 years that has transformed the country. I'll be looking at "the other China" as part of a two-week Gatekeepers Editors' Trip to China sponsored by the International Reporting Project at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

We'll be traveling to rural areas in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces.

We'll be looking at China's urban-rural divide, at the pressing environmental and health issues the country faces. We'll also be examining the economic challenges China must confront if it is to close its rising gap between rich and poor and maintain stability at home.

China's level of development matters to the rest of the world for many reasons. For example, a China still focused primarily on domestic development is less likely to pursue adventures abroad (although its search for resources to fuel its growth has led to a much more active foreign policy). And a China that considers itself part of the developing world will be less

BEIJING: An elderly Chinese construction worker smokes a cigarette while taking a break from work in Beijing yesterday. — AP willing to commit to the emissions targets sought by industrialized nations to combat global warming.

Yet, China's growth spurt is so constant, its evolution so dynamic, that its global economic status is difficult to define.

Ten years ago, the prominent Chinese economist Hu Angang coined the phrase One China, Four Worlds. China's First World, says Sinologist Anne Thurston, includes its biggest cities, Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai. Its Second World is made up of the less affluent but

still fairly prosperous belt along its eastern coast.

The population of these two worlds amounts to about 300 million out of 1.3 billion Chinese, she says. But the bulk of China's population, she points out, lives in its Third World, a larger belt running north to south inland from the coastal areas. The country's Fourth (and poorest) World includes its impoverished provinces in the West, where average income is below $3 a day. "Just as China is growing faster than any country, its rate of inequality is also

growing faster," says Thurston.

That inequality, she says, takes several forms: urban vs. rural, East (prosperous) China vs.

West, and the inequality within large cities, created by the massive migration of rural poor to urban areas in search of work.

Visiting Beijing for the first time in five years it is certainly possible to imagine that one is in the First World. PostOlympics, China's capital sports endless new rows of glass skyscrapers, some with strange shapes, or curving roofs, and a massive, glitzy new airport ter-

minal. High-end shopping malls line the major boulevards, and traffic jams outpace the highways expanding ever outward in concentric circles.

Students at elite Tsinghua University have the sophistication of their counterparts at Harvard or MIT. They dress in T-shirts and jeans, many speak English and have traveled abroad, and most blog. They hop on bicycles to wheel around a large leafy campus that has a familiar college feel. (These students live far more prosperous lives than did their parents: one doctoral candidate in oceanography told me she and her parents shared two small rooms with another family when she was a small child; the family was finally able to move to a two-bedroom apartment when she was 16. I heard similar stories from many other young Chinese.)

Young working people in a high-rise office complex duck into Starbucks for a latte, and troop down to a basement mall to pick up lunch fixings at a supermarket. At night, the restaurants around QianHai Lake are filled with young people out on dates or in groups, and Chinese joggers in sweatpants swing by women walking their dogs.

The whole scene is illuminated by shimmering lanterns hung from posts around the water's edge. But these snapshots reflect only a tiny slice of

a country whose economy is in constant flux. China's politicians and academics argue among themselves about where China stands on the economic ladder.

On a visit to Hu Angang, at Tsinghua's school of Public Policy and Management, he insisted his famous phrase was obsolete. "My slogan of One China, Four Worlds was for 10 years ago." Using new analytic tools, he now insists that China mainly belongs to the First and Second Worlds, with only Tibet still languishing in Third World status.

In his estimate, China's Fourth World has now disappeared. On the other hand, Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission and a key negotiator in climatechange talks at Copenhagen, Denmark, told us that "China is still a developing country . . .

"Development in Beijing and Shanghai does not represent all development in China," Xie insisted. He said that when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently traveled by high-speed rail on a visit to China last year, "she thought it showed that China was not a developing country.

But there are still great disparities between rural and urban communities and between East and West China, so I hope you can perceive China with an overall view."— MCT

China banks go fund-raising despite weak sentiment

By Joan Feng

I

t may not seem the ideal time for massive share offerings as Europe's debt crisis and moves by Beijing to tighten monetary policy rattle Asian equity markets, but China's banks are undeterred.

Ordered to strengthen their balance sheets after a governmentbacked lending spree to boost economic growth, China's banks hope to raise tens of billions of dollars-and experts say investors are likely to help them do it.

"A bet on China's banks is often regarded as a bet on the China growth story, and that story appears essentially intact," said Tom Orlik, an analyst at Stone and McCarthy Research Associates. The blockbuster will be Agricultural Bank of China's initial public offering, which aims to raise up to 30 billion dollars, according to financial data provider Dealogic-making it the world's largest-ever IPO. Several listed banks, including the top three-Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China - also are seeking to raise tens of billions of dollars between them. Those targets may seem ambitious after the Shanghai and Hong Kong mar-

BEIJING: A Chinese woman pushes a cart carrying two children as she crosses a street in a commercial and residential area in Beijing yesterday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiaobao commented Friday that Beijing will act "decisively" to cool surging housing prices. — AP kets lost nearly 15 percent and nine percent respectively over the past month amid the eurozone woes and Chinese moves to squelch lending amid overheating fears.

Worries of non-performing loans also have grown after a record 9.6 trillion yuan ($1.4

trillion) was loaned out in China last year-much of it driven by policy rather than financial imperatives. But analysts said investors' appetite for exposure to China's economic growth was likely to eclipse such concerns.

Orlik noted questions about "the sustainability of the banks' prof-

it model," citing too heavy an emphasis on lending and not enough on other revenue streams. "But for investors, these concerns may be a second-order concern," he said.

China's government, which controls the big banks, will be a major subscriber of the new

share and bond offerings, helping prop up demand, said a senior equity capital markets banker in Hong Kong who asked not to be named. Central Huijin, the domestic investment arm of China's sovereign wealth fund, which jointly controls major state banks with the finance ministry, said last month it would participate in the top three banks' financing plans.

It called the plans "highly important for maintaining stability in capital markets and promoting the banks' healthy development". Despite bad-loan fears, the fund-raising plans will be important for the economy as growth will remain heavily reliant on bank lending in an uncertain world economic climate, said economist Guo Tianyong of the Central University of Finance and Economics. "In the next three to five years, (China) has to keep up reasonable growth in loans to prop up economic expansion. It is a pragmatic choice," Guo said.

After orders from the government, which owns 60-70 percent of the banks, that "leaves a pretty workable number of 13 billion to 15 billion dollars for investors in Shanghai and Hong Kong to absorb," the Hong Kong banker said. "We see there being sufficient demand," he said. Guo said despite the

recent market gloom, the fundamentals of Chinese banks remained relatively solid, adding that recent share price falls had probably left bank stocks undervalued and ready to rebound.

"The profitability of Chinese commercial banks remain strong," he said. But analysts cautioned the weak market sentiment meant the mega-IPO of Agricultural Bank, the last of China's "big four" state lenders to list, was unlikely to receive a higher valuation than its peers.

Reports have said Agricultural Bank's IPO-part of a government plan to reform the system by taking each of the big four public-could occur as early as this summer and take priority over the other lenders' fundraising. That is because Agricultural Bank is the weakest, and its rural lending focus and burden of loans issued to further government policy leave it less equipped to hit stricter capital requirements under the reform plan. "The authorities want to wrap up reform of the nation's banking system this year with the AgBank IPO. Without raising capital from the market, AgBank would have a hard time boosting its capital base," said Jin Lin, a Shanghaibased analyst at Orient Securities. — AFP

ANALYSIS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

13

What kind of democracy does Thailand want?

By Jonathan Steele

W

hen Bangkok has a peace deal with the redshirts, the taboo of monarchy must be tested, without the risk of lese majeste charges. Every Sunday afternoon hundreds of Thais flock to Lumpini park in central Bangkok for an hour or more of synchronized gymnastics to the rhythm of thumping speakers.

At a minute before 6pm, the sweating bodies come to a halt.

Elsewhere in the park courting couples rise from the grass and soccer-playing families call their kids to order. In a moment the national anthem will ring out, casting immobility and an enforced silence on everyone.

I've witnessed the scene more than once, and it never ceases to be amazing, a smallscale symbol of a society which, for all its commercial glitz and appearance of modernity, desperately needs reform. The anthem brought no crowds to their feet last Sunday or the one before that, since Lumpini park was nearly deserted. It is close to the eye of the street confrontation between the Thai government and army and the anti-establishment redshirts that has left scores of people dead.

Thailand's current crisis is many things. In part it is a class war involving impoverished farmers of the north and east who fear the loss of their land to corporate logging and other forms of agribusiness. In part it is a struggle between two types of politics: on one hand the old inward-looking army-based and royalist elite and its padded bureaucracy which faced no challenges for decades; on the other the globalizing capitalism

of a tycoon like Thaksin Shinawatra who used control of the television stations he owned to take advantage of universal suffrage to mobilize a mass following.

Thailand is not a country of ostentatious inequalities with urban slums on the scale of Indonesia or India. The wealth gap is largely hidden because it is geographically determined. In spite of some emigration, more than two thirds of Thais still live in the countryside, and close to half are classified as poor. In the cities the new middle class has not proved to be the great driver of democracy that many pundits predicted. Most of its members tend to support the government's efforts to quell reform, including the latest street protests.

The first requirement now is for the government to accept the redshirts' call for talks. It is true that its tentative agreement to hold early elections in November broke down because hotheads in the protest movement refused to withdraw their barricades.

But Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva should not then have rescinded his concession and sent in the army. Once again, his behaviour suggests the army is still the dominant ruling power. He has already failed to fulfill earlier promises to rein in security force abuses in the largely Muslim south, where a separate insurgency shows no sign of abating.

Behind the army is the royal palace. While his courtiers have cultivated an image of him as a man above the political battle, the king has endorsed every military coup throughout his 60year reign. Yet few Thais dare say this because of the ferocious

Romania govt struggles to pass painful spending cuts

By Radu Marinas

R

BANGKOK: An anti-government protester injured in a face-off with Thai soldiers receives a first-aid treatment by colleagues yesterday. The Thai government rejected a proposal yesterday for peace talks with leaders of the Red Shirt protesters to end the deadly mayhem gripping Bangkok, saying negotiations cannot start until the protesters disperse. — AP laws on lese majeste that have seen blog sites closed and other naysayers arrested. The time has surely come when Thailand needs to become a parliamentary democracy.

The King has been in hospital since September. His absence creates a vacuum which should be filled by a caretaker government to prepare for an election and launch a commission on reducing the powers of the monarchy. Kasit Piromya, the foreign minister, has been busy over the last week telling foreign diplomats not to interfere in the crisis but, paradoxically, it was he who recently

New Spanish 'civil war' F or years, conservatives in Spain bristled as their most famous magistrate, Baltasar Garzon, pushed the boundaries of international law against former Chilean dictator Gen Augusto Pinochet and human rights abusers in other countries, but they were powerless to stop him. When Spain's star judge turned his sights on Spanish Civil War atrocities, however, they joined forces with his many personal enemies and went after him, accusing him of opening old wounds and violating the country's 1977 amnesty law. Last week, a Supreme Court judge decided to bring the case to trial, and the General Council of the Judiciary voted in an emergency session to suspend Garzon.

From the beginning, the case against Garzon has seemed to be motivated by political and personal vendettas, and the timing of these decisions is no exception. Early in the week, Garzon had asked Spanish authorities for a seven-month leave to work as a consultant to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, presumably as a face-saving measure to avoid the humiliation of a suspension. But on Wednesday, an investigating magistrate for the Supreme Court (and one of Garzon's detractors) suddenly ordered Garzon to face trial for proceeding without jurisdiction on the Spanish Civil War cases, and the suspension followed on Friday.

Such haste in a case that had been moving normally through the system since February has the whiff of malice; the decision was made even though the Spanish attorney general's office still had questions about the case. If convicted, the 54year-old Garzon would not be jailed, but he could be removed from the bench for up to 20 years. For

all practical purposes, it would mean the end of his career in Spain.

Garzon is a hero to many in the international human rights community for his pursuit of criminals and despots, regardless of their political bent, and for his commitment to international laws that say crimes against humanity cannot be amnestied or subjected to statutes of limitations. But heroes are often flawed characters, and Garzon is no exception. His ego and grandstanding, along with his legal stands, have earned him enemies. He is also being investigated in connection with questionable wiretaps he ordered in a probe of a corruption scandal involving the conservative opposition party.

In the Spanish Civil War case, Garzon sought to apply at home the principles he had championed abroad. He tried to open a case on behalf of relatives of the tens of thousands of Spaniards who died or disappeared in the war that ushered in the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco in 1939, despite the amnesty covering the deaths and disappearances during the war and in its aftermath.

The vehemence with which Garzon's inquiry was rejected is not surprising given the bloody history of the period, yet the legal action against Garzon is; it's one thing for his superiors to disagree with his judgment in bringing the case or to determine that he is overreaching, but it is quite another to charge him with breaking the law for doing so. Whatever happens in the case against Garzon, it seems that Spain is going to have to probe that past and provide the families with answers. The political divisions that marked that dark chapter of Spanish history still seem to be in play. — MCT

Japan Inc roars back to black

By David Watkins

S

urging corporate profits and bullish forecasts suggest Japanese companies are bouncing back from the worst recession in decades, with cost-cutting firms betting on emerging markets for growth. Many of Japan's corporate titans saw a return to profit in the fiscal year ended March, with booming demand for new cars, electronic gadgets and factory parts in countries such as China combining with an improving domestic picture. A 2.2 billion dollar annual profit for the world's biggest automaker Toyota despite recalling around 10 million vehicles over safety fears was emblematic of the sense of recovery, and analysts concluded it had steered through crisis.

The benefits of restructuring and a pick-up in demand appear to be nursing the biggest companies back to health, after the hammering they received in the global downturn led to cost savings and tens of thousands of job cuts. Exports, particularly to emerging Asia, are driving what the International Monetary Fund has called Japan's "tentative" recovery from recession and this is being increasingly reflected in the performance of Japan Inc., say analysts. "Looking at the current figures and outlook it is clear Japanese companies are latching their hopes on emerging markets," said Okasan Securities equity strategist Hirokazu Fujiki.

Japan's third-largest automaker Nissan last week posted a return to the black and forecast profits to triple in the year to March 2011, with its eye on soaring China sales volume, which gained 48 percent in the quarter ended March. Chief executive Carlos Ghosn said Nissan would ramp up production to "more than one million cars a year" by 2012 as China's booming economy drives demand. Honda cited sales in India and Indonesia driving group fourth quarter revenue 27.8 percent higher year-on-year to 24 billion dollars with the

focus

booming Chinese market also playing a role.

And high tech giant Canon Inc. pointed to a sharp uptick in exports of consumer products such as digital cameras, camcorders and image scanners to Asia as a driver that enabled its first quarter net profits to triple on-year. "Although Japanese companies have not overlooked major Western markets like the United States, it is clear that companies are focusing their strategies on Asia," said Fujiki. Things are also improving at home. Japan's economy is set to grow 1.8 percent this year, according to the median forecast of Bank of Japan board members, after 2009's 5.2 percent plummet.

The economy last year emerged from its worst post-war recession, growing at a modest 0.9 percent in October-December due to rebounding exports, much of them to booming China, and government stimulus measures at home. While the effect of the pump-priming would gradually diminish, "Japan's exports are likely to continue increasing against the backdrop of strong growth in emerging and commodity-exporting economies," the bank said.

However, while "Japan's economy is starting to fire on all cylinders," noted Julian Jessop of Capital Economics, "there are also still plenty of valid concerns over deflation and the lack of structural reforms to offset Japan's infamously unfavorable demographics." Soaring welfare costs for a greying population and deflation continue to burden Japan, as falling consumer prices prompt consumers to defer purchases in the hope of further price drops, with companies looking overseas for growth.

In doing so, electronics giants such as Panasonic and Toshiba have seen losses narrow and forecast profits in the next year. But whether the rise of emerging Asia can offset a potential debt crisis in the eurozone for Japan's exporters is another matter. — AFP

articulated what many Thais have been saying privately for months.

In a speech at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in April, he said: "The positive sign of Thai political development is the ordinary people ... participating in the political process as opposed to Thailand 15 years or 20 years ago, where political actors were confined to the bureaucrats, to some of the business people, to some of the professional politicians, to some of the military officers."

He went on: "Hopefully, with

the traumatic violent experiences that we will come through, we can have a democracy that combines representative democracy with a direct democratic participation." Then came the bombshell: "I think we should be brave enough to go through all of this and to talk about even the taboo subject of the institution of the monarchy ... Let's have a discussion: what type of democratic society would we like to be?" Well said, Kasit Piromya. First, avert any more bloodshed on Bangkok's streets. Then let Thailand's national immobility come to an end. — Guardian

omania's centrist government faces huge pressure to water down plans to slash public sector wages and state pensions, essential to secure IMF-led aid, and will struggle to force some of the painful measures through. President Traian Basescu promised the cuts as an alternative to hiking taxes in the recession-hit economy, trying to meet International Monetary Fund requirements for the release of the next tranche of loans in a 20 billion euro rescue package. Romania, the European Union's second-poorest member, has pledged to reform its sprawling and highly-unionized public sector which accounts for one-third of all jobs.

"These cuts are heavy ammunition for trade unions and the population," said independent political analyst Cristian Patrasconiu. "If people take to the streets in big numbers, the government would bow...and soften the measures eventually."

Powerful unions of teachers, doctors and civil servants have threatened a wave of mass strikes, raising the specter of debt-ridden Greece. The cabinet still has to negotiate passage through parliament and probable legal challenges.

Trade union leaders say up to 60,000 could protest in Bucharest on Wednesday, which would be one of the biggest rallies in Romania since the fall of communism in 1989, casting doubt on the austerity plan and the economy's recovery hopes. Union sources say blocking public transport, including road and rail networks, from later this month could be a convincing way to force the government to soften its plans to cut wages by 25 percent and pensions by 15 percent from June 1.

ANOTHER GREECE? Wary of stoking public unrest similar to that which caused rioting and deaths in the late 1990s Asia crisis, the IMF has taken pains to focus on the social aspect of reforms. But aid packages across the region have hit groups such as retirees and state workers, causing outcry in countries like Greece, which has been rocked by violent protests and strikes. Some unionists and protestors raise the specter of similar action in Romania. "I am willing to fight in the streets ... what more can I lose?" said 46year-old Gabriela Carlan, a kindergarten assistant dressed in black during a teachers rally in

Bucharest.

"Eventually, the situation will evolve to street violence because we can't tell our children we have no food to put on the table," said Valentina Apostol, a 40-year-old nurse from Buftea, a town near Bucharest. "It will be like it was in the 1989 revolution and people will end up dying on the streets. We are practically living worse than in the communist era." Although it joined the EU in 2007, Romania has since struggled to transform itself into an open economy and is the bloc's most corrupt state alongside Bulgaria and Greece, according to anti-graft watchdog Transparency International.

In a report due over the next few months, the EU is expected to criticize Romania's corruption levels and shortcomings in its justicial system which analysts have said hinder genuine change in a bloated public sector marred by cronyism. Economists said failure to enforce the cuts may lead to renegotiation of the IMF deal and bring tax hikes. "Failing to implement these cuts or their partial implementation will clearly bring higher taxes ... they can affect Romania's recovery in 2010 and 2011," said Nicolaie Alexandru-Chidesciuc, chief economist at ING Bank in Bucharest.

PAINFUL CUTS Parliament would likely rubber stamp the cuts but the government could face further legal obstacles to its bid to rein in a yawning fiscal deficit. The constitutional court is seen blocking plans to cut pensions from an average 170 euros per month, as happened with IMF-backed cuts in Latvia.

Economists say the arguments could easily undermine Romania's efforts to kick-start its recession-hit economy, which contracted more than 7 percent in 2009. "Chances for the cuts to materialize are a bit above 50 percent. The court can be a brake to reforms," said independent political analyst Bogdan Teodorescu. "If we see no (backup) measures, such as tax hikes, economic collapse is what I see on horizon for Romania." The government will probably continue talks with unions through this week and could even end up reviewing its plans, Prime Minister Emil Boc's economic adviser said yesterday. "We are still negotiating ... I am not Nostradamus to say how this will end up. Any major change to the plan would need to be discussed again with the Fund," Andreea Vass said. — Reuters

NEWS

14

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Astronauts attach new room to space station Russian module is $100 billion station’s 13th room CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA astronauts attached a Russian docking and research module onto the International Space Station yesterday, bringing the $100 billion complex to near completion. The compartment, known as Rassvet-Russian for “dawn”- was delivered aboard shuttle Atlantis, which is making the third-tolast flight of the shuttle program. Russia plans to launch its prime research laboratory in 2012, which will complete the $100 billion orbital outpost, a project of 16 nations that has been under construction 220 miles above Earth since 1998.

NASA has two shuttle missions remaining.

Discovery is due to fly in September with a final load of spare parts and a storage pod that will be left at the station. Endeavour, on NASA’s 134th shuttle flight, will mark the program’s finale with the delivery of the $2 billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer particle detector. The physics experiment will be mounted outside the station.

With Rassvet, the station now has 13 rooms, including two core Russian modules, Zar ya and Zvezda, three major laboratories-the US’s Destiny, Europe’s Columbus and Japan’s Kibo complextwo airlocks, two combination docking compar tments/mini research labs, three connecting hubs, and an observatory, known as the Cupola. There also is an outside porch for science experiments and a storage room on the Kibo lab. Atlantis and six astronauts arrived at the station on Sunday for an eight-day stay.

During the first of three spacewalks on Monday, astronauts Garrett Reisman and Steve Bowen installed a spare communications antenna and outfitted the station’s Canadian robotic crane with a work platform. Spacewalks today and Friday are devoted to replacing six huge batteries for the station’s solar power system. The shuttle, which blasted off on Friday, is due back at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 26. — Reuters

Bush’s brother collapses INDIANAPOLIS: The brother of former President George HW Bush collapsed during health insurer WellPoint Inc’s annual meeting yesterday morning.

William HT Bush, 71, has served on the company’s board of directors since 2004. He was sitting with other directors during a question-and-answer session when he moaned and rolled to his right side about an hour into the meeting.

WellPoint officials cleared the room and called for help. Dr Rob Stone, an emergency room doctor and frequent WellPoint critic who attended the meet-

ing, rushed with some other people to Bush. Stone said he stayed with the director until help arrived. He said Bush was alert and talking. “I felt like he was going to be OK,” Stone said.

The director was sitting up on a stretcher as emergency workers pulled him out about 25 minutes after he collapsed.

WellPoint, the largest commercial health insurer based on enrollment, runs Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in 14 states and Unicare plans in several others. The insurer has received strong criticism for

planned rate hikes to individual health insurers, and several company critics attended the meeting.

Some were not happy the insurer adjourned it as soon as Bush became ill. Julia Vaughn, policy director for Common Cause Indiana, implored WellPoint CEO Angela Braly to continue the meeting as several people attended to Bush, who was laying on the floor. Bush serves on the board of several companies and investment funds. He is also founder and chairman of Bush O’Donnell Investment Advisors. — AP

Jordan’s cabinet approves controversial electoral law

SPACE: Astronaut Garrett Reisman, STS-132 mission specialist, takes a self portrait into his helmet visor while participating in the first of three spacewalks scheduled for the space shuttle Atlantis crew and their Expedition 23 hosts. — AP

AMMAN: Jordan’s cabinet approved an electoral law yesterday preserving a voting system that reduces representation in cities which are Islamist strongholds in favor of rural and Bedouin areas. Officials said the cabinet approved the draft law under which multi-party parliamentary elections are expected to be contested before the end of the year.

King Abdullah abruptly dissolved parliament last November after it completed half of its four-year term and called for early elections by 2010. A month later, the monarch appointed a new government led by Palace aide Samir Al-Rifai charged with speeding up electoral changes with a mandate to bring genuine political reforms and broader representation.

No official reason was given at the time for the dissolution of what was considered a rubber stamp assembly, composed of 110 mainly tribal pro-government loyalists, but politicians said it lost credibility by inept handling legislation. The draft law will be effective after a royal decree is enacted this week.

Political sources say its main changes include adding 10 extra parliamentary seats with six seats allocated for women under an

existing quota system while the underrepresented main cities of Amman, Zarqa and Irbid were given an extra four seats in a token gesture. Parliament, a stronghold of tribal support, was elected in November 2007 under a controversial electoral law that reduced the representation of the largely Palestinian-dominated cities, which are Islamic strongholds, in favor of rural and Bedouin areas.

King Abdullah had hoped for a new US drive for Middle East peace and the stalemate in Israeli-Palestinian relations is casting a shadow on a country a majority of whose six million citizens are of Palestinian origin. Many Jordanians fear their countrymen of Palestinian origin will settle permanently in the kingdom if they cannot return to the Palestinian territories, and are resisting their political empowerment in Jordan.

Political sources say a leaked copy of the new draft law retains a voting system first introduced in 1993 with carefully tailored electoral districts. Jordan’s Islamist opposition, strident opponents of Israel, alongside independent politicians and liberals say successive governments have failed to deliver greater political liberalization. — Reuters

Africa oil spills are far from US media glare LONDON: Oil gushing from an undersea well in the Gulf of Mexico has damaged BP’s reputation and share price but accidents involving other companies in less scrutinized parts of the world have avoided the media glare. Investors have knocked around $30 billion off BP’s value since an explosion at a drilling rig killed 11 people and began an oil spill the London-based major is struggling to plug nearly a month after the accident happened.

The US media and political machine has turned its full force on BP and US President Barack Obama has set up a commission into the leak which is sending an estimated 5,000 barrels per day into Gulf of Mexico waters. In contrast, the international media has largely ignored the latest incidents of pipeline damage in Nigeria, where the public can only guess how much oil might have been leaked.

The most recent damage in Nigeria, which has not been attributed to militant attacks that have preyed on Nigerian oil infrastructure for years, forced US operator ExxonMobil to relieve itself of contractual obliga-

Oil spills in Nigeria go relatively unnoticed tions by declaring force majeure on its exports of Nigerian benchmark crude. The light sweet crude is particularly well-suited for refining into gasoline and is regularly supplied to the United States, the world’s biggest oil burner.

Exxon declined the opportunity to give details of the damage, clean-up or repair work. An industry source, who declined to be named, said 100,000 bpd of oil had leaked for a week from a pipeline that has since been mended. “If this (the BP spill) were in the Niger Delta, no one would be batting an eyelid,” said Holly Pattenden, African oil analyst at consultants Business Monitor International. “They have these kind of oil spills in Nigeria all the time.”

BP’s share price has fallen around 18 percent since news of the fire at the drilling station on April 20, while Exxon shares were largely unchanged after the force

MPs blast govt over price hikes

Egyptians on e-revolution Continued from Page 1 The Muslim Brotherhood, banned under a law that blocks any political group based on religion, is the only group in Egypt with a network across the nation that could, analysts say, bring tens of thousands onto the streets if it chose.

But the Brotherhood is wary of a confrontation that could bring a crushing security response, threatening the group’s existence, analysts say. It has shunned street protests to focus on its medical and other social programs to build support.

Even modest protests in Egypt draw an overwhelming, and often violent, police response. But heavy-handed security has also been part of the reason activists have taken to the Web. “At one point the dynamism died down and activists found it difficult to mobilize in large numbers ... so they shifted to online gatherings,” said blogger Hossam Hamalawy. Facebook became a platform

for rallying dissidents in 2008, after the April Sixth Youth movement drew over 70,000 supporters to its page to back a strike over surging food prices. Protests on April 6 of that year had led to clashes with police.

This year, on the anniversary of the 2008 protests, demonstrators turned out in Cairo chanting “Down, down, Hosni Mubarak”. Just a few hundred turned up, small by global standards but a rarity in Egypt. Heavily outnumbered by police, many protesters were beaten before the demonstration ended. It has been a similar story at follow-up protests.

Creating momentum may be a challenge for online activists in Egypt, a country of 78 million where the United Nations puts illiteracy at 34 percent and Internet penetration at 17 percent. Iran, with a comparable population, has illiteracy of 18 percent while Internet usage of 31 percent. Yet Egypt’s government is still wary of the Web community.

The Internet is not policed as in Iran

or some other Arab states where sites, including Facebook, are blocked. But bloggers and Web activists have been detained. Rights groups say Egypt has used a long-standing emergency law to do so. In May, Cairo extended the law, already in place for almost three decades, for two more years, but said it would limit usage to terror and narcotics cases.

Rights groups are sceptical. Aware of the limits of the Web, some online ElBaradei supporters have gone offline by gathering signatures for a petition demanding constitutional changes and more freedom.

Yusuf AbdelRahman, representing ElBaradei’s Facebook group, said the petition had 54,870 online signatures so far but added that 15,000 Facebook members have volunteered to go on the streets of Cairo and other cities to collect more signatures. “(This) is a crucial step considering that three decades of state repression has left many afraid of taking action.

Others accept repressive measures as a fact of life,” he said. — Reuters

World powers snub Iran fuel swap deal Continued from Page 1 The United States and its Western allies accuse Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover under which to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its nuclear program is solely to generate electricity. Western powers have said the fuel swap offer promoted by Brazil and Turkey will not be enough to ease their worries and Israel, which regards Iranian nuclear capability as a direct threat, dismissed it.

Iran said it had agreed to transfer 1,200 kg of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Turkey within a month and in return receive, within a year, 120 kg of 20 percent-enriched uranium for use in a medical research reactor. Clinton said the deal did not commit Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and could lead to months of negotiations before Iran turned over any of its low enriched uranium. She suggested that it was a ploy to stave off

sanctions.

“We don’t believe it was any accident that Iran agreed to this declaration as we were preparing to move forward in New York,” Clinton said, referring to moves toward a sanctions resolution. “The fact that we had Russia on board, we had China on board, and that we were moving early this week, namely today, to share the text of that resolution, put pressure on Iran which they were trying to somehow dissipate,” she added.

However, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said he was encouraged by the fuel swap deal. His reaction suggested that world powers discussing possible new UN sanctions against Iran may part ways on how much weight to give Iran’s offer. “China ... expresses its welcome and appreciation for the diplomatic efforts all parties have made to positively seek an appropriate solution to the Iranian nuclear issue,” Yang said, according to the Foreign Ministry website

majeure announcement. The largest operator in Nigeria, Royal Dutch Shell has clashed with the Nigerian government for decades following numerous spills in Africa’s largest energy producer.

Shell said in a statement on its website that its Nigerian joint venture cleans up oil spills as quickly as possible, no matter what their cause, but is sometimes delayed by security concerns or because some communities deny access. The Anglo-Dutch major said the volume of oil spills in Nigeria for its joint venture was almost 14,000 tons last year, the equivalent of around 280 bpd, mainly because of militant attacks on facilities.

“It (the US) is without doubt the worse place for BP to lose their political capital,” said James Marriott, oil and gas analyst at environmental organization Platform. “If the US administration gets aggressive

against BP, then it’s a problem for them offshore, onshore in terms of shale gas, for conventional gas, refining, some cross-border projects with Canada and further afield.”

In the United States, BP’s massive spill and the risk of an environmental catastrophe could have implications throughout the industry as it has reopened the debate about deepwater drilling. Analysts say, however, the world is hugely dependent on deepwater drilling to secure oil supplies. The ExxonMobil force majeure relates to shallow offshore oil, but much of West Africa’s crude production, like that in the US Gulf of Mexico, is deepwater.

Analysts say it is unrealistic to veto deepwater drilling if the world’s oil needs are to be met. “Perhaps in terms of health and safety regulation (things will change), but not in terms of drilling,” said Angus McPhail of Wood Mackenzie consultants. “It is not really feasible to stop drilling altogether as long as there is good demand for the product.... It would be total economic madness.” — Reuters

(www.fmprc.gov.cn).

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu later said his government hoped the agreement would “benefit the process of peacefully resolving the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations.” Beijing’s stance appeared more in line with Moscow’s position that although many questions remained, including whether Iran intended to continue enriching uranium, further consultations were appropriate.

“After this, we need to decide what to do: Are those proposals sufficient or is something else needed? So I think a small pause on this problem would not do any harm,” Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday. Russia has been moving gradually toward supporting more sanctions on Iran. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke with Clinton by telephone yesterday about Iran, Lavrov’s office in Moscow said. It gave no details of the talks. — Reuters

Continued from Page 1 Opposition MPs like Barrak and Tabtabai accuse many members of the current assembly of being pro-government.

But liberal MP Ali Al-Rashed, in a clear response to the calls, said the current parliamentary set-up is the product of democracy and if someone does not like the result of democracy, they should stay at home. Also, MP Zalzalah blasted the views saying that those who find it difficult to co-exist with the assembly should

resign. In another development, the national assembly legal and legislative committee yesterday approved a proposal that obliges the government to send classified accounts to the Audit Bureau and to allow MPs to see them but not to take copies of them. The committee also said that answers of the prime minister to parliamentary questions must carry his signatures and they should be made either by the prime minister or a minister assigned by him.

Meanwhile, head of the assembly human rights committee MP Tabtabai said

committee members will pay a visit to the central prison to inspect the condition of prisoners. Tabtabai also said the committee will meet with the minister of social affairs and labor shortly to discuss the issues of expatriates and human rights situation in general following Kuwait’s presentation to the UN Human Rights Council. Also, Islamist MP Mohammad Hayef yesterday proposed that surveillance cameras should be installed in hotels, furnished apartments and malls for security and monitoring immoral activities.

‘Jihadist tourism’ in Hezbollahland Continued from Page 1 during the Israeli occupation. Also on the “jihadist tour” is a stop at Beaufort Castle, which was a garrison headquarters and the nerve centre of Israel’s occupation.

Most of those taking part in the latest tour had never set foot in the south and were astonished to see Israel up close. Many young women sported tank tops, tight jeans and even high heels for the outing in the mainly Shiite region.

“It is overwhelming to be here,” said Rim, 19, a pharmaceutical student. “You feel invincible and you feel ready to sacrifice yourself for your country.” On board the 11 buses transporting the students, the atmos-

phere was playful, with much singing and joking.

A more somber mood took over, however, when a documentary was aired on Hezbollah’s military might and its so-called “divine victory” over the Jewish state in the 2006 conflict. During a question and answer session, Taleb and several other militants quizzed students on their knowledge of the resistance movement. “What is the name of the first Hezbollah martyr? ... What airport did Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vow to bomb in the event of another war?” were among the questions.

The highlight of the trip was a visit to what the militants said was a key fighting position for Hezbollah near the Iqlim Al-

Touffah region. After a steep climb of nearly four kilometers, the group was met by two rows of Hezbollah fighters with blackened faces and armed with machine-guns. In the background blared a speech by Nasrallah boasting that his party had more than 20,000 rockets ready for the next battle with Israel.

His voice was accompanied by the sound of heavy machine-gun fire. “They have won me over,” said Lama, 21, a business student.

“I learned a lot of interesting things about the south and Hezbollah’s weapons. “It’s cool.” A French student, one of the rare foreigners on the trip, couldn’t get over the show. “This is surreal, it’s like Disneyland,” he said, refusing to be identified. “I never expected to see this.” — AFP

Saudi forces rescue 2 German hostages Continued from Page 1 He said the family in Germany was informed about the rescue on Monday afternoon. “Now we’re making preparations for the girls’ return home,” he said.

Kidnappings of foreigners and Yemenis are common in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country, where hostages are used by disgruntled tribesmen to press demands on authorities. Most hostages have been freed unharmed, but in 2000 a Norwegian diplomat was killed in crossfire and in 1998 four Westerners were killed during a botched army attempt to free them from Islamist militants who had seized 16 tourists.

The German foreign minister said the res-

cued girls were in relatively good health and would return home today, but he remained concerned about the remaining German hostages. “Our efforts are continuing undiminished to shed light on the whereabouts of the remaining hostages. Their fate is causing us great concern. We are hoping for a happy outcome for them too,” Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said. A British embassy spokeswoman in Yemen said Britain remained concerned for the safety of the one British hostage.

Yemeni tribal sources said the two girls were found during Saudi cross-border raids, backed by helicopters, in several villages on Monday in the northern region of Saada near the Saudi border, but gave no further details.

The operation to free the girls was carried out in coordination with Yemeni security forces, Mansour Al-Turki, the Saudi interior ministry spokesman for security affairs, told Al Arabiya television.

No group has claimed responsibility for the June abduction, which occurred in an area where Shiite rebels have been fighting government troops on and off since 2004.

The rebels have denied carrying out the kidnapping. In south Yemen, negotiators were also working to free two Chinese oil workers kidnapped by suspected separatists on Sunday. Xinhua news agency said tribesmen had agreed to free the workers but there was no news yet they had actually been let go. — Reuters

SPORTS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Rowing expect late sales surge AUCKLAND: Rowing world championships organisers in New Zealand are confident this year’s competition will break even thanks to an expected late surge in ticket sales from a public renowned for supporting sporting events.

The championships are to be held at Lake Karapiro, about 150km south of New Zealand’s largest city Auckland, which hosted the championships in 1978 and is also the base for Rowing New Zealand’s high performance programme.

“We will at least get across the line with zero and leave legacy buildings, which is a profit as far as we’re concerned,” organisers’ chief executive Tom Mayo told Reuters in a recent interview in an Auckland harbour side cafe.

“We will make a profit through gate revenue (and) it comes down to ticket sales,” he added of the Oct. 31-Nov. 7 event, tickets for which went on sale earlier this month.

“We have done our research and looked at projected ticket sales and then cut that in half for our budgets. “If more people turn up, if we sell out in the last two days then we’re looking very good.”

Mayo said the cost of hosting the championships was about NZ$16 million ($11.17 million) while the local Waipa District Council were also spending NZ$12 million upgrading facilities.

“There is ho huge underwrite like the rugby World Cup,” Mayo said in reference to the hosting fee organisers must pay for the next year’s tournament in New Zealand.

“With bums on seats comes profit but that also increases costs.” Mayo’s biggest concern was the fickleness of the New Zealand public when it came to attending events, with about 60 percent of tickets being purchased in the two weeks beforehand.

“With two weeks to go, I’ll be smiling or crying,” he said with a grin of the precarious nature of predicting how much revenue they could generate.

Mayo added the organisers had also decided to build the large temporary grandstand alongside the course based on ticket sales. The more tickets sold, the larger the grandstand.

“We will sell and build and our research says we can sell between 6,000-9,000 permanent seats (per day) so at the moment we have 7,500 seats (planned), 60 percent of which are covered.

“I hope it’s 9,000, I really do, but the extra 2,000 is going to come down to the weather and what else is on at the time.”

They also had to sell to two distinct markets, the more affluent spectators from the metropolitan areas from Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga (all within 90 minutes drive) and locals.

“If we ignore the locals that don’t have the high discretionary income but love supporting New Zealand and who want to come on the day and just see an event, then we will be foolish to ignore them (so) we want to make it as affordable as possible,” he said of the $19.95 general admission tickets. — Reuters

15

US defeat Italy to avoid relegation Ernie Els celebrates in this file photo.

Els hopes for players’ respect WENTWORTH: Ernie Els is a little nervous as Europe’s top players arrive at Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship starting tomorrow.

The three-time major winner has spent the English winter overseeing a radical redesign of the course west of London. Els deepened some of the bunkers so they force players to play out sideways, and at the par-5 18th hole, the scene of many a dramatic Sunday afternoon finish since Wentworth hosted the PGA regularly from 1984, he installed a small lake in front of the green.

Traditionalists say some of the changes are out of place given the natural heath on which Wentworth is situated, and others fear the newly relaid and heavily sand-protected greens may not hold approach shots.

But while he’s on edge as he awaits the reaction from the other 149 players, Els also believes he has updated a course first designed by Harry Colt in 1927. “I am actually nervous,” Els said. “I am in the hot seat. I am the guy the guys can fire at, can throw their arrows at. And you know if the guys don’t like it you can listen to what they don’t like.

“But at the end of the day you see the course and you do it the way you see it and feel you want to test the players and be fair to them. We’ll just have to wait and see how it pans out at the end of the week.

“Obviously I am not going to please everybody and I am going to have questions all over the place.

But the course is the way we saw it and hopefully the guys will appreciate that.” Richard Caring, the owner of Wentworth, employed Els’ design skills after enduring years of outspoken criticism of the course’s greens, particularly from triple major winner Padraig Harrington.

But in the end his working brief was to update Wentworth to keep apace with the advance of golf club and ball technology.

“This tournament is like a fifth major championship over here in Europe and the course needs to have a bit of stature and a little bit of teeth in it,” Els said. “And I think we have brought that back.

“The players will have a bit of a shock but I am sure they will find a way around here.” After deliberately staying away from Europe’s PGA Championship for two years, Harrington returned to Wentworth on Monday and was ready to congratulate Els. “I have been very impressed,” the Irishman said. “They have built a substantial course and we are going to see all sorts of drama from the players at the 18th. “They are going to want to take on the water and by doing that they are going to bring eagle 3s and double bogey 7s into play which is exactly how it should be.”

Harrington, meanwhile, confirmed that next week he will undergo keyhole surgery to repair his damaged right knee cartilage, but fully expects to be fit to play in the US Open at Pebble Beach next month. —AP

COLOGNE: The United States avoided relegation from the top division at the ice hockey world championship when it beat Italy 3-2 in a shootout yesterday.

The US swept its demotion group, winning all three games.

France also staved off relegation by beating Kazakhstan 5-3 for second place. Third-place Italy and last-place Kazakhstan will play in the second division next year.

Giulio Scandella and Stefano Margoni scored for Italy, while Brandon Dubinsky gave the US the early then set up Ryan Potulny’s power-play goal with 8:52 remaining to force overtime, in which neither team scored. In the penalty shootout, TJ Oshie scored on three of five attempts while U.S. goalie Scott Clemmensen made three stops against Italy.

“We had a responsibility to the team which will be here next year to give them a chance for a medal,” Potulny said.

Later yesterday, the final two spots in the quarterfinals will be decided when undefeated Russia faces Finland, host Germany takes on Slovakia, Canada tussles with the Czech Republic, and Switzerland takes on Sweden.

Meanwhile, Nicklas Backstrom signed a 10-year, $67 million deal with the Washington Capitals on Monday, a major investment in a player who has rapidly developed into one of the best centers in the NHL. The 22-year-old Swede and two-time league MVP Alex Ovechkin have developed a partnership that accounted for 210 points this season, making them the top scoring teammate duo in the league.

“We now have two of maybe the top five players in the world playing on our team for many years to come,” coach Bruce

Giulio Scandella of Italy in action against US. Boudreau said.

Ovechkin is about to enter the third year of a $124 million, 13-year deal. Knowing that Ovechkin isn’t going anywhere played a part in Backstrom’s desire to commit to Washington for the long haul.

“I was thinking that I wanted to play with him,” Backstrom said. “Hopefully he’ll want to play with me, too. I wanted 10 years; I wanted long term. I think it’s good that we’re together.”

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2006 draft, Backstrom set career-highs with 33 goals and 68 assists this season, and his 101 points ranked fourth in the league. He has yet to miss a game over three NHL seasons.

Backstrom’s contract pays him $6 million for the next four

seasons, with the amount gradually increasing to $8 million by decade’s end. He had been scheduled to become a restricted free agent in July.

General manager George McPhee expressed no qualms about having so much time and money tied up in just two players. “The risks are that the player doesn’t meet expectation with the contract, but I never for one minute with Alex Ovechkin or Nicklas Backstrom think that they won’t compete all the way through,” McPhee said. “It sends the right message to our fans and to this franchise that we have outstanding young players who are ready to commit for the rest of their career.

You win championship with these kinds of players.” Not yet, though. The Capitals flamed out

in the first round of the playoffs this year despite having the NHL’s best record. Asked if the contract puts more pressure on him to perform, Backstrom said it’s no different than the pressure to win the Stanley Cup. “I don’t think it is going to be anything different,” Backstrom said. “We want to win the Cup.” Backstrom wasn’t the only Swede putting his name to a contract Monday. The Capitals also signed 2009 first-round draft pick Marcus Johansson to a three-year entry level deal for $2.7 million.

McPhee said the 19-year-old center will be ready to compete for a roster spot next season, with Backstrom as a mentor.

“Our two Vikings,” McPhee said. “It’s always good to have Vikings.”—AP

SPORTS

16

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

ST LOUIS: Washington Nationals right fielder Willie Harris just misses a double by St. Louis Cardinals’ Ryan Ludwick during the second inning of a baseball game. —AP

Giants fall to Padres, Cards pound Nationals SAN DIEGO: The San Diego Padres stayed atop the National League West by beating the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Monday — their seventh straight win against their divisional rival.

Adrian Gonzalez homered for the Padres, who staged a form reversal, as they were coming off three straight losses while the Giants entered with three consecutive wins.

San Diego starter Clayton Richard beat Giants starter Matt Cain (2-2) for the second time in a span of six games by holding San Francisco to one run in seven innings.

Cardinals 6, Nationals 2 In St. Louis, Albert Pujols had three hits and a walk and helped fuel

a four-run first inning that was enough for St. Louis to defeat Washington.

The big first inning against Nationals starter Craig Stammen (12) came with Pujols batted fourth in the order for the first time since 2003. Kyle Lohse (1-3) became the final member of the St. Louis rotation to win this season.

East-leading Phillies, who have won four straight.

Philadelphia got one of its injured stars back when Jimmy Rollins returned to the lineup after missing 29 games with a calf injury. The three-time All-Star shortstop and 2007 NL MVP had two hits and an RBI. Pirates starter Charlie Morton (1-7) gave up six runs in four innings.

Phillies 12, Pirates 2 In Philadelphia, Kyle Kendrick pitched eight impressive innings to guide Philadelphia to a rout of Pittsburgh. Pitching in a steady rain, Kendrick (2-1) allowed two runs, striking out four.

Ryan Howard hit a grand slam and had six RBIs, while Jayson Werth had a three-run homer for the NL

Mets 3, Braves 2 In Atlanta, Mike Pelfrey pitched 7 2-3 strong innings to help New York edge Atlanta and end a five-game losing streak. Pelfrey (5-1) became the first Mets starting pitcher to win a game this month.

Rod Barajas gave the Mets a 2-0 lead with a two-run double off Braves starter Derek Lowe (5-4) in the sec-

ond. Pedro Feliciano struck out Brian McCann with the bases loaded in the eighth to protect a one-run lead.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his sixth save, striking out Nate McLouth with a runner on second to end the game.

Reds 6, Brewers 3 In Cincinnati, Jonny Gomes’ three-run homer completed a fiverun rally in the seventh inning, as Cincinnati retained the Central lead for another day by beating Milwaukee.

Gomes’ homer off Todd Coffey (11) sent the Reds to their eighth victory in nine games. They haven’t led the Central this deep into a season since 2006. Reds starter Johnny

Cueto (3-1) fanned seven, giving up Corey Hart’s solo homer. Hart also homered in the ninth. The slumping Brewers lost their season-worst seventh straight.

D’backs 5, Marlins 1 In Miami, Edwin Jackson struck out a career-high 12 in eight shutout innings to lead Arizona over Florida.

Jackson (2-5), who was on the AllStar team last season, came in with a 1-5 record and 7.43 ERA. In addition to that, he was 0-3 with an ERA over 11 in four career appearances against the Marlins.

Stephen Drew, John Hester, and Conor Jackson each drove in a run for the Diamondbacks. Florida starter Chris Volstad (3-4) took the loss. Manuel Gonzalez became the

MLB Results/Standings

the fourth Cubs pitcher, worked two perfect innings, striking out four to take the win.

Cubs 4, Rockies 2 In Chicago, Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, his first home run in more than a month, lifting Chicago over Colorado.

Starlin Castro opened the 11th with his third hit of the game, a single off Matt Belisle (1-1). After an out, Ramirez lined a pitch through a stiff wind into the left-field bleachers.

Ramirez, who also drove in Chicago’s first run, has been in a season-long slump. Even after the twohit game, he is batting only .175 after hitting .300 in his first seven seasons with the Cubs. Sean Marshall (3-1),

Dodgers 6, Astros 2 In Los Angeles, John Ely pitched his third straight game of six or more innings without issuing a walk, directing Los Angeles to victory over Houston and to its eighth straight win.

Ely (2-1) allowed two runs over seven innings and struck out eight.

The rookie has faced 84 consecutive batters without issuing a walk. Casey Blake and Blake Dewitt each drove in two runs for the Dodgers.

Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (2-5) allowed seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. His only strikeout came against his first batter. —AP

Twins thrash Blue Jays

Major League Baseball results and standings on Monday. Kansas City 4, Baltimore 3; NY Yankees 11, Boston 9; Philadelphia 12, Pittsburgh 2; Minnesota 8, Toronto 3; Tampa Bay 4, Cleveland 3 (11 innings); NY Mets 3, Atlanta 2; Arizona 5, Florida 1; Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 3; Chicago Cubs 4, Colorado 2 (11 innings); Texas 4, LA Angels 3; St. Louis 6, Washington 2; San Diego 3, San Francisco 1; Oakland 8, Seattle 4; LA Dodgers 6, Houston 2.

Detroit V Chicago White Sox (Postponed) American League Eastern Division W L Tampa Bay 27 11 NY Yankees 25 13 Toronto 23 17 Boston 19 20 Baltimore 12 27 Central Division Minnesota 24 14 Detroit 22 16 Cleveland 15 21 Chicago White Sox 15 22 Kansas City 15 24 Western Division Texas 21 18 Oakland 19 20 LA Angels 18 22 Seattle 14 24 National League Eastern Division Philadelphia 24 13 Florida 20 19 Washington 20 19 NY Mets 19 20 Atlanta 18 20 Central Division Cincinnati 22 16 St Louis 22 17 Chicago Cubs 17 22 Pittsburgh 16 22 Milwaukee 15 23 Houston 13 25 Western Division San Diego 23 15 San Francisco 21 16 LA Dodgers 21 17 Colorado 19 19 Arizona 16 23

first Venezuelan umpire in major league baseball history, working at third base.

PCT .711 .658 .575 .487 .308

GB 2 5 8.5 15.5

.632 .579 .417 .405 .385

2 8 8.5 9.5

.538 .487 .450 .368

2 3.5 6.5

.649 .513 .513 .487 .474

5 5 6 6.5

.579 .564 .436 .421 .395 .342

.5 5.5 6 7 9

.605 .568 .553 .500 .410

1.5 2 4 7.5

ST. PETERSBURG: Catcher John Jaso No. 28 is congratulated by Ben Zobrist No. 18 of the Tampa Bay Rays after scoring the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh against the Cleveland Indians.—AFP

TORONTO: Justin Morneau homered twice as the Minnesota Twins beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Monday, boosting their lead in the American League Central division.

Morneau went 3 for 4 with a walk and four RBIs. He hit a solo homer in the sixth inning and added a two-run drive in the eighth, his first multihomer game this season and the 13th of his career. Morneau has hit safely in 10 straight games.

Delmon Young also went deep for the Twins. Toronto’s Jose Bautista homered for the fourth time in three games, his team-leading 11th, but the Blue Jays’ four-game winning streak ended.

Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey (53) earned his first win in five career starts against the Blue Jays. Toronto starter Dana Eveland (3-3) took the loss.

peration toss toward the plate that went over the catcher’s head.

Andy Sonnanstine (1-0), the sixth Tampa Bay reliever, took the win by striking out two during a perfect 11th, helping the Rays improve to a major league-best 27-11 this season.

Yankees 11, Red Sox 9 In New York, the hosts got two homers in the ninth inning to secure a thrilling win over Boston. The Yankees were trailing by two runs in the ninth, but with one out and a runner on third, Rodriguez hit his first pitch over the fence in left-center to tie it 9-9.

Boston pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (1-3) got Robinson Cano to fly out for the second out, but hit Francisco Cervelli with a pitch before Marcus Thames drove his next delivery over the wall in left.

Thames was mobbed at home plate after New York’s first game-ending hit of the season. New York’s Javier Vazquez (2-4) got the win in an unfamiliar reliever role, striking out Kevin Youkilis with runners on the corners for the final out of the ninth.

Athletics 8, Mariners 4 In Oakland, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Adam Rosales each hit two-run homers to lift Oakland over Seattle. Rajai Davis drove in two runs, and Daric Barton and Kurt Suzuki also had RBIs for the A’s, who ended a five-game losing skid.

Gio Gonzalez (4-3) matched his season high with seven innings pitched, giving up four hits. Seattle’s Matt Tuiasosopo hit a home run, and Jose Lopez had two hits and drove in three runs as the Mariners lost their third straight. Starter Ryan Rowland-Smith (0-4) gave up a career-worst seven runs in 4 1-3 innings, his shortest start.

Rays 4, Indians 3 In St. Petersburg, Jason Bartlett laid down a bunt to drive in the winning run in the 11th inning, giving Tampa Bay victory over Cleveland.

John Jaso hit a one-out single against Jamey Wright (1-2) and went to third on Gabe Kapler’s single to right.

Bartlett then laid down a bunt on the first base side of the mound that Wright fielded and was forced to make a des-

Rangers 4, Angels 3 In Arlington, Derek Holland pitched into the sixth inning to set up Texas’ tight win over Los Angeles. Holland (2-0) allowed five hits in 5 1-3 innings in his second start since being recalled from the minors. Nelson Cruz drove in two runs for the Rangers, while Neftali Feliz got three outs for his ninth save in 11 chances. Mike Napoli and Torii Hunter homered for the Angels, whose three-game winning streak ended.

Angels starter Scott Kazmir (2-4) gave up nine hits in seven innings, his longest outing of the season.

Royals 4, Orioles 3 In Baltimore, Kyle Davies allowed only two runs in six innings, steering Kansas City past Baltimore. Davies (32) yielded two singles in each of his first three innings, then retired nine of the final 11 batters he faced. Joakim Soria worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his 10th save.

A crowd of 9,299 - second-smallest in the 19-year history of Camden Yards - turned out on a wet, chilly night to watch the teams with the two worst records in the AL. Baltimore’s Brad Bergesen (3-3) suffered the loss. —AP

17

SPORTS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Indy could have record 5 women in starting field INDIANAPOLIS: Janet Guthrie can see progress moving at full throttle. The pioneering racer is now watching five women try to duplicate her milestone achievement by qualifying for this year’s Indianapolis 500.

There are women climbing over the wall for pit stops and female engineers dissecting data at Indy, giving a male-dominated sport the kind of female touch Guthrie always envisioned.

“I thought it would take two generations,” she told The Associated Press by phone Sunday. “But it’s only taken a little more than one.” It’s been 33 years since Guthrie became the first woman to start a race at the famed Brickyard, and for most of that time, Guthrie stood virtually alone.

From her breakthrough moment in 1977 until 1999 only one other woman, Lyn St. James, qualified for Indy’s 33-car starting grid. From 2000 to 2006, the number of females entered in the race was capped at two.

Now the numbers — and perceptions — are rapidly changing. This year’s potential female starters at Indy consist of the glamorous Danica Patrick, the first woman to win an IndyCar race; the personable Sarah Fisher, the first woman to win an IndyCar pole; fan favorite Milka Duno and two relatively unknown but promising rookies, Brazil’s Ana Beatriz

and Switzerland’s Simona de Silvestro.

If each makes the May 30 field, it would mark the first time any has been part of a race featuring five women. “I think it would be neat,” Fisher said. “But what’s really cool is they’re all qualified (drivers).” While fans and officials welcome the influx of women, the times haven’t always been so cordial.

When Guthrie started her quest to qualify at Indy, she became the target of a letter-writing campaign to keep her out.

Companies insisted they feared sponsoring a woman because of racing’s dangers, a refrain that included an airline company telling Guthrie it didn’t want “anything to do with a sport that involved crashes.”

Guthrie even remembers her team owner explaining why NASCAR put three women on the 1977 Firecracker 400 starting grid — to prove they didn’t belong.

Guthrie’s calm, eloquent demeanor helped stop those arguments, even though it wasn’t until 2001 that Fisher noticed a different clientele at the track.

“You’d see fathers bringing their daughters to the autograph line,” Fisher said as she pointed toward a photo of a girl driving a go-kart. “Now I sign a lot of pictures like this.” Four years later, Patrick joined the circuit and her emergence changed the sport again.

A fourth-place finish at Indy in 2005

kicked off Danicamania and instantly turned her into the series covergirl.

Suddenly, the questions were no longer about whether Patrick belonged in IndyCars at the age of 23. Everyone wanted to know how long it would take her to win.

“I remember coming into the first year and thinking, ‘Well, you know, there’s no guarantee that I would stay if I don’t do well my first year. Who knows what’s going to happen,”‘ she said. “You know, kind of after the first part of the season, which included through Indy and stuff, I went, ‘I think maybe I’ll get another job next year.”‘ Patrick has been one of the series most popular drivers since that race, and her success had a huge impact for future generations of women.

Sponsors that once backed away from Guthrie saw the obvious marketability of having Patrick pitch their products and started lining up to get on Patrick’s team.

“I think that would be hard to question,” said Terry Angstadt, president of the IRL’s commercial division. The pace of change cranked up again in 2008 after Patrick’s victory at Japan put the IndyCar women’s movement back on center stage.

A month later, Fisher came to Indianapolis as the first woman with full ownership of her own team since Guthrie

Chess great Kasparov doesn’t regret leaving game NEW YORK: Russian chess luminary Garry Kasparov said Monday that he doesn’t regret trading the game for politics.

“I just did what I believe is right for my country,” the former world champion told The Associated Press at a fundraiser for his former opponent Anatoly Karpov, a fellow Russian who is running for president of the World Chess Federation.

The two men waged one of the sporting world’s greatest rivalries between 1984 and 1990 when they met five times for the world championship. One title match lasted five months and eventually was halted on grounds that both were exhausted.

Kasparov said he hopes to help Karpov put chess back on the front pages of newspapers and that he believes the game can help restore political order to Russia. Karpov won Russia’s nomination over current federation president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

The election will take place in September in KhantyMansiysk, Russia. “It’s fighting the corrupt international body,” Kasparov said. “Creating new rules for engagement for chess, it will be helpful as well for bringing democracy to my country.” Kasparov is considered by some to have been the best player in chess history. He retired from top-level professional play in 2005 to become a political activist. He is a vocal critic of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and the leader of an opposition group called the United Civil Front.

“It’s too long for my country,” Kasparov said of Putin’s tenure in office, first as president and now as prime minister. “But it will not be as long as everyone believes. I know we can bring change to the government.”

In March, Kasparov helped publicize an Internet petition calling for Putin’s resignation. He said the petition would help turn widespread discontent with Putin’s rule into large-scale demonstrations demanding he step down. So far, that hasn’t happened. And public opinion polls suggest Putin remains popular despite a recent wave of anti-government rallies.—AP

INDIANAPOLIS: This photo made Saturday, May 15, 2010, shows Ana Beatriz, of Brazil, removing on umbrella from her car during the opening day of practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race. — AP

Seven is a better number for Spain Burabei’a clinches UAE Jet Ski Tourney World and Kuwait Jet Ski champion, Mohammad Burabei’a has achieved an unprecedented achievement on the Gulf sports scene, after he managed to win the United Arab Emirates’ Jet Ski Tournament for the third year in a row.

The victory came after Burabei’a finished second in the sixth and final round of the race, which enabled him to collect 228 and maintain his lead over the

overall standings ahead of Kuwaiti contestant Mohammad Al-Baz who finished the competition with 333 points. Former Kuwaiti champion, Abdurrahman Al-Badr, came on third place.

Burabei’a expressed his extreme happiness with his achievement, which he said had come through dedication, and support from the Kuwait Sea Sports Club and the Public Authority for Youth and Sports.

Al-Sayegh and Al-Meel pose with the KFH team after handing them their trophies.

KFH win Bowling Tourney KUWAIT: The Kuwait Finance House was recently crowned as the winner for the 2010 Banks Bowling Tournament held by the Kuwait Banks Club, after defeating the Ahli United team in the final match that was held at the Cosmo bowling hall in Salmiya.

After the end of the match, the winning team was awarded with the championship’s trophy by the KBC’s assistant treasurer, Mohammad AlSayegh, and the head of the sports committee, Mohammad Al-Meel, while the Ahli United team was awarded with the second place’s trophy.

in 1978. Last May, Anna Chatten, went over the wall as Duno’s air jack operator, a job she has again this year with KV Racing’s Mario Moraes.

Why has the IndyCar Series become a world full of women? “I think it’s more open because Danica has been here a couple of years now,” said de Silvestro, who led four laps in her IndyCar debut in March. “I’m sure it will change everywhere else if girls can be competitive.”

Winning races, of course, is what matters most — even to the guys.

“I think it would cheapen the experience for the fans, for the stakeholders, for the competitors if it was just a circus-act sideshow,” driver Townsend Bell said.

“But the fact there are some women who can run at the front of this race here authenticates what they can do.”

The 72-year-old Guthrie never doubted this day would come. She just wasn’t sure she’d be around long enough to see it. What Guthrie likes most, though, is seeing a whole new generation of women drivers doing their thing, their way.

“I’m perfectly delighted, especially with Ana and Simona because they’ve both shown terrific talent in the lower levels and they deserve a chance at the top spot,” Guthrie said. “Having five women start at Indy? That would be spectacular.

I’d love it.”—AP

Captain of the Ahli United Bank receives the second place trophy.

MADRID: Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who played a psychopathic hitman in “No Country for Old Men,” once said being a rugby player in Spain was like being a bullfighter in Japan.

Growing up in Madrid, Bardem played as a prop in the junior categories of the Spanish national team before switching fulltime to acting, but he might detect a change in the air if he returned from Hollywood now.

The decision to include rugby sevens in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 has given Spanish rugby a lift, as aficionados see a chance to make a splash in the variant of a sport not traditionally associated with their country.

This month, the Spanish rugby federation (FER) is hosting its first National Series of rugby sevens for clubs in the men’s and women’s game, one of the first of its type in Europe. The enthusiastic take-up for the competitions has surprised even the organisers.

“Making rugby sevens an Olympic sport has created huge excitement,” Spanish national team coach Jose Ignacio Inchausti told Reuters by telephone.

“The commitment from the clubs has exceeded all expectations,” he continued, saying 18 of the established clubs in the top two national leagues had entered teams.

The Spanish government have helped to finance the initiative and the finals on June 26 will be shown on Spanish television. The FER see rugby sevens as a chance for greater success internationally than they have enjoyed in the 15player game.

FER president Alfonso Mandado said: “Rugby sevens fits well with the characteristics of the male and female players we have in Spain, as we showed with the recent runners-up slot achieved by the females in Europe, and the fourth place taken by the men.”

Spain’s women were second behind England in the European sevens tournament in Hanover last year, while the men were fourth behind champions Russia.

“These kinds of results are harder to achieve in the 15-man code, where the physical difference is much greater,” Mandado added.

Spanish rugby players are typically quick, skilful and co-ordinated, but lack the height and power of their northern European rivals.

Taller players tend to opt for basketball, Spain’s second biggest team sport behind soccer, but rugby sevens offers Spaniards the chance of a more even playing field.

Rugby sevens is also an easier sport to sell to youngsters at school level, where rugby still has a negative image as a contact game. “It’s hard to convince a young lad at school to turn himself into a beast,” Inchausti added.

Mandado supported the view: “A game involving seven players is an ideal base to help promote rugby in schools,” he said.

“The format of rugby sevens tournaments, with many spectacular plays in a short space of time, makes it very attractive for television (as well).”

The Spanish National Series of rugby sevens is being backed up with workshops for players and coaches, training for referees and link-ups with the newly-founded National Rugby Academy.

In the long run it is hoped rugby sevens will have a positive benefit for the 15-man game, but Mandado said it was not realistic to contemplate Spain ever making it into an expanded Six Nations competition, for example.

Rugby has some way to go before it will remove Real Madrid, Barcelona or the Spanish national team from the front pages of the soccermad local sports press.

However, the country’s successes in other Olympic team sports-silver in basketball at the 2008 Beijing Games, along with silver in hockey and bronze in handball-means that at rugby sevens they could be a force to reckoned with by the time Rio 2016 comes round. — Reuters

FRANCE: Clermont-Ferrand supporters cheer their team up during the French Top 14 semi final rugby union match Clermont-Ferrand versus Toulon.— AFP

Mixed reception for governing body’s brave new world ENGLAND: A plan to end the round of increasingly meaningless end-of-season international rugby tours in which top countries try out second and third string players has met with a mixed reception.

The International Rugby Board on Monday unveiled a new 10-year rotational playing calendar for June which pitches the cream of international world rugby on a rotational basis from 2012.

Northern hemisphere countries will travel to their southern hemisphere counterparts for two or three test tours. The governing body hopes that the set roster persuades them to take the encounters seriously by fielding their best players.

In recent years, many teams such as France and England have given their big names a break for shorter tours in the southern hemisphere leading to embarrassingly one-sided home victories.

The French coach Marc Lievremont was not so sure that the northern nations would play ball with the plan as it gave his men less time to recover from tiring domestic seasons.

“I’m torn between the will to follow on with the players who won the Six Nations grand slam and the will to give a rest to some of them who had a long and gruelling season,” he was quoted as saying in Bordeaux newspaper SudOuest yesterday.

In contrast, England manager Martin Johnson told Reuters that the type of tour his

team are making to Australia in June, which also includes midweek non-international matches, would give him more chance to bond with his best players.

“The five-match summer tour will be a huge benefit for not only for the coaches but for the players as well,” Johnson told Reuters.

“It gives more players the opportunity to play international rugby and benefit from the experience of doing that and it gives the coaches more opportunities to see how players perform at test and international level.

“I support and welcome the prospect of more tours based on the same criteria.” The IRB also outlined a commitment to develop second-tier nations, with return tours planned to the Pacific Islands, North America and 2019 World Cup hosts Japan.

Under Clive Woodward, England identified southern hemisphere tours as essential building blocks towards their 2003 World Cup triumph.

In 2000 they played two tests — winning one-and three midweek matches in South Africa while they also won in New Zealand and Australia in June 2003.

On subsequent tours they have often rested some senior players and have not won an away game against the “big three” since. A similar strategy by France, who also have clashes with their domestic season, has resulted in their losing eight of their previous 11 matches in the Southern Hemisphere. — Reuters

18

SPORTS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

AGWIN: Lance Armstrong (center) and other riders climb up a rain-soaked road during the second stage of the Tour of California cycling race. —AP

Lancaster wins California stage two SANTA ROSA: Australian Brett Lancaster accelerated to the front of a group of 26 riders over the final metres to claim stage two and assume the race lead in the rainy Tour of California on Monday.

Lancaster, a 2004 Olympic team pursuit gold medalist, claimed the 177.2-km (110.1mile) Davis to Santa Rosa stage in a provisional time of 4 hours 38 minutes 35 seconds.

Peter Sagan of Slovakia finished second with Lars Boom of the Netherlands third, both in the same time as the winner. A former Tour of Italy prologue winner, Lancaster began stage two trailing former

race leader Mark Cavendish of Britain, who did not finish in the lead group, by 10 seconds.

With his 10-second stage win time bonus, Lancaster now leads the eight-day event by four seconds from Sagan. American Levi Leipheimer, looking to win the race for the fourth time in succession, and team mate Lance Armstrong, the seven-times Tour de France winner, finished among the lead group of 26.

An initial lead group of five riders was joined by a group of 21 other cyclists about 153 kilometres into the overcast and rainy stage. The leaders quickly expanded their

margin and the main field was split into several groups. The race continues on Tuesday with a 182.3-km (113.3-mile) stage from San Francisco to Santa Cruz.

Meanwhile, American rider Tyler Farrar won his second stage of this year’s Tour of Italy when he collected the 10th stage on Tuesday, a 230 kilometres ride from Avellino to here. Kazakhstan’s Alexandre Vinokourov retained the overall leader’s pink jersey.

Farrar, 25, beat home Italian Fabio Sabatini while the American’s team-mate Julian Dean of New Zealand was third, after doing excellent lead-out work for the stage

Indoor soccer tourney ends today KUWAIT: The Interior Minister Lt. General Sheikh Jaber Khalid Al-Sabah indoor soccer tournament concludes today at Kazmah Sports Club. 12 sectors from the ministry participated over three days that started on May 16. The tournament was competitive and lead to the discovery of some skilled players in the process, that can be selected to MOI team.

Four teams will compete for title they are the education, training, reform establishments, general and special security.

Deputy President of the Police Sports Association Colonel Abdelrahman Al-Haqan was satisfied with the skills teams showed during the competition.

He said the closed doors soccer competitions enjoy special attention from the chairman and board members of the association. He said the sport had domestic and abroad achievements, adding that a competition like this is what the technical systems rely on to select members for the police team.

Al-Haqan appreciated the patronage of the interior minister of championships, and his agreement to hold the competition under his name shows his interest and unlimited support for interior ministry personnel in all individual and team sports, particularly soccer as it enjoys great personality.

winner, while Australian veteran Robbie McEwen was fourth.

Farrar, who got off the mark with the second stage of the race in the Netherlands, said he had been prepared to let the hardworking Dean win the stage until he saw danger approaching in the form of Sabatini.

“Julian launched the sprint in an incredible way. I hesitated a little to see if he could win but then I saw Sabatini arriving from behind,” said Farrar, who confessed he had not had the juice in his legs for Monday’s sprint finish.

“Our work as a team when it comes to setting up the sprint is beginning to bear

fruit. Confidence is growing, as much on my part as the team’s.”

McEwen said he had used up too much energy trying to get into a good position from which to attack. “It was a complicated finish and I had to use a lot of energy in the last kilometres to get into position, so I missed the power to attack the last corner at 250m and surprise the others like I’d planned,” said the 37-year-old veteran, winner of 12 stages on the Tour of Italy during his career.

Vinokourov was delighted to have had a restful day but said that he would have to be watchful in today’s stage, which at 262km is

the longest of this year’s race, from Lucera to l’Aquila.

“Tomorrow (Wednesday), is a tough route, like that of a one day classic,” said the 36-year-old, who was thrown out of the 2007 Tour de France in disgrace for blood doping, for which he served a one-year suspension.

“The final bit is difficult. Will I attack? It is for the other riders to do that as they are not in the pink jersey. “We will see what the legs are like.

The team (Astana) will control affairs. “I cannot say that I am going to win the stage.

After 230 kilometres, things are different, it is not the same riders.” —AFP

Affordable tickets, tight security for Indian GP

Abdelrahman Al-Haqan

LONDON: Indian Grand Prix organisers have promised affordable tickets and tight security to deal with anything from terror threats to stray dogs when the Formula One race makes its debut next year.

The circuit is being built 35 km outside the Indian capital New Delhi by industrial conglomerate the Jaypee Group, with a race pencilled in for October 2011.

Mark Hughes, vice-president of Jaypee subsidiary JPSK Sports, told Reuters at the weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix that tenders were about to go out for asphalting the track later this year once the monsoon season was over. At the same time organisers were carrying out market research on ticket pricing.

“We are looking at the range of tickets for the high end of cricket games, the international test matches, the IPL games,” he said.

“We are looking at the ticketing for the Commonwealth Games and we are also looking at the other races and trying to find a balance.

“There will be a reasonably affordable general admission and there will probably be about 25,000 general tickets,” added the operations executive.

“I’d like to think that we can make it affordable in the same way that Malaysia did. Malaysia have a very good, affordable entry ticket price.”

The cheapest general admission tickets for last month’s

Malaysian Grand Prix cost around 100 ringgit ($26.32). Hughes said the capacity was set at around 150,000 but that could be increased to 175,000 with more temporary stands.

The main grandstand will have

Bolt to make 100 meters season debut in Daegu DAEGU: Usain Bolt makes his season debut in the 100 meters today at the venue that will host next year’s World Championships.

The Jamaican sprinter, the Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder in the 100 and 200, says he expects to run a “very fast time” at the Daegu meet. “I can test the field and run on the track, so I can determine what I should work on for next year,” Bolt said. It will be Bolt’s first 100 of the year after he skipped the opening Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar, last week. He is due to run in Sunday’s Diamond League meet in Shanghai.

Veronica Campbell Brown, Carmelita Jeter, Lolo Jones and Dayron Robles are among other athletes who will test the conditions of the Daegu track ahead of next year’s worlds. Bolt said he will run “as hard as always,” adding, “That’s always my intention, to please the fans.

Hopefully, it will be very fast time.”

Bolt lowered his world record in the 100 last year to 9.58 seconds at the worlds in Berlin. Two-time Olympic champion Campbell-Brown will be competing in the women’s 100. She arrived a week ahead of the meet to recover from jetlag.

Robles and Ryan Brathwaite will run the men’s 110-meter hurdles, with Americans Jones and Dawn Harper in the women’s 100 hurdles. —AP

29,000 seats, second only to China in terms of size. Security would be tight in a country where sporting events have already been targeted by bombers.

“We will have things like builtin underground scanners so when a car drives in every vehicle will get scanned,” said Hughes. “At the same time we will look at how we integrate that with the CCTV systems.

“We will have a reasonably sophisticated ticketing system that will be very difficult to forge.

There will be a turnstile system at every entrance, every ticket will be electronic. Security will be ramped up, it has to be.”

Stray dogs have posed a problem in Turkey, where one was hit

by Brazilian Bruno Senna during a GP2 race, and Bahrain in the past but Hughes was confident that hazard could be managed.

“In Bahrain, we hadn’t taken it into account when the circuit was constructed. There was a very good fence but it didn’t go into the ground, so there were gaps under it and that’s how the dogs made it into the venue.

“So we are looking at doing a few things differently...I think we’ve got that covered actually,” said Hughes. —Reuters

19

SPORTS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Fan helmets could go global after World Cup JOHANNESBURG: The king of South Africa’s makarapa fan helmet has moved from his township workshop to a factory to meet World Cup demand and expects the elaborate headgear to become a global craze after the tournament.

Dancing fans wearing the brightly painted hats made from converted plastic construction helmets, often paired with giant mock glasses, are a trademark of the South African game.

They are sure to be a major feature of Africa’s first World Cup when it starts on June 11, together with the cacophonous blast of vuvuzela trumpets which may be a secret weapon against foreign teams unable to communicate through the din.

Former cleaner Alfred Baloyi, 52, invented the decorated helmets in 1979.

A friend gave him a construction helmet for protection when watching his beloved

Kaizer Chiefs soccer team, after a fellow fan was hit by a bottle.

Baloyi, an uneducated but talented natural artist, first starting painting the helmets, then adding horns and finally using a box knife to cut out elaborate stand-up designs. He calls himself “the Enemy of Plastic” although his nickname from the terraces is The Magistrate.

Baloyi, originally from northern Limpopo province, started selling a few at a time beside the road but his son and manager, Lovemore, 29, says they have since sold many thousands.

Alfred now shuns journalists, leaving his son to talk to visitors, and concentrating on helmet designs. With demand booming for the humble invention ahead of the World Cup, they have opened a factory in the Wynberg area of Johannesburg where Lovemore says they are producing

up to 80 makarapas a day. The Baloyis hope the exposure of makarapas during the world’s most watched sporting event will turn the helmets into a global craze for international football fans.

“We are looking forward to selling in Brazil because we know they are hosting the 2014 World Cup. We are going far,” Lovemore told Reuters.

“People around the world will know the makarapa was started in South Africa. Whenever there is an event in the world they must come to buy makarapas.”

Around 35 people recruited from all over South Africa work in the factory, which reeks of paint. They sit round tables and are divided into teams of base painters, cutters, primer painters and artists.

The cutters heat the plastic helmets

over gas burners to make them easier to mould. The shelves of the factory are stacked with helmets for various South African companies and foreign fans, with Brazil, Germany, Spain and Italy the biggest customers.

US helmets carry US President Barack Obama’s election slogan “Yes We Can” and an Uncle Sam hat. Most of the factory helmets are less complicated and fantastical than the “signature range” produced in Baloyi’s original Germiston township workshop near Johannesburg.

Some Brazilian helmets, though, sport a stand-up figure of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue and others have Baloyi’s trademark witchdoctor on top.

Prices range from 250 rand ($33) for simple South African helmets to 1,500 for the more elaborate corporate or foreign designs. At one table an artist is

carefully painting an Italian helmet, copying a picture on the wall of the team colors.

Baloyi sits in another room with his top assistant, Jacob Letebele. He designs the helmets and together with Letebele paints samples for the other workers to cut and decorate, sometimes copying photographs of top players.

“Our aim is to produce even beyond 2010. We are going to design for South African clubs, for the Africa Cup of Nations. This is our aim to show the world, we have our art, this is from South Africa,” Lovemore said.

The Baloyis have been unable to strike any deal with FIFA to use the tightly protected World Cup logo.

“We have to be careful about that, we could be sued. As you can see, this project is from the squatter camp. It is not

from the suburbs. We are trying to make ourselves famous with the makarapa,” Lovemore said. Baloyi’s success from humble beginnings has enabled him to send his daughter Calphina, 21, to art school and buy a better house for his family in Limpopo province.

However, Lovemore complains that other firms are trying to steal designs from the factory, by buying samples and producing them elsewhere, even using Alfred Baloyi’s image.

“They are stabbing us in the back.

That is counterfeit so for us this is a challenge. In future we are going to stop them,” Lovemore said, although no legal action seems to be planned.

“There is only one original makarapa in South Africa. The founder of the makarapa is Alfred “Magistrate” Baloyi,” Lovemore says with pride. —Reuters

Barcelona close in on Villa, Fabregas may take longer

Li Na in action in this file photo

Li advances in Warsaw WARSAW: Third-seeded Li Na’s run of good form on European clay continued when the Chinese beat Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania 7-6 (4), 6-0 to reach the second round of the rain-disrupted Warsaw Open yesterday.

Li, coming off quarterfinals at Madrid and Stuttgart, and was tuning up well for the French Open, where she reached the last 16 last year.

Next up for Li will be Katarzyna Piter, who defeated another local wild card, Marta Domachowska, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-5, in a match that was resumed from Monday, when rain halted play after two sets.

With heavy clouds hanging over the Legia Club, Tathiana Garbin of Italy defeated Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-4 and another Czech, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, beat Andreja

Klepac of Slovenia 6-3, 6-1.

Greta Arn of Hungary beat Petra Martic of Croatia 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-3 in match that lasted just under three hours.

In France, sixth-seeded Sybille Bammer of Austria rallied to beat Pauline Parmentier of France 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 yesterday and reach the second round of the Strasbourg International.

Julia Goerges of Germany and Dia Evtimova of Bulgaria also advanced.

Goerges outlasted Maria Elena Camerin of Italy 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 to next face Bammer, while Evtimova defeated Tatjana Malek of Germany 6-4, 7-5.

The 267th-ranked Evtimova reached the second round of a WTA tour event for the first time in her career and will next play top-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russia. Bammer led 4-0 in the final set

but faltered as Parmentier won five straight games to get an opportunity to serve out the match. But a double-fault from the Frenchwoman helped Bammer level at 5-5.

Goerges trailed 5-1 in the second set but won eight straight games, and dominated the decider. Fifth-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain, Yvonne Meusburger of Austria and Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden also moved into the second round.

Medina Garrigues cruised past Sandra Zahlavova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-0, Meusburger beat Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia 6-4, 6-3, and Arvidsson routed Jill Craybas of the United States 6-2, 6-1.

Craybas squandered her nine break points, while Arvidsson converted five of eight break chances. —AP

Cash back to tackle great expectations BEIJING: Australia has as much chance of producing a grand slam tennis champion in the next few years as its Socceroos do of winning the World Cup in July, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash told Reuters yesterday.

Given that Australia’s best performance at soccer’s global showpiece was a place in the last 16 four years ago, the outspoken Cash clearly expects no end soon to the grand slam title drought stretching back to Lleyton Hewitt’s Wimbledon triumph of 2002.

On a trip home to help develop his country’s young talent, Cash reflected on Australia’s great expectations and the difficulties of producing champions like himself, Hewitt and Pat Rafter, not to mention grand slam titans Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Roy Emerson.

“I think we’re in a position where people in Australia are expecting a lot, mainly because of our great history in tennis,” the former world number four told Reuters by telephone from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra.

“We were one of a dozen countries playing tennis back in the 50s and 60s, bit by bit now it’s become 50 or so countries are very, very competitive.

“Tennis in Australia has always had champions. But it’s such a small minority of players compared to other nations that for us to win another grand slam would be the equivalent of us winning the World Cup in soccer this year. I don’t think Australian people realise that, they just kind of think tennis is really easy.”

The first priority must be to get as many youngsters playing the sport, Cash said, a task made harder by the absence of Australians at the top of the game-the ageing Hewitt and women’s world number seven Samantha Stosur notwithstanding.

“We’ve got so many sports in Australia, we’re sports mad, and other sports are encouraging kids to come and play so tennis has lost a lot of ground in the recruitment of kids,” he said.

“That’s been picked up now, better late than never, but it’s going to be a bit of a

hard grind to get back the number of players we need to have picking up tennis rackets.

“We did miss a good opportunity in the 80s and 90s when we had a handful of great players come through and make headlines in just about every grand slam.”

Although based in London, Cash has answered his country’s call to help Australian teenagers take the step from junior tennis to the rigours of the professional circuit.

“Australia doesn’t have a great record of bringing the juniors into the seniors of late,” he said. “It’s so important to get things right these days, you can’t bring any weaknesses into the circuit, you just get chewed up and spat out. But hopefully we can fix these kids before they go on the circuit.”

Cash, who will be 45 next week, won Wimbledon in 1987 with a serve-volley game he thinks can still be an effective Plan B for Australian players in the modern baseliner-dominated game.

“If we can get them to play a bit of attacking play, that will help,” he said. “But I don’t

think the die-hard servevolleyer is going to be successful any more. You need to play from the back as well.”

Back at the AIS, where he was a student in the early 1980s, Cash was delighted to see the elements of sports science he had to organise and pay for himself when he was on tour were now available to the youngsters.

“There’s so many skills to learn in tennis, it’s not just running up and down a track as fast as you can, you need all the experts to help and that’s the great thing about the AIS, they’re all here,” he said. So how many of the youngsters he has been working with does he think might make the grade?

“There’s a couple of them who’ve got a chance and although winning grand slams is one in a million, they have enough talent to be successful,” he concluded.

“How far they go is anybody’s guess but out of the bunch of teenagers we’ve got here at the moment, I see quite a few of them being competitive in the next 10 years or so.” —Reuters

MADRID: La Liga champions Barcelona are closing in on prized Valencia striker David Villa while the Catalans expect a longer wait before they clinch Cesc Fabregas’s return to the Nou Camp.

Joan Laporta, the club’s outgoing president, said yesterday at a Barca foundation event talks with Valencia for the capture of Villa were “on track” and he expected them “to be resolved soon”.

Rafael Yuste, one of the Catalan club’s vice presidents, said bringing Arsenal captain Fabregas back to Barca, where he was a youth player, was “more complicated because lengthy negotiations with his club lie ahead”.

“But both players want to come and that makes everything easier,” Yuste said in a Monday night radio interview.

Asked about Yuste’s comments, an Arsenal spokesperson said the Premier League club never commented on transfer speculation and a Valencia spokeswoman said the La Liga club had no immediate comment.

Fabregas, who has several years left on his Arsenal contract, is recovering from a cracked bone in his right leg and should be fit to help European champions Spain in their bid for a first World Cup triumph in South Africa starting next month.

If he moved back to Barca, the 23-year-old would join international team mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta in the La Liga champions’ midfield.

Laporta, whose quotes were carried on Barca’s website (www.fcbarcelona.com), quashed speculation in the Spanish media that Xavi would be sold to make way for Fabregas.

Asked by reporters whether Xavi might leave, Laporta replied with a firm “no”, according to the club’s website.

Barca won their second consecutive league title on Sunday and were one of the club’s Spanish media reported were chasing 28-year-old Spain striker Villa last year.

Reports of his imminent move to the Catalan capital have led to speculation Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who joined from Inter Milan last year, will be sold on after failing to live up to expectations this season.

“He has a contract with us and we are satisfied,” Laporta said. Villa said at the weekend he was happy in Valencia and committed to the club, who finished a distant third in La Liga and qualified for the Champions League, and he did not want to be distracted during the World Cup. “I’m not going to be waiting expectantly to see what happens. I have learned my lesson,” Villa told Spanish television station Canal 9.

“I have a four-year contract with Valencia with a big buy-out clause, I’m happy and committed to the project here,” Villa added. “I don’t think the club would want to sell me unless it was necessary.”

Laporta and Yuste said French forward Thierry Henry could be on his way to a club in the United States. The France captain and Barca had to “put the finishing touches (to a deal) so that both are happy”, Yuste told Ona FM radio on Monday.

Laporta said Henry was very popular in Major League Soccer (MLS), adding: “We are working in that direction and what we will do is reconcile the interests of Barca and the player.” —Reuters

SPAIN: In this April 24, 2010 file photo, Valencia’s soccer player David Villa reacts after scoring at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain. —AP

Advocaat seeks stability for Euro 2012 campaign MOSCOW: New Russia coach Dick Advocaat has promised to keep faith with the existing members of his squad as he sets his sights on qualifying for Euro 2012. The 62-year-old Dutchman, who succeeded compatriot Guus Hiddink after signing a four-year contract yesterday, inherits a team that missed out on this year’s World Cup finals following a two-legged playoff loss to Slovenia.

Hiddink guided Russia to the Euro 2008 semifinals and although he opted not to renew his contract after the World Cup failure, Advocaat insists the squad possesses enough talent to rule out the need for significant change.

“I don’t think we would make a lot of changes in the national team. We have good players there,” Advocaat said. “The main thing right now is to identify talented young players who could join the national team in the near future.

“I can only say that after such good work by Hiddink, we would only strive to achieve very lofty goals such as qualifying for the finals of Euro 2012,” added Advocaat, who last month resigned as Belgium coach after just six months in the job.

He also confirmed he planned to retain Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin as skipper.

“Arshavin is a good captain, he has respect among his team mates,” said the Dutchman, who often clashed with Arshavin during his three-year spell as coach of Zenit St Petersburg.

Advocaat was the preferred choice of RFU’s new president Sergei Fursenko, who has known him since their days together in St Petersburg.

Fursenko, then Zenit president, hired Advocaat in 2006. In his first full season the following year, Advocaat steered the club to their first national title in nearly a quarter of a century, becoming the first foreign coach to achieve such an feat in Russia. In 2008, he led Zenit to victory in the UEFA Cup. Advocaat has had previous spells as a national coach with his native Netherlands, the UAE and South Korea as well as successful stints at club level with PSV Eindhoven and Glasgow Rangers. Russia will open their Euro 2012 Group B qualifying campaign away to Andorra on Sept. 3.

The other teams in the pool are Slovakia, Ireland, Macedonia and Armenia. -— Reuters

Boateng sorry for Ballack injury MUNICH: Germany’s new ‘public enemy number one’ Kevin-Prince Boateng apologised yesterday for dashing Germany captain Michael Ballack’s World Cup hopes with a hard tackle that ruled him out of the tournament.

“I am sorry. It was not intentional. I just came in too late and made full contact. It looks pretty stupid,” the German told sport bild online.

The apology coming three days after the foul during the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Ballack’s Chelsea did little to dampen German anger directed at Boateng.

The 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder was injured in the first half of Saturday’s match against Portsmouth, limping off

during his team’s 1-0 win after a late tackle by Boateng.

Fans yesterday vented their anger on dozens of websites, calling him ‘public enemy number one; and setting up chatrooms called ‘82 million against Boateng’ or ‘Anti-Boateng Group’.

Boateng, born in Berlin to a Ghanaian father and a German mother, has had an uneasy relationship with German fans ever since his days playing at Hertha Berlin.

He is also a distant relative to German soccer hero, Helmut Rahn, who scored Germany’s winning goal in the 1954 World Cup final against Hungary.

The irony is that the 23year-old Berlin-born midfielder who has also played for

Tottenham Hotspur, will take part in the World Cup playing for Ghana while his half-brother Jerome is in the preliminary Germany squad for the June 11July 11 tournament.

To make matter worse, Ghana are in Germany’s Group D, and play each other on June 23 in Johannesburg.

Ballack, who will miss out on what would have been his third World Cup, flew to Sicily on Monday after the scan revealed a tear of one ankle ligament and a partial tear on another that will leave him out of action for eight weeks.

Yesterday he said there was no need for bad blood. “Of course I am very angry and disappointed but in football one should let it go,” he said. —Reuters

ITALY: Inter Milan’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho (center) cheers his team during a training session at the Inter Milan training center in Appiano Gentile. Inter Milan play Bayern Munich in Madrid on May 22 in the European club football showpiece in what many in the press believe will be Mourinho’s last match. —AFP

www.kuwaittimes.net

KUWAIT: Jubilant basketball team of JIS with the Chief Guest K P Nousahd, School Chairman M. Mathews, Principal Usha Varkey, Manager D K Sharma, T R Rajendran, Mohammed Mansour Projects Director KCC and other dignitaries.

JIS bag City Clinic Super-Cup Basketball tourney KUWAIT: Jabriya Indian School bagged the basketball trophy in the City Clinic Super-Cup Inter School Basketball Tournament.

The tourney played on May 9-13 on a league-cum knockout basis was keenly contested by ten Indian School teams. The tournament was inaugurated and declared open on May 9 at the JIS grounds by KP Noushad, Managing Director City Clinic. School Manager DK Sharma presided over the function.

Playing the first league match against Indian Central School JIS trounced them with a score of 51-33 and in the second match JIS won against FAIP S-B. (score-84-7) The third league match between JIS and

ICSK went in favor of the former (score - 89-33).

In the first semi final played on the fourth day JIS beat Indian Education School (score 112-18) and entered the finals. In the second semifinal Carmel School defeated Indian Central School (score-73-57). On the final day the audience witnessed a dazzling spectacle of skill and professionalism among the players. During the first quarter of the match the score was in favor of Carmel School. Then the JIS team captain Tejas K Jose scored 8 points continuously and took the lead in favor of JIS and once again they proved their talent and skill, and JIS held thee trump card with superior play, finally dealing a crushing defeat

on Carmel School with a convincing margin. 71-41.

Team captain Tejas K Jose scored 24 points, Brandes Bobby 19 points and Omyr Faisal l6 points in favor of JIS while Syed Shabas scored 19 for Carmel School. Losers final played between Indian Central School and India Education School went in favor of Indian Central School (score 3332).

In an impressive closing ceremony Chief Guest KP Noushad handed over the Majestic Champions Trophy and medals to Jabriya Indian School team while TR Rajendran handed over the medals and trophy to the first r unners-up Car mel School amidst the thunderous applause.

Dominic Aroujo and Jaspal Almeida handed over the medals to the second r unners-up, Indian Central School.

Special category awards were given to Tejas K Jose as the Best Player of the Tournament and Omyr Faisal was declared the Top Scorer. The award for the Best Performance were given to Brandon Bobby Femandes (JIS), Syed Shabas (Carmel School) Fawaz Mohammed (Indian Education School) Ghazar fae Abbas (Indian Central School) and Var un Joy (FAIPS) Referees Vinoy C Varghese (IC SK), R amesh (IC S) Manpreet Singh (ICS) and Jagat Joshy (FAIPS) controlled the entire game.

KUWAIT: The beaming Captain Tejas K. Jose and Vice Captain Omyr Faisal of JIS team receiving the Champions Trophy from the Chief Guest.

Also seen in the picture Mohammed Mansour T R Rajendran and Jaspal Almeida.

Lakers eclipse Suns in opener LOS ANGELES: Even on a bad knee, Kobe Bryant had no problem giving the Los Angeles L akers an early leg up in the NBA Western Conference finals, beating the Phoenix Suns 128107 in Monday’s opening game.

Bryant scored 40 points, Lamar Odom added 19 points and 19 rebounds, and the L akers opened the series with ruthless offensive efficiency.

Pau Gasol had 21 points for the top-seeded Lakers, who won their seventh straight playoff game and snapped the Suns’ sixgame streak with a phenomenal second half highlighted by Bryant’s 21-point third quarter.

“Kobe carried a lot of the offense tonight, no doubt,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

The defending NBA champions beat the third-seeded Suns at their own uptempo game when necessary, fluidly running the court to set up baskets for Bryant in his sixth straight 30-point game. Bryant then rested his sore knee for most of the fourth quarter in the 11th 40-point game of his playoff career.

“They played great, one of the best games I’ve seen them play in the playoffs this season,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “Kobe kind of controlled the whole game. When he’s making his jumper like that, there’s not a whole lot you can do about it.”

Game 2 is today at Staples Center.

Amare Stoudemire scored 23 points and Steve Nash had 13 points and 13 assists for Phoenix, who hadn’t lost since April 24.

Robin Lopez started at center and scored 14 points in his playoff debut, but the visitors couldn’t keep up in their first conference finals appearance since 2006.

Both teams swept their second-round series to earn their third postseason date in five years, but the Lakers didn’t allow a week off to affect their remarkable execution. Bryant alternated jumpers and strong drives while Los Angeles pulled away, showing no problems with rust or nagging injuries despite barely practicing for the past week.

His 13-for-23 shooting performance included three 3-pointers and 11 free throws with just one miss. “He’s been very optimistic through the whole week,” Jackson said. “He felt like he got exactly what (rest) he needed to have. He was attentive and involved.”

LOS ANGELES: Phoenix Suns center Robin Lopez (left) falls as he puts up a shot while Los Angeles Lakers guard Shannon Brown defends during the second half of Game One of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals. —AP Bryant’s teammates were nearly as impressive despite a game offensive effort by the Suns, who ran into the same height problems faced by Utah and Oklahoma City earlier in the Lakers’ playoff run.

Los Angeles made 58 percent of its shots and committed just nine turnovers in Game 1 — its third straight single-digit turnover game — while outrebounding the smaller Suns 42-34.

Jackson revealed before the game that Bryant’s right knee was drained “a while ago,” moving it to the top of the injury list for last season’s NBA finals MVP. But Bryant didn’t show any obvious effects from his litany of injuries, and he bounced back up after hitting his head on Jason Richardson’s knee during a drive in the first quarter.

The game began at the Suns’ favored tempo, with both clubs sprinting up and down for quick baskets. The Lakers rallied from an early deficit with 11 consecutive points, and their 35 firstquarter points — capped by a dynamic baseline jumper by Bryant over two defenders at the buzzer — were Los Angeles’ most in any quarter of the playoffs. —AP

Jones finds peace in Tulsa TULSA: When Marion Jones walked out of a Texas prison nearly two years ago looking for a fresh start, she knew Tulsa was a perfect fit.

When you live in Tornado Alley, squarely in the path of violent vortexes that routinely reduce once-vibrant communities to rubble, starting over is a way of life. Second chances also come naturally in the heart of the American Bible Belt.

That was exactly what the disgraced sprint queen had prayed for since being stripped of her Olympic medals and sentenced to six-months in prison for lying to federal investigators about her use of performance-enhancing drugs.

The Tulsa Shock, a WNBA franchise also getting a new start in Oklahoma after failing in Detroit, have provided Jones with a chance for the 34-year-old mother of three to undo some of the damage done during her stunning fall from grace.

“It is a really good fit,” Jones told Reuters. “I knew there would be a day I would be happy and fulfilled again and satisfied that my life was going in a positive direction.

“Where it would lead me was a total surprise. Those people who don’t believe in fate or faith, I would like those individuals to answer this; how is it possible that I could be here?” The dark, deceitful road that brought Jones to Tulsa is a path she warns no one should follow.

Once hailed as the world’s greatest female athlete, Jones appeared on magazine covers from Vogue to Sports Illustrated and earned millions in endorsements and appearance fees.

She now plays in a league where the average salary is around $35,000. Jones is no longer the headliner, logging just three minutes and no points in the Shock’s season-opening loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday. —Reuters

Greek shipping sets course for booming Asia

22

China's property moves leave buyers in limbo

Europe backs ‘strict' hedge fund curbs, despite Britain

23

26

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

www.kuwaittimes.net

Greece receives 14.5 billion euros ATHENS: Greece yesterday received a badly-needed slice of European Union loan support to help it meet an imminent debt deadline as it braced for new strikes against austerity measures this week. "The sum of 14.5 billion euros has been released by the European Commission," the finance ministry said in a statement. "These funds cover Greece's immediate and short-term loan requirements and obligations," the ministry said, adding that 10 eurozone members had contributed bilateral loans.

The money from mainly Germany and France arrived just a day before Greece needs to pay nine billion euros on a maturing 10-year government bond. The funds are part of a 110-billion-euro bailout recently agreed with the EU and the International Monetary Fund in return for deep austerity cuts.

"All (EU) states which had to mobilize so that Greece can meet its debt deadline on May 19 have met their obligations," French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde told a news conference in Brussels. But as the government got relief on the economic front, it suffered a humiliating blow with the resignation of secretary of state for tourism Angela Gerekou late Monday after a newspaper article revealed her husband's unpaid taxes.

The finance ministry confirmed that Tolis Voskopoulos, a singing star of the 1970s and 1980s, owed 5.5 million euros (6.9 million dollars) in unpaid taxes and late payment fines.

Prime Minister George Papandreou's Socialist government has ordered a major campaign against tax cheats as part of the new drive to put the public finances in order.

"Typhoon Angela hits government," the pro-administration To Vima daily said yesterday. Ta Nea, which also supports the ruling party, said the minister had been sacrificed "as a message" to other officials.

Aside from a political embarrassment to Papandreou as he labors to enforce unpopular spending cuts, Gerekou's resignation also leaves the travel sector leaderless at the start of a tourism season which debt-hit Athens badly needs for revenue. The outgoing junior minister had been "an asset" to the sector, the head of the Greek chamber of hotels (XEE) told a news conference yesterday.

XEE chairman George Tsakiris and other leading hoteliers called on the government to rapidly appoint a successor to Gerekou, warning of a 10 percent drop in tourist arrivals this year because of the debt crisis and unrest. They also noted that the greater Athens region-which draws 15 percent of arrivals-suffered 27,000 night cancellations after a violencemarred protest on May 5 when three people died in a firebombed bank.

Greece is trying to rein in a public deficit of over 30 billion euros to keep a debt mountain of nearly 300 billion euros from a default that could cause a European crisis and even threaten the world economy. Athens will receive another nine billion euros in September, including 6.5 billion from eurozone members and 2.5 billion euros from the IMF. A third nine-billion-euro installment will be made in December, the finance ministry said, adding that a first review of Greece's austerity program is due in the third quarter of 2010. To clinch the EU-IMF bailout which helps its economy stay afloat in a growing recession, the Greek government has had to enforce a barrage of deeply unpopular tax hikes and wage and pension cuts.

The measures are opposed by unions which have called a wave of street protests and three general strikes in the last three months.

Visitors and Greeks alike face fresh hardship as a new general strike against the austerity measures tomorrow will shut down state offices, public services, banks and confine ferries to port.

"We are striking because we do not want to work for 40 years without rights, with hunger wages and leave the workforce at the age of 70 with a mendicant's pension of 300 euros (370 dollars)," said the Communistaffiliated All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) which has held several protests at top-line hotels. L ast month, its members also held up the departure of a cruise ship at the port of Piraeus for some 10 hours, forcing nearly a thousand tourists to seek temporary accommodation at hotels kilometres (miles) away. Tomorrow's strike will also close down intercity trains and the Athens subway but flights will not be affected as air traffic controllers have decided not to join the action. —AFP

EU loan arrives to save Greece from debt default

Qatar inaugurates $2.3bn power plant DOHA: Qatar inaugurated yesterday a 2.3 billion dollar power plant as the gas-rich emirate pushes forward to export electricity to its neighbors, the energy minister said. "The total expense of the project has reached 2.3 billion dollars and it will produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity. This is a major leap as economic progress is measured by the production of energy," Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah said.

The plant is located in the industrial city of Mesaieed, south of the capital Doha. Qatar also plans to inaugurate another plant in the northern city of Ras Qurtas in the hope of achieving enough production capacity to allow the small emirate to become an exporter. "We have a very large project, as we are working on building Ras Qurtas station which has a capacity of 2,730 megawatts," Attiyah told reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony. With both plants online, Qatar will have a surplus that will be used for "projects which depend on energy in their production, such as the aluminum factory," Attiyah said.

"Exporting... is on our schedule and when we get real offers is a real and offers subject to discussion we will be discuss them at the time," he added. "We can export 500 megawatts to Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries," said Abdullah Salat, president of the plant's owner, Masaieed Power Co. Masaieed was established in 2006 as a partnership between Qatar's Water and Electricity Co, with a 40 percent stake and Qatar Petroleum with 20 percent. The balance is divided between two Japanese firms-Chubu Electric Power with 30 percent and Marubeni Corp with 10 percent. Qatar is the world's top exporter of liquefied natural gas and has the world's thirdlargest LNG reserves, after Russia and Iran. Its electricity production capacity is currently 4,200 megawatts, according to official figures. — AFP

BUENOS AIRES: A woman gives the V sign as she holds a banner reading "Greece is not for sale, Long Live Greece, Long Live Theodorakis", during a demonstration next to the Greek embassy. — AFP

Gulf Holding seeks Kuwaiti listing MANAMA: Gulf Holding Co, the Bahraini issuer of the $190 million Villamar sukuk, is seeking a listing on the Kuwaiti stock exchange, an executive said in published remarks yesterday. Ahmed Al-Ameer, vicechairman at Gulf Holding was cited in the Gulf Daily News as saying

that the company was waiting for the stock exchange to approve its listing plans, without providing further details.

"Despite the fact that we believe the time is not opportune for listing, yet in response to the pressing demands by our esteemed share-

holders for listing, we have filed all the requisite documents...," the executive was quoted as saying.

Gulf Arab capital markets outside top oil exporter Saudi Arabia have hardly seen any initial public offerings (IPO) over the past months as investors are still wary over the

outcome of the economic slowdown.

Gulf Holding has issued an Islamic bond, or sukuk, through Bahraini unit Residential South Real Estate, for the Villamar property project that has been hit by the regional real estate crunch. — Reuters

DOHA: Qatar's Deputy Premier and Energy Minister, Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Attiyah (right), speaks to an unidentified delegate at the "OPEC 50: Doha Energy Forum" in the Qatari capital on May 17, 2010. — AFP

Iraq sees 600,000 bpd of oil in 2011

RIYADH: Mohammed Al-Jasser head of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (right) and Saudi Arabia's Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf attend the Euromoney conference yesterday. — AP

Saudi approves $10.7bn projects in 2010 RIYADH: Saudi banks will resume "normal business" this year after difficult conditions following the global downturn forced local lenders to increase provisions in 2009, the central bank governor said yesterday.

Muhammad Al-Jasser of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) also said economic conditions in the kingdom, the world's largest oil exporter, did not warrant a change in monetary policy yet.

"The fact that our banks have increased provisions is a sign of their ability to clearly recognize losses and hence strengthen their balance sheets for resumption of normal business in 2010," Jasser said in a speech at a financial conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Earnings at most Saudi banks came under pressure in 2009 as a result of provisions against troubled family firms, and first quarter earnings were depressed by a slowdown in lending.

"Monetary policy has remained accommodative since late 2008, and monetary and credit conditions do not yet warrant a different course of action," he added. SAMA last changed the key repo rate in January 2009, when it cut it by 50 basis points to 2.00 percent. It also halved the reverse repo rate in

June 2009 in a bid to discourage banks from placing money at its accounts.

Like most other Gulf Arab states, OPEC and G20 member Saudi Arabia does not have a fully independent monetary policy as its currency is pegged to the US dollar. Jasser also said the kingdom was seeing a modest increase in inflation, to which policy changes were not the appropriate response.

"We are observing a modest increase in the domestic inflation rate linked to higher rental rates and food prices but monetary policy is not the appropriate response for such supply shocks," he said. Saudi inflation climbed to a 10-month peak of 4.9 percent in April due to food and housing cost pressures, but it is seen staying in single digits this year.

Economic recovery imbalanced Speaking at the same conference, Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf said the global economic upturn is unbalanced and countries with rising debt now faced the tricky task of controlling public finances while running stimulus packages to nurture recovery. "(The recovery) is strong in emerging and developing nations and weak in developed countries. Despite this recov-

ery, stability has not yet taken a firm footing," Alassaf said.

"One of the risks the global economy faces is shaky public finances and an increase in the public debt ratio in several countries, especially developed nations," he said. "The crucial task lies in controlling the situation of public finances in these countries without pulling stimulus packages until recovery is confirmed."Saudi Arabia has approved 652 projects worth 40 billion riyals ($10.7 billion) in the four months to the end of April, AlAssaf said. This compares to around 1,600 contracts approved during all of 2009 worth 126.9 billion riyals, he said. The Saudi government had planned a 70 billion riyal deficit for 2010, based on a conservative oil price projection of $46 per barrel.

The kingdom has boosted public expenditure over the past two years to counter the effects of the global crisis, drawing on currency reserves that more than doubled as Saudi Arabia amassed substantial revenues from oil exports as crude prices rallied to record levels in 2008. Saudi Arabia is investing $400 billion in the five years to 2013, mainly to boost infrastructure in the country of 26 million people.— Reuters

BAGHDAD: Iraq expects crude output to increase by about 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) through 2011, based on initial plans from global firms for oilfields that were auctioned off last year, a senior oil official said yesterday. Deputy Oil Minister Abdul Kareem Luaibi also said Iraq is moving ahead with a more than $1 billion project to raise its export capacity to 4.5 million bpd by the end of 2011 through the construction of new offshore terminals and pipelines.

"The increase we expect, which is the 10 percent for the oilfields from the first auction and the initial production for the oilfields from the second auction, is a total of about 600,000 barrels per day," Luaibi told Reuters in an interview. "That will be achieved over this year and the next year." The OPEC member has signed a clutch of deals with global oil firms that could boost its output capacity to 12 million bpd in six to seven years' time from 2.5 million bpd now. That would rival top producer Saudi Arabia's capacity, and is viewed by most industry experts as highly ambitious target.

Nevertheless, Iraq hopes the deals will generate the billions of dollars desperately needed to rebuild the economy. Luaibi said Iraq needs more than $10 billion to rebuild and expand its export and storage facilities beyond the initial $1 billion investment, after years of war, insurgency and sanctions left its oil infrastructure in a dilapidated state.

The Oil Ministry aims to invite foreign firms to help with the expansion as it will be short of the needed funds. "We had 58 storage tanks in the Fao (peninsula) that were totally destroyed during the Iraq-Iran war and we had dozens of tanks and pumps that were totally destroyed," he said.

"The rebuilding and rehabilitation process needs time and more importantly cash and we have a limited budget," he added.

"That's why... we would seek foreign investment." To meet the

anticipated jump in crude production, Iraq has invited interest from contractors for services to enhance its export facilities and pipelines in the southern oil hub city of Basra.

The $1 billion project-partially funded by a Japanese government loan-includes installing three offshore pipelines plus four singlepoint moorings (SPM). This would raise Iraq's export capacity from Basra to 4.5 million bpd by the end of next year from 1.9 million bpd now, Luaibi said. "We have asked consultancy Foster Wheeler to study the possibility of raising the project's export capacity to 8 million bpd," he said.

Pipelines, reserves Iraq also plans to build a new strategic pipeline with a capacity of 1.7 million bpd from the south to the north and another pipeline to export heavy oil through the Mediterranean as Iraq wants to broaden the range of crude export grades and diversify its markets, Luaibi said. It plans to build about 59 new oil storage tanks in the south, including 35 storage tanks in Basra, to cope with the expected increase in production over the coming couple of years.

"This would give us enough flexibility to transport and export more than one kind of crude," he said. "We are looking forward to

increasing our markets to Europe in fact because it is nearby."

Other plans include enhancing its pipeline from the northern city of Kirkuk to the Turkish port of Ceyhan to boost its export capacity to 1.7 million bpd as well as studying how to rehabilitate its 1 million bpd twin pipelines to Syria.

Iraqi oil exports in April fell to 1.767 million bpd due to bad weather and pumping problems in Basra and a bomb attack on the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline. The bulk of Iraq's oil reserves, the world's third largest, are in the south, and are currently pumped through two offshore terminals.

But the equipment is old and decrepit and the current flow rate is usually below capacity. Iraq is also conducting 3D seismic surveys in different parts of the country to update its oil reserves data, Luaibi said. The ministry is in talks with international companies and could set up a joint venture to survey dozens of unexplored fields after a survey of the Ahdab oilfield, which is being developed by China's CNPC, showed a rise in its oil reserves of 20 percent. Iraq currently has 115 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, but the Iraqi government believes the country's actual oil reserves could be three times as high. — Reuters

BAGHDAD: In this file photo, Iraqi workers are seen at the Rumaila oil refinery, near the city of Basra. — AP

22

BUSINESS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Greek shipping sets course for booming Asia

LOS ANGELES: Trucks transport containers at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. — AFP

VOULA: As heavily indebted Greece slumps into a prolonged economic crisis, shipping industry players like Michael Bodouroglou are setting their course for Asian markets in the hunt for profits. "I would say it's business better than usual.

That's primarily due to China. China has been importing raw materials big time," Bodouroglou, chief executive at New York Stock Exchange-listed Paragon Shipping, told AFP in an interview.

"The ships that we have carry commodities that are used primarily for infrastructure projects in countries like China and India," said Bodouroglou, who has a fleet of 11 ships and has ordered more this year to meet demand. Paragon Shipping, based in the town of Voula on the shores of the Mediterranean near Athens, is one of several Greek shippers that reported healthy profits in the last quarter-thanks mainly to business in Asia.

The contrast could not be greater with the state of the Greek economy as a whole-now dependent on a bailout loan of

110 billion euros (136 billion dollars) from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Legendary Greek shipowners like Aristotle Onassis and Stavros Niarchos retained at least some links to trade with Greece during their careers but the new generation of magnates operates almost completely beyond Greek shores.

"Greece has 20 percent of the world fleet.... They are based in Greece but none of what they do is related to Greece," said Dimitri Sofianopoulos, Greece director for Norton Rose, an international law firm. Many of the companies are not even registered in Greece but in offshore entities like the Marshall Islands and, while they bring foreign exchange into the economy, they are exempt from paying corporate tax. Next month Athens is set to host Posidonia, a major shipping conference that is attracting record numbers this year. Chinese, South Korean and-for the first timeIndian companies are due to attend the event. Among the participants are

Chinese state-owned industry giant Cosco, which has acquired a 35-year lease to use part of the commercial port of Piraeus and Abu Dhabi Mar, which is in talks to buy a majority stake in Hellenic Shipyards.

The fair includes a Hellenic-Chinese forum bringing together businesspeople and officials to discuss increased business and investment, as China looks to Greece as a potential trade gateway into markets in southeast Europe. "I think that Greek shipowners... are in a very good position" because they are cash-rich and can afford to make investments, said Bodouroglou.

Asked what he would think of investing in Greece, he replied: "I would sweat in my sleep thinking about it... The state is the problem." Earlier this month Paragon Shipping announced it was ordering eight more vessels from a Chinese shipyard for delivery in 2011 and 2012. In its earnings statement, Euroseas, another shipping company, said "strong trade growth mainly coming from China" was reflected in its results.

OceanFreight said it was aiming for "longterm growth" by buying three more vessels "to focus on the expanding Brazil to China iron ore trade."

But Clay Maitland, a US shipping expert, warned that Greek shipowners face a storm on the horizon in the form of a possible revision of their exemption from corporate tax as the government struggles to drive down its deficit. "Obviously, tax breaks for the elite, certainly including shipowners, will now come under scrutiny," Maitland, who is also a partner in a shipping registry company, wrote in his blog.

The exemption "is basically what's kept the ship-owning class in town, but now a chill wind is blowing," he said.

Bodouroglou said the tax break "is one of the very reasons why Greek shipping has been so successful." Abolishing it would generate "a serious lack of competitiveness in this very successful sector and... a lot of people will be forced to relocate.

They will lose a sector that creates more than five percent of GDP." — AFP

Fewer CEOs forced from office in 2009 KAMCO goes Green Booz & Company's Annual Global CEO Succession Study DUBAI, UAE: While CEO succession rates at the world's 2,500 largest companies held steady at a high annual rate of 14.3 percent in 2009, the number of chief executives actually forced from office fell in nearly every region and industry, according to Booz & Company's 10th annual CEO Succession Study. The report finds two clear trends are reshaping the life of the CEO in the 21st century. First, while succession rates have standardised across regions and industries, boards, regardless of country or sector, are converging on the same preferences for hiring insiders and splitting the CEO/Chairman roles. Second, CEOs are being asked to deliver results in a shorter period of time.

In 2009, forced CEO turnover rates fell to 3.3 percent globally, its lowest level since 2003, following a decade-high rate of 5.1 percent in 2008. Last year, overall succession rates, which include planned and merger-driven departures, fell 2.4 percent in North America and half a percentage point in Japan, but held stable in Europe and increased 2.3 percent in the rest of Asia. "In the Middle East region, turnover was recorded at a slightly higher level than the global average, 16.4 percent vs 14.3 percent," noted Joe Saddi, Chairman of Booz & Company.

There are two contradictory dynamics that serve as precursors to this turnover.

Researches have shown that CEOs' restructuring plans were triggered by the world recession after years of economic boom. However, more former CEOs are stepping into other business roles, due to the rapid growth and development that the Middle East region is experiencing.

Booz & Company's study of worldwide CEO succession patterns examines the degree, nature and geographic distribution of chief executive changes among the world's 2,500 largest public companies.

This year's report, "CEO Succession 2000-2009: A Decade of Convergence and Compression," analyses the evolution of CEO roles around the globe based on 10 consecutive years of turnover data. It will be published in the Summer 2010 edition of strategy+business, Booz & Company's quarterly thought leadership magazine, on newsstands May 25, 2010.

Over the decade, CEO succession patterns have converged in three ways, according to Booz & Company: • An equalisation of CEO turnover rates, no matter the region or industry: The percentages of CEOs replaced each year in Europe and Asia (excluding Japan) are now at levels closer to those in North America and Japan. Similarly, turnover rates have harmonised across industries, with 10-year averages settling between 12 and 14 percent for all except telecommunications (16.9 percent).

• A trend toward appointing insiders: Boards have picked insiders over outsiders to lead their companies 80 percent of the time since 2000, not surprising in light of an average 2.5 percent in marketadjusted shareholder returns, compared with an anaemic 1.8 percent for outsider CEOs over the past seven years.

"Companies that choose an outsider to lead may expect to pay a price in performance," said Bahjat El-Darwiche, a partner at Booz & Company. "The allies and contacts that an insider brings to the post make a difference to the bottom line.

Boards looking to bring in an outsider's perspective have to seriously consider whether the price is worth the tradeoff."

• A separate Chairman: In 2000, roughly half of North American and European CEOs held the dual roles of CEO and Chairman. At decade's end, that number fell to 16.5 percent and 7.1 percent for these regions, respectively.

The Booz & Company study found a simultaneous wave of compression reshaping and refocusing the job itself: • CEOs must do more, and faster: In just the past decade, boards have shaved nearly two years off the average CEO's tenure, from 8.1 years to 6.3 years. And while they are leaving office at about the same age as they have historically, today's departing CEOs were older when they entered office: 53.2 years for those who exited in 2009 versus 50.2 for those who exited in 2000.

• More chiefs are "apprentices": Having split the roles of Chairman and CEO, North American and European companies are increasingly appointing the outgoing CEO as Chairman to apprentice the incoming leader.

However, the "apprenticeship" model does not produce consistently superior returns. In fact, on average, apprenticed CEOs underperformed non-apprenticed CEOs by 1.3 percent per year.

• No excuses for poor performance: CEOs forced from office significantly underperformed those leaving on their own terms. Never was this more dramatic in the past decade than 2009, when chiefs departing on a planned basis delivered median market-adjusted shareholder returns of 6.0 percent compared with -3.5 percent for terminated CEOs. "New CEOs have fewer years to execute a game-changing strategy than their predecessors," said Saddi. "They need to balance clarity and boldness with a realistic understanding of what is possible in their organisations."

To that end, the report outlines four steps that today's incoming CEO class needs to be successful. Chief executives need to: 1. Focus on what no one else can do and wisely delegate the rest: Regardless of the company, that will include adjudicating what issues to work on and what's assigned to others. Also, if big strategic changes are necessary, they can only come from the top.

2. Engage the board as a strategic partner, which means both treating its members as they want to be treated while simultaneously leading it to be bolder than it otherwise may be.

3. Find the right pace of change within the company: While every CEO must traverse the learning curve quickly, making premature pronouncements about changes can create otherwise avoidable problems.

4. Get the culture working with you by understanding the informal, emotional elements of the organisation: "Informal interactions such as networks, peer-to-peer relationships, work habits and norms and communities of interest are as important as the formal, rational elements," ElDarwiche explained.

Additional study findings: • Of the 357 succession events that occurred in 2009, 228 were planned (retirement, illness, long-expected

changes), constituting the bulk of departures, particularly in Japan (84 percent) and North America (71 percent). There were 83 forced departures (where a board removes a CEO for poor financial performance, ethical lapses or irreconcilable differences), and 46 were driven by mergers.

• Financial services is currently the most volatile industry for CEO turnover.

In 2009, the rate of financial services CEOs leaving office was 17.2 percent- well above the 14.3 percent global average and significantly higher than the industry's average turnover rate over the past decade. The rate of forced departures was also well above the norm (5.3 percent vs.

3.3 percent). By contrast, CEOs in healthcare enjoyed the greatest stability in 2009, with an overall 10.3 percent turnover rate and only 0.6 percent of CEOs forced from office.

• Telecommunications, however, stands apart from other industries in terms of its 10-year turnover rate (16.9 percent vs. 13.6 percent average), and its share of forced turnover (54 percent) - by far the highest of the 10 industries assessed, and the only industry in which forced turnover is greater than that of planned succession.

Methodology This study identified the world's 2,500 largest public companies, defined by their market capitalisations (from Bloomberg) on January 1, 2009. To identify companies among the top 2,500 that had experienced a chief executive succession event, Booz & Company crosschecked data across a wide variety of printed and electronic multi-language sources. Additionally, the company conducted electronic searches for announcements of retirements or new appointments of chief executives, presidents, managing directors and chairmen. For a listing of companies that had been acquired or merged in 2009, Booz & Company used Bloomberg. Booz & Company also conducted supplemental research for regional CEO changes not identified by other sources. Total shareholder return was sourced from Bloomberg and includes reinvestment of dividends (if any). Total shareholder return data were then regionally marketadjusted and annualized.

KUWAIT: KIPCO Asset Management Company, KAMCO, has become the latest company to join the list of environmentally friendly companies. This will be done in partnership with Metal Recycling Company's (MRC) "Newair" program. The program will ensure that all paper, metal, and plastic waste generated by KAMCO will be collected by MRC from the recycling bins placed to be recycled.

On this occasion, KAMCO's Acting Head of Sales and Marketing, Rola Al-Mohtaseb, said, "We are proud to be a part of this program which is a significant step towards environmental consciousness.

The protection of our environment is a matter which runs congruently with our agenda of corporate social responsibility. And with this initiative, KAMCO will not only be an environmentally friendly company, it will be a company which participates in creating a cleaner and safer environment.

The Newair waste management program targets leading companies in Kuwait and helps them with their corporate social responsibility goals, and helps them in promoting a culture of environmental preservation and works to make those goals possible by providing them with the latest solutions in waste management and recycling.

Recycling helps significantly reduce both the need to consume raw materials and the waste of

Rola Al-Mohtaseb energy, especially since less energy is used on recycling than on creating new products from those raw materials.

Oil rebounds from 5-month low Euro crisis, high US stockpiles continue to weigh LONDON: Oil rose more than 3 percent to above $72 a barrel yesterday, recovering from a five-month low the previous session, but high inventory levels and the strength of the dollar were expected to limit gains. US crude for June delivery rose $2.07 to $72.15 at 1200 GMT, after settling down $1.53 at a five-month low of $70.08 a day earlier. London Brent crude for July rose $1.25 to $76.35 a barrel. "In ten days we lost 20 percent, and you can't sustain that kind of fall, so this is a bit of a trend up in the $65-$75 range. We could go back down, and if we break a pretty hefty (downside) resistance at $69.30 I'd say we're clear to $65," said James Hughes, analyst at CMC Markets. The outlook remains uncertain because of persistent investor concern over the euro and swollen US oil inventories, with the euro again caught in volatile trade near Monday's four-year low. "We are getting close to the fair value for crude oil, but the problem remains the high contango level," said independent oil analyst Olivier Jakob at Petromatrix. US crude futures for July are around $3 more per barrel than June front-month futures, with the June contract set to expire tomorrow.

Cushing stockpiles Crude stockpiles at the delivery hub for the US contract's West Texas Intermediate benchmark crude have risen in the last eight weeks to a record 37 million barrels, pushing front-month US crude down relative to later futures contracts and Brent. "When stocks come close to

capacity, traders try to get rid of front month contracts because of difficulties taking delivery of oil when no storage is available," said Global Oil Analyst Christophe Barret at Credit Agricole CIB in London. US crude stockpiles likely rose last week as imports rebounded and refinery utilization held flat, a preliminary Reuters poll of analysts showed on Monday. Storage capacity at the Cushing, Oklahoma hub is thought to be around 41 million barrels. Ahead of weekly inventory data from industry group American Petroleum Institute (API) yesterday and the US government Energy Information Administration (EIA) today, crude inventories rose 700,000 barrels on average last week.

Euro/dollar correlation The euro slipped against the dollar near a four-year low as investors worried that the euro zone debt crisis and austerity steps may hurt regional growth. But analysts said tightening European credit default swaps, the market mechanism used to transfer credit exposure to fixed income assets between parties, had helped to improve the correlation between oil prices and the euro/dollar rate. "When CDS spreads blew out in the euro zone, bond markets were rattled and concern grew on the euro as a reserve currency - at the time, the euro/dollar rate was a poor guide to the direction of the oil price," said Harry Tchilinguirian, senior commodity analyst at BNP-Paribas. — Reuters

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

.2840000 .4160000 .3560000 .2530000 .2780000 .2510000 .0045000 .0020000 .0784170 .7684200 .4020000 .0750000 .7527860 .0045000 .0500000

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 .2903500 .4203140 .3594500 .2564380 .2820210 .0483070 .0375380 .2543570 .0372260 .2090990 .0031330 .0063810 .0025630 .0034560 .0042320 .0790890 .7705340 .4106260 .0774640 .7545190 .0064510

US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2924500 .4232800 .2582530 .0779580

.2940000 .4270000 .3640000 .2620000 .2880000 .2620000 .0075000 .0035000 .0796090 .7761430 .4170000 .0790000 .7603510 .0072000 .0580000

284.540 188.900 258.330 254.040 289.000 ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.167 6.398 3.448 2.560 4.003 210.430 37.410 4.208 6.450 9.046 0.301 0.292 GCC COUNTRIES

.2924500 .4232800 .3619870 .2582530 .2840180 .0486490 .0378040 .2561520 .0374890 .2105790 .0031550 .0064260 .0025820 .0034810 .0042620 .0795930 .7754450 .4135330 .0779580 .7593280 .0064970

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

77.814 80.163 758.020 774.940 79.460 ARAB COUNTRIES

Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

55.000 51.880 1.293 195.340 412.100 195.740 6.255 33.220 GOLD

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

235.000 119.000 60.000

Bahrain Exchange Company

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer Euro Sterling Pound

Canadian dollar Turkish lire Swiss Franc Australian dollar US Dollar Buying

291.650 362.400 423.620

COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash

SELL CASH SELL DRAFT 258.800 257.300 775.410 775.410 4.430 4.208 285.500 284.000 572.500 15.800 49.400 167.800 210.700 54.590 51.901 365.000 363.500

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

38.160 6.670 0.035 0.293 0.257 3.250 413.610 0.197 92.390 45.700 4.260 207.800 1.987 47.800 757.450 3.540 6.710 80.640 77.850 210.740 41.100 2.762 426.300 38.600 260.800 6.400 9.380 217.900 79.560 292.200 1.340

38.010 6.395

412.170 0.196 92.390 4.010 206.300

259.300 9.200 79.460 291.600

1,345.640

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. 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

TRAVELLER'S CHEQUE 424.300 291.600

291.650 3.455 6.410 2.575 4.205 6.475 79.470 77.945 774.900 51.895 425.800 0.000035000 4.200 1.550 414.000 5.750 365.100 289.100

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 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

2.560 4.218 6.458 3.172 9.018 6.363 3.988

Currency 757.270 3.465 6.440 79.210 77.850 210.740 41.100 2.560 424.300

GOLD 10 Tola

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

291.700 281.150 418.586 360.419 255.225 714.986 772.108 79.399 80.102 77.755 411.634 52.020 6.406 3.466

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 291.200 366.500 423.000 284.000 3.160 6.395 51.890 2.559 4.209 6.440 3.459 774.400 79.350 77.750

BUSINESS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

23

China’s property moves leave buyers in limbo BEIJING: Accountant Jiao Yurong carefully organized her family’s finances to put her son through university in the United States. Now that he has the coveted degree, she has been saving to buy him a flat. But soaring property prices in China-and a series of moves by the government to rein them in-are throwing a spanner in the 50-year-old mother’s plans, and she admits she does not know

Ford leads industry in quality gains KUWAIT: Ford Motor Company achieved the largest gain of any automaker in Automotive Lease Guide’s latest Perceived Quality Score, bringing customer perceptions more in line with Ford’s improved vehicle quality.

Ford this month was ranked as the most improved brand in the ALG study, showing a 7.6 percent improvement since fall 2009, building on gains over the past two years. Improving perceptions of Ford’s quality has been a key driver behind Ford’s recent market share gains and improving resale value.

“We have made huge strides in vehicle quality in recent years but customer perceptions don’t change overnight - so it is gratifying to see our real-world improvements begin to fully register with consumers,” said Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president, Global Marketing. “The benefits of improved perception of quality are huge - from market share to residual values and purchase considerations.”

ALG noted that Ford residuals have seen a “huge upswing.” Ford’s average residual gained $2,420 (January-June 2010 residual guides) com-

pared to the year-ago period; the average brand change was about $615. “Ford’s goals have been supported by an entire portfolio of all-new or redesigned products that have been well-received both in the marketplace and among automotive critics,” said Matt Traylen, chief economist for ALG. ALG said Ford’s improvement in perceived quality likely can be traced to several factors, some of which are: ● Ford has improved its vehicle quality and launched well-received new products ● Ford avoided bankruptcy and a taxpayer bailout unlike its domestic competitors ● Ford limited brand-damaging incentive spending and daily rental fleet sales ALG noted in particular that the new Ford Taurus and Fiesta have been well received by the press and public. “Customers want to see that you can be reliable in your quality month after month, year after year,” Farley said. “Demonstrating steady improvements in initial and long-term durability over time is helping us close the gap between perception and reality.”

Kodaikanal: Nature at its best Sneha Developers showcase villas and apartments Kodaikanal often referred as the Paradise on Earth down the southern part of India, has been an all time favorite holiday spot from the bygone days. Arriving in Kodai town, one is enticed by orchards of pear trees with their graceful branches silhouetted in artistic curves against the evening sky like stark Zen etchings. Buildings with gabled roof dot the skyline.

Broken fragments of light from the setting sun are caught and kindled in the wind-rippled water appearing like a myriad lamp floating on the lake. Soon, as though on cue, lights start twinkling all over the hillside, and even the stars pick up the message, and heaven and earth are a riot of light, as though beaming messages of goodwill to each other. The name Kodaikanal means the “gift of the forest”. Situated in the state of Tamil Nadu, among the Palani Hills, Kodaikanal is one of the unexplored destinations of southern India. With its intoxicating air, breathtaking scenery and serenity that you can hardly find in any other hill station, Kodaikanal is an ideal summer resort. The dense forest with many varieties of trees, the huge rocks in the wilderness and the enchanting waterfalls makes it a real gift for the tourists visiting this place. Kodaikanal is famous for eucalyptus oil, homemade chocolates, plums and pears. Kodaikanal is famous for the kurinji - flowers, which blossoms only once in twelve years.

Sneha Developers, a well-known and prominent builder in this region brings Kodai closer to their clients through various options of owning villas and apartments in this serene land. Sneha Developers has a long lot of accomplishments in their kitty.

When you hear Sneha Developers, you know it’s going to be of the top quality and style”, proudly says Sreekumar, Managing Director of Sneha Devlopers.

The fact that Sneha means ‘understanding the value of love’, has been the underlying theme for the organization and it reflects in all aspects of operations and in the projects that are delivered.

Sreekumar talks about the value of his organization: “We have been very careful in making sure that we are able to deliver what we promise and to maintain the highest standard of quality. This helps us in building very strong client relations and a happy set of satisfied clients who further become our ambassadors in the market. This has resulted in Sneha Builders becoming one of the most familiar names when it come to quality, reliability and customer satisfaction. If you want to own Tangerines Villas, please do visit Oasis Hotel, Sharq, or call us at 60072395,60099655 and 66906153 till May 21, 2010.

Welcome to the playground of nature There are many internationally renowned educational institutions like Kodaikanal international school, Kodaikanal Christian College, Zions school etc, in and around Kodaikanal. Mother Theresa University, which is India’s one and only women’s university, is also located in Kodaikanal. A tourist can indulge in various activities - one can go for cycling, horse riding, boating, trekking and many more adventurous activities. The place is Kodaikanal, secludedly situated 2,100 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, in the beautiful Palani Hills.

Kodaikanal is 120 kms from the bustling city of Madurai. Perhaps why those who visited this hill station have come back enchanted and thrilled. The nearest airport is at Madurai (120 kms from Kodaikanal). The nearest railway stations are the Kodai Road Railway Station (80 kms) and the Palani Railway Station (64 kms). Kodaikanal is connected

Sreekumar by road with Chennai (520 kms), Ooty (264 kms), Trichy (197 kms), Coimbatore (175 kms), Kumili (160 kms), and Madurai (120 kms). Regular bus services are available from Madurai, Palani, Kodaikanal Road, Theni, Dindigul, Tiruchirapalli, Kumli (Thekkady) and Coimbatore. Additional buses ply during the season. Taxis and vans are available for local transportation. There are no auto-rickshaws in Kodaikanal.

The Lake: A star shaped lake spread over an area of 24 hectares and has been wonderfully landscaped. Boating facilities are available and the 4km long promenade skirting it is very popular.

Flora & Fauna Museum: Located at the Sacred Heart College is a 6 km hike from the town centre, but definitely worth a visit. The Orchidarium here has about 300 species of orchids and other exotic plants.

Astrophysical Observatory: Built in 1889, this laboratory stands on the highest point in the area.

The observatory is used mainly for research in meteorology and solar physics. It also houses a small museum.

Bryant Park: A botanical park situated on the eastern side of the lake. It was landscaped and stocked by a British officer after whom it was named. Cut flowers are exported from here. In month of May, the annual horticultural show is held here.

Kurinji Andavar Temple: A small temple located 3 km northeast of the Lake and is dedicated to Lord Murugan.

Water Falls: There are numerous waterfalls in the area such as Bear Shola Falls, Silver Cascade, Fairy Falls and Glen Falls, which are popular picnic spots.

Coaker’s Walk: A one-kilometer walk from the lake that offers good views. It derives its name from Lt Coaker, who had prepared the map of Kodaikanal.

There is a Telescope House here from where visitors can have a panoramic view of the valley and nearby township.

Pillar Rocks: Located about 7 km from the lake, there are three rocks magnificently jutting into the sky to a height of about 400 ft. The views from here are spectacular.

Economy won’t ground US families’ vacations NEW YORK: Most American families do not plan to let the recession ground their summer holiday plans and will spend about $1,000 per person on travel, according to a new poll.

More than half of 2,000 adults questioned in the American Express survey said they planned to take a family trip, while 26 percent were opting for a couples getaway and 10 percent intended to vacation with friends.

“The summer vacation, and

particularly, the family vacation is alive and well this year,” said Audrey Hendley of American Express Travel. “People are passionate about travel, and frequently we find that they would rather find creative ways to reduce the cost of their trip rather than do without it altogether.”

Although most families plan to travel, money is still a consideration. A family of four expects to spend about $4,000 but that figure jumps to $6,400 among

the more affluent. Nearly 90 percent of people intend to stay in the United States during their holiday. About six percent will head to the Caribbean, followed by five percent going to Canada and four percent traveling to Europe.

Eleven percent planned a staycation-visiting attractions near home, while seven percent were interested in an experiential vacation or a hiking trip. Only four percent were opting for an educational holiday. —Reuters

Authorities have tightened restrictions nationwide on advance sales of new property developments, introduced new curbs on loans for third home purchases and raised minimum down payments for second homes. The Beijing city government has gone even further, limiting families to one new apartment purchase and barring people who have not paid taxes or made social security contributions in the city for one year from getting home loans. “Sellers have started to lower the prices,” said Hu Jinghui, vice general manager of 5i5j, a real estate agency chain that has around 600 outlets in eight cities across China.

“But the buyers are still waiting.” At the Beijing Real Estate Expo last month, the average price of a new apartment in the city was around 21,164 yuan (3,100 dollars) per square meter, double that of last year, state media said. That means a 90square-metre (970-square-foot) apartment in Beijing would cost 1.9 million yuan, compared with the average per capita income of 26,738 yuan in 2009.

Since the capital put in place the austerity measures on April 30, prices have dropped an average 10-15 percent, with the number of home purchases slumping by 50 percent, according to Hu. Jack Guan, a securities firm executive from the coastal city of Qingdao, searched last year on the outskirts of Beijing for his first home, but said he could not make a deal as prices “went insane”. “I am going to wait and see. I think this is an approach that many people have adopted as now there is a possibility for a price cut,” said the 27-year-old.

“It will not cost me much if I wait for another two years.” In 2008, China also introduced a range of policies to dampen the market frenzy, but a government stimulus package to prop up the economy during the financial crisis quickly negated any progress made. The new measures so far seemed to have had a limited effect, as official data showed Tuesday that prices in major Chinese cities rose 12.8 percent in April, a double-digit rise for the third straight month.

Experts also said the rules contained apparent loopholes that could be exploited by speculators. China lacks a nationwide database on property sales, which means banks have no way of checking if mortgage applicants already own apartments in other cities. And higher down payments will have little impact on speculators who mostly pay the full value of properties in cash.

State media reported Friday that people are even briefly resorting to divorce to acquire a second property, taking advantage of lower down payment and interest rate benefits offered to first-time buyers before remarrying. Jiao said she was often told the properties she was interested in were sold out, leading her to suspect the developers were hoarding to keep prices high.

“The government has always been saying they would keep the policy unchanged. But they changed it whenever they wanted. We ordinary people just cannot do anything,” she said. Hu however said he believed the government was more determined this time around to hold firm, as prices had become so out of reach for many ordinary Chinese that the measures were needed to keep a lid on social discontent.

Lina Wong, managing director for east and southwest China of real estate firm Colliers International, said even more tough measures could be expected as curbing price rises had become a “political task” for the ruling Communists. New rules could include a property tax on residential housing to increase the costs for buyers keeping multiple apartments. The government could also “raise the capital requirements for development or even restructure the fiscal revenue system of local governments to reduce (their) vested interests in land sales”, Wong said. Despite the market chaos, Guan said he was determined to buy, even though he would need his parents’ help for the down payment and a tight budget to pay off his mortgage. —AFP

how to proceed. “Just when we had saved enough for a down payment, prices surged,” Jiao, a Beijing resident, told AFP. “The policy is so unstable... I’m so confused.” Jiao is not alone. Prospective home buyers are reeling from a series of measures put in place by the Chinese government to curb rocketing prices amid persistent fears about a ballooning bubble in the real estate sector.

BEIJING: A Chinese woman cleans a banner outside commercial and residential buildings yesterday. —AP

NBK enhances customer service

Shaikha Al-Bahar

KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has recently changed all NBK customer account numbers as part of the process of upgrading the Bank’s IT systems with stateof-the-art-technology to ensure that customers are provided with the most flexible, world-class banking delivery channels and services.

NBK Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Shaikha Khalid Al-Bahar said, “The IT upgrade and enhancement process necessitates changing all NBK customer account numbers. Nevertheless, we would like to assure all our customers that the change in account numbers will have no effect whatsoever on their transactions via the various delivery channels provided by the Bank, including ATM machines and online banking, nor will it affect access to Hala Watani, as the current account numbers will continue to work in conjunction with the new

account numbers”.

As a result of the enhancement, all NBK customer account numbers will automatically change to a new number. Customers should rest assured that their existing account numbers will remain valid and will continue to be accepted via any of the banking channels through which they make transactions.

“NBK customers wishing to pick up their new account numbers can simply request them from their branches, and, as always, the new number should be noted and kept safe. They can also call Hala Watani on 1801801 or log on to www.nbk.com for further information. NBK strives to offer its customers the very best in banking services”, Al-Bahar added, “and our technology upgrade is another commitment of NBK to ensuring that customers are provided with the top notch service.”

Avenues hosts Kuwait Society for Disabled Care members KUWAIT: The Indian Women’s Association organized a trip to The Avenues for some of the members of Kuwait Society for Disabled Care.

The visitors toured the mall, and visited Magic Planet - the family entertainment center - and enjoyed the different rides and entertainment activities it offered. The management of The Avenues welcomed the visitors and the organizers, and lauded the humanitarian role being played by the volunteer group that provides for the needs of those with special needs, and its keenness for integrating them into the society.

Several shops welcomed the visitors; McDonald’s held musical activities and fun games, while The Butcher shop and Grill provided the meals.

The organizers, on their part, thanked all those who helped organize the visit for their support to people with special needs.

BUSINESS

24

Bourse ends on mixed note KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended on a mixed note with Global General Index (GGI) ending up marginally backed by support from the banking sector for the second consecutive session, while the KSE Price Index fell after market breadth was skewed towards decliners. Investors are cautious backed by weaker global stock markets and low oil prices.

GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT

Market indices GGI added 0.03 points (+ 0.01 percent) during yesterday’s session to reach 205.63 points. However, the KSE Price Index decreased by 15.50 points (0.22 percent) yesterday and closed at 7,127 points. Market capitalization was up KD 4.95 million yesterday to reach KD 33.96 billion.

Market breadth During yesterday’s session, 110 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards decliners, as 46 equities retreated versus 29 that advanced. A total of 136 stocks remained unchanged during yesterday’s trading session.

Daily trading activity Trading activities ended on a mixed note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange decreased by 0.18 percent to reach 223.46 million shares.

On the other side, value of shares traded gained by 8.94 percent to stand at KD 39.58 million.

The Non-Kuwaiti sector was the volume leader yesterday, accounting for 24.91 percent of total market volume.

The banking sector was the value leader, with 36.51 percent of total market value.

Gulf Finance House was the volume leader yesterday, with a total traded volume of 50.48 million. Gulf Bank was the value leader, with a total traded value of KD 5.82 million.

Top gainers and biggest decliners In terms of top gainers, Kuwait National Cinema Company took the top spot for the day, adding 7.58 percent and closed at KD 0.710. On the other hand, KGL Logistics Company shed 7.14 percent and closed at KD 0.260, making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sectors wise Regarding Global’s sectoral indices,

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Malaysia to sell $1bn global sukuk KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will offer around $1 billion in a global sukuk issue to investors from today, its first international debt sale since 2002, two sources familiar with the planned issue told Reuters. The sources said yesterday the government was targeting about $1 billion for the bond that would be entirely sukuk and would be launched at an Islamic economic forum in Kuala Lumpur.

CIMB, HSBC and Barclays are managing the deal for the government. A global investor roadshow which will start later this week. All three banks declined comment or were not immediately available. “(The government) is targeting about $1 billion,” one of the sources familiar with the deal told Reuters. The deal will be an ijara sukuk and will likely be of a 5year maturity, said another source close to the deal. Ijara sukuk give investors ownership of a tangible asset pledged by the issuer and tied to a lease contract. Returns come in the shape of rental streams paid on the asset. The underlying asset in the planned issue will be government hospitals.

No rush The roadshow will start tomorrow and the issue is targeted mainly at Middle East investors, the source said. Investor meetings will be held in Hong Kong tomorrow and in Singapore on Friday before moving to Jeddah

on Saturday, Riyadh on Sunday and London and Dubai on Monday. It winds up in New York next Tuesday.

“As of now we are taking the markets each day as it comes and the issuer is in no rush for money so the launch will be subject to that,” said one of the sources familiar with the deal. Malaysia last tapped the global bond market in 2002 when it raised $600 million through the sale of its first international sukuk. Sukuk can have higher yields than conventional paper because of the relatively illiquid secondary Islamic bond market but a global sukuk offering would help reinforce Malaysia’s ambitions to become an international sharia banking hub.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had said in April Malaysia would likely tap global bond markets by offering a US dollar Islamic bond to test investor appetite for its assets.

The country usually relies on domestic bond issuances to fund its expenditure. The government sold 88.5 billion ringgit ($28 billion) of bonds in the country last year with Islamic paper accounting for a third of that, according to central bank data. Malaysia has only one outstanding conventional bond-due in 2011 and worth $1.75 billion. Malaysia ran a budget deficit of 7.4 percent in 2009, it’s highest in more than two decades. It aims to reduce that to 5.6 percent this year. — Reuters

RBS stake in Saudi Hollandi may be sold Saudi Hollandi seeks partner to replace consortium

they ended the day on a mixed note, with Global Food Index being the top gainer.

The index ended the day up 0.90 percent backed by heavyweight Kuwait Foodstuff Company (Americana) being the only gainer in the sector. The scrip ended the day up 1.39 percent to close at KD 1.460.

It is worth mentioning that the scrip was the only gainer in the sector, while two other companies ended in the red.

Global Banking Index was the second biggest gainer, up 0.89 percent backed by a majority of the banks ending in the green with no decliners. Among the

gainers, heavyweights Gulf Bank and Kuwait Finance House contributed to the index’s gain by ending the day up 3.53 percent and 1.92 percent, respectively.

In terms of decliners, Global Services Index took the lead, down 1.03 percent backed by losses witnessed in heavyweight Zain, which ended the day down 1.45 percent to close at KD 1.360.

Global’s special indices ended on a positive note, with Global Islamic Index being the top gainer. The index posted an increase of 0.83 percent backed

heavyweight Kuwait Finance House.

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $73.25 a barrel on Monday, compared with $75.95 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Market news Al-Salam Holding Company’s General Assembly approved listing on foreign stock markets that is consistent with the future strategy of the company.

RIYADH: A stake in Saudi Hollandi Bank held by a consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland could be sold through a public share offering, the chairman of the Saudi lender said yesterday. “We are studying many options. Either we find a long-term strategic partner or we reach an agreement with the central bank to find another way to... offer these shares in (a public offering),” Mubarak AlKhafrah told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference.

Saudi Hollandi Bank would only consider international partners, not local counterparts, to replace the consortium, Khafrah said. “There are many options, but the partnership does not mean a local partnership. We do not need local partnerships,” he said. Khafrah also said a team at Saudi Hollandi was looking into options for the stake sale.

“The board has created a team to study the various options and to look at international banks as

well ... Talks are ongoing, and hopefully the result will be out by the end of the third quarter,” he said.

Separately, Khafrah said the Saudi authorities should help to boost lending by placing long-term deposits with banks in the world’s largest oil exporter.

Profits at most Saudi banks declined during the first quarter, due mainly to a decline in lending income. “Several local banks have become more cautious towards lending, and one key reason for this is that most of the lending demand is for long maturities, while most deposits held by Saudi banks are short-term deposits,” he said. Saudi Hollandi Bank posted a 19 percent drop in net profit during the first quarter after a decline in both its lending income and loan portfolio. Earlier yesterday, Saudi Arabia’s central bank governor said Saudi banks should be able to resume “normal business” in 2010. — Reuters

BUSINESS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

25

UK business group wants 2-year public pay freeze UK lobby groups urge coalition to simplify business taxes

HOUNSLOW: People walk past a Vodafone store in west London yesterday. —AFP

Vodafone annual profits increase to 8.6bn pounds LONDON: British mobile phone giant Vodafone said yesterday that its annual net profits almost trebled to 8.645 billion pounds on reduced writedowns and increased sales of its broadband Internet services. The world’s biggest mobile phone operator by revenue said profit after tax soared to the equivalent of 10.1 billion euros or 12.5 billion dollars in the 12 months to March 31 — beating its own expectations.

Vodafone had posted net profits of 3.078 billion pounds in the group’s 2008/09 financial year.

The strong results also came despite Vodafone booking an impairment charge of 2.3 billion pounds relating to its operations in India because of fierce competition. In 2008/09, Vodafone had suffered impairment charges of 5.9 billion pounds, including a 3.4 billion-pound write-down on the value of Vodafone’s Spanish assets and smaller one-off charges related to operations in Turkey and Ghana.

“We have made significant progress in implementing our strategy,” Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao said in comments accompanying the earnings data. “We now generate 33 percent of service revenue from products other than mobile voice reflecting the shift of Vodafone to a total communications provider.

“In particular, mobile data and fixed broadband services continue to grow while we increased the contribution being made by our operations in emerging economies, primarily by gaining market share. We have reduced costs and working capital to manage better in the recessionary environment while maintaining investment in our networks,” he added.

Vodafone had in November doubled its annual

cost-savings target to two billion pounds by 2012, as it faced a large write-down in India.

“Although our operational performance in India since acquisition in 2007 has been strong, the award of six new national licenses in the market one year after our entry and the resulting intense price competition have led to an impairment charge of 2.3 billion pounds, partially offset by a 0.2 billion pounds reversal related to Turkey,” Vodafone said yesterday.

The British group had bought a majority stake in Indian mobile phone operator Hutchison Essar in 2007 as the London-listed company struggled with slowing sales in the developed world.

Vodafone said yesterday that group revenue increased by 8.4 percent to 44.5 billion pounds in 2009/10, boosted by performance in Asia and the Middle East. It meanwhile had 341 million mobile phone customers after gaining 8.5 million during the fourth quarter (Q4).

“Vodafone’s financial results exceeded our upgraded guidance on all measures,” said Colao.

“Revenue trends have improved again in quarter four driven by growth in mobile data and fixed broadband. Cost reduction targets were delivered ahead of schedule enabling commercial reinvestment to improve market share and further strengthen our technology platforms,” the chief executive added.

In morning London trade, Vodafone’s share price rose 0.15 percent to 136.55 pence on the benchmark FTSE 100 index, which was up 0.64 percent. The company yesterday said it was targeting an annual dividend per share growth of no less than seven percent for the next three financial years. —AFP

LONDON: Britain should impose a two-year freeze on most public sector workers’ pay and streamline the way services are delivered to help cut its debt and free up cash to help private firms, the Confederation of British Industry said. In a policy paper published yesterday, hours before new British finance minister George Osborne gives a keynote speech to business leaders at the lobby group’s annual dinner, the CBI also urged the government to rethink the business tax system. The Conservatives, who rule in a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, have already pledged to freeze public sector pay for five out of six million public sector workers for one year from 2011.

Osborne also plans to cut 6 billion pounds ($8.7 billion) off public spending in the current fiscal year in a first step towards reducing a budget deficit worth almost 12 percent of economic output. He will give more detail on his plans to lower corporation tax and simplify the corporate tax system in his speech, at 8:45 pm (1945 GMT) today, and more measures are likely to be announced in an emergency budget on June 22. The CBI urged the government to create a more business-friendly environment, to help companies offset the impact of the impending fiscal tightening.

“With a public-sector squeeze looming, the new government must do everything it can to create the right conditions for the private sector to sustain and create new jobs,” CBI Director General Richard Lambert said. “That means providing certainty around taxation and energy policy, sustaining capital investment, and strengthening our skills base.

Above all, we need to send a strong message to the world that the UK is open for business,” he added.

The CBI proposes freezing the pay of all public sector workers except for frontline staff and the lowest-paid. It also suggests more sharing of support services and improving procurement practices as ways of reducing government spending. But it also highlights competitive business taxes, a strong banking system and infrastructure as areas that are essential to secure growth.

The Engineering Employers’ Federation also urged the new coalition government to reform a tax system that it said was “not fit for purpose”. It called for a more competitive tax system and greater consultation with business on proposed tax changes. “Rather than narrow tax cuts badged as simplification, the new government should make reforms that actively help manufacturing and encourage investment, innovation and job creation,” EEF Director of Policy Steve Radley said. —Reuters

LONDON: The mayor of London Boris Johnson poses for photographs alongside design imagery for a new London bus, at a bus depot. Johnson on Monday unveiled the final designs of the new double-decker bus for London, based on the much-loved “Routemaster”, which uses green technology to be 40 percent more efficient. —AP

Australia stands by mining tax despite Moody’s caution SYDNEY: Australia’s top Treasury official yesterday urged against changes to a planned 40 percent tax on mining profits, as global ratings agency Moody’s warned it could drive major companies away. Treasury secretary Ken Henry said he expected the Resources Super Profits Tax (RSPT) to have “little impact” on investment as smaller projects would benefit from the removal of the current royalties payments. “Overall mining investment is encouraged in this package,” Henry said in his annual post-Budget speech to economists.

“Projects which are right at the margin at the moment because of royalties will become profitable projects if royalties are removed and the RSPT is imposed,” he added. “Projects which are earning super normal profits will

continue to earn super normal profits.”

Moody’s yesterday warned the tax could reduce firms’ earnings by nearly one third, and would put investment in Australia at risk.

“Australia’s mineral resources will stay put but global producers such as BHP-with half its assets in Australia-and Xstrata, with a third, can decide whether to extract the minerals or shift some operations to lower-cost countries to avoid the higher tax regime,” Moody’s said in a note to investors. Other resource-rich nations such as Canada, Brazil and China “may figure more favourably in global miners’ plans if Australia enacts the RSPT”.

“The global search for the most competitive returns could also lead to a slowdown in the breakneck pace of external shopping, particu-

Morgan Stanley’s Gorman: Wall St must rebuild trust

Treasury takes $1.6 billion beating on Chrysler loan WASHINGTON: The Treasury Department said Monday it will lose $1.6 billion on a loan made to Chrysler in early 2009.

Taxpayer losses from bailing out Chrysler and General Motors are expected to rise as high as $34 billion, congressional auditors have said.

Treasury said Monday that Chrysler repaid $1.9 billion of a $4 billion loan, which was extended before the company filed for Chapter 11. The government hopes to get another $500 million from the company that emerged from bankruptcy, Chrysler Group LLC. Treasury officials said the government had no plans to boost its stake in the new Chrysler to cover those losses.

It also acknowledged another $1.9 billion in potential losses from a separate loan that had been made to the company that went through bankruptcy proceedings. It indicated slim hopes of recouping much if anything from that separate $1.9 billion loan.

The original $4 billion loan was made in January 2009, when the Bush administration was scrambling to rescue Chrysler, GM and their auto financing arms.

The

Congressional Budget Office estimated in March that the government’s $85 billion bailout of the automakers would cost taxpayers $34 billion. Much of it will depend on how much the government

recovers from its eventual sale of nearly 61 percent of GM and about 10 percent of Chrysler.

GM has said it could conduct a public stock offering later this year. Chrysler officials have said a public stock

Euro MPs want to discern where clothes come from STRASBOURG: The European parliament yesterday called for clothes sold in Europe to clearly show the country of origin, in order to easily identify products from nations where production costs are low. The EU MPs, meeting in Strasbourg, supported a proposal backed by the EU Commission to make such “Made in” labels obligatory, to prevent customers from being deceived into thinking a product was made in the EU when in fact it comes from a third country such as China or Pakistan.

The text will now go to representatives of the 27 EU member states for approval. A similar scheme, which concerned all products and not just textiles, was blocked five years ago due to a lack of agreement among EU member states. “The consumer has the right to know where a product comes from,” said Dutch Liberal MEP Toin Manders, the parliamentary rapporteur on the subject.

Such “Made in” labels are currently voluntary in the EU but in practice their use depends on national laws. In comparison, country of origin labeling is strictly regulated in, for example, the US, Canada and Japan. The rule change would also help small and medium-sized European businesses to continue to produce garments in Europe, rather than having to move production abroad, where labour is cheaper. EU Industry Commissioner Antoni Tajani stressed the need to prevent dumping on European markets. —AFP

offering is not likely before 2011.

The Treasury Department made the announcement about the loss from Chrysler on a day when GM reported its first quarterly profit in nearly three years.

That moved GM closer to a stock offering that would repay at least part of the $43 billion it owes the government.

Chrysler Holding is the parent company of the old Chrysler. It is owned by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management.

Cerberus bought Chrysler from Daimler AG in 2007.

Chrysler came close to running out of money at the end of 2008, so the US government stepped in, authorizing $15.5 billion in aid and appointing Fiat SpA to run the new Chrysler after it emerged from bankruptcy protection. The old Chrysler’s assets, along with its finance arm, became Chrysler Holding. Treasury said it has received repayments of $3.9 billion to date, including the $1.9 billion repayment and a $1.5 billion loan paid off by Chrysler Financial.

Chrysler also assumed $500 million of Old Chrysler’s debt, reducing the debt to the government. —AP

larly from China, for Australian mining assets,” it added. Roaring demand from China for resources such as iron ore and coal has been credited with helping Australia become the only advanced economy to avoid recession during the global downturn. BHP, Rio Tinto and Xstrata have attacked the proposed tax as a risk to Australia’s prosperity, and some projects have been placed on hold or under review.

Henry dismissed “doomsday” suggestions the levy would erode Australia’s competitive advantage, and counseled against raising the threshold defining a “super profit”. “This would generate a significant subsidy for investment in the mining sector and, ironically, create incentives to delay resource production,” Henry said. —AFP

SHANGHAI: A trading house employee comments on stock index curves. —AFP

PURCHASE: Morgan Stanley Chief Executive James Gorman said Wall Street must “rebuild trust” with Main Street amid a growing disconnect. “We need to understand why people are so angry at Wall Street,” Gorman said yesterday at Morgan Stanley’s annual meeting of shareholders.

Gorman said Morgan Stanley finds itself in an “extremely fluid” environment in light of ongoing investigations and regulatory proposals from Washington. Gorman, who became CEO on Jan 1, met with Morgan Stanley shareholders less than a week after sources said the bank was wrapped into investigations by US prosecutors and the New York Attorney General into transactions that occurred in the run-up to the subprime mortgage crisis.

Wall Street has been rocked over the past month since the US Securities and Exchange Commission sued Goldman Sachs Group Inc, accusing the firm of civil fraud in connection with its marketing of a subprime mortgage product.

The probes have added fuel to legislative efforts to bring reform to Wall Street. The proposals from Washington could affect how firms like Morgan Stanley do business in the future.

Gorman rebuked the characterization by some that the regulatory debate is a “battle” between Wall Street and Main Street. “We all have the same goal,” he said. —Reuters

Asia stocks gain, growth hopes offset Europe fears SINGAPORE: Asian stock markets were mostly higher yesterday as investors tried to look past the turmoil in Europe to a growing global economy. The Shanghai Composite index jumped 1.3 percent to 2,593.11, bouncing back from losses earlier in the session. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged up 0.9 percent to 19,891.78 while Seoul’s Kospi slipped 0.5 percent to 1,643.24.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock average rose 0.1 percent to 10,242.64, recovering slightly after shedding more than 2 percent the previous day. Benchmarks in Singapore and Malaysia also advanced. Some analysts expect inflation and interest rates to remain low and help fuel global economic growth.

Capital Economics raised its 2010 economic growth forecast for Japan to 4.5 percent

from 3 percent and its US forecast to 3.5 percent from 3 percent.

Overnight in New York, the Dow Jones industrials rose 0.1 percent to 10,625.83 as investors spent the day tracking the euro’s moves against the dollar. A drop and subsequent rebound in the euro steered the Dow from a loss of 184 points at midday to a gain of almost 6 by the close. Investors are looking at the euro as an indicator of confidence in European economies. The 16-nation currency has been sliding on concerns that debt problems will undermine Europe’s recovery. A $1 trillion bailout package unveiled last week by the European Union and International Monetary Fund has failed to calm investor concerns that Europe has solved its debt and economic crisis.

“Doubts about the long-term survival of

the euro are not going to go away,” Capital Economics said in a report. “The support package may have averted a near-term sovereign debt crisis, but it is conditional on massive fiscal consolidation that may ultimately prove too much for the electorates of some member states in the euro-zone to bear.” In New York, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 0.1 percent Monday, while the Nasdaq composite index added 0.3 percent to 2,354.23. In currencies, the dollar rose slightly to 92.69 yen from 92.61 yen late Monday. The euro stood at $1.2375 from $1.2392. Benchmark crude for June delivery was up $1.01 to $71.09 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The June contract dropped $1.53, or 2.1 percent, to $70.08, a three-month low. —AP

26

BUSINESS

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Europe backs ‘strict’ hedge fund curbs, despite Britain New curbs could be agreed by July, take effect around 2012 BRUSSELS: Europe agreed “strict” new curbs on the trillion-dollar hedge fund industry yesterday, despite stiff resistance from fledgling British finance minister George Osborne. On a totemic issue for euro governments tired of

what they call “speculators’” attacks on their currency, ministers “agreed a mandate for negotiations with the European parliament” to standardize hedge fund regulation across the 27-nation bloc, the European Union said.

BRUSSELS: Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou (right) talks with European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, prior to the start of the EU finance ministers’ meeting at the European Council building yesterday. —AP

BA, union to hold talks ahead of planned strike LONDON: Britain’s High Court ruled that a planned strike by British Airways cabin crews was unlawful, stopping the planned lengthy walkout just hours before it was due to begin. BA said Monday that flights over the next few days will still be disrupted because it is too late to unwind contingency plans already put in place to cope with the planned 20-day walkout by members of the Unite union.

But it said it aims to restore a full flying program at London’s Heathrow airport by the weekend, as long as the volcanic ash cloud that has shut airspace in recent days doesn’t cause further problems.

The High Court granted the last-minute injunction because of irregularities in Unite’s ballot of workers for the action. The strike had been due to begin at

midnight and run in four blocks of five days each through early June. It is the second time in less than six months that BA has successfully averted a strike by Unite by claiming voting irregularities in a High Court claim; a planned Christmas and New Year walkout was halted the same way. BA urged Unite which can take the case to the Court of Appeal - to negotiate an end to the increasingly acrimonious dispute over pay and working conditions that had led to the planned walkout.

“We hope all sections of Unite, including the leaders of the cabin crew branch Bassa, will take this opportunity to pause and focus on achieving the early and peaceful end to this dispute which the travelling public and all our employees want,” the airline said in a statement.

Unite, which represents around 90 percent of BA’s 12,000 cabin crew, had no immediate comment. The dispute between BA and its workers shows no sign of a breakthrough, with no positive reports from separate talks on Monday between union leaders, airline management and government officials. The union pushed ahead with a strike in March despite a new offer from the airline, costing BA around 45 million pounds ($65 million). BA retaliated by taking away staff travel perks and taking disciplinary action against some 50 workers, leading Unite to accuse airline management of intimidation.

Walsh said earlier there was “absolutely no way” he would intervene in disciplinary cases that the union said were now holding up the prospect of a

HEATHROW: Passengers wait in line for delayed British Airways flights inside Heathrow Airport, on May 17, 2010. —AFP

deal. BA said that no staff had been suspended for going on strike. Of 27 individuals that had been investigated after allegations mainly of bullying and intimidation, seven were dismissed for serious cases of misconduct, the airline said.

Another 20 had returned to work, 15 of whom received written warnings, it added.

Before the court ruling, BA had said it planned to fly more than 70 percent of its customers over the strike period, using leased planes and crew as well as BA cabin crew who decide not to take part in the walkout and staff reassigned from other jobs at the carrier. The proposed strike dates - May 18-22, May 24-28, May 30-June 3 and June 5-9 - fell over a busy British school summer vacation period, a long weekend and the run-up to the football World Cup in South Africa, which begins on June 11.

Walsh has repeatedly warned that the disputed changes to work practices, including fewer staff on longhaul flights and a yearlong pay freeze, are necessary for BA to survive in the post-financial crisis climate. The company has been hit hard by the downturn because of its heavy reliance on premium fare passengers on the trans-Atlantic route. As many leisure and business travelers seek lower cost options, there are fears that its core business will never fully recover. Along with other airlines, it also booked big losses last month when an Icelandic volcano eruption caught the industry unawares, closing down European airspace for days as an ash cloud drifted across the region. —AP

South Africa govt urges end to transport strike JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s government and industry leaders urged striking transport workers to resolve a wage dispute that has crippled port and rail operations in Africa’s biggest economy and stranded millions of commuters. The strike, now in its second week, has dented exports of metals, fruit and wine to Europe and Asia and slowed imports of automotive parts after nearly two-thirds of logistic group Transnet’s 54,000-strong workforce joined in.

“The strike will definitely continue at Metrorail and Transnent and there are definitely no talks scheduled with Transnet,” Chris de Vos, general-secretary at the United Transport and Allied Trade Union (Utatu), said yesterday.

Utatu and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), which

represent 85 percent of Transnet’s workforce, want at least a 12 percent pay rise, while state-owned Transnet says it cannot afford more than 11 percent. So far fuel supplies in South Africa and coal shipments to Europe and Asia have not been disrupted, officials said. The strike is the latest protest in the country ahead of next month’s soccer World Cup, and FIFA said imports of some equipment for the event have been affected.

The Department of Public Enterprises, which oversees Transnet, said it was concerned about the impact of a protracted strike on the economy. The South African Chamber of Commerce said some 25 percent of the country’s workforce was being denied access to passenger services.

Anglo American Plc’s iron ore unit in South Africa declared force majeure on shipments last week, joining other global metal

exporters including Xstrata, which said it could not supply ferrochrome to its customers. “It is also disturbing that some shipping lines have diverted vessels from Durban resulting in imports and exports being seriously delayed and orders being cancelled,” the chamber said.

Economists estimated the impact in the hundreds of millions of rand, but said it would quickly rise to billions as the industrial action drags on into this week. Analysts and the central bank have criticized the unions, saying pay rises well above the 5.1 percent inflation rate would slow South Africa’s economic recovery. On Monday, Utatu and Satawu also began a strike at South Africa’s Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa), halting all commuter rail operations although separate talks were being held to resolve this dispute, de Vos said. —Reuters

A statement said that the new alternative investment fund law, which also affects huge private equity and real estate funds, would introduce harmonized EU-wide rules based on “compliance with strict requirements.” German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that “we are closing a loophole in the regulations,” adding he thought that the bill would soon be placed before lawmakers.

Britain, home to 80 percent of Europe’s hedge fund industry, has fought for months to ensure that funds based in Commonwealth outposts in the Caribbean, for example, but managed in the City of London, be able to sell to all of Europe’s half-a-billion population on the strength of British regulations alone. That is the current state of the game, but in a slight nod to London’s concerns, ministers “took note of remaining concerns expressed by delegations, for instance with regard to third-country rules.” No vote was required.

That stance allows the EU’s current Spanish chairing of the meetings to open negotiations with the parliament on May 31 on a new legislative text expected to make it much tougher for non-EU funds, used to easy British access, to reach the full single market. A European diplomat said that the so-called “passport” issue had yet to be fully worked through, underlining that “the door is still open on this one, it means the UK’s concerns are in play.”

That followed one-on-one talks between Osborne and Spain’s Elena Salgado, chairing the talks, France’s Christine Lagarde and Germany’s Wolfgang Schaeuble, the source said. European parliament lawmakers also voted late yesterday to echo Britain’s concerns in its negotiating position, although Osborne has no guarantee that his core demand will be included in the final bill.

United States Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner had warned in March that the legislation would amount to a protectionist onslaught, helping Osborne’s predecessor to win a pre-election reprieve on the issue. Managers argue that the need to obtain regulatory approval in each of the other 26 EU countries will cost millions of pounds in fees and could lead to an industry exodus to Switzerland and the Middle East.

European partners had warned Osborne beforehand that he would have to accept the majority will on an industry in which top earners can pockets billions each year. “That’s how it is in Europe,” Schaeuble had said. “We are a union, and there are decisions that go against individual countries, but that can happen to any one country. “A clear majority want this law to go through and consider it necessary,” Schaeuble underlined.

Hedge funds lost some of their lustre during the economic downturn, but still handled between 1.2 trillion and 1.3 trillion dollars worldwide in 2009.

The ministers were also to address controversial plans for Brussels to vet budgets in all 27 EU countries from next year before they are put to national parliaments. Eurozone finance chief, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, firmly backed the bid yesterday, saying: “The commission is not going to become the school headmistress for member states’ budgetary policies.”

But a European diplomat warned that Osborne would mount strong British opposition, both yesterday and again when EU president Herman Van Rompuy gathers a special task force to look at the question on Friday. He pointed to a new official position from the European Commission saying the vetting would be run “in full respect of the prerogatives of national parliaments.” Under a power-sharing agreement between Osborne’s Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, any further transfer of powers from Britain to Europe has to be approved by a referendum. The EU has said Britain will have Europe’s biggest deficit in 2011. —AFP

NEW YORK: Signs for American Express, Master Card and Visa credit cards are shown on a store’s door. —AP

Secretive speed traders in spotlight after crash NEW YORK: If you saw a penny on the sidewalk, would you pick it up? You may think it’s not worth the effort, but a breed of investors who have been in the news do. Using super-fast computers, high-frequency traders in effect bend down to pick up pennies lying about in the stock market - then do it again, sometimes thousands of times a second. More than a week after the Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 1,000 points, its biggest intraday drop ever, regulators are still sifting through buy and sell orders to figure out what sparked it. One big focus are orders placed by high-frequency traders, or HFTs, and for good reason. These quick-buck firms barely existed a few years ago but now account for two-thirds of all US stock trading.

In other words, all those TV pictures of the stately New York Stock Exchange building on the evening news are an illusion. The real action on Wall Street is far away in Kansas City, Missouri, and in New Jersey, in towns like Carteret and Red Bank, where HFTs named Tradebot and Wolverine and Tradeworx ply their trade. High-frequency trading firms, which number over 100, use computers programmed with complex mathematical formulas to comb markets for securities priced too high or too low because traders haven’t had time to react to the latest data. The computers then buy or sell in a split second, locking in a profit.

The opportunities seem hardly worth noting.

They’re not just fleeting, but small, often a penny or less. But those pennies can add up to a lot of money, enough to draw the attention of Goldman Sachs Group Inc, the giant Chicago hedge fund Citadel Investment and other big financial firms. In recent years they’ve paid hundreds of millions of dollars for stakes in high-frequency trading companies. The money has stoked what was already fierce competition among the firms for a leg up.

To spot opportunities and act on them before others, HFTs are constantly hunting for faster computers. They also locate themselves close to the big exchanges’ data centers. That can cut their trade times by milliseconds. One way these traders make money is by exploiting the fact that stock indexes sometimes don’t immediately reflect falling or rising prices of their component stocks, said Manoj Narang, chief executive at Tradeworx of Red Bank, New Jersey. If Microsoft shares rise 5 percent but an index fund that includes it such as the SPDR S&P 500 lags by a fraction of second to adjust, his computers will automatically buy shares of SPDR S&P 500 at the lower price and then sell them again when they are fully valued. Or maybe Microsoft is trading in London at a penny less than it’s trading at the same moment in New York. A high-frequency trader will buy shares in London and wait for them to rise. —AP

Millions of jobs that were cut won’t likely come back WASHINGTON: Fewer construction workers will be needed in the US. Don’t expect as many interior designers or advertising copywriters, either. Retailers will get by with leaner staffs. America’s economy is strengthening. But millions of jobs lost in the recession could be gone for good. And unlike in past recessions, jobs in the beleaguered manufacturing sector aren’t the only ones likely lost forever. What sets the Great Recession apart is the variety of jobs that may not return.

That helps explain why economists think it will take at least five years for the economy to regain the 8.2 million jobs wiped out by the recession - longer than in any other recovery since World War II. It means that even as the economy strengthens, more Americans could face years out of work. Already, the percentage of the labor force unemployed for six months or longer is 4.3 percent. That’s the highest rate on records dating to 1948.

Behind the trend are the cutbacks businesses made in the recession to make up for a loss of customers. To sustain earnings, they became more productive: They found ways to produce the same level of goods or services with fewer workers. Automation, global competition and technological efficiencies helped solidify the trend. Diminished home equity and investment accounts have made shoppers more cautious, too. And their frugality could endure well into the recovery. That’s why fewer retail workers, among others, will likely be needed.

Among those whose former jobs may be gone for good are: ● Julie Weber of Milwaukee, who designed office cubicles for nearly seven years. She lost her job about a year ago. Since then, she’s been able to find only part-time work outside her field. Interior design was hammered by the real estate downturn. “My hope for getting back into the industry is not very high,” says Weber, 29. ● Erik Proulx, 38, a former advertising copywriter in Boston, who finds more com-

panies are turning to social media and viral marketing and are less drawn to agencies that focus on traditional TV and print ad campaigns. Proulx was laid off in October 2008 - the third time an employer had cut his position or had closed. He no longer wants to rejoin the industry. Proulx has started a blog to help other unemployed ad professionals network. ● Louis DiFilippo, 30, who decided to study information technology after losing his job managing a gourmet food store in Washington, DC. After six months of unemployment, he embraced a career with more stability. He now works on computer network security for the Navy. “I’m much happier now,” he said.

More than one-third of chief financial officers at 620 big companies surveyed in March by Duke University and CFO magazine said they didn’t expect to restore their payrolls to pre-recession levels for at least three years. Nearly all cited higher productivity and tepid consumer spending.

“Companies have just figured out, ‘We didn’t want to fire people ... but now that they’re gone, we’ve realized that we can get by without them,”‘ said John Graham, a Duke finance professor who directed the survey. Productivity grew at an annual rate of 6.3 percent in the year ending in March, the Labor Department said this month. It was the largest increase in 48 years, though most economists think that pace isn’t sustainable. In the long run, more productive workers raise standards of living: Companies can pay more without inflating prices. But in the short run, high productivity delays hiring. US employers did add 290,000 jobs in April. The unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent, though, because 805,000 people without jobs poured into the labor force to seek work.

Three industries, in particular, where many jobs may not be coming back are retailing, manufacturing and advertising. Retailers have lost 1.2 million, or 7.5 percent, of jobs that existed before the recession, according to Labor Department

data. Circuit City and Linens & Things have collapsed.

Starbucks closed nearly 800 US stores. Robert Yerex, an economist at Kronos, a work force management company, estimates 20 percent of those jobs are never coming back.

Manufacturing has shed 2.1 million jobs, or 16 percent of its total, since the recession began. Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Boeing Co laid off a combined 15,700 people during the recession.

General Motors eliminated 65,000 through buyouts and layoffs. And as Americans buy fewer cars and homes, more than 1 million jobs in the auto, steel, furniture and other manufacturing industries won’t return, according to estimates by Moody’s Analytics. Advertising and PR agencies have lost 65,000 jobs, or about 14 percent of the pre-recession total.

Moody’s Analytics estimates those industries will lose even more within five years.

In addition, a consolidated airline industry has shed layers of jobs that won’t likely return. Delta Air Lines earlier this year spread out departure times for flights from its Cincinnati hub, rather than bunching them at peak travel times. That way, it could operate from one concourse rather than two, said Kent Landers, a spokesman. The change allowed a Delta subsidiary, Regional Elite Airline Services, to cut more than 700 baggage handling and other ground services jobs.

More than half the 15.3 million people out of work in April said they regard their layoff as permanent, the Labor Department said.

That’s the highest proportion on records dating to 1967. In previous recessions, workers often endured only temporary layoffs: Their employers would recall them once business picked up. Caterpillar Inc has resumed hiring after laying off 19,000 full-time workers during the recession, thanks to rising demand for its construction and mining equipment. But most of the new jobs will be overseas. —AP

27

TECHNOLOGY

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

MySpace simplifying privacy settings amid Facebook criticism ‘Friends only’ to be default setting WASHINGTON: MySpace announced plans to simplify its privacy settings on Monday as it seeks to differentiate itself from social network rival Facebook, which is under fire over its privacy practices. Mike Jones, co-president of

HONG KONG: US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke sits inside the Hong Kong-developed electric MyCar in Hong Kong Monday. US leaders want China’s clean energy boom to drive technology exports and are sending a sales mission to Beijing this week. —AP

E-readers, tablet computers set to take off: BCG survey WASHINGTON: Consumers worlwide are very interested in tablet computers like Apple’s iPad and electronic readers such as Amazon’s Kindle, and sales of the devices could take off when prices drop, according to a new survey.

“I think we’re already at the starting point of mass adoption,” said John Rose of The Boston Consulting Group, which conducted the survey of nearly 13,000 consumers in 14 countries. “A million iPads in a month is a lot,” Rose told AFP on Monday, refering to Apple’s first month sales figures for the touchscreen device. Other companies such as Sony, Samsung and Google were expected to come out with similar products, he added.

Fifty-one percent of consumers surveyed who were familar with e-readers or tablet

computers said they planned to purchase one within a year and 73 percent said they planned to buy one within three years.

“The survey suggests that ereaders and tablets are not a niche product for early adopters but could become the MP3 players of this decade,” Rose said separately in a press release.

“Grandmothers will soon be carrying them around.”

The survey revealed prices will have to drop before e-readers and tablets become established consumer products alongside television sets, personal computers and mobile phones.

“As with other major mass market consumer devices the prices will come down,” Rose told AFP. “They always do. “I expect you’ll see the prices come down in the next 12 to 18 months,” he said. “The first

iPod was a 400-dollar device so there’s no reason why we won’t see the same cycle.”

US consumers said they were prepared to pay between 100 and 150 dollars for a singleusage device like the Kindle or 130 to 200 dollars for a multipurpose device like the iPad, which can serve as an e-reader but also browse the Web or play video. The Kindle, which was launched in 2007, costs 259 dollars while the iPad, which came out in the United States last month, costs between 499 dollars and 829 dollars.

The survey found most consumers would prefer a multipurpose device. Sixty-six percent said they preferred a multipurpose device while 24 percent said they wanted a single-purpose device for reading electronic books. The remainder were undecided. — AFP

“The last few weeks have been fraught with discussion around user privacy on social networks,” Jones said without directly mentioning Facebook by name. “MySpace early on recognized the issues facing a website with a massive global population and we’ve taken our responsibilities seriously,” he said. “While MySpace at its core is about discovery, self expression and sharing, we understand people might want the option of limiting the sharing of their information to a select group of friends,” Jones said.

“We respect our users’ desires to balance sharing and privacy, and never push our users to an uncomfortable privacy position,” he said. “We provide clear privacy settings, allowing not only restrictions on who can view their profile data, but also age restrictions to allow age separation of older and younger users.”

Jones said MySpace, which was bought by News Corp. in 2005 for 580 million dollars, is “planning the launch of a simplified privacy setting for our user profiles.

“While we’ve had these plans in the works for some time, given the recent outcry over privacy concerns in the media, we felt it was important to unveil those plans to our users now,” he said. “In the coming weeks, MySpace will continue to simplify its privacy settings to create a simpler, more intuitive approach that gives users greater control over their information,” Jones said. The MySpace co-president said setting options will include “public, friends only, or public to anyone 18 or over.” “In making this change, MySpace will default the setting to ‘friends only’ for any user who previously had any granular page setting to ‘friends only,’” he said, adding that users can change the option if they want. The MySpace move comes with Facebook under fire from US privacy and consumer groups, US lawmakers and the European Union over new features that critics claim compromise the privacy of its more than 400 million members.

The new features introduced last month include the ability for partner websites to incorporate Facebook data, a move that would further expand the social network’s presence on the Internet. Four US senators, in a letter to Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, said they were worried that personal information about Facebook users is being made available to third party websites. The senators also expressed concerns that “Facebook now obligates users to make publicly available certain parts of their profile that were previously private.”

Sharing personal information should be an “opt-in” procedure in which a user specifically gives permission for data to be shared, they said.

Facebook vice president of global communications Elliot Schrage has been adamant that online privacy is taken very seriously at the company. — AFP

News Corp-owned MySpace, announced the changes in a blog post on the News Corp.-owned social network, which has been eclipsed in popularity in recent years by Facebook.

Microsoft upgrade aims to make Hotmail cool again SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft Corp. is trying to make Hotmail cool again.

The free Web mail service soon will be switching to a new approach that Microsoft hopes will give Hotmail an edge over rival offerings from Yahoo Inc. and Google Inc. The upgrade, expected to be available in July or August, will automatically sort incoming messages into different categories devoted to users’ key contacts and Internet social networks. It will also provide previews of incoming photos, videos and other material without having to open an attachment or click on a link.

Other tools are being added to make it less cumbersome to send photos, videos, documents and other attachments to e-mail recipients. Another tweak is supposed to make it easier to sync Hotmail on mobile phones.

It’s all part of the most extensive overhaul to Hotmail since Microsoft bought the service 12 years ago, said Chris Jones, a Microsoft executive who is overseeing the renovations.

“Our service wasn’t doing the best job that it could,” Jones said during a Monday preview of the makeover.

The new features are supposed to enable people to spend less time managing their inboxes and more time enjoying and digesting what’s in the messages.

Microsoft is hoping the added convenience will help overcome the perception that Hotmail was growing

stale as Google and Yahoo added more bells and whistles to their free Web mail services.

Even as it made relatively few changes, Hotmail remained the world’s most used service with 360 million users, according to statistics complied by comScore Inc. Yahoo ranks second globally with about 284 million users followed by Google’s Gmail at 173 million users.

Now Microsoft thinks it might have shot at supplanting Yahoo as the top Web mail service in the US (Yahoo’s e-mail service has 95 million U.S. users compared to 47 million for Hotmail and 43 million for Gmail, according to comScore).

Hotmail’s most significant changes will provide new ways to look at photos and videos sent through e-mail.

Microsoft expects this feature to be particularly popular because it says 55 percent of Hotmail’s storage is consumed by photos sent as attachments.

The new technology will detect when an e-mail contains a photo attachment and automatically display a thumbnail of the image (or images) at the top of the message. Hotmail will provide similar previews when it detects links to photosharing sites Flickr and SmugMug or to video-sharing sites YouTube and Hulu.

Other changes are designed to make it easier to send photos, video and other Web content.

A new insert bar will allow users to send up to 10

gigabytes, about 200 photos each containing 50 megabytes _ by uploading them to Microsoft’s free online storage service Skydrive, where they can only be viewed by the recipients of the e-mail. Videos and other Internet material can be found through a new panel that will connect Hotmail to Microsoft’s Internet search engine, Bing. The videos and other Bing-generated content can then be inserted into an e-

mail with a mouse click. The e-mail recipient will then be able to see the video or other material without having to click through a Web link.

As it spruces up Hotmail, Microsoft also will try to make it more secure.

Embracing a change recently made by Gmail, Microsoft is adding a so-called “secure sockets layer” (denoted by “https” before a Web address) that encrypts e-mail to make it less vulnerable to computer hackers. — AP

Nintendo, American heart group join to tackle obesity TOKYO: The American Heart Association has teamed up with Japanese entertainment giant Nintendo to harness its Wii consoles and encourage Americans to exercise more to counter a soaring obesity problem.

Nintendo, whose Wii consoles with motion-controlling sensors took markets by storm in 2006, is working with the AHA in order to cut the risks of heart disease among Americans, their websites said.

According to the AHA nearly 70 percent of Americans do not get enough regular physical activity. Obesity, a major health problem in the US, is a determinant of cardiovascular disease, the number one killer in the country.

The association said that the average American spends more than eight hours a day sitting and recommends all adults to get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week and 60 minutes daily for children. Nintendo will carry the AHA logo on its active-play video game products including the Wii, the Wii Fit Plus, and the Wii Sports Resort.

The US has seen a dramatic increase in obesity during the past 20 years with roughly one in three adults considered obese, according to government statistics.

Nintendo hopes to reignite the Wii’s sales, which have declined since its launch, and is banking on software aimed at increased physical activity as competitors such as Sony prepare to launch their own motion-sensing equipment.

The Kyoto-based company said earlier this month that games such as “Wii Sports Resort” and “Wii Fit Plus” helped raise the console’s total lifetime sales to 70.93 million units, a record in the firm’s history. —AFP

Wireless users opt for service without commitment NEW YORK: For US wireless subscribers, commitment is out and shortterm relationships are in. This year, customers have been making a big shift away from two-year contracts toward “prepaid” cell phone service, which often costs less and does not require contracts. This is happening even though contracts are needed to get popular phones such as the iPhone and the Droid.

Now prepaid service looks like it will get even more attractive, with further price cuts. That’s because wireless carriers have hit a wall when it comes to finding new customers who will sign contracts. “I would love to have an iPhone. I just can’t swallow the $70 or more bill that would come with it,” said Jeff Finlay, a 45-year-old stay-at-home dad in San Antonio who uses a prepaid plan.

Unlike contract plans that bill subscribers each month for the services they used the previous month, prepaid services traditionally let subscribers buy minutes in advance for around 10 cents to 20 cents each. When the minutes are used

up, people “refill” their accounts as needed. For years, such plans were marketed primarily to people who did not have the credit to qualify for plans with contracts.

About one-fifth of Americans with cell phones are on prepaid, according to the New Millennium Research Council, a Washington-based think tank.

But as the recession forced more people to cut costs, prepaid service appealed to a broader slice of the market, and prepaid services responded by offering better deals. Now it’s possible to make unlimited calls and text messages on a prepaid plan for $45 a month, half of what it costs a customer with a contract on Verizon Wireless. At Tracfone, the largest independent provider of prepaid service, customers pay an average of $11 per month.

The popularity of text messaging is also making some people move away from contract plans that provide a big bucket of monthly minutes that may not get used.

Finlay uses prepaid service from Virgin Mobile, a division of Sprint Nextel Corp., because he talks no more than 15 to 20

minutes on the phone each month.

That costs him $5 per month. He sends and receives up to 2,000 text messages, so he tacks on an unlimited-texting option for $20 per month. His sons, 13 and 18 years old, use their phones the same way, so they’re on Virgin too. Finlay has even converted his parents to prepaid. They’re in their 70s, pretty far outside Virgin’s target market: 18-to-24-year olds.

Together, the seven largest U.S. wireless carriers expanded their contract subscribers by just 230,000 people in the first quarter. That’s negligible compared to their entire customer base of 280 million.

Prepaid service, meanwhile, attracted about 3.1 million new subscribers to the seven largest carriers in the quarter.

(That does not include an additional 1.1 million accounts that AT&T Inc. counts as prepaid but are serving devices that aren’t phones, such as e-book readers.) This marks a sharp reversal of trends.

In the same quarter just two years ago, the comparable carriers added 3 million

subscribers under contract, and 2.3 million to prepaid plans.

The carriers that rank third and fourth in the US by subscriber numbers, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA, are losing contract customers. No. 1 Verizon Wireless and No. 2 AT&T are still adding contract customers, but at the lowest numbers in more than five years.

The prepaid market heated up in January 2009, when Sprint began offering a prepaid plan with unlimited minutes for $50 a month under its Boost Mobile brand. MetroPCS Communications Inc. and Leap Wireless International Inc., which both target low-income households, had been offering unlimited prepaid plans for a few years, but only in limited areas. Sprint’s offer was good nationwide.

Tracfone, a unit of Mexico’s America Movil SA, countered with Straight Talk, which provides unlimited calling for $45 per month on Verizon Wireless’ network, sold exclusively by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. MetroPCS and Leap, which sells service under the Cricket brand, have responded

by eliminating add-on fees for taxes and roaming, effectively cutting prices.

Ronald Grandison, 56, switched four months ago to MetroPCS after seven years under contract with Sprint.

He said he was paying charges that he didn’t understand and couldn’t get explained. The bill for him and his wife sometimes rose above $400 per month.

“That was the last straw,” said the Brooklyn law enforcement officer. “I felt bad to switch. I had been a customer for so long.

But I get up for work at 4 a.m., and it’s hard to make this money.” They now pay $84 for unlimited calls and text messages.

Because prepaying subscribers can cancel service at any time without penalty, carriers do not subsidize the cost of the phones as much as they do for contractsigning customers. (For instance, AT&T pays Apple close to $600 for each iPhone 3GS that costs a customer $199.) That has meant that phones available for prepaid service mostly have been basic models.

That, too, has been changing. It’s now

possible to buy BlackBerrys for prepaid, and carriers have signaled that they’re looking to add more “smart” phones. But don’t expect a prepaid iPhone: AT&T, which carries it, isn’t an aggressive player in prepaid.

It and Verizon sell prepaid service at relatively high prices that haven’t been gaining them many customers.

Apparently wary of eroding their brand names, they’ve instead jumped on the prepaid bandwagon by selling network access to Tracfone. On Thursday, Sprint and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced a trial of another prepaid plan: Common Cents, which is designed for people who don’t use their phones much. Calls will cost 7 cents per minute.

“Through the recent difficulties in our economy, we’ve seen consumers say loud and clear that their phone was a musthave,” said Greg Hall, head of U.S. entertainment and wireless sales at Wal-Mart.

“But what we have seen is them really getting smart about getting that connection with the best value.”— AP

28

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Abu Dhabi National Geographic unveils new series 'Known Universe' unravels the mysteries of the world beyond ours in a new show

Scene from the Known Universe series

Study suggests processed meat a real health risk CHICAGO: Eating bacon, sausage, hot dogs and other processed meats can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes, US researchers said on Monday in a study that identifies the real bad boys of the meat counter.

Eating unprocessed beef, pork or lamb appeared not to raise risks of heart attacks and diabetes, they said, suggesting that salt and chemical preservatives may be the real cause of these two health problems associated with eating meat.

The study, an analysis of other research called a meta-analysis, did not look at high blood pressure or cancer, which are also linked with high meat consumption.

"To lower risk of heart attacks and diabetes, people should consider which types of meats they are eating," said Renata Micha of the Harvard School of Public Health, whose study appears in the journal Circulation. "Processed meats such as

Lassa fever kills 17 in Nigeria KANO: A fresh outbreak of Lassa fever has killed 17 people and left dozens infected in northern Nigeria's Kebbi State in the past month, a health official said yesterday. "We have so far lost 17 people to the Lassa fever outbreak which started about four weeks ago," state chief epidemiologist Shehu Mohammed told AFP. Lassa fever is an endemic acute viral hemorrhagic illness common in west Africa, which is usually contracted through contact with rodents' excreta.

"Scores of people have been confirmed to have been infected with the disease," said Mohammed in a phone interview. He said the outbreak was recorded in three local districts, including the state capital Birnin-Kebbi, the worst hit with nine recorded deaths.

Mohammed said the World Health Organization has roped in medical experts from South Africa, Netherlands and Nigeria's commercial centre Lagos to help tackle the outbreak. The disease, which causes fever, headache, difficulty in swallowing and can lead to infection of vital organs and death, is named after the town of Lassa in northern Nigeria's Borno State where it was first identified in 1969. It occurs mainly in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and in Sierra Leone where it claims roughly 200 lives each year.—AFP

bacon, salami, sausages, hot dogs and processed deli meats may be the most important to avoid," Micha said in a statement.

Based on her findings, she said people who eat one serving per week or less of processed meats have less of a risk.

The American Meat Institute objected to the findings, saying it was only one study and that it stands in contrast to other studies and the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

"At best, this hypothesis merits further study.

It is certainly no reason for dietary changes," James Hodges, president of the American Meat Institute, said in a statement. Most dietary guidelines recommend eating less meat. Individual studies looking at relationships between eating meat and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes have had mixed results.

But studies rarely look for differences in risk

between processed and unprocessed red meats, Micha said. She and colleagues did a systematic review of nearly 1,600 studies from around the world looking for evidence of a link between eating processed and unprocessed red meat and the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

They defined processed meat as any meat preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or with the addition of chemical preservatives. Meats in this category included bacon, salami, sausages, hot dogs or processed deli or luncheon meats.

Unprocessed red meat included beef, lamb or pork but not poultry.

They found that on average, each 1.8 oz (50 grams) daily serving of processed meat a day-one to two slices of deli meats or one hot dog-was associated with a 42 percent higher risk of heart disease and a 19 percent higher risk of developing diabetes. They found no higher heart or diabetes

risk in people who ate only unprocessed red meats. The team adjusted for a number of factors, including how much meat people ate. They said lifestyle factors were similar between those who ate processed and unprocessed meats.

"When we looked at average nutrients in unprocessed red and processed meats eaten in the United States, we found that they contained similar average amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol," Micha said. "In contrast, processed meats contained, on average, four times more sodium and 50 percent more nitrate preservatives," Micha added.

Last month, the Institute of Medicine urged the US Food and Drug Administration to regulate the amount of salt added to foods to help Americans cut their high sodium intake. The FDA has not yet said whether it will regulate salt in foods, but it is looking at the issue.—Reuters

Polio outbreak spreads in Tajikistan, WHO warns GENEVA: A polio outbreak in Tajikistan has spread, with 108 confirmed cases among children, and more expected, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday.

The epidemic in the former Soviet republic is the latest setback to the United Nations agency's multi-billion dollar efforts to eradicate the disease worldwide, begun in 1988. Mass vaccination campaigns are underway in Tajikistan and neighboring Uzbekistan this week to prevent further spreading

of the virus, WHO spokeswoman Sona Bari said.

"There are 108 confirmed cases of polio and we will probably see more cases because a number of cases are still pending analysis," she told Reuters. Twelve Tajik children had died from paralysis, but it was not yet clear whether these were from polio, she said. Polio, which spreads in areas with poor sanitation, attacks the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours of

infection.

Russian health authorities confirmed last Friday its first polio case in 13 years in a child visiting from Tajikistan. There were about 1,600 cases of polio in 23 countries last year, according to a WHO progress report submitted to health ministers from its 193 member states holding their annual assembly in Geneva this week.

The virus is considered endemic in four countries- Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Insecurity has

hampered efforts to reach children with an oral vaccine in Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to the WHO. The WHO has suggested a budget of $2.6 billion for combating polio in 2010-2012, but says it faces a funding shortfall of about 50 percent for that period. Nigeria, long seen as key to wiping out polio in Africa, has made impressive progress against the disease in the year since religious leaders backed vaccination, WHO said in March. — Reuters

China rejects reports on deadly indoor air pollution

JOHANNESBURG: This picture taken on May 16, 2010 shows a lion eating at the Aquadome & Animal World of the entertainment centre of the Emerald Resort and Casino in Johannesburg. —AFP

BEIJING: Chinese authorities have rejected state media reports which quoted a government study saying more than two million youths die in China each year from health problems related to indoor air pollution. The China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention posted a notice on its website late Monday saying the reports were wrong, while state press blamed the matter on false figures released by an air filter manufacturer.

"The China CDC has issued no specific figures on indoor air pollution leading to mass deaths," the notice said. "Our centre is actively investigating the matter." The China News Service and other state media had reported Monday that 2.2 million youths died each year from illnesses related to indoor pollutants, with nearly half of them under five years of age.

It cited a study it said was released Sunday by the government. The original reports could not be found on the Internet yesterday. China is one of the world's most polluted countries, with environmental and health concerns often trampled amid an overriding focus on industrial growth.

A 2007 World Bank report said 750,000 Chinese die prematurely each year due to air and water pollution-a figure edited out of final versions of the report, reportedly after China warned it could cause social unrest.—AFP

KUWAIT: Just how big was the Big Bang? Is there life on other planets? What would travelling at "warp speed" really look like? What would happen if you were sucked into a black hole? Could wormholes make time travel a reality?

Could life on Earth survive another huge meteor strike like the one that took out the dinosaurs?

Premiering on 22nd May at 8 pm (KSA), 9 pm (UAE), the 3-part series KNOWN UNIVERSE combines the most current scientific information, cutting-edge computer graphics, dramatic time-lapse sequences and everyday examples to shed light on some of the most mind-boggling aspects of our universe.

The series covers everything from size of our solar system to the most powerful explosions and the dynamic relationship among speed, time, distance and gravity.

KNOWN UNIVERSE also takes an inside look at some of the world's biggest particle accelerators, fastest rockets and most powerful telescopes to see how science is put to the test in and out of the lab.

On the momentous occasion, the channel will be celebrating the achievements of His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as the first Arab, first Muslim, and first member of royalty to travel into space, by screening an exclusive interview with him alongside the airing of the 3 episodes.

Short clippings from the interview from HRH Prince Sultan's interview will also be aired throughout the threeweek period of Space Month, reaching out to almost 50 million households in the Middle East and North Africa region through the Arabic, free-to-air factual entertainment channel.

During the interview, viewers can hear about the preparation, planning and training that HRH Prince Sultan undertook, as well as

his experiences in outer space, including the challenges he faced and memorable incidents during the actual record-setting voyage.

HRH Prince Sultan will also talk about his distinguished career and how he came to be interested in astronomy.

Furthermore, HRH Prince Sultan will share his inspirational message to the people of the region - especially those young people that are interested in a career in astronomy or science, or those that dream of achieving what seems like the unachievable.

"National Geographic Abu Dhabi is a channel dedicated to bringing Arabic-language factual entertainment to the region that is interesting, educational, inspiring, and most of all, is relevant to our viewers," said Rohit D'silva, General Manager, National Geographic Abu Dhabi. "Known Universe showcases the mysteries & wonders of the universe and we are excited to bring it to the viewers of the region with an illustrious personality of the stature and experience of HRH Prince Sultan who has inspired - and continues to inspire - young Arab men and women throughout the region, showing that it is possible to literally reach for the stars and to be successful in whatever goals they set their minds on."

Watch the 3 part series Known Universe on National Geographic Abu Dhabi and the exclusive interview with HRH Prince Sultan at the following timings: • Speeding through the Universe: Saturday, 5th June 8 pm KSA / 9 pm UAE • Sizing up the Universe: Saturday, 22nd May, 8 pm KSA / 9 pm UAE • Blowing up the Universe: Saturday, 29th May, 8 pm KSA / 9 pm UAE The interview with HRH Prince Sultan would precede the airing of each of the episode and also play at various times throughout the 3week period.

Tour of the museum

Even dads get the baby blues: Study WASHINGTON: It's not just mothers who get the baby blues-a significant number of dads also suffer from depression before or after a baby's birth, a study published yesterday showed. Around 10 percent of fathers experience prenatal or postpartum depression, and US dads are more likely than their foreign counterparts to feel glum preor post-birth, according to the study, published in a special mental health issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Baby blues among fathers peaked during the three to six months after the infant's birth, when 25.6 percent of dads experienced depression, said the study, led by James Paulson of the Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Fourteen percent of US dads experienced prenatal or postpartum depression compared with 8.2 percent internationally, it shows, leading to a call from the authors for "further investigation vis-a-vis varying social norms and postpartum work practices" in different countries.

The researchers, who analyzed data from 43 different studies involving more than 28,000 participants, also found that the rate of dads who get the baby blues is more than twice the 4.8 per-

cent of men in the general population who reported a bout of depression in a 12month period.

Mothers are roughly twice as likely as dads to get the baby blues: nearly 24 percent were found to suffer depression related to pregnancy or the birth of a baby.

Like fathers, maternal baby blues tended to peak during the three- to sixmonth period after the baby's birth, when nearly 42 percent of mothers reported feeling depressed, the study says.

Often, if the mother suffers the baby blues the father will too, and as with maternal depression, paternal depression can have substantial emotional, behavioral and developmental effects on children, the study says.

The study calls for more efforts to be made to improve screening and referral of fathers for pre- and post-natal depression, "particularly in light of the mounting evidence that early paternal depression may have substantial emotional, behavioral and developmental effects on children." The researchers also suggest that prevention and intervention efforts for depression focus on the couple and family, rather than the individual.—AFP

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

HEALTH

29

Japan declares ‘state of emergency’ over FMD outbreak TOKYO: Japan yesterday admitted it was slow to detect an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease as the affected region declared a state of emergency after culling more than 110,000 animals. The disease, which sickens animals but rarely affects humans, was confirmed in late April, three weeks after the first animals fell ill, triggering a beef and pork export ban and threatening Japan’s premium Miyazaki beef sector.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who on Monday announced special aid for the region, conceded that “there may have been certain (problems) in terms of having done everything we could to prevent the spread” of the disease.

“The government will have to be united in working to avert further expansion of the infection,” he said.

Hideo Higashikokubaru, the governor of Miyazaki, declared a state of emergency and warned that “we are facing the risk that the disease will spread beyond” his prefecture on the southwestern island of Kyushu. By yesterday, animal health workers had culled more than 114,000 cows, buffalo, pigs and goats to contain the disease that had spread to 126 farms. Japan on April 20 suspended its beef and pork exports after detecting suspected cases of foot-and-mouth disease in a cattle herd, in what

MIYAZAKI: Prefectural health officers sterilize a farm in Kawaminami town in Miyazaki prefecture on May 15, 2010 after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Japan yesterday admitted it was slow to detect an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease as the affected region declared a state of emergency after culling more than 110,000 animals. — AFP

was soon confirmed as the island-nation’s first outbreak in a decade. Officials said yesterday that cases of animals falling ill in late March were initially misdiagnosed as normal diarrhoea.

“There was a mistake in that the initial diagnosis did not conclude it was foot-andmonth disease,” Hiroshi Nakai, the chief of the National Public Safety Commission, said in a television interview. The epidemic has forced the cull of scores of prized breeding bulls, leaving just six of them, now kept in isolation, to inseminate cows to produce the tender and highly marbled beef from the region.

Foot-and-mouth disease affects clovenhoofed animals, also including sheep, goats and deer. It is rarely transmitted to humans but spreads easily between animals, causing them pain and often killing their young. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation late last month urged countries to step up vigilance against foot-and-mouth disease following the cases in Japan and an outbreak in South Korea since early April.

Japan, a net food importer, exports only around 500 tonnes of beef a year-including some 35 tonnes of the premium Miyazaki beef, a sought-after delicacy for its intense marbling with mostly unsaturated fat. — AFP

30

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

KES presents Wizard of Oz

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

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.

ome very impressive performances by tiny stars in the Infant Green Theatre brought joy to both students and parents gathered at Kuwait English School to watch The Wizard of Oz, by Alfred Bradley. “The children have been working very, very hard” said Juliet Lambert, Head of KES Infant Department.

“That was fantastic. You were amazing.

Well done!” exclaimed Christine Dunne, Green Unit Coordinator. Dunne praised Justyna, a child in Year 2R who had her appendix removed just 2 weeks earlier, but was determined to return to school and participate in the production. She appeared as a Munchkin.

“This is an inclusive Green Theatre project” said Dunne, “for some of the children it’s their first time on stage. Each one has a challenge, and each one has a chance to appear in the show”. There are 20 places for infants to join the Green Unit in the 6 week drama workshops. The last one this term has already started.

The Wizard of Oz was directed by Tracey Walters, who runs the Junior Green Theatre drama club. She said despite being young the children learned lots of lines, which was very difficult. Tracey was assisted by Sally Evans who helped the narrator and prompted with a few forgotten lines, and nurse Lina, who made all the costumes and applied all the make-up.

Joyce designed all the posters, fliers and certificates, and Nagwa supported with marketing.dalal and Aziz, Senior GCSE students, assisted back stage. Jocob helped with sound, and sabika with lighting.

Catherine White projected beautifully, delivering a very eloquent performance in scene 1. “Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, went whirling through the air” said the confident narrator, Razzan. Scene 2 starts after the twister lifts their house to Munchkin Land, landing upon a wicked witch. The Munchkins are happy that the wicked witch has died.

Dorothy, played by Holly, inherits her magic shoes but wants to return to her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas. Holly was greeted with appreciative applause from the audience in response to a delightful solo, “Somewhere over the rainbow”, accompanied by student maestro Heui Sung Kim on the piano.

The good witch advises her to follow the Yellow Brick Road and seek the help of the Wizard of Oz in Emerald City. Along the way, Dorothy spots a scarecrow, “I don’t know anything. I am stuffed with straw” he says, but decides to accompany her to ask the Wizard of Oz for a brain. They hear the tinman, Adam in 1K, groaning. The pair oil him and, seeking a heart, he joins them on their journey.

“I know that I am a great coward. And I am ashamed of myself” said Zion in IK, in an animated portrayal of the lion. The trio convince the King of the Beasts to travel with them in a quest for some courage. They encounter a ditch, but the brave lion leaps across it carrying the others on his back. At

S

Emerald City, the guard provides the group with sunglasses to protect their eyes, but the Wizard won’t meet them.

“Please tell the great Wizard of Oz that a little girl, wearing magic shoes of the Wicked Witch of the East, and wearing the kiss mark of the Good Witch of the North, is very excited to see him” said Dorothy. The impressed Guard escorts them in. The Wizard promises to help in return for the crown of the Wicked Witch of the West, who lives in the land of the Winkies.

Imogen in 1M, plays a spirited Wicked Witch of the West, who only has one eye and uses a telescope to look out of her castle door.

Suddenly and dramatically jumps into a terrible rage . She blows the silver whistle which is hanging round her neck to summon her monkey slaves. The winged monkey, Nawaf, spots the four as they sleep in the castle grounds.

Even though she owns a magic cap, the Witch wants her deceased sister’s shoes too.

But the monkeys betray her. The wicked witch makes a dramatic collapse to the floor as the monkeys help Dorothy throw a bucket of water on her to melt her. They return to Oz with the crown, but discover that the Wizard is an old man without any magic.

“You don’t need brains because you learn something new every day” the Wizard tells the scarecrow, consoling him with a thinking cap. Glinda hangs a beautiful, red silk heart around the neck of the tin man.

“This is a bottle we keep courage in, shake it up and drink it. The courage will be inside of you”, Oz cheekily tells the lion.

Dorothy clicks her feet three times and finds herself back in Kansas. Parents were invited to take photographs of the cast gathered for a final curtain call. Dunne took some beautiful photographs.

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.

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.

Blood donation camp RI Telugudesam Kuwait branch is organizing a blood donation camp to commemorate Late N T Ramarao’s 88th birthday on Friday, May 28 at Central Blood Bank, Jabriya. Those who are interested to donate blood, kindly contact us at: 97125420, 99396711, 99996851, 97809251, 99560433, 99964891, 99410315.

N

Indoor picnic uwait Kannada Koota invites all its members with their family to the Indoor Picnic on Friday, May 21 at Carmel School Khaitan from 4p m onwards. There will be plenty of fun with games and activity stalls. The highlight of the evening will be Karnataka cuisine prepared and served for dinner by KKK members at nominal charges.

For details please call up 99637545, 97330120, 55866840 and 66257910.

K

Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

31

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

KFH employees with laborers and technicians of Jaber Hospital project .

KFH employees show appreciation for laborers building Jaber Hospital team from the Marketing and Public Relations Department at Kuwait Finance House (KFH), accompanied by Public Relations Manager at the Ministry of Public Works Khaled Al-Adwani, visited the laborers and technicians building Jaber Hospital, which is considered to be one of the major projects being currently executed around the clock.

It is worth noting that KFH had previously paid a visit to the First Ring Road development project,

A

which comes as part of KFH’s strategy to honor those who work hard, such as the laborers and technicians. The visit comes to express the gratitude and appreciation of KFH towards the sterling efforts exerted by the laborers who work in harsh weather conditions, which makes them feel appreciated by others for the work they do. The KFH team offered them food and beverages that relieved them from their tough working conditions. Such a step boosted

the spirits of the workers who appreciated the visit that KFH has paid to them, which was done as a result of their work in a project that will be of great significance, since it will improve the health services offered in Kuwait. They thanked KFH for visiting them, and said that they have enjoyed the family spirit, while stressing that they will continue their hard work until all phases of the project are completed.

The AMERICAN CORNER at AUK

Professor Dr M Nannan visits Kuwait well known Tamil scholar Professor, Dr M Nannan will be visiting Kuwait on 21 and 22nd of May, to attend “Kalai Ilakiya Vizha” (Folk and Literature Event) organized by “Pongutamil Manram”. Professor Nannan born on 30/07/1923 in a remote village in Cuddalore district of TamilNadu. Initially he did “Pulavar” course conducted by Annamalai University and later he did his Bachelor Master and Ph.D from Chennai University.

He started his carrier as Tamil Teacher in Primary School in his own village and continued in many Schools before moving to Chennai to work with Madharese Asam, Govt. College and Presidency College. In 1980 he has been appointed as Director of Tamil Development Department by Tamil Nadu Government. He served till 1983. During his tenure as Director, he has implemented many revolutionary practices in various Govt. departments.

He is being utilized in many Tamil Nadu Govt, departments and post to serve, advice and implement many Tamil development and social development activities of Tamil Nadu Government. He has changed his name as Nannan from his original name Thirughanasarnbanthan during his stay in Annamalai University along with Famous politicians like Anbalagan, Nedunchezhiyan.

During his younger age he has involved in “Vellaiyane Veliveru” and “Indhi Ethirppu Iyakkam”. He has developed a simple and effective system to study Tamil Language called “Nannan Murai” (Nannan System) and is being telecasted in Pothigai TV in India and in Londond, Kuala Lumbur. He was teaching Tamil thru National TV for 17 years. And created about 17 short Dramas.

So far he has written more than 70 books and published around 50. He is planning to release 12 books at a time during June, 2010. He has developed an Trust name “Nannan Kudi”, many scholarships being issued to the outstanding students and implementing many Tamil Development activities.

Currently he is a Member of “Center Institute of Classical Tamil”. He has been awarded by Tamil Nadu Government and many other Institutions for his Service to Tamil and Society. During his current visit to Kuwait, he will be delivering his speech to the audience along with Folk singer Thiruvudaiyan at Fintas Hall on 21.05.2010 from 0530 pm till 0930 pm. For more details about the programme, p1. visit www.pongutamil.org and contact thru mobile: 66852906 and Email: thamizh@pongutainil.org

Greetings

A

ARAB AMERICANS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES T

he American University of Kuwait’s American Corner held a lecture titled ‘Arab Americans and Mental Health Issues’ at the AUK Library. Increasing the individual’s understanding of the interplay of mental health issues and culture is critical to enhancing one’s sense of identity, as well as essential to promoting self growth. The lecture provided students and community members with the opportunity to gain knowledge from two psychologists, Dr Juliet Dinkha and Dr Nisrine Aboul Hosson, who are specialized in working with diverse populations.

Dr Dinkha and Dr Aboul-Hosson highlighted important aspects in the field of clinical psychology, shedding light on the role of clinical psychologists, the differences between psychologists and psychiatrists, and the importance of cultural sensitivity when providing psychotherapy.

The presenters provided an interactive forum for the audience, by inviting them to pose questions and share input.

Dr Dinkha is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an Associate Professor of Psychology at AUK. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, as well as many other international psychological organizations. She earned her Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.

Dr Aboul-Hosson is an Adjunct faculty at AUK and is a US trained psychologist and a member of the American Psychological Association, as well as the Lebanese Psychological Association. She earned her Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University/Florida School of Professional Psychology.

wishes to Karim Karam who celebrated his b’day recently. Best wishes come from parents, friends and relatives.

Birthday

appy birthH day dear Hamad Ibrahim Kamal.

May Allah bless you and give you a long healthy life. Best wishes come from parents, friends and relatives.

TV PROGRAMS

32

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings 16:40 Behind the Scenes 17:10 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 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 THS 21:20 Bank of Hollywood 22:10 E! News 22:35 The Daily 10 23:00 Dr 90210 23:50 Wildest TV Show Moments

00:00 Burn Notice 01:00 The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency 02:00 Life on Mars 03:00 ER 04:00 The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency 05:00 CSI Miami 06:00 CSI New York 07:00 Burn Notice 08:00 Dollhouse 09:00 FlashForward 10:00 Life on Mars 11:00 ER 12:00 CSI New York 13:00 CSI Miami 14:00 Life on Mars 15:00 Life 16:00 Dollhouse 17:00 FlashForward 18:00 Burn Notice 19:00 CSI New York 20:00 Lie to Me 21:00 Law & Order 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 Cell Dogs 03:30 Animal Cops Miami 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 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 10:55 Monkey Life 11:20 RSPCA: Have You Got What it Takes?

11:50 Animal Precinct 12:45 E-Vets: The Interns 13:10 Pet Rescue 13:40 Animal Cops Miami 14:35 Wildlife SOS 15:00 RSPCA: Have You Got What it Takes?

15:30 Orangutan Island 15:55 Dark Days in Monkey City 16:25 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 17:20 Monkey Business 17:45 Monkey Life 18:15 The Animals’ Guide to Survival 19:10 Orangutan Island 19:40 Dark Days in Monkey City 20:10 Animal Cops Houston 21:05 Untamed & Uncut 22:00 The Animals’ Guide to Survival 22:55 Animal Cops Miami 23:50 Orangutan Island

00:15 Love Soup 00:45 Silent Witness 01:45 The Weakest Link 02:30 Last of the Summer Wine 03:05 Teletubbies 03:30 Me Too 03:50 Tweenies 04:10 Teletubbies 04:35 Me Too 04:55 Tweenies 05:15 Teletubbies 06:00 Tweenies 06:20 Teletubbies 06:45 Me Too 07:05 Tweenies 07:25 Teletubbies 08:10 Tweenies 08:30 Teletubbies 08:55 Me Too 09:15 Tweenies 09:40 Bargain Hunt 10:25 The Monastery 11:15 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 16:15 The Weakest Link 17:00 Doctors 17:30 Eastenders 18:00 Silent Witness 19:00 Red Cap 20:00 The Weakest Link 20:45 Doctors 21:15 Eastenders 21:45 A Thing Called Love 22:45 Casualty

00:20 01:10 01:55 02:55 03:45 04:15 04:45 05:10 06:00 07:10 07:30 08:15 09:55 10:15 10:40 11:30 12:15 13:05

Chuck’s Day Off Bargain Hunt 10 Years Younger Come Dine With Me Daily Cooks Challenge Cash In The Attic USA Hidden Potential 10 Years Younger MasterChef Goes Large Cash In The Attic USA Bargain Hunt Antiques Roadshow Cash In The Attic USA Hidden Potential Chuck’s Day Off Bargain Hunt 10 Years Younger Come Dine With Me

00:00 M1 Challenge 02:00 Dr Danger 02:30 The Dudesons 03:00 M1 Challenge 05:00 Odyssey: Driving Around the World 06:00 UCI Nissan Mountain Bike World Cup 2008 07:00 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 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 20:00 Fantasy Factory 20:30 Untracked 21:00 Pro Bull Riders 22:00 Dr Danger 22:30 The Dudesons 23:00 X Games 15 2009

The visitor on Super Movies 13:55 Bargain Hunt 14:40 Antiques Roadshow 15:30 Cash In The Attic USA 16:00 Hidden Potential 16:20 Chuck’s Day Off 17:10 Bargain Hunt 17:55 Antiques Roadshow 18:45 Come Dine With Me 19:40 MasterChef Goes Large 20:05 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 20:30 Gino D’Acampo - An Italian In Mexico 21:00 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 21:50 Here’s Looking At You 22:40 Come Dine With Me 23:30 MasterChef Goes Large

01:00 The Company You Keep-18 03:00 Frozen River-PG15 05:00 Night Falls On Manhattan-18 07:00 Ensemble C’est Tout-PG15 09:00 Uncross The Stars-PG 11:00 Moll Flanders-PG15 13:15 Max And Co.-PG 15:00 The Sun Also Rises-PG15 17:00 What Rats Won’t Do-PG15 19:00 Farrah’s Story-PG 21:00 Yasmin-18 22:30 Eyes Wide Shut-R

00:00 Border Security 00:30 Destroyed in Seconds 01:00 Miami Ink 02:00 Overhaulin’ 02:55 Mighty Ships 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 Mighty Ships 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 X-Machines 22:00 Prototype This 23:00 Mythbusters

00:30 Mighty Ships 01:20 Eco-Tech 02:10 Mean Green Machines 03:00 Beyond Tomorrow 03:50 Scrapheap Challenge 04:45 How Stuff’s Made 05:10 Weird Connections 05:40 Sci-Fi Science 06:10 Mighty Ships 07:00 Scrapheap Challenge 08:00 Race to Mars 09:00 Space Pioneer 09:55 Stuntdawgs 10:20 Weird Connections 10:50 Mighty Ships 11:45 How Stuff’s Made 12:15 Extreme Engineering 13:10 One Step Beyond 13:35 Space Pioneer 14:30 Engineered 15:25 How Stuff’s Made 15:55 Race to Mars 16:50 Brainiac 17:45 Extreme Engineering 18:40 How It’s Made

06:30 Lonely Planet 07:30 The Best Job In The World 08:00 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 08:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 09:30 Jailed Abroad 10:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The World 11:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 11:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 12:00 Bondi Rescue 12:30 Lonely Planet 13:30 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 Jailed Abroad 22:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The Wor 23:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 23:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind

19:30 What’s That About?

20:20 How It’s Made 21:10 Mythbusters 22:00 How It’s Made 22:50 What’s That About?

23:40 Extreme Engineering

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 02:50 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 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 20:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 21:00 The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody 21:45 The Replacements 22:00 Phineas & Ferb 22:25 Replacements 22:50 A Kind Of Magic 23:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place 23:35 Hannah Montana

00:15 Streets of Hollywood 00:40 E!ES 01:30 Extreme Hollywood 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 E!ES 04:10 THS 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 Forbes Celebrity 100: Who Made Bank 07:45 Style Star 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 10:15 E!ES 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Pretty Wild 13:40 Dr 90210 14:30 THS 15:25 E!ES 16:15 Behind the Scenes

00:00 Chopped 01:00 Food Network Challenge 03:00 Iron Chef America 04:00 Teleshopping 07:00 Food Network Challenge 08:40 Iron Chef America 10:30 Chopped 11:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 12:00 Great British Menu 12:30 Daily Cooks Challenge 13:00 30 Minute Meals 14:00 Barefoot Contessa 15:00 Nigella Express 15:30 Daily Cooks Challenge 16:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:00 Grill It! with Bobby Flay 18:00 Tyler’s Ultimate 18:30 Great British Menu 19:00 Daily Cooks Challenge 19:30 Barefoot Contessa 20:30 Nigella Express 21:00 Food Network Challenge 22:00 Iron Chef America

00:00 Scrubs 00:30 The Office 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Headcases 03:30 Party Down 04:00 Saturday Night Live 05:00 Scrubs 05:30 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 06:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 07:00 Just Shoot me!

07:30 Simpsons 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 Saturday Night Live 13:00 The Office 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 Married with Children 14:30 Simpsons 15:00 Scrubs 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 Community 19:30 Rita Rocks 20:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Cleveland Show 22:30 Headcases 23:00 Saturday Night Live

00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 10 Years Younger 01:30 Eat Yourself Sexy 02:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 03:00 The Monique Show 04:00 The Tonight show with Jay Leno 05:00 GMA (repeat) 07:00 GMA Health 07:30 What’s the Buzz 08:00 The Martha Stewart Show 09:00 Eat Yourself Sexy 09:30 10 Years Younger 10:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

11:00 The View 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 18:00 Look A Like 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

00:30 A Haunting 01:20 FBI Files 02:10 Deadly Women 04:00 Forensic Detectives 04:55 Real Emergency Calls 05:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner 06:10 Ghosthunters 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:50 FBI Files 08:40 Fugitive Strike Force 09:30 Diagnosis: Unknown 10:20 Forensic Detectives 11:10 FBI Files 12:00 Solved 12:50 Real Emergency Calls 13:40 Royal Inquest 14:30 Forensic Detectives 15:20 FBI Files 16:10 Fugitive Strike Force 17:00 Diagnosis: Unknown 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 FBI Files 19:30 Solved 20:20 Real Emergency Calls 21:10 Royal Inquest 22:00 Murder Shift 23:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead-18 02:00 Adoration-PG15 04:00 Mostly Ghostly-PG 06:00 A Plumm Summer-PG15 08:00 Meet Bill-PG15 10:00 College Road Trip-PG 12:00 Get Smart-PG15 14:00 Moondance Alexander-FAM 16:00 Meet Bill-PG15 17:30 Confessions Of A Shopaholic-PG 19:15 Watchmen-18 22:00 Killshot-18

01:25 Evidence Of Blood 03:15 Sunday, Bloody Sunday 05:05 Trade Off 06:35 The Silver Strand 08:20 Nicholas Nickleby 10:30 Pascalis Island 12:15 The Secret Of N.I.M.H. 13:40 Master Of The World 15:20 The Cure 17:00 Moving Target (Tv Movie) 18:35 Lady In White 20:25 The Spikes Gang 22:00 Colors

00:00 Bondi Rescue 00:30 Lonely Planet 01:30 The Best Job In The World 02:00 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 02:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 03:30 Jailed Abroad 04:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The World 05:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 05:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 06:00 Bondi Rescue

01:00 Dark Island-PG15 03:00 Green Street 2: Stand Your GroundPG15 05:00 Street Fighter-PG 06:45 Arn: The Knight Templar-PG15 09:00 Room 6-PG15 11:00 Godzilla-PG15 13:15 Bionicle: The Legend Reborn-PG15 15:00 Room 6-PG15 17:00 Netherbeast Incorporated-PG15 19:00 Felon-18 21:00 Quarantine-18 23:00 W Delta Z-18

00:00 Futurama: Bender’s Game-PG15 02:00 The Milagro Beanfield War-PG15 04:00 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-PG 06:30 The Utopian Society-PG15 08:00 King’s Ransom-PG15

10:00 Lock And Roll Forever-PG 12:00 Skills Like This-PG15 14:00 Heavyweights-PG 16:00 Futurama: Bender’s Game-PG15 18:00 Mama’s Boy-PG15 20:00 Tenacious D In The Pick Of Destiny-18 22:00 Bob Roberts-18

00:00 Barbie Fairytopia-FAM 02:00 The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian-PG 04:30 Justice League: The New FrontierFAM 06:00 Tom And Jerry: A Nutcracker’s Tale-FAM 08:00 Babar: King Of The Elephants-FAM 10:00 Justice League: The New FrontierFAM 12:00 Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs Wakko’s -PG 14:00 The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian-PG 16:30 Piper Penguin And His Fantastic Flying Machi-PG 18:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua-PG 20:00 Little Hercules In 3-D-PG15 22:00 Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs Wakko’s -PG

00:00 Lost 02:00 Spooks 03:00 In Plain Sight 04:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 04:30 Home Improvement 05:00 Beauty and the Geek 06:00 Emmerdale 06:30 Coronation Street 07:00 Spooks 08:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 08:30 Home Improvement 09:00 In Plain Sight 10:00 Beauty and the Geek 11:00 Spooks 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 13:30 Home Improvement 14:00 Lost 15:00 Lost 16:00 Beauty and the Geek 17:00 In Plain Sight 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 Grey’s Anatomy 20:00 Private Practice 21:00 Criminal Minds 22:00 Beauty and the Geek 23:00 In Plain Sight

01:00 Premier League Golas Of The Season 02:00 Premier League Classics 05:00 Premier League 07:00 Premier League Classics 10:00 Premier League 14:00 Premier League World 14:30 Live Tennis Masters Guinot Mary Cohr 16:30 Premier League Classics 17:00 Live Tennis Masters Guinot Mary Cohr 19:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 20:00 Premier League Golas Of The Season 21:00 Tennis Masters Guinot Mary Cohr

01:00 Futbol Mundial 01:30 Guinness Premiership 03:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 04:00 Super 14 06:00 World Sport 06:30 Futbol Mundial 07:00 NRL Full Time 07:30 Super 14 09:30 Scottish Premier League Highlights 10:00 Premier League Season Review 12:00 NRL Premiership 14:00 Futbol Mundial 14:30 Super 14 16:30 Sea Master 17:00 ICC Cricket World 17:30 Barclays Premier League Highlights 18:30 World Hockey 19:00 FEI Equestrain World 20:00 AFL Highlights 21:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 21:30 Premier League World 22:00 AFL Premiership

07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollars Mutts-PG Centre Stage 2: Turn It Up-PG15 Racing Daylight-PG15 Meet Dave-PG Happy Feet-PG Centre Stage 2: Turn It Up-PG15 Rachel Getting Married-PG The Uninvited-18 Atonement-PG15

00:50 Crazy In Love 01:05 Some Came Running 04:00 National Lampoon’s Movie Madness 05:30 My Favorite Year 07:00 Boys’ Town 08:30 Kelly’s Heroes 10:50 The Bad And The Beautiful 14:35 Cimarron 17:00 Crazy In Love 18:30 Hearts Of The West 20:10 The Glass Bottom Boat 22:00 National Lampoon’s Movie Madness 23:30 Brother John

00:30 Dogfights 01:20 Ice Road Truckers 2 02:10 Mega Disasters 03:00 World War II: Lost Films 03:55 Dead Men’s Secrets 04:50 Desperate Crossing: The Mayflower 05:40 Battles B.C. 06:30 Dogfights 07:20 Ice Road Truckers 2 08:10 Mega Disasters 09:00 World War II: Lost Films 09:55 Dead Men’s Secrets 10:50 Desperate Crossing: The Mayflower 11:40 Battles B.C. 12:30 Dogfights 13:20 Ice Road Truckers 2 14:10 Mega Disasters 15:00 World War II: Lost Films 15:55 Dead Men’s Secrets 16:50 Desperate Crossing: The Mayflower 17:40 Battles B.C. 18:30 Dogfights 19:20 Ice Road Truckers 2 20:10 Mega Disasters 21:00 Nostradamus Effect 21:55 God vs. Satan: The Final Battle 23:40 Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire

00:00 Dr 90210 01:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 01:30 Dallas Divas & Daughters 02:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

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 13:00 Clean House 14:00 Clean House Comes Clean 14:30 Dress My Nest 15:00 What I Hate About Me 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 How Do I Look?

01:00 Code 01:04 French Only 01:45 Playlist 02:00 Urban Hit 02:45 Playlist 05:00 Code 05:04 Focus 06:04 Playlist 08:00 Code 08:04 Hit Us 09:00 Code Compilation 09:24 Playlist 13:00 Code 13:04 Urban Hit 13:50 Playlist 16:00 Code 16:04 Sound System 10 16:45 Playlist 18:00 Urban Hit 18:45 Guest Star 19:00 Playlist 20:00 Code 20:04 Rnb 10 20:45 Playlist 21:00 Legend 22:00 Playlist

00:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 01:00 Spring 01:30 Chef Abroad 02:00 Chef Abroad 02:30 Top Travel 03:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Planet Food 06:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Travel Today 08:30 Distant Shores 09:00 Spring 09:30 Grannies On Safari 10:00 Planet Food 11:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Chef Abroad 13:30 The Thirsty Traveler 14:00 Journey Into Wine...

14:30 Entrada 15:00 Spring 15:30 Grannies On Safari 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Essential 17:30 Chef Abroad 18:00 Planet Food 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 21:00 Planet Food 22:00 Think Green 23:00 Globe Trekker

00:00 VH1 Rocks 00:30 So 80’s 01:00 Greatest Hits 02:00 Vh1 Music 05:00 Chill Out 07:00 Vh1 Hits 09:00 Vh1 Music 11:00 Aerobic 12:00 Top 10 ZZ Top 13:00 Music For The Masses 14:00 Vh1 Pop Chart 15:00 Vh1 Music 17:00 (P) VH1 Weekly Album Chart 18:00 Vh1 Music 19:00 VH1 Viewer’s Jukebox 20:00 VH1 Viewer’s Jukebox 21:00 Top 10 ZZ Top 22:00 Music For The Masses 23:00 VH1 New 20-05-2010

00:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 01:00 UFC 113 04:00 NCAA Basketball 05:30 UFC All Access 08:00 World Sport 08:30 Futbol Mundial 09:00 NRL Full Time 09:30 V8 Supercars 10:00 Red Bull X-Fighters Highlights 11:30 UAE National Day 13:00 FIA GT1 World Championship 15:00 NRL Full Time 15:30 Futbol Mundial 16:00 V8 Supercars 18:00 Red Bull X-Fighters Highlights 19:00 UAE National Race Day 19:30 UAE National Race Day 20:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter

01:00 The Invasion-PG15 03:00 Momma’s Man-PG15 05:00 The Visitor-PG15

Moondance Alexander on Show Movies

Star Listings (UAE Timings) STAR Movies 20:45 Custody 22:15 More Of Me 23:40 Life With Mikey 01:10 Cool Runnings 02:50 Nanny’s Secret, A 04:25 Custody 05:55 More Of Me 07:20 Hollywoodland 09:25 Cool Runnings 11:05 Nanny’s Secret, A 12:40 Forever Strong 14:30 Fled 16:05 City On Fire 17:30 Horton 18:55 Kinky Boots STAR World 20:00 Australia’s Next Top Model 20:50 Starsky & Hutch 21:00 BOSTON LEGAL 21:50 Who’s The Boss?

22:00 Grey’s Anatomy 23:00 [V] Tunes 00:00 [V] Tunes 01:00 [V] Tunes 02:00 Kyle XY 03:00 Scrubs 03:30 Scrubs 04:00 Stone Undercover 05:00 American Idol

06:00 06:50 07:00 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 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:00

Grey’s Anatomy Starsky & Hutch American Idol Australia’s Next Top Model Jackie Chan Adventures The King Of Queens The Bold and the Beautiful Kyle XY Starsky & Hutch Grey’s Anatomy Who’s The Boss?

[V] Tunes American Idol Scrubs Scrubs Stone Undercover American Idol Prison Break Cops S19 Cops S19 Who’s The Boss?

American Idol

Granada TV 20:00 The Paul O’Grady Show 21:00 Warzone 22:00 Emmerdale 22:30 Coronation Street 23:00 Warzone 00:00 The Chopping Block (Series 1) 01:00 What Katie Did Next (Series 1)

02:00 Romance Wednesday: Cold Feet (Series (Double Bill) 04:00 Weddings From Hell 05:00 Emmerdale 05:30 Coronation Street 06:00 The Chopping Block (Series 1) 07:00 Romance Wednesday: Cold Feet (Series (Double Bill) 09:00 What Katie Did Next (Series 1) 10:00 Drivers From Hell 11:00 Emmerdale 11:30 Coronation Street 12:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 2) 13:00 Romance Wednesday: Cold Feet (Series (Double Bill) 15:00 What Katie Did Next (Series 1) 16:00 Emmerdale 16:30 Coronation Street 17:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 2) 18:00 Romance Wednesday: Cold Feet (Series (Double Bill) Channel [V] 21:00 [V] Countdown 23:00 Backtracks 23:30 Double Shot 00:00 Loop 00:30 [V] Tunes 01:00 [V] Plug 01:30 Loop 02:00 Backtracks

3)

3)

3)

3)

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 17:00 17:30 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30

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 Keys To The VIP Double Bill [V] Tunes [V] Tunes Backtracks Double Shot Loop [V] Tunes [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 -Inside Afghan Heroin 21:00 Dive Detectives -Submarine Graveyard 22:00 Best Job in the world -The Best Job In The World : Day 1 1

22:30 Best Job in the world -The Best Job In The World : Girlfriend On The Run 2 23:00 THEME WEEK -Fight Science : Super Cops 00:00 Seconds From Disaster -Asian Tsunami S3-6 01:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Japanese Cowboy 02:00 Trapped -Osaka Train Crash 03:00 Taiwan To The World -The Pigeon Game 04:00 Monkey Thieves -Colour And Calamity 24 04:30 Monkey Thieves -An Unlikely Hero 25 05:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Japanese Cowboy 06:00 Lockdown -Arizona Tent City 07:00 Guardians Of Nature -Turkey 08:00 Trapped -Osaka Train Crash 09:00 I Didn’t Know That -2 09:30 Food Lovers Guide To The Planet -New Zealand 2 10:00 THEME WEEK -Fight Science : Stealth Fighters 11:00 Seconds From Disaster -Asian Tsunami S3-6 12:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Japanese Cowboy 13:00 Wild Wednesday -Dangerous Encounters With Brad : Speed Kills S5-1 14:00 Wild Wednesday -Rescue Ink : In Your Face 3 15:00 THEME WEEK -Fight Science : Stealth Fighters 16:00 Inside -Inside The Body Trade 17:00 Seconds From Disaster -Asian Tsunami S3-6 18:00 Wild Wednesday -Dangerous Encounters With Brad : Speed Kills S5-1 19:00 Wild Wednesday -Rescue Ink : In Your Face 3

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

33 Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Wednesday 19/05/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 263 Beirut Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 306 Cairo Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Turkish 772 Istanbul DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 138 Doha Kuwait 802 Cairo Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 503 Luxor Jazeera 527 Alexandria Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Jazeera 529 Assiut British 157 London Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 352 Cochin Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 344 Chennai Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Qatari 132 Doha Iran Air 603 Shiraz Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Iran Aseman 6791 Mashad Falcon 203 Dubai Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Middle East 404 Beirut Al Naser 711 Baghdad/Najaf Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 165 Dubai Iran Air 5066 Mashad Egypt Air 610 Cairo Kuwait 672 Dubai Oman Air 645 Muscat Saudia 508 Riyadh Wataniya Airways 432 Damascus United 982 Washington Dc Dulles Jordanian 800 Amman Egypt Air 621 Assiut Fly Dubai 057 Dubai Jazeera 525 Alexandria Jazeera 693 Shiraz Wataniya Airways 422 Amman Kuwait 562 Amman Saudia 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Cargolux 792 Luxembourg Nas Air 745 Jeddah Qatari 134 Doha Kuwait 546 Alexandria Kuwait 544 Cairo Nas Air 703 R1yadh Etihad 303 Abu Dhabi Rovos 061 Baghdad Jazeera 427 Bahrain Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 402 Beirut Saudia 510 Riyadh Jazeera 493 Jeddah Arabia 125 Sharjah Jazeera 239 Amman Srilankan 227 Colombo/Dubai Jazeera 497 Riyadh Wataniya Airways 304 Cairo Yemenia 824 Sanaa/Doha Kuwait 166 Paris/Rome Wataniya Airways 106 Dubai Kuwait 542 Cairo Kuwait 502 Beirut Wataniya Airways 202 Jeddah Kuwait 618 Doha Kuwait 786 Jeddah Jazeera 177 Dubai Kuwait 614 Bahrain Kuwait 674 Dubai Kuwait 774 Riyadh Kuwait 102 New York/London Indian 575 Chennai/Goa Fly Dubai 061 Dubai Middle East 402 Beirut Rovos 081 Baghdad Jet A/L 572 Mumbai Wataniya Airways 404 Beirut Jazeera 459 Damascus DHL 372 Bahrain Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Emirates 859 Dubai Qatari 136 Doha United 981 Bahrain Jazeera 429 Bahrain Jazeera 449 Doha Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Jazeera 185 Dubai Shaheen Air 441 Lahore/Karachi Kuwait 548 Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor India Express 393 Kozhikode/Cochin KLM 0447 Amsterdam/Bahrain Egypt Air 606 Luxor Pakistan 215 Karachi Wataniya Airways 108 Dubai

Time 00:10 00:30 00:50 01:05 01:15 02:15 02:25 02:55 03:25 04:45 05:25 05:30 06:10 06:15 06:20 06:30 07:20 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:20 08:20 08:25 08:40 09:00 09:20 09:25 09:55 10:30 10:45 10:45 10:50 10:55 11:05 11:15 12:20 12:55 13:15 13:15 13:30 13:35 13:35 13:35 13:40 13:50 13:50 14:00 14:10 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:50 14:55 15:05 15:30 15:30 15:45 16:50 16:50 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:05 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 18:55 18:55 19:05 19:20 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:30 20:05 20:20 20:30 20:30 20:50 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:35 21:55 22:10 22:30 22:30 22:40 23:00 23:10 23:10 23:10 23:15 23:55 23:55

Departure Flights on Wednesday 19/05/2010 Airlines Flt Route Time Jazeera 528 Assiut 00:05 India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode 00:25 Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt 00:50 Indian 994 Mumbai/Chennai 00:50 Pakistan 206 Lahore 01:10 Turkish 773 Istanbul 02:15 DHL 371 Bahrain 03:15 Emirates 854 Dubai 03:45 Etihad 306 Abu Dhabi 04:00 Qatari 139 Doha 05:00 Wataniya Airways 101 Dubai 06:50 Jazeera 524 Alexandria 07:00 Jazeera 164 Dubai 07:00 Gulf Air 212 Bahrain 07:45 Wataniya Airways 181 Bahrain 07:50 Wataniya Airways 431 Damascus 08:10 British 156 London 08:25 Kuwait 545 Alexandria 08:35 Fly Dubai 054 Dubai 08:40 Kuwait 543 Cairo 08:45 Kuwait 177 Frankfurt/Geneva 08:55 Kuwait 671 Dubai 09:00 Kuwait 551 Damascus 09:10 Wataniya Airways 421 Amman 09:10 Kuwait 561 Amman 09:15 Arabia 122 Sharjah 09:20 Emiraies 856 Dubai 09:40 Kuwait 117 New York 10:00 Qatari 133 Doha 10:00 Etihad 302 Abu Dhabi 10:10 Iran Air 602 Shiraz 10:20 Iran Aseman 6792 Mashad 10:55 Jazeera 692 Shiraz 11:15 Gulf Air 214 Bahrain 11:35 Wataniya Airways 401 Beirut 11:35 Falcon 204 Baghdad 11:45 Wataniya Airways 303 Cairo 11:50 Middle East 405 Beirut 11:50 Rovos 062 Najaf/Baghdad 12:00 Kuwait 541 Cairo 12:00 Jazeera 492 Jeddah 12:15 Alnaser 712 Najaf/Baghdad 12:15 Jazeera 238 Amman 12:25 Kuwait 103 London 12:30 Kuwait 501 Beirut 13:00 Kuwait 785 Jeddah 13:30 Mahan Air 5065 Mashad 13:40 Wataniya Airways 201 Jeddah 13:45 Jazeera 426 Bahrain 13:55 Egypt Air 611 Cairo 13:55 Oman Air 646 Muscat 14:15 Jordanian 801 Amman 14:30 Wataniya Airways 105 Dubai 14:30 Fly Dubai 058 Dubai 14:35 Egypt Air 622 Assiut 14:40 Saudia 509 Medinah 14:45 United 982 Bahrain 14:50 Jazeera 176 Dubai 14:55 Jazeera 496 Riyadh 15:00 Wataniya Airways 403 Beirut 15:10 Kuwait 673 Dubai 15:10 Kuwait 617 Doha 15:35 Kuwait 547 Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor 15:40 Saudia 501 Jeddah 15:45 Nas Air 746 Jeddah 15:45 Jazeera 458 Damascus 15:50 Kuwait 773 Riyadh 16:05 Cargolux 792 Hong Kong 16:20 Qatari 135 Doha 16:20 Kuwait 613 Bahrain 16:20 Nas Air 704 Medinah 16:35 Rovos 082 Baghdad 17:00 Etihad 304 Abu Dhabi 17:35 Wataniya Airways 305 Cairo 18:05 Emirates 858 Dubai 18:05 Gulf Air 216 Bahrain 18:05 Arabia 126 Sharjah 18:20 Jazeera 262 Beirut 18:20 Jazeera 184 Dubai 18:35 Saudia 511 Riyadh 18:35 Jazeera 448 Doha 18:50 Jazeera 428 Bahrain 19:10 Srilankan 228 Dubai/Colombo 19:10 Yemeni 824 Sanaa 19:40 Wataniya Airways 107 Dubai 19:40 Kuwait 283 Dhaka 20:00 Kuwait 361 Colombo 20:20 Fly Dubai 062 Dubai 20:50 Kuwait 331 Trivandrum 21:00 Middle East 403 Beirut 21:20 Jet A/W 571 Mumbai 21:30 Wataniya Airways 187 Bahrain 21:35 Gulf Air 218 Bahrain 21:55 Kuwait 801 Cairo 22:00 DHL 373 Bahrain 22:00 Kuwait 675 Dubai 22:10 Emirates 860 Dubai 22:25 Falcon 102 Bahrain 22:30 Qatari 137 Doha 22:35 Kuwait 203 Lahore 22:40 Kuwait 301 Mumbai 22:45 Jazeera 612 Lahore 22:55 Jazeera 526 Alexandria 23:20 Jazeera 502 Luxor 23:30 Jazeera 636 Aleppo 23:35 United 981 Washington Dc Dulles 23:40 Kuwait 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta 23:50

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available in a fully furnished 1 BHK flat for small Muslim family (Indian) from 25th June to 10 September in Abbassiya, opp German clinic. Contact: 97834504.

(C 2286) 19-5-2010 Separate room available for decent bachelor close to Maidal Hawally bridge and 15 bus route. Contact: 97804854. (C 2282) 18-5-2010 Available room for rent for Mangalorean or Goan family opp. Jabriya bridge, near Al-Bahar complex, Hawally.

Contact: 22662734.

(C 2272) Sharing accommodation available for Christian couples/working ladies with Keralite family, fully furnished, from end May ʻ10.

Contact: 66743956, 24318478. (C 2271) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya for visiting family or two working ladies or couples in new CAC fully furnished two bedroom, two bathroom (attached) flat from 7th June 2010. Contact: 99494359.

(C 2268) Sharing accommodation available in Farwaniya for couples (Indians only) to share with a Keralite family in a 2 BHK CA/C building, near Mughal Mahal restaurant, close to jamiya and bus stops. If interested contact 97508939, 66786103.

(C 2266) Fully furnished family accommodation available in Salmiya near Bestow supermarket from 20th May to 2nd July.

Contact: 25620547, 66737466.

(C 2273) 17-5-2010 Accommodation available for non-smoking executive bachelor in a 2 bedroom CA/C flat near Integrated School, Abbassiya. Contact: 60049556. (C 2265) Sharing accommodation available for a non-smoking Keralite bachelor in

Abbassiya, rent KD 40.

Contact: 66577233.

(C 2263) Sharing accommodation available in Hawally, 1 single room, separate bathroom with central A/C flat, for only Indian family/2 bachelors, near Plaza building, backside petrol pump.

Phone: 99968871. (C 2264) 16-5-2010

CHANGE OF NAME I, Alen John Karikunnel, holder of Indian Passport No. G 3928384, hereby change my name to Allen John Karikunnel. (C 2274) 17-5-2010

FOR SALE Toyota Corolla, model 2010, color white, price KD 3950 only. Tel: 66050484.

(C 2284) Toyota Corolla, model 2005, color white, price KD 2450 only. Tel: 60951195.

(C 2285) Toyota Camry Grande, model 2005, 6 cylinders, done 62,000 kms only, white color, excellent condition, cash price KD 2,850. Contact:

66211779. (C 2287) Audi A8 2002 in good condition, silver color, leather interior, KD 2500 obo. Call 99786814. (C 2283) 19-5-2010 i-mate Jama 201 phone, price KD 35.

Tel: 55451465/66451465.

(C 2281) 1 year Internet subscription card, price KD 15 (original price KD 55).

Tel: 55451465/66451465 (C 2280) 18-5-2010

pendent correspondence/ local purchase/quantity survey works. Please call 66597087/24349364.

(C 2288) 19-5-2010 I need full-time job as sales executive, my qualification is B.Com + MBA, valid driving license. I can also handle bank and payment recovery related issues.

Call: 55355954. (C 2276) 18-5-2010 SITUATION VACANT

Toyota Corolla, model 2006, 1.8 XLi, color white, km 76.

Price KD 2,500. Tel: 55107865. (C 2270)

Urgently required housemaid for Indian family in Abbassiya. Please call 99509436. (C 2279)

PC IBM P4 2.4, Intel original, RAM 256, HD 40 GB with 15” LCD monitor, price KD 50 & Laptop IBM Centrino with basic specifications, price KD 60, all in excellent condition, call 99322585.

(C 2267) 17-5-2010

Required live-in maid for an Indian family, please contact: 24764736 or 66527975 between 5 pm to 11 pm.

(C 2277) 18-5-2010

SITUATION WANTED

Experienced secretary is looking for immediate placement. 12 years Kuwait experience, complete secretarial works/office administration & coordination/inde-

MISCELLANEOUS Join an interesting “vegetable carving” classes, for beginners, both for teenagers and ladies, starting every Sunday at Shaab for more details contact: 97886119, 22616532.

(C 2278) 18-5-2010

SPECTRUM

34 CROSSWORD 993

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Calvin Aries (March 21-April 19) This is a very lucky day for making plans or decisions and finding your way through just about any problem you may discover.

Positive energies are available with respect to love and money today. You feel successful and able to handle difficult situations. Good advice from a guide or older person may be forthcoming. There is a growing sense of self-confidence and even a pride of ownership. You could do well in politics, if that is your choice. Your social life is active at this time. New social contacts will boost career prospects now. Social and community endeavors are also open to you where the need for basic fairness and evenhandedness is helpful. You can be direct, candid and to the point. This passion is about truth. There are positive results today.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This is an excellent time to plan a trip or take a vacation. You are likely to hear some good news regarding something of importance to you. Your sensitivity to others is increased but there are possibilities of being deluded pay close attention. There is great achievement now through your profession.

Being in the spotlight is common to you just now. It may be a good idea to be humble and see where your work can best help others. You may look to the social setting to improve your professional standing.

Interactions with the opposite sex on the professional level may occur a great deal during this time. There is inner harmony and a deepening of a love relationship. This romantic partner may want your undivided attention.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. A belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school.

4. North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

7. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

11. A drug combination found in some over-the-counter headache remedies (Aspirin and Phenacetin and Caffeine).

12. 4-wheeled motor vehicle.

13. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

14. A graphical record of electrical activity of the brain.

15. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

16. A member of an American Indian people of Yucatan and Belize and Guatemala who once had a culture characterized by outstanding architecture and pottery and astronomy.

17. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

19. A decree that prohibits something.

21. The most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on.

22. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

24. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

26. A warning against certain acts.

29. Type genus of the Gavidae.

33. A member of the extinct Algonquian people formerly living in northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

35. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

36. A coenzyme derived from the B vitamin nicotinic acid.

37. The square of a body of any size of type.

38. A logarithmic unit of sound intensity.

43. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

47. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet.

48. Characterized by lightness and insubstantiality.

50. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

51. An informal term for a father.

52. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

53. A metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters.

DOWN 1. The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.

2. A detailed description of design criteria for a piece of work.

3. One millionth of a gram.

4. Fiddler crabs.

5. A midnight meeting of witches to practice witchcraft and sorcery.

6. Type genus of the family Arcidae.

7. A barrier constructed to contain the flow or water or to keep out the sea.

8. The sixth month of the civil year.

9. Common Indian weaverbird.

10. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology.

18. Relating to the blood vessels or blood.

20. Shrub bearing oval-fruited kumquats.

23. Set down according to a plan.

25. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

27. The branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively.

28. Artists or writers whose ideas are ahead of their time.

30. British informal term.

31. A state in midwestern United States.

32. A colorless and odorless inert gas.

34. Old World woody vines.

39. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

40. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

41. A small cake leavened with yeast.

42. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

44. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

45. An associate degree in applied science.

46. Having undesirable or negative qualities.

49. A soft silvery metallic element.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is a period of personal growth. This attitude is contagious and you may find others have questions and inquiries as to the latest self-help book or mentor that you have been gaining information from lately. This mindset is carried over into the work place so that whatever you do, you do it with enthusiasm and look for ways to improve the work place. You want to reshape the world and help others. You may expend a great deal of effort to secure finances at this time. This may come about through associations you have with people in important positions. The simple things in life bring you much pleasure. Besides being creative, you are very sociable and magnetic to the opposite sex. This feeling will extend to a love interest later.

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Someone could challenge your sense of identity today, but you will remain calm and clear in your reporting the details that are needed. There is someone watching you that appreciates your struggle.

Now is the time to initiate any changes that will create the most positive results; whether it is regarding some project or some goal of yours. Financial gains through speculation looks positive, you will eventually need to take care in how you allocate the benefits or money received. Study and mental self-control are hard to achieve today; but not impossible! The time is ripe for family changes and this may be in a marriage, birth or reunion.

This is a great evening for socializing with friends or just enjoying some quality time with a loved one.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You have good choices from a career standpoint. Your work is progressing well and you will probably complete projects way ahead of time. The knowledge you have regarding some hobby or some recent home project will come in handy when you problem-solve in the work place this afternoon. It is good that you pull on all your resources when you or those around you are in a quandary. You may feel like socializing this evening. This is an excellent time to socialize and enjoy life. If you are single, go out to all those gatherings where you might really find that dream partner. At the very least, you will meet compatible people who share your love of life. Enjoy some time with friends who tend to make many appealing invitations.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Your work could come under the scrutiny of people in authority. This is a good thing for now because you can show off how much you have learned either recently or from your past experiences. Those that doubted your talents will no longer be doubtful. Now you will need to be ready to respond when the requests come in for you to contribute your very own expertise. There are indications that this is a good time to finish up any unresolved business. You are filled with an urge to work hard and get things done. Do not push yourself beyond what is comfortable with regard to time limitations. Go easy on yourself and enjoy a few breaks each day. This evening there is an opportunity to enjoy and relax with loved ones.

Libra (September 23-October 22) There may be a return of some old mechanical problems so take your time and make sure all mechanical defects are serviced properly. All forms of communication are possible today.

A family member that lives some distance from you may enjoy communication by telephone. There is a strong emphasis on community participation perhaps a block party is being planned, etc. You, a friend and a loved one or a few family members will enjoy a group gettogether soon . . . plans are in the making. There is lots of laughter and interaction between neighbors. You feel most comfortable in these surroundings and may find yourself in a storytelling mood. Your dreams are worth exploring this evening consider keeping a dream diary.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) This time is perfect for focused and detailed mental work, though you may resist some of those dull routine tasks. Complete unfinished business today. You have a sharp mind and your awareness in the overview of a situation is strong. Your ambition is strong and you have the right amount of discipline to get you where you want to go. You develop a keen appreciation for the value of things, including the money it takes to buy them. Take the social opportunities that are open to you now and network with people that share your same job interests or talents. A love of music and an appreciation for sensual pleasures is strong. You may find the right romantic interest for you, or you may find an existing romance deepens.

Sagittarius

Yesterday’s Solution

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

(November

22-December

21)

Consciously take and plan for extra time to stay organized with projects the rest of this month. A strong instinct to be powerful and in control may lead to a greater interest in investing. There are all sorts of interaction through some form of lecturing, teaching or learning a new technique. You could resist someone’s ideas and it might be a good idea to look at your reasoning. This is an artistic time when you are more aware of the beauty that surrounds you; it is also a practical and materialistic time. You develop a keen appreciation for the value of things, including the money it takes to buy them. You will have a grasp for abstract and spiritual ideas and the ability to present or convey these things to others.

Word Sleuth Solution

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Interactions with co-workers may create a desire to plan a get together at the noon meal. Be careful to arrange an additional day for those that need to stay behind. This is a great time to be with others and to work together as a team. You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job. Your management abilities are in high focus. There has been a lot of overtime lately and it probably will not be the last of the overtime for a while. You will enjoy a relaxing evening. There is a sense of support and harmony around you, making this a productive and happy time. Place a note pad, flashlight and pen next to the bed and put your worries on paper so you don’t fidget all night . . . they will be waiting tomorrow; you will have better insight.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Circumstances may help to create some negative moods careful. It would be easy to find an argument if you are looking. Keep your sense of humor and do not push your point of view too strongly. There may be some serious decisions made about the future of a project, investment or term of employment with your business at this time. You are in the mood to conquer just about anything you set out to do. Stay away from the negative verbiage to calm others and find some inside point of view. You may perceive how to proceed with plans and decisions regarding your own life situation. This evening you will have the opportunity to enjoy new music; perhaps a concert or a new group of songs has your attention.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) You will not have to work quite as hard to move forward in your career now. You have powerful energies spilling into your life helping you make a positive difference and guiding you in ways that you can help others. Independence, as well as anything unusual or different, is valued. You may enjoy getting away from routine and doing some things really, really different this afternoon. Step out of your own character and consider trying out for a part in the next community play. If you are not a member of a club or organization, think about joining one now.

The social contacts you make this year will benefit you spiritually and professionally. Physical activities, like sports, among friends and/or family can be enjoyed this evening; perhaps evening basketball, tennis, etc.

INFORMATION

Wednesday, May 19, 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

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

onathan Rhys Meyers made a racial slur when he was banned from boarding a plane.

The Irish actor - who has checked into rehab for alcoholism on several occasions reportedly used the derogatory term when officials intervened and stopped him from boarding a United Airlines flight at John F Kennedy airport in New York because he was drunk. An airline employee has confirmed to RadarOnline.com that the 32-year-old star used the word “n****r” when he was told he couldn’t board the morning flight to Los Angeles. It is not yet known whether he was aiming the racial abuse at a specific individual or if it was towards a number of members of staff. An official from the airport previously confirmed that Jonathan had been “pounding drinks” in the first class lounge, even though it was only 7am, but became “out of control” and was refused entry. They were unable to elaborate any further on the report because of passenger privacy laws, but it is believed he has received a life ban from travelling with United Airlines . This is not the first time Jonathan has got into trouble before embarking on a flight. Last year, he was arrested at a bar in Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport for reportedly challenging police to a fight. He was also arrested in Ireland in November 2007 for drunkenly rowing with airport staff, only seven months after checking into rehab for the second time. The actor has previously spoken about his battle with alcohol, saying: “When I do drink I’m like Bambi. I’m all over the place, hopeless, like a 16-year-old kid. People notice.”

J

my Adams has become a mother for the first time. The ‘Julie & Julia’ actress - who is engaged to actor Darren Le Gallo gave birth to a healthy baby girl in Los Angeles over the weekend and both mother and daughter are doing well. A source told website RadarOnline.com: “Everyone is doing fine. It’s very exciting for Amy, Darren and their families. “They have a large, extended family and all their brothers and sisters are relieved and thrilled that this moment has come for them both.” After announcing her pregnancy last year, Amy said she was going to find out the sex of her unborn baby because she was “too impatient” to wait. She revealed: “I’m too impatient to wait for a surprise. We’ll probably find out. I thought about waiting and I just don’t think that’s really my personality. It’s not about planning a nursery, it’s more about I just want to know. I want to be able to relate in that way. That’s what works for me, but I totally believe in whatever works for the individual.” Amy, 35, got engaged to Darren in July 2008 and has said she would be using her maternity leave to plan their nuptials. She said: “We actually had a date, and then we had to push it because I took a part. I actually had to get permission and I called him and said, ‘We’re actually going to have to push the date.’ Now that I have the time off we’ll definitely be planning it.”

A

avid Walliams and Lara Stone had their first dance to Disney song ‘Beauty and the Beast’. The couple - who married in a glitzy celebrity wedding at London’s Claridge’s Hotel on Sunday- eschewed a traditional dance at the reception in Shoreditch House in favor of a comedy-inspired number from the classic animated movie. The version of the track they swayed to was recorded

by Celine Dion. At around 10pm guests including Russell Brand, Noel Gallagher and Geri Halliwell were treated to a synchronized swimming contest in the pool of the luxury venue, before partying on into the night. A partygoer said: “We have never seen David so happy. He barely left Lara’s side all night. He led her around the room showing her off and thanking everyone for coming. “At one point he was overheard joking with

D

shley Olsen’s plane was forced to make an emergency landing. The 23-year-old actress-anddesigner was travelling from New York to Los Angeles with her boyfriend, ‘The Hangover’ actor Justin Bartha, when an electrical fire sparked in the cockpit, forcing the pilot to land the aircraft in Virginia. Publicist Phil Lobel - who was a passenger on the plane - told ET Online the incident was a “harrowing experience” as the fire had caused the windscreen to crack, which “obscured the pilot’s ability to conduct a visual landing”. Emergency crews met the plane on the runway, where they stabilized the situation before leading the passengers and crew to safety.

According to reports, the passengers - which also included ‘Californication’ actress Pamela Adlon and ‘Jersey Boys’ star Jarrod Spector - bonded and celebrated their safe landing once safely inside the airport.

The group were rebooked onto flights to complete their journey today.

A

Russell Brand about how he thought he was going to steal his thunder on his big day - it turns out he spotted Russell leaving Claridge’s just as he was arriving for the reception. “David and Lara seemed so in love. As they were dancing they were gazing into one another’s eyes and had their arms wrapped around each other.” As well as a menu of lobster salad and seared sea bass at the reception, later on in the evening David and Lara’s celebrity pals tucked into mini fish and chips and pots of risotto, washing it down with pink champagne and Grey Goose vodka. In place of a wedding cake, guests took home individualized cupcakes from posh eatery Primrose Hill Bakery, individualized with David and Lara’s names.

The pair are now on their honeymoon, believed to be in the romantic French capital Paris.

Jada Pinkett Smith’s sexy pictures

he actress - who is reportedly dating baseball star Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez - doesn’t see the appeal having a huge set of nuptials and would prefer something more low-key if she ever did decide to tie the knot. She said: “The mystique and the romance of a big wedding are lost on me. I don’t think that I could ever do something that extravagant. I am not much of a planner. I would probably make the phone call twenty minutes before the bus leaves for the chapel and ask if anyone is available to come. That’s probably how my wedding is going to end up.” Although the 37-year-old beauty enjoys being in relationships,

T

ada Pinkett Smith sends husband Will Smith saucy pictures to keep the spark alive in their marriage. The actress - who has been married to the ‘Men in Black’ star for 12 years - says the couple still enjoy a healthy sex life as they make a huge effort to keep it interesting. When asked by Oprah Winfrey on her talk show how they keep the romance alive, Jada replied: “Keep it spontaneous. I surprise him. He’s a thinker. He’s always thinking. I just, I always surprise him...Now I don’t know if you want to get in on how I surprise him... “During the day I might send a sexy

J

picture of some sort...If he’s on set with me, we might take a break.” While the couple have a very healthy love life, Will - who raises three children, Trey, Jaden and Willow with Jada - admits he is still insecure when it comes to money issues, despite being very wealthy. He said: “No matter how successful you get, it’s really difficult to shake your mindset. I still have a poor person mentality. I can’t shake it and it gets really detrimental. It’s really difficult to shake. When I go to sleep at night right now, I’m as financially nervous as I was 20 years ago.”

Hudson survives parents’ sex scenes ate Hudson is comfortable watching her parents’ sex scenes. The ‘Killer Inside Me’ actress - who was raised by her actress mother Goldie Hawn and actor stepfather Kurt Russell - has never been embarrassed by their intimate scenes because she was brought up to be at ease with sexuality. Kate - who has no contact with her natural dad, musician Bill Hudson - said: “Did I find it embarrassing? Not me. I always thought my mother was so damn cute! “I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was a pleasure, but it never bothered me. My brothers might feel differently about it but, for me, I felt my parents laid it out for us pretty well. “We always had a good perspective about sex. When you grow up with parents

K

in showbiz who are loud and funny and the life of the party, you get pretty relaxed about that stuff.” Despite her openness, Kate admits her five-year-old son Ryder her child with ex-husband Chris Robinson - will probably find it “weird” watching her intimate scenes in forthcoming movie ‘The Killer Inside Me’ when he gets older.

She added to the Daily Telegraph website: “I normally take him on the set with me, but not for that one.

‘Mummy is going to be naked on the bed, smoking and getting spanked in the next scene, honey!’ I guess it will be weird for him when he does eventually watch it. I had to watch my dad die in films. I was 13 when I saw ‘Backdraft’ and I was bawling.”— Bang Showbiz

she insists she doesn’t make plans too far ahead but does know what she looks for in a man. She told parade.com: “I am a romantic. I love romance. I’m not afraid of commitment.

I commit to everything I’m doing and I am hopelessly loyal. But I hate predicting the future, I really do, because you just don’t know. I can’t even make up my mind what I’m going to do this weekend. “I think that the rules in relationships are: no tricks, honesty, communication, treat people the way you want to be treated, unconditional love. Those are the things that I think are important. But, you know, rules are made to be broken.”

SPECTRUM

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

37

Lifestyle

In this undated image work is under way inside a pyramid where archaeologists in the town of Chiapa de Corzo. —AP

By Mark Stevenson rchaeologists in southern Mexico announced Monday they have discovered a 2,700-year-old tomb of a dignitary inside a pyramid that may be the oldest such burial documented in Mesoamerica. The tomb held a man- aged around 50, who was buried with jade collars, pyrite and obsidian artifacts and ceramic vessels.

Archaeologist Emiliano Gallaga said the tomb dates to between 500 and 700 BC. Based on the layers in which it was found and the tomb’s unusual wooden construction, “we think this is one of the earliest discoveries of the use of a pyramid as a tomb, not only as a religious site or temple,” Gallaga said. PreHispanic cultures built pyramids mainly as representations of the levels leading from the underworld to the sky; the highest point usually held a temple. The tomb was found at a site built by Zoque Indians in Chiapa de Corzo, in southern Chiapas state. It may be almost 1,000 years older than the better-known pyramid tomb of the Mayan ruler Pakal at the Palenque archaeological site, also in Chiapas.

The man-probably a high priest or ruler of Chiapa de Corzo, a prominent settlement at the time-was buried in a stone chamber.

Marks in the wall indicate wooden roof supports were used to create the tomb, but the wood long ago collapsed under the weight of the pyramid built above.

Archeologists began digging into the pyramid mound in April to study the internal structure-pyramids were often built in layers, one atop another-when they happened on a wall whose finished stones appeared to face inward. In digging last week, they uncovered the 4- by 3meter tomb chamber about 6 or 7 meters beneath what had been the pyramid’s peak.

The body of a 1-year-old child was laid carefully over

A

the man’s body inside the tomb, while that of a 20year-old male was tossed into the chamber with less care, perhaps sacrificed at the time of the burial. The older man was buried with jade and amber collars and bracelets and pearl ornaments. His face was covered with what may have been a funeral mask with obsidian eyes. Nearby, the tomb of a woman, also about 50, contained similar ornaments.

The ornaments-some imported from as far away as Guatemala and central Mexico-and some of the 15 ceramic vessels found in the tomb show influences from the Olmec culture, long considered the “mother culture” of the region.

The find raised the possibility that Olmec pyramids might contain similar tombs of dignitaries, especially at well-known sites like La Venta.

Olmec pyramids, while well-known, have not been excavated, in part because the high water table and humidity of their Gulf coast sites are not as conducive to preserving buried human remains. “The Olmec sites have not been explored with the depth they deserve,” said Lynneth Lowe, an archaeologist at Mexico’s National Autonomous University who participated in the dig.

“It is possible that thus type of tomb exists at La Venta.” Despite the Chiapa de Corzo tomb’s location, experts said it is not clear the later Maya culture learned or inherited the practice of pyramid burials from the Zoques, or Olmecs.

“While I have no doubt it relates to Olmec, there is no tie to Maya at this time per se,” said archaeologist Lisa Lucero of the University of Illinois, who was not involved in the Chiapa de Corzo project. “There are scholars w h o w o u l d l i ke t o s e e Olmec-Maya connections so they can show direct ties from Olmec to Maya, but this would be difficult to show with evidence at hand.”—AP

In this undated image a woman’s skeleton that was found inside a pyramid begins to appear from the earth in the town of Chiapa de Corzo, southern Mexico. —AP

Cast members perform during a media call for the musical ‘Cats’ in Sydney yesterday.

Cats, which started its Sydney season yesterday, first opened in London in 1981 and has been seen by over 65 million people worldwide. Featuring a musical score by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats tells the imaginative tale of a tribe of Jellicle Cats as they gather together for the annual Jellicle Ball, telling their stories for the amusement of Old Deuteronomy, who must chose one of the Cats to journey to the Heavyside layer to be ‘reborn’ into a new life.— AFP

British artist Lennie Payne captures fame on toast

By Dominique Vidalon ritish artist Lennie Payne says he first thought about working with bread after making shapes with toast to entertain his daughter at breakfast. That was 14 years ago, now the 46 year-old Payne is selling his portraits of famous faces such as Kate Moss or Barack Obama branded onto slices of bread for at least 5,000 pounds ($7,734) a piece. Payne’s artwork, some 28 paintings, will be on display through May 25 at the Maverik gallery in East London’s Shoreditch at a show named “Where Is The Love?.”

Payne views bread as an exciting, constantly changing medium and as a metaphor for “the basic human need for survival and a great way to look into the spirituality of everyday life” he told

B

A-list guests shine at Chopard 150th birthday bash

Oldest Mesoamerican pyramid tomb found

Reuters while putting the finishing touches to the show. Many of the works on display are portraits of rock musicians such as Ian Brown or Noel Gallagher but the show also features a Gandhi portrait as well as anonymous faces of starving people. It is both a meditation on the obsession of the media with celebrity and an attempt to reveal the human being behind the famous face. There is for instance a striking black and white portrait of a haunted-looking Amy Winehouse. Born in 1964, in Hammersmith, London, Payne is no stranger to human sufferings. Adopted when he was a child by a very religious family, he was diagnosed with epilepsy during his teens. When the fits worsened, he sought refuge in drugs and alcohol.

Prison and depression followed.

Through the ordeal, he says he kept a burning

desire to create. Self-taught, he experimented with many mediums before turning to toast art.

Considered as a founder of the discipline, he has built a reputation with critics and collectors. He recently hooked up with a patron, the Donnellys, founders of trendy British fashion label Gio Goi, who are branching out into art.

Payne says he likes working with toast because “you can get your hands on it. It’s more like sculpture and it’s constantly developing. Even now I come up with new ways”. Most of the time he uses a blowtorch to scorch the bread and turn it black, and then he scraps away the burnt bread to create different shades.

“If you burn it as it’s fresh, which I like to do, you get a lot of dark and smoke effect. After, the bread needs to be flattened, it needs to shrink and

obviously the picture changes,” he says. Then the bread is lacquered and a resin is soaked in. Payne has been experimenting with resin and bread crumbs lately and the often stunning results can be seen at the show. The next step will be to mix toast with other mediums, possibly objects, and start work on some installations, he says.

One downside to working with a food product, Payne discovered a few years ago was that his work attracted unwanted fans. When he sent a portrait of Ian Dury away to be framed for an exhibition, he received a phone call from the framer saying the mice had eaten part of the toast canvas. Payne had to work frantically to replace the lost pieces to make his deadline.

“Now the paintings go to the framer already sealed,” he said. —Reuters

SriLankan Holidays offers a ‘world of memories’ with IIFA Awards riL ankan Holidays, the tour-operations wing of SriLankan Airlines and the official tour-operator of this year’s International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards Celebrations in Colombo, is offering an exciting holiday package to join the glitz and glamour of the gorgeous event. The IIFA Awards, the biggest South-Asia media happening, is considered among the most-watched annual global events. And, in keeping with its tag line of creating a ‘world of memories’, SriLankan Holidays is presenting a neverbefore package designed to create unforgettable memories.

Happening during the first-week of June at the multi-purpose Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo, the IIFA Celebrations will allow you to mingle with cinema royalty and be snapped with your favorite stars as you watch just a stone’s throw away from center-stage. The three-day package, from June 03 to 05, includes tickets to the star-studded IIFA T20 cricket match. The match between Bollywood stars, captained by the inimitable Shah Rukh Khan and Sri Lankan cricketers headed by Aravinda de Silva, will provide a sporty element to the spectacular event.

The package, which starts at KD185, includes KuwaitColombo return economy class airfare, twin sharing accommodation in a five-star property, luxury-coach shuttle transfers from airport to hotel and back, match tickets to the IIFA T20 cricket match on 4th June, as well as entrance tickets to a differed telecast of the Awards ceremony on 5th June at the Sugathadasa Outdoor Stadium, just outside the main Awards venue.

Speaking of the IIFA weekend and Awards at the start of its second decade, Amitabh Bachchan, IIFA Brand Ambassador said, “On behalf of IIFA, we are very happy to bring the IIFA experience to our hospitable neighbor, Sri Lanka. As a member of the film industry, I look forward to another luminous decade, as IIFA journeys forth, sharing the Indian cinematic movement with the world, and simultaneously share with the world, the emerald isle, Sri Lanka.

The IIFA Awards will be the climax of a weekend of activities that includes the high profile FICCI IIFA Global Business Forum, the IIFA Foundation Fashion Extravaganza, World Premieres of Indian films, IIFA Film workshop and the IIFA Celebrity Cricket Match. The event will be broadcast globally on Star Plus, India’s Number One entertainment channel that reaches viewers across Asia, the Middle-East, Europe and North America.

Speaking about the event, Lalith Peiris, Sales Manager for Sri Lankan Airlines, said, “SriLankan Holidays is very proud to be the official tour-operator for the IIFA Awards in Colombo. We are grateful to IIFA for choosing Sri Lanka as the host nation and look forward to the mega event providing a weekend of glamour, cinema, sport and networking to our tour participants.” To learn more about the event call, 22425239 or visit www. Srilankan-holidays.com

S

Lindsay Lohan ionel Richie has given a shout out to Paris Hilton during a set at Chopard’s star-studded 150th anniversary fete on the French Riviera.

Actresses Naomi Watts, Lindsay Lohan, Marion Cotillard and Kate Beckinsale, as well as Hilton and her sister Nicky, were among the A-list guests at Monday night’s party.

Richie, whose daughter Nicole is Paris Hilton’s on-again, off-again friend, played an hour-long set that included a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” to Chopard. The Swiss jeweler’s bash was held at a top nightspot in Cannes, where the fabled film festival was entering its second week. —AP

L

Kate Beckinsale

Marion Cotillard

Naomi Watts

Paris Hilton (Left) and Nicky Hilton

SPECTRUM

38

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

B illboard CD reviews

M

Costello cancels Israel gig, cites treatment of Palestinians ritish rocker Elvis Costello has called off planned gigs in Israel, citing what he called the “intimidation” and “humiliation” of Palestinians. The singer-songwriter is the latest music star to cancel performances in Israel after rock guitarist Carlos Santana and rap forefather Gil Scott-Heron called off their shows.

“It is after considerable contemplation that I have lately arrived at the decision that I must

B

withdraw from the two performances scheduled in Israel on the 30th of June and the 1st of July,” Costello said on his webpage. “I must believe that the audience for the coming concerts would have contained many people who question the policies of their government on settlement and deplore conditions that visit intimidation, humiliation or much worse on Palestinian civilians in the name of national security,” he said.

Israeli Sport and Culture Minister Limor Livnat lambasted Costello’s decision to stay away from the Jewish state. “An artist who boycotts his fans in Israel is not worthy of performing in front of them,” Livnat said in a statement. Some pro-Palestinian movements advocate an academic and cultural boycott of Israel to protest its occupation of Palestinian territory. — AFP

Placido Domingo says in good health after surgery

By Regan E Doherty

ARTIST: VERY BE CAREFUL ALBUM: ESCAPE ROOM olombian music has recently spawned a new wave of electro-folkloric fusion. But on “Escape Room,” Los Angeles band Very Be Careful stays true to the country’s musical roots. Colombian-American Ricardo Guzman (who founded the group with his bassist brother Arturo) voices the everyman on this set of country drinking songs that are delivered in traditional vallenato and cumbia styles. Guzman’s woozy lament on the opening “La Furgoneta” accelerates into a more rousing wail by the second track, “La Abeja.” But the acoustic dance groove of Guzman’s accordion, the Latin percussion and bass never reaches anything near euphoric-and what for some will be a seductively steady beat, others will find merely monotonous. Without digital mash-ups, or the celebratory anthems through which pop star Carlos Vives brought vallenato to the masses in the ‘90s, Very Be Careful achieves an unselfconscious authenticity. The result is music that’s better suited to a corner bar than your iPod.

omingo, who underwent colon cancer surgery in March, said he was feeling well and in good health after giving a performance of traditional Spanish music in Doha, Qatar last week.

“I’m lucky that the voice is there, so as long as I’m feeling well, I’ll use it. My health is good,” he told Reuters in a recent interview. The singer, one of the opera world’s biggest names, performed “Antologia de la Zarzuela,” a selection of traditional Spanish music he grew up with, for an enthusiastic audience of nearly 4,000 in Qatar, accompanied by musicians from the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.

It was the second time he has performed in the Gulf state. “For me, this music is my life. It’s the first music I ever heard in my life. Wherever I go in the world, I always bring the Zarzuela repertoire in my concerts. When I can do a program like this of just Zarzuela, it is even more special.” The 69-year-old, who is also general director of the Los Angeles Opera, was back at work within weeks of surgery in New York to remove a malignant polyp from his colon.

Renowned for his prodigious work rate and living by the tenet “when I rest, I rust”, Domingo returned to the operatic stage a month ago in the baritone role of

D

C

Gustavo Cerati opular Argentine singer and former Soda Stereo bandleader Gustavo Cerati suffered a suspected stroke in the Venezuelan capital Caracas after giving a concert on Saturday, local media reported on Monday. The 50-year-old artist was admitted to a hospital after experiencing an “ischemic vascular event,” the newspaper El Universal quoted neurologist Vladimir Fuenmayor

P

ARTIST: LAURA BELL BUNDY ALBUM: ACHIN’ AND SHAKIN’ entucky native Laura Bell Bundy took an unusual route to Nashville via Broadway, starring in such stage hits as “Legally Blonde” and “Hairspray.” Split into two “sides,” Bundy’s second country album and majorlabel debut, “Achin’ and Shakin’,” reflects her dramatic flair. The “Achin”“ part of the set includes reflective ballads about pains of the heart, from the pleading “Drop on By” to the surprisingly violent “Curse the Bed,” which is about literally burning an ex-lover’s box spring in effigy.

“Shakin”“ features the first single and raucous cheating-lover-kiss-off-anthem “Giddy on Up,” the Shania Twain-esque “Boyfriend?” and “Everybody,” the “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” for a stomping modern-day country pop generation. Bundy’s obvious affection for feisty predecessors like Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton adds an appealing jolt to the music’s clever hooks and personal narrative. But what Bundy still needs to develop are the durable melodies and lyrical nuance that turned those artists’ compositions into classics.

as saying, adding that Cerati’s condition was stable.

The pop singer will remain under observation for between 32 and 48 hours and will undergo more tests, the newspaper said.

Cerati’s official website, http://www.cerati.com, said he had suffered from dizziness after performing in Caracas because of stress and exhaustion, but was recovering well. — Reuters

K

Simon Boccanegra at Milan’s La Scala. He attributed his longevity to “a passion for what you do.” The sole performer left of the famed “Three Tenors” after Luciano Pavarotti died of cancer in 2007 and Jose Carreras announced his retirement last year, Domingo said he did not have a favorite operatic role, although Otello

came close.

“It’s difficult when you have so many roles to choose one,” he said. “But one of the most difficult roles is Otello, because of the singing and acting, the dramatic piece of Verdi combined with Shakespearean drama. It is a very strong role, and I love it.”— Reuters

World-famous tenor Placido Domingo performs an anthology of zarzuela (Spanish operetta) with members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in Doha on May 13, 2010. — AFP

ew Zealand opera veteran Dame Kiri Te Kanawa has described Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle as a “whiz bang” star, whose spectacular success would ultimately fizzle. In an interview with a British magazine, Te Kanawa said she was “insulted” to be asked about Boyle, who shot to international fame after a performance on the television contest “Britain’s Got Talent”.

“Let’s get off that subject. Move on. I’m doing something classical, not whiz-bang.

Whiz-bang disappears. It goes ‘whiz’ and then ‘bang’,” she told the Radio Times magazine. “You insult me by even wanting to bring it into this conversation. I’m not interested,” the dame added.

Boyle’s soaring voice was discovered in April 2009 when she stunned judges on the “Britain’s Got Talent” show with her performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical “Les Miserables”. Although the single, unemployed 48-year-old ended runnerup in the competition, footage of her singing became a hit on the video-sharing website YouTube, with more than 100 million viewings.

The frumpy church volunteer’s first album, “I Dreamed a Dream”, was the bestselling debut in British chart history and also topped the US charts. Te Kanawa meanwhile denied she was a diva. “I’m just a human being with an opinion that I’m not allowed, at 66 years old, to select,” she told the weekly. She also denied suggestions she was retiring from the stage. “I don’t wear short skirts any more, for obvious reasons,” she said. “I don’t do certain things any more-for obvious reasons. “That doesn’t mean I’ve retired.” — AFP

N

A VENEGAS ALBUM: OTRA COSA ulieta Venegas has a talent for using simple language and harmonies to capture profoundly emotional moments in time. She employs the less-is-more aesthetic to great effect on her new album, “Otra Cosa,” where she again walks a tightrope between accessible pop and quirky alternative.

Venegas is at her best with happysounding sad songs (“Ya Conoceran”) and ones where she revels in the present (“Eterno”). In Venegas’ hands, the accordion is neither stereotypically plaintive nor cheesily upbeat, but lends a melodic shine to everything she does. The exception to the otherwise simple production is the gorgeous “Revolucion,” which brings to mind a fife-and-drum corps marching in the name of love-replete with banjo, brass section and clarinet.

J

ARTIST: JASON DERULO ALBUM: JASON DERULO ason Derulo’s self-titled debut finds the 20year-old singer/songwriter/dancer crooning about what most young adults at his age ponder: love, flings and other fantasies. Having already achieved acclaim for penning songs for rappers Pitbull and Birdman, Derulo took his solo career in a new direction last November when his single “Whatcha Say” topped the Billboard Hot 100. But the nine-song album’s softer ballads- like the pianodriven “What If”-distract from Derulo’s powerhouse vocals. His talent is somewhat misused on the tune, blanketed beneath equal parts Auto-Tune and lyrical vagueness. The inclusion of club bangers like “The Sky’s the Limit” and “Love Hangover” boost the set’s energy. The latter track’s synth-driven pulse, combined with Derulo’s energetic falsetto on the narrative chorus, provides a dance-floor excursion.

—Reuters

Elvis Costello

ARTIST: MATT POND PA ALBUM: THE DARK LEAVES att Pond PA knows a thing or two about chamber pop. And since the Pennsylvaniabased band’s first album in 1998, there’s no better example of this than its latest release, “The Dark Leaves.” The appropriately titled opener, “Starting,” melds the warmth of frontman Matt Pond’s voice with melancholy-tinged lyrics; the sprightly arrangements give way to a finger-snap breakdown with unexpected sex appeal. The radio-ready “Ruins” comprises a rolling piano melody, hand claps and a chorus catchy enough for Bruce Springsteen, while “The Dark Leaves Theme” pairs a lively beat with trembling strings and a low-key chorus on which Pond cries, “Life kills me.” But it’s the balance between delicate guitar, lush cello and the singer’s rich vocals on “Brooklyn Fawn” that proves Matt Pond PA is ready to stretch out, not compromise.

US singer Mariah Carey performs at the Pyramids in Giza, Egypt, early yesterday.—AP

J

By Gary Graff s Sarah McLachlan prepares to resurrect the Lilith Fair after an 11-year break, she acknowledges that ticket sales for the female-centered package are “pretty soft” right now. The trek kicks off June 27 in Calgary, with 36 dates before wrapping Aug 16 in Dallas. McLachlan, one of Lilith’s co-founders, will be joined on the bill by the likes of Sheryl Crow, Mary J Blige, Carly Simon, Rihanna and Selena Gomez. There has been some grumbling about ticket prices, which are more than $250 (before fees) in some markets.

“There’s about 300 seats out of 16,000 or whatever that are $250,” she says.

“Then there’s 9,000 that are 25 dollars, so come on. We’re working our hardest to have reasonably priced tickets so it can be accessible for everyone and that people will want to come. We might get slaughtered, I don’t know, but I kind of have blind faith in

A

the fact we’re putting on a really great show and we always have, and that will bring people in the end.”

McLachlan herself says she’s particularly excited about having the Go-Go’s and Bangles take part in some of this year’s dates. “That’s my high school days,” she notes. She’s also pleased to be able to mix new Lilith participants such as Blige, Loretta Lynn, Cat Power and Metric with returnees and “friends” like Crow, Emmylou Harris and the Indigo Girls.

The tour will coincide with the June 15 release of McLachlan’s first album in seven years, “Laws of Illusion.” The first single, “Loving You is Easy,” is currently available at digital retailers. “I can’t wait to play these new (‘Laws of Illusion’) songs live, but the trouble is, doing Lilith, everybody wants the hits, so I have to be careful,” McLachlan said. “I’ll rehearse four or five of the (new) songs and just rotate ‘em and do two each night or something like that.”— Reuters

US Singer Alicia Keys performs on stage at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, on Monday.—AP

SPECTRUM

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

39

Movies

Cannes film follows French monks killed in Algeria

By James Mackenzie he unsolved murder of seven French monks in Algeria during the brutal civil conflict of the 1990s is recounted in “Of Gods and Men”, a sombre and reflective entry at the Cannes film festival. The seven members of a Trappist order, who lived in a monastery in Tibehirine south of Algiers, disappeared in 1996 during a savage wave of killings by both Islamist militants and government forces. Only their severed heads were ever recovered and the exact circumstances in which they died are unclear.

Algerian authorities say the monks were abducted by militants and found dead with their throats cut two months later but that version has been questioned by several sources and France opened an official inquiry into the incident in 2004. However director Xavier Beauvois takes no side in the controversy, focusing instead on the unhurried rhythms of life in the monastery and ending the film as they disappear with their captors up a snowy mountain path.

As the violence that pervades the country comes closer to their community, the monks are forced to choose whether to stay or leave and Beauvois shows clearly the fears and doubts they experience as they wrestle with their choice.

“In fact what interested me was the story of these men and who they were.

Nobody really knows about the rest of it,” he told a news conference after the wellreceived press screening. “I lean towards the theory of a crime by the army but we don’t really know and instead of getting into all that, I preferred to take advantage of the luck we had with the weather and the snow,” he said.

T

Monastic rhythms The deliberately slow pace of the film sometimes recalls “Le Grand Silence,” Philip Groening’s almost wordless 2006 treatment of life in a monastery, but Beauvois himself said he was not himself particularly religious. “Half of my brain doesn’t believe anything at all and the other half believes everything,” he said.

But he said he had developed great respect for the monks during his preparations, which included a stay in a monastery in France and

(From left) French actors Philippe Laudenbach, Jean-Marie Frin, Jacques Herlin, Sabrina Ouazani, Lambert Wilson, French director Xavier Beauvois, Michael Lonsdale, Farid Larbi, Xavier Maly and Loic Pichon pose during the photocall of ‘Des Hommes et des Dieux’ (Of God and Men) presented in competition at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival yesterday in Cannes. —AFP

he was particularly struck by their evident respect for Islam. “Of Gods and Men” shows the exceptionally close relations between the monks and their Muslim neighbors, who invite the monks into their homes, work with them in the fields and bring their children to the monastery for medical treatment.

“They achieved a very impressive level of closeness and confidence from the fact that they needed each other and the monastery became a place of peace and refuge,” said Michael Lonsdale, the actor who plays the monastery doctor. But despite the slow and contemplative style, made up largely of long, slow shots, Beauvois said he was confident that audiences would understand and accept the film.

“We’re in a society where it’s advertising and clips all the time. You have to do everything quickly, quickly quickly, there’s always this short-termism,” he said. “I’ve always thought people were intelligent and I don’t have any worries. I think people will be quite capable of making a little effort to go towards the film”. —Reuters

Kiarostami denounces detention of Iran film-maker Panahi

Frearsʼ rural raunch brings English stampede to Cannes

By Rory Mulholland tephen Frears proudly claimed yesterday to be the first director to bring a stampede of English cows to the big screen with “Tamara Drewe,” which premieres in Cannes with Bond girl Gemma Arterton. “I’d made a western so I knew how to do cattle,” Frears told AFP ahead of the red-carpet gala screening of the comedy adapted from a comic strip that originally appeared in Britain’s Guardian newspaper.

The dark comedy, a tale of seduction in the English countryside based on the cartoons of Posy Simmonds, culminates in a tragedy caused by a stampede of Friesian cows that flee a rock star’s rampaging boxer dog. Arterton, who was in the 2008 James Bond film “Quantum of Solace,” plays the title role of a journalist who left her village as an awkward teenager but returns from London-after a nose-jobas a sultry femme fatale.

She leaves a trail of lust, envy and gossip in the village and in a nearby writers’ retreat in the rolling hills of Dorset on England’s south coast. The comic strip, later

S

turned into a graphic novel, is a modern take on Thomas

(From left) British actor Dominic Cooper, British director Stephen Frears and British actress Tamsin Greig pose during the photocall of ‘Tamara Drewe’ presented out of competition at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival yesterday. —AFP Hardy’s classic 19th-century novel “Far From the Madding Crowd.” But Frears, whose 2006 film “The Queen” scooped an Oscar for lead actress Helen Mirren, said he didn’t bother much with Hardy’s work, which he described as “about a woman and three men (and)... sheep that go over a cliff.”

The advantage of instead using a graphic novel as the basis for his film meant that “you don’t start off in a realistic novel, you start off with an

imaginative artist, and I found that tremendous-really, really grand.” “You’re working with someone who’s reduced a complicated scene down to one image, so that’s rather inspiring and also very liberating, because it’s not coming from a written source,” said the director.

The US actress Glenn Close once described Frears, whose latest film is screening

Picture taken on April 18, 2006 of Iranian filmmaker and opposition supporter Jafar Panahi during an interview with AFP in Tehran. —AFP

bbas Kiarostami, in Cannes to present his latest movie, called yesterday for the release of fellow Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi who is being held in a Tehran jail. “The fact that a film-maker has been imprisoned is in itself intolerable,” he said at a press conference after his “Certified Copy,” starring French actress Juliette Binoche, was screened at the film festival here.

“If the Iranian government continues to refuse to release Jafar... then we need explanations because I can’t understand how a film can be considered to be a crime particularly when that film has not yet been made,” he said.

Panahi has been held in

A

Tehran’s notorious Evin prison since March 1, when he was detained reportedly for making a film about Iran’s disputed 2009 presidential election. “When a film-maker, an artist is imprisoned it is art as a whole that is attacked,” said Kiarostami, who won the Palme d’Or top prize at Cannes in 1997 with “Taste of Cherry.”

The Palme, for which Kiarostami’s latest work is in the running, is to be awarded Sunday by a jury which Panahi had been invited to join. The French government and the festival jury headed by US director Tim Burton have called for Panahi’s release.

Kiarostami’s own films are not screened in his native country. — AFP

in Cannes out of competition, as looking like “a stadium after a game.” The 68-yearold film-maker lived up to that description yesterday at the AFP interview he conducted in the sunny garden of a Cannes villa wearing a crumpled short-sleeved shirt and equally crumpled baggy trousers.

Asked if he felt that his film was an accurate description of

Jake Gyllenhaal, star of the film ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time,’ waves to photographers at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Monday. —AP

Zhang Ziyi stars as AIDS patient in new China film ctress Zhang Ziyi says she signed on to play an AIDS patient in her new movie because she’s a big fan of the director, a frequent collaborator with well-known Chinese directors Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou. “We actually met many years ago, but always missed the chance to work together,” Zhang said yesterday at a press conference for Gu Changwei’s “A Tale of Magic.” It was Zhang’s first public appearance since a torrent of bad press over her botched donations to

A

victims of the massive earthquake in China’s Sichuan province in 2008. Rumors surfaced online in January, accus-

Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi looks on next to Hong Kong actor-singer Aaron Kwok during a press conference promoting her latest film ‘A Tale of Magic’ in Beijing, China, yesterday. —AP

ing Zhang of only giving a portion of the 1 million yuan ($146,000) she had promised for relief work. Zhang recently

acknowledged that only a portion of the donated 1 million yuan was transferred initially. In an interview with the state-run China Daily newspaper, Zhang attributed the problem to her lack of philanthropy experience and said she made up for the difference in March.

Asked to reflect on her extended absence, Zhang skirted the issue, saying, “I will continue to strive for success and make good movies.” Her new film is a love story about a couple with AIDS. —AP

rural English life, he replied with a laugh: “If there’s that much adultery and sex going on, I hope so for their sake!”

“Tamara Drewe” sees an American character staying at the writers’ retreat describing authors as “self-regarding sacks of shit,” and the film shows a particularly loathsome scribbler trampled to death by cows. Does that view reflect Frears’ own opinion of

writers? “Sometimes, on a bad day,” he chuckled. “My life has been spent with writers. I think they’re fantastic people but that doesn’t mean that sometimes they don’t drive me mad.”

Frears has in his long career alternated independent British films like “My Beautiful Laundrette,” “Dirty Pretty Things,” or “The Van,” with bigger-budget flicks like “Dangerous Liaisons” or “Mary Reilly” with big name US actors. He said he expected his new film-a quintessentially English comedy-would go down well with foreign audiences. “What they (foreign audiences) really like about the English is Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers.

They like that sort of British looniness,” he said.

Two veteran British contemporaries-Mike Leigh and Ken Loach are in the running for the Palme d’Or top prize at Cannes this year, but Frears said he was relieved that his own film was not in the race.

Presenting “Tamara Drewe” out of competition means that “you smile a lot more... I’m not going to lose! I’ve eliminated the possibility of losing!” — AFP

Sheen returns to ‘Two and a Half Men’ harlie Sheen, the highest-paid actor in television, has agreed to return to “Two and a Half Men” for an additional two years, after suggesting he would walk away from the hit CBS sitcom as his private life spiraled out of control, reports said Monday. A spokesman for the network declined to comment on any contract extension, which was first reported by online news site TMZ. The CBS Corp unit is due to unveil its primetime lineup for next season today.

Another online news site, deadline.com, carried a quote attributed to Sheen: “To put a fitting end on the two and onehalf months of whirlwind speculation, I’m looking forward to returning to my CBS home on Monday nights.” “Two and A Half Men” has just wrapped its seventh season as one of the most-watched sitcoms on US television. Losing the program would have been a blow both to CBS and to the show’s producer, Warner Bros.

Television. The Time Warner Inc unit makes a mint from selling the show in syndication.

C

Sheen, Emmy-nominated four times for his art-imitatinglife role as a sex-crazed bachelor Charlie Harper, is currently facing domestic violence charges in Colorado. L ast month, reports surfaced that he was seeking as much as $1 million per episode-a substantial raise from his current level of $825,000 — to continue on an eighth season. Sheen shot down the reported numbers, and said that if his role on the sitcom were to end, “so be it.”

The 44-year-old actor was arrested in the ski resort of Aspen on Christmas Day, and later charged with assaulting and threatening his wife, Brooke Mueller. He has pleaded not guilty, and both he and Mueller have entered rehabilitation programs. —Reuters

www.kuwaittimes.net

Miss USA

(Left) Rana Fakih looks at pictures of her sister, Rima Fakih.

Rima Fakih ʻprideʼ of hometown in Lebanon

By Jihad Siqlawi ewly-crowned Miss USA Rima Fakih is the pride of her native village, with residents saying the Lebanese-American not only brought honor to southern Lebanon but also offered a different image of Shiite Muslims often stereotyped as radicals. “She is an honor to us, a honor to all of southern Lebanon,” her paternal aunt Afifa Fakih Said told AFP in Srifa, the beauty queen’s hometown. Residents of the southern village watched 24-year-old Rima compete in three categories-swimsuit, evening gown and interview-before winning the Miss USA title on Sunday.

Proudly showing off her niece’s photograph on the front page of local newspapers, her aunt Afifa offered baklava pastries to wellwishers pouring in to her home. A supersized framed photograph of Rima, whose family is Shiite Muslim, earlier winning the Miss Michigan crown hangs in Afifa’s living room. “We are so often described as terrorists and killers, but we Shiites love life and beauty-and mainly the beauty of the soul, which is what is so special about Rima,” said the veiled 62-year-old, who speaks English and French fluently.

“In this family, we are open to all religions,” she said. “We have no political affiliation to anyone.” Srifa falls in an area largely controlled by Shiite militant group Hezbollah, which is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Washington. In an interview with Lebanese television on Tuesday morning, Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah was asked his opinion on the new Miss USA. “The criteria through which we evaluate women are different from those of the west,” he said. Rima Fakih, who may represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant later this year, emigrated from Srifa to the United States when she was seven

N

A handout picture from the family of Rima Fakih, a LebaneseAmerican who won the Miss USA pageant, shows the latter (left ) and her sister Rana, center, during a family vacation in Lebanon in the summer of 1996.

Lebanese American Rana Fakih, center, the sister of Miss USA Rima Fakih, seen in the pictures, hugs her two daughters, Elissa May, left, and Ogarit Laure, right, in front of her grandparents house in the southern village of Srifa. — AP/ AFP photos years old. She attended a Catholic school in New York until 2003, when her family moved to Michigan.

She went on to earn a college degree in economics from the University of Michigan and was a resident of Dearborn, which is home to a large Arab-American community, prior to her crowning as Miss USA. Fakih proudly told pageant organizers that her family celebrates both Muslim and Christian holidays. Her sister Rana, who lives in Lebanon with her husband and children, told AFP the Fakih family was proud of their dual heritage.

“Rima called me from the podium after her win in tears of happiness to

Afifa Fakih holds the picture of her niece Rima Fakih.

tell me she was elected Miss USA,” said the 35-year-old. “Our father, who was there with her, kept saying she was an honour for south Lebanon.

“We are both Lebanese and American.

In the United States no one asks us if we are Sunni or Shiite Muslims, we are all under the US law,” she added.

“In our home, there is none of the fanaticism that exists in some Lebanese households.”

Despite her dark, cascading waves and toned body, the new Miss USA has come under fire by right-wing bloggers, who have dubbed her a “terrorist in a bikini.” “Don’t let her lack of a headscarf and her donning a bikini in public fool you. Miss Michigan USA, Rimah (sic) Fakih is a Muslim activist and propagandist extraordinaire,” wrote conservative political commentator Debbie Schlussel in her blog.

“It’s a sad day in America but a very predictable one, given the politically correct, Islamo-pandering climate in which we’re mired,” wrote Schlussel, who slammed Fakih as a “Hezbollah-supporting Shiite Muslim.” Fakih sparked further controversy on Monday when pictures of her competing in a pole dancing contest surfaced on the Internet, although she apparently did not undress in the all-girls competition. But others are rallying in support of the young beauty queen. “It is sad what we have come to in this country when we can’t come together and agree that Rima Fakih is just incredibly hot,” tweeted “Degringolade.” —AFP

This handout photo shows Rima Fakih, 24, of Dearborn, Michigan, as she reacts after being crowned Miss USA 2010.

(Right) Afifa Fakih aunt of Rima Fakih, a LebaneseAmerican who won the Miss USA pageant, gives sweets to relatives at the latter’s native village of Srifa in southern Lebanon yesterday.

Lebanese Rafik Fakih, the uncle of Miss USA Rima Fakih, drinks coffee with his wife Sabah.

Clothing options for Muslim women come into vogue

By Elizabeth Wellington hen Gwendolyn Dawan converted to Islam in 1973, she wore a long skirt, a long top and wrapped her hair. Today, she designs pinstriped suits and ankle-length denim skirts for Muslim women that are modest, yet follow current fashion trends. “I get a lot of requests from business women for suits with skirts,” said Dawan, who also offers sage green and paisleys in her collection.

“Nothing in the Koran says we can’t wear color. Many Muslim women have always worn designer labels underneath their outer garments.

But now more Muslim women-mostly those who are African American and live in larger cities-are jazzing up their outerwear, too, shattering perceptions that devout means drab. As a result, more designers are catering to them in specialized stores and in runway presentations as sophisticated as the ones held for nonIslamic customers. Earlier this month, 15 designers from Philadelphia, New York and Maryland showcased their cutting-edge fashions specifically for Muslim women in Philadelphia. It followed an extravagant show held earlier by the Atlanta Masjid of

W

Al-Islam, an annual event now in its 20th year.

The demand can be seen on the street, as more stores have been popping up along urban boulevards, selling jeweled overgarments and tie-dyed head wraps alongside incense and scented bath oils.

“My customer base has grown a lot,” said Khalil Ghani of Al-Fuquan Book Store & Bazaar in Philadelphia. Ghani sells the clothing of designers from Atlanta and New York as well as Egypt, India and China.

Business has been so good, he is working on completing the expansion of his store from 3,200 square feet to 4,000 square feet.

“Even women who aren’t Muslim find the looks elegant,” Ghani said.

In Islam, modesty is a key virtue, and Muslim women must cover their bodies in public. But there are degrees of required modesty, depending on the culture. In the strictest Islamic cultures, women wear burqas that cover face and neck, exposing only their eyes. In others, they only have to wear khimars (head coverings). And other practitioners wrap their hair in stylish scarves, and wear their overgarments with jeans peeking out.

In Philadelphia, among many black Muslims, it’s OK to be a little extravagant

as long as you are fully covered. Tunics fashioned from panels of denim and cotton, and tie-dyed khimars are fine. As are silk garments accented with jeweled teardrops and full, luxurious llama and mink furs. “If I wore some of the things in an Islamic state that I wore here, I’d be thrown in jail,” explained Aliyah Khabir, an organizer of the annual Sisters’ Recognition Luncheon and Fashion Show.

About 200,000 Muslims live in Philadelphia and 85 percent of the Muslim community is African American, said Abdul Rahim Muhammad, director of Philadelphia’s Islamic Cultural Preservation and Information Center.

Many of them, Muhammad said, converted to Islam from Christianity in the 1960s and 1970s. Today their children perform a balancing act, striving to adhere to strict dress codes while socializing with their more hip-hop-oriented peers.

“As a teenager you want to fit in, but as a young Muslim woman you can’t fit in the way you want to,” Khabir said. “You can’t wear the Guess jeans. What’s considered tight to your Muslim parents isn’t tight for your other kids.”

Staying current is important for stylish adults as well. For years, Taalibah Kariem

Waheedah Ahadah wears a printed tunic and solid long skirt designed by Najm: Casual and Everyday Wear at a fashion show.

White had the hardest time finding suits appropriate for work. Then she learned about Dawan at a fashion show. Now, each year, she looks forward to seeing what the designer will show on the runway. “I wear my hair wrapped up every day when I go to work,” White said. “Every day I’m totally covered, but people still take the time to compliment me.”

This month’s event, sponsored by the United Muslim Masjid, was a celebration about what Muslim women could wear, not what they couldn’t. The audience, which numbered more than 300, was comfortable with its modesty. They had chosen temperance over trendiness. But that didn’t mean they forsake fashion one teeny, tiny bit. “I love the furs,” said Jamilah Abdullah. “I love the mix of all the ethnic cultures in these new fashions.”

Some of the show’s 22 models-all with confident walks and stage presence-were Muslim. Others weren’t. Men were not allowed, so bathing suits and lingerie were included as were tighter jeans and dresses that could only be worn with an over garment. (The women photographed without head coverings either do not wear khimars on a daily basis or allow some of their hair to be seen.) —MCT

Waheedah Ahadah models an outfit by Al-Fuquan Book Store & Bazaar at a fashion show. —MCT photos