20 May

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

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THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010

French cabinet approves niqab ban law

Military robots seen as lifesavers PAGE 14

conspiracy theories

It’s sooo cool!

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NO: 14734

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Rights panel tours central jail, meets Jassem Kuwaitis rally for writer’s release • Civil societies urge law change

By B Izzak KUWAIT: Members of the National Assembly’s human rights committee yesterday inspected the conditions of the central prison and visited writer and journalist Mohammad Abdulqader Al-Jassem who is serving a 21-day detention there.

During the tour, MPs Waleed AlTabtabaei, head of the committee, Mohammad Hayef and Khaled AlAdwah inspected the detention conditions of Jassem and called for his immediate release. Tabtabaei said the health condition of Jassem is good and his morale is very high.

He also called for the immediate release of Jassem on a personal bond or bail because “prison was not made for people like him”.

Hayef said that Jassem is detained in a ward that is not fit for humans. Adwah said that Jassem is a well-known personality and a thinker who is detained for express-

ing his opinion. He urged the government and the public prosecution to release him immediately “because maintaining Kuwait’s human rights record clean requires that Jassem is released immediately”. The lawmaker said that it is not acceptable to detain Jassem along with criminals, calling for sending him to his home and family. Adwah also stressed that the committee will follow up on this issue to make sure that no writer is detained, adding that “we don’t want to see writers behind bars”.

On prison conditions, Tabtabaei said that the committee received no complaints except on the quality of food, adding that the ministry will shortly start operating a new kitchen. Hayef wondered why the construction of a new jail in Kabd area was not listed as part of the development plan although a piece of land for the purpose had been already allocated.

The human rights panel’s visit to Jassem comes a day after political groups, MPs and activists staged a huge public rally opposite the National Assembly in support of Jassem and to call for his release.

Liberal, Islamist, Salafist and independent groups attended the rally, with all urging for the release of Jassem and strongly criticizing the government and what they called excessive measures against the writer.

Opposition lawmaker Mussallam Al-Barrak said Jassem committed no crime in expressing his opinion and “it is the government which should be behind bars now”. The head of the liberal National Democratic Alliance, Khaled AlFadhalah, said defending Jassem amounted to defending freedom.

“We can perhaps overlook a graft of several million dinars or cheques issued to certain people, but we will Continued on Page 14

BEIRUT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah places a wreath of flowers at the Statue of Martyrs in downtown Beirut yesterday. — AFP (See Page 5)

Bangkok burns Protest leaders surrender • Arson, looting grips Thai capital

Kuwait inflation falls

China ‘OKs’ refinery KUWAIT: China has given preliminary approval to a joint venture with Kuwait to build a nine-billion-dollar refinery in southern Guangdong province, KUNA reported yesterday. The tentative nod for the environmentally-controversial project was issued last week by China’s National Reform and Development Commision, KUNA said citing Chinese sources. China’s state-owned Sinopec and Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI), which have equal stakes in the project, in October signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Guangdong province.

BANGKOK: A Red Shirt opposition protester piles tyres on a fire at a shopping center yesterday. — AP BANGKOK: Enraged protesters went on a rampage of arson and looting yesterday in Bangkok, where fire engulfed major buildings including the stock exchange after a deadly army assault on an anti-government rally.

Plumes of black smoke billowed across the skyline in the aftermath of the military crack-

down on the “Red Shirt” camp which left at least six people dead, including an Italian journalist, and forced their leaders to surrender.

While most demonstrators dispersed, some militant protesters set fires at 27 locations in Bangkok in an upsurge of violence that prompted authorities to declare a nighttime curfew

across about a third of the country.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has been under enormous pressure to end the crippling standoff, said he intended to “get through” the crisis and return peace to the country.

Continued on Page 14

Pakistan blocks Facebook

Bahrain bans Al-Jazeera MANAMA: Bahrain has suspended local operations of Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera and barred a crew from travelling to the state, accusing the channel of flouting press rules. Al-Jazeera, with a record of tense relations with Arab states over its coverage of sensitive political topics, has recently aired programs on poverty and the treatment of Asian labourers, both sensitive matters in Bahrain. “Bahrain has temporarily frozen the office of the Qatari Al Jazeera Satellite TV Channel for breaching the professional media norms and flouting the laws regulating the press and publishing,” the official Bahrain News Agency said, without giving details. A statement from Al-Jazeera condemned the ban, which it said it had not been formally notified of. It added that it did not have a bureau in Bahrain.

NY plot suspect appears in court Shahzad eyed other targets NEW YORK: Appearing relaxed and obedient, the man accused of plotting a car bombing in Times Square made his first appearance in a Manhattan courtroom where he was told by a magistrate judge that he had the right to remain silent.

Authorities say Faisal Shahzad’s willingness to talk kept him out of court for two weeks, speeding up the Continued on Page 14

Faisal Shahzad

Iran frustrated as West rejects deal

in the news KUWAIT: Year-on-year inflation in Kuwait fell to 2.8 percent in January from 6.8 percent a year earlier, but it was up on December’s rate of 2.1 percent, official figures showed yesterday. The consumer price index (CPI) 2010 rose to 138.8 points from 135.0, with most of the hike caused by rises in food and beverages prices, according to figures posted on the Central Bank’s website. Food prices rose by 5.2 percent while beverages and tobacco surged 13.4 percent. Only transport and communications fell by a meagre 1.6 percent, the figures showed.

150 FILS

UAE football shows status of female Muslim players

Fighting bull cloned in Spain for the first time

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By Badrya Darwish nd of May and it’s getting hot, naturally. Summer has already begun and the Celsius goes up to 44 degrees.

But guys, it is cool in the parliament. It is amazing that two MPs, Waleed Tabtabaei and Musallam Al-Barrak, are calling themselves for earlier elections. Usually it is the people outside the National Assembly that are fed up with parliament and its performance who comment on their inability to perform in the best interests of the country. It is unprecedented that parliamentarians themselves, and look who are they - two extremist MPs, Tabtabaei, the leader of extremist Islamists and Barrak, from the extreme opposition - both agree that this parliament should go. I love it and that is why I call it ‘cool’.

Anyway, their call upset many other MPs, such as Zalzalah, Qallaf, Jassar, Ashour, Ameer etc. They, by the way, all belong to different parties. They were aggravated. I love their statements: “The ones who do not love the parliament can sit at home.” Excuse me guys, are you representing the nation or yourselves? Is the parliament your home or your company? Are you in a private company so you can just brush Tabtabaei and Barrak and tell them go and sit home and smoke sheesha. Instead of giving this remark, you should have a proper discussion with the two extreme gentlemen who suggest the dissolution of parliament and find out why.

Thank God, at last somebody realized that this parliament is not serving the interest of Kuwait. I noticed this parliament has lately been like a puppet. Whatever the government suggests they are just blessing it without any scrutiny of the projects. I am not anti-government and I am not opposing the government’s projects but any serious project that affects the future of Kuwait should be scrutinized thoroughly and take its due time. It shouldn’t be rushed through parliament within a week. So what is going on with our checks and balances? Is this the democracy we aim for?

Also, may I ask where are our female MPs? We haven’t heard their remarks!

Ladies, you are not there only to defend women’s rights, like housing and residency for Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis etc. We elected you to defend the interest of Kuwait and to hear your voice on every serious issue.

Have a cool day!

JAMADA ALTHANI 6, 1431 AH

KARACHI: Pakistani Islamists shout slogans during a protest against a Facebook page which encourages users to post images of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) yesterday. — AFP

LAHORE: Pakistan’s government ordered Internet service providers to block Facebook yesterday amid anger over a page that encourages users to post images of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The page on the social networking site has generated criticism in Pakistan and elsewhere because Islam prohibits any images of the prophet (PBUH). The government took action after a group of Islamic lawyers won a court order yesterday requiring officials to block Facebook until May 31. By yesterday evening, access to the site was sporadic, apparently because Internet providers were implementing the order.

Continued on Page 14

TEHRAN: Iran voiced exasperation yesterday at US-led international rejection of a hard-won nuclear fuel deal, saying major powers would be “discrediting” themselves if they pressed for fresh UN sanctions. Deal brokers Turkey and Brazil, meanwhile, urged their fellow members on the 15-member UN Security Council not to impose new sanctions, the Brazilian foreign ministry said. “Brazil and Turkey are convinced that it is time to give a chance for negotiations and to avoid measures that are detrimental to a peaceful solution,” read the letter signed by their foreign ministers.

The move came af ter Washington submitted a resolution for a fourth round of sanctions, after Brazil and Turkey on Monday forged a compromise accord they hailed as a step toward ending Iran’s years-old standoff with the West. Under the deal, the Islamic republic agreed to ship out much of its stockpile of low enriched uranium to neighbouring Turkey in exchange for fuel for a research reactor. “This agreement is a new fact that has to be evaluated,” Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, who led the IranBrazil-Turkey negotiations, insisted in Brasilia.

Continued on Page 14

NATIONAL

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

NGOs and academics slam Al-Jassem detention

‘Legal amendments needed to prevent recurrence of incident’

By Ahmad Saeid KUWAIT: A number of non-government organizations (NGOs), political activists and academics have condemned the arrest of well-known Kuwaiti columnist and blogger Mohammed Al-Jassem by the country’s secret service.

In a joint statement, 10 Kuwaiti NGOs criticized what they called the “unjustified measures” taken against the prominent writer by the Public

Al-Khorafi commends Iran on n-fuel deal signed with Brazil, Turkey TEHRAN: Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi commended yesterday Tehran’s signing a deal for exchanging uranium for enriched fuel with Brazil and Turkey.

In a statement to reporters, Al-Khorafi said that the agreement was a positive step towards defusing tension with the West, adding that this was “a success for the diplomacy of peaceful Iran, and a confidence-building step between Iran and the international community.”

He said that this declaration placed Iran before international responsibilities, and called on the international community to encourage Tehran to continue to march along this track.

Al-Khorafi underscored support for TurkishBrazilian efforts, saying that this was a positive move on the track of transparent cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He also expressed support for dialogue between Iran and the Vienna group, with the aim of confidencebuilding between the two sides.

On a different note, Al-Khorafi stressed the importance of coordination and exchange of views between Iran and Kuwait on matters of mutual concern, saying that such talks were “frank ... especially in such critical circumstances” that the region was going through.

On his meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Dr. Ali Larijani, Al-Khorafi said that it covered the importance of this visit and Kuwait’s keenness for developing its brotherly ties and historic relations with Iran.

He said that the parliamentarians of the two countries had an important role to play, in encouraging their governments to activate joint committees “so that the

meetings are not limited to being routine and protocol, but are ones where all issues are discussed clearly and frankly ... this is the only way to successfully deal with matters.” Al-Khorafi said that there were many areas of bilateral cooperation that could be developed, including economic, commercial and social affairs.

The Kuwaiti and Iranian people enjoy social ties, he noted, and Kuwait established a port dedicated to Iranian imports, in a step towards increasing trade exchange.

In terms of foreign policy, he said that there were many issues that Kuwait and Tehran agreed on, like the importance of finding a just and comprehensive solution to the plight of the Palestinian people, and the importance of stability in Iraq.

At the parliamentary level, he said that they agreed on the need to reform the statute of the Islamic InterParliamentary Union in order to enhance its role on the international arena.

On his part, Larijani welcomed the Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation and reaffirmed Kuwait’s high standing and the commonalities that the two countries shared, as well as their historic roots.

The Iranian parliament speaker lauded Kuwait’s democratic practice, as well as the role that Al-Khorafi played in boosting his country’s relations with Iran.

He added that Iran’s strategy was based on peaceful co-existence and strengthening its relations with its neighbors. “Those who are worried by cooperation among Muslims, are those who are trying to portray Iran as a source of threat to its Arab neighbors,” he said. —KUNA

Kuwait University holds reunion of class of 1975

By Abdullah Al-Qattan KUWAIT: The Kuwait University held its second reunion for the class of 1975 to 1978 on Tuesday. It was held under the patronage of HH Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah. The Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr Moudhi AlHomoud, Dr Abdullah Al-Fhaid, General Manager and Dr Anwar Al-Yattama, Secretary General of KU were present at the event.

During the inaugural ceremony, Dr Abdullah AlFhaid said that these events are important owing to the connection established between graduates and the university, by renewing relationships and memories of the past and creating new ones. Dr Al-Fhaid described the years that a person spends in university as a time of freedom and energy. He pointed out that Dr Fayza Al-Khorafi suggested that the idea be implemented eight years ago.

Dr Al-Fhaid continued by saying that the University was, is and will remain a bastion to academic pride. It has found a rightful place among universities in the Middle East. It churns out 26,000 new students and 4, 000 graduates every year from differ-

ent departments. He added that the University has opened new colleges in the past and will open two more soon.

Al-Fhaid then focused on Sabah Al-Salem college campus by saying that it has broken ground by introducing major improvement to the facilities of the university and the reactions it would have had on the country’s level of education.

Dr Fayza Al-Khorafi, who organized the graduates reunion ceremony in 2002, said that the idea was to hold a ceremony for the first five classes that graduated from Kuwait University, thereby creating a tradition that will last through the years to come.

Dr Al-Khorafi who received a memento from the University pointed out that these reunions are not always about graduates. “It is also the perfect time to thank all our academics and members that help create this work environment and educate the mind of our future developers,” she said.

Afterwards, a group of former KU graduates from other Arab countries, such as Jamal Al-Sarairah, previous Communications Minister in Jordan, and Ismaeal Al-Shamlawi from Bahrain expressed pleasure at having participated in the event.

NGOs argued that freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and Kuwait’s values of freedom are no longer at the same level envisioned by the founders of the country’s constitution. They expressed concern that actions like the recent detention could affect Kuwait’s international reputation, calling on MPs to actively oppose such acts.

“NGOs ask the representatives of the nation [MPs] to urgently make the required amendments to the relevant legislation to prevent any recurrence of such incidents,” the statement reads.

A number of Kuwait University (KU) academics have also expressed their support for the demands to amend a number of laws.

Ghanim Al-Najjar, a professor of political science at KU, expressed his support for the NGOs’ demands.

“It is not right for cases involving opinions to be dealt with from the perspective of national security,” he said, adding “They are related, the press and publications laws, and they should only be viewed from that perspective. In this particular case, Al-Jassem could’ve been released on bail, and there was no need for all of these measures.”

Al-Najjar went on to specify which laws he believes urgently need to be amended.

“It is also not right that people with charges related to

expressing their opinions should be imprisoned at all, so this should be addressed,” he asserted. Al-Najjar also pointed that the legislation giving the Public Prosecution Service the right to detain people for 21 days without having to give the reasons for their arrest should also be amended.

Haila Al-Mkaimy, a professor of political science at KU, said that amending the laws to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future would be the right action to take. At the same time, Al-Mkaimy called for adopting a ‘diplomatic’ approach in resolving AlJassem’s case.

“Kuwait is known for its freedom of expression, and AlJassem is not an obscure person; he is a well known writer and journalist, so resolving this issue diplomatically will contribute to the democratic development of Kuwait,” Al-Mkaimy said.

Liberal activist and writer Ahmad Al-Sarraf also expressed his support for the legislative amendment proposal.

“It is extremely relevant to address this issue, especially since the Public Prosecution Service is now an authority, whose decisions are not subject to questioning,” he said, adding that the prosecution could have treated Al-Jassem in a more humane way, which better serves Kuwait’s reputation beyond its borders.

Al-Sarraf also expressed sol-

Prosecution Service. The statement described the case as being politicized, and the measures taken against the writer as an “abuse of power and rejection of the opposite opinion.” The move comes one day after hundreds of Kuwaitis, as well as political activists and MPs, gathered in front of the National Assembly to demonstrate against the continued detention of AlJassem, a renowned Kuwaiti writer, and a prominent critic of the government.

KUWAIT: Ahmed Al-Khatib is seen addressing the protest that was held Tuesday evening. The event gathered supporters for the release of the recently jailed Kuwaiti writer Al-Jassem. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

The NGOs who signed the published statement are: Kuwaiti Graduates Society ● Kuwaiti Society for Human Rights ● Kuwaiti Society for the Basic Principles of Human Rights ● Women’s Cultural and Social Society ● Kuwaiti Teachers’ Association ●

idarity with Al-Jassem.

“As a writer, I support the demands to release Al-Jassem, even though personally, and ideologically I profoundly disagree with him,” he noted.

Sparkling white records

I

t does not appear as if, our wise and trusted government, has learnt that there is no country on this globe that does not committed human rights violations - from America to China, Europe to Africa and Asia.

Based on this, it is not right for Kuwait or others to say that we have a ‘sparkling white’ record.

This is because the situation is not a cleaning detergent that can be whitened. It is a dynamic process that is prone to deterioration at some point.

Countries from around the world, without exception, have committed human rights violations.

Kuwait is not an exception in any way. So the celebratory atmosphere and exchange of congratulations between officials, as if we have emerged victorious from a battle, is an indication of weakness, and not strength.

The incident that took place in Geneva is not a battle to begin with. Governments, that are offenders and are accused of violating human rights, agreed to snatch the ‘annual show’ held at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Why? This is because every government wants to save its face by sustaining only minimum damage in front of the international community. Since the beginning of the event nearly two years ago, the Kuwait government learned to elude the annual review of its records using trickery and deception. This is done by exchanging roles. One government supports the other. This is so that the supporting government expect to receive the same from the other.

This way, the issue will come to an end without a clear winner or a loser. In fact, the juggling-act by governments has weakened this annual show.

What is the benefit of holding this annual

●

Al-Sarraf concluded by saying that although he supports the NGOs’ stance in this matter, he does not believe that Kuwaiti NGOs have a primary belief in freedom. “I hope they

will continue to support all aspects of freedom, including freedom of expression, of belief and others, and not only issue ‘custom-made’ calls for freedom.”

local spotlight

kuwait digest

By Ghanim Al-Najjar

Association of Kuwait University Faculties PAAET Teaching Faculty Association ● Kuwaiti Economic Society ● National Union of Kuwaiti Students ● Kuwait Trade Union Federation. ●

review? For the first time, a mechanism has been found to present human rights issues to countries all over the world. This is a step forward, but is not enough.

This is not an evaluation of the goings-on in Geneva. We will explain that later. Kuwait’s report will be officially approved in September, and the civil society delegation will hold an evaluation session in Geneva next Saturday. I will not forget to commend the wonderful participation by the Kuwait Society for Human Rights.

The subject matters that we in Kuwait, government, people and National Assembly should seriously deal with are as follows: Establish an independent national authority for human rights, criminalize human trafficking, end inhuman treatment of bedoons, stop all forms of discrimination against women, provide legal protection to domestic helpers, implement international treaties that Kuwait has ratified as local laws as mentioned in Article 70 of the Constitution, submit reports required by international authorities on time, invite international decision makers to visit Kuwait, and ratify the International Criminal Court Treaty as well as protect the freedom of expression.

There are issues to be dealt with. The Members of Parliament should express some interest, take follow up action and supervise all issues through a parliamentary committee. This is so that the case of columnist Mohammad Abdelqader AlJassim is not repeated. What is required is to release him as fast as possible. Interested MPs should present an amendment of the law that gives the Public Prosecution Office absolute authority over detaining the suspect who is innocent until proven guilty. — Al-Jarida.

Income Tax: New coming

By Muna Al-Fuzai

W

ill the enforcement of income tax improve public services in Kuwait? With the recent passing of the privatization law, many expect the government and the National Assembly to issue a new law regarding income tax.

For those who thought that the privatization law was a surprise hit, I cannot wait to see their reaction when this new law is on the table for discussion and approval.

I have nothing against paying extra money for good services. For example, because there are so many reckless drivers in Kuwait, lots of money is accumulated from the issuing of speeding tickets.

But, what exactly does the Ministry of Interior do with all the money they get from the public? Are they using this money to improve the roads and traffic system in Kuwait, or just spending it on expanding roundabouts? I think the roads of this country are scary and risky.

I believe that income tax must be associated with the improvement of state services. Take Kuwait’s healthcare sector for example. Would you pay extra money without an improvement of services?

Now that I think about it, I have never seen an official get his or her treatment in Kuwait for any serious operation or even a medical checkup?! Don’t they trust the local hospitals?

What really worries me is the level of wasta here. If there is all this talk of income tax without any improvement of services, where would the money go?

Anyone with sense would be more than willing to pay extra for excellent services. No one would deny that. What remains to be seen is how that can be done? muna@kuwaittimes.net

Health insurance for livestock workers KUWAIT: Livestock workers will now be covered under health insurance similar to the one extended to farmers less than a

month ago.

The Minister of Health (MoH) Hilal Al-Sayer made the announcement during a meeting held with the head and members of the Kuwait Association for Livestock Breeders.

During the meeting, Al-Sayer reiterated the ministry’s full support to workers that tend live-

stock. He promised to discuss recommendations put forward by the association’s members on opening the Kabad’s polyclinic, reported Al-Watan.

The new polyclinic will cover all breeders and livestock resources workers employed in animal farms located in Kabad and Al-Wafra.

KUWAIT: An educational team from Bahrain paid a visit to the Kuwait Autism Center. This step was taken with the aim of taking a closer look at Kuwait’s experience in this field. Following this, the Kingdom adopted a new plan to integrate autistic students with mainstream life. The team toured around the center’s new headquarters building, in which they viewed the programs and activities organized for autistic children, as they asserted on the importance of preparing Bahraini manpower to work on similar programs.

The visiting team further applauded the Kuwaiti center’s services, acknowledging its leading position in the Middle East.

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Dust expected to continue, says Al-Jamaan KUWAIT: The recent wave of dusty weather, which started on Monday, is expected to continue until the end of the week according to meteorologist Khalid Al-Jamaan, reported AlWatan.

He indicated that the current weather pattern occurs as a result of the strong winds created by a low pressure front over India at this time of the year.

Furthermore, Al-Jamaan explained that similar bouts of dusty weather are expected to occur throughout the summer.

He noted that these dust storms reduce the temperature and that the highest temperature recorded last Tuesday was 43 degrees.

He added that dust storms during this time of year is common because of a shift in weather from the spring to the summer season.

Kuwaiti study on metro project ready KUWAIT: The Ministry of Communications has conducted relevant studies on the subway metro project, which will be carried out by the Union of Public Transportation Companies in Kuwait.

The project will be executed through the Build-OperateTransfer(B-O-T) system.

Furthermore, the Ministry intends to take follow up action on this project through a series of others, including the railway project, buses project, as well as a project to establish a Public Authority for Transportation (PAT). It will be set up in cooperation with the World Bank, reported Al-Watan. Minister Dr Mohammad Al-Busairi will receive a list of names of directors and supervisors to be reshuffled as a preparatory procedure.

These reshuffling processes will take place soon.

In the meantime, the ministry approached an international consultancy center to evaluate the process of establishing projects.

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KU seminar hosts counselor

Marriage: Kuwaiti youth urged to think rationally

By Hussain Al-Qatari KUWAIT: The Center of Social Services at Kuwait University held a seminar this week by marriage counselor Alhareth Al-Mazeedi of the Ministry of Justice. The seminar entitled “How to Choose Your Spouse,” was held at the Faculty of Arts campus in Kaifan and was attended by a large number of stuHe said, “Marriage is a sacred bond between man and woman.

Many of the youth today feel that marriage is not much of a big deal; they are not willing to take responsibility and they are not willing to make any compromises, so they end up involving family members. This is when problems start with most divorced couples.” The interference of parents and other family members in a married couple’s problems creates bigger complications. “It magnifies a simple debate between a couple into a family crisis; it can easily ruin a marriage, and what is scary is the fact that it can easily happen,” he noted.

Whether it is an arranged marriage or a love marriage doesn’t mean that a marriage would work or fail: “It all depends on how committed to this marriage the couple is,” he said. In order to fight the alarmingly increasing number of divorces today and to avoid further increase, awareness programs and campaigns must be launched to be rational and avoid

rushing into something big, like a marriage, without understanding the consequences. Ayeshah AlOtaibi, a student who attended the event said that such events should be held more often to raise awareness. “I like the way the speaker brought examples according to actual statistics and facts. I find them to be more credible than just word of mouth which is more common in our society,” she said.

Another student, Anfal AlAnsari, said that the problems of marriage exist on a large scale. “I know married relatives and friends, and their advise to me is ‘don’t rush into it!’ It’s as if marriage is a big danger zone that I mustn’t approach, and they never tell you why. On the other hand, society and parents pressure girls my age to get married, so it really is frustrating that way,” she complained. The Center for Social Services at Kuwait University intend to hold more seminars with distinguished speakers in the near future.

dents. The marriage counselor spoke about issues that hurdle marriage today, which include differences in familial background and class in society, as well as misconceptions many people have about marriage. “There is a big slice of our youth today that get married for the wrong reasons,” he explained. He urged that young men and women think rationally and understand that a marriage is a ‘long-term investment.’

KUWAIT: Marriage counselor Alhareth Al-Mazeedi speaking at the seminar.

—Photo courtesy of KU

European Parliament official to visit Kuwait STRASBOURG, France: Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, Elmar Brok announced yesterday that he will launch a Gulf tour starting with a stop in Kuwait as it currently chairs the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Brok was speaking in an interview here, on the occasion of a visit by a Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation headed

by MP Ali Al-Diqbasi to the European Parliament. The official said he hopes the EU and GCC would sign a free trade agreement.

He asserted the importance of the

Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation’s visit and the exchange of views with members of an elected democratic parliament from an important region.

“We have a high level of understanding with countries of geographical importance in Europe and the world, therefore, we support strengthening relations between the EU and Kuwait, not only on the governmental, but also on parliamentary level,” Brok stressed.

“Kuwait has witnessed great development in democracy, parliament performance, and women’s rights in comparison to many countries. The recent parlia-

mentary elections which changed the majority of the MPs and brought in four women MPs are of special significance,” he also added.

The visiting Kuwaiti delegation is scheduled to attend the European Parliament’s session later today.

Deputy Chair of the European Union, Ganni Pittella, is scheduled to receive the Kuwaiti delegation, and he would receive an invitation from the Kuwaiti National Assembly Speaker Jassem Mohammad Al-Kharafi addressed to the European Parliament Chair Jerzy Buzek to visit Kuwait.

The Kuwaiti parliamentary delegation’s visit comes in a framework of boosting parliamentary relations with the world.

The delegation includes MPs Saleh Ashour, Hussein Mezyed, Dulaihi AlHajjeri, Shuaib Al-Muwaizri, Askar AlAnizi, Ghanim Al-Maei, and Head of the organization’s affairs department Sami Al-Shaya.

The delegation is scheduled to head to Italy later today for a four-day visit, and an invitation from the Speaker to the Italian Head of Parliament to visit Kuwait would also be presented. —KUNA

Abraaj mineral water safe, says minister KUWAIT: Minister of Electricity and Water Dr Bader Al-Shuraiaan has rejected reports that the Abraaj brand of mineral water sold locally is unsafe for human consumption.

In a TV interview, Dr AlShuraiaan said that the false rumors about the mineral water brand had begun to circulate after it was wrongly reported that tests on it at the Ministry of Health (MoH) lab had found all the Abraj brand water to be contaminated.

The minister told Al-Watan newspaper that in reality only a small number of bottles of water, belonging to a consignment that had expired which was removed from a local grocery store had been found to be

contaminated, stressing that all these bottles had been confiscated.

‘Abraaj’ bottled water is safe to drink, and is clear of any pollutants or bacteria, said the Ministry of Health yesterday.

Health Undersecretary Dr Ibrahim Al-Abdulhadi reiterated that this brand of bottled water had been tested by the ministry and that was found “safe and clear of any pollutants or bacteria.”

Microbiological testing determined the water to be fit for human use, he reassured, saying that the Health and Commerce Ministries were constantly testing products, for the safety of citizens and residents.

NATIONAL

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Body of Nepalese woman found

One dead, five injured in several car crashes

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A 59-year-old Pakistani man sustained fatal head injuries in a car crash on Jahra road, dying at the scene. The man’s body was removed for autopsy. In the same accident, a 33-year-old Pakistani man suffered a fractured left thighbone and was taken to Jahra Hospital. In another

case, a 14-year-old Kuwaiti boy suffered a fractured left thighbone, while a 20-year-old Indian man suffered a bruised left arm when they were hit by a car in the Saad Al-Abdullah area. Both were taken to the Amiri Hospital. In another incident, a 55-year-old Egyptian man suffered a fractured left thighbone in a crash on Ghazali Street. He was taken to Farwaniya Hospital.

In a separate incident, a 16year-old Kuwaiti boy was taken to Adan Hospital after suffering a broken leg in a car accident.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported in a three-vehicle collision on King Fahad Road between a fuel tanker carrying 34,000 liters of gasoline, a halflorry and a small car. A minor leak from the fuel tanker was quickly repaired.

A 77-year-old Kuwaiti man was taken to Mubarak Hospital when he complained of back pain after being hit by a car in Hawally.

Um Al-Hayman suicide The body of a 34-year-old Nepalese woman was found in Um Al-Hayman after she apparently committed suicide. The body was removed for autopsy.

Four fires Two Kuwaiti citizens were injured in a fire that broke out near a Cooperative. Both were taken to Adan hospital. In another fire, Iranian men were taken to Amiri Hospital suffering from breathing difficulties following a blaze in a house in Sawaber. In a separate incident, a factory worker and seven firefighters suffered light injuries in a blaze that broke out in a foam factory in Mina Abdullah.

Firefighters from Mina Abdullah and Shuhaiba and the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hazardous Materials Unit came together to fight the blaze in the two-floor facility. The fire broke out on the first floor, which was used

KUWAIT: Traffic accident on King Fahad Road between a fuel tanker, a half lorry and a small car. to store foam mattresses, as well as the chemicals involved in their manufacture. The firefighters’ efforts ensured that the blaze took less than 45 minutes to put out. One of the factory workers suffered with breathing difficulties due to the smoke and was given first aid at the scene, while one fireman was taken to Adan Hospital for treatment for breathing difficulties but was released shortly after.

Ahmadi governor Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah was

at the scene, and lauded the firefighters’ heroic efforts to protect lives and property.

Meanwhile, firefighters from Sulaibikhat and Ardiya came together to tackle a blaze that broke out in a room in a home in Doha being used to store clothes and old electrical equipment. No injuries were reported in the fire, which was quickly put out.

Shuwaikh Free Zone. He was taken to Sabah Hospital.

Two fights A 30-year-old Indian man was taken to Jahra Hospital after sustaining pelvic injuries in a fight on Salmi Road. A 30-yearold Bangladeshi man suffered a gash to his head in a fight in Jahra Industrial Zone. He was taken to the local hospital.

Found unconscious

Student molested

A 29-year-old Egyptian man was found unconscious in

A citizen registered a complaint with the Mubarak Al-

Kabeer police stating that a teacher who provided private tuition lessons to his daughter, molested her. The teacher in question was later arrested and referred to higher authorities.

Vehicle collision Two cars crashed into a speed camera that was mounted at the side of the Arabian Gulf Street, destroying it completely.

Police reached the scene later and arrested the drivers of the vehicles. Both were referred to the concerned authorities.

Premier issues new directives to Cabinet KUWAIT: Top officials and rescue workers in action after a fire broke out in a foam factory yesterday. —Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

MEW may privatize utilities KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) is seriously considering privatizing utilities in a bid to ensure that electricity and water consumption costs are met by consumers, minister Dr. Bader Al-Shuraiaan has revealed.

The minister also called on Kuwaiti citizens to visit the ministry’s offices in order to obtain the financial payments they are eligible for after the cabinet issued a ruling dropping KD 2,000 from their power bills, reported Al-Watan.

Al-Shuraiaan warned, meanwhile, that ensur-

ing full electricity and water provision over summer would be “a tough challenge,” asserting that the situation will improve greatly next year with the opening of the Subbiya power station, which he claimed will put the country’s power generating capacity in a stronger position.

Asked about the results of an investigation launched into the ‘Power 2007’ controversy, Al-Shuraiaan said that all the evidence gathered had been submitted to the Public Prosecutor’s office.

By A Saleh KUWAIT: HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah has directed members of the Cabinet in charge of the economic portfolio to “prepare an administrative and organizational environment for the private sector where facilities, services, and necessary investment incentives to attract investors can be presented.”

He asked them to relax the bureaucratic procedures involved to issue licenses to local and foreign investors that are needed to carry on activities and economic projects in various fields. He asked for allocating lands and real estate that is necessary for investment purposes. This is to support holding internal and

external exhibitions and granting commercial and business visa on easy terms.

The Premier has also asked them to open all fields for commercial activities, including all those wishing to work in the local sector. He reminded them of a government program which was undertaken for the benefit of public interest.

HH Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah also briefed ministers about the steps preceding the privatization law. He stressed that this process would be quicker to promote investment opportunities available in Kuwait both locally and abroad. He spoke about the latest tour undertaken

by HH the Amir in Europe, which has helped boost Kuwait’s economic activity.

Sheikh Nasser called for utilizing the experiences of foreign companies in part-

nership with local companies, to gain advanced technologies including administrative and marketing experience. He added that procedures involved in reexport should be made easier and transit trade be encouraged to expand the construction and development of free zones, while supervising ports. This is to simplify customs procedures by using modern technology.

The Premier has asked for interference elimination between government bodies by identifying the nature of dealings undertaken between ministries to decide authorities’ interference and suggest means of overcoming them.

The Prime Minister asked for increasing international investment through non-governmental establishments like

Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry(KCCI) and some other activities like banks and major companies.

This includes official talks undertaken between Kuwait and delegation of other countries.

His Highness the Prime Minister said that the government program calls for gradual withdrawal of the government from contributing directly toward economic activities and the state’s control of land ownership. He asked for regulating the real estate market and implementing its laws.

The Prime minister hoped for investing in food sources within a strategy developed for food security to guarantee supply of the state’s basic food requirements.

Blair urges MoH to regulate foreign treatment program KUWAIT: Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has submitted a series of recommendations to Kuwait’s Ministry of Health (MoH), calling on the ministry to continue with its policy of regulating its policies on sending citizens abroad for medical treatment.

In his recommendations, according to Al-Watan, Blair urged the ministry to recruit international medical teams for consultative purposes, as well as investing more in the country’s medical services by opening the door to the private sector to establish joint public-private partnerships in this field.

Speaking after a meeting with

the former British PM which focused on drawing up plans for putting the MoH’s new strategy into operation, MoH Undersecretary Dr. Ibrahim AlAbdulhadi said that discussions had centered on establishing a new public health authority, the introduction of private health insurance projects, and a number of projects to build new hospitals.

The former British premier also reportedly called on the ministry to closely scrutinize its budget allocations in order to ensure that the best quality medical services, similar to those available in developed countries, are delivered.

Al-Jassem hearings

Interior busts 500-bottle booze smuggling attempt KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior announced yesterday that it had foiled an attempt to smuggle 500 bottles of alcohol across a land border by hiding them in hollowed out cardboard tubes.

The operation to thwart the smugglers was

led by the director of the MoI, Major General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, in coordination with Assistant Director, Brigadier Saleh Al-Ghanim.

In the press release issued to announce the successful bust, the MoI explained that after

receiving a tip-off about the smuggling operation, a team of customs officers had covertly monitored the shipment in which the illicit cargo was hidden before confiscating the alcohol consignment at the border checkpoint.

An investigation is underway to trace those

responsible for the major smuggling attempt, the ministry revealed.

Kuwaiti customs officers have recently foiled several attempts to smuggle alcohol and various other drugs into the country. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The Criminal Court has adjourned the court hearings in two cases filed against newspaper columnist Mohammad AlJassem.

In the first of the cases, brought by the Amiri Diwan, AlJassem is accused of attributing comments to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah without first consulting the Diwan, which is a violation of the country’s audio-visual law. The new trial date in this case has

been set for October 12, reported Al-Qabas.

In the other case, filed on behalf of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah, Al-Jassem is accused of making slanderous comments against the premier during his participation at a seminar, where he also allegedly accused HH the Prime Minister of having “bad intentions.” The trial in this case has been rescheduled for June 8.

Dear traveler:

Your passport is an extremely important document. Ensure that you keep it safe from theft or loss.

With complements from the Ministry of Interior’s security media department

Thursday, May 20, 2010

NATIONAL

5 Al-Hariri praises 'historical' stances

Amir always supportive of Lebanon's stability BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri stressed yesterday His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's continuous support of Lebanon's stability and causes. Al-Hariri was speaking after meeting with HH the Amir at his residence in Beirut. "His Highness the Amir is ever keen on supporting Lebanon's stability," he said, also praising the Amir's "historical" stances in support of Lebanon during wars and crises. He also expressed gratitude for HH the Amir's efforts in boosting joint Arab work. Thanking the Amir for his current visit, he said it is testimony of strong brotherly relations between the two countries and peoples.

BEIRUT: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (left) and HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah review the honor guard at the Lebanese governmental palace yesterday. Sheikh Sabah arrived in Beirut Tuesday on a two-day visit to meet with Lebanese officials and to sign agreement between the two countries. – AP

kuwait digest

A weak and overconfident cabinet

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

T

he claims of cabinet spokesman and communications minister Dr. Mohammad Al-Busairi that the cabinet is ready to face any grilling filed against its members are, in my opinion, an indication that it has falsely evaluated its power and its members' readiness to face interpellation.

After deluding themselves into believing that they have triumphed by overcoming four previous grilling motions filed in one day by marginalizing the constitutional clauses which the motions were dependent on, the cabinet gained an illusory feeling of superiority which led its members to overestimate their ability to remain strong in the face of parliamentary opposition.

Unfortunately, MPs' practices have led to the cabinet members' egos inflating for no reason, with the ministers' overconfidence causing their weakness to be exposed.

While MPs had no armaments but the ability to reopen old issues through grilling motions, the cabinet, regrettably, responded in such a way as to increase public skepticism over its members' ability to face their interpellators’ points.

Also, while it's now become obvious that the cabinet has overreacted to the interpellation motions, it's even more obvious that the parliament is weaker than it previously seemed.

Furthermore, apart from Ahmad AlSaadoun, the parliamentary opponents of the present government lack any truly popular personalities, which leaves them

lacking the ability to effectively handle political controversies.

We can therefore infer from this that the cabinet is also not as strong as it seems or is claimed to be by its spokesman, only appearing strong because of the parliament's weakness or, in other words, because its opponents have become ineffectual.

In short, we can say that the present cabinet does not face political parties of the caliber of those it did when it was going head to head with the Democratic Forum, the National Alliance or the Islamic Constitutional Movement.

Currently, the cabinet mostly faces struggling blocs or those whose main aim is to achieve popularity, who can be easily contained through financial generosity or the issuing of promises. — Al-Qabas

"Kuwaiti-Lebanese relations are historical," he stressed, and "Kuwait has never failed to support Lebanon, in good times as well as bad times," the senior official stressed.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development stressed here yesterday that the agreements that were signed by Kuwait and Lebanon with the attendance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah were important.

KFAED Director General Abdulwahab Al-Bader said that the agreements would strengthen and develop the relations between the two countries.

The visit of the Amir stressed Kuwait's support to Lebanon, he highlighted.

On Tuesday, Kuwait and Lebanon signed a number of agreements including one between KFAED and the Lebanese Culture Ministry and the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), he said.

KFAED provided a $30 million grant to contribute in funding the establishment of Beirut history museum, he added. The museum will be built in central Beirut to preserve cultural heritage, he said, noting that he expects that the museum would be a main tourist attraction.

KFAED provided 17 loans with a total value of about $550 million to the Lebanese

government to date.

KFAED also managed the $406 million grants that were provided by the Kuwaiti government.

The grants include a $30 million grant to fund 54 projects including the construction of new social and sport facilities, the development of sewage networks, schools, and roads, and the support of charity societies and orphanages.

KFAED was established in December 1961 to provide financial and technical assistance to developing Arab countries.

Lebanon was among the first countries that benefited from KFAED's assistance.

The fund provided its first loan to Lebanon on 1966 to fund the establishment of a power plant. It also provided technical assistance and grants to Lebanon with a total value of $11 million.

In another development, HH the Amir achieved a historical reconciliation among several Arab parties, Syrian Minister of Information Dr. Muhsin Bilal said yesterday.

Muhsin met the Board Chairman and Director General of Kuwait News Agency Sheikh Mubarak AlDuaj Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation Tuesday night.

The meeting was attended

by Director General of the Syrian News Agency Dr Adnan Mahmoud, Kuwaiti ambassador to Syria Aziz AlDehani, and a number of

Syrian TV and radio officials.

Muhsin expressed his content over the latest visit of His Highness the Amir, describing it as a most successful one.

Kuwait and Syria enjoy distinguished ties, and there were unique relations between the late leaders Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad AlSabah and President Hafiz AlAsad in particular. The two nations continue to enhance their bilateral relations, he confirmed.

KUNA and SANA have a national mission and duty of enhancing the bonds between the two people and countries, and look forward to further cooperation in the media and parliamentary fields, Muhsin noted.

He said relations between both agencies were excellent, calling for further cooperation for the best of Arab media.

On a related note, the minister announced launching a new Syrian independent satellite TV channel, which would operate away from any governmental intervention but still benefit from state financing.

The KUNA chairman meanwhile conveyed the greetings of the Kuwaiti Minister of Oil and Minister of Information Sheikh Ahmad AlAbdullah Al-Sabah to his Syrian counterpart.

Sheikh Mubarak praised the effort of SANA director general in seeking further cooperation and coordination with KUNA, which would benefit media and the public in

both countries.

The two chairmen also decided to launch a joint news bulletin to cover the events taking place in the two Arab nations.

In Amman, Jordanian papers issued yesterday praised the visit of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah to Amman.

Jordanian News Agency (Petra) said that the visit in which His Highness the Amir met King Abdullah II reflected the historic relations between the two countries and their leaderships and people.

The visit's outcomes were positive, it said, adding that several important agreements were signed between Kuwait and Jordan.

The visit would have a positive effect on the joint Arab action, it also stressed.

Dr Osama Talylan said in an article published in Al-Rai newspaper that the KuwaitiJordanian summit was a significant step to boost relations.

In an article published in Ad-Dustour paper, Abdullah Al-Qaq said that the visits of His Highness the Amir to Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon came at an important phase and amid regional and international developments of great sensitivity. Sheikh Sabah and King Abdullah agreed that great efforts were needed, therefore great coordination, to deal with challenges facing Arab countries, he highlighted. —KUNA

NATIONAL

6

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Citizen in police custody

‘Job interview’ used as cover for rape KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti man has been arrested on charges of posing as a business owner in order to lure young women for ‘job interviews’ with the aim of drugging and raping them once he got them into his flat. An investigation was launched after a female jobseeker in her 20s went to police in Abdullah Al-Mubarak to tell them that after responding to a job adver-

KUWAIT: Furniture on display at Funkyture. —Photo by Joseph Shagra

Kuwaiti ‘Funkyture’ hits the market

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Those who enjoy authentic Kuwaiti furniture can acquire unique pieces that are designed by young Kuwaiti architects.

Three young Kuwaiti architects Alia AlGhunaim, Khalid Al-Qimlass and Ghanim Shihab are architect engineers who graduated from Kuwait University’s Faculty of Architecture, and began their business venture named ‘Optimus.’ They also named their products with the brand name ‘Funkyture.’

They design different pieces of furniture made out of unique materials. “Our work is 100 percent Kuwaiti. We aim to present something unique. In our designs, we combine Kuwaiti tradition with modernity.

Basically, our work is a result of our experience,” Alia Al-Ghunaim told the Kuwait Times during its exhibition held at Al-Tilal complex in Shuwaikh between May 17 to 20.

This is their third exhibition. “We were

glad about the successes achieved during the first two exhibitions. So we decided to hold the third one. We are displaying about 15 different furniture pieces of our designs at this exhibition including sofas, drawers, tables, chairs, tables, cupboard, and many others. This is in addition to some other decorations included,” she added.

Optimus does not own a store at present.

It mostly depends on participation in exhibitions. “We can make a piece that people can redesign later. Also, we can design complete furniture for the entire house. Our designs suit young people as well as older generations,” Al-Ghunaim pointed out.

Most of the Funkyture pieces are versatile. “The furniture pieces we design are multi-purpose. We aim to minimize space at the house. For instance, a chest of drawers can be converted into table with chairs and many other varieties,” she explained.

“We use different materials in our designs. For instance, seats are very Sadu style, which many people have bought for

their chalets or Diwaniyas because of its cultural connotation. This year, we also designed some furniture pieces in the traditional Egyptian style. In other words, we experiment with everything,” noted AlGhunaim.

Three architects have been designing furniture. They deal with a carpenter and give him their designs. Graphic works are also used as decorative objects.

“We were the first to come up with the idea. We have pictures of Kuwaiti and Arab singers or actors who have designed graphics. I think it is successful, as many people have bought it,” she further said.

“Our work is experimental. After we graduated, we wanted to do something different. We aimed to do what is not available.

We started doing the thing we need and to show people that we can. We are now planning to expand and establish our brand Funkyture,” concluded Al-Ghunaim.

For more information visit: www.optimus-designs.com

When the Egyptian man led her to the ‘manager’s office’ and left her there, the Kuwaiti ‘manager’ offered her a glass of fruit juice, which she opted not to drink, becoming suspicious of the man’s behavior and of the possible content of the drink.

A few minutes afterwards, her suspicions were apparently proven correct, when the man attempted to sexually assault her.

Thankfully, she managed to fend the man off and to escape the apartment, reported AlWatan.

She and her sister immediately went to the local police station to report the incident, with officers quickly returning to the apartment to arrest the accused man and his accomplice.

Kidnapped woman An Asian woman sustained several injuries while trying to escape from the balcony of an apartment on the fifth floor of a building in Nugra, reported Al-Watan. The injuries occurred after she and another Asian woman were locked in the apartment by two drunk bedoon youngsters. Police and paramedics responded to the emergency and brought the woman to a nearby hospital.

Police raided the apartment and placed the two intoxicated kidnappers under arrest.

Harassment A female Kuwaiti teacher working in Zoor filed a complaint with the local area’s police station against a Gulf Cooperative Council national who had been harassing her by telephone, reported Al-Watan. She reported that the individual threatened to expose revealing pictures of her to her husband if she did not submit to his demands. A case was filed and authorities are searching for the harasser.

Bootleggers held Ahmadi police arrested two Asians for selling alcohol from their minibus in the governorate, reported Al-Watan. The arrest

tisement in a local paper, she had been taken to a flat in the area by an Egyptian man posing as a company representative for the firm based there. The young woman, who was accompanied by her sister, became suspicious on reaching the flat to be instructed to leave her sister outside and to find that no other employees were present in the flat.

occurred after the two were caught selling alcohol to a police informant. Police found the pair in possession of 150 bottles of homemade liquor. The two bootleggers were taken to the proper authorities.

Meanwhile, Farwaniya police arrested an Asian man for selling alcohol in Khaitan, reported Al-Watan. Police caught the man after inspecting a suspiciously parked vehicle in the area. A search of his car revealed that the man was in possession of 100 bottles of homemade liquor. He was taken into custody.

the teacher confessed to harassing the student and intending to rape her. He was sent to the proper authorities.

Children kidnapped An American woman accused her Asian ex-husband of kidnapping their three children, reported Al-Watan. She filed the complaint with authorities from the Khaitan Police Station and explained that, as per a court order, she has custody of their children and that he refuses to return them to her. Police are searching for the kidnapper.

Citizen kidnapped A Kuwaiti woman living by herself in Hawally was reportedly kidnapped by two persons who forced her into their vehicle, reported Al-Rai. Police received an emergency call from the woman’s neighbor who informed police that two men wearing disdashas broke into the woman’s apartment and kidnapped her. He added that he was unable to note the kidnappers’ license plate number. Investigators responded to the scene and discovered evidence of violence in the apartment. A case was opened and investigators are searching for the kidnapped woman.

Firefighters injured Two firefighters were injured while attempting to extinguish a blaze at a sponge production factory in the Shuaiba industrial area, reported Al-Qabas. Firefighters extinguished the blaze before it could spread to a nearby factory where flammable material was stored. A case was opened to investigate the cause of the fire.

Lesson gone wrong A teacher working for the Ministry of Education was arrested for sexually harassing his female student during a private lesson at her home in Mubarak Al-Kabeer, reported Al-Rai. The girl approached her father and informed him that the teacher they hired through an ad in the newspaper acted inappropriately toward the end of the lesson before leaving. The shocked father rushed to the area’s police station and informed police, who then arrested the teacher a few hours later. When questioned,

Adultery case A citizen discovered his maid having an illegal relationship with her boyfriend in his home in Saad Al-Abdulla, reported Al-Rai. As soon as the sponsor confirmed the stranger’s presence in his maid’s room, he locked them in her room and called police.

The couple was taken to the police station where they were charged with adultery.

Officer attacked A police investigator was attacked inside the Ali Sabah Al-Salem police station by a person who burst into the station in defense of his detained brother, reported Al-Rai. Police arrested the first man, a citizen, when he arrived at the police station and attempted to attack a man filing a mugging complaint against him. While he was being questioned, the citizen’s brother burst into the police station and attacked the interrogating officer with a knife. The officer sustained severe damage to the tendons of one of his hands. The attacker was arrested and jailed alongside his brother. The injured officer was rushed to the Adan Hospital.

Wataniya Telecom sponsors Estathmer

KUWAIT: Members of the International Tasters Society viewing some of the meals served on the KAC’s aircrafts.

KUWAIT: Hamad Al-Falah being awarded by the International Tasters Society.

KUWAIT: Hamad Al-Falah and Khalid Al-Duwaisan with the team of International Tasters Society.

KUWAIT: KAC awarding KASCO. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

KAC lost KD 55 million in 2009, says chairman

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) lost a total of KD 55 million last year, according to its chairman and Managing Director Hamad AlFalah.

“The main reason behind the losses is the incredible increase in airplane fuel prices during the second half of 2009,” he explained, speaking during the airline’s launch of its new food menu at the KAC headquarters yesterday. “The registered price in the budget for the 2009/2010 financial year was $92 per barrel, but this increased to $129 per barrel by the end of 2009. This led to a KD 6 million loss.”

Fierce competition in airline ticket costs also played a part in KAC’s losses for the year, said AlFalah.

“The increased supply and competitive prices of airline tickets caused an additional KD 19 mil-

lion in losses, although we achieved an increase of 92 million in the number of passengers compared to 2008,” he explained.

The airline chief also revealed that KAC is to rent an extra Airbus 330 aircraft to cope with the higher demand during the summer season beginning in July.

“This decision has been made to contend with the shortage of aircraft during the summer season,” he explained. “We sent the charter offers to 88 companies worldwide and the conditions applied to seven of those. We also recently refurbished six planes at a cost of KD 11 million. The corporation is also willing to refurbish more aircraft to enable more flights during the summer season.”

The corporation has also faced other challenges, with 80 technical staff, almost half its technical workforce, recently leaving to work for other airlines in the region, leaving the airline with a

potentially problematic staff shortage.

“These employees made up 40 percent of KAC’s trained staff,” Al-Falah said. “This shortage, although it’s being remedied, has caused delays with departures.”

Al-Falah pointed out, however, that despite the challenges the airline has faced it is performing well.

“If we compare the KAC flight delays to those of other airlines, they’re 96 percent less than those airlines,” he said, adding, “The main reason for the delays is KAC’s care for passengers’ safety and security.”

KAC will increase the number of its flights throughout the summer season, the airline chief added.

“There will be 20 and 22 additional flights to Lebanon per week, starting from July until the end of August, 29 additional weekly flights to Damascus between July and the end of

September, and 95 additional weekly flights to Cairo,” Al-Falah revealed.

Another speaker at yesterday’s event, Khalid Al-Duwaisan, the Chairman of the Kuwait Aviation Services Company (KASCO) revealed that the firm currently prepares between 25,000 and 26,000 in-flight meals daily for around 22 international airlines, including KAC. “We prepare the meals in our central kitchen in the Daij area,” Al-Duwaisan explained. “In addition, we also prepare meals for unscheduled flights, such as the American Army or charter flights. The number of meals increases during the summer season, reaching about 29,000 meals per day as a result of the increase in daily flights.”

The company head also revealed that his firm is bidding for recognition from the International Tasters Society, inviting the society to review the meals presented by KASCO for all the airlines flying out of Kuwait International Airport.

KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom is proud to announce its diamond sponsorship of the local investment project “Estathmer” which aims in supporting small businesses and new investors coming into the market.

Regarding the sponsorship Abdul Aziz Al-Balool PR Manager at Wataniya noted that it is driven from its social responsibility towards the society, the people and the national economy. The sponsorship goes in parallel with Wataniya’s efforts to always support the Kuwaiti youth. It is constantly giving the necessary encouragement to the youth segment to take a bigger role in the private sector and create the proper awareness amongst them.

Al-Balool pointed to the significance of supporting national projects that will yield to the society’s increased awareness towards national investment especially when it’s a vital pillar in building a stronger economy.

“Estathmer” project is designed to achieve economical development in the country and greatly contributes in creating a sense of investment ethics within the community.

From his end, Azzam Alomaim General Manager of “Estathmer” project valued Wataniya’s sponsorship and role emphasizing on the importance of such a step to further develop the project and supporting it in achieving its national goals.

He explained that the project aims at spreading the culture of investment amongst all segments of the society and specifically the youth as well as to motivate them to develop their own projects and invest in the local market. Alomaim also indicated that the new generation should be educated and made aware of all the different aspects of investments and be trained on the basis of marketing and management to pave the way for them in starting their own businesses that will eventually support the national economy of Kuwait.

Alomaim has also clarified that the campaign will involve many activities and events including two seminars; the first directed towards the young entrepreneurs with suc-

Abdul Aziz Al-Balool cessful business and the second one to those experienced decision makers who have had an impact on economical and political work. In addition to the previous mentioned, an exhibition at Gulf University as well as five training programs and workshops are to take place to mold the youth talents and introduce them to the preliminary steps of making their own business.

Wataniya Telecom was commercially launched in 1999 as the first privately owned operator in Kuwait. In March 2007, Qatar Telecom (Qtel) acquired 51% of Wataniya Telecom shares from Kuwait Projects Company Holding KSC (KIPCO) group.

Wataniya is a customer driven company that aims to provide product and service excellence that is leading to a real customer value... The company has been a driving force in increasing the mobile market penetration in Kuwait (over 80%) Wataniya Telecom has grown rapidly through acquisitions and enjoys a remarkable expansion in MENA & ASIA. Driving operations in Kuwait, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Algeria and in Palestine. Based in Qatar, the Qtel Group is a diversified telecommunications group with three business lines including consumer telephony, consumer broadband and corporate managed services, and is committed to expansion in line with the company’s strategic vision of becoming a global top 20 telecommunications provider by the year 2020.

Over the past three years, Qtel has expanded its geographic footprint from 2 to 17 countries within the Middle East and Asia, with more than 52 million customers.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

INTERNATIONAL

7

Trip comes a day after US won support to set sanctions

Lawyer hopeful in case of detained Americans: Iran BAGHDAD: An employee of Ministry of Foreign affairs releases doves during a reopening ceremony for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad, Iraq, yesterday. The ministry building was attacked by a massive truck bomb in August, 2009, that killed more that 42 people. —AP

Iraq asks US to return millions of documents BAGHDAD: Iraq's national archive has asked the United States to return millions of historical documents seized by US troops in the mayhem that followed the US invasion in 2003, along with its Jewish archive. The papers include intelligence reports on Iraqis kept by Saddam Hussein's dreaded secret police, detailed plans for massacres of his regime's enemies and information on weapons arsenals, said Saad Eskander, director of the Iraqi national library and archives.

The Jewish archive, found soaked in sewage in the basement of Saddam's intelligence service headquarters in Baghdad, was taken to the United States for restoration under an agreement between the two countries and will be returned to Iraq. Iraqi and US officials met recently in California for talks on the documents. "This was the first time that Iraq presented an official demand to retrieve all the documents, not only the Jewish archive," Eskander told Reuters in an interview this week. The documents include historical, political and legal papers, some of which may be needed to solve crimes and charge suspects, he said.

"These documents are sensitive ... no less important than the antiquities, if not more important," Eskander said. The archive documenting Jewish history in predominantly Muslim Iraq contains books, documents and a codex of the

Torah. "In 2003 it was discovered by the US forces. It was submerged in sewage water," Eskander said. "This is why they decided to take it to the United States to preserve and maintain it."

Thousands of Jews once lived in Iraq but the formation of Israel in 1948 prompted an aggressive government campaign to displace them as Arab nationalism swept the Middle East. Iraqi sociologists say only a few Jews remain in the country. Eskander said Iraq plans to preserve the Jewish archive, 75 percent of which is written in Hebrew, and put it on display on the Internet.

"This is to show that Iraq is an open country, not a fanatic or closed country," he said. "Our purpose is not to hide the Jewish archive. On the contrary, Iraq wants to show the world that there was a Jewish archive in Iraq and Iraq does not hide this side of its history." Iraqi officials still need to figure out how to move the delicate papers to avoid damage, and how to store them in controlled conditions once they are returned, he added.

Eskander said Saddam's Baath Party archive is stored at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, the Jewish archive is at the National Archives in Washington and other papers are held by the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency. — Reuters

DUBAI: A lawyer representing three Americans jailed in Iran said yesterday he hopes a US push for new sanctions against the country will not hurt their case as their mothers arrived in Dubai en route to visit their children.

Nora Shourd, Cindy Hickey and Laura Fattal planned to travel to Iran later yesterday in a bid to try to secure the release of the trio, who have been held since July when they were arrested along the Iraqi border. Their trip comes a day after the United States said it had won support from other major powers for a new set of sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program. Iran has accused the three Americans, Sarah Shourd, 31; her boyfriend, Shane Bauer, 27; and their friend Josh Fattal, 27 , of spying. Their relatives reject the accusation and say the three were hiking in Iraq's scenic and largely peaceful northern Kurdish region. Lawyer Masoud Shafii told The Associated Press the mothers are seeking meetings with officials involved in the case, and ideally with top Iranian leaders, including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters.

Although the Americans have not been publicly charged, Shafii left open the possibility of a resolution outside of usual legal channels.

"Anything is possible," he said when asked whether the three might be released soon.

"It doesn't have the feel of a normal court case." Shafii plans to meet the mothers in Tehran and said they would visit the three detainees today. He said he has not yet been granted access to his clients. Shafii said it was unclear whether

they would meet at Tehran's notorious Evin prison where the three are being held or at another location.

"We have to wait and see ... but I think they are going to be given enough time with their children," he said. The United States announced Tuesday that it has agreed with China, Russia and other major powers on a proposal for "strong" new sanctions against Iran, but they now face the challenge of getting backing from the rest of the U.N. Security Council.

The US, which has not had formal diplomatic relations with Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and its allies accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Shafii said that "Inshallah," or "God willing," his clients would eventually be freed when asked about the new sanctions push. But he added that ongoing tensions between the US and Iran "definitely ... has a direct effect on the case." In recent years, a number of foreigners held by Iranian authorities on espionage and other security-related charges have been released following months of detention.

Last week, Iran freed French academic Clotilde Reiss, 24, after more than 10 months in jail. She was convicted of provoking unrest and spying during unrest that broke out after June's disputed presidential elections. Her supporters said she was targeted for an innocuous e-mail to friends describing the events unfolding around her.

A graduate student imprisoned for a month in Iran and barred from leaving the country for nearly a year returned home to Los Angeles in August. Esha Momeni, 29, was charged with acting against

DUBAI: Cindy Hickey, mother of Shane Bauer, left, Nora Shourd, mother of Sarah Shourd, right in the background, arrive at Dubai International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates yesterday. —AP Iran's national security and held mainly in solitary confinement after conducting research on the Iranian women's rights movement.

An IranianAmerican journalist, Roxana Saberi, who was arrested in January 2009, convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years in prison, was released on an appeal in May 2009. Another American journalist, Haleh Esfandiari, was arrested in May 2007, accused of conspiring to overthrow the

government, and freed three months later. Nora Shourd said she worried especially about the effect that near-solitary confinement may be having on her always social daughter.

With no one to talk to, Sarah had become seriously depressed, Nora Shourd says she was told by the Swiss diplomats who visited the trio last month. The diplomats also reported that Sarah was suffering a serious gynecological condition, while Bauer had a stom-

ach ailment. The mothers said their children have spoken to relatives only once by telephone, on March 9, for just a few minutes. "We're going over as mothers to ask for humanitarian relief and we're very confident," Hickey said from a hotel in midtown Manhattan before leaving Tuesday. "We want to bring our kids home."

Hickey lives in Minnesota, Shourd is from Oakland, California, and Fattal is from suburban Philadelphia. —AP

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

2 passengers in cockpit before Kaczynski crash Preliminary report draws no conclusions about what caused catastrophe MOSCOW: As Polish President Lech Kaczynski’s plane streaked toward disaster, at least two passengers visited the cockpit, others may have chatted on

cellular phones that can obstruct navigation instruments and an undertrained crew faced heavy fog over challenging terrain.

MOSCOW: Flight recorders of the Tu-154 that crashed on April 10 killing Poland’s president and 95 others are on display at Russian Interstate Aviation Committee in Moscow yesterday. —AP

UK’s Clegg plans civil liberties drive LONDON: Britain’s new deputy prime minister pledged yesterday to curb the country’s extensive system of official surveillance and data collection by scrapping an unpopular national identity card program, limiting the retention of DNA samples and regulating the spread of closed-circuit television cameras. Nick Clegg said the coalition government was rolling back government monitoring after years of complaints from rights groups that personal freedoms have been sacrificed in the name of national security.

“This government will end the culture of spying on its citizens,” Clegg said during a speech in north London. “It is outrageous that decent, lawabiding people are regularly treated as if they have something to hide. It has to stop.” He also promised to allow the public a say on which of the ousted Labour government’s unpopular laws should be overturned, and to institute changes to the country’s political system , including the right to recall errant lawmakers.

“It is time for a wholesale, big bang approach to political reform,” Clegg said. “And that’s what this government will deliver.” The 43-year-old deputy chief, and leader of the Liberal Democrat party, is regarded as having driven a hard bargain on civil liberties in a coalition deal with Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives. An agreement between the new partners , following Britain’s inconclusive election which denied any party a majority , includes almost all of Clegg’s party’s election pledges on personal freedoms.

Some aspects of British surveillance have served as a model for official in other nations.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited Britain’s capital in a fact-finding mission recently in the wake of the thwarted Times Square bombing, visiting centers where experts monitor a vast network of security cameras , one of the largest in the world.

Bloomberg wants to ramp up the security camera network in New York City’s subways to mimic that in London’s underground train system. London

authorities say the city’s train stations are watched by more than 12,000 cameras, and in a few years they aim to install a few thousand more. Under Clegg’s plans, a 5.1 billion pound (US$7.3 billion) plan for national identity cards and a linked database will be halted.

The credit-card sized documents were planned to include biographical data and biometric details like fingerprints and a facial image, and intended to help prevent terrorism and identity fraud. Plans to issue sophisticated new passport which also store biometric data will also be scrapped, Clegg said. He pledged to impose new regulation aimed at restricting the increasing use of CCTV cameras by local authorities and private businesses.

Clegg’s office said no specifics have yet been drawn up on how new regulation will work, but insisted the plans will be halt the unwanted creep of cameras into offices, malls and on transit networks. No figure on the total number of CCTV cameras in Britain is known, though applications under Freedom of Information laws in 2009 disclosed that town halls operate about 60,000 , up from

21,000 in 1999. Dylan Sharpe, of Big Brother Watch, a campaign group which carried out the 2009 research, said many plans in Clegg’s speech appeared sketchy.

“It’s brilliant on big ideas, all of which we are in agreement with , but it’s not so strong on the detail,” Sharpe said. Clegg vowed to ditch a database which stores biographical, health and educational details of British children, and to ban schools from taking a child’s fingerprints without their parent’s authorization. He also promised new restrictions , though didn’t offer details , on the retention of DNA profiles of innocent people.

Britain has one of the largest DNA databases in the world, with profiles of over 5 million people. Police currently have the power to take DNA or fingerprints from anyone at the point of arrest, and can hold the information of those found innocent for six years.

The coalition government has already announced it will remove limits imposed on peaceful protest, and to reform the country’s notoriously tough libel laws. Clegg promised to review anti-terrorism legisla-

tion, though the new government faces difficult decisions on how to deal with some terror suspects who can’t be put before a court because evidence is too sensitive, or deported because of the risk they may face torture overseas.

Shami Chakrabarti, director of campaign group Liberty, said many of Clegg’s plans were “music to the ears of human rights campaigners.” “ID cards were always a dangerous white elephant and we look forward to unchecked surveillance and police powers being brought under control,” she said. On political reforms, Clegg said the House of Lords will become an elected and use a proportional voting system. Clegg extracted surprise concessions from Cameron over voting reform to seal their pact last week, winning a public referendum on a move toward a more proportional electoral system for the House of Commons. That public vote will pit the coalition’s twin chiefs against each other: Cameron says his party will campaign against reform, while Clegg will lobby for changes he believes will deliver his party more House of Commons seats.—AP

LONDON: Britain’s new Prime Minister David Cameron, left, sits with coalition partner and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in the House of Commons, London, in this image taken from TV. —AP

Those were among the details revealed yesterday by Russian and Polish officials investigating the April 10 crash that killed Kaczynski, his wife and 94 others outside the western Russian city of Smolensk. The preliminary report drew no conclusions about what caused the catastrophe.

The crash had deep diplomatic resonance given the long-troubled relations between Russia and Poland, and releasing an incomplete report may have been intended by both sides to show their determination to be candid and cooperative.

Alexei Morozov, head of the technical commission of Russia’s Interstate Aviation Committee, also told reporters that among the questions that need further investigation is whether the rolling terrain around the Smolensk military airport distorted instrument readings. The plane went down in a ravine some 15 meters (50 feet) below the level of the runway just a kilometer away. “The presence of this ravine can have a natural influence on the readings of the radio altimeter,” he said.

“This is one of the subjects the technical commission is working on.” He also said the commission was probing whether the use of cell phones aboard the Tu-154 affected its navigation. The most tantalizing, though inconclusive, detail was that two voices not belonging to crew members showed up on the battered cockpit flight recorders. Officials said it’s not clear who one of the voices belonged to, declined to identify the other and didn’t report what either person said.

But the information could feed persistent speculation in Poland that Kaczynski or someone in his entourage pressured the crew to land despite visibility that had shrunk to about 200 meters (660 feet). The plane was carrying top political figures on a mission important to constituents , attending a memorial ceremony for thousands of Polish officers who were killed by Soviet secret police in 1940. Edmund Klich, Poland’s envoy to the investigation, said only that “certain suggestions” were made by the passengers that he believed had no influence on the plane’s fate, though admitted he had not heard the recordings. The voices were heard no later than 16 minutes before the crash.

Poland’s PAP agency said it learned from a source close to the investigation in Moscow that one of the two voices in the cockpit that did not belong to a crew member was that of the Air Force Commander, Gen. Andrzej Blasik. Morozov also said the Polish air force crew piloting the plane had been assembled only a few days before the flight and that they had not been receiving regular training that could have helped them cope with unusual conditions. About five seconds before the plane hit a tree in the ravine, the captain switched off the autpilot and started to bank around for a second landing attempt, Morozov said. An automated voice warned “pull up” about 18 seconds before the crash, and before that the crew twice heard the phrase “terrain ahead,” Morozov said. The pilot appeared to have ignored warnings of poor visibility and advice to land elsewhere. About 11 minutes before the crash the crew of a Russian plane informed the Polish crew that it had made two attempts to land before changing course for another airport. Seven minutes later the crew of a Polish Defense Ministry plane that had landed in Smolensk 90 minutes earlier informed the presidential plane that visibility had deteriorated.

Changing course would have severely delayed Kaczynski and his delegation from getting to the memorial ceremony. The officials yesterday confirmed earlier reports that the Polish plane, though in service for more than 30 years, was in good condition and had undergone proper inspection. —AP

BUDAPEST: A huge hole is seen on the M1 motorway after it was collapsed as a result of flooding the Cuhai-Bakony stream near Gyoer, 124 kms west of Budapest, Hungary yesterday. —AP

Polish floods threaten to damage Auschwitz site WARSAW: The former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz, with its museum exhibits, was in danger of flooding yesterday following days of heavy rain that have brought devastation to southern Poland. The floods have caused the deaths of seven people, the evacuation of thousands from their homes and the disruption of power supplies across southern Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary since the weekend.

Auschwitz, where some 1.5 million people, mostly Jews, perished at Nazi German hands during World War Two, is located in one of the regions worst affected by the floods and is near the Vistula river, which has burst its banks in many places.

The open-air site is divided into two sections covering a combined territory of more than 200 hectares (500 acres) and includes some 155 build-

ings, the gas chambers, 300 ruined facilities and hundreds of thousands of personal items.

“We are continuing actions aimed at safeguarding the area of ... Auschwitz II-Birkenau,” the museum authorities said in a statement.

“Overnight, high water levels on the Vistula ... broke the security barriers,” the statement added.

“The flood waters neared the western end of the site, threatening to inundate it as well as nearby villages.”

Local people were helping the authorities to strengthen the site’s defences. Some exhibits have been moved to safety. Auschwitz I, which includes the gate topped by the German-language sign “Arbeit macht frei”, which in English means “Work sets you free”, is not threatened by the waters, the statement said.—Reuters

Chad denies entry to Darfur rebel leader CAIRO: Chad denied entry to the leader of Darfur’s most powerful rebel group yesterday, stranding him at the airport and preventing him from rejoining his movement in the war-ravaged region. Chad’s Minister of Interior Ahmat Mahamat Bachir said Khalil Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement, was coming from Tripoli on a Libyan flight. Security units surrounded the plane and denied him entry into the country.

“He was not welcome in Chad,” the minister said. Ahmed Hussein, the spokesman for the group, said Chadian authorities seized Ibrahim’s travel documents and those of his accompanying delegation and told them to return from whence they came. The flight crew, however, refused to take them back to Libya because of their lack of documents. “This is a serious precedent,” Hussein said, calling the move illegal.

He called on Chad and the joint UN -African Union peace mediator to intervene to end the standoff and allow Ibrahim back into Sudan’s western Darfur region, the site of a seven-year rebellion that has killed hundreds of thousands. Chad is a common route to Darfur.

Darfur’s ethnic African rebels rose up in 2003,

accusing Sudan’s Arab-dominated central government of neglect and discrimination. UN officials estimated 300,000 people died and 2.7 million were displaced. Many Darfur rebels come from tribes that overlap the countries’ border, and some have bases in Chad, which for years had strained relations with Sudan. In February, the two countries pledged to deny support for each other’s rebels and to monitor borders. Many observers praised it as a boost for peace prospects in Darfur. Ibrahim recently suspended his participation in peace talks with Sudan, complaining of government violations. Sudan retaliated by announcing it was seeking his arrest on charges of conspiracy and murder.

The talks between JEM and the government fizzled after the group accused the government of violating a cease-fire and using the talks just to ensure the region remained quiet during last month’s historic Sudanese presidential and parliamentary elections. Hussein said the decision to stop Ibrahim at the airport was a “conspiracy” to force JEM to return to peace talks, hosted by the Gulf emirate Qatar. He said Chad can’t hand Ibrahim over to Sudan because it would risk “grave consequences.”— AFP

Mother of Somali pirate appeals for his release NAIROBI: The mother of a Somali pirate who pleaded guilty to charges of hijacking a US -flagged ship and kidnapping its captain appealed to President Barack Obama yesterday to pardon her son and grant him citizenship.

Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse pleaded guilty in a US federal court on Tuesday to several charges, including hostage-taking and conspiracy. He faces a minimum 27 years in prison.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 19.

Reached by phone in the central Somali town where she lives, Muse’s mother asked President Obama for leniency, saying her son is too young to have been tried as an adult. “Please, please President Obama, please, American people, please release my son and grant him citizenship to help us,” Muse’s mother, Adar Abdirahman Hassan told The Associated Press by phone.

“You live in a safe prosperous country but we live in a chaotic country. With all your power and generosity and kind-

ness, it will be a stain on your name to punish this child and throw him in jail,” Hassan said.

Prosecutors say Muse led four pirates who stormed the Maersk Alabama in April 2009 as it carried humanitarian supplies 280 miles (450 kilometers) off Somalia’s coast.

Navy snipers fatally shot three pirates and freed ship Captain Richard Phillips of Underhill, Vt., to end the standoff. Muse’s age has been in dispute since the start of the case, with his lawyers insisting last April that he was 15 and should be tried as a juvenile. Prosecutors convinced a judge he was at least 18.

Muse’s mother said her son is too young to stand trial. “I shudder to imagine that Abdiwali will face a minimum 27 years in prison,” she said, her voice cracking with emotion. “I don’t expect Americans to punish this little kid. He was duped into piracy by adult friends.”

Asked why she believes Muse pleaded guilty, Hassan said her son was afraid of a possible death sentence and believed a

plea would save his life. Muse said her son used to call her once a week from prison but that she hasn’t heard from him in about three months. Hassan said her son ended past conversations with “soothing words.”

“He always praised his life in America. He told me, ‘I’m in a nice place, better than Somalia.

Mom, I feel bad for you. I’m happy and studying,”‘ she said.

Muse told the judge on Tuesday that his crew had not intentionally targeted an American vessel.

The pirates held Phillips hostage for several days on a sweltering, enclosed lifeboat that was soon shadowed by three US warships and a helicopter. The end came when Navy sharpshooters on the USS Bainbridge picked off the three pirates. The American Navy has taken into custody more than 20 suspected pirates in the violence-plagued waters off Somalia and nearby regions, where US warships are part of an international anti-piracy flotilla.—AP

Belgian bishops seek forgiveness over pedophilia silence BRUSSELS: Belgian bishops asked for forgiveness yesterday from the victims of pedophile priests, and for the Church’s silence on the abuse, in an open letter to the Catholic community. “To all the victims of sexual abuse, we ask for forgiveness, both for the acts of aggression and for the inadequate treatment of them,” the bishops wrote

in a letter to the faithful following a visit to the Vatican. “The most important consideration must be the security and protection of children. On this point there can be no equivocation,” they said.

Following priest abuse charges in Austria, Germany, Ireland and the United States, the Belgian Church was plunged into

a pedophile scandal last month with the veteran bishop of Bruges forced to step down after admitting to sexually abusing a boy in the 1980s. Roger Vangheluwe, who took up his post as bishop of the Flemish city of Bruges 25 years ago, became the country’s first Catholic bishop to resign in those circumstances.

The case prompted 300 complainants to come forward and give their own stories to an independent committee set up to look into cases of abuse by clerics. The new Belgian primate, Andre Leonard, has promised a policy of zero tolerance. The bishops wrote: “We recognize that church officials have not sufficiently taken into

account the effect of sexual abuse on minors.” “With this silence the reputation of the ecclesiastical institution and of its ministers has taken precedence over the dignity of the young victims.

“The abusers were given a fresh chance while the victims carried the scars,” they said. The bishops also promised to take

“concrete measures” in areas such as the selection of priests, and to better monitor them, as well as introduce a code for contact with children, adolescents and other vulnerable people. The Belgian Church has called on all pedophile offenders to admit their crimes and for their victims to make complaints.—AFP

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Insurgent candidates prevail in US primaries WASHINGTON: Angry American voters soundly rejected establishment candidates in two state primary elections, reflecting the ever-deepening partisan chasm in US politics.

Battered by the worst economic downturn in at least seven decades and disgusted with the perception that Washington politicians dance to the tune of special interests, voters turned on candidates endorsed by President Barack Obama and Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Senate Republican. While primary elections serve only to select party candidates for the general election in November, the outcome of Tuesday's polling foreshadowed an unpredictability that could significantly reshape the US political landscape.

Voters are in a vibrant antiincumbent, anti-Washington mood and have lost patience with entrenched politicians seen as out of touch with the public, bailing out wealthy bankers while middle-class Americans struggle to keep their jobs and their homes. In Kentucky, the upstart tea party movement, pressing for lower taxes and smaller government , pushed political novice Rand Paul onto the ballot as the Republican candidate for the Senate, a clear rejection of the wishes of Sen. Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in Washington.

President Barack Obama's backing, although lukewarm toward the end of the primary campaign, failed to help Sen. Arlen Specter, a five-term incumbent who switched from Republican to Democrat last year in hopes of keeping his Pennsylvania seat.

He was overwhelmed by Congressman Joe Sestak, a retired Navy admiral, who defied party leaders in pursuing the nomination. "This is what democracy looks like," Sestak yelled at supporters Tuesday night. "A win for the people over the establishment, over the status quo, even over Washington,

D.C." In Arkansas, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a moderate who was first elected in 1998 and is considered among the most vulnerable Senate Democrats this fall, was the top vote-getter. But she failed to win the majority needed to avoid a costly run-off against Lt Gov Bill Halter. He had the backing of labor unions and left-of-center progressives.

The winner of the June 8 run-off will face Rep John Boozman, who won the Republican nomination.

Turnout was better than normal for the primaries in Pennsylvania, Arkansas and Kentucky, suggesting deeper voter anxiety about their futures in an economy with such a slow recovery that national unemployment still hovers near 10 percent. Five months remain to the November general election, where Obama's Democrats will struggle to preserve their majorities in both houses of Congress. With the most seats to defend, Democrats are most vulnerable to the anti-incumbent sentiment.

But Democrats received an important boost as they won a closely watched special congressional election in Pennsylvania to fill the seat of the late Rep. John Murtha.

Though the winner, Mark Critz, will serve only the final months of Murtha's term, a defeat would have been discouraging in a heavily working-class district held by Democrats for four decades.

In Kentucky, the Paul victory demonstrated the political power of the tea party movement, which believes that government spending and influence should be curbed. It already had helped prevent a Republican senator from Utah, Bob Bennett, from gaining re-nomination for his seat because he was seen as insufficiently conservative.

It also boosted Republican Marco Rubio's candidacy in Florida's Senate race.

Rubio's lead prompted Gov. Charlie Crist to quit the party and run as an independent. "I

have a message, a message from the tea party, a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words: We have come to take our government back," Paul said. While his rival had the backing of the Republican establishment, Paul, an eye surgeon and the son of former presidential candidate, libertarian-leaning US Rep. Ron Paul, had the support of some key conservatives, including former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Palin told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that Paul's victory is a "wake up call for the country."

Paul had 59 percent of the vote to 35 percent for Grayson. He will face state Attorney General Jack Conway, who won the Democratic nomination Tuesday.

Conway, 40, used his victory speech to try to portray Paul as outside the mainstream. "We have a fundamental decision to make in this most important of Senate races," Conway said.

"Are we going to use that passion to heat the building? Or are we going to use that passion to burn it down?" Specter's defeat signals the weakening of the American political center. He quit the Republican Party when he believed he had little hope of fending off a primary challenge from Pat Toomey, a more conservative former congressman.

Toomey won his party's nomination Tuesday. Yet Specter also was not liberal enough to win the Democratic nomination, despite Obama's support.

Sestak accused Specter of switching parties to save his job and said Specter could not be trusted to support Democratic Party values. Sestak's campaign ran television commercials from the 2004 Senate campaign that showed former President George W. Bush saying he could count on Specter, then a Republican. Sestak, at 58, also projected relative youth compared with the 80-year-old Specter. Sestak received 54 percent of the vote; Specter had about 46 percent.— AP

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon during their joint news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington yesterday. — AP

Calderon fires up immigration row Mexican prez refused to hold his punches at start of US visit WASHINGTON: President Felipe Calderon hit out yesterday at "discrimination" against Mexican immigrants in Arizona, as the row over the state's draconian new immigration law risked overshadowing his US visit. Calderon refused to hold his punches at the start of his twoday state visit, strongly criticizing a law that while popular in Arizona has enraged Hispanics, stoked fears of racial profiling and led to widespread condemnation.

"Despite their enormous contribution to the economy and society of the United States," Calderon said, millions of immigrants "still live in the shadows, and at times, like in Arizona, even face patterns of discrimination." The comments bore even more significance as Calderon chose to make them alongside President Barack Obama at a red-carpet White House ceremony full of pomp and pageantry, before going into official talks behind closed doors.

Obama in turn said that he hoped that the United States and Mexico "can ensure that our common border is secure, modern and efficient," and that immigration "is orderly and safe." Arizona Governor

Jan Brewer has said the law, which has attracted broad support according to recent opinion polls, is needed to help secure the state's porous border, one of the main entry points for illegal immigrants in the US. Calderon faces immense domestic pressure to seek US immigration reform in the wake of the new law, which allows the detention of people suspected of being in the country illegally. Obama has fiercely opposed the law, urging opposition Republicans in the US Congress to work jointly with Democrats on an immigration reform bill this year, while also mulling a legal challenge. Supporters say the law is merely an expression of the frustration felt by Americans who want action taken to deal with the issue of illegal immigrants and are concerned about soaring crime and unemployment rates.

The thorny issue of how to deal with an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States-mostly from Mexicostymied the former administration of president George W. Bush and has gone untackled so far by Obama. "MexicanAmerican families have been here for

centuries as well as those who continue to our proud tradition as a nation of immigrants, all of whom strengthen our American family and who join us today," Obama said. The American leader, however, has offered no assurances he will seek new legislation before crucial midterm elections in November in which immigration is likely to be a hot-button issue.

During his visit, Calderon will also seek to convince US lawmakers that drug violence in Mexico is not spiraling out of control, despite gruesome beheadings and daily gun battles. Those fears were compounded in the run-up to his trip by the suspected abduction of Diego Fernandez de Cevallos, a former presidential candidate and senior member of Calderon's own National Action Party (PAN). "We can stand firm and deepen our cooperation against the drug cartels that threaten our people," Obama said at the opening ceremony. Calderon, whose presidency ends in 2012, will also seek further US validation for his war on the illegal drug trade, which has been increasingly criticized at home. More than 22,700 peo-

ple have died in surging drug-related attacks since Calderon launched a military clampdown on organized crime, involving some 50,000 troops, at the end of 2006. Relations have improved since the Obama administration admitted US responsibility in Mexico's drug violencerecognizing both the role of US drug consumers and US weapons flowing illegally to Mexican drug gangs. But despite verbal support, only a tiny fraction of a 1.3billion-dollar US initiative aimed at bolstering Mexico's anti-drug policy has been paid out so far. Calderon's visit includes a state dinner later yesterday at the White House, only the second such function during Obama's tenure. The Mexican leader is also scheduled to speak to a joint session of the US Congress today. At yesterday's greeting ceremony on the White House lawn, the leaders, accompanied by their wives, shook hands before standing for the national anthems and a performance from a marching band of drummers and flautists. Obama's first state visit was from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last November.— AFP

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‘Obvious’ N Korea sank ship: South Korea’s top diplomat First comments to clearly point the finger at North Korea SEOUL: South Korea’s foreign minister said yesterday it was “obvious” that North Korea fired a torpedo that sank one of the South’s warships in March, killing 46 sailors. Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told reporters that inves-

tigators have enough evidence of North Korean involvement in the sinking of the Cheonan to warrant taking Pyongyang to the UN Security Council and would be presenting their findings today.

SEOUL: South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan speaks at a luncheon meeting with a group of European diplomats and business officials in Seoul, South Korea yesterday. —AP

13 hurt in latest China knife attack BEIJING: At least five men armed with knives burst into the dormitory of a vocational college yesterday and slashed nine students, one of them seriously, sparking new fears in a country on edge over a series of shocking rampages at schools.

Four students had been wounded in an earlier confrontation between the two groups, bringing the total injured to 13. The pre-dawn attack took place in Haikou, the capital of the southern island province of Hainan, when five or six men burst into a dormitory at the Hainan Institute of Science and Technology and slashed the students, the China News Service reported. It said eight were wounded slightly, while one’s hand was cut off.

Two students remained hospitalized with wounds that were not life-threatening, the reports said. Because it was a vocational college, the students would have been much older than the children targeted in a string of attacks at schools across China in the last two months.

The reports said the violence began with a confrontation late Tuesday between some of the college’s students eating at a food stall outside the school and men from the surrounding villages. Such schools usually attract students in their late teens and early twenties.

Four of the students were attacked with knives and police were called, but left after questioning the students, the reports said. The villagers then called for reinforcements and attacked the school at about 2:30 a.m.

(1830 GMT), the reports said.

A spokesman for the Hainan provincial government confirmed the report but said he had no additional information. The official Xinhua News Agency put the number of attackers at more than 10 and said they first assaulted a guard and disabled security cameras before rushing into two dormitories where lights remained on and hacking away apparently at random.

The attack follows five separate assaults by lone assailants against schoolchildren as young as three in the last two months that have left 17 dead and more than 50

wounded, including some adults. The violence has resulted in a boost of security at schools across China, with nervous parents accompanying students to school and police and security guards posted at entrances.

While revenge was the apparent motive in the latest attack, previous rampages have involved apparently deranged people seeking to vent their rage on innocent victims with whom they had little or no connection.

Sociologists say those attacks reflect a failure to diagnose and treat mental illness, along

with anger and frustration among people who feel victimized by China’s high-stress, fast-changing society. Experts say the frequency of the attacks and choice of schoolchildren as the main victims suggest a copycat element. In a similar incident, a cleaverwielding man killed one woman and wounded five at a market in the southern province of Guangdong on Sunday before jumping to his death.

While the man appeared to have deliberately targeted women, it was not immediately clear what triggered the attack. —AP

BEIJING: Chinese schoolchildren play with a toy gun during a break of a self defense course at Changzheng Kung-fu School in Beijing, China yesterday. At least five men armed with knives burst into the dormitory of a vocational college yesterday and slashed nine students. —AP

Yu’s comments are the first by a South Korean official clearly pointing the finger at North Korea for one of the worst attacks on the South since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

A thorough and exhaustive investigation revealed that a “strong underwater explosion generated by the detonation of a torpedo caused the Korean battleship to split apart and sink,” he said in a speech to Seoulbased European business executives.

Asked later by reporters if North Korea sank the ship, Yu said: “I think it’s obvious.” He declined to provide further details ahead of the official release of the multinational investigation. North Korea has denied involvement in the sinking of the Cheonan near the Koreas’ tense western maritime border on March 26.

North Korean vice parliamentary speaker Yang Hyong Sop criticized Seoul for “unreasonably” linking Pyongyang to the sinking earlier this week, according to Pyongyang’s state radio station.

However, investigators will lay out evidence showing that a North Korean torpedo attack triggered the explosion, a US official in Washington said on condition of anonymity because the findings had not yet been officially announced.

Investigators have collected damning evidence pointing to Pyongyang’s involvement in the blast, local media said.

Fifty-eight sailors were rescued; 46 died. Fragments of a torpedo propeller found near the disaster site are similar to parts from a North Korean torpedo that South Korea obtained seven years ago, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported yesterday, citing unidentified government officials.

A serial number on the torpedo propeller was written in a font typically used in North Korea, and traces of explosives found in the wreckage resemble the gunpowder used in the North Korean torpedo retrieved in 2003, the newspaper said.

The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper carried a similar report, saying an 85-ton North Korean submersible is believed to have torpedoed the vessel. Citing an unidentified government official, it said the conclusion was based on intelligence on the movement of North Korean submersibles and analyses of intercepted North Korean military communication. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it could not confirm the reports.

Diplomatic discussions were already under way in Seoul and in Washington. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met privately late Tuesday with envoys Stephen Bosworth and Sung Kim, while South Korea’s Foreign Ministry briefed foreign ambassadors in Seoul yesterday. President Lee Myungbak has vowed stern action against the culprits and discussed the matter by phone with President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, officials said.

Yu called for “firm” action and pushed for support from the international community during the speech. Possible options include a request to the UN Security Council for tougher sanctions against the North, and for Washington to put Pyongyang back on its terrorism blacklist.—AP

MANILA: Filipino Catholic nuns arrange election returns at the command center of the church-backed election watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, PPCRV, in Manila, Philippines yesterday. —AP

Congress to launch inquiry into Philippine election cheating MANILA: Philippine legislators yesterday launched an inquiry into allegations of fraud in last week’s national elections, officials said. The House of Representatives suffrage committee will look into allegations of irregularities surrounding vote-counting machines in the nation’s first automated ballot, committee vice-chairman Matias Defensor said.

“It seems that the complaints are not isolated but came from all over the country,” Defensor said. Congress is set to convene next Monday to confirm the apparent winner, Benigno Aquino, as the next president. More than 17,000 other positions were contested from vice president to local town mayors.

While Aquino’s lead is so big over his rivals that the final verdict appears not to be in doubt, some of the losing presidential candidates have alleged some of the results were already pre-programmed in the computer memory cards.

Other complaints have focused on contests for lower positions. House Speaker Prospero Nograles, who lost his bid to become a city mayor, urged the government to withhold payments to the private contractors of the automated ballot, Smartmatic-TIM, until the complaints were cleared up. “The remedy is not to pay them until the air is clear,” Nograles said. However, outgoing President Gloria Arroyo’s ruling Lakas-Kampi CMD coalition, which did badly in the elections with their presidential candidate coming a distant fourth, said there had been no widespread fraud.

“Unless proven otherwise, we believe that this automated election was a big success,” said Lakas-Kampi CMD’s Prospero Pichay, an adviser to Arroyo. “Maybe we should look into (the allegations), but ... the people have spoken and you have to respect that.” Independent poll monitor Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting also said it had seen few discrepancies.—AFP

Kyrgyzstan declares state of emergency after clash BISHKEK: Several thousand people tried to storm a university in a burst of ethnic violence that left at least 2 people dead and 50 wounded in Kyrgyzstan Tuesday, prompting the interim government to call a local state of emergency.

Eyewitnesses in the southern town of Jalal-Abad said thousands of ethnic Kyrgyz advanced on the private university that serves as the center of the minority Uzbek community. They said gunfire broke out as crowds approached the building encircled by a cordon of special security forces. Some of the Kyrgyz assailants wielded spears. The head of the interim government, Roza Otunbayeva, responded by ordering the state of emergency and a curfew in Jalal-Abad and the surrounding area. She dispatched the acting interior minister to oversee the area, where support for the former president still runs strong.

Kyrgyzstan has been struggling to maintain stability in the weeks after President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was ousted from power amid deadly clashes between government forces and demonstrators that claimed 89 lives. Tensions have long simmered between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbek - both Sunni Muslim groups - in the former Soviet nation’s restive south. In 1990, hundreds were killed in a violent land dispute between the two communities in towns across southern Kyrgyzstan, which borders Uzbekistan. It was not clear who opened fire in JalalAbad, but Interior Ministry spokeswoman Gulsara Alieva said that nobody in the crowd appeared to be armed. At least two people were killed and 50 hurt, according to the Health Ministry. Some of the injured were being treated for gunshot wounds.

Witnesses said the crowd assembled in front of the university threw stones at the building and shouted demands for the hand-over of Uzbek com-

munity leader Kadyrjan Batyrov, whom they charge with inciting racial tension. Batyrov, a wealthy businessman, paid for the construction of the Peoples’ Friendship University. In the middle of the afternoon, privately owned Akipress news agency cited eyewitnesses as saying that about 1,500 ethnic Uzbeks, some of them wielding spears, were moving toward the central square, where a crowd of ethnic Kyrgyz was assembled. Soldiers barred the Uzbeks’ movement toward the square, the agency reported.

Otunbayeva said every possible measure is being taken to defuse the situation. “We have recently demonstrated that we are capable of securing the peace,” she said at a government meeting in Bishkek, the capital. “Law enforcement agencies will do everything in their power in Jalal-Abad to make certain there are no incidents.” Supporters of Bakiyev, whose support base is in the Jalal-Abad region, accuse Batyrov of leading a mob late last week that burned down the deposed president’s family home in the nearby village of Teyit. Bakiyev fled the country last month for Belarus, where he is being offered refuge, but interim authorities say his family is still actively financing disturbances aimed at unseating the provisional leadership.

The torching of the Bakiyev home Friday evening marked the culmination of two days of violence in Jalal-Abad, which broke out when several hundred Bakiyev supporters, some with automatic rifles, holed up in the regional government building after capturing it a day earlier. They were driven out by backers of the interim government, many of whom were ethnic Uzbeks. This led to local perceptions that the minority community was gaining political influence in the region. Associated Press writer Leila Saralayeva contributed to this report.—AP

Malaysian lawmaker jailed for polygamy KUALA LUMPUR: A Muslim lawmaker from Malaysia’s ruling coalition was sentenced to a month in jail for polygamy yesterday after he married an actress without permission from a religious court. Bung Mokhtar Radin, 50, a leading figure in the Barisan Nasional coalition, and his second wife, Zizie Ezette A Samad, 31, both pleaded guilty to polygamy last month.

Muslim men in Malaysia are allowed up to four wives, but in certain parts of the country they must obtain written court consent or risk a fine or jail term under Sharia religious law. Judge Wan Mahyuddin Wan Muhammad was cited by the official Bernama news agency yesterday as saying

that Bung’s “offence should be dealt with severely.” But Bung’s lawyer Amli Embong secured a delay of the imprisonment until an appeal is heard in the High Court.

Zizie agreed to pay a 1,000 ringgit (310 dollar) fine for marrying Bung without court consent.

Activists and women’s groups say polygamy is cruel and has deviated from its original purpose in Islam, which was to protect widows and orphans.

Under Selangor state religious law, the couple could have been sentenced to a maximum six months in jail. More than 60 percent of Malaysia’s 27 million people are Muslim Malays, and polygamy is illegal for non-Muslims.—AFP

Clinton hopes to fix ties, if not row, in Japan WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads to Japan this week on a brief stop aimed at helping repair a drift in ties, even if a solution on the core dispute-a military base-looks unlikely.

Clinton will stop for a matter of hours in Japan, a longstanding ally home to some 47,000 US troops, on her way to a visit to China that includes wide-ranging talks and a tour at the Shanghai’s lavish World Expo.

US relations with Japan have been strained since Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s left-leaning coalition last year booted out the long-entrenched conservatives and launched a review on a plan to realign US forces. Hatoyama has watched

his early popularity crumble as he spent months looking for a solution, leading to feelings of frustration by Washington and betrayal by some of his erstwhile supporters.

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has ruled out resolving the key disagreementwhat to do with Futenma air base, which lies in a crowded urban area of the southern island of Okinawa-in time for Clinton’s visit. But for diplomacy watchers, it would be a major faux pas to ignore Japan on a regional trip that showcases China’s growing clout. Her husband, former president Bill Clinton, did so in 1998, to Japan’s dismay.

“They don’t expect any results (on the

Futenma issue) at all this time around,” said Hideaki Kase, a historian and critic on diplomatic issues based in Tokyo. “With her stopping by, however, they can send a signal that America isn’t casting Japan aside,” Kase said. President Barack Obama’s administration initially moved to reassure Japan of the importance of the alliance, with Clinton flying to Tokyo as her first destination as secretary of state.

But relations deteriorated the the point that Hatoyama’s only chance to speak with Obama at a major nuclear summit in Washington in April was over appetizers at a dinner. While some Japanese have grumbled over brusque US diplomacy, many observers-and, according to polls,

much of the Japanese public-believe that Hatoyama has himself to blame. Richard Armitage, who served as deputy secretary of state under former president George W. Bush, called the Futenma row “an entirely self-inflicted wound by our Japanese allies.”

He said that Hatoyama moved to take a fresh look at the 2006 agreement-negotiated by the Bush administration-”simply because it happened to be a plan of the previous government.”

“Not having Plan B in mind when you announce you don’t want to take Plan A is a little bit irresponsible in my view,” Armitage said. US troops are stationed in officially pacifist Japan under a security

alliance. More than half are based in Okinawa, sometimes bringing tensions with the local population.

Under the 2006 deal, Futenma would be dismantled and helicopters shifted to a quiet part of Okinawa, which is strategically located near the Taiwan Strait. But some of Hatoyama’s partners want Futenma removed completely from the island. Hatoyama has yet to make a formal new proposal, but has told disappointed supporters that he accepts the need to keep some of Futenma’s operations in Okinawa. Defense Secretary Robert Gates had issued a blunt warning last year in Tokyo that scrapping the Futenma plan would lead to a crumbling of the entire

2006 deal, under which some 8,000 Marines would leave Okinawa for Guam.

Despite tensions over a new site, William Brooks, a former State Department official who has authored a history of the marathon Futenma negotiations since the 1990s, noted that the United States and Japan agreed the base itself should be shut. He said that the United States and Japan could look to a wide range of other issues that could solidify the alliance, including cooperation on climate change and foreign assistance.

“I think this is sort of like having a bad case of the hiccups that you just can’t seem to get rid of,” he said. “Ultimately, it will be resolved and we will move on.”—AFP

INTERNATIONAL

Thursday, May 20, 2010

11

Deadliest attack on NATO since September

Taleban bomb hits NATO convoy, kills 18 BATTICALOA: A Sri Lankan ethnic Tamil Hindu priest conducts religious rituals at a Hindu temple in Batticaloa, about 260 kilometers (163 miles) east of Colombo, Sri Lanka Tuesday, May 18, 2010. —AP

Year after war, Lankan Tamils pray for victims BATTICALOA: A year after the end of Sri Lanka's civil war, Hindu priests offered food, fruits and flowers to deities Tuesday and prayed for the souls of thousands of minority Tamils killed in the violence.

Many were expected to attend but only 20 people showed up for the commemoration ceremony in the former Tamil Tiger rebel stronghold of Batticaloa, apparently fearing government reprisals.

On May 18, 2009, the government declared final victory in the 25-year civil war with the killing of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the feared leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and the capture of the final stretch of rebel-controlled land. The carnage of the last few months of the war between the rebels and government forces dominated by the Sinhalese majority killed thousands of Tamil civilians trapped in the war zone.

While the government prepared its own celebrations for later this week , including a fundraiser for disabled soldiers, memorials for war heroes and unveiling of a victory monument , Hindu priests and a few relatives of the Tamil victims gathered in Batticaloa to mourn their dead. The rebels used to control this area in Sri Lanka's east before government forces drove them out in 2007, foreshadowing their final defeat in the north two years later.

Priests lit a fire and offered burnt grains and fruits at a temple, and appealed to the gods for the victims to be spared another round of the rebirth and suffering that are part of Hindu belief. Nithyakalyani

Saravanabavan, 42, prayed for her three brothers, all slain rebel fighters, and her two cousins who died, caught in the crossfire. "I had four brothers and only one of them is alive today. I prayed that there may never be another war and such human losses," she said.

Even one year after the war ended, it remained impossible to tally the number of the dead and missing, said P. Ariyanenthiran, a lawmaker for Tamil National Alliance party, which organized the ceremony. The government has repeatedly denied reports from human rights groups that thousands of civilians were killed in its final onslaught of air attacks, artillery fire and mortar shells.

The International Crisis Group said in a report Monday it believed at least 30,000 civilians , and possibly as many as 75,000 , remained unaccounted for.

Tamil lawmaker S. Yogeswaran said many people were scared away from Tuesday's ceremony by fear of government reprisals and only 20 showed up.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was re-elected in January on the strength of his war victory, has delayed carrying out his promise to work toward a political compromise with the Tamil minority to resolve the underlying tensions that led to the war in the first place. The government appointed an eightmember committee Monday to look into why a 2002 Norway-brokered cease-fire collapsed and to propose measures to prevent the country from sliding back to violence. — AP

Lanka's aborted victory parade sign from gods: Opposition COLOMBO: Heavy rain that scuttled celebrations planned for today marking the end of Sri Lanka's civil war were a divine message that the general who secured victory was denied the credit he deserves, his party said. Government troops led by Sarath Fonseka finally defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels last May after decades of fighting in which up to 100,000 people were killed.

But Fonseka is currently in

detention and is being courtmartial led, having fallen out with President Mahinda Rajapakse and unsuccessfully trying to unseat him in presidential elections. "The rain gods punished the government by forcing them to indefinitely postpone the anniversary celebrations. They tried to ignore General Fonseka, who delivered this spectacular success," DNA party spokesman Tilvin Silva said.

"Even nature is angry about this unjust incarceration and that is why thunder and rain forced the government to abort the celebrations," he added of today's cancelled military parade in Colombo. The national disaster management centre said nearly 400,000 people had had their homes flooded in the past four days while at least 14 people were killed due to flash floods and mudslips. More rain was expected. —AFP

KABUL: A Taleban suicide car bomber struck a NATO convoy in the Afghan capital Tuesday, killing six troops, five of them American, officials said. Twelve Afghan civilians also died , many of them on a public bus in rush-hour traffic.

The powerful blast occurred on a major Kabul thoroughfare that 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. 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. U.S. 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 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 U.S. 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

KABUL: Injured people are taken away in a police vehicle after a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan Tuesday. —AP

Pakistan-US security pledge after New York bomb plot ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States vowed to step up efforts to prevent terror plots yesterday as US officials briefed Islamabad on inquiries into a New York bomb plot blamed on the Pakistani Taleban. US national security adviser General James Jones and CIA Director Leon Panetta flew into Islamabad on what the White House called a mission to probe the failed May 1 plot that led to the arrest of a Pakistani-American.

Jones and Panetta met President Asif Ali Zardari and "provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the Times Square terrorist incident", according to a joint statement released after the talks.

The discovery of a crude bomb inside a parked car in crowded Times Square prompted an evacuation of the popular tourist spot and a massive manhunt that culminated in the arrest of Pakistaniborn US citizen Faisal Shahzad.

Authorities have been interrogating Shahzad since his dramatic arrest at JFK Airport in New York, as his Dubai-bound plane was about to take off. He allegedly told interrogators that he visited

Waziristan, in Pakistan's lawless tribal belt along the Afghan border, for bombmaking training. The case spotlighted the morass of Taliban and Al-Qaedalinked groups holed up in Pakistan's wild border areas with Afghanistan, particularly North Waziristan, where commanders feel under US pressure to launch an offensive.

Washington considers the AfghanPakistani border areas a global headquarters of Al-Qaeda, where success in rooting out Islamist militants is vital if the US military is to reverse a nearly nine-year Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan.

Yesterday's statement made no mention of North Waziristan and Jones instead praised Pakistan's "excellent cooperation" and "tremendous sacrifice" in "efforts to combat extremists".

"The talks covered measures that both countries are, and will be, taking to confront the common threat we face from extremists and prevent such potential attacks from occurring again," the joint statement said.

"Both parties acknowledged the

extreme challenge of thwarting each and every plot and terrorist action. Both sides pledged to intensify efforts, increase cooperation and do everything possible to protect our citizens," it added.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and army chief General Ashfaq Kayani also attended the talks. Pakistan fought major campaigns against homegrown Taliban last year in the northwestern district of Swat and South Waziristan, but the New York plot has seen US officials call for more action.

Pakistani security analysts and officials told AFP that the United States wants Islamabad to open a new front in North Waziristan. Although there are army military bases in the tribal district, military commanders have warned that launching a new offensive in the region could detract from gains they say have been made in Swat and South Waziristan.

Troops are now fighting Taliban who escaped from South Waziristan into Orakzai, where two soldiers and around 28 militants were killed during a bloody

gunfight yesterday, according to security officials. Although it is impossible to confirm casualty statistics independently in what is a closed military zone inaccessible to aid workers and journalists, the fighting underscored the enormity of the challenge facing Pakistan.

"It will result in operation imbalance if the army moves troops in haste in North Waziristan. This situation will also help militants take advantage and re-group in areas re-gained by the army," said one security official. "The Americans want to choke all routes for cross-border infiltration before taking decisive action in Afghanistan's Kandahar province."

"Moreover, Pakistani troops are already over-committed and if the army goes into North Waziristan it will have to move some of its troops from the eastern border," the Pakistani security official said. "The Pakistan army holds the key to their (US) success or failure in Afghanistan. It is therefore in their interest to take Pakistan on board vis-a-vis any future strategic move," the official said.—AFP

Southern Indian state braces for fierce storm

CHHATTISGARH: A volunteer offers fruits to Indian security personnel injured in Monday's Maoist attacks, at a hospital in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh state, India, Tuesday. —AP

Suspected Maoist rebels kill five Indian soldiers CALCUTTA: Suspected Maoist rebels blew up a paramilitary vehicle using a land mine in eastern India yesterday, killing five soldiers, police said. The soldiers belonging to the Central Reserve Police force were ambushed in West Midnapore district, nearly 110 miles (175 kilometers) west of Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal state, said Zulfikar Hassan, an inspector-general of police.

The blast left a five-foot (1.5-meter) -deep crater on the road, the Press Trust of India news agency said The attack came a day after India's home minister offered to begin peace talks with Maoist rebels, but only if they halt all attacks for 72 hours.

The offer followed a rebel ambush Monday of a bus in central India that killed 31 police officers and civilians. The attacks highlighted the Maoists' strength despite a government offensive aimed at ending one of Asia's longest rebellions. Suspected Maoist rebels moved into parts of West Midnapore

district of West Bengal state last year after driving out poorly armed local police and seized control of villages in a 20-square-mile (50-square-kilometer) area.

Security forces later drove them out from most of the area. Inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, the rebels have fought for more than four decades demanding land and jobs for farmers and the poor. About 2,000 people, including police, militants and civilians, have been killed in the past few years.

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 India's home ministry. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called them India's biggest internal security threat. Last year, the government announced its "Operation Green Hunt" offensive aimed at flushing the militants out of their forest hide-outs. — AP

HYDERABAD: A southern Indian state declared a cyclone alert and evacuated thousands of people yesterday as the region braced for the worst storm in 14 years.

Cyclone Laila was expected to slam into the coast of Andhra Pradesh state from the Bay of Bengal today. Heavy rains and strong winds killed at least eight people Tuesday night, including four workers when an industrial workshop collapsed due to heavy rain, authorities said. At least 19 fishermen have been reported missing. Along the state's coastal districts, officials ordered fishing vessels to

stay in port, said the state's Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. "We are fully geared to face this natural calamity," Rosaiah said.

Nearly 5,000 people were moved from coastal and lowlying villages into temporary shelters in schools and government buildings, said state revenue minister Dharmana Prasad Rao. The state government set up control rooms in the nine coastal districts to coordinate any rescue missions, and helicopters and buses were on standby to evacuate more areas and deliver relief supplies, he said.

Authorities decided to open 120 relief camps in Machlipatanam, a town considered to be a possible cyclone landfall point, said Piyush Kumar, the district administrator.

Kumar said that people were being moved to high ground from 83 villages in the area, about 215 miles (350 kilometers) east of Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh state. Waves as high as eight feet (two meters) could lash the coast, the state meteorological office warned. More than 10,000 people died when Andhra Pradesh was struck by its worst cyclone in 1977.—AP

Bangladesh opposition plans to stage anti-government strike DHAKA: Bangladesh's main opposition leader said yesterday her party will stage a one-day nationwide general strike in June to protest alleged government corruption and incompetence. The general strike planned for June 27 is the first announced by the opposition since the ruling party won general elections in December.

General strike, which usually forces stores and schools to close and halt traffic, is a common opposition tactic in Bangladesh to highlight its demands. The protest often erupts into violence.

Opposition leader Khaleda Zia asked cheering supporters at a rally in Dhaka yesterday to make the planned shutdown a success. "You must make sure that schools, stores and traffic shut down

across the country on June 27," she said at rally organized in central Dhaka by her Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

Zia alleged that the government failed to check corruption and extortion of businessmen by ruling party activists. She also accused police of harassing the opposition activists. Bangladesh has a history of political violence. Zia and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are archrivals and have traded power since the end of military rule in 1990. The December elections were held after about two years of emergency rule by a militarybacked interim government. Hasina's Awami League party holds more than two-thirds of seats in the 330-member parliament. — AP

VARANASI: A Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, sits in the backdrop of a mural of Hindu God Shiva, on the banks of the River Ganges in Varanasi, India yesterday. Also known as Kashi or Benaras, Varanasi is Hinduism's holiest city where millions of Hindu pilgrims gather for ritual bathing and prayers. —AP

OPINION

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issues

Sound advice for panicky Washington incumbents

By Ron Fournier

G

o home. Stick to your views. Stay out of trouble.

Distance yourself from Washington, or even better, your own party.

That's the advice political operatives are giving incumbents and establishmentbacked candidates after voters delivered a harsh message to insiders Tuesday night: Enough! One Senate incumbent, Arlen Specter, lost his seat in Pennsylvania. A second, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, was forced to defend hers in a runoff. And an establishment-backed candidate in Kentucky, Trey Grayson, lost badly to a tea party favorite who said voters don't want "the same old, same old politicians." Fingers planted firmly in the wind, Washington incumbents will be dialing up their consultants and asking how to survive this angry-as-heck headwind.

Some early answers: Reconnect With Voters Too many incumbents take their seats for granted, comfortable in the thought that their monied connections, tailor-made districts and name recognition will carry them to victory. Not so much this year. "My advice to candidates would be, roll up your sleeves.

You've got some connecting to do," said Democratic consultant Chris Kofinis.

"Pay attention to your knitting," said Republican consultant Ron Kaufman. "Get out of Washington and back to your district." Consultants in both parties point to Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah as the classic example of an incumbent who lost touch with his constituents. He was denied a spot on the ballot at a Utah Republican convention earlier this month. "You could say he lost because of the political environment and the tea party," said Kaufman. "You could also say he was tone deaf."

Don't Flip-Flop Specter's Democratic opponent cast him as a political opportunist who switched from the Republican Party just to get elected, a charge that stuck with voters because, well, Specter confessed to it.

"My change in party will enable me to be re-elected ...," Specter said at one point, handing his rival fodder for a devastating TV ad. Voting against Specter on Tuesday, college professor Tom Cragin said, "He must think we're idiots." Lincoln changed positions on legislation important to labor unions, undercutting her credibility.

Stand Apart Republican consultant Ben Ginsberg said politicians of all stripes might start distancing themselves from their party leadership. "I expect candidates will start telling voters how they fought against Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell," the Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Bennett lost in part because he was "too reasonable,"

meaning he was a get-along guy when voters are looking for somebody who will buck authority. "People want folks who have an edge," he said, "and will fight."

Don't Get In Trouble The first House incumbent to lose his seat this year, Democratic Rep Alan Mollohan of West Virginia, fell in a primary to an opponent who highlighted ethics issues.

As if incumbents didn't have enough trouble in the primaries, both parties had other issues. Rep Mark Souder, a conservative Republican from Indiana, abruptly announced he would resign on Friday, admitting he had had an affair with a woman on his congressional payroll. Democrats said his resignation would make the seat competitive in the fall.

And Democrat Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut attorney general running for the Senate, disputed a newspaper report that he once lied about his Vietnam record.

Republicans focused on the report, hoping it would increase their chances of winning the seat. These are scary days for career politicians.

"I'm against the establishment. They're all crooked, unreliable and selfish for power," said Bill Osburn, 79, a military retiree from Murray, Kentucky, who helped tea party favorite Rand Paul win the Senate Republican nomination. "We need citizen representatives, not political politicians."

Paul, a political novice, defeated Grayson in an early test of the so-called tea party, a loose affiliation of disaffected voters - mostly conservatives.

"It cannot be overstated that people want something new," Paul said, "They don't want the same old, same old politicians and I think they think the system is broken and needs new blood."

The same could be said in Pennsylvania after 80-yearold Specter lost his bid for a sixth term. His rival for the Democratic Senate nomination, Congressman Joe Sestak, a former Navy admiral, accused party leaders of trying to foist Specter on Pennsylvania voters. "My party's establishment got off track," he told USA Today before the election. In Arkansas, Lincoln didn't do well enough Tuesday to avoid a June 8 runoff against Lt Gov Bill Halter, her 17-year career in Congress at risk. "Voters are so angry they are throwing plates," said Democratic consultant Dane Strother.

Gingrich said the high unemployment rate is driving the public's discontent. On top of that, "they're sitting around watching the government fail to deal with the oil spill in the Gulf, fail to deal with terrorist plots in Detroit and New York and fail to protect our borders from illegal immigrants". "So now you're a politician, looking slick and smooth with lots of money and maybe an insider's pedigree," Gingrich said, "maybe that's a liability". — AP

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.

New sanctions would hurt but not cripple Iran

By Sylvia Westall and Fredrik Dahl

A

draft plan for new UN sanctions seeks to squeeze Iran's banking and shipping sectors and strengthen curbs on military and nuclear work, but crippling steps were passed over in favour of big power unity. Western powers do seem to have won backing for an extended arms embargo in the draft Security Council resolution leaked on Tuesday, a step diplomats said Moscow had earlier objected to and which may be a tough setback for Iran if states stick to it.

Some analysts said the measures broke new ground. "Iran's economy is going to suffer, the tools to curb its nuclear program will be strengthened," said David Albright, director of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington.

"We should compare this to past resolutions which did not have some of the stronger language seen in this one."

More harmful measures to the Iranian economy - to blacklist its central bank and restrict its vital oil and gas industries - were put aside weeks ago after objections by Russia and China, which have close business ties with Iran. Some said this meant the resolution was weak. "It is a pretty light-weight resolution. The emphasis was more on getting some sort of international agreement," independent Abu Dhabi-based economist Mohammed Shakeel said. "The content of the resolution is probably less important than the fact that an agreement has been reached with Chinese and Russian support."

The draft measures seek to restrict expansion of Iran's banking activity if there are suspected links to nuclear proliferation and the draft calls on states to exercise vigilance over transactions involving Iranian banks. Iran's financial system already

faces restrictions and Tehran has been able to get around these in the past, analysts said. However the new steps would make it increasingly unattractive to do business with Iran.

The banking measures could restrict its ability to expand and improve its nuclear work, said Mark Fitzpatrick of London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, adding that Iran had already been having some difficulty in acquiring components. "The sanctions, depending on how strictly there are implemented, will further restrict Iran's ability to acquire the wherewithal for its nuclear program in the sense that its access to the finances will be restricted," he said. "This will depend however on individual states and in particular the European Union agreeing to adopt stricter sanctions than those required by the Security Council."

But he said sanctions would probably not fully curb Iran's ability to make advanced equipment for its atomic work because it did not appear to rely as much on foreign goods for this. Iran has been able to operate a large uranium enrichment program despite current sanctions although its equipment has been prone to breakdowns. According to Western intelligence agencies, Tehran has also conducted research on atomic weapons.

Iran says this intelligence is fabricated and that its nuclear program is for peaceful uses only.

The sanctions would extend existing restrictions on the supply of missile technology to Iran to include further categories of heavy weapons, such as tanks and combat aircraft. "It would be an embargo on all potentially offensive weapons," said Pieter Wezeman, a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, adding that it was the same kind of text used previously for North Korea. "It would pose major problems because Iran is strongly dependent on imports for its

weapons."

But he said the resolution would allow Iran to purchase air defence systems, including the advanced S300 from Russia. "Whether Russia would still be politically prepared to do so is difficult to assess," Wezeman said. Independent defence analyst Paul Beaver said the measures would be significant if they were implemented, although he pointed out that such restrictions were hard to put in place.

"The problem with embargoes is that

you have to police them and step up intelligence gathering. It is not a simple matter of making a resolution.

You have to enforce it as well."

The draft resolution also calls for an international inspection regime for vessels suspected of containing cargo related to Tehran's nuclear program, a move meant to bolster existing measures. Analysts said the sharper language on cargo and shipping was meant to enforce the resolution and give states and regional groups a

foothold to implement their more restrictive measures. "Clearly this is an attempt to enforce the resolution.

It worked fairly well against North Korea," said Andreas Persbo, Executive Director of the Verification Research, Training and Information Centre (VERTIC) in London. He added however that Iran's trade volume was higher compared to North Korea's so it was not clear how effective the interdictions would be in practice. — Reuters

'Resilient' Iran defiant

By Robin Pomeroy

I

ran's leaders say they have nothing to fear from a renewed push for UN sanctions and hope the move will convince Iranians of Western hostility rather than add to increasing fears for the major oil producer's economy. Washington's announcement on Tuesday of a new sanctions draft backed by China and Russia came a day after Iran agreed a uranium swap with Brazil and Turkey, aimed at outmanoeuvring Western efforts to sanction Iran over its nuclear program.

As Iranian TV replayed two-day-old pictures of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad holding aloft the hands of Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, officials played up their deal and dismissed the significance of the sanctions threat that swiftly followed.

Ahmadinejad's senior adviser said the sanctions draft had "no legitimacy at all", while Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said there was no chance that a new round of sanctions would be approved by the UN Security Council.

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said the renewed sanctions threat would be seen in the developing world as a bullying attempt by the big powers, and he hoped the measures could still be avoided. "They (Western countries) invalidate themselves in the view of public opinion by issuing sanctions," Ali Akbar Salehi told reporters. "There are some wise people among them to avoid doing such irrational actions."

But with the new restrictions on Iranian banks and other industries looking ever closer, politicians moved to reassure Iranians they would have no more impact that existing sanctions which had failed to cripple the economy. "Despite all the restrictions that the arrogant countries impose on Iran in the global arena, the Islamic Republic has significant successes in political and economic fields," Energy Minister Majid Namjou was quoted as saying by ILNA news agency.

Ebrahim Hosseini-Nasab, economics professor at Tehran's

Tarbiat Modares University, also played down the impact of sanctions on the economy. "Iranian policy makers have learned from experience how to deal with these sanctions," he said.

"The Iranian economy has always had a great deal of resilience ... I don't believe it will have any crippling effect on the Iranian economy." But Morteza Masoumzadeh, a shipping line executive and vice president of the Iranian Business Council in Dubai, a transit route for many Iranian imports, said sanctions had hurt. "The sanctions clearly have affected our business and already our business is down by 70 percent compared to three years ago," Masoumzadeh told Reuters in Dubai.

US sanctions imposed in 2007 targeting two Iranian banks with branches in Dubai had been particularly painful, he said.

But that did not mean new UN measures would make things worse. "The sanctions have already hit us so I don't think anything of this nature will hit us further," he said. Ali Ansari, an Iran expert at St Andrews University in Scotland, said the new sanctions could have a psychological impact and, if properly targeted, could hinder the powerful Revolutionary Guards, the elite military force which has become a major economic player.

"However, I have always felt that the sanctions will be a minor irritant as compared the Ahmadinejad government's own mismanagement of the economy and the lifting of subsidies," Ansari told Reuters.

That plan - to stop huge subsidies on fuel and food and replace them with cash handouts for the less well-off - will begin in September and will be a huge economic and political test for Ahmadinejad who was re-elected last June despite a popular opposition movement which complained of vote rigging.

Nastaran, a 29-year-old computer engineer in Tehran, said she hoped the new sanctions could be introduced without hurting the people. "The West should impose sanctions that put pressure on Iran's government instead of ordinary people," she said.

"In this way the government would have no choice but to change its policies or hand over the country." — Reuters

Iran deal a boost or bust for Brazil diplomacy?

By Raymond Colitt

B

razilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva put his country in the global spotlight this week when he helped broker a controversial fuel swap deal for Iran's nuclear program.

But he may have angered the United States and other powerful allies with the agreement, which is similar to a previous United Nations plan that aimed to keep Tehran from being able to produce a nuclear weapon. "It's a victory for diplomacy," Lula, a former trade unionist who has promoted the interests of developing nations, told Brazilian radio a day after Iran agreed to trade some of its enriched uranium in return for fuel rods for a reactor.

A handful of influential Western nations, along with Russia and China, appeared set to rebuff the deal in the United Nations Security Council at Washington's urging and push for a move to impose a fourth round of UN sanctions on Iran. Brazil, a rising global and regional power, now risks looking naive or, worse yet, an accomplice to Iran's nuclear ambitions if Tehran continues to breach Security Council resolutions and

drags its feet on international inspections. "Brazil helped Iran get back to the negotiating table and that's clearly positive-Lula can claim credit for that," said Alcides Costa Vaz, vice-director of the Foreign Relations Institute at the

University of Brasilia. "But it's a risky and fragile bet," he added.

Even before the new deal signed by Lula, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Turkey's prime minister, Tehran had made it clear it did not

(From left to right) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pose for a picture with their hands together after the Islamic republic inked a nuclear fuel swap deal in Tehran on Tuesday. – AFP

intend to suspend domestic uranium enrichment. Tehran denies Western charges that it is developing atomic weapons, saying it only wants to generate electricity.

"Brazil and Turkey should be congratulated for their efforts, but they made two huge mistakes. They're leaving Iran with sufficient enriched uranium to build a bomb and they haven't ensured full international inspections," said Robert Pastor, a US national security adviser for Latin America under former President Jimmy Carter. "So the question is did Brazil play a constructive role or did they undermine the international consensus on Iran," added Pastor, who is currently a professor at the American University in Washington.

Brazil acknowledges the deal is incomplete but insists it lays the ground for further talks. "This agreement won't resolve all the questions on the nuclear issue. But it's a passport for broader talks to create confidence in the international community and ... allow Iran to exercise its legitimate right to nuclear energy for peaceful use, including uranium enrichment," Lula said. Lula is no newcomer to difficult negotiations. He launched his

political career as a tough-talking union leader who was briefly jailed by Brazil's 1964-85 military regime and helped bring about democracy. On his watch, Brazil has also been a key player in global trade and environmental talks.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told lawmakers on Tuesday that major powers including the United States, Russia and China, have agreed on a draft sanctions resolution to be considered by the Security Council. Brazil has said it opposes more sanctions on Iran. Brazil's foreign minister, Celso Amorim, said later on Tuesday that the agreement with Iran was in line with what Western countries had been demanding.

Lula's diplomacy, which comes at the end of his two terms in office, could antagonize Washington to the point where it jeopardizes support for Brazil's bid to win a permanent U.N. Security Council seat, advisors say. "Lula has insisted on one thing: 'I know it's a risky bet to have come (to Iran), it'll irritate some countries and could risk the ambition of widening the Security Council,'" Marco Aurelio Garcia, Lula's foreign policy advisor, told reporters in Madrid on Tuesday. — Reuters

ANALYSIS

Thursday, May 20, 2010

13

How the White House learned to love drones S

focus

Zapatero takes hit, gears for reforms

By Judith Macinnes

By Adam Entous

B

y all appearances, the Obama administration wanted him alive, not dead.

It posted a $5 million reward for information leading to the "location, arrest, and/or conviction" of Baitullah Mehsud, the fierce leader of the Pakistani Taleban, in a March 25, 2009 notice. But delivering Mehsud alive for prosecution was never a serious option for the Central Intelligence Agency and US military Special Operations teams that track such "high-value" targets.

He was killed less than five months later in a CIA-directed drone strike.

In the rugged mountains of western Pakistan, missiles launched by unmanned Predator or Reaper drones have become so commonplace that some US officials liken them to modern-day "cannon fire". And they are no longer aimed solely at "high-value" targets like Mehsud, according to US counterterrorism and defense officials. Under a secret directive first issued by former President George W Bush and continued by Barack Obama, the CIA has broadly expanded the "target set" for drone strikes. As a result, what is still officially classified as a covert campaign on Pakistan's side of the border with Afghanistan has in many ways morphed into a parallel conventional war, several experts say.

Killing wanted militants is simply "easier" than capturing them, said an official, who like most interviewed for this story support the stepped-up program and asked not to be identified. Another official added: "It is increasingly the preferred option." An analysis of data provided to Reuters by US government sources shows that the CIA has killed around 12 times more low-level fighters than mid-to-high-level Al-Qaeda and Taleban leaders since the drone strikes intensified in the summer of 2008.

Reuters has also learned that Pakistan, though officially opposed to the strikes, is providing more behind-the-scenes assistance than in the past. Beyond the human intelligence that the CIA relies on to identify targets, Pakistani agents are sometimes present at US bases, and are increasingly involved in target selection and strike coordination, current and former US officials said. Back in Washington, the technology is considered such a success that the US military has been positioning Reaper drones at a base in the Horn of Africa.

The aircraft can be used against militants in Yemen and Somalia, and even potentially against pirates who attack commercial ships traversing the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, officials said. "Everyone has fallen in love with them," a former US intelligence official said of the drone strikes.

Nowhere To Put Them By some accounts, the growing reliance on drone strikes is partly a result of the Obama administration's bid to repair the damage to America's image abroad in the wake of Bush-era allegations of torture and secret detentions. Besides putting an end to harsh interrogation methods, the president issued executive orders to ban secret CIA detention centers and close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. Some current and former counterterrorism officials say an unintended consequence of these decisions may be that capturing wanted militants has become a less viable option. As one official said: "There is nowhere to put them." A former US intelligence official, who was involved in the process until recently, said: "I got the sense: 'What the hell do we do with this guy if we get him?' It's not the primary consideration but it has to be a consideration." There are other reasons behind the expansion of the drone program, including improvements in drone technology.

"Many of the highest priority terrorists are in some of the remotest, most inaccessible, parts of our planet," one US official said of why targeted killing has gained favor. "Since they're actively plotting against us and our allies, you've got two choices -kill or capture.

When these people are where they are, and are doing what they're doing, it's just not a tough decision."

The Obama White House chaffs at suggestions its policies could make it harder to capture wanted militants. "Any comment along the lines of 'there is nowhere to put captured militants' would be flat wrong.

Over the past 16 months, the US has worked closely with its counterterrorism partners in South Asia and around the world to capture, detain, and interrogate hundreds of militants and terrorists," a senior US official said.

As the CIA program in Pakistan expands, the Pentagon's own targeted killing programs, run by secretive Special Ops and intelligence units, have also been ramped up under Obama. "There is little to no pushback" from the White House, according to one defense official who supports the policy. He said that when it came to adding wanted militants to top secret target lists, the Pentagon was getting "all the support it could want", though some insiders think the military isn't updating the lists fast enough.

For their part, US officials say the targeted killing programs have dealt a serious blow to Al-Qaeda and the Taleban, probably saving American lives in the process. But as one former intelligence official, quoting Newton's law of motion that every action has a reaction, said: there's no way to know the consequences "upfront". There are signs that the drone strikes may have become a rallying cry for many militants and their supporters, including Faisal Shahzad, the suspect in the attempted car-bombing in New York's Times Square on May 1. US investigators believe Shahzad received assistance from the Pakistani Taleban, which had vowed to avenge the killing of Mehsud.

Likewise, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian

A Reaper drone prepares for a mission in the skies over Afghanistan. – MCT Peninsula said its plot to blow up a US passenger jet on Christmas Day was payback for what it called US attacks on the group in Yemen.

Commonplace Killings In a June 2007 debate with his Democratic rivals, then-candidate Obama spelled out why he believed it would be legal to use a Hellfire missile to take out Osama bin Laden in Pakistan even if some innocent civilians would be killed in the process. "I don't believe in assassinations, but Osama bin Laden has declared war on us, killed 3,000 people, and under existing law, including international law, when you've got a military target like bin Laden, you take him out.

And if you have 20 minutes, you do it swiftly and surely," Obama said.

Obama's saber-rattling about using force in Pakistan was a way to "demonstrate his national security bona fides" in the middle of a tough campaign, said Richard Fontaine, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security who served as foreign policy adviser to Republican Senator John McCain, who lost to Obama in the 2008 election. Bruce Riedel, a former CIA analyst, said the Obama administration ran with the drone program because, when it came to office, "it found itself with a real Al-Qaeda threat and one tool to work with." "I don't think he (Obama) had really any alternatives. He seized the tool that was in front of him," said Riedel, who chaired Obama's strategic review of Afghanistan and Pakistan policy that was completed in March 2009.

A former US intelligence official said the strategy was "politically foolproof" because the mainstream candidates on both sides of the political spectrum "campaigned on who can kill more of these guys". Under Obama, the program has grown to such an extent that, according to a Reuters tally, the nearly 60 missiles fired from the CIA's drones in Pakistan in the first four months of this year roughly matched the number fired by all of the drones piloted by the US military in neighboring Afghanistan - the recognized war zone - during the same time period.

In Pakistan, the pace has jumped to two or three strikes a week, up roughly fourfold from the Bush years. Of the 500 militants the agency believes the drones have killed since the summer of 2008, about 14 are widely considered to be top tier militant targets, while another 25 are considered midto-high-level organizers. Independent tallies based on news accounts from the region put the death toll from drones since mid-2008 much higher - at anywhere from nearly 700 to around 1,200.

In addition to authorizing the CIA to strike fighters and leaders linked to Tehrike-Taleban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taleban, Obama's National Security Council recently took the program in a new direction by adding an American citizen to the CIA's hit list - Muslim cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki of Yemen's Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Obama administration says it has safeguards in place for identifying what it calls "lawful targets". A US counterterrorism official said: "Targets are chosen with extreme care... There's no such thing as a random strike."

But some human rights groups question how robust those safeguards could be if the CIA is killing hundreds of militants whose identities are largely unknown. They also worry about civilians. A Pakistani intelligence official dealing with South Waziristan said the vast majority of the deaths were just foot soldiers. "They hit whoever they get," another intelligence official in North Waziristan said. A former US intelligence official said it was unclear what protocols the CIA was following for targeting foot-soldiers: "If it becomes a more generalized 'kill anybody' (approach), it degrades the notion we're going after serious threats to the United States. It's a slippery slope."

According to US intelligence estimates, no more than 30 non-combatants were killed alongside the 500 militants - the equivalent of a little more than 5 percent, or about one out of every 20. These mainly included family members who live and travel with the CIA's targets. The CIA won't disclose how it verifies who's who among the casualties, but former officials say drones will linger overhead, in some cases for hours after each strike so the CIA can literally count the bodies. To determine who is a civilian, the CIA looks at a number of indicators, including gender. As a general rule, a woman is counted as a non-combatant, former officials said.

The Pakistani intelligence officer in North Waziristan said 20 percent of total deaths were civilians or non-combatants, or one in five. But others put the figure much higher. "The ratio is getting better but based on my military experience, there's simply no way" so few civilians have been killed, Jeffrey Addicott, who served as the senior legal adviser to the US Army Special Forces, the Green Berets, said of the US

tally. "For one bad guy you kill, you'd expect 1.5 civilian deaths" because no matter how good the technology, "killing from that high above, there's always the 'oops' factor," he said.

'Kill Them When They're Eating' To justify its extensive use of drones in targeted killings, Obama administration lawyers poured over reams of legal opinions and findings. They pointed to precedents as far back as World War Two, when a squadron of US fighter planes tracked and shot down the airplane carrying the architect of Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. "In a different time and place, that action might have been seen as unchivalrous or unsportsmanlike," Conrad Crane, director of the US Army Military History Institute, said of the 1943 targeted killing. Like technology, battlefield norms "change by year, change by culture," Crane said. "But taking out enemy leaders is an important part of warfare and has been going on for millennia."

In a recent speech outlining the Obama administration's position publicly, Harold Hongju Koh, the State Department's legal adviser, said: "The United States is in an armed conflict with Al-Qaeda, as well as the Taleban and associated forces, in response to the horrific 9/11 attacks, and may use force consistent with its inherent right to self-defense under international law."

Scholars say Obama's targeted killing doctrine appears to be little different from Bush's: Once someone has been deemed a lawful target, the CIA has no obligation to warn or seek to detain that person before attacking, said Kenneth Anderson, professor of law at American University. Other human rights lawyers argue that even in an armed conflict zone, individuals may be targeted only if they take a direct part in fighting.

Outside armed conflict zones, they say, international law permits lethal force to be used only as a last resort, and only to prevent imminent attacks.

The United States officially bans "assassination" under Executive Order 12333, issued by President Ronald Reagan on Dec 4, 1981, but Koh said "the use of lawful weapons systems ... for precision targeting of specific high-level belligerent leaders when acting in self-defense or during an armed conflict is not unlawful, and hence does not constitute 'assassination.'"

Mary Ellen O'Connell of the University of Notre Dame Law School said: "We just don't have the right to bomb people where there's no armed conflict," drawing a contrast between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where US forces are waging a nearly nineyear-old war. Even if militants use Pakistan as a staging ground for Afghan attacks, O'Connell said the sovereign boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan must be respected. "The United States is not fighting in self-defense against Pakistan. We do not hold Pakistan responsible for cross-border incursions into Afghanistan and may not, lawfully, use military force in Pakistan in response to those incursions," she said.

Addicott, the former legal adviser to Army Special Forces, disagrees: "The battlefield in the 'war on terror' is global and not restricted to a particular nation. As in World War Two, there are no national limitations or boundaries. This is war and we are entitled to kill them anywhere we find them. We can kill them when they're eating, we can kill them when they're sleeping. They are enemy combatants, and as long as they're not surrendering, we can kill them."

Weighing Pros-And-Cons Killing senior militants has its drawbacks. Chief among them is the loss of intelligence that could be gleaned by capturing and questioning them. In secret documents from 2007 that were recently made public, then-CIA director Michael Hayden highlighted the value of capturing Al-Qaeda leaders. In an agency document, Hayden details how Al-Qaeda lieutenant Abu Zubaydah became "one of our most important sources of intelligence on Al-Qaeda" after his March 2002 capture.

Among other things, he helped US authorities identify Khalid Sheikh Mohammed as the mastermind of the Sept 11 attacks, whose interrogation, in turn, led US authorities to other high-value targets plotting attacks on US soil. "It is a balance, a difficult balance," a US military official said.

"There's no doubt about it, (targeted killing) impacts your ability to gather first person intelligence. But it has other beneficial effects like removing (leadership) capabilities."

Riedel, the former CIA analyst now with the Brookings Institution, said drone strikes were effective at killing but "the real homerun is taking a senior leader prisoner who, in the course of debriefing, leads you to other senior people and opens the door to a greater insight into the enemy you're facing". "It's a Catch-22. What do you do with

these guys? It's a real policy dilemma which the Obama administration has yet to address," a senior US government official said.

In addition to the closing of Guantanamo, Obama has committed to transferring responsibility for detention facilities to the Afghan government. Another senior US government official cited the arrest in Pakistan of the Afghan Taleban's top military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, as an example of the constraints on the CIA now that its secret "black site" prisons have been closed. Though Baradar was nabbed in a joint operation with Pakistan's ISI intelligence service, giving the CIA custody was never an option. Baradar has started talking but the US government official said the information flow would be greater were he held in CIA custody.

US military officials also cite an attack in Sept 2009 by helicopter-borne Special Operations Forces on a car in which one of east Africa's most wanted Al-Qaeda militants, Kenyan-born Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, was a passenger. "We may have been able to capture the guy but the decision was made to kill him," a US defense official said of the Somali operation. A factor in the decision, the official said, was uncertainty about "what would we do with him" if he was captured alive.

In many instances, operations never get off the ground because of the risks. A former US intelligence official said there were discussions late in the Bush administration about the possibility of using armed drones to help Mexican fight narco-traffickers. But the idea of "shooting missiles on the outskirts of Mexico City" ran into opposition, he said. The Pentagon also considered taking military action in Somalia as intelligence poured in early last year about pirates establishing large camps from which they could launch attacks on commercial ships, counterterrorism and defense officials told Reuters.

The Navy had gone so far as to draw up plans for "lethal strikes" on the camps but the idea was nixed in part because of concerns about civilian casualties and what the US military would do with those who are injured or captured given the country's lawless state. Some of the beachfront camps were set up in densely populated areas.

"The rhetorical question was: Should we go after the base camps," one official said. "We didn't go to their camps because of concerns about civilian casualties and about there not being a government there to turn them over to or to deal with the aftermath."

NATO's top commander, US Admiral James Stavridis, told Reuters there were "active discussions" now about "taking actions ashore," from promoting development to discourage pirating to "burning skiffs, taking out camps." He said drones were "part of our operational footprint wherever we go."

Pakistan's Deepening Role An American diplomat tells a story about a meeting he had with Pakistani parliamentarians that offers a window into the tough position that nation is in when it comes to the drone attacks. The message from each lawmaker seemed straightforward: CIA drone strikes against militants in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan cause terrible damage and must stop. Then, in the middle of the session, according to an account provided to Reuters, one of the parliamentarians slipped the American guest, who specializes in the region, a handwritten note: "The people in the tribal areas support the drones. They cause very little collateral damage. But we cannot say so publicly for reasons you understand."

US officials say they go along with this "game" understanding that public acknowledgment of any Pakistani role in the US targeted killings could have major implications for the government in Islamabad, already struggling in the face of militant accusations it is an American puppet. A former US intelligence official said the CIA was conducting the drone strikes instead of the US military because the covert nature of the program gives Islamabad the "fig leaf of deniability".

"They can't stand up to their own people and say they're in league with the US," the official said.

Anecdotal evidence cited by US officials suggests that opposition to the drone strikes is stronger in major population centers, where the Taleban have less of a presence, than in the tribal areas, where the Taleban hold sway and the missiles rain down.

Significantly, US and Pakistani officials say, there have been no major public protests against them, not even among the tribes being targeted. Most of these attacks have targeted militant hideouts in remote mountainous areas, where there are few if any civilians. A tribal elder from North Waziristan, who declined to be identified, told Reuters: "People have chosen silence.

They want to get rid of the Taleban and if the (Pakistani) army cannot do it now, then it (drone attacks) is fine with them."

"As long as things are moving forward, people's minds are changing. There is no anger against the strikes as long as civilians are safe. There have been civilian deaths but not in big numbers," the elder told Reuters.

Another tribesman, who did not want to be named for safety reasons, said: "We prefer drone strikes than army operations because in such operations, we also suffer. But drones hit militants and it is good for us."

Brigadier Asad Munir, a retired ISI officer, said the drone attacks have become "routine" in the tribal areas. "If they find 10 targets a day, they will do it. It will not spark any fresh anger," Munir said. "People have gotten used to it."

Behind The Facade The truth is the CIA would not be able to find the militants in many cases without the help of Pakistan's spies and informants, officials say. "You need guys on the ground to tell you who they (the targets) are and that isn't coming from some white guy running around the FATA. That's coming from the Pakistanis," a US official said, referring to the semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border. A Pakistan security expert, Ikram Sehgal, agreed. He said the intelligence underpinning the drone strikes has improved precisely because of increased Pakistani cooperation.

"The drone attacks after May last year have been very targeted and they have done a lot of good in terms of taking out the bad guys. And I think that has been possible because of the fact of Pakistan Army officers being in American camps in Afghanistan giving that actionable intelligence which is required," he said. As the raw intelligence from the drones pours in, Pakistani intelligence liaisons work directly with CIA and military teams in Pakistan and Afghanistan to avoid miscommunication with agents and informants in the field. "We have Pakistanis around to help with coordination," a US military official said.

But tension remains beneath the surface. While their leaders cooperate, many in the Pakistani military deeply resent the drone strikes, complicating efforts to bring Pakistan wholeheartedly on board in the battle against Islamist militants. "This is a proud military and many hate the drone program because it is a constant reminder that they're not in control," a former US intelligence official said.

Can Drones Win The War? US intelligence officials proudly tout the drone campaign as the most precise and possibly humane targeted killing program in the "history of warfare". The target selection process is a secret but, according to the former intelligence official, individuals who are nominated to be "high-value targets" must be vetted by CIA lawyers to determine if they pose "a continuing and imminent threat." The agency often uses specially designed missiles that have a small blast field with minimal shrapnel to limit "collateral damage", as unwanted casualties are known in military circles. Targets are often killed by the concussion created by the explosion.

Recent advances in drone technology also help to reduce civilian casualties. A US official said: "Weapons can be steered away at the last moment if there's any possibility whatsoever that a non-combatant may be at risk. That speaks to the extreme precision of this system." An official who has watched several drone strikes recalled the precision with which a CIA operator focused one of the drone's cameras on its target, identifying the wanted man by his missing left arm. A lawyer is always present, he said.

A senior US government official said the strikes themselves may be more precise than ever, but target selection was only as good as the underlying intelligence. While improved, US officials acknowledge their limited ability to get first-hand intelligence.

They rely heavily on satellite and drone imagery, and cell phone intercepts. Even the Pakistanis have had difficulties in the past ensuring a reliable supply of intelligence in a region where people are often executed as spies.

One intelligence official estimated that as many as 70 Pakistani agents had been killed in the tribal areas and, at one point, areas around Miranshah in North Waziristan, the main Taleban and Al-Qaeda hub in the area, had become a black hole in terms of intelligence collection. For some, however, it's not the technology or intelligence as much as the strategy that is flawed.

Addicott, the former legal adviser to Army Special Operations Forces, asks: "Are we creating more enemies than we're killing or capturing by our activities? Unfortunately, I think the answer is yes. These families have 10 sons each. You kill one son and you create 9 more enemies. You're not winning over the population."

"Drones don't impress them," Addicott added. "In the mind of the radicals we're cowards, we won't fight face-to-face. This is what they teach in the madrasas." He is referring to the pro-Taleban religious schools which help produce many of the movement's anti-American foot-soldiers.

According to Sehgal, who is chairman of Pathfinder G4S, Pakistan's largest private security firm, these madrassas turn out between 7,000 and 15,000 "hard-core" students each year, eclipsing the number being killed by CIA drones and US forces in Afghanistan. Within the intelligence community, the verdict is still out on whether the CIA's targeted killing of Baitullah Mehsud degraded the Pakistani Taleban's capabilities - one of the main objectives in any targeted killing. —Reuters

panish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's decision to get tough on reforming the economy may cost him short-term popularity but his position is secure despite daily calls for him to resign by the opposition. Zapatero stunned many economists last week when he promised to cut civil servants' pay as part of a 15-billion-euro austerity plan to repair public accounts. The impact was swift, with the conservative opposition more than doubling its lead in an opinion poll over the ruling Socialists.

"The current Socialist government is incapable of resolving Spain's problems and taking the necessary steps," former Popular Party minister Jose Maria Aznar wrote in the Financial Times on Monday.

"Only a new government can do this. The sooner, the better."

The opinion poll on Sunday published in left-leaning newspaper El Pais put the centre-right Popular Party (PP) at a 9.1 percentage point advantage, up from 4.2 percentage points two weeks ago.

With Zapatero now appearing like there is no turning back from carrying out long-delayed economic reforms, especially of labour markets, after the EU and IMF promised $1 trillion in funds for weak euro countries to stem the region's debt crisis, his standing could be battered further. But for all the bravado of the PP and the opinion polls, analysts are not convinced that there will be a motion of no confidence in the government, as mooted by conservatives, forcing Zapatero out. "I don't think there will be early elections and I don't think there will be a vote of no confidence," said Ismael Crespo, a political analyst at Fundacion Ortega y Gasset.

Other analysts say it may be too soon to conclude that opinion polls will only continue heading south for Zapatero, even if he ploughs ahead with tough reforms. "I think the weekend polls are just a knee-jerk reaction to the austerity measures announced on Wednesday," said Jose Zarate, an economist at 4Cast. "I would take them with a

pinch of salt. It's not that the PP is showing an increase in votes, but that the Socialists are losing ground," he said.

Above all, Zapatero's economic change of tact is playing badly with his traditional allies, the unions who have called a one-day public sector strike to protest the wage cuts on June 8.

Union leaders have accused Zapatero of broken promises on public pensions, another element of last week's austerity. All this comes as there are still only unconvincing signs that Spain is anywhere near decidedly leaving behind its recession of nearly two years, which has left 20 percent of the workforce unemployed - the highest in the euro zone. "The unions are trying to wear the government down," Crespo said. "That's really what this is all about."

But Crespo doubted there would be backing for any union calls for a general strike - including both the public and private sectors - in Spain. Since Spain entered its deepest economic troubles in 50 years, there has been only one organised action by unions - in February - in the form of marches in major cities to protest against raising the retirement age to 67 from 65.

Turnout was considered low at was what was the first union action in Spain in six years, and the percentage of workers in unions is relatively low compared to many countries at about 16 percent. That contrasts with Greece, the source of the euro's debt crisis, where deep austerity has caused a series of massive anti-government protests, some of them violent. Still, low popularity for Zapatero could make things harder just as the government faces its biggest economic challenges and before of regional elections in Catalonia this autumn, its biggest electoral test since a 2008 general election.

For one, the government which has only a simple majority in parliament, depends on regional parties for support on some laws. There have been suggestions that some parts of last week's austerity measures will be passed by government decree, meaning they will not have to pass through parliament.—Reuters

UN climate chief faces rich-poor split

By Alister Doyle and Gerard Wynn

I

ncoming UN climate chief Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica inherits a widening split between rich and poor nations over how to slow climate change, with almost no chance of a treaty in 2010, analysts say. Figueres, picked by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday, says she wants rich nations to keep promises of more aid and aims to rebuild trust after the Copenhagen summit in December fell short of a legally binding deal.

But a new, 42-page document prepared for the next UN climate negotiations in Bonn, Germany, from May 31-June 11 underscores deepening splits over climate policy after the summit in Denmark merely agreed a non-binding Copenhagen Accord. The text, dated May 17, shows that Bolivia has added a sprinkling of radical demands, including for rich nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 100 per cent from 1990 levels by 2040 - an almost impossible goal of "carbon neutrality".

"It's really a re-start of negotiations," said Nick Campbell, chair of the climate working group at the International Chamber of Commerce. The text was also complicated by elements of a nonbinding Copenhagen Accord from the summit. "The critical outcome from the Bonn meeting will be an agreed text to start negotiating on." Business wants clear climate policy to make investments, for example in power plants.

Figueres will try to overcome the splits when she takes over from Dutchman Yvo de Boer on July 1. Any treaty has to be agreed by unanimity. Most experts are already sceptical about the chances of working out a new, binding climate pact at the next major UN climate meeting in Cancun, Mexico, from Nov 29-Dec 10. "There's very little chance of a deal this year, or next year either," said Paal Prestrud, head of the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo.

Figueres is likely to focus on the building blocks of a deal, also including new green technologies or programmes to help adapt to climate change, rather than insist they all be agreed in a single "big bang" of a legally binding treaty. "I believe Cancun will see the delivery of most of those components in the Copenhagen Accord," she told Reuters. Figueres has been a climate negotiator since 1995 and has a deep understanding of the UN Climate Change Secretariat.

The Copenhagen Accord sets a non-binding goal of limiting a rise in world temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6F) above preindustrial times, and a target of $10 billion a year in aid from 201012, rising to at least $100 billion from 2020. "Cash will be the litmus test for the accord," said Kaisa Kosonen, climate policy adviser for environmental group Greenpeace. Many European nations are trying to cut development aid and ease creaking budget deficits.

The first head of the secretariat from a developing nation, Figueres wants the rich to lead without waiting for everyone else.

"This chain reaction of 'you first, sir' is not a very helpful attitude," she said. Many nations have been waiting for the United States, the number two emitter of greenhouse gases after China, to set goals before committing to tougher action. US President Barack Obama wants to cut US emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, a cut of about 4 percent below the U.N. benchmark year of 1990. But legislation is stalled in the US Senate.

De Boer and Figueres' job as "executive secretary" has not been upgraded to the rank of UN "Under Secretary-General" to give it a higher profile and clout equal to that of the UN Environment Program. "That discussion is still going on," Danish Climate and Energy Minister Lykke Friis, whose country steers climate talks this year, told Reuters.

Figueres may win authority to put pressure on rich nations if Costa Rica sticks to its own greenhouse gas goals. — Reuters

NEWS

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

French cabinet OKs Military robots seen as lifesavers law banning niqabs PARIS: The French cabinet approved a draft law to ban the Muslim full-face veil from public spaces yesterday, opening the way for the text to go before parliament in July. “In this matter the government is taking a path it knows to be difficult, but a path it knows to be just,” President Nicolas Sarkozy told the assembled ministers, according to his office. While Sarkozy’s rightwing majority is expected to be able to push the law through parliament, constitutional experts have warned that it could be thrown out by judges and might fall foul of European law.

“We are an old nation united around a certain idea of human dignity, and in particular of a woman’s dignity, around a certain idea of how to live together,” Sarkozy insisted. “The full veil that hides the face completely harms those values, which are so fundamental to us, so essential to the republican compact.”

According to the text of the law, no-one in France will be allowed to wear a garment “designed to hide the face”. Those who flout it will be fined €150 ($180) or sent on a course to learn the values of French citizenship. Anyone who forces someone through threats, violence or misuse of a position of authority to cover her face because of her sex will be jailed for a year and fined €15,000, the law says. The law defines public spaces broadly to include all thoroughfares, all premises - such as shops, cinemas, restaurants and markets - open to the public and all government buildings.

France’s highest administrative legal body, the Council of State, had warned the government that it might be legally impossible to impose and enforce such a ban, but Sarkozy and his supporters are determined to press on. Some opposition Socialists have declared they will vote against a ban they feel will be impossible to enforce, and many Muslim groups oppose a ban they fear will stigmatise their religion.

Amnesty International appealed to French parliamentarians to “reject” the law. A complete ban would “violate the right to freedom of expression and religion of those women who wear the burqa or niqab in public as an expression of their identity or their beliefs,” the organisation said in a statement. Opponents of the ban point to official figures that estimate that only 2,000 members of France’s approximately five-million-strong Muslim population wear the niqab, or full-face veil.

The burqa issue has strained relations between France’s majority population and its Muslim minority, the largest in Europe. Muslim graves have been desecrated and a mosque and halal butcher’s shop shot at in recent weeks. A woman was fined for driving while veiled last month. On Saturday, another

had her veil torn off during a dispute in a clothes shop. Both were converts to Islam, a group to whom veiling seems to appeal more than to women from Muslim families. The woman in the shop incident, a former practising Catholic named Elodie, told Europe 1 radio her Muslim husband, of Algerian origin, opposed the veil. “This is not my submission to a man, but to God,” she said. “If the law is passed, either I won’t go out any more or I’ll move to Saudi Arabia.”

“If the law is voted, I won’t take off my veil. ... No one will dictate my way of life” but God, said Najat, a divorcee, who gave her age as “45 plus”. She was one of a half-dozen women who, in a rare move, met with reporters on Tuesday to express their worries about changes they say will impact their lives to the core. Like others, she refused to give her full name. All said they fear for their safety in an increasingly tense climate.

Najat was among those who said she has been increasingly harassed since debate over the planned law began nearly a year ago. “Liberty. Liberty. I’m in France, in the land of liberty, equality, fraternity. I had the impression I was living it,” said Oum Al Khyr, of Montreuil, on the edge of eastern Paris.

The bespectacled Najat, with a French mother and Moroccan father, said she has covered her face with a veil for 10 years. Najat said that because she is divorced and raising her children alone no one “can say this is imposed on me.” “I won’t leave” France if the veil is outlawed. “Why should I leave?” Najat said, waving her French passport. The women predicted that their “sisters”, other women who veil themselves, would hide out in their homes so as not to get caught breaking the law. Several said they would take their case to the European Court of Human Rights if arrested.

With the law, “They are giving people the right to attack us,” said Kenza Drider, of Avignon in the south, who is married with four children. She was the only fully veiled woman to be interviewed by a parliamentary panel during a six-month inquiry. “To tell a sister you can’t wear this veil is to say you can’t practice your religion,” said Oum Al Khyr. The bill turns on the “dignity of the person” rather than security issues, as had been widely speculated. It was unclear if that would make it more vulnerable to constitutional attacks.

“They say they are going to free us,” said Drider. But “it’s the state who will force us into cloisters. We will have to sue for sequestration.” Karima, 31, who runs an import-export company, said she has been wearing a burqa-like veil for 16 years - more than half her life, she notes - and “I don’t even know how to take it off.” — Agencies

HAMMELBURG: On the outside, it looks like a normal SUV. But the prototype “autonomous robot car” - fitted with sensors and scanners, multifocal camera systems and powerful computers - might one day help avoid military fatalities from bombings and ambushes - or so its designers hope. Researchers presented the so-called MuCar-3 at the European Land Robot Trial this week in Germany, where the world’s innovators were pitching ideas to military evaluators from the United States, Europe and Japan. The MuCar-3 can independently follow a lead car, as in a military convoy, and even stop or back up when the lead car does so. It is a step toward providing military commanders with a robotic system that will keep troops out of harm’s way whenever possible.

But there are still a few problems to solve, according to the evaluators at the Robot Trial conference, being held near the central German city of Hammelburg. “We have seen progress, but not as much as we have wished for,” said Dirk Ellinger, director of armaments at the German Defense Ministry.

Around the world, armies already use about 10,000 different remote-controlled robot systems for surveillance, reconnaissance or bomb disposal - as seen in the Oscar-winning film “The Hurt Locker.” Experts are still waiting for a breakthrough on ground robots to fulfill simple tasks without human guidance. “For now, there are no solutions for autonomous or semiautonomous systems ready to go into serial production,” Ellinger said.

Military commanders are not exactly waiting for something out of the movies — today’s priorities don’t require sending anything like a Star Wars-like R2 unit or Terminator robot into action, German Army Chief Werner Freers said. “We are looking for pragmatic solutions that would make life easier for our soldiers in military missions,” he said.

Freers said he’d like something that will help soldiers avoid danger, but also wants to spare troops routine

NY plot suspect appears in court Continued from Page 1 progress of an investigation into his May 1 plot to set off a homemade car bomb on a spring Saturday evening amid hundreds of people enjoying the tourist haven.

Authorities said shortly af ter Shahzad’s May 3 arrest that he had admitted driving the SUV bomb into Times Square and told authorities he had received terror training during a recent five-month trip to Pakistan. His cooperation did not eliminate the need to bring him to court Tuesday to face five charges, including attempted use of weapons of mass destruction and attempted acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, each of which carry potential penalties of life in prison. The hearing lasted only 10 minutes. Shahzad, 30, a Pakistanborn US citizen, confirmed with a “yes” that his financial affidavit was accurate, permitting him to be appointed an assistant public defender, Julia Gatto, who declined to comment afterward.

Shahzad, wearing a gray sweat suit and with his hair a bit longer than in photos splashed around the world, was treated like any other prisoner, except for the extra court officers on hand. The courtroom was closed just before his appearance for a security sweep. There was also no sign that Shahzad had secured any special benefits from his cooperation, though he was wearing a sweat suit rather than a prison uniform. When the hearing ended, he stood up and handcuffs were put on his wrists behind his back.

He walked out without looking at spectators, including mostly prosecutors, investigators and reporters.

Magistrate Judge James C Francis read him his rights, including his right to remain silent, and warned him that anything he might say could be used against

him. He was detained without bail in the attack in which the bomb never exploded and no one was hurt. The ex-budget analyst from Bridgeport, Connecticut, was pulled two days after the attempted attack from a Dubai-bound plane at John F Kennedy International Airport. In addition to the most serious charges, Shahzad was also charged with using a destructive device in an attempted violent crime, punishable by up to 30 years in prison; transporting and receiving explosives, punishable by up to 10 years; and attempting to damage and destroy property with fire and explosives, punishable by five to 20 years.

Meanwhile, a law enforcement official told AP yesterday Shahzad had considered attacking Grand Central Terminal or other New York City landmarks before settling on Times Square as his target. Shahzad also considered Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan, the World Financial Center downtown and Sikorsky Inc, a defense contractor with an office in his Connecticut hometown, before deciding to drive an SUV rigged with a homemade bomb into Times Square, the official said.

The Pakistani-American eventually abandoned the other targets and did not plan any other attacks after the failed May 1 bombing, the official said.

Since his arrest, Shahzad “has provided valuable intelligence from which further investigative action has been taken,” the US attorney’s office in Manhattan said in a statement Tuesday. Federal authorities raided locations in three states last week and picked up three men on immigration violations. The men are suspected of providing money to Shahzad to help build the homemade bomb of fireworks, propane and battery-operated alarm clocks.

Officials in Pakistan have taken several people into custody, including two men arrested last week on suspicion of helping

The Facebook page at the center of the dispute - “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day!” - encourages users to post images of the prophet (PBUH) on May 20 to protest threats made by a radical Muslim group against the creators of “South Park” for depicting Muhammad (PBUH) in a bear suit during an episode earlier this year.

In the southern city of Karachi, about 2,000 female students rallied demanding that Facebook be banned for tolerating the page. Several dozen male students held a rally nearby, with some holding signs urging Islamic holy war against those who blaspheme the prophet. “We are not trying to slander the average Muslim,” said the information section of the Facebook page, which was still accessible yesterday morning. “We simply want to show the extremists that threaten to harm people because of their Mohammad (PBUH) depictions that we’re not afraid of them. That they can’t take away our right to freedom of speech by trying to scare us into silence.” A series of cartoons of the prophet (PBUH) published in a Danish newspaper in 2005 sparked violent protests by Muslims around the world, including Pakistan, and death threats against the cartoonists.

Facebook said yesterday it is investigating. “While the content does not violate our terms, we do understand it may not be legal in some countries,” the company said in a statement. “In cases like this, the approach is sometimes to restrict certain content from being shown in specific countries.” It remains to be seen how successful the move will

be at keeping people in Pakistan from accessing the site. Some countries, such as China, permanently ban Facebook. But citizens often have little trouble working their way around the ban using proxy servers and other means.

In an attempt to respond to public anger over the Facebook controversy, the Pakistani government ordered Internet service providers in the country to block the page Tuesday, said Khurram Ali, a spokesman for the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority. But the Islamic L awyers’ Forum asked the Lahore High Court yesterday to order the government to fully block Facebook because it allowed the page to be posted in the first place, said the deputy attorney general of Punjab province, Naveed Inayat Malik. The court complied with the request and ordered the government to block the site until the end of May, Malik said.

Lawyers outside the courtroom hailed the ruling, chanting “Down with Facebook”. Later in the day, the telecommunications authority ordered all Internet service providers to block Facebook, it said in a statement.

Pakistan’s minister of religious affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, said the country’s ban was only a temporary solution and suggested the government organize a conference of Muslim countries to figure out ways to prevent the publication of images of the prophet, which have caused backlashes among Muslim populations.

But the ban sparked mixed reactions in the country, which has seen creeping religious conservatism for decades but has a sizeable elite who are Western edu-

tasks so they can concentrate on more important things - “not least of which would be fighting.” Convoy solutions like the MuCar-3, developed by the military’s academy, the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich - could free soldiers from having to move supplies, a stressful and dangerous job in countries like Iraq or Afghanistan.

“This is something we are able to do,” said Henrik Christensen, director at Georgia Tech Center for Robotics.

But the Munich system is not perfect.

It still needs a human-driven car to follow, and it still has someone in the driver’s seat for emergencies, though that person need do nothing - as the man in the Hammelburg presentation demonstrated by holding up his hands.

“Maybe, this is not the end of wisdom,” Freers said, suggesting the prototype would likely need improvements. The same could be said about other vehicles at this year’s Land Robot Trial. Many looked like things out of 1980s science fiction films, with eye-like cameras, multiple scanners and mechanical arms.

The German University of Siegen presented a robot that was supposed to follow a person, but the cumbersome multi-scanner, multi-camera vehicle kept beeping and stopping, causing its construction team distress.

“It has to be reliable,” German armaments director Ellinger said later. “It is helpful as a substitute for human resources only if it is reliable.”

Researchers are wrestling with the task of remodeling human senses so that robots can maneuver around obstacles like trees or puddles, but remote-controlled systems are fairly trouble-free.

The MacroUSA & Force Products Group, Inc. of McClellan, California, demonstrated a tiny, durable robot that looked like a radio-controlled toy car but could also transmit video images.

The US armed forces are using the device, which could help check out buildings in a war zone or even in school shootings, MacroUSA vice president Chris Vilter said. Vilter hopes European buyers will be interested in the unit, selling for Ä27,000 ($32,900). — AP

Iran frustrated as West rejects deal finance the failed plot. CIA Director Leon Panetta and retired Gen James Jones, President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, were in Pakistan meeting with officials there on the failed Times Square bombing and the terrorist safe havens where the suspect is believed to have received training. In light of the attack, National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said “we believe that it is time to redouble our efforts with our allies in Pakistan to close this safe haven and create an environment where we and the Pakistani people can lead safe and productive lives.”

One US official said the trip is not confined to the Times Square bombing issues, but noted that the emphasis is on cooperation between the US and Pakistan and what both countries need to do to keep pressure on the extremists in that region. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the meetings.

Shahzad appeared in court on the same day a New York defense attorney wrote a letter to a chief federal court judge demanding he be produced. Ron Kuby accused authorities of violating Shahzad’s rights by “squeezing him for information” in secret.

Authorities have not publicly addressed a possible motive for Shahzad. But in emails provided by a Connecticut doctor, Shahzad complained that Muslims were under siege around the globe and that Muslim countries were doing little to respond. “Everyone knows how the Muslim country bows down to pressure from the West,” he wrote on Feb 25, 2006.

“Everyone knows the kind of humiliation we are faced with around the globe.” The emails, first reported by The New York Times, were provided to AP by Dr Saud Anwar, a founder of the Pakistani American Association of Connecticut, who said he was given them by a Shahzad friend who received them. — AP

Pakistan blocks Facebook Continued from Page 1

HAMMELBURG, Germany: Soldiers film a robot vehicle teleMAX of the German company Telerob during the European Land Robot Trial show on Tuesday. — AP

cated and relatively moderate. Some Facebook users said they were de-activating their membership of the popular website, while others hit out at the blanket censorship. “If some say we are extremists, then yes we are on this issue because we cannot tolerate any blasphemous act by anyone against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH),” said Mohammed Amir, 32-year-old student in the eastern city of Lahore.

But local journalist Mehmal Sarfraz, 29, an avid Facebook fan, told AFP that instead of a kneejerk ban, the authorities should respect “the Pakistani nation’s right to choose”. Some also warned the court’s response could backfire.

“Blocking the entire website would anger users, especially young adults, because the social networking website is so popular among them and they spend most of their time on it,” said the CEO of Nayatel, Wahaj-us-Siraj. “Basically, our judges aren’t technically sound. They have just ordered it, but it should have been done in a better way by just blocking a particular URL or link.”

On Tuesday, an alleged Al-Qaeda militant detained in Iraq said he had talked to friends about attacking Danish and Dutch teams at the World Cup in South Africa next month. “We discussed the possibility of taking revenge for the insults of the prophet by attacking Denmark and Holland,” Abdullah Azam Saleh Al-Qahtani told AP in an interview arranged by Iraqi authorities. “The goal was to attack the Danish and the Dutch teams and their fans.”

In the Netherlands, an anti-Islam party has become the country’s fastest growing political movement. — Agencies

Continued from Page 1 Iran said any new sanctions effort was doomed to fail. “(Talk of) imposing sanctions has faded and this resolution is the last effort by the West,” the Fars news agency quoted Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who also heads Iran’s atomic energy organisation, as saying. “They feel that for the first time in the world developing countries are able to defend their rights in the world arena without resorting to the major powers, and that is very hard for them,” Salehi said.

The new draft before the Security Council would expand an arms embargo and measures against Iran’s banking sector. It would also ban sensitive overseas activities, like uranium mining and developing ballistic missiles, a US official said.

“The resolution would establish a comprehensive new framework for cargo inspections, both in states’ ports and on the high seas,” the official told journalists on condition of anonymity. The draft has the blessing of all five of the veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council,

including the usual standouts China and Russia, the United States said.

“We have reached agreement on a strong draft with the cooperation of both Russia and China,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. China’s apparent backing of a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear activities came despite its earlier support for the fuel swap deal. “We attach importance to and support this agreement,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said. The Russian foreign ministry spoke of an “understanding in principle... on the draft resolution.”

But the Iranian atomic energy chief expressed doubts about the emerging international consensus against his country. “We should be patient because they won’t prevail and by pursuing the passing of a new resolution they are discrediting themselves in public opinion,” Salehi said.

“I think there are some rational people among them who will stop them from making this irrational move.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki expressed similar scepticism

about the chances of new sanctions being passed by the Security Council. “There is no chance the resolution is going to be passed,” he told state-run Al-Alam television from the Tajik capital Dushanbe.

“The nations who are seeking to impose sanctions are in the minority.” Mottaki also struck an optimistic note on Tehran’s nuclear fuel accord. “The Brazilian and the Turkish foreign ministers talked to me this morning ... They assessed their talks with other nations including the members of the UN Security Council as positive. The uranium swap deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey will go ahead,” he also told reporters.

Western powers suspect that Iran’s atomic program is a cover for a nuclear weapons drive. Tehran denies that, saying its activities are for civilian use. Already under three sets of UN sanctions over its defiance of repeated Security Council ultimatums to suspend uranium enrichment, Iran touted its agreement with Brazil and Turkey as a goodwill gesture that paves the way for a resumption of talks with the major powers. — AFP

six weeks. “I know this is unacceptable to some of you... but we cannot stand this cruelty,” said top Red Nattawut Saikuar. “We will exchange our freedom with your safety.

We have tried our best.” At least four top Reds later went to the police headquarters nearby to give themselves up. The government said earlier some others had already fled.

An Italian freelance photographer, Fabio Polenghi, 45, was among those shot dead during the clashes at one end of the Reds’ encampment, which had stretched for several kilometres. Several other journalists were wounded in the clashes, including Dutch television reporter Michel Maas who was shot in the shoulder. Another journalist, a Canadian, and four soldiers were also badly injured by grenade attacks inside the camp.

An AFP photographer saw two protesters lying dead on the ground after being shot in the head when troops pushed into the encampment. At least 45 people have died since the army moved to lockdown the area last Thursday. Police said elite troops had orders to shoot on sight anyone looting, committing arson or inciting unrest, following several days of urban warfare in the capital. “Tonight will be another night of suffering,” government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said in an address on national television.

The United States urged Thai protest leaders to rein in their supporters following the bloody army crackdown. Washington was “deeply concerned that ‘Red Shirt’ supporters have engaged in arson, targeting electricity infrastructure and media outlets and have attacked individual journal-

ists,” said State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid.

Hundreds of army and police had advanced towards the protest zone in the pre-dawn hours, with trucks dropping off troops wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons and riot shields, while a helicopter circled overhead. Several thousand protesters, including many women and children, were inside, defying a government deadline to leave by Monday. The Reds have been campaigning for elections to replace Abhisit’s administration, which they consider illegitimate because it came to power with the backing of the army in a 2008 parliamentary vote.

The crisis has left at least 74 people dead and about 1,700 wounded since midMarch, including 25 people who died in a failed army crackdown on April 10. The Reds are mostly supporters of fugitive expremier Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 coup. Thaksin - accused by the government of bankrolling the protests and inciting unrest - denied yesterday he had undermined peace talks, saying he was not the “mastermind of the terrorists”.

Thaksin also believed yesterday’s government crackdown could lead to guerrilla warfare across Thailand. “There is a theory saying a military crackdown can spread resentment and these resentful people will become guerrillas,” Thaksin told Reuters in a telephone interview as troops fought protesters in Bangkok, sparking violence in outer provinces. “There are lots and lots of people across the country who are upset because they were prevented from joining the Bangkok rally,” Thaksin said from an undisclosed location in exile. — Agencies

Bangkok burns Continued from Page 1 “The end of the rally has dissatisfied some protesters, especially those who are armed,” he said. “So they created trouble, particularly arson in some areas.” Major blazes swept through Central World, one of Southeast Asia’s largest shopping centres, the Stock Exchange of Thailand, a downtown cinema, many banks and a television station where about 100 staff had to be rescued.

The bloody crackdown inflamed unrest outside the capital as supporters in northeast Thailand set fire to at least two provincial halls. Violence also broke out in northern Chiang Mai where people tried to burn buildings and throw home-made bombs after the Bangkok protests ended, but by late evening the situation was under control, local officials said.

The government imposed an 8:00 pm (1300 GMT) to 6:00 am curfew in Bangkok and 23 other provinces, out of a total of 76, in a bid to quell the eruption of violence, admitting that parts of the capital were still outside their control. “We are waiting until the people go back home, then we will deal with rogue protesters,” Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon told AFP. The latest unrest began when armoured vehicles backed by armed troops firing live rounds smashed through towering barricades made of tyres and razor wire that the Red Shirts had erected around their sprawling base. A tearful protest leader later announced on stage that the Reds would end their occupation of the upscale shopping and hotel district in the heart of the capital where they have been camped for

Rights panel tours central jail, meets Jassem Continued from Page 1 never bargain on freedom,” Fadhalah said. Meanwhile, the head of the Islamic Ummah Party, Awwad Al-Dhafiri, said “90 percent of Kuwaiti people read Jassem’s articles, so let them put the Kuwaiti people in jail”.

Jassem, 54, was arrested on May 11 and accused of instigating to overthrow the regime, undermining the status of HH the Amir and inciting to dismantle the foundations of Kuwaiti society. The lawsuit was filed by the minister of the Amiri Diwan Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad. It was based on articles written by Jassem

on his website in the past five years that were deemed too critical, and also on three books the ailing writer has authored on the political situation in the state.

Following his arrest, Jassem, a heart patient, went on hunger strike and was rushed to hospital after collapsing during an interrogation session on Saturday, according to his lawyer. Jassem’s daughter Sumayya said yesterday that he has stopped the hunger strike.

Ten civil society organizations meanwhile issued a joint statement yesterday in which they expressed extreme concern at the freedom of expression in Kuwait and called for immediate legisla-

tion reforms to prevent the detention of writers and journalists. The statement called on MPs to quickly introduce the necessary legal reforms to ensure that Jassem’s detention is not repeated. The organizations also appealed to “concerned authorities” to differentiate between suspects committing crimes and those expressing opinions. The statement was signed by the Society of Graduates, Kuwait Human Rights Association, Kuwait Social Cultural Women Society, Kuwait Teachers Association, Kuwait L abour Union, Kuwait Students Union, Kuwait Economic Society and others.

SPORTS

Thursday, May 20, 2010

15

MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results and standings on Tuesday.

Cincinnati 5, Milwaukee 4; Toronto 11 Minnesota 2; Chicago White Sox 6, Detroit 2; Tampa Bay 6, Cleveland 2; Florida 8, Arizona 0; Baltimore 4, Kansas City 3 (10 innings); Boston 7, NY Yankees 6; Pittsburgh 2, Philadelphia 1; Atlanta 3, NY Mets 2; Chicago Cubs 6, Colorado 2; Texas 8, LA Angels 7; St. Louis 3, Washington 2; San Francisco 7, San Diego 6 (12 innings); Oakland 6, Seattle 5 (10 innings); LA Dodgers 7, Houston 3.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT 28 11 .718 25 14 .641 24 17 .585 20 20 .500 13 27 .325

GB 3 5 8.5 15.5

Central Division Minnesota 24 15 .615 Detroit 22 17 .564 Chicago White Sox 16 22 .421 Cleveland 15 22 .405 Kansas City 15 25 .375

2 7.5 8 9.5

Texas Oakland LA Angels Seattle

Western Division 22 18 .550 20 20 .500 18 23 .439 14 25 .359

2 4.5 7.5

Philadelphia Florida Washington Atlanta NY Mets

National League Eastern Division 24 14 21 19 20 20 19 20 19 21

.632 .525 .500 .487 .475

4 5 5.5 6

Cincinnati St. Louis Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh Milwaukee Houston

Central Division 23 16 .590 23 17 .575 18 22 .450 17 22 .436 15 24 .385 13 26 .333

.5 5.5 6 8 10

San Diego San Francisco LA Dodgers Colorado Arizona

Western Division 23 16 .590 22 16 .579 22 17 .564 19 20 .487 16 24 .400

.5 1 4 7.5

Tampa Bay NY Yankees Toronto Boston Baltimore

SAN DIEGO: San Francisco Giants’ Nate Schierholtz beats the throw to third as San Diego Padres third baseman Chase Headley takes in the late throw during the fourth inning of a baseball game.—AP

Giants roll over Padres, Cards scrape past Nationals SAN DIEGO: Matt Downs hit a two-run double in the 12th inning to give the San Francisco Giants a 7-6 win over the San Diego Padres, beating the National League West leaders for the first time in eight tries this season.

Downs’ third hit came off rookie Padres pitcher Cesar Ramos (0-1) and scored Ryan Rohlinger and Eli Whiteside, who reached on two-out singles. Eugenio Velez added an RBI single.

Giants closer Brian Wilson gave up a two-run double to David Eckstein with two outs in the bottom of the 12th after Chris Denorfia and Yorvit Torrealba singled.

Wilson intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez before striking out Chase Headley to end the game and notch his 10th save in 11 chances.

San Francisco’s Dan Runzler (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win as the Giants crept within half a game of the Padres.

Cardinals 3, Nationals 2 In St. Louis, Ryan Ludwick homered to snap an eighth-inning tie and lift St. Louis over Washington. Ludwick went long off Tyler Clippard (7-3), one pitch after the Nationals reliever picked off pinch-runner Brendan Ryan at first.

Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter (5-1) got the win despite allowing his seventh homer in nine starts, matching the total he yielded all of last season. Ryan Franklin worked the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.

Pirates 2, Phillies 1 In Philadelphia, Zach Duke outdueled Roy Halladay with a strong six innings that guided Pittsburgh over Philadelphia.

A night after the Pirates gave up 12 runs, Duke (3-4) limited Philadelphia to one run in six innings. Pirates relievers Evan Meek, Joel Hanrahan and Octavio Dotel retired nine of the final 10 batters. With a perfect

ninth inning, Dotel recorded his eighth save in 10 chances, and snapped the Phillies’ four-game winning streak.

Phillies starter Halladay (6-2), who leads the major leagues in innings pitched, took the loss despite pitching his fourth complete game of the season, walking only one and striking out six.

Reds 5, Brewers 4 In Cincinnati, Scott Rolen hit a tying, two-run homer in the ninth inning and Joey Votto delivered an RBI single off the wall to lift Cincinnati over Milwaukee. The firstplace Reds pulled off their 10th win in their final at-bat, this one against veteran closer Trevor Hoffmann, who is struggling this season. Milwaukee lost its eighth in a row, its worst slump since 2006. Hoffman (1-3) came on with a 4-2 lead and failed to retire any of the five batters he faced. Baseball’s career saves leader has converted only five of 10 save chances this season. He has given

up 19 earned runs in only 13 innings this year. Cincinnati’s Carlos Fisher (1-1) gave up a run in the eighth on a wild pitch but took the win.

Braves 3, Mets 2 In Atlanta, pinch-runner Brent Clevlen trotted home with the winning run on a throwing error by New York third baseman David Wright in the ninth inning as Atlanta edged the Mets. Brian McCann opened the bottom of the ninth with a single off Pedro Feliciano (1-2) — the Braves’ first base runner since the third inning. New York pitchers had retired 16 in a row until then.

Yunel Escobar took a walk from New York reliever Jenrry Mejia. Melky Cabrera then hit a high chopper toward Wright. He threw on the run, but the ball sailed into Cabrera and got by first baseman Ike Davis.

Clevlen came in with the winning run while the ball sailed down the right-field line, making a winner of Billy Wagner (3-0).

Marlins 8, D’backs 0 In Miami, Brian Barden drove in two runs while replacing benched star Hanley Ramirez, helping Florida beat Arizona.

Ramirez, the reigning NL batting champion, was left out by manager Fredi Gonzalez for failing to hustle.

Minus their highest-paid player, the Marlins did fine for a day. Josh Johnson (4-1) pitched seven scoreless innings, Cameron Maybin and Dan Uggla had back-to-back home runs and Barden neatly filled in.

Johnson improved to 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA lifetime against Arizona. He struck out nine.

Arizona’s Billy Buckner (0-1) made his season debut after being called up from the minors. The 26-year-old, who is not related to the former big leaguer of the same name, ran into trouble in the fourth.

Cubs 6, Rockies 2 In Chicago, Carlos Silva (5-0) pitched six

Red Sox 7, Yankees 6 In New York, Jeremy Hermida hit a tiebreaking, tworun double in the ninth inning and Boston took advantage of two late errors to rally from five runs down and beat New York.

New York played the game under protest after Boston pitcher Josh Beckett left with supposed back tightness following Robinson Cano’s two-run double in the fifth which made it 5-0 to the Yankees.

The visitors said Beckett showed no sign of injury and his replacement shouldn’t have been given extended time to warm up. An error by New York right fielder Marcus Thames helped the Red Sox win.

Hermida, a defensive replacement, doubled off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera (0-1) to snap a 5-5 tie. Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon got

his 10th season save. Boston’s Daniel Bard (1-1) got one out for the win.

Rays 6, Indians 2 In St. Petersburg, Evan Longoria drove in three runs to help Tampa Bay down Cleveland. Longoria, who has 21 RBIs in his past 19 games, had a run-scoring double off David Huff (1-6) in the third and a two-run triple in a four-run sixth.

The Rays improved baseball’s top record to 28-11 heading into a two-game series at the New York Yankees. Tampa Bay starter David Price (6-1) won his fourth straight decision and became the AL’s first sixgame winner this year. He held the Indians to an unearned run over six innings.

Cleveland shortstop Jason Donald went 2 for 3 with a walk and also scored a run in his major league debut.

Rangers 8, Angels 7 In Arlington, Michael Young had three hits and three RBIs, including a tiebreaking single that sent AL West-leading Texas over Los Angeles.

Elvis Andrus doubled in the sixth inning off Trevor Bell (11) for his third hit and scored on Young’s bloop to right.

Darren O’Day (1-1), the second of five Rangers relievers, struck out two in a scoreless inning. Neftali Feliz worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his 11th save. Young, Ian Kinsler and Vladimir Guerrero homered for the Rangers. Torii Hunter and Juan Rivera each hit a two-run shot in the Angels’ five-run fourth.

Dodgers 7, Astros 3 In Los Angeles, Manny Ramirez, James Loney and Casey Blake each drove in two runs to help Los Angeles overcome Houston.

The Dodgers’ offense kept humming without the injured Andre Ethier, extended its winning streak to nine games. Los Angeles starter Hiroki Kuroda (5-1) allowed three runs over six innings, walking one.

Houston’s Bud Norris (2-5) gave up six runs over 4 1-3 innings.—AP

America’s Cup designers narrow down boat class

Blue Jays rout Twins, Red Sox edge Yankees TORONTO: Edwin Encarnacion returned from injury to hit one of Toronto’s four home runs as the Blue Jays romped to an 11-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in the American League on Tuesday.

Encarnacion had been out for a month with a shoulder injury.

Back in the lineup, he started the homer barrage with a tworun shot in the second.

Vernon Wells, Aaron Hill and Lyle Overbay also went long for Toronto, which leads the majors with 65 home runs this season.

Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum (3-1) won his third straight decision, allowing one run in seven innings.

Minnesota starter Carl Pavano (4-4) was pounded for six runs in four innings. He has a 6.21 ERA in 10 career games against Toronto.

strong innings, allowing only two runs, to remain unbeaten this season and help Chicago defeat Colorado.

Tyler Colvin had three hits and fellow rookie Starlin Castro drove in two runs for the Cubs, who have a three-game winning streak. Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin (2-2) gave up three runs and five walks in 5 2-3 innings. Todd Helton hit his first homer of the season for Colorado.

TORONTO: Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill (left) forces out Minnesota Twins right fielder Jason Kubel (right) at second base, then turns the double play over to first to force out Twins shortstop Brendan Harris during fifth inning AL action.—AP catch in the fourth inning helped Chicago beat Detroit. White Sox starter Freddy Garcia (3-2) gave up two runs over six innings, going five starts without a loss for the first time since the end of the 2006 season.

Tigers starter Rick Porcello (34) allowed four runs in seven innings.

White Sox 6, Tigers 2

Athletics 6, Mariners 5

In Detroit, Juan Pierre’s two-run double and run-saving

In Oakland, Kurt Suzuki’s RBI single with two outs in the

10th inning lifted Oakland over Seattle. Cliff Pennington drew a one-out walk from Seattle reliever Brandon League (3-4), advanced to second on a fly out and took third on a wild pitch.

Suzuki then hit a pitch up the middle, just past shortstop.

Oakland’s Ryan Sweeney matched his career high with four hits, Rajai Davis had three hits, including two infield singles, and Jack Cust drove in his first two runs since being called

up from the minors. A’s reliever Craig Breslow (1-1) pitched one scoreless inning for the win.

Orioles 4, Royals 3 In Baltimore, Nick Markakis singled in the winning run in the 10th inning, giving Baltimore a comeback win over Kansas City.

Luke Scott hit two solo home runs and Corey Patterson also connected for the Orioles, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Baltimore trailed 3-0 in

the fifth inning and 3-2 in the eighth.

Julio Lugo got Baltimore started in the 10th with a oneout single off Bryan Bullington (0-1). Patterson walked, and an error by first baseman Billy Butler loaded the bases for Markakis, who hit a liner well over the head of the center fielder. Alfredo Simon (1-1) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings for the Orioles to take the win.—AP

SAN DIEGO: One, two or three hulls? More than 60 feet long, or right around 90? In the most significant step toward creating a new class of boat for the 34th America’s Cup, some of the world’s leading yacht designers and engineers on Tuesday discussed three different options: multihulls of approximately 66 and 82 feet (20 and 25 meters), and a monohull class of up to approximately 89 feet (27 meters).

The group met in Valencia, Spain, where American syndicate BMW Oracle Racing routed Alinghi of Switzerland in two races in February in a showdown between two of the biggest, most powerful sailboats ever built.

It’s unlikely the America’s Cup will ever see the likes of those 90-foot giants again, especially winner USA, a trimaran that was powered by a radical 223-foot wing sail. USA, owned by software tycoon Larry Ellison of Oracle Corp., humbled Alinghi 5, a sleek and equally immense catamaran owned by Swiss biotech tycoon Ernesto Bertarelli. The boats pushed the limits of design, performance and, of course, cost.

That showdown was spawned by a bitter court fight between Ellison and Bertarelli, two of the world’s richest men. Because the match defaulted to the stipulations of the 19th century Deed of Gift, their design teams faced only a handful of limitations for building their space age-looking boats.

For the 34th America’s Cup, BMW Oracle Racing and other interested parties are preaching harmony while at the same time looking for a fast, high-performance boat that will play well on TV and not require a staggering bankroll.

“The teams want a new boat.

The fans deserve one too,” BMW Oracle Racing CEO and four-time

America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts said in a statement. “It will not be a ‘defender’s boat.’ It will be the product of genuine discussion and dialogue.”

Regardless of the design, America’s Cup insiders are looking for speed. Whether the final choice is a single-hulled boat or a multihull — most likely a catamaran — it is expected to be faster than the 90-foot monohulls that sailed in the 2007 America’s Cup, the most recent traditional, multichallenger regatta.

“The America’s Cup is the pinnacle of our sport, so the boats should be physically demanding to race well and produce fast, competitive racing to engage new fans,” said BMW Oracle Racing design coordinator Ian Burns, who chaired the Valencia meeting.

The new concepts were conceived by Bruce Nelson and Morrelli & Melvin, both Southern California-based designers of previous America’s Cup-winning yachts. Besides their expertise, Nelson and Morrelli & Melvin were chosen because they are not aligned with either BMW Oracle Racing or the Challenger of Record, Club Nautico di Roma, and its racing team, Mascalzone Latino.

Besides being fast and dynamic, the requirements for all three concepts are that they be distinctive to the America’s Cup, versatile enough to sail in any venue in winds from 5 to 35 knots; requiring a high degree of athleticism to sail, able to be transported to a regular series of regattas around the world and be built with advanced, efficient and cost-effective technologies. The specific class will be chosen by the end of September. The venue for the 34th America’s Cup, which likely will be held in 2013 or 2014, is expected to be announced by the end of the year. —AP

SPORTS

16

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Canadian accused of unlawfully treating athletes Galea, who is not authorized to work in the United States, is accused of repeatedly entering the country from 2007 to 2009 to treat professional athletes from Major League Baseball, the NFL and Professional Golfers’ Association, U.S. Attorney William Hochul said.

During that time, he billed three football players about $200,000, Hochul said.

“Today’s complaint reveals that those responsible for the flow of illegal drugs into our country can come from all walks of life,” Hochul said.

No athletes are identified by name in the government’s criminal complaint or supporting affidavit, which describes the 50year-old Galea traveling to various US cities to meet with athletes in hotel rooms and their homes.

Galea attorney Brian Greenspan called the complaint disappointing.

“It is regrettable that Dr. Galea, a world renowned and respected sports medicine

BUFFALO: A Canadian doctor whose highprofile clients have included Tiger Woods and Alex Rodriguez was charged Tuesday with bringing unapproved drugs into the United States and unlawfully treating pro athletes.

Dr. Anthony Galea of Toronto, who is known for using a blood-spinning technique designed to speed recovery from injuries, is accused of injecting at least one current National Football League player with Actovegin, a calf’s blood derivative which is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and providing a retired player with human growth hormone after his playing days had ended.

A criminal complaint filed in US District Court in Buffalo charges Galea with smuggling, unlawful distribution of human growth hormone, introducing an unapproved drug into interstate commerce, conspiring to lie to federal agents and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

physician, now faces these further charges,” Greenspan said by e-mail. The doctor already faces charges in Canada.

Greenspan declined further comment.

Galea became the focus of Canadian and US authorities’ attention last September when his assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, was stopped at the border in Buffalo with a small quantity of human growth hormone, Actovegin, and vials of “foreign homeopathic drugs.”

Catalano, who is referred to in court documents only as a cooperating witness, initially told border agents she was on her way to the Buffalo airport to fly to Washington, DC, to meet Galea for a medical conference.

Later, she said a professional athlete from Washington had called to request a session with Galea at a Washington-area hotel and that she was transporting the drugs because Galea had been flagged at the border, according to an affidavit.

The affidavit also refers to three uniden-

tified NFL players as witnesses, including one who allegedly received human growth hormone from Galea following his retirement.

The two other players said that while they were treated by the doctor, they carefully avoided receiving HGH or other performance-enhancing substances banned by the league.

One player, however, acknowledged receiving Actovegin injections from Galea, whom he saw weekly during football season and even more frequently when injured.

Galea also administered ultrasounds and intravenous drips on patients, as well as “injections of drug mixtures into the sites of muscle tears,” an ICE agent’s affidavit said.

“Dr. Galea would at times inject a cocktail containing HGH into an athlete,” the affidavit said. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said league officials had not been told the players’ identities but are in contact with investigators and cooperating.

“We obviously have a very strong interest in learning who these players are and about their involvement with any prohibited substances so that we can enforce our policies,” Aiello said.

The players’ union declined comment.

Since September, Major League Baseball players including the Mets’ Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran have been contacted by federal investigators about Galea. Both Mets said they did not receive HGH from him.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Chris Simms has acknowledged being treated by Galea but was not contacted by investigators, Simms told The Associated Press. In December, Simms described the plasma injections Galea gave him in 2007 while he struggled to recover after having his spleen removed.

“If they want to talk to me, feel free,” he said in Nashville on Tuesday. “Listen. I’m a big fan of Dr. Galea. I think he’s a great guy.

He’s helped thousands of people out, not

just athletes.” “He’s truly a great doctor,” Simms said. “I guess he’s made a mistake or two, and I feel bad for him.”

Simms said he has not violated any league policies. Separately, Galea was arrested in Canada on Oct. 15 after a search warrant was executed at the Institute of Sports Medicine Health and Wellness Centre in Toronto and charged with selling Actovegin, conspiracy to import an unapproved drug, conspiracy to export a drug and smuggling goods into Canada.

If convicted of the US smuggling charge, Galea could face up to 20 years in prison.

The other charges carry maximum sentences of three and five years.

Woods has said Galea treated him, and the doctor has said he prescribed antiinflammatories to Rodriguez as the Yankee slugger recovered from hip surgery last year. Both superstar athletes deny receiving performance-enhancing drugs from Galea.—AP

Flyers top Montreal in Game Two PHILADELPHIA: Michael Leighton stopped 30 shots and recorded his second straight shutout as the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

Danny Briere, Simon Gagne and Ville Leino scored for the Flyers. Game 3 is today at Montreal.

The Flyers have scored 13 straight goals in the postseason since trailing 3-0 in Game 7 against Boston in the East semifinals.

Leighton has been impeccable since taking over for an injured Brian Boucher in Game 5 of the semis.

Leighton has the Flyers two wins away from their first Stanley Cup finals appearance since 1997. The Flyers haven’t won the Stanley Cup since the second of their consecutive championships in 1975.

Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak played the entire game after getting yanked in Philadelphia’s 6-0 Game 1 win.

Blackhawks 4, Sharks 2 At San Jose, California, Dustin Byfuglien and Jonathan Toews scored on deflections 90 seconds apart in the second period as Chicago beat San Jose for its record-tying seventh straight road win in the playoffs.

Andrew Ladd and Troy Brouwer also scored and Antti Niemi made 25 saves for the Blackhawks, who have a 2-0 lead in the conference finals. This is the closest Chicago has been to making the Stanley Cup final since getting there in 1992.

The series moves to Chicago for Game 3 on Friday night. That may not be the best thing for the Blackhawks, who are only 3-3 at home this postseason.

The Blackhawks are the fifth team to win seven straight road games in a postseason, joining Colorado (1999), New Jersey (1995), and the New York Islanders (1980 and ‘82), according to STATS LLC. Patrick Marleau scored both goals for the Sharks, who dropped to 0-5 at home in two trips to the conference final. San Jose has lost all seven playoff series after falling behind 2-0.—AP

SAN JOSE: Scott Nichol No. 21 of the San Jose Sharks shoots a wrap-around on goaltender Antti Niemi No. 31 of the Chicago Blackhawks in the third period of Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.—AFP

Springboks host England in first three-test series CAPE TOWN: South Africa will host England in a three-test series in 2012 as part of a new International Rugby Board (IRB) directive to introduce longer end-ofseason tours in the southern hemisphere.

The two countries first met in 1906 when they ground out a 3-3 stalemate at Crystal Palace in London with England visiting South Africa four times since to play two-test tours in 1984, 1994, 2000 and 2007.

“Everyone in rugby has been yearning for a return to old-style tours and the IRB has now been able to deliver,” South African Rugby Union (SARU) president Oregan Hoskins said in a statement yesterday.

“We experience the drama that a proper tour delivers every time the British and Irish Lions appear and both the tourists and the host nations in the southern hemisphere were keen to see this change.”

Apart from the Lions in 1997 and 2009, England’s tour will be the first extended visit by a single nation since New Zealand won a three-match series in South Africa in 1996.

The IRB added that Ireland (2016) and France (2017) would embark on similar tours to South Africa before England returned for a second full series in 2018.

Meanwhile, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans still had a reason to smile heading into the international season, despite an alarming injury toll.

First choice hooker Stephen Moore (broken jaw) and prop Benn Robinson (broken arm) will be out until the TriNations while scrumhalf Will Genia (knee) is certain to miss Australia’s first two tests in June.

Added to those casualties, lock James Horwill (knee) and number eight Wycliff

Palu (knee) are already out for the season.

However, Deans, who was appointed after the 2007 World Cup with a goal to build a squad capable of winning the 2011 tournament in New Zealand, said yesterday he felt that his player pool was gradually deepening.

“We have more depth. We’ve been working towards being able to roll with those injuries and form and not be totally reliant on a few,” Deans told reporters in Sydney. “We’re getting to the point now where that’s becoming a reality.”

Deans said the relative success of the Australian Super 14 franchises in this year’s competition, which included the resurgence of the Queensland Reds, had also given him a greater pool of potential test players to pick from.

“This time last year Willie (Genia) had never played for the Wallabies, we had no teams in the Super 14 playoffs,” he said.

“We now have three in the top six and one in the playoffs,” he added of the finishing positions of the New South Wales Waratahs (third), Reds (fifth) and ACT Brumbies (sixth).

“The franchises have hung in and achieved results where a year prior they would have capitulated.” But a typically reticent Deans refused to be drawn too much on whether the Wallabies would be able to break a run of seven losses to the All Blacks and secure the Bledisloe Cup or win the Tri-Nations this year.

“That’s what we’re chasing,” the New Zealander said. “We’re working towards it, I’m not going to say anything beyond that.”

Deans will name his squad for the tests against Fiji, England and Ireland after the Waratahs complete their Super 14 commitments.—Reuters

The future is Asian not OneAsia, says Tour chief

FRANCE: New-Zealand rugby union national team prop Carl Hayman poses with his Toulon new jersey. Hayman is to leave Newcastle at the end of the season to join Jonny Wilkinson, the England fly-half in the French Club of Toulon.—AFP

SINGAPORE: Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han has questioned the long-term future of bitter rival OneAsia after cracks appeared in the fledgling circuit’s “dangerous structure”.

The Asian Tour and OneAsia have been engaged in a long-running dispute after the emergence of the ambitious new series, formed by the PGA of Australia, China Golf Association, Korea Golf Tour and the Korea Golf Association in 2009.

“A tour of 10 tournaments, long term, is not going to survive,” a relaxed Han told Reuters dressed in his golfing attire, overlooking the Orchid golf course on a stifling hot Wednesday in Singapore.

“So they have to get very aggressively very quickly and shake us up and they are seeing it is not working, it’s just a mess.”

The OneAsia Tour increased their number of tournaments from five last year to 11 for this season but have been accused by the Asian Tour of “cannibalising” their events after taking six from them.

However, OneAsia struck problems last month after a brief boycott by Korean players of their tournaments which they blamed on a smear campaign without naming who was behind it.

“If you see what happened in Korea last month it just happened and we had nothing to do with it,” Han said. “It shows there are cracks in the (OneAsia) structure.”

OneAsia, who work with Singapore-based sports marketing group World Sport Group, have said they hope to have 17-20 events for 2011 with a minimum purse of $1 million across nine countries but Han remains sceptical.

“I think they (OneAsia) will only be there

while the sports marketing company is backing it or it is going to go bankrupt.

“I think it is dangerous, we got out of that kind of structure earlier and we are structuring ourselves the same as the PGA Tour and the European Tour.”

“I would like to see them really attract the big companies to sponsor events rather than just underwriting.”

Han agreed that the concept of trying to link the many tours was the right move but that he had warned of the pitfalls of rushing into such a complex project.

“It’s hard for the golf associations to come up and try and do without the player endorsement but they (OneAsia) felt that if they put the tournaments up the players would play. It (the boycott) shows they started to soon.”

While Asian golf is booming with the emergence of Korea’s Yang Yong-eun, the continents first major winner, compatriot Noh Swung-yul and Japanese sensation Ryo Ishikawa, the battles and disputes are plaguing the sport in the region.

Han agreed the fighting amongst the two circuits competing for the same players and events was unhealthy but that he was willing to discuss the matter with only the tours involved.

“I said I will speak to the tours but not to a third party running behind it,” Han, who admitted he had been talking with the Korean Tour, said whilst reaching for his iced water.

“Tour to tour we can talk and work things out I have always said that. It’s not healthy for both tours. We lost five or six events and more potentially in China.

“OneAsia as a whole was never conceptually formed properly so I would rather talk with each country.”—Reuters

17

SPORTS

Thursday, May 20, 2010

DAEGU: World and Olympic triple gold medallist Usain Bolt from Jamaica (left) crosses the finish line ahead of Michael Frater from Jamaica during the men’s 100 meter event of the Daegu PreChampionships Meeting. — AFP

DAEGU: David Oliver (right) of the US races to the finish line ahead of Cuba’s Dayron Robles (second right) in the men’s 110 meter hurdle event of the Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting. — AFP

Bolt wins 100 in 9.86s

Daegu GP results Daegu Grand Prix men’s and women’s results from South Korea yesterday.

DAEGU: Usain Bolt won the 100 meters in 9.86 seconds in his season debut at the Daegu meeting yesterday.

The time was 0.28 seconds off the world record of 9.58 he set at last year’s world championships in Berlin, but he shaved 0.08 seconds off Tyson Gay’s 2009 meet record of 9.94.

Jamaican countryman Michael Frater was second in 10.15. “That race was really wonderful,” Bolt told South Korean television network MBC. “I really loved it and I’m looking forward to next year because it was full of energy.” He said he came to South Korea to run in Daegu Stadium and determine what he should work on when he returns to the venue for next year’s worlds.

“There is a high possibility of me setting a new world record next year,” Bolt said. He skipped the opening Diamond League meet in Doha, Qatar, last week but has entered Sunday’s

Diamond League meet in Shanghai.

Carmelita Jeter won the women’s 100 in 11.00 followed by Beijing Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica in 11.05.

Ryan Bailey of the United States won the men’s 200 in 20.58, and twotime Olympic champion Angelo Taylor won the 400 with 45.21.

German hammer thrower Betty Heidler came first with 75.28 meters, beating world record-holder Anita Wlodarczyk of Poland, who was fourth with 71.86, more than 6 meters below her record.

The meet, broadcast live in 3-D, was enjoyed by Seoul citizens on large television screens in city center plazas.

Meanwhile, the winner of a women’s half marathon in Shandong, China last weekend was stripped of her title when she was discovered to have brought in someone else to run for her.

Liu Shuling was initially awarded

victory in the race at the Yellow River Estuary International Marathon but video footage later revealed her to be Wang Xueqin, the People’s Daily newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Wang and Liu were both banned from the marathon for two years and will face further punishment from the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA).

This is not the first case of identity fraud at a Chinese long distance race this year.

In January, more than 30 competitors at the Xiamen International Marathon had their results cancelled after they were discovered to have been carrying time-recording microchips for other high school students.

Chinese students get extra credits for the highly competitive college entrance exams with good performances at international sporting events. — Reuters

Men’s 100m 1. Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 2. Michael Frater (Jamaica) 3. Michael Rodgers (US)

9.86 10.15 10.18

Men’s 200m 1. Ryan Bailey (US) 2. Marvin Anderson (Jamaica) 3. Monzavous Edwards (US)

20.58 20.59 20.73

Men’s 400m 1. Angelo Taylor (US) 2. Rabah Yousif (Sudan) 3. Jermaine Gonzales (Jamaica)

45.21 45.38 45.52

Men’s 800m 1. Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (South Africa) 2. Gilbert Kipchoge (Kenya) 3. Abraham Kiplagat (Kenya) Men’s 110m Hurdles 1. David Oliver (US)

1:45.60 1:46.01 1:46.02 13.11

2. Dayron Robles (Cuba) 3. Dwight Thomas (Jamaica)

13.26 13.40

Men’s Triple Jump 1. Randy Lewis (Grenada) 2. Kim Deok-hyeon (South Korea) 3. Samyr Laine (Haiti)

17.01 16.87 16.64

Women’s 1500m 1. Nikki Hamblin (New Zealand) 2. Kaila McKnight (Australia) 3. Esther Chemutai (Kenya)

4:15.21 4:15.90 4:16.62

Women’s 100m Hurdles 1. Virginia Powell-Crawford (U.S.) 2. Lolo Jones (US) 3. Perdita Felicien (Canada)

12.77 12.78 12.80

Women’s 200m 1. Bianca Knight (US) 22.92 2. Cydonie Mothersill (Cayman Islands) 23.14 3. Rosemarie Whyte (Jamaica) 23.30

Women’s Pole Vault 1. Yuliya Golubchikova (Russia) 2. Carolin Hingst (Germany) 3. Lacy Janson (U.S.) 3=. Silke Spiegelburg (Germany)

4.65 4.50 4.50 4.50

Women’s 800m 1. Kenia Sinclair (Jamaica) 2. Pamela Jelimo (Kenya) 3. Madeleine Pape (Australia)

Women’s Hammer Throw 1. Betty Heidler (Germany) 2. Tatyana Lysenko (Russia) 3. Kathrin Klaas (Germany)

Women’s 100m 1. Carmelita Jeter (US) 11.00 2. Veronica Campbell-Brown (Jamaica) 11.05 3. Sherone Simpson (Jamaica) 11.26

2:00.51 2:01.52 2:01.88

75.28 72.36 72.12

Tiger’s top spot is up for grabs, says Poulter

Ian Poulter seen in this file photo.

Casey wants courses to be treated like listed buildings VIRGINIA WATER: Defending PGA champion Paul Casey has called for golf courses to be offered the same status as listed buildings to prevent too much change after the remodelling of Wentworth’s iconic West Course.

Triple major winner and local resident Ernie Els has masterminded extensive alterations meaning few of the 18 holes remain untouched on the leafy layout on the outskirts of London.

“I suggested to (R&A chief executive) Peter Dawson yesterday maybe we should introduce some kind of scheme along the lines of that which we have with historic buildings in this country,” Casey told reporters on the eve of the PGA Championship. “(For instance) Ernie’s beautiful house by the 16th hole with the thatched roof and the (superb) plaster work. He owns it but that doesn’t give him the right to paint it pink and put a tin roof on it.

“When you’re an owner of a Grade II listed building it’s much like you’re the caretaker for the next generation... (similarly) if you’re the owner of a golf course does it give you the right to make the changes you want?

“Is that in the best interests of that particular course or for golf in general?”, added the world number eight. The Briton went on to suggest the rule-making R&A could play a role in protecting venues.

“I think we need to keep courses in as good a condition as we can... but maybe (owners) need to go through a procedure to make sure these changes are in line,” said the 32year-old.

“Maybe that’s something that would have to go through the R&A... along the lines of listing golf courses.”

Casey said the West Course, which now has a reduced par of 71 rather than 72, would represent a completely different test in the European Tour’s flagship event this week.

“It’s a course where I’m not sure my local knowledge means much any more,” said the Englishman, who has a house at nearby Esher.

“I think it’s going to be a very difficult challenge. I think the scores are going to be higher. “I’m not getting emotional about what I think about the changes. For me this is just like a new venue and I’m trying to figure out a way to get around in the fewest possible shots.” — Reuters

VIRGINIA WATER: Ian Poulter believes anyone in the top 10 can topple Tiger Woods as world number one if the American continues to drop ranking points this year.

Woods went into self-imposed golfing exile for five months following revelations of extra-marital affairs and has struggled with his game and fitness since finishing tied fourth on his US Masters comeback at the start of April.

“It’s closer now than it ever was because of the points Tiger has dropped,” the flamboyant Poulter told reporters on the eve of the PGA Championship at Wentworth.

“If they play great for a spell of three or four months, get a couple of wins and a couple of big finishes, I can see anybody in the top 10 getting to the points that Tiger is at now... including myself.”

Americans Phil Mickelson (two), Steve Stricker (four), Jim Furyk (five) and Anthony Kim (10) are jockeying for position with South African Ernie Els (seven), Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (nine) and English trio Poulter (six), Lee Westwood (three) and Paul Casey (eight).

Poulter said he and his two fellow countrymen enjoyed a friendly rivalry. “I think we all spur each other on and that’s healthy,” said the winner of February’s WGC-Accenture Match Play in Arizona.

“We all want to get as high as we possibly can. “Lee has played so well over the last couple of years and has got his game back to where it was in 2000 and 2001. His consistency has been incredible.”

Poulter has never fared well at the PGA Championship, missing six out of eight cuts before taking a break from the European Tour’s flagship event in 2008 and 2009.

He returns this week partly as a result of the extensive changes to the West Course masterminded by local resident Els, especially the alterations made to the putting surfaces.

“The greens used to be bumpy,” said Poulter. “You could hit a perfect putt from three feet on the perfect line and it would comfortably miss.

“That was frustrating. That is not what I want to do, I’d rather have a week at home putting on greens where I know if I hit it on the right line from three feet it is going to go in. “It always used to set me back a few weeks, getting over that. You think you’re putting badly but in fact you’re not.” — Reuters

Michelle Wie in action in this file photo.

Wie to open against Stacy GLADSTONE: Michelle Wie splashed her way around the course on Tuesday, determined to get in a full practice round for the Sybase Match Play Championship. “I played 18 holes, so that’s good in the rain,” said Wie, seeded eighth in the 64player event that begins Thursday at Hamilton Farm Golf Club.

“I was pretty proud of myself.”

The 20-year-old Stanford student is set to open play against 50th-seeded Stacy Prammanasudh. Wie won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico in November for her first LPGA Tour title and has two top-six finishes in six events this year.

“I’m just trying to become the best player I can be,” said Wie, trying to fill the void left by the retirements of Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam. “I’m working as hard as I can to win tournaments and to play well and to be that dominant player.

Everyone is vying for that spot now and everyone is working extra hard.” The top 32 seeds selected their opponents in a blind draw Tuesday.

Top-ranked Jiyai Shin will face South Korean compatriot Kyeong

of Famer Juli Inkster, and fourthseeded Yani Tseng will play Wendy Ward.

Hamilton Farm also was the site of match-play events in 2005 and 2006. Marisa Baena won in 2005, and Brittany Lincicome took the

Match Play Championship Bae. Shin took over the top spot when Ochoa retired three weeks ago after the Tres Marias Championship. “Match play is fun, but if you lose, you go home,” Shin said.

Second-seeded Ai Mayazato, the Japanese star who has won three of the first six events of the season, will open against Jeong Jang. Thirdseeded Suzann Pettersen drew Hall

2006 title, beating Wie, Ochoa and Inkster in the final three matches. In 2007 at Wykagyl in the tour’s last 64-player, match-play event, Seon Hwa Lee beat Miyazato in the final.

Lincicome, coming off a playoff loss to Se Ri Pak on Sunday in Mobile, Ala., in the rain-shortened Bell Micro LPGA Classic, will open against Beatriz Recari. Pak will play Azahara Munoz. — AP

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18

Thursday, May 20, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS: EJ Viso, of Venezuela, hits the wall in the first turn during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. —AP

Indy 500 practice ends with Viso’s crash INDIANAPOLIS: Venezuela’s EJ Viso was released from an Indianapolis hospital late Tuesday night after crashing during Indianapolis 500 practice.

The 25-year-old driver spun as he went through the first turn, then slid up the track and slammed into the outside wall. Viso was taken off the track on a stretcher, examined at the infield medical center and then transported to Methodist Hospital after complaining of back pain.

KV Racing Technology, Viso’s

team, issued a statement saying Xrays, MRI scans and a series of test showed no extensive damage. Viso was released about 5 hours after the crash and the team said he hopes to be driving his backup car when practice resumes Wednesday. Viso wasn’t the only KV Racing driver to have a tough day.

Brazil’s Mario Moraes damaged the rear wing and the gear box on his car when he spun coming out of the pits. He slid through the grass and backed into the inside wall before dri-

ving the car back to the pits. Moraes was not hurt. Rain has interrupted each of the first four practice days on the 2.5-mile oval and it postponed the start of Tuesday’s session by a little more than an hour.

Practice also was stopped briefly several times throughout the rest of the afternoon when it appeared rain was moving in. The cool, damp weather has wreaked havoc on team plans, especially after race organizers trimmed the traditional three-week schedule to two weeks and the tradi-

tional four qualifying days to two.

Practice is scheduled to continue through tomorrow with qualifying for the May 30 race scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, a US District Judge has dismissed suspended driver Jeremy Mayfield’s lawsuit against NASCAR. Mayfield was suspended last May 9 for failing a random drug test. NASCAR later said the driver tested positive for methamphetamines, a claim Mayfield has consistently denied.

Judge Graham Mullen threw out the case Tuesday in Charlotte, saying that Mayfield had twice waived his right to pursue any claims against NASCAR when he signed documents both as a driver and as an owner to participate in the stock car series.

“Plaintiffs thereby waived their right to pursue their claims for defamation, unfair and deceptive trade practices, breach of contract, and negligence,” Mullen wrote in his decision. “Plaintiffs’ claims are hereby dismissed.” Mayfield’s wife,

Shana, said the couple had no comment on the ruling, which can be appealed. She said attorney Mark Geragos would speak on their behalf.

Geragos’ voice mailbox was full, and he did not immediately respond to an e-mail request for comment.

Mayfield argued at various points in his defense that his positive test stemmed from a mix of an over-thecounter allergy medication and prescription drug Adderall, that NASCAR’s testing system was flawed and that NASCAR did not follow fed-

eral guidelines in its testing methods.

Mayfield sued for breach of contract, discrimination and defamation and won an injunction last July to participate in NASCAR. He never attempted to make a race, and the suspension was reinstated by the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals after he failed a second random drug test.

Mullen’s ruling Tuesday was in response to a motion NASCAR made last November to dismiss the suit based on pleadings already submitted.

There was no hearing. —AP

Rochus sends Soderling packing

Maria Sharapova returns a ball in this file photo

Sharapova cruises into q-finals STRASBOURG: Top-seeded Maria Sharapova cruised into the quarterfinals of the Strasbourg International with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Bulgarian qualifier Dia Evtimova yesterday.

Sharapova, given a wild-card entry after two months out with a right elbow injury, didn’t face a single break point to claim her second victory on clay this year.

Sharapova lost in the first round at Madrid last week. Sharapova will next face Julia Goerges of Germany, who defeated sixth-seeded Sybille Bammer of Austria 6-1, 7-6 (6).

Vania King, a doubles specialist who won her sole singles title in Bangkok in 2006, broke local hope Alize Cornet five times and won 6-3, 6-2.

King, who upset second-seeded Elena Vesnina of Russia in the first round, will next face Anastasia Rodionova of Australia, who went through after Elena

Baltacha of Britain retired with a lower back injury while leading 2-1 in the first set.

Three-time tournament winner Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain also advanced, taking advantage of Lucie Hradecka’s retirement.

Medina Garrigues was leading 6-4, 3-0 when Hradecka quit with a left wrist injury.

Kristina Barrois of Germany defeated Yvonne Meusburger of Austria 7-5, 6-3.

In Warsaw, top-five player Elena Dementieva will head to the French Open scrambling for confidence after a third straight early round loss on European clay at the Warsaw Open yesterday.

Dementieva, a former French Open finalist, lost her first matchup with Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova 75, 4-6, 6-4 in just under three hours.

The Russian received a bye into the second round in Warsaw, and has only

two wins from three tournaments in her buildup to the year’s second Grand Slam event, starting on Sunday.

Pironkova, ranked 100, will play her first quarterfinals since October against Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania who defeated Timea Bacsinsky of Switzerland 6-2, 6-4. In other second-round games, third-seeded Li Na of China beat wild card Katarzyna Piter of Poland 6-0, 6-3, and Zheng Jie of China beat Tathiana Garbin of Italy 6-1, 6-1 to meet top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the quarterfinals.

Sixth-seeded Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine won over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4, while Greta Arn of Hungary defeated Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4. The two winners will meet in the quarterfinals. Sara Errani of Italy defeated Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 7-6 (7), 6-3 and will meet Li. —AP

NICE: Robin Soderling, last year’s French Open finalist, was knocked out of the Nice Open here yesterday in the second round by Olivier Rochus.

The Belgian, ranked 60th in the world, upset the Swedish top seed in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. “To beat a Top Ten player doesn’t happen everyday,” beamed unseeded Rochus, 29. “It was a great performance, especially as Robin’s game doesn’t suit me, he hits the ball very hard.”

Rochus recovered from the loss of the opening set to progress to the quarter-finals despite only producing four aces compared to 15 for Soderling.

The turning point came with Soderling leading 21 in the second set and break point for the Swede only for Rochus to produce one of his four aces.

After levelling the match at one set all Rochus raced to a 4-0 lead in the deciding set, resisting Soderling’s fightback to close out the match 6-4.

Soderling avoided the traditional post-match press conference, preferring instead to hop into an organisers’ car bound for the airport.

As for Rochus he heads now for a last eight date with Richard Gasquet, the French star who won his second round encounter with Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.

“This is our fifth meeting in the last six weeks,” noted Rochus, who lost to Gasquet in Bordeaux last week. Meanwhile, Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro will not defend his U.S. Open title as he continues his recovery from wrist surgery, the world number five said yesterday.

Del Potro, who had surgery on his right wrist on May 4, said the Paris Open indoor tournament in November was a realistic comeback target.

“If all goes well, I’d return after the US Open,” Del Potro said on his arrival in Buenos Aires from a check-up with his surgeon in the United States.

The US Open, where the Argentine with a thunderously flat forehand stormed to a maiden grand slam title last September by coming from two sets to one down to beat Roger Federer in the final, starts on Aug. 30.

“The tournament is and always will be very special for me, all my life, but I don’t want to rush things,” the rangy 21-year-old told reporters at Ezeiza international airport.

“If I have to return next year or at Paris Bercy, I will,” said Del Potro, referring to the Paris Open.

The nagging wrist problem had troubled the righthander since before his fourth-round exit at the Australian Open in January. He has not played since.

“Thankfully, I’ve already undergone the operation and everything went well. Now I just have to recover,” said Del Potro, who will continue his recovery in his home town of Tandil, 350 km south of Buenos Aires.

“I don’t want to get desperate in rehab and I’m comfortable with the fact that if I do my time I’ll be playing again on the circuit,” he said.

“I know it’s going to take a long time to get back to being among the top players like I was before, but what I want more than anything is to return.”

Argentina’s chances of reaching a third Davis Cup final since 2006 will also decrease with Del Potro’s absence from their quarter-final in Russia in July. The Russians beat Argentina in the 2006 final in Moscow. —Reuters

Robin Soderling in action in this file photo

Bangladesh collapse against England Lions DERBY: Bangladesh’s preparations for next week’s first Test at Lord’s suffered a blow when they collapsed against England Lions at Derby yesterday.

The tourists, playing their final tour match before the Lord’s clash with England, slipped from 109 for one to be bowled out for 220 on the first day, with Steve Kirby taking three wickets in 18 balls for the Lions.

Ravi Bopara returned from England’s Twenty20 World Cup triumph to run through the Bangladesh tail, finishing with three for nine, but he made only 12 with the bat as the Lions reached 125 for three at the close.

Bangladesh had batted well after they were put in against a Lions attack which struggled for the right length, but the innings was undermined by some rash shots.

Tamim Iqbal drove and glanced Kirby for three consecutive fours and Imrul Kayes brought up the 50 in the 11th over when he off-drove Chris Woakes to the ropes.

Kayes was dropped on 20 when he drove James Harris low to Woakes in the covers but Iqbal’s attacking instincts betrayed him when he topedged a hook at Liam Plunkett and was caught at fine leg for 36.

Kayes looked well set until he

flashed at Woakes and was caught behind for 42, and the tourists’ decline gathered pace after lunch as the seamers found a more consistent line.

Junaid Siddique was taken by a juggling Moeen Ali at second slip for 30 and Mohammad Ashraful suffered his first failure of the tour when he edged a big drive at Kirby.

The Gloucestershire paceman then found some extra bounce to have Mushfiqur Rahim caught by Ali for a single and Plunkett struck with his first ball back when Jahurul Islam mistimed a pull to mid on.

The tourists were in deep trouble at 158 for seven after Abdur Razzak edged Woakes to first slip but Mahmudullah responded by hooking Plunkett for two consecutive sixes before he pulled Bopara to Monty Panesar at fine leg.

Bopara then failed with the bat, taken at second slip by Robiul Islam, and Moeen Ali went first ball when he edged low to Kayes.

Alastair Cook and Gale had some uncomfortable moments against the tourists’ seamers but were rebuilding the innings until the skipper pulled Rubel Hossain to mid-on.

Gale completed his half-century from 71 balls and shared an unbroken stand of 50 with James Taylor to leave the Lions 95 behind at the close. —AFP

SPORTS

Thursday, May 20, 2010

19

UAE football shows status of female Muslim players ABU DHABI: They only recently got a grass practice field. They’ve come under attack on their Facebook page, and some fear telling their relatives that during their spare time they play football. Such are the troubles facing the national women’s team from the United Arab Emirates.

And this is progress.

Recently, the UAE women scored their greatest triumph, making their first appearance in a major tournament. Playing live on national television and in front of a boisterous crowd of several hundred men - the Gulf upstarts stunned reigning champion Jordan 1-0 in the West Asian Football Federation championship.

“It has made me so proud,” said Alaa Ahmed, a 15-yearold midfielder who is one of the few players wearing a tightly drawn, black headscarf, leggings and long-sleeved shirt during matches.

“Afterward, the other kids in school came up and asked for my autograph. They said I was a star. It’s a great feeling.”

The topsy-turvy journey of the UAE team is symptomatic of the issues faced by female athletes across the Islamic world.

Helped by families moving to the cities, better education and increased government support, Muslim women from Indonesia to Morocco are taking up sports in small but growing numbers.

They are forming football leagues in Turkey, boxing clubs in Afghanistan and rugby teams in Iran. Nearly 150 female athletes from 18 Muslim countries took part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a record and a fivefold increase from the 1988 Seoul games, according to the International Olympic Committee.

Yet the growth comes in fits and starts, and is vulnerable to age-old cultural pressures, modern rules and varying player commitment.

Saudi Arabia, for instance, does not allow women to participate in the Olympics and the once-banned Kuwaiti football team was denounced on its return from the WAFF tournament by conservative lawmakers who want a ban on all international competitions.

In Iraq, a women’s wrestling club disbanded last year after receiving death threats from religious groups.

Then there is growing debate on the wearing of headscarves at sporting events.

While rugby, volleyball and taekwondo federations allow them, FIFA has resisted lifting a ban - standing by rules designed for safety but seen

by Muslims as discriminatory.

Last month, FIFA initially blocked the Iranian girls’ football team from competing in this summer’s inaugural Youth Olympics over their insistence on wearing headscarves - which some Muslims say protects the modesty of Islamic girls and women. FIFA allowed them back in this month after the team agreed to wear a cap that covers their hair.

“Despite the growth in participation rates, the biggest challenges remain legal prohibitions, social stigma and limited opportunity,” said Meghan O Mahoney, an expert on women’s sports at Northeastern University in the United States. Formed in 2004 by a handful of young women in love with the game, the UAE team operated in name only for the first several years. Then in 2008, the group hired Australian Connie Selby, who instituted regular practices and games with opponents from other parts of the country and tours of Europe.

Their victory over Jordan in February raised the team’s profile and turned many of the players into local celebrities.

But on a balmy night at the team’s new practice field, a gift of the government located in the shadow of a men’s football stadium, the limit of their newfound success was easy to see. Selby, a 50-year-old former Australian national team captain, was running out of patience.

She had spent the day gearing up for the intense passing drills. By the time practice was set to start, only Ahmed and another player had bothered to show up. Practice had to be scrapped. “I’ve been get-

ting text messages all day from players saying they can’t come, they can’t come,” said a frustrated Selby, who before taking the UAE job coached in Australia and headed women’s football in the Oceanian Football Confederation.

Retaining players - all of whom are in school or have day jobs as police officers, bankers and administrators is a huge challenge. Compared to thousands of players to choose from in nations such as Australia or Japan, the UAE only has a pool of 20 who are trying to balance family and work demands with the team.

There is no UAE league to motivate them and games are rare. The next match is another regional tournament in August. Without a league, the team cannot qualify to play in Asian Football Confederation tournaments which could lead to a World Cup berth - a dream of Selby and many of the players.

“A lot of them see this as a job, rather than a love of the game,” said Nadine Schtakleff, a 25-year-old banker whose family hails from Lebanon.

She was typical of most of the players, who prefer T-shirt and shorts over the headscarf and long jogging trousers. “It takes a lot to be committed,” she said. “It is new here and there are not a lot of people willing to step out and invest in the team.”

And there is the conservative culture to confront. While Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and his wife, Princess Haya, have championed women’s sports and two of Mohammed’s daughters took part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, many Emiratis have their suspicions about Western sports.

They fear that women’s football forces their women to wear revealing clothes that will expose their bodies, a taboo in a country of 4.8 million people where the preferred dress is the black, cloak-like abaya and hijab.

As a result, the team has lost several players, including one who left after a relative saw her playing in the championship game without her headscarf. The job of changing the Emirati mindset falls to Nada Yousef Al-Hashimi, a Ministry of Economy official who took up swimming and athletics at school. When she is not trying to lure foreign investment into the country, Al-Hashimi can be found at the team’s practice watching protectively over the players.

Al-Hashimi insists she is not trying to change the culture as much as making the case that football is no threat to local traditions. She tirelessly promotes the team and has been known to engage critics who pop up on the team’s Facebook page, which includes a lively discussion page debating the merits of women’s football in the Middle East, dozens of team photos and links to YouTube videos.

A few angry comments criticizing women’s football as culturally inappropriate have been deleted, though most are respectful, said one of the page’s creators, Abdul Razaq Al-Kabi. “We have to respect their ideas and we can do a lot to convince them by showing how the girls play, how they are part of a bigger community,” Al-Hashimi said.

The UAE players also have to contend with siblings and parents who feel football undermines family traditions dictating that a woman’s place is in the home. Several spoke of long fights just to play, including one player who no longer talks to her father and a second forced to quit the team for a month after her parents were inundated by complaints from friends and relatives.

“I just told them I cannot survive without playing football,” said Nayla Ibrahim, a 25year-old police officer who is one of the team’s goalkeepers.

“I was so depressed that I didn’t even want to go to work.”

Ibrahim’s parents reneged and let her return. But they did not attend the championship game for fear they would be seen overly supporting her. “From the bottom of their hearts,” Ibrahim said, “I know they wanted to come and watch me.” — AP

ABU DHABI: In this photo taken on April 25, 2010, Alla Ahmed from Egypt (center-left) controls the ball during a training session of the United Arab Emirates women’s football team at their training field next to a mosque. — AP

ABU DHABI: An Emirati girl with henna art on her hand holds a football during a training session for girls at the UAE Women’s Football Academy. — AP

Both Koreas heading to WCup amid tensions at home SEOUL: With both North and South Korea competing in the same World Cup for the first time, many on this war-divided peninsula were hoping for a moment when sports can cross borders and unite people.

That feeling was so strong that some South Korean lawmakers had even proposed sending a united group of fans to South Africa to support both Korean teams.

But the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship in March has shattered the mood and heightened tensions between the two nations, and the chances of using the World Cup as an opportunity for reconciliation appear to have been dashed, just weeks before kickoff.

The results of an investigation into the ship sinking are due out Thursday, and if South Korea points at the communist North as the culprit, a diplomatic push to haul the North before the U.N. Security Council may soon follow. North Korea will arrive at the World Cup with little of the goodwill it received at its last appearance in the World Cup in 1966, when — despite Cold War tensions — the team won over fans in Britain and elsewhere.

Known at home as the “Chollima” squad, the lightly regarded North Koreans produced a monster upset over Italy to advance to the quarterfinals.

Most neutrals supported the underdogs as they took a 3-0 lead against Portugal in the quarterfinal, but the Portuguese _ led by the legendary Eusebio _ surged back with five goals to put an end to the North Koreans’ fairy-tale run.

A lot has changed for the Koreas in the four decades since that tournament. Back then, the North had a stronger economy than the struggling South, and even the Chollima players’ boots were the envy of the South Korean team.

Today, the cash-strapped North relies on handouts to feed its people while the capitalist South boasts the world’s 15th largest economy. Sanctions for its nuclear defiance have further strained the North and earned pariah status for the regime led

by iron-fisted Kim Jong Il. Footage from ‘66 shows the North Koreans interacting playfully with their newfound fans as they wave and sign autographs, even bouncing local kids on their knees. In the years since, the regime has closed ranks and tightened its control over the population of 24 million.

Few are allowed to leave the country, and those who do travel

peace treaty at the close of the three-year Korean War in 1953.

Sports, however, has been one area where both sides have made fledgling efforts at reconciliation.

At the 2000 Summer Olympics, athletes from the two Koreas walked into Stadium Australia together under a “unification flag” to an emotional standing ovation. Hopes were high that the Koreas might even-

games in North Korea. “It would be a good opportunity to bring North Korea into the mainstream,” he told The Associated Press.

“Right now, North Korea is fairly isolated, and there’s still hatred between North and South Korea. This will contribute to both peace and the integration of Koreans both in North and South Korea.” North Korean striker

sadors the nation has had in decades.

Fans lined the streets to bid the men farewell, waving North Korean flags and bouquets for players known at home as “The Dagger,” “the Warrior” and “the Bulldozer.” “After 44 years, our players are going to World Cup, and the North Korean people have great expectations of them,” Pyongyang resident Chon

DAEGU: In this Sept. 1, 2003, file photo, North Korean women hold “unification flags” at Daegu Universiade Game in Daegu, South Korea. With both North and South Korea in the World Cup for the first time, many on the war-divided peninsula were hoping for a moment when sports can cross borders and unite people.—AP abroad — even the World Cup squad — are closely supervised

by North Korean officials.

Football could be one way to break down political walls, says former South Korean Foreign Minister Han Sung-joo, citing the “ping pong diplomacy” that between the US and China in the 1970s.

North and South Korea remain locked in a state of war because they never signed a

tually field a united team.

Last year, the blue-and-white unity flag fluttered in the packed stands in Seoul as North Korea played the South in a World Cup qualifier, with the South’s exuberant Red Devils fans cheering for both teams.

Han, who now heads South Korea’s bid to host the World Cup in 2022, has a bold vision for the Koreas if the South wins: He wants to host three or four

Jong Tae Se said holding World Cup games in the North would be “historic.”

“It would be beyond our wildest dreams, and I would be happy and all Korean people would be happy,” Jong, who was born and raised in Japan but holds a North Korean passport, told the AP last month.

For now, North Koreans’ hopes rest with the World Cup squad, the most visible ambas-

Sung Won told broadcaster APTN in the North Korean capital.

But they face a daunting lineup: North Korea’s group contains Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast.

The North Koreans are tough and disciplined, but only Jong and two others play internationally; the rest are virtual unknowns to the outside world.

And political tensions may cost North Korean fans the

chance to see their team play. In the past, the South Korean government has covered the cost to beam World Cup footage to the North by satellite.

Last year, broadcaster SBS began the tricky process of negotiating with Pyongyang — by fax from Beijing — to offer footage from the upcoming World Cup in exchange for access to the North Korean team.

“But the ship sinking in March put a heavy strain on inter-Korean relations, leading to a standstill in negotiations,” said Yang Cheol-hoon, head of the broadcaster’s inter-Korean cooperation department.

Even in better times, North Koreans rarely got to watch a full match, defectors say. Highlights of select games are shown on tape delay on North Korea’s one channel, said a woman who defected from the North last year and now lives in Seoul.

In one filmmaker’s imagination, World Cup fever makes it as least as far as the Demilitarized Zone that seperates the two countries.

In Kye Yoon-shik’s film “Dreams Come True,” to be released next week, North Korean soldiers posted to the DMZ rig up illicit broadcasts of South Korea’s historic advance to the semifinals in 2002.

He made the film when reflecting upon the frenzy on the streets of Seoul when South Korea co-hosted the event with Japan in 2002 and made the semifinals.

“Thousands of people dressed in red, boulevards blocked off and the whole country coming together to cheer for the soccer team — I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What’s going on on the other side of the border?”‘ he said. “Did they watch the games at all? Were they cheering for us?

“This movie shows that we’re one people; it shows the Korean people’s love for one another,” Kye said. And who will he support when the World Cup begins?

“It’s not every day that both Koreas make the World Cup,” he said. “Of course I’ll be cheering for the North Koreans.”—AP

Barcelona sign Villa for 40 million euros

Mourinho in, Pellegrini out at Real — reports

MADRID: Barcelona have moved swiftly to reinforce their squad, snapping up Spain striker David Villa from Valencia for 40 million euros ($49.7 million) yesterday, three days after winning a second consecutive La Liga title.

After a Valencia board meeting, president Manuel Llorente said they had accepted Barca’s offer for the prized striker, who scored 21 league goals last season to finish his fifth consecutive campaign as the club’s top scorer.

“There was a big offer from England that was not from Chelsea but Barcelona’s was the best for us and the footballer,” Llorente told a news conference at the Mestalla, without specifying which Premier League club had made a bid. “Villa has delivered a lot (to Valencia) and he deserves this chance,” he added.

The 28-year-old is Spain’s second-highest scorer with 36 goals from 55 matches, eight short of the record held by Real Madrid striker Raul, and he will be spearheading Spain’s World Cup campaign in South Africa next month.

Barcelona confirmed the deal in a statement on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com), saying Villa would sign a four-year contract with an option for one more

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini is set to be handed a four-million euro walkaway payment and replaced by Inter Milan’s Jose Mourinho for next season, press reports in Spain claimed Tuesday.

“Bye bye Pellegrini, ‘Mou’ is on his way,” said the headline in Spanish daily El Mundo, one of several claiming that the exit of Chilean Pellegrini from the Santiago Bernabeu after just one season in charge is only days away.

“Pellegrini is counting down the hours,” added El Pais. After a record spending spree in the close-season, notably with the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United and Kaka from AC Milan, Real Madrid are set to finish the season trophyless.

Barcelona beat Real to the Spanish league title last weekend, while Ronaldo and co. failed to get past the Champions League’s round of 16, in which arch rivals and defending champions Barca lasted until the semi-finals stage.

According to the reports, Real president Florentino Perez is set to sack the 56-year-old Pellegrini, who has a year left on his contract and plenty of support from the dressing room.

Ironically, Mourinho will get a chance to see Real Madrid’s facil-

year.

The player, who Barca said “guaranteed goals”, will travel to the Catalan capital on Thursday and will take a medical before being presented on Friday at 1130 GMT. Nicknamed “el guaje” (the kid), Villa will join a formidable Barca forward line that already includes La Liga’s leading marksman Lionel Messi, Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Spaniards Pedro and Bojan Krkic. France striker Thierry Henry spent most of last season on the bench and is expected to move on.

Barca sporting director Txiki Begiristain told the club’s TV channel on Wednesday Villa was a similar player to Messi in that he could play as a centre forward or drift in from the right wing into goal-scoring positions.

“He has the profile of a player who makes very good diagonal runs and moves very well into space,” Begiristain said.

Valencia have been forced into the sale by the precarious nature of their finances. They are burdened with debts of more than 500 million euros, they have a half-built new stadium, and have yet to sell their current one, the Mestalla.—Reuters

RUSTENBURG: In this June 11, 2009 file photo, Spain’s David Villa gestues during a training session. —AP

ities up close when he leads his Inter Milan side to the Champions League final against Bayern Munich on Saturday.

But despite declaring he is “unhappy” with life in Italy, Mourinho-who has two years left on his Inter contract-has recently played down speculation linking him to the Spanish giants.

“After (the final in) Madrid there will be time to be selfish for one, two or three days and to think about what will make me happiest from a professional point of view,” said the 47-year-old Portuguese last weekend.

“But right now I can tell you 100 percent that it’s not true that I have one and a half feet at Real.

Quite the contrary, I’m very far from becoming the Real coach.”

Inter president Massimo Moratti said Monday he was unsure of Mourinho’s intentions after the final, and for the Spanish press that is synonymous with his arrival at Real.

According to both AS and El Mundo, talks between Mourinho’s and Real’s representatives have already been held, resulting in a verbal agreement.

Reports also said Pellegrini would be handed a four million euro “walkaway” payment, while Real would have to pay Inter eight million euros to end Mourinho’s contract at Inter.—AFP

www.kuwaittimes.net

Celtics top Magic

ITALY: Australian Richie Porte (Saxo Bank) celebrates with the pink jersey of leader of the 93rd Giro d’Italia on the podium of the 11th stage going from Lucera to L’Aquila.—AFP

Porte in pink, flood disrupts stage L’AQUILA: Richie Porte became the first Australian since Robbie McEwen in 2005 to don the Tour of Italy overall leader’s pink jersey yesterday following the 11th stage, the 262 kilometres ride from Lucera to here.

Porte, a 25-year-old former swimmer and triathlete, replaced Kazakh veteran Alexandre Vinokourov in pink in a stage won by Russian Evgeni Petrov - celebrating his birthday early as he turns 32 on May 25 - in torrential rain that saw the stage disrupted by a river breaking its banks.

Vinokourov and Australian Cadel Evans suffered badly in the wretched conditions losing over 12 minutes to Spain’s 2008 Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre, who put behind him his disappointing tour so far in which he has fallen three times, to leapfrog the two of them in the overall standings.

Porte, who won the time-trial stage on the Tour of Romandy this season, was stunned at his elevation to overall leader.

“I can scarcely believe this!” he gasped. “I cannot still understand how this could happen.

But I am in a good position, with a good team who were underestimated by others at the

beginning of the race.

“But when one sees how Chris Sˆrensen, who has already won a stage, sacrificed himself for me as he did today that is impressive. “I am going to try and hang onto the pink jersey.

“But this is the first time that I am competing in a major tour.”

Vinokourov, who at 36 has shown he is as hungry as ever for success and restore his battered reputation after being thrown out of the 2007 Tour de France in disgrace for blood doping, for which he received a year’s suspension, said that his challenge was not finished. “It was a very long day.

But it is not finished. They (the other favourites) were watching out for me to react.

Now, it is for the other teams to dictate matters. The race is a long one.”

Sastre was delighted at the end result. “It is a result beyond our wildest dreams,” said Sastre, who is eighth overall, but more importantly over two minutes ahead of Vinokourov and Evans.

“The situation with regards to the bigger picture has been completely turned on its head after a difficult start to the Tour.” Evans was

short and to the point about the stage. “It was a long day, horrible and bizarre.”

Sastre had got away with around 60 other riders at the 35km mark before the really bad weather set in and at one point the breakaway group had built up a near 20 minute lead. Both Vinokourov and Evans’ teams worked frantically to limit the damage proving costly as both lost two riders apiece.

The business end of the race saw a battle between Germany’s Linus Gerdemann and Belgium’s Jan Bakelants, but his challenge came to an end when he fell on the drenched surface 1800 metres from the finish line.

Petrov, though, was to deny Gerdemann victory as he crept up on him to cross the line first to record his first success in the race in a career that has rarely tasted the heights that he experienced when crowned junior world champion in 2000.

“I went with the escape group with the idea of winning the stage,” said Petrov. “My last win was so long ago (2002) that I can’t even remember it!” Today’s 12th stage is a 206km ride from Citta Sant’Angelo to Porto Recanati on the Adriatic Coast.—AFP

ORLANDO: Paul Pierce scored 28 points and Rajon Rondo had 25 as the Boston Celtics again avoided a late collapse to take a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference finals with a 95-92 victory over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.

Boston bullied and bruised its way to a 2-0 series lead on the road against a Magic team that had won 14 straight until this series. The Celtics held the Magic to 39 percent shooting.

Dwight Howard had 30 points, and Vince Carter and JJ Redick scored 16 apiece for the Magic, who overcame an 11point deficit to take a brief lead in the fourth quarter. But they couldn’t hold it. Jameer Nelson’s desperation 3-point attempt missed at the buzzer.

Game 3 is Saturday night in Boston.

“Our fans won’t let us relax,” Pierce said. “We’re going to try and close it out in four games.” The Celtics buckled down just enough to hold on late in this one. Ahead 11 points to start the fourth quarter, that almost wasn’t enough.

The Magic, just as they did in Game 1, found their rhythm late.

They went on a 13-4 run to trim Boston’s lead to 85-83 with about six minutes left. Carter’s jumper with 4:05 remaining gave Orlando a 90-89 lead with 3:35 remaining, and then the Celtics summoned their championship form again.

Kevin Garnett and Rondo made consecutive jump shots, and after Nelson made a layup, Pierce answered with two free throws that put Boston ahead by three.

Carter missed two free throws with 31.9 seconds left that cost Orlando dearly. It must have felt all too familiar to Magic fans who watched Howard’s damaging misses at

ORLANDO: Vince Carter No.15 of the Orlando Magic is fouled by Paul Pierce No. 34 of the Boston Celtics in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs.—AP the stripe in Game 4 of the NBA finals last year and Nick Anderson’s four bricks in Game 1 of the 1995 finals.

“Just think our mindset was to be ready for the type of intensity they would bring after losing at home,” Pierce said. “We know the Magic are a talented

the weighted lottery for clubs that failed to make the playoffs.

The second choice went to the Philadelphia 76ers (27-55), who had only a 5.3 percent representation in the drawing. The Nets, who stumbled to a 12-70 regular season record, had a 25 percent chance of snaring the

Wizards get top draft pick team and we won’t take these two wins for granted.”

Meanwhile, the Washington Wizards drew the first pick in next month’s NBA Draft, winning Tuesday’s lottery despite having the fifth best chance at securing the top choice, while NBA-worst New Jersey Nets had to settle for third.

Washington, 26-56 in the regular season, cashed in on their 10.3 percent chance among the 14 clubs eligible for

number one overall pick, widely expected to be Kentucky point guard John Hall.

Ohio State forward Evan Turner is also considered a possible top selection by draft experts. “This is a great night for our franchise and particularly for our fans,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement.

“They have shown great support and passion during what has been a difficult stretch over

the last two seasons, but they can celebrate tonight knowing that we’ve taken a big step towards building the team that they deserve.” Fourth pick in the June 24 draft will go to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors following. Representing the Wizards was Irene Pollin, widow of Abe Pollin, the franchise patriarch who died in November.

Pollin, who will be turning the franchise over to new owner Ted Leonsis after her recent sale of the team, wore her late husband’s team championship ring from their 1978 NBA triumph for good luck at the lottery drawing.

“I’m so glad I have this ring on because my husband, I think, is really here,” she told a TV interviewer. “His spirit is here.” —Reuters

Porsche Cayenne: Can’t get better than this

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Nasser Al-Sayer Construction signs deal with Mammut Systems

24

Lufthansa receives first Airbus A380

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

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Vodafone, Bharti win India 3G spectrum NEW DELHI: Vodafone and Bharti paid a combined $5.1 billion for 3G mobile licenses in India, ending an epic auction that yields a bonanza for a deficitstrapped government but puts winners under pressure.

Reliance Communications also won the right to provide thirdgeneration services in an auction that lasted 34 days and will generate $14.6 billion for the government, authorities said yesterday, nearly twice what it had expected.

“It’s good news for the government, no doubt,” said Arun Kejriwal, strategist at Kris Research in Mumbai. “For the operators it’s a large sum of money that has to be paid out. We have to see how these services are priced and received by the subscribers and how it will impact their profitability,” he said. India is the world’s fastest growing mobile phone market with some 500 million subscribers. India’s three biggest carriers-Vodafone, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications — each won the key licenses for Delhi and Mumbai.

Nine private operators participated in the auction for three sets of licenses, which ended with no single carrier winning high-speed third-generation spectrum in all 22 circles up for bid. Seven different carriers, including Idea Cellular and unlisted Tata Teleservices, ended up winning spectrum. Japan’s NTT DoCoMo owns 26 percent of Tata Teleservices. A fourth license will be sold separately and has been reserved for state operators.

India is a late adapter of 3G and is the biggest economy not to offer such premium services on a wide scale, although the state-run telecoms firms have 3G services in some zones. Vodafone Essar, the UK giant’s India unit, will pay about $2.5 billion for its India 3G mobile spectrum, according to data on a government website.

Bharti, the country’s biggest carrier in which SingTel has a stake, is paying about $2.6 billion.

The auction will help the government plug a fiscal deficit that last year reached a 16-year high, and may enable it to cut back on borrowing, bringing relief to satiated bond investors. “The 3G auction results demonstrate that the government borrowing will sail through smoothly,” said Paresh Nayar, head of foreign exchange and money markets at First Rand Bank in Mumbai.

Consolidation spur The spirited bidding has been a drag on the share price of operators competing in a market that is saturated with 15 different operators. Vodafone Group Plc signaled increasing frustration with its key India unit on Tuesday, taking a charge of 2.3 billion pounds due to fierce competition and rapidly escalating spectrum costs. On top of the auction, the Indian telecoms regulator has called for mobile operators to pay a one-time fee for the 2G radio spectrum with high bandwidth, which they won several years ago, a move that has drawn fierce criticism from all involved.

Rollout of 3G is expected to exacerbate the gap between the haves and the have-nots in India’s crowded mobile market and eventually trigger a wave of consolidation. It also puts pressure on the winners, who must justify their licence outlays and may find themselves constrained from making further investment. They will need to spend billions of dollars more on 3G network equipment. India is adding roughly 16 million new users a month, and heavy bidding was driven in part by the need to secure additional capacity to provide basic voice service. “Obviously, the spectrum pricing looks very high, but if you look at 500 million subscribers, that 3G has the potential as it can be used for both voice and data, the spectrum price may be viable,” said Naresh Singh, an analyst at Gartner in Mumbai. The 3G auction will be followed in two days by an auction for wireless broadband spectrum, for which 11 firms are vying for two national licenses for private operators, with one slot reserved for state telecoms firms. —Reuters

Telecom auction earns India $14.6 billion

UAE Crescent, Russia Rosneft come together for energy deals

ATHENS: A woman stands outside a clothes store advertising on the window “surprise prices” at Ermou street yesterday. —AP

Crisis-hit Greece struggles to catch tourists’ attention Tourism industry sees 7-9% revenues drop in 2010 ATHENS: Hotel receptionist Maria Kanelopoulou has been busy crossing names out of an already rather empty reservations book since labour protests turned violent this month, ending with the death of three. “I am worried. In Greece the only thing we have is tourism, the sea, the weather,” Kanelopoulou, 45, said in the empty reception hall of 18-room Nefeli hotel in the Plaka tourist district. “People who destroy don’t understand this.”

Some 27,000 nights were cancelled in Athens hotels after the May 5 march, threatening a resource that is essential to helping Greece out of a severe debt crisis. Greece depends on tourism for nearly a fifth of its 240-billion euro ($296 billion) economy, and one in five people work in the industry. But even with the attraction of its thousands of islands and clear blue waters, all made cheaper by a falling euro, Greece has become a hard sell, as potential visitors are put off by the frequent unpredictable strikes and images of violent

clashes at anti-austerity marches.

Travel websites are filled with questions from worried travellers wondering whether to change or cancel their bookings. “Since we are bringing our children with us, I am seriously rethinking our plans,” said one post on tripadvisor.com. “I do not want to have to worry about my kids, or if there will be disruptions.” Euro zone member Greece plunged into its crisis after it revealed in October its deficit would be more than twice previous forecasts, sending shockwaves through markets worldwide and threatening the euro.

The newly elected government was forced to announce austerity steps including public pay cuts and tax hikes which in turned sparked almost daily union marches and several strikes.

Another general strike has been called for May 20 and more are planned for June. The tourism industry had hoped to benefit from the weaker euro to stabilize revenues after a 10 percent drop in 2009, but now sees a further 7-9 per-

cent fall this year. If the summer season is as bad as forecast, this will further sour the mood afterward, when Greeks find themselves with less money to make it through the winter. Most people working in tourism depend on their summer income to last the whole year.

Difficult sell in Germany, Britain Thomas Cook has seen a 30 percent reduction in sales out of Germany and about 24 percent from Britain in the past three to four weeks, Thomas Cook CEO Manny Fontenla-Novoa said last week. The two countries together make up about a third of Greece’s 15 million tourists per year. “There’s a lot of injury coming out of Greece with the riots,” he said.

An emergency committee set up by the government after the wave of cancellations has prepared promotional DVDs with speeches by officials, including the prime minister. “Tourism is in a critical condition,” government spokesman George Petalotis told

reporters last week. “We are trying to reverse this climate, we are trying in every way we can to send the message that Greece is a safe country.”

Tour operators say Greece needs to further slash prices to win back visitors tempted by cheaper destinations such as Turkey. “We’re going to have to go to Greek hoteliers to stimulate demand ... and that means (action on) price,” Fontenla-Novoa said. Greek hoteliers already slashed prices in 2009 and many have announced further cuts of 15-20 percent in places such as Rhodes this year, also turning non-refundable bookings into refundable ones to try to attract clients or adding a free night.

Hoteliers are nevertheless more pessimistic than the overall tourism industry and forecast on Tuesday a 15 percent drop of their revenues, as they cut prices on last minute offers. “We see 2,000 to 3,000 cancellations a day since the riots started,” said Alexandros Vassilikos, chair of the Attica Hotels Chamber.

Efforts to boost the summer season might be side-tracked by the sacking of the tourism minister on Monday. Prime Minister George Papandreou sacked her after revelations her husband owed the government more than 5 million euros in tax. Much will depend on lastminute bookings and on whether social tensions ease as the summer approaches. Tourism representatives say it is essential to ensure the May 20 strike passes peacefully and flights are not grounded by walkouts.

One rare piece of good news was that air traffic controllers decided not to join that strike. Another is that bookings from Russia and France are going well, officials say.

Russians and other East Europeans have favored northern Greece over the past years. “The Greeks are hotheaded but we need cooler tempers,” said Andreas Andreadis, head of the Hellenic Hotel Federation and Vice President of Greece’s Tourism Enterprises. —Reuters

DUBAI: The UAE’s Crescent Petroleum has teamed up with Russia’s state-run oil producer Rosneft to purse oil and gas deals in the Middle East and North Africa, Crescent said in a statement yesterday. Rosneft pumps over a fifth of Russia’s oil, and is the country’s largest producer. Crescent is a privately-held energy firm based in the emirate of Sharjah, in the northern UAE. The two would initially focus on opportunities in natural gas in the Gulf, said Crescent Petroleum Executive Director Badr Jafar. “We have already identified a number of robust opportunities, and we expect to be able to announce our first joint project in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region within the coming weeks,” he told Reuters in a written statement.

The partnership aims to capitalize on Rosneft’s technical expertise and financial strength and Crescent’s international operating experience and knowledge of the MENA region. “This agreement creates the framework for the joint pursuit of specific oil and gas exploration and development opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region,” Crescent said in the statement. Rosneft Chief Executive Sergei Bogdanchikov signed the deal with Jafar in Moscow on Tuesday.

Last year, Crescent and UAE affiliate Dana Gas formed a consortium with Austria’s OMV and Hungary’s MOL that aims to pump enough gas from Iraq’s Kurdistan region to kick-start the Nabucco pipeline to Europe via Turkey.

Nabucco delays, difficulties Nabucco aims to lessen European dependence on Russia, which supplies a quarter of the EU’s gas needs. But the Nabucco project has been hit by delays and difficulties in finding gas suppliers.

Russia’s gas export monopoly Gazprom is pushing a rival project, South Stream, and has already signed up a number of central European countries as customers.

Rosneft and Gazprom have repeatedly competed for different assets in Russia but abroad both firms are seen as agents of the Kremlin’s energy policies. Rosneft is working in upstream projects in Kazakhstan, Venezuela and Algeria. Rosneft has big expansion plans but has so far refrained from aggressive purchases abroad due to what analysts describe as the company’s concerns about potential legal suits it could face from former shareholders and managers of defunct oil firm YUKOS. Rosneft became the owner of most of YUKOS’ assets after the Kremlin-inspired demise of Russia’s former top producer and its politically ambitious shareholders. Aside from Iraq and the UAE, Crescent also has operations in Egypt, Yemen and Oman. The GCC, which Crescent and Rosneft are initially targeting for gas opportunities, is a loose political and economic alliance between Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. —Reuters

Bankers, the rich, sit pretty as UK budget cuts surface Deep UK spending cuts, era of austerity looms

BUCHAREST: A general view shows an anti-government protest yesterday. About 40,000 people protested outside the government offices against the planned cut of state sector salaries by 25 percent and pensions by 15 percent threatening to call a general strike if the cuts went ahead. The cuts are meant to enable Romania meet an IMF (International Monetary Fund) set budget deficit target. —AP

LONDON: Britain is steeling itself for painful spending cuts, but the good times are still rolling for the rich, including the bankers blamed by many for the country’s economic woes. Rescued by taxpayer money, banks are booming again, while in London’s upmarket shops on Bond Street and Savile Row, Rolex watches and tailored suits are still flying off the shelves and into Mercedes and Alfa Romeo sports cars parked outside.

Still, while conspicuous consumption may continue unabated, there are signs that the rich may also be giving more to charity as Britain prepares for an era of austerity. The new Conservative-led government will publish a budget on June 22 to reduce the record budget deficit-run up partly to bail out banks hit by the 2008 financial crisis-and the expected spending cuts are likely to be the deepest in 30 years. The outlook for London’s bankers, however, seems brighter.

“I think it’s back to boom, boom time for banks.

We’ve got less competitors. Every bank’s share of business has gone up for doing nothing,” said a banker who declined to be named in London’s Canary Wharf financial district, home to banks including HSBC, Citibank and Barclays. The impact of a one-off British tax on bank bonuses last year was softened as most

banks absorbed the costs rather than pass it on to employees, and some spread the levy across their global networks, reducing the effect on London.

Meanwhile, banks are riding a global economic rebound, keeping upward pressure on pay in the hunt for talented workers. Lloyds and the Royal Bank of Scotland, which both received state bail outs, have both beat expectations and returned to profit in the first quarter. Foreign banks, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank, have sizeable British operations and have reported bumper profits.

A February survey found bankers in London had received an average bonus increase of 40 percent this year and most also received a jump in base salary.

Countries that raided their coffers to bail out banks are trying to coordinate to introduce new rules that will claw back rescue money and reduce risky banking practices, but progress has been slow with no major legislation agreed so far. Among the rich in general, the collective wealth of Britain’s 1,000 most affluent people rose by about a third in the past year, according to the annual Sunday Times Rich List, published last month alongside a story citing “soaring” fortunes on the back of higher stock markets and resurgent banks. —Reuters

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BUSINESS

Thursday, May 20, 2010

GCC equity markets start Q2 on mixed note Despite the rally in oil prices which averaged $82.5 per barrel during April-10, up by 6.8 percent from last month’s average of $77.2 per barrel on the back of sustainable global economic recovery, particularly in China and United States where the world’s third economy and the largest economy grew at an annual rate of 11.9 percent and 3.2 percent respectively in the first quarter of 2010, the GCC equity markets started the second quarter of the year on a mixed note as investors concerns grew over the drop in Q1-10 profits by a majority of the listed banks on the back of slowdown in lending, drop in operating income and rising provisions for credit losses. Weak market sentiment during the month was triggered by the rising fears about Greek debt crisis along with concerns about additional provisions that GCC banks may have to book during 2010 and 2011.The combined market capitalizations of the 7 GCC bourses marginally dropped by 0.19 percent or $1.5 billion to record $ 766.2 billion at the end of April compared to $767.7 billion in March.

April was a mixed month for the equity markets in the GCC region. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Kuwait lost momentum and erased part of the significant gains reported during the previous month. On the other hand, stock markets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman recorded marginal gains which ranged between 2.9 percent for Bahrain and 0.98 percent for Saudi Arabia. Despite GCC States’ strong fundamentals, an improvement in the business environment and resilience of the banking system to the consequences of the financial and credit turmoil along with healthy Q1-10 profits so far, which grew by 25 percent to $11 billion; the GCC equity markets have shown a weak performance accompanied by low liquidity and rising concerns about any additional provisions that GCC banks may book during the rest of the year.

Provisions and impairments booked during FY-09 by GCC banks reached unprecedented levels at $11.7 billion up from $7.1 billion booked during 2008, thus exerting pressure on profitability prospects for the coming two years and delaying a recovery in the stock markets. Nonetheless, 4 out of the 7 markets ended on a green note.

KAMCO RESEARCH Saudi Stock Exchange (TADAWUL) In Saudi Arabia, Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) maintained its previous month upward trend to gain 0.98 percent and close at 6,867.97, thereby ending as the fourth best performer amongst its GCC peers.

Market heavyweight Petrochemical sector witnessed its total market cap rise 6.8 percent mainly on the back of the robust Q1-10 earnings posted by a majority of the firms in the sector over renewed demand and better prices for petrochemical products. The petrochemical sector turned its Q1-09 losses of SAR 550 million into a net profit of SAR 7.4 billion fuelled by the healthy profits reported by SABIC which surged to SAR 5.43 billion. However, due to weak Q1-10 profits by a majority of the listed banks, the market heavyweight banking sector put pressure on the overall performance of the market during the month. Profits reported during Q1-10 by all listed Saudi banks dropped by 9.5 percent to SAR 5.8 billion versus a net profit of SAR 6.4 billion reported in the comparable period last year. As a result, the banking sector witnessed its market cap shed 2.5 percent during the month to SAR 368.5 billion at the end of April. Notwithstanding, aggregate corporate earnings of 134 listed companies rose significantly by 69 percent to SAR 17.9 billion, up from SAR 10.6 billion reported in Q1-09. Total market capitalization at the end of Apr-10 reached SAR 1.35 trillion, up 0.6 percent as compared to the previous month. Gains recorded during the month enabled the TASI YTD-10 gains to rise to 12.19 percent and thereby end as the second best performer in the GCC region.

Kuwait Stock Exchange In Kuwait, KAMCO TRW Index bucked its previous month positive trend to shed 0.94 percent and end at 2,735.28 points. Delay in announcing Q1-10 earnings by a majority of listed firms coupled with the absence of new growth drives and lack of confidence

weighed on the performance of the market during the month. Also, speculations surrounding market heavyweight’s ZAIN and Agility added to the weak performance of the market during the month. On the corporate earnings front, 38 out of 200 listed companies with quarter ending March announced their Q1-10 financial results. The aggregate net profits announced so far stood at KD 196.1 million, as compared with a net profit of KD 172.8 million for FY-08. Total market capitalization, during the month, dropped 1.2 percent to KD 34.10 billion ($ 119 billion). Losses incurred during the month pushed the KSE Weighted and KAMCO TRW Index YTD-10 gains to drop to 12.94 percent and 9.35 percent respectively.

Dubai financial market In Dubai, triggered by weak investor sentiment ahead of earnings season, Dubai World (DW) creditor’s unease about the proposed debt restructuring plan and the cancellation of the proposed merger between Aabar and Arabtec, the index recorded a loss of 5.62 percent of its value, to end the month at 1,739.88. DW, which made a debt restructuring offer during March including a 1 percent interest and 7 year term for the loan, is now offering lenders a 1 percent interest rate and another 1 percent paymentin-kind, a lump sum interest payment at the end of the loan maturity, which is an upgrade from last month’s offer that was rejected as being too low.

Furthermore, ports operator DP World, a unit of conglomerate Dubai World and one of largest port operators in the world announced this month that its shareholders approved an amendment allowing the firm to seek listing on LSE. In addition, the construction giant, Arabtec Holding, have called off a plan to sell a controlling interest worth $ 1.7 billion to Aabar Investments of Abu Dhabi. The firm announced that it was abandoning the move that would have given the Abu Dhabi’s state-run fund a 70

percent stake in the troubled Dubai-based contractor.

month. QE was on a winning streak the first 9 trading sessions of the month, however, the winning streak came to an end as investors kept track of global markets’ performance and SEC’s move to sue Goldman Sachs for fraud. Nonetheless, despite the drops witnessed throughout the second trading week of the month, the QE 20 Index managed to recoup its losses and add further gains to end the month on a positive note as further Q1-10 earnings of companies boosted investor sentiment and Index’s YTD-10 gains to 8.45 percent.

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange In Abu Dhabi, the ADX General Index recorded a sharp decline of 4.52 percent to close at 2,777.12 points at the end of April, driven by sharp dips recorded by the real estate and energy sectors, as their market capitalizations dropped by 12.43 percent and 5.58 percent respectively. Market sentiment was adversely impacted by weak Q1-10 earnings, as the total announced earnings for Q1-10 recorded a decline of 10 percent to AED 7.3 billion ($ 1.99 billion) down form a net profit of AED 8.16 billion ($ 2.22 billion) reported during Q1-09. Led by Al-Dar Properties reported loss of AED 314 million, the real estate sector reported a net loss of AED 142 million during Q1-10 after reporting a net profit of AED 1.1 billion in Q1-09 and accordingly witnessed the largest drop in market capitalization during the month.

Thereby the ADX ended the month as the second worst performing bourse amongst its peers in the GCC region. Furthermore, the market liquidity as measured by volume and value traded deteriorated by 47 percent from that traded in Mar-10.

Bahrain Stock Exchange In Bahrain, BSE rose supported by the strong performance of the market heavyweight Ahli United Bank & Bahrain Telecom. Bahrain All Share Index continued its upward trend and started Q2-10 on a positive note to post a gain of 2.9 percent in April and closed the month at 1,591.94 points. Market heavyweight Ahli United Bank (AUB), dominated the course of trade on the bourse during April-10, mainly over the announcement that the Kuwaiti-based company, Tamdeen Investment Co, agreed with other investors to sell a 25 percent stake in AUB for $1.35 billion. Gains reported during April boosted the benchmark YTD-10 gains to 9.17 percent, hence causing the Bahrain Stock Exchange to rank as the third best performing market since the beginning of the year among its peers in the GCC region.

Qatar Exchange Driven by the 16 percent increase in Q1-10 earnings to $2.15 billion versus $1.86 billion in Q1-09 coupled with the rise in the world’s oil price to an average above $80 per barrel investor sentiment in Qatar remained upbeat, thus leading the QE 20 Index to add 1.14 percent to 7,547.41 points and end as the third best performing market in the GCC region during Apr-10. Total market capitalization during the month rose 1.9 percent to QAR 410.8 billion ($113 billion) as compared to Mar-10 market cap of QAR 403 ($111 billion) on the back of gains witnessed among most stocks in the index, as investor sentiment remained upbeat throughout most of the

Muscat Securities market In Oman, Supported by the heavyweight banking sector, the MSM 30 Index ended the month of April as the second best performer following the Bahrain Stock Exchange, as it gained 1.98 percent to close at 6,830.37 points. Foreign investors continued to target blue-chip companies whereas local investors bet on stocks of holding & investment companies that would benefit from a rise in regional markets as they have significant exposure to regional stocks. Gains recorded during the month enabled the MSM 30 Index to extend its YTD-10 gains to rise to 7.25 percent and thereby end as the fifth best performer in the GCC region.

Gulfmart opens new branch in Farwaniya KUWAIT: Gulfmart, Kuwait’s popular onestop supermarket’s sixth outlet was inaugurated in the country yesterday by the Indian Ambassador, Ajai Malhotra, in the presence of the Ambassador of Laos, Thongphachanh Sonnasinh and Gulfmart Country Manager T A Remesh. Addressing a large gathering of well-wishers, customers, media personnel, management and staff of Gulfmart, the Indian ambassador said that he was delighted to open one more branch of Gulmart, which within a span of a decade has earned a reputation for delivering excellent service and quality prod-

ucts at affordable prices. The Ambassador praised the efforts of staff and management in having made Gulfmart a household name among Indians in Kuwait and he wished everyone involved the best of success with their new branch and in the years ahead.

Gulfmart, which is part of BMA International Group, has over the years achieved several remarkable milestones in retailing and the sixth branch adds yet another feather in our cap, said Remesh. He added that the Group is slated to open another branch in Khaitan by the end of May, taking

the number of their outlets to seven and bringing Gulfmart even closer to their valued patrons. At the press conference, attended by Fakrudeen Kabeer (Senior Purchase Manager), Jozer Sifee, Sameer Sheikh and Imran Sheikh of Gulfmart, Remesh stated that an eighth branch of Gulfmart would be opened in Nugra Hawally in September of this year.

Remesh described the new Farwaniya branch, which is planned and executed by Havelock Consultants, the international specialists in supermarket outfitting, as a new

KUWAIT: Gulfmart’s new branch in Farwaniya is inaugurated by the Indian Ambassador, Ajai Malhotra, in the presence of the Ambassador of Laos, Thongphachanh Sonnasinh and Gulfmart Country Manager T A Remesh.

shopping experience for shoppers in Farwaniya. The new branch, located opposite the fire-station and next to the new governorate building, is over 12,000 square feet in area and is designed to allow customers find and select items with the utmost convenience. Spacious aisles, easy access to the wide variety of products on display and four convenient check-out counters ensure that customers will enjoy shopping at our Farwaniya branch, added Thomas George, Manager of the Farwaniya Branch.

Elaborating on the Gulfmart brand, the country manager said the success of the brand lies in the commitment of our staff, the support of our suppliers and the strong patronage of our customers. “Through our various promotions, quality of products and pricing structure, Gulfmart has consistently offered customers the best deals in town. Besides a very wide range of fresh, frozen and packaged food products, we also have a variety of cosmetics and electronics products as well as household items at our new store. We source our ethnic products directly from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and as such, we are able to offer customers the best price and the freshest products.”

Speaking at the opening of their latest outlet, Arif Sheikh, Director of Gulfmart Group added, “At Gulmart, we always offer the best products, best prices and best services to deliver a unique shopping experience to our customers.” Remesh summed up by saying, “Gulfmart which now has six retail branches in Kuwait, at Shuwaikh, Abbasiya, Salmiya, Hawally, Fahaheel and, Farwaniya, and shortly in Khaitan, will provide the large number of residents in these areas with the shopping convenience they have always desired.

KUWAIT: KU students watch a presentation being made on IT applications.

KU students visit VIVA KUWAIT: Kuwait’s leading mobile telecommunications provider VIVA extended a warm welcome to the students of the Kuwait University’s Faculty of Administrative Science in the Department of Quantitative Methods and Information Systems. Under the supervision of the University’s associate professor Dr Kamal Rouwaibeh, who initiated and organized the visit, students were given the opportunity to visit VIVA’s Head Quarters located in Salmiya.

Upon arrival students were received by VIVA’s Public Relations and Communication Department, then taken on a tour of the company’s IT servers and offices. Explanations

were then given on how VIVA’s exclusive products and services are their prime strategy used to overcome competitors. Following the tour, the Team from the Department of Information Technology explained the establishment of their division including its specializations and the number of staff to students ratio. The team also spoke of the role technology and information systems play in supporting the VIVA’s strategy. They highlighted some of the tasks the Information sector is responsible for in promoting VIVA’s strategy and how they provide information systems used to support the various procedures VIVA depends on.

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 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 US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

.2850000 .4150000 .3530000 .2510000 .2770000 .2470000 .0045000 .0020000 .0784170 .7684200 .4020000 .0750000 .7542090 .0045000 .0500000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2909000 .4173560 .3549670 .2532650 .2792320 .0476840 .0369870 .2492680 .0372950 .2081670 .0031620 .0063580 .0025680 .0034630 .0042400 .0792380 .7719910 .4114030 .0776110 .7559460 .0064640 TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2930000 .4203020 .2550570 .0781060

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.205 6.359

.2960000 .4260000 .3620000 .2600000 .2870000 .2590000 .0075000 .0035000 .0796090 .7761430 .4170000 .0790000 .7617890 .0072000 .0580000 .2930000 .4203020 .3674720 .2550570 .2812080 .0480210 .0372490 .2510270 .0375590 .2096410 .0031840 .0064030 .0025860 .0034870 .0042700 .0797430 .7769110 .4143150 .0781060 .7607630 .0065090

Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.455 2.566 3.981 209.500 37.502 4.217 6.416 9.056 0.301 0.292 GCC COUNTRIES Saudi Riyal 77.974 Qatari Riyal 80.330 Omani Riyal 759.600 Bahraini Dinar 776.540 UAE Dirham 79.621 ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 55.000 Egyptian Pound 51.990 Yemen Riyal 1.296 Tunisian Dinar 193.540 Jordanian Dinar 412.900 Lebanese Lira 196.140 Syrian Lier 6.268 Morocco Dirham 33.023 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 292.250 Euro 358.600 Sterling Pound 419.820 Canadian dollar 282.400 Turkish lire 187.400 Swiss Franc 256.130 Australian dollar 249.900 US Dollar Buying 289.500 GOLD 20 Gram 235.000 10 Gram 119.000 5 Gram 60.000

Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria 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 10 Tola Sterling Pound US Dollar

SELL CASH 254.900 778.870 4.440 285.200 573.600 15.800 49.500 167.800 54.700

360.000 38.080 6.375

412.950 0.197 92.280 4.990 203.800 758.700 3.470 6.420 79.360 78.000 211.130 40.870 2.565 421.000

9.210 79.610 292.100

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound

361.500 38.230 6.690 0.035 0.293 0.258 3.270 414.390 0.198 92.280 45.800 4.290 205.300 1.990 47.900 758.880 3.540 6.720 80.790 78.000 211.130 40.870 2.768 423.000 38.700 262.200 260.700 6.400 9.400 217.900 79.710 292.500 1.340 GOLD 1,326.320 TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 421.000 292.100

SELL DRAFT 253.400 776.870 4.217 283.700

211.100 51.952

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees

Selling Rate 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

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

2.560 4.218 6.458 3.172 9.018 6.363 3.988

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency 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

Rate per 1000 (Tran) 292.250 3.475 6.385 2.575 4.215 6.445 79.630 78.095 776.500 51.950 423.800 0.000035000 4.200 1.550 414.000 5.750 362.900 288.400

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000 US Dollar 291.800 Euro 358.500 Pound Sterling 418.500 Canadian Dollar 280.000 Japanese Yen 3.200 Indian Rupee 6.325 Egyptian Pound 51.890 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.564 Bangladesh Taka 4.216 Philippines Peso 6.415 Pakistan Rupee 3.460 Bahraini Dinar 776.000 UAE Dirham 79.500 Saudi Riyal 77.900 *Rates are subject to change

BUSINESS

Thursday, May 20, 2010

23

Porsche Cayenne: Can’t get better than this More efficient, lighter, and dynamic

from the introduction of Porsche’s new eight-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission complete with Auto Start Stop and an even wider range of gear increments, thermal management on the engine and transmission cooling circuit, recuperation of the on-board network, variable overrun cut-off and, not least, consistent reduction of weight and intelligent lightweight construction.

Benefiting from a weight-optimized mix of materials and concept changes on the overall vehicle such as the new, extra-light all-wheel drive, weight is down on the Cayenne Turbo, to mention just one example, by no less than 185 kilos or almost 410 lb, despite the improvement in product substance and an even higher standard of all-round safety. Clearly, this is good news not only in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, but also when it comes to performance, agility and handling on the road. As a result, the new Cayenne offers even more driving pleasure than before both onroad and offroad, combined with even greater every-

day driving qualities, enhanced comfort and supreme elegance. Brand-new, sporting but elegant design makes the new generation of the Cayenne in 2010 an even closer member of the Porsche family, bringing out its particular character as a sporting performer even more from every angle and clearly re-vealing that particular shape and design so typical of a Porsche.

Drivetrain and power units Presenting the Cayenne S Hybrid, Porsche is proudly introducing the Company’s first hybrid drive vehicle in the market. Developing this trendsetting system, Porsche’s engineers are following in the footsteps of no lesser than Ferdinand Porsche himself, who created the Lohner-Porsche Semper Vivus way back in the year 1900. To this day, the Semper Vivus is acknowledged as the first functional full hybrid in the world.

The Cayenne S Hybrid is driven primarily by a supercharged three-litre V6 with direct gasoline injection developing maximum output of 333 hp. This modern power unit interacts with an electric motor delivering 34 kW (47 hp) output and peak torque of 300 Nm (221 lb) maintained consistently up to a speed of 1,150 rpm.

The electric motor is able to drive the Cayenne by itself or support the combustion engine, while also serving as a generator and starter. Together with the separator clutch, it forms the hybrid module positioned between the combustion engine and the new eightspeed automatic transmission. A further essential component of the hybrid system is the 288-V nickel metalhydride (NiMh) battery beneath the floor of the luggage compartment, serving to save electrical energy generated when applying the brakes and re-gained while driving.

Using a six-cylinder engine, the Cayenne S Hybrid

offers the power and performance of an eight-cylinder on much lower fuel consumption. With its overall output of 380 hp, the new Cayenne S Hybrid consumes just 8.2 ltr/100 km (equal to 34.5 mpg imp) in the New European Driving Cycle and limits CO2 emissions to a mere 193 g/km. This makes the new Cayenne S Hybrid not only the cleanest Cayenne with the lowest level of CO2, but rather the cleanest Porsche throughout the brand’s entire portfolio.

Fuel-efficient and clean: V6 diesel Focusing on the three-liter turbodiesel in the Cayenne Diesel, Porsche’s engineers sought above all to further reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions in the process of upgrading the engine. The result is that with power remaining unchanged at 240 hp (176 kW) and torque reaching an impressive 550 Nm/405 lbft, fuel consumption is down from an already low 9.3 ltr (equal to 30.4 mpg imp) to truly outstanding 7.4 ltr/100 km, equal to 38.2 mpg imp. At the same time it almost goes without saying that the new Cayenne Diesel complies in full with the EU5 emission limit.

Fuel is injected into the combustion chambers by piezo-valves building up pressure of up to 1,800 bar.

The charge effect is provide by turbochargers with variable turbine geometry (VTG turbochargers), with fully controlled exhaust gas recirculation, an oxidation catalyst, as well as a particulates filter ensuring highly effective emission management.

An essential feature in enhancing the engine’s efficiency was to integrate a fully controlled oil pump. Now the oil pump is controlled on-demand by engine management, with oil pressure being adjusted hydraulically by moving a gear wheel along the pump shaft and thus varying the level of geometric volume. As a result, the pump only operates as required to meet current engine requirements at the respective load level.

Being appropriately optimised, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) serves to minimise emissions and help the engine fulfil the EU5 emission standard. The exhaust gas recirculation module now comes with a higher level of cooling efficiency and, as a result, greater throughput. A further result is the reduction of peak temperatures in the combustion process, with less nitric oxides being formed in the combustion chamber.

Porsche Stability Management for superior driving safety Enhanced to an even higher level, PSM Porsche Stability Management featured as standard on every model ensures superior active driving safety in terms of both longitudinal and lateral dynamics, while maintaining the agility so typical of a Porsche all the way to the extreme limit.

The PSM set-up has been upgraded for the new

generation of models and has been newly adjusted, say, for the combination with new Porsche Traction Management or optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus. Sensors in the PSM system permanently monitor the direction of travel, road speed, the yaw rate and the lateral acceleration of the car. Taking these readings, PSM calculates the actual direction of motion. Should this differ from the desired path and track, PSM will activate the brakes as required on individual wheels in order to stabilize the vehicle.

Steering even more effective than before The steering on the new generation of the Cayenne has been completely upgraded and is now even more sporting and dynamic. Particularly around its centre position, it is also more direct.

Variable transmission ratios and the particular set-up of the hydraulic power assistance ensure outstanding agility in the new Cayenne, with the level of efficiency being improved at the same time: The servo pump driven by the combustion engine now operates on demand with the volume flow required being masterminded as a function of driving conditions.

Servotronic standard on the Cayenne S Hybrid and optional on all other models offers steering assistance geared to road speed. At high speeds the steering is firmer, at low speeds the Servotronic power steering moves more easily and smoothly for comfortable manoeuvring.

Unlike the steering systems on the other models, the Cayenne S Hybrid comes furthermore with electrohydraulic steering, the main difference being the

World to consume 35% more energy by 2030: ExxonMobil KUWAIT: The world will use about 35 percent more energy in 2030 than it did in 2005 as demand is expected to grow by about 1.2 percent a year, Robert Gardner, ExxonMobil energy and economics manager, told oil industry professionals, engineers and student during seminars in Kuwait this month.

Gardner was delivering the findings of ExxonMobil’s Outlook for Energy: A View to 2030 at seminars hosted by Kuwait University’s College of Engineering and Petroleum and Kuwait’s Society of Petroleum Engineers on May 11 and 12. He spoke about the long-term trends in energy demand, supply, emissions and technologies.

“A major factor driving the increase in global energy demand will be the growth in emerging markets’ requirements which will rise by 65 percent over the forecast period from 2005 through 2030,” Gardner said. Updated each year, The Outlook for Energy is a comprehensive look at long-term trends in energy demand, supply, emissions and technology. The ExxonMobil report is built upon detailed analysis of data from about 100 countries, incorpo-

KUWAIT: Robert Gardner, ExxonMobil Energy and Economics Manager, speaks during the seminar. rating publicly available information as well as in-house expertise.

Gardner said the increase in global demand poses a significant challenge of meeting the energy needs of a growing global population while also reducing the impact of energy use on the environment. “This is only possible because of expected advancements in efficiency. ExxonMobil believes that efficiency will reduce the growth in

energy requirements by up to 65 percent.

“We will need to expand all economically viable energy sources in order to meet rising energy demand while accelerating gains in energy efficiency.

Energy efficiency is one of the most important ‘fuels’. The energy saved through efficiency will be larger than any other single source, and will save costs as well as curb emissions,” he

LG launches Arabic content website KUWAIT: LG Electronics (LG), a global leader and technology innovator, has announced the launch of its first official Arabic content website, http://www.lg.com/ae_ar. The new Arabic website will contribute to the growing company’s brand exposure and digital presence and will make it easier for Arabic customers to interact with the brand.

“Internet usage in the region has seen unprecedented growth in recent years, with the UAE experiencing the region’s highest online penetration rate of 60 percent,” said Ki Wan Kim, CEO of LG Electronics Middle East and Africa Regional Company. “We at LG are committed to providing all our customers with information and services. The new Arabic language website will allow us to interact with a much wider audience”.

With hundreds of thousands of visitors a month, the LG English website is often the first stop for many consumers looking for information about the company’s products and services.

The dedicated Arabic website will enable LG Electronics to further consolidate its online

presence in the region by helping to bridge the big gap between English and Arabic content. As many as 3.5 million of the 4.8 residents in the UAE are online. In fact out of the world’s 1.8 billion web users, 60.2 million (3.3 percent) are Arabic speakers. Launching an Arabic content website is a strategic move on LG’s part.

The new portal has been specifically developed to cater for LG’s Arabic customers residing within UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.

In line with the social media renaissance currently taking place across the region, LG’s latest initiative will allow Arabic customers to browse LG’s website, view all of LG’s latest products from the comfort of their own home.

“LG is a global brand with millions of customers worldwide. In this part of the world, it is extremely important to have a bilingual website in order to reach the widest audience possible,” said H S Paik, President of LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “Local language content will allow our customers to feel a greater sense of trust and connection with the destination website. From a business aspect, this move is an absolute must.”

said.

Power generation will continue to be the largest and fastest-growing primary industrial energy consumer, using about 40 percent of the world’s energy in 2030. The Outlook includes an assessment of how potential carbon emission reduction policies will affect future energy demand and impact the fuel mix. For example, imposing higher costs for carbon emissions would impact energy prices and provide an incentive to switch to less carbonintensive fuels such as natural gas, which can help meet growing electricity demand and help reduce power generation emissions by up to 60 percent versus coal.

The Outlook projects that oil will remain the largest energy source while natural gas will be the fastest-growing fossil fuel. It also flags that meeting rising energy demand with reliable, affordable supplies is a vital issue to support expanded prosperity for a growing world. Meeting this challenge requires recognizing the importance of efficiency as well as pursuing all commercially viable options, encouraged by sound and stable policy frameworks.

servo pump driven electrically on demand.

New wheels and tyres The new Cayenne comes on newly developed wheels in unique design measuring 18 - 21 inches. In developing these wheels, Porsche specialists have attached great attention to the reduction of weight in combination with attractive and truly unique design.

The Cayenne and Cayenne Diesel now come as standard with 18-inch wheels. The Cayenne S and Cayenne S Hybrid likewise feature 18-inch wheels, but in different design. The 19-inch wheels on the Cayenne Turbo, finally, stand out in particular through their filigree five double-spoke design, from the start highlighting the enormous power and performance reserves offered by this outstanding model.

The two 21-inch wheels add a particular touch within the wide range of wheels available - both the elegant Cayenne SportEdition wheel and the forged twin-tone 911 Turbo II wheel in its design already well-known form Porsche’s sports cars and the Panamera.

The new Cayenne also comes with a new generation of tyres further enhanced specifically in terms of their performance, handling, roll resistance, wear and weight. In the process all three fundamental components have been optimized on all of the tires - the rubber compound, the tire thread, and the architecture of the tire structure. Both summer and winter tires as well as all-season tires are naturally available. And finally, TPC Tire Pressure Control comes as standard on the Cayenne Turbo and is optional on all other models.

Porsche Cayenne

M

ore dynamic and more efficient, more spacious inside and lighter overall, pointing into the future of technology and in sporting, elegant design - the new Cayenne is more Porsche than ever before. Led by the Cayenne S Hybrid, the first production car from Porsche with hybrid drive, the new generation of models paves the way in terms of modern efficiency, with a reduction in fuel consumption by up to 23 per cent versus the former models. Like every Porsche, the new Cayenne has been developed according to the principle of Porsche Intelligent Performance: more power on less fuel, greater efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.

The new Cayenne is entering the European market on 8 May in no less than five versions offering every customer exactly the model he needs: This significant reduction of fuel consumption throughout the entire range of Cayenne models results, among other things,

NBK’s Watani Online congratulates winners KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the leading bank in Kuwait and highest rated in the Middle East, held the second draw to announce the names of the three winners of the recently launched Watani Online usage draw which was designed by the bank to encourage awareness regarding the ease and security of free online banking.

The three winners of the second draw to win free notebooks with free annual Zain e-Go subscriptions are Linda Musaid Ali AlHumoud, Jeno Ronasi and Ahmed Al-Sayed Abdulghafar Mohamed. They were met by their branches managers and instantly received their prizes.

“Today’s draw is the second of three draws;

we are happy to reward our customers who are performing their banking transactions on Watani Online and encourage new customers to try Online Banking from NBK the safest bank in the Middle East,” stated Kevin Turner Head of Remote Banking at NBK, adding “Watani Online is free and available for all of our customers. Well done to this month’s winners, for the chance to win next month I would encourage all our customers to sign up for Watani Online and make transactions safely and are free of charge. Customers can register online at www.nbk.com or visit any NBK branch to be in with a chance of winning noting that customers should perform at least three different transactions every month”.

China’s CNPC acquires stake in Shell’s Syria unit BEIJING: China National Petroleum Corp, the country’s top oil producer, said yesterday it had acquired part of a Shell subsidiary in Syria, the latest move in its global quest to secure energy resources.

The deal gives CNPC a 35 percent stake in Syria Shell Petroleum Development (SSPD), which was wholly owned by Royal Dutch Shell, the Chinese company said in a statement. China has been aggressively securing overseas oil production contracts as it seeks to meet soaring energy demand at home.

SSPD has interests in three production licences-Deir-Ez-Zor, Fourth Annex and Ash Sham, which are operated by the Al-Furat Petroleum Company. Shell has a 31.25-percent stake in AFPC, it said. The licenses cover around 40 oil fields and Shell’s share of output from the fields was 23,000 barrels of

oil equivalent per day last year, it added.

CNPC already had an interest in the production licenses and in AFPC through its 50-percent ownership of Himalaya Energy Syria BV. The agreement strengthens the partnership between Shell and CNPC, and the two firms will “continue growing and investing in attractive opportunities in Syria’s upstream industry”, the statement said.

Syria’s oil production has steadily declined over the past decade while its gas output has risen. The country has estimated gas reserves of 284 billion cubic meters (9.94 trillion cubic feet). Shell on Sunday also signed a 30-year agreement with PetroChina, the listed arm of CNPC, and Qatar Petroleum to search for natural gas in the Gulf state’s Block D area. — AFP

Ahmed Al-Sayed Abdulghafar Mohamed receives his prize from Humoud Al-Nasrallah, NBK Shamiya Branch.

Linda Musaid Ali Al-Humoud receives her prize from Faisal AlShuwaired, NBK Qadsiya Branch.

24

BUSINESS

KSE ends session on muted note GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended yesterday's session on a negative note led by the banking sector. The number of suspended companies in exchange fell to 14 companies after three investment companies disclosed their financial statements for the first quarter of 2010.

Market indices GGI shed 2.44 points (- 1.18 percent) during yesterday's session to reach 203.20 points. In addition, the KSE Price Index decreased by 52 points (- 0.73 percent) yesterday and closed at 7,075 points. Market capitalization was down KD 409.44 million yesterday to reach KD 33.55 billion.

Market breadth During yesterday's session, 115 companies were traded.

Market breadth was skewed towards decliners, as 80 equities retreated versus 17 that advanced. A total of 114 stocks remained unchanged during yesterday's trading session.

Daily trading activity Trading activities ended on a positive note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the

exchange increased by 35.41 percent to reach 302.59 million shares. Furthermore, value of shares traded gained by 16.69 percent to stand at KD 46.18 million. The investment sector was the volume leader yesterday, accounting for 34.71 percent of total market volume.

The services sector was the value leader, with 30.74 percent of total market value. Gulf Finance House was the volume

leader yesterday, with a total traded volume of 92.96 million.

Zain was the value leader, with a total traded value of KD 9.38 million.

Top gainers and biggest decliners In terms of top gainers, AlSalam Group Holding Company took the top spot for the day, adding 7.58 percent and closed at KD 0.142. On the other hand, Gulf Finance House shed 8.33

percent and closed at KD 0.050, making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sectors wise Regarding Global's sectoral indices, they all ended the day on a negative note, except for Global Insurance Index which was the only gainer in the market. The index ended the day up 0.84 percent backed by Kuwait Insurance Company, the only gainer in the sector, ending the day up 5 percent to close at KD 0.315.

In terms of decliners, Global Real Estate Index was the biggest decliner, down 1.49 percent backed by Mabanee Company ending yesterday's trading session down 1.47 percent closed at K D0.670. In addition, Al-Mazaya Holding Company and National Real Estate Company were also contributing factors to the index's decline, by ending the day down 7.14 percent and 3.06 percent, respectively.

Global Non-Kuwaiti Index was the second biggest decliner, down 1.41 percent backed by Gulf Finance House.

Furthermore, Egypt Kuwait

Holding Company also aided in bringing down the index by ending the day with a loss of 3.57 percent to close at KD 0.540.

Like the rest of the market, Global's special indices also ended on a negative note, with Global Small Cap Index being the top decliner. The index posted a loss of 2.77 percent backed Wethaq Takaful Insurance ending the day down 7.14 percent to close at KD0.052.

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $72.77 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $73.25 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Market news Al-Qurain Holding Company said its shareholders have approved reducing the company's paid-up capital by 50 percent from KD 59.30 million to KD 29.65 million in order to write off losses. The shareholders have also approved a board proposal to not distribute dividends for 2009, the investment firm said in a statement posted on the KSE website.

BMW 3 Series coupe and convertible arrive in ME KUWAIT: Driving pleasure in the BMW 3 Series is reaching new heights yet again in the 2010 model year.

Carefully conceived modifications in design, a thoroughly updated and extended range of engines, as well as innovative model features give both the new BMW 3 Series coupe and the new BMW 3 Series convertible even greater appeal and style.

New design features at the front, side and rear give even greater emphasis to the sporting and elegant character of the BMW 3 Series Coupé and Convertible. As an additional highlight, these new models now feature headlights with newly designed contour lines, a modified structure and innova-

tive light technology. The modifications in design make the silhouette of both models even sleeker and more dynamic as a sign of superior performance.

New exterior colors and a modified range of leather upholstery sets further highlights in the looks of the new BMW 3 Series coupé and the new BMW 3 Series convertible. The top-of-therange BMW 335i is available on all body variants of the new BMW 3 Series model range and comes with a VALVETRONIC 3.0-litre straight-six featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology, combining supreme output of 306 hp with fuel economy and CO2 management. As an option the BMW 320i, BMW 325i and BMW 330i are

available in both body variants with sixspeed automatic transmission.

The new BMW 3 Series model range is a class leader in its category in emissions reduction, and has been designed around BMW's robust EfficientDynamics strategy that encompasses many technology innovations to offer outstanding performance and a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emission.

The new BMW 3 Series coupé and the new BMW 3 Series convertible come as standard with an optimized sports steering wheel incorporating multifunction controls.

The shift paddles on the steering wheel featured in combination with the

optional Sports Automatic transmission now incorporate a new control logic.

The wide range of services offered

by BMW ConnectedDrive highlights the innovative character of the new BMW 3 Series coupé and the new BMW 3 Series convertible.

Appropriately networked to their surroundings, the models offer optimum comfort and safety as well as a wide range of useful entertainment functions including optimized integration of the mobile telephone and external entertainment devices into the car's internal iDrive control system. The new BMW 3 Series coupé and convertible are available from all exclusive BMW importers in the Middle East.

Nasser Al-Sayer Construction signs Egypt draft deal with Mammut Building Systems budget eyes tax rise on cement, steel

KUWAIT: Nasser Mohd Al-Sayer General Trading Construction sector in its quest to continuously lead in Kuwait market by introducing the best products and services, sealed the deal with Mammut Building Systems, founded in Jebel Ali in 1997.

Mammut Building Systems FZC (MBS) is a leading manufacturer of pre-engineered steel buildings in the region. The two have signed an agreement exclusively for sole distribution in Kuwait, in the presence of Nasser Al-Sayer the chairman of AlSayer Group, and Bzad Fardos CEO of Mammut Building systems who said "We are proud that we in the United Arab Emirates are one of the largest manufacturers of building systems, and steel structures MBS follows US design standards and code of practices when designing a building and uses advanced software to ensure accurate manufacturing and by fast erection.

MBS has achieved ISO 9001 accreditation in Quality Management System and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System simultaneously with the scope of "Design, Manufacture and Supply of Pre-Engineered Steel Buildings and Polyurethane Sandwich Panel Claddings", and now with our new partner in Kuwait, Nasser Mohammed Al-Sayer General Trading, we can promise and guarantee that we will provide the same level of services in the State of Kuwait with excellence, and we intend to sell in Kuwait as many as the market will absorb in terms of range of products and quantities, in line with our ambitious plans to increase production capacity to accommodate new markets and expand vigorously".

KUWAIT: Nasser Mohd Al-Sayer General Trading Construction officials are seen with Mammut Building Systems executives during the signing of the deal.

Nasser Al-Sayer confirmed his pride in the operation of Nasser Mohd Al-Sayer General Trading and added:" I believe that Kuwait market and our customers shall benefit from this constructive partnership, and we shall save no efforts in supporting its operations".

Mohammad Al-Sayer the Managing Director added:" This agreement with Mammut Building Systems is another jewel in the crown of Al-Sayer, we are thrilled to acquire the distribution of Mammut products in Kuwait, we do believe that demand shall rise for Mammut's products due to the 2006-2010, fiveyear work plan which was reviewed by the cabinet and the Higher Council

of Planning and Development in March 2006. The plan will form the basis for development efforts and accommodate the country's new construction projects, and we shall support it by all our resources to conquer existing competing brands, the road is difficult and full of obstacles, yet we shall put our heads together to make this business endeavor work successfully and overcome all obstacles".

Ayman Badawy, the Technical Manager of the construction sector, commented:" This agreement is the first step for a fruitful cooperation in Kuwait market, and towards future expansion in the pre-engineered steel buildings for both partners together in the Middle East".

CAIRO: Egypt is proposing raising the sales tax on steel to 8 percent from 5 percent and imposing a 5 percent sales tax on cement instead of the current flat fee per tonne, newspapers reported yesterday.

The daily Al-Mal newspaper compared the plan, which is included in the draft 2010/11 budget, to changes in some tax rules implemented in May 2008 that rattled investors.

Egypt's financial year runs from July 1 to June 30, and the 2010/11 budget is now with parliament. Finance Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali has previously said the deficit for that year would be 7.9 percent of gross domestic product. A parliament committee approved a supplementary budget report that included imposing the 5 percent sales tax on the cement price, the state-run daily Al-Ahram reported.

That would replace a flat fee of 1.40 Egyptian pounds ($0.249) on a ton of imported cement and a fee of 2.50 pounds on a ton of local cement, the paper added.

In addition, it said the sales tax on steel would rise to 8 percent from 5 percent.

Construction has boomed in Egypt despite a global downturn, fuelled by demand to meet housing needs in a country of 78 million and a cash-driven economy largely insulated from international credit markets.

Demand for cement rose 25 percent last year and the government has been offering new licenses to boost capacity. The draft also makes amendments to taxes on imported cigarettes, but Al-Ahram did not give details. The cement industry has been in the frame for new taxes. An official said in April that the health and finance ministries were studying imposing a 10 percent tax on cement companies to raise funds for public health spending.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Global's Large Cap Fund, Islamic Fund perform well GLOBAL INVESTMENT HOUSE REPORT KUWAIT: Global Investment House 'Global' announced yesterday that the GCC Large Cap Fund and Global GCC Islamic Fund were among the best performing funds in the region. The GCC Large Cap Fund recorded a strong performance of 17 percent and the Global GCC Islamic Fund recorded 10.5 percent YTD April 2010. In comparison, the MSCI GCC Large Cap Index recorded 15 percent and MSCI GCC Islamic Index closed at 7 percent YTD. The GCC markets witnessed a mixed trend in April 2010, with Oman, Qatar and KSA increasing by 1.98 percent, 1.14 percent and 0.98 percent M/M respectively while Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were down 5.62 percent, 4.52 percent, and 3.11 percent M/M respectively.

The MSCI GCC Large Cap Index managed to close the month in green and was up 0.7 percent. In comparison, the Global GCC Large Cap Fund returned +2.6 percent in April outperforming the benchmark.

In addition, The Global GCC Islamic Fund recorded +0.5 percent return in April, outperforming the MSCI GCC Islamic Index which closed the month of April on a negative note and was down 2.5 percent.

Commenting on the funds' performances, Shahid Hameed, Head of Equity & Fixed Income Asset Management at Global stated "The performance of our GCC funds and their ranking among the top GCC funds in the region, is a testament to our long-term commitment to our

clients. The performance is attributed to our disciplined investment process backed by rigorous research methodology."

Hameed highlighted the point that the GCC Large Cap Fund and the GCC Islamic fund, Global's flagship funds, are awarded "A" fund management rating by Standard & Poor's. The GCC Large Cap fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio of large cap stocks listed on the GCC stock exchanges. The investment process is based on a bottom-up stock selection methodology along with a macroeconomic overlay to identify growth opportunities throughout the GCC region. The fund invests in multiple sectors and growth/value categories.

The GCC Islamic Fund aims to maximize returns through investing in companies in the GCC markets, as per the pre-defined Shari'ah criteria, and takes into consideration the market cap weightings of Shari'ah compliant companies in each country while anticipating changing market conditions. The fund will invest in stocks listed on the GCC markets, Sukuks, Murabahas and other Islamic instruments.

It is worth mentioning that Global Investment House has a long history of being recognized as one of the leading asset management firms in the region, managing $6 billion on behalf of its clients and offering a wide spectrum of investment services to institutional and individual clients.

Flydubai introduces new in-flight entertainment KUWAIT: Flydubai, Dubai's first low cost airline, has signed a deal that will make the new airline the much anticipated launch customer of the revolutionary 'Fiber To The Screen'(FTTS(tm)) In-Flight Entertainment system from Lumexis. The deal, announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg yesterday, is for 44 flydubai B737-800NGs, the first of which is due to arrive in October 2010.

Flydubai CEO, Ghaith Al-Ghaith, explained why the low cost carrier had taken the step of investing in the new IFE system from Lumexis: "In-flight entertainment is very popular with passengers, but the traditional systems were prohibitively expensive for us as a low cost carrier. The Lumexis FTTS touch screen system offers us a flexible, high quality and innovative IFE option at a fraction of the normal cost.

"The FTTS system from Lumexis is revolutionary because it uses fiber optics rather than traditional copper piping. This significantly reduces the cost of the system overall, and makes it far lighter than other IFEs in use today. Any reduction in weight reduces our fuel costs and therefore ensures we can keep our ticket prices low.

"The Lumexis FTTS IFE is incredibly flexible and we are working closely with Lumexis to develop the system to reflect the flydubai model. Flydubai is all about reducing complexity and offering our passengers choice. Our IFE will be available as an optional

extra in the way that baggage and meals are.

Passengers, travelling on flydubai aircraft fitted with the FTTS system, will have the ability to choose different parts of the system depending on their preference and how much they want to spend, and as flydubai likes to do things differently, we plan to offer functionality on our IFE system that other airlines traditionally don't have."

Doug Cline, CEO of Lumexis, said: "Lumexis is privileged to be partnered with such a forward thinking and innovative carrier. As the launch customer for our second generation of FTTS, flydubai demanded not only extremely low cost-of-ownership, but most importantly, the highest reliability and performance to ensure uninterrupted service and full passenger satisfaction." Since November 2009 when Lumexis announced they had contracted with an unnamed Boeing 737 operator as the launch customer, the identity of the airline has been the object of intense industry speculation. Few observers had expected the answer to be a low cost carrier. But as Cline explained, "While it provides unmatched delivery capacity, the unique FTTS fiber optic network is so efficient that the installed system is half the cost and weight of earlier generation, copper-based systems. As a result, the latest passenger-pleasing, revenue-producing services can be offered on board the most cost-competitive airline."

Qatar Airways collaborates with Thales HAMBURG: Qatar Airways has selected Thales to provide in-flight entertainment and communication systems for the airline's Boeing 787 aircraft. The appointment will see Thales supplying the airline its TopSeries system, which features a range of onboard product solutions, including passenger touch screen displays, interface options for personal electronic devices and 3D audio technology.

Qatar Airways will also be the launch customer of Thales' new passenger handset controller with multi-tasking capabilities. The control unit is an intelligent device that enables passengers to play games and navigate through the in-flight entertainment system using touch screen technology.

Broadband connectivity will be integrated into the IFE system, allowing the potential for every passenger to access current news, sports, social networks and other mobile applications.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al-Baker said that the in-flight offering on the airline's B787 fleet will be a step beyond what is currently available in the sky. "Qatar Airways is proud to be at the forefront of the aviation industry. Our 787 aircraft will be equipped with the industry's leading in-flight entertainment and communications technology, and we are looking forward to showcasing to our passengers just why we continue receive awards and accolades for our in-flight product.

"The airline is continuing to expand at a rapid pace and with the opening of New Doha International Airport in addition to the delivery of

our first B787s scheduled for 2011, the future is looking very bright indeed," Al-Baker said. The Doha-based carrier has outstanding orders of 30 firm and 30 optional Boeing 787-8 aircraft due for delivery from 2011. Thales' TopSeries for the B787 is a lightweight design and a leading choice for configuring the B787 aircraft. With the addition of its integrated connectivity features, Qatar Airways takes a leading position in the industry.

Alan Pellegrini, Vice President and General Manager of Thales' Inflight Entertainment Systems business said: "We are very pleased to be working with Qatar Airways on the installation of IFE and Connectivity on their new B787 aircraft.

Our team is committed to their success and desire to bring innovation to their passengers." Qatar Airways had previously appointed Thales to provide in-flight entertainment and communications systems for 24 brand-new single-aisle A320 family aircraft as well as six retrofits for A320s already in the airline's fleet. The systems include touchscreen technology, with seat-back screens in Economy as well as communication tools such as mobile phone connectivity. The airline offers SMS and data services on these aircraft.

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 83 aircraft to 89 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and North America. Long-term, the fleet size is set to rise to 120 aircraft by 2013 and destinations served increase to 120 over the next three years.

The airline has orders for more than 200 aircraft pending delivery worth over $40 billion.

BUSINESS

Thursday, May 20, 2010

25

Australia’s Fortescue halts projects due to mining tax Uncertainty may force companies to invest overseas: Executive

SYDNEY: A concerned investor looks at a sea of red (indicating falling share prices) on a display at the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday. The All Ordinaries share index fell a further 85.7 points or nearly 2 percent while major mining stocks, which are caught up in a debate about a proposed 40 percent tax on resources super profits, were also lower. —AFP

India Reliance makes rare purchase of Urals crude SINGAPORE/NEW DELHI: India’s Reliance Industries, which runs the world’s biggest refining complex, made a rare purchase of Russian Urals crude for July-loading, as the arbitrage window for Western cargoes remains open, trade sources said yesterday. Reliance bought one Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), or 2.0 million barrels of Urals from oil trader Gunvor, the sources said.

The company also purchased the Urals cargo in April, they said, nearly a year after its last purchase of the medium-sour crude. Reliance’s daily crude oil purchases rose 42 percent in April from March, when it also bought Australian heavy crude Pyrenees for the first time. Since the startup of the new plant in December 2008, Reliance has been diversifying its crude slate, making several new and rare purchases, capitalizing on the complexity of its plants that allow it to improve margins by processing heavy grades.

Reliance, which runs the refining complex at Jamnagar in western Gujarat state, imported nearly 1.42 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude last month, up from 998,350 bpd in March and from 945,100 bpd a year ago, data showed yesterday.

“It appears Reliance is making up for Iran crude shortfall and looking at diverse sources. Its crude from the Middle East, especially from Saudi Arabia has come down,” said a trade source.

Reliance has not renewed a contract to import

crude oil from Iran for financial year 2010, industry sources have said. Narrowing Brent/Dubai Exchange of Futures for Swaps (EFS) also offered opportunities for flows from Europe and West Africa to Asia, the sources said, a trend reflected in Reliance’s crude purchases. Front-month EFS for July was valued at around 50 cents a barrel this week, down from the May EFS which jumped to $2.50 a barrel in mid-March, the highest level since December 2008 when OPEC producers began record supply curbs.

Open arbitrage “The arbitrage window for Western cargoes, such as Urals, to Asia remains open,” said a trader with a East Asia refiner. “It may not be that wide open for East Asia at the current prices, but India is half way, marking it more economical.”

Urals was valued at a premium of around $1.00 a barrel to Dubai to East Asia on a cost-insurancefreight basis, the trader added.

The prices were competitive to rival Oman crude, whose value was assessed at a 50-cent discount to Dubai on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange.

Refiners and traders were reluctant to take July Oman cargoes, saying the prices were too expensive compared with other medium and heavy crudes after values of benchmark Dubai crude was pushed up in the past two months. More Urals cargoes are offered to Asian buyers, including Japan and Taiwan refiners, they said. —Reuters

IMF urges Japan to begin reducing debt next year TOKYO: The International Monetary Fund urged Japan yesterday to begin efforts to reduce its huge public debt from April 2011, as the country’s fiscal situation comes under increasing scrutiny.

After decades of heavy stimulus spending and declining tax revenue, Japan has a public debt mountain bigger than any other industrialized nation, expected to hit 200 percent of gross domestic product in the next year.

“The need for early and credible fiscal adjustment has become critical in Japan,” IMF senior adviser James Gordon said after talks with Japanese officials, adding that measures should include a gradual increase in consumption tax from the current five percent. “We think fiscal adjustment should start in fiscal year 2011,” Gordon said.

The measures “will be made more credible by early action,” he added.

Gordon was part of an IMF team, including first deputy managing director John Lipsky, that held talks with senior officials from Japan’s government, the Bank of Japan and private sector representatives in Tokyo. “Now with the recovery under way,

it’s time to look forward towards establishing a credible path for fiscal adjustment that will boost confidence among investors and savers,” Lipsky said.

Japan’s huge public debt is a legacy of massive stimulus spending during the economic “lost decade” of the 1990s, as well as a series of pump-priming packages to tackle a recession that began in 2008.

Agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s warned they may cut their rating on Japanese government bonds, which would hike borrowing costs as Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s government comes under increasing pressure to take action.

However, Lipsky denied comparisons between Japan’s mounting public debt and the crisis in Greece, which has threatened the stability of the eurozone. “Japan enjoys very low interest rates at this time on government debts. This is not anything at all similar to the situation in Greece,” Lipsky said, noting that most Japanese government bonds are bought domestically.

“The challenge of fiscal consolidation is not unique to Japan,” he added. “It is shared by all the advanced

economies.”

Greece has been forced to promise deep public spending cuts in return for a huge bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund to keep its debt-stricken economy afloat.

The austerity cuts have met with fierce public opposition and triggered a wave of strikes and protests. At the news conference, the IMF forecast that Japan’s domestic product (GDP) was likely to grow by around two percent in both 2010 and 2011 while inflation would probably turn positive in late 2011.

Japan is to announce its GDP figures for the first three months of the year today, with analysts forecasting growth at an annualized 5.9 percent in the January-March period, the second straight quarterly gain. Gordon also pressed the Bank of Japan to further ease monetary policy to help reverse the nation’s falling prices. He proposed extending the maturity of the central bank’s fund-supplying operations. “We are also looking forward to possible proposals by the Bank of Japan to support private lending to firms in new growth areas,” he added. —AFP

SYDNEY: Australia’s Fortescue Metals put two massive iron ore projects on Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest said the projects’ funding had been affected by hold yesterday due to the country’s new mining tax, raising pressure on the uncertainty over the tax, warning it would force companies to look for investgovernment on an issue that has incensed the industry. Chief executive ment overseas, particularly from China.

Forrest lodged a personal appeal with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a close personal friend. He said Fortescue, Australia’s third biggest iron ore producer, may even have to sell the two Western Australia expansion projects, worth a combined 15 billion US dollars. “I said ‘you must take this tax off the table as soon as possible. It has already damaged Australia badly.... Admit it was a mistake and take it off the table,’” he told reporters after making his appeal.

“If we can’t rely on our own revenues to finance our own projects any more, it absolutely means that the only source of revenue, particularly for the mining industry, will be the government of China.” The proposed 40 percent levy on miners’ “super profits” has drawn a furious response from companies, with AngloAustralian giant Rio Tinto reviewing all capital projects in the country.

Fortescue said it was shelving development of its flagship Solomon Hub and HAMBURG: Lufthansa pilot Juergen Raps (right) and co-pilot Ingo Meyerdirks take seat in the cockpit Western Hub in the Pilbara of the first Airbus A380 of German airline Lufthansa called “Frankfurt am Main” at the Airbus plant region, centre of a booming yesterday. —AFP mining industry that has steered Australia through the financial crisis without the country entering recession. Fortescue said the Solomon Hub was expected HAMBURG: European planemaker Airbus receive an A380, after Air France received positive development for Lufthansa,” Perto produce about 160 million delivered Deutsche Lufthansa AG its first its first superjumbo last fall and now oper- Ola Hellgren, an analyst with German bank tons of iron ore a year and A380 superjumbo yesterday, allowing ates it between Paris and New York. The LBBW, said. employ 21,000 people for its “The basic economics are there: It’s Germany’s biggest airline to transport more other 27 A380s delivered since October construction and operations, than 520 passengers on a single aircraft. 2007 are flying for Singapore Airlines, about transporting as many passengers as while Western Hub was likeThe delivery of the §300 million ($370 mil- Quantas and Emirates. Airbus, a subsidiary possible per flight without compromising on ly to provide 11,500 jobs. lion) plane, the largest in the history of civil of Paris-based European Aeronautic comfort. And the A380 greatly reduces fuel Amid the protests, BHP aviation, comes three years late as Airbus Defence & Space Co, says it so far has 202 costs per seat.” Commenting on the relaBilliton, the world’s biggest has struggled to cope with production firm orders from 17 customers for the plane. tively low number of first and business class miner, is reportedly considLufthansa has ordered 15 of the hulking passengers on Lufthansa’s A380, Hellgren delays, Lufthansa said. Lufthansa said the ering slashing dividend payfirst of its 15 A380s will be put in service planes and expects a total of four to be deliv- added: “Of course it’s always better to have ments to hundreds of thoufrom June 11 onward, flying from Frankfurt ered by the end of the year. In addition to more premium passengers, but this reflects sands of shareholders, effecthe Frankfurt-Tokyo route, Lufthansa says the current business environment.” to Tokyo. tively dealing a blow to the Lufthansa this month reported an It comes at a difficult time for Lufthansa, it plans to use the plane for flights to Beijing government, which has which is locked in a bitter pay dispute with and Johannesburg. Its first A380, named increased group revenue of §5.8 billion for framed the tax as important its pilots, faces a challenging economic envi- after the city of Lufthansa’s main hub, the first quarter, even though it made a net to upcoming elections. ronment and has to bear air traffic disrup- “Frankfurt am Main,” comes with 526 seats. loss of §298 million for the first quarter, as Energy firm Santos called tions due to Iceland’s continuously spitting In the upper deck Lufthansa has eight first the carrier faced a strike by pilots, higher for “greater clarity” before volcano. The airline hopes the plane will class an 98 business class seats, the lower fuel costs and expenses from consolidating making a final investment boost its seating capacity and to be more deck provides room for 420 economy pas- stakes in other airlines. The airline still decision on a liquefied naturhopes to achieve a positive operating result cost-efficient compared to the rivaling sengers. al gas joint venture with Airbus says the nearly 240-foot (more for the full year. It has not yet specified what Boeing 747-400.

Malaysia’s Petronas, while Airbus chief executive Tom Enders sym- than 70-meter) long plane can carry up to the financial burden of the disruptions OZ Minerals said the tax was bolically handed the plane over to 800 passengers. Lufthansa says the A380 caused by the Icelandic volcano will be. holding up approval of a copLufthansa’s CEO Wolfgang Mahrhuber at an will provide a fuel economy per seat of 11 Lufthansa, based in Cologne, owns or holds per project.

Airbus production site in Hamburg, where percent compared to Boeing’s 747-400 and significant stakes in airlines including Swiss Concern has also spread the planes’ interiors have been built. overall cost will be some 15 percent lower International Airlines, Austrian Airlines, abroad. China, Australia’s Lufthansa is the second European airline to than with the 747. “The A380 is probably a JetBlue of the US and Britain’s BMI. —AP biggest trading partner and an important mining investor, raised the tax issue with Trade Minister Simon Crean in Beijing talks this week. “The issue was disLONDON: Members of the Bank between members who believe tain outlook, though the Bank still potentially suggesting that the cussed in detail and both of England’s rate-setting panel spare production capacity was expects inflation to fall back dampening effect on inflation sides agreed to continue disare increasingly concerned about dampening inflation less than pre- below target next year. “The pace from the margin of spare capacity cussions on the issue,” said inflation but uncertain how a new viously assumed, and those who and extent of the prospective fall might be somewhat weaker than a spokesman for Crean, who government, a euro debt crisis were more worried about credit in inflation are highly uncertain,” assumed in the May central prowas quizzed by Zhang Ping, and other developments will constraints and the Greek crisis. King said in a letter on Monday to jection,” the minutes said. head of China’s National affect consumer prices, according “The MPC remains firmly in wait Treasury chief George Osborne, “Others placed more weight on Reform and Development to minutes of the meeting and see mode,” said Jonathan explaining why inflation exceeded the downside risks to activity and Commission. released yesterday. The Bank’s Loynes, economist at Capital the official target. According to inflation from continued conAnalysts say the tax could Monetary Policy Committee, Economics. “But with the eco- the minutes, MPC members straints on credit supply and force mining firms to ditch which is responsible for adjusting nomic recovery still fragile, the agreed that although “risks to recent developments in the euro Australian sites and move interest rates to keep inflation at upward pressure on inflation set activity and inflation in the near area.” The latest Monetary Policy abroad in search of higher or near 2 percent, voted unani- to fade and a huge fiscal squeeze term had increased, it was too Committee meeting began a day returns. But the government mously to leave the base interest looming, we still think that a fur- early to assess with confidence after the national election which wants a greater share of the rate at an all-time low of 0.5 per- ther loosening of monetary policy the overall impact of recent produced a coalition government huge profits generated by is more likely than a tightening developments on the medium- led by Prime Minister David cent. rising commodity prices and Cameron, and MPC members over the next year,” Loynes said. term outlook.”

Official data released Tuesday massive Asian demand.

“Some members interpreted were waiting to see what the govBank of England Governor put consumer price inflation at 3.7 “We’re going to have all percent in April, a 17-month high. Mervyn King has recently been recent developments in firms’ ernment intends to do to reduce a sorts of statements from all The minutes revealed a division stressing the economy’s uncer- costs and pricing behavior as record deficit. —Reuters sorts of mining companies about the impact on all sorts of projects in the middle of this consultation period,” said Prime Minister Rudd.

“But you know something? What we’re on about is using a super profits tax on the mining industry to enable Australians to get a fair return on the resource which they own.” The sector is critical to Australia’s economy, whose resources exports grew about 10 percent a year over two decades to reach 127.5 billion dollars (114 billion US) in 2008-2009 — some 45 percent of total shipments.

The government has also accepted an opposition challenge to make the tax a battleground in elections expected this year, despite a poor performance in the polls since it was announced on May 2. Shares in Fortescue slumped 4.68 percent on the latest announcement, while BHP and Rio were down 0.73 percent and 1.53 percent LONDON: Window cleaners stand in a cradle and work on a new building yesterday. —AFP respectively. —AFP

Lufthansa receives first Airbus A380

BoE divided on inflation outlook

26

BUSINESS

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Euro sinks, stocks plunge as new rules stir anxiety US and German financial regulation hurts risk appetite NEW YORK: The euro fell to a four-year lows on Tuesday and US stocks sank more than 1 percent on worries that tighter financial regulation stretching from Wall Street to Frankfurt will hinder a global economic recovery. The price of crude oil

fell to a seven-month low, hurt by the stronger US dollar and as investors’ aversion to risk increased on rising fears that a new chapter could unfold in the European debt crisis. US Treasury prices rose on the flight to safety.

Germany, in an attack on the financial speculation on which it blames much of the euro zone’s debt crisis, announced a ban beginning at midnight on naked short-selling in shares of the country’s 10 most important financial institutions, as well as in some euro zone government debt and trading in credit default swaps on that debt. The euro fell to $1.2161, the lowest level since April 2006 after the ban was announced, which traders said increased uncertainty in the financial markets.

“This announcement by the German government has given the view to the market that perhaps there’s another problem in Europe,” said John Brady, a senior vice president at MF Global in Chicago. Brady noted that Greece’s debt problems had been exposed only after a new government took office.

“Now with Germany doing this, there’s a belief that there may be another problem in Europe that has yet to be uncovered.”

US stocks were also pressured by proposed new rules from the US Securities and Exchange Commission and financial exchanges to curb trading when markets plunge.

NEW YORK: Trader Steven Schnibbe works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. —AP The proposal follows the roughly 700-point drop in the Dow industrials in a matter of minutes on May 6. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 113.59 points, or 1.07 percent, at 10,512.24. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index closed down 16.07 points, or 1.41 percent, at 1,120.87, while the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 36.80 points, or 1.56 percent, at 2,317.43.

Financial stocks led the way But France said yesterday it was not measures may unsettle, rather than calm, BERLIN: Germany declared war on specudown, with the S&P financial lators yesterday, stunning investors with a considering banning naked short-selling on markets already nervous about the debt index falling 2.8 percent. ban on naked short selling of certain finan- European debt and said it had not been con- crisis.

JPMorgan Chase & Co was “Germany’s announcement ... dented cial instruments and wrongfooting its sulted. “It seems to me that one ought to at down 2.1 percent at $39.00.

European partners who said they were not least seek the advice of the other member risk appetite as it raises the question as to Shares of technology compaconsulted. Chancellor Angela Merkel urged states concerned by this measure,” whether the German regulator knows nies, which tend to rely heavily the European Union to speed up financial Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said. something the market doesn’t,” Rabobank on overseas sales, were also market supervision and introduce a new tax A European Commission spokeswoman said in a note. “If there is a secret here, it among the biggest losers. An on them, saying Berlin was ready to act confirmed EU finance ministers did not dis- can’t possibly be a positive one.” The index of semiconductor shares alone on a ban on activities which some cuss on Tuesday Germany’s decision later euro-not covered by the ban-was the first lost 2.9 percent, while Intel casualty of the move, hitting a fresh fourleaders blame for much of the euro zone that day.

Corp dropped 2.7 percent to The EU commissioner for internal mar- year low. debt crisis. Speaking to parliament after the $21.43. Germany said the ban Markets rattled ban came into force at midnight (2200 GMT kets and financial regulation, Michel on some naked short selling The clampdown announced by Europe’s Tuesday), Merkel said EU leaders had to Barnier, said in a statement: “These meawill run through March 31, ensure markets could not “extort” the state sures will be even more efficient if they are biggest economy hit markets hard. The 2011. In naked short selling, a any more and the bloc would introduce its coordinated at European level. “It is impor- FTSEurofirst 300 was down 2.4 percent at trader sells a financial instruown financial transaction tax or levy if the tant that member states act together and 0945 GMT, and most major European ment short, betting that its Group of 20 nations failed to reach a deal in that we design a European regime to avoid indices fell. Naked short selling of europrice will fall, without first borregulatory arbitrage and fragmentation both denominated government bonds and June. rowing the instrument or “I’ll boil it down to its core: The euro is with the EU and globally.” He said shares in Germany’s 10 leading financial ensuring that it can be borthe foundation for growth and prosperity, Germany’s moves against derivatives institutions, as well as related transactions rowed, as would be done in a along with the common market-also for should be discussed at a finance ministers’ in credit default swaps, will be prohibited conventional short sale.

Germany. The euro is in danger,” she told meeting on Friday. Britain’s regulator, the until March 31, 2011, a spokesman for the “Germany decided it was parliament. Her comment heaped fresh Financial Services Authority (FSA) noted German finance ministry said. Credit going to ban naked short sellpressure on the euro which had already the German ban and said it would assist the default swaps, a type of derivative known ing. So if you want to express tumbled on the back of Germany’s plan to German authorities where appropriate but as CDS, insure against the risk of debt your view but can’t sell ban naked short-selling of shares in the top added it would not cover German institu- defaults.

European equities or bonds, Germany’s financial regulator said the 10 German financial institutions, euro gov- tions outside Germany or in Britain. your only choice is to sell the move was “due to the extraordinary volatil“100 percent wrong” ernment bonds and on related transactions currency and take your money Analysts said the German decision could ity in government bonds in the euro zone”. in credit default swaps (CDS). Short selling elsewhere,” said Michael is a trade that bets a price will fall. Naked do more harm than good, draining funds Massive short-selling could have endanWoolfolk, senior currency short selling is when a trader sells a finan- away from the euro zone and deepening risk gered the stability of the financial system, strategist at BNY Mellon in cial instrument without first borrowing the aversion. Some called it an act of despera- it said. It was not clear how Germany New York. The euro fell 1.51 instrument or ensuring that it can be bor- tion. “Rather strangely, Eurocrats have a could enforce the ban effectively in the percent at $1.2206 from a previrowed, as would be done in a conventional ‘barbarians-at-the-gate’ view of what is debt and CDS markets, which stretch ous session close of $1.2393. going on, that the EMU citadel is under across national borders. US regulators are short sale.

Against the Japanese yen, the siege and all resources are needed to repel working on their own rules to curb stock EU partners left in dark dollar fell 0.26 percent at 92.34.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang the antagonists/atheists whose cruelness is trading when markets plunge uncontrol“The announcement in Schaeuble defended the move late on only matched by their ignorance,” said lably, as happened on May 6 when the Dow Germany was aimed at limiting Jones industrial average dropped some 700 Tuesday, saying Berlin had acted in antici- Stephen Jen of the BlueGold hedge fund. intra-day market volatility but “I think this view is close to 100 percent points within minutes. pation of European rules discussed at a saw the euro extending its The plan was hastily crafted by the meeting of EU finance ministers earlier in off the mark. If anything ... the biggest selldeclines,” said Vassili the day. “We said ‘We’ll go first’ because it ers of European bonds are European pen- Securities and Exchange Commission and Serebriakov, at Wells Fargo in was precisely that part of the speculation in sion funds, not US hedge funds,” he said. major US exchanges and will be implementNew York. “The proof is always the recent months with government bonds Germany’s lack of coordination with other ed as soon as mid-June, a source familiar in the markets.” euro zone members underscored how the with the plan told Reuters. —Reuters in the euro zone caused us such concern.”

The German ban came on the same day as European Union finance ministers voted through the draft text on tighter regulation of hedge funds and private equity firms. The under management contracts BFM radio, adding that it was PARIS: Accor Hospitality, the and childcare vouchers. benchmark 10-year US The split is aimed at help- or franchise agreements mak- becoming easier for potential hotels business of France’s Treasury note rose 31/32, with Accor SA, said over half its ing the operationally geared ing for over 80 percent of rev- buyers to secure financing. the yield at 3.37 percent. The 22010 plan to dispose assets to hotels business shed real enue against 60 percent in The 2010-2013 asset disposal year US Treasury note rose plan is expected to increase reduce debt had been complet- estate and assets to boost cash 2009.

3/32, with the yield at 0.745 Accor said that by the end cash by 1.6 billion euros and ed by the end of April and it and expand and give the cashpercent, while the 30-year US. was stepping up hotel expan- rich, defensive prepaid busi- of 2015, it planned to open reduce adjusted net debt by 2 Treasury bond gained 60/32, sion in Europe and Asia. The ness a freer hand to invest and more than 1,800 hotels, with a billion. with the yield at 4.25 percent.

Beyond 2013, more propercompany, which is being split grow. The group plans to con- strong focus on Europe and Crude oil prices settled down from Accor’s prepaid services tinue managing the hotels that Asia. The services unit, which ty portfolio restructuring is on 67 cents, or 0.96 percent, to unit, said yesterday recovery it sells. Accor Hospitality is due to list on July 2 in Paris the cards, which would cut $69.37 per barrel, and spot gold in its key revenue per average expects disposals for 2010 to if shareholders approve the debt by around 200 million to prices fell 70 cents, or 0.06 perroom (RevPar) gauge in the have a 450 million euro ($559 one-for-one share split at a 300 million euros a year, the cent, to $1,222.00. first quarter continued into million) impact, of which more meeting on June 29, held its company said. The split, The Reuters/Jefferies CRB than 50 percent had been own investor day on Tuesday.. agreed by the board in April and the first half of May. Index rose 1.73 points, or 0.68 December, was at the urging Debt goals unchanged With 4,100 hotels in 90 secured by the end of April. percent, at 254.93. Ahead of the Accor SA has said it would of key shareholders Eurazeo Chief Executive Gilles countries and 145,000 employnews from Germany, the ees, Accor is the fourth-largest Pelisson told investors on allocate 1.2 billion euros of its and Colony Capital LCC, hotel group in the world Wednesday the planned split 1.6 billion debt to hotels and which own a combined 30 perFTSEurofirst 300 index of top behind the InterContinental, would accelerate its shift 400 million to prepaid ser- cent of Accor, but was European shares closed up 1.3 Marriott, Hilton and Starwood towards a more asset-light vices. The hotels business, opposed by the French FSI percent at 1,026.64 points. The chains. It wants to grab the business model that would which wants an investment strategic investment fund, gains snapped two consecutive No.3 spot by 2015. Accor SA boost Return on Capital grade rating, thus needs to which has 7.5 percent. Accor days of declines, and came after plans to separate its hotels- Employed (ROCE) and cash accelerate asset sales to wipe shares were down 4.2 percent Greece received funds from the ranging from luxury brand flows. By 2012, Accor out debt. Yesterday, the unit at 39.34 euros by 1005 GMT European Union to repay its Sofitel to budget Ibis and Hospitality plans to open kept all its debt reduction while the STOXX Travel and immediate debt. Banks reboundMotel 6 — from its services 35,000 to 40,000 new rooms a goals. “Our asset sales are Leisure index was down 2.1 ed and were among the best perbusiness, which provides food year, with hotels operated going well,” Pelisson told percent. —Reuters formers after a flat performance on Monday. —Reuters

Germany declares solo war on speculators, markets sag Covers euro zone bonds, CDS, top bank shares

Accor Hospitality says half of 2010 disposals secured

WASHINGTON: In this file photo, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairperson Mary Schapiro testifies at a hearing on the May 6 stock market plunge, on Capitol Hill. —AP

Rules proposed to avoid another ‘flash crash’ WASHINGTON: Regulators and market players still don’t know exactly what caused the hair-raising “flash crash” on Wall Street but they’ve already come up with new rules they hope will avoid a repeat. US stock exchanges would briefly halt trading of some stocks that have big price swings under the new trading rules proposed Tuesday that are aimed at avoiding market plunges like the one that stunned Wall Street on May 6. The rules would take effect in mid-June under a six-month pilot program agreed to by major US exchanges and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under the plan, trading of any Standard & Poor’s 500 stock that rises or falls 10 percent or more within a fiveminute span would be halted for five minutes. These rules, known as “circuit breakers,” would be applied if the price swing occurs between 9:45 am and 3:35 pm Eastern time.

That’s almost the entire trading day. On May 6, about 30 stocks listed in the S&P 500 index fell at least 10 percent within five minutes. Importantly, the new circuit breakers would apply to all US exchanges. Most of the 50 or so US exchanges regulate themselves and design their own tools for slowing or halting trading.

During the recent plunge, the New York Stock Exchange slowed trading according to its rules but the orders that couldn’t be executed migrated in a torrent to electronic exchanges,

industry officials said. The SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, in a report by their staffs, said the agencies’ investigation of the epic dive - in which the Dow Jones industrials lost nearly 1,000 points in less than a halfhour - is still in a preliminary stage.

“The decline and rebound of prices in major market indexes and individual securities on May 6 was unprecedented in its speed and scope,” said the joint report released Tuesday evening. “The whipsawing prices resulted in investors selling at losses during the decline and undermined confidence in the markets.” Only a preliminary picture has started to emerge, the report said.

Investigators are focusing on, among other things, a possible link between the steep decline in prices of stock indexes, and “simultaneous and subsequent” waves of selling in individual stocks.

Also being looked at is a “severe mismatch” of liquidity in the market that may have been worsened by the withdrawal of electronic traders and the use of so-called “stoploss” market orders, the report said. Stop-loss orders set the price at which a stock is automatically sold when it declines to a specified level.

SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro told a gathering of financial analysts Tuesday there are issues “we think can be remediated quickly even before we understand necessarily what

the exact cause of the crash was.” The SEC would vote on formally approving the rules sometime after a 10-day comment period, unusually short for the agency’s rule-making and indicating the urgency of the issue.

“We continue to believe that the market disruption of May 6 was exacerbated by disparate trading rules and conventions across the exchanges,” Schapiro said in a statement. “As such, I believe it is important that all the exchanges quickly reached consensus on a set of uniform circuit breakers that would be triggered when needed.” The markets can use the sixmonth pilot period, which would end on Dec. 10, to make needed adjustments based on how the new rules work, and the scope of the rules could be expanded to stocks beyond the S&P 500 “as soon as practicable,” the SEC said. That could include exchange-traded funds, increasingly popular investments that often track a market index such as the S&P 500 and can be traded throughout the day, unlike mutual funds. ETFs as a group were affected by the plunge more than any other category of securities, according to the report. Schapiro has asked the SEC staff to consider during the pilot period ways to address the risks of “stop-loss” and other market orders, and whether so-called “stub quotes” should be curbed or banned. —AP

NEW YORK: Pedestrians walk past the JPMorgan Chase headquarters. —AFP

JPMorgan investors rebuke CEO, keep him as chairman Shareholders reject proposal for independent chairman NEW YORK: JPMorgan Chase & Co shareholders rejected a proposal to strip Chief Executive Jamie Dimon of his chairman title, but they gave him a hard time at the bank’s annual meeting on Tuesday.

The second-largest US bank, which was profitable during the financial crisis, attracted a larger-than-usual turnout at the meeting, held in the heart of New York City’s financial district and steps from Wall Street.

Some shareholders expressed their anger with salty questions. “Isn’t this business a little bit like running a house of ill repute while knowing that all your ladies have AIDS?” asked one man.

“No,” Dimon replied, then moved to the next question.

Dimon has won plaudits for his acquisitions of troubled Bear Stearns Cos in March 2008 and for failed Seattle thrift Washington Mutual Inc just days after Lehman

Brothers filed for bankruptcy later that year.

On Tuesday, he faced shareholders angry about the bank’s 5-cent-a-share quarterly dividend, upset homeowners whose homes Chase is foreclosing upon, and environmental groups critical of the bank’s financing of mountaintop coal removal companies.

More than a dozen protesters stood in the rain outside One Chase Manhattan Plaza, greeting shareholders going to the meeting just before it began at 10 a.m. ET. At one point, there were as many as 300 protesters, Dow Jones reported.

Some protesters wore yellow T-shirts with the words ‘Stop the loan sharks,’ while others jangled keys, representing the houses Chase has foreclosed on.

The proposal to split the jobs of chairman and chief executive received 33.9 percent of the vote. The California Public Employees’

Retirement System, the largest US public pension fund, said on Monday it was in favor of separating the roles.

Shareholders also voted more than 40 percent in favor of a proposal to give shareholders with more than 10 percent of the bank’s stock the right to call shareholder meetings. They voted more than 30 percent in favor of a proposal to require the bank to disclose more about the use of collateral in its derivatives business.

Both proposals failed.

While Dimon came in for more criticism than he faced at last year’s annual meeting, he was not without fans.

“Jamie, you have to stay here forever,” said Evelyn Davis, self-described “queen of the corporate jungle” and a perennial, sometimes persnickety presence at many companies’ annual meetings.

“I’m not going to let you ever resign.” —Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

Thursday, May 20, 2010

27

EU fines Samsung, nine other chip makers over cartel BRUSSELS: The EU Commission fined the world’s biggest memory chip makers, including Samsung, Infineon and Toshiba, a total of 331 million euros (403 million dollars) yesterday for operating a cartel.

The biggest fine, of 145 million euros, was handed down to South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, the world’s top computer memory chip maker, for its part in the cartel which shared confidential information and coordinated prices.

Germany’s Infineon Technologies was fined 56.7 million euros while South Korea’s Hynix Semiconductor Inc. will have to pay 51.5 million euros.

Others fined for being part of the cartel include Japanese companies Hitachi, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, NEC Electronics and Elpida Memory as well as Taiwan’s Nanya.

US chip maker Micron Technology blew the whistle on the price fixing cartel and therefore

escaped a fine.

The European Commission said the overall fines had been reduced by 10 percent after the companies acknowledged their involvement in the cartel.

Some of the individual companies involved also had their fines reduced by up to 45 percent, in the case of Infineon, for cooperating with the long-running investigation and for what the commission said were “mitigating circumstances.”

Infineon was the only European company involved, but all the members of the cartel which operated from 1998-2002 sold their products in Europe.

Samsung’s fine was reduced by 18 percent.

It was the first time such a settlement has been reached in a cartel case.

“The companies concerned have acknowledged that they coordinated prices,” said EU Competition

Commissioner Joaquin Almunia.

“This first settlement decision is another milestone in the Commission’s anti-cartel enforcement. By acknowledging their participation in a cartel the companies have allowed the Commission to bring this long-running investigation to a close and to free up resources to investigate other suspected cartels,” he said.

As the procedure is applied to new cases it is expected to speed

up investigations significantly, the EU commissioner added, as it would offer a simplified procedure.

The actions of the cartel forced computer makers and others to push up the costs of finished products to consumers, he said.

The cartel was first busted in the United States in 2005 for pricefixing of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips, widely used in computers and other electronics.

In November 2005, Samsung pleaded guilty in the US to participating in the conspiracy and agreed to pay a 300-million-dollar fine in what was the second largest criminal antitrust fine in American history.

The case marked the shift of price-fixing into the technological age.

Six senior Samsumg executives also received prison terms in the US as a result of the case. —AFP

Common data storage formats like CDs, DVDs only last 20 years

‘Digital genome’ safeguards dying data formats in bunker

HANOVER: Picture taken on March 3, 2010 shows the camera of a street-view car, used to photograph whole streets, on the Google street-view stand at the world’s biggest high-tech fair, the CeBIT in the northern German city of Hanover. German prosecutors have launched a probe against Google after admitting to mistakenly gathering personal data with its controversial “Street View” mapping service, a spokesman said yesterday. —AFP

German prosecutors investigating Google BERLIN: German prosecutors are investigating Google Inc. on suspicion of violating privacy laws by recording fragments of people’s online activities through unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

Hamburg prosecutor Wilhelm Moellers told the news agency DAPD that his office launched the investigation after a complaint was filed against undisclosed Google employees over the incident last Friday.

“The tapping of data is believed to have taken place over unsecured Wi-Fi networks in connection with ‘Street View”‘ activity, Moellers said.

Google acknowledged the privacy breach in an apology issued last Friday, saying it had been inadvertently storing fragments of people’s online activities over the past four years while expanding its mapping feature, “Street View.”

The US Internet giant has come under fire from authorities across Europe, where strict privacy laws regulate how much of citizens’ personal

details may be released or shared without consent. Suspicion that Google was showing too much in its attempts to provide detailed online maps has been aggravated by the breach, noticed by German authorities.

In London, Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office joined Germany in calling for Google to destroy the data, although it said it was unlikely that anything more than fragments of data had been collected. Google has been sending cars equipped with mounted cameras through European streets to take pictures that are then broadcast through the “Street View” map program. The Czech Office for Personal Data Protection also said it is investigating Google for failing to meet necessary requirements needed to collect data used for “Street View.” Spokeswoman Hana Stepankova said yesterday that her office had received a number of complaints from citizens about Google’s activities. —AP

PARIS: A person presents a BlackBerry phone on July 22, 2009 in Paris. Global mobile phone sales soared by 17 percent in the first quarter, driven by smartphone models, the Gartner tech industry research house said yesterday. For the three months to March, some 314 million mobile phones were sold, of which 54.3 million were smartphone models which allow users to access the Internet on the move, Gartner said. —AFP

EU unveils ‘digital agenda’ to increase use of Web BRUSSELS: The European Commission unveiled plans yesterday to greatly increase the number of Europeans using public and commercial services online over the next decade.

Neelie Kroes, the EU commissioner for digital affairs, said 30 percent of Europeans have never used the Internet.

Beyond that, there are four times as many music downloads in the US than in Europe, and only 1 percent of Europeans have access to fiber-based high-speed networks, she said, compared to 12 percent in Japan and 15 percent of South Koreans.

And Europe lags behind its main competitors in developing cutting edge technologies,

she said. The reasons, Kroes told a news conference, are weak investments — EU spending is 40 percent of that of the US — and national borders that “hamper access to pan-European telecoms services, digital services and content.” To catch up, she said, EU governments must double their annual spending on research and development to euro11 billion by 2020.

Kroes’ “Digital Agenda” includes steps to improve information technology standards and compatibility, eliminate regulatory barriers, encourage electronic payments and simplify digital copyright management and licensing.

Kroes said the European

Commission will put forward a raft of measures — including 31 EU laws — over the next 23 years to get more Europeans online by 2020. She outlined these goals: — Broadband coverage for all EU citizens by 2013. — By 2015, 50 percent of Europeans shopping and using public services online.

— By 2020, broadband coverage at 30 megabytes per second and more for at least half EU households. Kroes said Europeans are unlikely to go online more unless they feel safe. That means EU governments must tackle “the rise of ‘cybercrime,’ ranging from child abuse to identity theft,” she said. —AP

SAANEN: In a secret bunker deep in the Swiss Alps, European researchers have deposited a “digital genome” that will provide the blueprint for future generations to read data stored using defunct technology.

Accompanied by burly security guards in black uniforms, scientists carried a time capsule through a labyrinth of tunnels and five security zones to a vault near the slopes of chic ski resort Gstaad.

The sealed box containing the key to unpick defunct digital formats will be locked away for the next quarter of a century behind a 3-1/2 tonne door strong enough to resist nuclear attack at the data storage facility, known as the Swiss Fort Knox.

“Einstein’s notebooks you can take down off the shelf and read them today. Roll forward 50 years and most of Stephen Hawking’s notes will likely only be stored digitally and we might not be able to access them all,” said the British Library’s Adam Farquhar, one of two computer scientists and archivists entrusted with transferring the capsule.

The capsule is the culmination of the four-year “Planets” project, which draws on the expertise of 16 European libraries, archives and research institutions, to preserve the world’s digital assets as hardware and software is superseded at a blistering pace.

“The time capsule being deposited inside Swiss Fort Knox contains the digital equivalent of the genetic code of different data formats, a ‘digital genome’,” said the grey-bearded Farquhar, coordinator of the 15 million-euro ($18.49 million) project.

“I can’t even read my own dissertation anymore except in paper form, because we didn’t have anything like this when I wrote it,” he said.

Around 100 GB of dataequivalent to 24 tonnes of books- has already been created for every single individual on the planet, ranging from holiday snaps to health records, project organisers said, adding this amounted to over 1 trillion CDs worth of data across the globe.

But as technological breakthroughs help people to live longer, the lifespan of technology gets shorter, meaning the European Union alone loses digital information worth at least 3 billion euros every year, they said.

Studies suggest common data storage formats like CDs and DVDs only last 20 years, while digital file formats have a life expectancy of just five to seven years. Hardware even less.

“Unlike hieroglyphics carved in stone or ink on parchment, digital data has a shelf life of years not millennia,” said Andreas Rauber, a professor at the University of Technology of Vienna, which is a partner in the project.

“Failure to implement adequate digital preservation measures now could cost us billions in the future,” Rauber said, adding that the project had made open-use software available online to enable people to decipher data stored in defunct formats.

Without supporting software and compatible operating systems, knowing what is on a disc, let alone reading the files will be impossible, Farquhar said. The project hopes to preserve “data DNA”, the information and tools to access and read historical digital material and prevent digital memory loss into the next century. —Reuters

SHANGHAI: A robot balances on one leg during a show titled “better living with robots” at the Japanese pavilion at the site of the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai yesterday. Organisers expect 70 million visitors — most of them Chinese — to attend the biggest-ever World’s Fair, with an average of 380,000 people expected to visit the site daily. —AFP

Yahoo buys freelance news site Associated Content SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo Inc. is buying freelance news site Associated Content in a deal that will add a more folksy touch to one of the world’s biggest Web sites. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

The acquisition announced Tuesday will enable Yahoo to supplement its regular lineup of stories by full-time reporters with independently produced material that typically isn’t covered by traditional media outlets. Associated Content, launched in 2005

by Luke Beatty, bills itself as “the people’s media company.” It has developed a lowcost news model that relies on about 380,000 freelancers who share their expertise on a variety of subjects.

The material includes how-to advice, review, opinion pieces and coverage about what’s happening in neighborhoods around the United States.

The stories evidently are striking a

chord: Associated Content attracted 16 million visitors last month, according to comScore Inc. That exceeded the roughly 14 million people who visited The New York Times’ Web site last month, comScore said.

Yahoo plans to sprinkle Associated Content’s contributions throughout its news, sports, finance and entertainment sections. Yahoo will continue to publish stories that it gets from newspapers, its own editorial staff and outlets that include The Associated Press.

Associated Content “gives us more local gravitas,” Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz said in a Tuesday interview. By providing more parochial stories, Yahoo hopes to widen its audience and create more opportunities to sell online ads tied to the neighborhoods or topics that Associated Content’s freelancers are covering. Yahoo has been slumping for most of the past four years because it has

been losing online ad revenue to rivals such as Google Inc. and Facebook.

Yahoo’s decision to expand the breadth of its local coverage is similar to a strategy being pursued by AOL Inc. as its CEO, Tim Armstrong, tries to turn around that company.

AOL is trying to build two low-cost local news sites, Seed.com and Patch.com.

Armstrong stands to personally profit from Associated Content’s sale because he is among the startup’s early investors and even served as its chairman until two years ago. He helped fund Associated Content while he was still a top advertising executive at Google. Associated Content’s CEO, Patrick Keane, used to work at Google with Armstrong.

Yahoo plans to close Associated Content’s Web site after it completes the acquisition in the third quarter. —AP

HAMMELBURG: In this photo taken Tuesday, robot vehicle ELAP, is presented during the European Land Robot show in Hammelburg, southern Germany. —AP

28

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Suicide a risk in retirement, nursing communities CHICAGO: Seniors who move into residential homes are often at risk for suicide, yet these communities are ill equipped to deal with these problems, US researchers said on Tuesday. Older adults typically move to residential homes because of failing health, loss of a spouse or financial insecurity, all factors that can raise the risk of suicide, they said. "These adjustments, coupled

with an array of risk factors commonly found among seniors-such as depression, hopelessness, and functional impairment-can result in suicidal behaviors," Carol Podgorski of the University of Rochester in New York and colleagues wrote in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Medicine.

Widowing, divorce, substance abuse, loss

and family discord also can push an older adult toward suicide, Podgorski said in a statement. Yet policies regarding the best way to deal with suicide prevention in these settings are sparse, she said.

That may become more important as the first baby boomers start turning 65 in 2011.

According to Alliance for Aging Research, by 2030 almost one out of every

five Americans, or 72 million people, will be 65 or older, and about 80 percent of seniors have at least one chronic health condition.

Currently, adults over 65 make up 12.4 percent of the US population, yet they account for 14 percent of all suicides, the team reported. Suicides are highest among white men over 85. Methods vary by gender. Women are more likely to use suffoca-

tion or poisoning, including prescription drugs, while men are more likely to use firearms, Podgorski said.

"About 75 percent of older adults who die by suicide have never made a prior attempt, but because they tend to use more lethal means, they are more likely to die in an attempt," Podgorski and colleagues wrote.

They said public health systems and resi-

dential communities can counter suicidal behavior in residential communities by: Identifying at risk seniors who are depressed; Increasing access to mental health and substance abuse services; Treating medical conditions and chronic pain; Promoting social networks and support; Decreasing access to firearms, drugs and other lethal means of suicide. — Reuters

More than 80% of all TB cases occur in only 22 countries

Tuberculosis most deadly of 'neglected' diseases PARIS: More than nine out of ten cases of tuberculosis, which kills 1.8 million people each year, could be averted by 2050 with better testing, drugs and vaccines, according to a major review released yesterday. Treatment from 1995 to 2008 saved six million lives, according to the review, published in the British medical journal The Lancet. But TB remains a deadly scourge that Some 36 million people infected with TB during 1995-2008 were cured and incidence of the lung-wasting disease has begun to regress, but only by about one percent per year.

The most urgent-and most easily remedied-problem is poor diagnosis, the report said.

More than 80 percent of all TB cases occur in only 22 countries, including nine in Africa, 11 in Asia, and Russia.

Detection rates have improved over the last 15 years, but nearly 40 percent of active infections in those nations still go untreated.

Even worse, only a quarter of the estimated 1.4 million people infected with both tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS have been identified, the study reported.

HIV increases the risk of TB 20 fold.

Up to two-thirds of cases in South

Africa and Zimbabwe, for example, are thought to be caused by HIV co-infection.

Frequent testing for HIV and the early start of antiretroviral treatment (ART) would help cut incidence by reducing the number of people with compromised immune systems, it said.

Another looming threat are so-called "multidrug-resistant" (MDR) forms of TB. Most types of tuberculosis can be cured with ten euros (13 dollars) worth of medicine if diagnosed early.

But when patients fail to complete a treatment, the Mycobacterium tuberculosis germ that causes the disease develops a resistance to frontline drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin.

Treating the new superbugs costs thousands of dollars (euros) and can take

fails to attract as many health dollars, euros and yen as other diseases claiming as many or fewer victims, the journal said. "Tuberculosis is unfashionable these days," said Lesotho Health Minister Mphu Ramatlapeng at a press conference in Geneva, where the report was unveiled at the World Health Organisation (WHO). up to two years, and even then may fail.

"Without significant investment in technology and capacity for prevention, diagnosis and treatment, MDR-TB threatens to become the dominant strain of TB over the next few decades," the study warns.

"The future possibility of strains that are totally resistant to all anti-tuberculosis drugs is not inconceivable."

In 2008, some 440,000 cases of MDR-TB occurred worldwide, half of them in China and India. Only seven percent, however, of these infections were treated.

Turning back the tide on TB will require boosting basic health care infrastructure and targeted prevention measures, including improved vaccines, better use of antibiotics and reduction of risk factors.

There remains a "desperate need" for a more accurate, cheaper test for detection, and for so-called "biomarkers" that predict whether an individual is more likely to be cured by treatment or to relapse, and whether vaccines will work.

All of this takes money, which has fallen far short of needs: The funding gap in high-burden countries-measured against the Global Plan to Stop TB-is some half-a-billion dollars in 2010, the study reports.

"Tuberculosis can no longer be the neglected sister of HIV and malaria," the authors say, pointing out that the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) spend about seven percent as much on TB research as for HIV, even though both diseases kill roughly the same number of people worldwide. — AFP

Argonaut mystery solved, says scientist PARIS: Scientists said yesterday they had cracked the mystery of the paper nautilus, the brittle and translucent shell belonging to rarely-seen species of openwater octopuses called argonauts.

For centuries, biologists have puzzled over the evolutionary function the female's delicate off-white casing, which is too thin to offer protection from predators. The most widely-held view was that it served as a brood chamber to house eggs.

But a new study reveals its primary role is to allow the animal to ascend and descend in the ocean by using trapped air to regulate depth.

"Through underwater observations of wild argonauts, we discovered the five-step process by which females gather air from the water surface and transport it to depth, where neutral buoyancy is attained," said Julian Finn, a researcher at Museum Victoria in Melbourne, co-author of the study.

The finding puts the lie to a long-held belief that

pockets of air inside the shell had caused the mass strandings of the creatures on beaches around the world.

"This study demonstrates that air in the shells of female argonauts is not only beneficial, it is essential," Finn said in a statement.

Argonauts determine the depth at which they can remain suspended by adjusting the amount of air they "gulp" at the surface.

As an octopus swims to depth using a kind of jet propulsion, the increasing pressure of the water gradually reduces the volume of the captured air-and thus its buoyancy-until it exactly cancels out body weight.

Finn speculated that this remarkable feat of controlled equilibrium went unnoticed because previous experiments were conducted in aquariums too shallow for the animals to show off their skills.

His observations were conducted in the wild with specimens captured by Japanese fishermen.

"I took each argonaut scuba diving," he explained. "I removed all the air from each argonaut's shell, released it and observed."

The octopuses immediately jetted to the water surface, where they gathered a precise volume of air and sealed it with their arms before returning to the depths.

Found in all tropical and temperate waters, argonauts are an important food source for whales, seals, fishes, sea birds and other marine predators.

Unlike the chambered nautilus, with which they are sometimes confused, argonauts are true octopuses, with eight arms with suckers surrounding a central mouth.

Females secret the shell-commonly known as a paper nautilus with large webs on their upper pair of arms.

There are four known species, varying in size up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) in diameter. — AFP

MELGAR DE YUSO: Got, the country's first cloned Spanish fighting bull, is seen hours after being born at a ranch in Melgar de Yuso, northern Spain, yesterday. A dairy cow has given birth to a calf which should be an exact genetical replica of a ferocious, hefty beast of the type faced in bullrings by matadors. — AP

Fighting bull cloned for first time in Spain MELGAR DE YUSO: Scientists in Spain say they have cloned a fighting bull for the first time.

Vicente Torrent, a specialist in veterinary genetics, says the newborn calf, named Got, is an exact replica of a muscular, horned specimen of the type matadors face in bullrings.

The animal was unveiled yesterday, a day after being born.

It now weighs 24 kilograms (53 pounds).

Torrent says his 17-man team is hopeful Got will exhibit the same fierce traits that made his genetic predecessor, Vasito, such a valuable specimen.

Animal cloning began in 1996 with Dolly the sheep. Torrent said it took three years of work to devise a means of preserving what he called valuable bull genes. —AP

Sex hormone explains higher liver cancer risk in men: Study HONG KONG: Male sex hormones may explain why men who suffer from the hepatitis B liver disease are more likely to develop liver cancer than women, researchers in Taiwan have found.

In a paper published in the journal Science yesterday, the researchers said hepatitis B viruses attach themselves to receptors of the male sex hormone androgen before going on to damage liver tissue and cause cancer.

"The findings indicate that using drugs to destroy ... androgen receptors could be a new way to battle liver cancer at an early stage," they wrote.

Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of global cancer death.

Hepatitis B virus infection, which is endemic in many Asian countries including China, is a leading cause of liver cancer and accounts for half of liver cancer cases worldwide.

Men are up to seven times more likely than women to develop liver cancer. Among hepatitis B virus carriers, men are up to three times more likely to develop liver cancer than women.

Led by Ming-Heng Wu at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences in National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan, researchers found that hepatitis B viruses have a special DNA sequence which draws it to androgen receptors.

"The androgen receptors in liver cells bind to this sequence and trigger a cascade of damage to liver tissue," they explained.

In their experiment, the researchers created mice that were infected with the hepatitis B virus and could easily develop liver tumours upon exposure to cancer-causing agents.

Some of these were genetically modified to be lacking in androgen receptors in their livers.

By week 22 in the experi-

ment, more than 90 percent of those mice with androgen receptors had developed liver tumours compared to 27 percent of the mice without androgen receptors.

Tinkering with the receptors did not change overall androgen levels or leave any obvious toxic effects in the mice. "Targeting the androgen receptor rather an androgen could be a promising therapy for liver cancer," the researchers said. — Reuters

LONDON: Winston Fletcher (2nd L) uses an exercise machine alongside other elderly participants during the official opening of the first pensioners' playground in Hyde Park in London yesterday. The outdoor facility features fun fitness equipment that offers a range of exercises to improve strength and flexibility and help adults continue active and healthy lifestyles in later years. Play areas for older people are popular in China and parts of Europe, but this is the first of its kind in London. — AFP

China organ trafficking trial exposes grisly trade

BANGALORE: Indian students of a yoga college shows their skills during a function in Bangalore yesterday. The function was organised to promote yoga and make people aware of helthy living through the regular practice of yoga. —AFP

BEIJING: A Beijing court is prosecuting a man for illegal organ trafficking, local media reported, putting the spotlight on a grisly black market in body parts in a country where demand for transplants far outstrips supply.

Half a liver can be bought for 45,000 yuan ($6,590), while an entire transplant including operation and recovery costs, can be completed for 150,000 yuan, according to a defendant from another organ trafficking trial prosecuted at the same court last month.

China in 2007 banned organ transplants from living donors, except spouses, blood relatives and step or adopted family members, but only launched a national system to coordinate donation after death last year.

Its efficiency has yet to be proved. Nearly 1.5 million people in China need organ transplants each year, but only 10,000 can get one, according to

the Health Ministry.

The defendants in the two Bejiing trials face up to five years for their role as gobetweens between donors and buyers, which could "damage society and moral values", the Procuratorial Daily reported.

They are still waiting for their verdict.

But at least two of them say they are being unfairly hounded for playing a vital role in helping both the sick and poor.

"I believe I was helping people, not harming others," the paper quoted defendant Liu Qiangsheng as saying.

Liu says he got into the business after selling half his own liver in 2008 to help pay for this father's medical bill. A friend of the recipient, who was waiting in despair for a liver, asked him to find another organ provider.

"I saved the life of the person who received my liver. He was only in his 30s. I do not regret it," he said.

His partner, Yang Shihai, had also sold one of his own kidneys, the paper reported.

"The donors were free. They were not controlled by us. They sold their organs voluntarily," it quoted Yang saying.

Middlemen specialised in faking documents allowing donations between strangers have helped raise transplants from living donors to 40 percent of donations, from 15 percent in 2006, the official China Daily reported last year.

However the majority of organs for transplant are still harvested from executed criminals, the paper said. Beijing hopes the new system will end both live transplants and taking organs from prisoners, which makes senior officials uncomfortable. "(Executed prisoners) are definitely not a proper source for organ transplants," Vice Minister Huang Jiefu told China Daily. — Reuters

HEALTH

Thursday, May 20, 2010

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Overuse of antibiotics spurs vicious cycle: Research Resistance in individual patients can last up to a year LONDON: Patients whose doctors over-prescribe antibiotics may develop drug resistance that lasts up to a year, putting them and the population at risk when more serious treatment is needed, scientists said yesterday.

The more antibiotics are prescribed for coughs and flu-like illnesses, or urine infections, the more bacteria become resistant in a vicious cycle, said British researchers who analysed 24 previous studies of antibiotic resistance.

“The effect is greatest in the month immediately after treatment, but may last for up to a year, and this residual effect may be a driver for high levels of resistance in the community,” said Alastair Hay, a consultant senior lecturer in primary health care at Bristol University, who led the research.

Medical experts say overuse of antibiotics in Europe, the United States and other wealthy regions is building widespread resistance in and threatening vital medical treatments from hip replacements and cancer therapies, to intensive care.

Hay said his study showed how individual

resistance was building up, and how that then translated into community- or population-wide problems.

Antibiotics are needed in all these treatments to prevent bacterial infection, but can be rendered useless if they are used so widely that bugs develop ways to outwit them.

Multi drug-resistant bacteria are a growing problem in hospitals worldwide, marked by the rise of “superbug” infections like methicillinresistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA).

But Hay, whose study was published in the British Medical Journal, said the problem of antibiotic resistance is often ignored in doctors’ clinics, despite the fact that some 80 percent of antibiotic prescriptions come from family doctors.

“Up until now, the majority of the evidence has been at a population level, so it was very easy-both for clinicians and patients-to say ‘this isn’t my problem’ or say ‘just one more antibiotic isn’t going to make a difference’,” Hay said.

“But the more we prescribe, the more the bacteria become resistant. And really the only way of turning that vicious cycle into a virtuous

circle is to only prescribe when it is absolutely necessary in the first place.”

Experts say the annual cost in the United States of treating infections traceable to just six drug-resistant bacteria is more than $1.87 billion-more than the yearly cost of treating flu.

In the European Union, added costs and loss of productivity as a result of antibiotic resistance are estimated at around 1.5 billion euros ($1.85 billion) a year.

In a commentary on the study, Chantal Morel and Elias Mossialos, specialists in economics and health policy from the London School of Economics, said it showed how great the need was for new classes antibiotics to be developed.

Morel and Mossialos said financial incentives should be used to persuade drug companies to invest in research to find, test and develop new antibiotics. “In view of the rapid growth of antibiotic resistance...the intricacies of the antibiotics market, and the cost savings from improved treatment, there is a public health well as economic justification for intervention,” they wrote. — Reuters

Japan to slaughter all livestock at foot-and-mouth epicentre TOKYO: Japan, scrambling to contain an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, will slaughter all livestock within 10 kilometres of the disease-hit areas, the government said yesterday.

The highly contagious virus has brought to a halt all Japanese beef and pork exports for one month and crippled the premium beef industry in the affected Miyazaki prefecture on the southwestern island of Kyushu.

Japan had already designated more than 118,000 cows, buffalo, pigs and goats from 131 affected farms to be destroyed. About half of them have already been put down in selected culls, latest government figures showed.

The disease, which sickens animals but rarely affects humans, was confirmed in late April, three weeks after the first animals fell ill, and authorities are racing to stop the virus from spreading to other islands.

Under the plan announced by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Wednesday, authorities will first vaccinate all livestock in the target areas, using a drug that is effective in cattle after about four days.

This is meant to buy time as authorities move on to slaughter all herds within 10 kilometres (six miles) of Kawaminami city, site of the first outbreak, and three other disease-hit towns. — AFP

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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Climate change! 15th art competition at the Radisson Blu Hotel W

ith growing concern about our climate and planet Earth, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait hosted its 15th Art Competition under the theme of Climate change!

The Radisson Blu Hotel aims to encourage young artists in Kuwait to showcase and develop their painting skills, ideas and creativity.

The best way to protect the future of our climate is through our children: this year, the Radisson Blu Hotel gave children the opportunity to voice their opinion and thoughts on climate change.

Over 400 complimentary canvases were distributed to the students, aged 15 to 18, of 25 different Foreign, Private and Special Needs schools. This year, the Commercial Bank of Kuwait also invited their customers’ children to join the hotel in the Art Competition and received a positive outcome.

The prize distribution ceremony was held on Saturday 15th May 2010 in the Al Hashemi Grand Ballroom to honor all participating students and CBK customer’s children as well as the winners from both categories. The event was held under the patronage of Mr. Fahad

Abdulrahman Al-Ghais, Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs.

The artwork was displayed in order to admire the artistic skills & mind-set of the children and was also made available for sale.

The remaining paintings will be displayed in the hotel lobby from 16th May to 20th May 2010.

The proceeds of the sale of the paintings will be given to the World Childhood Foundation, a nonprofit organization, founded by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden, to help children around the world live a better life.

The Art Competition was sponsored by Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Isbre Water, Total Company, Marafie Design and Al Assriya Printing. This year the Commercial Bank of Kuwait presented all the winners from different schools ‘My First Account with CBK’, as prizes during the wonderful ceremony.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait would like to thank all the sponsors, participants, School Principals / Head Teachers and the Art Teachers for their support in its pursuit to promote a better future for our planet and its children.

Congratulations

Al Bayan Bilingual School — Adulmohsen Al Oraifan; Al Wataniya Private School — Ammar Mohamed Hassan Oudah; Ideal Education School — Auquaiya Pehrab; Indian Public School — Marouf Moaz Sabhan; Kuwait English School /Green Unit — Rashed Al Kroka; Kuwaiti Down Syndrome — Anfal Bassel Bou Hamad; Manarat School — Moh’d Khalid Al Hassan; Philippine International English School Fahaheel — Gigliermina A. Mariano; The British School of Kuwait — Josh Moosavinia; The Universal American School — Mennat-allah Moselhy; Commercial Bank of Kuwait — Abdulaziz Naif Khaled Al Adwani; Commercial Bank of Kuwait — Nada Adel Al-Khamees; Commercial Bank of Kuwait— Nisreen Dia; Commercial Bank of Kuwait — Maryam Mustafa Ali; Commercial Bank of Kuwait — Douha Adel Al Matouq.

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Artist Amina Al-Mutawa, daughter of attorney Najlaa Al-Naqqi, recently celebrated her graduation from the New English School with honors, at a ceremony that was held in the Hyatt Regency hotel under the patronage of the minister of education, Dr. Moudhi AlHmoud. Picture shows, Al-Mutawa poses with her mother, and three sisters; Maisa, Eltaf, and Jana.

Happy Birthday

WINNERS

any happy returns of the day to Tollywood film hero young tiger Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao (NTR Jr.) who celebrates his birthday today. Best wishes come from Gulfwide Nandamuri fans, office bearers, Darla Srinivasa Achari, Madamalli Srinivasa Naidu, Yogi Venkatesh Naidu, Polavarapu Babu Naidu, Battina Subba Reddy, Polinani Santaram Naidu, Anjanayulu Naidu (Anji), Malaypati Babu, Malipati Suresh Babu Naidu, Pidikiti Srinivasa Chowdery, Kishore Chowdery, Olati Divakara Naidu, Chinna Nareshuimhulu (Reddy).

Fans to celebrate Junior NTR’s birthday

Lecture on experience of Kuwaiti women in leadership positions Happy birthday to our dear Rayna mol. ‘May God Bless You’ Love and best wishes come from Dada & Mamma (Christy & Renu).

he Gulf Studies Center at the American University of Kuwait cordially invites you to the following two lectures: 1st Lecture/panel discussion - “The Experience of Kuwaiti Women in Leadership Positions.”

A panel discussion on the subject of “The Experience of Kuwaiti Women in Leadership Positions” with Engineer Sara Akbar, Mrs. Lulwa Al-Mulla, Ms. Safa AlHachem and Ms. Maha Al-Guneim associated with Dr. Souad Ali; AUK Fulbright Scholar. The panel will be presented in English.

This unique Panel Discussion features prominent Kuwaiti women discussing the experiences of their leadership positions, decision making responsibilities, and challenges they face and their strategies to overcome them. The distinguished panel will provide a forum to address and discuss all these issues and more. Admission is free to the public.

Date: Sunday, May 23, Time: 11 am.

Place: Multi-Purpose Room at the American

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University of Kuwait, in Salmiya.

2nd Lecture - “Investment Opportunities after the Crisis” By Dr. Robert Porter Dr. Robert Porter - Vice-President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and senior policy adviser in the financial markets group will discuss the subject of “Investment Opportunities after the Crisis”. Dr. Porter’s lecture will be presented in English.

Admission is free to the public. Dr. Porter will discuss the impact of the financial crisis in the GCC countries as elsewhere in the world which has meant major reevaluation of the investment potential for the full range of economic development projects across the commercial world. He will also reflect on the changes in the direction of capital investment flows and how they may impact on the Arabian Gulf and Arabian Gulf investors. Admission is free to the public.

Date: Sunday, May 25 at 10 am at the Auditorium of the Liberal Arts Building at the American University of Kuwait, in Salmiya.

Meditation camp

ityananda Yoga Foundation (NYF) Kuwait organized 3 days silence meditation course at Salmiya from May 13 to 15. Julie D’Souza inaugurated the camp Yashodha U Shetty guided different kinds of meditations such as dynamic, kundalini, laughing, gibrish, vipasana etc. The main purpose of this course is to get rid of tension, anxiety, stress and gain energy, peace and happiness etc participants observed 72 hours of silence and enjoyed the meditation camp.

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Embassy information EMBASSY OF NETHERLAND On the occasion of WhitSunday, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will be closed on Sunday 23 May 2010 and Monday 24 May 2010. The Embassy will re-open on Tuesday, 25 May 2010. Fridays and Saturdays are the usual weekend of the Embassy.

ABCK’s 2nd environmental focus session he American Business Council - Kuwait (ABCK) held its second session of focus on the Kuwaiti environment. Gregg Stevens, ABCK Board member, presented opening remarks to thank the attendees for their presence, Brian Freeman, Business Development Manager from Integrated Environmental Solutions, led the group through the discussions, and Dr. Ali Khuraibet, ECO Consultant, commented on pollution. The group further intends to streamline its interests after summer and encourages smaller workshops to independently advance the system of recycling and reduced pollution.

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Najlaa Al-Naqqi Forum holds ‘Women as Judges’ seminar T

Gethealthykuwait.com helps 4,320 people towards healthy living ethealthykuwait.com (GHK), Kuwait’s largest national health initiative for better nutrition and weight management, today announced that it continued its weekly community outreach visits with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, where it provided 96 employees with free on-the-spot tests and health consultations.

This is visit number 33 for gethealthykuwait.com since its launch in June 2009, reaching to 4,320 members of the Kuwaiti community to this date.

Diet Care and Taiba Hospital launched Gethealthykuwait.com to provide individuals in the community the first step towards bettering their lifestyles and overcome obesity.

Through its weekly community outreach efforts to private businesses, public centers, governmental sectors, and schools, Gethealthykuwait.com expert nutritionists provide free on-the-spot cholesterol and glucose tests, weight analysis, and free oneon-one private consultations, which include analysis of the person’s health status, problems, and specific guidelines to healthier living.

The Kuwait Institute for Scientific research joined the series of weekly outreach efforts this week and took the first steps to combat obesity at the workplace.

Gethealthykuwait.com Chief Nutritionist and Diet Care Operations Manager, Sami Al Bader said, “Gethealthykuwait.com continues to reach out to as many members of the community to spread health awareness on complications resulting from obesity. With gethealthykuwait.com, we also continue to provide the community with the first steps to help them lead healthier lifestyles. In just under a year we have helped over 4,000 people on their way to a healthier lifestyle and hundreds of people lose weight.”

Gethealthykuwait.com was launched to motivate and inspire people to take the first steps for a healthier lifestyle.

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Gethealthykuwait.com offers a free vacation for three people to the magical island of Bali, Indonesia, for the person who loses the most percentage of his body weight in a lifechanging 28-day program. Ivan Kristovic lost 8.8 per cent of his body weight in 28 days in its first cycle and Nawaf Al-Thabian dropped 32 kilograms in 3 months in cycle 2 of the initiative.

Al Bader added: “Over 80% of the population in Kuwait suffers from being overweight, ranking the country in the top five countries worldwide suffering from health and obesity issues. This is a direct cause of poor eating habits, which will influence the community negatively in the generations to come.”

Gethealthykuwait.com’s Head of Testings and Taiba Hospital’s Chief Operating Officer Rashed Al Fadala said: “We launched gethealthykuwait.com to educate the community about the dangers that each individual faces as a result of being overweight or obese. Many individuals are unaware of the consequences of poor eating habits and excess weight, and that is why we have made it a part of our social responsibility to reach out to as many people and empower them to make a change towards healthier lifestyle. After all, unhealthy habits will negatively impact the community whether within our workforce or within our schools.”

The team extends to every individual, couple, and family the opportunity to subscribe to a nutritional or weight-loss program provided by Diet Care at a heavily discounted rate as part of Diet Care’s efforts to help people overcome their weight challenges. On their part, Taiba Hospital is offering up to 50% discounts on full medical check-ups for every GHK participant. Once enrolled at GHK, every member receives free access to Diet Care’s dietitians and better health sessions provided by Diet Care and Taiba Hospital.

he Najlaa Al-Naqqi forum held its second seminar to discuss the issue of enrolling females as judges or prosecutors. Several male and female activists and social personalities were invited to the event, as they delivered speeches in which they demonstrated the legal and constitutional articles that give Kuwaiti women this right, while they also acknowledged the step of holding this event.

Among the participants were Sheikh Dawood Al-Salman AlSabah, Yasser Al-Jada’ei, Emad Al-Najada, Abdulfatah Al-Darbi, Sameeha Abudullo (Head of the Jordanian Women’s Development Society), and others.

Al-Naqqi posing with a number of participants.

(From right) Shurouq Al-Failakawi, Antoine Batran, Asaad Sabounji, and Nouf Al-Mudhayan.

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Sciences awards a student in recognition of their Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Division of Humanities and Arts: Nuha Al-Fadli Division of Sciences and Engineering: Salman AlSaffar Division of Business and Economics: Jida Cheikh Amin Division of Social Sciences: Walah Al Sabah Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities were also recognized for the first time this year for exceptional accomplishments. The Al-Akhdar Environmental Club was recognized for promoting environmental awareness. The Club has been promoting environmental lectures and awareness oncampus, as well as, trying to cooperate and coordi-

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.

Announcements

A group of participants are seen as part of the event.

MAY 21-22 Open House: The Gold Medal Winning Gulf Centre For University Education is offering Free Counseling for students wishing to join Bachelors, Masters and Diploma Programs through IGNOU and Madurai Kamaraj University on Friday, 21 and Saturday, 22 May at Building 25, Street 1, Block 10, (Near Salmiya Garden), Salmiya, from 10 am to 8 pm. All aspiring students and their parents are invited. Contact Alloysius Martin 99567867.

MAY 26 Netw ork security: In this age of computing and the advent of wireless networks more and more people are getting connected on the internet all over Kuwait. Various companies are offering deals on wireless routers and internet packages. But how safe is the internet. How do you protect yourself and your privacy and preventing your personal information from falling into the wrong hands? Join us at AWARE on May 26 at Diwaniya “Network security; privacy protection,” by Salmon Mondel, 7 pm, where we will explore various avenues to protect yourself from falling prey to those who abuse the internet. Salmon Mondell is an information security analyst.

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.

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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.

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Another view of the participants.

AUK commends exemplary students achievements n celebration of AUK students’ academic achievements, a ceremony was held at the Liberal Arts Auditorium where recipients of the President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s list shared their joy with faculty, staff and parents.

An unprecedented 306 students were awarded by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Nizar Hamzeh for being on the Dean’s List, which requires students to maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA. The President’s Honor Roll saw 39 recipients awarded by AUK Interim President Dr. Tim Sullivan.

These exemplary students must maintain a 4.0 GPA to be eligible for this honor.

This year’s awards saw a new addition whereby each Division within the College of Arts and

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.

nate efforts with other environmental clubs on other campuses in Kuwait. The Drama Club was also awarded for their Performance of “Blind”- original play by Yousef Nayef. The English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta was hailed for winning the Regent’s Common Reader Award. Two of AUK’s students were also recognized for winning 1st and 3rd place in The United Nations Human Settlements Program Writing Competition- “Cities, Climate, Change and Youth”, 1st Place went to Shaha Bader Al-Munaif and 3rd Place to Nasser Sharaf Al-Ajmi. Shaha was invited to Rio de Janeiro from March 19-20, 2010 as a guest of the United Nations to attend the United Nations World Urban Youth Assembly.

Another achievement that was recognized was the historic victory of three female Kuwaiti students, Mariam Al-Najdi, Aisha Al-Ruwaished and Abrar Amin, who won first place in the 2010 Microsoft Gulf Imagine Cup, the first Kuwaiti team ever to win first place. AUK will now represent the State of Kuwait and advance to the 2010 Microsoft World Imagine Cup finals to be held in Warsaw Poland, July 3-8 and compete for the grand prize of $25,000. AUKMUN were also award winners at the Bahrain Universities Model United Nations Conference through AUK students Abdulaziz Al Mutawa, Sarah Al Rifaai, Uros Lukic, Adyan Qasem, Majdoline Halawy, Yousef Al Kandari, Amna Ibraheem, Abdullah Al Qatami, Muhannad Darwish.

Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

TV PROGRAMS

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 13:40 Dr 90210 14:30 40 (More) Crimes of Fashion 16:15 Behind the Scenes 17:10 Kendra 18:00 E! News 18:25 The Daily 10 18:50 Streets of Hollywood 19:15 Battle of the Hollywood Hotties 19:40 THS 20:30 E!ES 21:20 Pretty Wild 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 Life 02:00 Life on Mars 03:00 ER 04:00 Life 05:00 CSI Miami 06:00 CSI New York 07:00 Burn Notice 08:00 Lie to Me 09:00 Law & Order 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 Lie to Me 17:00 Law & Order 18:00 Inside the Actors Studio 19:00 CSI New York 20:00 Without a Trace 21:00 Ghost Whisperer 22:00 Sons of Anarchy 23:00 Rescue Me

00:15 Dark Days in Monkey City 00:45 Animal Cops Houston 01:40 Untamed & Uncut 02:35 The Animals’ Guide to Survival 03:30 Animal Cops Miami 04:25 Animal Precinct 05:20 Deep Into the Wild with Nick Baker 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 Going Ape 19:10 Orangutan Island 19:40 Dark Days in Monkey City 20:10 Animal Cops Houston 21:05 Untamed & Uncut 22:00 Going Ape 22:55 Animal Cops Miami 23:50 Orangutan Island

00:30 Doctor Who Confidential 00:46 A Thing Called Love 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 05:40 Me Too 06:00 Tweenies 06:20 Teletubbies 07:05 Tweenies 07:25 Teletubbies 07:50 Me Too 08:10 Tweenies 08:30 Teletubbies 08:55 Me Too 09:15 Tweenies 09:40 Bargain Hunt 10:25 Egypt 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 Casualty 19:45 Doctor Who Confidential 20:00 The Weakest Link 20:45 Doctors 21:15 Eastenders 21:45 Saxondale 22:15 Carrie And Barry 22:45 The Omid Djalili Show 23:15 The League Of Gentlemen

00:20 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 00:45 Gino D’Acampo - An Italian In Mexico 01:15 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 02:05 Here’s Looking At You 02:55 Come Dine With Me 03:45 Daily Cooks Challenge 04:15 Cash In The Attic USA 04:45 Hidden Potential 05:10 Here’s Looking At You 06:00 MasterChef Goes Large 07:05 Cash In The Attic USA 07:25 Bargain Hunt 08:10 Antiques Roadshow 09:50 Cash In The Attic USA 10:10 Hidden Potential

00:00 M1 Challenge 02:00 Fight Girls 03:00 M1 Challenge 05:00 Amazing Adventures of a Nobody 06:00 UCI Nissan Mountain Bike World Cup 2008 07:00 Quattro Events 2009 08:00 Very Best Of Maverick’s Big Surf 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 Very Best Of Maverick’s Big Surf 15:00 X Games 15 2009 16:00 Fantasy Factory 16:30 Untracked 17:00 Very Best Of Maverick’s Big Surf 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 Fight Girls 23:00 X Games 15 2009

Happy Feet on Super Movies 10:35 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 11:00 Gino D’Acampo - An Italian In Mexico 11:25 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 12:15 The Clothes Show 13:05 Come Dine With Me 13:55 Bargain Hunt 14:40 Antiques Roadshow 15:30 Cash In The Attic USA 15:55 Hidden Potential 16:20 Trish’s Mediterranean Kitchen 16:45 Gino D’Acampo - An Italian In Mexico 17:10 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 17:55 Antiques Roadshow 18:50 Come Dine With Me 19:40 MasterChef Goes Large 20:05 Indian Food Made Easy 20:30 Ching’s Kitchen 21:00 Colin And Justin’s Home Show 21:50 Little Angels 22:40 Come Dine With Me 23:30 MasterChef Goes Large

01:15 Combien Tu Gagnes-PG15 03:00 Yasmin-18 04:45 Farrah’s Story-PG 07:00 Max And Co.-PG 09:00 The Sun Also Rises-PG15 11:00 What Rats Won’t Do-PG15 13:00 Dragon Hunters-PG 15:00 All Hat-PG15 17:00 Class Action-PG15 19:00 Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired-PG15 21:00 Letters From Iwo Jima-18 23:30 Trainspotting-R

00:00 Border Security 00:30 Destroyed in Seconds 01:00 Miami Ink 02:00 Overhaulin’ 02:55 X-Machines 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 X-Machines 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 World’s Toughest Tools 22:00 Undercover 23:00 Deadly Women

00:30 Engineered 01:20 Space Pioneer 02:10 What’s That About?

03:00 Beyond Tomorrow 03:50 Scrapheap Challenge 04:45 How Stuff’s Made 05:10 Weird Connections 05:40 One Step Beyond 06:10 Engineered 07:00 Scrapheap Challenge 08:00 Race to Mars 09:00 What’s That About?

09:55 Stuntdawgs 10:20 Weird Connections 10:50 Engineered 11:45 How Stuff’s Made 12:15 Extreme Engineering 13:10 One Step Beyond

13:35 What’s That About?

14:30 Perfect Disaster 15:25 How Stuff’s Made 15:55 Race to Mars 16:50 Brainiac 17:45 Extreme Engineering 18:40 Science of the Movies 19:30 Brainiac 20:20 How It’s Made 20:45 How It’s Made 21:10 Mythbusters 22:00 Science of the Movies 22:50 Brainiac 23:40 Extreme Engineering

FOOD NETWORK 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 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 21:25 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

00:30 A Haunting 01:20 FBI Files 02:10 Murder Shift 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 Royal Inquest 09:30 Diagnosis: Unknown 10:20 Forensic Detectives 11:10 FBI Files 12:00 The Prosecutors 12:50 Guilty Or Innocent?

13:40 CSU 14:30 Forensic Detectives 15:20 FBI Files 16:10 Royal Inquest 17:00 Diagnosis: Unknown 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 FBI Files 19:30 The Prosecutors 20:20 Guilty Or Innocent?

21:10 CSU 22:00 On The Case With Paula Zahn 22:50 Disappeared 23:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner

00:00 The Hot Spot 02:10 Chattahoochee 03:45 The Commitments 05:40 The Happy Hooker 07:15 Popi 09:10 Defiance 10:55 Arena 12:35 Operation Lookout 14:10 The Rose Garden 16:05 Little Dorrit Part 1 19:00 Little Dorrit Part 2 22:00 The Cutting Edge 23:40 Colors

00:15 Streets of Hollywood 00:40 E!ES 01:30 Extreme Hollywood 02:20 Sexiest 03:15 THS 05:05 Dr 90210 06:00 THS 07:45 Style Star 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Kourtney & Khloé Take Miami 10:15 THS 12:00 E! News

00:00 Bondi Rescue 00:30 Lonely Planet 01:30 Jailed Abroad 04:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The Wor 05:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 05:30 Word Travels:The Truth Behind 06:00 Bondi Rescue 06:30 Lonely Planet 07:30 Jailed Abroad

08:30 Jailed Abroad 10:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The Wor 11:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 11:30 Word Travels 12:00 Bondi Rescue 12:30 Lonely Planet 13:30 Bondi Rescue 14:30 The Best Job In The World 15:00 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 15:30 Jailed Abroad 16:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The World 17:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 17:30 Word Travels 18:00 Bondi Rescue 18:30 Lonely Planet 19:30 Bondi Rescue 20:30 The Best Job In The World 21:00 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 21:30 Jailed Abroad 22:30 Odyssey:Driving Around The World 23:00 Amazing Adv Of Nobody Europe 23:30 Word Travels

00:00 Community 00:30 Rita Rocks 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Cleveland Show 03:30 Headcases 04:00 Saturday Night Live 05:00 Community 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 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 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 Rita Rocks 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 Married with Children 14:30 Simpsons 15:00 Community 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 Modern Family 19:30 New adventures of old Christine 20:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Family Guy

00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 10 Years Younger 01:30 Look A Like 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 Look A Like 09:30 10 Years Younger 10:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

11:00 The View 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 What’s Good For You 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

00:15 Transporter 3-18 02:00 The Understudy-PG15 04:00 College Road Trip-PG 06:00 Meet Bill-PG15 08:00 Wild Child-PG15 10:00 Keith-PG15 12:00 Confessions Of A Shopaholic-PG 14:00 Valkyrie-PG15 16:00 Wild Child-PG15 18:00 The Pink Panther 2-PG15 20:00 Sweeney Todd-18 22:00 Halloween 2-18

01:00 Felon-18 03:00 Quarantine-18 05:00 Room 6-PG15 07:00 Bionicle: The Legend Reborn-PG15 09:00 Spiderwick Chronicles-PG 11:00 Netherbeast Incorporated-PG15 13:00 House Under Siege-PG15 15:00 Spiderwick Chronicles-PG 17:00 Underground-PG15 19:00 Death Warrant-PG15 21:00 The Purifiers-PG15 23:00 Living Hell-18

00:00 Futurama: Beast With A Billion Backs-PG15 02:00 Mama’s Boy-PG15 04:00 Lock And Roll Forever-PG 06:00 Skills Like This-PG15

08:00 Heavyweights-PG 10:00 Orange County-PG15 12:00 Down To You-PG15 14:00 Blonde And Blonder-PG15 16:00 Futurama: Beast With A Billion Backs-PG15 18:00 Lonely Street-PG15 20:00 Undead Or Alive-18 22:00 Deep In The Valley-PG15

00:00 Babar: King Of The Elephants-FAM 02:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua-PG 04:00 Little Hercules In 3-D-PG15 06:00 Piper Penguin And His Fantastic Flying Machi-PG 08:00 Space Buddies-PG 10:00 Little Hercules In 3-D-PG15 12:00 Aussie And Ted’s Great AdventurePG 14:00 Beverly Hills Chihuahua-PG 16:00 That Darn Cat-PG 18:00 Clockstoppers-FAM 20:00 The Ant Bully-FAM 22:00 Aussie And Ted’s Great AdventurePG

00:00 Grey’s Anatomy 01:00 Private Practice 02:00 Criminal Minds 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 Criminal Minds 08:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 08:30 Home Improvement 09:00 In Plain Sight 10:00 Beauty and the Geek 11:00 Criminal Minds 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 13:30 Home Improvement 14:00 Grey’s Anatomy 15:00 Private Practice 16:00 Beauty and the Geek 17:00 Lipstick Jungle 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Huey’s Cooking Adventure 19:00 Heroes 20:00 Hotel Babylon 21:00 Cold Case 22:00 The Unusuals 23:00 Lipstick Jungle

SHOW SPORTS 2 01:00 Premier LeaguÁöú Season Review 02:00 Premier League Classics 05:00 Premier League 07:00 Tennis Masters Guinot Mary Cohr 11:00 Premier League Classics 12:00 Premier League 14:00 Premier League Classics 14:30 Live Tennis Masters Guinot Mary Cohr 16:30 Premier League World 17:00 Live Tennis Masters Guinot Mary Cohr 19:00 Premier League Golas Of The Season 20:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 21:00 Tennis Masters Guinot Mary Cohr

00:30 AFL Highlights 01:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 02:00 Premier League World 02:30 European Tour Weekly 03:00 Premier League Darts 07:00 AFL Highlights 08:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 08:30 Super 14 10:30 Futbol Mundial 11:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 12:00 Premier League World 12:30 AFL Highlights 13:30 AFL Premiership 16:00 NRL Full Time 16:30 FEI Equestrain World 17:00 Barclays Premier League Highlights 18:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 18:30 Sea Master 19:00 AFL Highlights 20:00 World Sport 20:30 Total Rugby 21:00 Premier League Darts

09:00 American Violet-PG15 11:00 The Longshots-PG15 13:00 Grey Gardens-PG15 15:00 High School Musical 3: Senior YearPG 17:00 American Violet-PG15 19:00 Hancock-PG15 21:00 Duplicity-18 23:15 The Happening-18

01:35 Anchors Aweigh 04:00 The Dirty Dozen 06:30 The Screening Room 07:00 Silk Stockings 08:55 The Bad And The Beautiful 10:55 Some Came Running 13:10 The Glass Bottom Boat 15:00 My Favorite Year 16:30 On The Town 18:05 The Screening Room 18:30 Beau Brummell 20:20 Elvis: That’s The Way It Is 22:00 Coma 23:55 California Split

00:30 Ancient Discoveries 3 01:20 How Life Began 03:00 Nostradamus Effect 03:55 God vs. Satan: The Final Battle 05:40 Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire 06:30 Ancient Discoveries 3 07:20 How Life Began 09:00 Nostradamus Effect 09:55 God vs. Satan: The Final Battle 11:40 Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire 12:30 Ancient Discoveries 3 13:20 How Life Began 15:00 Nostradamus Effect 15:55 God vs. Satan: The Final Battle 17:40 Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire 18:30 Ancient Discoveries 3 19:20 How Life Began 21:00 How the Earth Was Made 21:55 Evolve 22:50 Dinosaur Secrets 23:40 Prehistoric Mega Storms

00:00 E!ES 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 Dress My Nest 16:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

17:00 How Do I Look?

18:00 Dallas Divas & Daughters 18:30 Kimora’s Home Movies 19:00 Split Ends 20:00 Clean House 21:00 Clean House Comes Clean 21:30 Dress My Nest 22:00 Peter Perfect 23:00 Ruby

01:00 Code 01:04 Latina 10 01:45 Playlist 02:00 Urban Hit 02:45 Playlist 05:00 Code 05:04 Legend 06:00 Playlist 08:00 Code 08:04 Latina 10 08:45 Playlist 13:00 Code 13:04 Urban Hit 13:50 Playlist 14:00 Trace Video Mix 15:00 Playlist 16:00 Code 16:04 Rnb 10 16:45 Playlist 18:00 Urban Hit 18:45 Playlist 20:00 Code 20:04 Sound System 10 20:45 Playlist 21:00 Guest Star 21:15 Playlist 22:00 Code Compilation 22:24 Playlist

00:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 01:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 02:00 Planet Food 03:00 Think Green 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Planet Food 06:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Essential 08:30 Distant Shores 09:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 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 Hollywood and Vines 14:30 Entrada 15:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Essential 17:30 Chef Abroad 18:00 Planet Food 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 How To Holiday Greener 20:30 Culture Shock 21:00 Distant Shores 21:30 Wild At Heart 22:00 Inside Universal Studios - Japan 23:00 Globe Trekker

00:00 VH1 Rocks 00:30 Smells Like The 90s 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 Joe Cocker 13:00 Music For The Masses 14:00 Vh1 Pop Chart 15:00 Vh1 Music 17:00 Music For The Masses 18:00 Vh1 Music 19:00 VH1 Viewer’s Jukebox 20:00 Final Countdown 50 Best Covers And Samples 21-05-2010

00:00 FIA GT1 World Championship 02:00 WWE NXT 03:00 Bushido 04:00 NCAA Basketball 05:30 UFC All Access 06:00 UFC Unleased 07:00 WWE Smack Down 09:00 WWE Vintage Collection 10:00 V8 Supercars 11:00 V8 Supercars 12:00 WWE Vintage Collection 13:00 Red Bull X-Fighters Highlights 14:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 15:00 FIA GT1 World Championship 17:00 Live PGA European Tour 20:00 WWE NXT 21:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 22:00 UFC 113

01:00 The Ruins-R 03:00 The Longshots-PG15 05:00 Happy Feet-PG 07:00 Meet Dave-PG

Wild Child on Show Movies

Star Listings (UAE Timings) STAR Movies 20:40 Forever Strong 22:30 Fled 00:05 Four Weddings And A Funeral 02:00 Pebble And The Penguin, The 03:15 Kinky Boots 05:00 Forever Strong 06:50 Fled 08:20 City On Fire 09:45 Horton 11:10 Species II 12:35 Safehouse 13:55 Happy Texas 15:35 Alien (Director’s Cut) 17:30 Alien Vs Predator - Requiem 19:00 National Treasure: Book Of Secrets STAR World 20:00 Prison Break 20:50 Starsky & Hutch 21:00 Cops S19 21:25 Cops S19 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 BOSTON LEGAL

05:00 06:00 06:50 07:00 08:00 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:50 11:00 11:50 12:00 13:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00

American Idol Grey’s Anatomy Starsky & Hutch American Idol Prison Break 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 BOSTON LEGAL Samantha Who? Rules Of Engagement Desperate Housewives Dirty Sexy Money Asia Uncut

Granada TV 20:00 What Katie Did Next (Series 1) 21:00 Drivers From Hell 22:00 Emmerdale 22:30 Coronation Street 23:00 Drivers From Hell 00:00 Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 2) 01:00 The Jeremy Kyle Show 02:00 Action Thursday: Tough Love

03:30 04:00 05:00 05:30 06:00 07:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:30 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:30

Strange But True? (Series 4) Revenge TV Emmerdale Coronation Street Come Dine With Me (Primetime Series 2) Action Thursday: Tough Love Strange But True? (Series 4) The Jeremy Kyle Show Revenge TV Emmerdale Coronation Street Ballroom Bootcamp Action Thursday: Tough Love Strange But True? (Series 4) The Jeremy Kyle Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Ballroom Bootcamp Action Thursday: Tough Love Strange But True? (Series 4)

Channel [V] 21:00 Keys To The VIP Double Bill 22:00 [V] Tunes 22:30 [V] Tunes 23:00 Backtracks 23:30 Double Shot 00:00 Loop 00:30 [V] Tunes 01:00 [V] Plug 01:30 Loop

02:00 03:00 03:30 04:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 06:30 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

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 Videoscope [V] Tunes [V] Tunes Backtracks Double Shot Loop [V] Tunes [V] Plug Loop Backtracks XO [V] Tunes

20:00 [V] Plug 20:30 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 The Body Trade 21:00 Wild Wednesday -Dangerous Encounters With Brad : Speed Kills S5-1

22:00 Wild Wednesday -Rescue Ink : In Your Face 3 23:00 THEME WEEK -Fight Science : Stealth Fighters 00:00 Seconds From Disaster -Chicago Air Crash S3-9 01:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Supercell 02:00 Interpol Investigates -Stealing History 03:00 Rescue Ink -Rebels With A Cause 1 04:00 Deadly Summer 05:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Supercell 06:00 Dive Detectives -Ghost Ship 07:00 Bavaria’s Alpine Kingdom 08:00 Interpol Investigates -Stealing History 09:00 Monkey Thieves -A New Dawn 13 09:30 Hayden Turner’s Wildlife Chall -Wildbeest 10 10:00 THEME WEEK -Fight Science : Human Weapons 11:00 Seconds From Disaster -Chicago Air Crash S3-9 12:00 ABOUT ASIA -ShowReal Asia : Supercell 13:00 Mega Thursday -Megacities : Hong Kong 3 13:30 Mega Thursday -Megacities : Mexico City 2 14:00 Mega Thursday -Construction Zone : Golden Gate Bridge 14:30 Mega Thursday -Construction Zone : Itaipu Dam 15:00 THEME WEEK -Fight Science : Human Weapons 16:00 Inside -Inside The Green Berets 17:00 Seconds From Disaster -Chicago Air Crash S3-9 18:00 Mega Thursday -Megacities : Hong Kong 3 18:30 Mega Thursday -Megacities : Mexico City 2 19:00 Mega Thursday -Construction Zone : Golden Gate Bridge 19:30 Mega Thursday -Construction Zone : Itaipu Dam

Thursday, May 20, 2010

33 Flight Schedule Arrival Flights on Thursday 20/05/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jordanian 802 Amman Jazeera 263 Beirut Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 306 Cairo Bangladesh 045 Dhaka/Bahrain Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Turkish 772 Istanbul Ethiopian 620 Addis Ababa DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 138 Doha Kuwait 802 Cairo Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 503 Luxor Jazeera 637 Aleppo Jazeera 527 Alexandria Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Jazeera 529 Assiut British 157 London Kuwait 204 Lahore Jazeera 613 Lahore Iran Air 605 Isfahan Kuwait 302 Mumbai Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 332 Trivandrum Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Qatari 132 Doha Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 425 Bahrain Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 113 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 447 Doha Syrian Air 341 Damascus Jazeera 171 Dubai Egypt Air 610 Cairo Jazeera 457 Damascus Kuwait 672 Dubai Kuwait 772 Riyadh United 982 Washington Dc Dulles Jordanian 800 Amman Wataniya Airways 432 Damascus Egypt Air 621 Assiut Fly Dubai 057 Dubai Wataniya Airways 422 Amman Jazeera 257 Beirut Saudia 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Nas Air 745 Jeddah Qatari 134 Doha Kuwait 546 Alexandria Kuwait 678 Muscat/Abu Dhabi Kuwait 118 New York Mihin 403 Colombo/Dubai Jazeera 427 Bahrain Etihad 303 Abu Dhabi Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 402 Beirut Saudia 510 Riyadh Kuwait 562 Amman Jazeera 493 Jeddah Arabia 125 Sharjah Iran Air 617 Ahwaz Srilankan 227 Colombo/Dubai Jazeera 525 Alexandria Kuwait 104 London Wataniya Airways 304 Cairo Wataniya Airways 106 Dubai Kuwait 542 Cairo Kuwait 502 Beirut Wataniya Airways 202 Jeddah Kuwait 618 Doha Kuwait 786 Jeddah Kuwait 674 Dubai Jazeera 177 Dubai Jazeera 459 Damascus Kuwait 614 Bahrain Singapore 458 Singapore/Abu Dhabi Kuwait 774 Riyadh Bahrain Air 344 Bahrain Jazeera 433 Mashad Rovos 093 Kandahar/Dubai Fly Dubai 061 Dubai Oman Air 647 Muscat Middle East 402 Beirut Jet A/W 572 Mumbai KLM 0445 Amsterdam Wataniya Airways 404 Beirut Egypt Air 618 Alexandria DHL 372 Bahrain Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Emirates 859 Dubai Qatari 136 Doha Kuwait 178 Geneva/Frankfurt United 981 Bahrain Indian 981 Chennai/Ahmedabad Jazeera 429 Bahrain Jazeera 449 Doha Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Jazeera 185 Dubai Egypt Air 612 Cairo Bangladesh 043 Dhaka India Express 389 Kozhikode/Mangalore Pakistan 205 Lahore Wataniya Airways 108 Dubai

Time 00:05 00:10 00:30 00:50 01:05 01:05 01:15 01:45 02:15 02:25 02:55 03:25 04:45 05:25 05:30 05:45 06:10 06:15 06:20 06:30 07:10 07:40 07:45 07:50 07:55 07:55 08:00 08:10 08:20 08:25 08:40 09:00 09:25 10:25 10:45 10:45 11:05 11:10 11:20 12:05 12:50 12:55 13:10 13:15 13:20 13:35 13:35 13:35 13:40 13:50 14:10 14:10 14:30 14:35 14:55 15:05 15:30 15:35 16:15 16:40 16:50 16:50 18:55 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:40 18:00 18:10 18:35 18:35 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 18:55 18:55 19:00 19:06 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:25 19:30 20:00 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:30 20:40 20:50 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:05 22:10 22:30 22:30 22:40 22:55 23:00 23:10 23:55 23:55

Departure Flights on Thursday 20/05/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 528 Assiut Shaheen Air 442 Lahore Egypt Air 607 Luxor India Express 394 Cochin/Kozhikode KLM 0447 Amsterdam Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt Indian 576 Goa/Chennai Pakistan 216 Karachi Turkish 773 Istanbul Bangladesh 046 Dhaka Ethiopian 620 Bahrain/Addis Ababa DHL 371 Bahrain Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 306 Abu Dhabi Qatari 139 Doha Wataniya Airways 101 Dubai Jordanian 803 Amman Jazeera 112 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 422 Bahrain Jazeera 446 Doha Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya 181 Bahrain Rovos 094 Dubai/Kandahar Jazeera 456 Damascus Wataniya Airways 431 Damascus British 156 London Jazeera 256 Beirut Kuwait 545 Alexandria Fly Dubai 054 Dubai Jazeera 170 Dubai Kuwait 677 Abu Dhabi/Muscat Iran Air 606 Mashad Kuwait 671 Dubai Wataniya Airways 421 Amman Kuwait 551 Damascus Arabia 122 Sharjah Kuwait 101 London/New York Emirates 856 Dubai Qatari 133 Doha Kuwait 771 Riyadh Etihad 302 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 524 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 401 Beirut Gulf Air 214 Bahrain Kuwait 165 Rome/Paris Wataniya Airways 303 Cairo Kuwait 541 Cairo Jazeera 492 Jeddah Kuwait 561 Amman Kuwait 501 Beirut Syrian Air 342 Damascus Kuwait 785 Jeddah Wataniya Airways 201 Jeddah Jazeera 426 Bahrain Egypt Air 611 Cairo Jazeera 458 Damascus Jazeera 432 Mashad Kuwait 673 Dubai Wataniya Airways 105 Dubai Jordanian 801 Amman Fly Dubai 058 Dubai Egypt Air 622 Assiut United 982 Bahrain Jazeera 176 Dubai Wataniya Airways 403 Beirut Kuwait 617 Doha Nas Air 746 Jeddah Saudia 505 Jeddah Kuwait 773 Riyadh Kuwait 613 Bahrain Qatari 135 Doha Etihad 304 Abu Dhabi Mihin 404 Dubai/Colombo Emirates 858 Dubai Gulf Air 216 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 305 Cairo Kuwait 543 Cairo Arabia 126 Sharjah Jazeera 184 Dubai Saudia 511 Riyadh Iran Air 616 Ahwaz Kuwait 285 Chittagong Jazeera 448 Doha Jazeera 428 Bahrain Srilankan 228 Dubai/Colombo Wataniya Airways 407 Beirut Wataniya Airways 107 Dubai Wataniya Airways 321 Sharm El Sheikh Jazeera 240 Amman Kuwait 283 Dhaka Jazeera 266 Beirut Bahrain Air 345 Bahrain Jazeera 512 Sharm El Sheikh Kuwait 361 Colombo Fly Dubai 062 Dubai Singapore 457 Abu Dhabi/Singapore Kuwait 351 Cochin Oman Air 648 Muscat Middle East 403 Beirut Jet A/W 571 Mumbai Wataniya Airways 187 Bahrain KLM 0445 Bahrain/Amsterdam Egypt Air 619 Alexandria Gulf Air 218 Bahrain DHL 373 Bahrain Kuwait 675 Dubai Emirates 860 Dubai Falcon 102 Bahrain Qatari 137 Doha Kuwait 301 Mumbai Kuwait 205 Islamabad Jazeera 480 Sabiha Jazeera 526 Alexandria Jazeera 502 Luxor United 981 Washington Dc Dulles Kuwait 411 Bangkok/Manila Kuwait 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta Egypt Air 613 Cairo

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161

Time 00:O5 00:10 00:15 00:25 00:30 00:50 00:50 01:10 02:15 02:15 02:30 03:15 03:45 04:00 05:00 06:50 07:00 07:15 07:25 07:40 07:45 07:50 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:25 08:25 08:35 08:40 08:45 08:45 08:45 09:00 09:10 09:10 09:20 09:30 09:40 10:00 10:00 10:10 11:15 11:35 11:35 11:45 11:50 12:00 12:15 12:25 13:00 13:05 13:30 13:45 13:55 13:55 14:00 14:05 14:30 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:40 14:50 14:55 15:10 15:35 15:45 16:00 16:05 16:20 16:20 17:35 17:40 18:05 18:05 18:05 18:10 18:20 18:35 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:10 19:10 19:25 19:40 19:45 19:55 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:20 20:50 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:20 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:55 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:05 23:20 23:30 23:40 23:40 23:50 23:55

ACCOMMODATION Semi-furnished single room available in Sharq near Amiri hospital for a single bachelor. Contact: 66562488, 22428159.

(C 2295) Accommodation available for Christian bachelors near United Indian school. Contact: 97695791. (C 2289) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya for a couple/ small family/ bachelor in a C-AC building, with 2 spacious bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & a big hall, kitchen facility, ready to occupy, ideal location 24 hr security. Call 66752359 or 97635928. (C 2292) Flat (mulhaq) for rent in Farwaniya 2 rooms water, electricity and A/C, Indian family only, no children, Call 97409556. (C 2293) 20-5-2010 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)

CHANGE OF NAME Busam Aswani holder of Indian Passport No. H 2028715, issued in Hyderabad, hereby change my name to Fatima Riaz.

(C 2290) 20-5-2010 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 2006, 1.8 XLi, color white, 76,000 km, price KD 2,550.

Tel: 55107856. (C 2294) 20-5-2010

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

SITUATION WANTED

A Pakistani male, M.Com having 3 years experience in Kuwait, computer knowledge, seeks a job in accounts or stock. Visa 18.

Contact: 55241688.

(C 2291) 20-5-2010 Experienced secretary is looking for immediate placement. 12 years Kuwait experience, complete secretarial works/office administration & coordination/independent correspondence/ local purchase/quantity survey works. Please call 66597087/24349364.

(C 2288)

SITUATION VACANT

Urgently required housemaid for Indian family in Abbassiya. Please call 99509436. (C 2279) Required live-in maid for an Indian family, please contact: 24764736 or 66527975 between 5 pm to 11 pm.

(C 2277) 18-5-2010

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 994

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Calvin Aries (March 21-April 19) You should find a constructive manner in which to release the tremendous passion that you feel inside today. This is a good time to throw yourself into your work, though you should check the desire to complain about others who do not work as hard. It is best to listen to those around you before making an important decision today. You enjoy working with others and would make a good manager. It is easy for you to work with those in authority or those more experienced than yourself. You will enjoy some involvement in athletics, exercise or the outof-doors this afternoon. You have a natural ability to express yourself and may find requests for your advice or input regarding the achievements in athletics. You are proud of and enjoy having a good body.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Take full advantage of

your position today. It is an excellent time to solicit the help of others, though it is important that you truly know the needs of your company or business before asking. There is much reflection now about your past work. It looks as though this time will bring rewards. If you are up for advancement, now is the time. There could be personal accomplishments this afternoon that will help you in your place of business. This may mean a lecture or some public speaking.

At home, it would be best to let others have their way. Demanding what you want could cause ill feelings among friends or family. Make sure you make yourself clear while communicating today in order to avoid any misunderstandings.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. Any of various units of capacity.

4. A platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it.

8. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods.

11. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma.

12. The Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the Dali region of Yunnan.

13. A humorous anecdote or remark.

14. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

15. An oral cephalosporin (trade names Keflex and Keflin and Keftab) commonly prescribe for mild to moderately severe infections of the skin or ears or throat or lungs or urinary tract.

17. A state in midwestern United States.

18. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

20. A statement that deviates from or perverts the truth.

21. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology.

23. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

25. A quantity of no importance.

26. King of Saudi Arabia since 1982 (born in 1922).

29. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

30. A federal agency established to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

31. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.

33. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

36. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

39. Valuable fiber plant of East Indies now widespread in cultivation.

43. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

45. The arch of bone beneath the eye that forms the prominence of the cheek.

47. A federal agency that supervises carriers that transport goods and people between states.

48. An independent ruler or chieftain (especially in Africa or Arabia).

49. An agency of the United Nations affiliated with the World Bank.

50. Having much flesh (especially fat).

DOWN 1. A small cake leavened with yeast.

2. (informal) Exceptionally good.

3. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

4. A poplar that is widely cultivated in the United States.

5. A crime syndicate in the United States.

6. A wound resulting from biting.

7. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers.

8. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

9. Submerged aquatic plant having narrow leaves and small flowers.

10. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

16. Something causes misery or death.

19. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

22. An informal term for a father.

24. A public promotion of some product or service.

27. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

28. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

32. Measuring instrument in which the echo of a pulse of microwave radiation is used to detect and locate distant objects.

34. Jordan's port.

35. A light touch or stroke.

37. Mild yellow Dutch cheese made in balls.

38. An island in Indonesia east of Java.

40. Marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience.

41. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

42. A piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred.

44. Someone who is morally reprehensible.

46. Being one more than one hundred.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This is a great time to work and play with others. You may be sought after as just the person for a particular job. Your management and directional abilities are in high focus. There could be some dramatic changes in your goals and ambitions, perhaps making a turning point in your life. Now is the time to make any changes you have been putting off for so long. This afternoon you may have some time to think about your next vacation. It could be that two small vacations may be better than one large vacation. This way you will have an opportunity to learn more about the people in your family as well as to enjoy a different atmosphere away from home. A fear of leaving home or job will finally fade away. Now all you need to do is ask: where?

Non Sequitur

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your interest in professional success is great and you may inspire coworkers and friends to great accomplishments as well.

Others value you for your ability to make practical decisions concerning group issues. You seem to welcome the opportunity to share your knowledge. You find many ways to strengthen your career. Your organizational abilities and sense of responsibility will be a good guide. Your career could assume a much more determined and solid foundation. Sympathy for friends and family is great now and many turn to you for help. You may be of great help to someone today without even realizing it. You are very fortunate in being able to grow and progress throughout your life without major difficulties.

Leo (July 23-August 22) You exhibit good practical jobrelated thoughts. You are intelligent and thorough when communicating with superiors and with customers.

Circumstances today will help you bring out your standards of working and make it easier to make your dreams a reality. You may find yourself examining and testing certain ideas.

Deep and penetrating analysis, particularly with a group or in relation to some sort of experiment or project may be in order. Others could seek you out for your psychological insight. This could be a good time to make changes in your environment. You are at your most elegant tonight, particularly in social situations. You are family-orientated but learn quickly about keeping a balance.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You are always alert to any changes that are needed in the work place and can be quite creative in your problem-solving abilities. Your disposition is warm and pleasant. You are willing to help others. Your selfconfidence is good. Try and see the big picture in a romantic relationship now. It is easy to let your fantasies overtake your good judgment, although you may enjoy the experience of your dreams. Impulsive actions can be detrimental so be aware of this possibility. There will be ample opportunities for outdoor activities with your friends this afternoon however, you will be wise to eliminate any chance taking; you could be presented with dares. Tonight you are ready for love and a little personal pleasure.

Libra (September 23-October 22) The middle of the week may find you dragging your feet. This is not a great day to make plans or decisions. It could be hard to figure out the right move. Stay up to date on changes in your field of business and find ways to polish your skills. Walk outside during the lunch break or take a short trip. Perhaps purchasing a small surprise gift for a loved one will be a fun side activity.

Harmony is what you strive to achieve in your life and the lack of it can be emotionally unsettling. Close personal ties to other people are a focal point for your feelings marriage and other partnerships could be a key arena for this. This afternoon you will find that your inner resources are accented and any problem will have an easy solution with your creative mind.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) There is a more dynamic and outgoing quality to your life style now. You may feel the urge to work extra hard today on a competitive project. Soon you will be taking on a leadership role. This may be very important to the next step in your career and you are right to feel it is important to show higher ups how you handle a team of people. A personal project today will distract you and help you with the transition on your route home. You can demonstrate great understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others and are in a good position to communicate with the needs of those that are less fortunate. This could mean a handicapped person or a friend that is in the hospital. You offer much support and help in this situation. Family life is good.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Working to build your finances or to hold on to what you have is a key interest today. Power is building up for you in family, home, ownership, property and community interests and will continue to build throughout this month. Soon you will be planning a social affair. You attract very strong-minded people and your invitation list should consist of people that are light-hearted and easygoing as well. Your love relationship is becoming the supportive and strong relationship for which you had always longed. You receive signals that encourage you and you, in turn, encourage your loved one. Making plans for a vacation or a short trip may be beneficial toward the last week of this month. Smile, the world is moving with you and visa-versa.

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

Word Sleuth Solution

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) You should expend great zest in your moneymaking efforts but show caution as to what type of activities you engage in now. Mostly, though, you should avoid the desire to obtain material status symbols at this time. You tend to be extremely hard working.

Independence, as well as anything unusual or different is valued. Tonight may be the night you will direct a play or perform in a dance recital. Nothing is ordinary for you. This may be a difficult time to relax, so it may be best to look for ways to distract yourself from any intense situation for now. You enjoy those close personal ties that you have and will find a little phone conversation reviving and touching. If you get a chance to step outside before dark, you will enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Hapless, hopeless and what seems to be an impossible situation this day, will be a big laugh in a few days as you look back. Your efforts are sincere and you exhibit the ability to rise above most any difficult situation. This day may just be a distraction from your regular duties, however it is very important that your attitude is positive and up beat. There is a feeling that you are appreciated for your talents in the work place. This afternoon you are receptive, powerful and determined in what work you need to accomplish. Look for openings that may lead to advancement. Family takes precedence this afternoon and you enjoy involving yourself with the happenings of their day. Always allow time for your spiritual needs. Enjoy an evening walk.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) This day could try your patience. Little things like traffic jams and friend’s idiosyncrasies may get on your nerves. Once you get to work, this day will turn into a very productive one. There is a great infusion of enthusiasm for your ego as well as your body today. Physical exercise will enable you to overcome any irritability or perhaps, restlessness that this time brings; focus. You work to gain more control over your destiny. Your path of greatest happiness now, is through the enhancement and acknowledgment of your personal image, moneymaking abilities, health, work achievement and social life. Life is a learning experience and very few of us have all the answers at one time.

One day at a time; enjoy each moment.

INFORMATION

Thursday, May 20, 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

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36

Sharon Stone is a man magnet

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Ryan is to become a director he ‘When Harry Met Sally’ actress is trying to raise funds so she can direct her first film, which she hopes to begin shooting later this year. She said: “We’re about to begin casting but the film’s title is under wraps until we get the full financing.” Meg was speaking at the Cannes Film Festival and is using the prestigious event to network with producers and talk about her future movie project. If her director dream fails to take off, Meg could always fall back on being an interior designer.

The 48-year-old beauty recent-

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ly showed off her new home which she helped to renovate with Marsha Russell from design firm Satinwood. The mother-of-two said: “I feel like I’ve been renovating houses my whole life. I’ve renovated apartments, lofts, a log cabin in Montana. I’m constantly ripping pages out magazines in search of inspiration.”

Speaking about Meg’s skills, Marsha added: “Meg wanted someone to bounce ideas off and to find things for her. But she’s the visionary on this project. She has a wonderful aesthetic and a great eye.”

arah Jessica Parker and her ‘Sex and the City 2’ co-stars all slept together when they filmed the movie in Morocco.

The actress has revealed she, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis got very close while making the second film in the North African country and even got into bed with one another. Sarah Jessica - who plays Carrie Bradshaw in the phenomenally successful franchise - said in an interview with The Sun newspaper: “Being away for that long made our bond even closer and I think you can see that on screen. We lived together, ate every single meal together, stayed in one dressing room together - we sometimes slept in the same bed together.” The 45year-old star admits it was difficult being

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haron Stone is regularly “pursued” by young men. The 52-year-old actress admits her love life is almost non-existent at the moment- comparing it to the barren Mojave desert - but it’s not from lack of offers as males in their 20s are keen to date her, but she’s not sure what their intentions are. She told America’s More magazine: “Life and love is like the ocean. Sometimes the tide is in and sometimes the tide is out, and sometimes it’s like the frigging Mojave.

Where’s the tide now? For me? Mojave!

Fortunately, I like the desert. I’m a desert flower. “I really get pursued by men in their 20s, like a lot. They probably know there’s food in the fridge and that somebody’s going to talk to them and ask them how their day was.” Despite being regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful women, Sharon says she never appreciated her looks until she saw herself in 1994 film ‘Basic Instinct’ when she was 34. She said: “I turned to one friend and I was like, ‘Look how great they made me look. It’s unbelievable.’ He goes, ‘That’s how you look.’ I’m like, ‘No, no. Really. Look what they did.’

“He says, ‘Would you shut up? I’m trying to watch the movie. That’s how you look.’

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Jonathan Rhys Meyers is returning to rehab he Irish actor - who was banned from boarding a United Airlines flight at John F. Kennedy airport in New York because he was drunk earlier this month - is set to return to London where he will receive treatment for alcoholism for a fourth time. A source told People magazine: “He just really wants to get better. This has been an ongoing battle for him.” The ‘Tudors’ star - who has been with his girlfriend, the 23year-old heiress Reena Hammer since 2004 - was reportedly told by his girlfriend that he needed to quit drinking and seek treatment for anger management, else he would lose her. She apparently told him: “Check in to rehab or I’m dumping you.” A source added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “She told him to get serious counseling for his drink and anger problems or else she will be taking a hike - out of his life.” 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 taken into custody 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.” Jonathan’s representative confirmed he is again seeking treatment for his addiction, but declined any further comment.

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away from her husband Matthew Broderick, seven-year-old son James Wilkie and twins Marion and Tabitha - who were born last year via a surrogate mother. She said: “Being away from my home and my children was really hard for me, and I wouldn’t have done it with any other group of people.”

Sarah Jessica also lifted the lid on her least favorite scene from the film - performing a karaoke version of ‘I Am Woman’. She explained: “You’d think the actress would at least have welcomed the break from constant baby-changing, but the star admits to enjoying it - certainly more than she enjoyed having to sing a karaoke version of ‘I am Woman’ in the new ‘Sex and the City’ film.

She said: “I find doing karaoke incredibly depressing. Singing involuntarily in front of a crowd of mostly drunk people is just a really bad, bad thing. I’d much rather be changing nappies - which I secretly love to do.”

—Bang Showbiz

Cage dines on dignified? animals icolas Cage only eats animals he thinks have sex the right way. The ‘Kick-Ass’ star believes fish and chickens mate in a “dignified” manner and he will consequently eat them, where as he avoids pork because he believes pigs fornicate in an unsavory manner.

He is quoted by The Sun newspaper as saying: “I love all animals. I have a fascination with fish, birds, whales - sentient life insects, reptiles.

“I actually choose the way I eat according to the way animals have sex. I think fish are very dignified with sex. So are birds. So I don’t eat pig meat or things like that.

I eat fish and fowl.” Cage’s fascination with the animal kingdom led to him buying a two-headed snake to protect him when he filmed latest movie ‘Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’. He said: “I met the snake and said, ‘Maybe this will be my bodyguard in New Orleans.’ “ Cage, 46, is known for his eccentricities and previously professed a willingness to tattoo his head for his role in upcoming vengeance movie ‘Drive Angry’. He said: “Originally I was going to shave my head and tattoo my scalp. “But the producer didn’t want

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he former S Club 7 star - who married Alex Bourne last August - will welcome her first child into the world in November, her representative has confirmed. Her spokesperson Liz Matthews told BANG Showbiz: “We are delighted to announce that Rachel Stevens and her husband Alex are expecting their first baby later this year. The happy news comes just a few months before the couple will celebrate their first wedding anniversary.” The 32-year-old singer added: “We are thrilled and so excited about becoming parents.”

Earlier this week, Rachel admitted she thought it would be “amazing” to have children with Alex. She said: “We’d absolutely love to have children. I think having children is the most amazing thing. “I don’t think I can tell what kind of mum I’d be until I go through it. It’s such a lifechanging thing. But I do have a little niece and nephew so I can just about change a nappy. Alex would be a great dad - he’s very hands-on.”

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Cheryl Cole won’t criticize her looks he ‘Fight for This Love’ hitmaker - who is the new face of L’Oreal Elnett hairspray - claims she doesn’t doubt her looks because so many other people do. She said: “I’m not critical, other people criticize me a lot, so I let them do that. “I am what I am now. I’m at that point where I hate when other women pull themselves apart. I just want other women to feel good about themselves. That 100 per cent comes with age. “It’s hard to look at yourself as a teenager. I just don’t think negatively now.” The Girls Aloud beauty also admits she prefers watching TV and eating biscuits to a session down the gym, and maintains a toned

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physique through dancing. She told Stylist magazine: “I love dancing. And I do full-on performances, so it’s like a workout. I wish I could say I went to the gym and bashed it all out, but it’s more like eating Hobnobs in front of the TV.” Cheryl, 26, has previously revealed she would not have Botox to rid herself of wrinkles and wants to embrace the ageing process. She said: “I try not to worry. I’ve got a few older friends and I always hear them going, ‘How old? 26? Ah, you’re a baby’, and I’m kind of like, ‘Maybe I should embrace it and not worry about looking old’. It scares me when I think that someone women have Botox at 25.”

is pregnant

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

37

Lifestyle

Indian artist Ranjan Ganguli gives final touches to his sand sculpture for the promotion of the new Disney film ‘Prince of Persia - Sands of Time’ near a beach in Mumbai yesterday. The film is an epic action adventure about a rouge prince and a mysterious princess who race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time. The movie will open in cinemas worldwide on May 28, 2010. —AFP

Boston Pops unveils musical tribute to Kennedys

By Bob Salsberg obert De Niro has played a lot of tough guys in his acting career, but a softer side quickly emerged as he recalled his friendship with the Kennedy family. “There’s a long history,” said De Niro, choking back tears Tuesday just hours before he was to help the Boston Pops perform the world premiere of a musical tribute to President John F Kennedy and Sens. Robert and Edward Kennedy. “I get emotional ... about the whole family,” De Niro said, his distinctive voice trailing off to a whisper. Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Cherry Jones joined De Niro as celebrity narrators for “The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers,” at Boston’s historic Symphony Hall.

Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart commissioned composer Peter Boyer and lyricist Lynn

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Ahrens to write the piece, which will be performed several other times this season as a centerpiece of the orchestra’s 125th anniversary season. Excerpts of some of the brothers’ most iconic speeches are intertwined with music and video during the multimedia presentation. Freeman said he expected the result to be a moving tribute to the brothers.

“One would think these particular chosen words backed up by the music created for them will add a little something to your emotional state,” the actor said.

Lockhart said he began thinking of a tribute to JFK several years ago that would feature Ted Kennedy as narrator. After the senator, an avid Pops fan, died of brain cancer last August, Lockhart decided it was time for a work celebrating all three of the brothers. In the fall, he approached Kennedy’s widow, Vicki Kennedy, who embraced the project and later got the blessing

Robert De Niro, left, reads an excerpt as Keith Lockhart conducts the orchestra. —AP

of the rest of the family during Thanksgiving holiday dinner in Hyannis Port. She also offered some advice.

“Please don’t involve us in the creation of it,” Lockhart recalled her saying. “If you think the US Senate is bad, you don’t want ever yone in this family to be deciding which quotes they want to be in the (piece).” “I think the brothers, even though they were all very much their own people and achieved things in their own way, they really in a way represented a constellation of ideas,” Ted Kennedy Jr said during a family reception shortly before the premiere. “They grew up together, worked together, and they were each other’s best friends, of course they were in politics together and so it’s kind of fitting that they’re all together in music.”

Boyer, whose previous bestknown composition was the Grammy-nominated “Ellis Island:

Whose ‘nude’?

Fashion debates a loaded color term

By Samantha Critchell hen you hear the word “nude,” what do you picture? In fashion, it is a common description of the shade a little darker than champagne, lighter than sand and perhaps with a hint of blush or peach. But when Michelle Obama wore, in the words of designer Naeem Khan, a “sterling-silver sequin, abstract floral, nude strapless gown” to a state dinner at the White House-and it was reported as suchthat sparked questions about the definition of nude and its relation, if any, to the wearer’s skin color.

The Associated Press called Mrs Obama’s dress color “flesh” and got immediate retorts: “Whose flesh?” one newspaper editor asked. “Not hers.” The description was revised to “champagne.” “We talk of nude now, and there is no one color. It’s politically incorrect,” says Gale Epstein, creative director and cofounder of undergarment brand Hanky Panky. “There is a wide range for skin-tone colors. Human skin tones are a whole color palette unto themselves.” Epstein says she realized years ago that the brand would need a full range of skin-tone shades.

The middle ground of Hanky Panky’s dozen or so neutrals is probably taupe, which falls somewhere between the very light chai, which is also the best seller, and the much darker espresso. Designer Pamella Roland, best known for her eveningwear, also treats nude as a broad color category. “Nudes are a group of elegant shades, but there are a lot of specific shades,” she says. “I can’t describe a single specific color for nude.” That champagne-sand hue, though, is usually what the word is used to describe in fashion shows, stores and the pages of fashion magazines. A quick search for “nude” in the online color finder for Pantone, the company that largely sets colorformula standards for fashion and home-goods manufacturing, turns up a light beige.

It is a popular color in decorating, says Anthony Noberini, design direc-

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This Nov 24, 2009 file photo shows President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama before they welcome India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur to the State Dinner at the North Portico of the White House in Washington. —AP tor for Iconix’s home brands, including Waverly, but, logically, the names are linked back to where the shade is being used. In the kitchen, for example, the neutrals are oatmeal or flax.

When it comes to the increasingly popular coffee shades, Noberini says he will hear directly from consumers if they think his latte is too light or dark roast too dark.

They are not unlike skin tones, he says, in that everyone thinks the color should reflect the one they personally are most familiar with. It is

not unprecedented for color names to change with the tastes of society. In the 1960s, for example, Crayola changed its flesh color, which resembled white people’s skin, to peach.

The company attributes the switch on its website at least partially to the civil rights movement. Nude as a term is too generic at this point, says Epstein. “When you find the right color name, it means more to the customer.

It’s more literal.” At the highfashion house of Calvin Klein, which

favors a neutral palette, color names are more specific than “nude” and used as internal shorthand. While the sometimes esoteric labels can be a guessing game for the fashion insiders at its runway show — “ether,” a light silver, was a favorite for springthey mostly keep the production team from getting confused, explains women’s creative director Francisco Costa. A sparkly neutral number is a best seller for reality show starturned-designer Whitney Port, who says she was finding herself so drawn to “flesh tones” when shopping for herself that she made them a big part of her Whitney Eve clothing line.

“I pretty much call it flesh tones. I use the word nude, but there’s really an array of shades that covers it could be mustardy, cream or blush,” she says. “They’re colors that look great on any color skin; it’s a group of universally pleasing colors.”

Celebrity stylist David Zyla breaks down the nude spectrum into five categories-whites, pinks, yellows, beiges and browns-and offers more than 30 narrowed-down names, including porcelain, tawny beige and toasted golden brown. “There is nothing on a woman more beautiful than having them wear their essence or skin tone,” says Zyla, author of “The Color of Style.”

“It’s about the woman and this drape of fabric around her, not about a jeweled collar or puffed sleeve or big skirt.” Roland says she considers nude a range of shades, and loves working with the palette. “Colors are loud. Nudes are a soft whisper, a sexy and elegant whisper. Nude allows a woman to wear her dress instead of the dress wearing her. It’s very elegant.” The woman who wears nude is suggesting what might be underneath, expressing “her most basic self,” Zyla says.

And perhaps that is why changing the name, or using many, makes sense. “We’re in a place in fashion where women are wanting to express their own unique selves,” Zyla says. “This array of essence colors is very individual.”—AP

The Dream of America,” gained inspiration by visiting the brothers’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery.

“I stood there for a very long time in front of JFK’s grave and the eternal flame just thinking in this freezing January cold and trying to get my head around what I was going to do,” Boyer said in an interview. “I actually had a couple of moments where I thought, ‘Can you actually do this?”‘ Ahrens, whose Broadway credits include “R agtime” and “Seussical the Musical,” was given the task of putting the music to words and selecting from the multitude of famous Kennedy quotes. She begins with one of JFK’s most familiar exhortations: “Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans ... .”

Ahrens said she kept the narration sparse so the story would be told

mostly through the Kennedys’ own words. Asked if the Pops could bring a fresh perspective to those words-heard and quoted so often and in so many settings over the years-Lockhart said no musical composition of this kind had ever been done for the Kennedys and the only comparison was Aaron Copland’s 1942 Lincoln Portrait, which includes excerpts from the Gettysburg Address and other works of Abraham Lincoln.

“I hope the brothers would have been proud of what we are going to do,” Lockhart said as the orchestra prepared for its first and only rehearsal before the premiere. “I only have an idea of what Ted would have thought. Ted loved showmanship, and Ted would have insisted on a singing role,” he joked. Freeman said he was certain the brothers would be pleased, adding that if you believe in the hereafter, “I bet they are giving each other high fives.”—AP

Giant Aztec earth goddess on show in Mexico City he largest known monolith of Aztec earth goddess Tlaltecuhtli will go on show for the first time next month in Mexico City, the National Institute of Anthropology and History said on Tuesday. The giant stone was found during renovations almost four years ago on a house near the Templo Mayor, the most famous Aztec temple in the heart of the Mexican capital, an INAH statement said.

Weighing 12 metric tons and measuring 4.19 meters (13.7 feet) by 3.62 meters (11.8 feet), the monolith is “the only Mexican sculptural piece that conserves its original colors,” the statement said. Tlaltecuhtli is represented as an ocher-colored female figure with curly hair, a stream of blood spouting from her mouth and her arms reaching upward, it said.

Modern cranes and some 20 specialists spent more than 30 hours moving the monolith to the nearby Templo Mayor museum. The piece is due to star in an exhibition on Aztec emperor Moctezuma II, opening midJune. —AFP

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Handout photo released by the Mexican National Instute of Anthropology of the Aztec monolith ‘Tlaltecuhtli’ at the Templo Mayor museum in Mexico City on May 17, 2010. —AFP

Japan city bans public servants from growing beards anta Claus, Karl Marx and Rasputin need not apply for municipal service jobs in the Japanese town of Isesaki-its local government yesterday banned its male employees from growing beards. “We have decided to ban our workers from growing a beard as we have received complaints saying they are unpleasant,” Osamu Kigure, an official of the city in Gunma prefecture north of Tokyo, told AFP. The civic facial hair ban is believed to the first of its kind in Japan. It was announced as part of annual ‘Cool Biz’ casual office dress rules, which allow male staff to work without jackets and ties in summer in order to cut down on air-conditioning and reduce global warming. “Although people tend to accept beards these days, officials should look like the public servants they are. That’s our idea,” the official said, adding that the prohibition covers all kinds of whiskers and facial stubble. —AFP

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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Music

(Left) Indian Sarod musicians Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan perform during the The Week magazine’s Man of the Year 2009 award ceremony in Mumbai on May 18, 2010. —AFP

Rapper and media personality Queen Latifah, also known in the music world as Dana Owens addresses the media following her announcing the host, nominees and performers for the 10th Annual BET Awards at 230 Fifth Avenue on Tuesday in New York City.

(Right) Rapper and music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs announces the host, nominees and performers for the 10th Annual BET Awards. — AFP

Justin Bieber among black entertainment nominees

By Walker Simon aby-faced Canadian teen idol Justin Bieber scored a nomination on Tuesday for a 2010 Black Entertainment Television award. Bieber, 16, will compete in the best new artist category and was nominated for the awards alongside such prominent black performers as rapper Jay-Z, who led the field with five nominations, and his wife Beyonce, who scored four. The BET Awards typically honor black singers, actors, actresses and athletes, but officials described Bieber as a cross-over artist.

“Bieber has crossed the color boundaries the same way that hip-hop has crossed the boundaries the other way for a number of years,” said Stephen Hill, BET’s President of Music Programming and Specials. The awards will be held on Los Angeles on June 27. Jay-Z’s five nominations included nods for

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best male hip hop artist, best collaboration and viewers’ choice as well as two nominations for video of the year.

Tied with Beyonce with four nominations were singers Alicia Keys, Trey Songz and Canadian Melanie Fiona, who will compete with Bieber and rapper Drake’s group Young Money in the best new artist category. Bieber was signed to a music label with the help of Usher, who drew a nomination for best male rhythm and blues artist.

“He’s had rhythm in his music,” said Hill.

“He makes the type of music our audience likes.” Bieber, who hails from a small Canadian town, has become a global sensation after his mother posted videos of him singing on YouTube. His latest album, “My World 2.0,” debuted at No.1 on the Billboard charts in March. A division of Viacom, BET is the leading television network for AfricanAmerican audiences. —Reuters

Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards 2010 nominations: Best Female R&B Artist: Beyonce Knowles Mary J Blige Melanie Fiona Alicia Keys Rihanna Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown Raheem DeVaughn Maxwell Trey Songz Usher Best Gospel: The Anointed Pace Sisters Kirk Franklin Presents Artists United For Haiti Tamela Mann Marvin Sapp Vickie Winans Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Ester Dean Lil Kim Nicki Minaj Rasheeda Trina Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: B.o.B. Drake Fabolous Jay-Z Ludacris Best Group: Black Eyed Peas Clipse Diddy-Dirty Money New Boyz Young Money Best New Artist: Justin Bieber Melanie Fiona Nicki Minaj Wale Young Money Best Collaboration: Beyonce Knowles f/ Lady Gaga - ‘Video Phone’ B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars - ‘Nothin’ On You’ Drake & Trey Songz - ‘Successful’ Drake f/ Lil Wayne, Kanye West & Eminem ‘Forever’ Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - ‘Empire State of Mind’ Trey Songz f/ Fabolous - ‘Say Aah’ Video of the Year: Beyonce f/ Lady Gaga - ‘Video Phone’ B.o.B. f/ Bruno Mars - ‘Nothin’ On You’ Melanie Fiona - ‘It Kills Me’ Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - ‘Empire State of Mind’ Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West - ‘Run This Town’ Video Director of the Year: Benny Boom Gil Green Anthony Mandler

Chris Robinson Hype Williams Best Actress: Taraji P Henson Regina King Mo’Nique Zoe Saldana Gabourey Sidibe Best Actor: Quinton Aaron Don Cheadle Idris Elba Jamie Foxx Denzel Washington Young Stars Award: Selena Gomez Lil JJ Keke Palmer Willow Smith Tyler James Williams Best Movie: ‘Avatar’ ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire’ ‘The Blindside’ Subway Sportswoman of the Year: Tamika Catchings Vanessa James Candace Parker Serena Williams Venus Williams

Owl City gives flight to shy ‘MySpace generation’

By James Pheby lobal pop stars are typically not introverted types, but US platinum-selling artist Owl City is emblematic of a new generation of shy artists thrust onto the world stage via the Internet. The 23-year-old American, real name Adam Young, was signed by label giant Universal Republic in 2009 despite having never once played live, after executives heard his home-made electronic folk-tinged songs on MySpace, the social networking and music website.

One year on, the singer’s second album “Ocean Eyes” has gone platinum in his homeland and his single “Fireflies” has been a worldwide hit, topping the charts in the United States, Europe and beyond. Young, who swung through London on his European tour, said his rise to success could not have come about without the file-sharing platforms provided by the Internet.

“It’s really started a new breed,” he told AFP. “I’ve heard people say that I’ve been the vanguard of that and I definitely wouldn’t be where I am without MySpace. “I’m a shy guy, pretty introverted and playing live for the first time was terrifying. I’d never even sung in front of my parents and my

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friends,” he added. Music history is rich with introspective artists, but before the days of the Internet, these songwriters would at some point have to summon the confidence to perform on stage if their songs were to be heard.

Over the last decade, the price of professional-quality music-making computer packages has plunged, which, combined with the proliferation of filesharing platforms, has opened the door for a different kind of artist. The bedroom musician can now reach a global audience. “I started sequencing and

found it so interesting I couldn’t really stop and here I am today,” Young said of his early days. “I just did it on a whim and put it up online and people connected with it in such a positive way that it spurred it on.”

Young’s frequent allusions to nature and mysticism would appear to sit at odds with his love of synthesized instruments. However, the end result combats the theory that electronic instruments produce cold and inhuman music. “You start with something that is really sterile and everything is quan-

tized (computerized) but if you spend time to go in there and add an organic touch it can become really optimistic and surreal,” said Young.

Universal Republic snapped up the singer after he released the EP “Of June”, in 2007, and the album “Maybe I’m Dreaming” in 2008 while unsigned.

“It was really out of the blue,” Young said. “I was so out of the loop in terms of the industry.” “I was a bit scared because I thought they were going to ask me to do a showcase, to which I would’ve said: ‘Sorry, I can’t do it because I don’t know how to play live!’”

The Minnesotan’s unashamedly twee melodies and wholesome image may not be to everyone’s taste, but it has found a ready audience on both sides of the Atlantic. The songwriter’s public affirmation of his religion is unusual in indie circles and, though some may be put off, displays an honesty and unconformity which eclipses the cliched efforts of many of the selfstyled “rebels” who occupy the modern pop world. “It’s always something that was dear to me,” Young said of his Christian faith.

“It’s not ‘the’ reason why I started writing but if I were to not credit it I feel like it wouldn’t be the real me,” he added. —AFP

Memorable moments in Simon Cowell’s ‘Idol’ career ritish judge Simon Cowell leaves top-rated TV singing contest “American Idol” after its season nine finale next week to work on bringing a US version of his own show (“The XFactor”) to the Fox network in the fall of 2011. After starting out as the judge everyone loved to hate, Cowell, 50, has become one of the richest and most talked about personalities on both British and US television. Following are some memorable “Simon” moments since 2002;

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Subway Sportsman of the Year: Carmelo Anthony Usain Bolt Kobe Bryant LeBron James Tiger Woods Viewers Choice Nominees: Beyonce Knowles - ‘Sweet Dreams’ Jay-Z & Alicia Keys - ‘Empire State of Mind’ Monica - ‘Everything To Me’ Rihanna f/ Young Jeezy - ‘Hard’ Trey Songz f/ Fabolous - ‘Say Aah’ Young Money (Lil Wayne, Gudda Gudda, Nicki Minaj, Jae Millz, Drake, Tyga) f/ Lloyd - ‘Bedrock’ Centric Award: Melanie Fiona Maxwell Chrisette Michele Monica Sade Best International Act: Kojo Antwi (Ghana) Chipmunk (UK) Dizzee Rascal (UK) Estelle (UK) Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP) (South Africa) K’NAAN (Somalia) M.I. (Nigeria) P-Square (Nigeria) Corinne Bailey Rae (UK) Sade (UK) —Reuters

Adam Young of Owl City performs onstage at the Q102 Jingle Ball at the Susquehanna Bank Center on December 9, 2009 in Camden, New Jersey. —AFP

* “Are you taking singing lessons? Who’s your teacher?

Do You have a lawyer? Get a lawyer and sue her,” to a first season “Idol” contestant. * Satirizing his nasty “Idol” persona on a 2004 episode of “The Simpsons”, an animated Cowell judged applicants for an exclusive pre-nursery school and finds himself pummeled by Homer Simpson. * After two seasons of onair bickering and ridicule, Cowell and Paula Abdul exchange a sloppy kiss in a

romantic dinner skit for the 2003 “Idol” season finale. * Challenged to a push-up contest in 2003 by Marine Josh Gracin-and losing. * “You’re dressed as a guitar but you also look like an insect singing country Western music,” to a contestant auditioning for season 9. * Making a rare apology in 2008; “I went back home to watch it. It wasn’t quite so clear cut as we called it. And in fact, David (Cook), I will take this opportunity to apologize, because I think I was verging on disrespectful with you, and I don’t think you deserved that.” * The tell-tale wink from a kinder Cowell in 2010 as he told promising contestants they were “going to Hollywood!”. * getting itchy feet in 2007; “There has to come a point when I will step down from being on camera and remain behind the scenes because you can’t keep doing this forever...I think by (the end of my ‘Idol’ contract) that the public will be sick to death of me anyway and it will be time to go.” * On Paula’s 2009 departure as a judge; “I adore Paula.

Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity because I miss her.” * To an early “Idol” contestant; “If you had lived 2,000 years ago and sung like that, I think they would have stoned you” * In his 2003 autobiography “I Don’t Mean To Be Rude, But...”, Cowell wrote that when he was four years old he told his mother, who was wearing a fur hat, “Mum, you look like a poodle.” * To a 2004 contestant: “If your lifeguard duties were as good as your singing, a lot of people would be drowning.”

— Reuters

Taylor Swift celebrates onstage after her song ‘You Belong with Me’ won the Song of the Year award.

Songwriter RedOne celebrates onstage after winning the BMI Songwriter of the Year award.

— AP photos

John Fogerty philosophical after Nashville floods

By Dean Goodman ike many musicians, former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty lost some prized instruments in the recent Nashville floods.

But it could have been worse.

In fact, Fogerty recalled at an awards ceremony in Beverly Hills on Tuesday that he has suffered greater calamities.

“Trust me, I love guitars and it was kind of sad to say goodbye to them,” he said, referring to the submerged warehouses containing irreplaceable tools of the trade belonging to several music industry players.

“But losing a guitar is really nothing compared to losing a song, or a bunch of songs, or your life savings that was earned by those songs.” He

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Songwriter and ‘American Idol’ judge Kara DioGuardi picks up a BMI Pop Award for the song ‘Sober’. stopped himself from elaborating, but Fogerty’s woes are well known. During the late1960s heyday of Creedeence,

when the California rockers ruled the charts with such songs as “Fortunate Son” and “Proud Mary,” Fogerty-the band’s primary songwritersigned away the copyrights to his compositions.

He spent the ensuing decades in legal battles with his then-label boss, Saul Zaentz, to win back the rights, and the litigation went all the way to the US Supreme Court.

The best that Fogerty got was royalty payments for his performance on the songs after Zaentz sold his interests to a label co-owned by noted Hollywood liberal Norman Lear in 2005. Fogerty, 64, is philosophical these days about his copyright woes, and he is not alone, as the key songwriters in the Beatles and the Rolling Stones would attest. —Reuters

SPECTRUM

Thursday, May 20, 2010

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Movies Ken Loach sends Iraq war film into Cannes battle

By Rory Mulholland ritain’s Ken Loach sought yesterday to match the Oscar success of “The Hurt Locker” when he sent his own Iraq war film into the battle for the Cannes top prize. “Route Irish,” named af ter the most dangerous stretch of road in Iraq that leads from the airport to Baghdad’s Green Zone, had a press screening at the French Riviera film festival a day ahead of its red carpet premiere.

Loach, who scooped the top prize at Cannes in 2006 with a film about Ireland’s fight for independence from British rule, only entered “Route Irish” into the Cannes race a couple of days before the festival kicked off last week. The film follows two British former soldiers who go to Iraq as private security contractors. When one is killed on Route Irish in mysterious circumstances, his friendwracked by guilt-rejects the official explanation and tries to find out what really happened.

Feature films about the conflict in Iraq had been viewed as commercial and critical poison until last year’s “The Hurt Locker,” a nervejangling story about a US Army bomb disposal squad in Iraq. When that film, by US director Kathryn Bigelow, took the best picture Oscar award in March, critics were forced to revise the conventional wisdom that any movie depicting the unpopular war was destined for failure.

Then this year came the political thriller “Green Zone,” starring Matt Damon, best known for for his portrayal of amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne in the trilogy of “Bourne” blockbusters.

“Green Zone,” which follows a US army officer as his team hunts in vain for weapons of mass destruction in the period just af ter Saddam Hussein was toppled, was a critical and commercial success.

Loach, whose “Route Irish” is one of 19 films vying for the Palme d’Or to be handed out on Sunday, last year entered “Looking For Eric” for the top prize at Cannes.

That movie starred former Manchester United football star Eric Cantona as the imaginary mentor of a Manchester postman down on his luck.

Loach is the second British director in this year’s race, the other being Mike Leigh, who is presenting “Another Year.”

The 12-day festival has hit the halfway mark with Leigh’s tale of a happily married middle-aged couple leading the race, according to a panel of international critics. A slew of movies screening at the 63rd Cannes festival play out family and marital dramas, with the Iraq war, France’s colonial fall-out in Algeria and the Russian front in World War II providing wider historical themes.

Critics cited in trade papers Screen and Le Film Francais both tip Leigh as potential Palme winner to date. But another panel of film supremos in Screen believe a costume drama

by France’s Bertrand Tavernier, “The Princess of Montpensier”, may be headed for the stars, along with a rare offering from Africa, “A Screaming Man” by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun. French critics on the other hand favor “Biutiful” by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the Mexican director behind “Amores Perros” and “Babel”.—AFP

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Rodney Al-Haddad and other unidentified cast members arrive for the screening of French director Olivier Assayas’ movie ‘Carlos;, during the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, in the south of France, yesterday. It is the first time in 63 years that a television made movie is presented at the Cannes Film Festival. —AFP

Korea cocktail of crime and poetry stuns Cannes

By Claire Rosemberg n unlikely brew of teenage gang-rape and poetry stirred Cannes and firmed Asia’s shot at the festival’s top prize as Korean director Lee Chang-Dong’s “Poetry” screened yesterday. A classic morality tale, the 140-minute movie dazzled hardened Cannes critics, strengthening the hand of the powerful contingent of Asian films competing for the Palme d’Or, to be announced Sunday.

Of the 19 contenders, five are from Asia, with “Poetry” the penultimate Asian film shown. Still to be seen is Thai arthouse favourite Apichatpong Weerasethakul with “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives.”

Peppered with poems and allusions to poetry, Lee’s drama kicks off with a teenage suicide and charts the inner drama of a grandmother deal-

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ing with age, a teenage gang-rape, and a quintessentially adolescent grandson-surly, lazy and breaking out in acne. “Poetry is about looking for beauty,” Lee said at Cannes. “But poetry is not just a beautiful bouquet of flowers, I’m trying to show there’s poetry in life.”

Leading female star Yun JungHee, making a comeback after 16 years, plays girlishly naive Mija. She is intent on finding meaning in life, including poetic inspiration, but is suddenly faced with a harshly brutal reality. “The criminal incident in the film could occur anywhere,” said Lee, a writer turned teacher turned government minister who last year served on the Cannes festival jury.

What would he rather do at Cannes-be on the jury or present his fifth feature film to this year’s nineperson panel? “Last year I had to make judgments, give films marks.

Today, being here with my own film

(From left) producer Lee Joondong, actor Lee David, actress Yun Junghee and filmmaker Lee Changdong pose during a photo call for the film ‘Poetry’, at the 63rd international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, yesterday. —AP

is more pleasant but it’s in competition so that’s not pleasant either. But if I had to choose I like this year better,” he said.

Asia’s other entries have fared well at the world’s biggest annual film event. Applause rang out in festival theatres for acclaimed Chinese director Wang Xiaoshuai’s father-son drama, “Chongqing Blues” as well as for “The Housemaid”, a warped erotic tragic-drama by South Korea’s Im Sang-Soo. Wang, 43, is no first-timer on the international festival circuit, long known for movies that take a hard look at contemporary China.

In “Chongqing Blues”, as a father who long ago abandoned his wife and son returns to find out how the boy died, Wang explores the changing face of Chinese society. The movie is set in the foggy city of Chongqing in southern Sichuan province, a mess of sky-scrapers for blue-collar workers who in back streets and dingy court-

Travolta expecting new baby after son’s death ctor John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston announced on Tuesday they were expecting a new baby-just 17 months after the sudden death of their 16 yearold son Jett. “It’s impossible to keep a secret...especially one as wonderful as this. We want to be the first to share this great news with everyone that we are expecting a new addition to our family,” the family said in a statement on Travolta’s official web site.

Travolta, 56, and Preston, 47, who have a daughter Ella aged 10, did not give other details. Jett, their first son, died of a seizure in January

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In this March 25, 2010 file photo, Kelly Preston, right, a cast member in ‘The Last Song,’ arrives with her husband John Travolta at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles. —AP

2009 while the family were on vacation in the Bahamas.

Travolta confirmed after his death that Jett was autistic.

The “Pulp Fiction” and “Grease” star and his actress wife spent a year out of the public spotlight grieving for Jett. The family was also the victim of an alleged $25 million extortion plot over the death in a criminal case that ended in a mistrial. Travolta was back on the red carpet in January to promote his comedy adventure movie “From Paris With Love” and Preston appeared in the Miley Cyrus movie “The L ast Song” in April. —Reuters

Lindsay Lohan ordered to LA court, risks jail

By Alex Dobuzinskis indsay Lohan has been ordered to attend a probation hearing today that could result in jail time for reportedly missing alcohol education classes imposed for a 2007 drunken driving case.

Court officials said on Tuesday that Beverly Hills Superior Court judge Marsha Revel had ordered the “Mean Girls” actress to attend a progress review in person. The order follows reports that Lohan, 23, has attended only 10 of 13 alcohol education classes required of her, and months of partying chronicled by Los Angeles and New York paparazzi.

Couurt documents obtained by celebrity website TMZ.com on Tuesday showed

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however that those running the alcohol education program felt Lohan’s attitude was “positive and receptive to ideas regarding lifestyle changes”. The report filed for Thursday’s court hearing added that Lohan “has never come (to class) under the influence, been rude or disrespectful.” Lohan’s attorney did not return calls for comment. Lohan has been in France for the Cannes film festival this week amid rumors that she is be cast as 1970s “Deep Throat” porn star Linda Lovelace in an upcoming biography film. But no official announcement has so far been made at the festival and Lohan has largely avoided the mainstream media there.

Her return to Los Angeles

could be hit by ash clouds from an Icelandic volcano which have again closed European airports and disrupted flights this week.

Judicial sources said that if Lohan is found to have failed to comply with the order to attend classes, Revel could decide to sentence her to jail.

That would likely result in another hearing at which a sentence would be imposed, they said. Revel in October extended Lohan’s three years probation for another year and warned her to get serious about the alcohol program. It was part of her sentence for a 2007 arrest for drunk driving, reckless driving and driving under the influence of cocaine.

Lohan was also sentenced to 24 hours in jail in 2007 but

Jailed Iranian filmmaker on hunger strike

cclaimed Iranian filmmaker and opposition supporter Jafar Panahi has gone on a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment, according to a pro-reform Iranian website. The Rahesabz website quoted the filmmaker’s wife, Tahereh Saeidi, as saying the director stopped eating and drinking Sunday morning.

She said he plans to continue his protest until he is allowed to see his family, meet with a lawyer and be set free pending trial. Saeidi told the website she spoke to her husband by phone Tuesday.

Panahi was taken into custody in early March. A state prosecutor has said the detention is not political and that the filmmaker is suspected of committing unspecified offenses. Panahi supported the opposition in Iran’s presidential election last June. He was briefly detained last summer when he visited the graves of victims of Tehran’s postelection unrest and was later banned from traveling abroad.

Iran has banned several of his films. At the Cannes Film Festival, fellow Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami on Tuesday called for Panahi’s release and spoke about the challenges of making films in Iran. “The fact that a director is imprisoned is in and of itself intolerable,” Kiarostami said at the French festival. “When one puts an artist in prison, it’s art itself that’s imprisoned, and for that reason, we must act.”—AP

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Lindsay Lohan arrives for the Chopard 150th anniversary party, during the 63rd international film festival, in Cannes, France, Monday. —AP spent just 84 minutes behind bars because of overcrowding in Los Angeles lock-ups.

Lohan shot to fame in the 1998 movie “The Parent Trap” but in recent years has become one of the most trou-

bled and talked-about actresses in Hollywood. Her most recent movie, “Labor Pains”, failed to get a theatrical release in most countries and went direct to US television in 2009. —Reuters

yards often live communally as they did decades ago.

Korea’s “The Housemaid”, a remake of a 1960 movie where class war plays out on the pillow, stars Jeon Do-Yeon, who won the 2007 best actress award at Cannes in Lee Chang-Dong’s “Secret Sunshine”. In the film she is a young maid employed by a rich couple who gets pregnant by the man of the house and is turned on by his wife and mother-in-law with gruesome consequences.

Japan’s entry, cult director Takeshi Kitano’s “Outrage”, divided critics with a riot of gruesome violence in a Yakuza gangster film where he uses anything from fists to chopsticks and a dentist’s drill to cow his enemies. US trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter dubbed it “arguably his best film in a decade” but Britain’s Screen gave it a thumbs down. —AFP

www.kuwaittimes.net

Miss USA courts controversy with pole-dancing, Muslim faith he controversy began as soon as the glittery diamond tiara was lowered on Rima Fakih’s dark tresses. Is she the first Muslim Miss USA? Will she be able to keep the title after photos surfaced of Fakih winning a pole-dancing contest? And-on the conservative blogosphere-is she a secret Islamist extremist? Fakih, a Lebanese immigrant from Dearborn, Michigan who was raised in both the Christian and Muslim faiths, is clearly no funda-

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mentalist.

But her willingness to parade around in a microscopic bikini on national television did not stop conservative blogger Debbie Schlussel from insisting that Fakih was a radical because she shares her family name with some officials in Hezbollah, the militant Lebanese Shiite Muslim group which Washington lists as a terrorist organization.

Hours after Fakih’s Las Vegas win Sunday night, the ill-sourced and

illogical rumor went viral, with “rima fakih hezbollah” becoming a suggested search term on Google. The idea is “ludicrous,” said Magnus Ranstorp, a Swedish political scientist and one of the world’s leading experts on Hezbollah. “She would be flogged if she showed up in any of Hezbollah’s neighborhoods in Beirut,” Ranstorp said.

Arab-American and Muslim groups hailed Fakih’s win as a sign of the diversity of their culture and their

role in American society. The photos of Fakih gyrating on stage in a 2007 “Stripper 101” contest-not nude, although she was rubbing up against a pole in a tight t-shirt and supershort shorts-cast a pall on celebrations.

Fakih won the contest during an all-female class sponsored by a local radio station, which insists that she should be able to keep her crown.

Times have certainly changed since Vanessa Williams-herself a trailblazer

as the first African-American to win the Miss America crown-was forced to relinquish the title in 1984 after nude photos of her were published in “Penthouse” magazine. Fakih never took her clothes off.

Pageant officials, who courted controversy by having this year’s contestants pose in far more revealing lingerie than in previous pageants, have so far declined to comment.

Fakih’s blog and twitter accounts have also remained mum. —AFP

In a photo provided by the Mojo In the Morning Show, newly-crowned Miss USA Rima Fakih is shown after winning the grand prize in their annual ‘Stripper 101’ event in 2007 in Detroit. The event is attended by women only and Fakih did not remove any clothing. The circulating photos have been on the radio station’s website for three years. —AP

J Lo: Queen of the World Music awards here just seems to be no stopping J Lo. The mega-diva jetted from Cannes to Monte Carlo for the World Music Awards last night where she performed some of her hit songs for the crowd, took home the Legend Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Arts and even managed to change her outfit three times. How does she do it?

The singer’s theme for the evening was OTT glamour as one outfit after another featured jungle print, flashes of skin, sequins and even feathers, which wasn’t surprising considering her designer of choice for the event was Roberto Cavalli. J Lo wore a plunging (both in front and back!) grey and black leopard print dress by the designer as she made her way down the red carpet. For her on-stage performance, she changed into a glitzy beaded dress and black embellished thigh-high boots. Finally, to collect her gong, La Lopez went for the ultimate dramatic gown: a gold-sequinned, tiger-striped Cavalli dress from the Autumn 2004 catwalk which was not only backless but also had a multi-coloured, feathered hem. Talk about high-octane glam overkill for one night - that’s a lot of sequins and jungle print!

Apparently, according to The Mirror, J Lo also made some outrageous demands as she was ferried from Cannes to Monaco for the show, which included requesting a pair of diamond-encrusted headphones worth £3,000 to keep the noise of the boat’s motor down. We have a feeling that whatever J Lo wants, J Lo gets.-uk.Styllist.com

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Jennifer Lopez delivers a speech after receiving an award.

Italian singer Andrea Bocelli delivers a speech after receiving an award.

Singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the World Music Awards, in Monaco, Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

The scorpions

Lebanese star Elissa

Singer Kelly Rowland, right, performs on stage with David Guetta, background.

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(Left) Barron Nicholas Hilton, Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Kathy Hilton and Rick Hilton arrive to attend the World Music Awards in Monaco on May 18, 2010. The World Music Awards honor the world’s top selling acts for their true success. The event will be viewed in 160 countries. — AP / AFP photos