23 Jun

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

40 PAGES

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010

UAE applies tougher measures on Iran trade

RAJAB 11, 1431 AH

Istanbul bomb kills 5 as Kurd violence flares

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conspiracy theories

Punishment at its best

By Badrya Darwish

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uys, I love it! It is one of the best news I have ever read in my life.

So, I decided to share it with you should you have missed it in the news stream. A story in Al-Qabas yesterday put a smile on the faces of the whole editorial department. A group of villagers in Hanoi, Vietnam punished electricity ministry officials and staff to sit under the scorching sun all day long because of few sporadic power cuts which took place in their villages. They forced part of the government officials to sit under the sun and they made others sit locked in a room and made them suffer from the heat. Isn’t that a great punishment? I cannot stop laughing while I am writing this.

I am imagining the minister and his entourage sitting in the heat of Kuwait’s sun. Mind you, in Hanoi, temperatures hardly exceed 40 degrees Celsius. What if the people of Kuwait, especially from the areas that are constantly suffering from power cuts, grab all the ministry employees and force them to sit at parliament square. It will be hilarious. A picture worth a million.

On a serious note, I think that if the rule of law is applied fair and square in every field and ministry in Kuwait, there will be less mistakes. I assure you that there won’t be any power or any other problems for that matter. But the problem in Kuwait, and we all know it, and we cannot do anything about it is called wasta - connections and negligence towards the country. Starting from A to Z. Whether it is in the football arena, in the interior ministry or healthcare, education system etc etc. It is not only the electricity problem that Kuwait is suffering from. But because electricity affected directly our daily life, be it air-conditioning or lighting or a leaking fridge... we all felt it. Otherwise, I think electricity is not one of the major issues in Kuwait.

That is the bad luck of Minister Shuraian.

If these villagers in Hanoi took the matters in their own hands for a minor glitch in the power service, imagine if they lived in Kuwait and suffered what we are suffering? What do you think they would do? I am not going to say it, I will leave it to your imagination. Have a nice day with a lot of light and air-conditioning.

Saudi writers finding voice DUBAI: Islamists in Saudi Arabia depict them as a pampered liberal elite while the authorities in this conservative Islamic state throw up obstacles in their path. Despite the odds, novelists in closed, controlled Saudi Arabia have come into their own in recent years, publishing a growing body of work that has attracted attention not only in the kingdom but beyond for the creative representations of an opaque, troubled society.

Saudi novelist Abdo Khal this year won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, known as the Arabic Booker, a departure from previous years when winners hailed from Egypt, the traditional centre of Arabic literature. The success was taken by many as a sign that the Saudi novel had come of age. “Saudi Arabia and the Gulf have been regarded as marginal countries in the cultural scene, but now they have a major presence,” said Saudi novelist Yousef AlMohaimeed, whose 2003 novel Wolves of the Crescent Moon painted a striking picture of a merciless society. “Output has increased steadily over the last 7 years and now there are more than 50 novels published by Saudis each year.”

For decades a society largely closed to outsiders, tightly controlled by state-backed religious and security services, Saudi Arabia has witnessed immense change in recent years.

The Sept 11 attacks forced the clique of princes running the world’s top oil producer to reconsider engagement with the world. High oil prices since 2002 have been another factor, allowing ordinary Saudis to access the information revolution seen as a threat by many in the ruling elite.

Young Saudis especially, who make up a majority of the country’s population of 18 million, turned to writing blogs and novels in an outpouring of expression. Political activity is a practical impossibility in Saudi Arabia, where the royal family dominates governance and Continued on Page 11

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150 FILS

UK makes sharpest cuts in decades in new budget

Nadal cruises through, Serena silences scream queen

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US labels Agility a ‘fugitive’ from justice ATLANTA: US prosecutors said Kuwait logistics company Agility is a fugitive from justice that has defrauded the US military and does not deserve the right to bring a motion in federal court. A motion filed late Monday said that Agility

“contemptuously contends that it is not subject to the laws or courts of the United States” but asserts in press releases that it looks forward to its day in court. The prosecutors asked a federal court in Atlanta not even to consider the

pretrial motion the company brought in April to dismiss the case against it on the grounds that it was not served in the correct legal manner. The company accused prosecutors of substituting “rhetoric for legal analysis” in its own statement and

described as “excellent” its performance on behalf of the US government over the contracts.

The case emerged in November when prosecutors accused Agility, formerly Public Warehousing Co KSC, of over-

Afasi defends Kuwait human rights record Khorafi urges restraint over exam controversy

By B Izzak

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa: South Africa’s defender Bongani Khumalo (center) scores the opening goal past France’s goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (left) during the Group A first round 2010 World Cup football match at Free State Stadium. — AFP (See Pages 16-20)

KUWAIT: Minister of Social Affairs and L abour Mohammad Al-Afasi yesterday strongly defended Kuwait’s human rights record, saying it is clean and will remain so. He said that he met the US ambassador to Kuwait af ter the US Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons report kept Kuwait in the third tier or on the blacklist.

Afasi said that he explained to the ambassador the achievements made by Kuwait including allowing workers to change jobs without the employer’s consent after working for three years.

He also recalled the approval of the new labour law, setting a minimum wage and banning work for certain hours under the sun. The minister described the US report as “unfair”.

Meanwhile, National Assembly speaker Jassem AlKhorafi yesterday appealed for restraint over what appears to be a sectarian controversy over questions in the final exam of the religious education course that some Shiite MPs considered offensive to their faith. Khorafi described sectarian discord like “cancer that must be eradicated” and appealed to the media to avoid sensational reporting on sectarian issues because “Kuwait does not bear that”. The speaker said that editors of local newspapers have agreed not to publish material that could Continued on Page 11

charging the US Army over 41 months on $8.5 billion in contracts first signed at the start of the Gulf War in 2003. If convicted, the company would face a fine of twice the gains it realized, or twice the Continued on Page 11

in the news Kuwait gets IOC nod LAUSANNE, Switzerland: The IOC yesterday said Kuwaiti athletes can compete in the Youth Olympics despite the suspension of their national Olympic body. The International Olympic Committee ruled that Kuwaiti athletes can compete under the Olympic flag at the inaugural Youth Games in Singapore from Aug 14-26. IOC spokesman Mark Adams says the decision was taken to “respect the rights of the athletes”. The IOC suspended Kuwait’s national Olympic committee in February because of alleged political interference by the government. Kuwaiti officials are barred from Olympic meetings, and the Kuwaiti committee no longer receives Olympic funding. Adams said four Kuwaiti athletes are entered for the Youth Games, which will feature 3,600 athletes.

Kuwait talks to oil firms LONDON: Kuwait is making progress in talks on technical service agreements with international energy companies and discussions on one or more could be finished this year, a senior oil official said yesterday. Kuwait, among the world’s largest oil exporters and an OPEC member, is looking to expand oil production capacity to 4 million barrels per day (bpd) from 3 million bpd by 2020 and sustain the higher level for 10 years. “We are talking to all the international oil companies,” Sami Al-Rushaid, the Managing Director of state-run Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) said at the World National Oil Companies Congress in London. “We have made some very good progress in our negotiations and we hope to conclude at least one before the end of the year.”

Lost treasures key to Kuwait-Iraq ties KUWAIT: In a spacious but frugal office in Kuwait, a glossy catalogue lists the dozens of reasons why Kuwait and Iraq are still at daggers drawn after all these years. Sheikha Hussa Salem Al-Sabah thumbs through the pages of the booklet, pointing out the most egregious cases - page upon page of priceless treasures looted by Saddam Hussein’s invading army 20 years ago and still missing: a dazzling 234-carat emerald the size of a paperweight; a slightly smaller gem inscribed with exquisite Arabic calligraphy; Mughal-era ruby beads.

“The Iraqis still don’t understand the damage they did to us, not just financially, but for our souls,” says the daughter-in-law of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who maintains the dynasty’s heirlooms. “It was emotionally wrenching and still is.” Though many of the priceless treasures have been returned to the collection in the bitter decades since, up to 57 remain missing perhaps lost forever. At the National Museum across town, they report that the whereabouts of another 487 treasures remain unknown.

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‘Angry’ Obama summons McChrystal ‘Runaway General’ issues apology, future in question WASHINGTON: The future of the US military commander in Afghanistan hung in the balance yesterday over an explosive interview in which he and top aides mocked and criticized the Obama administration. General Stanley McChrystal was summoned to the White House today to explain himself as President Barack Obama considered whether firing the general could carry too high a cost for the struggling Afghan war effort.

The unflattering article in Rolling Stone magazine exacerbated lingering tensions between McChrystal and the White House at a pivotal moment as the US deploys thousands more troops to the bloody war now in its ninth year. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama was “angry” when he read the article late Monday, and refused to rule out that the commander-in-chief would fire McChrystal for what amounted to a blatant act of insubordination. “General McChrystal has fought bravely on behalf of this country for a long time.

Nobody could or should take that away from him, and nobody will,” Gibbs said. “But there has clearly

been an enormous mistake in judgment to which he’s going to have to answer to.”

After issuing a groveling apology, McChrystal rushed back from Kabul to attend in person today’s monthly war briefing - normally a video-conference that he hooks up

to from his Afghan headquarters.

“I have recalled General McChrystal to Washington to discuss this in person,” said Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a terse statement. “I believe that General McChrystal made a significant mistake and exercised poor judg-

WASHINGTON: A fly lands on US President Barack Obama’s face as he delivers remarks on the Affordable Care Act and the New Patients Bill of Rights yesterday in the East Room of the White House. — AP

ment in this case.”

In Kabul yesterday, McChrystal issued a statement saying: “I have enormous respect and admiration for President Obama and his national security team, and for the civilian leaders and troops fighting this war and I remain committed to ensuring its successful outcome. I extend my sincerest apology for this profile. It was a mistake reflecting poor judgment and should never have happened.”

In the profile entitled “The Runaway General”, McChrystal aides mock Vice President Jose Biden, call the president’s national security adviser “a clown”, and say the general was “disappointed” by his first meeting with Obama. McChrystal himself is quoted as saying he felt “betrayed” by US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry, a former commander in Afghanistan who raised pointed objections to his onetime subordinate’s war strategy. An unnamed McChrystal adviser says in the article that the general came away unimpressed af ter meeting with Obama in the Oval Office a year ago.

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NEW YORK: Faisal Shahzad pleads guilty Monday in Manhattan Federal Court to carrying out the failed May 1 car bombing in New York’s Times Square. — AP

NY bomber pleads guilty ‘100 times’ Shahzad details chilling plot NEW YORK: Pakistani-born American Faisal Shahzad pleaded guilty Monday to the Times Square car bomb bid “100 times”, defiantly warning of more attacks on the United States until it leaves Muslim lands. Reading out a combative statement in court, Shahzad portrayed himself as a Muslim warrior and showed no remorse as he pleaded guilty to all 10 charges, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and terrorism. “I want to plead guilty 100 times because unless the US pulls

out of Afghanistan and Iraq, until they stop drone strikes in Somalia, Pakistan, and Yemen, and stop attacking Muslim lands, we will attack the US and be out to get them,” he said, speaking in perfect English.

Asked by judge Miriam Cedarbaum why he tried to kill innocent Americans, 30year-old Shahzad, who wore a white Muslim skullcap during the 90-minute proceedings, was unrepentant. “Listen, you are attacking children with your drones in Afghanistan.

Continued on Page 11

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NATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

FTA seen as key to diversification

Export duty halts signing of agreement with EU

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Export duty is one pending issue that needs to be resolved before an EU-GCC free trade agreement is signed, disclosed Tomas Dupla del Moral, Middle East and south Mediterranean External Commissioner with the European Commission in an email exchange with the Kuwait Times this week. “The European Union is ready to make an effort at a political level to conclude negotiations and expects the same from GCC countries,” he said.

MANAMA: Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah AlSalem Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation arrive in Manama to attend the Gulf Cooperation Council Ministerial Meeting yesterday.

kuwait digest

Irresponsible power consumption

By Saud Al-Samaka he Ministry of Electricity and Water announced recently that they have managed to reduce consumers’ dues from KD 274 million to KD 264 million in two months following the use of a new mechanism in collecting electricity and water consumption fees.

However, collecting three percent of the debt should not be considered a great achievement.

The ministry’s failure to collect fees from consumers effectively is perhaps

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considered the main reason behind our current power shortage crisis. Alongside this problem is the ailing equipment of power plants and a lack of proper maintenance.

The fact that the ministry failed to enforce the law properly has encouraged consumers to be irresponsible.

Irresponsible consumption is furthered by a group of MPs who encourage their voters to not pay their bill because they claim they will be able to put pressure on the government to drop all their state owed dues.

As a result, the country’s budget suffers losses estimated in the billions due to a policy formed for electoral purposes.

Kuwait has a unique system that distinguishes it from other countries around the world. Citizens are not asked to pay the state for the services they are provided with and dues are only paid for by citizens voluntarily.

In the era of development that we currently live in, it’s essential for individuals to be aware of their responsibilities when it comes to participating in the development of their community. — Al-Qabas

This news comes soon after news circulated that the ministers of foreign affairs of the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreed to continue consultations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with a view of concluding negotiations as soon as possible during EU-GCC ministerial meeting which took place in Luxemburg earlier this month.

Dupla del Moral stressed that the only question that remains to be resolved is export duty. In his words, both sides will need to show flexibility in order to come to an agreement.

Experts claim that the FTA creates a better economic environment, increases competition and facilitates the movement of goods within large blocs of countries. By signing an FTA, the EU, home to some 500 million people, and the GCC will create greater opportunities to strengthen trade relations between the two blocs.

It will play a significant partner to the GCC. It will help diversify the oil-dependent economies of the Gulf.

According to Dupla del Moral, the comprehensive Free Trade Agreement will benefit both the Gulf region and the EU as it aims to create a preferential relationship between the EU and the GCC in line with WTO principles and disciplines. Benefits will go beyond the enhancement of the parties’ market access in trade in goods which is an important part of a Free Trade Agreement, but it is not the only (or the most) important part.

Currently, the GCC is the European Union’s fifth largest export market and the EU is the

top trading partner of the GCC. The trade volume between the EU and the GCC countries totaled to $79 billion in 2009 and is expected to increase under the FTA. The EU trade with the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - has been increasing since the 1980’s, according to the EU website. EU goods export to the Gulf region totals to 61.5 billion euros. The EU goods import from the Gulf region totaled to 30.7 billion euros.

According to the EU website, energy tops the list of fields that the two blocs cooperate with. For example, EU exports to the GCC include machinery and transport materials, power generation plants, railways and aircrafts. The EU imports 70 percent of fuels and related products.

With its 27-member states, the EU launched FTA negotiations with the GCC in the early 1990s, although they only took off after the creation of the GCC customs union in 2002, Dupla del Moral said. By the time of the suspension of these negotiations by the GCC in 2008, EU had agreed to most of the text of the FTA and of the market access offers on goods, services and investment and public procurement, he observed.

“The Free Trade Agreement also aims at supporting member states of the GCC in their policies of economic diversification by encouraging further economic reforms and offering the potential of bringing increased foreign investments, in addition to increasing dynamics of inward

investments in the region,” he added.

“The Free Trade Agreement will also support the GCC’s decisions to pursue further economic integration to deepen its customs union with a common customs law and a number of trade-economic regulations and to establish a GCC monetary union in the future,” he mentioned.

The EU and the GCC are increasingly important and relevant organizations in the world today. Based on the 20th EU-GCC Joint Communique posted in the Internet, the two sides have reviewed a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest and reiterated their determination to develop and advance political dialogue between them based on mutual respect with a view to seeking common solutions to the challenges that their respective region faces, fully respecting international law, the United Nations Charter and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Both the EU and the GCC countries agreed on the issues surrounding the Middle East, including Iraq, Iran, Yemen, terrorism, piracy, nuclear non-proliferation, the issue of human rights and dialogue between cultures.

Meanwhile, FTA with the Far East is also in the pipeline. Japan is intensifying pressure to the GCC countries to signing FTA with them. In a recent telephonic interview conducted with the Kuwait Times, Takanori Yamashita, Japan Commercial Attache said that Japan wishes to sign the FTA agreement soon with the GCC countries. “That is our desire, but we are still awaiting reply from the GCC side. As

of now, we don’t have any certain timetable on the issue. I hope they would consider continuing negotiations and finally sign the FTA soon,” he said.

Yamashita admitted that he cannot reveal more details about Japan’s request for negotiations since the matter was centered at their Saudi Arabia mission.

Reports from Kyodo news agency says that Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, Chiaki Takashihi, parliamentary secretary for economy, Trade and Industry and Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Sabah AlSalem Al-Sabah also agreed in Tokyo that the two countries will aim for an early conclusion of talks to sign an accord to facilitate mutual investments.

Japan and GCC countries started FTA talks in 2006. But it was suspended due to some issues like formulating auto policy. About half of the GCC-bound products are automobiles while the GCC in return are also supplying oil products to Japan. “If the FTA will be finally signed, both sides will enjoy reduced tariffs on all products therefore making our exchanged of goods dynamic as all products can also flow easily and it can boost trade demands on both sides. I just want to stress as well that GCC and Kuwait in particular are very important market for Japan,” he added.

Separately, Japan and Kuwait also signed an agreement of cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, energy conservation and the possibility of cooperation in nuclear power generation.

local spotlight

System down and working hours !!!

By Muna Al-Fuzai s the power crises is the concern of many people here, someone made a suggestion that was approved and recommended by the National Assembly. The suggestion is to have the official workday end by 12:00 pm instead of by 2:00 pm. This approval was big news on mobile messages and government employees were the first to talk about it.

What is the scene like at any government department around 1:00 or 1:30 pm, an hour before the actual working hours are over? What

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is the matter that they actually want to close everything early? If you go to any government department around 1:00 or 1:30 pm everyone will tell you that the working hours are over and that you need to come back tomorrow. Even if you were lucky to get there two days in a row there is no guarantee that your request will be finalized because the computer system could be down. Isn’t that what most government departments do to the public at any time of the day, even early in the morning?

I don’t know what it means to have the ‘system down.’ I mean, I understand that any IT system can face technical difficulties and stop working but it is strange that the system can be down for so many hours, if not the whole day. What about the person who showed up at that place to finish their errands? What about their time? At

the end of the day an employee in the government sector did not lose anything when the system went down. He or she is already at their workplace. It is the visitors who lose their time, going out in this heat after probably begging their boss to leave for an hour or so to run an errand.

The question here is whether or not this ‘downed system’ is being checked in each department.

How often does it happen? Is it the heat or what?

The suggestion to reduce working hours will only harm the public, who can’t finish any of their work after 12:00 pm on a normal day. If government employees have to leave by noon then that means your average person has to get there by 6:00 am so that they can be done by 10:00 am, that is of course, assuming the system is not down. muna@kuwaittimes.net

in the news Discounts for bank employees KUWAIT: Bank employees now have a chance to treat their families at Aquapark. They can enjoy special days at discounted rates. The Kuwait Banks’ Club (KBC) have extended special invitations to them on July 3. The event will feature several competitions and activities, including sports, as well as a fireworks show. He announced that KBC board member and Head of the Social Committee, Manal Al-Mattar thanked Aquapark Manager, Mohammad Khursheed, and Public Relations Manager Abdullatif Al-Shemmary for their cooperation. This is part of the KBC’s plan held for the summer of 2010.

Drinking water quality tested KUWAIT: A joint committee was recently formed by the Ministries of Electricity and Water, Health to test the quality of drinking water that is treated at the country’s water desalination plants. This is in order to ensure their safety and standards. Furthermore, experts from foreign countries were recruited to help the committee with the water testing process, reported Al-Rai. Reports indicate that the committee has already proceeded with its operations. It is waiting for more foreign experts to arrive to assess the final results.

Blood donation campaign KUWAIT: The Amiri Hospital is holding a blood donation drive today (Wednesday) and tomorrow, with donors invited to turn up at the hospital and give potentially lifesaving donations in the hours between 9:00 AM and 12:00 noon today and tomorrow. The blood donation center will be located beside the hospital’s main entrance, with the drive being held under the patronage of the head of the Capital Medical Zone, Dr. Adel AlKhatrash. Amiri Hospital Director Dr. Nadir Al-Awadhi and his assistant Dr. Afrah Al-Sarraf will also attend the launch of the campaign, reported Al-Rai. The drive aims to replenish the Amiri Hospital’s supply of blood for use in transfusions in the Emergency Room and in trauma cases, explained Dr. Hassan Al-Jafar, the senior hematology consultant there, who is supervising the campaign. Dr. Al-Jafar also explained that the details of donors with the rare Rh. blood group type in order to enable the hospital to contact them in cases of emergency.

NATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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kuwait digest

Human Rights between reality and defamation

By Dr Yaqoub Al-Sharrah

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ewspapers often publish reports from American or European organizations addressing human rights in Kuwait.

These organizations usually indicate that the level of human rights are below standard and that there are several violations in areas concerning human trafficking, the condition of stateless residents, inmates in jails and expatriates working in the country. These reports give the impression that Kuwait is a country that adopts a barbaric policy when dealing with people.

KUWAIT : A white-eared palm bulbul is seen perching on the trunk of a palm tree, keeping its body temperature down by opening its beak, in the grounds of the National Assembly in Kuwait recently as temperatures reached 47 degrees Celsius. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Strategic alternative source for energy

Kuwait used GCC power grid in last few days

By Ahmad Saeid KUWAIT: A senior official with the GCC electricity network’s executive authority yesterday confirmed that Kuwait has used electricity supplies from the GCC power grid during peak hours over the last few days. The statement came as frustration continues to grow in the country about the possible solution to an expected power shortage during the summer season.

Speaking to the Kuwait Times, Adnan Ibrahim Al-Muhaisen, the chief executive of the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCCIA), explained that the network is programmed to provide supply of electricity whenever there is a shortage in any member country’s domestic system.

“The grid is designed to provide a strategic alternative source for energy in emergency cases, and during some peak hours over the last few days, the Kuwaiti grid was supported by the other networks, which is just part of the system,” Al-Muhaisen revealed.

The GCCIA head added that there had also been occasions when Kuwait supported other countries’ electricity networks when they required additional power. “We just have to maintain the stability of the net-

work,” Al-Muhaisen said. “If there is a shortage of electricity in one area, the system automatically provides coverage from the other parts, but these are minor quantities, up to 70 or 80 megawatts only.”

The first phase of the GCCwide network was officially inaugurated on July 26, 2009.

In this first part of the project, the networks in four of the six GCC states - Kuwait, KSA, Qatar and Bahrain - were connected, while Oman and UAE have still to be connected in

the second and third phases of the project.

Al-Muhaisen said that the network is currently ready to transfer electricity between any two countries if they reach an agreement to do so, adding that the ability to do so depends wholly on the available amount of electrical power generation in the source country. The senior official explained that there are currently no agreements between Kuwait and any other states that he knows of. However, he

added, the grid will provide an electricity supply in emergency cases.

The electricity deficit is expected to present a huge challenge for Kuwait during the summer, with the demand for electricity already having increased to equal the country’s power generation capacity earlier this month. Kuwait relies heavily on air conditioning during the summer period, and a number of residential areas have witnessed power cuts recently.

Govt bodies to reduce power use levels KUWAIT: The cabinet is to form a committee which will oversee measures to reduce electricity consumption and waste levels in ministry buildings and other facilities used by government bodies, said Minister of Electricity and Water Bader Al-Shuraiaan on Monday.

The committee, headed by AlShuraiaan himself, will include ministers, undersecretaries and assistant undersecretaries from a number of ministries among its members, he explained.

The minister also revealed that the cabinet members had demanded that the MEW provide a detailed report, supported by visual evidence, on the country’s current power situation, the ministry’s capacity, the problems involved and the ministry’s plans for tackling power cuts during the summer months, particularly Ramadan, for the next cabinet meeting.

Al-Shuraiaan emphasized that the MEW accords great importance to coordinating closely with the media in order to provide the public with daily updates

Lt Gen Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah

Women to be honored at anti-drugs event

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: The committee organizing the celebrations being held to mark Saturday’s International Day Against Drugs and Illicit Trafficking has announced the names of the women who are to be honored at the event, which will take place that evening at the Al-Bayraq Complex in Al-Oquila.

The celebratory event is being held under the patronage of the Director General of Kuwait’s General Department for Drug Control, Lt Gen Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah AlSabah, with the guests of honor including the Governor of Hawally,

General (Retd.) Abdullah AlFares, as well as a number of MPs and other high-ranking dignitaries.

Lt. Gen. Sheikh Ahmad said that the members of the organizing committee wished to honor the largest possible number of women active in all fields, adding that the names announced were those of the eminent women attending and being honored at Saturday evening’s event, which begins at 7:00 PM. He added that the committee welcomed all members of the public wishing to attend the event, adding that the presence of so many distinguished VIPs indicates the unity of opposition to the scourge of drugs.

on the power supply situation, reported Al-Qabas. At the same time, he called on the public to work with the ministry by cutting down on electricity consumption levels and waste wherever possible.

The minister categorically denied recent reports that the MEW is intending to introduce a program of scheduled power cuts, saying that even when consumption levels reached 99 percent of the country’s total production capacity last week such a strategy had not been considered.

On the other hand, we find reports that praise the country’s development in ideological and intellectual fields as well as for its charity.

I don’t think that anyone can provide accurate statistics regarding the life conditions of people in societies, whether they live in developed or developing societies, and come up with an accurate assessments of the violations taking place there. Distorting reality and providing inaccurate statistics on human rights abuses should be considered politically corrupt because they portray a negative image of a particular country.

Kuwait’s human rights file is assessed by international and local reports, among which is a report by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor of Geneva, who has received lots of praise from member countries of the International Human Rights Organization. His report, which was recognized by the international organization, contradicts others’ reports that claim that human rights are violated in Kuwait. This contradiction supports the notion that previous reports base their claims on individual incidents rather than conveying a general image of Kuwait and their level of human rights abuses. —Al-Rai

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NATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Views of job-hunters differ

Self employment, freelancing or joining the rat race?

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: It has been almost two years since the economic earthquake hit the world and the employment market across the world is still continuing to feel the aftershocks. Although Kuwait was less affected than many other counThere are also more local organizations and bodies these days offering support to young Kuwaitis to help them open their own businesses, while banks are more willing to provide start-up funding for small businesses and more and more young people are choosing to launch their businesses online, keeping costs to a minimum. However, not every newbie to the employment scene or recently laid-off worker has the original business ideas or the entrepreneurial talent to launch and run their own business.

The Kuwait Times quizzed some young people on their opinions about the employment problems and preferences.

One young expatriate job-hunter Amani, who trained as a pharmacist, recently resigned from a job with a medical company where she worked for eight years. She said that finding a job in Kuwait's private sector is extremely difficult, especially for those seeking employment in her field of expertise.

"The recruitment here is according to your relationship, and not according to the applicant's qualifications," she said, adding that employers seem to use no criteria involving training or professionalism. In addition, all the employer's job interview promises to prospective employees are invariably unfulfilled, she added, saying that unless you're personally close to the

interviewer there's no hope of them meeting their promises. "Also, there is no appraisal system," she added.

Amani pointed out that there's also great competitiveness in some workplaces. "Work changes to a personal issue," she said. "If you are strong and qualified, you're a source of threat for the employees working above you. They attack you on a personal level, until they make you feel disgusted. The management tier is not professional either. The open doors system isn't available in Kuwait at all. The first rule here is: 'The boss is always right,' regardless of the truth of the matter. They don't hear the voice of the employee, even if you are good. Your opinion is not there.

Furthermore in my field [medical companies] female staff are abused," she added.

Amani also compared work in other sectors saying: "Work in the public sector is negative, and there is no improvement.

So, I'd prefer to work in the private sector and to be my own boss, or to work through the Internet despite the low profit. This is the option I'm looking for currently," she concluded.

Reem is another young female expatriate jobseeker, but didn't share Amani's enthusiasm for self-employment, saying she'd rather work in an office and use the Public Relations (PR) skills she's

tries, a significant number here still lost their jobs. As businesses began closing, new work options began appearing though, with an increasing number of the highly-talented people who were recently made redundant choosing to see this as an opportunity to strike out on their own, either starting their own businesses or moving towards self-employment in other ways. acquired.

"I've been looking for a job for two years," she told the Kuwait Times. "When I graduated from the Mass Communications faculty in 2008 I had this hope that I'd find my dream job, which is to be a Public Relations executive, but I haven't found anything to date. I've applied to many companies and PR agencies, but nothing's come up. I'm not thinking about accepting a job in another field because I studied for four years to work in this area and I don't care if I stay home till the end of my life."

Fatima, a young Kuwaiti woman who studied Marketing at university and has been working in the private sector for a year, is keen on going into business for herself, however.

"I've been working for a private firm for about a year and I'm not completely satisfied," she said, adding that she'd begun working immediately after graduating but sees her job as providing useful experience for when she opens her own business rather than as an end in itself. Selfemployment appeals to her because of the lack of limitations and chance for selfadvancement, she explained.

"I won't be limited by the orders and directions of the management," she explained, adding, "In general, the private sector is better than the public sector,

where I definitely wouldn't improve myself."

Kuwaiti graduate Basil, however, is seeking full-time work, saying that he's not interested in freelancing given the unreliable and irregular nature of the work. "I've been coaching diving for two years, freelancing, but I'm looking for a stable full-time job," he said. "All those who do freelance jobs have another, fulltime job; the money from freelancing isn't enough to live on. For instance, diving is only a seasonal or weekend job, and I think the case is similar in other freelancing fields."

For some, meanwhile, the idea of selfemployment or running their own businesses is just a headache.

"With [being self-employed], you also lose the perks provided by the company or employer, like health insurance, transport, product or service discounts for employees and other stuff," said Suba, a young Lebanese woman. "I prefer finding a regular job with any firm."

Ala'a, a Graphic Design student who's currently in the last year of her degree, just wants to get plenty of experience at the start of her career, telling the Kuwait Times, "I want first to work in a company or do work for them from home, then later maybe I'll be able to run my own business."

MoC signs landline maintenance contract KUWAIT: The Audit Bureau has given the Ministry of Communications [MoC] the green light to sign a contract for the maintenance of landline telephone networks in the Jahra, Farwaniya, Mubarak AlKabeer and Ahmadi governorates.

"The ministry's legal affairs department has coordinated with the Fatwa and Legislation Department concerning the project, while the communications department has already

finalized its duties related to the project," explained Samah Abulbanat, the MoC's Deputy Assistant for the Communications and International Services Department.

The landline networks in the Capital and Hawally areas will not be covered by the KD 4 million three-year contract since the ministry already signed contracts with other firms to provide maintenance services there.

The new measures have been taken to tackle the high number of complaints over regular landline disconnection in these areas due to the lack of maintenance caused by the lack of any contractor being appointed there to provide these services, reported Al-Qabas. "[Communications minister] Dr. Mohammad Al-Busairi will take the final decision on signing the contract after he receives confirmation from the Fatwa and Legislation

Department and finalizing coordination with the finance department," Abulbanat explained.

The senior MoC official also revealed that the ministry has already completed the first phase of its project to install a fiber optic network, adding that arrangements are in place to launch the second phase shortly, which is set to provide more fiber optic coverage for different areas, particularly focusing on the older, previously neglected ones.

KUWAIT: US Ambassador Deborah Jones (left) and MP Dr Rola Dashti.

We refuse to extradite citizens: FM

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed AlSabah yesterday stated that Kuwait will never extradite its citizens to another country.

'Kuwait is fully responsible for its citizens,' he stressed.

MP Hussein Al-Qallaf criticized Al-Sabah's statement and accused the foreign minister of disrespecting the government.

"We do agree with the foreign minister that no Kuwaiti citizen should be extradited to another country. We are amazed at his attitude," added Al-Qallaf. He reminded that Al-Sabah was the same man who had demanded the release of Kuwaiti Gitmo detainees who are now in direct contact with a certain MP. This is being done with the aim of taking follow up action on the case of a citizen who has been declared fugitive by the State Security Department in both Kuwait and many other countries.

He added that the man's involvement in terrorist operations were merely a facade to please the MP who had initiated a grilling motion against HH the PM and had called for filing a 'lack of cooperation' motion against him. "This same MP had accused a sect of citizens of disloyalty and working for Iran spies. You have really wasted the government's respect!" he concluded.

KUWAIT: Some participants of the event. —Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Steps to attract women to private sector businesses

By Rawan Khalid KUWAIT: The Kuwait Economic Society (KES) hosted the Women's Leadership and Entrepreneurship Program for the year 2010 and 2011 at the Palms Hotel on Monday.

The event was held in collaboration with the Business and Professional Women Club Kuwait and was sponsored by the MEPI program.

The program's goal was to create a suitable environment to allow women the opportunity to develop their investment and commerce abilities. The program also hoped to increase the level of awareness regarding the importance of women in the private sector and small businesses.

Deborah Jones, the US Ambassador to Kuwait started the event by acknowledging how much of an honor it was to launch the KES Women's Leadership and Entrepreneurship program.

"KES has been such a leader in supporting business women

and empowering them," Jones said.

"They can create opportunities to help women achieve their goals and help the Kuwait of the future. Since 2002, MEPI has invested more than half of its funding advancement toward women participating in the political process, providing access to educational opportunities and increasing the role and profile of women in the private sector and public offices."

Jones added that the government should not be the driving force. "Productive employment needs to come from the private sector," she said.

While delivering a speech at the event, chairwoman of KES, MP Dr Rola Dashti said "our goal is to promote small business enterprises. As we focus on women, we believe that women need to become part of the economic decision making process, which we feel is lacking in our society."

"We can achieve this in three parts," she said. "First;

empower and encourage women to engage in business, to take the risk and to network and move forward. Second is to build this capacity through the use of training. The third step is to create a network of shared experiences that will encourage and help women move forward."

Maha Al-Baghli, the Chairwoman of Business and Professional Women Club Kuwait said, "the Kuwait Economic Society is always involved in women's empowerment projects, seeking to create a more enabling trade, investment, and business environment for women and youth."

Now KES has the advantage of a BPW branch in Kuwait under its umbrella to help it carry out such programs. "This program will support women engaged in small sized, medium sized and home based businesses by providing them opportunities for business growth, training, networking and experience sharing," Maha added.

PAYS office vacated KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) has finally complied with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MSAL) orders. It recently vacated the Kuwait Football Association's headquarters building -- a step that is considered to be the first towards enforcing sports regulations.

PAYS has announced that the premises was vacated "due to maintenance works," and that the headquarters was sealed off. Officials indicated that they chose this reason to avoid 'foreign' questioning. They took several 'careful' procedures to prevent the suspension of sporting activities on the international scene. Among these procedures is the formation of an internal transitional committee that will enforce amendments which state that "boards of sporting activities should be formed with one representative from each club that participates in the respective sporting arena." In the meantime, Managing Director of PAYS, Dr Fouad Al-Falah, held a meeting with the Deputy Assistant Manager for Sports Affairs, Essam Al-Jaafar and others to discuss the mechanism to enforce local sports regulations. This is in a bid to avoid international suspension for sports-related activities. The PAYS has pledged commitment to the enforcement of these laws, reported Al-Qabas.

Meanwhile, Minster of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi, said that the Cabinet has been putting in efforts too.

14768 13 Wednesday, June 23, 2010

How many times did Germany qualify for the World Cup? 17 14 15

14768 13 Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Swine flu vaccine KUWAIT: Millions of batches of swine flu vaccine are still being stored in the Ministry of Health's (MoH) storage facility, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has yet to officially announce the end of the pandemic, which caused widespread international panic last year.

Dr. Omar Al-Saeid Omar, the MoH Assistant Undersecretary for Medication and Medical Equipment Affairs, said that the contracts which the health ministry signed with the vaccine manufacturers contained a clause allowing the ministry to exchange a number of the batches for other types of medicine, saying that this would save the MoH around KD 4 million. He added that the clause also allows the health ministry to determine which type of vaccine it requires in accordance with the medical needs, reported Al-Rai. Dr. Al-Omar revealed the facts about the vaccine during his speech at the graduation ceremony for pharmaceutical college graduates, which was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The Assistant Undersecretary patronized the event on behalf of health minister Dr. Helal Al-Sayer.

NATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

5

Global ranking identifies MENA as growth hot spot

Attractive opportunities for retail expansion in Kuwait KUWAIT: Smaller countries including Kuwait, represent increasingly attractive opportunities for international retail expansion, a survey says. According to the 9th annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) study from management consulting firm A.T. Kearney, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region exhibits the most exciting retail growth opportunities today for international retailers.

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Diving Team Supervisor, Waleed Al-Shatti announced that the team has commenced diving operations to remove waste off the coral reefs from the sea-bed located around the southern Kuwaiti island of Garouh.

kuwait digest

Vacant apartments

By Mohammad Al-Shebani here are several completely vacant apartment buildings strewn across the country. These are neither used nor removed from their locations so that they can be used for other projects. In the meantime, we find that similar construction-related activities are still ongoing. This brings to fore, more questions regarding why more buildings are being constructed when many are still unoccupied.

That being said, there are some reasons which explain why vacant empty blocs are not being used. It could be conflicts that have arisen among heirs over a property left by their inheritor. Conflicts may have taken place between the building’s previous residents and its owner. This is in addition to imprisonment of building owners for illegal practices, or even complaints.

On the other hand, a question comes to the surface pertaining to how these buildings will be used, in light of the fact that the financial crisis and strict residence permit procedures prevent expats from being able to afford these new

T

apartments. To answer that question, we first have to bear in mind the fact that the majority of visiting visas and residency-permit related transactions that are carried out these days, are targeted at expats belonging to one nationality.

A majority of them are simple workers who cannot afford these apartments. Most of the time, they share accommodation. A group of five to ten individuals share one apartment, as is the practice in Khaitan and Jleeb AlShuyoukh.

To address the issue at hand, expats should be allowed more flexibility, especially those who earn higher individual incomes. They should be encouraged to come and work in Kuwait. This is so that they can afford the vacant apartment buildings that are mushrooming in the country.

What is the reason behind restricting only one nationality? Is it connected to visa trading activities, or is it just another example of chaos that is spreading in the country? Is it a form of longterm political planning that we do not understand? The fact that people of this certain nationality are increasing in the country every day while managing to evade rules lead us to make such speculations. — Al-Qabas

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister’s Diwan Advisor Faisal Al-Hajji receiving at Seif Palace Dr Fahad Al-Serbel, who delivered him a copy of his doctorate on the relationship between the sports education syllabi and some intellectual patterns of prep school students in Kuwait. He acquired his doctorate from Egypt’s Zagazig University.

Yemen uses US to submit GCC membership request

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: The USA has reportedly conveyed a request from Yemen to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), asking the current six member states to consider it for full council membership rather than postponing consideration of the issue every year.

A well-informed source said that Yemen had chosen to seek US mediation ahead of the next GCC summit, which is scheduled to take place at the end of this year in Abu Dhabi, so that its application might be prioritized on the summit agenda and in order to enable the member nations to discuss and consider the matter beforehand.

“Washington supports the plea,” the source asserted, adding however that the issue is unlikely to be discussed at

the December summit and pointing out that some member states have flatly rejected to consider according Yemen GCC membership since the council’s establishment. The issue had already been discussed at previous summits, the insider pointed out, with Yemen always being turned down for full membership.

“The GCC states only agreed to Yemen’s member-

ship of the GCC’s social, educational, sports and cultural committees, as well as economically supporting it,” said the source, adding that the US had been informed of the member states’ rejection of full membership for Yemen and had demonstrated understanding and put no pressure on the countries, only asking that they provide Yemen with more economic support.

Eight countries in the MENA region are among the GRDI’s top 21: Kuwait (2), Saudi Arabia (4), United Arab Emirates (7), Tunisia (11), Egypt (13), Morocco (15), Turkey (18) and Algeria (21) and most of these countries have increased in attractiveness from last years index.

The study, which helps retailers prioritize their global development strategies by ranking the retail expansion attractiveness of emerging countries, says smaller countries including Kuwait, represent increasingly attractive opportunities for international retail expansion.

Fiscal stimuli in some MENA markets and the region’s rich oil supply have contributed to the positive outlook. The MENA region appears poised for fast recovery from the global turbulence and its retail market has proven resilient. Retail sales are rising, driven by higher disposable incomes, urban population growth, a strengthening middle class and infrastructure investments.

“The attractiveness of the MENA retail markets provides ample opportunities for regional as well as global retailers,” said Martin Fabel, Partner, A.T. Kearney Middle East. “Our research stresses that establishing operations in a portfolio of countries both small and large offers the best path to global success for retailers.”

In addition to Kuwait, the continued strength of the UAE and Saudi Arabia places these markets among top 10 most

attractive retail destinations globally. This high rank highlights the abundant opportunities for further in-country expansion and the ability to leverage regional experiences across the Gulf.

As part of this year’s GRDI, A.T. Kearney also surveyed 60 retail executives from around the world to identify emerging competitive trends and confirm the GRDI rankings.

The study revealed that expansion is also on the agenda for many emerging market retailers - ninety-two percent of respondents indicated they are looking to expand beyond their home market, with most expecting to expand into the BRIC countries. Even though the UAE has moved slightly from 4th to 7th place in this year’s GRDI, it is the only Middle East destination mentioned by the surveyed retail executives as an expansion destination.

“The UAE has been a hot spot for several years and is now entering the next level of maturity. Retailers are looking to build on their stronghold in the UAE to diversify their portfolio across the region and will continue to actively invest in the attractive markets of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.” said Dan Starta, Partner and Managing Director, A.T. Kearney Middle East. “Retail investors should build on global best practices and lessons learned in the region, but understanding the unique differences of each country will be critical.”

— www.atkearney.com

A.T. Kearney Global Retail Development Index, 2010

6

NATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Two escape from Psychiatric Hospital

Fugitive smuggling bid foiled at border KUWAIT: An attempt to smuggle a fugitive out of the country was discovered after he was found hidden in a car's trunk at the Salmy border checkpoint, reported Al-Watan. When patrol officers decided to check a Saudi family's trunk, they discovered the fugitive hiding under several bags of luggage.

Fatal accident An Egyptian man was killed and nine were critically injured in an accident on Salmy Road, reported Al-Qabas. The ten people were on their way back from work when a bus that was carrying them overturned after the driver lost control of the vehicle. Paramedics brought the injured to a nearby hospital.

Inmates flee Two inmates escaped from the Psychiatric Hospital a few days after they were admitted there for rehabilitation from drug addiction. A case was opened against them at the Shuwaikh police station and an investigation was launched.

Kuwait keen on bolstering media cooperation with Arab states DAMASCUS: The First Kuwaiti-Syrian Media Forum, to be held here on July 4 and 5 would be a step of great importance on the path of boosting relations in general and cooperation on media issues in particular between the two countries, a Kuwaiti official said yesterday.

Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Syria Aziz Al-Daihani said the event would see participation of elite media figures and journalists and writers and would address political, cultural and economic dossiers while shedding light on bilateral relations in each area addressed.

The diplomat said Kuwait prides itself of a pioneering media experience within the Gulf and Arab region as a whole, and is keen on playing an important role in promoting culture and awareness among the Arab public.

One gesture in this direction was the State of Kuwait hosting the Seventh Arab Media Forum under the aegis of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The efforts of Kuwait Journalists Association also could not be overlooked, he noted, most recent of which is its current cooperation with peer associations in Syria to organize the First KuwaitiSyrian Media Forum.

Expressing hope to see more cooperation between the two states and their specialized media bodies, the diplomat

recalled the successful visit by Kuwait News Agency Board Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij AlSabah to Damascus last May. On the political aspect of media issues, Al-Daihani said the leaders of the two Arab countries have strong relations based on mutual respect, coordination, and cooperation which spearhead development of overall bilateral relations.

The visit by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah to Damascus last May, the ambassador noted, reflected the strong ties, and the mutual keenness on furthering cooperation for the interest of the two peoples resulted in the signing of several agreements in the domains of economy, trade, mutual protection of investment, and avoiding double taxation. Syria also benefited from several grants and loans by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) which financed electricity and power, oil, motorways, telephone communications, water, silo, sanitation, and cement projects at an overall sum of USD 1.16 billion through 28 agreements signed with the Syrian government.

There is also active Kuwaiti investment in Syria's tourism, industry, and power sectors, with investments by Kuwait businessmen and companies in this field at over USD 2 billion, the ambassador pointed out.

Overall Kuwaiti investment in Syria is at some USD 6 bil-

lion, which again reflects the close relations between the two states and people.

On culture in particular, the ambassador remarked that cultural figures play a leading role in promoting awareness and interaction, and Kuwaiti and Syrian publishing houses alike are ever and strongly present on the Arab culture and publishing scene with quality works and compositions on all aspects of modern life and history and culture.

On the sidelines of the First Kuwaiti-Syrian Media Forum, organizers are offering myriad political, media, cultural, and economic seminars that shed light on the positive Kuwaiti experience in democratic and parliamentary action, press and media, and in making Kuwait's presence felt abroad.

The political seminars would see contributions by member of the Syrian-Kuwaiti Parliamentary Friendship Committee MP Yousef AlZelzelah, MP Mohammad AlHuwailah, and MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak, the latter to address women-related issues and experiences.

Contributors to the media seminars include Secretary of Kuwait Journalists Association Faisal Al-Qinaei, writer and media figure Sami Al-Nesef, Arabi Magazine Editor in Chief Sulaiman Al-Askeri, and Abdelaziz Saud Al-Babtain Foundation Deputy Chairman Abdelaziz Al-Srayye.— KUNA

Arab nations urged to know each other's culture ALGIERS: It is important for brotherly nations to hold joint activities and meetings to introduce each other's peoples to their unique cultures and histories, as this helps to strengthen bonds between them, said the head of the Kuwait House for National Works (KHNW), Yousef Al-Amiri, yesterday.

The prominent local figure explained this was the idea behind his recent visit to Algeria at the invitation of the Algerian Minister of Culture. Al-Amiri said that during the visit he met with several culture ministry officials and reviewed the functions of and goals achieved by the house so far during the visit.

He explained that he had also discussed an agreement on a project to establish a Kuwait House pavilion in Algeria, which will also cover the erection of an Algerian museum pavilion in Kuwait.

"Having been well received by Algerian officials, this project and agreement will be approved and initiated very shortly," he revealed.

On his meetings with Algerian officials, he said that he had discussed an exchange of cultural events to showcase the two countries' cultures and histories with them, citing the Kuwaiti Culture Week held in Algeria in 2007, when Algeria was selected as the Arab Culture Capital, as an example. Al-Amiri also recalled the recent Algerian week in Kuwait organized by Algeria's Ministry of Culture, during which he received his invitation for the recent trip. — KUNA

Campaigns Hawally police arrested a citizen who was sentenced to six years in prison for failing to pay a KD 25 thousand fine, reported Al-Watan. A security campaign in the area also resulted in the arrest of nine expats for residency related violations. Meanwhile, a campaign launched

by Farwaniya police resulted in the arrest of two Asians in Jeleeb Al-Shuyoukh for being in possession of eight bottles of homemade liquor, reported Al-Watan.

An inspection of his identity revealed that the man was wanted for a case filed against him in Saudi Arabia and that he had a travel ban issued against him. Authorities also discovered that the fugitive was the driver's father. They were both referred to the proper authorities.

Also arrested in the campaign was an Egyptian man who was found in possession of two bars of hashish. The arrested were referred to the proper authorities.

Fahaheel assault An assailant broke into a senior citizen's home in Fahaheel and attacked his son over a previous dispute, reported AlWatan. The 69-year-old citizen filed a case against the assailant, a Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) citizen, at the area's police station. He provided police with a medical report from Adan Hospital, indicating the injuries his son sustained during the attack.

Fugitives nabbed Two bedoon fugitives were arrested after they were caught at a checkpoint in Salmiya, reported Al-Watan. Police discovered that one of the fugitives was wanted for issuing a fake KD 25 thousand check while the other was wanted for refusing to pay a KD 10 thousand fine.

They were referred to the proper authorities.

Prostitution Jahra police raided a brothel and arrested seven Asian prostitutes and

their two employers, reported Seyassah.

An investigation indicated that all the women were wanted for cases of absence filed against them by their sponsors.

They were taken to the proper authorities.

Harasser caught A police officer confiscated the vehicle of a young man after he was caught circling a girls' school in Qusour with the intention to harass students, reported AlWatan. The youngster claimed he was only passing by the school but police were not convinced. Authorities confiscated his car and issued him a traffic ticket.

Lazy imam A number of worshipers issued complaints to the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs regarding the imam of a mosque who tends to delay Isha (evening) prayer or assign the mosque's Asian Muezzin to lead the prayer in his place, reported Al-Rai. It was reported that several citizens are frustrated with the fact that the ministry has yet to address the issue.

Drunk Iranian assaults cop

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior (MoI) security officer has lodged a complaint against an Iranian expatriate who he claims physically assaulted him while he was conducting a routine patrol in the Capital area. The officer said that he had pulled over the Iranian man's white Mitsubishi jeep after spotting him driving erratically and asked to see the driver's ID card. The motorist, however, refused to hand over the card and became verbally then physically abusive, assaulting the officer before driving away, with the officer further claiming that the man smelt strongly of alcohol and appeared to have a bottle of booze in the vehicle. A case has been opened against the accused man and a hunt is underway for him.

Shocking death A 47-year-old Egyptian man died instantly when he received a massive electrical shock after coming into contact with a live power cable near the Al-Sayer Company's headquarters in the Ardiya Industrial Zone. His body was removed for autopsy.

Grim find The body of a 60-year-old Egyptian man was found by horrified passersby in Khaitan's main street. The man's remains were removed for autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Road accidents A six-year-old Kuwaiti boy was rushed to

Mubarak Hospital after suffering head and leg injuries when he was knocked down by a car in Hawally. In a separate incident, a 36year-old Filipina woman was taken to Farwaniya Hospital after her right knee was injured when she was hit by a car outside a restaurant in Habib Manawer Street. The driver of the vehicle was taken to the local police station and faces charges over his negligent driving.

Nasty customers An employee at the Saving Bank of Kuwait (SBK) has lodged a complaint with police in Sulaibikhat against two bank customers who he alleged insulted and abused him at his workplace. The complainant said that he had been attempting to help the two customers by explaining the procedures needed to complete their paperwork, only to meet with a torrent of loud verbal abuse from them. He has brought a charge of insulting a public servant performing his duties against the customers, who have been summoned for questioning.

Suicide attempt A 30-year-old Filipina maid was rushed to the Amiri Hospital after taking an overdose of tablets in a suicide attempt at her sponsors' home in Yarmouk.

Escape bid A 20-year-old Ethiopian maid suffered back injuries when she slipped and fell while attempting to flee from her sponsors' home by climbing from a window of the first-floor flat in Hawally. She was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

Fight club A 34-year-old Bangladeshi man suffered a broken left leg in a fight between a group of expatriates in Block 5 of Al-Waha. He was taken to Jahra Hospital.

Nasty fall A 21-year-old Egyptian worker suffered a fractured pelvis when he fell to the ground from the first floor while working at the Jaber Al-Ali Cooperative Society. He was rushed to Adan Hospital.

Busy weekend Hawally saw the highest number of traffic citations being issued to drivers this weekend, with a total of 1,370 parking tickets being handed out by traffic department officers to motorists in the governorate and 85 vehicles being impounded there over the two-day period. According to the latest traffic department figures, the next highest number of citations for this period was issued in the Capital, where 1,170 penalty tickets were given to drivers and 38 vehicles were towed away. Traffic officers from the central operations center, meanwhile, issued 1,015 tickets, impounding 120 vehicles, while their colleagues in Farwaniya issued only 260 tickets, confiscating 30 vehicles. In fifth place was Ahmadi where 232 tickets were issued to motorists and ten vehicles were towed away, while Mubarak Al-Kabeer and Jahra both saw only 110 citations apiece being issued to motorists, with 15 cars being impounded in Mubarak AlKabeer and none at all in Jahra.

GCAA plans to launch GCC search, rescue taskforce

CBK participates in joint youth expo KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait (CBK) recently participated in a youth-oriented exhibition held in cooperation with the Kuwait Blind Association, which was held as part of its strategy to encourage more joint activities between young disabled people and their able-bodied counter-

parts.

As part of its participation in the event, the CBK had a pavilion at the exhibition that shed light on several services provided by the bank, including the Al-Tijari account, which is specifically aimed at young people.

"Our participation stems from the CBK's

commitment to its role in serving society", explained the bank's advertising and public relations executive manager Amani AlWara'a. She also emphasized the bank's commitment to maintaining harmonious relations with all sectors of society, including people with special needs.

ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates' General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) yesterday announced a plan to launch a regional search and rescue taskforce involving civilian and military specialist personnel from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member nations.

The planned body aims to lobby for resources to bridge the gaps in the region's civil aviation-related search and rescue operations, GCAA Director-General Saif Mohammad Al-Suwaidi said. AlSuwaidi was speaking on the sidelines of the Global Civil Aviation Search and Rescue Forum, which was jointly mounted by the GCAA and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Delegates at the two-day forum, which concluded yesterday, discussed a working paper developed by the UAE that sets forth the procedures of launching and running the taskforce.

"The GCAA will invite its peers from the GCC member states to a meeting early next year to debate the project, which is expected to play a key role in search and rescue operations," Al-Suwaidi added.

The senior official also revealed that the UAE's air transport sector grew by 9.5 percent in 2009, despite the challenges posed by the global financial crisis. "The number of passengers using UAE airports last year hit 50 million," he revealed, continuing, "To meet the growing

demand in this booming sector, the Emirates Group, the national air carrier, has ordered new aircraft and is developing ambitious plans for expansion."

The national carrier continues to go from strength to strength, AlSuwaidi revealed, adding, "The airline accounts for 30 percent of the total air traffic in the Arab region."

The GCAA head, who is also the chairman of the Arab League-affiliated Arab Civil Aviation Commission, Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali, the world's largest and most modern airport, received its first airliner on Sunday, Al-Suwaidi added.

The ICAO Global Civil Aviation Search and Rescue (SAR) Forum, which took place at the Fairmont Bab Al-Bahr Hotel from June 21-22, aimed to strengthen cooperation in the SAR domain and fill the recently-identified gaps in SAR service provision that compromised global effectiveness. Prestigious speakers from many sectors of the aviation industry spoke at the event, where a number of key international, regional, and local organizations were represented. The sessions comprised short presentations and encouraged maximum interaction between speakers, panels and the wider audience, with the intention of generating findings that could be carried forward through the ICAO process towards global implementation.— KUNA

Adnan Zinedine

Ibrahim Al-Baghli

Khairan Resort to host Al-Baghli ideal son award KUWAIT: The Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) will host the Al-Baghli Ideal Son award for the third consecutive year. The event will still be held under the patronage of Ibrahim Al-Baghli, CEO of Kuwaiti Senior Citizens Care Society.

The awards ceremony will be hosted at Khairan Resort, announced the General Manager of the Resort, Adnan Zinedine.

He further acknowledged the organizers for renewing their trust and choosing the facility to host the award for the third year.

The activities will include

organizing an open day for inmates of old age homes at the resort. This is in addition to holding several other entertainment programs that bolster social relations between senior citizens and their families.

Ibrahim Al-Baghli said that this year's activities will be presided over by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Dr Mohammad Al-Afasi.

He acknowledged the 'progressive coordination' that the Khairan Resort administration displays every year. The event will be held on Saturday July 3, 2010.

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Attacks target ex-insurgents 'Sons of Iraq' turns against insurgency BAGHDAD: Two senior members of a government-backed Iraqi militia of former Sunni insurgents were killed yesterday, the latest blow in what appears to be a concerted campaign to undermine Iraq's fragile security gains. Targeted killings of policemen, soldiers, government officials and ex-insurgents are stoking tensions following a March parliamentary election that produced no clear winner and has yet to yield a government.

The Sahwa, or "Sons of Iraq", consist of tens of thousands of Sunnis who joined forces with the US military and Iraqi security forces to fight Sunni Islamist militants linked to Al-Qaeda, helping turn the tide of the sectarian war of 2006/07. Raad Tami

Al-Mujamai and Khamis Sabaa Al-Aqabi, Sahwa leaders in the town of Buhriz, 60 km northeast of Baghdad, were killed in separate attacks, both by bombs attached to their cars, police sources said.

Buhriz lies in volatile Diyala province, a religiously and ethnically mixed region with a Sunni majority and where a stubborn insurgency remains entrenched despite a sharp fall in overall violence.

Mujamai was a senior member of the Mujamai tribe, one of the largest in Diyala, and the more senior of the two Sahwa leaders killed in Buhriz. Keeping the Sahwa on side is seen as crucial to defending the significant security gains made over the past 2-3 years, with the United

States due to end combat operations in August ahead of a full withdrawal by the end of 2011.

Many have been absorbed into public sector jobs, but some complain that the outgoing Shiite-led government is moving too slowly to integrate them and view it with suspicion. Last week, gunmen shot dead a local Sahwa leader and four members of his family in Falluja, west of Baghdad. Police blamed the killing on AlQaeda. Many other Sahwa leaders have been targeted by bombings and assassinations in recent weeks in what appear to be either acts of revenge or part of a campaign to scare them back into the ranks of the insurgency. — Reuters

Jundallah vows to E Jerusalem plan avenge Rigi death comes under fire WASHINGTON: The Sunni rebel group Jundallah has threatened retaliation against Iran for the reported execution of its chief Abdolmalek Rigi, US-based monitors said yesterday. Rigi, whose group has been accused of deadly attacks against security forces including Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, was hanged in Tehran's Evin prison in the presence of victims' families on Sunday, according to state television.

The Jundallah (Soldiers of God) gave a brief eulogy for Rigi, who it said had achieved "martyrdom," according to the SITE Intelligence Group based just outside Washington. In a statement released on its website and distributed on jihadist forums shortly after reports of the execution, Jundallah issued a stark warning to Iran. "History will prove that many Abdolmaleks will emerge and that victory and glory are theirs, and that the oppressive regime in Iran will be defeated and the movement will celebrate that great day," it said, according to a translation provided by SITE. The group also contested official media reports that its former leader had been executed, insisting that Rigi had in fact "died under the pressure of torture and punishment," and that Iran only said it had executed him in order to avoid a scandal. The group claims it is fighting to secure rights for Sunni Baluchis who form a significant population in Sistan-Baluchestan, a southeastern Iranian province bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan where Jundallah has waged a deadly insurgency. Rigi was captured in a dramatic operation in February while on a flight from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan, when Iranian warplanes forced the plane he was travelling on to land in Iran. — AFP

JERUSALEM: A plan to raze 22 Arab homes to make way for an archaeological park in east Jerusalem drew fire from all sides yesterday, with the Palestinians calling it a provocation and Israel's defense minister lamenting its timing. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas urged Washington to intervene to block the project which the Jerusalem municipality approved on Monday.

The US administration, meanwhile, said the move "undermines trust" and could hinder the indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians that started in May. Even Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak was critical of the move, which could prove embarrassing for hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu coming just two weeks before he is due to hold talks with US

President Barak Obama.

Israeli relations with the United States plummeted in March when the municipality announced during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden that it planned to build 1,600 homes for Jewish settlers in Arab east Jerusalem. "This can't stand," Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said in Amman, where Abbas was to meet Jordan's King Abdullah II with the park project high on their agenda. "I have conveyed a message from president Mahmud Abbas to the American administration this morning, urging their direct intervention to revoke this Israeli order," he said.

Barak, who was in Washington for talks with US officials, also criticized the announcement, though his remarks focused on the timing rather than the substance of the decision.— AFP

7

Israel sets big rail plans, dreams of regional hub GESHER: Suspended in time and space, a couple of 1940s-vintage boxcars perch on a railway bridge over the river Jordan, just south of the Sea of Galilee. Rusty rails run off into scrub. It Now, ambitious plans to expand Israel's rail network raise an intriguing dream of one day reviving what were once the arteries of Middle East trade.

"The premise behind the plan is future peace," says Yitzhak Suchman, who oversees planning for $7 billion of new projects at Israel's Transport Ministry. "A train from Beit Shean to Haifa is also designed for future cargo shipments from Jordan and even Iraq", he adds. Another line "could be extended to Lebanon". It is easy to see cracks in such dreams. They are wreathed in the coal-fired steam of an earlier era, when Ottoman sultans, with European imperialists and business adventurers, forged iron ways along the routes long trod by camel caravans.

The idea of restitching the Middle East, with Israel's Arab foes in Syria, Iraq or Saudi Arabia using its railways to speed cargo to the sea, or ferry tourists up the old coastal line from Cairo via Tel Aviv to Beirut, is far-fetched to say the least. Israel's domestic plans are themselves, still embryonic. Yet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not a man well liked by his Arab neighbors, has put money where his mouth is. "We're talking about some 30 billion shekels ($7.8 billion) over 10 to 15 years ...

This is quite manageable," Netanyahu said in February of plans to use road and rail infrastructure to push business and people outward from the Tel Aviv conurbation.

Some critics say rail is a wasteful way to do that; renewing old transit links from the Gulf and Red Sea to the Mediterranean might, in the very long-term, make a better economic argument. History, though, has harsh lessons for such pipe dreams. — Reuters

is a bridge to nowhere. The war of 1948 that partitioned Palestine also severed a once busy line linking the heartland of the Arabian peninsula to the port of Haifa on the Mediterranean.

8

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

US newspaper takes stand against 'comment trolls' WASHINGTON: They lurk in the comments sections of websites, firing off inflammatory messages behind a cloak of anonymity. "Comment trolls," as they're called, are the scourge of many a news site or blog seeking to make their comments section a forum for intelligent discussion.

Amid a growing debate among US newspaper editors over the practice of allowing anonymous comments, one New York publication is taking a stand.

The Buffalo News announced on Monday that it will begin requiring identification from people who want to leave comments on its website, BuffaloNews.com.

"We will require commenters to give their

real names and the names of their towns, which will appear with their comments, just as they do in printed 'letters to the editor,'" Buffalo News editor Margaret Sullivan said. Websites have employed a variety of methods to deal with "trolling"-from banning comments altogether to deploying filtering software which screens out posts containing profanity.

Some websites, including The New York Times, have comments vetted by human editors or moderators before allowing them to be posted online. Others require users to supply an email address before being allowed to comment or rely on readers to flag inappropriate comments so

they can be removed. With a weekday circulation of more than 162,000 and a Sunday circulation of over 244,000, the Buffalo News is believed to be among the first major US newspapers to require that a comment carry a real name.

Sullivan, in a column explaining the move, said the decision to require identification was taken "after quite a bit of internal discussion" and would begin in August.

"Online commenting began, a year or so ago, as a way to engage our Web readers and give them a chance to air their points of view and get some discussion going on the topics of the day," Sullivan said. "Quickly, though, the practice degenerated into

something significantly less lofty," she said.

"Reader comments can be racist and ugly."

Dan Kennedy, an assistant professor of journalism at Boston's Northeastern University, said the Buffalo News may be the first of many news sites to crack down on anonymity. "I think we're going through a period where a lot of people are starting to rethink anonymous comments," Kennedy said. "A lot of people are thinking about this and talking about this." Rem Rieder, editor of the American Journalism Review, welcomed the move by the Buffalo News, which coincided with a column he wrote in the latest edition of the magazine calling for an end to anonymous comments.

"The opportunity to launch brutal assaults from the safety of a computer without attaching a name does wonders for the bravery levels of the angry," Rieder said. He pointed out that while the websites themselves are generally immune from prosecution, a number of news outlets have encountered legal problems because of allegedly defamatory comments posted by anonymous users. "Continuing to allow anonymous sniping hardly seems to be in the self-interest of news outlets," Rieder said. "There's just no defense for a system that allows anyone to post this kind of stuff anonymously."

The Buffalo News announcement drew

a mixed reaction in the comments section on its website with some readers welcoming the move and others denouncing it.

"Yeah! It's about time some changes were made," wrote a user identified only as "itsme." "All the little trolls and bullies can go away now." Others felt the new rules would drastically reduce participation. "I don't like the idea of using my real name on sites such as this because there are a lot of loonies out there," said "Justathought26."

"There goes free speech and honest criticism," added a user with the handle "tommyd." "The online version of the News, just like the paper version will soon die and go away." — AFP

Lawmakers unveil Iran sanctions bill Washington piling pressure on Tehran WASHINGTON: Top US lawmakers crafting Iran sanctions legislation announced yesterday they had reached a deal on a series of punitive measures aimed at piling pressure on Tehran over its suspect nuclear program. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman said they were circulating their draft bill to colleagues, and sources said the US Congress could approve the measure as early as this week.

Berman and Dodd said their blueprint, which aims to tighten existing US sanctions on the Islamic republic, would give President Barack Obama "a full range of tools to deal with the threats posed by Iran." "If applied forcefully by the president, this act will bring strong new pressure to bear on Tehran in order to combat its proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, support for international terrorism and gross human rights abuses," they said in a joint statement.

The legislation targets firms that provide Iran with refined petroleum products-like gasoline or jet fuel. The oil-rich country relies heavily on imports because of a lack of domestic refining capability. It could also see non-US banks doing business with certain blacklisted Iranian entitiesincluding Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and several banks-shut out of the US financial system, according to a summary.

"In effect, the act would present foreign banks doing business with blacklisted Iranian entities a stark choice: Cease your activities or be denied critical access to America's financial

MORRISTOWN: United Against Nuclear Iran hold a rally to protest Honeywell's business in Iran at the company's headquarters in Morristown, New Jersey. The group says Honeywell's decision to continue to make key contributions to the development of Iran's oil industry is inappropriate considering the overwhelming bipartisan support in the US Congress to economically isolate Iran's oil and natural gas industry. — AFP system," the summary said.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said "we appreciate that House and Senate leaders have come together with a strong bill that builds upon the recently passed UN Security Council Resolution, grants the President new authority, and strengthens a multilateral strategy to isolate and pressure Iran.

"We will continue to work with the Congress over the coming days as it finalizes work on this important bill, and in our ongoing efforts to hold Iran

accountable," Gibbs said. The measure must first be approved by a House-Senate "conference," then separately by each chamber before Obama can sign it into law. The compromise bill emerged after the UN Security Council imposed a fourth set of sanctions June 9 in response to Iran's refusal to freeze its uranium enrichment-which can be a key step toward building a nuclear bomb.

Last week, the European Union imposed new sanctions of its own on Tehran, which denies

Western charges that it seeks an atomic arsenal. The EU measures targeted energy-sector investments, as well as the transportation, banking and insurance sectors, and slapped new visa bans and asset freezes on the Guards. Australia also acted against Iran, imposing sanctions on Bank Mellat, a major financier of Iranian missile and nuclear programs, as well as a major Iranian shipping line and a "key leader" of the Guards, General Rostam Qasemi.

And the US Treasury Department also tightened the screws on Iran, targeting insurance and oil firms and shipping lines linked to Iran's atomic or missile programs as well as the Guards and Iran's defense minister Ahmad Vahidi, freezing assets and forbidding US firms from doing business with them.

The new US legislation would also aim to hold US banks-long barred from doing business with Iran-accountable for actions by their overseas subsidiaries.

The bill would target non-US firms that sell goods, services or know-how to Iran that help the Islamic republic develop its energy sector, including insurance, financing and shipping companies. It would also forbid US banks from financial transactions with non-US banks that do business with the Guards, help Iran's nuclear program or its support for extremist groups.

The measure would also target the finances of alleged Iranian human rights abusers and impose travel restrictions on those officials.

And it would deny US government contracts to any nonUS company that sells or provides Iran with "technology used to restrict the free flow of information or to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict freedom of speech."

The bill would also enable US states and local governments to divest from foreign firms engaged in Iran's energy sector, and would tighten the existing US trade embargo on Iranian goods by curbing the number of exempted products. The draft also aims to reduce the president's ability to waive sanctions on specific individuals, companies or countries. — AFP

US Democrats hammer CNN drops AP Republicans on oil spill Washington slaps BP with new $51 million spill bill WASHINGTON: The Democratic National Committee says Republicans are oil company loyalists who would rather apologize to BP than hold it accountable. The Democrats' ad, which started running on Monday on national and Washington cable television stations, includes a clip of Republican Rep Joe Barton apologizing to BP. The Texan apologized to BP executives after they met with President Barack Obama and agreed to a $20 billion fund to help those affected by the spill.

Barton took back the apology and Republican leaders have distanced themselves from it, but Democrats have tried to paint all Republicans as oil industry loyalists.

The DNC says Republicans should stand up to oil, not show sympathy for a company whose destroyed oil rig is spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Meanwhile, the White House has slapped BP with a new 51-million-dollar bill, the third sent to the British energy giant and its partners for government expenses incurred in efforts to halt the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Officials have stressed that they would keep billing the British energy giant for all associated costs from America's biggest-ever environmental disaster, under a US law requiring oil firms to pay for cleanups.

"As a responsible party, BP is financially responsible for all costs associated with the response to the spill," the administration said. That includes "efforts to stop the leak at its source, reduce the spread of oil, protect the shoreline and mitigate damages, as well as long term recovery efforts to ensure that all individuals and communities impacted by the spill are made whole."

Two earlier bills to BP and other responsible parties this month amounting to 70.89 million dollars were paid in full, it said in a statement. The invoice charges the firms for "specific federal government expenses" including response costs for more than 24 federal entities and agencies from three US states, as well as for reimbursing the trust fund set up by BP and the government to reimburse local individuals and businesses affected by the massive spill.

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, enacted after the

Exxon Valdez oil disaster in Alaska, made oil giants liable for cleanup costs resulting from spills and is being used by the administration to hold BP's feet to the fire.

Obama has also vowed to hold BP responsible if it is found that the company broke any laws before the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April. BP said Monday it has so far spent two billion dollars on the spill, including ongoing efforts at containment, relief well drilling, grants to Gulf States, claims paid to thousands of affected individuals and businesses, and costs incurred by the US government. — Agencies

WASHINGTON: BP Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward (left) and BP Managing Director Bob Dudley arrive with other BP executives at the White House in Washington, for a meeting with President Barack Obama. — AP

WASHINGTON: US television news network CNN said Monday it was dropping the US news agency the Associated Press (AP) as it expands its own news gathering operation.

"We will no longer use AP materials or services," Jim Walton, the president of CNN Worldwide, said in a memo to CNN staff obtained by Agence France-Presse. "Starting today, CNN news gathering will be the primary source of all content for all of our platforms and services," he said. "The content we offer will be distinctive, compelling and, I am proud to say, our own."

Walton said the move was intended to "more fully leverage CNN's global news gathering investments" and "further differentiate our platforms in the media marketplace." Paul Colford, an AP spokesman, said the New York-based news agency, a cooperative which is owned by 1,500 daily US newspapers, had been "unable to reach agreement with CNN on its license to use our content." "It is unfortunate that CNN's viewers will no longer have access to the breaking news and worldwide reporting resources of the Associated Press," Colford said in a statement.

Nigel Pritchard, a spokesman for the Time Warner-owned Cable News Network, said the contract with the AP runs out at the end of June. The Atlanta-based CNN is a client of AFP's English-language news wire. Walton, in his memo to CNN staff, said "less reliance on outside sources will mean more to invest in our organization" and "make us more creative, resourceful and collaborative journalists and news professionals."

"To support this new model, we are expanding the CNN Wires team and embedding positions with desks and bureaus to speed information to air," he said. Walton said CNN was launching a new alert system for breaking news and an internal platform called "CNN Share" to "aggregate editorial content and facilitate easy distribution and sharing." "Our global broadcast affiliates will be key partners in this effort," he said.

"Creating more original content will enhance our service to them and build stronger working relationships going forward."

The AP is one of the world's four leading news agencies along with AFP, Reuters and Bloomberg. The AP posted a 65percent drop in net profit last year as the struggles of the US newspaper industry also impacted on the bottom line of the agency. Declining print advertising revenue, falling circulation and the migration of readers to free news on the Web have led to pressure on the AP from a number of US newspapers to cut its rates. — AFP

NEW YORK: This courtroom sketch shows Pakistani-American Faisal Shahzad (2nd-left) standing before US District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum (right) on June 21, 2010 in New York, where Shahzad pleaded guilty to the Times Square car bomb bid last month, and warned of more attacks on the United States because of its occupation of Muslim lands.

Asked by the judge to confirm he was pleading guilty to all 10 charges, including the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and terrorism, 30-year-old Shahzad, who faces life in prison, said: "Yes." — AFP

US apex court upholds 'material support' law Law criminalizes 'material support' to terrorism WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court has upheld a law criminalizing "material support" to terrorism, even in cases of training in peacemaking, despite criticism that the law targets legitimate free speech. In a six to three vote, the highest US court sided with the government and found that a non-government organization could face prosecution for providing conflict resolution lessons to US-designated terror groups.

The case involved the Humanitarian Law Project, a human rights group, which the court ruled could face prosecution under the material support statute for providing human rights or peacemaking training to groups including the Kurdish PKK or the Tamil Tigers. "It is wholly foreseeable that the PKK could use the 'specific skill(s)' that plaintiffs propose to impart... as part of a broader strategy to promote terrorism," the court said in its decision. "The PKK could, for example, pursue peaceful negotiation as a means of buying time to recover from short-term setbacks, lulling opponents into complacency, and ultimately preparing for renewed attacks."

Former president Jimmy Carter, whose Carter Center has engaged in conflict resolution around the world, said he was "disappointed" by the ruling, saying the law threatened the work of peacemaking organizations that interact with groups that have engaged in violence. "The vague language of the law leaves us wondering if we will be prosecuted for our work to promote peace and freedom," he said. Created in 1996, the "material support" language was strengthened under the Patriot Act, which Congress passed in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks and reauthorized with some changes in 2004.

The Center for Constitutional Rights said this was the first Supreme Court challenge to the Patriot Act, and the first to pit free speech guaran-

tees against national security claims. The law has usually been used to prosecute individuals who have helped organize or finance terrorist attacks.

In this instance, the Humanitarian Law Project objected to a broad reading of the statute, which criminalized the provision of "training, expert advice, personnel and services" to US-designated terror groups, even if the provision was intended exclusively to advance non-violent goals.

"At bottom, plaintiffs simply disagree with the considered judgment of Congress and the executive that providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization-even seemingly benign support-bolsters the terrorist activities of that organization," the justices wrote. "Given the sensitive interests in national security and foreign affairs at stake, the political branches have adequately substantiated their determination," the ruling added.

The court also warned that even non-violent training could "lend legitimacy to foreign terrorist groups-legitimacy that makes it easier for those groups to persist, to recruit members, and to raise funds-all of which facilitate more terrorist attacks." The material support statute has become a popular tool for prosecutors, who have tried some 150 people under the statute in the United States, obtaining convictions in around 60 cases with sentences ranging up to life in prison.

Human Rights Watch reacted to the decision by calling it "a blow to humanitarian and human rights groups around the world. "The decision means that when warring factions ask for international assistance, an American organization has to think twice about whether it can help," said Andrea Prasow, senior counterterrorism counsel at Human Rights Watch. "Throwing people in jail who are trying to create peace is a poor strategy for fighting terrorism." — AFP

Gunfire and dog bites greet US Census takers WASHINGTON: They have braved gunfire, dog bites and threats from people with baseball bats. US Census takers are just not always welcome, and have been assaulted more than 400 times on their current count, a US Census Bureau spokeswoman said. In this round of the once-every10-years tally, more than 635,000 Census takers have been going door-to-door since May 1 to try to count the 48 million US residents who did not answer a census form they were asked to fill out and return by mail.

And let's just say openarms hospitality is not always the watchword when intrepid

census takers have come knocking. In under two months, the Census Bureau has reported a staggering 409 incidents, including about a dozen in which gunshots were fired, bureau spokeswoman Shelly Lowe said. Among the foot-draggers not keen to be counted, 132 pulled a weapon or threatened the census taker with one; 88 physically assaulted the census taker, and about a dozen decided to hold pesky tally-takers against their will.

And that isn't counting some 24 attacks with animals.

"In every census there are incidents where enumerators are threatened by respondents

in various ways, and this census is no different; we are seeing a moderate increase in the number of reported incidents against census takers," Lowe said. "This is due in part to an increase in households and a more rigorous tracking system," she ventured.

"Employees learn that safety is of the utmost importance from their first day on the job, when they receive intensive training on steps they can take to protect themselves in a variety of settings," she said, while maintaining that "violence against Census Bureau employees is extremely rare." The US population is currently estimated at 309 million. — AFP

INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

9

Lib Dem leader jeered over A British mother's tale, as UK alliance with Conservatives marks grim Afghan milestone Clegg faces turbulent session of questions in UK parliament

LONDON: British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg arrives to attend the weekly cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in central London yesterday. — AFP

LONDON: Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg faced jeers yesterday from opposition legislators who accused him of "selling his soul" as he took centrestage in parliament for the first time. Clegg, leader of the centre-left Liberal Democrats, entered a coalition government last month with the much larger centreright Conservatives after an inconclusive election. The two parties were not natural bedfellows, but Clegg has struck up a friendly rapport with Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron-much to the disgust of the centre-left Labor Party, who had been in power for 13 years before the election.

"What an outrage it is that Mr Clegg sold his soul to the Conservatives," shouted Labor MP Chris Leslie during a rowdy session of questions to the deputy prime minister in the House of Commons. Clegg came out fighting, accusing Labor of doing precious little while in office to deliver on promises including electoral reform, now Clegg's pet project in government.

"They had 13 years to do it and they did absolutely nothing," he said, drawing huge cheers from Conservative legislators-a novel situation after years during which they, like Labor, jeered him whenever he stood up to speak.

Until the formation of the coalition government, Britain's first since World War Two, the perennially third-placed Liberal Democrats sat on the margins of the Commons where they were at best ignored or at worst mocked by the two larger parties. The sight of Clegg battling at the prominent "despatch box", where ministers stand when taking questions from legislators, was a potent symbol of Britain's new political era.

Cameron sat just behind him smiling appreciatively as Clegg shouted to make himself heard over the Labor booing.

Cameron is accustomed to that kind of treatment.

As leader of the opposition from 2005 to this year's election, and now as head of the government, he has faced the weekly ritual of "prime minister's questions", or PMQs, in the Commons. PMQs is a fierce half-hour verbal joust during which the prime minister and the leader of the opposition hurl insults at one another and compete to come up with the wittiest put-downs while legislators on both sides howl and cheer. Cameron, who has described PMQs as "a bear pit", appeared delighted yesterday that his Liberal Democrat deputy was the one doing the fighting. — Reuters

Spain's main opposition to abstain on labor vote MADRID: A labor reform package aimed at reviving the euro zone's No 4 economy will easily secure ratification in parliament yesterday, after main opposition Popular Party said it would abstain. Abstention will give the minority Socialist government enough votes to pass the reform, even though the conservatives and other opposition groups have criticized the proposals as not going far enough and said they will fight to amend them. "We will abstain from this vote and our intention is to table amendments to make it evident that another labor reform is possible," PP parliamentary spokeswoman Soraya Sanz de Santamaria told Spain's leading private radio station Ser. The Catalan nationalist party CiU, with 10 seats in parliament, also said it would abstain. Earlier yesterday, Spain's Economy Minister Elena Salgado said the government was confident the PP would support the labor reforms so it could continue to negotiate on the details of the measures. The reform was introduced by decree last Thursday but yesterday's ratification vote triggers a process that converts it into a bill which can be debated and

amended by lawmakers. The process could take up to a year.

Amendments will likely firm up curbs on dismissal costs and simplify firing procedures. Spain, which began emerging from a deep recession in the first quarter, has adopted austerity measures to curb a soaring budget deficit as financial markets punished its sovereign bonds over concerns Spain could need a Greek-style bailout. The reform includes measures to cut the cost of firing, one of the highest in the developed world, simplify contracts and promote youth employment. But unions oppose the changes and have called a general strike for Sept. 29.

Before the government announced the measures, Spanish bond spreads had reached record highs against the German benchmark on concerns of a looming fiscal crisis. They were unmoved by the PP's announcement. A 15-billion-euro austerity bill scraped through parliament last month by just one vote, narrowly averting a vote of no-confidence for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero as he tries to sooth market fears about Spain's giant deficit.

SWIFT PENSION REFORM CALL The austerity package, labor reforms and a shake-up of the banking system are all measures being undertaken by a government which has vowed to reduce Spain's deficit to 3 percent of gross domestic product by 2013 from 9.3 percent this year. The International Monetary Fund has welcomed the reforms, including of what it called the "dysfunctional" labor market, as a means to making Spain's economy more competitive, reducing unemployment and so easing the burden on the public purse.

But even if passage of the reforms now seems secure, the government faces more tough decisions on the economy. Salgado told yesterday's Expansion newspaper the cabinet had not ruled out tax hikes to meet its deficit reduction target. "We must ensure that the sum of our income allows us to meet our spending within the expected budget deficit." Bank of Spain Governor Miguel Angel Fernandez Ordonez said the country needed to speed up and achieve greater consensus over pension reforms to dispel market uncertainty, and urged regional governments to do more to trim spending. — Reuters

BROMYARD: Sitting in the sun in her garden in this town in central England, Lucy Aldridge seems a long way from the dust of Sangin. Yet, as Britain passed the grim milestone of its 300th military death in Afghanistan this week, the memories of the young son she calls her hero are always with her. Killed last summer just six weeks after he turned 18, Rifleman William Aldridge was the youngest British soldier to have died in the conflict since the US-led invasion in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

"He deployed three days after his eighteenth birthday and was actually fiercely proud of being one of the youngest serving in Helmand, if not the youngest," she said.

"He was a career soldier-he knew where he wanted to go. He had aspirations to join the SAS (Special Air Service) and was

determined to get there and I believe he would have done.

"I was at home with my youngest child who was four when two people dressed in plain clothes-a gentleman and a ladyknocked at the door. "Before they even showed their military ID I knew why they'd come." Aldridge died near Sangin in a series of Taleban bombs that killed four other soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Rifles as he tried to save his colleagues.

Nearly a year on, his mother wonders just how much longer the conflict can go on.

"I'm just absolutely devastated that there is now this 300 milestone and that another young man has earned himself a label. My thoughts are completely with his family and his comrades," she said.

Aldridge, from the village of Bromyard

in Herefordshire in the English Midlands, had wanted to be in the army from a very young age. As the eldest of three brothers, he helped his mother with family life as a single parent. Before he left for Afghanistan, he reassured her, telling her not to worry if she ever heard on the news that a soldier had died. "He was an extremely selfless young man. He said he didn't want me sat at home watching the television and worrying about him," she said.

Lucy Aldridge's story is, unfortunately, an increasingly familiar one for British military families. Yesterday the Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced the 301st military death in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001, a day after the grim milestone of 300 was reached. — AFP

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INTERNATIONAL

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Heavy rains in south China trigger dyke threat BEIJING: A flooded river in south China has breached a dyke and threatens 145,000 residents, as heavy rains that have killed almost 200 people so far batter much of the region, state media reported yesterday. The Fu River in Jiangxi province burst through a protective embankment late on Monday, threatening the nearby city of Fuzhou.

Officials scrambled to seal the breach and move residents living near the Changkai Dyke, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing local officials. About 68,000 people were shifted to safer ground and 1,200 were rescued from the inundation, Xinhua reported. Nobody died because of the breach.

More than 10,000 people, including troops and police officers, were attempting to staunch the breach with sandbags and other material, Xinhua added. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have called for "all-out efforts to combat floods and save lives" following the dyke's collapse, it said.

State television showed pictures taken from a helicopter of what it described as a

"boundless expanse of water", covering farmland, roads and residential areas.

Nearly every year, parts of China endure deadly floods. The National Meteorological Centre warned that the current rains could keep pounding parts of the south until Saturday.

A flood crest surging down the Gan River in Jiangxi was likely to reach the provincial capital, Nanchang, testing the city's flood defenses, Xinhua reported.

Heavy rain across much of southern China over the last week have killed at least 199 people and left 123 missing, as rivers broke their banks and landslides severed road and rail links, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.

The floods have caused economic losses of around 42.12 billion yuan ($6.20 billion) so far, with over 1.6 million hectares of farmland flooded and about 195,000 houses collapsing, it added.

In parts of Fujian and Guangdong province more than 100 cm of rain has fallen in the past few days, state media said.

More rain is forecast for the rest of the

week. The downpours have triggered flash floods, inundated crops, disrupted traffic and telecommunications, forcing the evacuation of more than 2.38 million people, said the ministry. In Guangxi region, officials are worried that some of the hundreds of dams there with construction problems could be vulnerable to the high waters, the China Youth Daily reported.

Wang Lijia, an official with the water resources bureau of Nanning, capital of Guangxi, said 245 dams near the city needed repairs to strengthen them. "These dilapidated dams constitute a major threat to Nanning," said Wang, according to the paper. Many of the people displaced by the floods live on low-lying land next to rivers that has been cleared by building dykes.

When floods threaten, they are often moved to higher ground nearby. The worst hit were the provinces and regions of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Sichuan, Guizhou and Guangxi. Some of these areas had been suffering a severe drought a few months ago. — Reuters

China police bust major terror cell Muslim group urges cultural sensitivity in Xinjiang BEIJING: China said yesterday police had cracked a major terror cell, two weeks ahead of the anniversary of deadly violence in Xinjiang, where Beijing says it faces a terrorism threat. The Ministry of Public Security said in an emailed notice to news media that it would hold a press briefing tomorrow to release details, but a ministry spokeswoman refused to provide further information. "There is nothing else I can tell you now," she said. The announcement comes ahead of the July 5 anniversary of deadly riots in the northwestern region of Xinjiang that pitted Muslim ethnic Uighurs against members of China's dominant Han ethnic group.

Nearly 200 people died and up to 1,700 were injured,

according to figures released by the government, which has blamed "separatists" for stoking ethnic unrest in Xinjiang but has so far provided no evidence of organized separatism. China has also previously warned it faced a serious terrorism threat in the region, which borders Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. Xinjiang's roughly eight million Uighurs-a Muslim, Turkic-speaking people-have seethed under Chinese control for decades, alleging political, religious and cultural oppression by Beijing.

Meanwhile, the head of the world's largest Muslim grouping urged China yesterday to match economic growth in its restive Xinjiang region with more attention to other concerns of its Uighur minority. The careful-

ly worded comments by Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), came after he completed a visit to Xinjiang as the July anniversary of deadly ethnic riots approached.

"We hope development on the cultural field will go hand in hand with the economic field," Ihsanoglu told reporters in Beijing before leaving China.

Ihsanoglu arrived last week for his seven-day visit-the firstever to China by a head of the 57-member, pan-Islamic organization-that included two days in Xinjiang, the traditionally Muslim northwestern region.

Authorities there are bracing for the July 5 anniversary of deadly violence that pitted Muslim ethnic Uighurs against

XINJIANG: In this file photo, a Uigher woman demands the return of members from her community before a group of paramilitary police officers when journalists visited the area in Urumqi in western China's Xinjiang province. — AP

Court demands answers over India 'honor killings' NEW DELHI: India's Supreme Court has called for authorities to act after a spate of so-called "honor killings" that have highlighted the deadly effect of continuing caste tensions in the country.

The court ordered the central government and several states to file reports on the murders of young lovers who were apparently killed by relatives outraged at relationships that crossed Hinduism's strict caste divisions.

Last week, police in New Delhi arrested the father and uncle of a girl who was stabbed, gagged and electrocuted along with her boyfriend in a suspected "honor killing" that caused widespread public disgust. Asha Saini, 19, was found dead in a low-income neighborhood along with her 21-year-old boyfriend Yogesh Kumar, whom she wanted to marry despite objections from her family who disapproved because he came from a lower caste. "I have no regrets," her uncle later told reporters, explaining the lovers brought shame on the family. "I will punish them all over again if given another chance."

Most "honor killings" in

India target young couples who dare to marry outside their caste and are killed by relatives in an attempt to protect the family's reputation.

On Sunday, a young Delhi couple in their 20s were allegedly gunned down by the girl's family four years after she disobeyed her parents by marrying a man from a different caste. In another case within the last week, police in Haryana state said two teenage lovers found dead may also have been victims of an "honor killing."

The couple, who had being dating for several months, were discovered hanging from a fan in what police believe may have been an effort to disguise the deaths as a suicide pact. Advocate and social activist Ravi Kant said that the Supreme Court judges on Monday ordered the central government and states to deliver reports into various suspected "honor killings" within four weeks. "At the moment there is no law pertaining to 'honor killings' in India," Kant said. "The rise in killing young couples over their choice of partner is a national scandal." — AFP

members of China's dominant Han ethnic group, leaving nearly 200 people dead, according to government figures. The riots in the capital Urumqi provoked an outcry last year in some Muslim countries over China's treatment of Xinjiang's rougly eight million Uighurs, who have long alleged political, religious and cultural repression by Beijing.

Since the riots, China has said it would pour around 10 billion yuan (1.5 billion dollars) in development aid into the region beginning in 2011 in a bid to raise Uighur living standards and quell simmering discontent.

However, Uighurs complain that rapid state-backed development in the region has benefited only Han migrants to the area and that an influx of Han threatens to further swamp their culture.

Ihsanoglu declined to comment further on what the OIC would like to see in Xinjiang, and otherwise applauded China's efforts to increase development there.

Ihsanoglu, who met with government leaders in Xinjiang, said China had also pledged to raise the per capita income in the region up to the national average by 2015. "I think this is a serious attempt from the government to address the issue of unrest," he said. Ihsanoglu, whose Xinjiang tour took him to Urumqi and the ancient Silk Road oasis city of Kashgar, said the situation ahead of the anniversary appeared "more relaxed." While he was in Xinjiang, Ihsanoglu said he toured a religious school and mosques, and in Beijing he met with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and the head of the National Administration for Religious Affairs. — Agencies

Taleban offer prisoner swap PESHAWAR: Taleban militants in Pakistan's northwest yesterday offered the government a prisoner swap in return for 33 missing soldiers, threatening to kill the men if the proposal is rebuffed. A Taleban spokesman said that Pakistani authorities should "face the consequences" if they did not agree to the swap, calling for the details to be worked out in talks with tribal elders in Mohmand tribal district.

Security officials say 33 soldiers are still missing since the Taleban attacked a checkpost in a remote part of Mohmand along the Afghan border. Six soldiers were killed in the attack and their bodies handed over to tribal elders last Thursday, officials said.

Another 25 soldiers strayed into Afghanistan after the clashes, but were handed back to Pakistani officials. "Thirtythree soldiers are in our custody. We offer the government to exchange them in return of our colleagues," Qari Ikramullah, a spokesman for Tehreek-e-Taleban in

Mohmand said by telephone.

"We are in a state of war, we have no resources to keep them in our prison. The government should accept this offer or face the consequences," he said. "They will have to face death."

Major Fazal-ur-Rehman, a spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps, confirmed that 33 soldiers were missing but said authorities had received no offer of a swap with the Taleban. "We have not received any such offer. If we do, then the government will make a decision on the offer," he added. Pakistani troops are fighting Taleban and Al-Qaedalinked militant groups on multiple fronts across its sprawling tribal badlands, which Washington has described as the most dangerous place on Earth.

The rugged terrain lying outside direct government control is considered an Al-Qaeda headquarters and stronghold of militants plotting attacks on US-led troops fighting the Taleban in Afghanistan. — AFP

LIANYUNGANG: A team of Chinese rescuers practice how to set up an emergency dyke in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu province as the summer flood season begins. — AFP

in the news 18 wedding guests die HYDERABAD: A speeding truck rammed into two tractors pulling trolleys loaded with guests returning from a wedding in southern India yesterday, killing 18 people, including the groom, police said.

The bride and 19 other people were injured near Warangal, 110 miles northeast of Hyderabad, capital of Andhra Pradesh state, said Shahnawaz Qasim, a district police superintendent. Doctors in nearby hospitals described the condition of seven of the injured as critical. Road accidents claim thousands of lives every year in India, and most are blamed on reckless driving, poorly maintained vehicles and bad roads. Many passengers travel on makeshift, overcrowded means of transport such as carts attached to tractors.

2 Indonesian militants jailed JAKARTA: Two Muslim militants were sentenced to prison yesterday for involvement in last year's bombings of two luxury hotels that killed seven people. Rohmat Puji Prabowo, alias Bejo, was sentenced to 71/2 years for violating anti-terrorism laws when he drove a car carrying explosives and alleged militant mastermind Noordin Top across the country's main island of Java, said Syamsudin, the presiding judge at the South Jakarta court.

Syamsudin like many Indonesians uses only one name. In a separate trial, the same court sentenced Supono, alias Kedu, to six years in prison for helping guard Top's car during their cross-island trek. Top, a Malaysian who eluded capture for more than seven years before he was killed in a police shootout last September, was the alleged mastermind of the July 2009 attacks on the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in Jakarta that killed seven.

Pakistan to free 17 Indians ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is to release 17 Indian prisoners on the eve of talks with New Delhi as part of moves towards reviving peace efforts, officials in Islamabad said yesterday. The Indians would be released today at the Wagah border crossing near the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, the foreign ministry said. Hundreds of Indians and Pakistanis are languishing in prisons on both sides of the border on charges of spying or illegal entry. India and Pakistan's top foreign ministry civil servants are due to hold talks in Islamabad tomorrow. Pakistani officials say the talks between Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir aim to set the agenda for a meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers on July 15.

Lashkar commander killed SRINAGAR: Indian security forces said yesterday they had killed a senior local commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group in Kashmir during a gunbattle that also killed a policeman.

The gunbattle erupted on Monday in northern Sopore town, about 50 kilometers north of Kashmiri summer capital Srinagar, and ended early yesterday with the killing of Abu Zubair, senior police officer Altaf Ahmed said. "The fighting erupted when soldiers and police raided a hide-out," he said, adding that in the initial firing three policemen were injured. One later died in hospital of his injuries. Police said Zubair was a Pakistani commander of the LeT in the Sopore area who was responsible for masterminding attacks against security forces.

Pakistan hasn't quit its 'insurgent habit' Islamabad ignores US warning on Iran gas deal WASHINGTON: Pakistan hasn't quit its habit of courting insurgents, and extremist networks with current or former ties to the government pose a significant risk to the United States and Pakistan's elected government itself, a new study concludes. A rising number of terrorist plots in the United States with roots in Pakistan stems in part from an unsuccessful strategy by the US-backed government in Pakistan to blunt the influence of militant groups in the country, the report by the RAND Corp said.

The report to be issued Monday says the May 1 failed car bombing in New York's Times Square is an example of how militant groups, some with shadowy government backing, can increasingly export terrorism far beyond the country's borders. The United States isn't getting its money's worth for all the billions in aid pledged to the strategically located, nuclear-armed nation, the report concludes.

The US should withhold some aid until Pakistan makes "discernible progress," authors Seth Jones of RAND and C Christine Fair of Georgetown University wrote. RAND is a nonprofit study group frequently hired by the Pentagon. The report was produced by a division of RAND that receives Pentagon funding, but was not specifically commissioned by the government.

The authors chart long government support or tolerance for some extremist or terrorist groups, including Taleban networks in the border regions near Afghanistan. The report says the United States has had limited success in encouraging Pakistan to cut ties to extremists, while Pakistan's Army has had limited success in a series of military campaigns against extremist networks over the last year.

The report examines how Pakistan has furthered US goals in hunting some terrorists and sometimes undermined US interests at the same time. It notes, as numerous US leaders have done, that anti-American sentiment is high in Pakistan, while support for government campaigns against militants is low. There is enduring suspicion among government leaders that the United States has ulterior motives or is insincere in offers of help.

The United States should lessen its reliance on Pakistan where it can, the report concluded, such as seeking additional alternate land routes for resupplying the war in Afghanistan. One such alternative would be a route through Iran, the report said. Iran and

BUNER VALLEY: Photo shows a view of Buner valley, famous for marble and granite quarrying in Pakistan. A year after the Pakistani army ousted the militants from Swat Valley and Buner, the US government is helping these sectors as a part of $7.5 billion package to Pakistan to create jobs in the region to dry up support for extremism and stop militants from returning. — AP the United States have no diplomatic ties and a record of three decades of antagonistic relations. Once-promising cooperation after the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 fizzled.

Iran-Pakistan deal Defying a warning from Washington, Pakistan's prime minister promised yesterday to go ahead with a plan to import natural gas from Iran even if the US levies additional sanctions against the Mideast country. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's comments came two days after the US special envoy to Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, cautioned Pakistan not to "overcommit" itself to the deal because it could run afoul of new sanctions against Iran being finalized by Congress.

The deal has been a constant source of tension between the two countries, with Pakistan arguing that it is vital to its ability to cope with an energy crisis and the US stressing that it would undercut international pressure on Iran over its nuclear program. Gilani said Pakistan would reconsider the deal if it violated UN sanctions, but the country was "not bound to follow" unilateral US measures.

He said media reports that quoted him as saying that Pakistan would heed Holbrooke's warning were incorrect. The UN has levied

four sets of sanctions against Iran for failing to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for a nuclear weapon. The latest set of UN sanctions was approved earlier this month. The US has also applied a number of unilateral sanctions against Iran, and Congress is currently finalizing a new set largely aimed at the country's petroleum industry.

Both houses have passed versions of the sanctions and are working to reconcile their differences. Pakistan and Iran finalized the gas deal earlier this month. Under the contract, Iran will export 760 million cubic feet of gas per day to Pakistan through a new pipeline beginning in 2014. The construction of the pipeline is estimated to cost some $7 billion.

While US officials have expressed opposition to the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline deal, the issue is complicated by Washington's reliance on Pakistan's cooperation to fight Al-Qaeda and the Taleban. The US also acknowledges that Pakistan faces a severe energy crisis and has made aid to the energy sector one of its top development priorities. Electricity shortages in Pakistan cause rolling blackouts that affect businesses and intensify suffering during the hot summer months. — Agencies

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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UAE applying tougher measures on Iran trade DUBAI: Iranian firms in the United Arab Emirates are increasingly coming under tougher measures in line with UN sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear drive, a senior Iranian businessman said yesterday. “We are observing a very strict application of the UN sanctions against Iran,” Morteza Masoumzadeh, vice-president of the Iranian Business Council in Dubai, told AFP. Masoumzadeh said the implementation of sanctions started about two years ago but have “become tougher in the past couple of months especially at Dubai ports.”

“All containers that arrive to the UAE for Iranian traders and which are normally sent to Iran by smaller vessels, have now to be unloaded and put into new containers, which cost the traders 1,000 extra dollars per container,” he said. On June 9, the UN Security Council slapped a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over its contro-

versial nuclear drive, this time tightening the noose on military and financial transactions. The resolution bans the sale to Iran of eight new types of heavy weapons and applies new restrictions on Iranian investments abroad.

For years, Iran maintained active trade relations with Dubai, one of seven emirates making up the UAE, with the trade volume estimated at about 10 billion dollars a year, mostly of Iranian imports.

Masoumzadeh said newly arriving Iranian merchants are facing several restrictions as many of them are denied a license to operate while others have to undergo tougher procedures.

These measures “will affect the overall trade relations between the UAE and Iran,” estimated to have dropped to seven billion dollars last year from about 10 billion dollars previously, he said. The “UAE is no longer Iran’s first trade partner as it

has slipped to the third place,” Masoumzadeh said. The Dubai-based Gulf News daily on Monday quoted an unnamed UAE official as saying the Gulf state has closed down 40 international and local firms as part of a crackdown on companies that violate UN sanctions on Iran.

These companies have been dealing in “dual-use and dangerous materials banned under UN resolutions and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty,” the official said.

Masoumzadeh however said he was unaware of any closures among the 1,000 companies that come under the Iranian Business Council. “There are 8,000 Iranian companies in the UAE out of which nearly 1,000 are members of the IBC. However, none of the alleged 40 Iranian companies that they were shut down were members of the IBC,” he said.

“I have no information about any of those companies that has been closed.” — AFP

TEHRAN: In this image released by Iran’s Central Bank yesterday, a new 100,000-rial (about $ 9.6) banknote is seen with a portrait of Iran’s late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini. The introduction of a new top denomination banknote - double the face value of the largest one currently - appears to reflect Iran’s struggle with inflation. While the government says inflation has dropped to slightly below 10 percent, economists and analysts say it remains well above 20 percent. The other side of the note carries a picture of famed 13th century Persian poet Muslih Al-Din Sa’di’s tomb and a quote by him about all humans being equal. — AP

Lost treasures key to Kuwait-Iraq ties

Istanbul bomb kills 5 as Kurdish violence flares ISTANBUL: A roadside bomb blew up a bus carrying military families in Istanbul, killing four soldiers and a girl, as Kurdish rebels stepped up their separatist attacks.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the blast on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which had threatened to spread violence to urban areas af ter a string of bloody attacks on the army in the southeast.

“The terrorist organisation knows very well that it will not get anywhere with such attacks... This is a dead end,” Erdogan said in parliament in Ankara.

There was no formal claim of responsibility for the bus bombing and nobody was immediately detained, officials said.

The bus, carrying soldiers and their families, was passing through Halkali, a suburb on Istanbul’s European side home to military lodgings, when the bomb went off early yesterday. “This is a terrorist attack,” Istanbul Governor Huseyin Avni Mutlu told reporters. “According to initial information, it was a remote-control bomb planted at the side of the road.”

The governor said the blast killed three soldiers, on their way to work at the headquarters of Istanbul’s paramilitary police, and a 17-year-old girl, the daughter of an officer, and wounded 12 people, two of them seriously. The death toll reached five later yesterday as a soldier succumbed to his injuries in hospital, Anatolia news agency reported. The Turkish army meanwhile said seven PKK militants were killed overnight in two separate clashes. Five were shot dead

after they attacked a gendarme station in southeast Turkey, killing one soldier. Two others were killed in a security operation in the northwest.

After the attack, Erdogan said his country would doggedly maintain its “struggle against terrorism”, and insisted that the government would provide whatever is needed to the country’s military to battle the rebels. He blamed the rebels for the suffering of the Kurdish people in the southeast. “No one has won, the resources of the country have been wasted and the fighting brought nothing but tears and blood,” Erdogan said. “We’re not going to surrender to this language of violence.”

He also pledged more moves to grant cultural rights to minority Kurds. The government has allowed Kurdish language courses, opened a Kurdish language faculty and allowed broadcasts in Kurdish on state television so far, he said.

“We will continue to act responsibly and courageously for future generations. We will not make concessions on democracy despite terrorism, sabotages,” Erdogan said. “If we shut down the opening, then terrorism, warlords and vampires who feed on the blood of the young would win.”

The PKK, listed as a terrorist group

by Ankara and much of the international community, threatened attacks in Turkish cities as it killed 12 soldiers over the weekend. Most of the troops died when dozens of rebels attacked a border unit at the Iraqi frontier, prompting a Turkish air

raid on PKK hideouts in northern Iraq, where the rebels have long taken refuge.

The PKK has stepped up violence since its leader Abdullah Ocalan, serving a life sentence in a Turkish jail, said through his lawyers last month he was abandoning efforts to end the 26-year Kurdish conflict through dialogue with the government.

Ankara has rejected talks with the PKK though it has pledged to boost Kurdish freedoms and economic development in the southeast in a bid to discourage separatism and cajole the rebels into laying down arms. The faltering initiative, announced last year, has met with public hostility amid persisting PKK violence, but Erdogan insisted yesterday he remained committed to reform. “We will not step back... We will not disappoint our (Kurdish) people once again,” he said.

“The terrorist organisation can never be the representative or the spokesman of our Kurdish citizens.”

The PKK targets mainly the security forces but it has carried out also bomb attacks on civilians in the past. In 2008, it was blamed for two explosions at a crowded street in Istanbul’s Gungoren district which killed 17 people and wounded more than 150. In 2005, five people, among them Irish and British tourists, were killed when a PKK militant detonated a bomb on a minibus in the Aegean resort of Kusadasi. The PKK took up arms for selfrule in the mainly Kurdish southeast in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives. — Agencies

‘Angry’ Obama summons McChrystal Continued from Page 1 “It was a 10-minute photo op,” the general’s adviser says. “Obama clearly didn’t know anything about him, who he was... he didn’t seem very engaged.”

Leaving McChrystal with yet more explaining to do when he meets Obama face-to-face today, the article quotes sources familiar with the meeting as saying he thought the president looked “uncomfortable and intimidated”.

McChrystal issued a statement late Monday apologizing for his remarks and one of his media officers, a civilian, has already resigned over the episode.

But the fallout is unlikely to stop there.

“We are fighting a war against Al-Qaeda and its extremist allies, who directly threaten the United States, Afghanistan, and our friends and allies around the world,” said Gates. “Going forward, we must pursue this mission with a unity of purpose.” “The magnitude and graveness of this mistake are profound,” said Gibbs.

McChrystal already received a dressing down from Obama last year over his remarks at a London conference in which he appeared to reject Biden’s argument in favor of fewer troops in Afghanistan. In the article McChrystal pretended to rehearse an answer to questions referring to the vice president. “‘Are you asking about Vice President Biden?’ McChrystal

says with a laugh. ‘Who’s that?’” the article quotes him as saying. “‘Biden?’ suggests a top adviser. ‘Did you say: Bite Me?’” In Kabul, Eikenberry said through a spokeswoman that he remains “fully committed” to working with McChrystal, despite the scathing criticism. NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen also backed McChrystal, with his spokesman saying: “The Rolling Stone article is rather unfortunate, but it is just an article. We are in the middle of a very real conflict, and the Secretary General has full confidence in General McChrystal as the NATO commander, and in his strategy.” — Agencies

clerics of the puritanical Wahhabi sect to enforce a rigid moral system. Most women are unable to drive and mix with unrelated men.

The 2005 novel Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea, though dismissed by critics as lightweight, was a sign of the times: three affluent young women reveal their trials and tribulations in finding the perfect mate through a series of email exchanges. It was a surprise success, translated into many languages. The late author Abdelrahman Munif was stripped of his Saudi nationality for his insolence after publishing books in the 1980s that showed how oil wealth enabled the rise of tribal kleptocracies in traditional Gulf Arab society.

But the new generation of writers have managed to develop a local audience and gain recognition in Saudi Arabia. “There is censorship, which is sometimes eased, sometimes tightened, and there are the Islamists who are still strong and suffocating,” says novelist Badriya Al-Bisher, whose 2005 book Hind wa al-Askar (Hind and the Soldiers) annoyed conservatives by arguing that after years of living under Islamic tradition, the Saudi woman represses herself.

Abdo Khal’s winning novel Tarmi BiSharar - a Quranic reference to hell, meaning “throwing sparks” - came to market with a non-Saudi publisher and was briefly withdrawn at this year’s Riyadh International Book Fair. His books have in the past been difficult to find in Saudi bookshops. Mainstream television gives little attention to writers. Saudi state media and the pan-Arab news and entertainment networks presided over by Saudi princes and tycoons have virtually closed off Arab airspace to literati.

Even Al-Jazeera - the most popular channel in the region, currently on good terms with Riyadh - has reduced its cultural coverage to a minimum for the entire Arab region. Yet the novel is one of the few areas of artistic production that has not been co-opted by state actors, largely because the powerful have paid it little attention. Billionaire prince Alwaleed bin Talal has monopolised much of Arabic film and music production through his Rotana network. Critics have noted that Saudi funding of drama in Egypt and Syria involves a subtle conformism with conservative mores.

The biggest selling books in Saudi Arabia itself invariably concern religion the Holy Quran, works central to

Many of the pieces, Kuwaitis believe, now form the core of private collections in postSaddam Iraq and around the Arab world. To the victims of the 1990 invasion they remain the central reason of a failure to close the unfinished business of the first Gulf war - just as the second one is beginning to wind down.

In the seven years since Saddam was ousted, Iraq has been obliged to settle United Nations-prescribed debts of $43 billion and compensations to private families totalling several hundred million dollars more, before being welcomed as a fully-fledged member of the so-called community of nations. It is a burden that has proven difficult to bear for a brittle state still ravaged by war and chaos and deeply resentful of the fact that Kuwait was not invaded in the name of the current regime in Iraq.

To Iraq’s wealthy southern neighbour though, the desire to reclaim what was lost still burns strong. “This is about principle,” says Sheikha Hussa. “This is part of Kuwait’s rights and we will continue to press them.”

At the National Museum, lost artefacts mainly date from the Mughal dynasty and include around 20 gold bracelets, necklaces and ankle rings, pottery, arrow heads and Holy Qurans.

Staff handed over a list of stolen loot and mentioned a theory often discussed in Kuwait that much of what was stolen remains in a warehouse north of Baghdad, where it is being used as leverage in any eventual settlement between the two coun-

tries. Three months of inquiries by the Guardian with officials in Iraq’s government, military and police seem to rule out that there is such a repository.

“Anything that was stolen was taken to Saddam’s palaces and the offices of his high officials,” said one Kuwaiti MP. “There were antique cars stolen by Uday [Hussein, Saddam’s psychopath son] that were sold in Europe at auction, paintings and heirlooms.

But after the American invasion it was a freefor-all. Everything was stolen again then and there was no control over who took it, or where it went.”

Between the first and second Gulf wars, there were attempts by Saddam’s regime to put things right, with Kuwaiti officials being invited to the National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad to reclaim stolen Kuwaiti pieces.

The private art world also turned up the occasional treasure. In 1996, a jewel-encrusted Mughal dagger, which had been at Sotheby’s, was returned to the Dar-al-Athar collection. Financial compensation has been paid, according to Sheikha Hussa, but the repatriation of priceless pieces has been rare.

Two years ago, parts of a giant archive of Kuwait’s history, known as the Prince’s Archive, were returned from Baghdad after being kept in the home of a civil servant who had little idea of the value of his souvenirs.

Iraq hopes that a steady repayment of the billions it owes will boost its credentials and stop Kuwait from pressing claims through international courts for the seizure of Iraqi assets. Twice in recent months the state-

owned Kuwait Airways has moved to seize an Iraqi Airways plane that had landed in London as part of a new passenger route from Baghdad. That action has led Iraq to suspend the route only weeks after it was opened.

Iraq’s monthly repayments are pegged by the United Nations at 5 percent of its oil revenue. “Last month they paid $520 million as part of the United Nations Compensation Commission obligations,” said the chairman of a Kuwaiti public authority established to process compensation claims from Iraq’s invasion. “They have been co-operating with us in meetings lately. But it takes time, it will need another generation to forget. There are also the remains of fallen soldiers and POWs yet to be returned.”

In Baghdad, the speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Ayad Al-Sammaraie, said things were now moving quicker than at any other time since 1990. He said: “Now both countries are willing to sort things. But there is still a remaining bitterness. Resolving this is very complicated and needs a realistic perspective. Our fishermen are worried at repeated interceptions by the Kuwaitis in the Gulf. Our farmers in the south are worried about border claims. And we are concerned about having good relations again.”

Asked about the ancient treasures that in some ways hold the key to goodwill, he said: “There was no [sovereign] Iraq from 2003 for three years and we had no ability to look for them. But really, Iraq is sincere and willing to return them.” — Guardian

NY bomber pleads guilty ‘100 times’ Continued from Page 1 They kill women, children, they kill everybody. It’s a war, and in war, they kill people. They’re killing all Muslims,” he said. “I would not consider what I did was a crime. I’m aware it’s a violation of the United States laws, but I don’t care for the laws of the United States.”

Later, he added: “I am part of the answer to the US terrorizing the Muslim nations and the Muslim people. And, on behalf of that, I’m avenging the attack. Living in the United States, Americans only care about their own people, but they don’t care about the people elsewhere in the world when they die.”

Shahzad was pulled off a flight to Dubai on May 3, two days after he parked a car containing a rudimentary explosive device in New York’s Broadway entertainment district. The attempted bombing on a busy Saturday night was foiled when street vendors spotted smoke emanating from the back of a Nissan Pathfinder and alerted the authorities. A 53-hour manhunt ensued, ending with Shahzad’s arrest as his plane was about to taxi for take-off from John F Kennedy Airport to Dubai.

US attorney Preet Bharara said there was no plea agreement between Shahzad and the US government. Shahzad was assured and determined as he spoke in

detail in court, describing eerily how he plotted the attack to cause maximum casualties and waited for a bomb to go off that never did. “I walked to Grand Central station. I was waiting to hear a sound, but I did not hear any sound so I went home,” he said. “I didn’t choose a specific building, but I chose the center of Times Square, and obviously, the time, 6:30 pm, and obviously, a Saturday, May 1st.”

Shahzad told the judge he had undergone bomb-making training during a 40-day stay with the Pakistani Taleban in Pakistan, between Dec 9 and Jan 25. The five days of bomb-making training involved “the whole thing - how to make a bomb, how to detonate it,” he said. On returning to the United States, Shahzad said he planned the bombing alone and acted all by himself, telling the judge: “Nobody helped me.”

A 10-count indictment handed down Thursday alleged that Shahzad received two payments totaling $12,000 from an unidentified co-conspirator in Pakistan. He used the money to buy a semi-automatic nine millimeter Kel-Tec rifle in March and the Nissan Pathfinder, for which he paid $1,300 cash in a supermarket parking lot on April 24, it alleged. He then bought components for “improvised explosive and incendiary devices,” loaded them in the Pathfinder, and on May 1 drove the sport utility vehicle to Times Square, the complaint said.

Shahzad pleaded guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, attempted act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, attempted use of a destructive device in a terrorist conspiracy and a string of other conspiracy, explosives and weapons related charges. Due to his guilty plea, there will be no trial, and sentencing is expected in October. Shahzad has cooperated fully in custody, waiving Miranda rights that protect detainees from incriminating themselves, US justice officials say. “Faisal Shahzad plotted and launched an attack that could have led to serious loss of life, and today the American criminal justice system ensured that he will pay the price for his actions,” Attorney General Eric Holder said, reacting to the guilty plea.

The son of a respected Pakistani air force officer, Shahzad attended an elite Pakistan Air Force college before coming to the United States to study at the age of 18 and eventually becoming a naturalized American citizen. The botched car bombing left residents, visitors and authorities in Times Square jittery, with several “suspicious packages” that later turned out to be harmless. US aviation officials also changed security regulations, shortening the amount of time for airlines to check updated “no-fly” lists, after Shahzad was able to board his flight despite having been added to the list. — Agencies

Afasi defends Kuwait human rights record

Saudi writers finding voice Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

Wahhabism and self-help books such as preacher Ayedh Al-Qarni’s La Tahzan (Don’t Be Sad). Mohaimeed says some Lebanese publishers, despite a new interest in Saudi literature, are reticent about Saudi writers for fear of being cut out of the Saudi market, where purchasing power is high.

Khal speaks to some of these distorted dimensions of power relations in Saudi society in his prize-winning book that depicts the moral dangers brought on by the recent oil boom. An unnamed, faceless tycoon figure in the city of Jeddah has built himself a palace in the vicinity of a poor neighbourhood, which is able to provide individuals desperate enough to work as virtual slaves performing acts of sexual torture on those who have had the misfortune to stand in his way.

“It looks at the humiliation of the human being and suffering,” says Taleb Alrefai, a Kuwaiti novelist who headed the committee that awarded the prize. “It’s about how an individual tries to escape the social and economic chains that are taking away from his dignity. The space for art and culture is very small, and not only in Arab media,” he said, adding: “The novel is the effort of one individual and that’s what gives it its freedom.” — Reuters

Continued from Page 1 spur sectarian tensions and appealed to them to abide by the agreement in order to safeguard national unity.

The controversial questions were included in the religious education exam for the 9th grade and focused on the rule of religion on visits to graveyards and appealing for help and assistance. There are some differences between Shiite and Sunni interpretations of the issue in which Sunnis allow visits but totally ban any appeals while Shiites permit appeals from certain imams. Several Shiite MPs considered the questions as provocative

to their faith while a number of Sunni lawmakers responded by insisting the question related to the proper understanding of Islam.

Khorafi’s statements came after he adjourned the regular Assembly session for a lack of quorum which has prevented the Assembly from meeting for the second day in a row. The Assembly was supposed to discuss a number of important issues, especially women rights. It is still due to meet today if quorum is guaranteed.

Also, head of the Assembly’s budgets committee MP Adnan Abdulsamad said yesterday that the 2010/2011 budget

projects a deficit of around KD 7 billion mainly because the finance ministry has used a low price of $43 a barrel to calculate the oil income. He said that this came in spite of the fact that the oil price is hovering around $70 a barrel, adding that the committee urged the ministry to increase the price to at least $50 a barrel.

Abdulsamad said that the committee has finalized four out of the five chapters of the budget and will meet tomorrow to complete the revision of the budget and prepare the final report. The Assembly is scheduled to debate the draft budget on June 29 and 30 before holding its closing session on July 1.

US labels Agility a ‘fugitive’ from justice Continued from Page 1 loss to the United States.

“PWC/Agility is a fugitive from American justice and this Court should not entertain its motion to quash,” said the filing. “A corporation ... who seeks to invoke the processes of the United States law when it suits PWC/Agility while flouting those very same laws, simply is not entitled to call upon the resources of this Court for determination of its motion,” it said.

Agility said in a statement: “The question currently before the federal court in

Atlanta is whether the Justice Department complied with US law.” The government filing “substitutes rhetoric for legal analysis and provides no justification for its decision to ignore long-standing US law on proper service of process. PWC welcomes the court’s review and eventual ruling,” it said.

The United States said in late April it was close to a tentative deal with Agility, once the main supplier to US forces in the Middle East, and said an agreement could be reached the following week. Since then there has been no word on whether talks

were ongoing or had broken down. Agility said it was “committed to discussions with the Justice Department that are aimed at resolving the underlying dispute” but gave no details of the status of any talks.

Agility has been suspended from bidding on any new contracts, and whether that decision is lifted is seen as key to the company’s hopes for negotiations. Agility says the case is a dispute over contract terms, not a criminal matter, a position it reiterated in its statement. Agility has subsidiaries in both the United States and Kuwait. — Agencies

OPINION

12

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

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issues

Pakistan faces tough task filling top jobs

By Faisal Aziz

T

he hunt is on for Pakistan's next central bank governor but, as straight-forward a task as it may seem, the government is no closer to filling the prestigious post and is partly to blame for it remaining vacant. Concerns about political interference and a lack of economic focus on the government's part are forcing Pakistan's top financial minds to think hard before accepting official posts, industry and government officials said. The premature exit this month of State Bank of Pakistan Governor Salim Raza, who was hand-picked by the government, has increased concerns about the independence of state institutions, and could hamper investor confidence in the long run.

Maria Kuusisto, Asia analyst at the Londonbased political risk research firm Eurasia Group, said there has been an element of political influence in recent appointments and expected that to continue in the foreseeable future.

Kuusisto said many of the top professionals in Pakistan weren't taking positions because of competing political and economic pressures and worries they will not be allowed to pursue the required reforms.

"And also they don't perhaps want to associate themselves too closely with the current government," she said. "So this basically means that the guys who would have the intellectual capacity and the professional expertise to formulate and implement effective economic reforms are saying, 'Thank you, but no thank you,' to the senior positions. Essentially you have the Team B coming into senior economic positions," Kuusisto said.

Analysts said investors, particularly foreigners, would start getting worried if delays in making appointments were prolonged.

"Investors, to some extent, are concerned about the fact that political appointees are gaining ground in these institutions and the fact the quality of the leadership might be suffering," Kuusisto said. "Moreover, investors are concerned about the government not being able to nominate people for key positions quickly enough and prolonged vacuums in the top economic leadership."

Asif Bajwa, special secretary at the Ministry of Finance, declined to comment on the issue. No one from the offices of either Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani or President Asif Ali

Zardari was available for comment, despite repeated attempts. Central bank governor Raza cited personal reasons for his departure, but a senior government official familiar with the resignation said that wasn't the case. "It was basically the interference by top government officials, and unnecessary pressures in appointments and other issues which led him to quit," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

In February, thenFinance Minister Shaukat Tarin also resigned, saying he wanted to focus on his private business. But people close to Tarin say he was frustrated by the lack of willingness to carry out economic reforms as well as undue interference by the political leadership.

"The job of the central bank governor is a very prestigious one, and on the face of it, everyone would want to be the governor," said a top banker. "But having said that, in the current situation, any true professional will be hesitant to go there unless he is given assurances that he will be allowed to work independently and without influence," he said.

"Unfortunately, that is not the case at the moment and people are more worried about their own reputation and standing rather than taking over these otherwise prestigious jobs," said the banker, requesting not to be identified. "And also, in the current situation, the government would ideally want someone who is ready to listen to them rather than take a firm stand on issues."

It took the government weeks to replace Tarin, and so far there is no word on the new central bank governor. Deputy governor Yaseen Anwar is the acting chief. The delays in appointments do not bode well for the government, and it may face a similar situation for more top financial jobs in coming months. The contract for the head of the Competition Commission of Pakistan expires next month, while the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan will also need a new chairman in November. Analysts are also worried the government will fill these vacancies either through "political appointments" or, at best, through secondchoice professionals.

"There are a lot of economic issues that need to be taken care of, but sadly in the current scenario, it looks like the big issues would be ultimately tackled by lesser managers," said another senior economist in Pakistan. — Reuters

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

Lessons from failed Cold War spy mission

By Robert Burns

D

etail by painful detail, the CIA is coming to grips with one of the most devastating episodes in its history, a botched cloak-and-dagger flight into China that stole two decades of freedom from a pair of fresh-faced American operatives and cost the lives of their two pilots. In opening up about the 1952 debacle, the CIA is finding ways to use it as a teaching tool.

Mistakes of the past can serve as cautionary tales for today's spies and paramilitary officers taking on Al-Qaeda and other terrorist targets.

At the center of the story are two eager CIA paramilitary officers on their first overseas assignment, John T Downey of New Britain, Connecticut, and Richard G Fecteau, of Lynn, Massachusetts, whose plane was shot from the night sky in a Chinese ambush. The mission was quickly smothered in US government denials, sealed in official secrecy and consigned to the darkest corner of the spy agency's vault of unpleasant affairs.

Downey was the youngest of the four. At 22, with one year of CIA service, he was destined to spend the next 20 years, three months and 14 days in Chinese prisons. His CIA partner, Fecteau, was 25. He was behind bars for 19 years and 14 days. Both survived. Their pilots, Robert C Snoddy, 31, a native of Roseburg, Oregon, and 29-year-old Norman A Schwartz of Louisville, Kentucky, did not. Bits and pieces of the story surfaced over the years. But the lid was largely intact until a series of disclosures - some required of the CIA, some not revealed a tale of tragedy, miscalculation, misery and personal triumph, as well as the agency's misplaced confidence it could manipulate events in China.

Three years ago, the CIA declassified an internal history of the affair.

Now it's hired a filmmaker to produce an hourlong documentary. The CIA does not plan to release the film publicly. But the agency premiered it for

employees on Tuesday at its Langley, Virginia, headquarters, and an AP reporter attended. Downey and Fecteau declined through CIA officials to be interviewed for this story. They attended the film screening and were flooded with applause and agency autograph seekers. Their tale forms part of the backdrop to today's uneasy USChina relationship, especially Beijing's anger over American military support for China's anti-communist rivals on Taiwan.

In the early years of the Cold War, the CIA had a rudimentary paramilitary force — those with specialized skills to conduct high-risk, behind-the-lines operations. Downey and Fecteau were assigned to a covert program called "Third Force," intended to create a resistance network. Small teams of noncommunist Chinese exiles were airdropped into the Manchuria area of China to link up with disaffected communist generals.

The goal was to destabilize Mao Zedong's new government and distract it from the Korean War, which Chinese forces had entered two years earlier.

The plan failed - badly. "The CIA had been 'had'," the late James Lilley, who helped train agent teams for insertion into China, wrote in his 2004 memoir, "China Hands." There were no dissident communist Chinese generals to be found, and the Chinese on Taiwan and Hong Kong who sold the idea turned out to be swindlers, Lilley wrote. "The whole program smacked of amateurism," CIA historian Nicholas Dujmovic says.

Donald Gregg, who came into the CIA with Downey in 1951 and had dinner with him the night before his illfated flight, faults those in the CIA who oversold the program. "That was a wild and woolly, swashbuckling time in the agency's history," Gregg said in an interview. "There was pressure from presidents for regime change here and there, and it was a very damaging time." On Nov 29, 1952, above the foothills of the Changbai mountains, Downey and Fecteau flew into Chinese

air space in an unarmed C-47 Skytrain.

They planned to swoop low over a rendezvous point marked with three small bonfires and use a tail hook to pick up a Chinese agent off the ground without landing. Downey was to reel in the agent with a winch aboard the plane.

As they descended, the sky suddenly exploded in bursts of gunfire. It was a Chinese ambush. The agent had betrayed the Americans, luring them by promising to provide important doc-

uments from a dissident leader. After the C-47 slammed through a grove of trees, the cockpit burst into flames and skidded to a halt near the village of Sandao.

Downey and Fecteau, stunned and bruised but alive, were captured on the spot. They were hauled off to prison first in the city of Mukden, then in Beijing - interrogated and isolated in separate cells. Each spent long stretches in solitary confinement, alone with

their fears. It was an intelligence bonanza for the Chinese. Both Americans, after a psychological battering, spilled the beans, to varying degrees. Here lay one of the lessons: Agency officers with close links to a covert action program should not fly on such missions. Another blunder: At a CIA base on the Pacific island of Saipan, the Chinese agent teams lived and trained together, inevitably learning of each other's missions. — AP

Painting the true picture of US

By Craig Considine

M

y country is facing many challenges. It now stands literally at an unprecedented and dangerous crossroads. America is being torn this way and that by those on the left and the right; by older, more settled families and new immigrants; by Democrats and Republicans.

The very livelihood and health of my country is in danger. I wonder constantly, which roads will my country go down?

Will it head down roads that promote inclusivity or exclusivity; listening or ignoring; respect or disrespect?

It is in light of these questions that Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam, a book authored by my mentor and teacher, American University Professor Akbar Ahmed, is so significant. Ahmed and his team of young American researchers, of which I am a part, travelled the length and breadth of the United States, visiting over 75 mosques and 100 cities in an unprecedented journey to discover America through the hearts and minds of Muslims, and through the lens of all ethnic groups in America.

The team discussed American identity with a wide variety of people, from recent immigrants to descendents of the Mayflower, the ship that brought some of the first Europeans to America in 1620. The book touches on every layer of American society and identity that one can imagine.

It paints, in my opinion, the most holistic and integrated picture of the "American experiment" to date.

America's potential, Ahmed suggests, cannot flourish unless Americans quickly forge, through their own hearts and minds, a fresh American identity, one which ultimately stresses the principles laid out by the Founding Fathers but does not neglect the identities that have been forged in recent history.

Americans today must remember the democratic vision of the Founding Fathers, especially in their current potentially hostile and catastrophic relationship with the Muslim world.

In the post 9/11 era, Americans have forgotten that Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century welcomed Muslim clerics to preach Islam in Philadelphia and cited Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a "model of compassion". They have forgotten that Thomas Jefferson owned, read and learned from the Holy Quran; that John Adams called Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) one of the world's "sober inquirers after truth" alongside such figures as Confucius and Socrates; and that George Washington welcomed people from all walks of life, regardless of religion, race or ethnicity.

Whether you agree with Ahmed and his team's theories, concepts, methodological tools, viewpoints, beliefs and opinions or not, Journey into America concerns itself with issues that affect all Americans. And while Americans are facing unprecedented challenges, not only on their own soil but also throughout the world, for many Americans there is no greater challenge to their vision of America than its Muslim minority and their Islamic faith.

Reading this book, however, can help Americans acquire a new and greater appreciation for the diverse, vibrant and patriotic Muslim community in America as well as for both the universal principles of the Islamic faith and the honourable leadership of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Most importantly, the book also reminds Americans that their country is supposed to serve as a "beacon of hope" that appreciates and adheres to the spirit of the Declaration of Independence both at home and abroad. Journey into America is a quintessential read for those Americans who are trying to make America and the world a healthier and safer place - one that emphasises the peaceful, humane, egalitarian and universal vision once put forth by Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Adams.

NOTE: Craig Considine was a member of the team that conducted the Journey into America project and Director of the film Journey into America.

Disgruntled South Africans put the boot in

By Clare Byrne

S

outh Africans chafing under the heavy hand of FIFA are starting to kick back against the hegemonic football body. Disenchantment with the football giant has been simmering for months as FIFA's rules are promulgated into laws that protect its interests and those of its sponsors while curbing the initiative of locals. A few years ago, FIFA was seen in a more benign light. Many South Africans felt grateful towards FIFA president Joseph Blatter for entrusting Africa with hosting its showpiece tournament, believing the country would make a killing from the privilege.

Reality came crashing this year when FIFA's booking agency Match began dumping thousands of unsold hotel rooms back on the market two months before the World Cup and a number of local companies trying to cash in on the cup were slapped down

by FIFA's strict trademark rules.

Discount airline Kulula thought it was acting with the norms of fair play when it ran a tongue-in-cheek ad with sketches of a soccer player and a stadium, punting itself as the Unofficial National Carrier of the You-Know-

A South African fan holds up two trophy replicas outside the stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa yesterday before the start of the Group A World Cup football match between France and South Africa. – AP What. The airline, which is known for its irreverent humour, was however forced to withdraw the ad after FIFA threatened it with a lawsuit. Some got rapped for much less. Metcash cashand-carry group was hauled before a court for selling lollipops branded

"2010 Pops". FIFA explains that it has to protect the World Cup brand as its most precious asset.

The association has also made concessions to its hosts - setting aside around 800,000 cheaper match tickets for locals and digging out the World

Cup local organizing committee to the tune of an extra $100 million in May. It's the association's heavy-handed approach that has got up the noses of many. The Mail & Guardian newspaper reported at the weekend that a social activist in the city of Durban was thrown out of a Fan Fest for handing out pamphlets advertising a march against the World Cup. Her eviction followed the high-profile "Dutchy dress" debacle, in which 36 women were ejected from a Netherlands-Denmark game for wearing orange mini-dresses sponsored by Bavaria beer - a rival of FIFA sponsor Budweiser. Two of the women have since appeared in court in Johannesburg on charges relating to ambush marketing, sparking an outcry among fans of the "dress guerrilla marketing babes". "FIFA has turned this country into its private little fiefdom and we've been quite happy to put aside the constitutional freedoms we are known for to satisfy those moneygrubbing Europeans (which most of them are)," Brendan Seery, a columnist with Johannesburg's Saturday Star, wrote. "Big Brother is here and FIFA is thy name," a reader reacted on the website of South Africa's Times

daily.

In Cape Town, a businessman has cottoned on to the anger and designed a t-shirt with the slogan "Fick Fufa".

Satirical news site Hayibo.com is also taunting FIFA with a t-shirt marked "Feefa 2.010 Whirld Cup Sowth Africa".

And Kulula has jumped back into the fray, proudly announcing that it is taking Sepp Blatter for "walkies". The airline had offered the FIFA president a free ticket as a gesture of reconciliation. When Blatter didn't pounce, a dog owner from Cape Town claimed the seat on behalf of his hastily-renamed boston terrier, Sepp Blatter.

"Whatever we're doing we will never be seen as a nice organization," FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke admitted somewhat ruefully at a press briefing in May. "For a few things, it will be seen as, yes, we are taking over." While FIFA cops flak, Blatter himself remains relatively popular even if he is a figure of fun for some. At the opening ceremony of the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the 74-yearold Swiss was booed. In Soccer City on June 11, the man who staked his reputation on bring the World Cup to Africa - a pet project of his - was loudly cheered. — dpa

SPORTS

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

13

LOS ANGELES: Thousands watch as the Los Angeles Lakers celebrate their NBA championship in a parade down Figueroa Street. — AP

Thousands of fans cheer Lakers in tribute LOS ANGELES: Tens of thousands of jubilant Los Angeles Lakers fans lined a two-mile route, many waving purple and gold flags and T-shirts that read “Back 2 Back” as they cheered the NBA champions during a parade to celebrate the team’s second consecutive title.

Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest waved Monday to the throngs from a flatbed 18wheeler as fans yelled and snapped pictures.

Many waited hours for a glimpse of their heroes as they rolled past in a convoy that

also included double-decker buses and fire engines.

Police reported a largely well-behaved crowd. Seven people were arrested for various minor offenses, police said. Authorities did not provide a crowd estimate.

The hour long parade capped a season that ended Thursday with an 83-79 Game 7 victory over the Boston Celtics and a 16th NBA title for the Lakers. Team members vowed to play hard for a 17th championship next season.

“When next season starts, we’ll be ready,

that’s for sure,” Bryant told reporters. He added that of his five titles, “this is the best one by far because it was the hardest one to get.”

Artest, who donned a top hat with purple and gold feathers and sported an unlit cigar during the ride, also said the team plans to buckle down. “We have to party for another week, then start putting in the work and write history again next year,” he said.

The parade, which took the Lakers from Staples Center downtown to the Galen Center at the University of Southern

Reds see off Athletics OAKLAND: Ramon Hernandez hit a tiebreaking leadoff home run in the 10th inning, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen added back-to-back shots as the Cincinnati Reds broke out of their offensive slump to beat the Oakland Athletics 6-4 on Monday. Oakland’s Kevin Kouzmanoff tied the game with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth off Reds closer Francisco Cordero before the Reds turned on the power in the 10th off relievers Michael Wuertz and Cedrick Bowers.

Cordero (3-3) got the win after his fifth blown save of the season.

He gave up a pair of walks leading off the 10th before two more Cincinnati relievers were needed to close the game out.

OAKLAND: Athletics’ Cliff Pennington (2) slides into second after being forced by Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips during the third inning of a baseball game. — AP

IOC weighs list of finalists for 2018 Winter Games LAUSANNE: The three candidates from France, Germany and South Korea all made the cut yesterday when the IOC announced the finalists to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. Annecy, France; Munich; and Pyeongchang, South Korea, were all elevated to official candidate city status after a review by the International Olympic Committee executive board.

The IOC approved Munich and Pyeongchang without any reservations, but said Annecy should review its sports venue plans.

“The executive board decided that all three applicant cities deserved to move to the second phase of the bidding procedure,” IOC Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli said. “It has been made clear, however, that Annecy needed to review its project.” The full IOC will select the 2018 host city by secret ballot at its session in

Durban, South Africa on July 6, 2011.

In past bid races, the IOC has cut the field of cities at this stage. Bu with only three candidates this time, the smallest field in three decades, there was no pressure to drop any of the cities.

The three cities have been campaigning on a low-key basis since October when they applied to host the games. Now, as official bid cities, they can launch more visible international lobbying efforts.

Pyeongchang, bidding for a third consecutive time, is seen as the front-runner, with Munich as the main challenger and Annecy as the outsider.

The 15-member executive board acted on a recommendation from an IOC working group which studied the cities’ replies to a detailed questionnaire on key issues. The IOC did not rank the bids Tuesday, but will publish a report that compares the cities on various technical grounds.—AP

D’backs 10, Yankees 4 At Phoenix, Justin Upton, Adam LaRoche and Mark Reynolds homered off struggling A.J. Burnett in the first inning as Arizona cruised past the New York Yankees. Upton, who added a three-run homer in the eighth, reached base five times, had four RBIs and scored four runs. Miguel Montero was 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs as the Diamondbacks won at home for the 11th time in 16 games.

They have lost 14 of 15 on the road. Burnett (6-6) gave up seven runs and nine hits in four innings with no strikeouts and two walks.

Rodrigo Lopez (3-6) gave up three runs and eight hits in eight innings for his first victory since May 15.

Nationals 2, Royals 1 At Washington, Mike Morse and Cristian Guzman hit solo home runs and Livan Hernandez pitched seven strong innings as Washington snapped a six-game losing streak in a victory over Kansas City.

Hernandez (6-4) had his longest outing since May 9, giving up one run and eight hits to help the Nationals snap their longest losing streak since an eight-game skid last Aug. 28 to Sept. 5.

Matt Capps struck out the side — all on called strikes — in the ninth for his major league-leading 21st save in 25 chances.

Bruce Chen (3-2), making his fifth start for Kansas City since moving from the bullpen, allowed two runs and three hits in six innings. — AP

California, started with the purple-clad Laker Girls, who received choruses of wolf-whistles.

The tribute also included past Lakers greats Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The crowd screamed “Ma-gic!

Ma-gic!” when they spotted the player-turned businessman.

Missing from the parade was coach Phil Jackson, who had to attend previously scheduled medical checkups, said team spokesman John Black. Jackson has said his health will determine whether he will return as coach.

Artest said he wished Jackson could have been there. “He’s my favorite coach of all time,” Artest said.

“I enjoyed it for him.” Diehard fans wore all manner of Lakers attire and colors, from sneakers to purses to Mexican-style ponchos.

Some waved huge flags and held up signs, like a foam tombstone reading “RIP Boston” and “Back to back without Shaq.” Many fans took a day off work to pay tribute to their team.

Window washer Jimmy Baskom, 58, said he forewent the day’s pay to drive in from Palmdale because he wanted to see his long-

time basketball heroes up close after watching every game this season on TV. “I’ve been a die-hard fan all my life and I watch every game, but this is my first opportunity to see them in person,” he said.

The police presence was heavy around the parade route with helicopters overhead and officers on foot, horseback, motorcycle and in cars to deter would-be vandals. After Thursday’s game, people started fires, rocked cars, smashed windows and threw objects at fans and officers. At least 42 people were arrested. — AP

14

SPORTS

WIMBLEDON: Spain’s Rafael Nadal makes a backhand return during his match against Japan’s Kei Nishikori at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships. —AP

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

WIMBLEDON: Defending champion Serena Williams returns to Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal, during their women’s singles, first round match on the Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships. —AP

Nadal, Murray and Serena cruise LONDON: Rafael Nadal launched his bid to regain the Wimbledon title by crushing Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the men’s singles yesterday.

Nadal was joined in the second round by British fourth seed Andy Murray, who overcame a slow start to thrash the Czech Republic’s Jan Hajek 7-5, 6-1, 6-2.

Earlier, defending women’s champion Serena Williams silenced scream queen Michelle Larcher de Brito with a 6-0, 6-4 win.

Nadal was playing his first match at Wimbledon since his epic victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 final and he quickly got back in the old routine on Centre Court. A bout of tendinitis in both knees

prevented Nadal from defending the title last year and he is desperate to make amends this time.

Nadal arrives in south-west London in superb form after winning the French Open for a fifth time and will now meet Dutchman Robin Haase, who clinched a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory over James Blake, in the second round.

“I’m very happy to come back to this tournament and play in probably the most beautiful and emblematic court in the world,” Nadal said.

Williams had warmed up for her first round clash with one of the loudest grunters on the women’s tour by going to a Green Day rock concert last weekend, but the

world number one had no need to worry about being put off by Larcher de Brito’s shrieking as she demolished the Portuguese teenager.

It is 12 months since Serena beat her sister Venus in the fourth all-Williams Wimbledon final and little has changed to suggest a different name will be on the trophy this year.

Venus was barely troubled by Rossana De Los Rios in her opening match on Monday and Serena, who plays Anna Chakvetadze in the secound round after the Russian’s 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Andrea Petkovic, looks in the mood to win the singles’ title here for a fourth time.

She won the first eight games of the

match and attributed her fast start to an improved serve.

“I served so terrible in my last match at the French (Open) so I went home and worked really hard on it,” Serena said. “I was incredibly disappointed with it. I had a talk with my serve! I said, ‘You know, we got to do a little bit better’.”

Elsewhere in the women’s singles, French Open runner-up Sam Stosur slumped out as the Australian sixth seed was humbled 6-4, 6-4 by Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi.

Polish seventh seed Agnieszka Radwanska swept to a 6-3, 6-3 win over Hungary’s Melinda Czink. Former French and US Open champion Svetlana

Kuznetsova, the 19th seed from Russia, cruised to a 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 victory against Uzbekistan’s Akgul Amanmuradova.

Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, the 10th seed, beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-4, 6-0 and Chinese 23rd seed Zheng Jie eased past France’s Pauline Parmentier 7-5, 6-4.

In the men’s singles, Swedish sixth seed Robin Soderling, who lost the French Open final to Nadal, defeated Robby Ginepri 6-2, 6-2, 6-3.

David Ferrer, the Spanish ninth seed, routed Nicolas German wild card Kiefer 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. French 10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ground out a 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-4 win over America’s Robert Kendrick.

American 18th seed Sam Querrey, who

won the pre-Wimbledon warm-up at Queen’s Club two weeks ago, moved into the second round when Sergiy Stakhovsky, already trailing 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 2-1, was forced to pull out injured.

Nicolas Almagro, the Spanish 19th seed, was eliminated 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 by Italy’s Andreas Seppi. Gilles Simon, the French 26th seed, defeated Guillermo Alcaide 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/0), but Marcos Baghdatis, the 24th seed and former Wimbledon semi-finalist, crashed out 6-3, 26, 6-3, 6-1 against Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.

Russian 13th seed Mikhail Youzhny beat Israel’s Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), while Brazilian 25th seed Thomaz Bellucci beat compatriot Ricardo Mella. —AFP

Sri Lanka defeat India

ROSARIO: New Zealand’s Telusa Veainu (center) celebrates with teammates after defeating Australia 62-17 and clinching the IRB Junior World Championship Cup. —AP

NZ retain U20 world rugby crown ROSARIO: New Zealand won its third successive junior world rugby championship when it thrashed Australia 6217 in the final on Monday.

The heavily favored New Zealanders scored seven tries in a sublime display at Estadio El Coloso del Parque, extending their perfect winning record to 15 matches since the under-20 event began in 2008, combining the under-19 and -21 tournaments.

With an entirely different run-on XV from the 2009 champions, New Zealand scored a try after 33 seconds and led 22-3 after as many minutes during a first quarter in which first-time finalist Australia barely touched the ball.

Winger Telusa Veainu scored three tries and flyhalf and captain Tyler Bleyendaal tallied 28 points before limping off in the final, but it was winger Julian Savea who, even though he didn’t get on the scoresheet, was named player of the tournament and junior player of the year.

A Bleyendaal break led to prop-cum-hooker Liam Coltman’s opening try, then No. 8 Rory Grice set up the second

for fullback Tom Marshall. A Bleyendaal intercept meters from his own line when Australia appeared set to score ended with Veainu strolling in for the third.

After a 45-meter penalty by Bleyendaal to start the second half, New Zealand used turnover ruck ball for flanker Sean Polwart to burrow under the defense. Bleyendaal converted from the sideline, and again four minutes later on his own try, in support of Savea, who stepped inside one defender, outside another, and threw a one-handed pass inside.

Fullback Luke Morahan finally pierced New Zealand’s defense for a try in the 54th minute, only the fifth conceded in the tournament by New Zealand. Soon after, Bleyendaal limped off having brilliantly scored one try, converted four, and kicked five penalties.

With Coltman in the sinbin, Australian center Kimami Sitauti beat the outside defense to help make it 48-17. But Veianu claimed his hat trick thanks to a spilled Australia pass for number two, then an 80-meter intercept in the last minute. —AP

France make seven changes for Test against Argentina BUENOS AIRES: France coach Marc Lievremont has made seven changes to the French team that will face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.

Bayonne centre Lionel Mazars makes his international debut while Perpignan full-back Jerome Porical starts a Test for the first time.

In their last outing on June 12, Six Nations champions France were soundly beaten 42-17 by world champions South Africa.

France picked up the pace with a convincing win over Argentina A last Friday but Lievremont has not hidden his disappointment with the performance in Cape Town by ringing the changes among the backs.

Apart from the introduction of Mazars and Porical for Maxime Mermoz and Clement Poitrenaud respectively, Lievremont has also

replaced the other centre David Marty with Florian Fritz while wing Aurelien Rougerie drops to the bench to make way for Clermont teammate Julien Malzieu.

“We were pretty disappointed by a number of the three quarters (against South Africa). The Fritz-Mazars centre pairing deserved a chance to show us what they can do at this higher level.

“Jerome Porical and Julien Malzieu played very well on Friday (against Argentina A) with lots of vigour and enthusiasm”, said Lievremont who retains the half-back combination of Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc. He has made three changes in the pack, one of them enforced by the injury to back row forward Wenceslas Lauret. Louis Picamoles comes in at number eight with Julien Bonnaire moving to the flank. —AFP

DAMBULLA: Farveez Maharoof claimed a five-wicket haul that included a hat-trick and captain Kumar Sangakkara scored 73 runs to give Sri Lanka a morale-boosting seven-wicket win over India in an Asia Cup preliminary match yesterday, two days before the sides meet again in the final.

Batting first, India was bundled out for 209 runs in the 43rd over. Rohit Sharma was India’s top scorer with 69 but seam bowler Maharoof stole the show by taking three wickets in three balls at the start of the 39th over to blow away the Indian lower-middle order.

Maharoof finished with figures of 5-42 for the second five-wicket haul of his career.

Sri Lanka chased down the target with more than 12 overs to spare, giving itself a real lift ahead of today’s final.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed for 24 runs with the total on 38, caught by Ravindra Jadeja off seamer Zaheer Khan.

Upul Tharanga followed in similar fashion after adding 38, with India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni taking the catch this time after another Khan delivery.

The best stand for Sri Lanka came between Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, 104 runs in 109 balls which ensured victory.

Sangakkara faced 82 balls and hit 10 boundaries.

Jayawardene was not out on 53, having hit one six and five boundaries.

Khan had the best bowling figures for India 2-42. India had made a steady start as openers Dinesh Karthik, who came in for the injured Virender Sehwag, and Gautam Gambhir reached 58 without loss.

Gambhir (23) was the first to go when Suraj Randiv took a brilliant diving catch at midwicket off seamer Angelo Mathews.

Virat Kohli made 10 before he became Maharoof’s first victim by edging a delivery to wicketkeeper Sangakkara.

Karthik (40 off 43 balls) then departed after Sangakkara held another catch off the bowling of Rangana Herath.

Suresh Raina (18) was trapped lbw by Herath before Dhoni (41) was run out on the last ball of the 38th over when Chamara Kapugedera’s direct throw hit the stumps, a strike which precipitated the loss of

DAMBULLA: India’s Ashok Dinda gets bowled out during the sixth Asia Cup cricket match against Sri Lanka, in Dambulla. —AP

SCOREBOARD DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka: Full scoreboard of the Asia Cup one-day international between India and Sri Lanka at the Rangiri stadium yesterday: India G. Gambhir c Randiv b Mathews 23 D. Karthik c Sangakkara b Herath 40 V. Kohli c Sangakkara b Maharoof 10 R. Sharma run out 69 S. Raina lbw b Herath 18 M. Dhoni run out 41 R. Jadeja lbw b Maharoof 0 P. Kumar b Maharoof 0 Zaheer Khan c Sangakkara b Maharoof 0 A. Dinda b Maharoof 2 P. Ojha not out 0 Extras: (lb3, w3) 6 Total (all out, 42.3 overs) 209 Fall of wickets: 1-58 (Gambhir), 2-75 (Kohli, 377 (Karthik), 4-110 (Raina), 5-189 (Dhoni), 6-189 (Jadeja), 7-189 (Kumar), 8-189 (Zaheer), 9-195 (Dinda), 10-209 (Sharma).

Bowling: Welegedara 7.3-0-42-0, Maharoof 101-42-5 (w1), Mathews 6-0-37-1, Herath 7-0-31-2, four India wickets in four balls.

In the first three balls of the 39th, Maharoof had Jadeja trapped lbw, bowled Praveen Kumar and then saw Khan edge a delivery to Sangakkara to

Randiv 9-1-40-0 (w2), Kandamby 3-0-14-0 Sri Lanka U. Tharanga c Dhoni b Zaheer 38 T. Dilshan c Jadeja b Zaheer 24 K. Sangakkara c Zaheer b Kumar 73 M. Jayawardene not out 53 T. Kandamby not out 7 Extras: (b2, lb11, w3) 16 Total (for three wickets, 37.3 overs) 211 Did not bat: Chamara Kapugedara, Angelo Mathews, Farveez Maharoof, Chanaka Welegedara, Rangana Herath, Suraj Randiv.

Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Dilshan), 2-80 (Tharanga), 3-184 (Sangakkara).

Bowling: Kumar 8-2-30-1, Zaheer 7-1-42-2 (w2), Dinda 5-1-39-0, Ojha 10-0-49-0 (w1), Jadeja 6.30-29-0, Sharma 1-0-9-0.

Sri Lanka won by seven wickets

complete a hat-trick. All three batsmen went for ducks.

Maharoof bowled Ashok Dinda (2) to complete his haul before Sharma was run out with 7.3 overs remaining. Sharma’s

79-run partnership with Dhoni proved to be India’s best and he hit seven boundaries in his 73ball knock, completing in the process his fifth limited-overs half-century. —AP

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

SPORTS

15

Aerial view of Johannesburg —Photos by Chidi Emmanuel

Emirates Airline offers First Class World Cup experience 'Love it or hate it, I'm gonna have my vuvuzela!'

By Chidi Emmanuel JOHANNESBURG: As billions of football fans tune in across the globe, Emirates Airline offered some lucky senior media figures an unforgettable football experience - an opportunity to be part of the first World Cup to take place on African soil. Emirates, the world's fastest growing airline, thrilled the media executives with a superb South African 2010 FIFA World Cup package.

Courtesy of the Emirates Airline, some media executives from across the globe got a taste of the vibrant culture and warm hospitality for which Africa is famous for. The airline also organized complimentary visits to a number of leading local attractions in Johannesburg and the surrounding area.

The star attraction, however, was the live Brazil vs North Korea match. The media group was escorted to and from the game by an Emirates representative, enjoying lavish hospitality in Emirates Skybox, which offered splendid views of the football pitch as part of the airline's promotion of soccer and the World Cup. As FIFA's only travel partner, Emirates receives preferred airline status and a commitment from FIFA to develop business with the airline, including team and association travel wherever logistically possible which will allow Emirates to grow through exposure to new customers around the world and to further develop Dubai as one of the world's premier travel hubs and destinations.

Emirates passengers will also benefit as the airline has the exclusive rights to offer either live or delayed in-flight broadcasts of the matches in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. In addition to a ticketing and hospitality facility at all matches, Emirates also has its name on all the official FIFA World Cup publicity materials.

A global player Emirates' partnership with FIFA began at the 2006 FIFA World Cup when it became the first airline to be a sponsor of the prestigious sporting event.

Following on from the success of the tournament in Germany, Emirates has cemented its status as an Official FIFA Partner up to and including the 2014 FIFA World Cup. As the Official Airline of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Emirates is flying fans from

Some the Brazilian fans dressed in Arabic costume around the world to South Africa throughout the tournament to support their teams, and live the unforgettable experience of a FIFA World Cup. The airline currently flies to 102 destinations in six continents from its internationally renowned base in Dubai. Emirates' standing is now much more than an airline, with the company evolving into a travel and tourism operation on a major scale, straddling numerous divisions and propelled forward under the umbrella of the Emirates Group, with more than 40 brands and employing over 50,000 people.

Awards Since its establishment in 1985, Emirates has won more than 400 customer awards and accolades for excellence. In March 2008, it announced that it was the first airline in the world to enable passengers to make authorized onboard mobile phone calls from a mile in the sky. All Emirates' frontline facilities are now equipped to handle the Airbus A380, which the airline is currently operating eight of, with another 50 on order. The Dubai-based international airline, is one of the world's most successful and rapidly-expanding airlines. With a focus

on high quality service and industry-leading products, it is currently the only airline to operate nonstop flights to six continents from one hub.

First Class World Cup Experience During this World Cup final, football fans have the opportunity for the first time ever to purchase unique 'follow your team' travel packages that will ensure they don't miss a moment of their team's action over in South Africa.

From London to Tokyo, football fans across the world can keep up to date with every 2010 FIFA World Cup match, courtesy of live

WCup 'a catalyst' for development JOHANNESBURG: South African President Jacob Zuma said yesterday he was confident the Soccer World Cup, hosted for the first time in Africa, will boost job creation and economic growth in his country. "The event itself has created such an opportunity that our economy is not going to be of the same size after the 2010 World Cup. Certainly, therefore, GDP will grow from where it has been," Zuma said in an interview with Reuters Insider television. "We are confident that the employment numbers will grow."

Unemployment in South Africa is officially around 25 percent but analysts say the figure could be as high as 40 percent. The president said threats of strike action during the World Cup from unions were not directly targeted at the event as wage negotiations and strikes traditionally took place each year around June or July during the so-called "strike season". "The strikes are always a matter of concern but there is nothing extraordinary because we are dealing with what we always deal with during this time," Zuma said.

Unions representing workers at power utility Eskom have given the company until Thursday to come up with a better deal and avert a potentially damaging strike during the World Cup. A possible work stoppage at Eskom follows a series of threats of labor action to freeze transport, abandon security posts and tie up immigration at airports during the sporting event if demands for better pay and conditions are not met.

Analysts estimate that the month-long tournament could add around 0.5 percentage points to South Africa's GDP in 2010. A Reuters poll in May found fore-

casts ranging from 0.1-0.7 percent with a median of 0.3 percent. The government has spent around 40 billion rand ($5.40 billion) on infrastructure projects, and billions more on upgrading roads and airports. A study by accountants Grant Thornton found that foreigners would inject 13 billion rand into the economy during the World Cup while the estimated gross economic impactincluding indirect and infrastructure spending will be 93 billlion rand.

Zuma told a Reuters Newsmaker event later that the World Cup could kickstart development in Africa's biggest economy. "We view the World Cup as a catalyst for development". He said some of the positive impacts from the event would be further job creation and infrastructure development. "We are very confident that after this, employment will go up," Zuma said in the Reuters Insider interview. He urged South Africans to continue supporting the national soccer squad Bafana Bafana (The Boys) who face a crunch game against France yesterday.

South Africa needs to win the match by a big score to avert an early exit from the tournament - the first time a host nation would not have progressed to the second round. "We urge the nation to keep supporting Bafana Bafana and to come out in the customary huge numbers this evening at the stadiums and fan parks," Zuma said. He said the World Cup had thrown South Africa on to the global stage. "The world has descended on South and it experienced South Africa as a country (and) a very important investment destination." — Reuters

broadcasts on a number of screens installed by Emirates in airports worldwide. Onboard, meanwhile, fans can look forward to updates on their team's progress with exclusive screenings of the most recent matches, as well as live text updates of current matches being played.

In a number of airports that the airline serves, passengers waiting to board their flights will not miss any of the action thanks to specially designed screens showing all of the live action. In addition to this, a majority of First Class and Business Class Lounges will also broadcast the matches live so that frequent fliers and premium passengers can enjoy all the live football action. Emirates' award-winning in-flight entertainment services feature recordings of all the games in the 64-match tournament within a few hours of them taking place, as well as live goalby-goal updates and text commentary.

Vuvuzela Amid the controversy over the now globally famous vuvuzela, football fans are flocking to snap up the plastic trumpets in South Africa. Many South Africans and soccer fans can be seen grabbing vuvuzelas, which have become symbols of the World Cup in South Africa, with sales soaring to a record high since the horns first began making their inimitable noise and generating headlines around the world.

"Generally, more than ten million [vuvuzelas] have been sold since the World Cup tournament started. The more they campaign against it the more popular it becomes," said Tony Clint, a store owner in Johannesburg. The controversial plastic horns may annoy players and television commentators and viewers, but they are selling fast in supermarkets, with traders struggling to keep up with demand. "Love it or hate it, I'm gonna have my vuvuzela," American Peters Thomson said, holding four of the distinctive horns in his arms. The vuvuzela, a yard-long plastic horn, has become one of South Africa's fastest-selling sports items, leaving manufacturers struggling to keep up with demand. The plastic horn, whose Zulu name means, appropriately, 'to make a loud noise,' usually costs around 50 rand in South Africa, although the price can be higher or lower depending on the size and design of the vuvuzela in question.

South African dancers perform at the Mandela Square

Some media executives dining at Emirates loung

Some media executives playing with a cub in a zoo in Johanesburg

16 Wednesday, June 23, 2010

World Cup

Photo gallery

Desert Foxes block US path into second round

BLOEMFONTEIN: South Africa fans react at the end of the World Cup Group A soccer match between France and South Africa at Free State Stadium. — AP

RUSTENBURG: Backdropped by the moon, a fan of Mexico waves the national flag prior to the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and Uruguay at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

—AP

RUSTENBURG: Uruguay fans cheer after the Group A first round 2010 World Cup football match Mexico versus Uruguay at Royal Bafokeng stadium. — AFP

FRANCE: A French supporter reacts as he watches the Group A first round 2010 World Cup football match France vs. South Africa broadcast on a giant screen.

—AFP

PRETORIA: United States will advance to the knockout rounds of the World Cup with a victory today over Algeria, but the Desert Foxes will try and sustain their own bid by ending American dreams.

Slovenia, the Group C leader on four points, face England, on two points after a pair of draws, while the US team, also on two points but with more goals than England, meet the Algerians, who drew England for their lone point.

“This group has proved there isn’t an easy game,” US defender Jay DeMerit said.

“It’s going to be an interesting last day.” Bottom line for the Americans — win and they are in, lose and they are out.

“We need to keep them from scoring and keep scoring ourselves,” US veteran Clint Dempsey said. “Our game is good enough to win if we play our best.”

The Americans have never won a World Cup game in which they fell behind, but they have battled back in 2010 for a 2-2 draw with Slovenia - having a winning goal wiped out by a referee at the death - and a 1-1 draw with England.

“My guess is there aren’t many teams in this tournament that could have done what we did,” US star midfielder Landon Donovan said. “That’s what the American spirit is about.”

US teams are only 2-10 with five drawn in World Cup group play since ending a 40-year Cup finals absence in 1990, but the latest edition is not one to ignore before the final whistle.

“This team keeps fighting until the end,” US coach Bob Bradley said. “We have the experience of pushing games when we’re behind. It’s something we feel good about. It’s a credit to the mentality of the players.” But there is some US concern about playing well before their rivals score.

“We seem to play better when we’re behind and that’s all got to change,” US goalkeeper Tim Howard said. “For whatever reason we seem to be very resilient. With a little more luck and concentration we can get on the right side of the scoresheet early on.”

Scoring first will be especially important against an Algerian squad that has not scored at all. “We’re frustrated now that we’ve fallen behind too often,” DeMerit said. “It’s not always easy to put together that type of comeback.

“I wouldn’t call it a ‘Cry Wolf’ situation. It would be a situation you hope you wouldn’t get into in the first place.

One thing about not starting as well as we like, when we do start well, we’re going to be in good shape.”

Algeria must win to have any chance at extending their first World Cup appearance in 24 years. “Initially it will be a game that’s going to be tight, seeing how things go,” Dempsey said. “Algeria is a good team. They are athletic.

We have to keep playing our game, try different things, mix up our passes.”

The North Africans carry plenty of confidence into the match. “If Algeria plays to its potential, we do not need to worry about our opponents,” Foxes midfielder Karim Matmour said. “If we play our style, we can beat anyone.”

Midfielders Karim Ziani and Yazid Mansouri set the tempo for Algeria, which was undone in a loss to Slovenia only after a red card dipped them to 10 men and made England pay for saying they barely knew any Foxes player.

“We showed that we were worthy of at least a minimum of respect,” Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra said.

Both teams need to attack at some stage with victory vital to each. The US team figures to go on the offensive early on and with forward Robbie Findley suspended, finishing will fall to Altidore, aided by Dempsey and Donovan. Blunting the initial US surge will be critical for Algeria. — AFP

PRETORIA: A combination of two file images shows Algeria’s midfielder Karim Ziani (left) running with the ball in Cape Town and US midfielder Michael Bradley fighting for the ball during the 2010 World Cup football match on June 18, 2010. — AFP

US hoping for early lead against Algeria JOHANNESBURG: Tired of having to rally from early deficits, the United States aims to score first and make things less complicated when it takes on Algeria in their decisive World Cup Group C match today. So far, the Americans have salvaged two draws, after dropping an early goal to England and going down 2-0 in the first half against Slovenia. It’s a scenario they would rather avoid when they face Algeria in Pretoria.

“We can all go around and say, ‘hey, lets get an early lead,’ but that doesn’t always translate on the field,” said Clint Dempsey, who scored the equalizer in the opening 1-1 draw with England.

“So it’s a little bit more hard work and concentration and hopefully a little bit of luck, we can get on the right end of the score early on.”

The United States will advance to the round of 16 if it beats Algeria. A draw would suffice if England loses to Slovenia. If the United States and England both draw, the Americans would

advance provided they end up with more goals scored than the English — currently the US has three goals, while England has one.

A draw will not be enough if England wins, and a defeat would definitely send the Americans home early. Algeria’s outlook is bleaker, with only one point after a 1-0 loss to Slovenia and a scoreless draw with England. Anything less than victory will spell the end of their tournament, and even if they win, the North Africans would be eliminated if group leader Slovenia loses narrowly to England.

Given the stakes, Algeria striker Karim Matmour is not expecting a beautiful game against the United States. “Today’s football is very physical. Skill is just for the final meters,” Matmour said. “I’m quite happy to see everybody play the most simple game possible.”

The Americans, too, are expecting a bruising battle, with both teams keeping a compact

defense — at least early on. “Initially it’s going to be a game that’s going to be tight,” Dempsey said. “And then as the game goes on, seeing how things go, it’s going to have to open up, no matter what. People are going to start taking risks because we know that pretty much a draw is not going to get you through.”

US striker Robbie Findley is suspended after receiving his second yellow card against Slovenia, while Abdelkader Ghezzal is back for Algeria after a one-match suspension following a red card in the opening game.

For Algeria, the World Cup started with the kind of turmoil that has since swamped bigger teams like France. Coach Rabah Saadane dropped captain Yazid Mansouri on the eve of Algeria’s first match. The experienced midfielder reportedly threatened to walk out of the team but was persuaded to stay by Algerian football federation officials.—AP

Algeria: We need to play our style UVONGO: Algeria’s surprising 0-0 draw with England saved it from becoming the first team to exit the World Cup. Now the north African team is targeting a win over the United States and a spot in the next round.

“If Algeria plays to its potential we don’t need to worry about our opponents,” midfielder Karim Matmour said Sunday. “If we play our style of football we can beat any one.”

Algeria, with only one point in Group C, must beat the United States today in Pretoria to stand a chance of progressing to the World Cup’s knockout stage for the first time. England plays Slovenia at the same time in the tight group’s other match.

Slovenia leads the group with four points, followed by the United States and England with two points apiece. Matmour knows it will be tough against a higher-ranked US team which salvaged a 1-1 draw against England to open the group and then rallied from 2-0 down at half time against Slovenia for a 2-2 draw.

Algerian teams in the past have featured highly skilled players who did not play well together, and that has hurt them against superior teams. Now, veteran coach Rabah Saadane has honed the combinations.

“I play for the team. That is every player’s job,” Matmour said. “Today’s football is very physical.

Skill is just for the final meters.” But Algeria will need to turn on the skill when they get within range _ the Desert Foxes have yet to score at this World Cup, losing 1-0 to Slovenia before its goalless draw with England.

Even so, Matmour said the players are drawing confidence from their run at the African Cup of Nations earlier this year when they lost their first match but recovered to make a run to the semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Egypt.

Medhi Lacen, a midfielder who plays for Racing Santander in Spain, said he knew little about the United States before the tournament, but has been impressed by their battling displays so far.

“I’ve seen their matches here and they look good,” he said. “They showed against Slovenia that they’re capable of fighting back.” Algeria showed that it can handle the pressure of must-win matches when it exacted revenge for its African Cup semifinal defeat by beating Egypt 1-0 in a highly charged one-match playoff in Sudan to reach the World Cup for the first time in 24 years.

And it will attempt to do it again against the Pretoria — as a team. “Our strength is playing collectively,” captain Anther Yahia said. “We know if we don’t play as a team we can’t win.”—AP

JOHANNESBURG: US midfielder Landon Donovan celebrates after scoring in this file photo. — AFP

Stolen win toughens US IRENE: Having fought back to save their World Cup only to see a winning goal stolen from them has hardened Americans for their crucial match today against Algeria, US star Landon Donovan said.

The Americans settled for a 2-2 draw with Slovenia on Friday after fighting back from two goals down and netting what appeared to be the game winner from Maurice Edu, only to have the goal disallowed by Mali referee Koman Coulibaly.

“Being down 2-0 with your World Cup on the line is a difficult and daunting task to overcome, but the way we have been hardened in a lot of ways over the years has made that possible,” Donovan said Monday.

“We’re extremely excited for today.”

Slovenia lead Group C on four points thanks to a 1-0 win over Algeria with the US and England on two points after a pair of draws and Algeria on one.

A victory advances the Americans to the round of 16 while a loss eliminates them. A draw gives them a chance to advance if Slovenia beat England or they draw without England erasing the US advantage in goal difference.

The emotional roller-coaster for Americans in the Slovenia match has lingered more than thoughts of a stolen goal depriving them of a victory that would have solidified their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

“Put yourself in that moment and how much energy we put in getting ourselves

back in the game and how emotional it is, to go from the realization your World Cup might be over to have been very close to advancing,” Donovan said.

“We all understand the reality of it.

We’ve all played in enough games where those things happen. Through the course of your career they tend to even out.

“A lot of us have been on the good side of something like that. Unfortunately this time we were on the bad side. It happens.

You get on with it. There’s absolutely nothing we can do about it so we focus on Wednesday.”

The perceived injustice has galvanized support for the US team back home and making the most of such moments is important for the US growth of the sport, Donovan said.

“In some ways it’s really heartening to see how much people care. We know people are talking about it,” Donovan said.

“One thing we do know is that Wednesday is going to be a really big occasion and we relish that because we don’t get that very often.”

The Algerians, who need a victory to have any hope of advancement, have yet to score, but US goalkeeper Tim Howard said that means little now.

“We don’t take much from it,” Howard said. “If you keep creating chances you will score goals. These are separate games.

There’s so much at stake in the group in the last 90 minutes.”— AFP

17 Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Germany fighting survival battle

SOUTH AFRICA: Combo picture shows Ghana’s striker Kevin-Prince Boateng and Germany’s defender Jerome Boateng. The brothers will face each other today during their Group D 2010 World Cup football match Ghana vs Germany. —AFP

Germany won’t focus only on Boateng ERASMIA: Germany will try to avoid focusing on Kevin-Prince Boateng when it plays Ghana in a decisive Group D match.

Boateng knocked Germany captain Michael Ballack out of the World Cup with his tackle in the FA Cup final, injuring Ballack’s ankle.

“We are playing Ghana and not KevinPrince Boateng” when the two teams meet today at Soccer City, Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff said Sunday.

“Feelings about one person have to be set aside.”

Germany needs to win to be sure of advancing following its 1-0 loss to Serbia.

Ghana is coached by a Serb, Milan Rajevac, and leads the group with four points.

Germany has three points after beating Australia 4-0 and losing to Serbia. Ghana beat Serbia 1-0, then drew 1-1 with 10man Australia.

“Ghana is a physical team that has interesting players up front. But they have

shown some defensive weaknesses that we can use,” Bierhoff said. “It’s not a team we need to fear. We have confidence and we have quality.”

Boateng, who grew up in Berlin and played for Germany’s junior sides before switching allegiance and declared himself eligible for the countr y of his father, became one of the most vilified men in online chats and forums when his tackle injured Ballack shortly before the World Cup. Asked if Germany could have used the experience of Ballack against Serbia, Bierhoff said, “It would have been good to have had him from the start, not only against Serbia.” Boateng’s half brother, Jerome, is a Germany defender, although he has not yet played at the tournament.

The Boatengs have the same Ghanaian father and different German mothers. Both grew up in Berlin but in different circumstances. Kevin-Prince is the product of a tough working-class neighborhood, while Jerome

lived in an upscale district in western Berlin.

Through his mother, Kevin-Prince is related to Helmut Rahn — his great-uncle who scored the winning goal for Germany in the final of the 1954 World Cup. Neither of the brothers has even been to Ghana.

They played together at Hertha Berlin before going their own ways. Kevin-Prince now plays for Portsmouth, while Jerome is reportedly leaving Hamburger SV to play for Manchester City. Kevin-Prince is the flashier of the two brothers and once bought a Lamborghini, a Hummer and a vintage Cadillac in one day.

Both half brothers were in Germany’s under-21 squad. When one player had to be cut from the squad, Kevin-Prince was the victim of a vote by the team council, which repor tedly objected to his late arrival for several meetings. Jerome stayed on the team, which went on to with the under-21 title last year. Kevin-Prince decided to play for Ghana. —AP

Gyan hopes goal-scoring chances haven’t gone RUSTENBURG: Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan scored his second goal of the tournament from the penalty spot and was named man of the match against Australia but left with bittersweet feelings on a night which promised more.

Gyan, who scored the winner against Serbia in a 1-0 victory, coolly converted a 25th-minute penalty equalizer in the 1-1 draw after Harry Kewell was sent off for a hand ball on the goal line.

Both teams continued to attack in a thrilling match but Ghana, with 22 shots to eight should have made the extra man pay.

“We should have won this game,” Gyan said. “Once Australia were down a man we should have scored. “We are looking forward to the last game with Ger many and we are hoping Ghana qualif y.” Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was in good form and denied Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari with excellent saves. Ghana, however, missed the target completely with 16 of their 22 attempts.

Ghana coach Milovan R ajevac acknowledged their proglifacy might come back to haunt them after the final group game against Germany. Ghana heads the group and a draw against Ger many will be enough for it to advance, but defeat by Germany would put the Africans at risk of missing out.

Ghana made a poor start as Brett Holman scored on 11 minutes against a defence missing regular starters John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah through injury.

“Instead of two defenders we had to use two young players and we got off to a bad start, conceding a goal,” said Rajevac.

“After that, we started to fight. All we have to regret is that we had so many chances but didn’t score. “Both goals are from penalties, so we have a problem. But we made a lot of opportunities to score.

We’ll try to redeem ourselves against Germany.”—AP

RUSTENBURG: Ghana’s striker Asamoah Gyan heads the ball during the Group D first round 2010 World Cup football match in this file photo. —AFP

Brazil-born Cacau ready to fire Germany into last 16 ERASMIA: Brazilian-born striker Cacau insisted he is ready to step up for his adopted country and help send Germany into the last 16 of the World Cup with a win over Ghana.

Germany must beat Africa’s Black Stars at Johannesburg’s Soccer City today to guarantee their place in the Round of 16, while Ghana need just a point to go through in the Group D clash.

Having demolished ten-man Australia 4-0 in their opening game, Germany were brought crashing down to earth when

Serbia inflicted a 1-0 defeat as striker Miroslav Klose was sent off for a second yellow card.

Klose, the top scorer at the 2006 World Cup, is suspended for today’s match, but Stuttgart’s Cacau said he is ready to step into the lone striker role and breathe life back into Germany’s South Africa 2010 campaign. “I am capable to filling his (Klose’s) role,” said Cacau, whose full name is Claudemir Jeronimo Baretto and qualified for a German passport only last year. —AFP

JOHANNESBURG: Coach Joachim Loew says fitness will be the key for his Germany team when they take on Ghana yesterday with their World Cup survival at stake.

The Germans need to get their campaign back on track after their shock defeat to Serbia and a loss to Ghana would mean they fail to qualify from the World Cup’s group stages for the first time in their history.

Joachim Loew’s side got off to the ideal start when they hammered Australia 4-0 in their opening game, but after striker Miroslav Klose was sent off, the Serbs brought them down to earth with a 1-0 defeat.

Klose, the top scorer at the 2006 World Cup, is suspended for the Ghana clash at Johannesburg’s Soccer City which will decide the winner of Group D and only a win will guarantee the Germans a place in the Round of 16.

Five of the squad are on a yellow card and a second for any of the quintet will see them suspended for the last 16 match, should Germany progress.

Loew expects a tough, physical encounter against Africa’s Black Stars who are undefeated in Group D after a draw with Australia and a win over Serbia.

“Ghana are fast and can play well on the counter, they don’t shy away from one-to-one duels as they are strong, they have players who can put in fantastic sprints,” said the 50-year-old.

“The general tempo against Ghana will be higher than Serbia, the Serbs were a bit slow out of the blocks and they had a draw in mind with only one forward.

“It will be quicker, but fitness is written with a capital ‘F’ in the Germany squad and we can cope with it.” Brazilian-born Cacau is expected to start as the lone striker with Lukas Podolski, who missed a penalty against Serbia, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller as an attacking midfield.

Germany manager Oliver Bierhoff has already said there will be no vendetta against Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, whose scything tackle on Michael Ballack in the FA Cup final ruled the German skipper out of the World Cup. Boateng, who is a key midfielder for Ghana, has apologised repeatedly to Ballack, but his halfbrother Jerome, who is in the Germany squad but is unlikely to play, still refuses to speak to him over the incident.

“It was all I could do (to apologise),” said Kevin-Prince. “I was late with the tackle. I apologised twice while he was still receiving treatment on the pitch, this is the third time.”

Jerome has called for calmer minds to prevail, though he still has no intention of talking to his half-brother. “He remains my brother and I wish him the best, but at the moment we have nothing to say to each other, that happens in other families as well,” said 21-year-old Jerome, who is set to make his English Premier League debut next season with Manchester City.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac expects to have his first-choice centrebacks back as captain John Mensah and fellow defender Isaac Vorsah both missed Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Australia through injury.

Rajevac revealed that both experienced defenders might have been able to play against Australia if he had been willing to risk them missing out on the Germany game. Mensah believes Germany will be feeling under intense pressure after the defeat to the Serbs punctured the optimism generated by their demolition of ten-man Australia.

“I don’t think there is pressure on us,” he said. “They will probably have more pressure because they are favourites.

“We all know Germany has a good team, but we believe we have a good team as well. We have to keep things tight, stay compact and I’m sure we can win the match.”

With a relatively inexperienced squad, the game will be decided by whether Germany can control their nerves. With striker Miroslav Klose suspended, the task of breaking down the Ghana defence falls to an attacking midfield led by Lukas Podolski who failed to score against Serbia despite a string of chances.

Germany will be tense and are playing for their World Cup survival, while Ghana need just a point to make the Round of 16 and a draw would see them through.—AFP

World Cup Photo gallery

SOUTH AFRICA: A South Africa fan watches the World Cup Group A soccer match between France and South Africa at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. —AP

PORT ELIZABETH: An England fan is seen at a Fan Park in South Africa.

England will play Slovenia in a soccer World Cup, Group C match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium today.

—AP

DURBAN: A soccer fan with the North Korean flag painted on his forehead in South Africa. The first soccer World Cup on the African continent is on its way since June 11. —AP

RUSTENBURG: A fan of Mexico wearing a wrestling mask waits prior to the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and Uruguay at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

—AP

18 Wednesday, June 23, 2010

World Cup Photo gallery

England facing D-Day

SOWETO: A man blows a vuvuzela at a public viewing area in Soweto as he watches the World Cup Group A soccer match between France and South Africa. —AP

SOWETO: South African soccer fan celebrates at a public viewing area in Soweto as he watches on a large screen the World Cup Group A soccer match between France and South Africa. —AP

SOUTH AFRICA: Kimono-clad South African girl awaits to see off Japanese national soccer team at the airport for their departure in George, South Africa. Japan play in the Group E. —AP

RUSTENBURG: A fan of Mexico arrives prior to the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and Uruguay at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

—AP

PORT ELIZABETH: England, with John Terry’s mutiny quelled, take on Slovenia here today knowing they must raise their game considerably or face the ignominy of crashing out of the World Cup at the group stages for the first time since 1958.

The opening 1-1 draw with the United States and the uninspiring goalless stalemate with Algeria has left a team hyped up as one of the pre-tournament favourites with little room for manoeuvre.

Three points against Slovenia will ensure England progress to the last 16 and a possible date with Germany. Defeat and they will be heading for the airport, while a draw will leave their fate hanging on the result of the United States v Algeria game being played simultaneously in Pretoria.

The build-up to this defining moment for England and Fabio Capello, who is widely expected to resign should they lose, has been overshadowed by Terry’s abortive challenge to the Italian’s iron-fist reign.

While the former skipper will start against Slovenia, Capello has left no doubt that he was enraged by the Chelsea defender’s public comments of discord in the England camp.

Capello responded by demanding a “big performance” from Terry to make up for for the player’s “big mistake”. Terry’s Chelsea and England teammate Frank Lampard insists that media talk of a crisis meeting between the players and Capello were over-hyped.

“I’ve not read the reports but from what I hear, I think it has been completely overdone in terms of crisis meeting and things like that,” Lampard said, adding the players had sat through a video of their last match. “The Algeria game had to be addressed and it was not nice viewing,” he admitted.

Underperforming Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and co. left the pitch in Cape Town on Friday night with boos from a section of their fans ringing in their ears - a sound even less appealing than the drone of the vuvuzela.

Capello says he is “mystified” at the gulf between England’s polished displays in qualifying and training and their toothless performances in Group C. Yet as they approach this defining moment England can take heart from history. In 1990 the Three Lions found themselves in a similar predicament.

Under then manager Bobby Robson they had opened their Italia ‘90 campaign with two draws, against the Republic of Ireland and Holland, leaving them requiring a win against Egypt to qualify.

They made it, and went on to reach the semi-finals. Then there is the more recent case of France, at the 2006 finals in Germany.

Shackled by the fear of repeating their woeful World Cup display in 2002 France began badly, drawing with Switzerland and South Korea. That left Zinedine Zidane and his teammates requiring victory over Togo, which they achieved.

With qualification assured France went on to beat Spain, Brazil and Portugal, before losing the final on penalties to Italy.

Capello believes his England can emulate the class of 1990 and Les Bleus four years ago.

“I hope that after playing a big performance the minds of the players will be free and we can play like the England that I know,” the Italian said. The England boss must decide whether to make significant changes to his line-up.

One of Terry’s gripes for example was Capello’s refusal to play Joe Cole - arguably England’s best player in Germany four years ago.

With Jamie Carragher suspended, Matthew Upson will start alongside Terry in central defence while striker Emile Heskey could be replaced.

Unlike England, table toppers Slovenia need only a draw to progress after a 1-0 defeat of Algeria and a 2-2 draw with the United States. Slovenia captain Robert Koren scents an upset.

“They (England) didn’t show the type of football we expect of them,” he said. “It gives us some hope, but we will see.”

Whatever happens on the pitch an electric atmosphere is assured off it with England’s sizeable travelling fan club set to wake up this sleepy Eastern Cape port.

Whether England wake up is another matter.

If England can shrug off the burden of expectation weighing them down they can regain the impressive form they showed in qualifying for South Africa and make it into the last 16. Once again key to that will be the form of striker Wayne Rooney. —AFP

SOUTH AFRICA: A combination of two file images shows Slovenia’s striker Zlatan Ljubijankic (left) celebrating during the 2010 World Cup football match and England’s midfielder Steven Gerrard shooting the ball during the 2010 World Cup football match on June 18, 2010 in Cape Town. —AFP

Koren: Slovenia full of confidence JOHANNESBURG: Slovenia captain Robert Koren believes that England’s lackluster performances against the United States and Algeria have given his side confidence of a shock victory when the teams meet in their final World Cup group match today.

Koren said Monday that his teammates were surprised by the low standard of England’s performances so far, in both the 1-1 draw against the United States and the following 0-0 draw with Algeria.

England was expected to progress easily from Group C but is winless and tied on two points with the United States.

Slovenia leads the standings with four points.

“We know that England is a very good team,” Koren said. “They have brilliant players. But we will not be thinking much

about England, we will concentrate on our team. “I watched their games against the US and Algeria and I saw good things and bad things. They didn’t show the type of football we expect of them. It gives us some hope. But we will see today.”

Slovenia had a winning start after a dreadful mistake by Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi handed the team a 1-0 victory, the country’s first ever at a World Cup. But it then allowed the US to fight back from two goals down to draw 2-2 on Friday to keep its qualifications chances alive.

The 29-year-old Koren said his team had come to South Africa with a target of reaching the second round. “It’s a great thing for our country to come here and do well,” Koren said. “We are a team always want to do well. When we came here we

wanted to get past the group stage. “That was our goal and it’s still the same.”

Despite being the team from the smallest country at this World Cup, Slovenia has enjoyed good support during the tournament with sizable crowds even attending their training sessions.

Matjaz Kek, the Slovenia coach, said the team’s performance was having a positive impact.

“Our whole nation is together following our success, it’s a big thing back home” Kek said. “They are very proud of us and we want to continue making them proud.”

Kek said he will relish coming up against England coach Fabio Capello, who he described as a “big gentleman.” Kek said: “I have so much respect for him as a coach.”—AP

Australia’s huge task against Serbia NELSPRUIT: Australia have the odds stacked against them as they bid to get past Serbia here today and hang on the Germany-Ghana result if they are to progress to the last 16 at the World Cup. Australia, trailing in Group D with just one point, need to beat the Serbians and hope either group leaders Ghana win by any margin or Germany hammer the Ghanaians in the simultaneous match in Johannesburg.

It looks a tall order for the embattled Socceroos, who have won only one of their overall nine World Cup games and find scoring goals difficult.

Australian bookmakers rate Serbia 5-6 odds-on favorites with the Socceroos at 3-1 to win today’s match at Mbombela Stadium with the Aussies listed at 10-1 to reach the last 16.

Apart from their fate being outside their control, the Aussies will also be without suspended senior players, Harry Kewell and Craig Moore, but on the plus side they will welcome back their talisman midfielder Tim Cahill from suspension.

“Lose one, gain one, don’t we?”

Blackburn Rovers midfielder Brett Emerton said. “They’re both great players. It will be great to get Timmy back but it’s really disappointing to lose Harry.”

It has been an ill-fated World Cup tournament for Australia, getting thumped 4-0 first-up by Germany, losing Cahill and Kewell to red cards in successive matches and defensive linchpin Moore banned after two yellow cards.

Coach Pim Verbeek, who brought just three recognised strikers to South Africa, has only Josh Kennedy and youngster Nikita Rukavytsya left along with midfielders Cahill and Brett Holman to score the goals to get Australia through to the knockout phase.

Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac, whose Ghana team drew 1-1 with the 10-man Australians in Rustenburg last Saturday, believes Serbia will be too strong for the Socceroos.

“I believe it’s beyond them. Serbia have the quality and the players who are

individually strong. That should be enough to see them through to the next round,” Rajevac said. While it’s all or nothing for Australia, Serbia, on three points, could go through to the knockout phase with a draw.

Although they disappointed in their opening 1-0 loss to Ghana, Serbia bounced back to down Germany 1-0 and are poised to go through to the last 16.

Rajevac believes the imperative for Australia to score goals with open up their normally conservative game plan under Dutchman Verbeek.

“It’s positive for Serbia that Australia have to open and attack,” he said. “(Serbia coach) Radomir Antic knows Australia will have to attack Serbia and that will change the outlook of Australia’s game totally.”

Serbia will have plenty of attacking firepower with wingers Milos Krasic and Milan Jovanovic to supply giant striker Nikola Zigic.

Their defence is marshalled by Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic with Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotic alongside him, Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic at right back and Real Madrid-bound Aleksandar Kolarov on the left.

Four years ago in Germany Harry Kewell scored a late equaliser against Croatia to take Australia through to the last 16 where they lost to a stoppagetime penalty against eventual champions Italy. This time the odds are significantly steeper. The Socceroos need a win and hope for the result of the other group game to go their way.

Serbia lost all their matches as Serbia and Montenegro at Germany 2006 in a group containing Netherlands, Argentina and Ivory Coast. The Serbs will relish having under-manned Australia as their last hurdle to playing in the knockout round.

Australia have trouble scoring goals and their other problem is who will replace suspended key defender Craig Moore to take care of Serbia’s strong attack led by giant striker Nikola Zigic and prompted by the playmaking skills of Milos Krasic and captain Dejan Stankovic in midfield. —AFP

NELSPRUIT: A combination of two file images shows Serbia’s midfielder Milan Jovanovic (top) celebrating during the 2010 World Cup football match and Australia’s striker Brett Holman (bottom) during the football match in Rustenburg. —AFP

19 Wednesday, June 23, 2010

World Cup Photo gallery

South Africa suffer heartbreak

DURBAN: South Korea fans cheer prior to the World Cup Group B soccer match between Nigeria and South Korea at the stadium in South Africa. — AP

PARIS: A soccer fan reacts as he watches France playing South Africa during the World Cup Group A soccer match on a giant screen in Paris. South Africa won 2-1. — AP

POLOKWANE: Fans of Argentina cheer prior to the World Cup Group B soccer match between Greece and Argentina at Peter Mokaba Stadium. — AP

DURBAN: A young wigged football fan joins hundreds of South Korean and Nigerian fans to attend the Group B match between Nigeria and South Korea at the Moses Mabhida stadium.

—AFP

BLOEMFONTEIN: Hosts South Africa suffered World Cup heartbreak yesterday despite a stirring 2-1 win over 10-man France, crashing out of the competition on goal difference.

It means the Bafana Bafana are the first host nation to be knocked out in the first round of a World Cup despite finishing level on points with Group A rivals Mexico.

France coach Raymond Domenech saw his six year reign come to an end and admitted he wished France had played with as much spirit in their first two matches after a campaign marred by in-fighting and the players going on strike over the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka.

“They showed real heart, real fight, real generosity of spirit out there today, it is what I was looking for” said 58-year-old Domenech, who appeared to get involved in a verbal altercation with opposite number Carlos Alberto Parreira at the final whistle.

“However there was a low blow (the sending-off of Yoan Gourcuff) and when things don’t go for you they just don’t go for you.

“We wasted too much energy (in the events preceding the match). It is not the time for settling accounts. A word for the French people? Just to say that I am sad, that this team has real potential, I wish good luck to my successor.

“I love the France team. It will not die, it will continue forever. It has all the ingredients to succeed.” Roared on by a passionate crowd, South Africa took the lead on 20 minutes when Bongani Khumalo rose highest to head in a corner from the lef t swung in by Siphiwe Tshabalala, sparking scenes of joy among the yellow-clad fans.

The contest was given a dramatic twist midway through the first half when Gourcuff was sent off for using his elbow against MacBeth Sibaya with Domenech burying his face in his hands.

And the Bafana Bafana doubled their lead on 37 minutes when Katlego Mphela poked the ball past Hugo Lloris after France failed to clear.

France threw on Florent Malouda for Andre Pierre Gignac at the start of the second half but the momentum was with South Africa, with Steven Pienaar directing play from midfield and Tshabalala terrorising the French defence.

Early in the second half Mphela went desperately close to extending South Africa’s lead after a pass from Tshabalala but it hit the woodwork with the goalkeeper beaten.

Djibril Cisse lashed a shot over from the edge of the penalty box moments before Thierry Henry was brought on to replace him.

Mphela, who looked increasingly dangerous, then forced Lloris into a save from the edge of the box as the atmosphere in the stadium reached fever pitch and South Africa seemed certain to add to their tally amid intense pressure.

But France shocked the crowd when Malouda scored with 70 minutes on the clock, making Bafana Bafana’s task almost impossible and the French were able to take the sting out of the game despite being a man down.

In a desperate last push Tshabalala went close but South Africa’s World Cup dreams were snuffed out. To squeeze into the last 16, 1998 World Cup winners France and South Africa were hoping to win by a big margin and for a positive result from the Uruguay-Mexico match.

Both teams made sweeping changes to their starting line-ups as they went in search of goals. Domenech left captain Patrice Evra out of the team following a bust-up over the expulsion of star striker Nicolas Anelka from the squad. — AFP

World Cup matches (local timings) Slovenia v England ........... 17:00 Al Jazeera Sport Channels Al Jazeera Sport World Cup United States v Algeria .... 17:00 Al Jazeera Sport Channels Al Jazeera Sport World Cup Al Jazeera Sport 2 Ghana v Germany ............ 21:30 Al Jazeera Sport Channels Al Jazeera Sport World Cup Australia v Serbia ............ 21:30 Al Jazeera Sport Channels Al Jazeera Sport World Cup

BLOEMFONTEIN: South Africa’s Katlego Mphela (right) scores a goal past France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (left) and France’s Gael Clichy (center) during the World Cup Group A soccer match.—AP

Suarez fires Uruguay into knockout stage RUSTENBURG: Ajax striker Luis Suarez fired Uruguay into the last 16 of the World Cup as winners of Group A after a 1-0 win over fellow qualifiers Mexico here yesterday.

Despite the defeat, the Mexicans also progressed, having edged hosts South Africa out of the runners-up spot on goal difference.

Suarez’s header just before half-time settled a full-blooded contest which belied fears that the two sides-who kicked off knowing a draw would see both of them through-would decline to make a fight of it. “The important thing was to win and finish top of the group,” said Uruguay striker Diego Forlan.

Mexico defender Rafael Marquez said his side needs to improve for the second round where their opponents could be Argentina.

“We will have to improve. As for (now likely meeting) Argentina, we will have to work to reproduce the kind of form we showed in the match against France,” said the Barcelona star.

Uruguay were superior throughout and, with better finishing, would have won more comfortably, although Mexico also had their moments, notably when Andres Guardoado’s wonderful strike crashed against the bar midway through the opening period.

A feisty opening period might easily have ended with Uruguay building up the kind of lead that would have given South Africa, 2-1 winners over troubled France in their final match, hope of snatching second place.

They should have taken a sixth minute lead after a fluffed clearance by Hector Moreno left Suarez with only Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez to beat but the forward dragged his shot from the right of the goalmouth beyond the far post.

Another chance for Uruguay went begging in the 19th minute when Mauricio Victorino headed Diego Forlan’s corner over the bar from an unmarked position on the edge of the six-yard box.

The Uruguayans were bossing the game but Mexico came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when Guardado, in for the suspended Erwain Juarez, struck the underside of the bar with a swerving left foot drive from 30 yards out.

Giovani Dos Santos then wriggled clear

RUSTENBURG: Mexico’s Castro (left) and Uruguay’s Diego Perez vie for the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. — AP inside the area but Porto defender Jorge Fucile recovered with a superb last-ditch tackle to snuff out the danger.

Uruguay finally took the lead two minutes before the interval when Edinson Cavani got free on the right. His delivery to the back post was impeccable and Suarez peeled away from his marker to nod the ball past Perez.

Uruguay’s tempo eased off after the interval but it required a superb stop from Perez to prevent them doubling their lead as the hour mark approached.

Uruguayan skipper Diego Lugano rose above the Mexican defence to power Forlan’s free-kick goalwards and the goalkeeper had to throw himself full length to save.

Mexico’s clearest chance of the afternoon followed ten minutes later. Substitute Pablo Barrera’s cross found Francisco Rodriguez unmarked on the six-yard line but the defender failed to connect cleanly and his header slipped wide of the target in what was to prove Mexico’s last chance of an equaliser. — AFP

Secrets and lineups: When should the players know?

JOHANNESBURG: As a football manager, it is one of the few secret weapons in the armory: Keeping opponents in the dark about your starting lineup. The merits, though, of extending such stealth to your own players has become a vexed issue in England’s troubled World Cup camp.

While adding a late unexpected name in the first team can disrupt rivals’ best-researched tactical planning, Fabio Capello also keeps that information from his own players until two hours before kickoff. And such uncertainty has been seized on as a reason for England starting the World Cup with two dithering draws and leaving its campaign relying on beating Slovenia today.

Capello’s critics contest that telling goalkeeper Robert Green so late he was starting against the United States left him mentally unprepared for his World Cup debut. Green may have backed up that argument by spilling Clint Dempsey’s shot into his own net just before halftime in the 1-1 draw.

Even David James — who replaced Green against Algeria — barely disguised his frustration about being told so late by Capello on Friday.

“I found out five minutes before we got on the bus (for the stadium),” the 39-year-old James said. “We train hard now for a few days and wait for the selection again five minutes before we leave again today.” England defender Jamie Carragher knows no different at Liverpool, and Capello’s methods weren’t questioned when the team won nine of 10 World Cup qualifying matches. “I never heard

anything or saw anything about this. They were winning and that’s results and that’s football,” South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. “Only now, when they draw two games, do these things come out. This is football. We call it results.”

While sympathizing with Capello, Parreira — like Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa — wants his players to know a day in advance.

“The players go to sleep knowing that they are going to play,” the former Brazil coach said. “But it is according to the culture (of the country). In Brazil, this would never happen that the players get to know they are playing hours before the game.

“But being with the (Brazilian) national team for so many years I would say that most of the players, 95 percent of them, played overseas and they told us that it was common, not only in England but also Spain and Germany, that the coaches announce the team hours before the game. Sometimes in the dressing room.”

And many share Capello’s belief that keeping the players on tenterhooks ensures they are all in game mode. “The coach is always looking to make sure that everyone is involved so that even if you’re not playing you don’t disconnect,” Spain defender Carles Puyol said. It worked for Greece coach Otto Rehhagel, who masterminded the country’s first ever World Cup win against Nigeria.

“I like to take as much time as possible,” Rehhagel said. “I won’t tell anyone about the lineup before our final players’ meeting, which normally is three hours before the match. The main reason for that is that I don’t want to rush things.” —AP

www.kuwaittimes.net

World Cup Photo gallery

South Korea in last 16

BLOEMFONTEIN: A South Africa fan reacts at the end of the World Cup Group A soccer match between France and South Africa at Free State Stadium.—AP

BLOEMFONTEIN: A South African soccer fan bites a South Africa’s flag in South Africa after South Africa defeated France 2-1 in their Group A World Cup soccer match. — AP

DURBAN: South Korea fans cheer prior to the World Cup Group B soccer match between Nigeria and South Korea at the stadium in South Africa. — AP

PARIS: A soccer fan reacts as he watches France playing South Africa during the World Cup Group A soccer match on a giant screen in Paris. — AP

DURBAN: South Korea progressed to the second round of the World Cup for only the second time in eight attempts after a 2-2 draw with Nigeria in their final Group B match here yesterday.

The result saw the Asian giants, who opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Greece but then crashed 4-1 to Argentina, finish second in the group behind the South Americans, who beat Greece 20 to remain unbeaten.

Nigeria, who had lost 1-0 to Argentina and 2-1 to Greece, were eliminated from the World Cup along with the Greeks.

South Korea will face Uruguay for a quarter-final spot while Argentina, who saw off Greece 2-0 in their final group game, will tackle Mexico.

“I am very disappointed,” said Nigeria coach L ars Lagerback. “I am convinced that we deserved better in the World Cup. “When we were ahead we continued to battle and we equalised. But it wasn’t good enough.”

The Super Eagles, who have never beaten an Asian side at the World Cup, opened the scoring through Kalu Uche (12) before South Korea hit back in the 38th minute through Lee Jung-Soo. In a free-flowing game, the Koreans took the lead in the 48th minute through a Park Chu-Young free-kick, but Yakubu Ayegbeni converted a penalty with 20 minutes to play.

The Everton striker, however, was guilty of missing two clear-cut chances, including one sitter, as the game ebbed and flowed from one end to another with attempts aplenty on goal.

South Korea started brightly and Lee Chung-Yong had an excellent chance in the first minute after capitalising on a woeful attempt at a clearance from Rabiu Afolabi.

Against the run of play in the opening quarter, Nigeria’s Chidi Odiah made a determined run down the right flank and squared the ball which Uche tapped in after holding off a feeble defensive effort by Cha DuRi. But South Korea hit back through Lee Jung-Soo, who got around the back of Rabiu Afolabi to scramble the ball past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama from a Ki Sung-Yeung free-kick.

Almeria midfielder Uche had almost doubled Nigeria’s lead just before the Asian team’s equaliser but his wellstruck shot rebounded off the post with Jung well beaten in goal.

South Korea took the lead after Park Chu-Young curled a free-kick around the wall and past Enyeama into far side of the goal.

Some careless defending saw Ayegbeni gifted a chance but Lee Jung-Soo just managed to get back and steal the ball away, and then came the Everton player’s horrendous miss as he failed to bury an inch-perfect Yussuf Ayila cross into the back of an empty net.

Another Nigerian attack did pay dividends, however, as Kim Nam-Il brought down Obasi in the box. Up stepped Ayegbeni to convert the penalty but Nigeria could muster no more attempts on target and the South Koreans went through. — AFP

Qualifiers JOHANNESBURG: Qualifiers for second round of World Cup in South Africa: Netherlands Brazil Uruguay Mexico Argentina South Korea Eliminated Cameroon North Korea South Africa France Greece Nigeria

DURBAN: Nigeria’s Obafemi Martins (right) misses a scoring chance as South Korea goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong (left) tries to deflect the ball during the World Cup Group B soccer match. — AP

Argentina crush Greek resistance POLOKWANE: Martin Demichelis and Martin Palermo scored second-half goals yesterday to help Argentina beat Greece 2-0 at the World Cup and earn the two-time world champions first place in Group B. Argentina will play Mexico in the round of 16, while Greece has been eliminated.

Demichelis scored from short range in the 77th minute after his header bounced off Diego Milito and back into his path. Palermo doubled the score in the 89th from a rebound after Greece goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas had saved a shot by Lionel Messi. Just minutes earlier, Messi’s hard left-foot shot hit the near post.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona made seven changes to the lineup that beat South Korea 4-1 five days earlier.

Captain Javier Mascherano and strikers Carlos Tevez and Gonzalo Higuain were all benched. However, Messi did start and he was given the captain’s armband for the first time.

It made Messi, who turns 23 tomorrow, the youngest Argentina captain ever.

Midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron returned after missing the previous game with a rightcalf injury. Only goalkeeper Sergio Romero, Demichelis, midfielder Maxi Rodriguez and Messi have been in on the team for all three of Argentina’s games.

Although their game was less fluent than in previous matches, the two-time world champions dominated the match, espcially in the first half at the 45,000-capacity Peter Mokaba Stadium, where Argentina fans clearly outnumbered their Greek counterparts.

Argentina initially preferred to keep possession instead of pushing to create chances.

The first shot on goal came in the 18th minute when Sergio Aguero picked up a pass by Veron and dribbled past two Greece defenders before his left-foot shot forced Tzorvas into a diving save.

In the next minute, Tzorvas pushed the ball over the crossbar after a 30-meter (yard) attempt by Veron. In the closing minutes of the first half, Maxi and Messi both saw their powerful shots blocked by the keeper.

Aguero, Veron and Messi were the most active players.

Milito was well neutralized by Greece’s five-man defense, while Sokratis Papastathopoulos committed several minor fouls while shadowing Messi and Georgios Samaras was a lonely striker up front.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel had urged his players to produce the “match of their lives” to get a result against Argentina.

However, the 2004 European champions left their defensive tactics in the second half, which soon gave Samaras his team’s first chance, though the Celtic striker shot just wide after entering the penalty area from the left wing.—AP

World Cup Table JOHANNESBURG: World Cup table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points) P W D L GF GA Pts GROUP E GROUP A x-Netherlands 2 2 0 0 3 0 6 x-Uruguay 3 2 1 0 4 0 7 Japan 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 x-Mexico 3 1 1 1 3 2 4 Denmark 2 1 0 1 2 3 3 South Africa 3 1 1 1 3 5 4 Cameroon 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 France 3 0 1 2 1 4 1 GROUP B x-Argentina x-South Korea Greece Nigeria

3 3 3 3

3 1 1 0

0 1 0 1

0 1 2 2

7 5 2 3

1 6 5 5

9 4 3 1

GROUP F Paraguay Italy New Zealand Slovakia

2 2 2 2

1 0 0 0

1 2 2 1

0 0 0 1

3 2 2 1

1 2 2 3

4 2 2 1

GROUP C Slovenia United States England Algeria

2 2 2 2

1 0 0 0

1 2 2 1

0 0 0 1

3 3 1 0

2 3 1 1

4 2 2 1

GROUP G x-Brazil Portugal Ivory Coast North Korea

2 2 2 2

2 1 0 0

0 1 1 0

0 0 1 2

5 7 1 1

2 0 3 9

6 4 1 0

GROUP D Ghana Germany Serbia Australia

2 2 2 2

1 1 1 0

1 0 0 1

0 1 1 1

2 4 1 1

1 1 1 5

4 3 3 1

GROUP H Chile Spain Switzerland Honduras

2 2 2 2

2 1 1 0

0 0 0 0

0 1 1 2

2 2 1 0

0 1 1 3

6 3 3 0

POLOKWANE: Argentina’s Martin Palermo celebrates with his teammate Lionel Messi (front) after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup Group B soccer match between Greece and Argentina. — AP

VIVA awarded best telecom Co in Kuwait for 2009

22

Wataniya awards MINI Cooper to draw winner

23

China’s more flexible yuan edges down

25

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

www.kuwaittimes.net

UK makes sharpest budget cuts in decades LONDON: Britain announced the toughest cuts to public spending in decades and new tax rises yesterday in an emergency budget aimed at sharply reducing the country’s record debts.

The pain fell on shoppers who will be paying higher sales tax, wealthy people who will be hit for higher capital gains taxes, and banks targeted by a new levy. Even Queen Elizabeth II, who accepted a freeze in her support from taxpayers, will feel the pinch.

There was good news for business, who will benefit from a cut in corporation tax from 28 percent to 24 percent over four years, and for cider drinkers who will be taxed less for their drinks.

Treasury chief George Osborne told the House of Commons his program would allow the country’s new government to cut borrowing from about 10 percent of gross domestic product to 1 percent within its 5 year term of office. “The coalition government has inherited from its predecessor the largest budget deficit of any economy in Europe with the single exception of Ireland. “One pound in every four we spend is being borrowed. What we have not inherited from our predecessor is a credible plan to reduce their record deficit.” Harriet Harman, acting leader of the opposition L abour Party, accused Osborne of offering “a reckless budget that pulls the rug out from under the economy.” “Yes, it’s his first budget, but it’s the same old Tories, hitting hardest at those who can least afford it and breaking their promises,” Harman said. Jonathan Loynes, chief European economist at Capital Economics, said the budget “looks to be an even tougher affair than was generally anticipated.” “Adding the new measures to the previous government’s plans points to a total fiscal tightening of over 6 percent of GDP over the next five years, the bulk of which — 77 percent — will come from real spending cuts,” Loynes said.

Osborne confirmed that valueadded tax — a levy on goods and services — will rise from 17.5 percent to 20 percent from Jan. 4, though essentials including food, children’s clothing and books will remain exempt. Most public sector workers except the lowest-paid will endure a two-year pay freeze, while the majority of government departments face budget cuts of 25 percent to raise 30 billion pounds per year ($44 billion) in expenditure savings.

Osborne said Britain will impose a new levy on banks from January 2011 which is expected to raise 2 billion pounds ($3 billion) per year.

France and Germany have agreed to impose similar levies, Osborne said. The Treasury chief said 7.9 million pounds in government funding to the Queen Elizabeth II’s royal household, a contribution known as the Civil List, would be frozen for a year. About 70 percent of the Civil List expenditure goes on staff salaries, Buckingham Palace says.

The funding also supports the cost of official functions such as receptions and entertainment for visiting heads of state. Osborne said he was scrapping a one-off payment to pregnant women and freezing child benefit payments for three years.

“It is simply not possible to deal with a budget deficit of this size without undertaking lasting reform of welfare,” Osborne said.

He also announced a rise in capital gains tax, from 18 percent to 28 percent that will mainly affect rich households. The British government’s borrowing eased in May but the nation’s debt still rose above 900 billion pounds ($1.33 trillion).

Borrowing dropped from 17.4 billion pounds in May last year to 16 billion pounds last month, according to official statistics. Still, public sector debt rose to 903 billion pounds, or 62 percent of GDP. Prime Minister David Cameron’s coalition government which took office in May has already announced spending cuts of 6.2 billion pounds and on Friday canceled another 2 billion pounds worth of capital spending.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who led the previous government for three years after a decade as Treasury chief, wasn’t in the Commons for the speech. Aides said he was visiting schools and getting reacquainted with people in his Scottish district. — AP

New taxes in emergency budget seek to slash record debts

Kuwait confirms $800 m investment in China IPO AgBank hopes to raise $23bn in share sale KUWAIT: Kuwait’s finance minister yesterday confirmed that its sovereign wealth fund was interested in taking a $800 million stake in the initial public offering of China’s Agricultural Bank. On Monday, sources told Reuters that the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), the country’s sovereign wealth fund, was involved in a deal to invest $800 million in the bank’s IPO, which is likely to raise $23 billion.

Asked to confirm the report, the finance minister, Mustapha Al-Shamali, told

reporters at Kuwait’s parliament: “Yes, it’s a long-term investment.” The sources, who are directly involved with the deal, also confirmed on Monday that the Qatar Investment Authority agreed to invest $2.8 billion in AgBank.

Excluding over-allotment shares, the bank that Mao Zedong founded in 1951 as the rural unit of the central bank hopes to raise around $12 billion through an offering in Hong Kong and around $11 billion through a listing in Shanghai. — Reuters

Dubai’s Amlak, Tamweel results signal turnaround

LONDON: Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne displays his budget Box outside his official residence at 11 Downing Street in central London yesterday. —AP

150-year-old budget box takes last bow LONDON: A red wooden box that has carried the government’s budget to the House of Commons since 1860 made its last official appearance yesterday. Treasury chief George Osborne struck the traditional pose, holding the box aloft for photographers, before he set off to the House of Commons to announce the government’s budget plans. But he left it behind.

The box was first used by William Ewart Gladstone in 1860, and most

Chancellors of the Exchequer have used it ever since. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was an exception, using a new red box during his 11 years heading the Treasury.

The old box will be retired to a permanent display in the Cabinet War Rooms. “We’ve had a close look at the box and, given the fragile state it’s in, we believe now is the time to retire the box from public life,” said Oliver Morley, acting chief executive of The National Archives. “If it isn’t retired,

it may end up being destroyed completely.”

Gladstone was elected to Parliament as a Conservative, but became a Liberal and served four terms as Chancellor of the Exchequer at various times between 1852 and 1882, as well as four terms as prime minister between 1868 and 1894. In an echo of Gladstone, the box made its last appearance in the service of a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government formed in May. — AP

DUBAI: Earnings at troubled Dubai mortgage firms Amlak and Tamweel improved in the first quarter, the companies said yesterday, potentially clearing the way to mergers or takeovers.

Trading in Dubai’s two biggest mortgage firms has been suspended since 2008 when the government announced plans to merge and restructure the two Islamic lenders after the collapse of Dubai’s real estate sector pushed them deep into the red.

In a much-delayed statement, Amlak said its first quarter net loss narrowed to 3.1 million dirhams ($844,200) from 68.3 million dirhams ($18.60 million) in the year-ago period due to lower impairments and operating expenses.

GCC single currency project— learning from euro experience

By Nisreen Zahreddine KUWAIT: The curtain has not yet been drawn on the European debt crisis.

Portugal is not the last victim and the European Central Bank is in the middle of a real crisis. The euro-zone has a unified currency, a common economy database and maybe infrastructure as well.

Talk of ending the euro is just speculation but on the other hand the conversations are happening. The latest economic incident in Greece has proved that these considerations can find their way into serious conversations.

Greece’s support package from the European Central Bank is obviously not enough to boost the economy there. The dominos have started falling and there seems to be no serious solution on the horizon.

This is in European and Mediterranean countries. The Middle East was expected to have a similar union, one that would tie the finances of the most vital and powerful economies in the Middle East, the Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) countries, with a single currency.

The project’s implementation was postponed until 2015 and the decision to delay has its reasons. Recently, there have been some negative trends on the global economic level of countries with a unified currency. To Kuwait, the issue may be harder so it needs to be studied well. The Kuwaiti dinar is pegged to a basket of currencies that includes the Euro. Will this affect a unified currency project in the GCC and lessen the Kuwait’s enthusiasm for unified currency?

“We have to weigh each step and think thoroughly before taking it,” said Imad Al-Manea, chief of foreign investment management in KFH bank. He explained that it is necessary to think of the micro and macro benefits of any project. It might require some compromises such as adjusting the exchange rate and the monetary policy to make the decision

KUWAIT: An employee counts banknotes at an exchange company in downtown Kuwait. —Photo by Joseph Shagra successful.

He added that there should be a separation between the economic benefits of the decision and the political reasons behind it. Decisions should be made that will building the right condition for implementing such a step comfortably and in the right way.

“GCC states must have a unified currency,” said Hussein Al-Attal a stock market analyst. He explained that lessons should be learned from the negative aspects of the European experience so that it can be avoided in the GCC experience. In his opinion, what is going on in the Euro Zone should not discourage the GCC countries. On the contrary, he thinks that GCC states should be proac-

tive and not be negative like the UAE or Oman. He pointed out that EU will overcome these obstacles and will have a good future in the long run because the countries that have an extra surplus in their budget are paying other countries what they need.

Al-Attal explained that there have not been any completed economic projects between the GCC states since 1978, except for the decision to unify customs charges and allow the free movement of goods. As for Kuwait, he did not show any signs of worry regarding a unified currency project. He said that Kuwait pegged its currency to a basket of currencies including euro for hedging reasons in order to make it less risky. This was the reason

why Kuwait was not seriously affected by the economic crisis, which affected the US dollar the most.

Kuwait has been one of the most enthusiastic members behind creating a single monetary fund but also strongly declared a pause in creating a unified currency project. Kuwait’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammad Sabah Al-Salim AlSabah chaired the GCC meeting in Jeddah last month. There, it was decided that rushing towards a single currency project before a complete integration and harmony of economies, greater trade integration and a preparation of adequate statistical material in areas like inflation means that the second step would be implemented before the first.

For Amlak it was the sixth consecutive quarterly loss. Tamweel swung to a first quarter net profit of 5.1 million dirhams ($1.39 million) compared to a 40.7 million loss in the first quarter of 2009.

Analysts said the Islamic lenders’ results remove some uncertainty about their future. Officials have considered merging the two firms or creating a four-way tie-up with other state-owned banks but current plans remain unknown.

“If they’ve actually recovered or the worst is over then they should have a clearer path towards a merger, a standalone scenario or a third party coming in,” said Saud Masud, head of research and senior real estate analyst at UBS in Dubai.

Dubai Islamic Bank said earlier in June it may increase its one-fifth stake in Tamweel, as market talk intensified that the longawaited merger between the UAE’s largest mortgage lenders could be scrapped in favor of another financial group stepping in.

“Can they come out on their own? I still have my reservations,” Masud said.

“My view is that they need to be merged and if not they need investors to provide them with the right capital,” he said. Amlak said it was evaluating several options to secure funding for the group to allow it to meet its ongoing commitments, but didn’t provide further details.

Amlak’s chief executive and Tamweel’s chairman wasn’t immediately available to comment. — Reuters

MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

Egypt leads drop; stocks snap rally CAIRO/DUBAI: Egypt’s main index dropped the most in nearly a month yesterday, led by developer Talaat Moustafa, while most Middle East markets fell as investors booked profits after a two-day rally.

An Egyptian court ruled yesterday to nullify the sale of gover nment land to Egypt’s biggest listed property developer, for its mixeduse Medinaty project on the outskir ts of Cairo. The exchange suspended trade on Talaat Moustafa and cancelled all earlier trades after the stock lost 6 percent, but it later ended 8.4 percent lower than Monday’s close after the suspension was lifted. The index fell 2.9 percent to 6,355 points. “We will continue to see most activity in the blue chips” over the next few days,” said Mohamed Helmy of HC Brokerage, adding he expected the market to be flat today.

“If tomorrow is flat, then things will be on the rise again the next day.”

Petrochemical shares were the main losers on Saudi Arabia’s index which fell 1.4 percent to 6,364 points. Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) was the top loser among blue-chips, closing down 3.4 percent. Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company fell 2.9 percent and Yansab an affiliate of SABIC, dropped 2.8 percent.

Dubai’s benchmark declined for the first session in four, led by heavyweight Emaar Properties which fell

3 percent. Investment bank Shuaa Capital fell 6.5 percent.

Telecoms operator du was the only stock that ended in positive territory after raising $272 million in a rights issue. The stock rose 0.9 percent. Dubai’s benchmark dropped 1.4 percent to 1,542 points.

Investor sentiment was also hurt by an announcement from index provider MSCI, maintaining United Arab Emirates and Qatar stock markets as frontier markets in its 2010 annual market classification review.

“There was speculation that UAE and Qatar would be included in the MSCI index but that isn’t happening and that’s slightly negative,” said Shahid Hameed, head of asset management at Global Investment House.

In Abu Dhabi, investment fir m Aabar was the most volatile stock, falling more than 5 percent earlier in the day and closing up 2.4 percent af ter a late rally. On Monday, the company said it would meet on June 24 to discuss a date for an extraordinary general meeting to consider delisting from the bourse. “The news was very unclear and confusing for retail investors who did not seem to have a definite direction to trade the stock,” said Samer Al-Jaouni, general manager for Middle East Financial Brokerage Co. Qatar’s benchmark fell 0.5 percent, while Kuwait’s index bucked the trend and rose 0.4 percent. — Reuters

2

BUSINESS

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

ABM recognizes VIVA Kuwait for 2009 achievements

VIVA Kuwait bags best telecom company award KUWAIT: VIVA Kuwait received the award for best telecommunication company for 2009. The honor was given by the Arabian Business Magazine at a special event held in Kuwait on June 21, 2010. Accepting the award on VIVA

Kuwait’s behalf was Najeeb Al-Awadhi, VIVA’s CEO. Only one year in the market and VIVA Kuwait was able to successfully handle the competitive challenges they faced and provide exceptional customer service.

VIVA Kuwait provides the most innovative services in Kuwait’s telecommunication industry. VIVA Kuwait’s approach to business, its transparency and outstanding service are essential to its success and the reason they received the impressive award from the Arabian Business Magazine.

Najeeb Al-Awadhi, VIVA Kuwait CEO, thanked Arabian Business Magazine for the honor of receiving such a special Award in a speech delivered at the event.

“VIVA Kuwait has worked hard to make real and significant changes in the way people communicate in Kuwait,” Al-Awadhi said, and he added “I would like to take this opportunity to assure our loyal customers that VIVA Kuwait will strive to surpass our achievements to date, and continue to add value to our customers’ lives with exceptional products and services for years to come.”

“None of this would have been possible without the relentless efforts of the dedicated team at VIVA,” AlAwadhi concluded.

VIVA Kuwait has become a distinctive player in the telecommunications sector with our unique and unrivalled services, including innovative technologies.

VIVA Kuwait is in the business of making things possible for their customers.

Cooperation between Commercial Bank and New Mowasat Hospital KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait has always provided services to all segments of customers. In a new move that shows CBK’s commitment to this issue, the Marketing and Research Department partnered with the New Mowasat Hospital to create a complete Medical Testing campaign for holders of Al-Tijari credit cards on June 7 and 8. The bank invited Al-Tijari credit card holders to have diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol and high blood pressure checkups and examinations at New Mowasat hospital, whereby the hospital set up a special hotline to arrange the visits from Al-Tijari customers at the hospital’s diabetic centre. A team of doctors led by Dr. Kashif Rizvi, Director of Mowasat Diabetes and Medical Centre, performed the necessary

tests and examinations as well as prepared the final reports and provided counseling and guidance for the Al-Tijari credit card holders.

Ramzi Sabboury, Executive Manager of Marketing and Research at the Commercial Bank of Kuwait, stated that the bank always strives to support and consolidate the business relationship with its customer and provides them with a variety of services. He added that since the bank knows the dangers of diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol in Kuwait, this necessary cooperation with the New Mowasat Hospital was established to make sure the health and wellbeing of the customers at its highest level and make them aware of the threats involved with these diseases and prevent any future risks.

LG Electronics unveils world’s first full HD 3D projector KUWAIT: LG Electronics (LG) announces the launch of the world’s first full HD 3D projector that uses two projection engines. Working in tandem, the two engines create the 3D effect of up to 1080p/60 resolution and TruMotion at 120Hz, so that each eye receives images at 60Hz. For those wanting the best possible 3D experience when watching movies at home such as Alice in Wonderland and James Cameron’s Avatar, the CF3D Projector will provide the ultimate multimedia viewing experience.

“Consumers are continuously looking for creative new solutions for both entertainment and business video display needs, and LG projectors provide the versatility and options for multiple applications,” said H S Paik,

President of LG Electronics Gulf. “LG’s CF3D provides the very best in viewing experience at all times and solidifies our continued commit-

ment to the projector market.”

CF3D - More Life-Like Viewing LG’s versatile CF3D is the

world’s first Full HD Single Lens Type 3D Projector featuring an amazing brightness rating of 2,500 ANSI-lumens and a high contrast ratio of

7,000:1 that delivers the very best images possible. This model also features TruMotion 120Hz for smoother images - a technology previously only seen on flat panel HDTVs. LG’s CF3D enhanced technology gives consumers a more life-like viewing experience. Incorporating both Dual Engine and 3D Auto Picture Calibration technology, the CF3D offers superb color correction to help ensure images are displayed naturally.

HDMI upscaling on the CF3D reduces on-screen color banding, providing smoother tonal transitions and more subtle gradation between colors. The LG CF3D is available in the UAE from Q2 and is priced at AED 55,000.

Al Mulla Exchange upgrades AMX Personal Service KUWAIT: Al Mulla Exchange, the premier Exchange Company in Kuwait, upgraded their AMX Personal service by unveiling two new cars branded with the service. Khaled Al-Muraikhi, Deputy CEO of Al Mulla Group inaugurated the launch of the cars at the Al Mulla Group Head Quarters in Kuwait Free Trade zone.

Hormuzda Davar, Director of Financial Services and Mr. Faisal Athar Hussain, General Manager, Al Mulla Exchange, were present at the occasion along with other Exchange officials.

AMX Personal licensed by the Central Bank of Kuwait is an innovative service launched by

Al Mulla Exchange for discerning high-value customers and offers preferred remittance solutions to their door-step at no extra cost. Customers can avail this service through a dedicated hotline number 1840123.

At the convenient time and place determined by the customer, Al Mulla Exchange representative visits the customer, to have their transaction done with a Laptop and a portable printer. As per Central Bank of Kuwait rules, the customer can pay for this service only by Knet, and for this, the representative carries a mobile K-net machine for the customer to swipe. Once the transaction is

concluded, the receipt is immediately printed off and handed to the customer. Some additional features of this service include, free SMS once amount is credited into the account, loyalty points which are redeemable against the commission etc.

Since its launch 2 years back, AMX Personal has gained prominence amongst High-NetWorth-Individuals in Kuwait, as this service is very efficient and time saving. Al Mulla Exchange promises to keep introducing such innovative services in the future to further develop customer service and become the customer’s first choice of exchange in Kuwait.

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

.2850000 .4280000 .3570000 .2590000 .2820000 .2510000 .0045000 .0020000 .0789800 .7694750 .4020000 .0750000 .7543380 .0045000 .0500000

.2950000 .4370000 .3640000 .3670000 .2900000 .2590000 .0075000 .0035000 .0797730 .7772090 .4180000 .0790000 .7619200 .0072000 .0580000

US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2903000 .4304150 .3595480 .2618640 .2841120 .0483310 .0375680 .2531380 .0372980 .2095690 .0032000 .0063450 .0025630 .0034110 .0042310 .0790750 .7704020 .4105560 .0774510 .7543890 .0063790

.2924000 .4334530 .3620850 .2537180 .2861230 .0486730 .0378340 .2549240 .0375620 .2110520 .0032230 .0063890 .0025810 .0034350 .0042610 .0795790 .7753120 .4134620 .0779450 .7591970 .0064250

US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2924000 .4334530 .2637180 .0779450

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Japanese Yen 3.227 Indian Rupees 6.339 Pakistani Rupees 3.416

Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

2.567 3.986 211.930 37.562 4.213 6.403 9.034 0.296 0.310

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 77.910 80.264 758.930 775.900 79.550

Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 53.750 51.461 1.294 194.020 412.200 196.000 6.250 33.300

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 292.000 Euro 360.300 Sterling Pound 432.200 Canadian dollar 286.300 Turkish lire 187.440 Swiss Franc 264.130 Australian dollar 255.920 US Dollar Buying 288.500

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound

SELL DRAFT 259.900 776.340 4.320 288.600 573.200 14.100 49.600 167.800 53.640

10 Tola

GOLD 1,355.980

362.000 38.030 6.335

412.660 0.197 93.350 3.990 208.900 758.180 3.425 6.410 80.300 77.950 213.120 41.200 2.567 433.500 265.200 9.180 79.560 291.900

SELL CASH 258.400 776.340 4.214 287.100

213.100 51.459

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

291.850 286.021 431.678 361.594 262.530 715.354 772.506 79.440 80.143 77.795 411.846 51.450 6.365 3.422

2.568 4.220 6.400 3.211 9.015 6.367 3.961

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Candaian Dollars

291.300 3.415 6.390 2.575 4.205 6.335 79.390 77.890 774.400 51.315 437.700 0.0000328000 3.990 1.550 413.700 5.750 367.900 292.400

Al Mulla Exchange

TRAVELLER?S CHEQUE 433.500

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

363.500 38.180 6.520 0.035 0.277 0.258 3.310 413.960 0.198 93.350 45.400 4.560 210.400 1.989 47.100 756.360 3.530 6.520 80.730 77.950 213.120 41.200 2.766 435.500 38.800 266.700 6.400 9.360 198.263 79.650 292.300 1.350

Sterling Pound

GOLD 249.000 126.000 66.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

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

Currency US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal

*Rates are subject to change

Transfer rate 291.100 365.000 436.750 288.000 3.225 6.372 51.320 2.565 4.201 6.398 3.125 774.000 79.300 77.700

BUSINESS

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

23

BP boss retreats from spill; shares drop to 13-year low Judge to rule on US drilling ban today LONDON/NEW ORLEANS: Beleaguered BP boss Tony Hayward retreated from daily management of the US oil spill crisis yesterday and dodged making a conference speech where his stand-in was heckled by angry environmentalists. BP Plc shares fell as much as 4.8 percent to a 13-year low after the company con-

Wataniya awards a MINI Cooper to its 2nd monthly draw lucky winner 10 more draws coming and more valuable prizes to win if your number starts with 6!

KUWAIT: Wataniya Telecom continues to give out prizes to the winners for its recent monthly draw conducted on the 10th of June, in which it aims at providing each customer and subscriber with the opportunity to enter the draw if his/her number starts with 6. The second red draw was organized and took place in the avenues got a very positive response and feedback from all visitors and Wataniya customers for its immense triumph and great valuable prizes.

Wataniya customer Nasser Muhammad Qurban was the first lucky winner who won the a MINI cooper Cab, as the raffle draw took place with the attendance of representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and a

number of Wataniya’s leading members.

The rewarding ceremony to deliver the car keys to the winner took place at Ali-AlGhanim and Sons Automotive Showroom with the presence of Hamad AlMatar from Wataniya’s Public Relations and marketing manager from Al-Ghanim showroom Muhammad Abdolqader.

On the occasion, Abdol Aziz Al Balool, Wataniya PR Manager congratulated the winner and expressed his appreciation to the management of Ali Al-Ghanim and Sons Company praising the offers provided by the company by saying that: “The offers given to us by AlGhanim Company played an important role in attracting

our customers to participate in the monthly draw campaign and we are surely looking forward to further cooperation with them.”

Al-Balool also added: “The second draw resulted in great success and attracted a magnificent number of customers which encourages us to provide them with more offers and promotional campaigns with valuable prizes to our customers in the 10 months to come.”

From his end Mohammad Abdolqader showed his gratitude to Wataniya’s efforts and praised their latest marketing campaigns and stated: “We thank each and every person working on this campaign from Wataniya and also congratulate the winner for the MINI cooper.”

Kuwait, Qatar offer total 184,000 tons of naphtha SINGAPORE: Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) and Qatar’s Tasweeq are offering a total of 184,000 tons of naphtha for July loading, traders said yesterday. This comes at a time when the market is already getting rare spot offers from Saudi Aramco and ADNOC. KPC has offered a total of 74,000 tons of naphtha, comprising 50,000 tons full-range grade and 24,000 tonnes light grade for July 13-20 loading in a tender closing today.

Tasweeq is offering two 55,000-tonne cargoes, comprising full-range grade and splitter grade.

“Middle East is puking naphtha,” said a trader.

This could be the result of term buyers having either rejected the Middle Eastern contracts recently or reduced their volumes because of the high contract premiums.

Saudi Aramco is selling 50,000 tons for July loading from Jubail in a tender which closed yesterday. ADNOC is looking to sell 75,000 tons, but for first-half August loading from Ruwais. Cracks, the premiums/losses obtained from refining Brent crude into naphtha, dived to around an eight-month low yesterday at below $90.00 a ton. —Reuters

Sony showcases new-lineup for hospitality solutions DUBAI: Sony Gulf yesterday showcased the new additions to its hospitality solutions lineup to key decision influencers including hoteliers, system integrators and consultants from the region’s leading hotel chains.

Held at the One & Only Royal Mirage, the event gave delegates an exclusive preview of a range of Sony Hospitality Solutions. The leading electronics brand displayed products including the BRAVIA Hotel Interactive Television Series with screens ranging from 22-inch to 55-inch, with the brand new 40-inch LED Hospitality TV leading the line-up.

The event gave partners an opportunity to experience some of the brand’s innovative Guest Room Solutions such as the Sound Bar home theatre system and the Sleek 2 multimedia Hi Fi system. Other gadgets displayed

Saudi Arabian business confidence falls RIYADH: Banque Saudi Fransi said greater global economic uncertainty in light of the euro-zone debt crisis and volatility in oil prices over the last two months has taken a toll on sentiment among Saudi business executives. The BSF Business Confidence Index, which attempts to gauge market sentiment on a quarterly basis, fell to 99.8 points in the third quarter, from 100.7 points in the second quarter, Chief Economist John Sfakianakis said.

He also said business executives have adopted greater caution in their outlooks for financial performance, bank lending, investment strategies and hiring plans. With lower oil price expectations in mind, fewer businesses are confident that sales will improve in the coming two quarters, Sfakianakis said.

More executives are choosing cash and bonds as their top investment picks in next two quarters, highlighting risk aversion, he said.

However, the economist added, “Greater vigilance does not mean businesses are bearish, only that they are mindful that the global recovery is going to be bumpy rather than smooth.” —Reuters

in this series included bed-side iPod dock clock radios, the Media Hub which integrates connectivity for the guest’s devices such as laptops and smart-phones, as well as the 10inch Digital Photo Frames.

Sony Professional Solutions also utilized the platform to display its key solutions for the hospitality industry which include digital signage, security systems and video conferencing.

Russia deepens its gas supply cuts to Belarus MOSCOW: Russia deepened cuts in natural gas supplies to neighbor Belarus yesterday over what it claims is a debt of nearly $200 million for previous gas shipments. Alexei Miller, chief of Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom gas giant, said that the company decreased supplies by 30 percent starting yesterday because Belarus has refused to pay the debt. Gazprom initially reduced supplies by 15 percent Monday and warned it would eventually cut deliveries by 85 percent if the debt was not canceled.

Belarus, however, insists that Russia owes it $260 million in transit fees. President Alexander Lukashenko said yesterday in Minsk that he had ordered to cut the supply of Russian gas to Europe because Russia had not paid its bill. In Moscow, Gazprom spokesman Sergey Kupriyanov told reporters that Belarus’ debt would increase Wednesday when the next month’s payment is due. He also said Gazprom would be willing to send observers to the Belarusian-Russian border to monitor whether Belarus was illegally siphoning off gas.

Spokeswoman Marlene Holzner said that the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, expected that “the gas flows to the European Union will not be affected.” Slightly more than 6 percent of total EU gas consumption comes from gas shipped through Belarus. In a letter to the European Commission late Monday, Belarus’ Energy Ministry warned that cuts of more than 15 percent could lead to transit shortages.

Gazprom has promised that European customers wouldn’t be affected by the shut-off since Gazprom could reroute gas supplies through another transit pipeline crossing Ukraine. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev rejected Belarus’ proposal to pay off the debt in goods, saying that Russia needed “no pies, no butter, no cheese” — only cash. Lukashenko yesterday described Medvedev’s words as an insult. “When they are trying to insult us with meat chops, sausage, butter or pancakes — we consider it as an insult for the Belarusian people,” he said. —AP

“Hayward will remain at the helm for the near term but ultimately, this fiasco might prove career-shortening for him,” said a fund manager from one of BP’s top 20 investors yesterday.

A series of PR gaffes by Hayward and a failure to quickly stem the leak has piled pressure on the CEO since an explosion on the Gulf of Mexico rig killed 11 workers and ruptured a well, unleashing millions of gallons of crude that still flows into the sea more than two months later.

A US court decision will come this week over whether to uphold a post-spill ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The six-month ban was imposed by President Barack Obama’s government-also suffering severe criticism for the way it has handled the worst oil spill in US history which has soiled the coasts of four US states, threatens the tourism and fishing industries and has seeped into ecologically sensitive wetlands.

Oil drilling companies are contesting the ban, but it has support among environmentalists and sympathy among fisherman who suffered an extension of fishing bans this week. In London yesterday, protesters twice interrupted a speech by BP Chief of Staff Steve Westwell, Hayward’s replacement in an appearance at the World National Oil Companies Congress.

“We need to end the oil age,” one young woman from environmental group Greenpeace shouted as she was removed by a security guard. Protesters also waved a banner carrying the BP logo splattered with black paint.

Hayward’s handling of the crisis has drawn bitter criticism. US citizens have heard him say he wants his “life back” and watched him stonewall a congressional investigation of the accident. The 53 year-old also pulled out of a BP-sponsored portrait award ceremony taking place in London later yesterday. Chairman CarlHenric Svanberg hinted on Friday that Hayward may step back from day-to-day management of the spill response, but officials later insisted he would stay on the case. On Tuesday, Westwell confirmed Hayward now needed to be “focusing on other activities” while Dudley’s team “increasingly will be taking over responsibility for the incident”. Deeply involved in the spill response from the beginning, Dudley is seen as a potential successor to Hayward should the crisis cost him the top job.

Now managing director with responsibility for oversight of the Americas and Asia, Dudley is best known as head of BP’s Russian joint venture TNK-BP from 2003 to 2008.

He knows a bit about political risk. BP fell out with its TNK-BP partners. Things got ugly, and Dudley was forced to flee the country as BP accused the Russian government of doing nothing to defend its interests.

The spill crisis has engulfed the deep-sea drilling industry. US District Court Judge Martin Feldman has promised he will decide by today whether to temporarily lift the ban while the case is heard.

More than a dozen companies involved in offshore drilling operations filed the lawsuit, calling the ban “arbitrary and capricious.” “The government’s unchecked authority has shut down this entire industry,” said lawyer Carl Rosenblum, representing the oil industry.

The lawsuit is the first seeking to reverse Obama’s May 27 moratorium, which companies say will force job cuts in the labor force needed to service offshore oil platforms. The ban has caused the shutdown of 33 deepwater drilling rigs. At the London conference, Chevron advised against regulation that could hurt the industry. “Leaders and policymakers need to consider the potential for unintended consequences,” said Jay Pryor, global vice president for business development.

The disaster has shattered investor confidence in BP, which saw its share price reach its lowest since February 1997 yesterday in London, dropping as much as 4.8 percent to 332.75 pence before coming off lows. —Reuters

firmed that Bob Dudley, a veteran of the company’s troubles in Russia, is now managing the crisis response. Officials had insisted in recent days that Hayward would stay in the front line until the leaking BP well in the Gulf of Mexico was plugged. His position as chief executive is seen as under severe pressure.

LONDON: Delegates are seen during a break of the sessions of the World National Oil Companies Congress, in London, yesterday. Steven Newman, President and CEO of the broken Deepwater Horizon rig spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico criticized US President Barack Obama’s six-month ban on deepwater drilling and a BP executive was heckled at the major oil conference. —AP

Al-Hassad Islamic Account from Al-Motahid

The only investment savings account with prizes compliant to Sharia KUWAIT: AUB has announced the results of the Weekly draw of its AlHassad Islamic savings scheme. The lucky customer Suhaila Fahad Omar El Serri winning the Grand Weekly prize worth KD 20,000 at the draw held on June 9th 2010.

The following Al-Hassad Islamic customers won cash prizes of KD 1000 each: Amer Jawdat Khalaf, Meashaal Hamoud Omar Al Jeheadli, Ostin Vimalraj Rajasingam, Tareq Ahmad Al Seid Al Namroti, and Achrf Benmostapha K. Benromdhane .

The biggest-ever AlHassad Islamic savings scheme features 6000 prizes worth KD 10 million in total.

The scheme’s structure gives eligible customers the opportunity to win KD 1 million in two quarterly prize draws, offering a single ‘Grand Salary for Life’ prize of KD 4000 a month for the next 250 months.

Other ‘Salary for Life’ prizes include quarterly KD 500,000 prizes (KD 2,000 paid out every month) and KD 250,000 prizes (KD

1,000 paid out every month).

With a total of three winners announced each quarter, all prizes convert to a stable

source of monthly income for the winner over the next 250 months. Apart from the quarterly prizes, one Grand

Weekly prize of KD 20,000 and five weekly cash prizes of KD 1,000 each are given away every week.

Customers with KD 1000 and above invested in the AlHassad Islamic scheme are eligible to win KD 500,000 in each of the four loyalty draws held over the scheme period. The concept behind the savings scheme is giving customers the opportunity to win a “salary for life”. AUB’s objective has been to create a lifetime change for the winners and allow them to invest their winnings in things that will make a lasting difference to the well being of their families.

For more information on the Al-Hassad Islamic investment savings account, its prize structure and eligibility criteria, customers may visit any AUB Kuwait branch or call Hayakom 181 2000.

Picture: The winner Suhaila Fahad El-Serri with her grandchildren Dalia & Bader Al-Musalim are receiving the cheque from Amer Najem AUBK Area Manager.

Oil price falls below $78 as China yuan impact fades LONDON: Crude oil fell below $78 per barrel yesterday as shares retreated and on expectations that a slow rise in China’s currency would have a more limited impact on global demand than initially anticipated.

China’s yuan rose yesterday after the central bank set the currency’s daily midpoint at its highest against the dollar since a revaluation in July 2005.

The move, which followed an announcement by the Chinese authorities that they would let the currency rise slowly, spurred hopes that China would import more goods, including raw materials such as metals and oil. But the yuan slipped later yesterday and analysts said the impact of the changes would be limited, at least for a while.

“The knee-jerk positive reaction and euphoria related to the yuan news were definitely overdone. So, it’s logical to see the markets giving up the gains from yesterday,” said Eugen Weinberg, head of commodity research at Commerzbank.

“The commodity markets again demonstrate that they are under the spell and fate of the financial (equity) markets, which are

retreating. Also a weaker euro is contributing to the drop.”

Stock markets slipped in Asia and Europe with traders saying optimism over China’s move had dissipated and as equity investors took profits from multi-week highs.

The July contract for US crude which expires later yesterday, fell to a day’s low of $76.53 a barrel, down $1.29, before rallying sharply to trade around $77.50, down 32 cents, by 1317 GMT. US crude for August, which will become the front month from today, shed 26 cents to $78.35. ICE Brent for August lost 32 cents to $78.50.

The oil market largely shrugged off expectations of a drop in US crude inventories in data due later this week. A Reuters poll of analysts showed an average expectation for a 1.3 million-barrel drawdown in US crude stocks.

Front-month US crude touched an intraday 6-1/2-week high near $79 a barrel on Monday, but pulled back as charts indicated technical resistance. Although prices have recovered by 20 percent from a trough below

$65 on May 20, they are still about $10 lower than an early-May 19-month high above $87.

Crude’s failure to breach strong resistance at $78.40 — the 61.8 percent Fibonacci retracement on the move from $87.15 to $64.24 — brings a new target of $76.50 into play, according to a Reuters market analyst.

Monday’s crude rally came after China’s central bank allowed the yuan to surge by nearly 0.5 percent against the dollar in the spot market, the daily limit, following a pledge at the weekend to make the currency more flexible. That led to a commodities rally on Monday amid prospects for increased buying power from China.

A Reuters poll of analysts showed Chinese authorities will only allow up to a 2.4 percent rise for the yuan against the dollar by the end of 2010, keeping its word that it will keep the currency basically stable.

China is the world’s second-biggest oil consumer after the United States, accounting for about 10 percent of global use. But it is also the world’s fifth-largest producer and in May it pumped more oil domestically than it bought from abroad. —Reuters

24

BUSINESS GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT

Service, real estate sectors support KSE stocks rally KUWAIT: The Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) continued its positive performance during yesterday’s session with support from Service and Real Estate sectors. The last-minute trading reversed again the direction of major indices to end with gains.

Global General Index (GGI) increased by 1.28 points (0.68 percent) during the session to reach 189.14 points. The KSE Price Index also rose 3.10 points (0.44 percent) yesterday and closed at 6,672.70 points. Market capitalization went down by KD113.56mn yesterday to reach KD31.05mn.

Market breadth During the session, 109 companies were traded. Market breadth was skewed towards advancers, as 52 equities advanced versus 30 that retreated. A total of 130 stocks remained unchanged during yesterday’s trading session.

Trading activities ended on a mixed note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange increased by 12.78 percent to reach 143.65mn shares, and value of shares traded decreased by 1.50 percent to stand at KD21.97mn. The Investment Sector was the volume leader, accounting for 27.38 percent of total market volume.

The Services Sector was the value leader, accounting for 29.98 percent of total market value. Investors Holding Group Co was the volume leader for the seventh consecutive day, with a total traded volume of 16.56mn shares. Zain was the value leader, with a total traded value of KD3.25mn.

In terms of top gainers, Al Themar International Holding Co increased its gains as it took the top spot, adding 10 percent and closed at KD0.110, followed by Aref Investment Group gaining 9.62 percent during yesterday’s session, and closed at KD0.057. On the other hand, Kuwait Financing &

Investment Co was the biggest loser, shedding 5.15 percent, and closed at KD0.092.

Sector wise Regarding Global’s sectoral indices, all 7 indices ended the day on a positive note. Global Food Index was the biggest gainer, adding 1.92 percent to its value, backed by Americana, up 2.90 percent, closing at KD1.42.

Followed by Global Services Index, adding 1.27 percent, backed by Zain, which was up 2.90 percent, closing at KD1.14. Global’s special indices also ended the day on a positive note.

Global Large Cap Index was the biggest gainer adding 0.73 percent to

its value, backed by Americana and Zain, up 2.90 percent and 1.79 percent, respectively.

Oil news The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at 75.96 dollars a barrel on Monday, compared with $75.13 the previous Friday, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Kuwait’s Finance Minister Mustapha Al-Shamali yesterday confirmed that its sovereign wealth fund, Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), was interested in taking a $800 mn stake in the initial public offering of China’s Agricultural Bank, which is likely to raise $23bn. Asked to confirm the report, the finance minister, told

reporters at Kuwait’s parliament: “Yes, it’s a long-term investment.”

International Investor (TII) clarified the news, which was published yesterday in a local newspaper as follows: 1- The company did not sell its stake in FleetCorp Turkey and did not generate KD5mn profit.

2- The company did not acquire a 25pecent stake from a certain shareholder in FleetCorp. However, it had bought this stake from several partners in March 2009. The deal proceeds were reflected in TII’s financial statements.

3- The bids submitted for TII’s equity in FleetCorp were not serious.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Abu Dhabi bank prices 5-yr sukuk at 4.75% KUALA LUMPUR/ABU DHABI: National Bank of Abu Dhabi has priced its 500 million ringgit ($156.9 million) five-year sukuk at 4.75 percent, bankers said, as the bank taps investors in the world’s biggest Islamic bond market.

The sale is one of a handful from Middle Eastern issuers as the region struggles to recover from Dubai’s debt restructuring and several high profile sukuk defaults which have rattled investor confidence. The sukuk, which is being sold in Malaysia, was oversubscribed 3.6 times, said state-owned NBAD, the second largest bank in the United Arab Emirates by assets. Malaysia has the world’s largest sukuk market, accounting for 42 percent of total global sukuk issuance of $19.1 billion last year, Thomson Reuters data showed. Funds accounted for 48.3 percent of investors, insurance companies 21 percent, financial institutions 19.9 percent, government agencies 8.6 percent and cor-

porates 2.2 percent, joint lead manager HSBC said.

“NBAD is in the best position among banks in the region to get appetite from investors because of the very low risk profile of the bank,” said Sofia El Boury, assistant vice president of research at Shuaa Capital. “In terms of debt, for NBAD the range has been between 3.5 to 5.9 percent and anything between this bracket is good for NBAD.” Royal Bank of Scotland and the investment banking arm of Malaysia’s top lender Malayan Banking are also handling the deal. NBAD said the sale would help diversify its sources of funding.

“We believe this will now open the door for other issuers from our part of the world to tap this unique liquidity pool and strengthen further links that are established with Asian investor base,” an NBAD spokesman told Reuters.

NABD was one of five lenders which was recently awarded commercial banking

licenses by Malaysia’s central bank.The bank, rated ‘A plus’

by Standard & Poor’s and ‘Aa3’ by Moody’s, recently launched a $5 billion euro medium term note program in the Middle East.

But few foreign issuers have tapped the Malaysian ringgit bond market over the years.

In 2008, Gulf Investment Corp and ExportImport Bank of Korea each sold 1 billion ringgit of bonds in the Southeast Asian country. Large sukuk deals have been scarce so far this year but recent sales have drawn strong demand. Last month, the Malaysian government sold $1.25 billion worth of 5year sukuk at par with a yield spread of 180 basis points over US Treasuries.

Saudi Electricity Co raised 7 billion riyals from 7-year sukuk, at 95 basis points above Saudi Interbank Offered Rate (Sibor) in May, below the 160 bps above Sibor at which the Gulf’s largest power utility priced its previous sukuk issue of the same size. —Rueters

NBAD sees retail growth of up to 20% in 2010 ABU DHABI: National Bank of Abu Dhabi expects its retail revenue to increase by up to 20 percent this year due to higher lending, NBAD said yesterday.

Saif Al Shehhi, senior general manager of domestic banking said interest rates on deposits could edge up by 0.5 percent in the second half of this year.

Currently, revenues from retail banking accounts for about 20 percent of the bank’s total revenues, he said. “Consumer lending has increased by 15 to 20 percent this year and that will contribute to growth in our retail business. We will see retail’s share up by 5 to 10 percent this year,” he told reporters at the launch of a new retail service.

NBAD has tied-up with the US’ MoneyGram

International to offer customers mobile phone remittances from the United Arab Emirates. Banks in the UAE tightened lending since the financial downturn particularly to the private sector due to liquidity issues.

But Shehhi said NBAD’s lending has increased this year, especially personal loans, mortgages and car loans. “Liquidity is improving and at individual bank levels we need liquidity, so we may increase interest rate on deposits from 2.5 to 3.0 percent soon to attract deposits,” he said.

The bank also plans to open six new branches before end of 2010 taking the total branches in the UAE to 110, he said. —Reuters

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

BUSINESS

25

Analysts see a bit more free-floating Chinese currency

China’s more flexible yuan edges down vs US dollar SHANGHAI: Proving that flexibility is a two-way street, the Chinese yuan edged lower against the US dollar in spot trading yesterday, a day after surging to a new high following the central bank’s decision to let the currency trade in a wider range. By late yesterday, the yuan was quoted at 6.8133 to

PARIS: Alleged rogue trader Jerome Kerviel (center), accused of unauthorized deals that cost French bank Societe Generale five billion euros in a massive financial fraud scandal, is escorted by a French gendarme during a break at his trial at Paris courthouse. —AFP

SocGen bosses testify in rogue trader’s trial PARIS: Societe General managers said yesterday that rogue trader Jerome Kerviel had pushed the French bank to the brink of collapse, as his trial prepared to hear testimony from its former chief executive. Daniel Bouton, who headed SocGen during the 2008 scandal, branded the young trader a “terrorist” after the bank lost 4.9 billion euros (7.1 billion dollars at the time) due to risky deals that it says Kerviel made secretly. Now he is to face Kerviel in court as the 33-year old ex-trader’s nearly three-week trial nears its close. Branded a crook by his ex-employer but seen by others as a scapegoat, Kerviel faces up to five years in jail and a fine of 375,000 euros if convicted of breach of trust, forgery and entering false data into computers.

Societe Generale said it suffered the heavy losses when it was forced to unravel 50 billion euros-nearly all of the bank’s nominal worth-in allegedly unauthorized trades made by Kerviel.

Yesterday the senior trader who oversaw the operation to disentangle Kerviel’s off-the-book trades, Maxime Kahn, 39, told the court the bank had faced collapse due to the “astronomic” bets Kerviel had taken. The 50 billion euros of trades was “10 times the total risks taken by Societe Generale’s 2,500 (traders) and 25,000 times the average risk that a trader takes,” Kahn told the court.

He said Kerviel had exceeded the bank’s trading limits by a factor of 50,000. Kerviel has claimed he could have made good on the trades and that the unwinding was carried out at a bad moment, as markets were falling in the week after

his excesses came to light. Kahn said the positions had to be unwound “because the bank was facing potential collapse.” The next star witness, Bouton, helped build Societe Generale into one of the world’s biggest banks during his 11 years as chief executive, but left in April 2009 in the wake of the Kerviel affair and a scandal over directors’ bonuses.

Neither the bank nor the defense had called Bouton to be questioned by the court to bolster their claims, but lawyers for several civil plaintiffs including bank employees and shareholders demanded that he testify.

One of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, Daniel Richard said he would question Bouton on what “values” traders were taught under his leadership. “Without Bouton, would there have been a Kerviel?” he said. Kerviel has admitted regularly exceeding trading limits and logging false transactions to cover his gambles, but says this was common practice and that his bosses turned a blind eye as long as earnings were high.

But his former supervisors told the court Monday they were completely unaware of the alleged rogue trades. “I did not see the orders he was placing,” said Eric Cordelle, who was Kerviel’s immediate supervisor on the “Delta One” trading desk.

“To check every one of the operations, you had to suspect fraud,” he testified, adding that at the time “no one talked about fraud.” The trial is set to end on Friday and the court is expected to deliberate for several weeks before handing down a verdict. — AFP

Eurozone April balance of payments back in deficit FRANKFURT: The eurozone’s balance of payments slipped back into the red in April to show a deficit of 5.1 billion euros ($6.3 billion), the European Central Bank said yesterday. In March, the balance of payments, an overall measure of all current payments into and out of a country or region, posted a surplus of 1.5 billion euros, revised data from the ECB showed, the first surplus since last July.

The figures are often revised sharply higher or lower, and the March figure was initially reported as a surplus of 1.7 billion euros. A breakdown of the data showed that seasonally-adjusted exports fell to 124.5 billion euros in April from

126.5 billion in March, marking the first drop since last August.

Imports were unchanged at 123.2 billion euros, which meant the euro-zone’s trade surplus fell to 1.3 billion euros in April from 3.4 billion in March.

On the financial account, the ECB reported net inflows of 18.5 billion euros in April, as more money was ploughed into euro-zone assets than was invested abroad by euro-zone companies and institutions, despite concern over deficits and debt in the 16-nation bloc.

The balance of payments, which includes payments for imports and exports of trade in goods and services, is a closely watched indicator of an area’s

ability to pay its way in the world. It is important for the long-term confidence of investors and trading partners.

The overall figure for the euro-zone combines surpluses from strong exporting nations such as Germany with the balances of countries which have structural external deficits. On a 12-month cumulative basis, the euro-zone’s seasonally adjusted current account showed a provisional deficit of 32.3 billion euros, or around 0.4 percent of the 16-nation bloc’s gross domestic product.

That was nonetheless much better than the massive deficit of 153.8 billion euros a year earlier, when the euro-zone was in the midst of a deep recession. — AFP

Fish farming set to grow as demand for food rises DRACE: Despite two decades of hardship, war and a loss of markets, Matko Jasprica has kept his Croatian fish farm alive and now hopes to start exporting sea bass and sea bream to the European Union. It’s just as well, because officials and researchers say fish farming, known as aquaculture, is set to become the world’s main source of seafood over the next 20 years.

With a small team, Jasprica runs the Plankton farm situated 1.5 miles out to sea from the picturesque fishing village of Drace, on the Peljesac peninsula in the southern Adriatic.

The farm is hidden from sight and screened from the northerly wind by a tiny island.

The fish, grown in dozens of square and round cages, can be detected only by bubbles on the sea surface. The farm produces around 120 tons a year. “Our plan was to adjust our standards and start exports to the European Union, as demand on the local market is small,” said Jasprica. “We must be ready when Croatia joins the EU-we can’t beat big producers but we can be competitive with new technologies.”

Experts say demand for seafood is set to rise as the world population grows and wild fish stocks decline. The EU, which produces 1.2 million tons of seafood and consumes 25 kg per person per year on average, has to import 65 percent of its needs.

“We expect the world population to increase to 9 billion in years to come and there are some

expectations that we need to double food production by 2030,” said Torgeir Edvardsen of the European Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Platform. “A lot of this production cannot come from terrestrial sources. We’ll have to farm the sea much more than we’ve done up until now,” Edvardsen told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference on aquaculture held in Croatia last week.

GROWING BUSINESS Fish farms produced 51.7 million tons of fish worldwide in 2006 with an estimated value of $78.8 billion, according to figures from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Some scientists say farmed fish production has reached 70 million tons since then, coming close to the 80 million tons of wild fish caught in open seas-a maximum that cannot be exceeded due to restrictive fishing quotas to protect species.

“There is no question-aquaculture is the way of the future,” said Marshall Gilles, head of the Canadian government’s agriculture and fishery division, adding that farmed fish will probably account for 60 percent of available world stocks by 2030. Gilles said his government fully supported the industry, which can provide permanent employment for the coastal population, most of which depend on seasonal jobs in tourism. —Reuters

The People’s Bank of China announced on Saturday plans to allow greater flexibility in exchange rates, moving to blunt accusations that its currency policies keep the yuan undervalued against the dollar, giving Chinese exporters an unfair advantage in overseas markets.

The shift away from the dollar peg pushed the yuan to 6.7971 on Monday from 6.8272 yuan on Friday.

That shift of 0.4 percent was an abrupt break from the narrow range around 6.83 yuan to $1 that had held since mid-2008. In place of the dollar peg, the central bank has restored its practice of setting the yuan’s exchange rates against a basket of currencies, including the dollar.

After that system was set up in 2005, the yuan gained nearly 20 percent against the dollar, until Beijing halted its rise two years ago to help protect its exporters from the global downturn.

Beijing has ruled out any major revaluations for the yuan, saying the currency is at about the right level.

Pressures on the yuan are generally upward: Because China usually runs huge trade surpluses, the central bank buys up excess foreign exchange to keep the yuan’s value steady. In the medium-term, the trend is still expected to be toward a stronger yuan.

“A lot will depend on where the dollar will go,” Cohen said. Yi Xianrong, a prominent Chinese economist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, warns that the yuan is unlikely to rise even at the modest pace it climbed at in 2005-2008.

“China has to keep the currency stable under the current circumstances and will certainly take any consequences of the yuan’s appreciation very seriously,” Yi said.

The central bank still sets the exchange rate each day before the start of trading — yesterday’s opening rate was 6.7980 — and limits daily fluctuations to 0.5 percent. In the short run, abandoning the dollar peg may help Beijing counter criticism from its trading partners, especially the US. China’s rapid rebound from the global downturn and a recovery in demand for its exports had fueled speculation that Beijing would loosen the dollar peg, allowing the yuan to rise by several percent against the dollar this year.

In the longer run, greater currency flexibility also suits China’s own need for greater leeway in countering inflation and may push its manufacturers to improve efficiency, while reducing the country’s reliance on exports as a driver for growth, the central bank says.

“The yuan’s gradual appreciation now meet’s everyone’s needs, both foreign countries and China’s own economic transition,” said Fang Zhenming, chief analyst at Bohai Securities, in Tianjin.

Meanwhile, the government announced Tuesday that it was expanding a trial program to allow settlement of trade transactions in yuan to include all of the world, and a larger number of Chinese regions and cities. Originally the program was limited to trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Hong Kong and Macao.

The move is meant to encourage greater international use of the yuan and to allow companies greater leeway in hedging foreign exchange risks. — AP

the US dollar. It had strengthened to 6.7925 before dropping back after appreciation pressures eased. “They have backtracked a little. They want to show it’s a bit more free-floating than before,” said David Cohen, director of Asian economic forecasting for the consultancy Action Economics in Singapore.

BORDES: France: France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy (second left), accompanied by Centrist MoDem party leader Francois Bayrou (right) and Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie (second right), listen to a worker as he visits French helicopter engine manufacturer Turbomeca new plant in Bordes, southwestern France yesterday. —AFP

BA gets agreement on pension funding LONDON: British Airways said yesterday that it has reached an agreement with pension trustees on a plan to close deficits, a deal designed to resolve a key issue in a proposed merger with Spanish airline Iberia.

BA said yesterday its annual contributions to the two pension plans would continue at 330 million pounds ($487 million) a year, plus increases of about 3 percent a year.

BA said it will make additional contributions if its year-end cash balance is over 1.8 billion pounds, and it has made additional provisions of 250 million pounds for securing pensions if it becomes insolvent. All contributions into the British Airways’ pen-

sion funds will continue to be funded by British Airways and will not be funded by Iberia or the merged holding company, International Airlines Group, BA said.

British Airways shares were fractionally higher at 214 pence in midmorning trading on the London Stock Exchange. The pension issue was a sticking point in negotiations with Iberia, which can still call off the merger if it is unhappy with the pension deal. The pension agreement also is subject to regulatory approval. British Airways and Iberia hope to complete the merger this year, the companies said in April when they signed the merger agreement.

The combination would be Europe’s third-largest airline. BA is losing money, and is locked in a protracted dispute with the cabin crew union over other issues including working practices and travel benefits. “This (pension) agreement is a significant and positive step forward for British Airways and the pension scheme members,” said Keith Williams, British Airways’ chief financial officer.

“The trustees understand that the airline is unable to increase its contributions in the current financial climate, but we have agreed a recovery plan that avoids closing the pension schemes.” —AP

Jordan 18-month T-bonds yields rise to 4.9 percent

HONG KONG: A pedestrian walks past an advert for investment related products in Hong Kong. — AFP

Whitbread gets Q1 sales boost LONDON: Shares in Britain’s biggest hotel operator, Whitbread, topped the FTSE 100 leaderboard on a 7.6 percent gain in first-quarter sales, although it said the consumer climate was set to worsen.

Whitbread said yesterday that in the 13 weeks to June 3 comparable sales at its Premier Inn hotel chain, which accounts for about two thirds of group profit, were 10.5 percent higher, boosted by higher weekend occupancy. “We anticipate tougher comparables as the year progresses and indeed a consumer climate which is hardly likely to get better with whatever announcement is going to be made by the Chancellor (finance minister George Osborne) today,” Chief Executive Alan Parker told reporters.

The group posted higher like-for-like sales across its businesses, with Costa Coffee sales rising 8.5 percent and sales in its four restaurant chains, including the Beefeater eateries, increasing by 3.6 percent.

Whitbread shares were 2.4 percent higher at 1,514 pence at 0935 GMT. Analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch called the update very positive and said they expected it to lead to fur-

ther upgrades of consensus earnings forecasts, while Panmure Gordon called it an “exceptional Q1”.

“We believe we are in a good position to stand whatever the chancellor puts into the consumer mix at the moment,” said Parker, referring to the British budget due later yesterday and which is expected to hit consumers with a hike in VAT sales tax. At Premier Inn, revenue per available room, a key industry measure was up 9.1 percent, the first positive quarter for 18 months, and Parker said Premier Inn would continue to perform strongly on increased demand from business users.

Parker was also confident that Premier Inn would benefit from non-business users staying in hotels during the summer as they expect less people to go abroad for their holidays. “People are looking for value-for-money vacations in the UK, as the largest hotel group in Britain we must benefit from that trend, fingers crossed we are looking for a good summer,” he said.

Whitbread’s full-year pretax profit was forecast at 252 million pounds ($390 million) on average, with a range of 239-293 million, according a Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S poll. — Reuters

AMMAN: The Central Bank of Jordan said yesterday it sold 18month Treasury bonds worth 50 million dinars ($70.5 million) with the average yield rising to 4.889 percent compared with 4.622 percent at the previous auction last week. The Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) had invited offers for 50 million dinars worth of treasury bonds at the auction on Monday for settlement yesterday.

It was oversubscribed with offers worth 84 million dinars, with accepted yields between 4.650 and 5 percent, the central bank said. The bonds, which are open to local and foreign investors via banks, mature on December 12, 2011. The monetary authorities have resorted since last year to issuing more T-bills and bonds to finance growing public debt. The CBJ has slashed its benchmark lending rate by 250 basis points since November 2008 as the economy went into a downturn and inflation fell from record highs.

The CBJ also cut reserve requirements on commercial deposits and stopped issuing certificates of deposit since October 2008 to free up funds for lending to spur growth. This has brought downward pressure on interest rates in the interbank market, lowering them on average by at least one percentage point since mid-2009, bankers say. But in the last two months, T-bills and T-bond yields have edged up by an average one percentage point on market expectations the monetary authorities have less room for further interest rate cuts as inflationary pressures rise. For longer term paper, three-year T-bond yields have for the last few issues edged up to 5.751 percent in the latest issue on June 17, against a 4.063 pct yield since end of March. CBJ data shows that compulsory reserves of private banks’ foreign and domestic currency deposits held with the central bank stood at 1.123 billion dinars yesterday. —Reuters

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BUSINESS

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut TOKYO: As the Gulf of Mexico disaster casts an ugly spotlight on the pitfalls of global oil dependency, Japan’s auto giants are moving into high gear in a drive to mass-market electric cars.

Nissan, Honda and Toyota are among car-makers now gambling that electric vehicles (EVs) with their zero tailpipe emissions will catch on and, some time in the future, start to drive traditional gas-guzzlers off the road. If their bet pays off, green car proponents say, it could ring in a revolution that changes the very idea of what an automobile is, turning cars into electric appliances that drive smoothly, cleanly and silently.

US President Barack Obama called last Tuesday for a “national mission” to develop clean energy, speaking from the White House as gushing crude oil kept fuelling his country’s worst environmental catastrophe.

“The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now,” he said

in a somber prime-time telecast.

Battery-powered cars will be a crucial part of that future, manufacturers promise, even as critics point to tough hurdles-including higher sticker prices and ‘range anxiety’-to gaining wide consumer acceptance. An EV’s energy consumption and carbon footprint are determined by the way its battery is charged-meaning it can effectively be powered by anything from fossil fuel or nuclear plants to hydro, wind or solar energy.

A critical question will be whether sufficiently large networks of electric re-charging stations are built-a chicken-and-egg question that has long held back the development of EVs, analysts say.

Cars that can be charged like a cellphone by plugging them into a wall socket, preferably during overnight off-peak hours, promise to shield consumers from volatile petrol prices and be cheaper in the long run.

Another benefit is that they emit none of the tailpipe pollutants that have covered the skies over cities

from Los Angeles to Mumbai in smog.

Their efficiency is boosted because they are lighter, have motors that directly power wheels, preserving energy otherwise lost in transmission, and because the battery charge is topped up by regenerative braking.

Bullish Nissan, part-owned by Renault of France, will in December roll out its Leaf-short for Leading Environmentally Friendly, Affordable Family car-as the world’s first massproduced electric car.

The five-seater hatchback has a top speed above 140 kilometers (90 miles) per hour, a range of 160 kilometers (100 miles) and can be recharged in eight hours, or rapidcharged to 80 percent of capacity in 30 minutes.

“We do believe this car is a gamechanger in terms of this technology, and it will play a role in the future,” Simon Thomas, Nissan’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, said in London last month.

Nissan plans to sell 50,000 EVs in the United States, Japan and Europe

per year in 2011 and 2012 and then 500,000 units in 2013. It predicts that by 2020 electric cars will account for 10 percent of the global auto market.

Japan enthusiasts drive electric car 1,000 kilometresAlthough experts foresee revolutionary change, they disagree on the pace.

“This could be a new industrial revolution,” said Mamoru Kato, analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center.

“With EVs, you will no longer need traditional auto parts makers.

Carmakers will essentially become electronics makers.”

However, he predicted EVs won’t really take off for another 10 years.

“I think the hurdle for their popularization is very high,” he said. “It will take at least a decade to improve batteries so that they can sufficiently power vehicles. After that, it will take more years to build up infrastructure, like battery power stations.”

Questions remain about global standards for electric plug-in systems, and about the supply of lithium

for batteries and their safe disposal.

Batteries now make up about a half the price of an EV, typically between 10,000 and 20,000 dollars, and a key will be to make them cheaper and last longer, said Tatsuya Mizuno, analyst at Mizuno Credit Advisory.

“Generally, they have to increase performance while cutting prices,” he said. “It will be difficult. But prices of electronics parts are falling fast.”

Whatever the outlook, other major carmakers, among them General Motors, Ford, BMW and Daimler, plan to start selling EVs by 2013.

At home Nissan will go head-tohead with Mitsubishi Motors which launched its all electric “i-MiEV” compact a year ago. Toyota, which has for more than a decade sold petrol-electric hybrids such as the Prius, has promised to launch its own electric car by 2012.

Last month it bought a $50-million stake in Tesla Motors, a Palo Alto, California start-up that in 2004 began developing its Roadster, a boutique,

“highway-ready” electric sports car with a range of about 245 miles. The Silicon Valley firm this year also bought the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California which until recently made Toyota’s Corolla and Tacoma vehicles, to build its Model S sedan and future Tesla vehicles.

Some industry players may leapfrog to EVs, PriceWaterhouseCooper said in a recent report, pointing to the “changing geography of the automotive industry”.

“Chinese automakers, for example, understand it will behoove them to focus on developing electric vehicles rather than committing major resources to catching up on internal combustion engine standards,” it said. In many countries, electric charging networks are now being built. The company Better Place has built up EV infrastructure in Denmark and Israel where drivers can either recharge or swap batteries, focusing on customers such as government agencies and taxi fleets.

Nissan says it has partnered with 50 groups and communities around the world, from Australia’s capital Canberra to parts of England, to introduce EVs with subsidies and benefits such as dedicated highway lanes. California is shaping up as the US test-bed for EVs, with the government offering rebates and backing a network of more than 5,000 charging stations, set to be up and running by 2012.

Many will be at locations where people spend time-including restaurants, hotels, malls and churches-and some major retailers plan to offer electricity for free to attract customers, Dow Jones has reported.

In Japan pilot programs in tourist spots and by city governments have given many people a taste of driving an EV. A citizens group, the Japan Electric Vehicle Club, has fuelled the buzz. In May it claimed a new world record when it drove its own EV, fitted with a stack of lithium ion batteries, for 1,003 kilometers (623 miles) on a single charge. —AFP

Japan sets ambitious fiscal plan to rein in debt, eyes tax Govt sees primary budget surplus by 2020/21 TOKYO: Japan set ambitious targets to rein in its debt yesterday that it said could not be met even under its rosiest growth scenario, the latest indication that the government will have to push through contentious tax hikes to fill deep fiscal gaps. In a sharp turnaround from his predecessor, new Prime Minister Naoto Kan has made fiscal reform a top priority ahead of a July 11

upper house election, vowing to consider doubling the 5 percent sales tax, although not for at least two or three years. “As shown by the Greek example, the market’s view on the size of outstanding public debt or sovereign risk has become very severe,” Kan said in a televised debate with other party leaders.

“If we could sustain the social welfare system forever by issuing deficit financing bonds, there would be no need to bring up the issue of the sales tax,” he added.

“But if left alone, our social welfare system will collapse.”

Credit ratings agency Moody’s welcomed the plan as a step in the right direction to fiscal health, but analysts said the long-mooted rise in the consumption tax was vital for the targets to be met.

Indeed the Cabinet Office’s projections showed that it would not be able to bring the primary budget balance into the black within a decade, as outlined in the fiscal plan, under the government’s growth strategy, which aims for an average 2 percent real growth by fiscal 2020/21.

Investors will be watching to see how the tax reform debate progresses after the upper house election, which Kan’s Democratic Party needs to win to smooth policymaking.

Yesterday’s plan did not factor in any tax hikes but said the government should reach an early conclusion on overhauling TOKYO: People watch flat-panel TVs at an electronics retail chain in Tokyo. Japan’s Cabinet office said yes- the sales tax and other taxes.

The fiscal program supported terday that Japan’s gross domestic product will rise 2.6 percent in the year to March 2011, faster than an ear- government bond prices, with lier estimate of 1.4 percent. —AP the benchmark 10-year futures prices edging near a two-year high hit earlier this month.

“A hike in the consumption tax was politically taboo in the past. Now it is becoming more realistic. That’s one reason behind JGBs’ firmness,” said Katsutoshi Inadome, a fixedincome strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

“That’s not to say investors BERLIN: German business confi- dence in the manufacturing and However, the signs of a slowdown quarter, which will support during are convinced that fiscal reform dence rose unexpectedly in June wholesaling sectors “The eco- in 2011 at the latest are mount- the second half of 2010 despite a will succeed. They are watching as the country’s economic recov- nomic recovery continues,” he ing.” Still, analyst Timo Klein foreseeable slowing down of the whether the government can ery continued, though firms are said. But the index’s overall rise with IHS Global Insight noted that pace of the upward trend,” he carry out the reform,” he added. growing more worried about what was due to positive sentiment six-month expectations remained said. Germany has Europe’s Ratings agencies have threatawaits in the next six months, a from businesses about their cur- at a high level, and said the over- biggest economy, and has settled ened to cut Japan’s sovereign “performance remains into a modest recovery over the closely watched survey showed rent situation, and their longer all debt rating unless it shows a term outlook is more pessimistic, nonetheless remarkable in view past year as healthier global yesterday. credible plan to rein in its debt.

The Ifo Institute’s business cli- with expectations dropping to of the unsettling influence of the demand helps its exports.

“The mention of tax is implicit But earlier this month, mate index rose to 101.8 points in 102.4 from 103.7 in May — the Eurozone debt and euro crisis that recognition that something along had become especially virulent in Finance Minister Wolfgang June from 101.5 in May, when it second drop in a row. the lines of a tax hike would be “The message from the latest early May.” He said he was still Schaeuble announced a package of had posted its first decline since necessary,” said David Cohen, February. Analysts had been Ifo figures is unambiguous and predicting German GDP growth welfare cuts and new taxes aiming director of Asian economic foreexpecting a dip for the second twofold this morning,” said of 1.8 percent for 2010 and 2011 to save 80 billion euros by 2014, casting, at Action Economics in which some economists have month in a row to 101.2. Hans UniCredit analyst Andreas Rees. as well.

Singapore.

“German economic growth worried might slow the German Werner Sinn, president of the “First, momentum in June has Economists say the governacquired considerable recovery. Ahead of this weekMunich-based group, said the rise been very strong as signaled by has ment needs to commit to raising was driven by increases in confi- the current situation component. momentum during the second end’s G-20 summit, President the sales tax to 15 percent or Barack Obama on Friday wrote a even 20 percent over the next 10 letter urging world leaders not to to 15 years to pay for rising social threaten the global recovery by welfare costs and a commitment trimming spending prematurely. to hike tax is needed to make its The letter also criticized counfiscal plans look credible. But tries too heavily dependent on many also worry tax hikes could exports — a barely hidden referhurt growth. ence to China and Germany.

The plan lacked specific ideas Chancellor Angela Merkel of how to meet its long-term aim rejected criticism that Germany of achieving budget balance tarwas fueling global imbalances and gets and reducing its debt-topointed to the fact that the bulk of GDP ratio-now estimated at the country’s exports goes to its nearly twice the size of GDP, the European partners within the sinworst in the developed world. gle market. “If you take Europe as Kan has put a debate on a a single entity then the balance of consumption tax hike at the trade is relatively balanced,” she heart of the Democratic Party’s said. campaign for the upper house She also defended her plan to poll, which the party needs to reduce the country’s deficit, saywin to ensure smooth policying that “if we don’t get to a susmaking. Coalition dynamics tainable path of growth but create could complicate the push for inflated growth, we will have to fiscal reform if the Democrats pay for it with a next crisis.” At fall short of a majority in the the same time, however, two upper house, which can delay German newspapers reported BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel briefs the media after a meeting with yesterday that Germany’s deficit bills, although analysts say a German finance experts about a new global finance architecture, at the chancellery looks like it will be less in 2010 future sales tax rise is inevitable. —Reuters in Berlin on Monday. —AP than initially thought. —AP

German business confidence rises unexpectedly in June

YOKOHAMA: Japan’s Nissan Motor chief operating officer (COO) Toshiyuki Shiga plugging in the charger to a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle during a press conference on the pre-order announcement at the company’s global headquarters in Yokohama. –AFP

Asian banks could weather European contagion: Moody’s SINGAPORE: Asian banks are likely to weather any fallout from Europe’s financial problems because they have limited direct exposure to the region, credit ratings firm Moody’s said yesterday.

However, it warned that banks in Australia, New Zealand and South Korea that rely on the international capital markets for a substantial portion of their funds could be affected if the turmoil causes another global credit crunch. “The dependency in this region is probably more from China than Europe,” said Deborah Schuler, a senior vice president who oversees ratings in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

“In the case of Europe specifically... (Asian) banks have very little exposure to

European sovereigns or European banks,” she told a media briefing in Singapore.

Speaking to AFP after the briefing, Schuler said Asian banks would suffer “second round effects” as exports to Europe slow down, although the impact will be limited.

“They’re not sitting on a lot of direct exposure. They have some trade exposure, routine business, but they are not sitting on lots of European bank assets or sovereign assets,” she said.

“There’s good business to do in Asia and Asian banks tend to stick to that.” Moody’s said the main concern would be if the problems in Greece and other European countries such as Spain and Portugal spark another round of global risk aversion,

which would lead to an international credit crunch. “We do have banks in Australia, New Zealand and (South) Korea who do depend on the global capital markets to fund a portion of their loan book,” said Schuler.

But for the rest of Asia, banks are supported solidly by deposits from businesses and savings-conscious individuals.

Just as global economies were recovering from a global economic crisis and credit crunch sparked by problems in the US housing market, financial troubles in Europe raised concerns of another meltdown.

Greece, faced with a ballooning deficit, required a multi-billion euro bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. —AFP

Mauritius cuts 2010 GDP growth forecast PORT LOUIS: Mauritius’ economic growth is expected to slow to between 3.5 and 4.0 percent in 2010 from a previous estimate of 4.3 percent, as losses this year for the euro hamper growth, its Finance Minister said yesterday.

The Mauritius rupee, like other currencies in the east African region, has in recent weeks weakened against the dollar, hurt by the euro’s woes. While much of the island’s crucial tourism revenues come from European holidaymakers, much of its imports and costs are in dollars.

“In view of the euro crisis affecting our economy, ... there are indications that it will be in the range of 3.5 to 4.0 percent, depending on the depth and duration of the currency crisis in

Europe, how far the euro will slide,” Pravind Jugnauth told parliament.

The euro zone is a critical source market for the Indian Ocean island’s key export sectors like tourism and textiles, which form a plank of the Indian Ocean island’s economy.

Central Bank Governor Rundheersing Bheenick said late last month he had no intentions of devaluing the rupee in line with the fall of the euro.

While answering questions on the parliament’s floor, Jugnauth also expected the public sector debt for 2010 to come in at around 178 billion rupees, compared with a projected 179.1 billion rupees in the budget. —Reuters

Lloyd’s insurer Novae CEO says no M&A for now LONDON: Lloyd’s of London insurer Novae won’t be taking part in M&A activity for now, but mounting consolidation pressures mean deals are likely across the sector in the longer term, its chief executive told Reuters.

Matthew Fosh said Novae, which tried unsuccessfully to merge with rival Chaucer last year, will shun acquisitions at least until it completes a financial overhaul aimed at freeing up capital and boosting returns on equity. For now, Novae is in no position to fund takeovers because its shares trade 30 percent below net asset value, against a sector average of one times asset value, Fosh said.

“Don’t underestimate our ambition, the problem has been our stock market rating,” Fosh said in an interview. “We’ve got no ability to launch an acquisition for someone of one times book value, we’re paying 30 percent more before we

start. We can’t raise capital to do it.”

Lloyd’s of London insurers, which provide cover against large-scale risks such as natural disasters, are the subject of M&A talk following US private equity firm Apollo’s 770 million pound ($1.19 billion) cash offer for Brit Insurance this month.

Fosh said Novae had also held talks with Apollo, and would be open to private equity offers provided they included an acceptable premium to shareholders.

“These shareholders have backed me through thick and thin, so when yet another private equity person comes to speak to us, if they want to buy this business, then of course they can buy this business, they pay my shareholders a premium and I’m sure they would consider it,” he said. Private equity firms’ interest in the Lloyd’s insurers is driven by their high dividend yield, low sector valution and the potential for a turnaround when global

insurance prices pick up. But Apollo’s initial bid for Brit is not necessarily going to trigger a flurry of deals, say analysts, as private equity bids are likely to be knocked back as too low and trader buyers are strapped for cash.

Nonetheless, size remains an issue in the sector, as many Lloyd’s players are “sub-scale”.

“It’s becoming a very big boy’s game insurance now...there are lots of small public companies in the Lloyd’s space particularly, the pressure for them to do something is not diminishing,” said Fosh.

Mergers between the Lloyd’s players is less probable, Fosh said, due to the difficulty in creating economies of scale. “When there is so much competition around, and at the time there remains a lot of capital around, it’s quite difficult to generate value out of M&A in the same way if you bought a manufacturing business,” said Fosh. —Reuters

TECHNOLOGY

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

2

Technology ‘sweeping away’ books: Stoppard LONDON: Books are at risk of being “swept away” by a world of new technology and moving images which are increasingly winning the competition for children’s attention, says British playwright Tom Stoppard. Stoppard, who has written for television, radio and film, also warned the study of

humanities was being neglected in favor of science.

“The printed word is no longer as in demand as when I was of the age of pupils or even at the age of the teachers teaching them,” newspapers quoted Stoppard as saying.

Children live in a world of tech-

nology where the moving image takes precedence over the printed page, he said. “I think that’s to the detriment ... I just don’t want the printed page to get swept away by that.” Speaking ahead of an address to an education charity established by the Prince of Wales to encourage

teachers to look at what they should teach and how, Stoppard said teaching of humanities had been affected by a drive to prioritise science-based subjects.

“There was a period when I was 30 or 40 when science teaching was felt to have lagged and felt to be the

area which would improve everybody’s life, and I’m sure that that was the case and that was the right moment for that,” he said. “Since then we have been more and more worried about the humanities being neglected and at the level of higher education that is a cause of enormous

concern.”

The author plays like “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” and “The Real Thing” said children had access to a better curriculum than ever before, covering young authors and playwrights, but he insisted that more awareness was

needed to ensure the subject was appealing. “I want to support the whole idea of the humanities and teaching the humanities as being something that even if it can’t be quantitatively measured as other subjects, it’s as fundamental to all education,” he said. —Reuters

Apple sells more than two million iPads

Kindle and Nook prices cut in battle with iPad JAKARTA: Indonesian Muslim women display posters during an anti-pornography rally in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. Police said they have detained a popular Indonesian singer over a sex-tape scandal. The posters read “Catch actors free sex” and “ Stop Free Sex.” —AP

Indonesian Islamists rally over Internet porn JAKARTA: Hundreds of Indonesian Islamists rallied in central Jakarta yesterday to demand the stoning to death and public caning of celebrities who allegedly appear in homemade sex videos circulating online. About 1,000 protesters led by radical group Hizbut Tahrir shouted “Allahu akbar” (God is greater) and brandished black flags and banners with slogans such as “Arrest those who commit promiscuous sex”.

The protest came hours after the rock star suspected of making the videos of himself having sex with two celebrity girlfriends surrendered to police. Hizbut Tahrir spokesman Mohammed Ismail Yusanto said the Internet was a threat to Islamic values in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. He said Islamic or sharia law should be applied across the archipelago of some 240 million people, including the stoning to death of adulterers.

“The widespread circulation of the celebrity sex videos shows the bad side of uncontrolled information technology, which will surely become one of the most terrible destroyers of morality,” he said in a statement. “Based on sharia law... those who are married should be stoned to death and the unmarried should be caned 100 times in public. “With that kind of punishment it is guaranteed promiscuous sex won’t spread wildly like it is now.”

Radical groups like Hizbut Tahrir have little popular support in Indonesia, which is constitu-

tionally secular and culturally moderate. But sharia bylaws are in place in many local jurisdictions and Islamist vigilante groups have repeatedly attacked minorities and liberals, often under the noses of police. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has backed calls for tighter controls on the Internet in response to the sex video furore.

Last week he warned that the nation risked being “crushed” by the information technology “frenzy”.

Singer Nazril Ariel, 28, surrendered to police early yesterday and faces charges relating to the videos, which appear to show him having sex with television celebrities Luna Maya, 26, and Cut Tari, 32. The celebrities deny uploading the clips but could still face up to 12 years in jail under a controversial 2008 anti-pornography law. Tari is married and also could face up to nine months in prison for adultery. Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia coordinator Fadilah Karimah, 32, said she would like to see adulterers buried up to their necks in public places and pelted with stones until dead.

“Those people who have sex before marriage should be caned with a stick 100 times in public.

Adulterers should be half-buried and stoned to death,” she told AFP at the rally. “This is appropriate punishment as what they did was dirty, shameful and despicable. They should be prepared for such a punishment if they want to earn a place in heaven. “The more people who see it the better.” —AFP

US probes Google Street View data grabs SAN FRANCISCO: The attorney general of the US state of Connecticut is looking into whether Google broke the law by capturing people’s personal data from wireless networks while Street View bicycles and cars mapped streets. Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced Monday that his office will lead a multistate probe of “Google’s deeply disturbing invasion of personal privacy,” which has drawn ire and scrutiny in several countries.

“Street View cannot mean Complete View-invading home and business computer networks and vacuuming up personal information and communications,” Blumenthal said.

People have a right to know what information Google gleaned, how it was done and why, according to Blumenthal.

He also wanted the Internet giant to detail what safeguards are in place to fix the situation.

“While we hope Google will continue to cooperate, its response so far raises as many questions as it answers,” Blumenthal said.

“Our investigation will consider whether laws may have been broken and whether changes to state and federal statutes may be necessary.”

Blumenthal has asked Google to explain how and wed wireless networks and why they recorded the quality of wireless networks they passed. “It was a mistake for us to include code in our software that col-

lected payload data, but we believe we didn’t break any US laws,” a Google spokesman said in response to an AFP inquiry. “We’re working with the relevant authorities to answer their questions and concerns.”

France last week joined the list of countries to focus investigations on Google for gathering personal data as its Street View bikes and cars photographed cities across the world for its free online mapping service.

The French data protection agency CNIL said it was examining private data collected for Street View, including emails and possibly banking details, to decide if the firm should face criminal charges or other sanctions. Then it learned its Street View bicycles and cars were capturing data from unencrypt Google said it had also handed data to privacy authorities in Spain and Germany for analysis.

Canada’s privacy commissioner is probing the collection of data by Street View vehicles, while police in both New Zealand and Australia said this month they would investigate the Internet giant over alleged privacy breaches. In Europe, Germany, Austria, Italy and France were among the countries investigating whether their citizens’ privacy had been breached by the Californiabased company. Street View lets users view panoramic street scenes on Google Maps

and take a virtual “walk” through cities such as New York, Paris or Hong Kong.

The service, which began in 2006, first came in for criticism for threatening the privacy of people caught-sometimes in embarrassing situations-in the photos taken by cars cruising cities in over 30 countries.

But when it emerged that Google’s cars and bikes had also been gathering fragments of personal data sent over unsecured WiFi systems, legal action and official probes were quickly announced around the world.

Google has gone on record saying it was cooperating with authorities in France and elsewhere and would delete data if legally obliged. “Our ultimate objective is to delete the data consistent with our legal obligations and in consultation with the appropriate authorities,” Google told AFP last week.

Google said last month it was halting the collection of WiFi network information after saying it had mistakenly gathered personal data.

On June 1 it said it had deleted private wireless data mistakenly collected in Austria, Denmark and Ireland.

It had insisted previously that it was only collecting WiFi network names and addresses with the Street View cars. The company said it has had experts examine its data-gathering software and shared its findings with data protection authorities. —AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: Amazon and US bookstore giant Barnes & Noble cut the prices of their electronic book readers in the face of Apple’s iPad momentum in the fledgling market. Amazon on Monday dropped the price of its Kindle e-reader to 189 dollars from 259 dollars. The cheapest iPad, a multi-purpose tablet computer that features a color e-reader compared with the black-andwhite “e-ink” Kindle devoted exclusively to digital books, costs 499 dollars.

Barnes & Noble said Monday it was lowering the price of the Nook with 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity to 199 dollars from 259 dollars.

Barnes & Noble also said it was introducing a Wi-Fi only version of the Nook for 149 dollars. Kindle has 3G wireless connectivity to allow users to quickly download digital books. Barnes & Noble’s chief bookstore competitor, Borders, also offers an e-reader, the Kobo, for 150 dollars.

Apple has sold more than two million iPads since the touchscreen tablet computer went on sale in the United States in early April and in nine other countries late last month. Amazon touts Kindle as the top selling item at the powerhouse online retailer, but Amazon and Barnes & Noble do not release sales figures for their e-readers.

“Amazon has been well ahead of the industry curve in terms of the digital adoption of books,” Citigroup Internet analyst Mark Mahaney said in a note to investors.

“Our overall take is that Amazon’s share of total book sales can still continue to expand over the next three to five years.” Market fears that iPad will eat into the e-reader market are valid and Apple’s new gadget puts pressure on Amazon to release an enhanced new generation Kindle, perhaps with touchscreen controls, according to Mahaney.

Analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley suspects that Barnes & Noble inadvertently triggered “e-book war” by dropping the Nook price to boost sluggish sales of its ereader, which got marginal reviews.

“I think it was initially to move out Nook inventory,” Enderle said. “I don’t think that Barnes & Noble thought through the fact it would start a price war.” Prices less than 200 dollars for ereaders are in a “sweet spot” where people will be more likely to buy gadgets they aren’t certain they will be happy with, according to Enderle. “You drop the price under 200 dollars, you open up your market tenfold,” the analyst said. “It will put more pressure on publishers to get books into that digital market, absolutely.”

The pricing cuts are expected to be only glancing blows to iPad, which appeals to people interested in Internet surfing, video viewing, and more instead of devices devoted exclusively to enjoying digital books.

“For anyone serious about reading, the Kindle and Nook are more attractive,” Enderle said. “The iPad buyer, for now, is a different buyer. The iPad is more a Swiss army knife approach to products.”

E-book sellers can afford to discount their hardware because of the pay off from readers that go on to buy numerous digital books, according to analysts. —AFP

Russia to study US hi-tech MOSCOW: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev travels to the United States yesterday for a visit both countries hope will help translate sunnier political ties into increased trade and concrete business cooperation.

Medvedev heads straight to California and will spend today soaking up the atmosphere in Silicon Valley, part of his drive to reduce Russia’s dependence on natural resources by encouraging US-style technology and innovation.

By visiting the cradle of California hi-tech, Medvedev will follow in the footsteps of curious Soviet leaders and tsars who have tried to drag Russia forward by inspecting and trying to imitate the industrial wonders of the West.

President Barack Obama has engaged the Kremlin in a “reset” of relations, which had deteriorated in recent years.

The new warmth between the Cold War rivals has already led to nuclear arms cuts and cooperation over Iran and Afghanistan. Now the aim is to

leverage the improved diplomatic climate to boost business and trade. “The more positive political dialogue must without a doubt be accompanied by and be nurtured by real processes in the economic sphere,” Medvedev’s chief foreign policy adviser, Sergei Prikhodko, told reporters on Monday.

The United States accounts for less than 4 percent of Russia’s foreign trade, compared to about 50 percent for the European Union, which depends on piped-in Russian natural gas. The White House said Obama was pleased Medvedev would start his trip in Silicon Valley, where he could “review the unique set of factors that has fostered this important centre of technological advancement and entrepreneurship.”

Wary at first of US talk of a “reset”, Russian officials have warmed to Obama’s concessions after rows which dominated the presidency of George W. Bush. They are pleased Washington scolds Russia less

often on human rights and democracy. The Kremlin urgently needs to diversify the economy after the global crisis exposed Russia’s frailty.

Gross domestic product (GDP) plunged 7.9 percent last year. Medvedev will hold talks with Obama in Washington tomorrow, June 24 and officials in Moscow said the Kremlin chief is likely to push for final US approval of Russia’s 16year-old marathon bid to join the World Trade Organisation.

Russia, the largest economy outside the global trade body, has often accused Washington of holding up its accession.

Moscow officials are keen to present the trip as a symbolic gesture: Russia looking westwards to reform rather than inwards or eastwards, to China. Medvedev, who is expected to make the rounds of Twitter, Cisco Systems and Apple Inc. while in California, wants to nurture innovation at home by creating a high-tech hub outside Moscow with tax breaks and special rules. He

MOSCOW: President Dmitry Medvedev takes part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin wall in Moscow yesterday to mark the 69th anniversary of the Nazi Germay invasion of Russia in 1941. —AP

said Russia could learn lessons about modernization from the experience of Silicon Valley.

“This experience is not definitive, but it is quite interesting,” Medvedev told his presidential Security Council yesterday before departing, state-run RIA and Itar-Tass reported. The visit is also expected to bring deals in more traditional industries, including one to buy up to 65 planes from Boeing. A US diplomat said the Boeing deal should show sceptics that Obama’s Russia “reset”-seen by critics as overly conciliatory-is creating jobs for Americans.

The leaders of the world’s two largest nuclear powers are also likely to discuss “further steps” to cut their arsenals of atomic weapons after the April signing of a successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Prikhodko said.

Russian leaders through the centuries have gone West to inspect technologies they hoped would jolt their often corrupt and backward elites out of technological isolation.

Tsar Peter the Great is credited with dragging Russia from the backwaters to the mainstream of European civilisation after a tour of Holland and England. When he got back to Russia he ordered courtiers to cut off their beards to look more European.

In Soviet times, Nikita Khrushchev’s tumultuous tour of the United States in 1959 included a visit to IBM. Khrushchev was more impressed by IBM’s self-service cafeteria than the computers and ordered officials to copy the design.

“Modernisation is the key word,” the last Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev told Reuters in an interview this month. “If you remember, perestroika started when we understood how far behind we had fallen. Russia is right now facing some very serious challenges ... above all about the level of technology.” —Reuters

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HEALTH & SCIENCE

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Ban trans fats and cut salt, demands UK health body LONDON: Britain’s influential health cost watchdog called yesterday for major changes in food production and marketing and said drastic cuts in fat and salt levels were needed to halt the scourge of heart disease. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said trans fats, which do little more than prolong shelf life, should be banned from all food, saturated fat levels cut drastically and average salt intake more than halved by 2025.

If these changes were implemented, around 40,000 early deaths could be prevented each year in Britain alone and mil-

lions of people could spared the suffering of living with the effects of heart disease and stroke, NICE said. Mike Kelly, NICE’s director for public health, said the financial costs of heart disease added up to around 30 billion pounds ($44.5 billion) a year in Britain, taking in treatment costs, lost productivity, care and other social costs.

“This is a big ticket item. And it is something that is eminently within our power to do something about,” he told a briefing. “This isn’t some mystery virus which we don’t understand ... this is something where we know precisely what the causes are and we know precisely what we

can do about it.” NICE does not produce legislation but it is asked by the government to draw up health policy guidelines.

NICE said policymakers should aim to reduce average adult salt intake in Britain to 3 grams a day by 2025 from around 8.5 grams now and introduce laws on cuts if necessary. Politicians were also urged to negotiate at European Union and national level to ensure agricultural policy took account of public health issues. Kelly said this meant encouraging farmers to concentrate on producing high quality food such as fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy products, lean meats and whole grains.

It also urged the government to tighten planning laws to stop fast-food outlets setting up too close to schools, and said legislation should be considered to force the food industry to cut saturated fat levels if they would not do so voluntarily.

The European Society of Cardiology praised NICE for setting out “a range of evidence-based recommendations for effective action” to help reduce levels of heart disease and said its guidelines also had “important messages for the rest of Europe”. “This is an extremely strong document that clearly underlines how much can be gained ... by introducing leg-

islative changes protecting the content of diets,” said ESC spokesman Lars Ryden from the Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.

NICE, which produced its guidelines on preventing heart disease after two years of work, cited scientific research showing that in countries such as Japan, the United States, Denmark and Finland-where some laws are in place banning certain fats and forcing lower in salt levels-dramatic health benefits swiftly follow.

“The benefits of doing this will be seen remarkably quickly, within 2-3 years,” said Simon Capewell, a member of NICE’s panel and a professor of epidemiology at

Liverpool University.

He said that if salt levels in food were gradually reduced by between 5 and 10 percent a year, most consumers would not notice any difference in taste. This suggests the food industry, which has sometimes argued that consumers complain if it cuts food salt levels too far, has little to back such claims.

Cutting salt intake substantially reduces blood pressure, helping to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure is ranked as the world’s number one killer, accounting for 7.5 million deaths a year. — Reuters

60 signatories from 15 countries call for exposure limits

Experts demand European action on plastics chemical LONDON: Scientists and international health organisations from around the world called on Europe’s food safety watchdog today to regulate against exposure to a potentially harmful chemical found in plastic containers. In an open letter to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), a group of 60 scientists and health campaigners from 15 countries said they feared exposure to the chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) could damage health, particularly among vulnerable groups such as babies and pregnant women.

BPA is a mass produced chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics. It is found in plastic food and drink packaging, such as baby bottles and sports bottles, and as an epoxy resin in canned food and drinks and storage containers. Some recent scientific studies have linked BPA exposure to higher risks of health problems such heart disease, breast cancer and diabetes.

The EFSA is expected to publish a new “scientific opinion” on the safety of Bisphenol A in food packaging next month, after it was asked by the European Commission to re-assess the risks. “Over the last decade and a half, a substantive body amounting to several hundred peer reviewed scientific papers, have been published that have highlighted potential adverse health effects associated with BPA exposures,” the letter said.

“It is our opinion that any objective and comprehensive review of the scientific literature will lead to the VEJLE, Denmark: Whale experts hoist a 15-meter long fin whale at the harbour of the town of Vejle, conclusion that action is necto reduce the levels Jutland. A young whale stranded for five days in a Danish fjord died despite massive attempts to res- essary of BPA exposure, particularcue the marine mammal and help it find its way back to sea, veterinarian authorities said. —AFP ly in groups at highest risk, namely young infants and pregnant mothers.”

Regulators in Canada and the United States are already beginning to take AGADIR: More than 200 scientists and return for progressive cuts in the number of duct whaling for “scientific research” to action on BPA exposure, catch minke whales in the nutrient-rich experts yesterday called on the whales killed. with Canada planning to ban Japan, Norway and Iceland have used Antarctic waters.

International Whaling Commission to mainits use in baby bottles, but as Past experience has shown that comtain its ban on commercial whaling to legal loopholes to flout the 1986 ban, haryet there has been no similar ensure the future of species depleted by vesting more than 1,500 of the marine mam- mercial whaling does not lend itself easily to industrial hunting. “The IWC must not mals in the 2008-2009 season alone. The sustainable management, the scientists action at a European Union undermine the conservation achievements scientists, from about 30 countries, also said. The long-lived and slow-breeding level. of the last few decades by again endorsing called on IWC governments to reject a pro- mammals are difficult to monitor, and the “It is high time that EFSA commercial whaling,” they said in a petition. vision in the chair’s proposal that would whaling industry has evaded and obstructed caught up to the overwhelm“There is no evidence that any of the few allow quota-based hunting in the Southern efforts to ensure compliance with internaing science showing genuine populations and species known to be Ocean-declared a whale sanctuary in 1994 tional regulations, they charged. reasons for concern about “Given the risks involved and that comincreasing have reached, or are anywhere — over the next 10 years. our daily exposure to BPA,” “We believe that to do so would be high- mercial whaling meets no essential human near, the levels that might justify non-zero said Lisette van Vliet, an ly inappropriate and untimely and would need, we call on all the IWC governments to catch limits.” adviser on toxics policy at Meeting through Friday, the 88 mem- again risk the future of the whales,” said abandon experiments in the lethal use of the Brussels-based Health bers of the International Whaling Mark Simmonds, International Director of whales and instead refocus their efforts on and Environment Alliance.

Commission is debating a proposal, tabled Science for the Whale and Dolphin the conservation of whale populations,” Some European countries, they said. The IWC meeting runs through by its chairmen, that would suspend the 24- Conservation Society. notably Sweden, Germany, Japan currently invokes its right to con- Friday. —AFP year moratorium on commercial whaling in France and Denmark, have made unilateral moves ahead of the EFSA review.

Sweden’s environment minister said last month that if the EU would not ban BPA According to a 2008 State waters, leading to algae pollution ering 13,700 square kilometres BEIJING: A massive floating in baby bottles, Stockholm Oceanic Administration report, and other problems.

(5,500 square miles), an expanse of green algae is headwould go ahead with a raw sewage and pollution from In 2008, China’s coastal increase of more than 2,100 ing towards China’s east coast, national prohibition. And agricultural run-off has polluted waters witnessed 68 red tides- square kilometres over 2007, potentially threatening wildlife Germany’s environment 83 percent of China’s coastal another type of algae bloom-cov- the report said. —AFP and the region’s tourist indusagency issued new guidance try, state media reported yesthis month calling on manuterday. The algae bloom covfacturers and importers of ered 200 square kilometres (80 BPA to use “alternative subsquare miles) and was about 13 stances that pose less risk to kilometres (eight miles) offhuman health and the envishore and floating towards the ronment in all areas of use coastal city of Jiaonan in that significantly contribute Shandong province, Xinhua to exposure”. news agency said.

Experts estimate that The local branch of the State BPA is detectable in the Oceanic Administration, which bodies of more than 90 permonitors marine conditions, is cent of the U.S. and sending boats in a bid to clear European population. It is the algae, it said. Algae blooms one of the world’s most are typically caused by pollution widely manufactured chemiin China and suck up huge cals, with more than 2.2 milamounts of oxygen needed by lion tons produced each marine wildlife to survive and year. Andrew Watterson of leave a foul stench when they Britain’s Stirling University, wash up on beaches, the report one of the signatories to the added. letter, said hundreds of acadIn August 2008, a large offemic studies had shown the shore algae bloom threatened potential risks of BPA and the sailing competition of the “this should dictate a strong Olympic Games when it precautionary policy engulfed waters surrounding response from European the event’s venue in the eastern regulators.

China city of Qingdao, near “If this is not forthcomJiaonan. Up to 10,000 soldiers ing, the UK government and volunteers were enlisted to intervene as other clean up more than a million MUNICH: An Indian Rhinoceros yawns as it takes a bath in its pond yester- must European countries are tonnes of the foul-smelling day at the Tierpark Hellabrunn zoo in Munich. The Indian Rhinoceros is a already doing so,” he said in algae as they raced to clear the large mammal originally living in north-eastern India and Nepal. —AFP a statement. — Reuters waters in time for the Olympics.

Whaling ban must stay: 200 scientists

Giant green algae slick heads towards China

OREGON: An elephant takes a bath at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Ore., Monday. —AP

No link between infant cancer and phone masts PARIS: The largest study of its kind said pregnant women who live near a mobile phone mast do not run a higher risk of having a child who develops leukaemia or other cancer in infancy.

The study is published on Wednesday by the British Medical Journal (BMJ), which says parents-to-be should be reassured. The investigation looked at 1,397 children across Britain who developed cancer by the age of five between 1999 and 2001. The tots were each matched against four healthy counterparts by sex and date of birth, who were selected from Britain’s national birth register.

The researchers then obtained data on all 76,890 mobile (also called cell) phone relays in Britain from 1996 to 2001. Using the child’s household address, they calculated the level of electromagnetic radiation to which the home’s occupants would have been exposed from the phone mast. Children with cancer were no likelier to have a birth address near a radio antenna than those who were healthy, they found.

“People are worried that living near a mobile phone mast might affect their children’s health,” said Paul Elliott, a professor at Imperial College London who led the study.

“We looked at this question with respect to risk of cancers in young children. We found no pattern to suggest that the children of mums living near a base station during pregnancy had a greater risk of developing cancer than those who lived elsewhere.” The researchers said their work cast the widest data net so far in

exploring the feared link between early childhood cancer and phone masts. The scare has spread in Britain thanks to apparent clusters of cancers near phone relay stations.

These clusters are hard to evaluate but may be skewed by faulty or selective data-in other words, when and where the cases occurred may have been random rather than a pattern, the BMJ paper said. The authors cautioned that they were unable to get information about individual exposure among mothers-to-be to a mobile phone handset. Electromagnetic radiation from a handset during conversation is many times higher than that from a phone mast.

And they added the predictable caveat that their focus was only on early childhood cancers, not on cancers that develop in later phases of life. In an editorial published by the BMJ, Oxford University specialist John Bithell said doctors should tell patients not to worry about living close to mobile phone masts.

“Moving away from a mast, with all its stresses and costs, cannot be justified on health grounds in the light of current evidence,” Bithell said. Last month, a large ongoing study said it found no evidence of any increased risk from mobile phone handsets among more than 5,000 people in 13 countries who had been diagnosed with brain tumours.

The Interphone study added, though, that further research was needed, given the increasingly intensive use of mobile phones among young people. —AFP

Scientists sequence genome of human louse WASHINGTON: Scientists have sequenced the genome of the body louse, offering insights into human biology and insect evolution that could help detach us from our inseparable, blood-sucking companions. The study, published on Monday in the official journal of America’s National Academy of Sciences, showed the louse had the smallest genome of any insect and very few genes related to light reception, odors and tastes.

The body louse has “the smallest number of detoxification enzymes observed in any insect,” researchers wrote, suggesting new repellants could one day help rid us of the tiny mites that have been our companions for millions of years. “The ecology of lice is very, very simple. It either lives in your hair or on your clothing, and it has one type of meal, and that’s blood,” said University of

Illinois entomology professor Barry Pittendrigh.

“So most of the genes that are responsible for sensing or responding to the environment are very much reduced,” said Pittendrigh, who coordinated the research of 28 institutions in the United States, Europe, Australia and South Korea.

Known to experts as Pediculus humanus humanus, the body louse has played its unsanitary part in history, blamed for spreading typhus and trench fever to Napoleon’s retreating army in Russia in 1812.

“As an obligatory parasite of humans, the body louse is an important vector for human diseases, including epidemic typhus, relapsing fever, and trench fever,” the study said. “Thus, the body louse genome project offers unique information and tools to use in advancing understanding of coevolution

among vectors, symbionts, and pathogens.” Completely dependent on humans for its survival, the louse will die if separated from its host for very long.

In turn a tiny microbe, the bacterium Candidatus Riesia pediculicola, lives inside it and produces pantothenate (Vitamin B5), an essential nutrient for its host’s survival. The study also sequenced the genome of the microbe and pointed out that the research was key to understanding the co-evolution of disease-carrying parasites and their bacterial coconspirators. “Lice have been used to understand human evolution and migration. They’ve been used to estimate when we started wearing clothing,” Pittendrigh said.

“The genome should also help us develop better methods of controlling both head and body lice.” —AFP

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

HEALTH & SCIENCE

29

Oil threatens key Gulf algae and their ecosystem ALABAMA: It looks dirty and muddy, a brown mass of weeds with gas-filled berries that allow it to float on the Gulf of Mexico’s waters. Sometimes it washes ashore, getting caught in the toes of barefoot beachgoers or stuck to the bottom of flip-flops. It appears to be just another sea plant. But these Sargassum algae, sometimes called sea holly or Gulf weed , are key to hundreds of species of marine life in the Gulf.

Now, the oil is threatening to suffocate them, dealing a blow to fisheries and the ecosystem that scientists say may take years to recover. And as the algae die in the Gulf, less of the vital plant will reach the Sargasso Sea , some 3,000 miles away through the loop current , potentially harming that ecosystem as well. Already, oiled sea holly has washed ashore in Orange, Alabama, and scientists are seeing larger patches of it mingling with the offshore oil slicks.

“We’ve seen Sargassum mats from the air co-occurring with oil slicks.

They’re in the same spot,” said Sean Powers, a marine scientist at the University of South Alabama, who is using a National Science Foundation grant to track the seaweed and its surrounding marine life. Sea holly washes up on Gulf

of Mexico and East Coast beaches throughout the summer, jam-packed with tiny shrimp and crabs, little shells and sediment, a treasure trove for children. On this sandy barrier island, clumps of sea holly wash up, forming patches of brown on the white sand.

Like underwater coral reefs, these algae mats are critical habitats for marine life. Tuna, Mahi-mahi, dolphin fish, Billfish, shrimp, crabs and sea turtles all use the algae to spawn, sunbathe or hide from predators, often while noshing on them.

The algae’s own exclusive community, brown or yellowish fish with weed-like tails, unusual tiny shrimp and crab and unique seahorses , have adapted in color and behavior to live only there.

“Once it’s oiled, from everything we know of the effects of oil, all of those animals that live in the Sargassum will die,” Powers said. Similar to phytoplankton, the nearly invisible floating plant life, sea holly is at the base of the marine food chain, said Dennis Heinemann, a fishery scientist with the nonprofit, Washington-based environmental group Ocean Conservancy.

Sea holly attracts so much marine life to it, fishermen congregate around the long weed lines formed by the algae, knowing they could increase their catch.

But experts say oil can kill the Gulf weed either by poisoning it or by restricting its ability to breathe or get sunlight.

Relying on the weed are 145 species of invertebrates, 100 fish species, 5 types of sea turtles and 19 different seabirds, said Ellycia Harrould-Kolieb, a marine scientist with the Washington-based nonprofit Oceana. “They’re trained to cue in on that Sargassum,” Powers said, pointing specifically to younger fish and animals. “It’s the only structure out there that provides them any refuge from predators.” Unlike land plants, Sargassum has few seeds and propagates by splitting off, creating new growth. When it dies, it leaves little behind. Powers estimates it would take at least three years to recover to pre-oil spill Sargassum levels, possibly longer.

While animals are resilient, habitat is not, said Bob Shipp, chairman of the Department of Marine Sciences at the University of South Alabama. Past experience, including the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, shows that if a habitat is harmed, the ecosystem will never recover in the same way. The herring that had once been a mainstay of the Alaskan sound never returned after the spill, partly because its foraging habitat had been destroyed, he said. “We could

see a whole new system created following the spill, and not a good one,” Shipp said, noting a great deal of the Gulf economy relies on robust fisheries of red snapper, grouper, trout, flounder, bluefin tuna and other seafood. “The ripple effect is going to be very extensive,” Shipp said.

Sargassum is also awash in legend, including stories about vessels getting stuck in the Sargasso Sea’s thick algae mats, some covering acres (hectares) of the water’s surface. Gulf of Mexico tourists sometimes view it as trash, annoyed it is not cleared off beloved white sandy beaches. Recently, some people have mistaken dead strands of Sargassum for oil washing up on Gulf beaches. Until about two years ago, it was believed the Sargassum found in the Gulf originated in the North Atlantic.

Satellite images and research have shown, however, that the Sargasso Sea actually gets its algae mats from the Gulf, where the seaweed grows and propagates before getting pushed east through the loop current, around Florida and into the central North Atlantic. “That would mean that the Sargassum that’s lost in the Gulf will impact the weed in the North Atlantic, the tuna, the fisheries,” Powers said.

“This could have a larger effect.” — AP

LOUISIANA: A blue heron flies over a marsh near a beach containing oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill Monday in Port Fourchon, La. — AP

30

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Embassy information

Regency Hotel treats ‘IWG’ members to a lavish breakfast at its ladies lounge

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he Regency Hotel invited the International Women Group ( IWG) for a sumptuous breakfast at its luxuries Ladies Lounge. Yasmine Adel the Regency’s Assistant PR Manager along with the hotel team welcomed the IWG Members at Al Liwan café where they enjoyed welcoming drinks before moving to the Ladies Lounge. The attendant guests included the society elite ladies as well as the Ambassadors & Consuls’ spouses, all praised the Regency’s Facilities notably the Ladies Lounge for its strategic location, the panoramic view over the Gulf and the surrounding rich gardens, not to mention its ensured privacy and unique five - star hospitality. Karen Henry, the president of IWG extended the group’s appreciation for the Regency’s Kind initiative, she also pledged to consider the Regency as IWG’s first choice for any future activities.

EMBASSY OF AMERICA The United States Department of State announces the increase in various visa fees to ensure sufficient resources to cover the increasing cost of processing nonimmigrant visas (NIVs). US law requires the Department to recover the cost of processing non-immigrant visas through the collection of the application fees. The increased fees are to take effect June 4, 2010. Under the new rule, applicants for all visas that are not petition-based, including B1/B2 tourist and business visitor visas and all student and exchange-visitor visas, will pay a fee of $140. Applicants for petitionbased visas will pay an application fee of $150, as each of the below categories requires a review of extensive documentation and a more in-depth interview of the applicant than other categories, such as tourists.

These categories include: H visa for temporary workers and trainees L visa for intra-company transferees O visa for aliens with extraordinary ability P visa for athletes, artists and entertainers Q visa for international cultural exchange visitors R visa for religious occupations The application fee for K visas for fiance(e)s of US citizens will be $350. The fee for E visas for treaty-traders and treaty-investors will be $390.

EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Kuwait will remain closed on Thursday, June 24, 2010 on the occasion of its relocation to Khaldiya, Block 2, Street No. 29, House No. 11. The Embassy will begin functioning at the new address on Sunday, 27 June 2010.

EMBASSY OF INDIA

Congratulations

O

ur heartiest congratulations to Andrew Panicker for being elected as the school captain of United Indian School for the year 2010 - 2011. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

Love and wishes from all your loved and dear ones.

NIOS Secondary and Senior Secondary results declared

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he National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), one of the National Boards set up by Government of India, the largest Open Schooling system in the world has announced the Secondary and Senior Secondary annual examination result of 2009-10 batches for Kuwait.

All students are requested to contact MEI for

University Services / Kuwait Educational Centre in Salmiya for detailed results.

The management and staff take great pride in congratulating all the students for the good performance and whole hearted cooperation that they have shown.

The following students have topped their batch: Senior Secondary Snatton Wales Vaz Rubeena Mohammed Ibrahim Pathan Taha Rahamthulla Rachel Romaldina Carvalho Augustinho Kevin Lobo Secondary Prisca Fernandes Sidrah Iffat Aaron Benson D’Souza Heena Mohammed Ibrahim

Loyalty knows no bounds, hats off to 380 years loyal service

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his year continues to be definitely a special one for the Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait, as it marks the 25th anniversary of one of its most loyal staff, also to mention three 20-years, one 15-years, twenty-two 10-years and twelve 5-years anniversaries. The General Manager Philippe Pellaud was proud to honor his team at a special staff get-together ceremony and had a chance to share a trip down memory lane. One of the most important factors in the hotel industry is the staff, and the Radisson Blu Hotel Kuwait considers that its staff deserves credits for the hotel’s consistent success and reputation. Nowadays it is rare for employees to remain with the same employer for so many years. The hotel management team makes it sure that the staff looks forward to coming to work and find their job challenging every day, where the motto is YES WE CAN! At the Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait we are proud to say we have loyal and devoted employees.

Thanksgiving dinner for Julie George, veteran educationalist he Indian Community School Kuwait held a thanksgiving dinner for the retiring Principal Julie George. She is a veteran educationalist with thirty years of rich and varied experience. With educational qualifications of M A in Economics and B Ed. in Geography from the Kerala University, she started her career as Economics teacher of classes XI and XII in the year 1979 at The Indian School Kuwait. She was the Coordinator of the forenoon shift for 3 years (when the school was running on double shift) working as first assistant to Principal. She climbed the ladder of success first as Vice Principal for more than 10 years and then reached the heights as Principal of the most prestigious school in Kuwait, The ICSK. George has played a leading role in the development, expansion and success of the Indian Community School Kuwait. She was one of the first few employees brought back to reorganize the school after the Liberation of Kuwait.

George was in charge of the CBSE examinations, registration and preparation of result analysis

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of CBSE exams (Manual). Her contribution was varied, she was in charge of all the activities of the senior school and all major functions, of internal examination question papers for all the branches from classes V to XII, also functioned as Supervisor to computer aided teaching a few to be named.

She maintained the balance between academics and co curricular activities, took initiative and supported Physical Education teachers in the development of Sports culture, organized many workshops to train

teachers for better output, Prepared teachers manual and year planner, organized leadership development camps on topics like health, personality development and welfare.

A simple person with a strong sense of commitment and dedication towards all-round development of a child, her mission is quality education. Very calm and soft spoken in every field, but proved her quality as a true educationalist in every manner. Her father was an Ex Air Force personnel and her mother a retired officer from the Education dept.

of the Govt. of Kerala. She is married with two children.

The ambiance was astonishing and everyone present had the opportunity to share their thoughts on Julie. The convener of the event John better known as Big John stated that this was not a farewell of sorts, that the ICSK Management does not bid farewell to their employees as they are considered members of the ICSK family. Rightfully so stated both the Hon. Chairman Kalra and Hon. Secretary Daniel since we have in our midst members of the school senate, ExStudents, parents advisory council, principals, vice principals, members of the board of trustees which completes the ICSK family.

Presentation of mementos to George by the Parents Advisory Council, Parents Advisory Council of ICSK (Senior) and a very special “Eminent Principal Award” presented on behalf of the ICSK Board by Ashok Kalra, Rajan Daniel, Archie Menezes and John K George was followed by a formal Thanksgiving Dinner that was attended by the entire ICSK family. The compere for the evening was Sujata Sheroff.

The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays. Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no.

25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday.

EMBASSY OF 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.

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.

31

WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Najla Al-Naqqi shares a group photo with the Iraqi and Venezuelan ambassador and a number of participants.

Al-Naqqi Forum host Al-Atrash press conference

T

he Najla Al-Naqqi Forum recently hosted a press conference held for rising young star, singer Tariq Al-Atrash, to announce the release of his latest album. Al-Atrash is a descendant from the famous Syrian artistic family that brought iconic Arab singer Fareed Al-Atrash.

The event featured participation from a large crowd that included artists and cultural figures including Jassem Al-Nabhan and Saleh Al-Huraibi, in addition to diplomats such as the Venezuelan ambassador, the Bosnian ambassador, the spouse of the Somali ambassador, media consultant at the Egyptian embassy Dr Omar Al-Baz, and consultant at the Yemeni embassy Intisar Nuíman.

Two participants in the press conference.

Tariq Al-Atrash

Tariq Al-Atrash posing with Najla Al-Atrash and the Iraqi and Venezuelan ambassador.

IIS organizes event to honor student

Happy Birthday

ADVOGAD

A

fter acclaiming as one of the best Konkani Dramas in Goa, comedian Agostinho with the help of Kuwait organizers Xavier & Manuael, will now stage his drama ‘ADVOGAD’ on 25th of this month starting at 3.30 pm at Da’iya Fencing Hall, Kuwait. The entire troupe including musicians will come from Goa to participate in this hilarious comedy. Additionally, to give an added booster to this drama, best of local artistes namely Rosary Ferns, Michael D’Silva, comedian Philip and Bab Agnelo will also participate in this drama.

Gate Passes are available with the organisers and at Limra Cargo Service, Kuwait City, Opp GPO, Salhiya Tower, Basement, Shop No 9.

Contact person Tony Pereira. Mob No99581491 or 97643536.

I

Happy Birthday to our dear daddy Arnold De Leon. We wish you good health, happiness and more success in life! Greetings coming from your wife, princess cia, family and friends

ntegrated Indian School organized a special assembly on 14th of June 2010 to honor one of its students Sindhu Vasavi Srinivas of 12th standard (Commerce Stream) who secured 95% marks and topped Kuwait in flying colors in the CBSE 12th std board Examination 2009-2010.

The theme of the assembly was “Bloom where you are planted.” The assembly commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the Kuwiat National Anthem. The students of Xth std presented a thought proving skit based on the theme. It was followed by a melodious song by the school choir.

The Chief Guest, Onika Mehrotra, one of the Directors of Kalka Group of Institutions, addressed the assembly and awarded Sindhu Vasavi with a gold medal and a memento. The Principal Ritu Mathur appreciated her for her achievement and said that she has an example for the students of Integrated Indian School and hoped for the continuing success of the school in the near future. The assembly came to an end with the Indian Natinal Anthem.

AWARE

Cinemagic program

Thursday, June 24 at 7 pm Tears of the Black Tiger, Thailand 2001 Director: Wisit Sasanatieng English subtitle In the countryside of Thailand, a gang of outlaws makes the region unsafe. Among them is the handsome gun hero Dum, who became unwillingly involved in the bandit life. Handsome Dum made a promise to his upper-crust lover Rumpoey: despite the class difference, they will get married.

When the moment of reunion arrives, Dum

gets involved in a firefight and cannot possibly reach Rumpoey in time. She is desperate: her father has married her off to a policeman. The taciturn Dum, called the ‘Black Tiger’ by his co-conspirators, has however not forgotten Rumpoey. He does everything in his power to reach her, but fate gets in the way: his gang leader suspects him of treachery and his blood brother turns into his greatest enemy. Will the two lovers ever meet up? This urgent question propels the melodrama forward, supported by exciting music, spectacular shootouts and heroic duels.

Saturday, June 26 at 7 PM The Unknown Woman, Italy 2008 Director: Guiseppe Tornatore English subtitle Cinema Paradiso director Giuseppe Tornatore returns to the helm for this suspenseful thriller concerning a young Ukrainian prostitute-turned-cleaning

from the loudly dysfunctional Adacher family. Gradually, the mousy cleaning woman works her way into the family home, befriending the parents (Claudia Gerini and Pierfrancesco Favino) and becoming a trusted confidante to their daughter Thea (Clara Dossena). As her relationship with the family deepens, her motivations for getting so close become frighteningly clear. ❏❏❏ woman named Irina (Kseniya Rappoport).

Years ago, Irina was drawn into an international prostitution ring before being brutalized by a man named Mold (Michele Placido) who also killed her boyfriend.

Flash-forward to the present, and Irina is a humble cleaning woman in a building owned by jewellers. Though her appearance would suggest poverty, Irina always has a sizable wad of cash in her pocket and lives in a large apartment across the street

Admission KD1, for the venue fees including refreshments, popcorn and much more. Consider it a token of care for us to keep on the venue rolling.

Contact: screenings@cinemagics.com; or join Facebook’s group Cinemagic Kuwait. ● Screenings will be canceled when confronted with very bad weather. ● Screenings will take place at our location in Old Salmiya, above LG Electronics.

T

he AWARE Center is hosting a diwaniya tomorrow entitled, “Does hijab represent oppression or liberation of women?” by Sharifa Carlo.

Muslim women from and living in a wide variety of countries wear the scarf/veil. Why do women choose to cover themselves? Surely does this confirm they are oppressed and submissive? What is it like to be a covered woman? How are they treated by Muslims and Non-Muslims? In her 20-minute presentation, Sharifa Carlo will answer all these questions and many more.

The lecture will be held at 7pm. For more information, call 25335260/80 ext 105 or 104 or e-mail: Htaware.hassan@gmail.com.

Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

TV PROGRAMS

32

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings 21:20 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 22:10 E! News 22:35 The Daily 10 23:00 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 23:25 Kourtney & Khloé Take Miami 23:50 Pretty Wild

00:00 Law & Order Criminal Intent 01:00 Psych 02:00 ER 03:00 CSI Miami 04:00 Psych 05:00 Dawson’s Creek 06:00 The Ex-List 07:00 Law & Order Criminal Intent 08:00 House 09:00 FlashForward 10:00 ER 11:00 Dawson’s Creek 12:00 The Ex-List 13:00 CSI Miami 14:00 ER 15:00 Kathy Griffin 16:00 House 17:00 FlashForward 18:00 Law & Order Criminal Intent 19:00 The Ex-List 20:00 Lie to Me 21:00 Law & Order 22:00 CSI Miami 23:00 Supernatural

00:15 Dark Days in Monkey City 00:45 Animal Cops South Africa 01:40 Untamed & Uncut 02:35 Pit Bulls and Parolees 03:30 Animal Cops Phoenix 04:25 Animal Precinct 05:20 Ultimate Killers 05:45 Monkey Business 06:10 E-Vets: The Interns 06:35 Vet on the Loose 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 10:30 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 10:55 Monkey Life 11:20 RSPCA: On the Frontline 11:50 Animal Precinct 12:45 E-Vets: The Interns 13:10 Pet Rescue 13:40 Animal Cops Phoenix 14:35 Wildlife SOS 15:00 SSPCA: On the Wildside 15:30 Orangutan Island 15:55 Dark Days in Monkey City 16:25 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 16:50 The Planet’s Funniest Animals 17:20 Monkey Business 17:45 Monkey Life 18:15 The Animals’ Guide to Survival 19:10 Orangutan Island 19:40 Dark Days in Monkey City 20:10 Animal Cops South Africa 21:05 Untamed & Uncut 22:00 The Animals’ Guide to Survival 22:55 Animal Cops Phoenix 23:50 Orangutan Island

00:30 Doctor Who Confidential 00:45 North And South (2004) 01:35 The Weakest Link 02:30 Last Of The Summer Wine 03:00 Teletubbies 03:25 Me Too 03:45 Tikkabilla 04:15 Teletubbies 04:40 Me Too 05:00 Tikkabilla 05:30 Teletubbies 05:55 Me Too 06:15 Teletubbies 06:40 Me Too 07:00 Tikkabilla 07:30 Teletubbies 07:55 Me Too 08:15 Tikkabilla 08:45 Teletubbies 09:10 Me Too 09:30 Mastermind 2006 10:00 Coast 11:00 Last Of The Summer Wine 11:30 Last Of The Summer Wine 12:00 The Weakest Link 12:45 Eastenders 13:15 Doctors 13:45 Mastermind 2006 14:15 Coast 15:15 Last Of The Summer Wine 15:45 Last Of The Summer Wine 16:15 The Weakest Link 17:00 Doctors 17:30 Eastenders 18:00 North And South (2004) 19:00 Red Cap 20:00 The Weakest Link 20:45 Doctors 21:15 Eastenders 21:45 A Thing Called Love 22:45 Casualty 23:35 Casualty

00:00 Masterchef Goes Large 00:20 James Martin’s Brittany 00:45 What To Eat Now - Summer 01:10 Superhomes 02:00 10 Years Younger 02:50 The Restaurant Uk 03:40 Hidden Potential 04:05 Cash In The Attic Usa 04:30 Bargain Hunt 05:15 10 Years Younger 06:00 Masterchef Goes Large 06:30 Masterchef Goes Large 07:05 Cash In The Attic Usa 07:30 Antiques Roadshow 08:20 Bargain Hunt 09:05 Bargain Hunt 09:50 Hidden Potential 10:15 Cash In The Attic Usa 10:40 James Martin’s Brittany 11:05 What To Eat Now - Summer 11:35 Superhomes 12:25 10 Years Younger 13:15 The Restaurant Uk 14:05 Hidden Potential 14:30 Cash In The Attic Usa 14:55 Bargain Hunt 15:30 Bargain Hunt 16:15 James Martin’s Brittany 16:40 What To Eat Now - Summer 17:10 Superhomes 18:00 Hidden Potential 18:25 Cash In The Attic Usa 18:50 The Restaurant Uk 19:40 Masterchef Goes Large 20:10 The Hairy Bakers 20:35 Trish’s French Country Kitchen 21:00 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 21:50 Here’s Looking At You 22:15 Here’s Looking At You 22:40 Come Dine With Me 23:30 Masterchef Goes Large

The Dark Knight on Show Movies

01:00 Le Grand Appartement-PG 03:00 Juno-PG15 05:00 Jump Tomorrow-PG15 07:00 The Sun Also Rises-PG15 09:00 Solaris-PG15 11:00 Mamma Mia-PG15 13:00 The Sting-PG15 15:15 Reservation Road-PG15 17:00 Field Of Dreams-PG 19:00 Amalia-PG15 21:00 Civilization Of Maxwell Bright-18 23:00 Intersection-18

00:00 Moments of Terror 01:00 Street Customs 2008 02:00 Dirty Jobs 02:55 Industrial Junkie 03:20 Industrial Junkie 03:50 Really Big Things 04:45 Mythbusters 05:40 How It’s Made 06:05 Dirty Jobs 07:00 Really Big Things 07:55 Massive Machines 08:20 Street Customs 2008 09:15 Mythbusters 10:10 Ultimate Survival 11:05 Overhaulin’ 12:00 Border Security 12:30 How It’s Made 12:55 How It’s Made 13:20 Mythbusters 14:15 Miami Ink 15:10 Ultimate Survival 16:05 Dirty Jobs 17:00 Deadliest Catch 18:00 Destroyed in Seconds 18:30 Border Security 19:00 How It’s Made 19:30 How It’s Made 20:00 Mythbusters 21:00 Breaking Point 22:00 Prototype This 23:00 Mythbusters

00:30 Mighty Ships 01:20 Ecopolis 02:10 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 03:00 Beyond Tomorrow 03:50 Junkyard Wars 04:45 How Does That Work?

05:10 Weird Connections 05:40 Sci-Fi Science 06:10 Mighty Ships 07:00 Junkyard Wars 08:00 How Techies Changed the World 09:00 Space Pioneer 09:55 Stunt Junkies 10:20 Weird Connections 10:50 Mighty Ships 11:45 How Does That Work?

12:15 Kings of Construction 13:10 Sci-Fi Science 13:35 Space Pioneer 14:30 Engineered 15:25 How Does That Work?

15:55 How Techies Changed the World 16:50 Brainiac 17:45 Mega World 18:40 How It’s Made 19:05 How It’s Made 19:30 What’s That About?

20:20 How It’s Made 20:45 How It’s Made 21:10 Mythbusters Specials 22:00 How It’s Made 22:25 How It’s Made 22:50 What’s That About?

23:40 Mega World

00:00 The Suite Life of Zack and Cody 00:25 Fairly Odd Parents 00:50 Phineas and Ferb 01:15 Replacements 01:35 Suite Life On Deck 02:00 Hannah Montana 02:25 Kim Possible 02:50 A Kind of Magic 03:15 Fairly Odd Parents 03:40 Replacements 04:00 Stitch 04:25 Fairly Odd Parents 04:50 Phineas and Ferb 05:15 Replacements 05:35 A Kind of Magic 06:00 Timmy Time 06:10 Special Agent OSO 06:35 Handy Manny 07:00 Imagination Movers 07:20 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 07:45 Jungle Junction 08:00 Fairly Odd Parents 08:25 Phineas and Ferb 08:50 Wizards of Waverly Place 09:15 Sonny With A Chance 09:40 Hannah Montana 10:00 Hannah Montana 10:25 JONAS 10:50 Sonny With A Chance 11:15 Wizards of Waverly Place 11:35 Fairly Odd Parents

12:00 Phineas and Ferb 12:25 Replacements 12:45 Suite Life On Deck 13:10 Hannah Montana 13:30 Kim Possible 13:55 A Kind of Magic 14:20 Fairly Odd Parents 14:45 Phineas and Ferb 14:55 Replacements 15:15 Stitch 15:40 Wizards of Waverly Place 16:00 Hannah Montana 16:25 Sonny With A Chance 16:45 Fairly Odd Parents 17:10 Phineas and Ferb 17:35 Suite Life On Deck 18:00 Wizards of Waverly Place 18:25 Hannah Montana 18:45 JONAS 19:10 Hannah Montana 22:25 Hannah Montana 22:50 Sonny With A Chance 23:15 JONAS 23:35 The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

00:15 Leave It To Lamas 00:40 Dr 90210 01:30 Wildest TV Show Moments 01:55 Reality Hell 02:20 Style Specials 03:15 Extreme Hollywood 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Battle of the Hollywood Hotties 05:30 Streets of Hollywood 06:00 50 Most Shocking Celebrity Confessions 07:45 Style Star 08:10 Style Star 08:35 E! News 09:00 The Daily 10 09:25 Denise Richards: It’s Complicated 09:50 Leave It To Lamas 10:15 40 (More) Crimes of Fashion 12:00 E! News 12:25 The Daily 10 12:50 Battle of the Hollywood Hotties 13:15 Pretty Wild 13:40 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 14:05 Kourtney & Khlo√© Take Miami 14:30 Dr 90210 15:25 E!ES 16:15 Behind the Scenes 16:40 Behind the Scenes 17:10 Giuliana & Bill 18:00 E! News 18:25 The Daily 10 18:50 Wildest TV Show Moments 19:15 Pretty Wild 19:40 E! Investigates 20:30 THS

00:00 Fantasy Factory 01:00 Fight Girls Series 2 02:00 M1selection 2010 03:00 FIA European Drag Racing Championships 04:00 Untracked Series 1 05:00 I-Ex Season 2 07:00 FIA European Drag Racing Championships 07:30 FIA European Drag Racing Championships 08:00 Quattro Int Events: Profile Nicolas Muller 08:30 Quattro Int Events: O’neil Cold Water Classic Canada 09:00 Quattro Int Events: O’neil Water Classic, Usa 09:30 Quattro Int Events: World Heli Challange 10:00 Quattro Int Events 2009 World Heli Challenge Pt 2 53 10:30 Quattro Int Events: Red Bull Romaniacs 11:00 Fantasy Factory 12:00 Untracked Series 1 13:00 FIA European Drag Racing Championships 13:30 FIA European Drag Racing Championships 14:00 Ride Guide Mountain Bike 2008 10 14:30 Ride Guide Mountain Bike 2008 11 15:00 Fantasy Factory 16:00 Untracked Series 1 17:00 Quattro Int Events: Profile Nicolas Muller 17:30 Quattro Int Events: O’neil Cold Water Classic Canada 18:00 Quattro Int Events: O’neil Water Classic, Usa 18:30 Quattro Int Events: World Heli Challange 19:00 Quattro Int Events 2009 World Heli Challenge Pt 2 53 19:30 Quattro Int Events: Red Bull Romaniacs 20:00 Untracked Series 1 21:00 Fantasy Factory 22:00 Dr Danger 22:30 Dr Danger 23:00 M1selection 2010

00:00 Food Network Challenge 01:00 30 Minute Meals 01:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 02:00 Guys Big Bite 03:00 Barefoot Contessa 03:30 Everyday Italian 04:00 30 Minute Meals 05:00 Tyler’s Ultimate 05:30 Guys Big Bite 06:00 Barefoot Contessa 07:00 Everyday Italian 07:25 Food Network Challenge 07:50 30 Minute Meals 08:15 Tyler’s Ultimate 08:40 Guys Big Bite 09:05 Barefoot Contessa 09:30 Everyday Italian 10:00 30 Minute Meals 10:30 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 11:00 Iron Chef America 11:30 Barefoot Contessa 12:30 Everyday Italian 13:00 30 Minute Meals 13:30 Guys Big Bite 14:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 14:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 15:00 Chopped 15:30 Barefoot Contessa 16:00 Everyday Italian 17:00 Food Network Challenge 17:30 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 18:00 Guys Big Bite 18:30 Iron Chef America 19:00 30 Minute Meals 19:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 20:00 Chopped 21:00 Barefoot Contessa 21:30 Everyday Italian 22:00 Food Network Challenge 23:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 23:30 Guys Big Bite

00:30 A Haunting 01:20 FBI Files 02:10 Deadly Women 04:00 Forensic Detectives 04:55 Real Emergency Calls 05:20 Dr G: Medical Examiner 06:10 Ghosthunters 06:35 Ghosthunters 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:50 FBI Files 08:40 Fugitive Strike Force 09:30 Diagnosis: Unknown 10:20 Forensic Detectives 11:10 FBI Files 12:00 Solved 12:50 Real Emergency Calls 13:40 Royal Inquest 14:30 Forensic Detectives 15:20 FBI Files 16:10 Fugitive Strike Force 17:00 Diagnosis: Unknown 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 FBI Files 19:30 Solved 20:20 Real Emergency Calls 21:10 Royal Inquest 22:00 I Almost Got Away With It 22:50 Murder Shift 23:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner

01:05 Panther 03:05 I Shot Andy Warhol 04:45 Dublin Murders 06:10 Under Fire 08:15 Russians Are Coming, The 10:20 Huckleberry Finn 12:10 Small Town In Texas, A 13:45 Hennessy 15:30 Buona Sera, Mrs.Campbell 17:20 Mechanic, The 19:00 Jiminy Glick In Lala Wood 20:30 Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, The 22:00 Palookaville 23:30 Hidden Agenda

00:00 Bondi Rescue 00:30 Lonely Planet 01:30 The Best Job In The World 02:00 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 02:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 03:30 Banged Up Abroad 04:30 Madventures 05:00 Pressure Cook 05:30 Surfer’s Journal 06:00 Bondi Rescue 06:30 Lonely Planet 07:30 The Best Job In The World 08:00 Weird And Wonderful Hotels 08:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 09:30 Banged Up Abroad 10:30 Madventures 11:00 Pressure Cook 11:30 Surfer’s Journal 12:00 Bondi Rescue 12:30 Lonely Planet 13:30 Banged Up Abroad 16:30 Madventures 17:00 Pressure Cook 17:30 Surfer’s Journal 18:00 Bondi Rescue 18:30 Lonely Planet 19:30 Banged Up Abroad 20:30 Banged Up Abroad 21:30 Banged Up Abroad 22:30 Madventures 23:00 Pressure Cook 23:30 Surfer’s Journal

00:00 The Office 00:30 Will & Grace 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 03:00 Party Down 03:30 The Book Group 04:00 Saturday Night Live 05:00 Drew Carey 05:30 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 06:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 07:00 Eight Simple Rules 07:30 The Fresh Prince of Bel Air

08:00 Frasier 08:30 Yes dear 09:00 Married with Children 09:30 Drew Carey 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Eight Simple Rules 11:00 Frasier 11:30 Hope & Faith 12:00 Saturday Night Live 13:00 Will & Grace 13:30 Tyler Perry’s House of Payne 14:00 Married with Children 14:30 The Fresh Prince of Bel Air 15:00 The Office 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 The Drew Carey show 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Hope & Faith 18:30 Eight Simple Rules 19:00 Community 19:30 Rita Rocks 20:00 Late night with Jimmy Fallon 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Cleveland Show 22:30 The Book Group 23:00 Saturday Night Live

00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 10 Years Younger 01:30 10 Years Younger 02:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

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 10 Years Younger 09:30 10 Years Younger 10:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

11:00 The View 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 GMA Live 16:00 GMA Health 16:30 What’s the Buzz 17:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 18:00 Look A Like 18:30 10 Years Younger 19:00 The View 20:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 Jimmy Kimmel Live!

22:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 23:00 The Monique Show

00:00 The Dark Knight-PG15 02:30 Exterminators-PG15 04:15 Saving God-PG15 06:00 Capturing Mary-PG15 08:00 Eagle Eye-PG15 10:00 Sarah Landon And The Paranormal Hour-PG 12:00 Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsPG15 14:00 Cassandra’s Dream-PG15 16:00 Eagle Eye-PG15 18:00 Definitely Maybe-PG15 20:00 The Kingdom-18 22:00 Year One-18

01:00 Eden Lake-18 03:00 The International-18 05:00 House Of Fallen-PG15 07:00 Circus-PG15 09:00 The Flash-PG 11:00 Bloodrayne 2: Deliverance-18 13:00 Connected-PG15 15:00 The Flash-PG 17:00 Die Hard-PG15 19:10 Universal Soldier: The Return-18 21:00 The Italian Job-PG15 23:00 Rec-R

00:00 The Go-Getter-PG15 02:00 Real Time-PG15 04:00 My Fake Fiance-PG15 06:00 The Frighteners-PG15 08:00 Corky Romano-PG15 10:00 Griffin And Phoenix-PG15 12:00 Everything’s Gone Green-PG15 13:45 Sabrina-PG 16:00 The Go-Getter-PG15 18:00 The Immaculuate Conception Of Little Dizzle-PG15 20:00 The Moguls-18 22:00 Fever Pitch-PG15

00:00 Snow 2: Brain Freeze-FAM 02:00 The Wild Thornberrys Movie-PG 04:00 Atom Nine Adventures-PG 06:00 Little Hercules In 3-D-PG15 08:00 Bugs Bunny 1001 Rabbit TalesFAM 10:00 Atom Nine Adventures-PG 12:00 Barney’s Great Adventure-FAM 14:00 The Wild Thornberrys Movie-PG 16:00 Tommy And The Cool Mule-PG 18:00 Hey Arnold! The Movie-PG 20:00 Basket Fever-FAM 22:00 Barney’s Great Adventure-FAM

The Missing Person on Super Movies

00:45 ICC Cricket World 01:15 NRL Full Time 01:45 NRL Premiership 03:45 World Hockey 04:15 International Rugby Union 06:00 World Sport 06:30 ICC Cricket World 07:00 Cricket One Day International 15:00 ICC Cricket World 15:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 16:30 Sea Master 17:00 ICC Cricket World 17:30 Futbol Mundial 18:00 NRL Full Time 18:30 World Hockey 19:00 FEI Equestrain World 19:30 European Tour Weekly 20:00 AFL Highlights 21:00 Sea Master 21:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 22:00 Masters Football

06:30 Dogfights 07:20 Secret Japanese Aircraft Of World War II 08:10 The Christmas Truce 09:00 World War II: Lost Films 09:55 The Nazi Plan To Bomb New York 10:50 Battle 360 11:40 Battles B.C. 12:30 Dogfights 13:20 Secret Japanese Aircraft Of World War II 14:10 The Christmas Truce 15:00 World War II: Lost Films 15:55 The Nazi Plan To Bomb New York 16:50 Battle 360 17:40 Battles B.C. 18:30 Dogfights 19:20 Secret Japanese Aircraft Of World War II 20:10 The Christmas Truce 21:00 Russia: Land of the Tsars 21:55 Giants: Friend or Foe? 23:40 Egypt: Land of the Gods

00:00 Lost 01:00 Lost 02:00 Without A Trace 03:00 Dawson’s Creek 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 Without A Trace 08:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 08:30 Home Improvement 09:00 Dawson’s Creek 10:00 Beauty and the Geek 11:00 Without A Trace 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 13:30 Home Improvement 14:00 Lost 15:00 Lost 16:00 Beauty and the Geek 17:00 Dawson’s Creek 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 Grey’s Anatomy 20:00 Private Practice 21:00 Criminal Minds 22:00 Beauty and the Geek 23:00 Dawson’s Creek

Universal Soldier on Show Movies action

00:00 Futbol Mundial 00:30 AFL Toyota Premiership 03:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 04:00 Masters Football 07:00 AFL Highlights 08:00 World Sport 08:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 09:30 NRL Full Time 10:00 Live International Rugby Union 12:00 Futbol Mundial 12:30 AFL Highlights 13:30 Spirit of The Open 14:00 International Rugby Union 16:00 ICC Cricket World 16:30 World Sport 17:00 Spirit of The Open 17:30 AFL Highlights 18:30 Sea Masters 19:00 International Rugby Union 21:00 NRL Full Time 21:30 Rugby League State Of Origin 23:30 PGA European Tour Highlights

00:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 01:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter Finale 04:00 Red Bull X-Fighters 05:30 UFC All Access 06:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 WWE Vintage Collection 08:00 Red Bull X-Fighters 09:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 10:00 V8 Supercars Championship 12:00 WWE NXT 13:00 FIA GT1 World Championship 15:00 WWE Vintage Collection 16:00 V8 Supercars Championship 17:00 V8 Supercars Championship 18:00 WWE NXT 19:00 WWE Smackdown 21:00 UFC Wired 22:00 UFC Unleashed

01:00 Talk To Me-PG15 03:00 The Boy In The Striped PyjamasPG15 05:00 Barack Obama: The Man And His Journey-PG 07:00 A Shine Of Rainbows-PG15 09:00 Georgia O’keeffe-PG15 11:00 Take The Lead-PG 13:00 The Memsahib-PG15 15:00 Living Out Loud-PG15 17:00 Georgia O’keeffe-PG15 19:00 Hannah Montana Movie-PG 21:00 The Missing Person-PG15 23:00 The Reader-18

01:50 The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm 04:00 Passion Fish 06:20 The Screening Room 07:00 Now, Voyager 08:55 Anchors Aweigh 11:10 The Unsinkable Molly Brown 13:15 The Screening Room 13:45 Where Eagles Dare 16:20 Masquerade 18:05 Kidnapped 19:55 The Screening Room 20:20 Welcome To Hard Times 22:00 Pat Garrett And Billy The Kid 23:55 Angels & Insects

00:30 Dogfights 01:20 Secret Japanese Aircraft Of World War II 02:10 The Christmas Truce 03:00 World War II: Lost Films 03:55 The Nazi Plan To Bomb New York 04:50 Battle 360 05:40 Battles B.C.

00:00 Dr 90210 01:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 01:30 Dallas Divas & Daughters 02:00 Split Ends 03:00 How Do I Look?

04:00 Dr 90210 05:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 05:30 Area 06:00 How Do I Look?

07:00 Style Star 07:30 Style Her Famous 08:00 My Celebrity Home 09:00 Style Star 09:30 Dress My Nest 10:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

11:00 How Do I Look?

12:00 Ruby 13:00 Clean House 14:00 Clean House Comes Clean 14:30 Dress My Nest 15:00 What I Hate About Me 16:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

17:00 Jerseylicious 19:00 Split Ends 20:00 Clean House 21:00 Clean House Comes Clean 21:30 Dress My Nest 22:00 Fat Free Fiancés

01:04 French Only 01:45 Playlist 02:00 Urban Hit 02:45 Playlist 05:04 Focus 06:04 Playlist 08:04 Hit US 09:00 Code Compilation 09:24 Playlist 13:04 Urban Hit 13:50 Playlist 16:04 Sound System 16:45 Playlist 18:00 Urban Hit 18:45 Guest Star 19:00 Playlist 20:04 RNB 20:45 Playlist 21:00 Legend 22:00 Playlist

00:00 Intrepid Journeys 01:00 Journey Into Wine...

02:00 Planet Food 03:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Planet Food 06:00 Intrepid Journeys 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 48 Hours In 08:30 Distant Shores 09:00 Spring 09:30 Grannies On Safari 10:00 Planet Food 11:00 Intrepid Journeys 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Sophie Grigson in the Souk 13:30 The Thirsty Traveler 14:00 Journey Into Wine-Spain & Portugal 14:30 Panasia 15:00 Spring 15:30 Grannies On Safari 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 48 Hours In 17:30 Sophie Grigson in the Souk 18:00 Planet Food 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Journey Into Wine...

21:00 Planet Food 22:00 Globe Trekker

00:00 VH1 Rocks 00:30 So 80’s 01:00 Greatest Hits 02:00 Vh1 Music 05:00 Chill Out 07:00 Vh1 Hits 09:00 Vh1 Music 11:00 Aerobic 12:00 Top 10 Oasis 13:00 Music For The Masses 14:00 Vh1 Pop Chart 15:00 Vh1 Music

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

33 Flight Schedule Arrival Flights Wednesday 23/06/2010 Airlines Flt Route Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 306 Cairo Wataniya Airways 434 Damascus Egypt Air 2146 Cairo Wataniya Airways 408 Beirut Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Turkish 772 Istanbul Wataniya Airways 322 Sharm El Sheikh Ethiopian 624 Addis Ababa Air Arabia Egypt 551 Alexandria Jazeera 267 Beirut DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 138 Doha Kuwait 802 Cairo Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 637 Aleppo Jazeera 503 Luxor Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Jazeera 527 Alexandria British 157 London Jazeera 529 Assiut Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 352 Cochin Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 362 Colombo Kuwait 344 Chennai Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Qatari 132 Doha Iran Air 603 Shiraz Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Iran Aseman 6791 Mashad Jazeera 425 Bahrain Falcon 203 Dubai Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Middle East 404 Beirut Alnaser 711 Baghdad/Najaf Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 165 Dubai Mahan Air 5066 Mashad Jazeera 171 Dubai Gulf Air 219 Bahrain Egypt Air 610 Cairo Kuwait 672 Dubai Oman Air 645 Muscat Saudia 508 Riyadh Wataniya Airways 432 Damascus United 982 Washington DC Dulles Jordanian 800 Amman Egypt Air 621 Assiut Wataniya Airways 4001 Cairo Fly Dubai 057 Dubai Jazeera 257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 422 Amman Kuwait 562 Amman Saudia 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Jazeera 481 Sabiha Cargolux 792 Luxembourg Nas Air 745 Jeddah Jazeera 525 Alexandria Qatari 134 Doha Kuwait 546 Alexandria Kuwait 544 Cairo Nas Air 703 Riyadh Bahrain Air 344 Bahrain Jazeera 427 Bahrain Etihad 303 Abu Dhabi Rovos 061 Baghdad Emirates 857 Dubai Egypt Air 2128 Cairo Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 402 Beirut Saudia 510 Riyadh Jazeera 493 Jeddah Arabia 125 Sharjah Jazeera 239 Amman SriLankan 227 Colombo/Dubai Wataniya Airways 304 Cairo Kuwait 166 Paris/Rome Yemenia 824 Sanaa/Doha Wataniya Airways 106 Dubai Kuwait 502 Beirut Kuwait 542 Cairo Kuwait 786 Jeddah Jazeera 497 Riyadh Jazeera 177 Dubai Kuwait 674 Dubai Kuwait 774 Riyadh Kuwait 102 New York/London Indian 575 Chennai/Goa Wataniya 202 Jeddah Fly Dubai 061 Dubai Middle East 402 Beirut Rovos 081 Baghdad Jet A/W 572 Mumbai Egypt Air 618 Alexandria Wataniya Airways 642 Vienna Wataniya Airways 404 Beirut DHL 372 Bahrain Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Jazeera 459 Damascus Emirates 859 Dubai Qatari 136 Doha United 981 Bahrain Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Jazeera 449 Doha Jazeera 185 Dubai Jazeera 429 Bahrain Shaheen Air 441 Lahore/Karachi KLM 0447 Amsterdam/Bahrain India Express 393 Kozhikode/Cochin Kuwait 548 Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor Egypt Air 606 Luxor Pakistan 215 Karachi Wataniya Airways 108 Dubai

Time 00:30 00:50 00:55 01:05 01:05 01:05 01:15 01:20 01:50 02:00 02:10 02:15 02:25 02:55 03:25 04:45 05:25 05:45 05:50 06:15 06:20 06:30 06:40 07:20 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:20 08:20 08:25 08:40 09:00 09:20 09:25 09:55 10:25 10:30 10:45 10:45 10:50 10:55 11:05 11:15 12:20 12:40 12:50 12:55 13:15 13:15 13:30 13:35 13:35 13:35 13:40 13:45 13:50 14:05 14:10 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:40 14:50 14:55 15:00 15:05 15:30 15:30 15:45 16:40 16:50 16:50 16:50 16:55 17:10 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:40 17:40 18:00 18:35 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:45 20:05 20:20 20:30 20:30 20:30 20:45 20:50 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:35 21:55 22:30 22:30 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:10 23:10 23:10 23:15 23:55 23:55

Departure Flights on Wednesday 23/06/2010 Airlines Flt Route Jazeera 528 Assiut India Express 390 Mangalore/Kozhikode Indian 994 Mumbai/Chennai Lufthansa 637 Frankfurt Pakistan 206 Lahore Egypt Air 2147 Cairo Turkish 773 Istanbul Ethiopian 625 Addis Ababa DHL 371 Bahrain Emirates 854 Dubai Etihad 306 Abu Dhabi Qatari 139 Doha Wataniya Airways 101 Dubai Jazeera 480 Sabiha Wataniya 4002 Cairo Jazeera 164 Dubai Jazeera 422 Bahrain Gulf Air 212 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 181 Bahrain Jazeera 524 Alexandria Jazeera 256 Beirut Wataniya Airways 431 Damascus British 156 London Jazeera 170 Dubai Kuwait 545 Alexandria Fly Dubai 054 Dubai Kuwait 543 Cairo Kuwait 177 Frankfurt/Geneva Kuwait 671 Dubai Wataniya Airways 421 Amman Kuwait 551 Damascus Kuwait 561 Amman Arabia 122 Sharjah Emirates 856 Dubai Wataniya Airways 641 Vienna Qatari 133 Doha Etihad 302 Abu Dhabi Iran Air 602 Shiraz Iran Aseman 6792 Mashad Wataniya Airways 401 Beirut Gulf Air 214 Baghdad Falcon 204 Baghdad Middle East 405 Beirut Wataniya Airways 303 Cairo Kuwait 541 Cairo Rovos 062 Najaf/Baghdad Jazeera 238 Amman Jazeera 492 Jeddah Alnaser 712 Najaf/Baghdad Kuwait 103 London Kuwait 501 Beirut Kuwait 785 Jeddah Mahan Air 5065 Mashad Gulf Air 220 Bahrain Egypt Air 611 Cairo Jazeera 426 Bahrain Oman Air 646 Muscat Wataniya Airways 105 Dubai Jordanian 801 Amman Wataniya Airways 201 Jeddah Fly Dubai 058 Dubai Egypt Air 622 Assiut Saudia 509 Medinah United 982 Bahrain Jazeera 176 Dubai Wataniya Airways 403 Beirut Kuwait 673 Dubai Jazeera 496 Riyadh Kuwait 547 Sharm El Sheikh/Luxor Nas Air 746 Jeddah Saudia 501 Jeddah Jazeera 458 Damascus Kuwait 773 Riyadh Qatari 135 Doha Cargolux 792 Hong Kong Kuwait 614 Bahrain/Doha Nas Air 704 Medinah Rovos 082 Baghdad Bahrain Air 345 Bahrain Etihad 304 Abu Dhabi Wataniya 305 Cairo Emirates 858 Dubai Gulf Air 216 Bahrain Egypt Air 2129 Cairo Arabia 126 Sharjah Jazeera 184 Dubai Saudia 511 Riyadh Jazeera 448 Doha SriLankan 228 Dubai/Colombo Wataniya Airways 407 Beirut Yemenia 824 Sanaa Jazeera 428 Bahrain Kuwait 283 Dhaka Jazeera 266 Beirut Kuwait 361 Colombo Fly Dubai 062 Dubai Kuwait 331 Trivandrum Middle East 403 Beirut Jet A/W 571 Mumbai Wataniya Airways 187 Bahrain Egypt Air 619 Alexandria Gulf Air 218 Bahrain DHL 373 Bahrain Kuwait 801 Cairo Kuwait 675 Dubai Jazeera 612 Lahore Emirates 860 Dubai Falcon 102 Bahrain Qatari 137 Doha Kuwait 203 Lahore Kuwait 301 Mumbai Jazeera 526 Alexandria Jazeera 636 Aleppo Jazeera 502 Luxor United 981 Washington DC Dulles Kuwait 415 Kuala Lumpur/Jakarta

Time 00:05 00:25 00:50 00:50 01:10 02:05 02:15 02:35 03:15 03:45 04:00 05:00 06:50 07:00 07:00 07:05 07:30 07:45 07:50 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:25 08:30 08:35 08:40 08:45 08:55 09:00 09:10 09:10 09:15 09:20 09:40 09:45 10:00 10:10 10:20 10:55 11:35 11:45 11:45 11:50 11:50 12:00 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:15 12:30 13:00 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:55 13:55 14:15 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:35 14:40 14:45 14:50 14:55 15:10 15:10 15:35 15:40 15:45 15:45 15:50 16:05 16:20 16:20 16:20 16:35 17:00 17:25 17:35 18:05 18:05 18:05 18:10 18:20 18:30 18:35 18:50 19:10 19:25 19:40 19:50 20:00 20:10 20:20 20:50 21:00 21:20 21:30 21:35 21:35 21:55 22:00 22:00 22:10 22:25 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:20 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:50

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available in Kuwait City for a decent Goan/Mangalorean bachelor.

Contact: 22425878. (C 2411) Accommodation available for a Keralite working lady with another lady in a 2 bedroom flat in Abbassiya near Shahi Tandoor restaurant with a family. Contact: 99494671. (C 2413) 23-6-2010 Sharing accommodation available for a bachelor with Keralite family in Abbassiya, rent KD 50. Contact: 24319893, 99379165.

(C 2408) Available 2 bedroom flat for rent in Abbassiya behind German clinic, from this month, rent KD 120. Contact: 94478693.

(C 2409) 21-6-2010 Two room (central A/C) available in Bneid Al-Gar, very near to Al Salam hospital for decent working ladies or doctors. Please contact 97879611/ 66672496.

(C 2407) 20-6-2010 Sharing accommodation available from 1st July for a Keralite Muslim couple or family in a two bedroom flat in Abbassiya with all facilities. Contact: 99778097/ 97522967. (C 2403) Furnished sharing accommodation available for couple/ family/ two working ladies/ executive bachelor (non-smoker) in a 2-bed and 2-bathroom flat at Abbassiya near United Indian School. Call 97552140.

(C 2402) Sharing accommodation available in Salmiya with Sri Lankan family very near Mercedes Benz/ Appollo hospital Souq Salmiya, working lady/ bachelor or family, very big room. Contact: 97874876. (C 2400) 19-6-2010

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161 CHANGE OF NAME I, Anthony Pereira, holder of Indian Passport No. B 1816026 hereby change my name to Antonio Pereira as per my birth certificate.

(C 2412) 23-6-2010

MATRIMONIAL Proposals are invited from good looking and fair-complexioned Christian girls, for a 25-year-old professionally qualified Kerala RC boy, working in a highly reputed firm in Kuwait, professional nurses please contact: jobite22@yahoo.com

(C 2410) 22-6-2010 Proposals are invited for Chennai based Hindu boy 27/178 cm, B.E, MS working in MNC, CA, USA, green card holder, seeks alliance from above 165cm, software engineer girls.

Email: rajendurai@yahoo.com (C 2406)

No: 14768

34

SPECTRUM

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Calvin

CROSSWORD 1028

Aries (March 21-April 19) You are a real charmer-able to enchant others and bring them under your spell. All sorts of social interactions are possible.

Your ideals and ability to see the whole picture is obvious to all who come to know you. Your energy is always welcome in politics as well as social and community endeavors, where its basic fairness and evenhandedness are helpful. You tend to collect things and material success--money, home, security and possessions is very important. You tend to be supportive of others as emotions and the feelings of those around you may be very clear. Everyday responsibilities can be demanding and your success in achieving great things will be through your ability to exercise only practical and proven methods.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Everything seems to put you in the limelight today. You come off well in group matters. The areas in which you enjoy doing the best work are with the written and spoken word and ideas in all their flavors. Your enthusiasm for mind, the intellect and the world of ideas makes it easy for you to communicate these things to others. You have no trouble putting your feelings into words and what you say always carries a lot of content. You could have difficulty getting outer recognition for your efforts or accomplishments. This does not mean they are worthless but it does mean you should throw your efforts into work or ventures from which you take great pleasure. You enjoy mental effort and discipline and will find your efforts successful.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. Characteristic of a mob.

4. Plant with an elongated head of broad stalked leaves resembling celery.

8. An orange-brown antelope of southeast Africa.

11. Any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all.

12. A deep orange-red variety of chalcedony.

13. A self-funded retirement plan that allows you to contribute a limited yearly sum toward your retirement.

14. Having leadership guidance.

15. Employed in accomplishing something.

16. An audiotape recording of sound.

17. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

20. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret.

23. (informal) Of the highest quality.

26. A workplace for the conduct of scientific research.

30. A midnight meeting of witches to practice witchcraft and sorcery.

33. A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group.

36. A soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

38. 10 grams.

41. The capital and largest city of Yemen.

44. Of or belonging to an aecium.

47. An independent agency of the United States government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest.

48. Light informal conversation for social occasions.

50. Concerning those not members of the clergy.

51. An ugly evil-looking old woman.

52. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

53. A Spanish unit of length (about a yard) having different values in different localities.

DOWN 1. A master's degree in library science.

2. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

3. English monk and scholar (672-735).

4. Inflammation of the urethra of unknown cause.

5. An associate degree in applied science.

6. Manufactured in standard sizes to be shipped and assembled elsewhere.

7. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

8. Scottish sea captain who was hired to protect British shipping in the Indian Ocean and then was accused of piracy and hanged (1645-1701).

9. Toward the mouth or oral region.

10. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

18. Date used in reckoning dates before the supposed year Christ was born.

19. (Akkadian) God of wisdom.

21. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part of an organism.

22. Nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate.

24. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

25. A gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number).

27. A nonmetallic largely pentavalent heavy volatile corrosive dark brown liquid element belonging to the halogens.

28. A radioactive element of the actinide series.

29. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

31. A small cake leavened with yeast.

32. A colorless and odorless inert gas.

34. Jordan's port.

35. How long something has existed.

37. (Greek mythology) Goddess of the earth and mother of Cronus and the Titans in ancient mythology.

39. Free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception.

40. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

42. Someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault.

43. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

45. Being five more than one hundred fifty.

46. A plant hormone promoting elongation of stems and roots.

47. A public promotion of some product or service.

49. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) This Wednesday, you will find it easier to work with others than most days. You tend to pour a lot of energy into those around you. Your home and surroundings reflect your tender loving care as well. Other than your loved ones, you may have birds or animals that keep you company. When it comes to teaching or coaching young people, you are a natural and this is an area in which you may want to become involved this evening. You are always able to motivate and inspire others. Your social life seems to have increased and because you are able to get along well with all sorts of people, you may be learning about another country through someone you just meet--travel. You have an easy manner and find it easy to communicate with just about anyone.

Non Sequitur Cancer (June 21-July 22) Not a great starter today, you may have trouble initiating things and getting them moving. You may need help from friends or others to motivate you into becoming more aggressive and outgoing when necessary. After you get your motor going, however, it could be hard to slow you down.

After you are motivated, situations are almost made to measure and it will be easy to see which path is the one to take. This is a time of good fortune when things open up naturally. Garage sales, home repairs, talk of investing and visiting with neighbors make up most of this day.

Opportunities abound and you feel that you could do almost everything.

You will probably exhibit your ability to be a smooth talker with a quick wit.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Independence, as well as anything unusual or different, is valued. You are very communicative, flexible, mental and other-oriented as you wait or serve the public today. Your smooth talking abilities, as well as your quick wit and ready tongue, will create some positive results--high productivity. You may, however, yearn for a time that you can get away from all the busy work of late. Family outings or friendly visits could be planned for this upcoming weekend; perhaps a group camping expedition. There will be a chance to understand those around you and to have a special time with someone you love.

There are good feelings among friends and family today as well as a chance to deepen a weak relationship. A child tells a joke.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You may be sought after for your advice and counsel. You seem to magically cut through the red tape and get at what is hidden. This is a great time to be with others--in play or work. Success is indicated in education, politics or the law. You know how to attack and solve problems, whether they are personal or public difficulties. Chances are that your social skills mean you are popular with almost everyone. Your energies run effectively toward making yourself felt in the material, tangible outer world. You are an action-person who gains the attention of others and seems to get things moving. The circumstances of your life suggest extroversion. Social gatherings of all types are possible and enjoyable this evening.

Libra (September 23-October 22) You may be very forceful in what you say and think. With all of this emotional energy, you could speak or communicate very well. You have a lot of mental drive now. Learn to use your good intuition and feelings so that you will become more in-tune with what is most needed today. This is a great time to make the extra effort to stretch beyond the usual daily routine and help a person you may or may not know. While it is difficult for you to approach your sensitive areas, it is of great importance that you to do so. A good transition from work to home this evening would be some fun game involvement that will create a little exercise and maybe a little competition and just plain fun with a partner; perhaps neighborhood basketball, tennis, etc.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You are understanding to the needs of others and are in a good position to communicate concerning groups and society. You are very imaginative when it comes to your health, the food you eat and how you take care of yourself. You are quick to get the picture; you may find you take an interest in helping others see the benefits that proper care, mental, physical and such can bring. Others may find you especially witty and eccentric. You may have insights or breakthroughs with regard to your living situation or life circumstances. A move could be in order. You are very sensitive, even vulnerable when it comes to expressing yourself. Periods of intense creativity enable you to go through changes and inner growth. There is music.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) There are challenges this morning, but you know the details-now is the time to just forge ahead. Your organizational abilities and sense of responsibility will be what guides you and proves successful. Your career could assume a much more determined and solid form--a firm foundation. This is a time of good fortune when things open up naturally. Working overtime is hard to avoid today. You may however, find that you want to do almost everything. Circumstances should work together to help bring out your ideals--make it easier to make your dreams real. Overall, this is a good time to project your image. Whatever you ask for is granted--within reason. Real estate matters may be important soon.

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 could have difficulty getting your ideas across to others today. You may have doubts about those who talk too much and have little to back up their claims. Your inner self-confidence may be lacking and you could try to overcome this by defensive aggressiveness-careful. You probably wish you had more of the self-assurance your fiery acquaintances have. You could have difficulty getting outer recognition for your efforts or accomplishments. This does not mean they are not recognized--it does mean, however, that you should throw your efforts into work or ventures you really love doing. You have an average amount of change present in life, neither too much nor too little. Lighten up on your workload. You deserve a little break--go dancing.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You could be an excellent teacher in areas requiring discipline. You value order and place a high premium on hard work and effort.

You like to get down to the bare bones, to what is essential. Whatever is most practical is best--you appreciate things that are durable and long lasting. You love truth, philosophy, law and the like. This is because you understand what is behind and connecting things. Much of your own self-image is wrapped up with your ability to work with images--dreams and the imagination. Music, philosophy as well as all that is mystical would be interesting areas in which you could teach. You will soon be ready to move into a higher level of work and living--more money and better accommodations.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Abundance is in the air!

Tap into and use a prosperous attitude to create wealth. A co-worker or customer may be just a little too sensitive today. There may be some difficulty in controlling a situation. Consider the person is probably afraid of something that does not relate to the present surroundings. Your interest in probing the secrets of others is very energetic, but this may not be the proper time. Devote time and energy to a creative project this afternoon.

You can be very effective as you play. Young people like to visit and be with you when you are not in a serious tone. It is worth a change of plans, to take time for love this evening. There are opportunities to have an understanding and a deeper bonding with those you love.

INFORMATION

Wednesday, June 23, 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

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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

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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

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SPECTRUM

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Orlando Bloom engaged to Miranda O

rlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr have got engaged. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor and the Victoria’s Secret model are to tie the knot after Orlando popped the question, it has been confirmed. His representative told website ET Online: “Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr are getting married.”

While there have been several reports the couple had got engaged, they had always denied it until now. Last year, Orlando and Miranda who have been dating since 2007 - moved in together, and it was expected they would announce their engagement shortly afterwards. Miranda had previously said she wanted to marry the heartthrob - who once dated Kate Bosworth and have children with him, but she wasn’t quite ready to make the commitment.

Speaking in 2009, the Australian beauty said: “It’s definitely something, one day down the track, I want.

But for now, I’m happy. I’m just too busy with work that I can’t be thinking of that right now.”

Jackson faked his high-pitched voice

M

ichael Jackson faked his high-pitched voice to “act like a boy”, it has been claimed. The late ‘Thriller’ hitmaker - who died of acute Propofol intoxication last June - spoke with a deep, masculine tone but altered the pitch in public so people would like him more, says his biographer Ian Halperin. He said: “He wanted to act like a boy. He felt it was a way for the public to like him more.” Michael’s spiritual advisor, Reverend June Gatlin, added: “His voice was not high pitched. It was deep - a real man’s voice.” June - a self-proclaimed “seer” - says the singer visited her in Los Angeles for “spiritual cleansing” so he could be himself and speak in a normal voice. Ian - whose documentary on the singer, ‘Gone Too Soon’, will air on the anniversary of his death on Fridayadded: “She tried to get him to be just Michael.” Meanwhile, Michael’s brother Randy Jackson has expressed his disappoint-

S

imon Cowell’s fiancee wants to spend more time with him. The former ‘American Idol’ judge - who got engaged to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy in February -is flying the brunette beauty from Los Angeles to London today after she reportedly grew

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ay-Z is being sued by a private jet company. The music mogul- who is married to Beyonce Knowles - reportedly owes Air Platinum Holding over $130,000 after failing to pay his full bill for services he used in 2009. According to gossip website TMZ, Jay-Z - real name Shawn Carter - racked up a bill of $250,000 after flying for 55 hours with the company, but only paid enough of his bill to cover 37 hours of their time. It’s believed that an hour of flight time costs $4,500, meaning his total outstanding flight bill is around $81,000. He also owes $8,500 for 17 hours of domestic catering, $3,000 for catering on

ment that Dr Conrad Murray - the physician who has been charged with the involuntary manslaughter of the singer - was allowed to retain his license to practise medicine by a Los Angeles judge last week. He said: “The recent court proceedings have been difficult for us as a family. “However, it is a necessary process that we are well prepared to endure in our fight for justice for Michael.” Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor claimed he had a lack of authority to suspend the doctor’s license, despite calls from the California Medical Board and state Attorney General Jerry Brown to do so.

Despite the ruling, Randy said he and his family still has “continued respect and faith” in the judicial system. A preliminary hearing for the medic is set to take place on August 23. If he is found guilty of the involuntary manslaughter of the singer, he could face up to four years in jail.

Cowell spares some time increasingly unhappy at not seeing him for several weeks. A source: “Mezhgan has been keeping a low profile in recent weeks. “She and Simon have still been in regular contact, only by phone, but they haven’t spent time with one another.

“For Mezhgan, enough was enough. She confronted Simon about it and he agreed something needed to be done. “So he is paying for her to fly first class from LAX to London’s Heathrow. She will be landing this afternoon at 3:30pm.” The pair - who dated for six months before getting engaged - will use their time in the UK capital for Mezghan to get to know Simon’s British friends and family better, as well as finding time alone to reaffirm their romance. The source added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: “He loves her dearly and wants to make her feel like his number one.

“Hopefully some quality time together will help them resolve their differences and cement their future together.

“They will have a couple of romantic nights in and out and mull things over.

“Mezhgan will also catch up with Simon’s friends and family while she’s here and generally re-familiarise herself with Simon’s life.”

—BangShowbiz

Jay-Z is being sued four international flights and $8,500 in international fees. The ‘Big Pimping’ rapper has also failed to settle $12,285 of taxes and the $24200 cost of a luxury trip to England, bringing the total debt to $137, 485. Meanwhile, the 40-year-old star has revealed plans to launch his own range of headphones in a partnership between his own Roc Nation company and Skullcandy.

He said: “Our passion is creating amazing music. We’re dedicated to delivering the best in live performances and now with the Roc Nation and Skullcandy partnership, we’re offering the best way for people to experience the soundtrack of their lives.”

Eminem’s scary addiction

Renner brushes his E teeth in Starbucks

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eremy Renner had to brush his teeth in Starbucks before the Oscars. The 39-year-old star was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for his role in ‘The Hurt Locker’ at this year’s ceremony but admits he wasn’t prepared for any of the glamorous events around that time because he was in the middle of reconstructing a house. Speaking about the awards season, Jeremy - who runs a property renovating business with his friend said: “I was brushing my teeth in Starbucks because we didn’t have any plumbing. I remember sleeping under painter’s plastic because it was so dusty. I had to create this tent, like Bubble Boy, around my bed. I had to put holes in it so I could breathe. It’s kind of pathetic.” Despite winning critical acclaim for his acting, Jeremy says he set up the business as he knows being an actor doesn’t always pay well so he needed to have a back-up plan. He told Menswear Magazine: “This acting thing doesn’t pay. We make money in real estate. And that affords me, as an actor, to not have to take things because I need money.”

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minem “scared himself” with the extent of his drug addiction. The rapper admits he only gave up taking illegal substances for good after he relapsed just weeks after an almost fatal drug-taking session in late 2007. He explained: “I had overdosed in 2007, like right around Christmas in 2007... I pretty much almost died. You know, I pulled through and went home and relapsed less than a month later and I literally shot back up to the amount of pills I was taking, shot right back up to where I overdosed... Kind of I scared myself, like, ‘Yo! I need to, I need help. Like I can’t beat this on my own.’ “The things I was putting in my body, my tolerance got so high. I got to the point where I couldn’t even count how many pills I was taking.” The hip-hop superstar has a 14-year-old daughter Hailie, his child with ex-wife Kimberley Scott, and two adopted girls Alaina, the child of Kimberley’s sister, and Whitney - Kimberley’s daughter from a previous relationship. He is also the legal guardian of his younger half-brother Nathan. The 37-year-old star eventually realised

Peter Andre puts school first

eter Andre won’t let his children seek fame at a young age.

The ‘Behind Closed Doors’ hitmaker - who has a five-yearold son Junior and two-year-old daughter Princess Tiaamii with ex-wife Katie Price, and also helps raise her eldest child Harvey, eight - wouldn’t have a problem with the youngsters pursuing a showbiz career, but only if they complete their education first. He said: “If the kids want to follow my career path, I’d make sure they finish school first. “I was offered a record con-

he needed to “take responsibility” for his actions, even though it was hard for him to admit he needed help. He added in an interview with US TV show ‘Access Hollywood’: “I just got tired of the way I was living. I guess I really had to reach down, reach deep down and look at myself and realise this is my fault, like, take

responsibility for the way I’m living and stop blaming other people. “The biggest problem is admitting that you have a problem. Nobody wants to admit that they’re not in control of something.”

tract at 16, but my dad made me stay on at school. That was the best thing he could have done.” Although Peter, 37, is currently single, the singer admits he hasn’t ruled out having more children in future. He told Reveal magazine: “I’m more than happy with three kids but if I meet someone special, who’s to say I won’t want any more in the future. “I never thought I’d meet somebody who already had a child and I did. You can never tell what’s around the corner. “Put it this way - dating a yummy mummy isn’t off the cards.” Last week, Peter - who split from Katie in May 2009 - was crowned Bounty’s Celebrity Dad of the Year and was thrilled with the accolade. He added: “It’s awesome. It put the last year into perspective. “I’ll always put my kids first.”

SPECTRUM

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

37

Music & Movies

n upcoming Hollywood film on the Bhopal gas disaster has run into objections from a survivors’ group that fears the production will whitewash the role of the US company blamed for the tragedy. The film, “Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain” starring Martin Sheen, is set for release in December and focuses on the aftermath of the gas leak in 1984, which was the world’s worst industrial accident and claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Sheen plays Warren Anderson, the chief executive of Union

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he bassist for the Grammy-winning metal band Slipknot died of an “accidental” overdose of morphine and fentanyl, a synthetic morphine substitute, police in Iowa said on Monday as autopsy results were released. Paul Gray, 38, was found dead on May 25 at a hotel near Des Moines, Iowa, the hometown of the band who always appear in public in grotesque masks, beat each other up on stage and call their fans “maggots.” Gray cofounded the band in 1995. An autopsy conducted by the Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office also found that Gray suffered from “significant heart disease,” according to a statement released by the Urbandale police department.

After Gray’s death the eight surviving members of the band shocked fans by appearing in public for the first time without their trademark masks and coveralls to pay tribute to him. They were accompanied by Gray’s wife Brenna who is pregnant with their first child. Slipknot topped the charts in the United States, Britain and Australia with its most recent album, 2008’s “All Hope Is Gone.” The band won a Grammy in 2004 for its song “Before I Forget.” The band also became notorious for its performances in which members often broke each other’s bones, set each other on fire, and injured their fans after diving into the crowd. — Reuters

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Her group wants to meet the crew members to demand some changes in the film. AFP contacted the director, 38-year-old Ravi Kumar, but he was not immediately available for comment. In an interview broadcast Monday, Sheen, a prominent activist for leftwing causes, told the news channel CNN-IBN he had no sympathy for fellow American Anderson, who fled India for the United States in the accident’s aftermath. The disaster unfolded on the night of December 2, 1984 when the Union Carbide pesticide plant in

Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh state, spewed 40 tons of toxic gas into surrounding residential areas.

The film’s release coincides with an upsurge in public anger at the handling of the disaster after the first convictions of managers at the plant earlier this month — 25 years after the event. Amid anger at the perceived leniency of the sentences-two years in prison pending appeal-the absconded Anderson has become a lightning rod for a general feeling of injustice.— AFP

By James Pheby

O

ver 170,000 people are expected to attend Britain’s famous Glastonbury festival this weekend as the world’s largest open-air music and performing arts event celebrates its 40th anniversary. Revelers are packing their wellies and wet-wipes as they prepare to descend on the festival in Somerset, southwest England, which opens its doors on Wednesday, two days before the music begins.

It may be approaching middle age, but the festival is still renowned for attracting the planet’s most revered musicians as well as encouraging more left-field and underground performance artists. Organizer Michael Eavis, 74, received a blow when Irish rock megastars U2, who were due to headline the main Pyramid Stage on Friday, pulled out after frontman Bono injured his back.

Stepping into the breach are Gorillaz, the hip-hop influenced side-project of Blur singer Damon Albarn.

Other heavyweights performing this year are US soulpioneer Stevie Wonder, rapper Snoop Dogg, Latino superstar Shakira, American quartet Vampire Weekend, country icon Willie Nelson and rockers Muse, who headline on Saturday.

It is not just mainstream music that is represented, with 45 official stages offering performances from 700 artists as diverse as Australian polymath Rolf Harris, Nigerian singer Femi Kuti and reggae veterans Toots and the Maytals. For the rest of the year Eavis has his hands full running his Pilton dairy farm, but for one week the cows are moved away and his land becomes a stage for the world’s biggest party.

Eavis first organized the festival in 1970, the day after Jimi Hendrix died, and fans who came to see acts including Marc Bolan and Al Stewart paid one pound each for entry and received free milk from the farm.

The festival was held intermittently in the 1970s and it wasn’t until the 1990s that it really began to acquire its current status.

apper Lil Wayne could avoid jail time in Arizona on drug and weapon charges after entering a plea agreement with prosecutors.

During a change of plea hearing Friday in which he appeared via video from a New York jail, the 27-year-old Grammy winner pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a dangerous drug.

The charge stems from an incident in January 2008 in which his tour bus was stopped

R

By Ryan Nakashima he money is rolling in. The bills are being paid. And all those people who said Michael Jackson might earn more in death than in life are being proved right. Like the estates of Elvis Presley and Yves Saint Laurent, Jackson’s has grown immensely since he died on June 25, 2009. Without Jackson’s lavish spending sprees, and with the help of new revenue pouring in from nostalgia over the reign of the King of Pop, estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain have dramatically turned around Jackson’s finances.

A kingdom that was on the verge of collapse from more than $500 million in debt now looks to be able to support his three children and his mother and donate healthily to children’s charities.

The estate has earned more than $250 million in the year since he died. Executors used some of that to pay off $70 million in debt, including the $5 million mortgage on the Jackson family compound in Encino, part of Los Angeles. The interest payments on the remaining debt are now covered by a steady flow of cash.

“They’re off to a spectacularly good start,” said Lance Grode, a former Jackson lawyer and adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Law School. He added, however, “there’s a long way to go before they pay

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Carbide, the US chemical group that ran the factory, who is considered a fugitive in India, where he faces charges of negligence. “It looks like the director is trying to justify the action and decisions taken by Warren Anderson and many facts are presented wrongly,” an activist from the Bhopal Group for Information and Action, Rachna Dhingra, told AFP. Dhingra, who said she had read the script but not seen the movie, added: “No one can be allowed to distort the facts.”

at a US Border Patrol checkpoint in Arizona. Authorities say they found cocaine, Ecstasy and a handgun on the tour bus.

Prosecutors say the rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, is scheduled to be sentenced June 30 and could receive 36 months of probation.

He’s currently serving an eightmonth jail term in New York after pleading guilty last October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. — AP

A file picture taken on June 27, 2009, shows fans attending the 2009 Glastonbury Festival in Somerset, south-west England. — AFP

A successful headline spot can catapult bands to superstardom and legendary performances from Radiohead in 1997, Coldplay in 2002 and Muse in 2004 elevated these bands to their current heights. There was controversy in 2008 when rapper Jay-Z was given a headline slot, but the doubts were dispelled after he delivered one of the most memorable sets ever.

The festival has had its darker moments; 235 people were arrested in 1990 after travelers started fighting with police, and the start of last year’s event was marred by the news of Michael Jackson’s death.

Integral to the festival’s development was the late Arabella Churchill, granddaughter of Winston Churchill, who set up and then ran the Theatre and

Lady Gaga says has finished new album “A S pop star Lady Gaga has finished her new album, after her debut “The Fame” topped charts around the world. The 24-year-old, known for her flamboyant costumes as much as her records, plans to release the album early next year, according to Rolling Stone magazine. “I think I’m gonna get the album title tattooed on me and put out the photo,” she told the publication.

“I’ve been working on it for months now, and I feel very strongly that it’s finished right now. It came so quickly. Some artists take years; I don’t. I write music every day.” The “Poker Face” singer, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, hinted that her new music was likely to be more serious than her hit debut, which turned her into one of the pop world’s biggest stars.—Reuters

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off all of their debts.” A rundown of deals suggests that Jackson’s fortune will be even bigger than could have been realized by a planned series of comeback concerts: • A posthumous deal to sell unreleased Jackson recordings with Sony Music guaranteed $200 million over seven years. It has already brought $125 million to the estate.

• The film “This Is It,” based on his final concert rehearsal footage, grossed $252 million worldwide.

Sony Pictures paid the estate $60 million in advance, with an undisclosed amount more to come from DVD sales.

• Licensing deals on merchandise sold by Universal Music Group’s Bravado unit and a new dance game

by Ubisoft Entertainment brought in $26 million in advances. More is possible if unit sales are high.

• The Mijac Music catalog of copyrights, on songs that Jackson wrote, generated $25 million in the past year, thanks to heavy airplay on radio stations and song and album sales.

• Music publisher Sony/ATV, the copyright holder of the Beatles’ and other artists’ songs, posted double-digit percentage revenue gains in the year through March. That netted Jackson’s estate, which owns a 50 percent stake, $11 million.

• Other income, including from a rerelease of Jackson’s

In this June 26, 2009 file photo, Ryosuke Kawada, an employee of Tower Records, shows a Michael Jackson CD in Tokyo. — AP

Circus fields.

As a result, the festival developed a diverse reputation and the 900-acre (360-hectare) site now encompasses various thematic areas. One of these zones is Shangri-La, in which artists set out to create “a futuristic citadel, nestled next to an overpopulated slum riddled with filth of all kinds.”

Shangri-La creative director Deborah Armstrong explained to AFP: “We’ve got artists on all levels, from the well-renowned, Art Council funded, to festival-goers. They’re all tying into this narrative.

“Michael (Eavis) is the only person that’s investing in this subculture and I think this is what is keeping Glastonbury unique,” she added.

autobiography, “Moon Walk,” and sales of commemorative tickets to his canceled concerts, brought in another $25 million. The tally does not include a deal with Cirque du Soleil for shows inspired by Jackson’s music, in which the estate will share half the costs and profits when the performances begin in late 2011. Nor does it account for a deal in the works to nearly double the estate’s income from Sony/ATV. That cash goes to pay down most of Jackson’s remaining debt.

According to co-executor Branca, Jackson’s longtime lawyer and business manager, the new deals follow a script the two set out shortly before the singer died.

“When I met with him before he died we went through an agenda. John (McClain) and I are really executing on that,” Branca told The Associated Press. “We’re doing the things we think Michael would have wanted.” Several people have been paid for overdue bills after spending years trying to track the singer down. Others who haven’t yet been paid say they have been treated professionally by the estate; a night and day change from his old regime.

“We couldn’t (collect) until unfortunately he passed away,” said Joseph Akhtarzad, a Jackson family friend who owns the Santa Monica-based Video & Audio Center.

Last month, the estate settled a $128,429 tab with Akhtarzad for electronics goods owed since 2007.

Much of Glastonbury’s mystique is tied up with its links to ancient mythology. King Arthur is believed to be buried at the foot of the nearby Tor while rumor has it that a young Jesus once visited the area with Joseph of Arimathea, inspiring William Blake’s famous poem, “Jerusalem.”

It is equally known for its unpredictable weather and knee-deep mud, 300 tents were washed away in 2005, and visitors to the festival will be keeping an eagle-eye on the local forecast. In true British stiff-upper lip fashion, festival-goers tend to revel in their resilience, and whatever the weather, they will do their best to prove that life really does begin at 40. — AFP

merican Idol” producers on Monday lowered the age limit for contestants to 15, but there was still no word on a new judge to replace Simon Cowell as auditions were announced for next month. Fox television said auditions for season 10 would be held in six US cities, beginning in Nashville, Tennessee, July 17. Producers of the TV singing contest, whose ratings have slid, said the minimum age this season would be 15 instead of 16.

“A lot of young, talented people are now seeking careers and representation before they turn 16,” said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, executive producer of “American Idol”. “Lowering the age limit allows us to tap into this talent pool,” she said in a statement.

An undated photo shows an oil on canvas portrait of Michael Jackson dressed as king, signed and dated 1995 by Norman Oak (American, B 20th Century,) housed in an elaborate gold frame.—AP

File photo, Michael Jackson fans arrive to buy tickets for the ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ film, at LA Live in Los Angeles. — AP

A month after Cowell bid farewell to “Idol” in the show’s May finale, there has been no word on who will replace him. But auditions before the panel of judges are not due to start until September, after thousands of wannabe singers in cities around the nation will have been eliminated by producers in the mass July and August try-outs.

The schedule allows more time for producers to name a new judge and have him or her in place by September.

Last year, “Idol” producers enlisted celebrities ranging from country singer Shania Twain to actor Neil Patrick Harris to sit on the judges’ panel, after the abrupt departure of Paula Abdul. —Reuters

Thomas Mesereau, who successfully defended Jackson in his 2005 child molestation trial, said the estate recently paid his law firm $341,452 for services provided after the trial, when Jackson moved to Bahrain. The firm revived its claim in September because it gave up dealing with Jackson’s previous managers.

If Elvis is any example, a moderate level of earnings could flow into Jackson’s estate for decades. Sony Music said more than 31 million Jackson albums have sold worldwide since he died, a stratospheric number for a music industry in decline. With 8.3 million albums sold in North America, he was the top-selling artist in 2009, easily topping Taylor Swift’s 4.6 million. It marked the most albums sold in a year since Usher topped 8 million in 2004, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Even since the start of this year, Jackson songs have been played on the radio in the U.S. and Canada 140,000 times, about 10 times the pace before he died, according to Nielsen. Nearly a million Jackson albums have sold this year and a new album of unreleased material is set to hit stores in November, roughly in tandem with a new video game in which fans can mimic his signature moves. “In the year that Michael has gone, we realize how incredibly talented he was,” said Marty Bandier, the chief executive of Sony/ATV. “The guy was the King of Pop and more.”—AP

In this July 1, 2009 file photo, the train station at Neverland Ranch is shown in Los Olivos, Calif. — AP

SPECTRUM

38

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Fashion

By Gildas Le Roux taly’s fashion giants embraced green themes and eco-chic at the men’s shows in Milan this week, laying grass on walkways and wrapping models in eco-friendly fabrics and plant and animal motifs. Setting the tone, Dolce & Gabbana titled its show “Luncheon on the Grass” after Manet’s masterwork and had birds chirping as models strolled down a grassy catwalk, carrying leather bags stuffed with vegetables and baguettes. Flowers, shades of green and string-soled shoes were ubiquitous, as were checkered patterns in red, blue or green reminiscent of the 1950s.

Etro too went for a lawn runway, with models donning light cotton, soy and nylon fabrics stamped in Indian patterns and Celtic embroideries. Earthly colors dominated, with greens and khakis and plant prints that reeked of the Amazon. Gucci went a step further, throwing out jet-set hunter lookalikes dressed in leather and snakeskin like their prey with colors in natural blues, grays and earth hues. Frida Giannini, the house designer, rolled up soy and mohair sleeves up to the arm and sent them out hauling large bags in washed-down calfskin for a vintage look, with details weaved and laced in leather.

Under safari jackets and short trench coats, V-necked T-shirts in soy hung atop slim pants slightly pleated at the hip. Instead of ties Gucci went for soy scarves in flower patters and necklaces in coral or horn Evening wear included shirts in blue or brown with equestrian symbols like horse bits under extra-light pierced soy knitwear.

Chino trousers in cotton or white soy came over black corduroy slippers. Ermenegildo Zegna, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, stuck to its classical style but toyed with details: a yoke of leather on shirt collars, a small foulard around the neck and Pete Doherty-style hats, all in sober shades of camel, light blue and grey.

Bermuda-suits were all the rage as Zegna threw a hint of Indochina on the runway.

Jackets were short and waisted high, bermuda shorts at times turned into silk boxers. A whiter-than-white suit was donned over a Mao collar shirt. John Richmond celebrated rockers, alternating denim suits with military touches with jackets in flowery patterns and a bright red suit, gearing models in round pink sunglasses and small creased scarves.

Contrasting with the cheery eco-chic, a note of sadness hung over the shows following Friday’s apparent suicide of iconic Burberry model Tom Nicon, a 22-year-old Frenchman who fell out of a fourth floor window in Milan. Nicon had worked for most of the big brands, including Versace, Armani, Louis Vuitton, Kenzo and Hugo Boss.

His death was the latest in a string of tragedies on the fashion scene. Last November South Korean model Daul Kim was found hanged in Paris at the age of 20 and in April 24-year-old Ambrose Olsen, 24, was found dead in New York. Star British designer Alexander McQueen took his life in February aged 40. — AFP

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Models present creations of the Dolce & Gabbana collection on Monday during the Milan men’s ready-to-wear fashion week. —AFP

Italian designer Kean Etro (2nd R) enters the catwalk with models after presenting his collection on Monday during the Milan men’s ready-to-wear fashion week.

— AFP Models present creations of the Etro collection on Monday during the Milan men’s ready-towear fashion week. — AFP

39

SPECTRUM

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Fashion

A South African supporter wearing a ‘Makarapa’ cheers ahead of the start of the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

By Justine Gerardy eplica football shirts, face paint, woolly scarvesthat’s just so last season. When it comes to World Cup fashion, the 2010 tournament in South Africa has taken the game to another level.

The country which gave the world the buzzing vuvuzela-easily 2010’s biggest and noisiest newsmaker-has seen its standard colorful match gear of oversized glasses, revamped helmets and afro wigs sweep across stadiums.

But some fans have also turned to extra touches to back the national Bafana Bafana team despite its battle to stay in the tournament. Tammy Lefebure

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A South African supporter cheers prior to the kick-off of the Group A first round 2010 World Cup football match.

ran up a pair of skin hugging green and yellow cotton lycra leggings with “South Africa” emblazoned in gold across the rear and a flag on the thigh in less than 20 minutes. “I think my butt is all over the internet already because so many people have taken pictures,” the 24-year-old Cape Town local said while dancing at the city’s fan park.

The inspiration? “I wanted something different that would stand out.” Mexican fans with wrestlers’ togs, Japanese dressed as samurais and Englishmen dressed as knights of the crusade have all won plaudits for their sense of fun and imagination. But the hosts are determined not to be outdone on home soil.

“Anything that has the South African colours is on,”

said Siv Ngesi whose head-to-toe outfit had car mirror socks around his ankles, fingerless gloves and four small instruments around his neck. “I don’t even like soccer, I just love South Africa,” said the 24year-old.

The football fever has been picked up elsewhere.

Ahead of kick-off, South African designers interpreted fan gear with items like cheeky cheerleader outfits and flag t-shirts. And a furniture chain also brought out a limited edition sofa in the bright colours of the South African flag. In the stands at local matches, supporter kit can range from church-like robes to home-made coffins for rival teams.

“In South Africa football fans are very unique. I

Models presents creations of the Giorgio Armani collection.—AFP

Italian fashion designer Giorg io Armani (C in bl ack Tshirt) poses w ith his models afte r presenting his collection yesterda y during the Mila n men’s ready-to wear fashion week. — AFP

A supporter of South Africa holds a replica of the World Cup trophy as he cheers for his team. — AFP photos

mean, there is a different culture. I haven’t seen it anywhere else in the world,” Craig Fraser recently told South Africa’s M-net television about his photo book “Soccer Chic”. “I think the rest of the world are literally going to be blown away. They cannot experience this anywhere else in the world.”

Apart from the ubiquitous vuvuzela, South Africa’s “makarapas” revamped mining helmets with unique protruding decorations-have also been taken up. The hats grew out of a shack workshop in the east of Johannesburg after Alfred Baloyi transformed a hard hat to protect himself from hurling missiles at a local football match in 1979. His northern Johannesburg studio now hires 54 people and his

website reported 70,000 hits in the first two and a half weeks of June.

Hosting Africa’s first World Cup has inspired much pride 16 years after the end of apartheid and after years of doubts about South Africa’s ability to host the event. For white South Africans, it has also been a cross-cultural journey to support a sport that has long been classified as a black game. “You have to have one of these hats,” said Frans Hiemstra, 22, whose full supporter gear included a makarapa. “It’s just the culture and the thing is we’ve embraced the culture. Actually it’s a bit new for me. I wasn’t a massive soccer fan before the World Cup but I’m one of the biggest soccer fans now. And I love it.”— AFP

www.kuwaittimes.net

A model presents a creation inspired by the White Witch from ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ during a fashion show in Washington on June 21, 2010 as part of the 9th annual Sweet Charity event for the benefit of the Heart of America Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organization which promotes literacy among children in the area and across the US. Models displayed designs made with chocolate, sugar and marzipan. — AFP

A model presents a creation made of chocolate during a fashion show.

A model presents a creation inspired by Medieval knights.

Models present creations made of chocolate during a fashion show.

By Pascale Mollard-Chenebenoit t is anything but a dog’s life for Conchita, a beloved Chihuahua whose eccentric owner bequeathed her a threemillion-dollar trust fund-a move now being contested by the late heiress’ only son, local media reported. Heiress Gail Posner left her pooch (which she often decked out in a diamond necklace) a trust fund, and another 27 million dollars to the staff of her Miami beach mansion so that they can get by (rent-free) while caring for her pets until they die.

I

Heiress Gail Posner left her pooch three million dollars.

— AFP

In contrast, Posner tossed a bone to her estranged son Bret Carr: a one million dollar inheritance. A Miami court will now decide whether his late mother was manipulated into giving away her cash, as he contends, or if she spent it the way she wanted. “She never would have done that unless she was under extreme influence,” Carr was quoted as telling The Miami Herald. Her staff “exacerbated her paranoia and tendency to be in a delusional world,” he told the daily. — AFP

fter being out in the cold, Impressionist works are set to shoot to favor at major art auctions in London this week as buyers from Asia and Russia step in where Japanese collectors once feared to tread. “Since mid-2009 there’s been a strong demand for Impressionist works, which had been squeezed out for three years prior due to the boom in contemporary art,” said Samuel Valette, head of Impressionist and Modern Art at Sotheby’s France.

The accent currently is on quality, he said, with a fold of new buyers from Asia and Russia, as well as European and US investors, “looking for the very best”, he said. That meant not only the aesthetic quality of a work but also its origin, he said.

One such piece is a rare water lily painting by Claude Monet, among dozens of modern master-

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By Claire Cozens senior Western archaeologist in Afghanistan says he is struggling to protect a vast wealth of cultural treasures from being stolen and smuggled to wealthier countries, or worse, destroyed altogether. “I think there is absolutely no site in this country which is unaffected,” Philippe Marquis, the director of a team of French government-funded archaeologists operating in Afghanistan, told AFP in a recent interview. “The illegal trade in antiquities is very significant, and is related to all the illegal activities which are going on in Afghanistan,” he added.

Afghanistan’s position on the ancient Silk Road that linked east with

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pieces offered for sale by Christie’s on Wednesday in London in what is being billed as the “most valuable” art auction ever held in the city.

Painted in 1906, “Nympheas” is part of the French Impressionist’s iconic Nympheas series and was purchased directly from the artist three years later by dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, whose descendants kept it through several generations.

Sold at auction in New York in 2000 to a private collector for 22 million dollars (not including fees), it is expected this week to fetch between 30 and 40 million pounds (44.5 to 59.4 million dollars, 35.9 to 47.9 million euros).

Christie’s has said it expects the London sale of 63 modern and impressionist artworks on June 23 to raise between 163 and 231 million pounds (196276 million euros, 240-338 million dollars).

Impressionist oils enjoyed a golden age on the art market in the late 1980s, when enthusiastic

west has left the country with a rich cultural heritage. But decades of war have hampered efforts to conduct proper archaeological investigations, while a lack of regulation means that priceless treasures are being smuggled out of the country at an alarming rate.

The looting is often carried out by poor villagers who are paid by middlemen often based elsewhere in the region-a problem the French have gone some way to addressing by paying the looters to work on their digs instead.

But Marquis believes much of the blame lies elsewhere. It is illegal to take object more than 100 years old out of Afghanistan, but enforcement of the law is weak, and most stolen antiquities are smuggled to wealthier coun-

Japanese buyers sent prices soaring for the best as well as the not-quite-best works produced by the turn-of-the-19th-century school.

When investors from Japan dropped out of the market however after 1990, due to the economic squeeze, Impressionism took a dive, Valette said.

“Nowadays the market is more balanced. The Japanese are still present but so are Russians, the rest of Asia, America and Europe.

For some new investors, “Impressionism is a first step in joining the art market”, said Thomas Seydoux, Christie’s international director of Impressionist and modern art. First-time buyers appreciate the movement’s “decorative side, the bright colors, the contrasting shade”, he said. In the last few years however the market has evolved, with collectors nowadays going for works from the post-1890s rather than earlier oils from 1870 to 1880.

tries. The United Nations recently sought the advice of the French archaeologists after it discovered a large number of Afghan antiquities in the shipment of a departing staff member.

“People are often not even aware of the importance, they just think, well this would be nice on a shelf in my house in France or the UK,” says Marquis. The French archaeological mission has been working in Afghanistan since 1922, when the Afghan authorities invited the government in Paris to begin carrying out surveys in the country. It had to interrupt its work during World War II, and again in 1982, when the pro-Soviet regime asked its archaeologists to leave.—AFP

“Tastes have changed in favor of works with more matter,” said Seydoux, referring to the switch from oils depicting rural scenes to urban Impressionist works. Among the top 15 works sold under the hammer for over 50 million dollars, Monet is in 8th position with a 1919 “Water-Lily Pond” that went for 40.9 million pounds (80 million dollars) in 2008 in London. Renoir’s “Au Moulin de la Galette” is in 9th position after fetching 78.1 million dollars in 1990 in New York.

But in May, a 1932 painting by Pablo Picasso set a world art auction record when it sold for a staggering 106.4 million dollars, signaling a renewed confidence in the market. “When the recession was at its height, people felt that there was no point in selling the pictures if the market was weak because there was no money around,” London art dealer Johnny van Haeften told AFP. — AFP

In this photograph taken May 11, 2010, Philippe Marquis, director of a French government-funded archaeologists team operating in Afghanistan, speaks at his office in Kabul. — AFP