5 Jul

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

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Secrets of mummies unraveled in California

MONDAY, JULY 5, 2010

NO: 14780

150 FILS

Nadal reclaims Wimbledon crown in style

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Mideast eyeing investing in BP DUBAI: BP may look to sovereign wealth funds, including in the oil-rich Middle East, to fend off takeover bids amid mounting costs from the Gulf of Mexico oil leak disaster, according to reports published yesterday. The National, an Emirati newspaper, cited unnamed “informed sources” in the region saying that Mideast financial institutions have submitted proposals to BP advisers and are waiting for a response. Among the options being considered are the acquisition of key assets or a direct cash injection to help strengthen the oil giant’s balance sheet, according to the Englishlanguage paper.

The paper quoted a person it called an informed source as saying that “BP knows there is potential support from the Middle East”. The National is owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, one of seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates feder-

RAJAB 23, 1431 AH

ation. It hosts the country’s capital and controls nearly all the OPEC member state’s oil reserves. BP spokeswoman Sheila Williams in London declined to say whether the company had been approached by investors from the region.

“We don’t comment on financial issues,” she said.

The article coincided with a report in London’s Sunday Times that BP is looking for a strategic investor to help fend off takeover attempts. It said the company’s advisers are looking to rival oil groups and sovereign wealth funds to take a stake of 5 percent to 10 percent in the company at a cost of up to $9.1 billion. BP has lost more than 50 percent of its stock market value since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in April, causing the worst offshore oil spill in US history. Its share price plunge has put the oil giant at risk of an unwanted takeover approach from Continued on Page 14

Top Lebanon cleric Fadlallah dies at 75 Shiite leader had moderate voice • Amir sends condolences

Caning under fire in Indian schools They are supNEW DELHI: posed to make Illegal but often your children tolerated, caning better, stronger is rife in India’s people not drive school system, them to death,” but the recent he told AFP by suicide of a 12telephone from year-old pupil Kolkata, fighting after a beating back tears. has brought the A Supreme practice out of Court judgment the shadows.

Rouvanjit Rawla in 2000 prohibitRouvanjit Rawla, a pupil at the prestigious La ed corporal punishment in all Martiniere for Boys school in its forms in India. The right of the eastern city of Kolkata, children to free and compulsohanged himself in his room ry education act, passed in earlier this year after being 2009, also bans corporal puncaned for bringing stink ishment. But as is often the case in India, the gap between bombs into class.

Af ter spending months liberal and well-meaning laws chasing the school for passed by the distant federal answers, his father, textile government in New Delhi and businessman Ajay Rawla, enforcement in local areas is finally filed a police complaint huge. According to a UN against three teachers last Children’s Fund (UNICEF) month and is determined to report published in 2008, two press for justice. “We were a out of three schoolchildren in jolly, happy family,” he told India said they had been subAFP. “Just go onto Rouvan’s jected to corporal punishFacebook page and every one ment. The practice is particuof his friends has called him a larly prevalent in governfun and friendly young boy. He ment-run schools, where the used to be the life of the par- vast majority of cases (62 percent) were reported. ty.”

Lov Verma, secretary of a Mental health groups point out that suicides can rarely be national child rights protecattributed to a single reason, tion commission, the NCPCR, but Rawla is in no doubt that says caning, beatings and the caning by the school prin- slappings are still prevalent in cipal was the factor that schools all across the country. pushed his son over the edge. “We cannot shut our eyes to Continued on Page 14 “These people are teachers.

BEIRUT: Shiite women mourn next to a poster of Lebanon’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah after the announcement that he had died at a mosque in a southern suburb of Beirut yesterday. — AP

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, one of Shiite Islam’s main religious figures who had a strong following world over, died yesterday after a long illness. He was 75. Fadlallah, known for his staunch anti-American stance, helped in the rise of Lebanon’s Shiite community in the past decades. He was one of the founders of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri AlMaliki’s governing Dawa Party and was believed to be its religious guide until the last days of his life. He was described in the 1980s as a spiritual leader of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah a claim both he and the group denied.

HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah sent a cable of condolences yesterday to the family of Fadlallah, in which he prayed to Almighty Allah to have mercy on the soul of the deceased. HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf AlAhmad Al-Sabah and HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed AlAhmad Al-Sabah sent similar cables. Political leaders and clerics from Iran, Bahrain and Iraq also paid tribute to Fadlallah, reflecting the loyalty he enjoyed from Shiites as far away as the Gulf and Central Asia.

Fadlallah was born in Iraq in 1935 and lived in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, where he was considered among the top clergymen, until the age of 30. His family hailed from the southern Lebanese village of Ainata and he later moved to Lebanon, where he started lecturing on religion and prodded Shiites, who today make up a third of Lebanon’s population of four million, to fight for their rights in the 1970s and 80s.

During Lebanon’s 1975-90 Continued on Page 14

ALGIERS: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (right) and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak pose hand in hand at Houari Boumediene International Airport yesterday. — AFP

Mubarak in Algeria on condolence trip ALGIERS: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak yesterday made a short “courtesy” visit to Algeria’s leader, who is mourning the death of his brother, in a sign of improving ties between the North African nations.

Mubarak, accompanied by Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, met President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to express his sympathy over Mustapha Bouteflika, who died after a long illness on Friday and was buried the following day, an Egyptian official said.

The two leaders also discussed several issues including “the enlargement of the UN Security Council and all questions of mutual interest to Algeria and Egypt as Arab and African states,” the APS news agency quoted Mubarak as saying before his departure. Earlier Abul Gheit described the Egyptians’ quick trip to the Algerian capi-

tal as “a friendly visit out of courtesy”, according to APS. He also said the talks between Bouteflika and Mubarak would confirm “the strong desire of the two leaders, peoples, and governments and states to continue to develop strong relations for the defence of Arab rights and to preserve the security of the region.”

Relations between the two countries have been fraught since violence broke out around the qualifying football matches for this year’s World Cup finals. In November, a bus carrying the Algerian team in Cairo was stoned and two players were injured. A few days later violence erupted after the match. In retaliation, local Egyptian businesses and homes were attacked in Algeria. More violence also broke out after Algeria’s 1-0 victory over Egypt at a game held in Khartoum.

Continued on Page 14

Syria jails ailing critic DAMASCUS: A Syrian military court jailed yesterday a 79-year-old lawyer who campaigned for decades for an end to emergency law, prompting fears that he may not survive the three-year term. The court convicted Haitham Maleh, who already spent six years as a political prisoner in the 1980s and had been banned from leaving Syria, on charges of “weakening national morale”. “This is tragic.

Haitham Maleh is an old and ill man,” one of his lawyers said.

The United States condemned the jailing of Maleh and another lawyer who was convicted

last month on the same charges and called for their release. Syria has intensified a campaign of arrests of political opponents over the last two years. Despite this, Damascus has enjoyed international rehabilitation after years in isolation due to disputes with the West over its role in Lebanon and Iraq, and its support for militant groups.

Maleh was arrested last year af ter he stepped up criticism of corruption and the emergency law, which was imposed by the ruling Baath Party after it took power in 1963, Continued on Page 14

Settlers fret about impact of boycott

GUSH ETZION, West Bank: A Palestinian worker puts cucumbers on display as a Jewish man shops at a large Jewish owned supermarket located in this settlement yesterday. — AFP

MISHOR ADUMIM, Palestinian Territories: Israeli settler and industrialist Avi Elkayam, 35, has no patience with the Palestinian boycott of settlement products. “It’s economic terrorism,” he shouts shaking his fist. The months-old campaign has had a limited financial impact so far but it has a catastrophic potential, he says. “It’s economic terrorism that will lead to real terror when thousands of people lose their jobs,” says Elkayam, who heads the bosses union in Mishor Adumim, the largest Israeli industrial park in the occu-

pied West Bank.

A new Palestinian law imposes prison sentences of up to five years and fines of up to $22,000 for trading in settlement goods, but the Palestinian Authority (PA) has yet to pass a proposed legislation that would severely punish Palestinians working for settlers. The 3,000 Palestinians, out of a total of 4,000 employees, in Mishor Adumim, outside Jerusalem, could be forced to quit their jobs if the PA makes good on its threat to ban settlement work.

With 22,000 Palestinians working in Continued on Page 14

BEIRUT: Lebanese movie poster collector Abbudi Abu Jawdeh shows a poster stored deep under Beirut’s busiest shopping district on June 17, 2010. — AFP

Treasure trove of movie posters hidden in Beirut BEIRUT: Deep under Beirut’s busiest shopping district lies a treasure trove of the Arab world’s film history where movie buff Abbudi Abu Jawdeh has amassed vintage film posters spanning some 80 years. What started as a childhood passion today offers a rare and little known pictorial record of Egyptian, Syrian, Iraqi, Palestinian and Lebanese films, including many that no longer exist, lost over time because of wars, fires or simple neglect.

“I have loved cinema since I was a child and every Sunday, rather than go to church I would head to the movie theatre,” said the 52-yearold Abu Jawdeh, who runs a publishing house in Beirut’s Hamra district where his collection is stored. “Then as I got older I would set off on foot from my house in Burj Hammud (on the outskirts of Beirut) every Sunday and stop at each of the 40 movie theatres on the way to Continued on Page 14

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Monday, July 5, 2010

Industrialization vs environmental pollution

By Chidi Emmanuel KUWAIT: As Kuwait moves towards privatization and rapid industrial development, there is increasing awareness that this comes at a price - environmental pollution. The Umm Al-Haiman pollution crisis is still a subject of heated debate, with fingers being pointed in all directions in attributing responsibility for it. While some lawmakers blame the government for not doing enough, local residents are pointing accusing fingers at the industrialists and owners of local production facilities who they see as the major polluters.

"This is a clash between industrialization and environmental pollution," said Lawrence N. Clint, an environmental expert and business executive. "You see it in China, India and other developing nations.

Kuwait needs to build more industries and at this time, pollution needs to be controlled. In this case government must try to harmonize the two in order to bring sustainable development."

Industrial pollution is one of the major causes of airborne and other forms of pollution in Kuwait, with the effects of pollution rising at an alarmingly steep rate in recent years. The increase in the number of industries setting up locally has seen pollution levels rising significantly, triggering major health concerns, with the emissions from various industrial facilities containing large amounts of pollutant gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur and nitrogen, among others.

These gases, when present in elevated levels in the atmosphere, often result in various environmental and health hazards such as acid rain, and various skin disorders in individuals according to health experts.

However, some facilities in the Shuaiba Industrial Zone are taking serious steps to reduce the environmental pollution while contributing greatly to the Kuwait economy.

These include utilizing environmentally friendly products, recycling waste products and seeking new manufacturing methods that don't generate hazardous waste byproducts.

The Kuwait Industries Union recently organized a media tour of the Shuaiba Industrial Area, which aimed to showcase the efforts of

Jasem Al-Omani Fiberglass Factory The Jasem Al-Omani Fiberglass Factory is Kuwait's first business building custom-designed fiberglass yachts. All the company's boats are guaranteed for five years against manufacturing defects and the firm's eponymous founder emphasized that the company is honored to provide the best service to customers. "Our designs are very sophisticated; We give superb attention to all tastes with aftersales spare parts, maintenance, and repairs," Al-Omani told the journalists during the tour. "We design according to your taste and that is what makes us unique."

The company adheres to the most advanced international standards of craftsmanship, he added, and is careful to use environmentally friendly products.

Kuwaiti companies tackle pollution by recycling, re-refining

KUWAIT: Photo shows workers at the Jassim Al Omani Factory for Fiber Glass. these facilities in maintaining a safe working environment. The manufacturing facilities visited included the Kuwait Catalyst Company, Kuwait Lube Oil Company, Jassim Al-Omani Fiberglass Factory and Al-Oula Steel Manufacturing Company, with the environmentally friendly activities of these manufacturers and their importance being highlighted.

Kuwait Catalyst Company Formed on December 17, 1996, the Kuwait Catalyst Company is a Kuwaiti shareholding firm formed by a group of prominent local and international investors with a target of providing complete catalytic solutions to the regional refining industry and satisfying the requirements for catalysts used in the crude oil refining process. Having

instruments."

KLOC is an ISO 9001-2000 certified company that specializes in producing high quality automotive and industrial lubricants like petrol engine oil, diesel engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, manual transmission oil, hydraulic fluid, turbine oils, industrial gear & circulatory oils, compressor oils, general machinery oils, metal cutting

fluids and greases from re-refined base stocks obtained using the latest technology and also from virgin-based stocks, along with superior quality imported additives.

The products have a respectable market share in Kuwait, and are exported to other GCC nations, as well as Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen and nations in Africa, Australia and Europe.

Al Oula Steel Manufacturing Company Al-Oula Steel Manufacturing Company is Kuwait's first and, to date, its only steel manufacturing plant. The company, which launched its operations during the third quarter of 2003, produces various grades and sizes of steel items for the local and international market. "We are committed to being ahead of the environmental guidelines as we apply a state-of-the-art recycling and production system," said company director Ahmad AlKhorafi. "The company has always been associated with high quality and trust as it works for a safe environment. Our products, such as steel billets and special grade steel, are of optimal standards. These products are sold to rolling mills and steel refining factories to produce all kinds of steel products from rebars to steel plates or construction material. These products are processed on the basis of zero waste management thereby ensuring their cost effective production."

Al-Khorafi also indicated that AlOula is in the process of setting up its own rolling mill.

KUWAIT: The Chairman and Managing Director of Kuwait Lube Oil Company (center) addresses reporters during a media tour at the Shuaiba Industrial Area. developed this vision and the technological arrangements with Japan Energy Corporation, the company built a state-of-the-art catalyst manufacturing plant in the Shuaiba Industrial Zone.

The facility is equipped with exclusive engineering designs, automatic digital process control and manufacturing management systems.

"Kuwait Catalyst Company is one of the few companies that invest 20 percent of its funds on environmental protection. Quality control, safety and environmental concerns are essential to us," said process engineer Amr Hussein during the media tour.

Kuwait Lube Oil Company Kuwait Lube Oil Company (KLOC) is a very unique company,

which re-refines used oil. "We don't only recycle; we re-refine used oil managing and turning wastes into useful substances," explained the company's Chairman and Managing Director Abdullah S Nasser. "We protect the environment and preserve natural resources. KLOC has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and our work and products speak for us."

He continued, "The company is unique in adapting an ecological friendly and advanced re-refining technology. “KLOC has a highly trained and experienced workforce. It has an advanced technology PLC-controlled automated blending and filling plant. The laboratory is well equipped with sophisticated testing & measuring equipment &

KUWAIT: Eng Jasem M Al Omani (left) pictured with journalists at the yacht factory.

MP slams Cabinet KUWAIT: The head of the parliamentary committee for bedoon (stateless residents) issues has blamed the cabinet for parliament's failure to resolve this problem before the end of the latest parliamentary term. In a press statement, committee chairman MP Hassan Jowhar expressed his disappointment at the delays in resolving the issue, saying that the cabinet's failure to enforce the proposed civil and social rights legislation for Kuwait's bedoon population was responsible for the situation, reported Al-Qabas. He asserted that the cabinet had consistently failed to cooperate with the committee on the issue for the past four months, adding that a request to allocate a special session for discussion of the draft legislation had failed "when the cabinet's tactics caused sessions to be ended due to lack of quorum."

in my view

Contradictory statements - societal ills!

By Fouad Al-Obaid

T

he more time I spend studying my society and culture, the more I understand that it is a complex culture that has numerous sub-divisions, most of which happen to be unharmonious!

The blatant contradiction that one comes across while discussing or debating with people from various backgrounds is simply astounding.

People seem to have many sub-personalities, one for each individual or situation, with not much clarity about what it is that they want or seek. In any conversation with people, for instance, while discussing the situation in Kuwait, they seem to rant about how things could be better, how they should have more, and the list goes on. Little do you hear about how they are going to improve the situation by investing in time to help think of solutions that are viable, practical, and more importantly applicable!

People fail to realize that any team is measured by the strength of its weak link.

In Kuwait, based on observation, it is not one link; it is hundreds of thousands of links that are hampering the effective development of the state. People with too much sorrow fail to realize that the subsidies include numerous, pointless government jobs that are redundant and could be filled by one person that today require much more hidden dangers to society at large.

In a heated debate with a kin, speaking about

employment, I realized that a majority in Kuwait are not mentally prepared - based on observation - to deal with complex time-consuming jobs.

Most of it trade 'day-care' jobs any day, against jobs that generate more revenue but involves risk. For instance, the example given by my kin was of a teacher who wanted to 'increase' her salary by opening a small business after work currently that is not permissible. To which, I answered, yes she cannot open a business if she is employed by the state. However, should she resign, she could! The answer by the kin was yes, but she also wants the state salary, reminding me of a quote by my economics professor; she wants to have the cake and eat it too!

Now, I understand that people want to improve their living standard. If everyone was a carpenter, who would the carpenter cater to?

Not everyone is suitable of becoming an entrepreneur, just like not everyone can be groomed into becoming a doctor or an engineer. People need to realize that if they are unhappy with their current situation, perhaps it is time that they roll up their sleeves and start planning for the future that they really want, weighing in the risks and opportunities. Should they decide to gamble, it would be wise of them to think of the consequence prior to the gamble, not once their sand castle comes crumbling down!

At the end of the day, there are two types of individuals, those that are motivated to succeed and give themselves adequate tools, and those that are greedy and have no purpose but enrich themselves other than out of a desire for materialistic things. fouad@kuwaittimes.net

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Public opinions differ on roaming services KUWAIT: Many travelers are know n for packing the w hole house w hen preparing to go on holiday. For some holidaymakers, the biggest problem is packing all their summer clothes, w hile others w onder how to transport their pets. A new breed of travelers, how ever, are more

concerned w ith how are they going to stay in touch w ith family and friends w hile on vacation. For them, communication is the main priority. Many of these travelers in Kuw ait prefer to use their telecommunications provider’s roaming service due to its ‘hassle-free’ nature, although others argue that it’s easier to just buy a SIM card in the country they’re holidaying in.

Sara Mourad, an employee in a local private sector firm, told the Kuwait Times, “I always face this problem when I plan to travel because I remember that for three calls I once paid almost KD 400 while I was out of town for 40 days. I have my own business and a lot of people call me and I also call a lot of people. I chose to use my roaming number for making local calls where I was on holiday.”

She continued, “I think I learned a very good lesson from what happened to me. Now wherever I go when I get to the airport the first thing I do is to get a SIM card. I advise everyone who travels to get a rechargeable card from the place and to get a new SIM card in the country they are visiting,” she said.

Another employee at a local firm, Hanan Bader, said that he can’t give up using his own mobile while on holiday. He admitted, however, that he doesn’t really think about call costs since the company he works for covers all those expenses.

“I prefer to use my provider’s roaming service, because at the end of the day I won’t pay any bills; all the cost is passed on to my company. I travel on business trips and they have provided me with a cellphone to communicate with them, because most of the time I make business calls.”

Mahmoud Abdulaziz, a frequent traveler to Egypt, who is also studying there, explains that he prefers to switch on his roaming number in Egypt and use an Egyptian SIM card. “That means that I am using two mobiles at one time,” he explained.

to a local number from Kuwait so the messages are still charged at the price levels as local SMS messages. That’s why I use the roaming number but nothing else.”

Another worker with a local firm, Esaa Shaker, says that he prefers using a new SIM card,

By Raw an Khalid

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received at Seif Palace yesterday Swaziland’s Queen Mother, Queen Ntombi, on the occasion of her visit to the country. The meeting took place in the presence of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad AlJaber Al-Sabah. Deputy Amiri Diwan Affairs Minister Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah was also present, alongside head of the accompanying delegation of honor and Advisor at the Premier’s Diwan Sheikha Dr Rasha Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

kuwait digest

Opportunity, not sympathy, for disabled

By Saud Samakah

D

isability can be seen as a source of embarrassment for families who happen to have a mentally or physically challenged child.

They are often forced to think twice before taking their disabled kid with them, not only because of the potentially bad situations they may face but also because of how people’s negative comments can affect the psyche of the disabled child.

These fears make families keep their disabled child locked up at home most of the time. This is a very negative practice and can have serious affects on a child’s medical condition and make their situation even worse.

A couple of days ago I met with a group of young men and women who formed a group to take care of disabled children that are forced to stay at home.

The group realizes that disabled people are the same as normal people but have been afflicted with a disability that should not deteriorate their position or marginalize their role in society.

Furthermore, experience has shown that disabled people, when given the chance, can make achievements that surpass those made by their normal peers.

Isolation is the most serious disability that a person with physical or mental challenges may face. Therefore, the state should live up to their responsibilities by bringing attention to their

suffering and encourage families against locking their disabled children indoors.

The media can also be used to broadcast awareness material prepared by volunteer groups such as the one I mentioned before.

The financial support that the country provides to disabled citizens is appreciated. However, we should also realize that these citizens do not only desire financial security but also want to serve their country and participate in its development process in order to feel at place in society.

Instead of being treated sympathetically, disabled citizens want to have doors opened for them so that they can contribute to society. —- Al-Qabas

Govt school exam leak precautions successful

Technology to clean oil-contamination KUWAIT: The CEO of ONGC-TERI Biotech Ltd (OTBL), Dr Banwari Lal, yesterday met with the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Ajai Malhotra, to brief him about the company’s bioremediation and microbial enhanced oil recovery services. OTBL combines the strengths of ONGC, a Fortune Global 500 company, and TERI, a prestigious institute developing state of the art technologies.

During their meeting, Dr. Lal told Ambassador Malhotra about the bioremediation and eco-restoration

demonstration project that had effectively cleaned up a 4,900 square meter site contaminated with tar sludge in Burgan South, Kuwait, using KT-OILZAPPER, a customized technology that utilizes naturally occurring microbial strains indigenous to Kuwait.

The patented OILZAPPER bioremediation process, which uses indigenous microbes based on the type and level of contamination and local geo-climatic conditions, has received international acclaim and has bio-remediated 200,000 metric tonnes of petroleum wastes to date.

in the news South Zoor plant’s full potential

New dress code is students’ fault

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water has received criticism in light of reports suggesting that the ministry has yet to utilize 400 megawatts produced by the South Zoor Power Plant, reported Al-Rai. In a statement to the press, ministry sources demanded clarification from Minister Dr Bader Al-Shuraian on why the ministry has failed to utilize the maximum production capacity of the South Zoor plant. It is speculated that the problem is the result of ministry engineers unable to connect additional electricity to the main distribution network. The cables that connect the plant with the network are not capable of transporting 400 kilovolts of electricity to the network. Cables at the plant are only capable of handling a maximum of 300 kilovolts of electricity. While the minister is said to have launched an investigation into this matter, it’s believed that this is also the reason for failing to import electricity from Qatar.

KUWAIT: While Kuwait University (KU) students continue to protest at the university administration’s introduction of a controversial new dress code, several lecturers have insisted that the students themselves are to blame for the administration’s actions. A number of KU faculty members told Al-Qabas that the students’ reckless behavior and poor standards of dress had left the university administrators with no choice but to place restrictions on students’ attire in order to maintain the university’s reputation as the country’s top educational facility. The lecturers also agreed that this issue could have been handled more responsibly, perhaps by assigning instructors to educate students about the appropriate clothing which they should wear on campus.

UAE to export camel milk KUWAIT: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is preparing to export camel milk to Europe from next year, according to an announcement which appeared on the Emirati newspaper Al-Etihad’s website yesterday. The article stated that the EU Commission has already approved the safety and quality of Emirati camel milk, with its standards of hygiene meeting European Union (EU) specifications. Abdullah Al-Janaan, the director of the UAE’s agricultural and livestock affairs commission and head of its National Food Safety Committee, was quoted in the article as saying that the UAE would be the first country to export this product to Europe. He also noted that 120 specimens would be randomly selected annually for examination and analysis (at a rate of 10 specimens per month) by the EU Commission to make sure the milk matched specifications.

Officials’ performance under scanner KUWAIT: The Cabinet plans to appraise the performances of ministries’ undersecretaries and higher officials based on their commitment to deadlines. Decisions to renew their contracts will be made accordingly. “Any official who is found non-committal during summer will be let go following the end of their contracts with their respective ministries,” Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Roudhan Al-Roudhan said in a press statement.

He asserted the Cabinet’s commitment to observing deadlines that concern development plan projects. He urged officials who are unable to commit to duties to step down and give more opportunities to committed officials, reported AlRai. Meanwhile, Al-Roudhan indicated that the Cabinet is preparing to enforce several popular decisions in the near future, without further clarifying about the nature of these decisions.

KUWAIT: The parliamentary education committee has asserted that the steps taken by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to tackle leaks of examination papers has been effective.

The committee’s announcement followed a meeting with education minister Dr. Moudhi Al-Humoud, during which the issue of the 2009/2010 school exams was discussed.

Committee head MP Dr. Salwa Al-Jassar explained that the education ministry had taken a number of measures to make any attempt to cheat more difficult.

“The ministry used printers with no memory retention capacity to print the exam papers, while cell phones were banned inside the publishing houses,” she said, adding that the exam papers were only distributed to schools on the same day as the exams were due to take place as a further precaution.

Al-Jassar said that two cases of exam papers being leaked had been confirmed, adding that both cases took place in exams in which the papers had been prepared by individual governorates’ education zones themselves.

The education ministry has already begun taking legal procedures against those responsible, the MP added.

Al-Jassar listed a number of phenomena which she said were linked to the leaking of exam papers, including the widespread use of private tutors, and local bookstores selling materials including samples from previous exams to pupils, reported Al-Rai. She also revealed that during the meeting with Dr. AlHumoud, the committee provided the minister with an investigative report carried out by the committee to enable the MoE to reevaluate exam security procedures.

KUWAIT: A man in Kuwait crosses the street while talking on his cell phone.

— Photo by Joseph Shagra He explained further: “I use the roaming number only for receiving missed calls and messages from my family and friends from Kuwait, because when they are sending messages to me on the Egyptian number it’s more expensive, so when I use the roaming number they can send

explaining, “Because I have faced this problem before, I decided to stop using the roaming number service. First, the bill is huge. Secondly, the roaming service is not good enough to use in any other country. So, I prefer to buy a new SIM card as soon as I get out of the country.”

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Monday, July 5, 2010

Baseless rumors, says official

No plans to close Funoon channel

By Ahmad Saeid KUWAIT: An official at a Kuwaiti TV channel denied local media reports regarding the channel's closure. The official made his statements after a news website quoted sources at the Ministry of Information that the head of Funoon TV, a Kuwaiti comedy channel, filed a request to close the channel. "There is no intention to close the channel whatsoever," said Hamad Abdallah, head of the channel's production division. "I heard the news and I don't know on what basis the news was made," he added.

KUWAIT: The basement in which fire broke out yesterday. — Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

Drug dealer in police custody

Informed sources inside the United National Media Company, the media corporation that owns the channel, said that the administration considered closing the Funoon Plus channel, a delayed version of the channel broadcast on Arabsat satellite.

Sources said that the reason was because of high broadcasting costs in addition to the small number of viewers using the channel.

"The same content is broadcast via Nilesat and few people watch the channel on Arabsat. There was a plan a few months ago to close Funoon Plus and maybe even

KUWAIT: The drug dealer pictured after his arrest.

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How many times did Switzerland reach the Euro Cup? 3 4 5

25 14780 Monday, July 5, 2010

reporting of events.

The news came out two months after the Kuwaiti daily, Awan, closed down, which was the latest in a series of closures among Kuwaiti newspapers.

The media industry in Kuwait witnessed a boom following amendments made to both the press and publication law, as well as the so called 'audio-visual' law, in 2006.

The amendments allowed the establishment of new media outlets in the country, which was followed by a mushrooming of dozens of privately-owned TV channels and 17 newspapers.

kuwait digest

By Hanan Al Saadoun KUWAIT: Officers from Kuwait's General Department for Drug Control (GDDC) arrested an Iraqi heroin dealer at his home in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh, recovering around 250 grams of heroin from the property. The man has been taken into custody and is awaiting trial.

Car accident A 13-year-old Saudi boy suffered multiple injuries when he was hit and run over by a car while crossing a street in Jahra. The boy, who suffered head injuries and fractures to both arms and legs, was rushed to Jahra Hospital, while the driver of the vehicle was detained for questioning.

Basement blaze The rapid action of firefighters from Salmiya and South Salmiya prevented a blaze that broke out in the basement of a building in Salmiya from spreading any further. It is understood that the basement was being used for storage purposes, which contributed to the fire.

Murder investigation Police believe that an Asian woman who died after falling from the window of the third-floor apartment where she was living in Farwaniya may have been pushed to her death by her lover, also Asian, who she lived there with. A hunt is underway for the man, who disappeared following his partner's death, in order to ascertain what happened.

Maid suicide An Ethiopian maid, who only arrived in Kuwait a week ago, committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling of her room in her sponsors' home in Jahra. The body was removed for autopsy and police questioned the sponsors about the incident.

Adalah Two," the source said.

Hamad Abdallah denied the reports, calling them "baseless rumors," and assured that the administration of the corporation has not planned to cloase any channels.

"As a media corporation, we are stable and not facing any difficulty. All of our channels are functioning properly and there are no plans to close any channel in the future," Abdallah asserted.

The news raises questions regarding the way local media deals with rumors. Kuwaiti media has repeatedly been accused of instigating sectarian hatred and irresponsible

Keep an eye on your maids!

By Riyahd Al-Sane

T

o have maids in our houses to help care of our children has become a necessity due to the fact that both fathers and mothers are busy in their workplaces. Some of those maids though are not caring well for our children and in some cases are beating them.

What encouraged me to write about this is what I read in the news recently regarding a woman who found her maid beating her three kids. The woman caught the maid beating her children, aged three, five and seven, after she used

a camera to monitor her movements in the house to support her claim to police.

The woman resorted to using the camera because her children complained that the maid would always beat them with a heavy stick. The camera captured the maid locking the children in their rooms and beating them with a stick on their feet every 15 minutes. She would also make the children stand against a wall as a form of punishment for half an hour before beating them again. When authorities confronted the maid with the video footage she confessed to beating the children.

The question is whether the maid is sick, if she would accept having someone beat her children that way or if she just hates children. We call for the foundation of kindergartens where children can be kept until their parents return from work.

We must protect our children and choose the right person to keep them company and give them necessary care.

We must not leave them to be victims at the hands of maids who, instead of caring for them, abuse and beat them. As a matter of precaution, everyone must keep an eye on the way their maids treat their children. — Al-Anbaa

Scientific awareness important for children KUWAIT: A senior Kuwait Scientific Center (KSC) official yesterday emphasized the importance of raising children's awareness of all aspects of science through encouraging them to visit Kuwait's scientific centers.

In a press statement issued yesterday following a tour of the KSC by local children which organized by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), the director of the KSC's Public Relations and Marketing department Nawaf Al-Rudaini said that it is extremely important that children recognize the significance of Kuwait's landmarks and tourism venues.

Al-Rudaini stressed that the KSC is dedicated to spreading knowledge about and stimulating interest in science, and to strengthening Kuwaitis' commitment to preserving the country's wildlife and its marine environment.

Among the center's objectives is educating visitors in scientific and environmental issues, providing children with the opportunity to learn about the environment and the vital importance of all living things.

The KSC is keen to encourage all members of society to visit its facilities, especially during the summer holidays, he said, adding that the center offers discounts to groups from summer clubs and Cooperative Societies.

The senior PR official praised the KRCS's efforts to spread scientific awareness through organizing trips to the center.

He also revealed that the center is launching a promotion for its season tickets during July; the tickets will allow people to visit any of the KSC's facilities for free as often as they like for a whole year in exchange for a one-time membership fee payment.

During yesterday's visit, the children toured the aquarium, where they were able to find out more about the marine environment, walking through tunnels surrounded by all sorts of marine life, from creatures found in Kuwait's coastal areas to those from the depths of the Arabian Peninsula.

The kids' visit to the KSC was part of the KRCS' summer program for children, launched on June 27, which runs until July 22, with 39 children aged between eight and 10 participating in the daily events. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Institution for Security Studies and Training recently held a training program in coordination with Ministry of Electricity and Water aimed to develop a sense of security. The event was held under the patronage of Lt Gen Musaed Al-Ghuainem and lasted for five days between June 20 and 24. The training course focuses on basic security skills and prediction of potential hazards that officials could face. The closing event was attended by Head of the MEW's Administrative Development and Training Department, Awatef Al-Shaheen.

in the news Female cops harassed KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has dealt severely with a number of Kuwaiti youths who harassed female police officers on their first day of conducting their duties in local malls. The eleven youths were referred to the Central Investigations Department for questioning and to take the necessary legal action. A security official said that MoI Undersecretary General Ahmad Al-Rujaib had issued strict instructions to monitor the new policewomen and ensure that they were able to go about their duties unmolested, reported AlAnba. The youths detained are understood to have harassed and sworn at the officers.

Exam fraud claims KUWAIT: MP Aseel Al-Awadhi said on Friday that any claims of school examination papers being leaked prior to exams should be supported by evidence. The MP, a member of the parliamentary education committee, told Al-Rai following a meeting of the committee with education minister Dr. Moudhi Al-Humoud, that any allegations of this nature should be substantiated with solid evidence, pointing out that the majority of accusations of this nature are based on school pupils' claims which have no solid basis. Regarding the incident during one exam in which answer papers were mistakenly handed to pupils along with the question papers, Al-Awadhi said that the ministry has summoned the invigilator responsible for this blunder for questioning.

MoC requests speedy action KUWAIT: The Ministry of Communication (MoC) recently requested the Audit Bureau to expedite procedures related to floating a tender to install security sur-

veillance cameras at the ministry's construction sites.

A request to bid for the tender was submitted more than a year ago. The Ministry expressed hope that the procedure would be completed soon. This is in order to reinforce security in light of insufficient preparations that resulted in several incidents where a fingerprint system was stolen from the Umm Al-Haiman telephone division, reported Al-Rai. The cameras which cost an estimated total of KD 400,000 will be installed at all of the ministry's facilities.

Activist slams minister KUWAIT: An activist recently held current Minister of Electricity and Water (MEW) responsible for the deterioration of power production and distribution efficiency.

He also blamed him for the failure to take care of necessary maintenance operations that can save the country from the current power shortage and maintenance crisis. In a recent study, activist Abdurrahman AlHmoud said that though the minister has taken over the problem from his predecessor, he has failed to tackle responsibilities ever since he was appointed at the helm of the ministry. He added that the minister should have been aware of the necessity of replacing old power transformers and cables, and build new power plants.

Al-Hmoud criticized the minister for doling out warnings about 'tough conditions' that take place in the country during the Holy Month of Ramadan, especially with regard to meeting increasing electricity demands, reported Al-Qabas. Moreover, Al-Hmoud warned that the persisting power crisis can have a serious effects on several aspects of the country such as the development process, privatization process, food supply, labor productivity, and education.

Monday, July 5, 2010

NATIONAL

5 Death leap from third floor

Asian woman dies after fall, husband missing KUWAIT: An Asian woman was killed after falling from the third floor of a building, reported Al-Rai. Authorities suspect that the woman’s death could be the result of foul play. Police and paramedics responded to the emergency and pronounced the victim dead upon their arrival. When examining the scene of the crime, investigators found several indications that the victim’s death could be the result of a criminal act, especially considering that her husband disappeared after the incident. Police are searching for the husband.

Defamation An Arab woman filed a complaint against her ex-husband, accusing him of attempting to frame her in a case of adultery, reported Al-Watan. In her statement to officials at the Sulaibiya police station, the woman explained that she was harassed by a person she didn’t know and that he went so far as to ask her to have sex with him. She accused her ex-husband of sending the harasser to trap her so that he could press charges against her. She filed charges of defamation against her ex-husband.

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Sea Sports Club’s marine heritage committee will today begin work on its ‘Habaab and Shouna’ campaign, in which the vessels taking part in the forthcoming annual pearl-diving voyage are prepared for the trip. The voyage itself, held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, will take part from July 15-24 at the KSSC’s dock in Salmiya. The ‘Habaab and Shouna’ part of the preparations involves coating the vessels’ hulls with special materials to waterproof them. The vessels themselves were all donated by HH the Amir and HH the late Amir Sheikh Jaber AlAhmad Al-Sabah. The vessels, along with a number of others, are also preparing to participate in a race held to commemorate the 199th anniversary of the historic Riqqa Sea Battle of 1811, which will take place next Saturday. The event is being held under the patronage of Kuwait Airways Corporation’s Managing Director Hamad Al-Falah.

Cabinet under extreme pressure KUWAIT: MPs agree that the Cabinet is currently facing a tight spot as all preparations, including the adoption of a development plan, annual plan and several other vital draft laws have not been accomplished. A parliamentary term should be rich in accomplishments — in the legislative and monetary field.

MP Dr Rola Dashti feels that the current Parliament is the most productive when compared to its predecessors. It has set the basis for the success of Kuwaiti democracy.

Meanwhile, MP Shuwaib Al-Muwaizri gave a 60 percent rating to the Cabinet’s performance in the recently concluded term.

MP Abdurrahman Al-Anjari hopes that the

KIA ready for arrival of Airbus A380 KUWAIT: Kuwait International Airport (KIA) is ready to receive a new Airbus A380 jumbo aircraft soon, announced the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) operations manager Essam AlZamel on Friday.

The airport’s preparations for receiving the mammoth aircraft have included extensive renovations to Gate 26, which now has a new KD 267,000 boarding bridge eight meters high and 56 meters long that will allow passengers to transfer directly from the second floor of the airport building to the double decker aircraft itself. This will be used in tandem with the existing passenger bridge on the first floor.

The DGCA attempted to test the bridge before receiving the new jet, using the Amiri Diwan aircraft, but this did not allow accurate comparison, given the massive difference in size between the two planes, reported Al-Qabas.

Al-Zamel also revealed that Gates 25 and 26 will eventually be merged to allow one boarding facility for passengers boarding the new plane.

The massive Airbus A380 consists of three cabins with a total capacity of 487 passengers.

It includes 14 first class seats, 74 business class seats, and around 399 economy class seats.

MSAL rejects nursery union accusations KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education’s (MoE) women’s and children’s affairs department has rejected claims from the union of private nursery schools that its licensing procedures for kindergarten facilities are erratic. In a statement issued on Friday, the department said that the union’s report on the issue contained several false claims and emphasized the department’s commitment to facilitating all the necessary procedures for nursery owners.

In its statement, which was submitted to the MoE undersecretary in response to the nursery owners’ union’s recent report, the department said that in the report, the union had failed to mention the facilities provided by the department for local kindergartens, reported Al-Qabas.

Cabinet will take productive action once the Parliament displays cooperation after passing all the draft laws received.

MP Dr Ali Al-Omair said that the past term has more positive points than negative ones, acknowledging that the Cabinet’s adoption faces interpellations “which helped the political scene avoid a crisis in the form of parliament dissolution and Cabinet resignation.”

In the meantime, MP Dr Yousuf Al-Zalzalah expressed optimism in terms of the achievements that can be garnered during the Parliament’s next term. There is more room to pass several draft laws that have already been discussed at the respective National

Assembly committees.

On a separate note, the Cabinet is expected to refer the draft law pertinent with establishing a communication authority to the Parliament within a week. This is in order for it to be discussed by the public facilities committee and made ready to be presented to the Parliament, reported Al-Qabas.

On another note, members of the Education Affairs Committee agreed during their latest meeting that the Ministry of Education (MoE) has taken sufficient measures to tackle the case of examination question paper leak, announced Head of the Committee MP Dr Salwa Al-Jassar.

Salmi crash A driver was injured after he collided with a camel that was crossing Salmi road, reported Al-Watan. The animal was killed in the accident and the driver was brought to a nearby hospital in an ambulance.

Home robbery Thieves broke into a house in Nahdha and stole KD 1,500 worth of jewelry before escaping, reported Al-Watan. Upon discovering the theft, the home owner informed police and criminal investigators were sent to examine the scene of the crime.

Runaway teen A teenage girl who was reported to have run away from home was found and apprehended by authorities following a car pursuit through the Ahmadi Governorate, reported Al-Qabas. Police pursued the car that the girl was in after its driver refused to pullover. After the car was forced to pull over, police discovered the underage girl with the driver. An investigation of her ID

revealed that she was wanted for an absconding case filed against her by her family. She and the driver were referred to the proper authorities.

Intoxication Farwaniya police arrested four citizens for public intoxication and being in possession of drugs, reported Al-Qabas. The arrest occurred after police pulled over the vehicle that the citizens were in for driving suspiciously. Soon enough, officials discovered that the driver and his three accomplices were drunk and that several illegal drug pills were found in their possession. They were taken to the proper authorities.

Suicide case An Asian maid killed herself 24 hours after her arrival to Kuwait, reported Al-Rai. The maid was welcomed by a family in Jahra, who brought her personally from the airport to their home where she had been recruited to work. The next day however, the family was shocked to discover that their newly hired maid hanged herself from the ceiling of her room. In an attempt to save her life, the sponsor brought the maid to Jahra hospital. She was pronounced dead upon reaching the medical facility. An investigation was opened to reveal the motive behind the suicide.

Abusive mom A man filed a case against his ex-wife, accusing her of severely assaulting their two children, reported Al-Rai. The father explained to authorities that he went to the aid of his son and daughter, who were stay-

ing with their mother in Salmiya, after they called him for help. He brought his children to the area’s police station with a medical report from Mubarak Hospital, indicating the abuse his children suffered at the hands of their mother. Police summoned the mother for questioning.

Worker injured An Asian farmer sustained burn injuries when a fire occurred in his room while he was sleeping, reported Al-Rai. The incident occurred on a farm in Abdaly and the Asian’s co-workers aided him as soon as they heard his cries for help. Paramedics responded to the emergency and brought the injured worker to Jahra Hospital while firefighters extinguished the flames. An investigation was launched to determine the cause of the fire.

Rahiya theft An engineer at a oil project site in Rahiya informed police that equipment worth KD 12,000 was stolen from the worksite, reported Al-Rai. Investigators were sent to examine the crime scene.

Body discovered After the body of a 52-year-old Indian man was discovered at his accommodation in Hawally, emergency personnel were quickly at the scene, with initial investigations suggesting that he had died of natural causes. There was no indication of suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and the body was removed for autopsy, reported Al-Qabas. A police investigation into the incident is underway.

Cabinet receives illegal stairways report KUWAIT: The committee in charge of demolishing encroachments on state property is ready to provide the Cabinet with a report that contains a list of violations regarding stairways constructed outdoors on state property. The constructions were to be removed by July 1 but the Cabinet

decided to put the operations on hold, reported Al-Rai. The committee’s General Coordinator, Saud Al-Khatrash said that Municipal Council members are not expected to meet with committee members to discuss this controversial issue. He added that the Municipality is aware of the committee’s

mission and decision because of their continued supervision of the committee’s meetings. Al-Khatrash also noted that the Minister of Municipality Affairs, Dr Fadhel Safar and the head of the Municipality have approved the demolition of stairways built illegally.

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Monday, July 5, 2010

No reason to be alarmed in Kuwait

Adenovirus infection similar to common cold

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Adenovirus infection is not a frightening disease and people in Kuwait should not be alarmed at the spread of the contagious virus, an ENT specialist said. Dr Jaffer Al-Shaikh told Kuwait Times that the virus is not typical of Kuwait's summer; it could even strike during spring, autumn and winter. News about the spread of the virus were circulated recently creating havoc between people that a new disease is taking off. The adenovirus infection usually infects the respiratory tract similar to common cold or even pneumonia, croup and bronchitis. "It's a common virus and it's not only preventable, it's treatable," he said.

kuwait digest

Ominous winds surround development

By Dr Yaqoub Al-Sharrah

M

ore people are realizing that the development process adopted by the state is regressing. This realization stems from their frustration with deteriorating public services, cases of breaking the law as well as insulting others and rejecting different opinions. These unhealthy circumstances make people too busy to focus on their daily problems and leave no room for positive thinking about a better future.

That said, there are reasons why the development process has been hindered.

These reasons, which most people are aware of, can be realized if we consider the fact that development is closely connected

to the economy, education, health, social situation and political state.

Just because Kuwait is ranked first among Arab countries in human resources development (according to the latest United Nations report) doesn't mean that Kuwait is free from problems that can obstruct development.

Kuwait certainly has elements that affect the development process, such as the spread of corruption, a decrease in patriotism and focusing on personal gains whether by legal or illegal means.

Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words. It's easy to discuss projects that have yet to be established and then place the blame on others when projects fail to be finished on time. What we need is for the

Al-Baghli welcomes guests.

focus of attention in Kuwait to be shifted to the building process with a unified agreement on the best interest of the country's future; an agreement that can only be reached when we put our difference behind us.

This was achieved before in Kuwait, by our ancestors, who were able to cement the foundation of our modern country.

Meanwhile, confusing basics and social variables have caused our society to shift from a simple and cooperative texture to a modern social structure that is afflicted with corruption, arrogance, fundamentalism and other aspects that damage the national principle. The decision to exit this dark tunnel is ours to make. We only need to find out how and move forward. —Al-Rai

Zinedin honored

Though he conceded to the possibility of its quick spread in Kuwait during late summer as many Kuwaitis and expatriates are vacationing abroad. "Many expatriates and even Kuwaitis are taking summer vacations at the moment. This is so that we do not know how prevalent adenovirus is in respective areas. So, when they are back from vacation; they carry the virus with them and spread it in Kuwait," he said. "Any viral infection requires no therapy but we treat the infection brought by the virus to our body," the he added.

He noted that adenovirus can be found in about 52 types and one virus could mutate several times. "We have no study of what is the strain of adenovirus in Kuwait. On the other hand, the virus could mutate easily," he said.

The virus could spread

A popular medical website narrated some common conditions caused by adenoviral infections: 1.

Keratoconjunctivitis, symptoms include itchiness of eye, mild stringy or mucous discharge. 2.

Pharyngoconjunctival fever, symptoms: Red eyes, a severe sore throat, low-grade fever, swollen lymph nodes. 3. Febrile respiratory disease (infection of the respiratory tract)-symptoms: Fever, sore throat, inflammation of nasal membranes, runny nose, cough, swollen lymph glands. 4.

Bronchiolitis (inflammation of the smaller airways that connect the lungs)-symptoms: Cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, fever. 5. Croup (infection of the larynx, trachea, and bronchial tubes)symptoms: Difficulty breathing and loud cough. 6. Gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and the wall of the small and large intestines)-symptoms: Watery diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, and abdominal cramps. 7. Urinary Tract Infection-symptoms: Frequent urination, burning, pain, blood in the urine. 8. Pink eye (inflammation of the thin, clear membrane over the white part of the eye and lining of the eyelids)-symptoms: A pink or red eye, itchy eye, painful eye, dry, harsh cough, viral pneumonia. through direct contact with people who have contracted the virus through coughs and sneezes (droplets). The swimming pool or any stagnant water shared by multitudes could also easily spread the virus. "The virus can survive in extreme hot or cold weather.

As I said, it's not exclusive to any season. Once people are

contracted to it, virus could really spread, unless it is treated," he said.

Maintaining proper hygiene, a balanced diet can fight and prevent any disease, "I recommend that chicken soup be included in your daily diet. It is wonderful food for our body.

Also, don't forget fruits and vegetables too," he added.

Adenovirus could infect the tissue linings of the respiratory tract: Eyes, the intestines, and the urinary tract. Once a person is exposed to adenovirus, symptoms usually develop between two days to two weeks later. It is a treatable disease.

The type of treatment will depend on the condition that the adenovirus causes.

Intra-governmental cooperation aims at food safety KUWAIT: Cooperation between government bodies to ensure food safety has created an efficient food monitoring system, said the Director of Kuwait Municipality's Public Relations department, Rashid Al-Hashan, yesterday.

Al-Hashan told KUNA that the municipality's food safety committee specializes in assessing food safety and carries out regular inspections of foodstuffs stored in factories, warehouses, restaurants and retail outlets to ensure that the foodstuffs meet the safe-

ty criteria. The committee works closely with the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for conducting tests on foodstuffs before they reach consumers, monitoring food poisoning victims and working to prevent future incidents of that nature.

Another body which it cooperates closely with is the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR), which is responsible for ensuring the safety of agricultural and animal products, he explained.

Meanwhile, the Public Authority for Industry ensures that the products meet international standards and specifications, while the Ministry of Trade and Industry protects consumers against fraud, he explained. All of these bodies, along with the Kuwait customs department and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, work closely, subjecting both locally produced and imported foodstuffs to scrutiny in order to prevent potentially hazardous items from reaching consumers. — KUNA

Al-Baghli honors TEC official Khalid Fawzi.

Al-Baghli, Ali Hassan and Zinedin.

Khairan resort hosts Ideal Son Award KUWAIT: The Touristic Enterprises Company (TEC) hosted the Al-Baghli Ideal Son Award for the third consecutive year. The event that was held at the Khairan Resort under the patronage and in attendance of the award's official sponsor Ibrahim Al-Baghli, Khairan resort General Manager Adnan Zinedin, Head of Senior Citizens Department of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Ali Hassan and other contributors.

In a speech delivered after holding a trip with guests

on-board of the Salsan Yacht, Al-Baghli explained the goals of the reward, which is to integrate senior citizens into society and highlight their social role for all generations.

Al-Baghli also thanked those who contributed toward making this award successful. Zinedin thanked Al-Baghli for choosing the resort for the third year. The event ended with a special ceremony held to honor a number of senior citizens and disabled citizens.

Al-Baghli honors Ali Hassan.

A participant receives her award.

A woman receives her award.

A disabled citizen receives an award.

A view of the sea cruise.

Senior citizens awarded.

Al-Baghli poses with a number of participants in the event.

Al-Baghli poses with the committee members.

A cultural display.

Monday, July 5, 2010

4 die in Iraq female suicide bomber attack RAMADI: A female suicide bomber blew herself up at the entrance to government offices in the western Iraqi city of Ramadi yesterday killing at least four people, an interior ministry official said. The attack comes amid a surge in violence which in past weeks has swept the province of Anbar and its capital Ramadi, shattering a long period of relative calm in what was once the epicentre of Al-Qaeda activity and Sunni insurgency.

“At least four people were killed and 23 others wounded, including women and children, by a female suicide bomber at the entrance to the provincial government building,” an interior ministry official said.

Local officials could not immediately confirm the toll.

Mohammed Fathi, a spokesman for the Anbar provincial authorities, quoting initial hospital reports, told AFP earlier that at least 10 people were hurt in the attack west of Baghdad.

Elsewhere, a suicide bomber killed two policemen when he detonated an explosives belt as he was fired upon by officers near a central police station in the main northern city of Mosul, police Colonel Taha Salaheddin said. And in the northern oil hub of Kirkuk, a suicide bomber in a car set off

his payload outside the government building, wounding nine people including an official responsible for religious properties, police Colonel Khalil Ibrahim said.

While violence has generally decreased over most of Iraq, the provinces of Kirkuk and Nineveh, of which Mosul is the capital, remains the scene of bloody attacks, partly because of sectarian tensions.

Anbar, the scene of yesterday’s worst attack, became the theatre of a brutal war focused on Fallujah and Ramadi in the first years after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

Anbar calmed dramatically after Sunni Arabs there turned against Al-Qaeda in 2006 and began what was to grow into a nationwide anti-Qaeda Sahwa, or “Awakening,” militia. But the past weeks have seen a resurgence of violence, with troops on Tuesday killing a suicide bomber east of Ramadi, foiling a multiple attack on Muslim worshippers gathering before dawn for prayers. That same day a roadside bomb killed the vice chancellor of Ramadi’s Islamic University, Ahmed Jumaa, and wounded two other people in the nearby Euphrates Valley town of Hit. — AFP

Israel grants ‘powers’ to flotilla investigation JERUSALEM: Israel’s cabinet granted wider powers yesterday to a commission investigating a deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, enabling the panel to compel witnesses to appear and testify under oath. But the decision did not constitute a broadening of the inquiry’s mandate to include an examination of Israeli political leaders’ decision-making in ordering the May 31 interception in which nine pro-Palestinian Turkish activists were killed.

A government statement said the cabinet granted the five-man panel led by former Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel subpoena powers and that witnesses would be sworn in, effectively exposing them to perjury charges for any false testimony. Turkel had asked the government for those specific powers and has said he would summon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi to appear.

Netanyahu has said he, Barak and Ashkenazi would testify. Other military personnel are not due to appear before the panel but will be questioned in a separate military investigation. Amid an international outcry over the raid, Israel had rejected a proposal by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for an international inquiry, but appoint-

ed two foreign observers- David Trimble, a Northern Ireland politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Canadian jurist Ken Watkin-to the panel.

International law Turkel has said the commission’s mandate calls for an examination of whether Israel’s naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the flotilla’s interception conformed with international law.It also will investigate the actions of the convoy’s organizers and participants. Due to the limited scope of the inquiry, it is seen as unlikely to pose any political threat to Netanyahu’s government. The flotilla incident has soured Israel’s strategic ties with Turkey, an important Islamic ally, which recalled its ambassador and cancelled joint military exercises. Israel has said its commandos were enforcing a blockade necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip and that they opened fire when activists with knives and clubs assaulted a boarding party. In response to Western criticism, including from its biggest ally, the United States, Israel has since eased a land blockade of Gaza where 1.5 million Palestinians live, allowing most civilian goods through, while continuing to enforce the naval embargo of the coastal territory. — Reuters

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Biden, troops celebrate I-Day at Saddam palace Biden seeks thaw between Iraqi political rivals CAMP VICTORY: US Vice President J oe Biden marked Independence Day w ith American troops at a palace of ex-dictator Saddam Hussein yesterday and then started crucial talks w ith the tw o men vying to lead Iraq.

Speaking to soldiers in the rotunda of Al-Fao Palace, a jew el in the era of the ousted Iraqi president that is now part of US military base Camp “I find it delicious that that’s happening,” he said to loud applause from the crowd of around 600 military personnel. The US commander in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, hosting the event, paid tribute to troops who were about to be sworn-in as American citizens, describing them as “the best, the brightest and the bravest.” Taking part in Independence Day celebrations in Iraq for a second year in a row, Biden, accompanied this time by his wife Jill, stood before a giant Stars and Stripes, with hands on hearts, as the national anthem played.

Biden, who also visited Baghdad in January, thanked Odierno and the soldiers around him for their “extraordinary service,” especially those on their third, fourth or fifth tour of duty. He then spoke for 20 minutes at the naturalization ceremony at which 156 US military personnel took the oath of allegiance. Biden thanked soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from 56 countries ranging from “Brazil to South Korea and many in between... for choosing us, for choosing America.”

He said Washington was keeping its promise to bring the troops home. “On August 31, we will go from 140,000 from the day I was sworn in as vice president to 50,000,” he said. Biden said on his arrival on Saturday he was “extremely optimistic” that Iraq’s politicians could resolve their differences despite a four-month impasse since a deadlocked general election.

Yesterday, Biden held a one-hour meeting with former premier Iyad Allawi who narrowly beat incumbent Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki into second place in the March 7 election which has yet to usher in a new government. He then held talks with Maliki ahead of a meeting on Monday with President Jalal Talabani.

The refusal of Maliki or Allawi to bow out has alarmed Washington. Allawi, a Shiite, insists as the election’s victor that he has the right to become prime minister, especially as his Iraqiya coalition had strong backing in Sunni-dominated provinces.

He has also warned that a failure to see Sunni voters’ interests represented in the new government could reignite the sectarian violence that saw tens of thousands killed in the wake of the 2003 US-led invasion.

There are currently 77,500 American soldiers in Iraq but all combat troops are due out by September 1, leaving the training and advisory force of 50,000

Victory, just north of Baghdad, an upbeat Biden relished the symbolism.

“Here w e are in the hunting lodge of a dictator w ho subjugated a people, w ho in fact stood for everything that w e don’t stand for. And w e are in the middle of this marble palace, making a lie of everything that he stood for,” he said.

BAGHDAD: On the second day of his surprise visit to Iraq, US Vice President Joe Biden (left) meets yesterday with Iyad Allawi, a former Iraqi prime minister who narrowly beat incumbent premier Nuri Al-Maliki. — AFP behind who are themselves scheduled to withdraw

by December 2011. A senior US administration official travelling with Biden cautioned that Washington’s commitment to Iraq would not vanish overnight. “We are not flipping a light switch on August 31st,” he said on condition of anonymity.

“The transition that is taking place, moving from a combat mission to basically stability operations... that’s a process that started, actually, a year ago,” he said, referring to the US troop pullout from Iraqi cities. The official said Biden was in Baghdad “to listen to the Iraqis, to get a sense from them of where they are and where they think things are going.

“We don’t have a slate of candidates, we don’t have favourites. This is up to the Iraqis,” he stressed, reiterating US support for “an inclusive government that brings in all of the major players.”

On Saturday, US senators John McCain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, met in Baghdad with the two premiership rivals and urged Iraqi leaders to act faster to form a coalition. Biden has expressed confidence that the impasse can be resolved. “The parties are all talking. I remain extremely optimistic about a government being formed here that will be representative,” he told reporters on Saturday. — AFP

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INTERNATIONAL

Monday, July 5, 2010

Kurdish rebels suspected over Turkish-Iraqi pipeline blast DIYARBAKIR: Kurdish rebels waging a 26-year insurgency were suspected of being behind a blast in southeastern Turkey that hit a pipeline carrying oil from Iraq, a local security source said yesterday. The blast late Saturday ripped through a section of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline near Midyat, in Mardin province, sparking a fire, the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

The blaze was put out early yesterday.

Militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were believed to have bombed the pipeline, and a secu-

rity operation was underway in the area, added the source. There was no immediate claim of responsibility from the PKK. The 970-kilometre (600-mile) pipeline runs from Iraq’s northern oil hub of Kirkuk to the port of Ceyhan on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, from where the crude is shipped to world markets by tanker.

The twin conduit, first inaugurated in 1976, carried 167.6 million barrels of oil last year, according to Turkish statistics.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and

much of the international community, has sabotaged the pipeline several times in the past as part of its armed campaign against the Ankara government. The pipeline has also been repeatedly attacked by Sunni Arab insurgents inside Iraq since the US-led invasion of the country in 2003.

The Turkish source said that PKK rebels also attacked a military unity in Beytussebap town in the neighboring province of Sirnak late Saturday, triggering a firefight that left two militants dead. The clash also

wounded two civilians and two village guards-members of a Kurdish militia force paid and armed by the government to assist security forces in their fight against the PKK, he added. Security forces were scouring the area for the attackers. The fresh violence comes at a time when the PKK has significantly escalated attacks against Turkish targets after jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan said in May that he was abandoning efforts for peace with Turkey and the rebels called off a unilateral truce earlier this month.

In their bloodiest attack in two years, the PKK killed 12 soldiers last month in an attack on a border unit at the Iraqi frontier, while five soldiers and a teenager were killed in a bomb attack in Istanbul claimed by the rebels.

Five members of the security forces and 12 rebels were killed in clashes inside Turkey on Thursday, which prompted a Turkish air strike on the rebels’ rear bases in northern Iraq. The PKK took up arms for self-rule in Turkey’s mainly Kurdish southeast in 1984, sparking a conflict that has claimed some 45,000 lives. — AFP

Congo fire death toll rises to 235 Burn survivors recover from tanker blast BUKAVU: The death toll in the fire that raged through a Congolese tow n w hen a fuel truck exploded rose to 235 yesterday, officials said, after most of the victims w ere buried in mass graves. The governor of Sud-Kivu province, Marcellin Cishambo, told AFP that three people badly burned by the fire had died

overnight. The majority of the dead, including around 60 children and around 30 w omen, w ere low ered into three mass graves late Saturday in the tow n of Sange, w here flames engulfed dozens of earth-and-straw homes after the tanker overturned and gushed fuel the day before.

SANGE: A youth lies on a hospital bed as he is treated for burns following an oil tanker explosion on July 3, 2010. — AFP

Poles pick president in final round of election WARSAW: The twin brother of Poland’s late president sought to succeed him in office yesterday in a tight runoff election that will determine how far this former communist country goes in embracing free-market reforms.

Both presidential candidates, Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Bronislaw Komorowski, are former anti-communist activists with conservative, Roman Catholic upbringings.

Yet they differ sharply on key issues, primarily the role of the state in the economy. Komorowski would be expected to smooth the way for the government to continue privatizing state-run companies and trim welfare benefits, while Kaczynski, the late president’s identical twin, would likely block such moves. An election was originally set for the fall but had to be called early to replace President Lech Kaczynski, who died April 10 in a plane crash in western Russia. The crash also killed his wife Maria and 94 others, including many high-ranking military and government officials. A first round of voting on June 20 ended with no candidate winning an absolute majority, leading to yesterday’s runoff between Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Komorowski, Poland’s acting president and parliament speaker.

More than 30 million of Poland’s 38 million citizens are registered to vote. The first exit polls will be released immediately after polls close at 8 pm (1800 GMT), but official results are not expected till later today. Five hours after the polls opened, the state electoral commission said nearly 27 percent of registered voters had cast ballots, higher than expected.

For most of the campaign, Komorowski, a moderate in the governing pro-EU Civic Platform party, has been favored, largely because he is seen as a reliable and conciliatory leader, and because his party steered Poland through the global economic downturn without falling into recession. But a survey published Friday indicated a rise in support for Kaczynski, whose traditional conservative voter base has been reinforced by sympathy votes following his brother’s death and the toning down of his image. “He is an honest and reliable man, just like his brother was,” said Irena Oledzka, 76, one of yesterday’s voters. The retired bookkeeper from Warsaw said at a polling station in Warsaw that she did not follow the election campaign because her mind was set on Kaczynski from the start. Pro-Komorowski voters argued he would ensure smooth cooperation with the government.

“Komorowski ... will guarantee peace in politics but will not be dependent on the government. He will have his own views,” said Jan Rostafinski, 61, a lawyer. Maria Konieczna, a 52-year-old economist, said her vote for Komorowski was in fact a vote against Kaczynski, whom she considers too aggressive. In the first round of the election, in which 10 candidates competed, Komorowski got 41.5 percent of the votes and Kaczynski 36.5 percent.

Poland’s president has many ceremonial duties, but he can also veto laws, and as commander in chief has influence on foreign military operations.

Komorowski has pledged to work closely with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk to adopt the euro in about five years, end the military mission in Afghanistan in 2012, promote pro-market reforms and keep the Catholic church separate from the state.

Kaczynski has toned down his combative and anti-communist style but kept his conservative views on family life and stressed his Catholicism. A noted euroskeptic, Kaczynski has vowed to fight for more EU funds to help Poland’s poor farm regions and is reluctant to set a timetable for the adoption of the euro. Polish businessmen tend to favor the euro, while consumers often express concern that it could raise prices.

Kaczynski is a “responsible man who will care for poor people and will protect them,” said Andrzej Urla, a 65-year-old voter in Warsaw. While Kaczynski is seen as more charismatic, many Poles remember the chaotic government he led from 2006-2007 and his zealousness in trying to eliminate former communists from public life.

Many Kaczynski critics see his new moderate image as a cynical campaign tactic. “I voted for Komorowski for the simple reason that I don’t trust people who change suddenly,” said Tomasz Adamski, 52, who cast his ballot in Warsaw.

“Komorowski is not my ideal but the contrast between these two candidates made me decide to choose Komorowski.” A telephone poll by Gfk Polonia of 1,000 adults published Friday by the Rzeczpospolita daily gave Kaczynski 49 percent of vote to Komorowski’s 47 percent - within the error margin of plus or minus three percentage points. — AP

WARSAW: Children cast a ballot into a ballot box at a polling station yesterday during the presidential election run-off. — AFP

The UN mission in DR Congo, MONUSCO, said nearly 200 people were injured in the fire, with 32 suffering serious burns taken by helicopter to two hospitals in regional capital Bukavu to the north and Uvira to the south. Cishambo said 105 people were still in hospital and that a similar number had been able to go home after treatment. The accident had left people in the town of around 50,000 “very sad, very traumatized. Some of them are very stressed,” local aid worker Emmanuel Umbwe told AFP yesterday.

“Petrol began to leak out but instead of fleeing people came to collect the fuel,” said regional government spokesman Vincent Kabanga, explaining why the accident had claimed so many victims. Explosions caused by fuel leaks from tankers after accidents or pipelines that have been punctured by thieves often claim hundreds of lives as locals rush to scoop up fuel.

Meanwhile, moaning and badly burned survivors from a massive tanker blast that killed at least 230 people recovered in a crumbling eastern Congo hospital yesterday, two days after the wrecked fuel truck exploded on a rural highway. In a conflict-strewn corner of one of the world’s most unstable countries, the shocking tragedy late Friday in the village of Sange was a devastating blow for residents in a still lawless region who survived back-to-back back wars that lasted from 1996 to 2002.

“It’s a miserable, poor life we have here in Congo,” said Muke Ndengwa, whose 15-year-old son was nearly killed in the blast. “When we had the war here, we had everything stolen from us. Now we have lost so much again.” In an intensive care ward yesterday in Uvira, one badly burnt man screamed continuously in agony, as relatives tended to other victims nearby, their bodies covered head to toe in purple antiseptic.

“People are suffering terribly,” said Namweze Bahizire, a nurse.

“Yesterday we lost two men and a woman a few hours after surgery and during the night we lost another male victim.” Late Saturday, Red Cross teams buried most of the dead in two mass graves a few miles (kilometers) from Sange. “We have decided to make mass graves because most of the bodies are completely burnt and are not identifiable, and also to prevent the corpses from decomposing” in the tropical heat, deputy provincial Gov Jean-Claude Kibala Nkolde told UN Radio Okapi.

Troubles began when the tanker hauling fuel from the provincial capital, Bukavu, overturned as it tried to pass a minibus in Sange, a small village near the Burundi border. Laying on its side, the wrecked vehicle began gushing gasoline beside three flimsy television halls made of brick and wood, where hundreds of people had gathered to watch the World Cup. Crowds gathered around the wreck, and dozens of people began trying to collect the leaking gasoline with jerrycans and plastic buckets, ignoring pleas from UN peacekeepers to move away because of the danger. Within an hour, a fire began - nobody is sure exactly how - and a massive explosion suddenly engulfed the three TV halls and a nearby market. UN spokesman Madnodje Mounoubai told The Associated Press yesterday at least 231 died and 195 were injured in the explosion. The Red Cross said at least 61 children and 36 women were among those killed.

Kumba Mupepe, a doctor at the Uvira hospital said at least 46 wounded between the ages of 12 and 40 were brought there. Desperately poor people in Congo and other African nations often descend quickly around damaged or disabled oil trucks leaking fuel on roads and highways, carting it away with plastic jugs, unaware of the danger of doing so. — AP

TORONTO: Queen Elizabeth II of England arrives for Sunday service at St James’ Cathedral yesterday. Queen Elizabeth II will visit Ground Zero for the first time and make her first address to the UN General Assembly in over half a century when she arrives in New York tomorrow. — AFP

Nigeria navy says pirates released foreign sailors LAGOS: A dozen foreign seafarers seized two days ago in Nigeria’s restive oil rich Niger Delta were freed yesterday, the military said, while three sailors taken hostage in May were also reportedly released. “I can confirm to you they (12) have indeed been released. They are on their way to Bonny (main oil terminal in the Niger Delta) where their ship is anchored,” Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Antigha, spokesman for a special security force deployed in the area, told AFP. No-one claimed responsibility for the capture of the BBC Polonia, registered in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, and its multinational crew, including its 71-year-old German captain. The main armed group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said told AFP it was “not involved in this attack but we are aware of the group that carried out the abduction”. Gunmen stormed the cargo vessel off the coast of southern Nigeria’s Niger Delta late Friday, wounding one of the crew in a shoot-out and capturing the rest. Security officials said they did not know who was behind the attack and abduction. Navy spokesman, David Nabaida said the men were dropped off in a fishing trawler and the navy went to collect them.

“Our boats have gone to receive them from the fishing trawler. I don’t know who is behind them, but I think it’s one of the factions of the ex-militants,” he said. Germans and Russians were among the 12 seafarers captured in Friday’s incident, during which a Ukrainian seaman was reportedly injured. Hundreds of locals and foreigners have been abducted in the Niger Delta in recent years, against the backdrop of conflict in the oil-producing

Lockerbie bomber could live 10 years with cancer: Report LONDON: The Lockerbie bomber could survive for 10 years or longer, according to the cancer specialist who said last year he would be dead within three months of his release, a newspaper reported yesterday. Professor Karol Sikora, who assessed Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet Al-Megrahi for the Libyan authorities almost a year ago, told The Sunday Times it was “embarrassing” that he had outlived his three-month prognosis.

The Scottish government provoked outrage from the United States when it released Megrahi from prison in August 2009 on compassionate grounds because he is suffering from terminal cancer. Megrahi is the only person convicted of the 1988 bombing of a US Pan Am jumbo jet over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, which left 270 people dead. But the newspaper claimed that Sikora, the dean of medicine at Buckingham University in southern England, was the only expert the Libyan authorities could find who would agree to put the three-month estimate on Megrahi’s life.

It reported that the advice of two other experts was ignored after they said Megrahi could live for 19 months. Sikora said: “There was always a chance he could live for 10 years, 20 years... But it’s very unusual.” The professor told The Sunday Times that the Libyan authorities made it clear to him that if he concluded Megrahi would die in a matter of months, it would greatly improve his chances of being released from jail in Scotland.

“It was clear that three months was what they were aiming for. Three months was the critical point,” Sikora said. “On the balance of probabilities, I felt I could sort of justify (that).” He denied he came any under pressure, but admitted: “It is embarrassing that he’s gone on for so long.”

“There was a 50 percent chance that he would die in three months, but there was also a 50 percent chance that he would live longer.” Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi’s eldest son, Seif alIslam, said in May that Megrahi was still “very sick” with advanced stage cancer. — AFP

region where a government amnesty has failed to totally eliminate militancy.

Most hostages end up being freed after a few days or weeks, very often after a ransom is paid. Two Russian sailors and a Lithuanian skipper captured in May in an attack on a Greek-owned ship off neighboring Cameroon have meanwhile been freed in Nigeria, a Russian sailors’ union and a Lithuanian shipping firm said.

Lithuania’s foreign ministry confirmed that its citizen had been released and would soon return home. Germany also confirmed that two of its citizens were among the 12 seafarers captured in Friday’s incident. Others on board included a number of Russians, a Latvian and a Lithuanian, who was identified by the Lithuanian government as Alexei Sysoi.

German officials refuted a suggestion by the Nigerian navy on Saturday that the ship was German-flagged, saying that it was not registered in that country.

MarineTraffic.com, a website that tracks ships’ movements, reported that the BBC Polonia was en route to the Nigerian port of Onne, which is situated on the Bonny estuary in the Niger Delta.

Police spokeswoman for Rivers, the main oil producing state in the Niger Delta, Rita Abbey said security forces suspect Friday’s attack was the work of a group led

by Farah Dagogo, a former MEND commander who surrendered under a 2009 government amnesty. But Antigha, of the special security force, said he had no idea who was behind the incident. He added: “We are sure that in a short time, we should be able to be clear about who” was holding them. — AFP

Albania’s political deadlock hampers its EU proposition TIRANA: Albania’s political crisis has entered its second year with no end in sight for the impasse that arose from the disputed June 2009 elections and hampers the country’s EU membership bid. As the crisis drags on the Socialistled opposition announced last week that it will resume its parliamentary protest which will effectively block important legislation necessary for the country’s European Union membership application. “The opposition will not vote on any law before parliament and our protests will intensify in the months to come if the government continues to turn a deaf ear,” Opposition leader and Tirana mayor Edi Rama said Friday.

The Socialists, who claim that there were irregularities during the June 2009 elections, want a parliamentary investigation and a recount of ballots. Since the collapse of Albania’s hardline communist regime in 1991, elections in the country have often been marred by violence and allegations of fraud. The current impasse is the longest political crisis the country has ever seen.

The current opposition protest means that every law needing more than a simple majority (71 votes) such as justice reforms demanded by the European Union and new voting legislation which need a two-third majority are blocked.

It also causes problems for the organisation of local elections planned in 2011. “The purpose of the opposition is to set the stage for a boycott of the next local elections,” Astrit Patozi of Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s

Democrats parliamentary group told AFP. The opposition had returned to the parliament in February after a six-month boycott, but warned it would resume its protest if the ruling coalition rejects its demands for a recount.

Under international pressure, some 200 opposition supportersamong them 22 deputies-ended a hunger strike in May that ran for more than two weeks as part of a series of major rallies in Tirana.

The June 28 elections last year were won by Berisha’s Democrats with a slight majority.

The Democrats formed a coalition government with the small Socialist Movement for Integration. The opposition Socialist party holds 65 of the parliament’s 140 seats. The parties have been at loggerheads ever since the vote. The opposition continues to call for a recount while the government insists that those demands have already been rejected by the courts.

The European Union has repeatedly warned Albania’s political rivals Berisha and Rama about the risk such a deadlock has for a country hoping to join the bloc rapidly. In a resolution the European Parliament underlined “that fully functioning, representative institutions (especially parliament) are the backbone of a consolidated democratic system and, as a key priority for the European Partnership, an important political criterion for EU integration”. Several mediation attempts by the European Parliament and offers to help break the impasse have not yielded anything. — AFP

Monday, July 5, 2010

INTERNATIONAL

9

New league omits Canada and US

Venezuela, Chile to head new Latin American bloc CIUDAD VICTORIA: Tamaulipas Governor Eugenio Hernandez Flores (center) arrives for a press conference surrounded by his aides and bodyguards at the state government palace. — AP

Drug war fears cast pall across Mexican elections CIUDAD VICTORIA: A common theme haunted yesterday’s state and local elections across Mexico: drugs. One gubernatorial candidate has been photographed with a powerful kingpin.

Another was arrested for allegedly protecting two cartels. A third was assassinated after pledging to bring peace to his violent state. Many Mexicans are scared to vote, and others wonder why they should bother if the cartels seem to be in charge anyway. The elections for governors, mayors and local posts in 12 states is the biggest political challenge yet for the government of President Felipe Calderon, who declared war on the cartels in 2006 and deployed thousands of troops and federal police to wrest back territory from drug traffickers.

A low turnout in the most violent states would signal Mexicans believe the drug lords have more control than ever. And Calderon’s conservative party is facing a resurgence of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, which ruled Mexico for 71 years through a combination of coercion and corruption that critics considered a veiled dictatorship. That party, known as the PRI, is favored to win in most of the 12 states and gain momentum to regain the presidency in 2012, just 12 years after losing it. That would add uncertainty to the future of Mexico’s drug war, backed by millions of dollars in U.S. aid and marked by an unprecedented increase in the number of drug suspects extradited to the United States for prosecution under Calderon’s National Action Party.

Nowhere has drug violence so shaken campaigning as in the northern state of Tamaulipas, where PRI candidate Rodolfo Torre was assassinated Monday, less than a week before he was forecast to win the race for governor. Even Calderon said the attack showed drug cartels were trying to sway the elections. He pleaded with Mexicans to vote and show they would not be intimidated. The PRI nominated Torre’s brother Egidio to run in his place. For many, the attack was a frightening reminder of the growing power of drug traffickers in Tamaulipas, a state of cattle ranchers and oil wells that is both a PRI stronghold and the birthplace of the Gulf cartel.

Cartel henchmen extort restaurants, car dealerships and junkyards. People avoid highways where caravans of armed men travel openly, their luxury SUVs sometimes stamped with the Gulf cartel acronym. Local media stopped reporting on much of the violence after reporters were beaten and threatened - the Torre assassination being a notable exception.

“For a long time, authorities in Tamaulipas have pretended to govern while criminal groups impose their law,” political analyst Alfonso Zarate wrote in the Reforma newspaper. Torre, a doctor who served as the state’s health secretary, had mostly campaigned on fighting poverty, even as turf wars escalated following a split between the Gulf cartel and the Zetas gang of hit men. Local politicians often avoid discussing drug trafficking, insisting it is the federal government’s responsibility to fight organized crime. —AP

CARACAS: Venezuela and Chile w ill hea d a new regiona l bloc tha t w ill include all countries in the America s except Ca na da and the United States to be inaugurated in J uly 2011, Venezuela ’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC, its Spanishlanguage acronym), will have among its goals tightening trade and institutional cooperation in the region, in step with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s so-called “Plan Caracas.”

Twenty foreign ministers from the 32 CELAC members met Saturday in Caracas and agreed tasking Venezuela and Chile with drafting the new bloc’s statutes and co-chairing the group and hosting its summits in 2011 and 2012, the ministry said on its website.

CELAC’s creation was agreed to in February at the Summit of Latin American and Caribbean Unity in Mexico.

Besides setting up CELAC, Saturday’s meeting also discussed Plan Caracas, which Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said aimed at “consolidating (regional) integration” to eliminate poverty and boost technological cooperation.

Plan Caracas also calls for “building a just, multilateral trade system... increasing cooperation among regional organizations” such as trade bloc Mercosur, political bloc Unasur and Petrocaribe, he added.

The foreign ministers also agreed to holding their next meeting September 6 again in Caracas, to prepare for CELAC’s first summit of heads of state and government in July next year. — AFP

CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez talks to the press during the meeting of the ministers of Foreign Affairs of the member countries of the Latin American and Caribbean Summit (CALC), at the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. — AFP

Man charged in boat crash NEW YORK: A man was charged with vehicular manslaughter after a boat crash near the Statue of Liberty that killed a groom-to-be and injured two other men.

New York City police said 39-year-old Richard Aquilone of Jersey City, New Jersey, was out on the water Friday evening with his wife, their 2-year-old daughter and two sons, ages 2 and 3, when their 30-foot (9-meter) boat hit a smaller craft. Police said Jijo Puthuvamkunnath, 30, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, and two friends

were in the 17-foot boat anchored off Liberty Island that was struck by Aquilone.

Puthuvamkunnath was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead of head injuries.

His two friends, both also 30, were treated for minor injuries. No one on the larger boat was injured. Aquilone was arrested on charges of vehicular manslaughter, operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs and endangering the welfare of a child. He was arraigned

on the charges Saturday. A spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney’s office said Aquilone pleaded not guilty and bond was set at $50,000. She did not know the name of his attorney. Puthuvamkunnath was due to marry his girlfriend, Sissy Chacko, on Aug 28, said his aunt Aleyamma Varughese, who answered the phone at Puthuvamkunnath’s home Saturday. “He was a very, very wonderful young man,” Varughese said. “He was loved by everybody.” — AP

10

INTERNATIONAL

Monday, July 5, 2010

China sentences another Tibetan environmentalist BEIJING: A leading Tibetan environmentalist has been jailed for subversion, the third such verdict amid an apparent crackdown on intellectuals in the Himalayan region, activists said yesterday. Rinchen Samdrup, 44, was sentenced to five years in prison on Saturday for attempting to incite subversion by a court in Tibet’s Chamdo region, poet and rights activist Woeser said on her blog. The verdict comes after his brother Karma Samdrup, 42, a noted art and antique collector and phil-

anthropist, was sentenced by a court in neighboring Xinjiang late last month to 15 years for “grave-robbing”.

“These sentences are causing fear among a lot of Tibetan intellectuals,” Woeser told AFP while declining to comment further on the verdict due to concerns over possible government reprisals. Karma Samdrup’s wife confirmed the sentence on her Twitter account. Xia Jun, Rinchen’s lawyer, was unreachable yesterday by telephone, while phones at the Chamdo intermediate court

went unanswered. Chinese authorities have been accused of heavy handed measures against alleged “separatist” forces in the Himalayan regions since violent anti-Chinese riots erupted in Lhasa in April 2008 and spread to other parts of Tibetan inhabited regions.

Late last year, Chime Namgyal, Rinchen Samdrup’s younger brother, was sentenced to 21 months of “reeducation through labour” for endangering state security, the London-based International Campaign For Tibet

said in a statement on Saturday. The two brothers ran the “Snowlands Great Rivers Environmental Protection Association”. “The case against Rinchen Samdrup is part of a larger case against his two brothers, two cousins, and other relatives and supporters and stands as a major case in which prominent Tibetans have been targeted and imprisoned despite no evidence of political activities,” the statement said.

The brothers had previously been praised by

Chinese authorities and the state media for their environmental work, it added. According to Human Rights Watch, the brothers were arrested after attempting to highlight environmental abuses by local officials in Tibet. The New York-based group has expressed concern over the “increasing vulnerability of important cultural and entrepreneurial Tibetan figures to politically motivated arrests and prosecutions”. — AFP

US ready to help Azerbaijan and Armenia on peace deal: Clinton Aliyev presses Clinton on Nagorno-Karabakh BAKU: Azerba ija n urged the United Sta tes yesterda y to help solve the Na gorno-Ka ra ba k h dispute a nd US Secreta ry of Sta te Hilla ry Clinton pressed its a uthorita ria n governm ent on hum a n rights. A US-ba ck ed push for a ra pprochem ent betw een Arm enia a nd US a lly Turk ey ha s hurt US rela tions w ith the stra tegic a nd oil-rich country, w hich w or-

ries tha t its interests w ill suffer a s a result. Ba k u in April a ccused the United Sta tes of siding w ith Arm enia over Na gorno-Ka ra ba k h, a la rgely Christia n region w hich seceded from Muslim Azerba ija n a nd procla im ed independence a fter a w a r in the 1990s tha t k illed som e 30,000.

TOKYO: Uighurs living in Japan and their supporters march through a street in a rally against China’s government yesterday. Around 200 Uighurs and their supporters took to the streets ahead of the first anniversary of a deadly ethnic violence between Xinjiang’s minority Uighurs and majority Han Chinese migrants last July. — AP

Australian bishop remorseful over church abuse cases MELBOURNE: One of Australia’s most senior archbishops apologized to victims of sexual abuse by priests yesterday in a message condemning the behavior and the Catholic church’s failure to properly deal with the problem. Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart sent the message to all churches in more than 200 parishes in the southern state of Victoria with instructions that it be either read at Sunday mass or made available to people attending. Catholic church leaders in Australia have long condemned abuse by priests in interviews and statements, but rarely addressed the problem in such forthright terms in sermons or other messages delivered in church. “The scourge of sexual abuse continues to cause great distress and in many cases a crisis of faith amongst Catholics,” Hart told worshippers gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city. “Every week seems to bring fresh scandals, as victims of abuse speak publicly of what they and their families have suffered.

“I express my deep sorrow and offer a sincere and unreserved apology to all those victims who have suffered the pain and humiliation of sexual abuse and to their families,” he said.

He said the church had “not always dealt appropriately with offenders” and it must face up to the truth. “Sexual abuse in any form, and any attempt to conceal it, is a grave evil and is totally unacceptable,” he said. A handful of protesters outside the cathedral said Hart’s apology did not go far enough. Helen Last of the Melbourne Victims’ Collective, a support group for sufferers of church abuse, said Hart’s statement simply reiterated comments made by former Melbourne Archbishop George Pell in the 1990s, when an abuse scandal first broke in Australia.

“Apology not accepted,” Last said. “All Hart has done is to rehash the same apology ... He is trying to re-badge it as his own and leave the same flawed system there with no changes.” Hart’s message, which was also posted on the church’s website, fits with recent attempts by the Vatican and Pope Benedict XVI to openly condemn abusing priests and recognize the suffering of victims to try to deal with the crisis that deepened this year. Last month, Benedict begged forgiveness from victims at a Mass at St Peter’s Square. Other leaders in Australia have criticized the church’s handling of sexual abuse by priests. Archbishop Mark Coleridge of the Canberra archdiocese wrote an open letter in May that said the culture of the church had contributed to the crisis.

A sexual scandal erupted within the church in Australia in the 1990s, and more than 100 priests have been charged with offenses, according to Broken Rites, a victim support group.

On Friday, former Catholic priest John Sidney Denham was imprisoned for 20 years for abusing boys at a Catholic school north of Sydney between 1968 and 1986. After the scandals broke, the church in Australia established new procedures for handling sexual abuse claims, including compensation payments. Leaders insist the system encourages victims to go to the police. — AP

Japan PM faces first litmus test TOKYO: Japan Prime Minister Naoto Kan faces his first major test in upper house elections this week, where he will be aiming to build a powerful political platform to restore confidence in Asia’s top economy. Japan goes to the polls on July 11 with Kan’s centre-left Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) seeking full control over parliament after last year’s landslide lower house victory ended half a century of conservative rule. The son of a factory manager, Kan in June replaced the dithering and unpopular Yukio Hatoyama, who resigned over funding scandals and a US military base dispute after less than nine months in office.

Kan, who has put the restoration of Japan’s tattered finances at the heart of his new manifesto, is seeking a majority to draw a line under a period of damaging revolving-door politics that has seen five new premiers in four years. “Please give us not just fragile leadership but power to take action,” the 63-year-old Kan told voters recently.

“Japan is in the doldrums. I will put Japan on a growth track by rebuilding the economy,” he said. “Even a great man can’t make things happen only for a year. Gritting my teeth, I want to maintain power at least for five years.”

In its manifesto, the DPJ pledged to achieve a primary balance surplus-the budgetary balance excluding debt servicing costs and revenue from bond issuance-by March 2021. It also aims to reduce a public debt that has swollen to 950 trillion yen (over 10 trillion dollars), nearly double gross domestic product. Changing course from Hatoyama, who had focused on foreign policy shifts and higher social welfare spending, fiscal hawk Kan has called for a full debate on tax reform, including whether to hike sales tax.— AFP

Tokyo: In this file picture, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan answers questions about the upcoming upper house national election, as he holds his manifesto, during a news conference. — AFP

Hosting Clinton at his palatial summer residence on the Caspian Sea, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev made clear that his priority was Nagorno-Karabakh. “This is a major problem for us and the major threat to regional security,” Aliyev told Clinton as they sat beneath a chandelier in an airy, high-ceilinged room overlooking the sea. “We want to find a resolution as soon as possible,” he said, adding: “Our people are suffering.”

As a result of the strains in the relationship, including the absence of a US ambassador for more than a year, Baku threatened to “reconsider” its ties with the United States.

Strategically located between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan has been a key supply route for US troops in Afghanistan but ties have been frayed by multiple issues. While seeking to improve relations and make some headway on Nagorno-Karabakh, Clinton also pressed Azerbaijan to show greater respect for civil liberties and said she had raised the case of two jailed opposition bloggers.

In a news briefing with her Azeri counterpart Elmar Mamedyarov, Clinton said the United States was ready to help Azerbaijan and Armenia reach an agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh.

But she warned: “Ultimately the future of any one nation or the future of this region is up to the people themselves. They have to make the hard decisions.” “The United States cannot resolve the conflicts in this region but we can be a partner and a supporter and an advocate,” she told the Azeri foreign minister. Azerbaijan wants Nagorno-Karabakh back, if necessary by force. More than 15 years of mediation have failed to produce a final peace deal and the threat of war is never far away. Last month, four ethnic Armenian troops and an Azeri soldier died in an exchange of fire near Nagorno-Karabakh.

Clinton is the second top US official to visit Azerbaijan in a month, following Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ early June trip designed to smooth ruffled feathers and to guarantee US supply lines for Afghanistan. Since 2001, military aircraft and supply trucks have crossed the country carrying US and NATO forces and equipment to Afghanistan. The Pentagon wants to avoid problems that could slow Obama’s 30,000troop surge.

The strains ran so deep that Gates delivered a letter to Aliyev in June from US President Barack Obama, who said he was aware of the “serious issues in our relationship” but was confident they could be addressed. Speaking to civil society advocates, including bloggers, Clinton later said Azerbaijan had some way to go on respecting its citizens rights.

“While considerable progress has been made here, you know better than I there is work to be done,” Clinton told about a dozen young Azeris. “There are still lots of challenges.” She told the Azeri foreign minister that the United States was “clear in encouraging and calling for more” progress in the area of human rights. Clinton said she and Obama had received letters about two Azeri bloggers who were sentenced last year to two and two and a half years in jail after a violent incident in a cafe in which the bloggers say they were the victims of an unprovoked attack.

The incident happened shortly after video blogger Adnan Hajizade posted his latest tongue-in-cheek swipe at authorities, in which he held a fake news conference dressed as a donkey. Charged with hooliganism and inflicting bodily harm, their imprisonment drew concern from the European Union and widespread criticism from rights groups, with Amnesty International saying the bloggers were convicted on fabricated charges. — Reuters

BANGKOK: In this file photo, an anti-government protestor piles tires on a fire at a shopping center. A state of emergency imposed during anti-government protests will likely be lifted in many parts of the country this week, Thailand’s prime minister said yesterday. — AP

Thai emergency rule to be partially lifted BANGKOK: A state of emergency imposed during Thailand’s anti-government protests will likely be lifted or eased in many parts of the country this week, the prime minister said yesterday. Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed hope the move would allow the nation to gradually return to normalcy. Many human rights groups have demanded the lifting of the decree, which remains in place in Bangkok and 23 provinces more than six weeks after the protests, in which 89 people died and more than 1,400 were injured. The government argued that the state of emergency, which suspends some civil liberties and gives the military broad powers to keep order, helped keep troublemakers from moving freely in the countryside. It said parts of Bangkok also remained at risk of attack.

The Cabinet is to meet tomorrow to decide whether to extend the decree, which expires Wednesday. Speaking on his weekly television show,

Abhisit said he was confident that the measures would be lifted or relaxed in areas where authorities “possess tools that will ensure peace.” The “Red Shirt” protesters consist of members of the urban and rural poor, democracy activists and politicians loyal to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup on corruption allegations. They occupied Bangkok’s commercial center for weeks, forcing upscale shopping malls and hotels to close. The protests ended May 19 when the army moved in, forcibly dispersing the crowds. On June 22, an improvised bomb exploded in front of the headquarters of the Bhumjaithai, the second-largest party in Abhisit’s governing coalition. Late Saturday, Cambodian police arrested a Thai man and woman who had fled across the border on suspicion they had helped plot the bombing, Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry said. — AP

in the news 15 killed, 48 injured in bus crash in Philippines CEBU: Fifteen people were killed after the brakes on a speeding bus packed with passengers failed and the vehicle slammed into a concrete barrier in the central Philippines. Another 48 people were injured, police said yesterday. The bus carrying mostly homebound factory workers was traveling at high speed Saturday in Cebu province when it lost its brakes while maneuvering a downhill curve. The driver crashed the vehicle into the cement barrier to avoid hitting a throng of pedestrians, police official Erson Digal said. Most victims were killed inside the bus but five others died after being thrown from the vehicle on impact. The dead included a mother and son who died in an embrace, Digal said. “It happened so fast. Residents heard the crash then the yells of so many people calling for help,” Digal told The Associated Press by telephone. The injured bus driver was taken into police custody for questioning after receiving treatment. Saturday’s crash in Toledo city was the second deadly bus accident in recent weeks in the area. A bus rented by Iranian medical students plunged into a ravine off a mountain road in Balamban town, near Toledo, killing 21 people last month.

CEBU: A resident stands near the wreckage of a passenger bus at dawn yesterday after it crashed into a concrete fence. — AP 42 bodies recovered from landslide BEIJING: Rescuers pulled 42 bodies from a landslide in southwest China, and 57 people remained missing nearly a week after the disaster with no signs of life detected, the Xinhua News Agency said yesterday.

More than 700 rescuers and 26 excavators were digging at the site of the landslide in Dazhai village of Guizhou province, Xinhua said. Homes were buried on June 28 when nearly half a hill apparently collapsed after days of torrential rain. The landslide is about 120 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Guiyang, the provincial capital. So far there have been no signs of life, Xinhua cited search team chief Pu Jianjiang as saying. Authorities originally reported more than 100 people trapped by the landslide, but now say there were 99. Workers were also shoring up buildings and relocating 2,500 people from 25 other sites in the area that were at risk of landslides, Xinhua said. Southern China was pummeled by summer storms last month, with 266 people killed by flooding and other weatherrelated causes, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.

Nearly 200 people remained missing from the storms that forced 3.8 million people from their homes.

US asks Japan to pay more for Marine move TOKYO: The United States has asked Japan to help shoulder hundreds of millions of dollars in additional fees to transfer Marines from a controversial base on Okinawa island to Guam, Kyodo news agency reported. The extra money - needed to help pay for electricity, water and sewage facilities at the new site could add further uncertainty to the future of the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station, which has strained the security alliance that Japan and the US sealed 50 years ago. Debate over a relocation plan for the base, which currently sits in the middle of a city in Okinawa, led to repeated mass protests and was a

major factor in Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s resignation last month. Under the existing deal, 8,000 Marines and their dependents will move to the US territory of Guam and some facilities will shift to a less populated part of the Japanese island. Japan agreed in 2006 to pay more than $6 billion of the $10 billion the move was expected to cost. US Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked Tokyo last month to help pick up the tab for the higher-than-expected infrastructure costs at the new base, Kyodo news said, citing unnamed diplomatic sources.

China’s urban dwellers to exceed rural population BEIJING: China’s urban population is expected to surpass 700 million in the next five years, exceeding the number of rural dwellers for the first time, the country’s top population policy official was cited as saying in a report yesterday. The shift has major implications for the government at a time when Chinese cities are already struggling to cope with overcrowding, overloaded infrastructure and a widening rich-poor gap. Li Bin, director of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, also said the country’s population - already the world’s largest at 1.3 billion - is expected to reach 1.4 billion in 2015, the China Daily newspaper reported. It will include 200 million people over the age of 60, he said. China was traditionally an agrarian society, but a booming economy driven by industrial growth over the past three decades has drawn millions of young workers to coastal cities in search of factory jobs and opportunities. The government is now trying to attract industries to its inland provinces, where many rural villages and towns are populated largely by grandparents and young children.

By increasing job opportunities closer to workers’ homes, Beijing hopes to reduce the strain on cities and improve the social situation in the countryside.

Monday, July 5, 2010

11

INTERNATIONAL

‘We are in to win’ in Afghanistan: Petraeus Afghan war at critical stage, says US commander KABUL: Gen David Petraeus formally assumed command of the 130,000strong international force in Afghanistan yesterday, declaring “w e are in this to w in” despite rising casualties and grow ing skepticism about the nearly 9-year-old w ar. During a ceremony at NATO headquarters, Petraeus received tw o flags - one for the US and the other for NATO -

KABUL: In this file photo, a shopkeeper waits for customers at Nader Pashtun market where virtually everything comes from China. — AP

As US fights, China spends to expand Afghan foothold KABUL: Gul Akbar’s tiny store is crammed from floor to ceiling with rolls of electric cables, plugs of all sizes and piles of extension cords. Virtually everything comes from China, as do most of the appliances and electronics being sold in Kabul’s busy Nader Pashtun Market. Not far away, the sparkling 10-story glass-and brick Jamhuriat Hospital rises in the midst of Afghanistan’s war-torn capital. Beijing gave $25 million and the Chinese workers to build it.

Every day, Afghans wait in long lines at the Chinese Embassy for visas to let them cross the border to trade.

As the US and its NATO allies fight to stabilize Afghanistan, China has expanded its economic footprint with several high-profile investments and reconstruction projects. In 2007 it became the country’s largest foreign investor when it won a $3.5 billion contract to develop copper mines at Aynak, southeast of Kabul.

The US is in favor of the Chinese investment. “It can be a good thing. As a matter of fact, we encourage all of the international community to take an interest in the economic development of Afghanistan,” said US State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid.

“Working with our coalition partners and other interested partners, we are trying to establish a viable market economy in Afghanistan. This is one way to wean people from illicit activities and also to fight the ideology of the terrorists,” he said. For China, the reward is not only expanded trade and access to natural resources, it’s also security for its western flank, the vast Xinjiang region that is home to a separatist movement of minority Uighurs, said Liu Xuecheng of the China Institute of International Studies, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s think tank. “Our interest is clear. We need a peaceful neighbor because we have our own problems in Xinjiang,” Liu said. “If we have a friendly country in Afghanistan, they can help us to manage issues on the separatists, security and territorial integrity. We want Afghanistan to be successful.”

Though the two countries have always been friendly, the relationship has blossomed in recent years. In March, President Hamid Karzai made his fourth trip to Beijing, bringing back agreements on economic cooperation, technical training and lower tariffs for Afghan goods. The emerging alliance is giving Kabul an alternative to its sometimes strained ties with the West. The two neighbors share a narrow, mountainous border, the Wakhan Corridor, and links that date back centuries to the caravans of tea, spices and other riches that traveled the Silk Road. Afghanistan is “well aware that the US is likely to only be a temporary ally so it’s looking for a longer-term partner in the region. China would be an obvious choice,” said security analyst Christian Le Miere, editor of Jane’s Intelligence Review.

China drew worldwide attention with the $3.5 billion winning bid by the state-owned China Metallurgical Group Corp to tap one of the world’s largest unexploited copper reserves. That deal - which included commitments to build a power plant, railway, hospital and mosque, and to employ thousands of Afghans as miners - has dwarfed all other countries’ foreign investments, including the US. “China is the biggest buyer of raw materials in the world, whether that’s in Africa, Asia or any other part of the world. So if China wants to come to Afghanistan, why not?” said Ghullam Mohammad Yalaqi, the Afghan commerce and industry minister.

“We just like to do the deal.” The country’s untapped minerals, including gold, iron, copper and cobalt, is valued by a US estimate at nearly $1 trillion. Afghan officials say it’s triple that amount. For Yalaqi, who led a group of Afghan government and business leaders to China last month, the Chinese contribution is as important as that of Western troops. “If we can create jobs, then youths wouldn’t turn to the Taleban. A good economy also has the impact of stability,” he said.

Trade between the two neighbors has mushroomed over the past decade from $25 million in 2000 to $215 million in 2009, according to Chinese figures. Yalaqi’s ministry estimates the actual figure, including unofficial border trade, to be closer to double. On display in the crowded stalls of Kabul’s main electronics market are the fruits of that trade: computers, cell phones, cameras, irons, heaters and washing machines. Squeezed into a small space is Suliman Electric, the electrical parts busi-

ness owned by Gul Akbar’s family. Akbar and his brother used to travel to Iran and Pakistan to buy merchandise but switched four years ago. “We started going to China because a socket made in Germany or Iran or the US is more expensive - 200 Afghanis ($4.40). But sockets from China are only one-fifth the price. The quality of Chinese goods is not the best, but it’s good enough and the price is the lowest,” he said.

“When I started traveling to China, my business increased by 50 percent.” Every four months, he makes the 4,800-kilometer (3,000-mile) flight to eastern China to fill up two 40-foot (12-meter) containers and ship them to Kabul. “It takes two months to send it to Kabul and then another two months to sell it all. When we finish, I go back to China to buy more,” he said. “I pay $50,000 for one container’s worth of goods and I sell it for $60,000. I would go more often if I could afford to.”

He is one of an estimated 30,000 Afghan traders shuttling between the two countries, said Sultan Baheen, Afghanistan’s ambassador to China. Most head to the southern manufacturing hub in Guangzhou province, the far west city of Urumqi in Xinjiang, or the eastern city of Yiwu, home to a massive commodities market, he said.

The need to quickly shuttle goods between countries is huge. On the strength of cargo demand alone, privately owned Safi Airlines plans to launch the firstever direct passenger and cargo flights between Kabul and Beijing this fall. Currently the only flights are between Kabul and Urumqi. “What we found out is that the amount of visas being issued from Afghanistan to China, and vice versa, has increased dramatically. This is an indication that there’s upcoming traffic, upcoming business,” said Werner Borchert, Safi’s chief operating officer. China may be the biggest foreign investor, but its $180 million in development aid over the past eight years lags far behind the US’s $12 billion.

Much of China’s aid has gone on projects such as the Parwan irrigation system in the north, a conference hall for Karzai’s presidential palace and the Jamhuriat Hospital in Kabul. It has also helped train some civil servants as well as teaching police and army officers in logistics and mine-clearance, said Baheen, the ambassador. But by focusing on signature construction projects, often built with its own workers, China has made itself visible in a way that the US, has not, he said.

“America spends billions and billions of dollars, but they give out projects to contractors from different countries - China, India, Pakistan, etc. because the labor costs are low,” Baheen said.

So when the average Afghan looks at an American project, “How does he know this is American money?” The State Department’s Duguid cautioned that while foreign investment is welcome, it should be done “according with Afghan laws and free and fair competition rules that much of the world respects.

That would include investment from China.” The Aynak copper mine deal was shadowed by allegations that the Afghan mines minister, who has since been replaced, had collected huge bribes for steering the bid toward China.

China has also benefited by focusing its investments on Afghanistan’s relatively safer north, while much of the US-funded effort is in the more violent south and east regions. The Taleban is not known to have made threats against Chinese involved in Afghanistan. Beijing has reaped admiration for projects such as the 350-bed Jamhuriat Hospital. Inaugurated last summer, it was built in three years by 200 Chinese workers who lived on-site in temporary lodgings, said hospital director Ramazan Karimi. The hospital sits empty, though, because the government hasn’t allocated any operating funds, he said.

“The Afghan people prefer this gift from China. The Chinese side has done streets, roads and clinics in Afghanistan,” Karimi said. “They didn’t bring their troops here.” Liu, the Beijing think tank analyst, said he doubted China would ever send troops. “The war is not China’s war,” he said. “... But economically and socially, we can try to help.” For Afghans such as Akbar the merchant, China is an example to be emulated. “When I travel to China, I feel safe. I see good roads and cars,” he said. “I don’t hear the sound of weapons. I don’t worry about someone stealing. I wanted to stay there.” — AP

MUMBAI: Trains pass though waterlogged tracks Saturday, July 3, 2010.

Water-logging was reported from several low lying areas after heavy rains lashed Mumbai, partially disrupting road traffic and train services, according to a news agency. — AP

“We are in this to win,” Petraeus told a crowd of several hundred NATO and Afghan officials at the ceremony held on a grassy area just outside coalition headquarters. “We have arrived at a critical moment.” Petraeus succeeded Gen Stanley McChrystal, who was fired last month for intemperate remarks he and his aides made to Rolling Stone magazine about Obama administration officials who were mostly on the civilian side. “Upfront I also want to recognize the enormous contributions of my predecessor, Gen Stanley McChrystal,” Petraeus said. He said the progress made reflects McChrystal’s “vision, energy and leadership.” Petraeus said the change in command did not signal a radical shift in McChrystal’s strategy of making the protection of the Afghan people the focus of the military mission.

“Recent months in Afghanistan have seen hard fighting,” he said.

“As we press on in our vital mission, we must continue our efforts to reduce the loss of innocent civilians to an absolute minimum.” But Petraeus said he would examine the policies “to determine where refinements might be needed.” In a message to his troops, Petraeus said he would “not hesitate to bring all assets to bear to protect you and the Afghan forces with which you are fighting shoulder to shoulder.”

That suggested he would review the rules under which NATO soldiers fight, including McChrystal’s curbs on the use of airpower and heavy weapons if civilians are at risk. Troops have complained such restraint puts their own lives at risk and hands the battlefield advantage to the Taliban and their allies.

Speaking before Petraeus, German Army Gen Egon Ramms, commander for the Allied Joint Force Command, also praised the work of McChrystal, saying he took the coalition “forward at a very difficult time.” “We wish Stanley McChrystal well,” Ramms said.

Ramms lamented the deaths of civilians due to military operations by coalition forces, but said people should not forget the Afghan citizens who died at the hands of insurgents whose actions are “unlawful.” In southern Afghanistan, four civilians were killed and five others were wounded yesterday by a remote-controlled bomb set up on a motorcycle in a bazaar in Musa Qala, said Dawood Ahmadi, a spokesman for Helmand province.

At the time of the blast, police were busy defusing another bomb planted on a donkey, Ahmadi said.

On Saturday, a civilian was killed in a roadside bomb explosion in Tagab district of Kapisa province and another civilian driving a car was killed when his vehicle struck a roadside bomb in Khash Rod district of Nimroz province, the Ministry of Interior said yesterday.

June was the deadliest month for the allied force since the war began in October 2001 with 102 deaths, more than half of them Americans.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense reported that a Royal Marine was killed Thursday in southern Afghanistan - the fifth international service member killed this month.

Since arriving here Friday evening, Petraeus has sought to make cooperation between the civilian and military parts of the international mission a top priority.

Petraeus, widely credited with turning around the US war effort in Iraq, faces rising violence and growing doubts in Washington and other allied capitals about the effectiveness of the counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan, which the general himself pioneered. Later Saturday, Petraeus met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Corruption was one of the issues the two discussed, according to a statement issued by the presidential palace.

Karzai used the meeting to complain about what he said were “baseless” allegations made by US Rep Nita Lowey, a Democrat from New York, who suggested Afghan government officials had misused or pocketed donor funds, Karzai’s office said. Karzai asked Petraeus to review international contracts for private security companies to help keep money from flowing out of the country. According to the statement, Petraeus told the president he would begin his job by emphasizing “unity, accountability and transparency.” — AP

marking his formal assumption of command. He said it w as important to demonstrate to the Afghan people and w orld that Al-Qaeda and its extremist allies w ill not be allow ed to once again establish sanctuaries in Afghanistan from w hich to launch attacks on the United States and other countries.

KABUL: Gen David Petraeus, the new commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan looks on during the Independence Day celebrations. — AP

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Rwandan shootings, clampdown stir fears

By David Lewis

T

he shooting of an exiled dissident general and a journalist will embarrass Rwanda's allies, ever more uncomfortable about political repression, but more worrying is the escalating risk of a violent fall-out from increasingly public divisions within the ruling elite.

President Paul Kagame - who ended Rwanda's 1994 genocide by sweeping to power with his Tutsi-dominated rebel army, and has since been praised for restoring order and attracting investors - is sure to win re-election for another seven years in August.

But an attack on his former confidant and army chief in South Africa, and the slaying of a critical journalist at home are piling pressure on a government already accused of stifling political rivals and involved in highly charged legal case against a US lawyer accused of denying the 1994 genocide. Four people have appeared in court, suspected of the attempted murder of Lieutenant-General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, while two others, including a former Rwandan intelligence officer, were freed. No nationalities were given.

South Africa has said it is not ready to comment further on the attack, but security sources suspect Rwandan involvement. Rwanda says such accusations are preposterous, but links were anyway quickly made with killings in the 1990s of dissidents abroad, blamed then on Rwanda's security services.

Theories of a bungled robbery have also been put in doubt by reports from Nyamwasa's wife, who was with him, that the attackers targeted Nyamwasa, rather than valuables or their car.

Henri Boshoff, an analyst at the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies, said Pretoria was furious an attack had taken place, especially during the World Cup, and the incident left Kagame some tricky questions to answer. But it has also left South Africa, a key Rwandan ally and business partner, with an awkward incident on its hands, he said. Nyamwasa was serving as Kigali's ambassador to India when he fled Rwanda during official meetings earlier this year.

He, and another senior army officer also living in exile in South Africa, have been accused of corruption and involvement in a series of mysterious grenade attacks by Kagame's government. The pair deny the charges and say Kagame is abusing an anticorruption drive to frame his opponents.

Rwanda and South Africa have been in talks over Kigali's request to extradite Nyamwasa. "(South Africa) can get out of this embarrassment by not agreeing to his extradition and making sure they follow the investigations to the end, even if it leads to

Kigali," said Carina Tertsakian, Rwanda researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Diplomatically, it could be tricky," she said. Last week, Jean Leonard Ruganbage, an investigative journalist was killed in a hail of bullets outside his house.

Ruganbage's editor linked his death to a story blaming Rwandan intelligence for Nyamwasa's death, a charge denied by Kigali.

Kagame has enjoyed a free hand in Rwanda, building up the army to assert his authority at home and abroad, as well as using anti-genocide legislation to clamp down on opponents. Citing the world's failure to stop the 1994 slaughter, he has often batted away foreign criticism. Rwanda was named the world's top reformer in the Doing Business Report 2010. But the mounting incidents are testing patience. "Even Rwanda's traditional allies like the US and Britain are concerned, and more willing to say so publicly than at any point since the 1994 genocide," said Philippe de Pontet, Africa analyst at Eurasia Group. "There's a sense that it may be time to reconsider the diplomatic blank check if the crackdown on dissent continues to intensify in coming weeks," he added.

Earlier this year, the US government, a steadfast Kigali ally, took the unprecedented step of registering its concerns about moves to stifle freedoms of the press and the opposition. A further thorn in the relations between the two nations has been Kigali's arrest of Peter Erlinder, a US lawyer who went to Rwanda to defend Victoire Ingabire, the arrested opposition leader, and was swiftly accused of denying the genocide.

Eurasia's de Pontet said investors would probably be less worried, given Rwanda's overall business climate, high growth and an assumption Kagame would be around for seven more years.

But, given Rwanda's history and the restrictions on dissent from either friends or foes, others are more nervous.

Nyamwasa was highly popular during his time in charge of the army and was closely connected to Congolese rebels that UN experts say Kigali once backed but has now alienated. One reason given for the row is Kagame's fearing Nyamwasa was a threat.

His shooting also follows the arrest of two senior officers and a military reshuffle since the beginning of the year, leading to speculation of a rift between Kagame and top aides in the RPF political party and the army.

While crackdowns on opponents or splits within the RPF are not new, one Rwanda expert, who asked not to be named, said the current rumblings were unprecedented within the inner circle, where Kagame has seen discontent but never a serious rival. "It is certainly possible that it could get nasty," he said. — Reuters

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Serra gambles on youth in Brazil's election race

By Ana Nicolaci da Costa

T

he opposition candidate in Brazil's presidential election race may have just had his "Sarah Palin" moment. Jose Serra's surprise, last-minute pick of a nationally unknown 39-year-old congressman from Rio de Janeiro as his vice-presidential running mate has similarities and similar risks - to John McCain's choice of then-Alaska Governor Palin in the 2008 US presidential election.

As was the case with McCain, Serra is an ageing second-time presidential candidate struggling to gain traction in opinion polls and has reached for a younger face to energize his campaign.

Three months ahead of the Oct 3 election in Latin America's largest economy, governing coalition candidate Dilma Rousseff has closed Serra's earlier double-digit lead in the polls, apparently reaping the benefits of a booming economy and the huge popularity of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Serra has 39 percent support versus

38 percent for Rousseff, according to the latest Datafolha poll released on Friday, though the margin of error means that the candidates are basically even. Serra's hope is that his choice of Indio da Costa will inject youthful vitality into his struggling campaign and appeal to younger Brazilian voters. The danger - as ultimately happened with McCain - is that it could dent his primary appeal among mainstream voters: that he is an experienced technocrat who will surround himself with a capable team and build on Brazil's economic progress.

"You would think that (Serra's party) would be better organized and better articulated to produce a vice-presidential candidate who would help Serra come back up in the polls," said David Fleischer, a Brasilia-based political analyst. "What you can deduce is that Serra is probably going to lose the election," Fleischer added. "I don't think (Da Costa) is going to add or subtract anything at all."

One poll last month showed

Rousseff surging into a 5-point lead over Serra, although other recent surveys have shown them practically tied.

Many analysts expect Rousseff, who is still relatively unknown nationally, to gain further as campaigning gets under way and her national profile grows. Her running mate is Michel Temer, a veteran federal deputy.

Serra, a 68-year-old former health minister and ex-governor of Sao Paulo state, tapped Da Costa to be his running mate on Wednesday, scrapping his previous proposal to run with a senator from his own PSDB party. Leaders of the allied DEM party, of which Da Costa is a member, had threatened to quit the coalition if Serra had not included them on the ticket.

The move marked the end of prolonged indecision over the vice-presidential slot, which has raised doubts over Serra's campaign preparations and his leadership skills. Serra lost to Lula, who cannot stand for president again this year due to constitutional term limits, in a second-round run-off in 2002.

Neither Serra nor Rousseff are likely to depart much from Lula's recipe of market-friendly policies combined with a strong economic role for the state.

Like McCain, Serra has emphasized his wide experience compared to his opponent's relative lack of a track record in top level posts. As health minister in President Fernando Henrique Cardoso's administration, Serra gained a national profile for standing up to multinational drug companies. "Our Indio is a politician of the new generation, a youngster who already had important experience in public life," Serra said after announcing his running mate.

Da Costa was a councilman in Rio and is best known for sponsoring a law in Congress last year that bans anyone with a criminal record from running for public office. "He is extremely competent. He is a young person from Rio de Janeiro and will give the campaign a new color," Marisa Serrano, a senator and vice-president of the PSDB party told Reuters.

Brazilian media was quick to point out a past corruption allegation against the congressman. He was investigated for alleged irregularities in the hiring of companies providing school snacks when he was the Secretary of Administration for Rio between 2001 and 2006, but the investigation was later closed.

Da Costa's DEM party has already been tarnished by a corruption scandal that led to the arrest of the governor of the Brasilia federal district earlier this year. The PSDB has criticized the governing Workers' Party for corruption scandals over the nearly 8 years that Lula has been in power."Serra and his campaign are paddling upstream and there is very little they can do to change that scenario," said Christopher Garman, chief Latin American analyst at the Eurasia Group consultancy in Washington, adding that he sees a 70 percent chance of Rousseff winning the election. "The only hope he has is for her to make significant blunders during the presidential campaign." — Reuters

Tensions in Italy coalition shaking govt

By Philip Pullella

T

ensions in Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's coalition, his falling popularity and clashes with Italy's president and parliamentary head are dangerous signs the government may be headed to a crisis, analysts said on Friday. Most worrying for the fate of the government, they say, is the latest dissent by Gianfranco Fini, the powerful speaker of the lower house of parliament and a co-founder with Berlusconi of the People of Freedom coalition.

Fini, who has often criticised what he says is a lack of freedom of speech in the coalition, is firmly opposed to Berlusconi's attempts to rush through a law that would limit the use of wiretaps by police and punish media that publish them. Fini, whose faction in the coalition controls about 50 parliamentarians, thinks the law should take a back seat until a a 25-billion-euro ($30.6 billion) austerity package is passed.

Tensions have probably never been higher in the centre-right bloc, although few analysts expect the government to collapse before parliament's summer break in August. Italian politics is "a situation that is not really tranquil", Berlusconi, 73, told state television in an interview on Friday. In an editorial in the leading Corriere della Sera newspaper, Francesco Verderami wrote: "Berlusconi understands that he is in a corner, because the risk of a government crisis over the wiretap law is right around the corner."

All major newspapers, including those that are usually cheerleaders for Berlusconi's centre right, were pessimistic on Friday, saying the political temperature has risen sharply. Libero, a newspaper close to Berlusconi, said on Friday that he was "furious" over

Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi cleans his face while listening to a question during a press conference after a ceremony with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Sao Paulo’s State Industry Federation (FIESP) headquarters in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 29, 2010. – AFP Fini's latest outbursts. It said they showed that the People of Freedom coalition, formed two years ago by a fusion of Berlusconi's Forza Italia party and Fini's conservative National Alliance, "doesn't exist anymore".

Political commentator Massimo

Franco said: "This institutional shortcircuit is taking on dangerous contours," adding that the centre right was "dumping its own internal differences on the entire country".

Fini said on Thursday that resistance to the bill by anti-Mafia prosecu-

tors meant that the ruling majority should consider reworking it.

Berlusconi says the new rules are needed to protect privacy. The opposition and magistrates says his real aim is to stop more leaks of judicial wiretaps that have got him and some of his min-

isters into trouble.

Fini also blasted Berlusconi over his shock appointment late last month of Aldo Brancher, an ex-executive in Berlusconi's Fininvest media empire, as "minister for federalism", a new post no one expected. One of Brancher's first acts was to take advantage of a law giving ministers the right not to attend trials where they are defendants. The move raised suspicions that that was behind the appointment in the first place.

"I don't want there to be even the whiff of suspicion in the party I belong to that someone was made a minister just to help him avoid trial," Fini said.

President Giorgio Napolitano, who Berlusconi has criticised before because of his communist past, jumped into the fray. In an unusually blunt comment, Napolitano said the prime minister's office was not listening to his warning that the wiretap law was a minefield. He indicated that he may not sign it if it reaches his desk in its current form. An editorial in La Repubblica said the president's words were "a serious warning to the government" that the outcome of a clash among branches of government was "unpredictable".

Journalists demonstrated against the law on Thursday. They plan a national strike for July 9. The crunch comes as Berlusconi's attempt to pass an austerity budget has met resistance not only from unions and ordinary citizens but also from members of his centre-right coalition as well as from mayors and regional governors. The measures, which unions and the opposition say bleed workers and spare the rich, include a salary freeze for state employees, higher motorway tolls and steep cuts in funding for regional governments. — Reuters

ANALYSIS

Monday, July 5, 2010

13

Al-Qaeda ties obstacle to Afghan peace

By Kathy Gannon

A

fghan President Hamid Karzai is using old friends and new allies to try to bring some of the fiercest Taleban to the negotiating table, although their links to Al-Qaeda might scuttle any deal. Pakistan is trying to broker a deal between the Afghan government and the Haqqani group, one of the most violent Taleban factions led by veteran rebel leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, according to Afghan parliamentarians and Pakistani analysts. Haqqani was a legendary commander in the war against the Soviets who had close ties to the Reagan administration. Now, he and his son Sirajuddin command hundreds - perhaps thousands - of fighters blamed for some of the most audacious attacks in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan. Their network is based in the North Waziristan tribal area along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. "The president is trying to use old friendships with Jalaluddin Haqqani and his sons to make them participate in the reconciliation process," said Khaled Pashtun, an Afghan lawmaker from the Taleban heartland of southern Kandahar.

"Pakistan is also pressurizing the government to bring this person (Haqqani) in the government."

Yet Haqqani's ties to Al-Qaeda run deep. His friendship with Osama bin Laden dates back to the war against the

Soviets in the 1980s. Haqqani allowed bin Laden to set up a base on his territory in Khost province of eastern Afghanistan. The United States fired cruise missiles at the base in 1998 in a bid to kill bin Laden. Haqqani also ensured safe passage for foreign fighters, including senior AlQaeda figures, when they fled into Pakistan after the collapse of Taleban rule in the 2001 US invasion, according to Taleban officials in Kabul at the time.

Since President Barack Obama announced the start of a US withdrawal in July 2011, Karzai has sought to improve relations with Pakistan and reach out to the insurgents.

Last month he told a national peace conference in Kabul he would talk with any militant leader. As a sign of good faith, he pledged to seek the release of detainees and lobby the United Nations to remove some of the insurgent leaders from a blacklist that froze their bank accounts and prevents them

from traveling abroad. He also signed a reintegration decree this week offering amnesty and economic incentives to Taleban fighters who want to leave the battlefield, if they accept the Afghan constitution and break ties with AlQaeda and other terrorist groups.

Obama has said the July 2011 date does not herald a rapid American withdrawal from Afghanistan and Washington is committed to a long-term relationship with the Afghans.

Nonetheless, Obama's deadline has prompted Pakistan to review its own strategy in neighboring Afghanistan.

The Pakistani military and the country's spy service - the Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI - believes the Haqqani group is an important force to protect Pakistani interests in Afghanistan.

Retired Pakistani Gen. Talat Masood said Pakistan's military believes that bringing insurgents including the Haqqani group - into the Afghan government is the only way of stabilizing the country once America and its allies leave.

But the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, describes Haqqani as "irreconcilable," saying negotiations with his network would strengthen Al-Qaeda,

undermine regional stability and threaten US security.

In a study released this week, the Institute cited a statement released in April by Sirajuddin Haqqani, describing cooperation with Al-Qaeda as "at its highest level." "Any negotiated settlement with the Haqqanis threatens to undermine the raison d'etre for US involvement in Afghanistan over the past decade," the study said. The Haqqani group trains, lives and works with a list of deadly international terrorist groups, including Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Islamic Jihad Union, whose ranks include Kurdish, Uzbek, Azerbaijani, Turkish and German fighters, it said.

The Haqqani group's headquarters is believed to be in the mountains of Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal area.

The US has repeatedly urged Pakistan to launch ground operations there.

Pakistan has so far refused, saying its forces are spread too thin. With 120,000 soldiers deployed to the tribal region, the Pakistan military is fighting a series of deadly wars along the length of the border area with Afghanistan.

Brian Cloughley, South Asia defense analyst for Jane's Sentinel, Country Risk, said it's clear that Pakistan has leverage with Haqqani and other extremist groups. But he added Haqqani's tight links to Al-Qaeda "may be just a shade too deep for the Americans to accept." — AP

Venezuela faces mounting nationalizations bill

By Marianna Parraga

P

rogress in arbitration cases and new filings are putting more pressure on Venezuela's cashstrapped state oil company PDVSA, which faces having to compensate various firms for assets that were nationalized. President Hugo Chavez's socialist government has taken over many enterprises in the Latin American OPEC member, from small businesses to heavy crude projects worth billions of dollars.

That has left a trail of lawsuits and arbitration cases, principally being handled by the World Bank's International Center for Settlement on Investment Disputes (ICSID). There are 11 cases against Venezuela at the ICSID involving compensation claims totaling more than $43.5 billion, of which over $40 billion is from the oil sector and the rest from mining and cement companies.

The most high profile actions, brought by US majors Exxon Mobil Corp and ConocoPhillips, have seen recent progress: a partial ruling on jurisdiction in the first and an extensive hearing in The Hague in the second.

Exxon Mobil is seeking $10 billion in compensation, while ConocoPhillips wants $30 billion for the nationalization in 2007 of projects in the vast Orinoco oil belt. They brought their cases that same year, and experts expect decisions soon. "Case law shows these cases often last two or three years, so the arbitrations brought by Exxon and Conoco ... should reach a resolution this year," said Juan Carlos Vargas, an international law professor at Venezuela's Central University. When Venezuela has taken over businesses, it has publicly said it recognizes it will have to reimburse the owners - but almost none of the more than 220 companies that have been nationalized in recent years have been compensated.

Ignoring an ICSID ruling could have serious consequences. "Venezuela has to comply with the arbitration award ... failure to do so would violate international law, putting at risk its external assets and foreign investment," Vargas said. The impact of pending rulings on PDVSA is hard to judge because of a lack of transparency to the company's finances. While global oil prices have recovered to above $70 from lows near $30 a barrel at the end of 2008, PDVSA has increased its liabilities. Last month, it borrowed $1.5 billion from a syndicate of banks from China and Portugal.

Its US refining subsidiary Citgo refinanced $2.1 billion of debt with $300 million in bonds, plus loans and credit after a $1.5 billion bond issue flopped.

PDVSA, one of the world's biggest oil companies, has not yet published audited results for 2009. On Wednesday, Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said profits had more than halved to $4.6 billion last year, compared with 2008. Analysts estimate that the company's total debt could be around $24 billion, with outstanding payments of more than $5 billion owed to suppliers. "A decision against PDVSA would not be good news for the country, but it all depends on the level of compensation the court decides," Luisa Palacios, and analyst at Medley Global Advisors in New York, told Reuters.

The latest case against Venezuela at the Washington-based ICSID was brought on June 16 by OPIC, a subsidiary of Taiwan's state oil company CPC, which had a minority stake in the nationalized Gulf of Paria projects in eastern Venezuela. New York-based lawyer George Kahale, who has advised Venezuela and PDVSA in past disputes over nationalizations with international oil companies, will be representing the Caracas authorities again in the OPIC affair. "We do believe that

the Republic's legal position in all these cases is well-founded both on the facts and as a matter of law," Kahale told Reuters in an email.

The Taiwanese arbitration is the third involving Venezuela to be filed

this year. US-based oil service provider Tidewater Inc and a company owned by Exterran Holdings Inc also claimed compensation for expropriations. And there could be more litigation on the horizon after the government national-

ized 11 oil rigs last week that were owned by US firm Helmerich and Payne. Ramirez told reporters last month it was a "fantasy" for ConocoPhillips to be seeking $30 billion. — Reuters

To paywall or not to paywall?

By Michelle Fitzpatrick

N

ewspapers worldwide are being forced to reinvent themselves for the Internet age - and will be watching closely the success of two experiments launched in London, analyst say. Suffering a long-term fall in sales and a collapse in advertising revenue as the world goes online for its news, the press has for years been scrambling to decide how to respond.

In Britain, Rupert Murdoch's Times and Sunday Times finally went ahead from Friday with their long-promised plan to start charging readers for online access to their journalism, the first non-specialist papers to do so here. The move comes after the less expected news last week that London's city-wide daily, the Evening Standard, hopes to break even after turning itself into a freesheet for commuters, ditching its 50 pence cover price.

That decision cut the paper's distribution costs from 30 to four pence per copy, and sent readership soaring from just over half a million to 1.3 million, its new Russian owners said last week. "The industry is still at a very early stage of this rapid evolution forced on it by digital technology," Karin von Abrams, a senior analyst at eMarketer, told AFP. "The game clearly has changed for most old business models, but we don't yet know what the successful new ones are going to be."

For newspapers, one model to study is that of the freesheets. The Metro, a free morning paper available at train stations and on public transport in 16 British cities, is read by more than 3.5 million people every weekday, according to the National Readership Survey (NRS). Owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust, it relies entirely on advertising revenue.

Over the past seven years it has consistently performed well, even making an operating profit through the worst of the economic crisis, to the envy of the traditional dailies.

More recently, the Evening Standard was a well-established but loss-making London evening paper until its new owner, Russian tycoon Alexander Lebedev, bought the paper in 2009 and turned it into a freesheet. Access to commuters seems to

be a key to the success of the free model.The Metro, the Standard and the City AM, another successful but smaller London freesheet aimed at business people, are all handed out near tube and train stations.

This saves on costs. And with the demise of two free evening rivals last year, the morning and evening papers have something of a captive market. This, of course, appeals to advertisers. "Giving away print works if the free circulation is relatively high and there is a good advertising base for the printed version. It is easier to gain advertising in print than online and the prices are higher," Professor Robert G Picard, a media economics expert from Sweden's Jonkoping International Business School, told AFP. "The Evening Standard model has shown that the freesheet model is well worth exploring," adds George Brock, professor and head of journalism at City University London. "But it's not right to assume all newspapers can perform the same trick," he told AFP. He points out that freesheets don't have high editorial costs: they don't invest in lifestyle features, foreign correspondents or business experts. "That wouldn't keep a general newspaper competing," he told AFP. So if free print is not the answer, should newspaper websites follow Murdoch's lead and retreat behind a paywall?

"News Corp has no more idea than the rest of us if this is going to work," says Brock, who believes it will take months to gauge the reactions of readers and journalists to the paywalls.

Eventually though, analysts agree most newspapers will have to find a way of making money from their websites. Business paper The Financial Times makes readers pay for online content, while the Wall Street Journal - also part of Murdoch's media empire - is currently the only major US paper charging readers for full access online. The New York Times announced in January that it would start charging for online content in early 2011. "It does seem that many serious news sites will follow Murdoch's lead and charge for their content, or at least establish some kind of content menu, allowing readers to choose from a range of one-time charges, subscription periods and so on," predicts Abrams. — AFP

Fear in Urumqi city as riot anniversary looms

By Marianne Barriaux

P

olice told Abdullah not to leave home on today's anniversary of deadly ethnic violence in China's Urumqi city, where the bustle belies continued deep racial divisions and fears of more unrest. "They told us we can't go out on July 5 and they also came around on Thursday to gather all our big knives," the 46-year-old said, drinking tea at his restaurant in the Uighur quarter.

Capital of far-western Xinjiang region, Urumqi was torn in two on July 5, 2009 as the mainly Muslim Uighur minority vented decades of resentment of Chinese rule with attacks on members of China's dominant Han ethnic group.

Han mobs took to the streets in the following days seeking revenge. Nearly 200 people were killed and 1,700 injured in all, the government says, in the worst ethnic violence in China in decades. China blamed "separatists" for orchestrating the unrest. Tensions in the city again boiled over in September after a spate of syringe attacks which many victims blamed on Uighurs - led to days of protests that left five people dead.

Uighurs, Xinjiang's Turkicspeaking, central Asian people, say they live under fear of being detained on suspicion of foment-

Muslim ethnic Uighurs walk on a street in Urumqi, capital of China's Xinjiang region, on Saturday, ahead of the first anniversary of bloody violence that erupted between the region's Muslim ethnic Uighurs and members of China's majority Han ethnicity. — AFP ing trouble, while some Han say they are prepared for the worst if trouble breaks out again.

Authorities appeared to be bracing for the anniversary, with police conducting massive antiriot exercises and 40,000 security cameras installed throughout the city. Residents say security forces - already beefed up

after last year's unrest - have deployed in ever greater numbers in recent days and armed police were seen patrolling the city of over two million people at the weekend. Pointing to gates authorities erected on the road where he lives to keep out outsiders, Abdullah said he feared Han mobs could go on the attack

again. "Those are going to be locked on the anniversary," he said.

Uighurs have long alleged decades of Chinese oppression and unwanted Han immigration, and while standards of living have improved, Uighurs complain most of the gains go to Hans. "The veil came off (in the

unrest). People began to realise how deeply the ethnic animosity runs between Han and Uighurs," said Dru Gladney, an expert on Uighurs at Pomona College in California.

Restaurants and shops in the city were open and busy at the weekend.

Mosques were packed for Friday prayers in the Uighur quarter, with some faithful spilling onto the pavement.

At one mosque, Muslim men prayed in the shadow of a large sign urging people to oppose separatism and "Uphold the unity of the motherland", as armed riot police watched.

Text-messaging services, overseas calls and the Internet - cut off amid the violence because of fears they could be used to fuel it - have gradually been restored, although some Uighur-language websites remain blocked.

Many Han said the situation was back to normal, adding the police presence would prevent more unrest today, but the wounds and fear are just below the surface. One Han Chinese man surnamed Wang who owns a drinks stall near the city centre said he would be on his guard today. "We're mentally prepared now - if something happens, I know where to get to a safe place quickly," he said.

Many Uighurs refused to be interviewed by AFP, fearing

police reprisals. Others bitterly alleged continued oppression and some complained large numbers of Uighurs were taken away by police after the unrest, their fates unknown. A Uighur businessman who refused to be named said his 20-year-old brother was sentenced to nine years in prison for throwing a stone at a car in last year's trouble. "That's unimaginably strict, and as you can imagine, it's really difficult on my family," he said.

Xinjiang enjoyed long spells of autonomy in its history, but China's 1949 Communist takeover led Beijing to emphatically assert its sovereignty claims. While China has not admitted policy failures, heads have rolled over the unrest, most notably Wang Lequan, Xinjiang's most powerful official, who was removed in April and replaced with Zhang Chunxian, a man seen as less hardline.

Abdullah was cautious that would make much difference.

"They (top officials) always seem better at the beginning, but then gradually, after half a year to a year, things get worse again," he said. He wants to get a passport for his son - which he said was difficult for Uighurs so he can leave Xinjiang for a foreign country where "salaries are higher and the human rights situation is good". — AFP

focus

Tools for battling US recession diminished

By Tom Raum

J

ust when they might be needed the most, the rescue ropes that hauled the nation out of the Great Recession have become badly frayed.

A much-feared "double dip" economic downturn would find interest rates already slashed to near zero by the Federal Reserve and lawmakers leery of voting for billions of stimulus dollars as they face re-election. Friday's government jobs report added to the gloom and the sense that the recovery is losing steam. The Labor Department said private employers added about 83,000 jobs last month, considerably fewer than the 112,000 analysts had forecast.

That signals that could be years - not months before the employment rate returns to pre-recession levels. "We're adding jobs but at an excruciatingly slow pace," said labor market economist Heidi Shierholz of the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank.

"Double dip or no, this is going to be an enormously long slog." The traditional mechanisms for blunting economic pain and nurturing a recovery are no longer available or are just not working: • Unemployment benefits for hundreds of thousands of Americans are running out or have already expired.

Successive congressional attempts to extend them anew have failed amid partisan wrangling on Capitol Hill.

• Lower taxes, often used as a quick remedy for economic distress, have already been tried.

Now taxes are probably going up. The special homebuyer tax credit expired on April 30, and a wide range of income and investment tax breaks pushed through Congress by former President George W Bush - are due to expire in 2011 without congressional action to extend them.

• Mortgage rates have sunk to their lowest level in more than five decades.

That should be good news for the battered housing industry and put cash into the hands of homeowners as they refinance. But a wave of refinancing hasn't materialized. Some homeowners who qualify refinanced last year, but the many Americans who owe more than their homes are worth can't easily do so.

• The Federal Reserve, in holding a key short-term interest rate that it controls at near zero percent since December 2008, has lost its ability to spur growth with further rate cuts.

Although there are other steps the Fed can take, such as direct loans, further increasing the money supply or buying mortgage-related securities, many such programs already have ended or are being wound down.

• Federal aid to cashstrapped states, including Medicaid grants and money to avoid layoffs, is drying up, and efforts by President Barack Obama and his congressional allies to extend and enhance them have so far been thwarted by bitterly partisan battles in Congress. Obama's plea to stimulate economic growth now and cut deficits later got a mixed response from world leaders at the G-20 summit in Toronto last weekend.

And, with polls showing rising concern among US voters over government red-ink spending, Congress hasn't been a

whole lot more receptive.

Republicans are showing near-solid opposition to any new stimulus spending.

Although Friday's jobs report was widely seen as disappointing, Obama said it showed the nation headed in the right direction in terms of job creation - but "not headed there fast enough."

The Labor Department report showed the overall jobless rate fell to 9.5 percent in June from 9.7 percent in May. But that was largely because many people gave up looking for work. Employers cut a net 125,000 jobs last month, a loss driven by the end of 225,000 temporary government census jobs.

Economist Mark Zandi, founder of Moody's Economy.com, said those unemployment numbers "make me nervous. They show that the labor market is losing momentum.

And right now, we're in such a precarious situation."

Zandi said he thinks the economy will continue to grow, and not slip back into recession, "but it's going to be close," especially if Congress doesn't come up with more help for states or extend unemployment insurance. In his February budget, Obama proposed $266 billion in new stimulus spending over the next few years. But it has been whittled to just $34 billion in a thus-far-futile attempt to win over a few Senate Republicans.

Republican filibusters have derailed the measure in the Senate three successive times, and now Congress is gone for its weeklong Independence Day recess. Christina Romer, who heads the White House Council of Economic Advisers, predicts lawmakers home for the break will get an earful from unemployed workers on how "devastating it is" to be kicked off unemployment rolls.

"I think ultimately we will prevail," she said Friday.

Most of last year's $862 billion stimulus package the price tag grew from the original $787 billion has either been spent or is committed.

While the administration and many economists credit that stimulus for helping to bring the economy back from the brink of another Great Depression, Republicans contend there is little to show for it in terms of new jobs - and are using that line as midterm election ammunition against majority-party Democrats seeking re-election.

The recession began in December 2007, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the group of academic economists that dates the beginning and end of recessions. The group has not yet announced an end, although many economists say the recession probably ended last summer. But the recovery may be beginning to weaken under the weight of continued high joblessness, flagging consumer confidence and fears that Europe's financial crisis will spread to the United States - or at least harm US exporters.

"The economic recovery is clearly faltering," says Peter Morici, an economist at the University of Maryland.

And what if it falls into double-dip territory? "We stay there," he said. "If we have a negative quarter or two, we may not recover.

The economy just doesn't have enough momentum this time." — AP

NEWS

14

Monday, July 5, 2010

ALEXANDRIA: Egyptian farmers feed their two-headed calf that still can’t stand on its own legs because it is top heavy at a village near Alexandria Saturday. The calf owner Sobhy El-Ganzoury said Saturday the veterinarian informed him that the calf, delivered three days earlier, is now in stable condition and is expected to survive, adding he intends to keep the rare calf as a reminder that “God is able to do anything”, referring to the calf as “divine miracle”. — AP

Top Lebanon cleric Fadlallah dies at 75 Continued from Page 1 civil war, he was linked to Iranianbacked Shiite militants who kidnapped Americans and other Westerners, and bombed the US Embassy and Marine base in Lebanon, killing more than 260 Americans.

Although he adamantly denied involvement in those events, he contended such acts were justifiable when the door is closed to dialogue. “When one fires a bullet at you, you cannot offer him roses,” he had said. Fadlallah later lost much of his 1980s militancy - his sermons, once fiery diatribes denouncing American imperialism, took on a pragmatic tone. Because of the his ties to the militants, then-President Bill Clinton in Jan. 1995 froze Fadlallah’s assets in America, along with those of 17 other people as part of an anti-terror campaign.

The stocky, gray-bearded cleric with piercing brown eyes below his black turban, rejected being described in Western media as Hezbollah’s mentor. He claimed his relationship with the group was the same as with any other Shiite faction but that it simply was more obvious because of his physical presence in Lebanon. “I reject it not because I reject Hezbollah, but because I refuse to be given a title that I don’t possess,” he said.

Hezbollah’s Al-Manar television interrupted its regular broadcasts to announce his death, posting a picture of the black-turbaned Fadlallah and airing Quranic verses. The group urged supporters to turn out in huge numbers for the funeral ceremony tomorrow and called for three days of mourning, as the militant party’s leader hailed Fadlallah as a “father and guide”. “He was a merciful father and a wise guide... who taught us to support dialogue, reject injustice and resist (Israeli) occupation,” Hezbollah supremo Hassan Nasrallah said in a statement.

Fadlallah escaped several assassination attempts, including a March 1985 car bomb near his home in the Bir ElAbed district of south Beirut that killed 80 people. The bomb, planted between his apartment block and a nearby mosque Fadlallah was attending that day, was timed to go off as he passed by. But Fadlallah stopped to listen to an old woman’s complaints and escaped the 200 kg explosives’ blast.

In Lebanon, the CIA was widely believed to have been behind the bombing, and American author Bob Woodward wrote in his book, “Veil: The Secret War of the CIA,” that the late CIA director William Casey ordered Lebanese agents to plant the car bomb in retaliation for attacks on US interests in the Middle East. Fadlallah long advocated boycotting American and Israeli products. Yet, despite being a harsh critic of US policy, he condemned the Sept 11 attacks in the United States as acts of terror. During the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, Israeli warplanes bombed his two-story house in Beirut’s southern Haret Hreik neighborhood. Fadlallah was not at home at the time of the bombing, which reduced the house to rubble.

“Sayyed Fadlallah has died this morning,” senior Bahraini aide Ayatollah Abdullah Al-Ghurayfi told a news conference, flanked by the late cleric’s son, Sayyed Ali Fadlallah, who could not hold back his tears. “The father, the leader, the marjaa (religious authority), the guide, the human being is gone,” Ghurayfi said. he described the Shiite cleric as “the brains behind the launch of the resistance” against Israel - including Hezbollah’s campaign against the Jewish state’s occupation of Arab land. “I will only rest when the Zionist entity falls,” Fadlallah once said, according to Ghurayfi.

Outside the hospital and at the AlHassanayn mosque in Beirut’s suburb of Haret Hreik, where Fadlallah gave religion lessons and Friday sermons, black banners were hung up in a sign of mourning. Thousands of Fadlallah’s supporters, including women, wept openly.

Fadlallah’s Al-Bashaer radio station started broadcasting Quranic verses. For long, the cleric suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure.

He was in hospital for the past two weeks but his condition deteriorated on Friday when complications from a liver problem led to an internal hemorrhage. A doctor at the Bahman hospital where he was admitted said he was conscious on arrival. The doctor said when a nurse asked the ailing cleric what he needed, he replied: “For the Zionist entity to cease to exist”. Another of his doctors, Hashem Noureddine, told AP he died from stomach bleeding.

“This is a dark day,” said Mahmoud

Caning under fire in Indian schools Malak, 44, a civil servant. “I don’t think anyone will be able to fill the vacuum he will leave behind.” A grandfatherly figure, Fadlallah was also known for his bold fatwas, or religious edicts - including one that gave women the right to hit back their husbands if they attacked them. He issued an edict banning smoking and another saying the Baghdad government has no right to “legitimize” the presence of foreign troops but should call for an imminent and unconditional withdrawal of US forces from Iraq. He supported the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 but distanced himself from the key principle advocated by its leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which placed the Iranian cleric as a supreme, undisputed spiritual leader for the world’s Shiites.

Among his followers are many of Iraq’s Shiite leaders, including Al-Maliki.

In Iraq, a prominent leader in Al-Maliki’s Dawa Party, Ali Al-Adeeb, said Fadlallah’s death was a major loss to the Islamic world and that it “will be hard to replace him”. Lebanon’s Sunni Prime Minister Saad Hariri called him “a voice of moderation and an advocate of unity” among Lebanese and Muslims in general. Iran’s main television news channel gave rolling coverage to Fadlallah’s death, and clerics in the holy Shiite city of Qom mourned “the demise of learned warrior and pious jurist”. Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr declared three days of mourning among his followers, and a delegation from the Shiite Al-Wefaq bloc in Bahrain’s parliament will attend Fadlallah’s funeral. Arab League chief Amr Mussa sent a message of condolences praising the “patriotism” of Fadlallah who he said contributed to efforts to make multi-confessional Lebanon “a model of coexistence.”

In his youth, Fadlallah studied theology in Iraq under prominent scholars. He also worked closely with Mohammed Baqir Al-Sadr, a co-founder of the Dawa Party that Saddam Hussein later crushed.

In Lebanon, he founded the “Family of Brotherhood” charity and his Al-Mabarrat network of charities, orphanages, schools, and religious institutions in Beirut, south Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley, where many Shiites live.

Fadlallah’s is survived by his wife Najat Noureddin and 11 children. His eldest son followed in his footsteps as a Muslim scholar. — Agencies

Settlers fret about impact of boycott Continued from Page 1 Israeli settlements, the ban would have serious repercussions both for the Palestinian economy, where unemployment is high, and for settler businesses, many of which would be forced to shut down. The presence of nearly a half million Israelis in more than 120 settlements scattered across the West Bank, including annexed east Jerusalem, has long been one of the thorniest issues in the Middle East peace process.

The international community considers all West Bank settlements illegal because they are built on Palestinian territory which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War. But while 72 percent of Palestinians support the boycott on products, according to a recent opinion poll, 60 percent oppose the ban on settlement work. Business leaders in the settlements insist they contribute to the Palestinian economy, by offering pay well above West Bank levels - though lower than Israeli wages.

And Elkayam is convinced he has a deep bond with his employees, saying they are “like brothers”. “For 20 years we have managed to create peaceful coexistence. This decision to boycott will

end it,” he says, his angry tone raising eyebrows among patrons in Avi’s Restaurant, one of his businesses in the industrial park on the dusty edge of the Judaean desert. Even so, he is not worried about the immediate financial impact of the boycott. “Officially no one here is selling to the Palestinian territories,” he says, adding that about five percent of the $300,000 a month his sweets factory rakes in comes from Palestinians. “We use our Jewish ingenuity, for example by labelling the goods as coming from Tel Aviv.”

The practice of fake labels of origin is widespread, according to a senior executive at a Mishor Adumim factory, who asked not to be identified. In some cases it is also used for exports to countries like Saudi Arabia, which not only object to settlements but profess little love for Israel itself, she says.

She too is unfazed by the boycott of products, but admits she is seriously worried about the possibility the PA could enact a law banning Palestinians from working in settlements as of Jan 1. “That could force us to close down,” she says.

Other plants would find themselves in the same situation and thousands of Palestinians would find themselves job-

less.

At the Gush Etzion junction, in the heart of Israel’s emblematic settlement bloc whose name it bears, Musa Johar shrugs off the anti-settlement campaign.

“If I don’t work, who’ll feed my children?” the 55-year-old Palestinian construction worker asks, adding that it is by necessity and not choice that he helps build homes for settlers. Sitting at a gas station cafe, he points to the supermarket behind him, the latest Rami Levy - a chain named after its millionaire Israeli owner - to open in a West Bank settlement. “Even Palestinian police shop here,” he says.

Many of the employees are Palestinian. Among the shoppers, many wear traditional Arab robes and headscar ves. An Israeli cashier looks stunned when asked about the anti-settlement campaign. “There’s a boycott?” she asks. And store manager Ovadia Levy says he can’t understand what the whole fuss is about. “Shoppers come from Hebron, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, they come here happily and with no fear,” he says. “It’s clean, it’s beautiful, prices are good, there’s a large selection - they have nothing like this where they come from.” — AFP

Continued from Page 1 the reality, we get umpteen cases of corporal punishment (reported to us). Laws are there but that does not mean it is not happening,” he said. A government study conducted by the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare Development in 2008 mirrored the UN findings: two out of three children across 13 states had been victims of corporal punishment.

The reasons are multiple: cultural attitudes to violence, which are changing slowly in cities but remain entrenched in rural areas; lack of training for teachers; and large class sizes that make pupils hard to control. Within the teaching profession, attitudes vary. Most schoolteachers publicly disavow violence in the classroom. “Most private schools in Delhi have greatly reduced corporal punishment,

caning, being hit by the ruler etcetera,” argued Jyoti Bose, principal of Springdales high school. “It is all very old generation. We have to learn to negotiate and engage with the child.” Herod Mullick, general secretary of Bongiyo Christiyo Porisheba, an umbrella organisation of 700 Christian missionary schools in Kolkata, says some teachers resort to violence out of desperation. “You do not allow caning and you do not have a proper procedure in place for counselling or other forms of disciplining, so both the children and teachers are lost in the matter,” he said.

Rouvanjit Rawla’s case has brought about a huge public outcry, largely because the case occurred in one of India’s oldest and most elite schools and to a middle class family. But as the UN and government of India research underlined, most cases of corporal punishment take place in public schools and go

largely unrecorded and unheard off. “India pampers its richer children and pedigree dogs, most of the kids in most schools are unprotected by society and state,” wrote Supreme Court lawyer Rajeev Dhavan in a column in the Mail Today newspaper.

The national bout of introspection also prompted Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan to recall his childhood experience of beatings at the hands of teachers. “There was not a single year when our principal did not practice his Cambridge Blue tennis forehand on our bent-over posteriors,” Bachchan wrote on his blog. “That was 1956 it is 2010 now,” Bachchan said. “Times have changed and so have circumstances.” For Rouvanjit’s father in Kolkata, times did not change fast enough.

“As a father I need answers to my son’s death and I will fight till the end to get justice for Rouvan,” he said. —AFP

Mideast eyeing investing in BP Continued from Page 1 rivals like Exxon Mobil or Royal Dutch Shell. Middle East investors have ridden to the rescue of Western companies in past times of financial need. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, believed to be the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund, agreed to invest $7.5 billion into Citigroup in late 2007, at a time when the bank needed cash to offset big losses from mortgages and other

investments. State-backed investors from Abu Dhabi and the nearby gas-rich nation of Qatar injected billions of pounds into British bank Barclays a year later. Those investments allowed it to avoid taking on the British government as a major shareholder.

Spokesmen for ADIA and Qatar Holding, the investment arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, declined to comment on questions about a BP investment. Officials at another active Abu

Dhabi fund, Aabar Investments, couldn’t be reached. Rachel Ziemba, an analyst at Roubini Global Economics who monitors Middle East investments, said Arab Gulf states might be interested in BP as a way to diversify geographically. “I could imagine there would be a lot of investors in the region interested in picking up a global oil major at what they see as an undervalued price,” she said. “It’s a sector they know, and can better distinguish whether the assets are good.” — AP

Syria jails ailing critic Continued from Page 1 banning any opposition. His sentencing came two weeks after Mohannad AlHassani, a 43-year-old lawyer, was also jailed for three years on the same charges. “Mohannad is young and can take three harsh years in jail. The chances that Maleh can live through them are slim,” another lawyer said.

In Washington, National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer said the arrests were “part of a worrying trend”. “We join the international com-

munity in condemning the recent decisions by the Syrian government to convict and sentence human rights lawyers,” he said in a statement. Damascus should release Maleh, Al-Hasani and other Syrian citizens “who have been imprisoned solely for seeking to exercise their right to peaceful free expression and freedom of association”, he added.

Maleh was awarded the Dutch Geuzen Medal in 2006, named after resistance fighters against the Nazis.

Numerous international organisations and Western governments have called for

his release.

Washington has also called on Syria to free Ali Al-Abdallah, a writer and political prisoner who was released on June 23 and sent back to prison a day later for an article criticising Syria’s ties with Iran.

Abdallah was among 12 people arrested during 2007 and jailed after they tried to revive the Damascus Declaration, a rights movement named after a document signed in 2005 by opposition figures which demanded that bans on freedom of speech and assembly be lifted and emergency law abolished. — Reuters

Treasure trove of movie posters hidden in Beirut Continued from Page 1 the capital to admire the posters and pictures on display,” he added. “This is where I developed my passion.” His private collection consists of 20,000 posters of 5,000 films and includes what is likely the largest collection of Lebanese film posters going back to the 1950s and featuring legends of the silver screen such as Lebanese singing divas Fayruz and Sabah as well as actors such as Samira Tufic, Shams El Barudi and Abdel Halim Hafez. The vibrantly coloured posters drawn by well-known artists of the time have become collector’s items and offer a walk down memory lane, reflecting the changing cultures and styles of the past century.

“The oldest poster I have is of a 1933 Egyptian movie called ‘Al Warda al Baydaa’ (The White Rose) and the oldest Lebanese poster is of a 1958 movie entitled ‘Al Shams La Tagheeb’ (The Sun Never Sets),” said Abu Jawdeh.

Many posters, which were printed using

the process of stone lithography, include movies with daring titles such as “L aheeb Al Jasad” (Body Heat), “Mariam Al Khatiaa” (Mariam the Sinner), “Nisaa Muharrama” (Forbidden Women) or “Imraa Likul Al Rijal” (A Woman for All Men) and por tray actresses in provocative poses and skimpy outfits that would never make it past censors in today’s increasingly conservative Arab world. “No one would dare print such posters today,” Abu Jawdeh said. “These images represent a lost art and the golden age of poster production when many of the artists who drew them were Ar menian or Greek and copied the genre of their Western counterparts.”

Frank Mermier, an anthropologist and former head of the French Near East Institute (IFPO) in Beirut who is familiar with Abu Jawdeh’s collection, said the collection bears witness to the history of the Arab, and more particularly the Lebanese film industry. “These posters are a mine of information and

are very important as far as the history of film in Lebanon and the Middle East,” Mermier, now based in Paris, told AFP. “And the artistic aspect is very interesting ... as there are various themes addressed including militant cinema and how women were por trayed at the time.”

Abu Jawdeh, who has travelled the Middle East to build up his collection since the 1970s, said his dream is to set up an institute where his posters would be well preserved and where aficionados like himself can admire them. And he may get his wish as the French embassy in Beirut is considering allocating funds toward that end, a French diplomat told AFP. In the meantime, Abu Jawdeh can continue enjoying spending at least two hours a day pampering his posters.

“When I need to relax, I look at them as they take me back to my childhood and to an age where I had no responsibilities,” he said wistfully. “They carry so much detail and many are more beautiful to look at than the film itself.” — AFP

Mubarak in Algeria on condolence trip Continued from Page 1 The incidents had diplomatic repercussions with both Egypt and Algeria calling home their ambassadors to each other’s country for “consultations” and at least one major Egyptian investment

project in Algeria was cancelled. At about the same time, Algerian authorities presented Egypt’s Orascom Telecom’s profitable local mobile telephone unit, Djezzy, with a claim for $596.6 million in unpaid taxes. The Egyptian firm later said it was in talks with South Africa’s MTN to sell

Djezzy and other assets. Those talks collapsed after Algeria said it was exercising an option to buy Djezzy for itself. An Algerian government minister said in May a $750 million deal with Ezz Steel had been frozen, in part because of the football row. — Agencies

SPORTS

Monday, July 5, 2010

15

MLB results/standings Major League Baseball results and standings on Saturday: Chicago Cubs 3, Cincinnati 1; NY Yankees 11, Toronto 3; Tampa Bay 8, Minnesota 6; Milwaukee 12, St. Louis 5; Atlanta 4, Florida 1; Washington 6, NY Mets 5; Philadelphia 12, Pittsburgh 4; Cleveland 5, Oakland 4 (10 innings); Detroit 6, Seattle 1; Boston 9, Baltimore 3; Texas 3, Chicago White Sox 1; San Francisco 11, Colorado 8; San Diego 1, Houston 0; Kansas City 4, LA Angels 2; LA Dodgers 14, Arizona 1.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT 49 31 .613 49 32 .605 47 33 .588 41 41 .500 24 56 .300

GB 0.5 2 9 25

Central Division Detroit 43 36 .544 Minnesota 44 37 .543 Chicago White Sox41 38 .519 Kansas City 36 45 .444 Cleveland 32 48 .400

2 8 11.5

NY Yankees Boston Tampa Bay Toronto Baltimore

Texas LA Angels Oakland Seattle

Western Division 48 32 .600 45 38 .542 40 42 .488 33 47 .413

4.5 9 15

Atlanta NY Mets Philadelphia Florida Washington

National League Eastern Division 48 33 .593 45 36 .556 42 37 .532 37 43 .463 36 46 .439

3 5 10.5 12.5

Cincinnati St. Louis Milwaukee Chicago Cubs Houston Pittsburgh

Central Division 46 36 .561 44 37 .543 37 44 .457 35 46 .432 32 50 .390 29 52 .358

1.5 8.5 10.5 14 16.5

San Diego LA Dodgers Colorado San Francisco Arizona

Western Division 48 33 .593 44 36 .550 43 38 .531 41 39 .513 32 49 .395

3.5 5 6.5 16

ATLANTA: Braves’ Martin Prado (right) steals second base as Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez (left) applies the late tag in the first inning a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves. — AP

Braves pound Marlins, Giants defeat Rockies ATLANTA: Atlanta starter Tommy Hanson did not give up an earned run as he recovered from back-to-back ugly losses to steer the Braves to a 4-1 win over the Florida Marlins in the National League on Saturday.

Hanson (8-5) allowed an unearned run with eight strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings. His return to form came after he yielded a combined 15 runs in two straight losses while failing to complete the fourth inning in both starts.

Hanson, who has never lost more than two consecutive decisions, struck out four straight batters in the sixth and seventh. He is 3-0 in four career starts against Florida, which has lost three straight.

Gregor Blanco hit a two-run single off Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez (7-5) among four runs in the fourth for Atlanta, which moved a season-best 15 games over .500.

Giants 11, Rockies 8 In Denver, San Francisco tagged Ubaldo Jimenez for seven runs in the third inning, lost a big lead and then rallied against Colorado’s beleaguered bullpen to snap a seven-game skid.

Struggling Rockies pitcher Manny

Corpas (2-5) was charged with two runs in the seventh after the Rockies had fought back from a 7-1 deficit.

Corpas allowed a leadoff triple and a tying RBI single before Pablo Sandoval hit a sacrifice fly to give the Giants a 9-8 lead.

Aubrey Huff added an insurance two-run homer in the ninth. San Francisco’s Denny Bautista (2-0) got two outs in the sixth for the win.

The Nationals won for the first time in 40 games when trailing after eight innings, delighting a sellout crowd of 39,214.

Washington starter Stephen Strasburg battled early wildness, issuing three walks while throwing 37 pitches in the first inning.

He allowed two runs in five innings.

Washington has not scored in the past 18 innings Strasburg has pitched. Matt Capps (2-3) escaped a jam in the ninth for the win.

Nationals 6, Mets 5 In Washington, Ivan Rodriguez capped a three-run comeback in the ninth inning with an RBI single as Washington rallied to edge New York.

Trying to protect a 5-3 lead, Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez (2-2) opened the ninth by walking Cristian Guzman. Willie Harris’ one-out single and a walk to Ryan Zimmerman loaded the bases.

Adam Dunn nearly hit a game-winning grand slam, but his drive to center hit the top of the wall and caromed back onto the field for a two-run double to tie the game at 5-5. Josh Willingham was intentionally walked and Ivan Rodriguez lined a pitch into right field, scoring Zimmerman.

Cubs 3, Reds 1 In Chicago, Randy Wells took a no-hitter into the seventh inning to end his long losing streak as Chicago downed Cincinnati.

Wells’ no-hit bid was broken up by Chris Heisey’s leadoff single in the seventh. Wells escaped a jam with the help of a baserunning blunder by Heisey.

Wells (4-6), who lost his previous six decisions, struck out five and walked one for his first win in 11 starts. Geovany Soto hit a two-run double for the Cubs, who won despite stranding 17 runners, equaling a franchise worst set in 2004.

The NL record is 18, set by Atlanta in 1986. Reds starter Johnny Cueto left after five scoreless innings and 101 pitches.

Chicago finally broke through for three runs against Jordan Smith (1-1) in the sixth.

Brewers 12, Cardinals 5 In St. Louis, Rickie Weeks hit a leadoff homer to begin a miserable outing for St. Louis starter Chris Carpenter, and Milwaukee capitalized on shaky Cardinals defense. Carpenter (9-2) failed to retire any of the four batters he faced in the fourth.

He was charged with eight runs — seven earned — in his shortest outing this season.

Jim Edmonds homered among his four hits and had three RBIs, and Corey Hart singled twice to extend his hitting streak to 18 games.

Even pitcher Manny Parra (3-5) had two hits and an RBI and Ryan Braun had three hits and two RBIs for Milwaukee, which had the bases loaded in the second, third, fourth and fifth. The Brewers scored in the first five innings. Albert Pujols homered for the fifth time in seven games, but the Cardinals were trailing 11-2.

Padres 1, Astros 0 In San Diego, Aaron Cunningham doubled leading off the eighth inning and scored

on reliever Gustavo Chacin’s throwing error to give San Diego its second straight shutout over Houston.

Kevin Correia had his best start in more than a month but didn’t get the decision because the Padres’ offense didn’t show up until he was out of the game. Houston had six hits and San Diego five.

Correia did contribute to San Diego’s major league-leading 12th shutout. He and Houston’s Bud Norris each threw seven scoreless innings.

Mike Adams (2-1) pitched a perfect eighth for the win and Heath Bell got his 23rd save in 26 chances. Chacin (1-1) took the loss.

Dodgers 14, D’backs 1 In Phoenix, a franchise-record six Arizona errors, three by shortstop Tony Abreu, cleared the way for a rout by Los Angeles in an exceedingly ugly second game for Kirk Gibson as Diamondbacks interim manager.

First baseman Rusty Ryal had two errors and third baseman Mark Reynolds one as the Dodgers scored eight unearned runs, six in the second inning.

Yankees 11, Blue Jays 3 In New York, Brett Gardner hit his first career grand slam and Alex Rodriguez drove in four more runs during the Yankees’ biggest offensive inning in five years, carrying New York to a rout of Toronto.

The high-powered Yankees scored 11 times during their 37-minute third inning, sending 15 batters to the plate. It was their most prolific outburst since scoring 13 times in the eighth against Tampa Bay in 2005.

Gardner’s slam chased Toronto starter Ricky Romero (6-5) after 2 2-3 innings, the shortest start of his career.

He allowed eight of the 11 runs, the most given up by Toronto in an inning since Kansas City also scored 11 times in the seventh in 1979. New York starter Andy Pettitte (10-2) limited the Blue Jays to a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the sixth.

Rangers 3, White Sox 1 In Arlington, Tommy Hunter (5-0) allowed only one run in seven-plus innings to steer Texas past Chicago.

White Sox pinch-hitter Brent Lillibridge hit a leadoff double in the ninth but Neftali Feliz struck out pinch-hitter Carlos Quentin and Gordon Beckham for his 23rd save in 24 chances. Chicago starter John Danks (7-7) gave up two runs in six innings.

Royals 4, Angels 2 In Anaheim, California, Bruce Chen retired his first 18 batters in a riveting duel with Ervin Santana, guiding

Kansas City past Los Angeles.

Chen (5-2), a journeyman left-hander, allowed one run in 7 1-3 innings, and was aided by a pair of sensational defensive plays by centerfielder David DeJesus. Royals’ Jose Guillen snapped a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the eighth. Santana (8-6) allowed only two hits through seven innings before the Royals rallied. He was charged with four runs over 8 1-3 innings.

Tigers 6, Mariners 1 In Detroit, Justin Verlander struck out 10 in seven strong innings to help Detroit down Seattle. Verlander (10-5) struck out the side in the first and third and allowed just four baserunners in the first six innings. He allowed the only Seattle run in the seventh but averted further damage by getting Chone Figgins to ground out with the bases loaded.

Brandon Inge drove in three runs as Detroit moved level with Minnesota atop the AL Central. A four-run outburst in the fifth chased Seattle starter Jason Vargas (6-4).

Red Sox 9, Orioles 3 In Boston, Jon Lester pitched seven strong innings to help Boston beat Baltimore, boosting his remarkable record against the Orioles.

Lester (10-3) is 12-0 against Baltimore in 15 starts. He gave up one run, striking out seven and walking just one in his 10th win in his past 11 decisions. Kevin Youkilis homered and drove in three runs as the Red Sox beat the Orioles for the 17th time in the past 19 at Fenway Park.

Baltimore’s Jeremy Guthrie (3-10) gave up six runs in four-plus innings.

Indians 5, Athletics 4 In Cleveland, Matt LaPorta hit a game-ending single in the 10th inning to lift Cleveland over Oakland. Travis Hafner started the rally with a one-out double off Craig Breslow (3-2). After Austin Kearns was intentionally walked, Jhonny Peralta flied out to deep center.

LaPorta bounced a full-count pitch into center field, giving Cleveland its sixth win in seven games. Tony Sipp (1-2) pitched the 10th for Cleveland to take the win.

Clay Mortensen started for Oakland in place of Dallas Braden, who was placed on the disabled list Saturday with elbow stiffness. —AP

Phillies 12, Pirates 4 In Pittsburgh, Ryan Howard picked up Philadelphia’s slumping offense by driving in three runs as Philadelphia shook off a three-game losing streak to rout Pittsburgh.

Jimmy Rollins homered among his three hits and Shane Victorino also had three hits, including a triple.

Pittsburgh shortstop Bobby Crosby’s error on a seemingly routine double-play grounder led to a breakout five-run third inning — as many runs as injury-depleted Philadelphia scored in its previous three games.

Philadelphia’s Kyle Kendrick (5-3) gave up 10 Pirates hits, but still pitched his first major league complete game. Kendrick is 40 in four career starts against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm (5-7) failed to make it out of the fourth inning for the second time in four starts, giving up eight runs. —AP

Sudan NBA star’s body returns home

Joyce helps Rays over Twins MINNEAPOLIS: Matt Joyce’s pinch-hit grand slam capped a seven-run eighth inning, rallying the Tampa Bay Rays to an 8-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

The defeat spoiled a big day for Twins slugger Jim Thome. He homered twice to move past Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew into 10th place on the career list, with 574. Minnesota starter Francisco Liriano struck out 10 and allowed just one run in seven innings, but the Twins’ normally reliable bullpen couldn’t hold a 4-1 lead in the eighth. The Twins pulled back two runs in the ninth on a double by Thome and a single, but Rays closer Rafael Soriano got Orlando Hudson to ground out, notching his 20th save in 21 chances. Tampa Bay’s Randy Choate (12) pitched one inning for the win.

Matt Kemp, Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier homered off Rodrigo Lopez to help Clayton Kershaw (8-4) cruise to victory in the Dodgers’ most one-sided win of the season.

ANAHEIM: Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Joe Saunders celebrates the last out in the top of the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals during a baseball game. —AP

JUBA: The body of towering south Sudan basketball star Manute Bol returned to his homeland on Saturday after his death, with hundreds paying tribute to a man revered for his charitable work.

“He was a man who made south Sudan famous across the world,” said James Deng, a mourner who watched the specially made coffin offloaded from the airplane in the southern Sudanese capital of Juba.

At 2.31 metres (7.7 feet), Bol was the tallest player in the history of America’s National Basketball Association, along with Romanian Gheorghe Muresan.

“He will be missed by many,” added Deng, one of hundreds who lined the airstrip to pay their respects, before Bol’s body was to be taken to his native village of Turalei.

Bol, who grew up as an uneducated cattle herder in south Sudan, spent 10 seasons in the NBA. He died last month aged 47.

He devoted much of his fortune to humanitarian work in his native southern Sudan, which was left in ruins by a bloody 22year civil war with the north.

Bol died at the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, where he was being treated for severe kidney trouble and a painful skin condition.

“Manute was a great example,” said Tom Prichard, director of the Sudan Sunrise charity which worked with Bol to build schools across the south since a peace deal was signed in 2005.

“He firmly believed that one of the important keys to peace in Sudan is education for its children.” Bol contracted the skin disease, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, as a reaction to kidney medication he took while in Sudan. The legendary shotblocker played in the NBA with Washington, Golden State, Philadelphia and Miami. Bol led the league in blocks in 1985-86 with Washington (5.0 average per game) and in 1988-89 with Golden State (4.3).

Meanwhile, Dirk Nowitzki has re-signed with the Dallas Mavericks, the player’s adviser told local media on Saturday.

The NBA’s free agents cannot officially sign until July 8, but Nowitzki’s representative Holger Geschwindner said an agreement had already been struck with the Mavericks. “Yes, we have a deal,” he told the Dallas Star-Telegram. The contract could be worth as much as $96 million over four years, the paper said.

The seven-foot (2.13 metres) power forward is the Mavericks’ all-time leader in scoring and rebounding and averages 22.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. —Reuters

SPORTS

16

Monday, July 5, 2010

Tired Gay succumbs to Dix

EUGENE: Pole vaulter Fabiana Murer clears the bar on her way to winning the event with 4.58 meters during the Prefontaine Classic Track and Field meet in Eugene.—AP

Diamond League results Results from Diamond League meeting at Eugene, Oregon on Saturday 7. Kenia Sinclair (Jamaica) Men’s 110m Hurdles 8. Maryam Yusuf Jamal (Bahrain) 1. David Oliver (US) 12.90 2. Ryan Wilson (US) 13.16 Women’s 400m Hurdles 3. Ronnie Ash (US) 13.19 1. Lashinda Demus (US) 4. David Payne (US) 13.24 2. Kaliese Spencer (Jamaica) 5. Artur Noga (Poland) 13.29 3. Josanne Lucas (Trinidad and Tobago) 6. Antwon Hicks (US) 13.29 4. Sheena Tosta (US) 7. Jason Richardson (US) 13.50 5. Muizat Ajoke Odumosu (Nigeria) 8. Ryan Brathwaite (Barbados) 13.53 6. Nicole Leach (US) 7. Fawn Dorr (US) Men’s Shot Put 8. Ebony Collins (US) 1. Christian Cantwell (US) 22.41 2. Dylan Armstrong (Canada) 21.33 Women’s 3000m Steeplechase 3. Adam Nelson (US) 21.16 1. Milcah Chemos Cheywa (Kenya) 4. Ryan Whiting (US) 20.93 2. Marta Dominguez (Spain) 5. Tomasz Majewski (Poland) 20.90 3. Sofia Assefa (Ethiopia) 6. Reese Hoffa (US) 20.75 4. Korine Hinds (Jamaica) 7. Cory Martin (US) 20.50 5. Bridget Franek (US) 8. Daniel Taylor (US) 20.47 6. Barbara Parker (Jersey) Men’s Discus Throw 1. Piotr Malachowski (Poland) 2. Zoltan Koevago (Hungary) 3. Jason Young (US) 4. Casey Malone (US) 5. Gerd Kanter (Estonia) 6. Virgilijus Alekna (Lithuania) 7. Jarred Rome (US) 8. Ian Waltz (US) Women’s 800m 1. Mariya Savinova (Russia) 2. Nancy Jebet Langat (Kenya) 3. Janeth Jepkosgei (Kenya) 4. Phoebe Wright (US) 5. Alysia Johnson (US) 6. Anna Pierce (US)

1:59.55 1:59.89

53.03 53.78 55.08 55.53 55.76 56.18 57.32 58.36

7. Lisa Aguilera (US) 8. Nicole Bush (US)

9:26.70 9:29.61 9:30.05 9:32.20 9:32.35 9:35.17 9:45.50 9:53.34

67.66 67.55 66.95 66.03 65.75 63.55 62.46 60.70

Women’s Pole Vault 1. Fabiana Murer (Brazil) 2. Anna Rogowska (Poland) 3. Yuliya Golubchikova (Russia) 3. Lacy Janson (US) 5. Aleksandra Kiryashova (Russia) 6. Chelsea Johnson (US)

4.58 4.58 4.48 4.48 4.48 4.28

1:57.56 1:57.75 1:57.84 1:58.22 1:58.84 1:59.42

Women’s Triple Jump 1. Nadezhda Alekhina (Russia) 2. Olga Rypakova (Kazakhstan) 3. Erica McLain (US) 4. Tabia Charles (Canada) 5. Toni Smith (US) 6. Shakeema Walker-Welsch (US)

14.62 14.45 14.33 13.99 13.81 13.62

EUGENE: Olympic bronze medallist Walter Dix edged out Tyson Gay in the former world champion’s hotly-anticipated return to the 200 metres at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting on Saturday.

In the 110 metres hurdles, American David Oliver recorded the fourth fastest 110 metres hurdles of all time with a 12.90 second run.

Gay, who has been battling a nagging hamstring problem for seven weeks, ran his first 200 of the year in 19.76 seconds to finish just shy of Dix, who took control coming off the bend and stayed in front to win in 19.72.

“It wasn’t bad, but I was a little fatigued toward the end,” Gay said. “I tried to stay relaxed and bring it home, but it wasn’t enough.”

Dix, who won the 100 metres and placed second at the US nationals last weekend, said his race experience had helped, “but I’m a little beat up, too.”

“I was a little sloppy out of the blocks, but I was able to hold on,” he added. “Tyson gave me great competition.” Oliver, the Olympic bronze medallist, equalled Dominique Arnold’s national record with his second consecutive lifetime best. He ran 12.93 to win the US championships last Sunday.

Only world record holder Dayron Robles (12.87) of Cuba and China’s Liu Xiang have run faster. “I didn’t get a great start but I brought it home,” Oliver said. The American left countryman Ryan Wilson (13.16) well behind in second spot.

Jamaican Veronica CampbellBrown, the Olympic 200 champion, surprised a talented 100 field with a personal best and seasonleading 10.78 seconds to leave her thinking she might double at next year’s world championships.

Olympic 100 gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser trailed in 10.82, just ahead of American Carmelita Jeter (10.83).

Three other season-leading marks were set. American world champion Christian Cantwell used a last-effort throw of 22.41 metres to win the shot put, and world indoor 800 metres champion Mariya Savinova of Russia clocked 1:57.56 to beat Olympic 1,500 gold medallist Nancy Langat of Kenya at the shorter distance.

Sudan’s Abubaker Kaki added a fifth season-leading mark when he took the infrequently run 1,000 metres in 2:13.62. Kenyan Olympic 1,500 champion Asbel Kiprop just missed another when he won the mile in 3:49.75.

Olympic long jump champion Irving Saladino of Panama pulled a mild surprise as he used a windassisted leap of 8.46 metres to beat US world gold medallist Dwight Phillips (8.41).

Brazilan world indoor gold medallist Fabiana Murer also came out on top, winning the women’s pole vault over Polish world champion Anna Rogowska.

Both cleared 4.58 metres. U.S. world leader Jenn Shur failed to clear a height.—Reuters

KUWAIT: Al-Ghanim, Al-Foudari and the KSSC board members pose with the winners.

Al-Baz wins Jet Ski round one KUWAIT: National champion Mohammad Al-Baz won the first round of the 2010 Jet Ski Grand Prix that is organized by the Kuwait Sea Sports Club, with the participation of 27 racers. Al Baz finished ahead of UAE champion Mohammad Burabei’a, and veteran Yousuf Abdul-Razaq.

The event also featured a beginners stock 1600 race, which was won by Ali Burabei’a, and a stock 800 race that was

won by Saud Al-Shuraifi, in addition to a young athletes race that was won by AbdulAziz Al-Sayegh. Following the race, the coronation ceremony was held under the supervision of the deputy head of the KSSC Ahmad Al-Ghanim, the deputy head of the sea committee at the KSSC Faisal AlQaseer, and the KSSC secretary general Khalid Al-Foudari. The second round will take place on July 17, 2010.

Al-Baz receives his trophy.

EUGENE: David Oliver celebrates after winning the 110-meter hurdles during the Prefontaine Classic Track and Field meet in Eugene. Oliver won with a time of 12.90 seconds. —AP

Harvick wins wild race at Daytona DAYTONA BEACH: Kevin Harvick continued his season of NASCAR resurgence by leading a strong Richard Childress Racing contingent to victory Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

The three RCR cars were the class of the field in a wild night of racing: There were a record 18 leaders, 47 lead changes, a 20-car accident and numerous angry drivers when it was over.

But Harvick wasn’t one of them. The Sprint Cup points leader grabbed his second win of the season, and second of his career at Daytona. He also won the 2007 Daytona 500 and has eight top-10 finishes in 19 starts at the track.

“This has been a great place for us,” Harvick said. “Daytona has been one of those magical places for us ever since we started coming here.” Harvick and his RCR teammates, Clint Bowyer and Jeff Burton, were poised to run away with the race before several late cautions interfered with a potential Chevrolet sweep.

A three-car accident moments before Bowyer took the white flag set up NASCAR’s version of overtime, and Bowyer and Harvick had to restart side-byside for the final two-lap sprint.

Harvick wasted no time sliding into the lead, while Bowyer got little help from behind as Kasey Kahne and Jeff Gordon swapped spots on the restart. It left Bowyer all alone, and he slipped back into traffic and ultimately spun off the track. Harvick had clear sailing to the checkered flag.

“That really wasn’t the situation that we wanted to be in,” said Harvick, also the winner at Talladega in April. “I wanted to be behind him and be able to push him because it was looking pretty good for us, then that caution came out and we had to split up because of the double-file restarts. I helped him as much as I could, then we got split up and (Kahne and Gordon) split (Bowyer) and then that was it.”

Kahne was second in a Ford, followed by Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Burton in Chevrolets. “If you come home with a top five at a restrictor-plate race, you ought to skip all the way home,” Burton said.

Earnhardt, who wasn’t good most of the race, seemingly lucked into the top-five finish but it was enough to move him into eligibility for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. He’s 11th in the standings. The start of the race was delayed almost 90 minutes by rain, and a 19-car accident with 12 laps to go stopped the action another 20 minutes.

Kyle Busch had a wild night: a loose wheel early in the race forced him to give up the lead, and after driving his way back to the front, contact with Juan Pablo Montoya while leading ended his night.

Mark Martin had to be pulled from fire by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson’s crew members, and AJ Allmendinger had a heated conversation with boss Richard Petty after he wrecked out of the race.

Then there was Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch, who exchanged words after the finish but the topic was drowned out by the booming post-race fireworks.

It was all just par for the course, it seemed, at Daytona.

“I’m starting to get used to the fact that every race we go to is basically bumper cars at 190 mph,” Gordon said.—AP

DAYTONA: Jeff Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. —AFP

Wilson still basks in glory of Glen victory WATKINS GLEN: Justin Wilson has put his signature moment in the IndyCar Series in his rearview mirror. He won’t soon forget it, though. A year ago, driving for Dale Coyne Racing, Wilson started on the front row at Watkins Glen International and dominated the race, stunning the field by leading 49 of 60 laps around the 11-turn course.

“We were the only team last year to beat Penske or Ganassi, so there were a lot of people coming up saying, ‘It’s great to see someone finally beat them and remind everyone else that it is possible,”‘ Wilson said. “It felt like it meant something.” It also gave Coyne his first victory after 25 years of trying.

“It was a bit of a surprise because everybody was running pretty strong. Penske and Ganassi finished two, three, four behind us,” Coyne recalled.

“A lot of teams get their first win by default sometimes, and those two teams are so dominant, so strong, that to be able to straight up beat them and outrun them and be stronger than they were was very nice.” Especially for the driver, who has only two wins — his first was at Belle Isle, Michigan in August 2008 — in 41 IndyCar Series starts.

“It was a sense of relief,” said Wilson, who will start sixth in late yesterday’s Camping World Grand Prix as he prepares to defend his title at the storied road course. “It meant a lot to me to get his (Coyne’s) first victory.

That was part of it that made the whole thing special.” Just shy of turning 32, Wilson, from Sheffield, England, is something of an anomaly, and not because he’s the tallest driver in the series at nearly 6-foot-4 (1.93 meters).

Wilson won his Formula Vauxhall Junior debut with JLR Racing in the early 1990s, becoming the first 16-year-old to win a British auto race. In 2001, he became the first British driver to win the FIA International F3000 championship, breaking the record for most points in a season (71) and podium finishes (10), and beating the second-place driver by a record 36 points.

Two years later, he landed a ride with Minardi in Formula 1 by forming a company called Justin Wilson PLC and selling 900 shares of himself to investors to raise $2 million to fund his racing career.

“There will be a few dollars for people in it at the end of the term (of the company in 2012),” said Stephen King, a British health consultant and one of those investors. “I think if they get their money back, then that’s probably a good deal.

“But it’s not about making money,” King said. “It’s about involvement, helping a guy who still is the only British driver to win the F3000 championship who obviously was worth a position higher up in the sport, but because of the circumstances just couldn’t get it.”

Wilson drove the final five F1 races of 2003 for Jaguar before its parent company, Ford, said drivers would have to produce $6 million in funding for the next season. Wilson then jumped to the IRL’s rival Champ Car World Series and produced four wins and 29 top-fives in five seasons before the series merged with IndyCar. He’s still searching for that perfect ride, having left Coyne after last season and hooked up with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in another one-year deal. —AP

SPORTS

Monday, July 5, 2010

17

Rose builds big lead

SPAIN: MotoGP rider Jorge Lorenzo (center) celebrates on the podium after winning MotoGP at the Montemelo racetrack. Honda’s rider Dani Pedrosa (left) finished second, and Ducati’s rider Casey Stoner, from Australia (right) was third. —AP

Lorenzo cruises to Catalunya win MADRID: Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo was the runaway winner of the Catalan MotoGP yesterday, a third consecutive victory extending his world championship lead.

The Yamaha rider finished almost five seconds ahead of compatriot and title rival Dani Pedrosa, who held off the persistent challenge of Australia’s Casey Stoner to finish second.

Lorenzo moved on to 165 points after seven races, 52 ahead of Pedrosa. Italian Andrea Dovizioso, who had been battling for first place before falling, finished 14th and is third with 91 points.

Champion Valentino Rossi, who

is recovering from a broken leg, slipped to down seventh with 61 points. “It was a very difficult race, very hot, and very tiring. The tyres were a real problem,” Lorenzo told Spanish state television.

“Andrea (Dovizioso) was pushing hard and I thought it was going to be like that all the way but he fell which made it easier.”

Pedrosa had been fastest in the morning warm-up and flew from fourth on the grid to first going into the opening bend, but a problem braking forced him to balloon wide and he dropped way down the order.

He quickly recovered ground and after five laps was back up to third, though some distance behind Honda team mate Dovizioso and Lorenzo, who were tussling for the lead.

Dovizioso was right on Lorenzo’s tail when he slid off into the gravel with 11 laps to go, leaving the focus to fall on Pedrosa and Stoner’s battle for second place.

The Ducati rider pressured Pedrosa over the last 12 laps but was unable to find a way through.

Frenchman Randy de Puniet came in a distant fourth ahead of Spaniard Alvaro Bautista and American Ben Spies. —Reuters

Sylvia Fowles

Sky ends Dream’s run ATLANTA: Sylvia Fowles had 22 points and 12 rebounds to help the Chicago Sky win 88-82 and snap the Atlanta Dream’s four-game WNBA winning streak. The Sky (8-9) made 35 of their 42 free throws, while the Dream were 30 for 39.

Fowles knocked Sancho Lyttle out of the game with about three minutes remaining when her elbow caught the Atlanta player on the left cheekbone as she caught a rebound.

Dream coach Marynell Meadors said Lyttle had a concussion. No foul was called and the Atlanta bench was charged with a technical foul.

Erin Thorn scored 14 points for Chicago, which got 32 points from bench players. Angel McCoughtry had 20 points for Atlanta, whose only two home losses this season have both been by the Sky. Storm 75, Sparks 62 In Los Angeles, Lauren Jackson

had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead Seattle over Los Angeles. Swin Cash added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Storm (15-2), who won their sixth consecutive game.

Kristi Toliver scored 18 points for the Sparks (4-12), who have lost five of six.

Los Angeles trailed by 16 points but narrowed the deficit to 60-57 with 7:37 to play. However Seattle responded with a 10-0 spurt to build a 70-57 lead with 5:30 left.

Mystics 69, Shock 54 In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Crystal Langhorne had 15 points and nine rebounds to help Washington send Tulsa to its 10th consecutive loss.

Monique Currie led Washington (11-5) with 17 points. Scholanda Robinson had 16 points to lead the Shock, which was outrebounded 4526.

Tulsa actually led by a point entering the second quarter, but

made 1 of 13 shots and scored only four points in the second quarter and trailed 30-19 at halftime.

Mercury 97, Liberty 82 In Phoenix, Candice Dupree had 24 points and nine rebounds to help Phoenix defeat New York and former teammate Cappie Pondexter, who was ejected in the third quarter. Pondexter, who won the 2007 and 2009 WNBA titles with Phoenix, smacked Penny Taylor in the face as she went up for a layup with 9:06 left in the third quarter.

Taylor got up and looked as if she would retaliate, but players and officials got between the two.

Pondexter got a flagrant 2 foul and Taylor received a technical.

Tangela Smith added 21 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix (6-11), which snapped a six-game losing streak. Pondexter finished with 21 points and five rebounds for the Liberty (7-8). — AP

‘Ozeki’ sacked in gambling clampdown TOKYO: Sumo champion Kotomitsuki was booted out of Japan’s ancient sport yesterday as part of a clampdown on illegal baseball gambling.

The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) decided to fire the 34-year-old ‘ozeki’ after a probe into a gambling racket with alleged links to Japanese crime syndicates.

Kotomitsuki is the first ozeki-sumo’s second-highest rank after ‘yokozuna’-to suffer the humiliation of being sacked. Gym boss Otake will also be shown the door for his involvement in the betting racket.

Last month a former wrestler was arrested on suspicion of extorting 3.5 million yen ($39,890) from Kotomitsuki in the latest setback for the roly-poly sport.

Kotomitsuki alleged it was “hush money” and the furore has even promoted the JDA to consider pulling the plug on the grand sumo tournament in Nagoya which begins on July 11.

More than 60 wrestlers have confessed to gambling

while Japan’s NHK channel is expected to make a decision on whether to scrap its coverage of the Nagoya event.

Sumo’s image has taken a battering in recent years after damaging assault, drugs and drink scandals. Last year, a former gym boss was sentenced to six years in prison following the death of a 17-year-old trainee wrestler.

Three wrestlers received suspended jail terms after being found guilty of beating the trainee, who died from his injuries.

A number of wrestlers, both foreign and Japanese, have been kicked out of the sport after being caught in possession of marijuana.

The sport’s biggest name, Mongolian Asashoryu, quit this year after accusations that he had broken a man’s nose while in a drunken rage outside a Tokyo nightclub. —Reuters

NEWTOWN SQUARE: Justin Rose asked himself some honest questions last week after he blew a three-shot lead in the final round, and hopes to find the right answers in the AT&T National.

With some big par saves in the middle of his round and one last birdie toward the end, Rose shot a 3-under 67 on Saturday to build a four-shot lead over Carl Pettersson (65) and Charlie Wi (70) going into the final round at Aronimink Golf Club.

That’s one shot more than the lead he blew last week in the Travelers Championship, a bad day that Rose is determined not to turn into a bad memory.

“If you’re sitting at the top of the leaderboard, it seems like it’s yours to lose,” Rose said.

“That’s why a golf tournament is 72 holes. The lead really doesn’t mean much until you close it out. I just know that tomorrow I have a great opportunity again, but I’m more excited about the opportunity of putting into play the lessons I’ve learned in Hartford than actually going out and winning the golf tournament.”

Tiger Woods only gets into contention in the majors these days. In his final tournament before the British Open, he again is out of the mix on Sunday. Woods recovered from an atrocious start with an evenpar 70, putting him 13 shots behind.

This will be his seventh tournament without a victory on the PGA Tour, his longest drought since he went 16 straight tournaments in 2004 when he was going through a swing change. The only good news for the tournament is that the massive crowd that followed him around in the morning did not leave Aronimink.

They still were treated to some good golf. It was the sixth time in his past eight rounds that Rose was atop the leaderboard. Now he gets to try something new. Despite his great run over the last month, Rose has never won a PGA Tour event when leading after 54 holes. The test will come as much from Aronimink as the players behind him.

“It’s tougher to go low around here,” said Rose, one of only two players to have broken par all three rounds. “It’s easier to go higher. It’s an interesting test. But it suits good golf.

It’s tough to find the birdies.

I’ve just got to keep playing solid.” Rose was at 10-under 200, the only player to reach double digits under par this week on one of the toughest PGA Tour tracks this year.

Wi was one shot behind until taking four shots from just inside 25 feet on the 14th, the last three putts from 6 feet.

“This course is not like last week where you have to make tons of birdies,” Wi said. “You could be 1 or 2 over, or you could be 2 or 3 under. That changes the momentum, so we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.

I know 1 or 2 under sounds really easy, but this golf course is definitely not easy.”

Rose certainly is not expecting anything to be easy, even with a four-shot lead. He found that out the hard way in Hartford, closing with a 75 in a final round when the rest of the field averaged about 69.

But the 29-year-old Englishman isn’t thinking about Hartford. He’s not even thinking about the Memorial last month, when he rallied from four shots behind to win his first PGA Tour title.

“I didn’t go into Hartford thinking, ‘You just won, keep it going.’ And I didn’t come into this week thinking, ‘You’ve just blown a win.’

I’m just coming into each week seeing it as a new challenge,” Rose said. Pettersson started 90 minutes earlier and made only one mistake, a bogey on the par-3 eighth, in his round of 65. He was joined by Wi, who saw firsthand how quickly everything can change at Aronomink.

Wi was one shot behind until Rose hit a 9-iron the right distance, the ball crawling up the slope to 4 feet for a birdie on the 13th.

Then came the troublesome 14th, a par 3 with the pin tucked in the right corner. Wi, playing in the group ahead of Rose, made double bogey. Rose was in worse shape, in nasty rough behind the green, and even as he tried to play safe away from the hole, he still went into deep rough on the other side. He chopped out to 4 feet and escaped with bogey. —AP

NEWTOWN SQUARE: Justin Rose of England waves to the gallery after putting out on the 18th hole during the third round of the AT&T National golf tournament. —AP

Kim closes in on Choi SYLVANIA: Na Yeon Choi had a hole-in-one in a 3-under 68 to build a five-shot lead before Christina Kim made a late charge to pull within a stroke in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic on Saturday.

Choi, pursuing her third career US LPGA Tour win, aced the eighth hole, dunking a 9-iron directly into the cup on the 131-yard hole. She was five shots ahead and appeared to be close to pulling away for her third US LPGA Tour victory.

“It didn’t bounce. It just slam dunked,” she said of her first tour ace. “After that, I fixed the cup.” She had two more birdies before things began to unravel somewhat.

Choi bogeyed 14 and 15, and Kim — perhaps more famous these days for her book about tour life, “Swinging From My Heels,” than for her play — came roaring back.

Playing in the next-to-last foursome, Kim had a birdie at the 15th to cut the gap to two shots and then rolled in an 8-footer for birdie on the closing hole. One of the tour’s characters, Kim, who finished off a 67, professed to not having any idea how far she was behind. “On 12 I was five back?

I really didn’t even notice,” she said.

“My only thing was trying to get that damn ball in the hole.”

Choi has been down this road before. The South Korean had a seven-shot lead at the Samsung World Championship last September in the final round, lost it, then birdied the final hole for her first tour win.

Speaking through interpreter, good friend and playing partner Inbee Park, Choi said that victory will give her some consolation in Sunday’s final round. “That definitely helped me,” she said. “The Samsung World Championship was the first win for me. It was really tough to get the first win. That tournament gave me a lot of confidence.”

Kim loves the spotlight and was one of the emotional leaders of the victorious US team in the Solheim Cup last autumn. She wasn’t bothered when she heard on the course that Choi had made a hole-in-one.

“After Na Yeon made the ace, I was kind of like, ‘All right. OK. That’s awesome. But let’s just focus on trying to make your own putts now,”‘ Kim said. Choi has led throughout the tournament, taking a

one-shot lead after an opening 64, then going up two after a secondround 67.

Her nickname on tour is based on her initials. Her peers call her “NYC” or “Big Apple.” She even wore a spangled, sequined belt buckle on Saturday that bore her initials.

“I have been (there) just one time, a couple of months ago,” she said.

“It’s like Seoul, in South Korea.”

Katherine Hull (65), Kristy McPherson (67) and Park (70) were 10 under Song-Hee Kim (68) and Azahara Munoz (66) were another shot back.

Song-Hee Kim said she thought Choi would stand up well to the pressure of carrying the slim lead into the final round.

“I don’t think she’ll be nervous,” she said. Choi said she tried not to look at the leaderboard on the course.

“I didn’t even know I had a fiveshot lead during the round,” she said.

“I just focused on my game. I just made a couple bogeys coming in, just a couple of bad holes. I’ll concentrate on my game and play better tomorrow.”—AP

OHIO: Christina Kim drives on the seventh hole during the third round of the LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic golf tournament. —AP

18 Monday, July 5, 2010

Rooney, Ronaldo, now Messi — stars misfire CAPE TOWN: Rooney, then Ronaldo and now Messi. They were supposed to set the World Cup alight after scoring a total 114 goals for their clubs this season, but left South Africa after hitting only one goal in 13 matches.

Wayne Rooney huffed and puffed but failed to score before England was sent packing by Germany. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo scored — once — but didn’t run much at all before being eliminated by Spain. Argentina’s Lionel Messi couldn’t produce the magic when it counted, against the Germans in the quarterfinals.

All aged 25 or younger and described as three of the world’s best players, they were the World Cup’s biggest disappointments.

For Rooney, it seemed a clear case of fatigue. Rarely did the 24-year-old Manchester United striker storm past defenders with a typically powerful run after a season in England in which he scored 34 goals to make up for Ronaldo’s record transfer to Real Madrid.

Ronaldo’s lone goal was little solace for

a player hyped in a well-publicized commercial as Portugal’s savior. Even with the captain’s armband, the 25-year-old forward did little to inspire his team. He rarely tracked back in defense, lost the ball when dribbling and looked a shadow of the player who was selected as the world’s best in 2008.

That title went to Messi last year after he led Barcelona to an historic series of national, European and world club titles, and he continued his stellar performances with an astonishing 47 goals for his team in the 2009-10 season.

The 23-year-old forward has often been accused of failing to reproduce his best form for Argentina, and will have done little to erase that charge in South Africa. Diego Maradona has called Messi his heir apparent.

But in his second World Cup, Messi failed to find the target and never conjured the magic of Maradona when his nation needed him, fading out of the match as Argentina was thrashed 4-0 by Germany.

“To see Messi cry in the dressing room,

whoever says that he doesn’t feel pride for his shirt is stupid,” Maradona said.

Rooney, Ronaldo and Messi weren’t alone. From Brazil, there was Kaka. The 28-year-old playmaker was voted the world’s best player three years ago, but was coming off a disappointing season after a §65 million move to Real Madrid, forced to play a deeper, more defensive role behind Ronaldo.

Back in his favored position just behind the strikers with Brazil, Kaka was sent off in the group match against Ivory Coast.

He came back for the round of 16 match as Brazil beat Chile 3-0, and nearly scored for a two-goal lead in the quarterfinal against the Netherlands. But when the Dutch came storming back in the second half to win 2-1, Kaka went quiet.

Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o and Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba have won five of the last seven African player of the year awards. With the weight of a continent on their shoulders, neither player could lift his team.

Eto’o, after moving from Barcelona to Inter Milan, was coming off a second straight season in which his club won everything possible — a treble of titles in the domestic league and cup, and the Champions League. He scored twice in three games in South Africa, but Cameroon was the first team eliminated.

Drogba broke a bone in his right arm just before the tournament and had to wear a soft cast to play. He missed a late chance to break a 0-0 draw against Portugal but scored a late consolation goal against Brazil.

However, the damage was done — and even a comprehensive 3-0 win over North Korea couldn’t rescue a talented Ivorian team’s tournament.

There have been others hampered by injury. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon played only half of a match in Italy’s poorest World Cup showing since 1974, while Franck Ribery failed to follow in Zinedine Zidane’s footsteps for France after an injury-blighted season at Bayern Munich.

Spain’s Fernando Torres still has a chance.

The 26-year-old striker has struggled since undergoing knee surgery in April, but his team has reached the semifinals. That’s been largely due to the scoring prowess of David Villa, who leads the World Cup with five goals. “It’s been a difficult tournament for me because my fitness is bad, but I’m improving every game,” Torres said.

Diego Forlan has also cemented his status among the world’s best marksmen. He scored a vital free kick to keep Uruguay alive in the quarterfinals against Ghana before tucking away his penalty as his nation prevailed in a shootout.

Another striker who has starred is Miroslav Klose, who seemed washed up after a season on the substitutes’ bench for Bayern Munich.

The rest has done him well, as he’s already scored one more goal in the World Cup — four — than he did all season in the Bundesliga.

A new group of talented youngsters have also made their mark on the world stage. The Netherlands has been aided by

Last four get rest JOHANNESBURG: The World Cup’s four remaining teams got a chance to recuperate yesterday, with just a week to go until the final of the monthlong tournament.

Organizers said they still did not know if Nelson Mandela would attend the July 11 final at Soccer City but Uruguay, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain have all shown enough to suggest that South Africa’s former president would enjoy a great match if he did show.

Germany is the form team after its 4-0 demolition of supposed contender Argentina, while Diego Forlan has helped carry Uruguay further than most predicted.

The Netherlands fear no one after beating Brazil but Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino thinks Spain only beat his team in the quarterfinals because of a bad refereeing decision.

Martino said that the referee wrongly disallowed Nelson Valdez’s 41st-minute goal in Saturday’s 1-0 quarterfinal loss to Spain and made reference to FIFA’s apologies to England and Mexico earlier in the tournament after errors contributed to their elimination.

“FIFA will apologize tomorrow and everything will be fine,” Martino said sarcastically.

But FIFA spokesman Pekka Odriozola said Sunday that FIFA had received no report or complaint about the comments, which came immediately after Paraguay’s first ever World Cup quarterfinal.

David Villa’s fifth goal of the tournament carried Spain through to its first ever World

Cup semifinal and what should be a thrilling meeting with Germany. It is a match worthy of a final, but only one can make it to the showpiece at Soccer City and a possible audience with Mandela.

Mandela was prominent at the 1995 Rugby World Cup but the 91-year-old former president has kept a low profile during the monthlong football equivalent.

The anti-apartheid icon has received visitors, including the Ghana squad, throughout the tournament and was expected to attend the opening match on June 11.

But he made a late decision not to go following the death of his great granddaughter in a car accident on the eve of the game. Mandela “has an open invitation to attend any matches he wants to attend,” organizing committee spokesman Rich Mkhondo said yesterday.

“If he comes, we will be very happy. If he does not, we will understand.”

Paraguay’s exit left Uruguay as the only South American survivor in the tournament. Brazil could be looking for a coach to replace Dunga but Luiz Felipe Scolari is not planning to return for a second stint as coach of his native country. Scolari led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title and has been touted as a possible replacement, but said his focus for the next two years would be with Brazilian club Palmeiras.

“It would be wonderful to finish my career coaching a national team in the World Cup in Brazil,” he told Brazil’s Radio Eldorado in South Africa.—AP

‘Football for Hope’

JOHANNESBURG: Uruguay’s national football players take part in a training session. Uruguay will face The Netherlands in the semifinals tomorrow in Cape Town.—AFP

game.

Nigeria lost to Argentina 1-0 in its Group B opener and fell to Greece 2-1 in a game turned by the first-half expulsion of midfielder Sani Kaita. The suspension also follows corruption allegations which surrounded the team in the run-up to the competition.

Presidential spokesman Ima Niboro said Wednesday that all funds directed toward the Nigeria Football Federation would be examined and “all those found wanting will be sanctioned.” FIFA has said it will suspend Nigeria from world football unless the country’s government overturns its ban on the national team by today.

The Nigerians haven’t won a World Cup match since 1998, having two losses and a draw in 2002 and failing to qualify for the 2006 tournament.

The team, nicknamed the Super Eagles by loyal supporters and the Super Chickens by dissenters, faced almost countrywide derision after finishing third in the African Cup of Nations earlier in the year.

Nigeria fired coach Shaibu Amodu in February and later hired Swedish coach Lars Lagerback to take charge only about four months before the World Cup.—AP

JOHANNESBURG: South African President Jacob Zuma officially opened a FIFA-sponsored football tournament yesterday that brings together 32 teams of youngsters from disadvantaged communities worldwide.

Dubbed “Football for Hope,” the tournament is taking place in the heart of Johannesburg’s township of Alexandra, a maze of low-laying shacks spread on gently rolling dun-colored hills.

The tournament is an attempt to use and celebrate the power and popularity of football to enact social change by bringing together teams of boys and girls from all over the world, who are using the game to help their communities.

The participating teams received a rapturous welcome from the neighborhood kids and adults, who filled the makeshift stands and moved like a wave to the sound of music. Some climbed nearby roofs to catch a glimpse of the mini-spectacle.

Local dance groups, singers and other artists helped create a sense of celebration that the deprived townships like this rarely see. Only in 2008, antiforeigner riots that started in

this sprawling neighborhood left dozens killed, and displaced thousands.

Walking onto a makeshift field alongside FIFA president Sepp Blatter, Zuma told the roaring crowd of happy kids that they must remember that football is more than just a game.

“It teaches (us) important lessons, things that at times are not easy to accept,” Zuma said.

“To be happy when you win, but to be ready to accept defeat with a smile. “This has been a wonderful tournament,” Zuma said of the World Cup. “Now, toping it up is ‘Football for Hope.”‘ Ubiquitous vuvuzela’s provided the backdrop, just like in the big game.

The five-a-side tournament pitting young boys and girls from the Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania and the Middle East is played without referees. It consists of teams who back home use the sport to help those who are disadvantaged: from mine victims in Cambodia, those raising HIV/AIDS awareness in South Africa and Kenya to others who combat drugs and discrimination from Latin American to British streets.—AP

In Uganda, WCup fans miss Amin era

Nigerian football leaders fired in team suspension ABUJA: The Nigerian Football Federation fired its two top leaders yesterday in a bid to appease the West African nation’s president after his threat to suspend its national team from international competition for two years.

In a statement, the federation’s executive committee said it fired president Sani Lulu and vice president Amanze Ugbulam, as well as a member of the federation’s technical committee.

The statement said the committee wanted “to tender a resolved apology” to all Nigerians over the team’s lackluster performance at the World Cup We “passionately appeal to the president ... to reconsider the earlier action of government to withdraw all the National Football teams from CAF/FIFA competitions for two years,” the statement read.

The federation also promised “to take urgent steps to address the ‘maladministration’ of football in the country.”

A spokesman for President Goodluck Jonathan announced Wednesday that the team would be suspended for two years after Nigeria left the World Cup competition with just one point, which it earned in a 2-2 draw with South Korea in its last

22-year-old wingback Gregory van der Wiel, while 23-year-old striker Luis Suarez has scored three times in Uruguay’s run to the semifinals.

Germany has probably the two best youngsters to emerge in Mesut Oezil, 21, and Thomas Mueller, 20. What’s most startling about Oezil is how composed he looks on the ball, slipping passes left and right with startling ease. Add to that his darting runs into the box and he looks like a young Kaka, a description few Germans familiar with their team’s typically stoic play could have imagined a few years back.

Mueller may be the star of the tournament so far. After only one full season as a Bayern first-team player, the attacking midfielder has had a series of match-winning performances, scoring twice as Germany hammered England 4-1 and another in the quarterfinal win over Argentina. Unfortunately, Mueller will be suspended for the semifinal against Spain after picking up his second yellow card on Saturday.—AP

JOHANNESBURG: Spain’s goalkeeper Iker Casillas leaps to save a ball during a training session.—AFP

CAPE TOWN: Germany head coach Joachim Loew (center) talks to his players during the training session of the German national soccer team.—AP

KAMPALA: Just before Uganda’s national football team set off for a regional tournament in Zanzibar in 1976, they received a lastminute boost from a rather intimidating visitor.

“When President Amin came to see us, to see us off, we told him that we are going to travel by road,” Jimmy Kirunda, who captained the Uganda Cranes through much of the 1970s, recently recalled to AFP. “He said, no, no, no. The presidential jet is here. Why don’t you use this one?’ So, the presidential jet flew us to Zanzibar. We were more comfortable, we played better, and lucky enough, we won the tournament.”

Few Ugandans miss the days of Idi Amin’s brutally unpredictable dictatorship from 1971 to 1979, during which around 300,000 people died. He died in 2003 in Saudi Arabia after nearly a quarter of a century in exile.

But among fans who are old enough to remember his reign, there is no doubt that the Amin era was, for the national football programme, a period of unprecedented success.

Amin was fond of assigning himself grand titles, including “the most highest head of state in the world” or “a pure son of Africa”. Perhaps, for all his crimes, “Uganda’s greatest sports patron” would have been more accurate.

With the South KoreaUruguay World Cup last 16 round match playing on a giant screen in a sports bar downtown Kampala, Tom Damulira, 42, remembered the excitement of supporting the Cranes as a boy in Amin’s Uganda.

“I had elder brothers who were really football fanatics, so I began going to the stadium at the age of five,” the civil engineer told AFP. “We were one of the biggest teams in Africa.”

Uganda qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations three consecutive

times under Amin (1974, 1976, 1978), and played in the 1978 final in Ghana.

They lost to the host nationtheir best ever result at Africa’s most prestigious tournament-and the Cranes haven’t qualified for the African Nations Cup since.

Flipping through a newspaper while eagerly awaiting Ghana’s second round match against the US, Frank Isingoma Amoti, 41, said he followed Uganda’s last appearance at the Africa cup on the radio as a boy. He remembered every detail, the year, the location and the final match result without prompting.

Damulira and Amoti both said they never would have imagined that Uganda would fail to qualify for the tournament for the next three decades.

‘We had the love’-Amoti suggested the success of the 1970s was partly to do with the president’s personal support. “He liked sports,” Amoti said. Amin was, indeed, boastful about his own athletic prowess, as about most things.

“You should know that I used to run 9.8 seconds (in the) hundred yards,” he said in a 1974 speech at the Kampala Sheraton Hotel-a time only slightly worse than the world record.

He also frequently boasted of his accomplishments as a boxer, but, by 1979, when he was ousted from power in a Tanzania-backed coup, Amin’s physique had taken on distinctly unathletic proportions.

But according to several accounts he did regularly visit Uganda’s national sports teams before they departed for major international contests. Kirunda said the Cranes played well through the 1970s partly because Amin’s personal engagement with football fostered a sense of patriotism among the players. “We had the love,” he said. “We were a bit patriotic. We loved what we were doing.”—AFP

19 Monday, July 5, 2010

CAPE TOWN: This combo shows Germany’s striker Miroslav Klose doing a flip as he celebrates scoring a goal during the 2010 World Cup quarter-final football match between Argentina and Germany on July 3. —AFP

Klose and Messi highlight conflicting fortunes CAPE TOWN: One player celebrated the Germany-Argentina World Cup quarterfinal with a somersault of sheer joy and another cried his eyes out. Few would have predicted which was which before the tournament.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi went into the tournament as FIFA world player of the year and at the height of his powers, while Germany veteran Miroslav Klose seemed all washed up — a striker ready for retirement who had lost his touch for good.

But Klose’s simple finishes did more for Germany than Messi’s deep runs and intricate passing did for Argentina, helping his team to a 4-0 rout.

Klose celebrated his career total 14th World Cup goal with an athletic tumble, while Messi stared totally defeated at the grass, his left hand on his hip, before departing in tears.

The 32-year-old Klose is now equal second on the all-time World Cup scoring list, just one behind Brazil’s Ronaldo. “It’s a huge compliment and thanks to the team I’ve had a lot of goal opportunities,” Klose said. “I’d be happier to be a world champion than to pass one person or another.”

Still, few would thought that Klose could match Germany great Gerd Mueller, who also scored 14 World Cup goals.

Mueller racked up his tally over two tour-

naments instead of Klose’s three, but Klose does still have two games of this tournament remaining: Wednesday’s semifinal against Spain and either the final or third-place playoff.

“Hopefully we reach the final. I’ll get some opportunities, and we’ll see what happens,” Klose said. The return of his trademark somersault marked a great turnaround for Klose, who had been miserable all season, mostly warming the bench at Bayern Munich before his surprise callup for the World Cup. After scoring in the opening 4-0 win over Australia, the goal that gave him the biggest kick was the first in a 4-1 second-

round victory over England. He used his body and balance to hold off a charging defender, latch onto a long goal kick and shoot the ball into the net with his first touch.

It vindicated coach Joachim Loew for sticking with a striker who had only scored three goals this season for Bayern in the Bundesliga. “He has excellent qualities. I never had any doubts in him. He is always up to the task. There are not many players with such a ratio of goals and games, one or two, and that’s historic,” Loew said.

Compare that to Messi, who did not score this time around and now has one goal from nine World Cup games. Messi

has led Barcelona to multiple trophies. But despite his love for the Argentina jersey, he has never enjoyed as much success in it. If his status as one of Barcelona’s greats is beyond doubt, Messi said he needed a World Cup victory to become a true legend of the game. Together with England’s Wayne Rooney and Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo, he was tipped to become the star of South Africa this month.

Together with them, he also departed before the semifinals. While he was largely a substitute four years ago, the 23-year old Messi was the icon of this year’s team in the image of coach and former great Diego Maradona. And even though Messi

inspired the team early on, goals never came. And against Germany, he faced a whole team intent on clamping him down.

“Messi never got into the game. It was perfect teamwork,” Loew said. Even though Maradona tinkered with position during halftime, Messi had no impact, as Germany ran up the score.

He had been suffering from a cold and fever two days ahead of the game and it might have taken a little off the edge.

Maradona stuck by him till the end. “He played a great World Cup,” Maradona said.

“And I tell you, to see Messi cry in the dressing room, whoever says that he doesn’t feel pride for his shirt is stupid.” —AP

Maradona neither genius nor clown JOHANNESBURG: Dutch players jog during a Netherlands national soccer team training session in Johannesburg. The Dutch team is preparing for its World Cup semifinal match against Uruguay tomorrow.—AP

Dutch favorites as biggest prize looms CAPE TOWN: The Netherlands go into their World Cup semi-final against Uruguay tomorrow as hot favorites, but with the biggest prize in world football at stake anything can happen.

Both sides will be missing key players for the Cape Town spectacle as a final looms against either Germany or Spain, but the statistics speak for themselves.

Under coach Bert Van Marwijk the Oranje have been one of the best performing teams in the world. They picked up eight wins from eight games in qualifying and have a 100 percent record from their five games in South Africa, which includes sending favorites Brazil packing.

It is a formidable achievement that should have Uruguay quaking in their boots, especially with the South Americans needing huge luck to overcome Ghana after being pushed to extra-time and penalties in their quarter-final.

Before the tournament, the glory years of Uruguayuan football were a fast fading memory, with their last semi-final 40 years ago and just two appearances in the last five World Cups.

But under Oscar Tabarez, who also steered them to the last 16 in 1990 in his first stint as coach, they have been rejuvenated and cannot be written off.

Known as El Maestro in his homeland, Tabarez is reliable, hard working and a man of few words. He, for one, is not ready to throw in

the towel.

“We are amongst the four best teams at this World Cup. This is something we would never have imagined before coming to South Africa,” he said.

“My players are very united. I don’t know how far we can go in the tournament. The Netherlands have some great players, but we cannot betray this group of players.

“If there is a glimmer of hope we must hang on. We will certainly not throw in the towel before playing that match.

“Holland will be very difficult - but not impossible.” Uruguay though are handicapped by the loss of influential striker Luis Suarez, who misses the game after being red-carded for his deliberate goal-line handball that denied Ghana a famous victory.

Defender Jorge Ciro Fucile is also suspended while skipper Diego Lugano and midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro are injury doubts, heaping even more pressure on the shoulders of Diego Forlan to lead his team to victory.

In the Dutch camp, Ajax defender Gregory van der Wiel and Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong miss out after picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament against Brazil.

But everyone else is fit, with Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder the danger men. Ahead of South Africa, Van Marwijk set his team a lofty goal-the final or bust.

It was an optimistic target with the Netherlands last reaching the showpiece match 32 years ago when they lost to Argentina.

Their only other appearance was in 1974 and they were beaten by West Germany.

But their confidence is sky high and Van Marwijk is sure his team can now lift the trophy for the first time in their history.

“I said to the Dutch Football Association two years ago that I was not going to this tournament just to take part in it,” said the former Feyenoord manager, who took over from Marco van Basten following Euro 2008.

“I’m a sportsman and if I go somewhere, I want to win. People might think that’s arrogant, but we have proven we can beat Brazil, one of the best teams in the world. “If that’s a fact, we should dare to say this, we should go for it,” he added.

“But I will make it very clear to my team: we have still got two matches to play and the next match is the most important. We will have to really concentrate on that.” Both Arjen Robben and Diego Forlan are capable of winning the match single-handedly, such are their abilities.

Robben can be devastating with his creative moves and clinical finishing, while Forlan has proven once again in South Africa that he is one of the top strikers in the world with an uncanny eye for goal.—AFP

Ronaldo says he has a son MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo has become a father, his website said yesterday, although the mother’s identity is being kept a secret.

The Real Madrid winger and Portugal captain said “it is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy. As agreed with the baby’s mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship.” No date for the birth was given. The 25-year-old Ronaldo is not married, however since his signing

by Madrid was announced he has often been photographed in the company of women. “I request everyone to fully respect my right to privacy (and that of the child) at least on issues as personal as these are,” he said.

Calls and e-mails to Gestifute, the offices of Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes, in Lisbon and Porto were not immediately answered.

Portugal was knocked out of the World Cup by Spain and Ronaldo had a disappointing tournament.

The announcement also appeared on Ronaldo’s Facebook and Twitter sites. Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha reported on its Website yesterday that Ronaldo’s mother, Dolores, and his sisters Elma and Katia, were dealing with the paperwork necessary to bring the child to Portugal.

The paper reported that the baby’s mother is an American national and gave birth to Ronaldo’s son in early June.

During 2009 Ronaldo spent time in homes the player had in Los

Angeles and Miami, the paper said. “Gestifute confirms the veracity of Ronaldo’s statement,” Correio da Manha said.—AP

PRETORIA: The World Cup proved that Diego Maradona is no coaching genius. But nor was he the clown that some expected.

True, there were times when it wasn’t possible to observe the Argentine coach without humming the theme tune to Benny Hill. Picture, for example, the Argentine training session where Maradona pretended to beat up a member of his staff and theatrically acted as a target for his players to shoot a hail of balls at.

He came out it furiously rubbing the back of his head. Ho-ho, what a jester! But as Argentina’s victories piled up, there seemed to be method in Maradona’s madness. No other team had Argentina’s swashbuckling flair.

With Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez slotting in goals and world player of the year Lionel Messi supplying inspiration, passes and even leadership on the field it was possible to ignore the holes in Maradona’s defense and midfield and not second-guess his decision to leave defender Javier Zanetti and midfielder Esteban Cambiasso at home. Maradona’s strategy, if it can be called that, was to outscore not shut out opponents. “Permanently on the attack” is how he lovingly described Argentina’s style of play.

“We are here to give joy to the Argentines, to play as we like, in the way which makes us happy,” he said. What fun, but naive too.

Maradona used enthusiasm to compensate for his inexperience as a coach. He smothered his players with hugs and kisses before and after games because he had little else to offer in terms of tactical wizardry.

The instructions he barked in practice were of the “Come on! Look alive!” variety, not useful nuggets of strategic insight. He talked about the need for “sacrifice, blood and courage” from players, not about playing formations. His players, in turn, praised the value of his experience of having competed in four World Cups not his game plans — if indeed there were any.

“Nobody ever told me where to play. So, I shouldn’t have to tell Messi where to play either,” Maradona said in the best example of his let-them-get-on-with-it approach.

He made no apologies for it. In fact, after three group stage wins, he was demanding apologies — “I’m not suggesting you drop your trousers, but it would be honest and great,” he said — from critics who had predicted that Argentina could only flop with the former cocaine addict in charge and waste its best chance in years of winning the World Cup that Maradona lifted as a player in 1986.

The upside of Maradona hogging the limelight in South Africa with his large personality and entertaining and provocative news conferences was that he deflected attention from Messi and why the star forward wasn’t scoring.

But the downside for Argentina was that Maradona failed, as he also did in World Cup qualifying, to make the most of Messi’s goalscoring abilities. Too often, Messi was starved of the passes that help to make him such a matchwinner for his club, Barcelona.

That forced Messi to go hunting deep in the midfield himself for the ball. Because of Argentina’s inbuilt defensive frailties and Maradona’s lack of alternate plans B, C or D for when his A-plan — attack, attack, attack — failed to work, there was always the suspicion that Argentina’s exciting adventure could slam into the buffers if its forwards couldn’t score.

CAPE TOWN: Argentina’s coach Diego Maradona reacts during the 2010 World Cup quarter-final football match between Argentina and Germany.—AFP Yet few suspected that Argentina and Maradona would be found out quite so starkly as they were by Germany in the quarterfinals.

German manager Joachim Loew is his own greatest admirer. But it is also true that he thoroughly outthought Maradona, executing his game plan brilliantly — just as he did against the England side of Fabio Capello, a coach more experienced than Maradona.

Messi’s attacking runs broke against the rocks of dogged, organized German defending, while the Argentine defense and Javier Mascherano in midfield were overwhelmed by the speed of the German forays. Most importantly, the Germans played as a well-oiled team,

finding each other with just the right pass at just the right time. Argentina, in contrast, looked like talented individuals who just happened to be wearing the same blue and white stripped jerseys. As the German goals mounted up, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 and finally 4-0, it grew increasingly clear that Maradona had no answer. He looked so sad on the touchline. This World Cup would not have been as much fun without Maradona, without the sight of him pacing up and down as though he were still out of the field kicking every ball, living every emotion. But it was always too much to expect that he would be the same genius as a coach as he was as Argentinian football’s greatest player.—AP

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Berdych: No strategy can rein ‘king of clay’ LONDON: No strategy can counter Rafa Nadal, a shell shocked Tomas Berdych said after a Wimbledon final pasting at the hands of the unstoppable Spaniard. You just have play out of your skin and hope the Mallorcan has a bad day.

Unfortunately for the 24-year-old Czech, Nadal’s off-days come round about as often as British champions at the All England Club, and the world number one chose Sunday of all days to put on a clinical display of his tireless court menace.

“When he got a chance, he just took it,” a forlorn Berdych told reporters after his 6-3 7-5 6-4 defeat on Centre Court.

The man who had hit six-times champion Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic off the court earlier this week simply had no answer against Nadal.

The forehands that crunched off his racket in earlier rounds were returned with interest, and the Nadal serve maintained an invincible aura throughout the two-hour 13-minute match.

What was Berdych’s strategy going into his first grand slam final? Play his very best and hope for even better. “It’s tough to say that I don’t have any strategy. I don’t know if you can say (there are any) weaker parts of him, there’s not many of them. You just try to play your best tennis.

“It’s not like that you know he’s doing something wrong or something like that. You know you’re going to face the toughest opponent in the draw.

“His biggest weapon is his left hand. There’s not many players like that. It’s really tough to find the right rhythm. I think more matches against him, I can do it better next time.”

After a maiden grand slam final, the first here for a Czech since Ivan Lendl in 1987, Berdych will move up to eighth in the world when the new rankings are published on Monday, and he saw no reason why his rich vein of form-which started with a semifinal in Paris last month-cannot continue.

“I can play well on all of those surfaces, which is really important for today’s tennis, I think this is my biggest weapon.”—Reuters

Navratilova bags another trophy

WIMBLEDON: Rafael Nadal poses with his trophy, after defeating Tomas Berdych in the men’s singles final on the Centre Court at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships.—AP

LONDON: Martina Navratilova, who won 20 Wimbledon titles during her career, added another All England Club gong at the age of 53 when she won the ladies’ invitation doubles yesterday.

Navratilova and Jana Novotna beat Tracy Austin and Kathy Rinaldi-Stunkel 7-5, 6-0 in the final on Court One. The eight-team competition contained pairings like Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova - playing her first competitive matches since 2003 - and Conchita Martinez and Nathalie Tauziat.

Navratilova won nine Wimbledon singles titles and was present on Saturday to see Serena Williams win her fourth.—AFP

Nadal reclaims Wimbledon crown in style LONDON: Rafael Nadal reclaimed the Wimbledon men’s singles title yesterday, putting in a dominating performance to beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in the final.

The Spanish world number one was too good for the Czech 12th seed on Centre Court and was rarely troubled as he won his second championship at the All England Club.

In securing his eighth Grand Slam, Nadal went level with Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Fred Perry and Ken Rosewall.

And with Switzerland’s Roger Federer showing signs of weakness, Nadal could easily go on to eclipse their efforts.

Furthermore, the “King of Clay” underlined his mastery on all surfaces by complet-

ing his second French Open-Wimbledon back-to-back double, winning both finals in straight sets.

“It is more than a dream for me,” Nadal said. “It was always my dream to play this court. It was amazing to play the final this time because last year I couldn’t be here.

“It was one of the toughest moments in my career to miss Wimbledon last year.

“The trophy will go in the bedroom, very close to the other one.”

Berdych said: “It was a great two weeks for me. He was really strong. He has showed in the last few months that he is a real champion and he deserved to win.

“I hope it gives me extra confidence and power to come next year. Who knows what will happen in the future.” Nadal went into

Petacchi wins Tour first stage BRUSSELS: Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland retained the race leader’s yellow jersey after the crash-marred Tour de France first stage won in spectacular fashion by Alessandro Petacchi of Lampre yesterday.

Italian sprinter Petacchi, making his first appearance at the race in more than five years, upset predictions when he finished a reduced bunch sprint ahead of Australian Mark Renshaw and Norwegian Thor Hushovd.

Numerous crashes occurred in the closing kilometres of the 223.5km ride from Rotterdam to Brussels, leaving some of the top favourites for stage victory out of the running.

Spanish fast man Oscar Freire, of Rabobank, was brought down along with Cervelo’s Jeremy Hunt when the Briton took a wrong turn on a tight bend with two kilometres to go.

Another massive crash with just a kilometre to go reduced the peloton further. British sprint king Mark Cavendish, the winner of six stages last year, was among the big names also left out of contention, leaving his lead-out man Renshaw

to go it alone.

After the carnage, Petacchi produced a thrill when he tried to shake his followers by pulling sharply to the left side of the road.

Seconds later he came over the finish line in victory, and later refused to accept it was devalued by the relative lack of quality in the final bunch.

“It wasn’t unexpected for me.

I’m here to sprint and win stages, and to do my best and that’s what I did,” said the Italian, who last appeared on the race in 2004 when he pulled out before the sixth stage.

“Of course Cavendish and I are sure to sprint against each other, but even if he hadn’t been caught up in a crash who’s to say I wouldn’t have won. I think I did a great sprint.”

Freire, a three-time world champion who is dangerous on almost any terrain, said the bad luck he suffered was just part of bike racing on the Tour. “I was in a very good position, but the finish was quite dangerous,” said the Spaniard.

“But that’s bike racing, especially at the Tour. I was on

the match with a 7-3 head-to-head lead, having won their last six clashes, all in straight sets.

Undefeated at Wimbledon since the 2007 final, Nadal won the 2008 title by beating Federer in an epic five-set tussle, but could not defend it last year, due to the chronic knee problems that he is still not rid of.

But this was a much more straightforward victory than his extraordinary battle with Federer here two years ago.

Second seed Nadal was tested in the early rounds of the tournament, but upped his game from the fourth round onwards, always having too much for every opponent thrown his way.

Berdych, though, had pulled off the shock of the tournament in beating six-time

Wimbledon champion Federer in the quarters, then defeated third seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets to earn his first Grand Slam final appearance.

But he could not reproduce those performances this time, being defeated in two hours and 13 minutes. Nadal walked away with one million pounds (1.5 million dollars, 1.2 million euros), while Berdych collected 500,000 pounds.

Berdych laid down a statement of intent by serving the first game to love, but his service percentages soon waned, allowing Nadal to get into the points and eventually forge an opportunity to break.

In the seventh game, with the fluffy balls taking the edge off the Czech’s serve, Nadal earned himself three break points with a

superb passing shot, and won the game when Berdych shot wide.

Nadal took the next game to love, piling the pressure on the Czech as he served for the set. The Spaniard had two set points, and though Berdych boomed down an ace, he hit a return into the net to give Nadal the set.

Berdych tried to hit straight back in the first game of the second set, and earned himself a break point. It took Nadal 10 minutes, four deuces and another two break points to see off the challenge and the Spaniard never looked back from there.

The Czech served his next two service games to love, but struggled to make inroads on Nadal’s serve. Despite the deadlock, both players were sticking to their

Jimenez keeps nerve to win French Open

ROTTERDAM: US George Hincapie (third right) rides in the pack in the first stage of the 2010 Tour de France.

(Inset) Italy’s Alessandro Petacchi celebrates on the finish line. —AFP

Petacchi’s wheel when I fell, but in the Tour it’s always the best riders who win.” Cancellara took the yellow jersey on Saturday when he won the race’s opening prologue over 8.9km in Rotterdam.

But the Olympic time trial champion paid his own price for staying up at the front of a chaotic

and “nervous” bunch in his bid to keep hold of the race lead for as long as possible. The Saxo Bank man had to brake hard to avoid a fallen rider, but still hit the asphalt.

“At the end I couldn’t do anything. I had to brake hard, and ended up doing a bit of a somersault once I landed,” said Cancellara,

game plans, with neither player taking a risk on serve and volley tactics.

The set seemed destined to go to a tiebreak. However, serving at 6-5 down, Berdych missed a succession of chipped returns, gifting three set points to Nadal and losing it when he hit a forehand just wide.

In the third set, Berdych had an excellent chance to get back into the match when he got a break point in the third game, but Nadal held his nerve.

As the games went with serve, Nadal served the ninth to love to leave Berdych serving to stay in the final. The game went to deuce and Nadal had championship point when his opponent missed a forehand, then reclaimed the Wimbledon crown with a passing shot.—AFP

who admitted he was slowly starting to feel the pain of his tumble.

“Now with the time passing I feel like my shoulder and my whole left side are hurting.” Because the first half of the stage was held along the North Sea coast, some teams were expected to use the strong coastal winds to race hard in a bid

to break up the peloton and put time into their rivals.

That failed to materialise, as a three-man break consisting of Dutchman Lars Boom, Belgian Maarten Wynants and Spaniard Alan Perez went on an early breakaway which came to an end in the final 25km. —AFP

VERSAILLES: Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez held his nerve to win the French Open here yesterday after a three-way play-off with compatriot Alejandro Canizares and Italian Francesco Molinari.

After completing their fourth and final rounds at Le Golf National with an 11-under-par total of 277, the trio headed back to the tricky par-four 18th for the play-off.

Jimenez struck his tee shot down the middle while Molinari found a bunker and Canizares sent his left into the water.

After taking a drop, Canizares hit the water a second time which effectively ended his challenge.

Molinari putted for a oneover-par bogey, leaving the 46year-old Jimenez to sink his par putt from five metres. It was the Spainard’s 17th European Tour win and 10th since he reached the age of 40.

It was, though, a massive reprieve for Jimenez, who beat Lee Westwood in a play-off to land the Dubai Desert Classic in

February, as he had earlier blown a two-shot lead going into the last on his fourth round.

He had been in stunning form after the turn, sinking five birdies to head for the 18th tee at 13-under with a two-stroke lead over Canizares and Molinari.

A double-bogey, however, set up the play-off. Canizares, who had repaired the damage of two double-bogeys at the end of his third round on Saturday with two birdies in the first three holes, then had a chance to snatch it but his birdie putt died just short of the hole.

Molinari gave himself a chance of winning with a round of 67 which included five birdies and an eagle at the par-four 10th.

Overnight leader Martin Kaymer, the defending champion, was also in the mix until a double-bogey at the 15th. He followed that with another double bogey at the tricky 18th to finish seven-under for the tournament in a five-way tie for sixth.—AFP

flydubai names Erbil as newest destination

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Dawoud Al-Qadhi wins Al-Danah prize of KD 250,000

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Trichet rules out risk of new recession

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Monday, July 5, 2010

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Emaar to outshine UAE developers’ Q2 figures DUBAI: Weak land sales and deliveries will weigh on Abu Dhabi developers’ second-quarter earnings, while handovers are expected to boost figures for Dubai’s Emaar, builder of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower. “Overall, we don’t see much on the upside, with the exception of Emaar Properties,” said Jad Abbas, equity analyst at EFG-Hermes in Dubai.

“We are looking at a good quarter for Emaar and earnings are expected to be driven by deliveries of properties from Burj Khalifa,” he added.

The Egyptian bank is forecasting a net profit of 1.9 billion dirhams ($517.4 million) for the quarter for the Arab world’s largest listed developer, compared with a loss of 1.29 billion dirhams in the same period last year.

Emaar said in April it would focus on expanding in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia in 2010, after its first-quarter profit more than tripled, boosted by revenues from its hospitality and retail businesses. EFG expects Dubai’s second-largest developer by market capitalization, Deyaar, to suffer the biggest slump in profit among UAE property and construction firms due to fewer deliveries of homes in the quarter than last year, Abbas said.

The bank is expecting Deyaar to report a net profit of 19 million dirhams, down 75 percent on a year earlier. Deyaar reported a first-quarter loss of 100 million dirhams on the back of provisions.

Developer Union Properties will likely record a profit of 33 million dirhams, reversing a loss in the same period last year, mainly on the completion of handovers at its Motor City project, he said.

Dubai construction firms are seen suffering this quarter, with Drake and Scull International’s second-quarter net profit seen falling 48 percent to 45 million dirhams, according to Securities and Investment Company (SICO) in Bahrain, while EFG sees Arabtec’s net profit easing 26 percent to 136 million dirhams.

“For Dubai-based construction companies, it is expected to be a weak quarter year-on-year due to the expected slowdown in construction activity and pressure on margins,” said Ambereen Jiwani, research analyst at SICO. Dubai’s property crash sent house prices falling by some 60 percent from their peaks and led to more construction firms flocking from the emirate to win work in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab emirates, which has hit margins there.

Abu Dhabi’s two largest developers by market capitalisation could slip into the red in the second quarter, according to HC Securities, which forecasts a loss of 203 million dirhams for Aldar Properties and 6 million dirhams for Sorouh Real Estate. “For Aldar and Sorouh we don’t expect any major deliveries in the second quarter,” said Majed Azzam, real estate analyst at HC Securities. “For Aldar specifically they had a lot of revaluation gains last year which I don’t expect them to achieve this quarter because they are not starting work on any new plots of land or completing any assets. For Sorouh further land sales this quarter are unlikely,” he added.

Sorouh’s profit rose 1 percent in the first quarter from the same period a year ago, driven by the sale of its Shams Abu Dhabi plot and a rise in lease income.

“During Q2 2009, the company had significantly higher land sales mainly due to the sale of 11 plots on Saraya and one plot on Shams Abu Dhabi projects. We do not think the company will be able to repeat its performance this year,” SICO’s Jiwani said.

SICO forecasts a net profit of 68.8 million dirhams, down 53.6 percent from the same period last year. — Reuters

Weak land sales, deliveries to hamper Aldar and Sorouh

BATTICOLOA: A Sri Lankan fisherman throws his net along the shoreline off the eastern town of Batticoloa yesterday. Once a hotbed of Tamil Tiger rebels, fishing industry has picked up in the region after the government ended the 37-year war last May. — AFP

Damac awards $120m Jeddah contract to Drake DUBAI: Dubai developer Damac Properties has awarded a 450 million riyal contract ($120 million) in Jeddah to Drake & Scull International, as more UAE property firms tap huge demand in Saudi Arabia.

Construction of the 42 storey building, Al Jawharah, will take around 28 months, Damac said in a statement yesterday.

“Many indicators point to Saudi Arabia being one of the markets most likely to see price increases in

the next 12 months,” said Damac’s general manager Ziad el-Chaar.

Dubai’s property crash, which sent house prices falling by some 60 percent from their peaks in 2008, and fierce competition for work in Abu Dhabi, has led to more construction firms seeking work elsewhere in the Gulf Arab region. Drake-which specializes in mechanical, engineering and plumbing (MEP) businesses-is planning to buy two Saudi companies

Shuaa to name Shihabi as broking unit CEO DUBAI: A former head of research at Dubaibased investment bank Shuaa Capital is likely to be named as the new chief executive of its brokerage division, sources familiar with the matter said yesterday.

Walid Shihabi, who left his position as head of research at Shuaa Capital in January 2009, will likely take over from Mohammed Ali Yasin, who has resigned as the head of Shuaa Securities and will leave the company at the end of August.

Shuaa Securities is the second-largest broker in the United Arab Emirates by market share.

Shihabi joined Shuaa Capital in 2001 and has been working as a private investor and

KIPCO boosts stake in United Industries KUWAIT: Kuwait Projects Co (KIPCO), the country’s largest investment firm, said it has increased its stake in United Industries Co to 71.8 percent by investing in the firm’s rights issue.

“UIC has become a subsidiary company of the KIPCO Group. UIC was previously an affiliate company of the group. The announcement follows KIPCO’s purchase of outstanding UIC shares that were available through the company’s recent rights issue,” KIPCO said in a statement yesterday. KIPCO owned 28.2 percent of UIC, according to bourse data. — Reuters

consultant since resigning in 2009. He declined to comment on the potential appointment when called by Reuters. A Shuaa Capital spokesman also declined comment.

Parent company Shuaa Capital swung to a net profit of 19.5 million dirhams ($5.3 million) in the first quarter, helped by its asset management business and lower expenses.

One of the largest regional investment banks, Shuaa suffered heavy losses in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis. Yasin was named chief executive of Shuaa Securities in 2006, and oversaw the firm’s rapid expansion across the Middle East. Shuaa said on June 29 that Yasin’s replacement would be announced shortly. — Reuters

Swedish PM says no tax cuts in 2011 if reelected

No rollback of fuel price hike: India KOLKATA: Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said yesterday there was no question of rolling back a recent fuel price hike. “No question of fuel price hike rollback,” Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a conference.

India had freed up state-subsidized petrol prices and raised prices of other fuels in late June, as pressure to trim a budget deficit outweighed concerns about the political impact.

However, the deregulation resulted in protests from opposition parties, and the main opposition Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has called a nation-wide strike on July 5. — Reuters

this year.

With a growing population of over 25 million, 70 percent of which is under the age of 30, the world’s largest oil exporter will need to build one million new homes by 2014, HSBC said in a report last year.

In June, Dubai’s Drake & Scull said it won two contracts worth 240 million dirhams for two Abu Dhabi projects, bringing its deal wins for the year to 1.4 billion dirhams. — Reuters

MUMBAI: Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) Chairman Anil Ambani leaves his office in Mumbai yesterday. Billionaire Anil Ambani’s group firms Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL) and Reliance Power (RPower) are to merge, in a deal valued at over $11 billion, the companies announced yesterday. — AFP

VISBY, Sweden: Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt will not cut taxes in 2011 if re-elected in September and will focus instead on boosting the welfare system through reforms, he said yesterday.

The centre-right government has pushed through a series of tax reductions during its four years in power and unveiled a further a 5 billion crown ($905 million) cut for pensioners in its spring budget bill, published in April. Reinfeldt, whose “Alliance” coalition faces a tough battle for re-election, said the government had little room for reform and would not introduce any further tax cuts next year if it wins the Sept. 19 poll.

“We are not planning to introduce any further tax reductions for 2011,” he told supporters in a speech kicking off a week of campaigning on the island of Gotland, east of mainland Sweden.

Instead, the government would use the first year of its second term to bolster the welfare state through a series of reforms, including new investments into education, healthcare, old-age support and childcare, he said.

The government would still honor its pledge of cut-

ting taxes for pensioners, he added.

The prime minister highlighted Sweden’s public finances, describing them as “the best in all of Europe” amid the ongoing debt crisis in the euro zone.

The European Commission has forecast Sweden will run a public deficit this year of 2.1 percent of the economy, the lowest in the bloc, and the government expects it will return to surplus in 2012.

Yet Reinfeldt said that with the government’s finances nearly in balance and the broader economic situation uncertain, there would be little room for reform in 2011. “What limited room there is (for reform) will be devoted to the welfare system,” he said.

Reinfeldt, whose personal popularity far exceeds that of his opponent, Social Democratic Leader Mona Sahlin, criticized her coalition’s plans to raise taxes and impose a levy on wealth as likely to destroy jobs.

Polls show the four-party “Alliance” holding a slight lead over the opposition with less than three months to go until the election, although the difference between the two blocs is too narrow to guarantee a victory. — Reuters

India frets over bad monsoon NEW DELHI: No one is saying the words “bad monsoon” yet, but the slow advance of India’s crucial rainy season is being followed anxiously after a dry 2009 wiped out crops and fuelled food price rises. The annual rains, which sweep across the subcontinent from June to September, were 16 percent below normal last month.

After arriving ahead of schedule they have stalled over central India, below the parched, northern plains which are still counting the cost of last year’s failed monsoon-the worst in nearly four decades. Right now, the “monsoon is not behaving as expected”, weather office director general Ajit Tyagi said, although he predicted that the final rainfall figures for the season would be “normal”.

Not content with the promises of meteorologists, some people in the northern holy city of Varanasi have been conducting “frog weddings”marrying frogs with full Hindu rituals in a tradition believed to please the rain gods.

The slow onset of the rains has postponed soybean planting in the world’s top edible oils importer and could delay rice planting in the northern grainbowl states of Haryana and Punjab.

India, which gets 80 percent of its annual rainfall from the monsoon, is one of the world’s leading producers of rice, wheat and sugar. The uncertain start to the rainy season means more worries about food inflation, which is already running at nearly 13 percent and has a major impact on India’s impoverished millions, the Congress-led government’s core support.

The government needs a decent monsoon to help rein in the price rises that have triggered opposition-led demonstrations around the country.

The meteorological department’s chief monsoon forecaster, D. Sivananda Pai, has put the stuttering start to the season down to “glitches” and his department says overall rainfall may be slightly above average.

But the same department was wrong last year when it forecast a normal monsoon.

July is the most critical month from a planting perspective-the time when India usually receives the maximum amount of rain. Agriculture Secretary PK Basu said if rainfall was delayed beyond July 5 over northern India it would give cause for worry. With only 40 percent of arable land under irrigation, India’s 235 million farmers rely on the capricious rains to soak the rock-hard earth and turn it into fertile soil.

A bad monsoon can spell financial disaster, wiping out livelihoods for many small landholders eking out a living. The farm sector’s contribution to India’s gross domestic product has fallen from 50 percent in the 1950s to 17 percent, but remains vital to the national economy by supporting 700 million rural Indians and fuelling consumer demand for everything from TVs and refrigerators to motorcycles and gold. “A good monsoon this year is critical from all sorts of standpoints-from consumer demand, to inflation, hydroelectric power and water availability,” said Dharmakirti Joshi, economist at Indian credit rating agency Crisil.

“You can withstand one monsoon failure, but two monsoon failures would make things very difficult,” Joshi siad. There is no danger of a famine as the country still has healthy wheat and rice stockpiles from four years of bumper harvests.— AFP

BUSINESS

22

Monday, July 5, 2010

Surplus capacity weighing on price

July sees return of giant campaign from Yusuf A Alghanim Automotive

Iran sees OPEC crudes up to $80 by year-end: Reports TEHRAN: Surplus OPEC capacity is keeping the price of crude dow n, but oil prices are likely to rise to $80 by the end of the year, Iran’s OPEC governor Mohammad Ali Khatibi said yesterday, according to new s agency reports.

“The average price of OPEC basket crude oil from the beginning of 2010 to “This will be having a psychological effect on the oil price.” Oil fell for a fifth straight day on Friday amid investor anxiety about the global economic recovery.

US crude’s benchmark front-

month contract was down 81 cents, or 1.1 percent, at $72.14 a barrel. On a weekly basis, oil prices were down about 9 percent. Khatibi said he saw demand for OPEC crudes in the second half of 2010 at “more

KUWAIT: The thrilling Giant Offer campaign from Yusuf A Alghanim & Sons returns once again due to popular demand. The campaign offers customers exclusive offers on the 2010 Chevrolet line-up for the entire month of July, including the Chevrolet Traverse at KD 7,777, Chevrolet Tahoe at KD 9,555, Chevrolet Cruze at KD 4,222, the all-new Chevrolet Malibu at KD 5,777, and the Chevrolet Captiva at KD 6,555.

Comfort-seekers need not to look further than the exquisite 2010 Chevrolet Traverse, which strikes a balance between a soothing ride and confident handling combining taller and longer dimensions than any average sedan. Available in 4x2 and all-wheel drive, the Traverse is fuelled by a 3.6 Litre, V6 engine with direct injection that delivers segment-leading output and excellent fuel efficiency, allowing its user to enjoy speed as well as comfort. The Traverse LT and LTZ models come standard with a set of 20-inch, machine-cast aluminum wheels, and intercrops that can fit seven to eight adults, including two front bucket seats. The third-row can accommodate two adults while simultaneously providing generous storage space behind. Leather seats, rear parking assist, rearview camera, touch-screen navigation system, rear-seat DVD entertainment system, BOSE sound system, and a sunroof are additional quirks that come along with the Traverse. Ideal for families, the Traverse offers an individual style, remarkable value, broad safety-measures and remarkable performance.

The ideal ride for adrenaline-lovers, the stunning 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe combines a sharp driving experience through a Vortec 5.3 liter V8 engine that generate 355 bbh at 5,200 rpm, and 505 Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm, and segment-leading fuel efficiency. Available in three trim-levels: the LS, LT, and LTZ, with 4X2 and 4X4 models, the Tahoe also boasts a spacious interior that radiates quality, precision, safety and comfort. The model also carries convenience features such as remote vehicle start, rear parking assist, rearview camera, a touch-screen navigation system.

Additional luxury features include the rear-seat DVD entertainment system, BOSE sound system and a sunroof. For road adventurers, the Tahoe Z71 version is equipped with off-road capabilities, which is aided by the legendary Z71 suspension, the on/off road tires and a segment exclusive automatic locking differential. Its massive wheel flares along with an aggressive front fascia and a satinchrome trim all complement the modern exterior design as well as completes its outdoor-rugged look. For those seeking a chic and modern sedan vehicle, the glamorous 2010 Chevrolet Cruze brings alluring options that include style, power and performance with a coupe-style exterior and a spacious world-class interior. The latest addition

now is $76.6, but it is predicted that it w ill reach $80 by the end of 2010,” he w as quoted as saying by the students’ new s agency ISNA. “Right now , because of the economic crisis, OPEC is facing a 4-6 million-barrel surplus capacity,” Khatibi said, according to the Iranian oil ministry w ebsite SHANA.

than 30 million barrels”.

Total supply from OPEC countries was 29.10 million barrels per day (bpd) in June, a survey of oil firms, OPEC officials and analysts showed. Khatibi said likely restrictions on future

exploration following BP Plc’s disastrous deep-sea oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico would increase costs for producers.

“Because of the problems happening in the Gulf of Mexico, it is predicted that the produc-

tion cost of crude oil in deep waters will increase,” he was quoted as saying by ISNA news agency.

“It is unlikely from now on that they will permit exploration in sensitive areas.” —Reuters

2009 Citi Performance Excellence Award KUWAIT: Citi Global Transaction Services (GTS), a business unit of Citigroup awarded the Commercial Bank of Kuwait with Straight Through Processing (STP) Award which recognize its leadership and excellence in global payment capabili-

ties.

The prestigious Citi Performance Excellence Award is presented to leading financial institutions worldwide which have state-ofthe-art international electronic payment services and meet stringent correspondent banking and processing

accuracy criteria. STP is the automated process of payments without manual intervention which increases processing speed, minimizes routing errors, lowers operations and transaction costs while resulting in efficient, rapid payment execution and credit

for the bank and the customers it serves.

The award was presented to Elham Mahfouz (Acting) CEO by Steve Donovan, GTS Regional Manager for Middle East & Pakistan in a simple ceremony.

to the Chevrolet family is powered by a 1.8 L, 4 cylinder engine that generates 140 HP, and boasts a 6-speed transmission that is exclusive in its class. The vehicle comes with dual airbags fitted as standard and anti-lock breaks (ABS), rear parking assist, as well as a high strength steel structure that offers all-around protection.

The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, awarded with more than 30 global industry awards, combines a bold exterior and a deluxe interior. Customers are offered a vehicle with the ultimate level of functionality, performance, control, technology and advanced safety. It is available in 2 engine variants: a 2.4L engine generating 170 HP and an award-winning 3.6L V6 engine generating 252 HP. Its standard features consist of Remote Vehicle Start, Cruise Control, 18” Alloy wheels and standard safety features including 6 airbags, ABS, and StabiliTrak with Traction Control.

The Giant Offer brings one endless choice of vehicles, each designed to meet every individuals’ unique and personal needs. To discover you dream vehicle that epitomizes your distinctive style, visit YAAS showrooms and take advantage of the special prices offered on the Chevrolet lineup.

Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons promises its customers unparalleled quality, technological advances, and world-class design and performances in all of its vehicles. The sole distributor of Chevrolet vehicles in Kuwait, Alghanim & Sons offers elite promotions and the latest vehicles at the most competitive prices.

flydubai announces ancient Erbil as newest destination KUWAIT: Flydubai, Dubai’s first low-cost airline, has announced flights to destination number 22, Erbil in Iraq.

Flights to Iraq’s third largest city and capital of the Kurdish region of Northern Iraq, will start on Friday, July 16. A oneway fare is priced at AED1,225. flydubai’s CEO, Ghaith Al Ghaith, said: “Erbil is reinventing itself and undergoing an economic boom with new hotels, leisure and healthcare facilities, commercial towers and trade centers. The city’s rapid development has been compared with that of Dubai and it is a beacon of progress for the rest of the country.

“In 2009, the UAE was the top foreign investor in Iraq and according to reports, the UAE is set to double investment in

Iraqi Kurdistan to around AED22 billion in the next three years. flydubai’s new service will not only help to strengthen the relationship between our

two nations but will also give the many Iraqi expatriates living in the UAE another affordable, quality air travel alternative to visit friends and family

back home.”

More than 6,000 years of history and the region’s natural beauty has made it a regional retreat for centuries. With the

advent of a more stable period in the country’s history and increasing numbers of direct flights, the city is opening its doors to a new wave of travelers and tourists.

Flights to Erbil will operate twice a week on Fridays and Mondays. On Fridays, FZ201 will leave Dubai at 1830hrs, arriving in Erbil after a flight of three hours at 2030hrs local time.

FZ202, will depart from Erbil at 2115hrs, landing in Dubai at 0055hrs local time. On Mondays, FZ201 will depart from Dubai at 1130hrs arriving in Erbil at 1330hrs local time and the return flight, FZ202, leaves at 1415hrs landing in Dubai at 1800hrs local time.

Flights are available for purchase from the website

(www.flydubai.com), call centre (+9714 301 0800) and travel agents from today. flydubai operates from a modernized and enhanced Terminal 2 on

the north side of Dubai International Airport. flydubai, Dubai’s first low cost airline, was established by the Government of Dubai in

March 2008 and began commercial flights on June 1st, 2009. flydubai aims to make travel a little less complex, a little less stressful and a little less expensive, and thereby increase the number of people travelling to and from the UAE. flydubai currently has a fleet of nine brand new Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft and operates to 21 destinations: BeirutLebanon, Amman-Jordan, Damascus and Aleppo-Syria, Alexandria, Luxor and AssiutEgypt, Djibouti, Doha-Qatar, Baku-Azerbaijan, KhartoumSudan, Bahrain, KathmanduNepal, Muscat-Oman, KabulAfghanistan, Kuwait, Lucknow-India, IstanbulTurkey, Latakia-Syria, Karachi-Pakistan and Colombo-Sri Lanka.

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 .4370000 .3610000 .2690000 .2700000 .2410000 .0045000 .0020000 .0788440 .7681560 .4020000 .0750000 .753440 .0045000 .0500000

US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2890500 .4393450 .3630890 .2718100 .2719500 .0487210 .0379670 .2432920 .0370740 .2075590 .0032940 .0062940 .0025520 .0034000 .0042130 .0787350 .7670900 .4087910 .0771180 .7511470 .0062490

US Dollar Sterling pounds Swiss Francs Saudi Riyals

TRANSFER CHEQUES RATES .2911500 .4424470 .2737340 .0776100

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.353

.2950000 .4470000 .3680000 .2780000 .2780000 .2500000 .0075000 .0035000 .0796370 .7758760 .4180000 .0790000 .7606130 .0072000 .0580000 .2911500 .4424470 .3656520 .2737340 .2735760 .0490660 .0382360 .2450100 .0373370 .2090280 .0033170 .0062800 .0025700 .0034240 .0042430 .0792370 .7719800 .4116860 .0776100 .7559350 .0062930

Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

6.256 3.411 2.569 3.920 209.910 37.439 4.206 6.271 9.007 0.296 0.310 GCC COUNTRIES

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

77.849 80.203 758.360 775.290 79.489 ARAB COUNTRIES

Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

53.500 51.260 1.292 196.680 412.120 195.800 6.248 33.732

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 291.780 Euro 370.200 Sterling Pound 447.590 Canadian dollar 277.890 Turkish lire 186.980 Swiss Franc 278.150 Australian dollar 245.530 US Dollar Buying 290.580 GOLD 20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

240.000 123.000 64.000

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash

SELL CASH 248.300 771.970 4.290 277.100 570.000 14.100 49.600 167.800 53.770 369.200

SELL DRAFT 246.800 771.970 4.190 275.800

210.300 51.032 367.700

Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

37.970 6.510 0.038 0.275 0.256 3.420 412.210 0.196 92.550 48.200 4.540 204.000 1.978 46.300 754.070 3.510 6.570 80.280 77.510 210.250 40.030 2.751 445.900 39.000 277.000 6.400 9.310 198.263 79.210 290.700 1.320

37.820 6.225

410.330 0.195 92.550 3.910 202.500

Sterling Pound US Dollar

275.500 9.150 79.110 290.300

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Candaian Dollars

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 443.900 290.300

290.200 3.415 6.235 2.565 4.190 6.275 79.115 77.595 771.400 51.010 444.900 0.00003280 3.990 1.550 412.200 5.750 370.000 278.700

Al Mulla Exchange

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Cyprus Pound Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees

2.557 4.196 6.247 3.301 8.939 6.330 3.876

Currency 753.890 3.405 6.240 79.850 77.510 210.250 40.030 2.555 443.900

GOLD 1,317.940

10 Tola

Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees

Selling Rate 290.200 273.468 442.540 367.037 272.682 711.303 768.132 78.990 79.690 77.355 409.514 51.001 6.223 3.404

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 290.000 367.500 443.750 275.500 3.320 6.245 51.035 2.569 4.202 6.280 3.420 770.800 79.000 77.400

BUSINESS

Monday, July 5, 2010

23

Greenback loses strength as recovery falters KUWAIT: Fears that the US recovery is losing steam were reinforced this week, as new data on the overall health of the labor market, as well as the manufacturing and housing sectors disappointed economists. Euro started the week above the 1.23 levels reaching a low of 1.2149 and closing the week higher at 1.2560 as bad numbers pushed the US dollar lower.

The sterling pound followed the euro, as it started the week at 1.50 levels dropping to a low of 1.4871 to close the week higher at 1.5199. The Swiss franc started the week at 1.0839 and strengthened throughout the week to close at 1.0622. Finally, the Japanese yen hit a high of 86.94 and closed at 87.74.

Consumer confidence fell Confidence among US consumers sank in June more than forecast as Americans became distressed over the outlook for jobs and incomes.

The Conference Board’s confidence index slumped to 52.9 this month, from a revised 62.7 in May. The data showed that the sentiment fell most in regions affected by the oil spill.

US companies added a modest 13,000 jobs in June, as private-sector job growth stalled amid a shaky economic recovery. June hiring slowed dramatically from the previous

month, when private companies added 57,000 workers, according to ADP Employer Services, signaling that private companies held back ahead of summer. The gain was much smaller than the 60,000 additional jobs that economists had expected.

Initial jobless claims increased by 13,000 to 472,000 in the week ended June 26. The number of people receiving unemployment insurance rose, while those getting emergency benefits dropped after Congress failed to act on extending the legislation. Finally, the US economy lost 125,000 jobs in June, more than expected, as thousands of temporary census jobs ended indicating the economic recovery is failing to gain footing. However, the unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 9.5% from 9.7%, the lowest since July 2009.

Manufacturing sector The Institute for Supply Management’s overall manufacturing index fell from 59.7 in May to 56.2 in June, a much larger drop than predicted by economists, who were looking for a reading of 59. Although any reading above 50 indicates an expansion in manufacturing activity, this is now the second consecutive monthly drop, indicating a slowdown

ed basis, following May’s decline of 41,000. The unemployment rate was unchanged, at 7.7%. Without seasonal adjustment, however, the jobless rate declined to 7.5%.

European unemployment held at the highest in almost 12 years in May as the debt crisis made companies reluctant to add workers. The jobless rate in the 16-nation euro area remained at 10%. That is the highest since August 1998. The April figure was revised down from a previously reported 10.1%.

Retail sales in Germany rose in May as the economic recovery gathered pace and unemployment fell.

Sales, adjusted for inflation and seasonal swings, increased 0.4% from April. Producer-price inflation accelerated to 3.1% in May from 2.8% in April.

NBK WEEKLY MONEY MARKETS REPORT

in the pace of expansion.

The number of contracts to purchase previously owned houses plunged in May by more than twice as much as forecast after a homebuyer tax credit expired. The index of pending home re-sales dropped 30% from the prior month. The drop was the biggest in records dating to 2001.

The decline shows that the industry at the center of the financial crisis

remains vulnerable in the absence of government support. Stabilization in housing will depend on gains in incomes and employment that may stem foreclosures and give Americans the confidence to start buying again.

Home prices in 20 US cities rose in April from a year earlier as sales got a boost from a tax credit aimed at reviving the industry that triggered

the worst recession since the 1930s.

Finally, the S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values climbed 3.8% from April 2009, the biggest yearover-year gain since September 2006.

Unemployment report In Germany, the number of people out of work fell in June by 21,000 to 3.23 million on a seasonally adjust-

United Kingdom Manufacturing grew strongly in June, according to the index of purchasing managers but export growth dropped, in a sign that the European debt crisis was hitting demand in the biggest market for UK goods abroad.

The purchasing managers’ index for manufacturing recorded a level of 57.5 in June, close to the 15-year high seen in April and May. House prices rose again in June

but only by 0.1%, according to the Nationwide building society. The rise follows a 0.5% increase in May, with the average property in the UK now costing more than £170,000.

Prices have risen by 3% since the start of the year, the Nationwide’s house price index showed.

Retail sales Japan’s retail sales rose at the slowest pace since January, a sign that government incentives to purchase cars and household appliances are fading. Sales advanced 2.8% in May from a year earlier. Japan unemployment rate unexpectedly increased, in signs that the recovery of the world’s second-largest economy may slow. The jobless rate reached 5.2% in May, the third straight monthly increase and the highest level since December 2009.

An improvement in Japan’s manufacturing confidence may be threatened by mounting evidence that the global economic recovery is slowing.

The Tankan index of sentiment climbed 15 points in June to 1. The positive number exceeded forecasts.

Kuw ait Dinar at 0.28960 The USDKWD opened at 0.28960 yesterday morning.

Corporation has 11 projects in Egypt: Al-Shuwaib

KPC seeks to expand into attractive global markets KUWAIT: Kuw ait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) is implementing clear policies focusing on strengthening external relations w ith clients and to be present in the w orld’s most attractive oil markets, said CEO Ali Al-Shuw aib. In an interview published in the latest edition of the ‘Alam Al-Muassassa’

Abdullah Al-Fouzan, Senior Branch Manager, handing the cheque to the Al-Danah KD 250,000 winner, Dawoud Mohammed Khamees Al-Qadhi.

Dawoud Khamees Al-Qadhi wins Al-Danah prize of KD 250,000 Gulf Bank announces winner of quarterly draw KUWAIT: Gulf Bank has announced the winner of the second Al-Danah quarterly draw prize of KD250,000, held at the Gulf Bank Head Office Branch, on the 30th June, 2010.

The winner was Dawoud Mohammed Khamees Al-Qadhi , a Hawally branch customer.

Aly Shalaby, General Manager, Consumer Banking at Gulf Bank said, “We are delighted to congratulate our second quarterly winner, Dawoud Mohammed Khamees Al-Qadhi. Gulf Bank is pleased to be able to offer our customers something in return for their loyalty and continuous trust in the Bank. I believe AlDanah gives customers a great opportunity to save money and simultaneously stand a chance to win one of the largest single draw prizes in the Middle East. Gulf Bank is the only bank across the Middle East that is offering its customers the opportunity to win KD 1 million in one single draw prize.” Dawoud Khamees AlQadhi stated, “I haven’t planned how I will use the KD 250,000 that I won in the Al Danah draw. It isn’t a small amount and I’m still in shock, but I’m sure I will find a good way to invest the money.”

Gulf Bank’s Al Danah account which has won the coveted Best Product Award by the Banker Middle East offers weekly draws of

KD 1,000 each to ten winners. Quarterly draw winners are eligible to win KD 500,000 during the third quarter draw, and finally KD 1 million during the fourth quarter.

Opening an Al Danah account is simple and easy. You need to deposit a minimum of KD 200 to qualify. Maintaining this minimum balance will automatically allow an Al Danah account holders to enter the weekly and quarterly draws as well as the annual draw. To increase the chances of winning, customers are encouraged to continue saving with Al Danah as the more you deposit and the longer you save, the more chances you have to win.

Customers have a choice of several channels to open and / or deposit money into the Al-Danah account, either through branches, online, through Telebanking’s 24/7 service by simply calling 1805805 or they can even use the Al Danah ATM deposit card to deposit money directly into their Al Danah account at any of Gulf Bank’s 24/7 deposit ATM machines.

You can also log on to www.e-gulfbank.com, Gulf Bank’s bilingual website, for more information regarding Al Danah or any of the Bank’s other products and services or directly link through for information on the Al Danah account and the names of the winners through www.e-gulfbank.com/aldanah

He noted that the Corporation’s strategy and plans include projects in China and Vietnam, adding that KPC made important contributions to guarantee smooth export of crude oil and optimum benefit from the added value of its projects.

KPC has up to 11 projects in Egypt, which is considered a qualitative leap in terms of volume, he said, noting that these included excavated fields, as well as other fields being developed or producing oil.

This large number of projects reflected KPC’s keenness for working in Egypt and the importance of the brotherly relations between the two countries. Asked about the impact of the global economic crisis on the Corporation’s activities, he said that the situation called for careful and detailed review of all available opportunities, while focusing on promising markets.

As for the China refinery project, AlShuwaib said that it was late in starting the project because of the approval procedures required by the Chinese authorities, noting that a new location had been allocated by Beijing for the refinery to avoid any environmental problem.

The magazine also published an interview with Chairman and Managing Director of Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) Farouq Al-Zanki, who spoke about the company’s commitment to international health, safety and environmental standards. He said that KNPC was on the verge of launching several developmental projects, among them the environmentally-friendly fuel for which the Ahmadi and Mina Abdullah refineries are being developed and expanded. A new refinery is also being built to boost Kuwait’s refinery capacity.

The goal for Kuwait is to be able to accommodate the needs of the local and international markets, and provide petroleum products of international standards by 2020, especially in terms of environmental standards, Al-Zanki said. — KUNA

Lindam & Pixie baby products in all Centrepoint Kuwait branches Gogaes Business Company shopping global baby products in Centrepoint Kuwait KUWAIT: Gogaes Business Company, the exclusive distributor of Lindam and Pixie baby’s products announced signing the marketing convention in all of Centrepoint (Landmark Group) branches in the State of Kuwait.

Gogaes added “We are pleased with this important deal with significant marketing place like Centrepoint Kuwait and this shall support our presence in the most important local and global markets in the Kuwaiti market.”

It is worth mentioning that Lindam and Pixie products do not contain any harmful substances that might affect children’s health, which is one of the objectives in all Gogaes products through various trademarks concerned with the needs of children and dealing with baby and mother’s health first.

Gogaes consider this convention as one of the most important deals of this year wherein they have joined hands with a famous and popular retailer of

Kuwait, Landmark Group.

On the other hand, Lindam, the UK’s number 1 safety company provides its clients with amazing protection products for baby and they characterized it by quality and diversity through a barrier of protection products to isolate the areas that parents need to keep the baby in which prevent him from approaching any danger or risk. They provide protection tools of the doors and drawers and electricity and other securi-

Iraq’s security situation remains deterrent to business: Survey KUWAIT: A new survey of senior businesspeople by the Economist Intelligence Unit finds that investor perceptions of Iraq are slowly improving, despite the country’s many problems. Preliminary results from our survey of 300 executives all of whom have direct input into their company’s decisions on doing business in the Middle East - show that the security situation remains the major deterrent to business.

Indeed, 64% said it is still too dangerous to do business in Iraq at the present time. But more than half of those surveyed said their view of Iraq has become more positive over the past two years.

Moreover, most respondents expect the security situation for foreign executives and employees to improve over the next two years, with 46% saying it would improve somewhat and 9% saying it would improve significantly, despite the drawdown of Western troops. Just 10% expected it to worsen.

Other key findings include: • Iraq’s capital holds great economic importance: Northern Iraq, where violence has been limited, is

Robert Broadwell the region that investors view the most favorably, with 46% of respondents viewing it either highly favorably or somewhat favorably, while 20% view it unfavorably. Yet Baghdad, which has suffered far more violence, is viewed almost as favorably by our respondents, 46% of whom said they viewed it either highly favorably or somewhat favorably - illustrating the economic

importance of the country’s capital.

• Sector analysis: 43% saw construction and real estate as the country’s most promising nonhydrocarbon sector, followed by consumer goods (23%), with healthcare and pharmaceuticals tying with chemicals for third place (18%) respectively. Media (4%) and retail (6%) were seen as the least promising sector.

• A country with significant opportunities: 45% of respondents judged that “The ongoing violence means doing business in Iraq will remain too risky for some time”.

But nearly as many - 38% - see Iraq as “A country with significant opportunities for those who are willing to accept risks in the shortterm”.

• Increased business dependant on issue of security: 40% of respondents are not currently considering doing business in Iraq but would do so if circumstances change. Those who are not currently doing business in Iraq emphasized that the most important factor in their decision is security.

• ‘Violence’ possesses most risk

to businesses: The top three risks to business were judged to be violence (67%), corruption (44%) and the lack of infrastructure (35%).

The next three were bureaucracy, lack of contract protection and credit risk.

• Iraq’s attractive resources: The most attractive aspect of Iraq as perceived by these executives was - unsurprisingly - the country’s oil and gas resources (cited by 56% as one of the top three attractions).

18% also cited other natural resources such as phosphates. The second and third biggest draws were the prospects of the untapped consumer markets and early-mover advantage.

• Opportunity to make high returns: Among the 175 respondents who are doing or considering doing business in Iraq, the top reason cited was the opportunity to make high returns (49%), followed by the opportunity to reach a largely untapped consumer market (38%).

• Taking advantage of oil and gas resource: 25% were attracted by the opportunity to take advan-

(Corporation’s World) magazine, Al-Shuw aib said that KPC opened offices in Egypt, Tunisia, Indonesia, Pakistan and Australia, noting that there w ere a number of projects that the corporation placed emphasis on, such as excavations in Egypt w hich began in 1981.

tage of oil and gas resources, while another 25% believed their company was well-placed to take part in reconstruction efforts. 23% cited the country’s important strategic location in the region, while 17% emphasized a desire to participate in Iraq’s renewal.

• Desire to renew Iraq: Among executives based in the Middle East, 27% cited a desire to participate in Iraq’s renewal - although the opportunities for returns and for reaching untapped consumers remained the first and second most important reasons respectively.

The full results of the survey also include a detailed analysis of how businesses from different regions of the word perceive Iraq and what they believe should happen politically. The complete findings will form part of an extensive piece of research into business perceptions of Iraq, including in-depth interviews with key executives.

This report will be launched at Economist Conferences’ Iraq Business and Investment Summit in Manama, Bahrain on September 29th 2010.

ty products to protect babies from risks. But the most important product by Lindam is their Feeding Bottle with its unique and healthy design that help to avoid and stop any symptoms of colic suffered by the infant through intelligent design and the idea of leading the air out from within.

Pixie products are characterized by not containing any material that might harm the health of the child and it’s one of the most important products provid-

ed by Gogaes to Kuwaiti market with its various range of products, including the protection of children from the doors and locks, etc. They also provide new disposable Bibs that it is marked for use only once, by the mother outside or during travel, and then replace it with a new one to provide the trouble of cleaning it as they are soft and strong plus the waterproof backing which maintains the baby’s clothes clean and healthy.

South African unions call off strike at Eskom JOHANNESBURG: South African unions said yesterday they had called off a planned strike at the power utility Eskom after receiving a higher wage offer, ending concern about power supplies during the football World Cup. Widespread power cuts could also have dented manufacturing and mining companies’ output in Africa’s biggest economy, the world’s top platinum and fourth-largest gold producer.

Eskom had said it would be illegal to strike at the utility because it is an essential service and warned it would punish strikers who had planned to go on strike this week. “We think that it is a very serious offer and ask our members to seriously review it. We are not in a position to support an illegal strike by workers,” Irvin Jim, the general secretary for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), told a media briefing.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and Numsa said they felt 9 percent was the best offer

they could get from Eskom and conceded that a strike would have been illegal under South African law.

Last year the unions called off a strike planned at Eskom at the last minute after accepting a pay deal.

Analysts had predicted Eskom would strike a compromise deal with the unions. The decision was taken jointly by officials of Numsa and NUM, the biggest union at Eskom with about half of the 32,000 staff.

Numsa has some 7,500 members at the utility, similar to a third union, Solidarity, which had asked Eskom to revise its offer by today before deciding whether to join the strike.

Eskom’s new offer came in last ditch talks at the weekend between the power firm and the unions.

The unions said Eskom raised its offer to 9 percent from 8.5 percent, nearly double South Africa’s inflation rate of 4.6 percent, and said it would pay a 1,500 rand ($194) per month housing allowance, up from its previous offer of 1,000 rand. —Reuters

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KSE stocks remain bearish KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange started the week with a negative performance following the losses witnessed in the international markets.

All major and sectoral indices witnessed losses in yesterday’s session.

Global General Index (GGI) decreased by 4.43 points (2.45 percent) during the session to reach 176.64 points. The KSE Price Index also fell 111.50 points (1.73 percent) yesterday and closed at 6,320.60 points.

Market capitalization went down by KD732.51mn yesterday to reach KD29.20bn.

Market breadth During yesterday’s session, 100 companies were traded.

Market breadth was skewed towards decliners, as 82 equities retreated versus 11 that advanced. A total of 119 stocks remained unchanged during the trading session.

Trading activities ended on a negative note yesterday as volume of shares traded on the exchange decreased by 39.52 percent to reach 105.24mn shares, and value of shares traded increased by 1.79 percent to stand at KD21.08mn. The Investment Sector was the volume leader, accounting for 23.65 percent of total market volume. The Services Sector was the value leader, accounting for 34.09 percent of total market value. Gulf Finance House was the volume leader, with a total traded volume of 8.16mn shares.

Mobile Telecommunication Co (ZAIN) was the value leader, for a second consecutive day, with a total traded value of KD4.75mn.

In terms of top gainers, Tijara & Real Estate Investment Co increased its gains as it took the top spot, adding 6.76 percent and closed at KD0.04. On the other hand, First Takaful Insurance was the biggest loser, shedding 21.55

Monday, July 5, 2010

Kuwait extends losses on global economy concerns MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT percent, and closed at KD0.182, followed by Investors Holding Group Company decreasing by 11.90 percent and closing at KD0.019.

Sectors Regarding Global’s sectoral indices, they all ended the day on a negative note. Global Insurance Index was the biggest

loser, losing 3.47 percent to its value, backed by First Takaful Insurance, down 21.55 percent.

Global’s special indices, also, all ended the day on a negative note, with Global High Yield Index being the biggest loser, decreasing by 3.43 percent.

The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $70.48 a barrel on Thursday, compared

with $72.51 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Updating its announcement dated June 17, 2010, Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) declares that Kuwait Co for Process Plant Construction & Contracting (KCPC) has signed the contract of Tender No MA/16/2009/2010. The tender

was launched by the Ministry of Education (MOE). Under the contract, KCPC will provide maintenance services as well as rehabilitation and construction works of the schools and buildings of MOE in Farwaniya Educational Area (Second Area). The KD5mn worth of contract will extend for 730 days.

DUBAI: Kuwait’s bourse fell for a third consecutive session yesterday, tracking lower oil prices and international stocks, while most regional indices dropped as investor concerns grew about global recovery prospects.

Kuwait’s index dropped 1.7 percent to 6,321 points, after falling by a similar margin on Thursday, to its lowest close for more than five years.

“Economists recently declared that they fear that despite of the prevailing optimism that the economic crisis might end in the near future, the possibilities that it could worsen also remains as the international economies still did not give a significant sign of a recovery,” said Global Investment House in a research note.

All blue-chips contributed to Kuwait’s decline. In addition, investors are also pessimistic about second-quarter results, which was seen as a potential catalyst for buying activity.

“People are not very optimistic about second-quarter results, especially because many companies are linked to the market’s performance,” said a Kuwait-based trader. “Given the market’s performance this quarter, this is likely to be reflected in the secondquarter results of those companies exposed, which in Kuwait is a big chunk,” he said.

Most other markets in the Middle East traded flat to lower, with volumes subdued and little or no market direction. “It’s the historical summer thing: traders are more pessimistic, there is more risk aversion than risk takers,” said Mohamed Khaled, risk manager at Prime Securities.

Saudi stocks extended their losses, ending lower for a sixth consecutive day, as oil prices con-

tinued to weigh on investors’ sentiment. Heavyweights Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) and Samba Financial Group fell 1.2 percent and 2.2 percent respectively.

In Dubai, telecoms firm du fell 3 percent. Du will gain access to the network of rival and market leader Etisalat, creating a new wave of competition in the country, a local newspaper reported on Friday.

Qatar stocks retreated for a sixth consecutive session, hitting their lowest level since June 7.

In Egypt, shares in Egyptian brokerage Pioneers Holding fell 7.7 percent after its planned merger with investment bank Beltone Financial fell through.

Egypt’s index slumped 2.3 percent to 5,896 points.

US crude oil fell to a threeweek low on Friday as bearish US job data sparked fears of a double dip recession.

HIGHLIGHTS DUBAI The index fell 0.1 percent to 1,468 points.

ABU DHABI The measure gained 0.2 percent to 2,515 points.

KUWAIT The benchmark fell 1.7 percent to 6,321 points.

OMAN The measure gained 0.1 percent to 6,078 points.

QATAR The measure fell 1.2 percent to 6,767 points.

SAUDI ARABIA The index fell 0.5 percent to 6,003 points.

EGYPT The benchmark fell 2.3 percent to 5,896 points.

BAHRAIN The index lost 1.4 percent to 1,361 points. — Reuters

BUSINESS

Monday, July 5, 2010

25

Options activity at KSE remains dormant KUWAIT: Trading activity in Kuwait Option market largely remained dormant on the back of weak and lackluster underlying equity markets. The weakness in global equity markets has taken its toll on the regional equity markets including Kuwait as sentiment remained largely subdued and nega-

tive and to add to it there were underlying worries on local bluechip companies like Agility, KFH and Zain. Total premium value traded in Options market declined to KD 766,679 registering a decline of 13% compared to last month, however, there was some improvement in the volume numbers with total volume

Markaz Monthly Update traded stood as 39.7 million shares compared to 37.7 million seen last month. Number of contracts traded dropped below 900 to 875. This is the fifth consecutive month of decline in trading activity in the

India preens over new airport terminal NEW DELHI: Frequent travelers to India are in for quite a shock the next time they fly in to New Delhi's international airport with its new state-ofthe-art terminal.

For years, arrivals at Delhi's main airport were greeted by the grim sight of dingy walls, dim lighting, congested counters and the smell of overflowing toilets when they went near a washroom. But now, with the new Terminal 3, a futuristic $2.7-billion facility in glass-and-steel, the capital finally has a showcase airport that chimes with India's global aspirations. The sky-lit terminal, one of the world's largest, "signals the arrival of a new India, committed to joining the ranks of modern industrialized nations," Premier Manmohan Singh said at the inauguration ceremony on Saturday.

Sprawling over four square kilometers (1.5 square miles), the terminal was completed by an Indian-led consortium in just 37 months -- a huge achievement in a country where major infrastructure projects regularly run years over schedule.

"India has never been recognized as able to build an infrastructure project on time, but we have demonstrated that we are capable of beating anyone else-and on this massive scale," said Aviation Minister Praful Patel. "This is a demonstration of what India is truly capable."

The terminal will handle international and domestic travelers and is due to receive its first flight on July 14. Built to coincide with Delhi's hosting of the Commonwealth Games in October, the facility boasts over 90 automated walkways and 20,000 square meters of shopping space. It is a big morale booster for infrastructure project planners, said Kapil Kaul, who heads the Indian and Middle East division of the Center for Asian Pacific Aviation, a consulting firm.

While Delhi's sleek metro, now in the second phase of expansion, has been one of India's biggest building success stories, many infrastructure projects get mired in corruption, missed deadlines and ballooning costs. "It shows what India can doit's a time to celebrate," Kaul said on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony.

"It's a game-changer-this success can be achieved across all sectors," he said.

Constructed on nine levels, the terminal will be able to handle 34 million passengers a year-a capacity urgently needed to cope with surging air traffic in the country of 1.2 billion people.

The government expects an annual 10 percent increase in domestic air passengers to 180 million by 2020, while it says international traffic could top 50 million in another decade.

Improving India's famously decrepit infrastructure-crumbling roads, shabby airports, ramshackle railways and ports and erratic power supply-is critical to accelerating growth, economists say.

The economy is expected to expand by at least 8.5 percent this year. But infrastructure bottlenecks are seen as the main barrier to propelling growth to the double-digit levels the government says are a pre-requisite for dragging hundreds of millions of Indians out of poverty.

The airport terminal "highlights our country's resolve to bridge the infrastructure deficiencies in our country," Singh said. It was built through a public-private partnership headed by south Indiabased GMR Group-a financial model seen as the most viable for India to execute large infrastructure projects because it eases the burden on scarce government resources.

Terminal 3 "shows the world that, 'Yes, we can'," said GMR chairman G M Rao. — AFP

Saudi Airlines catering unit eyes IPO by March 2011 JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Catering Co, a unit of Saudi Airlines (Saudia), is eyeing a bourse listing

by March 2011, while its ground handling unit will merge in July with two other firms, top executives said. The national carrier of the world's top oil exporting country started a long process of privatization in 2006 when it divided the company into six units; catering, cargo, maintenance, airlines, flight academy and ground handling. Saudi Airlines has a fleet of 114 planes, including 35 Boeings <B.N> and 53 Airbus A320s and is also awaiting the arrival of 35 more deliveries, according to its website.

The airline plans to privatize its units individually, before offering them to the public through IPOs. The catering unit was the first to be privatized as Saudia sold 49 percent of it in 2008, followed by the cargo unit.

The Saudi Arabian Catering Co is in the process of seeking regulatory approval to start the IPO, its Chief Executive Christopher Parent told Reuters. "The filing will be done very soon. We are finalizing all the documents ... The official procedure starts in July ... We believe this could be done within 8 to 11 months," he said.

French bank Calyon has been chosen to advise on the IPO. "We should hopefully be able to list the company within the first quarter of 2011, March 2011," Parent added.

After the privatization of the catering unit, the ground handling services business was meant to follow last year with a merger between local firms National Handling Services and Attar Travel Company Ltd, but the due diligence process dragged on.

"The process of evaluating the three companies took some time to finish ... (Now) the percentages have been decided. We are in the final step to sign the agreement," said Abdulrahman Alhilali, managing director of Saudia's ground handling services.

Saudi Airlines will hold 75 percent of the ground handling company, National Handling Services will hold 21 percent, and Attar Travel Company Ltd. will hold 4 percent, Alhilali told Reuters by phone.

"This is expected to be signed in a few weeks.

The issue is now with the Ministry of Commerce.

We expect to finish within two or three weeks," he said. — Reuters

Options market as market offered limited long side opportunities to Option traders.

Due to the weakness prevailing in the market, investors looked through the second tier stocks for

long trading opportunities in the Options market. Top traded stock for the month in Options market was National Investment Company followed by Kuwait Pipes Industries and Boubyan bank. NINV fetched a

total premium traded value of KD 75,295 while PIPES fetched a total premium traded value of KD 56,555.

Other stocks that figured in the most active Option stocks were Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company and Commercial Bank of Kuwait.

With share price of Zain Telecom

shares moving in a tight trading range, this heavy weight stock could not find its place in the top 5 traded stocks for the month. Stock Option on Commercial Bank of Kuwait was among the most gained Options contract for the month as the share prices shoot up after the extreme weakness seen last month.

UK nat gas prices up on a tighter supply-demand

Little upside to UK gas in 2010 seen BoA-Merrill Lynch-Global Energy Weekly Report KUWAIT: Following months of directionless trading and relatively weak fundamentals, spot NBP natural gas prices in the United Kingdom embarked on a sharp rally at the end of May. UK natural gas prices rose largely on rising uncertainty around North Sea production, a cold start to the spring season, and lower-than-expected LNG inflows into Europe. The tighter supply/demand balance, largely a function of a string of unplanned nat gas supply outages, pushed front-month NBP contract prices up to 46 pence/therm in mid June, the highest level since February 2009.

European gas consumers have also been snapping up cheaper UK spot gas, reducing their intake of more expensive oil-indexed take-or-pay obligations. With oil trading near $80/bbl, long-term contract nat gas supply into Europe from Russia and Norway is priced at close to $10/MMBtu compared to spot NBP gas prices of $6.56/MMBtu. Moreover, the global LNG market has continued to tighten as European demand for UK gas surged (see GEW "Drowning in liquid gas....or not?"). We now see global LNG supplies going up by 4.5 bcf/d in 2010 and 3.2 bcf/d in 2011, with capacity added in Qatar, Indonesia, Yemen and Russia.

Still, we find little reason to suggest that the market will

tighten substantially further from here. First, most of the North Sea outages are temporary and should not have a lasting impact on UK natural gas supply.

Second, LNG could start heading back into the UK in coming weeks. Third, while European nat gas demand is improving, it is still at very low levels. And lastly, we expect to see another year of record storage in Continental Europe, likely limiting the potential pull on UK NBP gas this winter. As a result, we see limited upside to UK natural gas prices this winter. Having said that, relatively low natural gas stocks in the UK and attractive spark spreads present some risks to our NBP

price view.

Lower than expected European economic growth and a weak EUR given the European sovereign debt crisis could put downward pressure on USD-denominated commodity prices in the near term. In the long term, energy will remain a large share of the global economy on tight fundamentals.

A slowdown in Chinese economic growth will affect demand in varying ways: oil is particularly vulnerable to Chinese loan controls, while base metals and bulks could suffer from a slowdown in exports.

The US Gulf of Mexico oil spill will not materially impact global oil s/d balances nearterm, but longer term.

US heating oil European gasoil and US heating oil could benefit from the cyclical upswing, though bloated distillate inventories in the Atlantic Basin will curb upside on crack spreads to crude oil in the near term.

Medium term, strong EM demand for transport fuels will keep global diesel capacity utilization rates high. Risks to our view include uncertainty in the speed of recovery in the US and Europe.

Near-term, we see downside risks to US RBOB gasoline crack spreads given capacity overhang.

We expect a muted driving season on financial market uncertainty affecting consumer confidence, a slowly recovering unemployment rate, and high retail gasoline

prices.

US natural gas Growth in shale output and sluggish demand recovery will keep the supply demand balance weak. The front of the curve may continue to trade below the coal floor to encourage coal-to-gas switching. Risks to our view are better than expected industrial gas demand and a spike in coal prices. "Lowering our 2010 US nat gas forecast on rising shale output".

UK natural gas We see little further upside to UK nat gas prices given the return of North Sea volumes temporarily affected by outages, higher expected LNG flows into the UK, and downside risk to European natural gas demand.

Beltone takeover of Pioneers scrapped CAIRO: A $62 million acquisition by Egypt's Pioneers Holding of investment bank Beltone Financial has been scrapped after the two sides failed to agree on a strategy for the merged firm, the parties said yesterday.

Under the plan, announced in November and approved by shareholders of both companies, Pioneers would have acquired Beltone in an allshare deal creating an entity with 29.2 billion Egyptian pounds ($5.13 billion) under management. Pioneers was to have issued 100 million new shares for Beltone, whose owners would have held 17 percent of the combined entity.

Beltone CEO Aladdin Saba was to have headed the firm. Based on the Pioneers share closing price on June 30, the last day it traded before yesterday's announcement, the deal would have valued Beltone at 351 million Egyptian pounds ($61.6 million), about half the deal's value when

it was first announced last year. Beltone's head of investor relations, Osama Rashad, told Reuters the deal fell through due to "lack of agreement on future strategy for the new entity". Some Egyptian media had reported disagreements in the make-up of a new board.

Pioneers board member Khaled El Tayeb dismissed such talk, saying: "This is completely untrue."

Pioneers has a wide retail distribution network with smaller research and investment banking operations. Analysts had said when the merger was announced that the tie-up would have been complementary; given Beltone's institutional client base. The merger was initially expected to have been completed around the end of 2009. Pioneers shares were trading down 2.9 percent at 0859 GMT. The benchmark index was down 1.1 percent. —Reuters

COLORADO: Toyota Prius sedans sit at a Toyota dealership in Englewood, Colorado. The age of the silent hybrid may be coming to an end. Gas-electric hybrids, propelled by electric motors at low speeds, are well-known for their quiet ride and great gas mileage. — AP

YOKOHAMA: Nissan Motor's new electronic vehicle 'Leaf' is displayed during an opening ceremony of the company's new headquarters in Yokohama, Japan. The age of the silent hybrid may be coming to an end. Gas-electric hybrids, propelled by electric motors at low speeds, are well-known for their quiet ride and great gas mileage. — AP

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Monday, July 5, 2010

UK orders review of even deeper spending cuts LONDON: Britain’s coalition government has asked many departments to plan for possible spending cuts of up to 40 percent, far more than announced in an emergency budget last month, the finance ministry said on Saturday.

With Britain trying to reduce a record budget deficit, ministers had been told to expect public spending cuts of about 25 percent in most areas. But many ministries have now been asked to compile reports on what effect cuts of 40 percent would have

on services.

A finance ministry spokesman said departments had been asked to look at a range of possible cuts and that the 40 percent level was only one option that would form the basis of negotiations in the coming months. “These planning assumptions are not final settlements and do not commit the Treasury or departments to final settlements,” the spokesman said. “These assumptions will be negotiated.

The education, health and defense ministries

would be spared such unprecedented levels of spending cuts. But most other departments would have to draw up the plans, including the interior ministry, transport and work and pensions departments.

Proposals for how to cut 40 percent of spending must be finalized by the end of the month, although there is no certainty they will form part of official government budgets due to be announced in October.

Finance minister George Osborne announced the harshest budget in decades last month, cutting spend-

ing and raising taxes to avoid the fate of debt-ridden countries like Greece.

It prompted unions to warn of the threat of general strikes to protest against such wide-ranging cuts.

Britain’s budget deficit is at about 11 percent of national output and reducing the deficit is the biggest priority of the new government, made up of the centre-right Conservative Party and centre-left Liberal Democrats.

“We are determined to tackle the record budget

deficit in order to keep rates lower for longer, protect jobs, and maintain the quality of essential public services,” the finance ministry spokesman added. Mark Serwotka, head of the Public and Commercial Services Union, whose 300,000 members include many civil servants, estimated that 40 percent spending cuts would lead to the loss of one million public sector jobs.

“It’s political shock and awe,” he told the BBC. “It is very worrying.” — Reuters

Spotlight on bank tests as ECB readies rate meeting

ECB president Trichet rules out risk of new recession AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France: ECB president J ean-Claude Trichet ruled out yesterday the risk of a new recession, after a w eek of soft economic data fuelled market fears of a dreaded double-dip into a new slump. “I don’t think so at all,” Trichet told journalists w hen asked if a double-dip

recession w as on the horizon. “At a global level it is clear that w e are experiencing a recovery, w hich is confirmed particularly in the emerging w orld but also in the industrialized w orld,” he said at an economics conference in the south of France.

ROME: President of the European Central Bank Jean Claude Trichet (center) attends a press conference after the High-level Eurosystem Seminar with Central Banks and Monetary Agencies of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Rome. — AFP

Portugal defends veto on Spanish telecom takeover MADRID: Portugal’s prime minister defended his decision to veto a bid by Spain’s Telefonica for part of the Brazilian firm Vivo held by Portugal Telecom (PT), saying in an interview published yesterday the move had not violated any laws.

The Portuguese state blocked the Telefonica move at a meeting of PT shareholders on Wednesday using a special “golden share” in Portugal Telecom that enables it to thwart takeovers.

The Telefonica bid nonetheless had the backing of 73.9 percent of PT shareholders. The Spanish telecoms giant said the Portuguese government’s “golden share” action was illegal, and decided to extend its offer to July 16. “We have not infringed on anyone’s rights. We are defending our interests

and we are entitled to do so,” Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

“There has been no violation of any rule or law. The special rights that the state has, with 500 shares, are the result of a decision approved by shareholders when Portugal Telecom was privatized,” he said. “For many years, shareholders have lived well within this framework. I never thought I would use the special rights, because I was always hopeful that Telefonica would have the common sense to consider the strategic interests and to negotiate with the management of PT.” Telefonica, seeing Brazil as essential to its financial development, raised its offer for PT’s 50-percent stake in

Brasilcel, which controls Vivo, from 6.5 billion euros to 7.15 billion euros ($8.7 billion) late on Tuesday, just hours ahead of the board meeting. The company is now banking on a decision from the European Court of Justice on July 8 on regulations giving voting rights to the Portuguese government that largely exceed its stake in a company.

Socrates would not comment on the forthcoming court decision. But he said criticism of the veto by the European Commission was “wrong because it says that the Portuguese government has granted special rights. “Special rights were privately determined by the general meeting of shareholders of Portugal Telecom, and in accordance with our rules of operation for commercial companies.” — AFP

MADRID: People take part in a march against labor reform in Madrid on Saturday. Facing a growing risk of a debt default, the Spanish parliament has quickly passed measures that make firing cheaper and even let companies talk their way out of collective bargaining agreements if times go bad.—AP

But he warned that growth could not be taken for granted in industrialized countries, saying that “it depends on us, it depends on the capacity of the industrialized countries to reinforce confidence.”

“This is the reason why it is so important that we have fiscal policies designed to reinforce confidence of households ... of businesses ... of savers and of investors,” he said.

Trichet also said that austerity drives being implemented in several European countries would not hurt the recovery, as some top economists and US officials have suggested.

Global stocks suffered heavy losses and bonds rallied last week as a string of dismal economic data from the United States and China raised doubts about the health of the global economic recovery.

The European Central Bank on Thursday will urge euro-zone banks and governments to shore up their accounts in the face of market pressure for a clear reading on the health of the European financial sector.

The ECB’s main interest rate will undoubtedly remain at a record low 1.0 percent set in May 2009 and bank president Jean-Claude Trichet will press banks again to draw on state support if necessary to bolster balance sheets.

Around 100 banks across Europe are being subjected to “stress tests” aimed at determining whether they can withstand shocks such as another recession or the default of a major borrower.

Economic activity has begun to ease in many European countries and government debt in those on the euro-zone’s rim poses a particular threat to growth, RBS analysts warned last week. “Absent an effective policy intervention to tackle the debt crisis in the periphery over the coming months, the European economy will double dip in 2011,” they said in reference to a possible second contraction.

Commerzbank chief economist Joerg Kraemer said Trichet would “demand that progress be made in budget consolidation and surveillance” by euro-zone members.

In Switzerland, the Bank for International Settlements has warned that economic recovery could falter if governments did not wind down crisis stimulus programs.

The global central bank body called for “immediate” steps to cut budget deficits and debt accumulation in “several industrial countries.” While Italian bank UniCredit pointed to “a low risk of double-dip recession,” chief economist Marco Annunziata expressed the frustration of many peers over the financial sector’s persistently worrying health.

“It is extremely lamentable that three years into the financial crisis, and with economies now in a recovery phase, the European financial system should still be experiencing acute difficulties, with parts of the banking system which seem to be terminally addicted to ECB support,” he said.

The central bank called in one-year loans worth 442 billion euros ($557 billion) from more than 1,000 euro-zone commercial banks last week, but also doled out around 250 billion to more than 170 banks. Analysts say many of the latter probably cannot get loans at cheaper rates from peers on interbank markets owing to fears about exposure to heavy losses that the stress tests are meant to clarify.

“At the moment we are really lacking information about the health of the banking sector,” Ernst and Young senior economist Marie Diron told AFP. Attention is focused on banks in countries like Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, but severe problems could spread much wider Diron warned. “Given all the cross-holdings, if Spanish banks are really in deep trouble there will be repercussions across the euro-zone,” she said.

German central bank chief Axel Weber warned governments to be ready to help banks that reveal serious problems, and many experts forecast a painful round of restructuring ahead.

“A major improvement in transparency should be quickly followed up with recapitalization or resolution of the weaker institutions,” Annunziata said. The stress tests are being managed by the London-based Committee of European Banking Supervisors in close cooperation with national bank regulators, with results expected in mid July.

With inflation well contained, the ECB should keep its main interest rate unchanged until well into 2011. — AFP

Experts suggest lower deficits, more innovation for Europe AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France: Is Europe condemned to stagnation? Not necessarily, but it must undertake reforms, reduce deficits and embrace innovation if it does not want to find itself sidelined when the global economy recovers, a panel of economists, executives and politicians have concurred.

“Without a change of policy, potential growth in Europe for the coming 10 years will be around 1.3 to 1.5 percent a year,” said French economist Christian de Boissieu at a weekend conference in the south of France.

“It would then take us years for unemployment to drop back to where it was before the downturn,” he said. Far from being able to match the growth levels of emerging nations, Europe risks falling well behind, even becoming “a place of culture and tourism,” added Jean-Herve Lorenzi, whose Paris-based Cercle des Economistes think-tank organized the conference on the theme “In Search of New Growth”.

Scaling back public deficits is the first step to getting Europe back on track, speakers agreed.

“There must be a period of austerity before we get back to healthy growth,” said former French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine, who identified a need for better intergovernmental coordination to sort out Europe’s finances. “The priority is for there to be a real Franco-German debate on differences-and not the never-ending and pointless that dialogue we see now,” he said.

French economist and essayist Jacques Attali appealed, however, for an “accelerator” to ensure that applying the brakes on public spending does not undermine economic recovery.

“We have an incredible opportunity-no European treasury bonds and a European Union with no debt,” he said, arguing for a Europe that would need to borrow only 10 percent of its gross domestic product.

Louis Gallois, chief executive of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space (EADS) group, best known for Airbus airliners, said Europe must retain the ability to invest in innovation, green technology and education. “Innovation and services are decisive,” he said. “The deindustrialization of the United States has not touched the very high technology sectors” as it remains capable of attracting the world’s best brains.

In order to rebound, Europe must change its growth model, said former French Prime Minister Alain Juppe, who called for “a giant leap” in inno-

vation relating to sustainable development and the environment.

“If it is not we who do so, it will be the emerging countries,” he said. Yet to be found is a way to synthesize two priorities-cleaning up public finances and investing in the future-which can appear contradictory.

“The European Union lacks coherence between its short- and medium-term strategy, centered on deficit reductions, and the long term, which seeks to promote investment in economic growth,” said economist Agnes Benassy-Quere.

“To re-establish a certain coherence of objectives at different horizons must be a priority in intra-European Union coordination,” she said. — AFP

Stress tests to show EU banks ‘solid and healthy’: France AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France: So-called stress tests of European banks’ capacity to withstand shocks will be published on July 23 and show the sector is “solid and healthy”, the French finance minister said yesterday.

“Around July 23 the results of the stress tests will be published,” Christine Lagarde told journalists on the sidelines of Rencontres economiques conference in the southern French city of Aix-en-Provence. “You will see that banks in Europe are solid and healthy.”

In the face of investor concerns about the health of the European banking sector, EU leaders agreed last month to publish the results of stress tests in July.

The tests, which have since been broadened out to cover some 100 European banks, are supposed to show whether banks have enough capital to absorb heavy losses triggered by economic or financial shocks.

Financial markets have been unable to shake off concerns that some European banks’ balance sheets are burdened by bonds from Greece, Spain and Portugal, which have lost significant value over the course of the ongoing debt crisis. — AFP

HYDERABAD: An Indian shepherd rests in the dry lakebed of Osman Sagar Lake, commonly known as Gandipet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. No one is saying the words ‘bad monsoon’ yet, but the slow advance of India’s crucial rainy season is being followed anxiously after a dry 2009 wiped out crops and fuelled food price rises. — AFP

Monday, July 5, 2010

TECHNOLOGY

27

Tune in, turn on, drive safe: Devices aim to help motorists CALIFORNIA: One device will detect red light cameras. Another advertises it will read smartphone e-mails on a driver's voice command, while another blocks text messages altogether when on the road. Still another tracks where a car goes when another driver is at the wheel. Each supposedly makes driving easier and safer. Based on the experiences of two Bay Area News Group reporters and the opinions of traffic safety experts, though, most motorists would be better off using self-discipline and communication rather than relying on expensive, and sometimes ineffective, technology to enforce safer driving.

Four devices were tested for price, ease of installation, performance and effectiveness. Three worked well, but at least one of them was of questionable safety value and a fourth didn't work at all. First up was GPS Angel, a red light camera detector available online for $80 to $130 plus shipping and other fees. Resembling a flattened baby R2-D2 robot or an overgrown gray M&M, of all the devices tested, this was by far the easiest to install. The gadget, made by a San Ramon, Calif., firm, plugs into the car's cigarette lighter. Once perched on the dashboard, as the driver approaches an intersection with a red light camera, the contraption goes wild, flashing red lights and chirping.

GPS Angel might encourage people to stop at intersections with red light cameras, but it could also encourage other people to run red lights where there aren't any such cameras. That's a bad idea: California Highway Patrol statistics show that 135 people died and 14,051 were injured in 2008 because someone didn't obey a traffic sign or signal. "If it's telling them there is a red light camera and they should stop, it's a good idea. But if it's telling them to run the red light, it's a stupid, dan-

gerous thing to do," said Chris Cochran of the California Office of Highway Safety.

Cochran was slightly more positive about iLane, which costs between $250 and $400 online and only works with BlackBerry smartphones.

This device, slightly larger and thicker than an iPhone, reads cell phone messages aloud. The device involves several pieces of hardware, including a Bluetooth headset and a charger.

Installation was easy and the device worked well, reading messages clearly in response to voice commands.

"It marginally is better (than retrieving messages manually), but our advice is to not use any mobile device at all because even when you are being read to, it still disconnects your brain and makes driving more hazardous," Cochran said of the Waterloo, Ontario, company's device. Some smartphones, including Verizon's LG enV, also read cell phone messages aloud, so anyone interested in the service should first check individual cell phone capabilities.

Key2SafeDriving does exactly what Cochran advocates. The gadget, which sells for about $100 online plus shipping and other fees, blocks cell phone calls and text messages sent to drivers.

Though it works on BlackBerrys, Palm Treo Pro and other phones, South Jordan, Utah-based Key2SafeDriving isn't compatible with the iPhone. The first installation attempt was problematic. After a session on the phone with the company's help desk, the installation was successful and a test proved that neither text messages nor phone calls got through while driving. It should be noted that a friend of a Key2SafeDriving product tester was able to supply the commands for disabling it. The information appears to have spread among at least some teens. — MCT

CALIFORNIA: This GPS Angel device located on a car dashboard and hooked to a cigarette lighter makes noises and alerts the driver with red lights when a red light camera is within 300 feet, as shown June 21, 2010, in Walnut Creek, California.—MCT

3D TV sets are selling, but no instant craze LOS ANGELES: Barely settled into their first home together, Arman Galstyan and Carolyn Kaloostian were itching to buy a new television to go along with it. But the Glendale, Calif., couple were not about to settle for just any bigscreen, HD flat-panel. It had to be 3-D. "We had been wanting to get it, and when we heard they came out, we didn't even let a chance for competition to bring the prices down," said Kaloostian, 27, as her fiance paid the cashier at a Best Buy in Los Angeles. "We just wanted to get the newest thing out," she said. That's just what television manufacturers, who began rolling out a new generation of 3-D-capable sets amid much hype early this year, want to hear. But the first sales figures on 3-D TVs and a newly released consumer survey indicate that the industry has a long way to go before the new technology catches on in a big way, if it ever does.

In the sets' first three months on the market, beginning in February, consumers nationwide spent about $55 million on new 3-D-capable TVs and related equipment, according to an NPD Group survey of some of the largest retailers carrying the products, including Best Buy and Amazon.com.

Paul Gagnon, an analyst with DisplaySearch, calculated that based on the NPD figures, about 20,000 of the flat-panel sets were sold by those major retailers. That's a tiny number compared with the approximately 7 million TVs overall that were shipped to retailers around that time frame, according to the Consumer Electronics Association trade group.

And a Parks Associates study released Thursday showed that despite the success of several recent 3-D movies, awareness of the home technology is middling, even in the tech-

savvy 18-to-34 age group. "We don't see a large percentage of people going out of their way to go buy a new TV just because of 3-D," said Parks analyst Pietro Macchiarella. He and other analysts say the slow going was to be expected , especially considering that the only major manufacturers with the new generation of 3-D sets available in the period were Samsung and Panasonic. Parks forecasts that sales will shoot upward as more manufacturers get sets to market. In 2014, the firm estimated, 80 percent of all TVs sold will be 3-D capable.

But Macchiarella had not expected only 13 percent of the people surveyed this quarter to describe themselves as "familiar" with 3-D TV. "I think it's a little bit of a surprise," Macchiarella said. Despite the hype, only a tiny amount of 3D content has been available for the home screen. That's changing, slowly, currently, World Cup soccer matches can be viewed in 3-D by DirecTV and Comcast cable subscribers.

Macchiarella said the matches could up the awareness of 3-D. "Maybe in the next study we'll get better data," he said.

Sports could be a key factor for many consumers. "It'll be cool to have basketball in 3-D," said George Preciado, 33, a Los Angeles resident who said he has made four trips to different stores to look at sets. He's also a gamer, which could make him a more likely candidate to buy a set as more video games in the format become available.

"It's going to add a tremendous amount to the gaming experience," said Bill Hunt, the Irvinebased editor of The Digital Bits, a blog about TV technology. Gamers, Hunt said, are often big spenders, which is lucky because 3-D-capable sets are sold at premium prices. —MCT

LOS ANGELES: Klarysa Clark,15, from Eagle Rock, California, checks out a Samsung 3-D TV at the Atwater Village Best Buy, where the two current versions of 3-D televisions (Samsung and Panasonic) are on display, June 22, 2010. —MCT

Terminated six weeks after long-gestating birth

What does Kin's fate say for Windows phone 7?

Microsoft dropped a stunner on the tech world this week by terminating Kin, its social media-centered phone for teenagers. Just a mere six weeks after its long-gestating birth in May, Kins will no longer be sold in the US and plans for a fall European release have been scrapped. Internally, the Kin team will be rolled into the Windows Phone 7 team, according to Microsoft.

The Kin came in two models, One and Two, and were the result of Microsoft's purchase in early 2008 of Danger, the company behind the technology for TMobile's Sidekick phones. The Kins were then in mysterious development for what felt like an eternity under the code name Pink. Theories abound as to why Kin got the axe. It's likely a combination of vague marketing, Microsoft's cluelessness

about today's youth market, the lack of an app store, and high prices for the phones and a way too expensive data plan from Verizon ($30 per month). All of this inevitably led to poor sales.

Just two days before Kin's death, Verizon dropped Kin prices dramatically from $49.99 to $29.99 for Kin One and from $99.99 to $49.99 for Kin Two. A last ditch effort to pull in a few suckers? You betcha. These should have been the original Kin prices. 100 bucks with a $30 monthly data plan for a "social" phone for teens and tweens? Seems unreasonable.

The Kins should have come with label reading "Affluent parents only." The original Kin Two pricing, in fact, was similar to the full-featured Droid Eris by HTC and was actually more expensive than the Palm Pre Plus and the HTC Touch

Pro2. Microsoft also left the Kin without a clear operating system identity. It was built on neither Windows Phone 7 nor Windows Mobile 6.x technology, but a hybrid of both. Bottom line: Nobody was buying the Kin, and Microsoft ran out of patience - millions of dollars in development and advertising be damned.

Gonna state the obvious here: This is an epic blunder by Microsoft at a time when they really need to look like they know what they are doing with mobile.

It's getting ugly out there for Windows Mobile. Apple and RIM are cranking on all cylinders and Google has flooded the market with Droid phones from various hardware partners. No one I know has a Windows Mobile phone, and I know my share of gadget geeks. It's simply not on American consumers' radar and it's

another five long months until Windows Phone 7 is available.

It's also alarming that Microsoft spent so much money developing the Kins and got no results. For a major company to pour millions of research and advertising dollars into a major product and then pull it is a sign of poor planning, lack of focus and wasteful spending. The Danger acquisition alone cost Redmond $500 million.

Windows Phone 7's arrival would probably have overshadowed Kin even if it had lived, but the Kin's short, unhappy life was a debacle.

It shines a light Microsoft's continued mismanagement of its mobile strategy and won't soon fade from peoples' minds as the never-ending wait for Windows Phone 7 drags on.— PCworld

Is Apple in Antenna Denial?

On Friday Apple released a letter admitting the iPhone 4 has problems, but insisted they are due to a signal-strength formula that is "totally wrong" and not caused by the antenna design. Since then the news has saturated tech blogs, Apple support sites and message boards -- and it seems like most people aren't buying Apple's explanation.

Apple says the erroneous formula displays more bars than it should and that the sudden drop some users see when gripping the phone in a certain way is the because the "high bars were never real in the first place." Stevesst wrote in response to the letter on Apple's iPhone 4 support forum, "Sooooo, Im having a hard time finding the connection with how it calculates bars and the way people hold their phone and dropping bars."

Quite a few commentors shared the writer's confusion, especially since Apple says the formula has been in play since the first-generation iPhone.

Steviejobz (I'm guessing no relation) even went as far to say, "I love how Apple thinks its customers are idiots. So we are to believe that Apple has not figured this out after 4 years of making a handset?"

While the iPhone's reception display may be misleading, most people (with a few exceptions) seem to think that fixing that isn't going to address the death-grip dropped calls.

Sneezymarble, a commentor on macrumors, wrote, "Surprisingly, no matter how I hold my iPhone 3G at my house it never completely loses signal and I'm always able to make calls. But, if I place my pinky finger over the little black strip on the bottom left side of my iPhone 4, my signal drops and I can't make any calls. That, Apple, has nothing to do with the number of bars being displayed."

A lot of people are "lol"-ing at Apple's response and accusing the company of diverting the issue.

PC World commentor jntowers said, "The original YouTube videos showed bars not only dropping, but calls actually being dropped. Unless the call connection is based on what the software is showing for signal strength, I find all of this very hard to believe and it feels simply like a cover up."

Others say there is some credibility to Apple's explanation.

Brian Klug and Anand Lal Shimpi over at AnandTech suggest that holding any smartphone in this manner can result in a measurable loss in cellular reception, described in their iPhone 4 review. They did find that the iPhone 4 was particularly prone to losing signal.

"The drop in signal from holding the (iPhone 4) with your left hand arguably remains a problem. Changing the bars visualization may indeed help mask it, and to be fair the phone works fine all the way down to --113 dBm, but it will persist -- software updates can change physics as much as they can change hardware design. At the end of the day, Apple should add an insulative coating to the stainless steel band, or subsidize bumper cases. It's that simple."

To Apple's credit, some people are relieved that the company is at least acknowledging that something is going on with the newest smartphone. A few iPhone 4 owners are even coming to Apple's defense.

My PC World colleague Mike Keller said, "For the record, I have never experienced the bar dropping phenomenon (on the iPhone 4) and call quality and reception is far better than on my 3G . . ."

Apple still stands behind its statement that the iPhone 4's antenna is "the best we have ever shipped." It will adopt AT&T's recommended formula in an upcoming update to make the graphic a more accurate representation (or perhaps to pass the reception complaints over to AT&T's support line.)

— PCworld

FLORIDA: In this October 16, 2008 photograph, covered in plastic the arms of the "da Vinci robot" perform surgery on a patient with prostate cancer. —MCT

Robotic surgery: How safe is it?

FLORIDA: When Mea Figueroa of St. Cloud was told that a robot would be performing a delicate operation to remove uterine fibroids that were causing her pain and abnormal bleeding, she hesitated slightly.

The machine looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but she knew that a capable surgeon, Dr Norman Lamberty of Winnie Palmer Hospital in Orlando, would be at the controls.

Lamberty, a laparoscopic gynecologist with more than 200 robotic surgeries under his belt, says the new technology has made operations like the one he performed on Figueroa safer, with less blood loss and quicker recovery times.

The $1.4 million robot, named after Leonardo da Vinci, has been hailed as a breakthrough in minimally invasive surgery. With its multiple remote-controlled arms and 3-D high-definition camera, it allows surgeons to operate through tiny incisions with more precision and visual clarity.

But recent reports of da Vinci operations gone awry because of doctors' inexperience with the new technology have led to concerns that some hospitals' credentialing standards for surgeons who use the robot are too loose.

Doctors at Orlando Health's Winnie Palmer Hospital and Florida Hospital's Celebration Health, say measures have been taken at their hospitals to ensure patient safety and successful surgical outcomes. "We're developing strict guidelines for these types of surgeries," said Dr. Jessica Vaught, a gynecologic surgeon who leads Winnie Palmer's robotic surgical training program.

"Robotics is an exciting new field, but it's one that needs a lot of regulation."

Last month, a Wall Street Journal article highlighted the case of a botched operation with the da Vinci robot at a New Hampshire hospital to illustrate problems that have arisen from inexperi-

enced doctors using the machine.

A follow-up story referred to a case in which a 42-year-old man died following robotic surgery last summer at a Boca Raton, Fla., hospital. An attorney for the man's family said the urologist who operated on him had never before performed the procedure he was attempting with the robot, according to the report.

"These articles highlighted important problems. We agree surgeons need more education.

They need more support from the hospital," said urologist Vipul Patel, a world-renowned robotic surgeon who is largely responsible for the development of Florida Hospital's robotics program and its Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement, which focuses on robotic surgery and training.

Because robotic surgery is still an emerging, albeit fast-growing field, there are no standards for credentialing surgeons to use the machine. That is left to each hospital.

"It's a political hot potato because no one wants to come up with standards for everyone else.

Nobody wants to restrict surgeons from doing robotics surgery because they haven't done enough cases in a certain year," said Dr. Graham Greene, a urologic oncologist at Lakeland Regional Medical Center who specializes in robotic assisted prostatectomies. He said surgeons at the hospital performed about 100 robotic-assisted prostatectomies in the last year.

Vaught and other robotic surgeons said efforts are under way to come up with standardized guidelines for credentialing doctors. For example, the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists, the largest organization in the US dealing with minimally invasive surgical issues, formed its own robotic committee this year with a goal of establishing uniform credentialing standards. — MCT

28

HEALTH & SCIENCE

Monday, July 5, 2010

Spine surgeon restores young Haitian PHILADELPHIA: Spine surgeon Alex Vaccaro stepped back from the operating table to give himself a moment to think. In a rare and dangerous operation, Vaccaro and his team at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital had removed three vertebrae, the bones encasing his 17-yearold patient’s spinal cord, and the surgeon now needed to insert a titanium “spacer” in place of the bones to reconnect the backbone.

The surgeon had two choices, both risky. He could cut a nerve to give himself the room to get behind the patient’s spinal cord. That would cause permanent damage to one leg.

Or he could manipulate the inch-long spacer between two nerves and the spinal cord. If he jostled the cord too much while squeezing by, Vaccaro could paralyze the teen.

“Motors OK?” Vaccaro asked a technician monitoring the motor and sensory impulses from the patient’s legs. The 48-year-old surgeon , charismatic, laser-focused, and effortlessly respectful to everyone around him, was buying time to think. The tech sent a pulse of electricity to electrodes attached to the patient’s legs and abdomen.

“Yeah, stable,” he responded.

The patient’s legs still had motor function. It was time for Vaccaro to decide. A tuberculosis infection had festered in Netus Madiode’s spine for two years or more, eating away at ligaments and disks between the Haitian’s vertebrae. Slowly, his vertebrae were crushed together under his own weight, causing him to develop a rare deformity: a dorsalfin-like hump in the middle of his back.

The condition would inevitably lead to paralysis and, ultimately, an early death. After the devastating earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010, doctors from the Philadelphia area, who were among the relief workers flocking to the impoverished country, found the teenager. Both of his parents had died in the quake.

PHILADELPHIA: At Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spinal surgeon Dr Alex Vaccaro performs surgery on Haitian teenager Netus Madiode, who had a hump from spinal tuberculosis. —MCT Madiode had escaped injury. But without a perilous operation that was unavailable in Haiti, Madiode would also die, the victim of the tuberculosis that had entered through his lungs, made its way into his bloodstream, and ravaged his spine.

He needed reconstructive spine surgery. Luckily for him, the medical team that found him knew a leading surgeon, Alex Vaccaro, vice chairman of orthopedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University and president of the American Spinal Injury Association. They had sent other Haitian earthquake victims to Philadelphia to have surgery at Jefferson. Vaccaro and the hospital had readily agreed to take on the huge challenge of fixing Madiode’s

back for free. The full cost would have easily exceeded $100,000.

It took months to get the patient out of Haiti. His older brother, Marcel Jean Valceau, 30, would act as his guardian and needed to travel to Philadelphia to give permission for the surgery. In the seventh-floor operating room at Jefferson, Vaccaro and his team wore specially fitted masks to protect them from TB. His patient lay on his stomach. Vaccaro started by making a foot-long incision in the center of Madiode’s back and cut away the flesh to expose the patient’s backbone. He needed to completely remove three vertebrae , something the experienced surgeon had done only once before in his career , and do so without paralyzing

Gulf spill familiar story in oil-soaked Nigeria Spillage regularly washes ashore: Villagers IWUO-OKPOM: The brown spots run like a trail of blood down the deserted coastline near this fishing village. Just underneath a handful of sand lies spilled oil. Oil powers this West African nation’s economy but is killing its southern shores.

Villagers here say the spillage regularly washes ashore, ruining their fishing nets and meager livelihoods. Children whose parents can’t afford school fees pass the time flipping bottle caps into tin cans.

While the world is transfixed by the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, oil spills have become a part of everyday life during the 50 years that foreign firms have been pumping out Nigeria’s easily refined fuel. Environmentalists estimate as much as 550 million gallons of oil have poured into the Niger River Delta during that time, at a rate roughly comparable to one Exxon Valdez disaster per year.

Black crude stains the coasts of the Niger Delta, a region of swamps, mangroves and creeks almost the size of South Carolina or Portugal. But who is responsible, and who should clean up? The answers are as murky as the fouled waters.

“They pay when they spill in their own country. All those oil companies come from white-man countries,” said Samuel Ayadi, a pastor and fishermen’s representative. “In our country now, they leave the fishermen in pain.”

Colonized by the British in the late 1800s for its palm oil, Nigeria became an oil power after Royal Dutch Shell PLC struck its first working well in 1956 in the Niger Delta. Other foreign firms moved in, among them Chevron Corp., Italy’s Eni SpA, Exxon Mobil Corp. and French major Total SA, all working across the delta in partnership with the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. Much of the oil heads to the US. OPEC figures put daily production at about 2 million barrels. But the profits come at a steep ecological price. According to government figures, Nigeria suffered more than 6,800 oil spills from 1976 through 2001, losing some 130 million gallons , 3 million barrels. Under the worst-case scenario, the Gulf Coast spill is sending 2.5 million gallons a day into the ocean where the offshore rig Deepwater Horizon exploded April 20.

Environmentalists say the Nigerian government figures don’t include what is lost in attacks by militants

the teenager. After exposing the patient’s spine, Vaccaro and his team inserted five pairs of inch-long screws in the vertebrae , three above and two below the bones that the surgeon would later remove.

It was critical to get those screws in so that he could insert a temporary rod to stabilize the patient’s back during the surgery. Without the rods, Madiode’s back would collapse on his spinal cord, paralyzing him instantly. Once Vaccaro placed a rod on the left side of the patient’s spine, he used a tool called a rongeur that looked like a pair of pliers to slowly nibble away at the bone covering of the back of Madiode’s backbone , the spinous process and laminae, those bumps you can feel in the middle of

PENNSYLVANIA: At Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spinal surgeon Dr Alex Vaccaro shows X-rays of Netus Madiode’s spine before and after spine surgery. —MCT your back. He had to remove these , the backs of three vertebrae destroyed by the infection , before he could clear out their inner side.

Once he got everything he could safely reach, Vaccaro put another temporary rod on the right side of the backbone and removed the other temporary rod. He then continued to take out small bone fragments, slowly exposing the back of his patient’s spinal cord. Then using instruments like a hammer and chisel, Vaccaro slowly chipped away at the front of the three vertebrae, being careful not to push too far forward. That would cause a fatal puncture of the aorta, the major abdominal artery that runs directly in front of the spine.

After Vaccaro had removed Madiode’s first, second, and third lumbar vertebrae, L1 through L3 , the surgeon needed to reconnect the backbone using an inch-long titanium spacer. Vaccaro decided the best course was to put the device in without cutting a nerve.

Having made that crucial choice, the surgeon manipulated the spacer between two nerves and the spinal cord. To get the device in, he had to gently squeeze it by the spinal cord.

But he couldn’t make it fit without nudging the cord.

Once it was in place and secured, Vaccaro ordered the technician to run the electrical check of motor function in Madiode’s legs. Nothing.

No response. Had he just paralyzed

the teen? “OK, we need to wait a minute ... so the cord calms down,” Vaccaro said.

The surgeon stepped back from the operating table. After a tense minute, he asked the tech to restimulate the patient’s legs. The response was weak but perceptible.

“He’s not going to be paralyzed,” the relieved surgeon sighed. Working more quickly now, Vaccaro placed permanent titanium rods on either side of Madiode’s spine. He then seeded that space with bone fragments harvested from the patient’s hip at the start of the procedure to generate new bone growth and further stabilize the rebuilt spine. After 2 { hours, the most dangerous part of the surgery was over. —MCT

Probe yields insights into Moon’s inner life PARIS: Japanese astronomers yesterday said they had found traces of a mineral that adds an important piece of knowledge to the puzzle of the Moon’s geological past. Using a instrument-laden probe, Kaguya, which was placed in orbit around the Moon in 2007, the team found abundant signatures of the mineral in concentric rings in three big crater regions. The mineral, called olivine, is deemed to be a telltale of mantle, the deep inner layer of iron- and magnesium-rich rock that lies beneath the Moon’s crust.

A leading theory is that the Moon was created about 4.5 billion years ago after the “Big Whack”it was ripped from Earth after our planet suffered a gigantic collision from some space object. As

the material coalesced into a ball, its surface gradually cooled, forming a crust made of a lightcoloured aluminous mineral, feldspar, which floated in a dense, molten liquid. Kaguya’s data add a chapter to this “lunar magma ocean” hypothesis.

It suggests that after the crust had formed, there was some massive overturn in the fiery liquid beneath. Olivine-rich mantle was brought from deep within the lunar bowels to within the base of the crust. At the craters sampled by the probe-the South Pole-Aitken, Imbrium and Moscoviense impact basins-the Moon’s crust is very thin, and the olivine mantle may have been exposed by asteroids that smashed into the lunar

surface, the paper suggests.

The Moon’s crust is believed to be far thicker than Earth’s, averaging around 70 kilometres (45 miles) in depth, although the thickness varies significantly. The structure and origins of the Moon’s mantle have been fiercely debated by astro-geologists. The famous Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo missions shed no light on the question, as they were all from the lunar crust. As a result, pointers to the existence of the mantle were, for decades, either sketchy or indirect. The study, published online by the journal Nature Geoscience, is headed by Satoru Yamamoto of the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba. —AFP

Health benefits of green tea

Green tea’s powerful antioxidants may be related to the reduced severity of coronary heart disease among the male participants.

A Dutch study of more than 3,000 men and women found that the more tea consumed, the less severe the clogging of the heart’s blood vessels, especially in women.

As Goldberg suggests, lifestyle and overall diet are critical to the outcomes of these studies.

But green tea’s antioxidants are dilators, she says, because they improve the flexibility of blood vessels and make them less vulnerable to clogging — and antioxidant-rich blueberries and pomegranates do the same.

“I think people should know these are important studies, that everyday foods that are an option may actually have health benefits,” Goldberg says.

“I think green tea, because of its antioxidant value, may have heart benefits, but it’s not something we regularly prescribe to people, because there isn’t as much evidence as there is in exercise’s ability to improve heart health.”

Green tea’s antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis. Grapes and berries, red wine, and dark chocolate also have potent antioxidants.

Because of green tea’s minimal processing — its leaves are withered and steamed, not fermented like black and oolong teas — green tea’s unique catechins, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), are more concentrated.

But there’s still a question of how much green tea you need to drink to reap its health benefits. EGCG is not readily “available” to the body; in other words, EGCG is not always fully used by the body.

GULF SHORES: An oil cleanup worker sifts tar balls from the sand using a small fish net on the beach in Gulf Shores, Ala, Friday. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon incident is expected to come ashore over the July 4th weekend. —AP demanding a bigger share of the profits for the delta region, and in communities too remote or dangerous to enter.

In Iwuo-Okpom, an Atlantic Ocean village of 7,000, a tiny flame on the horizon marks an offshore Exxon Mobil oil platform. On this coast, in January 1998, a pipeline of the company then known only as Mobil broke and spilled about 1.6 million gallons into the ocean, one of Nigeria’s worst spills. The slick spread as far as Lagos, a city of 14 million people 200 kilometers (120 miles) northwest. Tade Amuwa, a 35-year-old woman who smokes fish in Iwuo-Okpom, says those caught near the village cook poorly.

“All these things, they all go black,” she said, sweeping her hand across oil-soaked driftwood and puny, discolored fish.

In a statement, Exxon Mobil’s Nigerian subsidiary said it used air-

planes and boats to spray dispersants on recent slicks, though “regrettably some oil did reach shoreline areas.” The subsidiary said it also offered contracts for locals to help with the cleanup.

Village leaders denied receiving any such offers.

More than 4,300 miles (7,000 kilometers) of pipelines and flow stations snake through the delta, some of them decades old, corroded and prone to failure under the pressure. Oil companies can’t be blamed for all the spills. Militant groups have targeted pipelines, kidnapped oil workers and fought government troops here since 2006. Fearing attacks and kidnappings, firms are hesitant to send staff to spill sites, and often confine employees to offshore platforms and military-protected compounds. —AP

Green Tea vs Cancer Marji McCullough, ScD, RD, the American Cancer Society’s strategic director of nutritional epidemiology, says human studies haven’t yet proven what researchers like Chan have discovered in the lab: green tea’s EGCG regulates and inhibits cancer growth and kills cells that are growing inappropriately.

“Epidemiologically, one of the challenges is finding populations that drink enough green tea and have for a long time,” she says. “With cancer, it’s always difficult to find the exposure time,” or the point at which cancer cells begin to develop.

Still, it’s difficult not to be intrigued by a few human studies that have shown that drinking at least two cups of green tea daily inhibits cancer growth.

One of them, a study conducted in Japan that involved nearly 500 Japanese women with Stage I and Stage II breast cancer, found that increased green tea consumption before and after surgery was associated with lower recurrence of the cancers.

Studies in China have shown that the more green tea that participants drank, the less the risk of developing stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer,

and colorectal cancer.

Is green tea good for your heart?

It seems to be, but there are conflicting results of a few epidemiological studies conducted in the East and

West.

In a study that involved 500 Japanese men and women, researchers found that drinking at least four cups of green tea every day

Green Tea and Weight Green tea and its extract have been shown to fight obesity and lower LDL “bad” cholesterol — two risk factors for heart disease and diabetes — but in very limited studies. One study in the Netherlands and a study in Japan showed that green tea did both.

In the Dutch study, participants who drank caffeinated green tea lost more weight, but even those who typically drank the decaf variety saw a decrease in their waistlines and body weight. Researchers speculated that the caffeine helps with fat oxidation.

In the Japanese study, 240 men and women were given varying amounts of green tea extract for three months. Those who got the highest amount lost fat and weight and had lower blood pressure and lower LDL “bad” cholesterol.

—Webmd

Monday, July 5, 2010

HEALTH & SCIENCE

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Will you lose more pounds at a bigger diet center?

NEW YORK: Weight loss loves company, hints new research. For every additional 10 people signed up at a clinical center for a weight loss trial, the average person loses half a percent more weight, the study found. Dr. Arne Astrup of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and his colleagues delved into a database of 22 weight-loss centers across five countries, gathered in a previous large clinical trial.

Each center served between 4 and 85 men and women, and all of the more than 600 total participants were instructed to follow a nutritionally balanced diet of 800 to 1,000 calories a day. (Typical recommendations for non-dieters range from 1,600 to 2,400 calories per day, depending on gender, age, and level of activity.)

The average participant started the trial weighing 242 pounds, and lost 24 pounds (10 percent of their body weight) after 2 months on the low-calorie diet. Average weight loss among the centers ranged from 6 percent to 12 percent.

Taking into account age, initial body mass index (a measure of weight in relation to height) and sex, the researchers

found that 10 more participants at a center translated into a modest half a percent climb in weight loss for the average person at that center. An average 200pound woman, for example, would have dropped one extra pound over those 2 months.

The idea to investigate such a link came to the team of Danish and Belgian researchers after they noticed the rela-

tive performance of weight loss, or bariatric, surgeons. Those who have more experience, they write in the journal Obesity, tend to provide safer and more effective treatments. Weight loss center size may reflect quality of care in a similar way, Astrup told Reuters Health by email. He noted that investigators, study coordinators and dieticians working at weight loss centers serving large

numbers of participants would tend to be more experienced than those at smaller centers.

While he notes that the study is “the first of its kind,” Pedro Teixeira of the Technical University of Lisbon, in Portugal, is concerned that 2 months is too short to determine a diet’s effectiveness. Teixeira, who was not involved in the study, also suggests that other factors left unaccounted for could explain some of the differences seen across centers. In separate studies, he has identified a set of weight loss predictors, including self-motivation and realistic expectations.

The researchers, too, point to other possible explanations for their preliminary findings. A larger center may have a larger pool of subjects, for example, allowing them to recruit more highly motivated individuals than smaller centers. Regardless, if an obese or overweight person seeking treatment is given the option, “larger centers with more patient flow are probably the best,” advised Astrup. “Go for the big ones.” — Reuters

Health and austerity: When budget cuts cost lives LONDON: European leaders slicing away at national budgets are keen to persuade voters that healthcare is sacrosanct, but they will struggle to escape the truth that cutting spending elsewhere also eventually costs lives. If a government’s first priority is to protect the lives of its people, then ringfencing health spending while cutting other budgets and trying to drive down the cost of medicines- policies being pursued in Europe-seem sensible options.

Yet experts say the planned cuts in welfare and other state programmes will hit everything from pensions to housing to playgrounds, all of which also affect the health of nations. If unemployment rises, as predicted in countries such as Britain and Spain, the consequences could be hazardous. In short, there is more to health than healthcare. “These cuts will result in sig-

nificant harm to people’s health,” said David Stuckler from the Department of Sociology at Oxford University. “It’s not just about doctors and medicines to care for the sick-social care and support are vital to prevent people from becoming ill.”

In a study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) last week, Stuckler and colleagues calculated that for approximately every 80 euros ($107) cut from social welfare spending per person, alcohol-related deaths would rise by about 2.8 percent and heart disease deaths by around 1.2 percent. Britain has just set out a punishing round of public spending cuts, while Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy are all planning drastic deficit reductions. Even Germany, Europe’s largest and arguably healthiest economy, is targetting 80 billion euros of budget savings over the next four years. —Reuters

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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT

Monday, July 5, 2010

Embassy information

he National Bank of Kuwait recently met with outstanding high school graduates for the school year 2009/2010 at the bank’s headquarters, in order to commemorate them for their notable success. Students with the ten best records were welcomed by the deputy CEO, Nassir Al-Sayer, CEO for the NBK Banking Group Ibrahim Dabdoub, NBK CEO Essam Al-Saqr, deputy CEO Sheikha Al-Bahar, and were given with training opportunities to become accustomed with the bank’s work.

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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 petitionbased, including B1/B2 tourist and business visitor visas and all student and exchangevisitor visas, will pay a fee of $140.

Applicants for petition-based visas will pay an application fee of $150, as each of the below categories requires a review of extensive documentation and a more indepth 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 treatyinvestors will be $390.

The Embassy of the United States of America will be closed on Sunday, July 4, 2010 in observance of Independence Day. The American Embassy will reopen for normal business on Monday, July 5, 2010.

Regular working hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Sunday to Thursday. The Embassy’s telephone number is 2259-1001 and the fax number is 2538-0282.

EMBASSY OF INDIA

s has been the track record of Al Mulla Exchange, they now have pioneered a new promotion for their customers. From 1 July 2010, every day, 3 lucky remitters win gold coins while doing their transactions! On the first 2 days, the names of the winners are:

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r Hany Nabil has taken charge as the new Director of Marketing and PR at the Crowne Plaza Kuwait, in addition to his current role as the Director of Loyalty Marketing, with the best wishes from the management of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Holding a doctorate from the Madison University and a Master’s degree in Marketing from the Ecole Superieure des Sciences Commercials Appliqués Paris, France, Hany Nabil has achieved immense profits for the Loyalty Programmes that he handles, creating an ever expanding market for them in Kuwait- Privilege Club for the IHG hotels of Kuwait and Club Tuesday Cards for the Ruby Tuesday restaurants of Kuwait.

Having begun as a Program Manager for Hotel Dynamics in 2002, running Privilege Club at Semiramis, Intercontinental Cairo, he moved to Cairo Conrad Hotel to run the Conrad Class Program. He landed in Kuwait in November 2004 to take over the Privilege Club of Crowne Plaza Kuwait. Dr Hany Nabil’s career growth is a success story that all aspiring marketers will want to emulate. He later became the Product Development and Marketing Manager for the Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Salmiya and Ruby Tuesday restaurants in 2006, and his continued hard work and determination took him to the post of Director of Loyalty Marketing in 2008.

Now, in charge of the Marketing, and PR along with the Loyalty Marketing department of the Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn Kuwait and Ruby Tuesday, a merge of creativity and ideas is to be expected, keeping in line with his favorite statement - Creativity is Unlimited.

The managements of the Crowne Plaza Kuwait, Holiday Inn Salmiya and the National Arabic Company wishes Dr Hany Nabil a great start to his new role, each eagerly awaiting to witness a continued track of success in all his endeavors at each property.

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1. Nabeeds Mohammed (Indian) 2. PV Jayan (Indian) 3. Ali Ashraf (Bangladeshi) 4. Rakesh R (Indian) 5. Omar Faruk (Bangladeshi) 6. Asad Ahmed Saeed (Egyptian)

heraton Kuwait is pleased to have recently sponsored a Piano Concert performed by talented young students and organized by Layla Mosallem a graduate of the Higher Institute of Musical Arts in Kuwait. The students played numerous breathtaking piano melodies composed by famous artists such as Mozart, Beethoven, Yanni and The Rahbani Brothers to name a few. The audience who included the parents, friends and family of the students were exhilarated with the exceptional performance of these young artists.

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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 TURKEY The Embassy of the Republic of Turkey announces that Turkish language course will restart at the Embassy’s Tourism, Culture and Information Office 4 October 2010. The lessons will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. For further details and registration please contact. * The Embassy at Tel: 22531785 (only from 9 am to 3 pm) * Or fill the application form on http://kuweyt.befscnet.net and send it to the e-mail: Turkish_embassy_Kuwait@hotmail.com

Monday, July 5, 2010

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WHATʼS ON IN KUWAIT KAYAKING Kuwait Surf-Ski Kayak Club 99706742 Sea kayaking is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world today.

MOTOR SPORTS

Kuwait Motor Bike Motorbike track (for trail/dirt bikes) and rally car-racing centre located behind the Science Club on the northern side of the 6th Ring Road (between roads 401 and 50).

NETBALL Kuwait Netball www.kuwaitnetball.com

KALA Malayalam classes launched in Fahaheel he free Malayalam classes organized by KALA have begun in the Fahaheel region. Senior member of KALA, PK Janardhanan formally inaugurated by reciting a poem of the great poet Balamaniamma. The centre is located near to Mangaf Fahaheel English School in which more than 50 students are attending.

The syllabus for this year’s class was handed over to the teach-

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ers Harikumar, Surendran by Pushpalal while Mathrubhasha Samithi Joint Convener T.V. Hikmath explained the strategies for successfully conducting the classes. Regional Convenor Rahil K Mohandas, KALA Central committee members-K P Poulose, P R Babu and Mangaf Unit Convener Pradeep Kumar spoke on the occasion. Mathrubhasha Samithi members Kripadas,Thamban and James

organized the program.

The centre which is located near the finger print office was inaugurated by P R Babu and by a well known social activist from Perumbavoor Gopi Kettath. KALA leaders informed that the registration is open and requested those students who would like to take part in the classes may contact any of the nearest KALA units.

RUGBY Kuwait Nomads The rugby season in Kuwait runs from September to May. Men, ladies and minis rugby are played and the teams frequently travel to participate in AGRFU tournaments. Any interested child between the ages of 5-17 can participate in the Minis rugby. www.p8nompds.com RUNNING For anyone who likes walking, jogging or cycling in Kuwait there is a very good track around the area of Mishref. The track is 4.9km long and is marked out in distances of 100m. There are also a number of outdoor exercise machines located near the start and the end of the track.

Catamaran Sailing 6658 7737 Dive Caroline Beach Fafaheel The Kuwait Catamaran Club is a group of enthusiasts who love sailing on fast cats in the Arabian Gulf’s waters around Kuwait. Usually an informal group sail on Friday afternoons.

Fahaheel Sailing Club 2371 9289 www.horn3.com KOSA 2398 3365 9974 5383 The Kuwait Offshore Sailing Association (KOSA) meets on the first Tuesday of each month (except July and August) at the Dive Caroline clubhouse, which is located at the Fahaheel Sea Club. Fortnightly racing plus International events in Bahrain and Dubai. Boats often require crew and will take you if you turn up! www.kospg8.com SCUBA DIVING

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any happy returns of the day to Tollywood film hero Nandamuri Kalayan Ram who celebrates his birthday today. Best wishes come from Gulfwide Nandamuri fans, Kuwait office bearers, Darla Srinivasachari, Thummala Rathanam Naidu, S Mubarak Bhasha, Yogi Venkatesh Naidu, Batinna Subba Reddy, Polineni Santaram Naidu, Polavarapu Babu Naidu, Master Mahaboob Basha, Anjanayulu Naidu, Subbarayudu, Malapati Babu, Pidikiti Srinivasa Chowdery, Olati Devakar Naidu, Lakshmipati Naidu, Narayanaachari and Mohan Babu.

ndian Muslim Association, Kuwait in cooperation with Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs cordially invites you to attend a Public Lecture on the occasion of Isra Wal Meraaj on Thursday 8th July 2010 at the Masjid Yousef Al Adasani, beside Souk Al Watiya, Opposite Hotel Sheraton, Maliya, Kuwait City. Moulana Hafiz ul Rahman will preside over the function. Seperate arrangements will be made for ladies. All are invited with Family and Friends.

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Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

The Arabian Gulf is the perfect place in which to learn to scuba dive. Although dive sites are not as spectacular as those in the Red Sea and Thailand, the local environment is conducive to teaching youngsters who wish to do fairly shallow dives and build up their confidence. It is a good idea for adults to attend the theory classes with their children.

Dive Caroline 2371 9289 Fahaheel Sea Club, Fahaheel Dive Caroline is a friendly sailing and diving club with pool, beach, sauna, steam room, fitness and social areas. Scuba diving training and equipment sales; skippered sailing yacht charter for up to 8 passengers; fishing charters (up to 6 passengers with a max. of 2 trawling lines); skippered power boat hire for 6, 8 or 14 passengers.

Dive Centre 9964 9482 The Palms Hotel, Salwa A full service PADI 5 Star Dive Centre catering for all of your diving requirements. www.thepalmsdivecenter.com KIM Dive Centre 2371 6002 Villa 365, Hilton Kuwait Resort Kuwait International Marine (KIM) Centre is a full service PADI 5 Star Dive Centre catering for all of your diving requirements.. www.kimcenter.selmpb.com SHOOTING Hunting & Equestrian Club 24739199 Shooters can sharpen their skills at the range. Members aren’t charged any fee but have to bear the costs of the cartridges while guns are provided by the club.

Shooting Range Complex 2475 9999 Off the 6th Ring road and drive past the Hunting and Equestrian Club. www.nrckuwait.com SOFTBALL Ahmadi Softball Located at the softball grounds situated behind the Governorate Building in Ahmadi SQUASH Squash courts are available at a few of the 5-star hotels as well as at the Salmiya Club. There are a number of squash leagues and tournaments are held throughout the year.

Duffers League 9970 1720 The League comprises about 25 players of all standards. Players are placed in groups of 4 which means you play three games per month. The rules of standard squash apply with all matches being best of five. Games are arranged by mutual agreement between the players. Contact Philip Anderson at andersoninkuwait@mac.com Kuwait Squash Federation2263 4618 Sheikha Squash www. sheikhasguash.com

TV PROGRAMS

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Monday, July 5, 2010

Orbit / Showtime Listings 17:00 Flipside 17:30 Adidas Slopestyle 18:00 Hike&Ride06 18:30 Kite Surf Pro 19:00 Pkra World Cup - Cabarete 19:30 Dolomitenmann 20:00 Untracked Series 2 20:30 Untracked Series 2 21:00 Fim World Motocross Mx1 = Mx2 Ep1 22:00 Winter Dew Tour 09/10 23:00 Fight Girls Series 2

00:00 Law & Order Criminal Intent 01:00 Psych 02:00 ER 03:00 The Murdoch Mysteries 04:00 Psych 05:00 The Ex-List 06:00 Bones 07:00 Law & Order Criminal Intent 08:00 Criminal Minds 09:00 Cold Case 10:00 ER 11:00 Dawson’s Creek 12:00 Bones 13:00 The Murdoch Mysteries 14:00 ER 15:00 Psych 16:00 Criminal Minds 17:00 Cold Case 18:00 Ugly Betty 19:00 Bones 20:00 My Own Worst Enemy 21:00 Saving Grace 22:00 The Murdoch Mysteries 23:00 Nip/Tuck

00:15 Going Ape 00:45 Weird Creatures with Nick Baker 01:40 Untamed & Uncut 02:35 Untamed & Uncut 03:30 Animal Cops Philadelphia 04:25 Going Ape 04:50 Going Ape 05:20 Animal Cops South Africa 06:10 Aussie Animal Rescue 06:35 Dolphin Days 07:00 Animal Crackers 07:25 Meerkat Manor 07:50 Orangutan Island 08:15 Dark Days in Monkey City 08:45 Austin Stevens Adventures 09:40 Monkey Business 10:05 There’s a Rhino in My House!

10:55 Gorilla School 11:20 SSPCA: On the Wildside 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 All New Planet’s Funniest Animals 16:50 All New Planet’s Funniest Animals 17:20 Dogs 101 18:15 I’m Alive 19:10 After the Attack 20:10 Animal Cops South Africa 21:05 Untamed & Uncut 22:00 I’m Alive 22:55 Animal Cops Phoenix 23:50 After the Attack

00:25 Doctor Who 01:10 Doctor Who Confidential 01:25 North And South (2004) 02:15 Inspector Lynley Mysteries 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 Inspector Lynley Mysteries 18:45 Doctor Who Confidential 19:00 Gil Mayo Mysteries 20:00 The Weakest Link 20:45 Doctors 21:15 Eastenders 21:45 New Tricks 22:45 Holby City 23:45 Holby City

00:05 Saturday Kitchen 00:30 Saturday Kitchen 01:00 Living In The Sun 01:50 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 02:35 The Home Show 03:20 Home For Life 04:10 Fantasy Homes In The City 04:50 Saturday Kitchen 05:20 Saturday Kitchen 05:45 Living In The Sun 06:35 Trish’s French Country Kitchen 07:00 Cash In The Attic Usa 07:20 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 08:05 Living In The Sun 08:55 Bargain Hunt 09:40 Hidden Potential 10:05 Cash In The Attic Usa 10:25 James Martin’s Favourite Feasts 10:50 Sweet Baby James 11:15 Antiques Roadshow 12:05 Living In The Sun 13:00 Come Dine With Me 13:45 Hidden Potential 14:10 Cash In The Attic Usa 14:30 Living In The Sun 15:25 Bargain Hunt 16:10 Antiques Roadshow 17:05 Living In The Sun 17:55 Antiques Roadshow 18:50 Come Dine With Me 19:40 Masterchef Goes Large 20:10 Saturday Kitchen 20:35 Saturday Kitchen 21:00 Living In The Sun 21:50 Fantasy Homes By The Sea 22:40 Come Dine With Me 23:30 Masterchef Goes Large

01:00 After Sex-R 02:30 Arlington Road-18 04:30 Surviving Picasso-18 07:00 2012: Startling New Secret-PG 09:00 Jacquou Le Croquant-PG15 11:30 Frozen River-PG15 13:15 Run Papa Run-PG15 15:15 Reservation Road-PG15 17:00 Solaris-PG15 18:45 Gorillas In The Mist-PG15 21:00 Deux Jours A Tuer-PG15 23:00 Downloading Nancy-18

00:00 Chopped 01:00 30 Minute Meals 01:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 02:00 Food Network Challenge 03:00 Barefoot Contessa 03:30 Everyday Italian 04:00 Iron Chef America 05:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 05:30 Guys Big Bite 06:00 Chopped 07:00 30 Minute Meals 07:25 Tyler’s Ultimate 07:50 Guys Big Bite 08:15 Barefoot Contessa 08:40 Everyday Italian 09:05 30 Minute Meals 09:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 10:00 Guys Big Bite 10:30 Barefoot Contessa 11:00 Everyday Italian 11:30 Food Network Challenge 12:30 30 Minute Meals 13:00 Tyler’s Ultimate 13:30 Guys Big Bite 14:00 Barefoot Contessa 14:30 Everyday Italian 15:00 30 Minute Meals 15:30 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 16:00 Iron Chef America 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:30 Everyday Italian 18:00 30 Minute Meals 18:30 Guys Big Bite 19:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 19:30 Tyler’s Ultimate 20:00 Food Network Challenge 21:00 Barefoot Contessa 21:30 Everyday Italian 22:00 Iron Chef America 23:00 Throwdown With Bobby Flay 23:30 Guys Big Bite

Defiance on Show Movies

00:00 Ross Kemp on Gangs 01:00 Destroyed in Seconds 01:30 Destroyed in Seconds 02:00 Battle Machine Bros 02:55 Fifth Gear 03:20 Fifth Gear 03:50 Heartland Thunder 04:45 How Stuff’s Made 05:10 Destroyed in Seconds 05:40 Destroyed in Seconds 06:05 Industrial Junkie 06:35 Industrial Junkie 07:00 Really Big Things 07:55 Wreck Rescue 08:20 Street Customs 09:15 Mythbusters 10:10 Ultimate Survival 11:05 Overhaulin’ 12:00 Border Security 12:30 How Stuff’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 Stuff’s Made 20:00 Mythbusters 21:00 Ultimate Survival 22:00 Alone in the Wild 23:00 American Loggers

00:30 Extreme Bodies 01:20 The Colony 02:10 The Gadget Show 02:35 The Gadget Show 03:00 The Future of...

03:50 Under New York 04:45 Nextworld 05:40 How Stuff’s Made 06:10 Engineered 07:00 Junkyard Mega-Wars 08:00 Ten Ways 09:00 Race to Mars 10:50 Race to Mars 11:45 Race to Mars 12:40 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 13:35 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 14:30 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 15:25 Sci-Fi Saved My Life 16:20 How Stuff’s Made 16:50 Brainiac 17:45 Mythbusters 18:40 Da Vinci’s Machines 19:30 Kings of Construction 20:20 How It’s Made 20:45 How It’s Made 21:10 Mega World 22:00 Da Vinci’s Machines 22:50 Kings of Construction 23:40 Mega World

00:00 Wizards of Waverly Place 00:25 Wizards of Waverly Place 00:50 Suite Life On Deck 01:15 Suite Life On Deck 01:40 Sonny With A Chance 02:05 Jonas 02:30 Hannah Montana 02:55 Hannah Montana 03:20 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 03:45 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody 04:10 Hannah Montana 04:35 Jonas 05:00 Wizards of Waverly Place 05:20 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 05:45 FAIRLY ODD PARENTS 06:10 A KIND OF MAGIC 06:35 Replacements 07:00 Phineas & Ferb 07:25 FAIRLY ODD PARENTS 07:50 Replacements 08:15 Sonny With A Chance 08:35 Hannah Montana 09:00 TIMMY TIME 09:10 SPECIAL AGENT OSO 09:35 HANDY MANNY 10:00 IMAGINATION MOVERS 10:20 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 10:45 JUNGLE JUNCTION 11:00 FAIRLY ODD PARENTS 11:25 Phineas & Ferb 11:50 Wizards of Waverly Place 12:15 Sonny With A Chance 13:00 WENDY WU 14:35 SUITE LIFE ON DECK 15:00 FAIRLY ODD PARENTS 15:25 Replacements 15:50 Phineas & Ferb 16:15 Hannah Montana 16:40 Kim Possible 17:05 A KIND OF MAGIC 17:30 FAIRLY ODD PARENTS 17:55 Replacements 18:15 STITCH 18:40 Wizards of Waverly Place 19:00 Hannah Montana 19:25 Sonny With A Chance 19:45 FAIRLY ODD PARENTS 20:10 Phineas & Ferb 20:35 Suite Life On Deck 21:00 Wizards of Waverly Place 21:25 Hannah Montana 21:45 Jonas 22:10 Suite Life On Deck 22:35 Sonny With A Chance 23:00 Hannah Montana 23:25 Wizards of Waverly Place 23:50 Wizards of Waverly Place

00:40 Bank of Hollywood 06:00 50 Most Shocking Celebrity Confessions 07:45 Style Star 08:10 Style Star 08:35 E! News 09:25 Denise Richards: It’s Complicated 09:50 Leave It To Lamas 10:15 E! Investigates 12:00 E! News 12:50 Battle of the Hollywood Hotties 13:15 Pretty Wild 13:40 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 14:05 Kendra 14:30 Dr 90210 15:25 E! Investigates 16:15 Behind the Scenes 16:40 Behind the Scenes 17:10 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 17:35 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 18:00 E! News 18:50 Wildest TV Show Moments 19:15 Pretty Wild 19:40 E! Investigates 20:30 E! Investigates 21:20 Giuliana & Bill 21:45 Giuliana & Bill 22:10 E! News 23:00 Keeping Up with the Kardashians 23:25 Kourtney & Khlo√© Take Miami 23:50 Pretty Wild

00:00 Bmx Megatour 01:00 Bmx Megatour 02:00 Eurodip 1 03:00 Continuum 1 04:00 Bad Boy Racers 05:00 Bad Boy Racers 06:00 I-Ex 06:30 I-Ex 07:00 I-Ex 07:30 I-Ex 08:00 Flipside 08:30 Adidas Slopestyle 09:00 Hike&Ride06 09:30 Kite Surf Pro 10:00 Pkra World Cup - Cabarete 10:30 Dolomitenmann 11:00 Fim World Motocross Mx1 = Mx2 Ep1 12:00 Untracked Series 2 12:30 Untracked Series 2 13:00 Winter Dew Tour 09/10 14:00 Kenny Belaey’s Big Time 14:30 Kenny Belaey’s Big Time 15:00 Fim World Motocross Mx1 = Mx2 Ep1 16:00 Untracked Series 2 16:30 Untracked Series 2

00:30 Extreme Forensics 01:20 I Almost Got Away With It 02:10 Dr G: Medical Examiner 03:05 Deadly Women 04:00 Extreme Forensics 04:55 Real Emergency Calls 05:20 FBI Files 06:10 Ghosthunters 06:35 Ghosthunters 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:50 FBI Files 08:40 Real Emergency Calls 09:30 Diagnosis: Unknown 10:20 Forensic Detectives 11:10 FBI Files 12:00 Mystery ER 12:50 The Prosecutors 13:40 Disappeared 14:30 Forensic Detectives 15:20 FBI Files 16:10 Real Emergency Calls 17:00 Diagnosis: Unknown 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 FBI Files 19:30 Mystery ER 20:20 The Prosecutors 21:10 Disappeared 22:00 FBI Case Files 22:50 I Escaped Death 23:40 Dr G: Medical Examiner

01:30 Wild Orchid 03:20 Death Wish II 04:50 The Favor 06:30 Candyman II: Farewell To The Flesh 08:05 Be Cool 10:05 The Black Stallion Returns 11:50 Napoleon 13:10 Ski Patrol 14:45 Popi 16:40 Woman of Straw 18:35 The Boyfriend School 20:15 Love Field 22:00 Board Heads 23:30 Beauty Shop

00:30 Racing To America 01:30 Racing To America 02:30 Racing To America 03:30 Racing To America 04:30 Word Travels 05:00 Wild Rides 05:30 Danger Men 06:30 Racing To America 07:30 Racing To America 08:30 Racing To America 09:30 Racing To America 10:30 Word Travels 11:00 Destination Extreme 11:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 12:30 Bondi Rescue 13:00 Bondi Rescue 13:30 The Best Job In The World 14:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 14:30 Banged Up Abroad 15:30 Banged Up Abroad 16:30 Wild Rides 17:00 Destination Extreme 17:30 Cruise Ship Diaries 18:30 Bondi Rescue 19:00 Bondi Rescue 19:30 The Best Job In The World 20:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 20:30 Banged Up Abroad 21:30 Banged Up Abroad 22:30 Wild Rides 23:00 Destination Extreme 23:30 Cruise Ship Diaries

OSN COMEDY 00:00 Better Off Ted 00:30 Will & Grace 01:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (repeat) 01:30 The Colbert Report (repeat) 02:00 Entourage 02:30 Bored to Death 03:00 Saturday Night Live 04:30 George Lopez 05:00 Yes dear 05:30 Best of 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 George Lopez 09:30 The Drew Carey show 10:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 10:30 Eight Simple Rules 11:00 Frasier 11:30 Seinfeld 12:00 Best of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 13:00 The Drew Carey show 13:30 Yes dear 14:00 George Lopez 14:30 The Fresh Prince of Bel Air 15:00 Better Off Ted 15:30 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (repeat) 16:00 The Colbert Report (repeat) 16:30 The Drew Carey show 17:00 Everybody Loves Raymond 17:30 Frasier 18:00 Seinfeld 18:30 Eight Simple Rules 19:00 Billable Hours 19:30 Will & Grace 20:00 Friends 20:30 Friends 21:00 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Global Edition) 21:30 Colbert Report Global 22:00 Monday night Stand Up 23:00 South park 23:30 Seinfeld

00:00 The Martha Stewart Show 01:00 Downsize Me 02:00 The Best of Jimmy Kimmel 03:00 Moms Get Real / Now you know / Amplified 04:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 05:00 GMA Weekend (Repeat) 06:00 Parenting 06:30 Popcorn 07:00 Ahead of The Curve 07:30 Chef’s Table 08:00 The Martha Stewart Show 09:00 Downsize Me 10:00 The Best of Jimmy Kimmel 11:00 The View (repeat) 12:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 13:00 The Martha Stewart Show 14:00 GMA Live

16:00 Ahead of The Curve 16:30 Nature’s Edge 17:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 18:00 10 Years Younger 18:30 10 Years Younger 19:00 The View (repeat) 20:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 21:00 The Best of Jimmy Kimmel 22:00 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Best Of) 23:00 Moms Get Real / Now you know / Amplified

00:30 Human Weapon 01:20 Ax Men 02:10 Deep Sea Detectives 03:00 Lost Worlds 03:55 How the Earth Was Made 04:50 Man Moment Machine 05:40 Russia: Land of the Tsars 06:30 Human Weapon

Lovely Still on Super Movies

00:00 The Love Guru-18 02:00 Cassandra’s Dream-PG15 04:00 And When Did You Last See Your Father-PG15 06:00 Quid Pro Quo-PG15 08:00 Virtuality-PG15 10:00 Mostly Ghostly-PG 12:00 My Life In Ruins-PG15 14:00 Shine A Light-PG15 16:15 Virtuality-PG15 18:00 Welcome Home Roscoe JenkinsPG15 20:00 H2O Extreme-PG15 22:00 Defiance-PG15

02:30 AFL Premiership 05:00 Super League 07:00 PGA European Tour 11:30 Masters Football 14:30 Super League 16:30 NRL Premiership 18:30 Spirit of the Open 19:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 20:00 AFL Highlights 21:00 Futbol Mundial 21:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 22:00 FEI Equestrain World 22:30 Spirit of the Open 23:00 NRL Premiership

01:00 Mean Machine-18 03:00 Punisher: War Zone-18 05:00 Connected-PG15 07:00 Street Fighter II-PG 09:00 Stargate: Continuum-PG15 11:00 The Objective-PG15 13:00 Final Encounter-PG15 15:00 Stargate: Continuum-PG15 17:00 Behind Enemy Lines: ColombiaPG15 19:00 Blood: The Last Vampire-18 21:00 Hancock-PG15 23:00 Wild Things-18

02:30 Super League 04:30 NRL Premiership 06:30 World Sport 07:00 NRL Premiership 09:00 NRL Premiership 11:00 World Sport 11:30 Futbol Mundial 12:00 Live NRL Premiership 14:00 PGA European Tour 18:30 Mobil 1 The Grid 19:00 Masters Football 22:00 Super League

00:00 Futurama: Bender’s Big ScorePG15 02:00 The Foot Fist Way-PG15 04:00 Slap Shots 3-PG15 06:00 Good Burger-PG 08:00 Meet The Applegates-PG 10:00 The Scout-PG15 12:00 Made Of Honor-PG15 14:00 Kingdom Come-PG 16:00 Futurama: Bender’s Big ScorePG15 18:00 Martha Meet Frank, Daniel And Lawrence-PG15 20:00 Harold-PG15 22:00 Doctor Detroit-18

00:00 Barbie And The Magic Of PegasusFAM 02:00 D2: The Mighty Ducks-PG 04:00 Alice Upside Down-PG 06:00 The Pagemaster-PG 08:00 Ghatothkach - Master Of MagicFAM 10:00 Alice Upside Down-PG 12:00 Cinderella-FAM 14:00 D2: The Mighty Ducks-PG 16:00 Casper Haunted Xmas-FAM 18:00 Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius-FAM 20:00 The Wild Thornberrys Movie-PG 22:00 Cinderella-FAM

Punisher: War Zone on Show Movies Action

13:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 13:30 Home Improvement 14:00 The Philanthropist 15:00 Dollhouse 16:00 Survivor 17:00 Dawson’s Creek 18:00 Emmerdale 18:30 Coronation Street 19:00 Eureka 20:00 Desperate Housewives 21:00 Without A Trace 22:00 Survivor

00:00 The Philanthropist 01:00 Dollhouse 02:00 Without A Trace 03:00 Dawson’s Creek 04:00 Every Body Loves Raymond 04:30 Home Improvement 05:00 Survivor 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 Survivor 11:00 Without A Trace 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street

00:30 FIM World Cup 01:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 02:00 UFC The Ultimate Fighter 03:00 WWE SmackDown 05:00 UFC Unleashed 06:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 WWE Bottom Line 08:00 FIM World Cup 08:30 FIM World Cup 09:00 Red Bull X-Fighters Highlights 10:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 10:30 V8 Supercars Extra 11:00 UAE National Race Day 12:00 WWE Vintage Collection 13:00 FIA GT1 World Championship 14:30 V8 Supercars Extra 15:00 WWE SmackDown 17:00 WWE Vintage Collection 18:00 UFC 116 21:00 UFC Wired 22:00 UFC Unleashed 23:00 UFC Unleashed

01:15 Adventureland-PG15 03:15 Lovely Still-PG 05:00 Forever Strong-PG 07:00 Eavesdrop-PG 09:00 December Boys-PG15 11:00 The Other Man-PG15 13:00 Take The Lead-PG 15:00 Momma’s Man-PG15 17:00 December Boys-PG15 19:00 Where God Left His Shoes-PG 21:00 Flags Of Our Fathers-PG15 23:15 Coraline-PG

01:25 The Screening Room 01:50 Victor/Victoria 04:00 The Comedians 06:30 The Screening Room 07:00 Boys’ Night Out 08:50 The Bad And The Beautiful 10:45 Travels With My Aunt 12:30 Never So Few 14:30 The Comedians 17:00 Sunday In New York 18:45 The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight 20:20 Lies My Father Told Me 22:00 The Champ

07:20 Ax Men 08:10 Deep Sea Detectives 09:00 Lost Worlds 09:55 How the Earth Was Made 10:50 Man Moment Machine 11:40 Russia: Land of the Tsars 12:30 Human Weapon 13:20 Ax Men 14:10 Deep Sea Detectives 15:00 Lost Worlds 15:55 How the Earth Was Made 16:50 Man Moment Machine 17:40 Russia: Land of the Tsars 18:30 Human Weapon 19:20 Ax Men 20:10 Deep Sea Detectives 21:00 Man Moment Machine 21:55 Surviving History 22:50 Ancient Discoveries 3 23:40 Warriors

00:00 Peter Perfect 01:00 My Celebrity Home 02:00 Split Ends 03:00 How Do I Look?

04:00 Dr 90210 05:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 05:30 Area 06:00 How Do I Look?

07:00 Style Star 07:30 Style Her Famous 08:00 My Celebrity Home 09:00 Style Star 09:30 Dress My Nest 10:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

11:00 How Do I Look?

12:00 Ruby 12:30 Giuliana & Bill 13:00 Clean House 14:00 Clean House Comes Clean 14:30 Stylemaker: Andre Leon Talley 15:00 Dr 90210 16:00 Whose Wedding Is it Anyway?

17:00 How Do I Look?

18:00 How Do I Look?

19:00 Split Ends 20:00 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

21:00 Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane 21:30 Growing Up Fabulous 22:00 Peter Perfect 23:00 Peter Perfect

00:00 Oregon Uncovered Special 01:00 Budapest to Bamako 2010 01:30 Great Scenic Railways-US & Canada 02:00 Julian and Camilla’s World Odyssey 03:00 Planet Sports 04:00 Globe Trekker 05:00 Australia’s Great Wildlife Islands 06:00 Great Scenic Railways-Australia 07:00 Globe Trekker 08:00 Culture Shock 08:30 Distant Shores 09:00 Australia’s Great Wildlife Islands 10:00 Planet Food 11:00 Intrepid Journeys 12:00 Globe Trekker 13:00 Sophie Grigson In The Orient 13:30 The Thirsty Traveler 14:00 Journey Into Wine...

14:30 Panasia 15:00 Australia’s Great Wildlife Islands 16:00 Globe Trekker 17:00 Culture Shock 17:30 Sophie Grigson In The Orient 18:00 Planet Food 19:00 Globe Trekker 20:00 Planet Food 21:00 Hollywood and Vines 21:30 Travel Today 22:00 World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides 23:00 Globe Trekker

Monday, July 5, 2010

33 Flight Schedule Arrival Flights Monday 05/07/2010 Airlines Flt Route Wataniya Airways 322 Sharm El Sheikh Wataniya Airways 188 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 306 Cairo Bangladesh 045 Dhaka/Bahrain Gulf Air 211 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 408 Beirut Turkish 772 Istanbul Jazeera 435 Mashad Air Arabia Egypt 551 Alexandria Egypt Air 614 Cairo Jazeera 267 Beirut DHL 370 Bahrain Emirates 853 Dubai Etihad 305 Abu Dhabi Qatari 138 Doha Ethiopian 622 Addis Ababa/Bahrain Falcon 201 Dubai Jazeera 637 Aleppo Jazeera 503 Luxor Kuwait 412 Manila/Bangkok Jazeera 527 Alexandria British 157 London Jazeera 529 Assiut Kuwait 204 Lahore Kuwait 382 Delhi Kuwait 302 Mumbai Fly Dubai 053 Dubai Kuwait 676 Dubai Kuwait 352 Cochin Kuwait 284 Dhaka Kuwait 362 Colombo Emirates 855 Dubai Arabia 121 Sharjah Qatari 132 Doha Etihad 301 Abu Dhabi Jazeera 425 Bahrain Gulf Air 213 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 182 Bahrain Middle East 404 Beirut Wataniya Airways 102 Dubai Jazeera 165 Dubai Jazeera 447 Doha Iran Aseman 6521 Lamerd Jazeera 171 Dubai Egypt Air 610 Cairo Oman Air 645 Muscat Kuwait 672 Dubai Wataniya Airways 432 Damascus United 982 Washington DC Dulles Jordanian 800 Amman Fly Dubai 057 Dubai Wataniya Airways 332 Alexandria Jazeera 257 Beirut Wataniya Airways 422 Amman Saudia 500 Jeddah Kuwait 552 Damascus Nas Air 745 Jeddah Qatari 134 Doha Kuwait 548 Luxor Kuwait 1802 Cairo Kuwait 546 Alexandria Kuwait 678 Muscat/Abu Dhabi Kuwait 118 New York Bahrain Air 344 Bahrain Etihad 303 Abu Dhabi Emirates 857 Dubai Gulf Air 215 Bahrain Wataniya Airways 402 Beirut Saudia 510 Riyadh Arabia 125 Sharjah Jazeera 493 Jeddah Jazeera 239 Amman Jazeera 367 Deirezzor SriLankan 227 Colombo/Dubai Wataniya Airways 304 Cairo Kuwait 104 London Wataniya Airways 106 Dubai Kuwait 542 Cairo Kuwait 502 Beirut Kuwait 786 Jeddah Kuwait 618 Doha Jazeera 177 Dubai Kuwait 744 Dammam Kuwait 674 Dubai Kuwait 614 Bahrain Kuwait 774 Riyadh Indian 575 Chennai/Goa Fly Dubai 061 Dubai Middle East 402 Beirut Rovos 081 Baghdad Jet A/W 572 Mumbai KLM 0445 Amsterdam Wataniya Airways 404 Beirut Wataniya Airways 632 Rome DHL 372 Bahrain Gulf Air 217 Bahrain Jazeera 459 Damascus Emirates 859 Dubai Qatari 136 Doha United 981 Bahrain Jazeera 429 Bahrain Jazeera 449 Doha Jazeera 185 Dubai Egypt Air 612 Cairo Kuwait 1804 Cairo Tunis Air 327 Tunis Lufthansa 636 Frankfurt Pakistan 239 Sialkot Wataniya Airways 108 Dubai

Departure Flights on Monday 05/07/2010 Time 00:10 00:30 00:50 01:05 01:05 01:05 01:15 01:45 02:00 02:05 02:10 02:15 02:25 02:55 03:25 03:30 05:25 05:45 05:50 06:15 06:20 06:30 06:40 07:10 07:20 07:50 07:55 08:00 08:05 08:10 08:20 08:25 08:40 09:00 09:25 10:25 10:45 10:45 10:50 11:05 11:15 11:20 11:45 12:40 12:55 13:15 13:15 13:35 13:35 13:35 13:50 14:05 14:05 14:10 14:30 14:35 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:30 15:30 15:35 16:15 16:40 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:15 17:20 17:40 17:40 17:40 17:55 18:00 18:35 18:35 18:45 18:50 18:50 18:55 18:55 19:05 19:15 19:20 19:20 19:25 19:30 20:05 20:20 20:30 20:30 20:40 20:50 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:35 21:55 22:15 22:30 22:40 22:55 23:25 23:35 23:45 23:55 23:55

Airlines

Flt

Route

Time

Jazeera India Express KLM Lufthansa Safi Indian Pakistan Bangladesh Turkish Air Arabia Egypt Egypt Air DHL Emirates Etihad Ethiopian Qatari Wataniya Airways Jazeera Wataniya Airways Jazeera Jazeera Gulf Air Wataniya Airways Jazeera Wataniya Airways British Jazeera Kuwait Fly Dubai Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Wataniya Airways Kuwait Kuwait Arabia Wataniya Airways Emirates Qatari Etihad Gulf Air Wataniya Airways Kuwait Wataniya Airways Middle East Kuwait Jazeera Jazeera Jazeera Kuwait Iran Aseman Kuwait Kuwait Egypt Air Oman Air Wataniya Airways Jordanian Fly Dubai United Jazeera Kuwait Wataniya Airways Kuwait Saudia Nas Air Jazeera Kuwait Qatari Kuwait Kuwait Kuwait Rovos Bahrain Air Etihad Gulf Air Emirates Wataniya Airways Kuwait Arabia Jazeera Saudia Jazeera Jazeera SriLankan Jazeera Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Wataniya Airways Jazeera Kuwait Fly Dubai Kuwait Middle East Jet A/W Wataniya Airways KLM Gulf Air DHL Emirates Jazeera Kuwait Falcon Qatari Kuwait Kuwait Jazeera United Jazeera Kuwait Egypt Air

528 390 0447 637 216 982 206 046 773 552 615 371 854 306 622 139 101 164 331 422 446 212 181 256 431 156 170 545 054 1801 677 671 421 551 547 122 631 856 133 302 214 401 165 303 405 541 238 492 366 103 6522 501 785 611 646 105 801 058 982 176 673 403 617 501 746 458 773 135 613 743 1803 082 345 304 216 858 305 543 126 184 511 462 448 228 428 407 433 107 266 283 062 331 403 571 187 0445 218 373 860 612 381 102 137 301 205 526 981 502 411 613

Assiut Mangalore/Kozhikode Amsterdam Frankfurt Kabul Ahmedabad/Hyderabad/Chennai Peshawar/Lahore Dhaka Istanbul Alexandria Cairo Bahrain Dubai Abu Dhabi Addis Ababa Doha Dubai Dubai Alexandria Bahrain Doha Bahrain Bahrain Beirut Damascus London Dubai Alexandria Dubai Cairo Abu Dhabi/Muscat Dubai Amman Damascus Luxor Sharjah Rome Dubai Doha Abu Dhabi Bahrain Beirut Rome/Paris Cairo Beirut Cairo Amman Jeddah Deirezzor London Lamerd Beirut Jeddah Cairo Muscat Dubai Amman Dubai Bahrain Dubai Dubai Beirut Doha Jeddah Jeddah Damascus Riyadh Doha Bahrain Dammam Cairo Baghdad Bahrain Abu Dhabi Bahrain Dubai Cairo Cairo Sharjah Dubai Riyadh Beirut Doha Dubai/Colombo Bahrain Beirut Damascus Dubai Beirut Dhaka Dubai Trivandrum Beirut Mumbai Bahrain Bahrain/Amsterdam Bahrain Bahrain Dubai Lahore Delhi Bahrain Doha Mumbai Islamabad Alexandria Washington DC Dulles Luxor Bangkok/Manila Cairo

00:05 00:25 00:30 00:50 01:00 01:05 01:10 02:15 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:15 03:45 04:00 04:15 05:00 06:50 07:05 07:30 07:30 07:40 07:45 07:50 08:05 08:10 08:25 08:30 08:35 08:40 08:40 08:45 09:00 09:10 09:10 09:20 09:20 09:30 09:40 10:00 10:10 11:35 11:35 11:45 11:50 11:50 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:30 13:55 14:15 14:30 14:30 14:35 14:50 14:55 15:10 15:10 15:35 15:45 15:45 15:50 16:05 16:20 16:20 16:25 16:40 17:00 17:25 17:35 18:05 18:05 18:05 18:10 18:20 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:50 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:40 20:10 20:00 20:50 21:00 21:20 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:00 22:25 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:20 23:40 23:40 23:40 23:55

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for bachelors or family.

Please call 66332653.

Salwa block 10, 1 big room, separate entrance, attached toilet and kitchen, good for family or two single persons. Also 1 big room for single person or couples (only Indians).

Call 99468765. (C 2446) Hall portioned room available with Kerala family in Mangaf block-3 for nonsmoking executive decent bachelor and working ladies, rent KD 65. Contact: 67008764, 99468018.

(C 2447) 5-7-2010 Sharing accommodation available for a single Keralite bachelor with another bachelor from 1st July onwards near United Indian School, Abbassiya. Tel: 24348576, 66288012.

(C 2443) Only for Indian family, a spacious 2 bathroom, window AC furnished flat with big balcony available with household (KD 400 negotiable), location Salmiya Block 10, near Sargam sweets & restaurant, rent KD 220. Call 94935940.

(C 2440) 3-7-2010

MATRIMONIAL Proposals invited from good looking and fair Christian girls for a 27- year-old (174 cm) Marthomite, MBA graduate working in a reputed shipping co in Kuwait.

(Preferred post graduate, professional deg holders, BSc nurses). Contact: km1981982@gmail.com (C 2445) 4-7-2010

SITUATION WANTED

FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161 Male Secretary is looking for immediate placement, 12 years Kuwait experience, complete secretarial/ documentation works, tendering/ quantity survey works/ office administration & independent correspondence (Transferable residency).

Call 66597087/ 24349364.

(C 2433) 5-7-2010

TRANSPORT For a working lady from Salwa, Block 1 to Dajeej Farwaniya - Sunday to Thursday, office time 7:55 am and pick up 5:30 pm.

Please contact: 99596858.

(C 2442) 3-7-2010

FOR SALE Gallant 1999 model in excellent condition and passing valid up to October 2010 reason for selling leaving Kuwait for good. Contact: 66834125. (C 2441) 3-7-2010

CHANGE OF NAME I, Faiqua Sultana, holder of Pakistani Passport No. KF209228 hereby change my name to Faiqua Malik for all purpose. (C 2435) 3-7-2010

SITUATION VACANT

Urgently live in housemaid required for Indian family (Abbassiya Keralite family).

Please contact 99509436.

(C 2444) 4-7-2010

34

SPECTRUM

Monday, July 5, 2010

Calvin

CROSSWORD 12

Aries (March 21-April 19) The young people in your care seem to do nothing but argue. You are fairminded and above-board, always direct and honest in thought. You manage to come up with things to keep everyone busy and out of trouble. You are more interested in eternal thoughts and broad landscapes than in minute details. You may find yourself interested in writing for a travel agent. You always manage to help others see the picture right away. Farsighted, you have a wandering mind that loves to travel. You have high ideals and an ability to enchant others with your words and images. Your presence has a way of easing things and you are able to help others let go of any ill feelings. Your afternoon is relaxing and the evening romantic--who could ask for more?

Taurus (April 20-May 20) A roundtable discussion may ensue after a family meal today. New plans are in the works for either several short trips or a vacation. Indepth discussions and probing conversations find you at your mental best. This may be a good time for your imagination to kick in when it comes to ideas and thinking. This, coupled with the ability to put your thoughts into words, allows you to captivate and spellbind. You find it easy to be compassionate and others can see that you care about them. You also understand and have a natural appreciation for your elders, whom you will take great care to include into your plans. The arts, philosophy and great ideas in general are what you enjoy now. Future-oriented, you have a sense of your own destiny.

Pooch Cafe

ACROSS 1. A bachelor's degree in naval science.

4. Battle of World War II (1944).

9. (Babylonian) A goddess of the watery deep and daughter of Ea. 13. (British) A waterproof raincoat made of rubberized fabric.

14. Bearded reddish sheep of southern Asia.

15. Goddess of spring and wife of Bragi.

16. North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

17. A projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water.

18. A visual presentation showing how something works.

19. A constitutional monarchy on the western part of the islands of Samoa in the South Pacific.

21. A member of an agricultural people in southeastern India.

23. An ancient city in Asia Minor that was the site of the Trojan War. 25. A member of a Turkic people of Uzbekistan and neighboring areas.

29. A small ball with a hole through the middle.

33. Large high frilly cap with a full crown.

35. An esoteric or occult matter that is traditionally secret.

37. The sign language used in the United States.

38. A defensive missile designed to shoot down incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles.

40. (Irish) Chief god of the Tuatha De Danann.

42. A ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element.

43. An intensely radioactive metallic element that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores.

44. A bag used for carrying money and small personal items or accessories (especially by women).

47. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

51. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind.

52. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

54. Genus of East Indian trees or shrubs.

56. A barrier constructed to contain the flow or water or to keep out the sea.

60. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

61. Used of a single unit or thing.

62. A state in southeastern India on the Bay of Bengal (south of Andhra Pradesh).

63. Resinlike substance secreted by certain lac insects.

64. A boy or man.

65. A psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation.

66. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

DOWN 1. A bachelor's degree in music.

2. An independent agency of the United States government responsible for aviation and spaceflight.

3. A fraudulent business scheme.

4. Type genus of the Sulidae.

5. A metal-bearing mineral valuable enough to be mined.

6. The vein in the center of a leaf.

7. A periodic paperback publication.

8. Resembling or characteristic of or appropriate to an elegy.

9. Mild form of diabetes mellitus that develops gradually in adults.

10. The content of cognition.

11. Lacking sensation.

12. Small buffalo of the Celebes having small straight horns.

20. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

22. Wild sheep of northern Africa.

24. A chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints).

26. An internationally recognized distress signal in radio code.

27. Any of various units of capacity.

28. A rare silvery (usually trivalent) metallic element.

30. Mentally or physically infirm with age.

31. Late time of life.

32. The cry made by sheep.

34. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

36. Found along western Atlantic coast.

39. A state of Uganda and site of a former Bantu kingdom.

40. A periodic paperback publication.

41. A doctor's degree in education.

45. A city in southern Turkey on the Seyhan River.

46. Given or having a specified name.

48. Lower in esteem.

49. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

50. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp.

53. The capital of Switzerland.

55. The basic unit of money in Western Samoa.

57. The local time at the 0 meridian passing through Greenwich, England.

58. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

59. An enclosed space.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You are happy wherever you are, but today you are your happiest in your own private surroundings with a favorite pet friend nearby.

Religion, truth and the world of philosophy and ideas are of interest. Your love of simplicity is good for politics too. It brings out the truth and a sense of honesty in a group. As social situations come from nowhere--you seem to shine. You will have a grasp for abstract and spiritual ideas and the ability to present or communicate these to others. As communication between friends is important to you, you may find a shopping expedition, or some form of entertainment with your friends, an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.

A science fiction movie may be in order tonight.

Non Sequitur Cancer (June 21-July 22) You are open-minded and democratic and have a definite sense of mission.

Above all, you are constantly willing to move forward.

You could be teaching people to read better or help those who have never read before. This is the sort of up-beat and helpful volunteer service you might enjoy. If you are not helping others, you will naturally tune in to someone that needs guidance.

This is the frame of mind you are in today and you are determined to accomplish this deed--perhaps even subconsciously. Social opportunities are plentiful, whether it is in a religious atmosphere or a neighborhood get-together. You have a natural ability to express yourself and you may even like to perform a bit. You may enjoy a visiting relative or friend later this evening.

Leo (July 23-August 22) There will often be opportunities to lend a helping hand. This could mean a friend is moving or a neighbor is doing some home repairs. Today you will not ignore or avoid opportunities to help out and give of yourself. You are learning to trust those intuitive feelings of yours. You are beginning to be more at home with the psyche and psychological--a sense of the mystic too. You are able to carry ideas and dreams into reality, to make the spirit matter. People love to listen to what you have to say and may even come to you for psychic guidance. This is a good time for surrounding yourself with friends and young people and for having fun. You appreciate your particular situation and will enjoy support from those around you.

Zits

Virgo (August 23-September 22) You tend to avoid getting personal when it comes to your own emotions.

Today you are surrounded by people that are fun and it is not necessary for concern. There is a chance to interact with classmates or co-worker friends in a competitive way.

There is much laughter and pleasant feelings. Your home and surroundings tend to be very traditional and you could find yourself changing, repairing or picking out pictures for a hall or a room. This evening you may take some extra time out of your own schedule to thank someone that has been very, very helpful to you recently. This may mean some gift or some of your own time. A good gift may be a treat from your own kitchen or a copy of one of those pictures you have been working with.

Libra (September 23-October 22) You can exhibit great consideration to the needs of others just now and are in a good position to communicate concerning groups and society in general. Perhaps some community need has your attention. You make a positive difference if you only take a small amount of time to act on this now--others will follow.

You could even have a special gift for spanning the generation gap, bringing older and younger spirits together. A lifelong trait of yours is to help with lost animals, needy children and perhaps, older people. You are a born doer, with an incredible drive to accomplish and achieve in life.

Your ambitions are backed by the will to get things done. Once you get involved, you will be happy with the response of others.

Mother Goose and Grimm

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Although you have a hard time parting with your collections you are determined in becoming more organized today. You aim to have a place for everything and everything in its place. As far as those old clothes are concerned, a trip to the thrift shop would be a wonderful thing to do. This afternoon you could discover yourself through creativity and self-expression. Ideas about some science fiction story or perhaps the beginning of an outline for a story are possible. Try the plot out on friends and see how it works. Words and thoughts are plentiful-highlighting whatever subject is at hand. You really do have very different ideas and ways of expressing them. Your home environment, friends and neighbors will enjoy your company today.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) A clear-minded insight into your own plans and methods is available to you today. This is a good day to share your dreams with others. Each person should take a little time to talk about just where or how they may want their lives to grow. This may bring about some private decisions toward your own goals. This afternoon you will put your mind to work and take care of any details that you may have. You are at your mental best with sharp ideas and clear thoughts. Problems and obstacles that have seemed difficult before now should find easy explanation under your keen examination.

This evening you may enjoy the company of friends and neighbors. Others may find you especially witty and eccentric just now.

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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) Taking care of personal chores today is a major theme. You crave organization and practicality and you want to get things accomplished. Learning, communicating and the exchange of ideas are the experiences you crave as a new phase begins in your life. You are a person with something to say and you realize that others have information that is essential to your goals. This could be a time of much mental energy and initiative. If you are not working today, that professional attitude is carried out in all you attempt to accomplish. You may find yourself communicating and helping an older person/s this evening--perhaps a family member. You are wise to keep the communications active so as to stay aware of any problems they may be having.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You may decide to hang pictures or move plants around this morning. Your aim for today is to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Health and work goals take on greater importance for you as well and you may find yourself rearranging furniture in order to fit in that new exercise machine. Your keyword is responsibility--the ability to respond.

You are able to find yourself enjoying all sorts of good relationships, rather than alone. Some of your friends may invite you to a social event this afternoon and you enjoy being with your friends. Many times you mirror someone by taking on their style of doing or saying things. You can be peaceful, calm and undisturbed. You are a born strategist at bringing out the best in others.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Religion, truth and the world of philosophy and ideas are of interest to you. You may find yourself having religious discussions and doing research. You add a special touch to any social affair. Your love of simplicity is good for politics. It brings out the truth and a sense of honesty in a group. You are freedom loving, independent and at times, even a trifle remote. You are not bound by relationships and are thus not much of a domestic. You will find, however, that the relationships of present are beginning to deepen. This could be a bright and meaningful time. Your communication skills are at a highwater mark. You must be careful not to become carried away with exercise when it is hot. Try exercising during the early mornings.

INFORMATION

Monday, July 5, 2010

35 FIRE BRIGADE Operation Room 112 Al-Madena 22418714 Al-Shohada始a 22545171 Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Sabhan 24742838 Al-Helaly 22434853 Al-Fayhaa 22545051 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Ahmadi 23980088 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Al-Jahra 25610011 Al-Salmiya 25616368

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 HOSPITALS Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha始a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

24874330/9 CLINICS

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

4892674

Al-Omariya

4719048

N.Kheitan

4710044

Rabiya

4732263

Fintas

3900322

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988 AIRLINES

PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE Ahmadi

PHARMACY Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

ADDRESS Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

PHONE 23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Hawally

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554

EMERGENCY 112

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists: Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea Dr. Masoma Habeeb Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy Dr. Mohsen Abel Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly

25622444 25752222 25321171 25739999 25757700 25732223 25732223

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT): Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners: Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists: Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Plastic Surgeons: Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari Dr. Abdel Quttainah

22617700 25625030/60

Family Doctor: Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581

Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr. Dr.

Zahra Qabazard Sohail Qamar Snaa Maaroof Pradip Gujare Zacharias Mathew

25710444 22621099 25713514 23713100 24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians: Dr Adrian Harbe 23729596/23729581 Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 General Surgeons: Dr. Abidallah Behbahani 25717111 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148

Paediatricians: Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290

(2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535 Dentists:

Dr Anil Thomas

3729596/3729581

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Neurologists:

Internist, Chest & Heart: DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Tel: 25339667 Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Consultant Cardiologist Tel: 2611555-2622555 Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

Internists, Chest & Heart: Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3

Physiotherapists & VD: Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Endocrinologist: Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari

25658888

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr

25329924

Psychologists/Psychotherapists Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677 William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Kuwait Airways Wataniya Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines

22433377 24379900 177 22477631 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/2433141 22456700 22412284/5 22453820/1

INTERNATIONAL CALLS Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK)

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345 00236 00235 0056 0086 0057 00269 00242 00682 00506 00385 0053 00357 0090392 00420 0045 00246 00253 001767 001809 00593 0020 00503 0044

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00240 00291 00372 00251 00500 00298 00679 00358 0033 00594 00689 00241 00220 00995 0049 00233 00350 0030 00299 001473 00590 001671 00502 00224 00592 00509 0031 00504 00852 0036 0034 00354 0091 00873 0062 0098 00964 00353 0039 00225 001876 0081 00962 007 00254 00686 00965 00996 00856 00371 00961 00231 00218 00370 00352 00853 00389

SPECTRUM

36

Monday, July 5, 2010

Lindsay Lohan’s birthday bother L

Lindsay, as she celebrated her special day. The evening before, Lindsay had been out with pals including Doug Reinhardt and Danny Cipriani - when a waitress allegedly “punched” her. Lindsay tweeted: “A waitress just hit me punched me for no reason.”

However, club worker Jasmine Waltz has denied the allegations and claims Lindsay is “delusional”. She told Access Hollywood: “All I have to say is that disturbed little train wreck is delusional. I didn’t hit her.

screen, concealing the license plates and failing to stop. According to Mail Online, the pretty actress and pals were so late for dinner, they had to walk to final part of the journey while Eleonore spoke with police.

Lindsay’s group - which included British socialite Lady Victoria Hervey - stayed on at the eatery until midnight, then partied at The Colony Club in Los Angeles until 2am before continuing their evening at a house party. This was the second night of drama in a row for

Robert Pattinson can’t cook T

London recently, my hotel had really good room service and I just ate the same thing every day chicken tikka! I crave a homecooked meal sometimes, but I only know how to make a piece of

toast.” The British star also admitted spending so much time staying in hotels has made him lazy. He explained: “Hotels have made me more lazy, you can throw the towel on the floor and someone picks it up, and there’s a mini bar.” The actor - who first found fame playing Cedric Diggory in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ - also spoke about how much he enjoyed fame before the ‘Twilight Saga’ made him a global superstar. He added: “There was a really good period just before the first Twilight film came out and I went to an LA club and said, ‘Rob Pattinson I think I’m on someone’s guest list,’ and he said, ‘Oh, it’s fine.’ “It’s strange, you’ve been refused entry to everywhere for years and all of a sudden all the doors are open to you. Then, four months later, you don’t even want to go to clubs!”

ngelina J olie learned to fly as a birthday present for her son.

The actress - who raises six children with partner Brad Pitt - took pilot lessons after realizing how much her eldest child, Maddox, now eight, enjoyed watching planes go by. She explained: “When Maddox was one and a half, we used to go to the airfield, have lunch and watch the planes. And it dawned on me: I could fly. So I promised him I would fly by his second

A

Jolie learned to fly for her son

he ‘Twilight Saga’ actor admits he often craves home-cooked food but because his culinary abilities are so limited, he has to rely on room service in hotels. He said: “In

birthday.” The ‘Salt’ star admits she loves boarding a plane alone as it is the only time she gets the solitude she craves. She added to Vanity Fair magazine: “it’s the only place I’m completely alone - up in the air, detached from everything. “Brad loves the technical aspects. He loves the checks, loves all the maths. I’m terrible at the maths, but I love that I can go anywhere and have that freedom. He’s more patient. I tend to drive it to the ground.”

oldie Ha w n is teaching children how to relax. The ‘Cactus Flower’ actress - who founded the Hawn Foundation - has set up the new MindUp program to help teach children how to boost their learning ability through breathing exercises, Buddhist mindfulness training and relaxation techniques.

She said: “It teaches children how their minds work, it teaches them to recognize stress, and when they do, it gives them tools to deal with it.

All of this is wrapped around the curriculum, so it doesn’t take time from the academics.” Goldie is

G

K

delighted by the results of her program. She explained: “We have done tests that show there was better attendance, that their aggression went down in the playground, that their optimism went up to 63 per cent... It’s been done by neuroscientists from the University of British Columbia. People who have been doing this for 30 years.” The 64year-old star - who is the mother of Kate Hudson, and has been dating Kurt Russell for 25 years - is currently working with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver to implement her scheme in British schools.

Minogue’s stress fear

Rowland comfortable K with curves elly Rowland “never worries” about her weight.

The ‘Commander’ hit maker admits she is currently heavier than usual but insists she doesn’t want to get too skinny because she loves her curves too much. She said: “I would never want to lose too much weight. I love having curves and a bum.

But I’d like too.” It has been reported the incident occurred after Jasmine - who recently dated rugby player Danny following his split from Kelly Brook - became upset when he started flirting with Lindsay. Lindsay - who currently has to wear an alcohol-monitoring SCRAM bracelet as part of her probation for a driving under the influence (DUI) arrest - is due in court tomorrow, where Judge Marsha Revel will determine how well she is adhering to the courtimposed restrictions.

Goldie Hawn relaxes kids

indsay Lohan was stopped by police as she travelled to her birthday party on Friday .

The ‘Mean Girls’ actress - who turned 24 on Friday - was in a car with pals on their way to a dinner party at Beso on Hollywood Boulevard, when her black SUV (sports utility vehicle) was pulled over by officers after it failed to stop at a stop sign. Her assistant Eleonore Lieven - who was driving was scolded by police and received citations for having a tinted wind-

Men like something to hold on to.

I’m nearer the top end of my weight range at the moment, though I was heavier when I went to the Grammy Awards a few years ago, but everything is in the right place! I’m working the long, lean look. “I’m around a UK clothes size 8, but sometimes a 10 or even 12 in bottoms depending

on where I shop. But I never worry about it.” The former Destiny’s Child star also admitted she would never rule out having cosmetic surgery when she gets older. She said: “If my butt is falling I’m going to pick it up. I’m not against it. I’d never have Botox though - no way. I like to have expressions.”

ylie Minogue worries it could have been stress that made her ill. The ‘All The Lovers’ singer - who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005 admitted she used to get herself into “absolute states” before she went onstage to perform because she is so insecure. She said: “After being ill, I just thought, ‘OK I don’t know whether it was the stress that made me ill or the illness made me that way.’ I don’t know - chicken or egg.

“I would just be in absolute states before performing and I think there’s always been a little voice in my head from when I

started out, ‘She can’t sing, she can’t do this, she can’t do that’. However, the 42-year-old star- who has been dating Spanish model Andres Velencoso since October 2008 revealed she no longer feels so nervous before going out on stage, though she is unsure why her outlook changed. She explained to Attitude magazine: “I just don’t stress about being on stage anymore. There could be combined reasons, maybe I’ve just reached my stride and I love that I’ve had to earn that. No one can give it to you. You’ve just got to learn the hard way.”

SPECTRUM

Monday, July 5, 2010

R

eviews

37

Examining the enigma that is Tom Cruise

By Colin Covert

ARTIST: THE-DREAM ALBUM: LOVE KING ounding out the deceptively powerful trilogy that’s given us 2007’s “Love/Hate” and last year’s “Love vs Money,” The-Dream sticks to his signature future-soul sound on “Love King,” which the singer/songwriter/producer has called the final album he’ll release as a solo artist. If that proves true, he’s going out in style: Less sprawling but just as richly detailed as “Love vs Money,” the 12-track set contains several of The-Dream’s finest numbers yet, including “Make Up Bag,” in which he advises deep-pocketed husbands and boyfriends on how to avoid the doghouse, and “Yamaha,” a spirited piece of Prince worship clearly inspired by “Little Red Corvette.” Alas, “Panties to the Side” is no less crude than its title suggests, though the easily offended can always skip ahead to “February Girl,” six gorgeous minutes of sweet synth-soul nothings.

R

ARTIST: STONE TEMPLE PILOTS ALBUM: STONE TEMPLE PILOTS he Stone Temple Pilots’ new self-titled album-its sixth studio release and first since “Shangri-La Dee Da” in 2001 — perfectly showcases the veteran rock act’s bold musicianship and songwriting knowhow. The 12-song set displays a marked maturity and strong sense of direction since the four-piece’s re-formation after an approximately five-year hiatus. The songs “Take a Load Off” and “Hazy Daze” smack with hard-rock lickery, while “Cinnamon” shimmers with carefree ‘90s optimism. And there’s a notably Beatles-influenced Britpop quality to tunes like “Hickory Dichotomy” and “Dare If You Dare.” Bringing everything from Seattle grunge sounds on the opening track/first single, “Between the Lines,” to homesick acoustic balladry on “Maver,” the sundry set still boasts a strong sense of unity. Displaying impressive vocal polish from outspoken frontman Scott Weiland; blazing guitar solos over tight, crunch-laden instrumentation; and grungy takes on Lennon/McCartney melodicism, STP asserts its place among seminal hard-rock chameleons.

T

ARTIST: JACK JOHNSON ALBUM: TO THE SEA he latest album from chronically laid-back surfrocker Jack Johnson, “To the Sea,” is so down-toearth that it could only be recorded using 100 percent solar power. A natural progression from 2008 release “Sleep Through the Static,” the new set features more electric guitars and a brighter, full-band sound while still bringing plenty of sing-along acoustic romanticism and breezy melodies. “No Good With Faces” epitomizes the downbeat beach balladry and straightforward melodic approach that best showcase Johnson’s unaffected style. The mood picks up with the full-band jam “At or With Me,” which offers a different brand of feel-good that conjures images of summer barbecues. The acoustic-driven “Turn Your Love” is another Johnson standby, sweetened with background “ooohs” and the soothing plink of a ukulele, while the title track takes a turn with keys and a bouncy bass groove, breaking into some surprisingly bluesy, Hendrix-inspired guitar licks.

T

ARTIST: LEELA JAMES ALBUM: MY SOUL eela James grabbed attention with her arresting but uneven 2005 debut, “A Change Is Gonna Come.” On her 2009 covers album, “Let’s Do It Again,” her striking vocals-her voice is a gritty, soulfully booming force of nature-poured new feeling into R&B/funk songs originally recorded by others. But it still left you itching for James to sink her teeth into something of her own. She does that on “My Soul,” the debut for her fitting new home, legendary soul label Stax.

From her growling, rock-edged stance on opener “I Ain’t New to This,” James reclaims the hoopla that greeted her arrival. Conjuring soul sisters Aretha Franklin, Betty Wright, Mavis Staples and Millie Jackson, James puts her unique emotional stamp on the churchy “The Fact Is,” the smoky groove “Party All Night” and the emphatic “Tell Me You Love Me.” Not every song is a home run, but this album shows James is back on the right track.

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ilm stars live out parallel lives in the roles they portray, and few have lived as large as Tom Cruise. His trajectory from promising young heartthrob to box-office champ to wobbling superstar has careened across the nation’s screens like a meteor. The antic teen famous for dancing in his underpants has morphed into a middle-aged enigma notorious for jumping on Oprah’s couch. Along the way he took control of United Artists (disastrously) and inspired Christian Bale’s performance as the unhinged title character in “American Psycho.” In advance of Wednesday’s opening of “Knight and Day,” his first film since 2008, we offer a look at Cruise’s career in four acts.

• The contender (1981-86) Tom Cruise has never been a great actor. Like the Cheshire Cat, his grin is his most distinctive characteristic. But he’s always had the makings of a good movie star: charisma, a strong work ethic and a nose for the kind of thrill-ride adventures, courtroom thrillers and paint-by-numbers redemption dramas audiences love. His early roles were extraordinarily handsome ordinary guys. After minor roles in “Taps” and “The Outsiders,” he boogied to stardom in his BVDs with the edgy loss-of-innocence comedy “Risky Business,” a surprise hit. He became the name above the title in the standard-issue high school football drama “All the Right Moves,” using his new clout to branch out in exotic directions.

This is a recurring urge that has not served him well. In Ridley Scott’s outlandish “Legend” (a perfumecommercial version of “Lord of the Rings”) he plays the leader of an army of fairies. Cruise looked lost amid the showering rose petals, unicorns and sprites; Scott called the film “a bloody disaster.” Cruise returned to his comfort zone of Joe Cool all-American guy-ism in “Top Gun,” a sugar-rush armed forces recruiting poster that became the biggest hit of his early career.

• Tom Terrific (1988-93) Johnny Depp is indelible in every role. Cruise is generally interchangeable from one part to another (“it’s Tom Cruise in a bomber jacket ... a business suit ... a Civil War uniform!”). To his credit, he seemed to realize this and spent the next few years in a pseudoapprenticeship, partnering with wise mentor-actors (Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Duvall, Jack Nicholson, Gene Hackman) and directors (Martin Scorsese, Barry Levinson, Oliver Stone, Rob Reiner, Sydney Pollack). As a pool shark (“The Color of Money”), juggling

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As the danger escalates during their global adventure, June Havens (Cameron Diaz, left) finds herself increasingly drawn to the mysterious Roy Miller (Tom Cruise) in “Knight and Day.” —MCT bartender (“Cocktail”), auto dealer (“Rain Man”) and racing champ (“Days of Thunder”), his range extended from brash to cocky and back again. But he got the best reviews of his career as a bitter paraplegic Vietnam vet in “Born on the Fourth of July,” beginning a fascination with playing physically and psychically damaged characters.

With fame came notoriety. Mimi Rogers, the actor’s wife from 1987 to 1990, said she divorced the guy People magazine named the Sexiest Man on Earth because he “thought he had to be celibate to maintain the purity of his instrument. My instrument needed tuning.”

Extending himself in the period romance “Far and Away,” he adopted a leprechaun Irish accent so appalling the film’s official trailer contained no dialog whatever. It was his first all-out love story, co-starring his new bride, Nicole Kidman, and it tanked. He scampered back to safety with surefire legal dramas (“A Few Good Men” and “The Firm”).

And then things started to get weird.

• Jumping the couch (1994-2007) Cruise chased the part of the foppish bloodsucker Lestat in the screen version of Anne Rice’s “Interview With the Vampire,” triggering a public feud with the novelist. She recanted when she saw his performance, but mainstream audiences were disturbed to see the heretofore clean-cut star in lace,

ruffles and long blond wig, sinking his teeth lustily into a rat. Or the neck of pretty young Brad Pitt.

Oprah Winfrey famously walked out of a screening of the R-rated chiller.

The film was a sizable hit, especially overseas, but spawned considerable stateside ridicule.

Cruise returned to his day job, this time with the formula superspy actioner “Mission: Impossible,” where his character, Ethan Hunt, wears a bewildering variety of latex masks. (Cruise has a major falseface fetish, donning facial prosthetics or disfiguring makeup in all three “Mission” films, “Eyes Wide Shut,” “Vanilla Sky,” “Minority Report,” “Tropic Thunder” and “Valkyrie.”)

As he began to age out of the ‘80s young-blood roles that were his bread and butter, Cruise made “Jerry Maguire,” playing a hotshot sports agent who gets the corporate guillotine when he loses his earning power. Cruise was persuasive as a character who can’t stand being alone, but is uncomfortable being close to anyone. After a three-year hiatus, Cruise and Kidman starred in “Eyes Wide Shut,” playing a sad, bored rich couple with a dysfunctional sex life. Cruise spent much of the film at a swanky costume-ball orgy, his face hidden behind a Venetian mask. “Eyes Wide Shut” described the faces of many viewers, wearied by the pretentious film, whose themes had an uneasy resonance with Cruise’s offscreen life.

His marriage to Kidman often was

derided as a camera-ready showbusiness arrangement, and the pair divorced shortly after “Eyes” opened.

Cruise entered a phase of career rehab. He took a small, showy role in an art-house ensemble piece (“Magnolia”) playing a woman-hating sex guru. The film cratered. He performed crowd-pleasing motorcycle-kung fu stunts in “Mission: Impossible 2” (a massive hit). He entered a showy, paparazzi-friendly dalliance with Penelope Cruz, his co-star in “Vanilla Sky” (another flop). He made a sci-fi movie with Spielberg, he donned Japanese imperial armor, he played a villain, he made another sci-fi movie with Spielberg.

But Colin Farrell acted him off the screen in “Minority Report,” “The Last Samurai” was “Dances With Kimonos,” “Collateral” was murky and depressing, and “War of the Worlds” starred the specialeffects crew. Unlike George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Pitt and Will Smith, who rarely stumble and build their credibility from film to film, Cruise was entering a period when more of his films were disappointments than not.

Then came a fall from grace unparalleled since Ben Affleck’s in his J-Lo period. Cruise entered a streak of weird self-destruction-not the kind of mug-shot misbehavior associated with Mel Gibson, Mickey Rourke and Robert Downey Jr, but an avalanche of tone-deaf PR gaffes.

Polanski decision expected soon wiss officials say they will decide soon whether to extradite Roman Polanski to the US to face prosecution in a 1977 sex case. Justice Ministry spokesman Folco Galli says “It won’t be long” before a decision on the extradition request. He

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declined to be more specific.

The 76-year-old director fled the US on Feb 1, 1978, the day he was to be formally sentenced for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. He was arrested on Sept 26 as he came to receive a lifetime achievement award at a Zurich

film festival.

He has been under house arrest at his chalet in the resort of Gstaad since December, when he was released on $4.5 million bail.

Polanski would be allowed to appeal extradition.—AP

In this photo Norah Jones, American singer and songwriter, performs on the Stravinski Hall stage at the 44th Montreux Jazz Festival, in Montreux, Switzerland, Saturday.—AP

Norah Jones and red guitar charm Montreux Jazz Festival

By Stephanie Nebehay

ARTIST: HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS ALBUM: SKELETONS fter the 2007 death of Hawthorne Heights guitarist/vocalist Casey Calvert, the post-hardcore act took a more mainstream direction, applying poppier melodies and screamfree vocals to its 2008 album, “Fragile Future.”

But after a lengthy legal battle with Victory Records and subsequently signing to Wind-up, the band returns to its harder roots on “Skeletons.”

Throughout the set, lead guitarist Micah Carli lends death growls to support the emotional lyrics of vocalist JT Woodruff. Over heavily distorted guitars on the track “End of the Underground,” Carli’s roar supplements Woodruff’s plea of “Please know that you’re not alone.” But the mood settles with “Gravestones,” where screams are replaced with the heavy strumming of an acoustic guitar. And opening cut “Bring You Back” uses a familiar touch of pop punk with interwoven vocal melodies. Hawthorne Heights’ rediscovery of its roots may be what longtime fans have been yearning for, and what the band needs to recover from personal struggles.

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Some men have embarrassment thrust upon them, but Cruise went out and seized embarrassment by the throat. It began with his ostentatious courtship of Katie Holmes, his gyrations on Oprah’s sofa, the implosion of Holmes’ promising acting career and the perception that Cruise is bat-squeak crazy. The star’s tense “Today Show” turn as self-appointed drug counselor to Brooke Shields, who shared her experiences taking postpartum antidepressants, further cemented his image as a spooky megalomaniac.

In 2006 Paramount owner Sumner Redstone severed the increasingly embarrassing Cruise’s 14-year relationship with the studio, calling his eruptions “creative suicide” that cost Paramount $150 million in lost ticket sales for the underperforming “Mission: Impossible 3.”

In a move that looked like sweet revenge, Cruise and his agent, Paula Wagner, promptly took over United Artists - and steered it into an iceberg. After two years in their hands UA released just two films, both starring Cruise. “Lions for Lambs,” a prestige picture designed to put his career back on track, presented him as a dull, office-bound policy wonk US senator. It died unnoticed.

He sported an eye patch as Nazi Claus von Stauffenberg in the Hitler-assassination-bungling adventure “Valkyrie” (a hit despite production delays, unsuccessful Oscar-fishing and negative reviews).

Wagner was sent packing, and UA’s future is in doubt.

Rarely had a star of Cruise’s caliber been so widely used as a punch line. Negative public perception of Cruise soared in the closely watched Q Scores, which chart celebrity popularity. Unfavorable views of Cruise jumped 100 percent from 2005 to 2006; positive perceptions fell 40 percent. His stock sank so low that Mary Harron, director of “American Psycho,” had no qualms about telling interviewers that Cruise was the inspiration for her film’s unhinged yuppie ax murderer.

Even Terry Gilliam, desperate to recast the late Heath Ledger’s halffilmed role in “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus,” refused Cruise’s offer to step in as one of the replacement actors.

•The rebuilding years (2008) Cruise rediscovered his sense of fun playing fat, bald, profane film mogul Les Grossman in “Tropic Thunder.” Something about hiding behind extensive makeup and tinted shades freed him up; his loose, silly performance became his most animated screen appearance in years.

Cruise energetically showcased the pudgy tycoon’s club-dancing antics on the MTV Movie Awards, and now the character will be the centerpiece of his own film. An irreverent insider’s look at Hollywood isn’t exactly groundbreaking material, but a move into comedy gives Cruise a chance to explore uncharted territory. e’s also moving ahead with “Mission: Impossible 4.” Feud over, both those films will be Paramount productions. Cruise is about to launch another comeback bid with “Knight and Day.” At 47, he’s a bit long in the tooth for an action romcom, so he loaded up on box-office insurance. His co-star is the likable Cameron Diaz, one of the few actresses who can launch a project with her participation.

The film looks unambitious, like a remake of “Killers,” the Ashton Kutcher-Katherine Heigl guns-andgiggles toss-off everyone has already forgotten, but with bigger stunts and more star wattage.

“Knight and Day” also has an odd subtext. Cruise plays a renegade government agent who is allegedly nuts. “They’ll tell you I’m mentally unstable, violent, dangerous. It will all sound very convincing,” Cruise warns Diaz.

“I’m already convinced,” Diaz replies. Cruise does nutty things (shooting a bystander in the leg for comic effect, making silly small talk while riding the hood of a speeding car). We can’t say for sure whether he’s loony or merely crazy like a fox, but there’s one thing we know for sure: Tom Cruise loves a happy ending.—MCT

In this April 24, 2010 file photo film director Roman Polanski walks on the balcony of his chalet named “Milky Way”, where he has been under house arrest, in Gstaad, Switzerland.—AP

British band “The Prodigy” performs on stage at the Roskilde Festival, on yesterday some 30 km west of Copenhagen.

— AFP

orah Jones charmed the Montreux Jazz Festival, moving nimbly from guitar to keyboard and piano, and blending new songs with crowd favorites from her breakthrough album. Striding on stage with her bright red electric guitar on Saturday night, she opened with “I Wouldn’t Need You”, among half a dozen tracks from her latest and fourth album “The Fall”. Others included “Light as a Feather” and “Chasing Pirates”.

It was the American’s second appearance in three years at the Auditorium Stravinski where Jones headlined the annual festival being held on the shore of Lake Geneva until July 17.

Next door, The Dead Weather lit up the Miles Davis Hall with a blistering performance of blues rock. “It is so beautiful here, I can’t take it. I wish I could live here, especially when I get stressed out,” the New York-based Jones told the sell-out crowd.

The 31-year-old, who wore a strapless flounced dress with black and white checks, set off by a red belt and red high heels, is the daughter of legendary Indian sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar. She is also half-sister of Anoushka Shankar. She shot to fame with her 2002 debut album “Come Away with Me”,

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which took eight Grammies, including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. “Feels Like Home”, “Not Too Late”, and most recently “The Fall” followed.

Jones, who grew up in Texas, departed from her own repertoire to play a song by iconic American country singer Willie Nelson, “What Do You Think of Her Now?” But it was when she moved to the piano that she seemed to connect best with the audience, winning her biggest applause for “Sunrise”.

At the end of a soulful rendition of “Waiting (for You to Come Home)”, the lights went out, leaving only the red lamp on her piano glowing like a beacon in the dark.

“Back to Manhattan”, “December” and “Man of the Hour”- about her faithful dog-followed from her new album with dogs on the CD cover. Vocalist Sasha Dobson joined in on banjo for a lively “Sinkin’ Soon”.

Jones finished on acoustic guitar for “Lone Star”, huddled front stage with her five musicians, before returning for an encore of “Creepin’ In” and a melodic “Come Away With Me”. Legendary music producer Quincy Jones took the stage at the end of the 90-minute set, praising Jones, who is no relation, as “my baby sister”. “She has a young mind, a young body and an old soul,” he said.—Reuters

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Monday, July 5, 2010

Travel

By Jim Buchta

t El Jibarito, a cafe in the heart of Old San Juan, diners ate platters of fish with the heads still on and vegetables I didn’t recognize. Chicken Cordon Bleu was the only thing on the menu that looked familiar, so I asked the waiter to order for me. Just not the fish, I said. The dish he brought, pollo criollo with yucca mofongo, had the creamy sauce of a basic chicken stew, but also a spicy lime kick. The texture was familiar, but the taste exotic. The same could be said for Old San Juan, where a 16th-century stone fortress stands five blocks from a Marshall’s discount store and you can buy a Puerto Rican vejigante mask with US dollars. I went to Puerto Rico in part because it’s easy. Flights are nonstop, I didn’t need a passport and most people speak English. A couple of my friends discouraged me, saying that San Juan was a lot like Miami, but I also wanted a Caribbean experience that I knew I couldn’t get while sipping fruity drinks at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico or strolling Miami’s South Beach.

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Pigeons and doves gather at the Parque de las Palomas.

I stayed in Old San Juan, a small island that’s connected to the rest of San Juan-Puerto Rico’s largest city-by several causeways. As I made my way there by taxi, I passed rows of high-rise condos and resorts that stand shoulder to shoulder along the Atlantic coastline. Near the old town, traffic slowed and I watched through clouds of car exhaust as kids dove from bridge railings into a shallow lagoon.

My taxi dropped me at Plaza Colon, near my hotel on a pedestrian-only street. There a statue of the plaza’s namesake, Christopher Columbus, who became the first European to land on the island in 1493, stood amid shade trees and park benches. The afternoon air was heavy with humidity and the streets quiet except for the thumping of my roller suitcase as I dragged it over hazy blue cobblestones to my hotel. Those same worn stones-made from the ballast of Spanish ships that stopped here on their way to plunder the riches of the New World nearly 500 years ago-line many of the streets of Old San Juan.

After checking into my hotel and setting out to explore the town, a seven-block grid of streets, I wondered if Old San Juan really had gone the way of Miami. Near the boat docks, a hulking new Sheraton Hotel with a casino and neon window signs was almost tall enough to block views of three massive cruise ships in the harbor. Most of the town still has its two- and three-story Spanish Colonial buildings with tall windows and balconies, but the narrow sidewalks below are lined with electronics stores, fast food chains and souvenir shops.

The town seemed overwhelmed by tourists, too, including some who were padding around in swimsuits and flip-flops, an odd sight because Old San Juan has no beaches. Back at my room, I sipped sweet pineapple juice I’d bought at a corner store and watched night fall over the city.

Later, I ate at a restaurant on Plaza Colon, where tourists who had just stepped off cruise ships in the nearby harbor hurried from shop to shop in search of a piece of Puerto Rico. A dark cloud moved in and poured down rain, sending shoppers back to their ships, presumably with nothing more than a trinket and a wet memory of Old San Juan. I felt grateful that I would have several days to explore the city. After dinner, I ventured out into the damp, empty streets lined with dark storefronts and glistening cobblestones. At night, I could see what Old San Juan must have looked like before the tourist boom in the 1960s.

Moonlight filled the narrow alleys and streets, exposing cracks like wrinkles in an old man’s face on the stucco facades of buildings. And every once in a while, the silky voice of some Puerto Rican pop star floated from an open window above the storefronts.

Back at my hotel-a budget option in the heart of the old town-I dimmed the lights and waited for the music to begin at the salsa bar downstairs, the Nuyorican Cafe (a melding of New York and Puerto Rican). A few posts on Tripadvisor.com complained about the noise and suggested bringing earplugs, but I was excited to eavesdrop on the sounds of San Juan, so I opened the windows. I worried that San Juan had lost itself to the cruise ships that bring in nearly a third of all tourists who visit every year, so early the next morning I walked the town from end to end in hopes of getting my bearings-geographically and culturally-before the crowds arrived.

At the Parque de las Palomas (pigeon park) at the top of a fortress wall, I stopped to enjoy views of the mountains of central Puerto Rico and the still bay below. Pigeons

The roughness of raw street life in a large city mixes with Spanish Colonial architecture in Old San Juan in Puerto Rico.— MCT photos cooed in a canopy of tree branches above and from small hiding spots in the fortress wall, while a vendor selling birdseed hosed the stained cobblestone courtyard. Most people come here for the view, but the faithful return because it is said that if you feed a pigeon and it drops a “pearl” on your head, you’ll be blessed by God. I watched where I walked and left unstained and unblessed.

At El Morro, one of two forts perched along the high cliffs along San Juan’s Atlantic coastline, a park employee explained the various influences on the culture of San Juan. In the 1500s the Spaniards built the forts at the entrance to the Bahia de San Juan (Bay of San Juan) to protect access to other parts of the New World, including the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America.

The island had been inhabited by Taino Indians when the Spaniards arrived, but they couldn’t survive exposure to the diseases introduced by the newcomers. African slaves were brought to the island by the Europeans. In more recent years the island’s relationship with the United States has influenced its culture.

Knowing that helped me understand the island’s unique criolla cuisine, a reflection of the African, Spanish and other Europeans who lived here. During a walking tour of the old town, guide David Longley said that many Puerto Ricans resist any cultural association with the United States even though they carry U.S. passports. We passed a field where workers were cutting the grass with hand tools, a job that could be done more quickly with a

hand mower, but adherence to old ways is typical for many in Puerto Rico, he said. “Time has no relevance here on this island,” he said.

By the end of the second day I was already feeling the rhythm of the city and beginning to see beyond the cruise ships, street vendors and the straw hats with “Puerto Rico” emblazoned on the brim. I started my days at La Bombonera, where regulars play dominoes, waiters in red aprons drop oranges into a juice machine and the specialty of the house is Mallorca, a sweet bun that’s buttered, grilled and sprinkled with powdered sugar. I came here for a taste of what Old San Juan must have been like before Walgreens moved in down the street.

During the evenings I visited “SoFo,” a neighborhood south of Fortaleza Street that’s become the epicenter of Latin fusion cuisine. At the Parrot Club I sipped a mojito and watched waiters deliver platters of plantain nachos, and on another night I ate at the Dragonfly, famous for its sake martinis and lobster summer rolls with fresh mango and crispy noodles.

After several days of seeing the ocean from a distance, I moved to a small resort outside the old town. On my last day in Puerto Rico, I rented a bike and rode along the Atlantic coastline into the old town for the last night of the annual San Sebastian festival, held each year in January.

During the day the celebration was a traditional street fair with artists hawking wooden santos figurines said to carry the powers of the saints, and replicas of the masks that were used to scare sinners back to the church. The enticing smell of bacalaitos-cod fritters-floated in the air, and kids too young to drink guzzled cheap Mexican beer from neon plastic sippy cups.

By nighttime, crowds had clogged the streets and I was standing shoulder to shoulder with people from all over the Caribbean. Revelers hung from balconies, and I watched two elderly couples dance the night away, getting lost in the sweaty beat of a salsa band that played on a stage overlooking the bay. I was getting lost in the moment, too, and had long stopped wondering if San Juan had sold its soul and had become just another Miami. Now I was sure it hadn’t.

If you go RESTAURANTS/FOOD: Old San Juan has become a food lover’s paradise, especially in an area called “SoFo” (South of Fortaleza Street), a hub for tasty Latin fusion cuisine. My favorites included Dragonfly, El Jibarito and the Parrot Club.

MUSIC: You won’t have to venture beyond the public squares: Plaza Colon and the Plaza del Quinto Centenario, for example, to find free street music, but if you’re looking for something more organized, there are lots of options, including the Nuyorican Cafe (mostly salsa music) and the Gallery Cafe (live jazz) and dance clubs in old town.

TOURS: Several agencies offer tours. For the history of Puerto Rico, sign up for a tour from the National Park Service at El Morro and San Cristobal. Tours are free with a $5 admission to the park. You can get more intimate tours of the city by contacting local hotels, including El

Convento, which arranges tours with the guide I used, David Longley (my two-hour tour cost $50).

GETTING AROUND: Avoid renting a car in Old San Juan. If you plan to venture beyond the old town, rent from an agency outside the old town.

I rented from Charlie Car Rental (www.charliecars.com); they sent a driver to pick me up.

COMING SOON: Johnny Depp spent part of 2009 in San Juan filming “The Rum Diary,” based on a short novel by Hunter S. Thompson. The book is about a journalist who leaves a failing newspaper to work for a paper in San Juan, and the city itself is a prominent character in the story. The movie is being screened now, and is expected to be released in Canada this fall. A U.S. release date hasn’t been finalized.

— MCT

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SPECTRUM

Monday, July 5, 2010

Travel

Honorable mention: High and low get the comments here. The Four Seasons Hualalai has a great pool area and a saltwater lagoon for snorkeling-perks for its nosebleed room rates. On the other end of the sticker shock spectrum is the Kona Tiki, a clean, small and somewhat worn, let’s admit it here, motel. The pool is just a rectangle of water, but the location smack against a lava rock sea wall overlooking the Pacific is awesome.

By Gary A Warner et’s start by agreeing to the obvious-a great swimming pool in Hawaii is something of a sin with all the amazing beaches often just inches away. Sometimes a necessary sin when a resort fronts a rocky or turbulent stretch of beach unfit for people to go into the ocean. But even when there are fantastic sand strands just outside the front door, visitors to the islands’ big resorts tend to congregate at the swimming pools. The most over-the-top swimming pool in the islands, at the Grand Wailea on Maui, sits a few yards from one of the better beaches in all of Hawaii. The new pool at the Sheraton Waikiki overlooks one of the classic crescents of sand in the world. And why is any pool needed, really, along nearly any part of Kaanapali on Maui?

But there are people who prefer pools. As my 9year-old daughter put it, “There’s stuff in the ocean.”

Well, there’s sometimes stuff in the pool too, but let’s not go there. The pools are a reality. They are there.

And so are we. I’ve been chronicling the pool wars competition among Hawaiian resorts for more than a decade.

Here’s my latest roundup of the best pools in the islands, all of which I’ve swam, splashed, dived and lolled around in.

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OAHU Maybe it’s because there is so much to do in “the gathering place,” or maybe all the hotels were developed too early, before the heyday of the big resort swimming pool. But despite having more than half of the state’s population, it has a tiny fraction of its best hotel swimming pools. Until recently, there was no aquaticplayground style pool anywhere on the island. The list today remains short.

Maui is the most commercialized and expensive of the Hawaiian islands. It also has the best beaches, the best resorts and the best swimming pools. If you are a swimming pool aficionado, The Valley Isle is your splashdown point. Culling the many great pools to a short list is tough, but somebody has to do it: Greatest dips Grand Wailea: This is the legendary resort pool of all the islands, which is appropriately over-the-top for the most over-the-top hotel on the island. Everything here is epically sized. From the lobby, you can look out-that’s the main point-at the Hibiscus Pool, the 4,850-squarefoot liquid artwork stretching from lobby to sea. The huge mosaic of a hibiscus flower is created by a quarter of the 2.2 million tiles making up the pool. Kids, avert your eyes. It’s adults only. Who cares when the real deal is The Wailea Canyon Activity Pool. It’s really nine pools spread across six levels, descending 40 feet. Slides, ropes, swim-up bars and a water-powered elevator to take you back to the top to start over. Only drawback: It’s sharp elbows time for the prime poolside spots when the place is crowded.

Grand Hyatt Maui: The Hyatt is one of the oldest and biggest hotels in Kaanapali and its pool is the same.

Unlike later pools, the Hyatt’s was built with a few deep-end spots, where the water is up to 9 feet deep. As an adult, this is a great spot to jump into the water and for older kids to go diving down for sticks. But parents need to remember that this isn’t one of those modern no-point-less-than-three-feet-deep pools now so popular at resorts. Officially, there are two pools separated by the caves, waterfalls and grotto-but you can swim from one to the other (and stop for a drink along the way).

The Lahaina Pool, with the deep end, is where most of the adults hang out. But the action is on the far side of the falls in the Napili Pool, with its 150-foot Lava Tube waterslide. The slide is a wild ride, but like some of the

Stunning views can be seen from the resort-style pool, which was part of the Royal Hawaiian makeover. older models, it is all enclosed - though there are some psychedelic lights on the way through. It’s a lot of flopping around in a tube before being unceremoniously dumped into the pool just under a swinging bridge where onlookers can see if you get water up your nose.

Parents with very little ones can hang out in the Keiki Lagoon, with a sand-covered bottom. For adults, the best attraction is the Grotto Bar, where you swim through a waterfall to get to a Flintstone-like setting with a small counter of seats with a full range of beers, wines and hard stuff for tropical concoctions.

Westin Maui: With an 85,000-square-foot water park, the Westin is a major player in the Maui water park wars. The biggest draw of the aquatic playground is a 120-foot slide constructed into a man-made hill that twists riders 270 degrees and drops them 23 feet into a pool below. In all, there are five pools, with plenty of hidden nooks for kids to play hide and seek, or for adults to have a kiss amid the thundering waters. The hotel sells inflatable flotation rings, which children are encouraged to embellish with magic marker art.

Honorable Mention: It’s not the Grand Wailea, but my daughter loved the lower-key Fairmont Kea Lani, with lots of room to swim and explore but enough whoop-it-up fun that it doesn’t feel like other beautiful but sedate pools on the island. After a long drive around to the far side of the island, the hillside pool at the Hotel Hana Maui is the perfect place to gaze up at the stars at night, the pool area illuminated by flame-topped stone columns that serve as dramatic substitute for the traditional tiki torches of other hotels.

tion was picked out early in the tourism boom, and it’s been hurt and helped by its proximity to the airport and port (I stay here my first night on the island before venturing farther afield). Marriott has decided to enter the water park wars with a new kids-oriented pool, complete with slides, slated to open early this summer. But for me, the appeal is swimming a very long circular lap around the main pool, then slipping into one of the hot tubs constructed underneath the columns supporting balconies overlooking the pool. Oh yeah, there’s Kalapaki Beach a few feet away.

Honorable mention: The classy pool at the recently renovated St. Regis Princeville, perched on top of a hill overlooking the north shore of Kauai.

BIG ISLAND With the worst beaches of the most popular islands and vast distances to get to the few good ones, it’s no wonder that the Big Island has a pretty good collection of pools. Most of the resorts on the Kona side have a nice, big adult-friendly pool of the classic sit, sun and swim category. It took controversial hotel guy Chris Hemmeter to up the ante with what is today the Hilton Waikoloa Village. The Big Island is also home to the best pool at a medium-price hotel on the island-a rare budget hotel with an interesting pool.

Greatest dips Hilton Waikoloa Village: This overblown 1980s

resort on the rocky west coast of the Big Island is everything I dislike about mondo-resorts. You need a monorail to get to your spot among the 1,240 rooms and in pre-cell phone days, it took forever to track down your family amid 62 acres of aging gauche. But let’s give kudos where they are due and that comes to the pool.

Built originally as one of the developer Chris Hemmeter’s overblown Hyatts, it’s Disneyland in a tropical setting. The 4-acre swim park includes a lagoon with waterfalls that cascade into the pool from overhead, giving a feeling of being inside a water-cloaked cavern.

There’s a sand beach for hanging out-a must on this rocky stretch of coast. Because the Hilton is so big and shows its age, it’s usually the most reasonably priced of the top-tier water park hotels in Hawaii. Just be ready for endless walks (or grab a mahogany hulled boat) to get around “Hawaiiland.”

Sheraton Keauhou: A surprisingly cool pool in an unexpected place. Investors over the past decade have resurrected a sagging property-and are renovating yet again. Though the 1960s style hotel design leaves little room for style, the Sheraton brilliantly added the best swimming pool at a moderately priced hotel on the island. The Manta Ray Super Pool & Slide is now a genuine attraction for those who get nosebleeds at the rates of the Kona and Kohala coast resorts. The 200-foot waterslide, a sand-bottom pool, nearby whirlpools and lots of lush foliage and waterfalls make for a great stay. I usually stop or start my Big Island trip here, having a great splash before moving on to either the pricier resorts to the north or down to the volcano country to the south.

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If you go

MAUI

Greatest dip Sheraton Waikiki-Royal Hawaiian: One of the best things to come out of Sheraton’s renovation of its four Waikiki properties was the construction of Waikiki’s first real resort-style pool, wedged between the towering Sheraton and the venerable Royal Hawaiian. The Helumoa Playground has two pools, a 70-foot-long waterslide and two whirlpools. Best of all, the Infinity Edge pool blends nicely right into the famed beach at Waikiki, with the classic crescent of sand stretching away. A guest at any of the four Sheratons (the other two are the Westin Moana Surfrider and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani) can use the facilities.

Honorable mentions: The pool at the Halekulani in Waikiki is a sedate but lovely pool with 1.2 million South Africa glass tiles, part of which form a Cattleya orchid.

It’s a work of art and one that feels like you are desecrating by swimming in the pool, much less performing a cannonball. The elevated pool at the Trump International Tower is one of a kind in Hawaii-an urban resort pool. It’s a cool idea, with clear panels that make it appear as if you are floating three stories up in the high-rise. Too bad it looks out on streets and a park instead of the beach. As “The Donald” should know, in real estate it’s all about location, location, location. The Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore has added a respectable if unspectacular waterslide and given the aged outpost in the mecca of surf, a place for families to bring their kids.

ith the exception of the Sheratons, all the hotels at the top of the pools list are expensive. Even the Sheratons will run above what it costs to stay at a condo off the beach. If sun and fun on the beach is what you crave, a resort isn’t necessary. But for families looking for fresh and saltwater experiences, it’s not going to come cheap. Rates start just under $200 at some of the Sheraton properties and can top $800 at the Grand Wailea and Four Seasons-though in this economy deals are available (usually extra nights free, but not deeply reduced rates). — MCT

KAUAI The oldest and most northern of the Hawaiian islands, Kauai also has a great collection of beaches that should dissuade anyone from spending too much time at the pool. But the two resorts that top our list both have questionable ocean frontages-one too used, the other too rough.

A young Tarzan gets into the swing of things at the Grand Wailea Resort in Maui. — MCT Photos

Greatest dips Grand Hyatt Kauai: This is one of the few places in the islands where a great pool area is forgivable. The resort fronts Shipwreck Beach and unless you have come to Hawaii to break an arm or be pulled from strong currents by a lifeguard, it is for looking only. Guests can get a sense of salt water in the 5-acre lagoon. The big draw is the meandering four-foot deep channel that runs down the hillside to a small waterslide. Along the way are hidden grottos and bends in the course flanking thick gardens. It all makes you feel like you are in a swimming version of the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.

There’s a large, more traditional pool at the bottom for hanging out or playing a little pool volleyball.

My only caveat: The river pool might be a bit much for the youngest swimmers to handle alone-it’s 4 feet deep in parts, the current is gentle but consistent and your kids will soon be out of sight around the next bend.

Kauai Marriott: This is the greatest of the pre-watermark style pools in all the islands. A huge flower-shaped extravaganza is the largest single-level pool in the state.

The numbers are staggering: 26,000 square feet with 300,000 gallons of water. Statues of animals double as fountains, spouting powerful plumes of water into the pool. One of my favorite stress-busters after an hour of traffic in nearby Kapaa is to stand under the plume and let it pummel my tense shoulders. The Marriott’s loca-

The swim-up Grotto Bar tucked inside a cave enclosed by dual waterfalls at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort in Maui, Hawaii.

Gary Warner takes a ride on the giant water slide at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa on Hawaii’s Big Island.

The Kauai Marriott Resort features five hot tubs surrounding a large pool with animal fountains in Kauai, Hawaii.

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka’upulehu on Hawaii’s Big Island.

www.kuwaittimes.net

Ilene Woods, voice of Cinderella, dies at 81

Artists design sheep wagon for the 21st century

By Ivan Moreno rtists in the state of Colorado want to makeover the rustic sheep wagons used by immigrant workers across the West, suggesting the portable homes be spruced up to look like futuristic space vehicles with gardens and solar panels. Immigrants from Peru, Chile, Mexico and Nepal who come to the US on temporary work permits sometimes live in worn-out one-room trailers in desolate landscapes, including in Wyoming, California, and Utah. The working conditions caught the attention of Colorado lawmakers this year, but no legislation materialized.

Immigrant advocates argue that the workers’ living conditions and salaries are deplorable, while sheep ranchers maintain that their workers were treated and paid fairly. Artists with the Yuma-based nonprofit M12 say the debate doesn’t have to be contentious. They created three proposals to revamp the sheep wagon-known to the workers as “campitos”— and will show the designs on the walls of a trailer turned into a gallery, along with an old sheep wagon for comparison.

“There’s been a lot of attacks on ranchers. Our perspective is not that. Our

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lene Woods, the voice of Cinderella in Disney’s animated classic, has died. She was 81. Woods died Thursday of causes related to Alzheimer’s disease at a nursing home in Canoga Park, her husband, Ed Shaughnessy, tells the Los Angeles Times.

Woods was an 18-year-old radio singer in 1948 when she recorded a demo for an upcoming Disney feature.

Two days later, Walt Disney himself auditioned her and she went on to voice the title character’s speaking and singing parts for 1950’s “Cinderella,” about a mistreated stepdaughter who finds her Prince Charming.

Woods sang on the Perry Como and Arthur Godfrey shows in the 1950s before retiring from show business in the early 1970s. In addition to her husband of 47 years, she is survived by their son, a daughter from her first marriage, and three grandchildren. —AP

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perspective is a creative one that’s looking at the structure,” said Richard Saxton, one of the members of M12. The exhibition is part of Denver’s monthlong “Biennial of the Americas,” a festival that begins Thursday and highlights the arts and culture of the Western Hemisphere.

Artists from 35 Latin American countries and world leaders are coming to the event.

“We decided to take on the campito as a design problem. These things look like covered wagons because they were designed in the 19th century at a time when that made sense,” Saxton said. “Our question was, what would a campito look like for the 21st century?” What M12 came up with were tricked-out wagons that look like they came out of “The Jetsons.” One design looks like a roly poly, folding into a ball to be towed by a truck and unfolding into a tent-shaped wagon when it’s parked. In another design, the wagon looks like a space capsule with wheels similar to those of a Mars rover.

The third design is made up of three modules for a garden, bed, and kitchenfeatures that all the designs have, along with a global communications system to make phone calls. They’re up to 14 feet

Artist Jeronimo Hagerman, of Mexico City, holds one of the plants that he used to decorate the McNichol’s building in Civic Center Park in Denver, as workers in the background attach plant holders to the pillars on the building. —AP

(4 meters) wide, which is much larger than the current campitos. M12’s designs address some of the concerns raised by immigrant advocates, mainly that the workers don’t have showers, electricity, or a way to communicate with their bosses or relatives back home while they work their three-year contracts in the US The length of the workers’ contracts also influenced the designs.

“Somebody herding sheep for three years, sort of in isolation, it’s not so different than sending somebody off to the moon to live. That’s why a lot of these (designs) — this is very sort of very NASA,” Saxton said. “We like those sort of parallels. What happens if you merge sort of the NASA aesthetic with a farm aesthetic.” It’s unclear how much the wagons would cost if they were built, but Saxton argues that they could be manufactured for about $16,000. He admits the ultimate problem, however, is that sheep ranchers just don’t have the money to buy new campitos.

The American Sheep Industry Association has said that about two-thirds of US ranchers have quit in the last 15 years, in part because of competition overseas and the competition to wool from synthetic fiber. —AP

Secrets of Mummies unraveled in California

By Romain Raynaldy rom an ornate Egyptian sarcophagus to the striking preserved remains of a howler monkey wearing a feathered skirt, a new exhibition in Los Angeles is unraveling the mysteries of mummies.

The “Mummies of the World” exhibit at the California Science Center is being billed as the largest single showing of mummies in history and aims to throw new light on ancient funeral rituals and the work of “mummyologists”.

The exhibition comprises dozens of mummified men, women, children and animals drawn from all four corners of the globe-some embalmed, some naturally preserved-as well as a treasure trove of archeological artifacts. The exhibition was conceived shortly after the creation of the German Mummy Project, when 20 long-forgotten mummies were discovered gathering dust in a vault of the Reiss Engelhorn Museum in Mannheim in 2004. More than

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Visitors look at a pre-Columbian mummy from Chile during the media preview for the world premiere of the Mummies of the World exhibition, June 30, 2010 at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. —AFP photos

The 18th century Hungarian mummy of Veronica Orlovits, a miller’s wife.

The mummy of a man from Egypt dated around 408 BC.

“The Detmold Child,” a Peruvian child mummy in a remarkable state of preservation and radiocarbon dated to 4504-4457 BC, about 3,000 years before the birth of King Tut.

20 European institutions have contributed artifacts to the exhibition, which opened in Los Angeles on Thursday and will later tour the United States for three years.

“This exhibition represents an extraordinary blend of science and history,” Jeffrey Rudolph, president of the California Science Center, said.

“It’s a great example of how cutting-edge, hands-on science can give us a better understanding of both the past and the present, and of how nature and culture have come together all over the world.” The exhibition also places emphasis on the techniques used to glean information on mummies, such as genetic analysis, carbon dating, magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) scans.

Those research techniques allow scientists to learn about “the anatomy, health, food or causes of death of the mummies,” as well as their lives, history, and culture, said Albert Zink, director of the Institute for Mummies and the Iceman in Bolzano, Italy. But the analysis of mummies is not only of historical value, according to Zink, insisting it has concrete applications which can be used today.

“What we have learned through mummies about the mutation and change of the tuberculosis bacteria may help scientists eliminate the deadly disease in the future,” Zink said. The exhibition also seeks to emphasize the use of mummies as a global practice found on five continents, running contrary to the popular public perception of it being a technique exclusive to ancient

Egypt. Some of the most extraordinary exhibits hail from Peru, notably a baby dating from 4,500 BC and a seated woman dating from 1,400 who still has a mane of thick, black hair. “There have been more studies and interest about Egyptian mummies because there is a lot of documentation about death rituals in Ancient Egypt. “But we have scientific proof that mummification took place in South America before Egypt,” said Heather Gill-

Frerking, Director of Science and Education for the “Mummies of the World” exhibition.

Among the more unusual exhibits is a Hungarian family discovered in Hungary in 1994 in the crypt of a church north of Budapest. The bodies of three members of the family, born between 1765 and 1800, were preserved naturally because of the cold, dry air of the crypt and the pine oil used to make their coffins. —AFP

Viewers look at a 13th century mummy of an adult female from ancient

A visitor looks at the 18th century Hungarian mummy of Michael Orlovits.