40

SUBSCRIPTIO

N40

PA

GES

NO

: 158

0115

0 FI

LS

Max 36º

Min 20º

High Tide 10:12 & 23:05

Low Tide04:03 & 16:48

9Bahraini MPs call on US envoy to end ‘interference’ 10

PM sworn in as opposition protests Malaysia poll

Bieber fan disrupts Dubai Concert 20

LeBron James named NBA Most Valuable Player

Assembly panel has key info on Dow deal

Convictions of spy ring

upheld, oppn slams Iran

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 JAMADA ALTHANI 27, 1434 AH www.kuwaittimes.net

conspiracy theories

The Iran

obsession

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

By Badrya Darwish

Isalute Ali Al-Rashed, the Speaker of the House,for the candid interview he gave to Al Arabiya.The Speaker gave his true impression as a citizen

on what Kuwait is currently going through. It wascourageous of him to say that Iran is not a threat tothe Gulf countries. I agree with his looking at whatis going on around us in the Arab world - conspira-cies, wars and mushrooming of weapons of massdestruction.

The West is leading the campaign claiming thatIran is ready to cross the border of almost any Gulfcountry and invade us all. Of course the West has along history of selling its arsenal to all of us. Whynot the rich oil countries buy more arms and morearms and more arms.

Of course only Israel has an interest to hit Iran.However, they have to convince the Arab worldthat it is in danger and needs more arms. They haveto convince the Gulf and some of its neighboursthat in order to protect themselves, maybe theyhave to build what is called the Iron Dome. Maybethey will come and convince the Gulf countries topay billions of dollars to set an early warning sys-tem to detect advanced Iranian ballistic missiles.

Going back to the interview with Ali Al-Rashed.The Speaker drew a pessimistic picture about theGulf union. I agree with him. Each country has itsown rules, functioning, constitution and regula-tions. The countries cannot be on any union levelexcept what we already have - we travel with ourIDs and customs regulations are facilitated. Ofcourse, we also have security cooperation on manylevels. As for the common single Gulf currency: Isay: “forget it.” The topic died on its own much earli-er before the collapse of the euro. Every country inthe Gulf insisted on preserving its monetary sover-eignty. Every country is busy protecting its owninterests. So does the Gulf.

The only country which has an interest in attack-ing Iran is Israel and it wants somebody else to dothe job for them. It looks like the United States isnot going to be directly involved with thisNetanyahu obsession. Wherever he goes aroundthe world, Netanyahu always discusses Iran’snuclear program. He thinks the whole world shareshis views. Isn’t this the perfect way to distract theworld’s attention from his atrocities in Palestine andthe West Bank?

By B Izzak

KUWAIT: The court of cassation yesterday upheld life termson two Iranians, a Kuwaiti and a stateless man for beingmembers of a spying ring that passed information aboutthe Kuwaiti and US militaries to Iran. The court also upheldthe acquittal of two Iranians, including the only woman inthe ring, and a Syrian national. The two Iranians and theKuwaiti who received life terms were active soldiers in theKuwaiti army when they were arrested in May 2010, whilethe fourth man is an ex-soldier in the Kuwaiti army. The twoIranians and the stateless are brothers while the Kuwaiti is

the husband of the woman defendant who is also thedaughter of one of the Iranians sentenced to life in prison.

About two years ago, the criminal court sentenced thetwo Iranians and the Kuwaiti to death, the stateless and theSyrian to life and acquitted the remaining two. In May lastyear, the appeals court however reduced the death sen-tences on the three men to life in jail, maintained the lifeterm on the stateless man and acquitted the Syrian and thetwo others. The cassation court’s verdict is final and cannotbe challenged. Only HH the Amir has the power to com-mute the sentences.

All the spy ring members have categorically denied the

charges during all degrees of trials in the three courts andclaimed they had been tortured to extract confessions fromthem. The men were convicted of passing confidential mili-tary information on Kuwaiti and US militaries in Kuwait tothe Iranian Revolutionary Guards through diplomats at theIranian embassy in Kuwait. They were also charged of plot-ting to blow up some key oil pipelines in the north of thecountry. Iran has repeatedly denied that its intelligence wasinvolved in the spy ring and even condemned Kuwait afterthe appeals court issued its verdict last year. It had called onKuwait to release the defendants.

Continued on Page 5

DUBAI: (Clockwise from above)Bentley, Mercedes SLS and AstonMartin One-77 Dubai police cars are ondisplay during the Arabian TravelMarket (ATM) at the Dubai World TradeCentre yesterday. Dubai police haveintroduced top end sports cars to theirpatrol fleet to further strengthen theimage of “luxury and prosperity” of theemirate. — AFP

Flashy cop cars for bling-bling Dubai

KUWAIT: National Assembly Speaker Ali Al-Rashed expressed on Sunday his reticenceon forming a union that brings together thecountries that make up the GulfCooperation Council (GCC). Rashedexplained in an interview with Al Arabiyathat constitutional differences between Gulfcountries and the uniqueness of each state’sdomestic affairs makes it difficult to form aunion. As the GCC celebrates its anniversarythis month, Rashed suggested that the GCC

union is “just a wish” that is recommendedevery now and then. There should be a “leg-islative convention” that is agreed upon byall Gulf countries in order to achieve a GCCunion, he said.

In his interview with Al Arabiya, Rashedtouched on the political controversy inKuwait, adding that there are groups thataim to hurt the government but not over-throw it.

Continued on Page 5

Gulf union ‘just

a wish’: Rashed

Speaker doesn’t see Iran a threat DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania has arrestedfour men from Saudi Arabia and fourTanzanians in connection with the bomb-ing of church yesterday that killed twopeople, an attack that has heightenedsectarian tensions in the east Africannation. Investigators said they were stilldetermining the type of device used inthe attack on the Catholic church inArusha, a town in the north of the nationof about 45 million people that is roughlyevenly split between Muslims andChristians.

A statement from President JakayaKikwete’s office yesterday said two peoplehad now died from the blast after thedeath toll had previously been put at one.Sixty people were injured. The president’soffice said Kikwete had cut short his statevisit to Kuwait following the bomb attackon the church. The Vatican’s ambassadorto Tanzania, Archbishop FranciscoMontecillo Padilla, was attending the offi-cial opening of the church when theexplosion occurred. He escapedunharmed. — Agencies

4 Saudis held over

Tanzania bombing

Prez cuts short Kuwait visit

DHAKA: Bangladeshi police broke up a protest by tens of thousands of religioushardliners and shut down Islamist television stations yesterday as 36 people died insome of the fiercest street violence for decades. Hundreds more were injured inrunning battles as riot police broke up the rally near a commercial district in a pre-dawn raid in the capital Dhaka. Dozens of demonstrators were also arrested, whilethe leader of the protests was put on a plane to the country’s second cityChittagong. — AFP (See Page 9)

36 killed as Bangladesh

cracks down on Islamists

DAMASCUS: Israeli air raids on Syria at the weekend killedat least 42 soldiers, a watchdog said yesterday, fuellinginternational concern over a spillover of the conflict, asDamascus warned it would strike back. UN human rightsinvestigator Carla del Ponte, meanwhile, said that rebelshave used the deadly nerve agent sarin in their fight tooust Syria’s regime, although a commission of inquiry latersaid there was no conclusive proof. “At least 42 soldierswere killed in the strikes, and another 100 who would usu-ally be at the targeted sites remain unaccounted for,” SyrianObservatory for Human Rights director Rami AbdelRahman told AFP.

The strikes early on Sunday near Damascus were theJewish state’s second reported air raids on Syria in 48hours. An early Friday raid had targeted a weapons storagefacility at Damascus airport. A senior Israeli source said theraids targeted Iranian weapons destined for the Lebanesemilitant group Hezbollah. Iran and the Shiite groupHezbollah are steadfast allies of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, and arch-foes of Israel. A Syrian official inDamascus, reached by phone from Beirut, warned “Syriawill respond to the Israeli aggression and will choose themoment to do so.” “It might not be immediate becauseIsrael now is on high alert,” he added. “We will wait but wewill answer.” —AFP (See Page 10)

Syria threatens to hit Israel

Strikes killed at least 42 soldiers

TEHRAN: An Syrian man wrapped in a Syrian flag with a portrait of PresidentBashar Al-Assad walks past anti-riot police during an anti-Israeli demonstrationin front of the UN office yesterday. — AP

DHAKA: An injured Islamist activist is carried away during a protest todemand that the government enact an anti-blasphemy law yesterday. — AP

LO C A LTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

News

Data on revenues KUWAIT: Informed sources said that the Governor ofthe Kuwait Central Bank has asked Kuwaiti banks tosubmit data on revenues and expenses of each ofthe main banks and their branches to the CentralBank by the tenth working day of each month. Thesources said the Central Bank asked for this data peri-odically. The data for the month of April is to beincluded. This data will ensure that the Central Bankstays well apprised about the expenses of any of thebanks at any time. They said such instructions werepart of the Central Bank’s job as it wants to remain atthe helm of all events and developments related tobanks’ expenses, whether administrative or other-wise.

Debates LeagueKUWAIT: The Kuwait University signed a memoran-dum of understanding with the Qatar Debate Centeras the KU’s Deanship of Student Affairs organizes the‘Debates League’. “Debating is considered an impor-tant activity in the enrichment process and opensthe door for discussions,” KU Rector Dr. Abdullatif Al-Bader said in a statement in which he applauded thedeanship’s steps in “instilling a culture of dialogueamong the students.” Meanwhile, Dean of Students’Affairs Dr. Abdurraheem Theyab said that this year’sevent saw ten teams from five educational institutesparticipating. He added that the final round takesplace today (Monday) between the Kuwait Universityfemale students and the American University ofKuwait male students.

Technological legislations KUWAIT: The Minister of Information, State Ministerfor Youth Affairs Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah announced yesterday the accept-ance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to sponsor and attend theNational Conference of Technological Legislations, tobe held and organized in forthcoming July. HH theAmir’s acceptance to sponsor this important confer-ence, sets foundations for a legislative leap in thetechnology field, in which attain improvement of thecountry’s executive environment in general, SheikhSalman told reporters at the Parliament. Moreover,Sheikh Salman expressed his gratitude to ParliamentSpeaker Ali Al-Rahsed, His Highness the PrimeMinister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabahfor adopting the idea to hold this conference,through which Kuwaitis aspires to attain a legislativerenaissance for their country.

in brief

Sri Lanka enjoying significant growth in tourism sector

Road Show at Crowne Plaza

By Ben Garcia

KUWAIT: Following its victory againstthe Tamil Tiger rebels after years of insur-gency, Sri Lanka has been enjoying sig-nificant growth in its tourism sector, saidthe island nation’s envoy to Kuwait.Speaking to the Kuwait Times during therecently held Sri Lanka Tourism RoadShow at the Crowne Plaza hotel, C A H MWijeratne, Ambassador of Sri Lanka toKuwait said soon after its 2009 victoryagainst the rebels, Sri Lanka has beendrawing visitors from all over the world,including from Kuwait.

“Kuwait has been identified by ourtourism authority as one of our mainsources of tourism recently. In fact, lastyear, we recorded more than 5,000arrivals from Kuwait, mostly Kuwaitisaccompanied by their families,” Wijeratnesaid. The envoy said Kuwaitis enjoyedcoming to Sri Lanka for various reasonsbut mostly for its beautiful weather andthe warm hospitality of its people.

“Sri Lanka is now known as the‘Wonder of Asia’ and we are happy andproud of the description. Every year, wehave various attractive packages for for-eign tourists, right from hotel accommo-dation to food and places to visit,” the

ambassador said. “For Middle Easterntravelers, we are going to cater to themin a very special way and paying specificattention to their needs such as villa styleaccommodation and halaal food. We willalso provide Arabic speaking guides whoare well versed with the Middle Easterncustoms and traditions,” he added.

Sri Lanka expects 90,000 touristarrivals in 2013, up from more than70,000 last year. By 2016, Sri Lanka wouldlike to double this number, if not triple it.The road show provides an opportunityfor business networking and informationdissemination regarding Sri Lankantourism.

He also wooed Kuwaitis and urgedthem to plan their vacation this summerin Sri Lanka. He said the peninsula willalways be a destination that people willforever treasure since it presents miracu-lous and natural paradise awash in dia-mond blue colours with verdant green-ery to relax.

A tourism promotional video presen-tation wrapped up the two-hour eventand concluded with business receptionand a sumptuous dinner.

Sri Lanka is an island country in thenorthern Indian Ocean off the southerncoast of the Indian subcontinent in

South Asia. Known until 1972 as Ceylon,Sri Lanka has maritime borders withIndia to the northwest and the Maldivesto the southwest. Sri Lanka is a diversecountry home to many religions, ethnici-ties and languages. Sri Lanka has a rich

Buddhist heritage, and the first knownBuddhist writings were composed on theisland. The country’s recent history hasbeen marred by a thirty-year civil warwhich decisively but controversially end-ed in a military victory in 2009.

KUWAIT: Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Kuwait C A H M Wijeratne address-ing the road show held at Crowne Plaza.—Photos by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: A cross-section of attendees

KUWAIT: Tourism promotion performances

KUWAIT: Co-operative societies began a campaign to collectdonations for the Syrian people in co-operation with theSocial Affairs Ministry and the cooperatives union.

SAL Assistant undersecretary for social development sec-tor, Munira Al-Fadhly, said the ministry allowed the co-opera-tives union to have the co-ops collect donations to rescue theSyrian people. The venture will be carried out under theumbrella of the International Rescue Authority according tospecific rules that were agreed upon with the union.

She said donations will be collected in the administration’soffices and not in the supermarkets, and payments will bemade through K-Net and as bank deductions. Cash paymentswill not be allowed. She said that co-ops must submit docu-ments about the total donation collected when the campaignis over. Meanwhile, the Social Reform Society submitted twocomplaints to the Investigations General Department basedon clips published on the YouTube. One complaint wasagainst MP Safaa Al-Hashem and the other was against formerMP Talal Al-Saeed.

The complaint against Al-Hashim was based on an inter-view aired by Al-Watan TV during the parliamentary electionsin which the society was accused of collecting donations with-out license and sending them to the Free Syria Army insteadof women and children, also that the reform society itself wasnot reformed enough. In the second complaint against Al-Saeed, the society accused him of unleashing verbal insultsand describing the society as one of the Muslim Brotherhoodcolonies. These insults were from Scope TV and the societyconsidered these a punishable offense.

Co-ops campaign to

collect donations

for Syrian people

KUWAIT: General Director of Traffic Department Lt Gen Abdul Fattah Al-Ali picturedwith Stien Hansen, resident representative of a United Nations growth program yes-terday.

UN praises Kuwait

traffic strategyKUWAIT: General Director of TrafficDepartment Lt. General Abdul Fattah Al-Alireceived at his office Stien Hansen, residentrepresentative of a United Nations growthprogram in the state of Kuwait. Al-Ali con-veyed to Hansen the greetings of FirstDeputy Prime Minister and Minister ofInterior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud andthanked him for the visit. Al-Ali alsoexpressed Kuwait’s concerns about executingthe 2014-20 phase of the growth strategyunder the UN program. It was agreed duringtheir meeting that more such meetingsshould be held in order to speed up the exe-cution of projects under program strategy,which would assist the government in itsefforts meet to meet the country’s require-ments. The meeting discussed the NationalTraffic and Transport Sector Strategy for

Kuwait 2010-20, which would be implement-ed by the traffic department in cooperationwith officials of the UN program, as per theCouncil of Ministers’ Decision No. 1426/2010.

Hansen said Kuwait does not need morestudies and suggestions to deal with its trafficand environmental pollution problems,because it has already prepared a compre-hensive traffic strategy that has outlined thestate’s vision for the coming 10 years. Thenational strategy involves 26 stakeholdersand projects have been prioritised, many ofwhich are already being implemented bysome traffic departments and other min-istries. Therefore, what is required now is tospeed up the projects prioritised under thestrategy, as traffic problems are escalatingwith population growth and rising number ofvehicles.

Kuwaiti families opt

for marine cruisesKUWAIT: The countdown of the summervacation and travel season has started for alarge number of Kuwaiti families, with mostof these families opting for marine cruisesinstead of conventional travel destinations.

In the last five years, cruises have taken onan unprecedented demand, where the desireto discover new places and away from theroutine in traveling to the same cities andcapitals, tour agency owner and specialistLulu Al-Issa said.

“Being in a cruise is a unique experience inthe sea, away from aircraft, jammed airportsand problems that might face the person atairports,” added Al-Issa, who managesHorizon Travel and Tourism.

“A journey by cruise is like a trip on a float-ing city that provides passengers with a 24-hour range of activities,” she enthused. Shenoted renowned providers of the service likeRoyal Caribbean - known for providing pas-

sengers with a celebrity-like status and fortheir high-quality facilities, along with cine-mas, ice skating rinks, swimming pools andtennis courts. The cruises link people fromone point to up to seven destinations, givingtravellers the opportunity to disembark atexotic unfamiliar locations then return totheir ship within a day or two.

Some travelers might prefer to stayonboard the luxury liners, which providesupermarkets, restaurants and luxury bou-tiques, while others are quick to take to thestations of the various islands. Those affectedwith seasickness can benifit from specializedclinics, able to deal with emergency cases, onboard these ships, she added.

On the cruise starting point for travellersfrom Kuwait, Al-Issa said that the port ofBarcelona is the most suitable launchpad forits reasonable price and relatively close prox-imity to Kuwait.—KUNA

KUWAIT: His Highness the PrimeMinister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, sponsor of the SheikhMubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah JournalismExcellence Award Contest, stressed ongiving youth all the attention, supportand encouragement to excel in theirrespective field of work and competence.

Head of the contest committeeAyman Al-Ali told the press yesterdaythat His Highness the Premier’s state-ments came during a meeting withmembers of the committee who havereviewed with him the successful fifthsession, and also presented him with thesixth session plan.

Al-Ali, who is also Chairman of KUNAWorkers Union, conveyed the praising ofHH the Premier for the fifth session,especially in the youth award category,which was newly introduced, andreceived great support in encouragingwinners of this category to pursue excel-lence in journalism and media.

He added that His Highness the PrimeMinister reiterated the need to providesupport to these young people and

motivate them to pursue success andinvest in their talents, as it pours into thebenefit of the country and preservingnational unity.

He noted that among the develop-ment plans that will be introduced at thesixth session, a special award for audio-visual media for youth, which was highlypraised by His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak.

Al-Ali said the next session will wit-ness distinctive development, aimed atfulfilling the contest goals of increasingthe spirit of competition between jour-nalists, especially young people, and thedevelopment of journalism to its highestlevels.

He added His Highness the Premier’ssupport for this contest resulted in itsgreat success, due to his keenness oncontinuously developing the Kuwaitimedia.

Al-Ali expressed gratitude to HisHighness the Prime Minister for his sup-port, affirming that “his instructions leadus towards development and prosperityto what serves the country.” —KUNA

Premier stresses on supporting,

encouraging youth

By Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: An anti-drug squad led by Brig.Saleh Al-Ghannam, in cooperation withcustoms officials, has confiscated about 3kilograms of heroin from an Asianwoman. Earlier, the officials were tippedoff that a woman intended to smugglesome heroin. After the tip-off was con-firmed, anti-drug authorities asked cus-toms officials to inspect the suspect andher luggage. As the woman arrived at theinspection counter of KuwaitInternational Airport, a female customsofficer examined her luggage. She foundtwo large packets of heroin, which werehidden in a secret pocket of the bag. Thewoman confessed to bringing the drugsfor trading purposes. She and the drugswere then sent to the concerned authori-ties.

Lightening strikeAmidst changing weather conditions

and unpredictable weather, lighteningstruck a 16-year-old Kuwaiti youth inRiqqa Area, leaving him with severeburns on the hands just when he wasleaving school. He was rushed to the Al-Adan Hospital. The lightening wasaccompanied by storm and heavy rains.

Ahmadi arrestsAhmadi security men led by Lt.

General Ayedh Al-Otaibi and under the

supervision of operations manager FalehAl-Dawsari arrested a man for possessingdrugs, some heroin and hashish. At thesame time, another person was arrestedfor being in possession of 84 bottles ofliquor. Four people were arrested as theywere found wanted in various caseswhile six were found absent. Six vehicleswere detained while 65 citations werehanded out.

Asian woman held

for drug trading

KUWAIT: The Asian drug trader picturedafter her arrest.

L O C A LTUES, MAY 7, 2013

News

‘Social Security’ revenuesKUWAIT: The Public Institution for SocialSecurity has earned KD2.8 billion in profits fromthe investments it made during the four fiscalyears following the global economic crisis in2008-09, General Manager Fahad Al-Raj’an saidin a statement yesterday. Al-Raj’an stated thatthe institution made KD936.6 million duringthe fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, takinginto account the funds required for dealingwith global economic changes. He also pointedout that the institution remained cautiousabout entering new markets or investing innew projects, and would instead focus on low-risk investments. The institution has earnednearly KD7.2 billion from its investments since itwas established, Al-Raj’an added.

Municipal electionsKUWAIT: Informed sources have put an end torumours that the government intends to post-pone municipal council elections. The sourcesstated that the elections would take place asscheduled and a decree would be issued to thateffect on May 13. They said the suggestedamendments to law No. 5/2005 would be madeby N.A. Council. After the amendment, themunicipal council’s financial and administrativedependence on the municipality would cometo an end, and a special budget will be allocat-ed to the municipal council.

Oil containers inspectionKUWAIT: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation hasasked the general administration of customsnot to open the oil containers for inspectionafter these are sealed by the KPC for export tooffshore markets, informed sources said. Therewere certain reservations as complaints werereceived from other countries about such con-tainers being received with the KPC seal brokenfor inspection. In fact, some countries refusedto receive such containers since these had beenopened. Sources added that customs hasissued a circular to all shift heads and customsinspectors not to open the containers sealed bythe KPC as it was contrary to the internationalagreements in this respect. Those instructionshave been implemented with effect from May 5to avoid delay in exporting oil containers.

in brief

Smart ID cards for expats in private sectorPACI starts issuing new cards

By Nawara Fattahova

KUWAIT: Starting today, the expats residingin Kuwait according to visa article 18 (workpermit) and article 22 (family visa) will receivenew smart ID cards instead of the old regularones. These smart IDs were issued last year toall Kuwaitis, expats treated as Kuwaitis, GCCnationals, and expats working in the publicsector. This was announced by Musaed Al-Asousi, General Director of the PublicAuthority for Civil Information (PACI), at apress conference held yesterday at the PACIheadquarters. “Soon, even expats residing inKuwait according to other articles will alsoreceive these IDs, but we want first to allotthe same to these two categories. The smartIDs will be issued in phases, starting withexpat residents with visa 18 and 22 residingin Mubarak Al Kabeer and AsimaGovernorates. Later, expats in Jahra, followedby those in Ahmadi, Hawali and finallyFarwaniya will also receive the smart IDs,”stressed Musaed Al-Asousi.

“The residents of these two governorateswill receive these obligatory smart IDs. The

residents of the other governorate are free toapply for the smart ID when renewing theirvisa if they wish to do so, irrespective of theiraddress, but they will have to bring therequired documents,” he added.

In order to receive these IDs, certainrequirements need to be fulfilled. “The appli-cant must bring a latest personal photoaccording to the specification, a copy of thepassport, and other required documents ifneeded. Also, these smart IDs would not beissued through the phone information sys-tem or online as was the case in the past, andnot unless the required documents were pro-vided,” noted Al-Asousi.

“The applicants can submit their docu-ments to the PACI headquarters in SouthSurra or by visiting the PACI branches in all ofSalwa, Jahra, or Keifan Co-ops. The applicantcan also use the envelope machines availableat the different co-ops. In addition, they canalso visit the PACI branches at the immigra-tion department in all of Asima, Mubarak AlKabeer, Hawali, Farwaniya, Ahmadi, andJahra,” he stated. PACI will announce laterwhen each phase of issuing IDs will start. “We

hope that the public will cooperate with us inthis matter, as this project is part of theattempts to simplify procedures and stream-line government infrastructure,” he pointedout. The smart ID applications are directlyconnected to the expats as part of the strate-gic plan. “It is time to add them to this sys-tem. This category of expats (visa 18 and 22)comprise a majority of the population. Thesmart ID connects the holder with differentsectors such as health, banks, education, oil,and others. As regards travelling to GCCcountries, this feature is still limited to theGCC citizens, but it may be expanded toexpats in the future, in keeping with a deci-sion by the GCC,” explained Al-Asousi.

PACI is only in charge of building the smartID infrastructure. “These applications dependon the cooperation from the GCC countries.We are also waiting for the Ministry of Healthto provide the necessary data to be includedin the ID. This data will dovetail into the datawith the hospitals and health centers. We arealso waiting for the cooperation of other min-istries and institutions to benefit from thesmart ID,” he concluded.

KUWAIT: Amiri Diwan Advisor Mohammad Abulhasan and head of the committeetasked with accompanying the visiting President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete hosteda lunch banquet on Monday in honor of the leader and his delegation.

KUWAIT: Capital governorate security menunder the supervision of the General Director Lt.General Tareq Hamada continued with their sud-den inspection campaigns on Sunday. The cam-paign in the Mubarakia Area and Al-Mirgab, thatlasted several hours, was organized in coordina-tion with the security forces.

The campaign resulted in the arrest of 89 per-sons, of whom 21 arrests were on account ofexpiry of residency permit while 11 people werearrested since they were found wanted in differ-ent cases, 15 were found violating residency law,and 41 were found without identification docu-ments. One man was caught for trading in liquor.

Lt. Gen Tareq Hamada said the campaigns willcontinue across all capital governorate areaswith the aim to ensure everyone’s security.

81 held in security crackdown

Unlicensed nurseries, religious centers to be closedK U WA I T: T h e M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a lAffairs and Labor plans to soon closed o w n u n l i c e n s e d n u r s e r i e s a n dteaching centers run at night - ven-tures that are usual ly run by re l i -gious organizations in Kuwait. Thestep was based on a repor t whichrevealed several violations found inthese centers.

According to a minist r y ins ider

p r i v y t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t s , t h eaction came after the ministry wasnotified by security agencies aboutinvestigations which revealed thatsome of the unlicensed centers werebeing used to “feed a culture of hatewithin the society and inculcatingintolerance towards others amongthe children.”

“ T h e m i n i s t r y r e c e i v e d s e v e r a l

complaints which basically accusedit of failing to carry out its responsi-bility with regards to controlling thework of nurseries and centers run bycharity or rel igious organizations,”said the source who spoke to Al-Raion the condition of anonymity.

Furthermore, the source pointedout that “str ict controls” were cur-rently being formulated for estab-

l i s h i n g n u r s e r i e s , d a’ w a h ( I s l a mpreaching) centers and other centerswhich function in the afternoon andoffer various activities. The controlswill include sticking to a unified cur-riculum “that will honor the princi-ples of nat ional unit y and coexis-tence” and which will be taught int h e r e l i g i o u s c e n t e r s , t h e s o u r c eadded.

KUWAIT: The Environment Public Authorityre i te r a te d i t s d i s a p p rov a l o f t h e Ku w a i tI nternat ional Ai rpor t expansion projec t ,demanding studies that “prove that landfillslocated in the area have properly been treat-ed” as a prerequisite for its approval.

T h e E PA p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e a i r p o r texpansion zone included areas where therewere at least two landfills. Therefore, beforegiv ing the green l ight for the projec t , i tdemanded reports that could confirm thatproper treatment procedures had been car-ried out in the areas.

According to sources famil iar with thecase, the EPA believes that evaluating thel a n d i n q u e s t i o n i s t h e d u t y o f t h e C i v i lAviation General Department “which decidesw h e t h e r [ e nv i r o n m e n t a l ] v i o l a t i o n s a r einvolved or not”.

The sources who spoke to Al-Rai on thecondition of anonymity said the EPA consid-ers the Jleeb Al-Shuyiukh landfill, 90 percento f w h i c h i s w i t h i n t h e p l a n n e d a i r p o r texpansion zone, as the major obstacle facingthe project.

“The expansion zone needs rehabilitation,and the EPA can never approve the projectwithout the problem being addressed,” thesource explained.

Th e Ku w a i t M u n i c i p a l i t y i s re p o r te d l ydeveloping a projec t to rehabi l i tate theJleeb Al-Shuyiukh landfill area, as well as theother landfill located in the northern part ofthe seventh ring road.

“This might have prompted the DGCA towait instead of preparing the report that theEPA has requested,” the sources speculated.

EPA disapprovesairport expansion

KUWAIT: Kuwaiti ministers adopted a lawfor the formation of a local human rightsbureau while expressing “content” with therelease of HH the Crown Prince from hospi-tal in Munich after successful surgery yes-terday.

After their weekly meeting at SeifPalace, the ministers were quoted in astatement by State Minister for CabinetAffairs and State Minister for MunicipalAffairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdallah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah as having been briefedon the safe recovery after surgery of HH theCrown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The bearer of the good news was HHthe Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, who said thathe had received the information over thephone.

The ministers jointly expressed their joyover the safe recovery of HH the CrownPrince, wishing him a safe return home.

Meanwhile, the ministers adopted a lawthat would form a human rights bureau,aimed at protecting and enhancing theserights in light of the Kuwaiti constitutionand international agreements. The move isaimed at “unifying and coordinatingnational efforts that support human rightsand civil liberties within a single compre-hensive functional mechanism that goeshand-in-hand with legal and social devel-opments and the modern reputation ofKuwait,” added the statement.

The draft will be raised to HH the AmirSheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabahfor a final adoption, before being receivedonce again by lawmakers at the National

Assembly.Two letters addressed to HH the Amir

were revealed at the meeting, one of whichincluded an invitation to attend donor talksfor Mali in Brussels on May 15 from thepresidents of France and Mali, while theother expressed UNICEF’s gratitude fordonations provided by Kuwait in support-ing children across the world, describingthe country as a pioneer in such initiatives.

The Cabinet welcomed the visit ofPresident of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete to thecountry, adding that the visit will do muchto increase bilateral relations, and wishinghim a pleasant stay in Kuwait.

Later, Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-KhaledAl-Hamad Al-Sabah briefed the ministerson his visit, along with HH the Amir SheikhSabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah toTurkey.

The visit was marked by several meet-ings with President Abullah Gul and seniorofficials along with the signing of severalbilateral agreements and MoUs.

Ministers were also briefed by DeputyPrime Minister and Finance MinisterMustafa Al-Shemali on the recent meetingof the GCC financial and economic commit-tee in Bahrain.

Al-Shemali said that the talks highlight-ed supervision of the implementation ofsteps aimed at integration between the sixstates. These include a customs union, acommon market and monetary union,while the talks also discussed the GCC’sinternational economic policies on com-mercial partnerships and organizationalgovernance.— KUNA

L O C A L

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah carried out an unscheduled visit yesterday to the Special Forces Camps, during whichhe met senior Special Forces officials and was taken on tours to inspect new constructions and machines that entered service for the first time recently. The minister was also briefed

KUWAIT: A thunderstorm that hit Kuwait early Sundayresulted in the naval traffic being suspended for a cou-ple of hours while a passenger flight coming from Cairowas forced to land in Bahrain due to the emergency.Forecasts predicted that unstable weather would con-tinue till mid-May.

Veteran meteorologist Dr. Saleh Al-Ujairi told Al-Qabas newspaper that the rocky weather which wit-nessed heavy downpour, hail and dust-stirring strongwinds was a ‘normal feature’ of the Sarayat seasonwhich Kuwait is subjected to during these days and willlast till May 17. He said that sudden changes in weathercould still happen until the end of the season whichusually signals the beginning of the dry summer.

Supervisor at the Shuwaikh Port Musa Behbehanisaid in the meantime said that naval traffic at the keyharbor as well as the Shuwaiba and Doha ports was sus-pended due to low visibility as a result of the dust,adding that the wind speed reached as high as 35 knotsearly Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, Operations Manager at the KuwaitInternational Airport Essam Al-Zamel revealed that lowvisibility forced the Directorate General of Civil Aviationto redirect flight number 539 coming from Cairo to landat the Bahrain International Airport. He added that theplane landed in Kuwait at 2:10 am Sunday, an hour anda half late than its original schedule.

Several passengers at the airport were caught in the‘middle of the storm’ when dust penetrated inside theterminal, prompting complaints about preparations incase of emergency at one of the country’s most criticalplaces.

In the meantime, traffic jams caused by the unusualtraffic conditions were reported in different partsaround the country, while several complaints werereceived against reckless drivers who took the opportu-nity to perform dangerous stunts on the slippery roads.In a related note, Ministry of Electricity and Water offi-cials confirmed that a blackout which hit the SalmiRoad, the Kabad Road and a large part of the Jahra sta-bles was directly caused by the weather conditionsSunday morning.

A senior ministry insider who spoke to Al-Rai on thecondition of anonymity indicated that several poweroutage reports came shortly when rain and sandstormbegan, soon after which emergency teams were sent torestore electricity. The source who preferred to keep hisidentity hidden indicated that technicians managed torestore power within an hour after replacing wires dam-aged due to exposure to rain water.

The term Sarayat is derived from the Arabic wordmeaning ‘fast movement’ of clouds which are generallyunpredictable in nature. The whole process laststhrough stages; the first comprising the formation peri-od; followed by saturation and then rainfall. Finally, itdissipates.

‘Sarayat’ paralysis traffic,

naval activity suspended

Flight diverted to Bahrain

Kuwaiti Cabinet approves plans

for local human rights body

KUWAIT: Kuwait has lost one of its most distinguished fig-ures in the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ofJustice and Minister of Social Affairs and Labor DrMohammad Al-Afasy, who passed away on Monday after along period of suffering and illness. Al-Afasy, who died at65, started his career in the military field as a soldier in theKuwait Army, later ascending military ranks until he becameLieutenant General.

His educational life was an inspiring and challengingone, as he continued his primary studies after joining thearmy, and later continuing his education until he graduatedfrom Law School at Kuwait University with honors.

He later gained his Master’s degree in political sciencesfrom New York University in the U.S., followed by anotherMA in Law from the University of Miami in Florida in 2003,before going on to complete his PhD in international lawfrom the University of Wales in the UK.

A keen patriot, Al-Afasy took part in the Arab-IsraeliOctober War of 1973 and the Gulf War, which freed Kuwaitfrom Iraqi invasion in 1991.

Before becoming minister he was appointed to severalposts, including chief of the Kuwaiti Military Court in thelate eighties, and later a member in the defense militarycouncil - which was formed after the liberation of Kuwait in1991 - representing Kuwait in talks which resulted in theDamascus Declaration. He was also chosen to represent theGulf Cooperation Council at International LabourOrganization (ILO) talks. In 2009, he was appointed Ministerof Social Affairs and Labor, heading the legal committee atthe Kuwaiti Cabinet of ministers in 2011, and later recievingthe post of Deputy Prime Minister, until his resignation laterthat year.

Other positions he had held include Board Member ofthe Public Institution for Social Security (PIFFS) from 1994 to2009, Deputy President of the National Union of KuwaitUniversity Students and Vice-President of the board of thelocal Al-Nasr Sports Club. — KUNA

Kuwait pays

tribute to Al-Afasy

KUWAIT: The First Lady of Tanzania, SalmaKikwete, and her accompanying delega-tion yesterday visited Kuwait Center forAutism where she was received by thecenter’s founder and director, Dr. SamiraAl-Saad, who accompanied the eminent

guest on a tour around the center. TheFirst Lady also visited Al-Kharafi ActivityKids Center, located in Mishref, where shewas received by the center’s Chairperson,Sabeeka Al-Kharafi, who also took her on atour around the center. — KUNA

Tanzanian First Lady

visits Autism, Al-Kharafi

Activity Kids centers

Continued from Page 1

But former opposition MPs strongly blastedthe Islamic republic for conspiring againstKuwait and other Gulf Arab states. “The rulinghas confirmed Iran’s spying involvement and is amessage to the governments and peoples of theGulf to unite efforts to confront the Iranian dan-ger,” former MP Mohammad Al-Dallal said onTwitter. “The conviction is an indication of a fla-grant interference in the security of Kuwait thatrequires an official Iranian apology and an offi-cial and popular condemnation in Kuwait,” for-mer MP Adel Al-Damkhi said. Former MPAbdullatif Al-Omairi said the ruling confirms thatIran has evil and aggressive intentions againstKuwait.

In another development, the NationalAssembly’s public funds protection committeeyesterday continued its investigation into thescrapped multibillion-dollar deal with US Dow

Chemical. The committee is probing why andhow the $19 billion deal was signed and laterscrapped, which required Kuwait to pay a fineof around $2.5 billion. Rapporteur of the panelMP Saud Al-Huraiji said the meetings havereached key information about the deal andthat a number of officials will be summoned toreach the facts that will be announced to thepeople.

MP Nasser Al-Marri meanwhile said that thevalue of the deal was inflated by around $4.7 bil-lion to become $18.7 billion instead of $14 bil-lion only and that $17 million was paid to theadvisor of the deal, JP Morgan. He said we willask JP Morgan for the reasons why the value wasinflated and if it does not respond, “we will issuelegislation banning dealings with the bank”.Marri said that scrapping the deal was betterthan continuing with it because if Kuwait hadcontinued, the losses would have been muchhigher than the penalty.

Convictions of spy ring...

Continued on Page 5

Some are trying to exploit arguments thathave taken place between members of the royalfamily, he said. The speaker, however, consideredthat what is taking place in Kuwait is normal andthe fate of the Assembly will only be determinedby the constitutional court. “We will accept thecourt ruling no matter what it is, and we calleveryone to accept it,” Rashed said.

Rashed said inadequacy can be seen in someministers’ performances. The postponement ofthese ministers’ interrogations made someassume that no action will be taken, he said. “Iinformed His Highness the Amir and His Highnessthe prime minister of the lack of cooperation bysome ministers,” he added. Rashed said that Iran isnot a threat to the Gulf region but that there aredifferences in points of view. “There are assaultson islands belonging to the UAE that we hope ourbrothers in Iran would stop,” he said. However,Rashed said that he believes Iran to be a Muslimcountry and that their relationship is very neigh-borly. — Al Arabiya

Gulf union ‘just ...

L O C A LTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Republican Party in the United States suf-fered repeated defeats in the Congress and Senate elections it con-tested against the Democratic Party. The economically conservative

Republicans could not face the Democrats in various fields such associal justice, health care and education since the latter adopted purecapitalism regardless of issues like social security or equal rights forminorities. The Republicans exerted no effort to attract marginalizedvoters and immigrants. The Republican Party should have changed itspolicies in order to stop losing voters over the years. Accordingly, therewas a group of experts that worked on how to restore their electoralstatus. After months of research, it noticed that they were doing badlyin elections in certain regions or states and that the votes they lost werein what is known as ‘The Bible Belt’ that included many southern states.They also noticed that voters’ participation in rural areas was close tozero, not because those voters lacked potential or awareness, butbecause they thought that none of the candidates followed Biblical reg-ulations properly. This became a turning point in the Republican Party’sstance as well as, in addition to being economically conservative,turned it into a religiously conservative one. Thus, they started flirtingwith this leftist segment of voters and instead of competing only oneconomic issues, they preferred prioritizing issues like women abortionrights and other socially controversial topics.

Forty years after this shift took place, the Republican Party becamea uniquely racist one that hated minorities and marginalized certainsects, supported owning weapons, despised other world cultures, sup-ported waging wars and endlessly adored Israel, believing in the Jews’Divine Right. The party has been now nick-named as the ‘Idiot Party,’and in one of his famous speeches, its member Bobby Jindalbeseeched to ‘stop calling us as the idiot party.’

After forty years of extreme rightist policies, there emerged a groupof the dumbest American leaders, like George W. Bush and Sarah Palin.

The party’s racist policies cost it the votes of a lot of minorities suchas Arabs and Muslims who used to support it because it opposed abor-tion and the homosexuals’ rights, which matched their own traditionsand values. Yet, after Bush assumed the presidency, the Neocons tookthe lead in the party and Arabs and Muslims started voting for theDemocrats despite their liberalism because the Neocons were too racistand spread hatred. Since stupidity has no religion, it also has no limits.Years ago, a more rightist group called ‘The Tea Party’, who were evenmore extreme and thought that the Republican Party has become use-less and has deviated from its path, appeared in America accusingRepublicans of ‘not being Christian enough.’

The only thing that stopped those extremists was the constitutionthat protects the people’s rights against the church or religious domina-tion under the rule of ‘Separation of the State and the Church.’

Reading about this, I visualize the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). Itsleaders had a golden opportunity to replicate the Turkish model andunite everybody under one umbrella. Yet, they preferred to shift deepertowards the Right and allied with the Salafis to be the winning horses inthe elections. And because they chose to ‘play religious and sacred’, oth-ers, such as the Salafis and the Al-Nour Party, adopted the same viewand accused them of undermining the Sharea and not following Allah’sregulations. This triggered battles about jurisdiction with regards toeconomic issues such as the Islamic bonds, the World Bank loan and thetreasury bills. Some Jihadist leaders even accused President Mursi him-self of being an infidel. Muslim Brotherhood leaders are now being tar-geted with the same weapons that they used against us all, and, alas, sois Egypt. Regular Muslims used to hope they will not be pursued orarrested, and will be eventually able to take part in governance andfreely practice Da’wa but now, with their media tools and treacherousutilization of Salafis, the MB activists have turned the whole thing into abattle for survival in which Islamists must win and apply Sharea oneverybody regardless of how they define the Islamic project. Theyturned the battle to one in which only those with louder voices can win.

So, with no clear separation between politics and religion, as in theAmerican constitution, there is no limit to political bidding in this coun-try. Once people start bidding on who is more religious, then anyonewho looks more religiously abiding, will immediately overbid you andpretend to be more pious by accusing you of not following the exactreligious and Sharea regulations. The result would ultimately be thatsomeone would accuse you of ‘not being Muslim enough.’

Muslim Brotherhood played the religious card, the Salafis outbid itand now the Jihadists look down upon them both, which has left citi-zens bewildered, asking: ‘Where the hell is Islam in all this?

You ruined religion through politics and ruined politics in the nameof religion. You spread hatred amongst the people, opened it to thosewho bid on grounds of being holy and sacred which opened the flood-gates for extremism, racism and stupidity.

You may win the elections, you may control the public using reli-gion and indulge in disgusting display of sectarianism, but you havesurely lost your own selves and won everybody’s hatred and madethem hate each other when you used the holy religion in unholy poli-tics. Allah will never forgive you for this and for what you have done tothis country and to Islam! —- Al-Jarida

To be more rightist!kuwait digest

By Bassem Youssef

By Labeed Abdal

labeed@kuwaittimes.net

Time to goto work

In my view

By Abdallah Bwair

local@kuwaittimes.net

Ministry of Education woes

News reports about problems with the Ministry ofEducation and the incidents happening therein havebecome a regular feature, but in the meantime, we

hardly see the ministry officials coming up with solutions.A high school teacher punches one of her students and

takes away her textbook so that she can’t take notes duringthe class. This story is further proof that the ministry isunable to protect the students or provide a safe atmospherefor them. Can you imagine a high school graduation cere-mony that costs KD6000? This happened at a school in Al-Qairawan where twelfth grade students were asked to payKD30 each to fund their upcoming graduation ceremony.Given the fact that the school has eight sections of twelfthgrade class, each comprising 25 students, clearly it plannedto collect KD6000, an amount that seems rather big for aschool-level graduation ceremony.

In another incident, the ministry reportedly canceled acontract with a catering company based on test reportswhich revealed that the meals it prepared for students werenot fit for human consumption since these were contami-nated with colon bacteria. Not only did the company violatefood safety norms by preparing an average of 4500 mealsinside a small factory, but the factory was also located in theIndustrial Subhan area where Kuwait Municipality regula-tions ban establishing central kitchens.

Incidents of students falling victims to physical assaultsby their teachers continue. In one recent case, a womanteacher at an elementary school left her Kuwaiti studentwith multiple contusions as shown in his diagnosis report.Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti man filed a complaint against a maleteacher who beat up his 10-year-old son in class. Accordingto the child, the teacher became furious after he noticed thechild asking his classmate about a subject he could notunderstand. The student also explained that he was tooscared to ask the teacher directly for fear he might think thathe was not paying attention. One of the Education Ministry’smottos defines as a duty inculcating ethics among the stu-dents. This duty is as important, if not more, as teaching. Butas shown by a recent incident, this does not seem to be thecase. According to a recent report, families of tenth gradestudents were very upset when they discovered an Englishlanguage book given to their daughters contained thephrase ‘I need my ex-boyfriend.’ It appears that the MOE offi-cials, with whom people entrust their children, are tooaffected by the western lifestyle and were oblivious to theconservative nature of our beloved Kuwait’s society.

I urge the MOE officials to pay extra care towards the stu-dents’ problems, find some radical solutions to them andhold the wrongdoers accountable.

In my view

By Fouad Al-Obaid

Fouadlobaid@kuwaittimes.netTwitter:@fouadalobaid

Islam in Contemporary

Middle East

You would be justified in your confusion toquestion what religion people in the MiddleEast are following in light of the rapid changes

brought forth with globalization. It used to be thatpeople travelled the world to experience differentcultures, and ways of life. In the contemporary MiddleEast a schism is building up (I am not referring to theSunni-Shia divide) rather one between so called ‘lib-erals’ and ‘conservatives’ which in this part of theworld is an oxymoron for both claim to be Muslims!The irony is that the interpretation of clear versesseems to lead a majority astray on matters that arerather crystal clear.

Yesterday morning while on my way to work lis-tening to BBC WS a documentary was aired exploringpost-revolutionary Egyptian society. In it, a young‘veiled’ presenter was highlighting the dilemmabetween the restrictive ‘liberal leaning’ old guard andthe Sunni hardcore recently elected majority strong-hold. Though the documentary was an interesting lis-ten, two incidents struck me.

The reason I found them rather peculiar is thatthey highlighted a reality that I for one believe manyare failing to grasp: religion apparently to the majori-ty of Muslims is a gimmickry! Those that want to takeoffence at me, please understand that I am exposingthe blatant hypocrisy that many people selectivelychose to adopt some rules while discarding others tosuit their convenience.

The host elaborated on the story of an Egypt Airstewardess that fought hard to get the right to wear a‘headscarf’ while at work! The plight of the air hostesshighlights a contradiction between what somebelieve to be the ‘true’ teachings of religion. I don’tthink that many respectable scholars of Islam wouldcondone such a job for a pious woman, especially ifthe serving of alcoholic beverages is part of the job,let alone the proscription banning women to travelwithout their men folk! The other is the frustration ofthe show host that got rejected from a nightclubbecause she was wearing a ‘headscarf’! The irony.

I wonder whether people are actually aware oftheir inner contradictions or not? Closer to home Iwonder whether the dress attire of some femalesconforms to public mores as expected from our soci-ety. Perhaps a quick shift to the understanding ofsocietal tolerance is the dual contradiction of ‘veil’wearing women taking their teenage girls to see aforeign celebrity in a major mall known for her sexualpromiscuity!

I believe that as a society we need to take a stance,whether people would prefer to live pious lives asendorsed by religion or alternatively, they wishendorse more liberal globalizing modes of life. Wecan be either one, but we certainly cannot be both!The daily contradictions I believe are leading theupcoming generation astray as to what is expected ofthem. Let us uphold our local mores and culture for ifwe lose them, we would lose a part of our nationalidentity. In light of the ongoing cultural invasion, weought to balance the foreign influx with nationalstandards.

the column

The residency status of expats must not seem likeEuropean weather forecasts on television where it issunny one fine day, before it is suddenly cloudy, or

rainy one day and then snowing the other.In Kuwait, you would often come across forecasts that

proclaim day after day that it will be sunny, sunny, sunny,sunny, and then, may be, dusty. Yes, on any July morning,you realize that the temperature would break the 50degree centigrade record. It is understandable that evenfreakish changes in the weather are only part of the uni-versal natural phenomenon that is related to climatic con-ditions and positions of the sun and the moon. There issome logic in such sudden changes.

But the latest snow avalanche that has hit Kuwait inthe form of talk about deporting 100,000 expats everyyear to reduce the number of expats by a million in tenyears clearly indicates a process that has not beenthought through. Further, deporting any expat driversguilty of committing traffic violations was a step againsthuman rights and definitely unwanted.

Needleless to say that our Kuwaiti constitution actuallysafeguards the interests of the expats when it mentions inarticle 31:

(1) No person shall be arrested, detained, searched, orcompelled to reside in a specified place, nor shall the resi-dence of any person or his liberty to choose his place ofresidence or his liberty of movement be restricted, exceptin accordance with the provisions of the law.

Kuwait must not look like a boat stuck in the middle ofa sea that is vulnerable to wayward winds that fling itaround from left to right or toss it up and down, neverguaranteeing whether it will reach the shores or be sunkto the bottom of the sea.

Any decisions that can affect the fate of nearly half thepopulation must be taken with some responsibility.

According to the 1961 constitution of Kuwait, which ismeant for all the people, whether citizens or expats oreven Bedouins, the liberty of movement must be protect-ed and any action against any person on the soil of Kuwaitshould only be within the provisions of the law.

That said, and putting myself in the shoes of theexpats, I find that it is a historic and national responsibilityof all officials to ensure that the expats do not face suchan unsure fate. I am one hundred percent sure that all theexpats, numbering over two million, want to stay inKuwait, that they love Kuwait and see it as their secondhome, and that they have a stake in its peace and harmo-ny and are law abiding.

Those who are not must not disturb since this is thetime to go to work and build a prosperous Kuwait.

Dear Badrya,I have been following your articles for quite some time

and hats off to you for the way you highlight and expressthe expats’ point of view. We cannot thank you enough forbeing our voice.

I am a British national with Asian ethnicity. I movedfrom UK back in 2011 to look for greener pastures (as any-one can expect) and started working as a private consult-ant. At that time, I was not aware of the on-going visaissues and honestly speaking, it did not bother me muchbecause everyone believed it was all temporary and theban will be lifted soon. It is now three years in a row andstill there is no news for people in the private sector.

My better half, who is a Pakistani national, is currentlystuck in Pakistan, and despite all my efforts and applica-tions, the situation has not improved. Recently, God giftedme with a little princess and the only thing I can do now isregularly visit Pakistan and cannot thank those peopleenough who developed e-messenger through which I canwatch my daughter growing up day by day. She probablythinks of me as her e-daddy by now, who appears and dis-appears at a certain time during the day on a screen.What’s more appalling is that my daughter being a Britishnational by descent can come to Kuwait (even though shewas born in Pakistan) but my wife can’t!

We are law abiding citizens and pose no threat or harmto anyone. It is, in fact, not in our favour to become part ofany wrong doing. We came to Kuwait for better opportu-nities and believe me when I say that these opportunitieshave come around for us.

I am only making a humble request that please lift theban on the relatives of first degree (parents/spouse/kids)of six nationalities. How can a 70-year-old or a spouse be asecurity threat or a nine-month-old so to speak? Secondly,if my family is with me, I would be spending my salaryhere in Kuwait, adding to the local economy since I will bebuying my food and paying for my rent here, than send-ing the money all the way back home.

I do hope that the Kuwaiti government will considerour plea and revisit their visa policies for the bannednationalities.

Thanks.

Consider ourvisa plea

Letters to Badrya

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

L O C A LTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

KUWAIT: After discovering that certain dealers were not abiding by hygiene norms, the Jahra municipality has sent four samples of foodstuff to the Ministry of Health’s labs to find out whether these were suitable for human con-sumption. The aberrations were discovered in one of the companies supplying schools with meals in Sulabiya Area where Director of Jahra municipality branch, Saleh Al-Kandari, paid a surprise inspection visit. He was also headingthe inspection campaign. — Photos by Hanan Al-Saadoun

KUWAIT: Investigations are on to identify thesuspects behind an attempt to smuggle certainpetroleum products that was thwarted onSunday at the Shuwaikh Port. Customs officialsobtained warrants to search 22 containers thatwere 20-feet-long in size after they became sus-picious while noticing the contentsí descriptioncards. The containers were seized after samplestested by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporationlabs revealed that these contained productsprohibited for export. A case was filed with theproper authorities for investigations.

Road accidentA man died in an accident reported on

Sunday at the Salmi Road. The Kuwaiti wasfound in a critical condition after paramedicsarrived at the scene, but died while being takenin an ambulance to the Jahra Hospital. Medicalpersonnel rushed to the scene along with policeafter an emergency call about a vehicle losingbalance and overturning on the highway. Aninvestigation was opened to determine the cir-cumstances behind the incident.

School mishapA ninth-grade student was injured when he

fell from the third floor in a private school inJahra. The student sustained serious fracturesand other injuries which required treatment atthe intensive care unit of the Al-Jahra Hospital.The child reportedly fell from the third floor andlanded on a car parking shade before rolling onto the floor. Police are waiting for his conditionto stabilize before questioning him on the cir-cumstances behind the incident. It is being sur-mised that either he fell accidently while tryingto flee from the class, or could have beenpushed by a classmate.

Search for thievesThree suspects left a security guard seriously

injured after a failed robbery attempt at a chari-ty organizationís office. Police and paramedicsheaded to the location in Salwa where man wasfound bleeding, according to an emergency call.The Egyptian man, who was rushed to theMubarak Hospital, later explained that the threemen stabbed him repeatedly when he refused

Attempt to smuggle petroleum products foiled in Shuwaikh

Student injured in school mishapKUWAIT: Minister of Information SheikhSalman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah discussed yesterday with membersof National Council for Culture, Arts andLetters (NCCAL) cultural plans related tothe five-year national development strat-egy. Sheikh Salman, also the Minister ofState for Youth Affairs and the chairmanof the council, affirmed during the meet-ing significance of cultural activities atvarious levels and among public and pri-vate institutions for supporting nationalunity, enhancing care for children andyouth as well as boosting patriotism.

The minister congratulated the councilSecretary General Ali Al-Yoha and mem-bers of the Secretariat General for win-ning Zayed Book Award for Publishingand Technology. He praised nationals,namely Umaima Al-Issa, Basema Al-Eneziand Saud Al-Sansoussi, for winning liter-ary awards.

Moreover, Sheikh Salman welcomedSocial Affairs Undersecretary AbdulMohsen Al-Mutairi and EducationUndersecretary Mariam Al-Watid as new

members of the council. He also hailed Dr.Kafia Ramadan and the team tasked withre-structuring the national library, stress-ing that it should be equipped with allnecessities.

Furthermore, the minister thanked thecouncil members and secretariat generalfor their efforts and keenness on promot-ing Kuwaitís cultural role in the Arabworld. Participants in the meetingapproved the organizational structure,formation of the consultative council ofthe national library, tasking Dr. HusseinAl-Ansari of Kuwait University as its direc-tor general.

They affirmed necessity of transferringthe intellectual rights department fromthe Ministry of Commerce to the libraryand tasked the secretariat general to takenecessary measures in this respect. Theyalso examined the 2014-2018 strategy,agreed to delay discussing the executiveprogram and schedule of the plan to ameeting to be held later and recom-mended focus on the executive programfor children and youth. — KUNA

Information Minister discusses NCCAL cultural plans

to hand over the key to the Zakat House branchthat he was guarding. A case was filed for inves-tigations.

Driver held A Kuwaiti man driving a vehicle was caught

in possession of drugs in Mahboulah recently.The 20-year-old first stopped at a police check-point, and was instructed to pull over after hefailed to produce a driverís license and registra-tion documents of the vehicle. Before policecould search him, the man swallowed somepills that he took out of his pocket, but officersmanaged to stop him from consuming theremaining pills in his pocket. The officers alsofound hashish rolls in the manís custody andtook him to the proper authorities to facecharges.

Activist chargedA man identified as a political and law

activist was arrested after he verbally assaulteda police officer on duty, Al-Watan newspaperreported yesterday. According to the report,the man had a history of criminal behavior andwas facing more than ten State Security cases.He had reported to the Rumaithiya police sta-tion to file a case against the Interior MinisterSheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud Al-Sabah, followinghis most recent arrest for allegedly violatingthe law during a political seminar. The manreportedly became furious after being told thatthe case could not be filed as documentationwas incomplete. He was taken to the properauthorities to face charges.

DUBAI: Dubai Ruler’s initiative of setting up a com-prehensive platform of Islamic economy productsand services is crucial to finding a host that takesunder its wings an industry valued at USD four tril-lions, Kuwait’s Arab Planning Institute (API) chiefsaid yesterday. The initiative known as “Dubai:Capital of Islamic Economy” was announced,January 2013, by Vice-President and Prime Ministerof the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad

Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum. It aims at further diversify-ing Dubai’s economy and boosting Islamic econo-my; which stands at 11 percent of world economy.“Islamic economy is promising and fast-growing,”API’s Director General Dr. Bader Othman Malallahsaid at the end of a two-day conference on interna-tional and Islamic economics and China, held atZayed University in its Dubai Campus.

He further noted that Islamic economy is the

only economy that truly benefits consumers sinceit does not seek profit or commercial exploitation.

“Choosing Dubai as the capital of Islamic econo-my mainly depends on the city’s well-diversifiedeconomy and its ambitious growth fuelled by therobust performance of its core sectors includingtrade, retail, tourism, aviation, hospitality, financialservices and logistics,” Malallah continued.“Nominal value of sukuk listed on Dubai exchanges

registered at USD 426 billion from 1996 to 2012,setting Dubai in third place in the global sukukleagues.” This initiative seeks the development ofIslamic financing tools, attraction of the biggestinsurance companies to take Dubai as their head-quarters, development of commercial standards forIslamic industries and guidelines for Halal foodmanufacturing and development of Islamic qualitystandards for Halal food approval. —KUNA

Dubai ‘crucial’ in hosting $4 trillion industry

KUWAIT: In light of the tremendous success of the “SummerInternship Program” in the past years, National Bank ofKuwait (NBK) is launching the first in a series of the 2013Summer Internship Program on the 16th of June, 2013. Thetwo-week courses are specially designed for high school andcollege students between 15 and 20 years old.

Online registration for the Summer Internship Programstarts today (Tuesday 7th of May, 2013), and is open until the6th of June, 2013, throughnbk.com and through NBK offi-cial page on Facebook, onTwitter and Instagram@NBKPage.

“NBK views the SummerInternship Program as anextension to its educative ini-tiatives and as part of its cor-porate social responsibility,”said Yaqoub Al Baqer, NBKPublic Relations Officer.

“ This annual programdemonstrates NBK’s long-standing social involvementas well as its national commit-ment towards providingyoung generations with the appropriate opportunities toexperience how the actual professional banking issues andtransactions are handled and processed”, Al Baqer added.

The Summer Internship Program consists of 5-hour dai-ly sessions and features a mixture of theoretical and practi-cal training dedicated to providing the interns with invalu-able knowledge on a variety of subjects such as: the team-work, creative thinking, means of self expression and mod-ern banking, in addition to helping them to have greaterexposure to daily banking work procedures.

NBK launches summerinternship program

KUWAIT: A group picture of last year’s students

KUWAIT: EQUATE PetrochemicalCompany received the recognitionof Gulf Petrochemicals andChemicals Association (GPCA).

During GPCA 4th InternationalConference for Plastics Conversion(PlastCon 2013), EQUATE was recog-nized for its distinguished role inthe success of GPCA’s “Clean Up theGulf” campaign launched in Kuwaitand across other Gulf countries.

As one of the association’s mainfounders in 2006, EQUATE andGPCA ties have truly manifested thecompany’s tagline of “Partners inSuccess” throughout the years andat all relevant levels.

Established in 1995, EQUATE isan international joint venturebetween Petrochemical IndustriesCompany (PIC), The Dow ChemicalCompany (Dow), BoubyanPetrochemical Company (BPC) andQurain Petrochemical IndustriesCompany (QPIC). Commencing pro-

duction in 1997, EQUATE is the sin-gle operator of a fully integratedworld-scale manufacturing facilityproducing over 5 million tons annu-

ally of high-quality petrochemicalproducts which are marketedthroughout the Middle East, Asia,Africa and Europe.

Yaqoub Al-Baqer

EQUATE recognized by Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association

EQUATE representative receiving GPCA recognition

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Italy’s Machiavellian ex-PM Andreotti dies Page 12

Syria threatens to hit back after deadly Israel raids

Page 10

DHAKA: Vehicles burn following clashes with Bangladeshi police and Islamist protestors in Narayanganj, some 20 kms from Dhaka yesterday. — AFP

DHAKA: Bangladeshi police broke upa protest by tens of thousands of reli-gious hardliners and shut downIslamist television stations yesterdayas 36 people died in some of thefiercest street violence for decades.Hundreds more were injured in run-ning battles as riot police broke up therally near a commercial district in apre-dawn raid in the capital Dhaka.Dozens of demonstrators were alsoarrested, while the leader of theprotests was put on a plane to thecountry’s second city Chittagong.

Hundreds of bankers and stockmarket traders had to sleep in theiroffices as the sound of gunfire echoedaround Dhaka’s Motijheel CommercialArea through the night. Shops andvehicles were set alight while theroads were littered with rocks that pro-testers had thrown at police, witnessessaid. Police said they used soundgrenades, water cannon, tear gas andrubber bullets to disperse at least70,000 Islamists who were camped atMotijheel as part of a push for a blas-phemy law.

“We were forced to act after theyunlawfully continued their gatheringat Motijheel. They attacked us withbricks, stones, rods and bamboosticks,” Dhaka police spokesmanMasudur Rahman told AFP. The pro-testers dispersed early yesterday, headded. Mozammel Haq, a policeinspector at Dhaka Medical CollegeHospital, told AFP that 11 bodies werebrought to the clinic, including apoliceman who had been hacked in

the head with machetes. A total of 25other people were killed in theprotests, according to an AFP toll com-piled through police and medical offi-cials.

This included eight people killed inthe Kanchpur district on the outskirtsof Dhaka, said the sources. Violencealso flared up at Hathazari, a town justoutside Chittagong, where local policechief Liaqot Ali said at least four peo-ple were killed after several thousandIslamists clashed with police and bor-der guards. And at least two peoplewere killed in the southern coastal dis-trict of Bagerhat where policeexchanged gunfire with Islamists,police spokesman Shah Alam told AFP.Two pro-Islamist television stationswhich broadcast footage of the raid onMotijheel were forced off the air, jour-nalists at the channels said. The plugwas pulled on Diganta Television andIslamic TV as dozens of plain-clothespolicemen stormed into their offices.The violence erupted Sunday after-noon after police tried to break ablockade of highways leading intoDhaka.

The protests had been instigatedby Allama Shah Ahmad Shafi, theleader of Hefajat-e-Islam who is said tobe around 90 years old. Police man-aged to persuade Shafi yesterday toleave his madrassa (religious school) inDhaka, escorting him to the airportfrom where he was flown toChittagong. In a sign of their desire toavoid inflaming tensions, police insist-ed he was not arrested but left of his

own volition. Prime Minister SheikhHasina has ruled out a blasphemy law,saying she will not cave into hardlinerswho accuse bloggers of insulting theProphet Muhammed (PBUH). Chanting“Atheists must be hanged”, activistsfrom Hefajat-e-Islam marched along atleast six highways on Sunday, effec-tively cutting Dhaka off from the restof the country.

Police said the number of protest-ers reached around 200,000 at onepoint although the numbers haddwindled by the early hours.

Social media networks were inun-dated with photos of bloodiedIslamists lying on the streets after thecrackdown. The main oppositionBangladesh Nationalist Party, whichbacked Hefajat’s blockade, accusedthe government of “killing hundreds ofpeople and concealing the bodies” butgave no proof. Fearing more violence,Dhaka police banned all protests andthe carrying of firearms.

Bangladesh, an officially secularcountry with a 90 percent Muslimpopulation, has seen a surge in vio-lence since the start of the year, whena court began handing down warcrimes verdicts related to the 1971independence conflict. Three leadingIslamists have so far been convictedfor their role in mass killings duringthe conflict, which saw what was thenEast Pakistan break from the regime inIslamabad. The overall death toll inviolence between religious hardlinersand the police since January nowstands at around 150. — AFP

DUBAI: Bahraini lawmakers have urged the governmentto stop the US ambassador in Bahrain from “interferingin domestic affairs” and meeting government oppo-nents, newspaper reports and a lawmaker in the US-allied Gulf state said yesterday. The reports said the gov-ernment had agreed to the proposal and would takediplomatic measures, but it was not immediately clearwhat those steps would entail.

The decision highlights the sensitivity in relationsbetween the strategic allies, particularly in the wake ofBahrain’s displeasure about a US State Departmentreport which was critical of the Gulf Arab country’s gov-ernment. Pro-government daily Akhbar Al-Khaleejreported that a cabinet session had agreed to the parlia-mentary proposal, which also called for the governmentto stop the ambassador, Thomas Krajeski, attending“repeated meetings with those who inspire sedition”, anapparent reference to the Shiite-led opposition.

Asked to comment, Information Minister SamiraRajab told Reuters without elaborating: “We affirm thatnothing will affect the presence of the US ambassador inBahrain”. It was not immediately clear whether the law-makers’ complaint about the ambassador was related toa specific incident. But Western diplomats in the Gulfnormally try to meet as many different political opinion-makers as possible as part of their jobs.

“Very upset”Bahrain, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet, is ruled by the

Sunni al-Khalifa family which crushed Shiite-led pro-

democracy demonstrations that began in February2011. At least 35 people were killed in the unrest,though the opposition says the number is higher.Lower-level unrest has since continued. Under criticismfrom human rights groups, the government invited anindependent inquiry to examine its handling of thetrouble. Its report said the authorities had used wide-spread and excessive force, including torture to extractconfessions.

The US State Department report from last month saidthe government had failed to implement the mostimportant recommendations detailed in that report, afinding rejected by the Bahraini government. A Bahrainilawmaker who declined to be named confirmed news ofthe parliamentary proposal and echoed displeasurewith the State Department report. “The US ambassadorhas a lot of interference in Bahrain and in the politics ofthe Bahraini emirate, since he is in constant contact withthe opposition,” the lawmaker told Reuters, speaking bytelephone from Manama.

“The people were very upset. The public in Bahrainwere very upset... The report wasn’t even,” he said. The USEmbassy in Bahrain declined to comment. InWashington, a US State Department spokesman had nocomment, saying it was not aware of any new legislationor proposal. Khalil Al-Marzouq, an official with the largestopposition group, Al-Wefaq, said the report showed thegovernment was failing to manage its domestic affairsand foreign relations. “Al-Wefaq is in contact with alldiplomats, Western or otherwise. —Reuters

36 dead as B’desh cracks down on IslamistsB’desh shuts down pro-Islamist TV

Bahrain upset with US envoy

I N T E R N AT I O N A LTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

DAMASCUS: Israeli air raids on Syria at the weekendkilled at least 42 soldiers, a watchdog said yesterday,fuelling international concern over a spillover of theconflict, as Damascus warned it would strike back. UNhuman rights investigator Carla del Ponte, meanwhile,said that rebels have used the deadly nerve agent sarinin their fight to oust Syria’s regime, although inspectorslater said there was no conclusive proof as yet. “At least42 soldiers were killed in the strikes, and another 100who would usually be at the targeted sites remain unac-counted for,” Syrian Observatory for Human Rightsdirector Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

The strikes early on Sunday near Damascus werethe Jewish state’s second reported air raids on Syria in48 hours. An early Friday raid had targeted a weaponsstorage facility at Damascus airport. A senior Israelisource said the raids targeted Iranian weapons des-tined for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Iranand the Shiite group Hezbollah are steadfast allies ofSyrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and arch-foes of Israel.

A Syrian official in Damascus, reached by phonefrom Beirut, warned “Syria will respond to the Israeliaggression and will choose the moment to do so.” “Itmight not be immediate because Israel now is on highalert,” he added. “We will wait but we will answer.” UNleader Ban warned against any escalation of a conflictthat has killed more than 70,000 people in Syria since iterupted in March 2011.

“The secretary-general calls on all sides to exercisemaximum calm and restraint, and to act with a sense ofresponsibility to prevent an escalation of what isalready a devastating and highly dangerous conflict,”his spokesman Martin Nesirky said. Ban spoke by tele-phone with Arab League chief Nabil Al-Arabi, whose22-member bloc demanded UN Security Council inter-vention to stop such Israeli attacks.

The EU also said it feared recent developments “riskdragging the region into an expanding conflict.”Russian President Vladimir Putin held telephone talkswith Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overthe Syrian conflict, the Kremlin said yesterday. Putinand Netanyahu discussed the “situation in the regionand the situation around Syria,” Putin’s spokesmanDmitry Peskov said in a statement to Russian newsagencies, without giving further details.

The foreign ministry in Russia, the most powerfulally of Assad’s regime, had earlier expressed concernover the air strikes. And China implicitly criticised thestrikes as Netanyahu arrived in Shanghai, saying “weare opposed to the use of force and believe that thesovereignty of any country should be respected”. TheSyrian regime’s main regional ally Iran denied theweapons targeted were from the Islamic republic. Adiplomatic source in Beirut told AFP the sites were the

Jamraya military facility, a nearby weapons depot andan anti-aircraft unit in Sabura, west of the capital. Israelreportedly targeted the Jamraya facility earlier thisyear, in a January 30 raid its officials have implicitlyacknowledged.

UN human rights investigator Del Ponte, mean-while, said there was evidence that Syrian rebels haveused the deadly nerve agent sarin. “According to thetestimonies we have gathered, the rebels have usedchemical weapons, making use of sarin gas,” the formerUN war crimes prosecutor said in a Swiss radio inter-view. “We still have to deepen our investigation, verifyand confirm (the findings) through new witness testi-mony, but according to what we have established sofar, it is at the moment opponents of the regime whoare using sarin gas,” she said. But UN investigators intorights abuses in Syria stressed yesterday they had noconclusive proof that either side in the conflict hasused chemical weapons.

“The Independent International Commission ofInquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic wishes to clarifythat it has not reached conclusive findings as to the useof chemical weapons in Syria by any parties to the con-flict,” the commission said. It did not mention delPonte’s comments specifically, only stressing that it was“not in a position to further comment on the allega-tions at this time”.

US President Barack Obama has said the use ofchemical weapons in the conflict was a “red line” for hisadministration but also that he does not foresee UStroops on the ground in Syria. Yesterday, theInternational Committee of the Red Cross said theongoing fighting was preventing the evacuation of thedead and wounded. “An increasing number of casual-ties are being left behind owing to the life-threateningrisks associated with the retrieval of the wounded andthe dead,” the organisation said. — AFP

Syria threatens to hit back after deadly Israel raids

LEBANON: Syrian refugee children who fled their country due to violence, pull bottles of water, inthe southern village of Wazzani at the Lebanese Israeli border yesterday. — AP

KUALA LUMPUR: It was hardly the look of the vic-torious. Wearing a bright blue shirt and a grimexpression, Prime Minister Najib Razak appearedbefore the media early yesterday to somberlyacknowledge that his coalition had won generalelections for the 13th time in a row. He had reasonto be cheerless. The National Front coalition’s victo-ry in Sunday’s parliamentary elections despite los-ing the popular vote has not only exposed theentrenched racial divide in the country but also anew schism - between the rural poor who preferredthe status quo and the urban middle-class whowanted change. Healing the divisions will be a bigchallenge for Najib, who took the oath of office yes-terday to begin his second five-year term after sur-viving the fiercest challenge to the National Front’s56-year rule. If left untended, the racial and socialdivisions could undermine the stability ofSoutheast Asia’s third-largest economy. On the faceof it, the National Front appears to have done well.It won 133 seats in the 222-member Parliament -down a fraction from the 135 it won in 2008. Theopposition People’s Alliance coalition led by AnwarIbrahim won 89 seats. But look deeper and thenumbers carry a grim story for Najib:

The National Front polled 5.22 million votes tothe opposition’s 5.49 million votes, according to cal-culations by The Malaysian Insider, an independentnews website. The National Front banked heavily onthree states with large rural populations - Sarawak,Sabah and Johor - where many people from indige-nous groups and the ethnic Malay majority arebeholden to the government for handouts tradi-tionally given to them. The three states alone, out ofMalaysia’s 13, accounted for more than half of the133 seats won. People in many urban areas - espe-cially Chinese who are Malaysia’s second largestethnic group - voted overwhelmingly for the oppo-sition, reflecting the huge disenchantment with thegovernment’s affirmative action policies that favorMalays. Speaking at the news conference, Najibblamed a “Chinese tsunami” for the coalition’s per-formance.

“On the whole, the people’s decision this timeshows a trend of voting polarization,” Najib said.“This worries the government, because if it’s nothandled well, it could spark tension.” Many opposi-tion supporters also believe the coalition resorted

to fraud to win, including using migrants fromBangladesh as illegal voters. The government andelectoral authorities deny it. Despite losing the pop-ular vote, the National Front benefited from gerry-mandering of constituencies. In Sarawak, on Borneoisland, nearly all of the six constituencies won bythe opposition had between 26,000 and 40,000 vot-ers each. In contrast, the National Front won 20seats in Sarawak, where each constituency hadabout 10,000 voters.

“What we are seeing here is a regime that hasused the trappings of power to stay in power,” saidBridget Welsh, a political science professor at theSingapore Management University. “The reality isthat many people will see this election as an elec-tion bought and stolen. There will be a huge trustdeficit for the National Front.” The results also reflectthe complexities of modern-day Malaysia, whichevolved from a 1950s backwater of rice paddies andtin mines into a country where cities like KualaLumpur and its famous Petronas Twin Towers areonly an hour’s drive from rural rubber and palm oilplantations. In recent years, the rural-urban divide

has created groups whose political perspectives liefar apart. Traditional National Front loyalists com-prise villagers who receive valuable cash handoutsfrom the government ahead of elections and relyon government-linked TV stations and newspapersfor information. Many among the rural Malays alsofear the opposition will scrap affirmative action pro-grams that provide scholarships, loans and otherbenefits for Malays.

In the cities, the opposition has made gainsamong middle-class voters who read and spreadnews about the government’s failings includingcorruption scandals on independent news websitesand blogs. During campaign rallies this past month,the ruling coalition handed out sacks of rice tocrowds who came to listen to speeches. Oppositioncandidates passed around empty bags seekingdonations. The National Front has held power for 56years through a unique system of race-based poli-tics. The coalition is dominated by Najib’s UnitedMalays National Organization, a Malay Muslim par-ty, and supported by smaller parties representingthe other ethnic groups. —AP

Malaysian polls expose worrying social schisms

Opposition leader Anwar says result was ‘fraudulent’

KUALA LUMPUR: In this photo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak takes his oath of officeat the National Palace yesterday. — AP

PARACHINAR: An explosion rippedthrough a campaign rally of a leadingIslamist party in Pakistan yesterday, killing25 people and wounding dozens more, agovernment official said as the run-up tothe country’s May 11 election becomesincreasingly dangerous. The bomb blast atthe rally held in the village of Sewak in thenorthwest Kurram tribal region by theJamiat-e-Ulema Islam party is the latest inci-dent of violence targeting candidates, polit-ical offices and election-related events asthe vote approaches. Much of the violenceis believed to have been carried out by theTaleban against three liberal and secularparties but yesterday’s blast was unique inthat it targeted a party believed to have amore favorable relationship with the mili-tant group.

No one immediately claimed responsi-bility for the blast. The bomb, which wasapparently planted near the main stage ofthe rally, killed 14 and wounded 50 people,said Javed Khan, a government administra-tor in the Kurram tribal region. Two partyleaders who were speaking at the eventescaped unharmed, Khan said. One of thecandidates, Ainuddin Shakir, told a local tel-evision station that the blast went off just asthe candidates were finishing their rally andleaving the stage. He said it appeared tohave been detonated by remote control.

About 2,500 people had gathered at alocal religious school to hear the candidatesspeak, said one man who was in the crowd,Sabir Gul.

The massive explosion came just as oneof the candidates ended his speech and wasleaving the stage, he said. Another resident,Mohammad Jamil, attended the meetingwith his brother and was in the dining halleating when the blast went off. Political par-ties often give food to people at rallies whosometimes travel from nearby villages tohear candidates speak. Jamil said peopleattending the rally had been searched asthey went into the gathering.

“There was a deafening sound whichstunned me for a while but I quickly movedout of the dining hall,” he said, describing a‘hell-like’ situation. “There were countlesspeople bleeding and crying for help. Mybrother Khalil was among them.” The

Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam party is consideredsupportive of the Afghan Taleban’s fightagainst the United States and its allies inneighboring Afghanistan. It’s also sympa-thetic to the Pakistani Taleban, which havebeen fighting Pakistani troops and wouldlike to establish a hardline Islamic govern-ment in Pakistan. The group’s leaders havegenerally opposed the Pakistani military’soperations against militants in the tribalregion and instead called for negotiatingwith the militants.

The Taleban have claimed responsibilityin recent weeks for a string of attacksagainst secular Pakistani parties that have ingeneral supported military interventionagainst the militants in the tribal regions.Interim Prime Minister Mir Hazar KhanKhoso condemned the bomb blast andcalled on the local government to strength-en protection for candidates in the upcom-ing election.

The historic vote, scheduled for thisSaturday, will be the first time a democrati-cally elected civilian government completesits term and hands over power to another.But the ongoing attacks against candidates,their supporters and political offices hascast a shadow over the momentous occa-sion, and may deter many people fromgoing to the polls.

There is also concern that the attackscould benefit the parties that take a softerline toward the militants, because they areable to campaign more freely ahead of thevote. Yesterday’s blast however showed thatno side is immune from the violence.Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head ofJamiat-e-Ulema Islam, has been an outspo-ken supporter of the Afghan Taleban, butsome militants in Pakistan have shown awillingness to target anyone connected tothe U.S.-backed government in Pakistan.

In 2011, a suicide bomber struck a con-voy in which Rehman was traveling throughnorthwestern Pakistan, killing 12 people.The Taleban has also condemned democra-cy as a whole, meaning that any politicalparty taking part in the elections could beconsidered fair game by the militant group.The violence is multi-faceted and reflectsthe various militant problems facing thePakistani government and military. —AP

LAHORE: Traumatised Christians in a Lahore slum whereangry Muslims torched more than 100 homes say Pakistan’stwo largest parties offer the only hope of protection at thisweek’s general election. The Pakistan Muslim League-N ofNawaz Sharif, a man accused of being soft on the Taliban buttipped to win Saturday’s polls, and the main outgoingPakistan People’s Party both gave affected families $5,000each in compensation. PML-N is the party in power in Punjabprovince, the home of the largest Christian community inPakistan. PPP led the outgoing federal government.

While in the northwest, Christians feel religious partiesoffer them more protection, voters in Joseph Colony say theywill opt for PML-N for the regional assembly and PPP for thenational assembly, in gratitude for their support. “They helpedus cover our losses and gave 500,000 rupees ($5,000) to eachfamily. So all of us have decided to vote for them,” said factoryworker Sohail Masih. Pakistan’s 86 million registered voters goto the polls on Saturday to elect four provincial assembliesand 272 lawmakers directly into the national assembly.

In the lower house of parliament, another 60 seats areallotted to women and 10 to religious minorities on a partyticket based on proportional representation. Christians cannotdirectly elect Christian lawmakers. They vote like everyoneelse for different parties, which in turn choose their Christiancandidates, in a process criticised as “selection” not election.

Only two percent of Pakistan’s overwhelmingly Muslimpopulation of 180 million are Christian. The community ispoor and complains of increasing discrimination. Last week,the US Commission on International Religious Freedomwarned that the risk to Pakistan’s minorities has reached crisislevel. It said blasphemy and other laws are used to “violatereligious freedoms and foster a climate of impunity”.

Campaigners argue that blasphemy legislation, for whichthe maximum penalty is death, is often abused to settle per-sonal scores and should be reformed. Punjab has seen some

of the worst cases. A Christian mother was sentenced to deathfor blasphemy in 2010. In the town of Gojra in 2009, a mobburned 77 houses and killed seven people after rumours thata Holy Quran had been desecrated.

Last year, a young Christian girl spent three weeks in jailafter being accused of blasphemy before the case was thrownout, although she and her family have been in hiding eversince, fearing for their lives. —AFP

Suicide bomber kills 25 at Pakistan polls rally

Christians vote for safety in Pakistan

PESHAWAR: Pervaiz Masih (right), a Christian candidate ofthe Jamaat-e-Islami party for general election, is huggedby a Christian woman at his election campaign. — AFP

I N T E R N AT I O N A LTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

NAIROBI: A Kenyan court yesterday sen-tenced two Iranians to life in prison on ter-ror-related charges, including the posses-sion of explosives allegedly to be used inbomb attacks. “I shudder to imagine theamount of damage that could have beenseen,” judge Kiarie Waweru Kiarie told thecourt in the capital Nairobi. AhmedMohammed, 50, and Sayed Mansour, 51,who were arrested last June, were foundguilty of possessing 15 kilos (33 pounds) ofthe powerful explosive RDX, found bypolice hidden in a hole in a golf course.

The court said they had suspected linksto a network planning bombings in

Nairobi and the eastern port of Mombasa,the country’s second largest city. “I haveconsidered their individual pleas,” Kiariesaid, but added: “The cry of victims of pre-vious terrorist attacks is louder.” They weresentenced to life on charge of committingan act intended to cause grievous harm, aswell as 10 years for possession of explo-sives and 15 years for intention to commitserious crime, with the sentences to runconcurrently.

Both defendants, dressed in suits andopen neck shirts, showed little emotion asthe sentence was read out, although whenthey were led out to the cells one angrily

tried to kick a photographer. Defencelawyer David Kirimi described the lifeterms as “outrageous” and said appealswould be launched. “The sentencing iswrong, misconceived and outrageous, andan injustice to our clients,” Kirimi told AFP.

The wives of both the men, who werein court to watch the sentencing, issued ajoint statement in which they alleged“unfair treatment” of their husbands. Theycalled for a retrial, saying there was “noconcrete evidence linking our husbands toany evidence presented in court”.

The two men, who had denied thecharges, were convicted last Thursday after

a trial that began in July. Iranian embassyofficial Mohamed Zaboli, speaking outsidethe court yesterday, said: “There has beensome extrajudicial pressure that influ-enced the ruling and the procedure,” with-out giving further details.

The men were arrested after policefound the explosives in Mombasa, a keycommercial hub as the main port for eastAfrica as well as a popular internationaltourist destination for its beachfront hotelson the palm-fringed Indian Ocean coast.Defence lawyers alleged the suspects wereinterrogated by Israeli security officerswhile in Kenyan detention, claims dis-

missed by the prosecution.The defence largely depended on their

clients alleged failing health to appeal tothe courts leniency. The accusation fol-lowed a declaration by Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu, who shortlyafter the two were charged said Iran wasplotting attacks against Israel in Kenya.Israeli businesses in Kenya have been tar-geted in the past, including the Al-Qaeda-claimed bombing of an Israeli-ownedhotel in Mombasa in 2002, in which 18people died, as well as a failed missilestrike on Israeli charter plane at the sametime. —AFP

Kenya court imprisons Iranian pair for life

MUNICH: A woman is held by police after she tried to force her way into thecourt yesterday before the start of the trial of an alleged member of aGerman neo-Nazi cell. —AP

Italy’s Machiavellian

ex-PM Andreotti dies Andreotti embodied postwar political system

ROME: Giulio Andreotti, who served as Italianprime minister seven times and whose name wassynonymous with political survival and cunningin the land that gave the world Machiavelli, diedyesterday at the age of 94. Andreotti, who formore than half a century was known as “Mr Italy”because of the many offices he held, died athome, family sources said. He had suffered fromrespiratory problems for years and had been inhospital several times. A leading member of thedefunct Christian Democrat party which dominat-ed Italian politics for almost fifty years after WorldWar Two, Andreotti was a lawmaker in everyItalian parliament since 1945. He was made a sen-

ator for life in 1991.He was a complex figure who embodied the

contradictions and intrigues of Italy’s often shadypolitics. His enemies called him Beelzebub but hewas deeply religious and took communion frompopes. He was accused and acquitted both ofbeing a member of the mafia and of ordering themurder of a muck-raking journalist. His support-ers said he served his country like few others,helping transform Italy from a war-devastatedagricultural backwater to a leading industrialpower in the space of a generation.

But many Italians believed he was the quintes-

sential back-room wheeler-dealer, overseeing apolitical system riddled with cronyism and cor-ruption. He held nearly every political post in Italyshort of the presidency. His leadership of sevenpost-war governments was beaten only by hismentor, Alcide De Gaspari, who led eight. At theend of a sensational trial and two appeals,Andreotti was cleared in 2004 of charges that hehad been a member of the mafia and had pro-tected the mob in the corridors of power.

However, Italy’s highest court said he had tiesuntil 1980 with mafia gangsters, which were cov-ered by the statute of limitations. The most shock-ing allegation was that he once exchanged a kiss

of respect with “boss of bosses” Salvatore “Toto”Riina, then Italy’s most wanted man and now in jail.

Andreotti denounced the accusations, basedon testimony from mafia turncoats, and in theend, the courts believed him. He embodiedItaly’s so-called first republic, dominated by theChristian Democrats and a bewildering string of“revolving door” governments. Their eternalpolitical rivalry with the Communist Party, thelargest in the West at that time, was sharpenedby the Cold War and American fears of a commu-nist takeover, which also fuelled violent politicalconflict between right and left. The so-called

years of lead in the 1970s culminated in the far-left Red Brigades kidnap and murder of ChristianDemocrat president Aldo Moro when Andreottiwas prime minister in 1978.

But the party was swept away by a hugebribery scandal in 1992, together with much ofthe old order, although corruption is now said tobe worse than ever and Italy is in a renewedperiod of political instability which has wors-ened a deep economic recession. A ferventCatholic who went to Mass every morning,Italians called him the “the eternal Giulio”because of his political longevity and his mas-tery of intrigue.

He was the subject of more than 20 parlia-mentary investigations on suspicion of under-the-counter dealings, ranging from corruptionto links with shady financiers. On every occasionhe was cleared and the investigations did notdent his power with voters in Rome, his con-stituency. “Apart from the Punic Wars, for which Iwas too young, I have been blamed for every-thing,” he once said in one of his famous, cuttingquips. “Faith helps me a lot,” Andreotti toldReuters during one of trials in 2002.

“The justice that counts is that which will becarried out in the next world. I will not have aplace of honour in the next world because I toohave been a moderate sinner in my life, but I cer-tainly have not committed sins of mafia or sinsof murder.” A bespectacled, stooping figure withprotruding ears, he was meat and drink for twogenerations of editorial cartoonists.

He said his appetite for work was helped byinsomnia but detractors said it stemmed from alust for power. “Power wears out those who don’thave it,” he once said in a famous retort. As a lifesenator Andreotti attended parliament regularlyuntil recently when his health failed. Andreotti,who was married with four children, got his firsttaste of power in May 1947 when he was namedcabinet secretary.

His introduction to politics came when hewent to the Vatican library and asked for anobscure book on the military power of theVatican in the 19th century. “Have you nothingbetter to do?” grumbled the librarian, whoturned out to be De Gasperi, the future ChristianDemocrat leader and prime minister. Andreottibecame De Gasperi’s personal assistant and nev-er looked back.

He helped write Italy’s new constitution afterWorld War Two and assumed his first cabinetpost, as interior minister, in 1954. Before hishealth failed, he worked though most of thenight, slept only a few hours and spent the restof the time before dawn reading files and writ-ing books.—Reuters

ROME: Giulio Andreotti looks on during a session at the Senate in Rome. —AP

MUNICH: A woman accused of being at theheart of a neo-Nazi killer cell went on trialyesterday in a case that has shocked andshamed Germany and prompted calls for asecurity services overhaul. The random dis-covery of the gang in late 2011 embarrassedauthorities, exposing deep security flawsand raising uncomfortable questions abouthow the cell went undetected for 13 years ina country proud of owning up to its Nazipast.

Dozens of anti-racist protesters shoutedslogans outside as Beate Zschaepe, 38,entered the heavily-guarded Munich court-room, appearing relaxed with her arms fold-ed. She is charged with complicity in themurders of eight ethnic Turks, a Greek immi-grant and a German policewoman between2000 and 2007 as a founding member of theNational Socialist Underground (NSU).

Dubbed the “Nazi moll” by media, she isalso accused of involvement in 15 armedrobberies, arson and attempted murder intwo bomb attacks. Her lawyers deny she wasdirectly involved in murder. Four men joinedZschaepe in the dock on charges of support-ing the NSU. Germans were stunned to learnin November 2011 that foreign criminalgangs were not behind the unsolved mur-ders, as long suspected by police and themedia, but home-grown racist killers.

The case only came to light afterZschaepe’s alleged accomplices, UweMundlos and Uwe Boehnhardt, were foundshot dead in an apparent murder-suicide.Zschaepe then allegedly blew up theirshared home in eastern Germany and latersurrendered to police. A DVD later emergedwith a film in the style of a “Pink Panther”cartoon in which the group claimed respon-sibility for the attacks.

A probe into the handling of the caserevealed oversights and missteps by policeand domestic intelligence services and arealisation that the right-wing extremistthreat had been grossly underestimated.The head of domestic intelligence resignedin July after staff admitted shredding filesrelevant to the case, and a parliamentarycommittee has been set up to look intowhat went wrong.

The scandal also exposed a web of con-tacts between the secret services and thefar-right in which the state systematicallyexchanged cash for information, raisingquestions about possible collusion.Chancellor Angela Merkel has called thekillings a “disgrace” for Germany and apolo-gised at a February 2012 memorial for suspi-cion having fallen on some victims’ relatives,

which she called “particularly tormenting”.Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich lat-

er pledged a root-and-branch reform of thesecurity services to improve coordinationand ensure accountability. Dressed in ablack trouser suit, white shirt and wearinglarge hoop earrings, Zschaepe entered thecourtroom before the hearing got underway and stood with her back to the TV cam-eras.

Proceedings were adjourned for five min-utes while the defendant talked to herlawyers after it emerged that Zschaepe hasobjected to chief judge Manfred Goetzl. Herlawyers accuse him of bias in ordering thedefence team to undergo security checks onentering the courtroom over the possibilityof objects or messages being brought todefendants, while prosecutors, police andother parties are not required to besearched.

Reporters and members of the publicqueued up outside the court overnight toclaim one of 50 free seats at what isGermany’s biggest terror trial since mem-bers of the prominent left-wing militantgroup, the Red Army Faction, were sen-tenced 36 years ago. Outside hundreds ofpolice were on guard as emotions ran highwith two women scuffling with police asethnic Turkish protesters held bannersdeclaring: “How could they kill so many?”

Inside the court, many of the victims’families got their first glimpse of theaccused in person whose photo has regular-ly featured in the media but who hasremained silent during her 18 months incustody. She faces life in prison if convicted.Lawyers for Semiya and Kerim Simsek,whose father was the first victim, said theirclients who are co-plaintiffs would be seek-ing many answers.

“They want to know why their father wasmurdered. How they came upon the flowerseller Enver Simsek? Did local neo-Nazi net-works help in the victim selection?” they saidin a statement. A controversy over theaccreditation of journalists overshadowedthe run-up to the trial after the court initiallyfailed to guarantee Turkish media seatswhen it handed out reserved spots on afirst-come, first-served basis. This strainedGerman-Turkish ties and forced a last-minute postponement when Germany’s topcourt ordered it to allocate seats to foreignreporters, leading to the final 50 mediaorganisations being chosen in a lottery.Turkish media now have four seats but sev-eral leading German newspapers missedout. —AFP

Crucial neo-Nazi murder

trial opens in Germany

VIENNA: I ran appears to be pressingahead in using some of its most sensitivenuclear material to make reactor fuel,diplomats said yesterday, a step thatcould help buy t ime for diplomac ybetween Tehran and world powers. Iran’spossession of medium-enriched uraniumgas is closely watched in the West asIsrael, which has threatened to attack itsarch-foe if diplomacy fails to stop itsnuclear drive, says it must not amassenough for one bomb if fur therprocessed. Since Iran in 2010 began refin-ing uranium to a fissile concentration of20 percent - a relatively short technicalstep away from the level required fornuclear arms - it has produced more thanthe 240-250 kg which would be neededfor one weapon.

But while the stockpile has expanded,Iran has still kept it below the Israeli “redline” by converting part of the uranium gasinto oxide powder in order, Tehran says, toyield fuel for a medical research reactor inthe Iranian capital. Three diplomats saidthey believed Iran had continued this activ-ity - thereby slowing the growth of theamount of 20 percent uranium gas - sincethe UN atomic agency issued its last reporton Tehran’s nuclear programme inFebruary.

“Our impression is that it is fairly steadywhat they are doing,” one Western officialsaid. Another envoy said: “I think they aretrying to demonstrate that their conversionis a significant amount, an amount that(Iran believes) should ease the concern ofthe international community.” If this is con-firmed in the next report on Iran by the UNInternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),expected in late May, the increase in theholding of 20 percent gas will be less thanthe production, which has amounted toabout 15 kg per month. In February, thestockpile stood at some 167 kg.

West wants moreCritics say Iran is trying to achieve the

ability to make atomic bombs. The IslamicRepublic denies this, saying says it needsnuclear power for energy generation andmedical purposes. But while the uraniumconversion activity may postpone anydecision by Israel on whether to strikeIranian nuclear sites, the diplomats madeclear Tehran must do much more in orderto allay Western suspicions about itsatomic programme. “Simply converting isnot enough,” one of them said. Turninguranium gas into oxide powder in orderto make fuel plates for the Tehranresearch reactor may be just a temporaryposit ive development because theprocess could be reversible, Westernexperts say.

Iran could reconvert its entire invento-ry of 20 percent enriched oxide powderinto gas “in a matter of a few weeks,” saidMark Hibbs of the Carnegie Endowmentthink-tank. “Reconversion is not hard,” saidMark Fitzpatrick of the InternationalInstitute for Strategic Studies think-tank.

“Once the initial hiccups are overcome,the chemical process is straightforward.”But Iran’s uranium oxide powder, like itsother nuclear material, would be underIAEA safeguards and its inspectors wouldnotice if it was being transformed backinto gas form, unless it was done at asecret facility, experts say. Were Iran toinform the IAEA that it intended to recon-vert the material into gas form, “that stepwould immediately precipitate a crisis,”Hibbs said.

I s rael i Pr ime M inister BenjaminNetanyahu has said Iran was “continuingto get closer to the red l ine”. The sixworld powers involved in diplomacy withIran want it to stop enriching uranium to20 percent and suspend work at theunderground Fordow site where most ofthis activity is pursued. In their last meet-ing in early April, Iran refused the pow-ers’ demand. The two sides’ chief nego-tiators wil l meet again on May 15 inIstanbul. —Reuters

LONDON: Galvanised by the Arab spring, Eritreansin exile in Europe are mobilising against theauthoritarian regime of President Issaias Afeworkiwith a new tool-the humble telephone. Everyweek, members of the diaspora make hundreds oreven thousands of automated calls to their com-patriots in the eastern African nation, chosingtheir numbers at random and playing them one-minute recorded messages to spread dissent. “It istime to restore our liberty and dignity,” says one ofthe messages. In another, the mother of high-pro-file political prisoner Aster Yohannes recalls thefate of her daughter, who was arrested in 2003and who has not been heard of since.

Such political statements are rarely heard inEritrea itself, where opposition parties are bannedand anyone who challenges the president-whohas ruled the tiny nation with an iron grip sinceindependence in 1993 — is jailed without trial,often in the harshest of conditions. They are thework of a new generation of exiles who refuse tofall in behind traditional opposition parties, whichare widely viewed as unrepresentative and divid-ed, explains Leonard Vincent, a Paris-based spe-cialist on Eritrea.

Unlike those opposition leaders, their passionwas forged not in the war of independence but in

the conditions forced upon their people today.“Their own war is against the current problems inthe Eritrean nation,” Vincent said. About 1,500Eritreans leave their country every month, accord-ing to the United Nations, paying up to 30,000euros ($39,500) each to seek a new life free ofgrinding poverty and repression.

Those who make it-refugees are often a targetfor people traffickers-settle around the world,from Australia to Germany, Britain to the UnitedStates, but keep in touch over the Internet. Theirdemands are simple-the application of the 1997constitution which calls for elections in Eritrea,and the release of political prisoners, estimated bythe NGO Human Rights Watch to be aboutbetween 5,000 and 10,000.

And they have put these demands to theEritrean people in about 100,000 recorded tele-phone calls made every Friday since late 2011 —including to some members of the regime.Ironically, “sometimes it’s actually the people whodon’t like what we’re doing that spread the mes-sage because they are not afraid”, said SelamKidane, founder of the ‘Arbi Harnet’ (Free Friday)movement.

The phone calls are a way of spreading dissentwithout putting those receiving the messages in

danger, explains Kidane, a mother-of-three who isnow settled in London. In a country where free-dom of expression and the press are virtually non-existent, logging onto a subversive website or tun-ing into a banned radio station could put theirlives at risk.

But the project has involved people who arestill in Eritrea. The phone calls have only beenmade possible, for example, after someone smug-gled a telephone directory out of the country. Anda handful of those who remain are promoting thecause at great risk to themselves. “We have a littleteam inside the country that we have recruited viathese calls. They have put up posters with ourlogo,” Kidane told AFP.

Eritrea specialist Vincent explained that someposters take the form of fake versions of the publicnotices of deaths that are traditional in Eritrea.“The photo on the fake death notices is fictitiousand the message is subversive, along the lines of‘Wake up, they have stolen your freedom’,” heexplained.

He said the telephone messages are a newchallenge to Issaias’ authority, but cautioned thatthey may have limited impact in a country of fivemillion where “only the old, the young and theslaves” of military service remain. —AFP

Telephone: Weapon of Eritreans in exile

Iran may be limiting growth

in sensitive atom stockpile

ISTANBUL: Turkish riot police spray tear gas on pro-testors yesterday during a demonstration againstthe government and on the anniversary of the exe-cution of Denis Gezmis, one of the founders of thePeople’s Liberation army of Turkey (THKO) on IstiklalAvenue in Istanbul. —AFP

I N T E R N AT I O N A LTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

WASHINGTON: As a Senate committee preparesto begin voting this week on far-reaching immi-gration legislation, advocates are watching warilyto see whether opposition, thus far subdued,builds into the same kind of fierce backlash thatshut down Congress’ last attempt to remake thenation’s immigration system. That time around, in2007, angry calls overwhelmed the Senateswitchboard and lawmakers endured ragingtown hall meetings and threats from incensedconstituents. The legislation ultimately collapsedon the Senate floor.

“I’ve been through this battle, and it’s ugly,”said former Sen Trent Lott, R-Miss., who support-ed the bill. “My phones were jammed for threeweeks and I got three death threats, one of whichI turned over to the FBI. So it’s rough business.”Supporters of the immigration bill, released lastmonth by a group of four Republican and fourDemocratic senators, have been cautiously opti-mistic about their prospects because of factorsincluding public support for giving citizenship toimmigrants, a large and diverse coalition in sup-port of the bill, and a growing sentiment amongRepublican leaders that immigration must bedealt with if they are to regain the backing ofHispanic voters. Backers have been working hardto build alliances and strategies aimed at avoid-ing the mistakes of 2007, when critics largelydefined the bill and some supporters ended upturning against it.

Opponents acknowledge that supportersstarted out better organized and mobilized thanlast time around, and they also anticipate thatoutside groups pushing the legislation - includ-ing efforts headed by New York Mayor MichaelBloomberg and Facebook founder MarkZuckerberg - will outspend them. Supportersinclude large and influential groups includingthe US Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO and theCatholic Church, while opponents include lesser-known think tanks or advocacy organizationssuch as NumbersUSA, the Federation forAmerican Immigration Reform and the Center forImmigration Studies. Both sides have alreadybegun running ads.

But critics also have important grass-rootsinfluence, including from talk radio hosts whowere instrumental in defeating the bill in 2007,and opponents argue that as the public absorbsthe content of the legislation, the tide will turnagainst it. They say that there are already signsthat it’s happening. Although conservative com-mentators on Fox News Channel and elsewherehave been more muted so far than in 2007, sometalk radio hosts including Mark Levin and RushLimbaugh have begun to voice deep uneaseabout the bill despite the efforts of its conserva-tive standard bearer, Sen Marco Rubio, R-Fla, tosell the legislation to them and other conserva-tive opinion leaders.

“The supporters promoted the bill aggressive-ly before anybody saw the language, and certainRepublicans and conservative voices sort of heldtheir fire, but that’s beginning to change,” saidSen Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., who was a leading voicein the Senate against the bill in 2007 and isreprising that role this time around, making floorspeeches, issuing press releases and holdingbriefing calls with reporters to argue that the billwould unlock a much larger volume of immigra-tion into the US than advertised, to the detrimentof US workers and jobs. “It’s going to be like thatmackerel in the sunshine - the longer it’s outthere the worse it smells,” Sessions said.

The bill would aim to boost border security, fixlegal immigration and worker programs, requireall employers to check their workers’ legal statusand offer eventual citizenship to the estimated11 million immigrants already living in the coun-try illegally. Joyce Kaufman, a host on a Floridaradio station, WFTL, said that opposition to thebill was soft at first but grows daily.

“Yes, we believe this is amnesty,” Kaufmansaid. “Citizen activists are outraged.” Lott said thatsupporters of the legislation still haven’t come upwith an argument as concise and effective as thatone word - “amnesty” - from opponents. He saidhe’s spoken with Rubio, among others, to makeclear that supporters of the bill need to honetheir arguments. “Last time our explanation wasthree paragraphs. Theirs was a word,” Lott said.

When that happens, he said, “You’re dead.”The Democratic-led Senate, where the

Judiciary Committee takes up the bill onThursday, is already going to be a tough chal-lenge. But if the bill does pass the Senate, oppo-nents are betting it gets stopped in theRepublican-led House. A bipartisan group ofHouse lawmakers has been promising formonths to release their own bill mirroring ele-ments of the Senate legislation but taking atougher tack. So far they haven’t delivered.

Meanwhile, to the dismay of immigrationadvocates, the chairman of the House JudiciaryCommittee has announced plans to move for-ward with individual, single-issue immigrationbills, rejecting the comprehensive approach inthe Senate that’s backed by President BarackObama, who’s made immigration legislation atop second-term priority. The legislation was alsoa priority in 2007 for then-President George W.Bush, but he was unsuccessful in persuadingRepublican lawmakers to get behind the bill, andDemocrats who at the time controlled Congresswere divided, too.

In the 2007 debate, a turning point camewhen the conservative Heritage Foundationreleased a report saying that the legislationwould cost taxpayers $2.6 trillion, including ben-efits to immigrants and other expenditures.Although the analysis was disputed it carriedweight with GOP lawmakers. Now under theleadership of former Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C.,another lead opponent of the legislation in 2007,Heritage is preparing to release an updated ver-sion of that report.

In a sign of how supporters of the bill areworking hard not to repeat mistakes from thepast, conservative groups that support the legis-lation have already sought to pre-empt theHeritage report, with the Cato Institute deridingit ahead of time as “fatally flawed,” and Cato andothers arguing that immigration reform wouldboost the economy by growing the labor market.Nonetheless officials with Heritage argue theirreport could have the same impact this timearound as in 2007. —AP

SAN FRANCISCO: When one of the ninewomen in his limousine complained aboutsmoke, Orville Brown pulled to the side of aSan Francisco Bay bridge to check. As hegot out, the back of the vehicle becameengulfed in flames. A newlywed bride andeight of her friends were still inside, butpassersby quickly pulled three from theburning Lincoln Town Car late Saturdaynight. And one woman managed to reachsafety by squeezing through the partitionfrom the passenger section to the driver’scompartment, Brown told authorities. Butfive others, including the bride whose mar-riage they were celebrating on a girls’ nightout, became trapped. The five were founddead as firefighters doused the vehicle - allhuddled near the partition, apparentlyunable to squeeze through.

“My guess would be they were trying toget away from the fire and use that windowopening as an escape route,” said SanMateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault,who also relayed some of the commentsthe driver made to investigators. The SanMateo Fire Department was looking intothe cause of the fire, while the coroner’soffice was working with the CaliforniaHighway Patrol to determine if anythingcriminal occurred. “We don’t believe there”was, Foucrault said.

Relatives told the San FranciscoChronicle and the San Jose Mercury Newsthat one of the dead was Neriza Fojas, 31, a

registered nurse from Fresno who recentlywed and was planning to travel to hernative Philippines to hold another ceremo-ny before family. Her friends in the limou-sine were fellow nurses.

Brown, 46, of San Jose, told investigatorshe picked the women up in Oakland andwas taking them across the bridge to theCrowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City. Fojas’ sis-ter, Rosalyn Bersamin, told the Chroniclethat after a night out on the town, Fojasand her friends were heading to the hotelto party with her husband. “She was a hardworker, a loving sister,” a sobbing Bersaminsaid. Aerial video shot after the incidentshowed about one-third of the back half ofthe limousine had been scorched by thefire. Its taillights and bumper were goneand it appeared to be resting on its rims,but the remainder of the vehicle didn’tappear to be damaged.

A photo taken by a witness and broad-cast on KTVU-TV showed flames shootingfrom the back of the limo. Brown’s brothertold the Chronicle the flames spread beforehe could help all the women escape. “Hetold me, ‘Man, it was so fast.’ He said, ‘I’venever seen anything like it in my life.’” “Hekept saying, ‘I should have done more, Ishould have done more,” he added. Thebrother said that Brown is an experiencedcommercial driver who has operated bigrigs and moving trucks and has a cleanrecord. —AP

Could immigration bill set off backlash again?

FOSTER CITY: San Mateo County firefighters and California Highway Patrol personnelinvestigate the scene of a limousine fire on the westbound side of the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge in Foster City, California. — AP

Bride, 4 others perish in limo fire on Calif bridge

CHICAGO: Anna Tabakh didn’tknow a word of English. At age 5, astranger in a strange land, she wasen route with her parents from theSoviet Union to a new home inKansas City, Mo. But she under-stood the intent when securityguards at a New York City airportsuspiciously eyed her stuffed ani-mal, a rather rotund plush toy.“They thought we were smugglingdiamonds in my stuffed animalfriend,” Tabakh, now 27, says, recall-ing how her mom, pleading in bro-ken English, persuaded the guardsnot to tear apart the toy to searchits contents.

Tabakh still has the pig in herNew York apartment, “to remind mehow far I’ve come since those firstdays.” The beginning was traumatic,she says, but the transition toAmerican life was relatively smooth- a result that some social scientistswould say was partly due to herage. There is, in fact, a termresearchers use to describe youngpeople who, like Tabakh, were bornin other countries but came to theUS between the ages of 5 and 12and have a foot in two worlds. Theycall them “Generation 1.5.”

They remember the places theycame from but come of age in theirnew home - and research showsthat, while they may struggle atfirst, many end up adapting betterthan immigrants who arrive asteenagers. I t is a dynamic thatcould help explain why the twobrothers suspected in the Bostonbombings had seemingly differentexperiences in this country, interms of how well they adapted.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the youngerbrother, was about 9 when he cameto the United States from theRussian Caucasus region. He wasmore integrated in daily Americanlife, according to accounts fromfriends and relatives. By compari-

son, they say older brotherTamerlan Tsarnaev - who came tothis country in his mid-teens anddied in a gunfight with police afterthe bombings - had a more difficulttime fitting in.

He once told a journalist that hehad no American friends. And yetwhen he returned to his homelandlast year, relatives said he had trou-ble fitting in there, too - that heseemed more American thanChechen. Experts say that inabilityto fit into either world is a commonpredicament for immigrants whocame here as teens, though manyof them eventually adapt muchmore successfully than TamerlanTsarnaev did.

“Being a teenager itself is such ahard journey. That coupled withbeing an immigrant is very, verydifficult,” says Barbara Greenberg, aclinical psychologist who ran aninpatient adolescent psychiatricunit at a hospital in New York formany years and whose patientsincluded young immigrants. Shesays the teen years are a particular-ly difficult time to fit in becausesocial groups have formed, andcliques are tougher to break into.“When you’re a little kid, socialgroups are more in flux,” saysGreenberg, who still specializes inadolescents in private practice inConnecticut.

Of course, she and others note,there are many other factors thatlikely led the elder Tsarnaev brotherto allegedly mastermind the bomb-ings - factors that many hope willbecome clearer as the investigationcontinues. Did the absence of theirparents, who moved back to Russia,play a role? Did Tamerlan Tsarnaevbecome a father figure to hisyounger brother and lead himastray? Were there mental healthissues? Did extremist religiousviews play a role?

“It’s just sad that they lost theirway,” says Marko Mamic, a 27-year-old Croatian immigrant in subur-ban Chicago. His family movedthere a decade ago, in search of theone thing that motivates manyimmigrant families - opportunity.

I t was a tough move for ateenager, Mamic recalls. He left hisfriends. He left his basketball team.He only knew the British form ofEnglish he’d learned in school, buthad never really used it. “I was cry-ing so bad. I wanted to go backhome my first year,” says Mamic,now 27 and a third-year medicalstudent at Loyola University ’s

Stritch School of Medicine in subur-ban Chicago. “You have to startfrom scratch.” But Mamic had astrong support system - a tightknitfamily and a large and active com-munity of Croatian immigrants. Healso had sports, a shared love forbasketball that helped bridge thegap. And, he says, he and his sisterwere very social and made friendseasily, a factor that Greenberg saysis key. “Kids who are flexible, kidswho are engaging, kids who have alikeability factor ... and who canengage both adults and kids - theseare the ones who are mostresilient,” she says. —AP

WORCESTER: A funeral director trying to finda cemetery to take the body of BostonMarathon bombing suspect TamerlanTsarnaev is going next to the city whereTsarnaev lived, but will run into anotherobstacle: It doesn’t want him. Worcesterfuneral director Peter Stefan said he plans toask the city of Cambridge to provide a plotbecause he hasn’t been able to find a ceme-tery in Massachusetts willing to acceptTsarnaev’s remains. He said if Cambridgeturns him down, he will seek help from stateofficials.

Cambridge City Manager Robert Healysaid in a statement Sunday that he is urgingthe funeral director and Tsarnaev’s family notto request a burial permit for the city-ownedcemetery. “The difficult and stressful efforts ofthe citizens of the City of Cambridge to returnto a peaceful life would be adversely impact-ed by the turmoil, protests, and wide spreadmedia presence at such an interment,” Healysaid.

The dilemma over where to bury the 26-year-old suspect comes as a friend of hisbrother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev heads to court for

a bail hearing on charges that he lied to feder-al investigators after the bombings. Defenseattorneys said in court documents filedSaturday that they will ask a federal judge torelease Robel Phillipos of Cambridge from jail.They said he had nothing to do with thedeadly bombings and isn’t a flight risk.

Phillipos, 19, was charged last week withlying to investigators about visiting DzhokharTsarnaev’s college dorm room on April 18,three days after the bombings. Two otherfriends were charged with conspiring toobstruct justice by taking a backpack withfireworks and a laptop from Tsarnaev’s dormroom. All four had studied at the University ofMassachusetts Dartmouth.

Phillipos faces a maximum of eight yearsbehind bars and a $250,000 fine if convicted.The Tsarnaev brothers are accused of carryingout the April 15 bombing, which used pres-sure cookers packed with explosives, nails,ball bearings and metal shards. The attackkilled three people and injured more than260 others near the marathon’s finish line.Tamerlan Tsarnaev died after a gunfight withpolice on April 19. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was

captured and remains in a prison hospital. Hehas been charged with using a weapon ofmass destruction and faces a potential deathsentence if convicted. Healey said there hasbeen no formal application for a permit orpurchase of a cemetery plot for TamerlanTsarnaev, and that it would not be in the bestinterest of the city to execute a deed for aplot.

Healey said the families who have lovedones interred at the cemetery also deserve tohave their deceased family members rest inpeace. He said other federal agencies shouldtake the lead in the burial. Stefan did notimmediately return a call Sunday night seek-ing comment on Healy’s statement. TamerlanTsarnaev’s uncle, Ruslan Tsarni, ofMontgomery Village, Md., and three of hisfriends met with Stefan on Sunday and pre-pared to wash and shroud Tsarnaev’s bodyaccording to Muslim tradition.

Tsarni told reporters that he is arrangingfor Tsarnaev’s burial because religion and tra-dition call for his nephew to be buried. Hewould like him buried in Massachusettsbecause he’s lived in the state for the last

decade, he said. “I’m dealing with logistics. Adead person must be buried,” he said. He saidhe was grateful to Stefan for agreeing toarrange the burial and to his friends foraccompanying him to Massachusetts to aidwith the funeral. “These are my friends whofeel for me ... as I do understand no one wantsto associate their names with such evilevents,” he said.

Tsarnaev, who had appeared in surveil-lance photos wearing a black cap, was identi-fied by authorities as Suspect No. 1. Stefansaid he has received calls from people criticiz-ing him and calling him “un-American” forbeing willing to handle Tamerlan Tsarnaev’sfuneral. “We take an oath to do this. Can I pickand choose? No. Can I separate the sins fromthe sinners? No,” he said. “We are burying adead body. That’s what we do.” A half-dozenprotesters gathered outside the funeral homeSunday holding signs and American flags andchanting “USA!” One sign read: “Do not buryhim on U.S. soil.” Several people drove by thefuneral home earlier Sunday and yelled,including one man who shouted, “Throw himoff a boat like Osama bin Laden!”

The state medical examiner ruled thatTsarnaev died from gunshot wounds andblunt trauma to his head and torso, andauthorities have said his brother ran him overin a chaotic getaway attempt. Stefan saidSunday that the family won’t request that anindependent medical examiner perform asecond autopsy, but representatives from thefamily’s legal team might photographTsarnaev’s body before it’s washed.

Tsarni has denounced the acts hisnephews are accused of committing and hassaid they brought shame to the family andthe entire Chechen ethnicity. The brothers areethnic Chechens from Russia who came tothe United States about a decade ago withtheir parents. Both parents returned toDagestan last year. Tsarni said Sunday that hehopes to eventually see Dzhokhar Tsarnaev athis prison hospital. “This is another person leftall to himself,” he said. In other developments:The FBI on Sunday conducted a court-autho-rized search in Cambridge as part of its ongo-ing investigation into the bombings, saidJason Pack, a supervisory special agent in theFBI’s press office. —AP

MIAMI: In one poster, Raul and Fidel Castroride in a hot air balloon made of newspapers.Their fingers are plugged into their ears,drowning out any noise around them. A bluebird similar to the Twitter icon flies nearby, itsbeak threatening to punch a hole and sendthem to the ground. In another, a Havanastreet is lined with banners hanging fromstreetlights. “Citizen demand for anotherCuba,” the signs read. “Sign it now!” The worksare part of an exhibit held Saturday in Miamiby State of SATS, an activist group attemptingto foster civil society and stimulate discussionabout Cuba’s future. The group’s leader,Antonio Rodiles, is in Miami to promote acampaign demanding that Cuba implementthe Universal Declaration of Human Rightsand ratify two United Nations covenants thegovernment signed in 2008 protecting civil,political, social and economic rights.

The posters all contain the words “ForAnother Cuba” and were created by artists onthe island and in the diaspora. The workswere shown in Miami’s Little Havana neigh-borhood and will later be put on display atthe State of SATS in Havana, which is operat-ed out of Rodiles’ house. “The posters are partof a campaign including artists, musiciansand citizens of all types,” said Rodiles, 40, whoearned a doctorate in physics from theNational Autonomous University of Mexicoand taught at Florida State University beforereturning to Cuba. “Caricatures and posterssend very direct messages that sometimeswords and analysis cannot.” Rodiles and other

members of State of SATS are the most recentCuban opposition leaders to travel abroadand share their work with the internationalcommunity - and the large base of exiles inMiami - since Cuba eliminated its exit permitrequirement in January Blogger YoaniSanchez, Berta Soler, co-founder of theLadies in White group and Rosa Maria Paya,the daughter of Oswaldo Paya, a dissidentkilled in a car accident last year, all visitedMiami in April. —AP

Finding burial plot for bomb suspect a struggle

Teen immigrant angst: A factor in bombings?

KANSAS CITY: In this image, Anna Tabakh and her older brother, Ilya,stand with their family after arriving at the Kansas City, Mo. airport inDecember 1990, a year before the collapse of the Soviet Union. — AP

Posters open dialogue about Cuba’s future

I N T E R N AT I O N A LTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

DHAKA: Bangladeshi police are investi-gating possible murder charges againstthe owner of a shoddily built factorythat collapsed nearly two weeks agoafter the wife of a garment workercrushed in the accident filed a com-plaint. The legal development comes asofficials said yesterday that the deathtoll from the country’s worst industrialdisaster had reached 645. Sheuli Akter,the wife of Jahangir Alam, filed thecomplaint with Dhaka magistrateWasim Sheikh, saying her husband andother workers were “pushed towarddeath” by building owner MohammedSohel Rana and two others.

Alam was employed in New WaveStyles Ltd., one of the five garment fac-tories housed in the eight-story RanaPlaza that collapsed April 24 as workersstarted their morning shift even thoughcracks had developed in the building.New Wave Styles owner Bazlul Adnan

and local government engineerImtemam Hossain were the two othersaccused in the case. Magistrate Sheikhordered police to investigate the com-plaints, and local police chiefMohammed Asaduzzman said yesterdaythat they would now investigate possi-ble murder charges.

A conviction for murder can result ina death sentence in Bangladesh. Ninepeople, including Rana and Adanan,have already been arrested on othercharges. Rana faces charges such asnegligence and illegal construction,which are punishable by a maximum ofseven years in jail.

By yesterday afternoon, the deathtoll had reached 645, according to thepolice control room at the scene. It isnot known how many people are stillmissing, as workers use heavy equip-ment to search through the rubble.There is still a stench around the col-

lapse site from decomposing bodies. Anarchitect whose firm designed the initialfloors of the building said Sunday it hadnot been designed for heavy industrialwork. Masood Reza, an architect withVastukalpa Consultants, said theydesigned the building in 2004 as ashopping mall and not for industrialpurposes.Officials say Rana illegallyadded three floors and allowed the gar-ment factories to install generators.Vibrations from garment machines andfrom the generators were thought tohave contributed to the collapse.

The disaster is the worst ever in thegarment sector, surpassing the 1911garment disaster in New York’s TriangleShirtwaist factory, which killed 146workers, and more recent tragediessuch as a 2012 fire that killed about260 people in Pak istan and one inBangladesh that k i l led 112, also in2012. — AP

Bangladesh building collapse toll tops 640

SAVAR: A Bangladeshi woman screams for a missing relative, believed to betrapped in the rubble of an eight-storey building collapse in Savar, on the out-skirts of. — AFP

NEW DELHI: India and China yesterday beganwithdrawing troops from a disputed area of theHimalayas after settling a border dispute thathad threatened to reverse a recent warming inties, Indian officials said. More than three weeksafter Chinese troops were reported to have setup a camp far inside a region claimed by India,senior officers from both sides reached an agree-ment for a joint pullback. “Both sides reached anagreement on Sunday night after a meeting washeld between border commanders. We will with-draw our troops and China will do the same,” asenior Indian army official told AFP on conditionof anonymity.

Another army source said around 50 Chinesesoldiers had withdrawn from the Siachen glacierin the remote Ladakh region and pulled downtheir tents close to an Indian military airstrip. Asource in the foreign ministry confirmed that thepullback had begun and said a statement wouldbe made before parliament later in the day.News of the withdrawal came after IndianForeign Minister Salman Khurshid had hintedthat he could cancel a planned trip to Beijingthis week if there was no settlement of the dis-pute.

Foreign ministry spokesman SyedAkbaruddin confirmed yesterday that Khurshidwould be travelling to Beijing as scheduled on

Thursday where he would “discuss bilateral,regional and global issues of concern” withChinese counterparts. “Governments of Indiaand China have agreed to restore status quoalong Line of Actual Control (LAC),” he told AFP,adding that the flag meetings were held to workout the modalities and to confirm the borderarrangements.

The informal border separating China andIndia is known as the Line of Actual Control(LAC). The row had also cast a cloud over thebuild-up to a planned visit to New Delhi by newChinese Premier Li Keqiang later this month. ButIndia’s domestic news agency, PTI quoted anunnamed Chinese official stating that the face-off in Ladakh sector was resolved fruitfully andthe issue at the border was resolved with largerbilateral interests in mind. Khurshid said lastmonth it was important to avoid “destroying”years of progress made between the neigh-bours, while India’s Prime Minister ManmohanSingh had also stressed his desire to avoidinflaming tensions.

Relations between the neighbours haveimproved in recent years but they are stilldogged by mutual suspicion-a legacy of a 1962border war. While the LAC has never been for-mally demarcated, the countries have signedtwo accords to maintain peace in frontier areas.

Small incursions of a few kilometres across thecontested boundary are common but it is rarefor either country to set up camps in disputedterritory. The Indian media had been clamouringfor the government to take a tough line towardsChina, saying its latest incursion represented asignificant raising of the stakes.

Sujit Dutta, a professor at the Jamia MilliaIslamia University in New Delhi who specialis-es in Indo-Chinese relations, said further suchdisputes were inevitable. “The latest standoffwas more serious than the usual cross-borderincidents. The present issue has been resolvedbut such disputes will flare up again,” Duttatold AFP.

Dutta said the new leadership in Beijing wasmaking a concerted effort to challenge India’sterritorial assertions. “India should not assumethat the dispute has ended. The fact is that thedispute has reached another level at a timewhen the new Chinese leadership is determinedto contest India’s territorial claims,” said Dutta.Comments from both governments during thedispute have reflected a desire not to let it dis-rupt their booming trade. Officials in Beijing saidboth countries had the “capacity and wisdom” todefuse the row through “friendly consultation”but insisted their troops had not trespassedacross the LAC. — AFP

India, China withdraw

troops from the borderIndian minister to visit China as crisis ends

NEW DELHI: Indian Sikhs shout slogans from a police bus as they are detained duringa protest against former parliamentarian Sajjan Kumar near the Presidential Palaceyesterday. — AP

NEW DELHI: Scores of Sikhs demonstratedin New Delhi yesterday against the acquit-tal of a senior Indian ruling party politicianon murder charges in connection with the1984 anti-Sikh riots. More than 200 tur-baned Sikhs demonstrated, blocking theroad near the parliament building and call-ing for the reversal of last week’s courtjudgment acquitting Sajjan Kumar for lackof evidence.

The protesters hoisted placards thatread “Hang Sajjan Kumar” and staged a sit-in in the high-security zone before beingtaken away in police vehicles. The govern-ment says nearly 3,000 Sikhs were killed inriots following the assassination of thenIndian prime minister Indira Gandhi by herSikh bodyguards, while human rightsactivists put the figure at around 4,000.Gandhi was shot dead to avenge her deci-sion to use military force to expel Sikh sep-

aratists from inside the Golden Temple-Sikhism’s holiest shrine in the northernIndian city of Amritsar.

At the time, Kumar was an MP belong-ing to India’s ruling Congress party and heis still a party leader. Activists accuseCongress of turning a blind eye to thekilling of Sikhs and allege leaders such asKumar and Jagdish Tytler incited mobsduring the riots. Sikh protesters have beendemonstrating in Delhi since the verdictwas handed down last Tuesday, marchingto the residence of Indian Congress PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh, the nation’sfirst Sikh premier, and Congress presidentSonia Gandhi. Some MPs had to walk toparliament yesterday as they could nottake their vehicles due to the protesters’blockade. Sikhs make up some two per-cent of Hindu-majority India’s populationof 1.2 billion. — AFP

Sikhs protest over acquittal

of Indian leader in 1984 riots

NEW DELHI: After riding high since launch-ing economic reforms in September, IndianPrime Minister Manmohan Singh’s minoritycoalition has been brought to a new low,with key ministers entangled in corruptioninvestigations and Singh facing calls to quit.In the space of just a week, Singh’s govern-ment has seen its economic reform legisla-tive agenda disintegrate in parliament asopposition members have repeatedly dis-rupted proceedings to demand the resigna-tion of the two-term technocrat and his lawand railway ministers.

The new corruption allegations and thefallout in parliament are embarrassing for agovernment which has been aggressivelycourting foreign investors in major worldcapitals with promises of more measures toliberalise the economy. “How will the financeminister face investors abroad after theexposure of new corruption scandals andthe parliament session ending without pass-ing any important bills?” asked a FinanceMinistry official, speaking on condition ofanonymity because of the sensitivity of theissue.

Parliament is due to go into a 2-1/2month recess on Friday after one of the leastproductive sessions on record, a notable lowgiven that India’s parliament has regularlybeen paralysed by filibustering oppositionparties. Singh’s government has been on theback foot for the past week, fending off sug-gestions that the law minister interferedwith a federal police investigation into irreg-ularities in the award of coalfield conces-sions to private and state companies.

The latest scandal came on Friday withthe arrest of the nephew of Railway MinisterPawan Kumar Bansal in connection withallegations that he accepted a bribe of$160,000 to arrange the promotion of a rail-ways official. There has been no suggestion

that Bansal was in anyway involved but thecase reinforces popular perception that thegovernment is “corrupt beyond redemption”,The Hindu newspaper said in an editorialyesterday.

The scandals have dented Singh’s Teflonimage. The prime minister, who has a gold-plated reputation for probity, has beenuntouched by the raft of corruption scan-dals that have battered his governmentduring its nine years in power. But the latestallegations have raised questions abouthow so many graft scandals have occurredon his watch. The main oppositionBharatiya Janata Party, which will face offagainst the ruling Congress party in elec-tions due by May 2014, has demanded thatSingh quit. The latest edition of India’s mostwidely read news magazine, India Today,said Singh was a “political liability” for hisparty and should go.

Congress party leaders meeting onSunday backed Singh and the ministersunder fire. One party insider said the leader-ship feared a domino effect. “Sacking therailway minister would mean sacking thelaw minister as well, which would bring theprime minister in the direct line of fire,” aCongress party leader with knowledge ofthe meeting told Reuters on condition ofanonymity.

Coalgate flares up againThe so-called Coalgate scandal emerged

last August with the release of a report by theauditor general that questioned the lack oftransparency and undervaluing in the awardof potentially valuable concessions. But it wasquickly eclipsed by Singh’s launch of investor-friendly economic reforms on Sept. 14 thatshifted the narrative of a government in crisisto a government in overdrive to win back for-eign investors. —Reuters

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has detained anopposition Muslim political leader for 90days under a tough anti-terrorism law, inwhat a leader of the minority communityyesterday described as the latest attackagainst them. Azath Sally, 49, the formerdeputy mayor of Colombo and leader ofthe Muslim National Unity Alliance, wasbeing held under a 90-day detention order,police spokesman Buddhika Siriwardenasaid. “The charges are under the Preventionof Terrorism Act,” Siriwardena said, withoutelaborating. The United States, whichmoved a censure motion against Sri Lankaat the March UN Human Rights Council ses-sions in Geneva, asked Colombo to ensurethat Sally had access to lawyers.

“We urge the government of Sri Lankato ensure Mr Sally has access to his attor-neys and that the rule of law and dueprocess are protected,” US ambassadorMichele Sison said in a question andanswer session on Twitter. The MuslimCouncil of Sri Lanka (MCSL), an umbrellaorganisation of Muslim groups, said Sallywas detained on Sunday.

“We have written to the president torelease Mr. Sally immediately and makepublic the charges that are said to havebeen brought against him,” MCSL leaderNM Ameen told AFP. Sally has been a vocalcritic of the government of President

Mahinda Rajapakse. He blamed the author-ities for allowing an anti-Muslim campaignin the Buddhist-majority nation that culmi-nated in an arson attack on two Muslim-owned businesses in March.

“There is a feeling among Muslims thatMr Sally was arrested because he spokeand stood up against attacks from Buddhistnationalists who targeted Muslim interests,”Ameen said. “Muslims believe this arrest isthe latest attack against their community.”The arson attacks caused extensive dam-age to a clothing store and a vehicle yard.But three Buddhist monks and 14 otherBuddhists arrested over the attack were lat-er freed after the police and the victims didnot press charges.

The Asian Human Rights Commission(AHRC) condemned Sally’s arrest under theact, nearly four years after security forcescrushed Tamil rebels and ended the island’sdecades-old ethnic war. “The AHRC warnsthat a new principle is emerging in SriLanka now where if anyone is consideredas having made a wrong political decision,the government agencies can arrest anddetain them,” the Hong Kong-based com-mission said. Last week London-basedAmnesty International accused Sri Lanka ofinstilling a climate of fear by stepping uprepression-a charge denied by Colombo asa “fascinating piece of fiction”. — AFP

JAKARTA: Indonesia yesterday summoned the Britishambassador to make a protest after a group support-ing independence for the restive Papua region set upits headquarters in England, the envoy said. MarkCanning said he was summoned to see ForeignMinister Marty Natalegawa, who “conveyed to me inclear terms the strong concern of the Indonesian gov-ernment at the opening of a ‘Free West Papua’ officein Oxford”.

The “Free West Papua” group last month estab-lished the headquarters in the central English city,and the opening ceremony was attended by the may-or and a member of parliament.

“I explained to the minister that we recognised thesensitivity of this issue for Indonesia,” said Canning ina statement. “The position of (the) British governmenton this matter is quite clear. We respect the territorialintegrity of Indonesia and do not support calls forPapuan independence. We regard Papua as beingpart of Indonesia.”

After their meeting, Natalegawa said that “we can-not accept and we object to the opening of theoffice”. He said Canning had stressed that the views oflocal authorities in Oxford “do not represent the viewof the British government and this is not somethingthat is in line with the position of the British govern-ment”. The issue of separatism in Indonesia remainsdeeply sensitive, particularly after the bloody seces-sion of East Timor which gained independence in2002. For decades, ethnic Papuans in the mountain-ous and sparsely populated region have rejected thearea’s special autonomy within Indonesia. They havedemanded a referendum on self-determination forthe region’s estimated population of 3.6 million.

The vast area is split into two provinces foradministrative purposes, Papua and West Papua.But some-such as the group which set up the officein Oxford-refer to the whole region as West Papua.Indonesia has strict treason laws and courts havehanded down stiff penalties ranging from 20 years’jail to life for people caught with separatist sym-bols such as the Papuan flag. —AFP

Lanka uses terror law

to hold Muslim leader

Indonesia

summons UK

ambassador

JALALABAD: Cross-border clashes flared Monday between Afghan andPakistani security forces for a second time in five days as Kabul andIslamabad engaged in a war of words over the porous frontier, officials said.On the edge of the Afghan capital, more than 2,000 people, mostly villagers,demonstrated and chanted “Death to Pakistan!” to protest against the fight-ing. Relations between the fractious neighbours have become increasinglystrained despite renewed efforts last month by US Secretary of State JohnKerry to get them to work more closely on peace efforts in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are in dispute over a site where Pakistan hastried to construct a gate on what Afghan officials say is Afghan territory.Clashes last Wednesday in the same spot killed an Afghan guard andwounded two Pakistanis. The border is unmarked in places and a key battle-ground in the fight against Taleban violence plaguing both countries.

“Today the Pakistanis returned to the construction site and said they willrebuild the installations,” said Afghan interior ministry spokesman, SediqSediqqi. “Our border police told them not to do so. The Pakistanis fired atthem and our police returned fire. The fighting lasted for two hours beforethe Pakistanis requested a ceasefire,” the spokesman added. He told AFP theclashes had since stopped and the Pakistani border guards had left the site

of the construction. Pakistani officials blamed Afghans for starting the clash-es. “Afghan troops opened unprovoked fire from across the border at ourpost... They fired mortars and automatic weapons,” one Pakistan official toldAFP on condition of anonymity. “Our troops responded with retaliatory fire.There have not been reports of any casualties so far. The exchange of firecontinues at intervals,” a second official said, also on condition of anonymity.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are both US allies in its battle against militants.But Kabul accuses Islamabad of playing a double game in supportingTaleban insurgent attacks on US and Afghan troops. Pakistan denies the alle-gations and is locked in its own battle against the Pakistani Taleban. OnSaturday Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the cross-border clashes couldbe an attempt by Islamabad to put pressure on Kabul to accept the “DurandLine”, the disputed border which Afghans do not accept.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry dismissed Karzai’s remarks and said “openingdiscussions on this issue” was a “distraction from the more pressing issuesrequiring the priority attention and cooperation of Pakistan andAfghanistan”. It said Pakistan’s post had come under attack and complainedabout “several threatening and provocative statements” from the Afghanleadership. —AFP

Afghan-Pakistan clashes flare

After riding high, Indian

govt hit by new scandals

KABUL: Protesters hold Afghanistan flags during a demonstration against Pakistanyesterday. — AP

The economics commentariat and no small part ofthe political debate in recent weeks has been con-sumed with the controversy surrounding the work of

my Harvard colleagues (and friends) Carmen Reinhart andKen Rogoff (RR). Their work had been widely interpretedas establishing that economic growth was likely to stag-nate in a country once its government debt-to-GDP ratioexceeded 90 percent. Scholars at the University ofMassachusetts have demonstrated and RR have acknowl-edged that they made a coding error that resulted in theiromitting some relevant data in forming their results andalso have noted that using updated data for several coun-tries reduces substantially the strength of some of the sta-tistical patterns they asserted. Issues have also arisen withrespect to how RR weighted observations in forming theaverages on which they base their conclusions.

Many have said that the questions raised underminethe claims of austerity advocates around the world thatdeficits should be quickly reduced. Some have gone so faras to blame RR for the unemployment of millions, assert-ing that they provided crucial intellectual ammunition forausterity policies. Others believe that even after re-analy-sis the data support the view that deficit and debt burdenreduction is important in most of the industrialized world.Still others regard the controversy as calling into questionthe usefulness of statistical research on economic policyquestions.

Where should these debates settle? From the perspec-tive of someone who has done a fair amount of econo-metric research, consumed such research as a policymak-er and participated as an advocate in debates about fiscalstimulus and austerity, here would be my takeaways. First,the RR experience should accelerate the evolution ofmores with respect to economic research. Rogoff andReinhart are rightfully regarded as careful, honest schol-ars. Anyone close to the process of economic research willrecognize that data errors like the ones they made are dis-tressingly common. Indeed the JP Morgan risk models inuse when the “London Whale” trade was placed had errorsnot unlike those made by RR.

In the future, authors and journals and commentatorsneed to devote more effort to replicating significantresults before broadcasting them widely. More generally,no important policy conclusion should ever be basedsolely on a single statistical result. Policy judgmentsshould be based on the accumulation of evidence frommultiple studies done with differing methodologicalapproaches. Even then, there should be a reluctance toaccept conclusions from “models” without an intuitiveunderstanding of what is driving them. It is right andunderstandable that scholars want their findings toinform the policy debate. But they have an obligation todiscourage and on occasion contradict those who wouldoversimplify and exaggerate their conclusions. Second, allparticipants in policy debates should retain a healthyskepticism about retrospective statistical analysis. Trillionsof dollars have been lost and millions have been unem-ployed because the lesson learned from 60 years of expe-rience between 1945 and 2005 was that “American houseprices in aggregate always go up.” This was no data prob-lem or misanalysis. It was a data regularity until it wasn’t.

The extrapolation from past experience to future out-look is always deeply problematic and needs to be donewith great care. In retrospect, it was folly to believe thatwith data on about 30 countries it was possible to esti-mate a threshold beyond which debt became dangerous.Even if such a threshold existed, why should it be thesame in countries with and without their own currency,with very different financial systems, cultures, degrees ofopenness and growth experiences? And there is thechestnut that correlation does not establish causationand any tendency for high debt and low growth to gotogether reflects the debt accumulation that follows fromslow growth.

Third, while RR’s work, even unqualified by the recentreplication efforts, did not support the claims made by theprominent figures on the right in the U.S. and UK regard-ing the urgency of deficit reduction efforts, much of thejoy taken on the left in their embarrassment is inappropri-ate. It is absurd to blame them for austerity policies. Theauthors of those policies chose the policies first and onlythen cast about for intellectual ballast. While there may beno threshold beyond which debt automatically becomescatastrophic, and while the British and American experi-ences are both suggesting that fiscal contraction in a slackeconomy where interest rates are near zero is inimical togrowth, it is a grave mistake to suppose that the debt canor should be accumulated with abandon. —Reuters

Issues

The lessons of

Reinhart-Rogoff

By Lawrence Summers

15A N A L Y S I STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

THE LEADING INDEPENDENTDAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF

ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN

Editor-in-ChiefABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN

EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432ADVERTISING : 24835616/7FAX : 24835620/1CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163ACCOUNTS : 24835619COMMERCIAL : 24835618

P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait.E MAIL :info@kuwaittimes.netWebsite: www.kuwaittimes.net

All articles appearing on thesepages are the personal opinion ofthe writers. Kuwait Times takes noresponsibility for views expressedtherein. Kuwait Times invites read-ers to voice their opinions. Pleasesend submissions via email to: opin-ion@kuwaittimes.net or via snailmail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait.The editor reserves the right to editany submission as necessary.

Congo rebels prepare to face UN forceBy Jonny Hogg

In forested hills in eastern Congo, rebels are honing theirambush skills to prepare to face a new United Nationsforce which has a mandate to go on the offensive. “Destroy

the enemy. Cause fear and stop his patrols,” a rebel officerwrote on a blackboard as he instructed uniformed M23 fight-ers at a camp seized from the government in DemocraticRepublic of Congo’s eastern borderlands. In the latest effortto bring peace to a region riven for years by conflict over eth-nic rivalry and mineral riches, the United Nations is deployinga 3,000-strong brigade of African troops with a mission ofneutralising armed groups such as M23.

Approved by the Security Council in March for “targetedoffensive operations”, the brigade from South Africa, Tanzaniaand Malawi is the first to be created within a traditionalpeacekeeping force. A 17,000-strong existing UN force,MONUSCO, has struggled to maintain security in easternCongo. If the M23 rebels, who emerged last year from a Tutsi-led rebellion in 2004-2009, fear the new UN ForceIntervention Brigade, they are not showing it.

They routed UN-backed Congolese troops and brieflyseized the North Kivu provincial capital of Goma inNovember, an embarrassment for President Joseph Kabilaand the United Nations. M23 spokesman Colonel VianneyKazarama said the rebel group, which is demanding politicalconcessions from Kabila’s government, had no plans to attackU.N. peacekeepers. But if targeted, it would respond. “You’llsee, we’re going to capture them, destroy their equipment,march over their forces,” Kazarama said.

At the captured government camp, rebels paraded andput on a show of hand-to-hand combat in the bush grass.Military experts say the brigade could find itself severelystretched in its mission to neutralise and disarm the M23 andother armed groups. M23 is well-trained and well-armed. UNexperts say it is backed by Rwanda and Uganda althoughboth countries deny it. FDLR rebels, the remnants of Hutukillers who carried out the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda,and other militias also roam the green hills and valleys ofNorth Kivu. “It’s a complex mission. From a tactical point ofview this is a logistical nightmare because you don’t knowwho’s who in the zoo from one day to the next,” said HelmoedRomer Heitman, a South African military analyst. He ques-tioned whether the UN brigade, which will include about1,000 South African troops and an equal number fromTanzania and Malawi, would big and strong enough. “Theoverall UN mission is not properly conceived. I think the forceis too small and there is a certain amount of wishful thinking,”Heitman told Reuters in Pretoria.

South African military spokesman Xolani Mabanga saidthe numbers were in line with recommendations. “We arehappy with the size of the force,” he said. South Africa’s armedforces are already smarting from the deaths of 13 soldiers inMarch in Central African Republic when anti-governmentrebels confronted a 200-strong South African contingentdeployed there under a defence agreement. This hasincreased the political sensitivity of South Africa’s participa-tion in the Congo. M23 have shown signs of being rattled,appealing against South Africa’s involvement with a mixtureof threats and entreaties to pan-African solidarity. “They’rescared of the brigade. They call meetings to tell the popula-tion to reject it,” student Guillaume Muchuti told Reuters inthe M23-held town of Rutshuru, north of Goma.

Tanzania also brushed off threats from M23 that it will tar-get its soldiers if they join the UN mission. “We are not goingto Congo as lords of war, we are going there as advocates ofpeace to help our neighbours,” Tanzanian Foreign MinisterBernard Membe told parliament. M23 officials privately admittheir force’s numbers have been reduced by months ofinfighting between rival factions. Congo’s army estimates therebels’ strength at around 1,000. This led to one leader, BoscoNtaganda, surrendering to the International Criminal Court toface war crimes charges.

Despite seizing tonnes of ammunition and scores of vehi-cles when it occupied Goma, M23 is running short of cash topay its fighters, rebel sources say. MONUSCO says it hasreceived a steady stream of deserters. Kabila’s government,whose weak and indisciplined army has struggled to containrebels in the east and is accused by rights groups of rapesand abuses against civilians, welcomes the new UN brigade.Government spokesman Lambert Mende says Kinshasawould like a negotiated peace with M23, but, failing that,hopes the African peacekeepers’ robust mandate can have areal impact.

UN officials caution that while the intervention brigade isexpected to be a deterrent to violence in North Kivu, it willnot be a “magic wand” for bringing peace. “It’s not as if they’regoing to come and start shooting on the first day. The objec-tive is to contain and neutralise and disarm armed groups. Ifwe can do that without firing a shot, everyone will be very

happy,” said Alex Queval, head of MONUSCO in North Kivuprovince.

Former Irish president Mary Robinson, who was appointedUN special envoy to the Great Lakes region in March, touredlast week to encourage implementation of a UN-mediatedpeace plan for the eastern Congo signed by 11 countries inFebruary. “There’s no doubt these armed groups need to bedealt with, but I think it ’s important that this does notbecome a focus on a military solution,” she said in Goma. M23was not part of the February pact and its own separate peacenegotiations with the Congolese government have stalled,amid signs that Kinshasa is reluctant to implement vaguepromises of national political dialogue and decentralisation.

Maria Lange, country head of advocacy groupInternational Alert, says that even if the UN brigade makesshort-term gains, this may not guarantee lasting solutions.

The brigade would allow the government to pursue a militarysolution. “They’ve been liberated from the obligation to actu-ally conduct talks and address underlying governance prob-lems,” Lange told Reuters. “This brigade risks at best beingineffective, or at worst, will lead to an escalation of the situa-tion.” There are fears too the government will not carry outmuch-needed reforms of its security forces, Lange added.

UN troops have faced protests in the past by Congolersecivilians angry about what they see as the peacekeepers’ fail-ure to protect them from abuses by armed groups. “The lasthope we have is for this brigade, we’re waiting for them. But Idon’t have much faith,” said Innocent Bisimungu. His parentswere hacked to death by Hutu rebels in 1998 and now helives in a zone under the control of the Tutsi-led M23. “I wasborn in conflict and I grew up in conflict. We’ve never knownanything else,” he said wearily. — Reuters

By Krista Hughes

Tax breaks for attending “civic values” courses, tax-free sales of second-hand furniture, special treat-ment for call centers and an informal economy

employing six out of 10 workers are all in the line of fireas Mexico prepares a long-awaited tax overhaul. Ananalysis of budget data shows Mexico’s extensive net-work of tax breaks and stimulus programs generatecosts equal to about half the taxes actually collected.Mexico has the lowest tax revenue in the 34-nationOrganisation for Economic Co-operation andDevelopment, crimping its ability to spend on health,infrastructure and social programs vital to boost livingstandards and growth in what is Latin America’s second-largest economy.

Finance Minister Luis Videgaray has given few detailsof the overhaul, due to be presented in the autumn ses-sion of Congress, but has promised it will be “large,”reviewing both direct and indirect taxes and makingthose who earn more, pay more. Currently, the world’srichest man, Carlos Slim, is in the same tax bracket as aworker earning $2,700 a month, paying 30 percentincome tax - low compared to top rates of 39.6 percentin the United States, 45 percent in Germany and 50 per-cent in Japan.

No data is available on revenue by tax bracket, butmost of the poor live and work in a shadow economythat accounts for one-third of gross domestic product(GDP) and pay little tax. That leaves a high burden onmiddle-income earners. The narrow tax base, alongwith a complicated tax code and rampant evasion,capped gross tax revenues at just 9.7 percent of GDP in2012. The reform will aim to boost that and ease thecountry’s reliance on oil revenues, which account fornearly 40 percent of government income and make itvulnerable to market swings.

OECD head Angel Gurria, a former Mexican financeminister, still shudders at the memory of the Asianfinancial crisis in 1997 and 1998, when benchmark oilprices fell as low as $8 per barrel, half the level the gov-ernment had budgeted for. “One day when I wasfinance minister I came into the office at 9 am and thebudget deficit was at 0.5 (percent of GDP) and by thetime the day was over it was at 3 percent,” he toldReuters in January.

Although Mexico has a balanced budget and opti-mism about the government’s reform agenda is draw-ing a surge in foreign investment, ratings agencies saythe skimpy tax base and oil dependence have beenhurdles to a sought-after upgrade, especially as oil out-put has dropped by a quarter since 2004. Standard &Poor’s changed its outlook on Mexico’s BBB-rating topositive in March, suggesting an upgrade is possiblewithin 18 months, but S&P credit analyst JoydeepMukherji said the scope of the fiscal reform would bekey. “If it’s basically a relatively small impact and kind ofgets washed out among other things, it won’t have abig impact and we may not upgrade,” he said. “You can’trely forever on that much money from the oil sector andsuch high oil prices.” Mexico’s net tax income, taking thenegative impact of fuel subsidies into account, wasworth just 8.5 percent of GDP last year. Total govern-ment revenue, including oil, averaged 18 percent ofGDP in the last decade, compared to 26 percent in the

United States, 32 percent in Brazil and more than 40percent in some European countries, OECD data show.Experts estimate Mexico must boost its tax intake by 6-8percentage points of GDP, or about $100 billion a yearto reduce its reliance on oil revenues and fundincreased government spending, although the reformcould start out netting half that amount and be rampedup progressively over coming years.

Measures to bridge the gap could include increasedefforts to tackle tax evasion, worth 2.57 pct of GDP in2007 according to the Monterrey Institute of AdvancedTechnological Studies. Other options are raising toppersonal tax rates for the rich; making state govern-ments levy more tax; imposing taxes on capital gains,inheritances and property transfers; and scrapping anentrenched zero rate of value-added tax (VAT) on basicfood and medicine. This last exemption is the biggestsingle contributor to tax breaks worth 4.8 percent ofGDP in 2012, equivalent to about half of tax revenues.Mexico’s ratio of tax breaks to revenue is similar to theUnited States but more than in Germany, Spain andSouth Korea, a sign of the complexity of its tax code.

One tax break the government has vowed to end isconsolidated reporting for firms, which allows compa-nies to set losses in one business against gains else-where - a practice critics say is easily abused. Total dis-counts and deductions, listed in a 117-page budgetdocument, include special tax regimes which meanmany family firms and self-employed workers pay noincome tax or VAT, and allow individual deductions formedical expenses, school fees, some share purchasesand courses which promote “civic values,” while VAT dis-counts and exemptions span items from gold ingots tolottery tickets, medical services and table water.

The governing Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)has taken a step towards breaking the taboo of no VATon food and medicines by removing a ban on such amove from its statutes, although insiders say staplessuch as tortillas and beans may remain exempt, or becharged at a low rate, such as 3 percent. Many Mexicansshop for groceries at canvas-covered farmers’ marketsand buy anything from chewing gum to calendars fromroving street vendors, none of whom pay or charge tax.“You have to revise the zero rate,” said Ernst & Youngpartner Herbert Bettinger, who has advised the PRI onpast tax reforms. “You can leave it on food, but every-thing else should be removed.”

However, extending VAT to products currentlyexempt is a sensitive political issue and the governmentmay struggle to win support from opposition partiesand even some lawmakers inside the PRI. The MexicanInstitute of Chartered Public Accountants (IMCP) saystackling the informal economy must be one of the pri-orities of the new regime, which the government hopeswill be passed together with the 2014 federal budgetand take effect next year. The IMCP, which would alsolike to scrap a ‘flat tax’ option for firms and lower thecorporate tax rate from the current 30 percent, esti-mates that taxing all informal workers would boost thetax take by 3 percentage points of GDP. “The 10 percent(of GDP) tax that Mexico does raise, it raises from 40 per-cent of the economy because 60 percent of workers areinformal and don’t pay tax,” said IMCP president CarlosCardenas. “We can’t do a fiscal reform just for that 40percent.” — Reuters

Mexico aims to overhaul tax system

S P O RT STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

SYDNEY: Wallabies skipper James Horwill is looking forward to the “seriesof a lifetime” against the British and Irish Lions after signing an extension tohis deal with the Australia Rugby Union (ARU) until 2015 yesterday.

The 27-year-old lock, who missed the last international season throughinjury, had already extended his deal with the Queensland Reds and was

therefore unlikely to join fellow Wallabies Drew Mitchelland Digby Ioane in heading to France.

Horwill will be one of the first names on the teamsheet for the Lions clashes and is likely to lead hiscountry into the highly-anticipated series.

“It’s coming up quickly now and you can reallyfeel that in the intensity it has brought to SuperRugby this year, especially in the derby games,” hesaid in a news release. “The competition just to

make the squad is fierce, which is exactly as it shouldbe. “It bodes well for what is going to be the

series of a lifetime, both for the testplayers but also those players who fea-

ture against the Lions in the tourmatches. —Reuters

Horwill looking for

‘series of a lifetime’OSLO: Norway and Fulham full-back John Arne Riise announced his inter-national retirement yesterday after a record 110 caps for his country.

The former Liverpool, Roma and Monaco left-back’s decision causedshock waves in his homeland as Norway are midway through a qualifica-tion campaign for the World Cup in Brazil next year. But the 32-year-oldclaimed he is too old for the twin commit-ments of club and international football.

“I’ve come into the last phase of myfootball career and I’ve got to an agewhere I have to make clear decisions if Iwant to achieve my last goal: to play on foranother four or five years in a Europeanclub,” said Riise in a statement.

“To be in my best condition I want toconcentrate on my club.” Norway coachEgil Drillo Olsen said he was “surprised” bythe announcement but said he respected it.Some believe part of the decision isdown to Riise feeling undervalued by hiscountry. —AFP

Full-back Riise quits

international sceneBRUSSELS: A lawyer involved in the landmark Bosman ruling 18 years agolodged a European Commission complaint yesterday against UEFA rulesaimed at limiting the spending of top clubs.

European soccer’s ruling body UEFA will bring in Financial Fair Play(FFP) regulations next season to ensure clubs move towards break-even orface exclusion from continental competition. Jean-Louis Dupont, repre-senting Belgian player agent Daniel Striani, is challenging the break-evenrule and believes it restricts competition. “In effect a club owner is prohib-ited from overspending even if such overspending aims at growing theclub,” Dupont said in a statement. He added the rule restricts investment,ensures the continued dominance of the leading clubs, reduces transferactivity and is likely to lead to a cut in player wages and the income ofagents. UEFA suspended Turkish team Besiktas from European competi-tion a year ago over unpaid bills and announced in December the samepunishment for Spanish side Malaga.

The European Commission confirmed it had received a complaint butdeclined to comment further. UEFA did not make any immediate com-ment. Dupont said that even if the ban on overspending was justifiable, itwould be illegal because UEFA could achieve its aims with a less restrictivemeasure. —Reuters

Bosman lawyer challenges

UEFA ban on overspending

PHILADELPHIA: Adeiny Hechavarria hit a grandslam and a bases-loaded triple off an ailing RoyHalladay, driving in seven runs for the MiamiMarlins in a 14-2 victory over the PhiladelphiaPhillies on Sunday. After the game, Halladay saidhe had a sore right shoulder.

He said he will undergo tests this week in LosAngeles and be examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum.Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. saidHalladay (2-4) will likely be put on the disabledlist. The two-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star had his worst start since his rookieseason. He gave up nine runs on four hits, fourwalks and two hit batters in 2 1-3 innings.Halladay, who turns 36 this month, has an 8.65ERA. Kevin Slowey (1-2) gave up two hits in sev-en shutout innings for his first win sinceSeptember 2010. He had been winless in 22major league appearances, including 15 starts.Justin Ruggiano homered twice for the Marlins.

BRAVES 9, METS 4In Atlanta, Freddie Freeman homered and

drove in three runs, and Tim Hudson pitchedinto the eighth inning as the Atlanta Braves beatthe Mets. Freeman got three hits, including atwo-run double off Jonathon Niese (2-3) in afive-run third. David Wright hit a two-run homeroff Hudson (4-1), who gave up three runs on fivehits and a walk in 7 1-3 innings.

CARDINALS 10, BREWERS 1In Milwaukee, Jaime Garcia pitched eight

innings and Allen Craig drove in four runs tolead the St. Louis Cardinals to the franchise’s firstfour-game sweep of Milwaukee.

Matt Holliday also homered for the Cardinals,who have won six straight. Garcia (4-1) gave upone run on eight hits in his third straight win.Marco Estrada (2-2) lasted 3 1-3 innings for theBrewers, who have lost five in a row.

REDS 7, CUBS 4In Chicago, Joey Votto had three hits, Todd

Frazier hit a two-run single and the CincinnatiReds completed a three-game sweep of theChicago Cubs.Mat Latos (3-0) extended hisscoreless streak to 21 innings, tying a careerhigh, but didn’t pitch past the fifth inning for thefirst time in seven starts this season. He struckout six and walked three. JJ Hoover earned hissecond save. Edwin Jackson (0-5) struggledagain for the Cubs, allowing four runs and eighthits in five innings.

NATIONALS 6, PIRATES 2In Pittsburgh, Tyler Moore hit a three-run

homer and Danny Espinosa homered and drovein three runs, leading Gio Gonzalez and theWashington Nationals over Pittsburgh.

Nationals star Bryce Harper was ejected in the

first inning. He tried to hold up on a 2-2 pitchfrom Wandy Rodriguez (2-2) and home plateumpire Bob Davidson pointed to third base umpJohn Hirschbeck for help. Hirschbeck ruled thatHarper had swung.

Harper stood outside the batter’s box, staredat Hirschbeck for a few moments and droppedhis bat. Hirschbeck then tossed last season’s NLRookie of the Year. Gonzalez (3-2) got the win.Starling Marte hit a leadoff homer in the first, hisfourth home run in five games for Pittsburgh.

PADRES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1In San Diego, rookie Jedd Gyorko hit a two-

run homer with two outs in the sixth and WillVenable followed with a solo shot to help carryEdinson Volquez and the San Diego Padres beatArizona. Volquez (3-3) won his third straight startand the Padres, who took two of three from the

Diamondbacks, won for the eighth time in 11games. The Diamondbacks have lost five of six.Ian Kennedy (1-3) has not won since openingday.

RAYS 8, ROCKIES 3In Denver, Alex Cobb pitched effectively into

the seventh inning, withstanding three solohomers by Colorado and helping the Tampa BayRays beat the Rockies.

Jose Lobaton, Ryan Roberts and KellyJohnson each drove in two runs for the Rays.Tampa Bay took two of three and won a series at

Coors Field for the first time in four visits.Cobb (4-2) went 6 2-3 innings and allowed

eight hits. Nolan Arenado hit a two-out homer inthe seventh that pulled the Rockies within 6-3, aday after the rookie had a grand slam.

Tampa Bay took a 3-0 lead in the first offJhoulys Chacin (3-1), activated from the 15-daydisabled list prior to the game. He’d been outbecause of a lower back strain.

GIANTS 4, DODGERS 3In San Francisco, Hunter Pence doubled twice

and drove in four runs, Matt Cain pitched intothe eighth inning for his first victory of the sea-son as the Giants beat the Dodgers to completea series sweep. Leadoff hitter Andres Torres hadthree hits for San Francisco while Marco Scutarohad two hits and scored twice. The Giantsextended their season-high winning streak to six

games and defeated Dodgers rookie Hyun-JinRyu (3-2) for the second time this year.

Cain (1-2), who pitched six shutout inningsagainst Los Angeles on opening day, gave upone run and five hits in 7 1-3 innings andallowed only one runner past second base whileending the longest winless drought of his career.AJ Ellis had two hits for the Dodgers.

The Giants won the first two games of theseries on game-ending home runs but didn’tneed any late dramatics this time, though theDodgers made it close with three runs in theeighth. —AP

ARLINGTON: Yu Darvish struck out14 batters and Adrian Beltre hit anRBI single with two outs in the ninthinning as the Texas Rangers beatBoston 4-3 Sunday, completing athree-game sweep and matchingthe Red Sox for the best record inthe majors. The Rangers, Red Soxand St. Louis all have 20-11 marks.Beltre lined a hit to right-center offClayton Mortensen (0-2) that senthome Elvis Andrus, who reached ona two-out single and moved up on awild pitch. Boston then intentionallywalked Lance Berkman. Darvishmatched a career high for strikeoutsand left after throwing a career-high127 pitches in seven innings. JoeNathan (1-0) worked around a walkand a hit in the ninth.

While Darvish had 14 strikeoutsfor the second time this season, theright-hander from Japan allowedmultiple homers in a game for onlythe second time in 36 starts for theRangers. David Ortiz and David Rossconnected in the first two innings.Darvish leads the majors with 72strikeouts. Mitch Moreland andNelson Cruz homered off Red Soxstarter Jon Lester.

TIGERS 9, ASTROS 0In Houston, Justin Verlander held

Houston hitless until the seventhinning and Detroit romped to a four-game sweep. Verlander, who hasalready pitched two no-hitters in hiscareer, made a bid for another oneagainst the overmatched Astros intheir sixth straight loss.

Carlos Pena got Houston’s firsthit, a single with one out in the sev-enth. Carlos Corporan followed witha single. Verlander (4-2) struck outnine and left after the seventh. The2011 AL MVP and Cy Award Youngwinner has a 1.55 ERA this season.

Prince Fielder homered and drove infour runs. Andy Dirks had four hits,including a home run. Brayan Penaand Omar Infante also went deep.

Detroit has won nine of its last 10and swept a four-game road seriesfor the first time since taking four atKansas City in May 2006. Houston,which has the worst record in themajors, has lost 10 of 11. PhilipHumber (0-7) gave up eight runs infour innings.

ATHLETICS 5, YANKEES 4In New York, Josh Donaldson hit

Oakland’s third home run of thegame, a tiebreaking drive off BooneLogan in the eighth inning that lift-ed the Athletics over New York.

Luke Montz and Yoenis Cespedeshomered as Oakland took a 4-1 leadagainst Andy Pettitte, who struggledfor the second straight start, but theYankees rallied in the sixth againstreliever Jerry Blevins. PrestonClaiborne followed Pettitte andretired six straight batters in hismajor league debut. Donaldsonhomered into the left-field seconddeck with one out in the eighthagainst Logan (2-2). Sean Doolittle(2-0) pitched a perfect seventh andRyan Cook got out of a jam in theeighth. Grant Balfour struck outVernon Wells with two on to converthis 23rd consecutive save chancedating to May 5 last year.

Eduardo Nunez, the Yankees’starting shortstop with Derek Jeterinjured, left after four inningsbecause of tightness in his leftribcage and was sent for an MRI.

ORIOLES 8, ANGELS 4In Anaheim, JJ Hardy and Manny

Machado each hit a two-run homeroff Jerome Williams in his first startof the season, leading Baltimore

over the reeling Los Angeles Angels.Jason Hammel (5-1) allowed fourruns and nine hits through sixinnings. The right-hander came in 0-3 with a 7.31 ERA in three previousstarts against the Angels. Mike Trouthomered for the Angels, whose 11-20 start has matched the worst infranchise history. They have lost sev-en of nine and are a season-worstnine games behind first-place Texasin the AL West despite the offseasonaddition of 2010 AL MVP JoshHamilton. Their only victory in thisfour-game series came Friday night.

Darren O’Day retired Trout withtwo runners in scoring position inthe eighth and finished up for hisfirst save since Sept. 8, 2009, withTexas. Williams (1-1) threw 93 pitch-es in 4 1-3 innings, giving up fiveruns and four hits.

TWINS 4, INDIANS 2In Cleveland, Mike Pelfrey pitched

six effective innings, Trevor Plouffehit a two-run homer and Minnesotastopped Cleveland’s six-game win-ning streak. Justin Morneau drove ina run with a bases-loaded single inthe sixth while Joe Mauer, who wasin a 5-for-43 slump, added an RBIdouble in the seventh for his 1,300thcareer hit. Pelfrey (3-3) slowed downan Indians lineup that produced 53runs during the winning streak. Theright-hander gave up one run andfour hits while striking out seven inhis longest outing of the season.Plouffe homered to left off CoreyKluber (2-1) in the second, his fourthof the season and second in theseries. Glen Perkins pitched theninth for his seventh save in sevenchances. Carlos Santana homeredwith two outs before Ryan Raburnblooped a single. Perkins struck outpinch-hitter Mike Aviles to end it.

BLUE JAYS 10, MARINERS 2In Toronto, Mark DeRosa hit a

three-run homer, Melky Cabreraadded a solo shot and Torontosnapped a four-game skid by beat-ing Seattle. Brandon Morrow (1-2)pitched three-hit ball over eightinnings for his first win of the year.He struck out eight, matching a sea-son high. Cabrera was 3 for 4 withtwo RBIs and his first home run forthe Blue Jays. DeRosa went 3 for 5with three RBIs and scored threetimes as Toronto improved to 8-0when scoring five or more runs. TheBlue Jays outhit Seattle 15-3 andimproved to 7-12 at home.

Joe Saunders (2-4) allowed sevenruns and nine hits in five innings,losing for the third time in fourstarts. He dropped to 0-4 with a12.53 ERA in four road starts.

ROYALS 6, WHITE SOX 5In Kansas City, Alex Gordon hit an

RBI single with two outs in the 10thand Kansas City, saved when BillyButler sent the game into extrainnings, rallied past Chicago.

Butler’s two-out, two-run doublein the ninth tied it for the Royals.Addison Reed blew his first save in18 opportunities dating to Aug. 25.He was 10 for 10 this season.Lorenzo Cain led off the 10th withhis third hit and stole second withone out. With two outs, Chris Getzwas intentionally walked andGeorge Kottaras walked on fivepitches, loading the bases forGordon. He singled on the first pitchfrom rookie Brian Omogrosso (0-1),who made his first appearance sincebeing called up Wednesday. GregHolland (1-1) worked a perfect 10th.Alex Rios homered and Alejandro DeAza had a two-run double for theWhite Sox. —AP

KUWAIT: Adidas unveiled a cutting edge,interactive video tour of the ‘Messi Gallery’,the pop-up exhibition in central Barcelonadedicated to the world’s best footballer, LeoMessi. The Messi Gallery has been open forthe past month, but will continue to live onwith Leo’s legion of fans around the worldable to experience the gallery and get clos-er to their hero. Messi himself helped pre-view the experience with his own personalguided tour.

The interactive video experience is partof the wider ‘Team Messi’ campaign to markthe launch of the Adidas Messi Collection ofboots and apparel, including a signatureAdizero f50 Messi boot. ‘Team Messi’ cele-brates the attributes, behavior and valuesthat make Leo the most admired and inspir-ing footballer in the world.

The new video tour of the Messi Gallerywill be hosted exclusively on the ‘TeamMessi’ Facebook page. The gallery features ahost of iconic memorabilia and exhibits rep-resenting Leo Messi’s outstanding career,with each item fully interactive through thetour. As they are guided through thegallery, fans will be able to immerse them-selves in key moments and campaigns fromLeo’s career and explore exciting imagery,video content, in-depth facts and informa-tion, as well as links to buy their favoriteMessi boots and apparel.

The gallery houses a series of impressiveexhibits, most notably Messi’s four succes-sive FIFA Ballon d’Or trophies from 2009 to2012. Kit and official match balls from land-

mark games and tournaments are also dis-played, alongside the catalogue of Adidasboots that Messi has worn throughout hiscareer. This includes the adizero f50 bootworn when Messi scored twice against RealBetis to break Gerd Muller’s 1972 record of85 goals in a calendar year and the AdidasTUNiT boot from the 2009 UEFA ChampionsLeague Final in Rome, which Messi famous-ly kissed upon scoring.

Other exhibits look at the Adidas cam-paigns that Messi has previously starred inand launched. These include the 2011launch of miCoach f50, the world’s first foot-ball ‘boot with a brain’, the 2012 miadidascampaign where fans of Leo Messi were giv-en the unique opportunity to design a pairof adidas football boots for him to wear, aswell as the latest 2013 launch of ‘TeamMessi’ and the Messi Collection range ofboots and apparel. The ‘Team Messi’ cam-paign was launched through the release ofa bold video which captures the guidingphilosophy of how Messi plays football andarticulated through a ‘Messi Mantra’. Thecampaign has also seen the launch of theMessi Gallery and a new, innovativeFacebook experience. By joining ‘TeamMessi’ on Facebook fans are able to staralongside the world’s best player in an inter-active film personalised to the user throughFacebook Connect. Messi fans can also cele-brate their hero and ‘play the Messi way’through the Messi Collection range of bootsand apparel, including a signature Adizerof50 Messi boot.

KUWAIT: CETAA conducted the 9th KidsCricket Tournament for KEF children at theFahaheel Sports Club on April 16, 2013. Inall 7 Alumnus of KEF fraternity (exceptAECK) took part in this league cum knock-out tournament. The new venue with itsartificial pitch and outfield coupled withthe excellent weather, saw the children andtheir parents alike enjoy every moment ofthis fun filled event.

The teams were divided into 2 pools,with Pool A comprising of KEA, MACE, NIT &NSS and Pool B comprising of TKM, CETAA& TEC and each team playing once againsteach other in their respective pools.

The winner and runner-up in each poolqualified for the semifinals. With matchesplayed simultaneously in 2 grounds, it wasan action packed day for the participantsand organizers. After the league matches,NSS, MACE, CETAA and TEC qualified to theknockout stage. In the semis CETAA lost toNSS while MACE beat TEC to qualify for thefinal.

In the match to decide the 2nd runnerup , TEC scored a challenging 90 runs in

their 8 overs but CETAA easily hit off therequired runs in 6.1 overs with Dhanush(man of the match with 3 wickets and 19runs) leading the way.

In the final between 2 evenly matchedteams, NSS won the toss and elected tofield. MACE showed their batting qualitywith both openers Naveen and Akhashretiring after scoring 20 and 22 respective-ly. Akshay scored a brisk 18 to help MACEreach 74 for 4 wickets off their 8 overs.Anirudh with 2 wickets was the most suc-cessful bowler for NSS.

Chasing a respectable score, NSS hit offthe required runs in just 5.5 overs with out-standing contributions from Saurav andShaheen who had to retire with 23 and 20respectively. For MACE Joel and Sidharthtook a wicket each. Saurav was declaredthe player of the final for his all round con-tribution. The following were given specialprizes for their performance:- Man of theseries : Anirudh of NSS.

Best Batsman : Shaheen of NSS BestBowler : Ivin of MACE. Promising Youngster: Advaith of TKM.

Marlins clobber Phillies

NSS beat MACE to win the

9th CETAA Kids tournament

Adidas launches interactive

Messi Gallery experience

Rangers scrape past Red Sox

ARLINGTON: Koji Uehara No. 19 of the Boston Red Sox throws in the seventh inning againstthe Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark. —AFP

S P O RT STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

NEW YORK: The connections ofKentucky Derby winner Orb havealready set their sights on trying to com-plete the Triple Crown after their coltpulled up well from his victory in the firstleg. Shug McGaughey, the Kentucky-based trainer of Orb, wasted no timedeclaring his intentions to run the three-year-old in the remaining two legs.

Speaking to reporters outside thewinner’s barn at Churchill Downs onSunday morning, McGaughey said hewas already thinking about the next tworaces, the Preakness Stakes on May 18and the Belmont Stakes on June 8.

“I’m looking forward to getting theprocess going again and seeing whathappens and go from there,” McGaugheysaid.

“I said last week that I wished it had

happened to me earlier so I didn’t haveto worry about it anymore, but I’m notsure I believe that now. “Yesterday wasquite a day and today’s been quite a dayso far. It’s been quite, quite a thrill.”

McGaughey said Orb was being flownto New York on Sunday and wouldremain there before being moved toBaltimore next week to finish off hispreparations for the Preakness.

It has been 35 years since a horse lastcompleted the Triple Crown. That wasAffirmed in 1978 and the wait for anoth-er horse to win the three races has beenagonising.

Last year, I’ll Have Another won theKentucky Derby and the Preakness torenew hopes, but was scratched on theeve of the Belmont and never racedagain. What makes the Triple Crown so

difficult to win is the makeup and timingof the three races.

They are each held in different states,over different distances, during a span offive weeks. And the winner invariablyfaces different opposition each time.

It is not uncommon for the horseswhich finish close behind the winner inthe Preakness (1 3/16 mile) to savethemselves for the 1 1/2 mile Belmont,the longest and most gruelling of thethree races. The Kentucky Derby is 1 1/4miles. The field for the Preakness will notbe decided until just a few days beforethe race but only a handful of the 19horses who contested the Derby areexpected to back up.

Trainer Dallas Stewart, who preparedthe Derby runner-up Golden Soul, saidhis horse was unlikely to race in the

Preakness. “At this point, I think we willpass on the Preakness and look at theBelmont,” Stewart said. “That would giveus five weeks and hopefully we can getone of the three (races in the TripleCrown series).”

Revolutionary, which finished thirdfor trainer Todd Pletcher, was also skip-ping the Preakness to save himself forthe Belmont, as was his stablemateOveranalyze.

Normandy Invasion, which led thefield turning for home and finishedfourth, will not race in the Preaknesseither and was being aimed at the $1million Travers at Saratoga.

Mylute, which finished fifth underjockey Rosie Napravnik, was a strongpossibility to take on Orb in thePreakness as long as the horse was not

fatigued. “We need a couple more daysto think about it,” said Todd Quast, thegeneral manager of the farm whichowns Mylute.

“When he came out of the LouisianaDerby he was so high that we workedhim back eight days later. If he comesback with that kind of energy we have toseriously look at it.”

Doug O’Neill, who won last year’sPreakness with I’ll Have Another, said hewould saddle up Goldencents in thePreakness even though the colt was wellbeaten in the Kentucky Derby.

Goldencents, which won the SantaAnita Derby, was among the favorites towin the Run For the Roses, but struggledin the wet and muddy conditions andfinished 17th. “We’re a go for thePreakness,” O’Neill declared. —Reuters

Kentucky Derby winner to tackle Triple Crown

CHARLOTTE: Rookie Derek Ernst crowned a fairy tale week by parring thefirst hole of a sudden-death playoff on Sunday to beat Briton David Lynnand win the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, NorthCarolina.

Ernst, 22, who sank a four-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to tie forthe lead, won his first PGA Tour title with a tap-in par at the par-four 18thafter Lynn, runner-up at last year’s PGA Championship, got into trouble offthe tee in sudden death.

“It feels incredible,” Ernst said in a greenside TV interview. “It’s just unbe-lievable. This feeling is incredible. My heart’s beating a million miles anhour.”

Entering the field as the fourth alternate, Ernst won his maiden title inhis eighth start on the tour this year. The Californian’s previous best finishwas a tie for 41st at the 2012 Frys.com Open.

Lynn hit his tee shot on the playoff hole into deep rough on the banksof a creek on the left, put his second shot into a greenside bunker and thenovershot the green. His chip ran eight feet past the cup, allowing theAmerican to win with par.

Ernst won with steady ball-striking, a smooth putting stroke and somebrilliant play at the 18th, the hardest hole of the week. He had totaled$28,255 in PGA Tour earnings this year before pocketing a winner’s prize ofmore than $1 million.

Phil Mickelson led by a stroke going into the last three holes butbogeyed 16 and 17 to fall one shot short of joining the playoff. The big left-hander finished third at seven-under 281 after a 73.

Ernst and Lynn both shot final rounds of two-under-par 70 to tie ateight-under-par 280 on a wet, chilly day that brought golfers out at 6:45a.m. in hopes of beating the stormy weather forecast for later in the day.

With some players pulling out before the event due to damaged greensat Quail Hollow after unseasonably cold weather, Ernst got his Wells Fargoinvite and headed to Charlotte instead of to a Web.com Tour event inGeorgia.

Besides the immediate balm to his bank account, the victory broughtErnst a wealth of opportunities. It qualified him for next week’s PlayersChampionship, two World Golf Championships, the PGA Championship,next year’s Tournament of Champions and the Masters.

He had entered the tournament ranked 1,207th in the world. His pathto victory was paved in part by Mickelson’s troubles in the closing holes.

Mickelson, who double-bogeyed the par-five 15th and bogeyed 17 inthe third round, held a one-shot lead entering the last three holes, knownas the Green Mile, before stumbling again.

“I’m pretty bummed out. I thought this was one I had in control. Then Ibogeyed 16 and 17, there’s just no excuse,” said a frustrated Mickelson,who has finished fifth or better four times at Quail Hollow but has yet to

win. For the 39-year-old Lynn, it was his second top-10 finish of the season,following a tie for fourth at the Honda Classic. Two strokes off the pace atsix-under were Englishman Lee Westwood (72) and Robert Karlsson ofSweden (72).

At five under par were Americans Kevin Streelman, Ryan Moore, Bo VanPelt and Kim Stanley, one shot better than a group of six that includedworld number two Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and England’s RossFisher. —Reuters

Rookie Ernst defeats Lynn

in playoff at Quail Hollow

WILLIAMSBURG: Cristie Kerr likes beingemotional on the golf course, and knowsthere’s a time and place for it. She almostjumped the gun in the KingsmillChampionship before getting it backtogether.

Kerr made a short par putt on the sec-ond hole of a playoff against SuzannPettersen on Sunday, then hugged her cad-die, a few players who stayed around towatch and had one more hug she neededto give. “Where’s my dad?” she asked duringthe celebration on the 18th hole atKingsmill’s River Course.

Her father, Michael Kerr, was on his way -as fast as his motorized cart would takehim. “I rarely get nervous when she plays,”the career school teacher who has hadboth knees replaced said. “I’ve seen thegood, the bad and the ugly. This was themost nervous I have been. It wasn’t just theplayoff. It was the last three holes. Honestly,I was in the bar drinking, which I don’t nor-mally do.”

Kerr’s 16th career victory was her thirdat Kingsmill, and the first that her father gotto see in person. He stayed with herthroughout her round, then figured his cartcouldn’t keep up in a crowd, so he found aplace to watch.

When he got to the green after the fin-ish, a big hug and many tears awaited. “Thiswas the best thing that’s ever happened tome,” he said. His daughter made it so with arefusal to lose, even after she failed to cashin on her best shot of the day, an approachon the first extra hole that left her with a 6-foot putt to win. It never even touched thecup, sliding by on the right.

“I wasn’t going to lose, not today, notwith my dad here,” Kerr said. But she almostlet herself start choking up in celebrationbefore she had reason.

“I thought about it a little more and I gota little emotional. Maybe that ’s why Ipushed it and didn’t make it. The secondtime, I was going to make sure, ‘OK, I canthink about that after. Let’s take care ofwhat we’ve got to take care of right now,’”Kerr said she told herself. “Emotions aregood, though. We need emotions to playgood.” Kerr closed with a 2-under 69, andPettersen had a 67 to finish at 12-under 272on the River Course.

Pettersen, whose first career victorycame in a playoff at Kingsmill in 2007, hadwon at Hawaii in a playoff a few weeks ago,and lost for only the third time in eightcareer playoffs. She didn’t stick around forthe celebration. —AP

UNIONDALE: Chris Kunitz scored his secondpower-play goal of the game 8:34 into overtime,off a pass from Sidney Crosby, as the PittsburghPenguins shook off an early deficit and a lateblown lead to beat the New York Islanders 5-4 onSunday in Game 3 of the first-round series.

The Eastern Conference’s top-seeded teamrode severe ups and downs in taking a 2-1 leadin the best-of-seven matchup.

Pittsburgh trailed 2-0 just 5:41 in but ralliedto lead 3-2 before the first period was over. Thecomeback started with power-play goals just 19seconds apart by Jarome Iginla and Kunitz.

The Penguins seemed in control in the thirdperiod, but New York erased a 4-2 deficit ongoals by Kyle Okposo and John Tavares.Pittsburgh will try to take a commanding 3-1series lead Tuesday night on Long Island.

Crosby, who had three assists in his secondgame back after missing a month because of abroken jaw, drew the decisive penalty againstBrian Strait, who held the Penguins captain as hedrove the net 33 seconds before the winninggoal.

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma used his timeoutto rest his power-play unit, and it paid off.Crosby fed Kunitz in the slot for a hard shot thatbeat goalie Evgeni Nabokov to win it.

WILD 3, BLACKHAWKS 2In St. Paul, Jason Zucker scored at 2:15 of

overtime to give Minnesota a victory overChicago, pulling the Wild within 2-1 in theWestern Conference quarterfinal series.

Zach Parise scored for the Wild early in thethird period, but Duncan Keith got one back forthe Blackhawks with 2:46 left in regulation toforce the second overtime in three games of thisbest-of-seven series. Game 4 is here on tonight.Keith’s snap shot glanced off Wild defensemanMarco Scandella and past goalie Josh Harding tomake the score 2-2.

But after Matt Cullen ferociously chased thepuck along the end boards in the openingaction of overtime, Zucker swooped in to sur-prise Johnny Oduya as the Blackhawks defense-man was about to fight for possession withCullen. Zucker’s bad-angle shot slipped pastgoalie Corey Crawford.

SENATORS 6, CANADIENS 1In Ottawa, Jean-Gabriel Pageau got his first

NHL hat trick to lead Ottawa in a fight-filled vic-tory over Montreal. The teams combined for 236penalty minutes and nine players were given agame misconduct. The Senators have a 2-1 leadin the best-of-seven series and Game 4 isTuesday night in Ottawa. The third period start-ed out with the Senators leading 2-1, but afterPageau’s second goal of the night and a KyleTurris goal at 7:00, emotions overflowed and a

line brawl broke out at center ice.Pageau, who was born in Ottawa, scored his

second of the game at 1:18 of the third period togive the Senators a 3-1 lead.

Turris’ goal, his first of the series, at 7:00 putthe game out of reach. On the ensuing faceoff,four different fights broke out.

The Senators ended up with the man advan-tage and Jakob Silfverberg scored on the powerplay as he beat Habs goalie Carey Price up highto make it 5-1 only 8 seconds after Turris’ goal.

SHARKS 5, CANUCKS 2In San Jose, Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture

each scored twice to spoil Cory Schneider’sreturn to the nets for Vancouver as San Jose beat

the Canucks for its third straight win to open theplayoffs.

Pavelski scored the first two goals andCouture and Patrick Marleau added scores 9 sec-onds apart to break the game open early in thethird period and give the Sharks a 3-0 serieslead.

Couture added a second power-play goal ear-ly in the third to end Schneider’s night and givehim a playoff-best four points for the game.Antti Niemi made 28 saves.

San Jose will attempt to complete the firstseries sweep in franchise history at home onTuesday night.

Alex Burrows and Dan Hamhuis scored forthe Canucks. —AP

TALLADEGA: Rain and wrecks pushedNASCAR to the edge of darkness Sunday atTalladega Superspeedway, where three ofthe biggest names in the sport led the fieldto final flag.

NASCAR was giving it one final go to getthe rain-delayed race wrapped up, andMatt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and JimmieJohnson were at the head of the pack forthe two-lap overtime sprint to the finish.None of them ever saw David Ragan com-ing. Heck, Ragan barely even saw team-mate David Gilliland hook onto his rearbumper. But Gilliland locked up with Raganfor that last-gasp push to the finish and theFront Row Motorsports drivers sliced theirway to the front and put Ragan into VictoryLane for the tiny organization’s first victory.

“ This is a true David versus Goliathmoment here,” Ragan said. It was the sec-ond career victory for Ragan - he also wonat Daytona in July 2011 when he drove forRoush Fenway Racing - and Gilliland fin-ished second for a 1-2 finish for Front RowMotorsports.

“I wouldn’t want to line up and have todo it again,” said Ragan, who didn’t realizeGilliland was pushing him until he exited

Turn 2 on the last lap. “That gave me a littleextra confidence ... that I could make theright moves and I knew that he was goingto stick with me. I had a great teammate.David Gilliland gave us a great push. I owehim a lot. I’ll definitely buy him lunch thisweek or something.”

The victory came a day after ReganSmith won the Nationwide Series race andRagan was flooded with misfired congratu-latory messages on Twitter.

“All fans- please send all congrats to(at)ReganSmith. Not this Ragan..... He is theWinner today!! Haha,” he tweeted Saturdaynight.

Now Ragan has his own win - just intime to qualify for the Sprint All-Star race intwo weeks. Gilliland wanted the win butwas content settling for second on a dayhis team earned its first victory.

“What a great day for Front RowMotorsports, an underfunded team comingin here and being able to finish 1-2 is awe-some,” Gilliland said. “I’m very proud ofDavid Ragan. I know he would have donethe same for me. I had a heck of a run, wewere pushing, I was locked to his bumperand I wasn’t going to let him go.” —AP

CHARLOTTE: Derek Ernst poses with the trophy after winning theWells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club. —AFP

WILLIAMSBURG: Cristie Kerr holds the championship trophy after winning theKingsmill Championship. —AFP

Kerr wins at Kingsmill

Penguins and Wild triumph

UNIONDALE: Douglas Murray No. 3, Mark Eaton No. 4, and Marc-Andre Fleury No. 29 of thePittsburgh Penguins defend against Kyle Okposo No. 21 of the New York Islanders in Game Threeof the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. —AFP

Ragan steals last-lap

victory at Talladega

TALLADEGA: David Ragan, driver of the No. 34 Farm Rich Ford, celebrates in VictoryLane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 at TalladegaSuperspeedway. —AFP

S P O RT STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Photo of the day

The Peugeot 208T16 for the first test track at the Peugeot test center in La Ferte-Vidame, France. www.red-bullcontentpool.com

SYDNEY: The introduction of a female seat onFIFA’s executive committee is a significant stepin gender inequality being eradicated fromthe game and not a token position, Australiancandidate Moya Dodd told Reuters.

A female seat on the executive committeewas first proposed by FIFA president SeppBlatter in 2011 before being adopted a yearlater with the first election due to take placethis month. Dodd, a former player, commenta-tor and current lawyer, is up for the role butfaces competition.

Also in the running are New Zealand’s PaulaKearns, Sonia Bien-Aime of the Turks andCaicos Islands and Lydia Nsekera, thePresident of the Burundi Football Association,who has been the co-opted member of FIFAExCo since 2012.

The successful candidate will be decided bya vote at the FIFA Congress in Mauritius onMay 31 and Dodd believes whoever wins theseat on the all-powerful board, which rules on

the sport’s significant issues, must seize theopportunity.

“For me personally it would be a very sig-nificant step. I hope that whoever takes theseat makes a real tangible contribution and Isuppose exceeds expectation as to what shecan contribute,” Dodd told Reuters. “There aresome absolutely outstanding women in foot-ball globally, some aspiring, very competentwomen and it would be great to see that con-tribution happening in the FIFA ExCo, the toptable of world football.”

FIFA has faced accusations of sexism in thepast. In 2004, Blatter drew outrage when hesuggested women footballers should weartighter shorts.

In March, anti-corruption expert and mem-ber of FIFA’s reform committee AlexandraWrage accused the world governing body of‘blatant sexism’ after she said an unnamedFIFA official told her that it was not acceptablefor a woman to hold such a role in the organi-

sation. She resigned in April.Dodd said that women had long faced

struggles at all levels in the game but that thenewly-created role was not an attempt by FIFAto plaster over past sexism accusations.

“Is it a token position? I wouldn’t treat it asthat. If you are given an opportunity to con-tribute to the top table then you have got tomake the most of that opportunity.

“I do think the football world is tiltedagainst women from the time they begin toplay or don’t, as the case may be, rightthrough to the opportunities for coaching, ref-ereeing and other non playing on-field activi-ties through to the governance structures,committee rooms and boardrooms.

“That is the world we live in and that’s whyit’s so important that these positions are beingcreated for female members around the world.

“I have sat in boardrooms and it is easy forwomen’s football to slip off the agenda orbecome a low priority. If we have women in

the boardroom advocating for it, then it isgoing to be much be much better representedand I hope I can do it.”

Blatter was in Kuala Lumpur to see Doddelected unopposed to the role of AsianFootball Confederation (AFC) vice presidenton Thursday. The 77-year-old Swiss hailed Asiafor including women in senior positions withDodd and Bangladesh’s Mahfuza Akhter beingjoined on the AFC’s executive committee onThursday by North Korea’s Han Un-gyong andSusan Shalabi Molano of Palestine.

“What a realisation after 108 years, what apatience for the women and what a stubbornorganisation for men not to accept women intheir organisation but this will be changednow,” Blatter told AFC delegates last weekabout the newly-created FIFA seat.

Understandably, Dodd is keen not to bepigeonholed. She has assembled an impres-sive resume, which includes a victory overBrazil in FIFA’s women’s invitational tourna-

ment in 1988, three years before the inauguralwomen’s World Cup. “One day I would love toget to the point where your gender is not amatter of comment,” said the 48-year-old, whofirst joined the AFC in 2007, shortly afterAustralia’s inclusion in the confederation.

“I don’t want to be famous for beingfemale, I would just like to be good at what Ido and become known for having made a con-tribution but that day is some way off.”

Also some way off, but inevitable, is a timewhen men and women will go head-to-headfor roles in FIFA, she says. “All things happeneventually, but it would be a long time. Socreating seats for female members will accel-erate something that would otherwise be avery slow process.

“I’m not sure when you will get to thestage where female members are challengingfor the seats that are not reserved for them.But this is a step towards it, so it’s a goodthing.” —Reuters

Women can make a difference at FIFA, says Dodd

BUENOS AIRES: Crowd violencemarred the biggest match of theArgentine league season at LaBombonera on Sunday after RiverPlate scored the fastest goal in a“superclasico” before being held 1-1by Boca Juniors.

Midfielder Manuel Lanzini rosebetween Boca’s central defenders tohead River into the lead after 45 sec-onds from winger Carlos Sanchez’sright cross.

Uruguayan striker Santiago Silvaequalised six minutes before halftimewhen he steered the ball right-footedinside the far post from Walter Eriviti’ssquare ball on the right.

However, the match was held upfor close to 10 minutes in the secondhalf when River coach Ramon Diazwas sent to the stands for allegedlyinsulting the referee and hardcoreBoca fans behind the River goal litflares and threw objects includingpetards on to the pitch.

Some objects hit River goalkeeperMarcelo Barovero, who appeared totell referee German Delfino his teamcould not play on under the circum-stances. Delfino, who dished out yel-low cards to several players on each

side in a keenly contested clashbetween the most bitter rivals inSouth America, opted not to abandonthe match and added 12 minutes onto the 90.

“We’re going with a bitter taste, wecame for the three points� we lackedcool heads in front of goal,” saidLanzini, whose team, unbeaten in sixmatches and challenging for the title,squandered several chances.

River retained third place and arefour points behind leaders Lanus, whowon 2-1 at Argentinos Juniors onSaturday. Newell ’s Old Boys canreclaim top place if they win atArsenal on Monday night.

Boca, near the bottom of the “Final”championship standings after going11 matches without a victory in theleague, had defender GuillermoBurdisso sent off for a two-footedchallenge on Sanchez in the dyingminutes.

River should have been two goalsahead when Silva scored for Boca butin the 35th minute Sanchez contrivedto lob an easy chance the wrong sideof the post after Juan Manuel Iturbe’sleft cross had beaten the defence.

Boca nearly snatched victory from

a last gasp corner when Baroverosaved point-blank from substituteGonzalo Escalante at his near post.

After a 2-2 draw at theMonumental in October in the “Inicial”championship in the first half of theseason, both derbies have beendrawn since River returned from rele-gation in 2011. River have not won atLa Bombonera since 2004.Independiente, another of Argentina’sco-called Big Five clubs, won 2-0 atTigre for their second successive vic-tory in a tough battle to avoid relega-tion for the first time.

Young Paraguayan striker AdrianFernandez scored both goals, the firsta fine lob over goalkeeper JavierGarcia from 40 metres in the eighthminute.

Fernandez made it two in the 40thwhen he raced through to hitColombian striker Juan Caicedo’ssquare ball on the edge of the box.Garcia parried it coming out near thepenalty spot but the ball looped highand dropped into the goal just belowthe crossbar.

Striker Silvio Romero hit both goalsfor Lanus to take his tally to eight atthe top of the scorers’ list. —Reuters

PARIS: Paris St Germain showed signsof nerves again as Thiago Silva wassent off in a frustrating 1-1 home drawagainst Valenciennes on Sunday thatslowed down their march towards afirst French league title since 1994.

Alex salvaged a point with a lateheader to cancel out Gael Danic’s first-half opener to put PSG on 74 pointswith three games left.

The Qatar-backed side played thesecond half with 10 men after ThiagoSilva was sent off in the 42nd minute.Frustrations also spilled over after thematch when sporting directorLeonardo was seen bumping into thereferee in the tunnel before beingdragged away by club presidentNasser al-Khelaifi.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side lead second-placed Olympique Marseille, who beatBastia 2-1 on Saturday, by sevenpoints. Last weekend, Marco Verrattiand David Beckham were sent off inPSG’s 1-0 win at Evian Thonon Gaillardand keeper Salvatore Sirigu was even-tually handed a two-game ban for hisinvolvement in a post-match brawl.

They saw red again on Sunday. GaelDanic opened the scoring forValenciennes in the 17th minute whenhe poked the ball home after NicolasDouchez had parried a VincentAboubakar attempt into his path.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s free kickshaved Nicolas Penneteau’s left post atthe half-hour mark but PSG were too

nonchalant. Thiago Silva was shown astraight red card shortly before theinterval after arguing with refereeAlexandre Castro and putting his handon him.

PSG came to life 15 minutes fromtime when an angled Ibrahimovic shotwent just wide and Maor Meliksoncleared an Alex header off his goalline. Following a corner, Alex sentanother header which this time wentjust under the bar.

A minute’s silence was observedbefore kickoff in memory of the 18who died in the Furiani disaster onMay 5, 1992 when a terrace collapsedbefore a French Cup semi-final gamebetween Bastia and OlympiqueMarseille.

Earlier, Yoann Gourcuff’s return toform continued as he helpedOlympique Lyon stay on track for aChampions League spot with a 3-0 winat strugglers Nancy.

Gourcuff, who has failed to impresssince joining OL three years ago, net-ted his second goal in as many gameswith a fine strike on the turn afterBafetimbi Gomis had opened the scor-ing following the break. He then setup Gomis for the third.

The result put third-placed Lyon on63 points with three matches left,three points ahead of fourth-placedNice who beat Stade Rennes 3-0 awayearlier on Sunday.

The top two teams in Ligue 1 quali-

fy directly for the Champions Leaguegroup stage while the third-placedside play in the third qualifying round.Nancy remain 17th on 35 points, onepoint above the relegation zone. Afterpicking up 10 points from their previ-ous four games, Nancy were broughtdown to earth in the second half.

Gomis toyed with a defender in thebox before sending a rising shot pastDamien Gregorini. Gourcuff doubledthe tally with a curled shot from justoutside the area in the 80th minutebefore setting up Gomis with adelightful through ball for the thirdone minute from time.

Nice also took the measure of mid-table Rennes after the interval. Theywent ahead with one of their first clearchances when Dario Cvitanich headedhome from close range from KevinDiaz’s cross seven minutes into thesecond half.

Four minutes later, Rennes werereduced to 10 men as Chris Mavingawas shown a straight red card forpushing Cvitanich in the back.

Argentine striker Cvitanich doubledthe advantage from the penalty spotafter an Alou Diarra handball 20 min-utes from time.

Eric Bautheac scored the third witha fine strike on the turn with five min-utes remaining. Nice also finished with10 men when Nemanja Pejcinovicpicked up a straight red card for a foulon Jonathan Pitroipa. —Reuters

SAO PAULO: Botafogo clinched its 20th Rio de Janeirotitle on Sunday by beating Fluminense 1-0 in the final ofthe Rio Cup, the second stage of the state championship.

The team led by Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorfautomatically won the state title because it had also wonthe Guanabara Cup, the tournament’s first stage.

Seedorf missed a penalty in the 78th minute, butRafael Marques’ goal in the 40th proved enough to giveBotafogo its first state title since 2010.

“This is a great moment in my career,” said the 37-year-old midfielder, who cried after the final whistle in VoltaRedonda. “Each title I’ve won so far had something specialabout it. I’m very moved to win here in Rio.”

Botafogo dominated the match against Fluminense,the defending state champion. Marques scored the win-ner at the Raulino de Oliveira Stadium with a low shotfrom near the penalty spot. Marques, who hadn’t scoredin more than 20 matches, had a goal disallowed becauseof offside in the 29th after a perfect pass by Uruguay strik-er Nicolas Lodeiro. Replays showed Marques was onside.The striker also netted in the 78th, but the referee disal-lowed it and instead gave Botafogo a penalty, saying thatdefender Bolivar was fouled inside the area before theball went in. Botafogo loudly complained, especially afterSeedorf sent his penalty shot into the crossbar. “I have tothank Seedorf because without him in the team this yearthis triumph would have been much harder to achieve,”Botafogo coach Oswaldo Oliveira said. Seedorf came to

Botafogo last year as one of the biggest transfers by a for-eign player to Brazil. He won the Champions League withAjax in 1995, with Real Madrid in 1998 and with Milan in2003 and 2007. The midfielder played at the 1998 WorldCup with the Netherlands, plus the 1996, 2000 and 2004European Championships.

The Rio Cup final was played in Volta Redondabecause the Engenhao stadium in Rio remains closed dueto a faulty roof. The Maracana couldn’t be used because itis being prepared for the Confederations Cup in June.Fluminense had to beat Botafogo to force a two-gamefinal against the rival for the state title. In the Sao Paulostate championship, Alexandre Pato converted the win-ning penalty as Corinthians defeated Sao Paulo 4-3 in ashootout at the Morumbi Stadium, advancing to a finalagainst three-time defending champion Santos, whichedged Mogi Mirim 5-4 on penalties on Saturday in theother semifinal. Pato initially missed his shot, but the ref-eree allowed him to retake it because Sao Paulo goal-keeper Rogerio Ceni moved forward before the kick.Former Brazil striker Luis Fabiano and young playmakerPaulo Henrique Ganso missed their penalties for SaoPaulo. The game ended 0-0 in regulation. Internacional,coached by former Brazil manager Dunga and led byUruguay striker Diego Forlan and Argentine playmakerAndres D’Alessandro, defeated Juventude 4-3 on penal-ties to win its third-straight Rio Grande do Sul state cham-pionship after a scoreless draw in regulation. —AP

Botafogo wins Rio

state championship

Violence mars Boca-River

draw after record goal

Nervous PSG frustrated

with Valenciennes draw

FRANCE: Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau (left) vies for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain’s Braziliandefender Alex Costa during the French League football match. —AFP

ARGENTINA: River Plate’s midfielder Ezequiel Cirigliano (front) vies for the ball with Boca Juniors’ midfielderFederico Bravo during their Argentine First Division football match. —AFP

S P ORTSTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

ITALY: With most of their rivals mired infinancial difficulties, Juventus had to dolittle more than repeat last year’s recipeto retain the Serie A title.

On the pitch, coach Antonio Conte’s3-5-2 system, masterminded by deep-lying playmaker Andrea Pirlo, onceagain proved superior to anything theirrivals could come up with.

Off it, Juventus were by far the bestorganised of the leading Italian clubs,enjoying the huge benefit of playing intheir own, modern stadium.

While their rivals pay to play in over-sized, wind-swept publicly-owned are-nas which they rarely fill, Juventus enjoypassionate support at their compactstadium which is invariably packeddespite its unpopular location on theoutskirts of Turin.

Juventus also managed to hold on tothe core of last season’s title-winning

team while their rivals were mired in theusual close-season wheeling and deal-ing. Napoli , eleven points behindJuventus in second place after Sunday’sgames, put up a brave fight but the pre-season departure of Ezequiel Lavezzi toParis St Germain left them over-depen-dent on Edinson Cavani in attack.

Although the Uruguayan is Serie Atop scorer with 26 goals, he suffered adry spell in February and March whichcaused Napoli’s challenge to falter bad-ly. AC Milan were always going to strug-gle after holding a sale of their top play-ers to help balance the books and neverrecovered from a dreadful start, despitethe addition of Mario Balotell i inJanuary.

Inter at one stage looked as if theywould give Juventus a run for theirmoney, putting together a seven-matchwinning streak which included a 3-1 win

at the Juventus stadium. That was as good as it got for Inter,

who were hit by so many injuries thatcoach Andrea Stramaccioni said theirseason was cursed.

Udinese, third last season, were shat-tered by their Champions League play-off defeat by Bragaand and were nevergoing to in contention after selling theirtop players for the second close seasonin a row. With their rivals fielding weak-ened squads, Juventus just needed tocarry on where they left off last seasonand although they were not quite asconsistent, they were more than goodenough. The trio of Giorgio Chiellini,Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci,backed by talismanic goalkeeperGianluigi Buffon, proved rock solid, con-ceding 20 goals in 35 games.

Pirlo has found a second wind atJuventus, producing some superb per-

formances, while the versatile Chileanmidfielder Arturo Vidal has been almostas influential alongside him.

The 20-year-old Paul Pogba, signedfrom Manchester United, showedenough potential to suggest that hecould blossom into an eventual replace-ment for Pirlo.

While Juventus cannot afford aworld-class striker, Conte’s rotation poli-cy of fielding any two from FabioQuagliarella, Sebastian Giovinco, MirkoVucinic and Alessandro Matri in attackmade up for that.

The goals have been evenly distrib-uted with Vucinic netting nine times,Quagliarella eight, Giovinco and Matriseven each and Vucinic nine.

The two-pronged strike force hasbeen an interesting aspect of Juventus,with the forwards pulling defenderswide as they run on to Pirlo’s probing

passes, opening up space for the mid-fielders behind them. Vidal, with 10goals, and Marchisio, with eight, haveboth thrived in the openings whichhave been created.

“ This season we started out asfavorites and winning was still a greatachievement,” said Buffon. “It wasn’teasy to maintain the standard but weare winning this scudetto unequivocallyas we were led from start to finish.Antonio Conte is the right man forJuventus and he proved it.”

Pirlo added: “It is the scudetto ofconsistency. The team did somethingextraordinary last year and it is nevereasy to keep yourself at that level. “Itwasn’t a surprise for me. We put somuch hunger and hard work into ourdaily schedule, so that sacrifice wasthe key to reach this great objec -tive.”—Reuters

Same old recipe works for Juventus

MADRID: Lionel Messi came off thesubstitute’s bench to score twiceand help Barcelona to a 4-2 win athome to Real Betis that movedthem to within striking distance ofthe La Liga title on Sunday.

The World Player of the Year hadmissed Barca’s humiliatingChampions League semi-final exitto Bayern Munich on Wednesday ashe recovered from a hamstringproblem, but came on in the 56thminute at 2-2 to score the goalsthat sealed the victory.

The Argentine’s 16th double ofthe season took his league tally to46, just four short of last season’srecord breaking total.

Barca have 88 points with fourgames left to play, 11 ahead of sec-ond-placed Real Madrid who tri-umphed 4-3 at home to RealValladolid on Saturday.

Tito Vilanova’s side, who needtwo more points to secure a fourthleague title in five years, couldclaim the trophy tomorow if Realfail to win at home to Malaga.

“We have to think we will needtwo more points because Madridwill probably collect all theirs,”Vilanova told a news conference.

Pep Guardiola’s former assistantwent on to defend his manage-ment of Messi’s injury after notusing him against Bayern duringthe week.

“If we hadn’t managed it thisway he might not have made theBetis game to help us,” he said. “Helacks fitness because he hasn’ttrained much in the last month anda half.”

Barca were behind from the sec-ond minute after some casualdefending allowed Dorlan Pabon toburst through and fire past JoseManuel Pinto, who was deputisingfor the injured Victor Valdes.

The hosts reacted quickly withAndres Iniesta dancing to thebyline and crossing for AlexisSanchez to bullet in a diving headerin the ninth. Betis are a team wholike to attack opponents and as aresult chances fell to either side inan open encounter.

An out-of-sorts David Villa couldhave had a hat-trick before half-time, his worst miss a volley overafter wonderful approach play fromAndres Iniesta and Xavi, while Pintodenied Salva Sevilla from closerange. Barca’s Cristian Tello lashed ashot against the crossbar whichbounced down on the line, andalmost immediately Betis wereahead again when Ruben Perezthundered a 30-metre shot into thetop corner in the 43rd.

Villa made amends for his earliermisses with a far-post header fromDani Alves’s cross to level in the56th and immediately made wayfor Messi, who entered to a hugeroar.

He had barely touched the ballbefore he struck the third, curling asuperb freekick over the wall andbeyond Betis keeper Adrian.

A second Messi freekick struckthe crossbar but he crowned thenight with the goal of the game,tapping in from an Alexis pass tothe back post after a clever back-heel from Iniesta. Adrian deniedMessi a hat-trick with a couple ofsaves in the closing stages.

Three goals inside the opening23 minutes earned Sevilla a com-fortable 3-0 home win over mid-table Espanyol, that kept them inthe hunt for a place in Europe nextseason in eighth with 46 points.

Jesus Navas forced a fluke open-ing goal when Espanyol defenderJoan Capdevila headed his crossdownwards only to see the ballbounce over his keeper and into hisown net in the 11th minute.

Navas fed Coke to smash a risingshot into the top corner in the 19th,and soon after a howler from visit-

ing keeper Kiko Casilla when hefailed to collect a cross, allowedAlvaro Negredo to slide in at theback post and volley the third.

Real Zaragoza, who won theirfirst game of 2013 last weekend,notched a second successive victo-ry beating Rayo Vallecano 3-0 withtwo goals from Apono to haulthemselves out of the relegationplaces.

Zaragoza climbed to 16th on 33points, ahead of Osasuna in 17thdue to their superior head-to-headrecord. The bottom three, who alldrew this weekend, were DeportivoLa Coruna with 32 points, CeltaVigo with 31 and Real Mallorca with29.

Depor drew 0-0 at home toAtletico Madrid, Celta 1-1 at hometo Athletic Bilbao and Mallorca 1-1against visiting Levante.—Reuters

Messi returns to put Barca on brink of title

SPAIN: Real Betis’ defender Pedro Mario Alvarez (left) vies with Barcelona’s forward David Villa during theSpanish League football match. —AFP

MILAN: Although the title has alreadybeen secured by Juventus, there is stillmuch to play for at both ends of theSerie A table, with AC Milan andFiorentina fighting for the finalChampions League spot.

Milan is in pole position to finishthird and earn a place in the ChampionsLeague qualifiers, as it is four pointsahead of Fiorentina with three roundsremaining. Milan visits already-relegatedPescara tomorrow. Mario Balotelli cameto Milan’s rescue again on Sunday, withhis ninth goal in 10 games helping it tobeat Torino 1-0.

“With four points advantage overFiorentina I’m a bit calmer now,” Milanvice-president Adriano Galliani said.“Now we have a game advantage overFiorentina, we have to win just one ofthree to secure third spot...I think thirdspot was the absolute most we could doafter our awful start.

“I think the game against Pescara willbe fundamental, it would be a greatthing to win there and keep up this gapon Fiorentina and Roma.”

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri hadtwo spells at Pescara as a player, andeven scored against Fabio Capello’sMilan team.

Meanwhile, newly-crowned champi-on Juventus travels to Atalanta and sec-ond-place Napoli visits Bologna, whichlost 6-0 to Lazio on Sunday.

Fiorentina goes to struggling Siena inthe Tuscan derby, knowing it has toshrug off the disappointment ofSaturday’s late defeat to Roma. Siena isdesperate for the points to avoid relega-tion.

“Losing always hurts, but we’realready looking to the future,” Fiorentinacoach Vincenzo Montella said. “Now wehave to think about Wednesday, wehave a very important game.

“Looking at how things are, it will bedifficult to get into the ChampionsLeague, but we will try and get threewins and then we’ll see.”

Siena has faced an uphill strugglefrom the start after it began the seasonwith a six-point penalty for its part in amatch-fixing scandal. It is five points offsafety and knows defeat could condemnit to Serie B. “We will honor our seasonright until the end, looking to get asmany points as possible, as we’ve alwayssaid,” Siena coach Giuseppe Iachini said.“Without a doubt the penalty affectedus, forcing us always to chase. Now wewant to turn the page and think aboutdoing our best against Fiorentina.”

Palermo is also fighting to avoid thedrop and sits just two points ahead ofSiena. It hosts Europa League-chasingUdinese.

Genoa occupies the last position ofsafety after two wins on the trot. It trav-els to Torino, which has been draggedback into the relegation dogfight and isonly a point above its opponent.

Udinese sits a point behind Roma inthe battle for a Europa League spot.Roma hosts Chievo Verona today. Laziotravels to Inter Milan with both sidesharboring faint hopes of sneaking intothe Europa League. Inter is again likelyto be without a striker as all of its attack-ers are injured along with several otherplayers. Elsewhere, it ’s: Cagliari vs.Parma; and Sampdoria vs. Catania.—AP

Preview

ITALY : AC Milan’s Italian forward Mario Balotelli (left) celebrates after scoringduring the Italian Serie A football match against Torino in this file photo. —AFP

AC Milan, Fiorentina in Champions League fight

KBC 14th BowlingChampionship concludes

KUWAIT: Under the auspices and with theattendance of the Kuwaiti Banks Club (KBC)chairman of board, Ahmed Sultan, KBC’ssocial committee chairperson and boardmember, Reem Al-Waqian, KBC recentlyconcluded its 14th Bowling Championshipthat is being annually held for bankers atthe COSMO Bowling Center, Salmiya, withAl-Ahli Bank of Kuwait winning the first

place, Al-Ahli United Bank winning the sec-ond place and Kuwait Central Bank in thirdplace.

A special ceremony was held and bothAl-Sultan and Al-Waqian honored the win-ners. The highest individual score cup wasgiven to Mohammed Al-Shaikh ( BoubyanBank) while the highest team score cupwas given to Al-Ahli United Bank team.

TURKEY: Galatasaray players celebrate their victory in Istanbul to claim its 19th SporToto Super League title with a win over Sivasspor .—AFP

Galatasaray seal Turkish titleISTANBUL: Galatasaray clinched their19th Turkish league title with a 4-2 winover Sivasspor on Sunday, crowning a suc-cessful season in which they reached thequarter-finals of the Champions League.Fans of the club f i l led the streets ofIstanbul, sounding car horns, setting offflares and waving flags in the club’s red-and-yellow colours as they sang in thecity’s squares.

With two weeks remaining in the sea-son, Galatasaray eased to victory with twogoals a piece from top goalscorer BurakYilmaz and Selcuk Inan. They now have 68points.

Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, who havewon the title 18 times, slumped to a 2-0defeat at Buyuksehir Bld. Spor, leavingthem 10 points adrift of the leaders andjust three points ahead of Istanbul ’sBesiktas. Coach Fatih Terim, in his thirdspell in charge of Galatasaray, retained the

title after strengthening his squad withthe signings of Didier Drogba and WesleySneijder earlier this year.

Terim was forced to watch his team’striumph from the stands as he is serving anine-match ban following a spat with areferee during a league match last month.

“We are deserved champions with theway we played and fought. I thank thefans as well. I greet all the Galatasaray fansaround the world,” he said.

It was the sixth time that Terim has ledthe club to success in the Turkish league.Forward Burak Yilmaz, top scorer in theleague, was key to Galatasaray’s successon the pitch this season, supported ably inattack by Umut Bulut.

But the eye -catching addition ofSneijder and Drogba, last season’sChampions League hero for Chelsea,fuelled the club’s passion in the latter partof the season.—Reuters

MANCHESTER: Rafa Benitez can virtually wrap up part one ofhis mission at Chelsea by guiding the team to the cusp of theChampions League with a win over top-four rival Tottenhamin the Premier League tomorrow.

The Spaniard is still unloved at Stamford Bridge but eventhe most ardent critic of Benitez must be impressed with thejob he’s done in his six months at the club.

By reaching the final of the Europa League, Benitez is closeto winning the trophy he so craves to mark his brief spell atChelsea. And beating fifth-place Spurs would all but secure areturn to Europe’s top competition, which was the club’s prior-ity this season. A win would put Chelsea six points clear of itsLondon rival - and with a vastly superior goal difference - withtwo games left.

‘We will try to win because we know it will guarantee atop-four finish,” Benitez said after Sunday’s 1-0 win atManchester United. “Winning is crucial for us - it’s even moreimportant for them (Tottenham), so there will be a greatatmosphere at Stamford Bridge.”

Climbing to second place may be a step too far for Chelsea,however, especially if Manchester City beat West BromwichAlbion today to cement the runner-up spot behind already-crowned champion Manchester United. City is four pointsclear of Chelsea with three games left.

The tension is building at the other end of the standings,too, with Wigan able to climb out of the relegation zone bybeating Swansea in today’s other game.

Wigan has proved to be the Premier League’s perennialescapologist, having survived the drop on the season’s finalday in three of the past six years. With such experience of rele-gation scraps, Roberto Martinez could be the calmest manag-er around over the next fortnight.

“We don’t just escape. As a football club we win the titleevery time we stay in the league,” Martinez said. “It’s a differentapproach. Any other club fights to avoid something or fears tolose something; we don’t. “We don’t fight to avoid relegation.It’s not a negative - it’s the opposite.”

Moving out of the bottom three - and being replaced byone of the northeast clubs, Newcastle or Sunderland - wouldbe the perfect tonic for Wigan ahead of its FA Cup final againstMan City on Saturday.—AP

Benitez looks towrap up part 1 ofChelsea mission

English Premier LeagueWigan v Swansea 21:45Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5Man City v Albion 21:45Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5

Italian LeagueRoma v Chievo Verona 21:45Al Jazeera Sport +1

Match on TV (Local Timings)

17Kerr winsat Kingsmill

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 201319Galatasaray sealTurkish title

Women can make a difference at FIFA, says Dodd Page 18

MADRID: Maria Sharapova from Russia returns the ball against Alexandra Dulgheru from Romania during the Madrid Open tennis tournament. —AP

Sharapova makes winning startStosur stumbles in Madrid

MADRID: Maria Sharapova survived a sticky startto move into the second round of the WTA MadridOpen yesterday with a 7-5, 6-2 win over AlexandraDulgheru of Romania.

The Russian, who won the French Open on claylast year, brought a 16-match winning streak on thesurface into Madrid and was strongly favored tocoast past a player who has been dogged by kneeinjuries. But she struggled at times in the first setbefore finding her range in the second.

It had all been about adjusting to the dirt sur-face and the particular demands of playing inMadrid, Sharapova said. “I feel like in the last weekI’ve really had to adjust to the different circum-stances and the environment a bit,” she said.

“When I got here it was really cold and the balland the court were really heavy. “A few days have

passed and it’s like a whole another tournament.“For me, it’s just been about adjusting when you

play indoors for over a week and you get back hereand see the sun for the first time. It’s a bit of anadjustment.

“The altitude as well. So I think there are a lot ofthings that come into playing when you’re playinghere.” The stakes are high for Sharapova in Spain asshe could regain the world number one spot fromSerena Williams if the results go her way.

Williams won through in straight sets onSunday and the two could face off in the champi-onship match at the end of the week.

If Sharapova and Williams safely won through tothe second round, the same could not be said ofsome of the other seeds. Both Caroline Wozniackiof Denmark and China’s Li Na crashed out on

Sunday and yesterday saw the end for Australia’sSamnatha Stosur as she lost 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 to homehope Carla Suarez Navarro.

The 2011 US Open champion was competitivein the first set, but, once she lost that on a tie-break,her game unravelled and she was outplayed by theSpaniard, who lost the final of the WTA tournamentin Portugal on Saturday to AnastasiaPavlyuchenkova of Russia.

Sixth seeded German Angelique Kerber camesafely through with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Alize Cornetof France, while former world number one VictoriaAzarenka of Belarus, seeded third, was scheduledto play later against Pavlyuchenkova.

In early action in the men’s tournament, Japan’s14th seed Kei Nishikori was too good for JurgenMelzer of Austria winning at a canter 6-3, 6-2.

Meanwhile, the father of Australia’s top-rankedtennis player Bernard Tomic said yesterday he wasacting in self-defence when he headbutted hisson’s training partner and broke his nose in Madrid.

John Tomic denied a charge of assault againstThomas Drouet in a Saturday afternoon brawl out-side a hotel where players in the Madrid Masterswere staying, his lawyer Carmen Dieguez told jour-nalists at a Madrid court.

The court postponed a hearing to May 14 for ajudge to decide his guilt or innocence after Tomicopted for court rather than paying a fine.

“I don’t feel guilty. I did not do anything wrong,”John Tomic told reporters of the fight, which hassparked consternation in the tennis world.

John Tomic struck his son’s training partner withhis head only because his own arms were being

held by Drouet and he had to protect himself fromfalling over, his lawyer said.

Drouet, who is from Monaco, appeared at thecourt house with a neck brace and white plasterover his nose. John Tomic’s lawyer said he was notto blame, however.

“There was some pushing and he acted in legiti-mate self defence,” she said. Bernard Tomic’s father,who is also his coach, was arrested several hoursafter the fight in the central avenue Paseo de laCastellana and released ahead of the hearing,police said. If found guilty he could be sentenced tobetween three months and three years in prison.

Bernard Tomic has made a poor start to thisyear’s European clay court season and lost instraight sets to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek inthe first round of the Madrid Masters.—AFP

OKLAHOMA CITY: Kevin Durant scored35 points and hit a pair of jumpers in thefinal minute to lift the Oklahoma CityThunder to a 93-91 victory over theMemphis Grizzlies on Sunday in Game 1of the Western Conference semifinals.

The Indiana Pacers took home-courtadvantage away from the New YorkKnicks, as David West scored 20 points ina 102-95 win in Game 1 of their EasternConference semifinals.

In Oklahoma City, Derek Fisher pokedthe ball away from Mike Conley to springDurant the other way, and he pulled up tomake a shot with 11.1 seconds left thatput Oklahoma City up 91-90.

Quincy Pondexter had a chance tosend the game to overtime when he wasfouled attempting a 3-pointer withMemphis trailing 93-90 and 1.6 secondsremaining. But he missed the first freethrow.

On the Grizzlies’ previous possession,Thabo Sefolosha deflected an inboundspass, and Conley landed out of boundswhile diving for the ball. Reggie Jacksonthen hit two free throws to make the leadthree. But Jackson hacked Pondexter onhis right arm before he released a 3-point-er from the left wing in an attempt to tieit. Pondexter, a 72 percent career free-throw shooter, made his second attemptbefore purposefully missing the third, butDurant swatted the rebound away andMarc Gasol’s attempt at a buzzer-beaterwas late.

The Grizzlies got 20 points and 10rebounds from Gasol and 18 points and10 rebounds from Zach Randolph.

Pondexter and Conley scored 13 apiece.Kevin Martin scored 25 for Oklahoma

City, which trailed for much of the gamebut was able to avoid repeating its Game1 loss from when these two teams met inthe West semifinals two years ago. TheThunder were able to rally and win thatseries in seven.

In New York, Paul George scored 19points and D.J. Augustin added 16 for thePacers, who built a 16-point lead whileCarmelo Anthony was on the bench infoul trouble in the third quarter, and easilyheld on to spoil the Knicks’ first second-round game since 2000.

Anthony finished with 27 points and11 rebounds, but was frustrated by thePacers’ rugged defense and by the refer-ees. He shot 10 of 28 from the field.

The Pacers, who allowed the second-fewest points per game and the lowestfield goal percentage in the league duringthe regular season, mixed in solid offenseas well. They outscored New York 59-38across the middle two quarters and werecomfortably ahead throughout thefourth.

Roy Hibbert scored 14 points in thor-oughly outplaying counterpart TysonChandler, and George Hill also had 14 forthe Pacers.

J.R. Smith scored 17 points but was 4of 15 for the Knicks. Raymond Felton had18 and Kenyon Martin added 12 for theKnicks, who hope to have reserves AmareStoudemire (right knee surgery) andSteve Novak (back spasms) back for Game3 and certainly looked as if they could usethe help.—AP

Thunder, Pacers win

NEW YORK: Miami Heat forwardLeBron James was named theNational Basketball Association’sMost Valuable Player for the 2012-13 season on Sunday.

James received 120 first-placevotes from the panel of 121 sportswriters and broadcasters selected tochoose the award. Oklahoma’sKevin Durant finished second over-all and the New York Knicks’Carmelo Anthony, who received theother first-place vote, placed third.

It was the fourth time in fiveyears that the 28-year-old Jameshad won the game’s most presti-gious individual award, elevatinghim among the sport’s greatestplayers.

“When people ask me, I tell themI just try to be the best player on thecourt every night I step on the floor,”James said. Only four other players -Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, MichaelJordan, Bill Russell and WiltChamberlain - have won the trophyat least four times.

Abdul-Jabbar holds the recordfor six MVP wins, one ahead ofJordan and Russell and two in frontof Chamberlain and now James.

James, who twice won theaward with the Cleveland Cavaliersbefore moving to Miami, averaged26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.3

assists during the 2012-13 regularseason, where the Heat finishedwith the best record in the NBA.James was the only player in theNBA to lead his team in all three cat-egories during the season.

He shot a career-high from thefield (.565) and from three-pointrange (.406). He produced a recordstreak of six straight games with atleast 30 points and a .600-or-betterfield goal percentage.

He received his award at a spe-cial presentation on Sunday, attend-ed by his team mates, family andfriends, and broadcast live onnational television.

In an emotional and heartfeltacceptance speech, James extend-ed his thanks to everyone who hadsupported him both as a personand as a player. He turned to histeam mates, who were wearingshorts and t-shirts, and said theydeserved the award as much as hedid,

“Nothing I receive individually ispossible without those 14 guys, andthe sacrifices they make,” he said.“This really doesn’t mean much tome. I’m humbled and I’m happyabout it but I wish it was 15 of theseup here because what a greatgroup of guys that allows me to bethe MVP.” — Reuters

James named NBA’s Most Valuable Player

OKLAHOMA CITY: Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) flips a shot over his shoul-der in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) and guard Derek Fisher inthe fourth quarter of Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal NBA basketball play-off series. —AP

BusinessTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Half-a-million will flock to Qatar for FIFA Cup 2022: Markaz

Page 22

flydubai contributes to Tourism Vision for 2020

Page 23United Industries posts KD3.61m net profit in Q1

Page 25

CFC introduces its new smartphone applications

NEW YORK: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange yesterday. Following a week where the Dow Jones industrial average closed at record highs, US stocks were down slightly after the opening bell. — AFP (See Page 23)

DUBAI: A recent stock market rally in Kuwait andDubai stalled yesterday as investor’s locked inprofits but underlying sentiment towards two ofthe region’s strongest performing marketsremains buoyant. Dubai’s measure fell 0.9 per-cent, down from Sunday’s 41-month high. Realestate and banking shares weighed;Heavyweight Emaar Properties shed 0.7 percent.

“The whole market is taking a breather today,”said Marwan Shurrab, vice-president and chieftrader at Gulfmena Investments. “We had astrong move since the beginning of the monthand the correction is very small and logical.” InKuwait, large-caps declined while the index end-ed flat in choppy trade. The market has closed in

positive territory for 12 consecutive sessions andis at its highest level since October 2009. Sevenof the 10 largest stocks by market capitalizationretreated, with Commercial Bank of Kuwait slip-ping 1.4 percent. A stabilising political backdropand the government’s promises it will act to sup-port the economy have propelled sentiment inKuwait. The finance minister said last month thatthe government would spend $15.8-17.5 billionon development projects in the next 12 months.

“People have to take some money off so theycan put it back in - larger stocks went up in antic-ipation of better earnings,” said Fouad Darwish,head of brokerage services at Global InvestmentHouse.

Banks represent more than 50 percent ofKuwait’s overall market value. The recent rise inthe stock market has helped them because theyhave extended loans backed by stocks as collat-eral, Darwish added. “The entire sentiment hasbecome positive just on expectations for banksto improve their earnings.”

Elsewhere, Qatar’s benchmark climbed 0.6percent to its highest close since April 2012.Heavyweight Qatar National Bank led the gain,rising 2.8 percent. Qatar’s stocks have lagged ris-es on other Gulf bourses - the main index is uponly 5.7 percent this year, compared to gains ofwell over 20 percent for Dubai and Kuwait - sothey are considered cheap by some analysts.

The Qatar Exchange announced it wouldstage a major conference this Wednesday to dis-cuss listing more private companies, which couldmark a fresh initiative by authorities to deepenthe market and stimulate sluggish trading activi-ty. In Saudi Arabia, weak sentiment towards lead-ing sectors - banks and petrochemicals - persist-ed. The index slipped 0.2 percent, down for a sec-ond session since Saturday’s three-week high.

Petrochemical shares index shed 0.4 percentand banking index dipped 0.1 percent.

Boosted by strong earnings growth, cementshares that have helped limit declines on themarket in recent weeks. The sector slipped 0.5percent from a five-year high, trimming 2013

gains to 12 percent, but they outstrip the widermarket’s 5.7 percent rise.

“There is continuous growth in the cementsector and we have huge demand,” said AbdullahAlawi, assistant general manager and head ofresearch at Aljazira Capital.

The kingdom’s infrastructure and construc-tion sectors benefit from strong governmentspending but a price cap on cement limitsgrowth for companies already producing at fullcapacity.

“ The focus is gradually shifting - beforeinvestors only saw cement stocks as good forhigh yield sector but it is also becoming agrowth story now,” Alawai said. — Reuters

Kuwait, Dubai stock rally pauses

Page 26

MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS

Kuwait firm launches

Islamic finance fund

SYDNEY: Kuwait-based Asiya Investments has launched anIslamic trade finance fund with $20 million in seed capital, aimingto cater to small Asian manufacturers.

Asiya, whose largest shareholder is sovereign wealth fundKuwait Investment Authority, aims to fill a gap left by Westernbanks that are scaling back their trade finance business, makingcredit scarce for small and medium-sized firms. “We engage thosecompanies that are already banked but whose credit lines are lim-ited - we are complementing their financing,” said SulaimanAlireza, executive director of Asiya’s investment management armin Hong Kong. Despite strong growth in Islamic finance globallyover the last few years, the industry has neglected merchandisetrade, leaving trade finance for conventional banks to dominate.

But conventional banks are retreating because of the worldfinancial crisis and higher capital requirements under upcomingBasel III regulations, which could open up about 20 percent of thebusiness to non-bank institutions, Alireza said. Established as theKuwait China Investment Co in 2005, Asiya estimates that currentannual intra-Asia trade of $5 trillion could reach $20 trillion by2020. Asiya’s Cayman-domiciled fund, soft-launched in December,offers short-term financing through murabaha contracts, wherethe fund buys and sells merchandise on behalf of the companyand shares a portion of the profits. “We use a murabaha structurewith the underlying commodity serving as collateral. This is a stan-dard, tried-and-tested murabaha structure,” Alireza said.

Islamic institutions across the Gulf are working to diversify theirmoney market transactions, so Asiya’s product could appeal tosome of them. It will have a higher yield than commodity muraba-ha contracts and better liquidity than sukuk, Alireza said.

“The value in between remains quite open.” Asiya’s fund aimsfor a net return to investors of above 5.0 percent and it has $55million worth of assets in the pipeline, with capacity for approxi-mately $400 million, said Brian Luck, director of Asiya’s advisoryoffice in Dubai.

“Trade finance is not well known as an asset class...but the reali-ty is there are not enough Islamic fixed income products available,”Luck said. Plans include offering the trade finance product on amanaged account basis, he added. The firm identifies clients suchas denim and latex manufacturers through its Singapore-basedjoint venture partner, EuroFin Asia. — Reuters

DUBAI: Qatar Airways is looking to orderanother 10 to 15 Airbus A330s before theParis air show in June and might alsoconfirm options on Boeing’s 787, theGulf carrier’s chief said yesterday. “We aretalking to Airbus for extra A330s,” Akbaral-Baker told reporters in Dubai, sayinghe hoped to reach agreement over themidsize, wide-body aircraft before the airshow which opens June 17.

But he said the European manufac-turer will have to “sharpen their pencils,”adding that those planes would fill thegap caused by the delay in Boeing’s 787Dreamliners. The carrier already has 32A330 planes, including three cargo ver-sions. Baker said “there is a possibility toorder more” Airbus A380 superjumbos,for which it has firm orders for 10 units.

He also said that his fast growing car-rier “will not cancel the Dreamliners”adding that Qatar Airways might orderadditional units. “On the contrary, wemay order additional Dreamlinersbecause we have purchase rights foranother 30,” he said. “I wouldn’t be flyingthem if I weren’t happy,” he said whenasked about the resumption of flightsfollowing the grounding of all 787s bythe US manufacturer due to electricalproblems. Qatar Airways resumed opera-tions on one of its five Dreamliners onMay 1, he said. The US Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) and other regula-tors grounded Dreamliners worldwide inmid-January after failures of the lithium-ion batteries caused a fire on a parkedplane in Boston and forced the emer-gency landing of an ANA-operated air-craft in Japan. Following months ofinvestigation, the FAA last month issued

formal approval of Boeing’s 787 batteryfix, clearing the way for the troubled air-craft to fly again after the prolongedgrounding. Baker also said that QatarAirways is pursuing discussions over apartnership with India’s IndiGo airline,short of buying a stake in the low-costcarrier. “IndiGo is an airline not for sale.We only want to do partnership withthem,” he said. “We want to do codesharewith them and we want to get into a sit-uation where we work together, becausethey are the best airline in India,” he said.“There are already approaches betweenthe managements of the two airlines,” headded. He denied having talks withSpiceJet, another of India’s no-frills carri-ers. Abu Dhabi’s fast-rising carrier Etihad

last month sealed a $380-million deal tobuy a minority stake in India’s JetAirways, in the first foreign investment inan Indian carrier since the governmenteased restrictions on foreign buyers intoIndian airlines.

Baker said the delayed opening ofDoha’s new airport will take place in thelast quarter of this year, saying his carri-er’s expansion is restrained by the limit-ed capacity of the old airport.

“The delay is costing us heavily finan-cially, because we cannot expand as wewant,” he said. Hamad InternationalAirport was scheduled to enter servicelast month, but the opening was put offreportedly after the facility failed to meetsecurity standards. —AFP

Euro-zone

business activity

in doldrums

BRUSSELS: Private sector business activityremained weak across the euro-zone inApril, with Germany registering its firstdecline since November, a widely-watchedsurvey showed yesterday.

The Markit Eurozone CompositePurchasing Managers Index registered 46.9points, slightly up on an initial estimate andabove the March reading of 46.5 points-butstill well below the boom-and-bust line of50 points indicating growth or recession.

It was the 19th time in 20 months thatthe survey of thousands of euro-zone com-panies signalled a contraction in the singlecurrency area’s economy, and a 15th con-secutive overall shrinking-although theresearchers noted a first easing in the rateof decline since January.

Both manufacturing and services sec-tors posted weak readings. “The survey doeslittle to dilute suspicion that the euro-zoneis headed for further GDP contraction in thesecond quarter after highly likely suffering asixth successive quarter of contraction inthe first quarter of 2013,” said London-basedIHS Global Insight analyst Howard Archer.He tipped a decline of 0.2 percent quarter-on-quarter. The survey detail showed thatjob losses were reported for the 16th monthrunning in April, although there was a slightincrease in employment in Germany for thesecond straight month.

While Markit chief economist ChrisWilliamson highlighted cooling inflationarypressures, the man behind the survey saidof the initial estimate: “The renewed declinein Germany will also raise fears that theregion’s largest growth engine has movedinto reverse, thereby acting as a drag onthe region at the same time as particularlysteep downturns persist in France, Italy andSpain.” —AFP

Qatar Airways look to buy

Airbus, confirm Boeing 787s

DUBAI: Qatar Airway’s Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker speaks at a press con-ference in Dubai on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) yester-day during which he announced that the Gulf carrier are looking to orderanother ten to fifteen Airbus A330s before the Paris airshow in June. — AFP

B U S I N E S STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

EXCHANGE RATES

Commercial Bank of Kuwait

US Dollar/KD .2770000 .2880000GB Pound/KD .4310000 .4470000Euro .3680000 .3760000Swiss francs .3020000 .3170000Canadian Dollar .2780000 .2920000Australian DLR .2940000 .3020000Indian rupees .0040000 .0069000Sri Lanka Rupee .0020000 .0035000UAE dirhams .0771240 .0778990Bahraini dinars .7513970 .7589480Jordanian dinar .3930000 .4110000Saudi riyals .0720000 .0770000Omani riyals .7366120 .7440150Egyptian pounds .0370000 .0440000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATESUS Dollar/KD .2841000 .2862000GB Pound/KD .4338920 .4370990Euro .3707360 .3734770Swiss francs .3043390 .3065880Canadian dollars .2795430 .2816100Danish Kroner .0497330 .0501010Swedish Kroner .0443660 .0446940Australian dlr .2963730 .2985640Hong Kong dlr .0365940 .0368650Singapore dlr .2291130 .2308060Japanese yen .0029600 .0028810Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0052870Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0022880Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0029190Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0036810UAE dirhams .0773800 .0779520Bahraini dinars .7538810 .7594530Jordanian dinar .0000000 .4048090Saudi Riyal/KD .0757800 .0763400Omani riyals .7382100 .7436660Philippine Peso .0000000 .0069870

Bahrain Exchange Company

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd

Al Mulla Exchange

ASIAN COUNTRIESJapanese Yen 2.879Indian Rupees 5.290Pakistani Rupees 2.898Srilankan Rupees 2.252Nepali Rupees 3.315Singapore Dollar 232.480Hongkong Dollar 36.766Bangladesh Taka 3.649Philippine Peso 6.980

Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000)US Dollar 284.700Euro 376.250Pound Sterling 445.900Canadian Dollar 284.650Japanese Yen 2.950Indian Rupee 5.275Egyptian Pound 40.570Sri Lankan Rupee 2.252Bangladesh Taka 3.650Philippines Peso 6.905Pakistan Rupee 2.893Bahraini Dinar 758.000UAE Dirham 77.500Saudi Riyal 76.000*Rates are subject to change

COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFTEurope

British Pound 0.4370972 0.4460972Czech Korune 0.0061567 0.0181567Danish Krone 0.0460968 0.0510968Euro 0.3689556 0.3764556Norwegian Krone 0.0451451 0.0503451Scottish Pound 0.4332070 0.4407070Swedish Krona 0.0397769 0.0447769Swiss Franc 0.2996574 0.3066574

AustralasiaAustralian Dollar 0.2842247 0.2962247New Zealand Dollar 0.2355748 0.2455748Uganda Shilling 0.0001114 0.0001114

AmericaCanadian Dollar 0.2758529 0.2848529Colombian Peso 0.0001450 0.0001630US Dollars 0.2829000 0.2850500

AsiaBangladesh Taka 0.0036104 0.0036654Cape Vrde Escudo 0.0031600 0.0033922Chinese Yuan 0.0451557 0.0501557Eritrea-Nakfa 0.0164700 0.0195700

Guinea Franc 0.0000442 0.0000502Hg Kong Dollar 0.0341806 0.0372806Indian Rupee 0.0052168 0.0052808Indonesian Rupiah 0.0000243 0.0000294Jamaican Dollars 0.0028477 0.0038477Japanese Yen 0.0027972 0.0029772Kenyan Shilling 0.0033500 0.0035800Malaysian Ringgit 0.0889109 0.0959109Nepalese Rupee 0.0031537 0.0033537Pakistan Rupee 0.0028706 0.0029106Philippine Peso 0.0065243 0.0069943Sierra Leone 0.0000728 0.0000758Singapore Dollar 0.2269659 0.2329659Sri Lankan Rupee 0.0022139 0.0022559Thai Baht 0.0092294 0.0098294

ArabBahraini Dinar 0.7496745 0.7581745Egyptian Pound 0.0385342 0.0405642Ethiopeanbirr 0.0128902 0.0193902Ghanaian Cedi 0.1483801 0.1501701Iranian Riyal 0.0000793 0.0000798Iraqi Dinar 0.0001734 0.0002334Jordanian Dinar 0.3964753 0.4039753Kuwaiti Dinar 1.0000000 1.0000000Lebanese Pound 0.0001748 0.0001948Moroccan Dirhams 0.0220208 0.0460208Nigerian Naira 0.0012114 0.0018464Omani Riyal 0.7293790 0.7403790Qatar Riyal 0.0776409 0.0784239Saudi Riyal 0.0754800 0.0761200Sudanese Pounds 0.0463475 0.0468975Syrian Pound 0.0031807 0.0034007Tunisian Dinar 0.1754013 0.1814013UAE Dirhams 0.0761813 0.0776313Yemeni Riyal 0.0012859 0.0013859

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Australian Dollar 299.45 298.000Canadian Dollar 285.97 285.000Swiss Franc 306.21 307.000Euro 376.06 374.500US Dollar 284.60 285.500Sterling Pound 444.81 449.000Japanese Yen 2.98 3.300Bangladesh Taka 3.675 3.720Indian Rupee 5.263 5.450Sri Lankan Rupee 2.245 2.430Nepali Rupee 3.313 3.400Pakistani Rupee 2.896 2.953UAE Dirhams 77.55 78.000Bahraini Dinar 757.78 756.800Egyptian Pound 40.62 40.500Jordanian Dinar 405.45 410.000

Rate for Transfer Selling RateUS Dollar 285.000Canadian Dollar 286.360Sterling Pound 444.895Euro 374.265Swiss Frank 305.150Bahrain Dinar 754.545UAE Dirhams 77.570Qatari Riyals 78.230Saudi Riyals 75.965Jordanian Dinar 401.755Egyptian Pound 40.465Sri Lankan Rupees 2.254Indian Rupees 5.294Pakistani Rupees 2.894Bangladesh Taka 3.652Philippines Pesso 6.952Cyprus pound 699.120Japanese Yen 3.875Thai Bhat 9.680Syrian Pound 4.060Nepalese Rupees 3.395Malaysian Ringgit 93.855

Thai Baht 9.663Malaysian ringgit 94.221Irani Riyal 0.271Irani Riyal 0.273

GCC COUNTRIESSaudi Riyal 76.097Qatari Riyal 78.408Omani Riyal 741.200Bahraini Dinar 757.940UAE Dirham 77.704

ARAB COUNTRIESEgyptian Pound - Cash 40.450Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.571Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.331Tunisian Dinar 177.620Jordanian Dinar 402.980Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.914Syrian Lier 3.100Morocco Dirham 34.285

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIESUS Dollar Transfer 285.250Euro 375.250Sterling Pound 445.850Canadian dollar 284.540Turkish lira 158.720Swiss Franc 306.390US Dollar Buying 284.050

GOLD20 Gram 298.00010 Gram 150.0005 Gram 77.500

Omani Riyal 740.69 743.000Qatari Riyal 78.59 78.500Saudi Riyal 76.02 76.400

KUWAIT: Kuwait Financial Centre “Markaz” recently pub-lished the executive summary of its report on analyzingthe implication of hosting FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Inthis research note, Markaz identifies FIFA specific invest-ments and projects in Qatar and tracks their progress sta-tus; and attempts to determine its impact on the regionaleconomies in general and on Qatar in particular.

Qatar won the honors for hosting one of the biggestsporting events in the world, when the country won thebid against five countries including the US to host 2022edition of FIFA World Cup. Qatar will hog the limelight dur-ing the event and would represent an Arab world thatstands for well-developed, modern, diversified, capableand futuristic group. Qatar has hosted FIFA Under-20 WorldCup in 1995, Asian Games in 2006, and Gulf Cup of Nationsin 1992 and 2004 where it eventually won the cup too.Apart from these, it has hosted several other regional andInternational sporting events and would like the opportu-nity to showcase its prowess to host large scale interna-tional events.

The event is expected to draw over half a million visitorsto the country, which accounts for almost a third of its cur-rent population. The huge influx of people and the associ-ated needs is expected to have a direct impact on theHospitality and Infrastructure sectors and indirectly on theFinancial, Communication and Power sectors. In this report,we intend to assess the magnitude of change that thisevent will drive into Qatari economy and in the neighbor-ing GCC states.

Implication CategoryImplicationQatar’s GDPSpending Specific to hosting world Cup is largely

restricted to stadium creation and establishing hospitality

centers, tourist spending and the associated economicactivities may add 1-1.5 percent to GDP value.

Infrastructure Infrastructure spending worth $3 billion is being made

for the construction and up gradation of football stadiums.Doha metro interconnecting the stadiums, airport and citycenter is under execution.

FDIThe declining trend in FDI is expected to turnaround as

the multiple projects move from boardroom to executionphase by 2015.

Hospitality & TourismThe room inventory is all set to double (from the current

44,000) as 140 new properties are being established at acost of USD 12.4 billion and they pose to threaten thealready prevalent low Hotel occupancy rates (approx. 60percent).

Banking and Investment Multiple opportunities exist in project financing and

capital rising. Qatar’s recent move to deepen the debt mar-ket and build a sovereign yield curve augurs well for theoutlook.

Regional economiesQatar would need to tap the neighboring countries for

building and construction materials. FIFA specific projectswould be providing opportunities for regional FinancialInstitutions and Infrastructure companies

Prior to winning the FIFA bid, Qatari Government, underNational Vision 2030, had announced ambitious spendingplans to boost the infrastructure of the country as part of

diversification away from hydrocarbon driven economy inline with other GCC peers. Hosting the world cup wouldinstill a sense of urgency and provide an additional incen-tive to attain the National Vision 2030. Select projects werealso launched to specifically address the issue of hosting asuccessful world cup.

Ambitious and large scale infrastructure plans and theassociated spending levels will have implications on thefinancial sector. Government of Qatar has already mademoves to deepen the debt market and it intends to issuethree and five-year domestic government bonds to buildsovereign yield curve.

Banks would have ample opportunities to increase theirloan book size and generate income fees. As of September2012, credit to private sector has grown by 14.5 percent(YoY basis) while credit to public sector registered a growthrate of 44.3 percent (YoY basis).

GCC firms are actively expected to pursue the diverseopportunities in Qatar. Intra-regional trade would receive amajor boost as most of the raw materials involved in theconstruction of many projects would be sourced fromneighboring countries. Large regional financial institutionswould stand to benefit by offering financial services to thelarge number of projects.

However, there remains certain risks; such as: cost over-run for event specific investments which are likely to beredundant for Qatar as it has a very small population baseand limited means to put them to use after the event, inher-ent implementation risk for large scale projects which havehigh tendency to be delayed, and risk of hosting the eventduring the hottest months of the year in June/July.Additionally, post FIFA World Cup event there is likely to bea huge legacy cost in terms of excess hotel room capacity,dismantling of newly built stadiums to be given away toother developing nations, and extended metro lines.

Half-a-million will flock to Qatar

for FIFA Cup 2022: Markaz

Tourism, associated activities may add 1-1.5% to GDP

Kenya’s Equity

Bank sees 30%

profit jump in 2013

NAIROBI: Equity Bank of Kenya expects pretax profitssoar in 2013 by up to 30 percent and is hopefulEthiopia will soon seal membership of the World TradeOrganization and open up a large new market.Reporting a 21 percent rise in profits in the first quar-ter, Chief Executive James Mwangi cited the peacefulend to a legal standoff around Kenya’s March presiden-tial elections as well as falling operating costs as rea-sons for the improvement.

The outcome of this year’s elections contrasted topost-election violence in 2007 that crippled eastAfrica’s biggest economy. That has lifted business con-fidence, benefitting the bank, which is Kenya and theregion’s largest by number of accounts. “We expect animprovement above last year’s growth possibly bounc-ing towards 30 percent (for) profit before tax,” Mwangitold Reuters after presenting the bank’s first quarterresults.

Pretax profit in the first quarter was 4.5 billionshillings ($53.8 million), up 21 percent on the year andcompared to 17.42 billion shillings over the whole of2012. Investors driven out of troubled banks in thedeveloped world are showing an interest in lenders inthe country of 40 million, also drawn by burgeoninginvestment in oil, gas and other resources across theregion. Mwangi said East Africa as a whole shouldgrow by a minimum of 7 percent per year in the fore-seeable future, driven by growth across a range of sec-tors. Net interest income at the bank also jumped 21percent on the year to 6.87 billion shillings while thecost-to-income ratio dropped to 49.9 percent from50.9 percent in the same period a year ago. Mwangisaid he expected the ratio to drop below 48 percent bythe end of this year.

Equity, which operates in Uganda, Tanzania,Rwanda and South Sudan, is seeking to invest furtherin Ethiopia where it has already been granted a licenceto open a representative office, Mwangi said. But hesaid the bank was only interested in opening branches.

“Given our business model, a representative officecan’t do so we are waiting for them to open the mar-ket,” the chief executive said.

“We are optimistic. There is talk of them signing theWorld Trade Organization agreement and if they dothat it means the market opens.”

He said Ethiopia was an attractive market because itwas one of the most populous nations in Africa, withmore than 80 million people, with a banking sector fornow dominated by the state. — Reuters

DUBAI: Commercial Bank of Dubai (CBD) plans to tap inter-national debt markets for its first dollar-denominatedbond, taking advantage of attractive pricing on the back ofreturning investor confidence in the emirate. Gulf Arabbanks have stepped up bond sales this year, tapping intosubstantial investor appetite for bonds issued by regionalfinancial institutions, with over $5 billion of dollar-denomi-nated bonds issued so far this year.

Total year-to-date issuance of dollar bonds in the Gulf isnearly $12 billion.

CBD, rated A- by Fitch, has mandated Citigroup, HSBCHoldings and National Bank of Abu Dhabi to conductinvestor meetings which begin on May 9, ahead of thebond sale, it said in a statement yesterday. A possiblebenchmark-sized bond may follow, subject to market con-ditions. Benchmark-sized bond issues are typically at least$500 million in size. The program will help the bank to cap-italise on business opportunities and will enable it to bene-fit from an improving economic cycle in the UAE, ChiefExecutive Peter Baltussen said in the statement.

CBD, 20 percent owned by Investment Corp of Dubai,has an outstanding loan of $450 million due in August2014, according to Thomson Reuters data, but has so farnot issued any public debt denominated in US dollars.Banks in the region have been able to take advantage oflow borrowing costs to secure funding for regional expan-sion, as well as bolster their capital ratios.

Last year, bond sales in the financial sector accountedfor 44 percent of total bond issuance in the GulfCooperation Council (GCC). — Reuters

Dubai’s CBD plans first-ever bond issue

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s economy expanded by 6.02 percent inthe first quarter, official data showed yesterday, the slowestpace in more than two years as exports fell due to the weakglobal economy.

It was the slowest quarterly, year-on-year growth inSoutheast Asia’s biggest economy since the third quarter of2010 and came in below forecasts. The economy grew 6.11percent in the fourth quarter of last year. Exports fell by 4.33percent compared to the previous quarter, according to thestatistics agency. Economists attributed the slowing growth toa fall in demand for commodities. Indonesia is the world’sbiggest producer of palm oil-found in a wide variety of every-day goods from soap to cosmetics and biscuits-and also amajor exporter of coal, tin and rubber. Many firms were experi-encing “lower demand for commodities, not only in Europe andthe US but in China as well”, said Bank Danamon Indonesiachief economist Anton Gunawan. Nine economists surveyed byDow Jones Newswires had forecast first quarter growth of 6.10percent. Last month, concerns about the weak recovery in theglobal economy led the central bank to lower its growth fore-cast for this year to 6.2-6.6 percent from 6.3-6.8 percent. Theeconomy grew 6.23 percent in 2012. Despite the slight slow-down, Indonesia still has one of the best growth rates in theworld, driven by strong domestic consumption and high levelsof foreign investment. Yesterday’s data will reduce the likeli-hood of the central bank hiking interest rates anytime soonfrom 5.75 percent, where they have been for more than a year,analysts said. — AFP

Indonesia growth slowest since 2010

JAKARTA: Workers erect an iron reinforcement column at a high rise office construction site in Jakarta yesterday.The Indonesian economy expanded by 6.02 percent in the first quarter, official data showed yesterday, the slowestpace for more than two years as exports fell due to the weak global economy. — AFP

Saudi oil output rises

to 9.3m bpd in April

KHOBAR: Saudi Arabia produced 9.3 million barrels per day(bpd) of oil in April, up from 9.14 million bpd in March, anindustry source said yesterday. Supply to the domestic andexport markets was around 9.2 million bpd, up slightly fromthe 9.15 million bpd supplied in March, the source said. Theother 100,000 bpd of oil produced is likely to have been putinto storage. Sources familiar with Saudi oil policy said in lateApril that they expected external demand for Saudi crude toremain steady from March through June 2013.

But Saudi Arabia’s own crude oil demand for power gener-ation has jumped by an average of 147,000 bpd from March toApril in the previous three years.

The increase from March to April 2012 was much lower,however, at just 64,000 bpd, due to more gas supply comingon line in early 2012 to feed Saudi power plants.

Benchmark Brent crude oil, trading near $104.85 a barrelyesterday, has fallen from almost $120 in February on con-cerns about the global economic outlook, though it is stillabove Saudi Arabia’s preferred level of $100. According to thelatest Reuters survey, overall OPEC crude oil output rebound-ed in April from its lowest monthly level in more than a yeardue to the end of export disruptions in Iraq and Libya and arise in Iranian sales.

OPEC is scheduled to meet in Vienna at the end of May. Inearly April it trimmed its forecast for global growth in oildemand in 2013. Even if export demand for Saudi oil weakensover the next few months, the rise in its own use for powerplants to meet a surge in air conditioning demand shouldsupport Saudi production over the summer. — Reuters

KUWAIT: “Simplified visa processes andlower barriers to travel have contributedsignificantly to rising passenger traffic tothe UAE,” said Ghaith Al-Ghaith, CEO offlydubai.

“Easing visa processes has supportedthe growth of the aviation sectorthroughout the UAE, over the past fewyears, by allowing 32 nationalities tobenefit from receiving a visa on arrival.This approach has been possible due tothe continued efforts of the GeneralDirectorate of Residency and ForeignersAffairs. Further simplification of the visaprocesses will contribute to substantiallyincreased global passenger traffic andwill make Dubai an even more attractivedestination for both leisure and businesstravellers in support of theGovernment’s Tourism Vision for 2020,”said Al Ghaith.

Overall passenger traffic at DubaiInternational Airport soared 13.2 per-cent to 57 million in 2012, up from 50million recorded in 2011. This trend isforecast to continue into this year andthe first three months of 2013 havealready recorded a strong start with a15.6 percent increase in passenger traf-fic compared to the same period of2012. Dubai International is now the sec-ond busiest airport for international pas-senger traffic and is currently undergo-ing an expansion to accommodategrowing passenger numbers. Ghaith Al-Ghaith, CEO of flydubai - the secondlargest carrier by passenger numbersoperating out of Dubai International -commented on the impact of theexpansion of Terminal 2 on the airline’scapacity:

“Terminal 2 has been home to fly-dubai since the airline’s inception and itsongoing expansion and refurbishmentwill improve services and accessibility

for an increased number of passengersseeking affordable air travel to and fromDubai. The current expansion will morethan double the terminal’s annualcapacity to accommodate the growth ofthe airline which has serviced 5.1 millionpassengers in 2012 and 10.4 million pas-sengers overall since its launch in 2009,”he said.

flydubai’s proven track record hasdemonstrated how it has contributed tothe economic growth of Dubai’s tourismand commercial sectors. Its ongoingplans to grow its fleet and network willsupport Dubai’s Vision for Tourism for2020. The vision of the Government ofDubai is to transform the trade andtourism sector to further contribute tothe growth of the emirate; the sector isexpected to contribute $45 billion in rev-enues to the emirate’s GDP by 2020. Thiscontinuous commitment to developingthis sector, which was marked in theprovision of 16 percent of its budget for2013 to infrastructure projects, was a keygrowth factor for the airline enabling itto provide greater connectivity andaccessibility to the region and surround-ing destinations.

flydubai has strategically expandedits network to previously underservedmarkets, mostly within a five-hourradius. This has offered passengers inthese markets access to more conven-ient and affordable travel options andfurther strengthened Dubai’s position asa global trade and tourism hub. Since itslaunch four years ago, flydubai haslaunched 57 routes including up to 32routes that either did not previouslyhave direct links with Dubai or were notserved by an UAE national carrier fromDubai. It now travels to 33 countriesspanning North and East Africa, the GCC,Middle East, Subcontinent, Central Asia,

Russia, Ukraine and Central & EasternEurope.

Al-Ghaith noted, “Our growing net-work offers passengers the freedom totravel as frequently and as easily as ever.Travellers now have the option of cross-ing borders and returning home withina day, which has been a rising trendamongst the business community.Leisure travellers can also enjoy theirpreferred cities within our network morefrequently or explore new destinationsthrough our recently launched routessuch as Male in the Maldives, our ninthpoint in Saudi Arabia, Ha’il and ourflights to Dushanbe in Tajikistan startedjust last week.”

Passenger appetite for travel toDubai has significantly increased acrossall destinations. The Russian, Ukrainian,Central Asia and Central & EasternEuropean markets have been key areasof growth, with an 89 percent rise in thenumber of UAE visas facilitated by fly-dubai for passengers from these coun-tries. UAE visa applications from Ukraine,facilitated by the airline, have significant-ly grown by 370 percent in 2012, a trendthat is expected to continue, whileAzerbaijan, Georgia, Serbia andTurkmenistan remain the largest mar-kets for visa applications made throughflydubai. Aside of these countries, Iraqand Sudan are the largest markets forvisa applications on the key tradingroutes.

flydubai’s excellent on-board experi-ence and professional services have alsocontributed to increased demand frompassengers across its network. The air-line launched 14 new routes over thepast quarter and intends to announceadditional routes during 2013. The air-line currently operates a young, modernfleet of 29 aircraft.

B U S I N E S STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

By James McCallum

In Formula One, where fractions of asecond determine success or failure,making the best decisions in the

shortest possible time is critical. Thanksto the introduction of ever-more power-ful software and hardware capable ofanalyzing massive amounts of datawithin milliseconds, Formula One driversand their race teams are better placedthan ever before to making these deci-sions - and boost performance. Granted,F1 is still very much about the driver butit’s also one of many examples of howtechnological advances are transform-ing the way we operate and make deci-sions every day in order to optimizebusiness.

The global oil industry isn’t an excep-tion. Advances in and the widespreadadoption of information technologyhave triggered a transformation processthat will shape the industry in all itsfacets in the years to come. Whether itsdevices such as iPads becoming a com-mon tool to conduct real-time monitor-

ing of what’s happening at the well siteor new breeds of young engineers withbackgrounds in IT entering the space,the industry is amidst an exciting periodof change.

Today’s oil fields are increasingly con-nected from end to end, enabling com-panies to harvest and analyze ever-larg-er amounts of data generated by peopleand assets along the oil value chain inreal time. Digital Oil Fields as they’recommonly referred to - essentially inte-grated operation systems - help in reser-voir and production optimization, anddrilling and well completion among oth-er processes. They speed up and allowmore accurate analysis and decisionmaking, and improve safely levels. Theultimate aim of the Digital Oil Field(DOF) is to overlap field and decisioncenter to boost output and recoveryrates, and manage assets more efficient-ly and safely.

The oil industry’s migration into thedigital sphere is part of a natural evolu-tion. To be sure, the sector hasn’t beenthe fastest adopter of information sys-

tems compared to other industries. Butwith the long-term energy demandcurve pointing up and oil prices at com-fortable levels, new technologies suchas DOF have put fields that were oncedeemed too expensive, too deep or tooremote back on the radar screen.

Not too long ago, oil companies werequestioning whether they should evalu-ate DOF technology. Now the questiongoes: ‘how can we best optimize ourreturn on investment in DOF?’

The same question is being asked allover the globe, including in the MiddleEast, a region long known for its accessto ‘easy oil’. It may be the world’s richesthydrocarbons habitat, but as the devel-opment of new fields and maintainingor expanding output levels at existingones is becoming more complex, theregion’s national oil companies (NOCs)have begun adopting the DOF conceptto enhance oil recovery.

The Middle East has been relativelyslower than other parts of the world inadopting DOF solutions but this ischanging. From Abu Dhabi to Kuwait,

from Oman to Saudi Arabia, regionalNOCs have started to embrace the con-cept and are now actively engaged inimplementing numerous DOF projects.

Kuwait Oil Co. has launched threemajor DOF pilot projects with a fourthone in the planning phase. Oman, a pio-neer in deploying enhanced oil recovery(EOR) technologies to boost output fromits fragmented and mostly heavy crudereserves, is betting on its DOF programto ramp up production in the future.

According to RnR Market Research,the Middle East is going to be theworld’s fastest-growing DOF marketbetween 2012 and 2022, with revenueestimated to grow at a compound annu-al growth rate of 5.9 percent. This com-pares with 4.8 percent for the globalmarket during the same period. By 2022,the global DOF market is expected to beworth $33.3 billion in terms of revenue.

Going forward, there can be littledoubt that DOF will be at the core of allGreenfield projects in the region; moreand more existing oil fields will beupgraded. NOCs embarking on their

‘digital’ strategy aren’t doing so alone.The national incumbents have alwaysstressed the need for technology trans-fer as part of their decision-making onnew partnerships and concessions. Assuch, international oil companies (IOCs)and oil field service companies, whichprovide the technologies around digitaloil fields, will all play a role.

But the rising complexities involvedin developing future oil reserves maywell bring about a new era of collabora-tion between NOCs, IOCs and oil fieldservice firms. By pooling their limitedresources, in terms of infrastructure andskilled labor, the players will be in a bet-ter position to leverage their differentcapabilities. I am happy to say that it isnot too bold an assumption to makethat the inclusion of DOF Knowledgetransfer will undoubtedly play anincreasing role in the technology trans-fer demanded from relationships onnew concession awards across theMiddle East as it will in all the majorglobal energy supply regions.

—By James McCallum is CEO, Senergy

Digital oilfield is the way - and Mideast is right on it

flydubai contributes to

Tourism Vision for 2020

Passengers benefit from simplified visa rules

Ghaith Al-Ghaith and Jeyhun Efendi during a press conference in Dushanbe.

ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways and South AfricanAirways said yesterday that they have agreed on a codeshar-ing agreement that foresees even greater cooperation. Underthe deal, Etihad would place its “code on flights fromJohannesburg to 10 South African Airways destinations” andSouth African would do the same for 12 routes from AbuDhabi, they said in a joint statement.

The memorandum of understanding would allow “thetwo airlines to introduce a comprehensive range of code-share and interline air services as well as explore synergyand efficiency opportunities,” said the statement. Etihadpresident and chief executive James Hogan said the carrierwas looking to expand its African operations.

“This strategy, of working closely with partner airlines toserve secondary cities in a market, has been highly success-ful for Etihad Airways around the world and we look for-ward to build upon our already strong relationship with theteam at South African Airways to extend our footprint in thestrategically critical African market,” said Hogan. The two air-lines expect to jointly carry more than 20 million passen-gers in 2013. The agreement allows Etihad Airways to con-solidate its access to the African market. It already has simi-lar agreements with Kenya Airways and Air Seychelles.

Etihad, which began operations in 2003, carried morethan 10 million passengers in 2012. With its 73-strong fleet,it serves 88 passenger and cargo global destinations.

Etihad also holds equity investments in Airberlin, AirSeychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus and Jet Airways. Itposted a 200-percent rise in net profit in 2012 and a netincome of $42 million last year compared with $14 millionin 2011. —AFP

Etihad, South African Airways ink deal

MILAN: World stock markets were sub-dued yesterday as the momentumfrom an unexpectedly strong US jobsreport last week faded.

Major indexes on Wall Street as wellas Germany’s DAX hit record highs onFriday, when the US Labor Departmentsaid employers added 165,000 workersin April. The figure was above forecastsand hiring in February and March wasalso stronger than previously estimat-ed. The unemployment rate fell to 7.5percent, the lowest level in four years.Investors turned more cautious yester-day as some focused once again on theproblems facing the global economy.Though growth in the US is holding upwell, it is slowing in China. The 17-coun-try euro-zone remains in recession andunemployment there has been hittinga series of record highs.

By mid-afternoon in Europe,

Germany’s DAX was flat at 8,119.65while France’s CAC-40 was down 0.2percent at 3,903.73. London tradingwas closed for a bank holiday.

The Dow Jones industrial averagewas down 14 points at 14,960 points,a decline of 0.1 percent. The Standard& Poor’s 500 index was up two pointsat 1,616, or 0.1 percent. The Nasdaqcomposite was up nine at 3,387points, or 0.2 percent. Friday’s jobreport counterbalanced weeks ofmixed signals about manufacturingand corporate earnings and renewedhopes of a recovery in the world’slargest economy. “Markets just cameback to life, helped by that strongreading from U.S. nonfarm payrolls.That number completely obliteratedexpectations,” said Stan Shamu, mar-ket strategist at IG in Melbourne.

In Asia, Malaysia’s KLSE Composite

surged 3.4 percent to 1,752.02 after thecountry’s governing coalition wonnational elections, albeit with a weak-ened majority, to extend its unbroken,56 year rule. Hong Kong’s Hang Sengrose 1 percent to 22,915.09. Australia’sS&P/ASX advanced 0.5 percent to5,156.20. Benchmarks in Singapore,Taiwan and Indonesia also rose, whilethe Philippines fell. South Korea’s Kospilost 0.2 percent to 1,962.25. Japan’sstock market was closed for a publicholiday.

Benchmark oil for June delivery wasdown 48 cents to $95.13 per barrel inelectronic trading on the New YorkMercantile Exchange. The contract rose$1.62 to close at $95.61 a barrel on theNymex on Friday. In currencies, theeuro fell to $1.3074 from $1.3110 lateFriday in New York. The dollar rose to99.33 yen from 99.04 yen. —AP

Stocks subdued as

US jobs cheer fades

Swiss bankers

drop opposition

to info exchangeZURICH: The Swiss Bankers Association has dropped its outrightrejection of the exchange of bank client data with foreign taxauthorities, its head was quoted as saying yesterday.

Swiss bank secrecy has come under heavy fire from the UnitedStates, France and Germany since the financial crisis. Switzerlandagreed in 2009 to share more information with foreign authoritieshunting tax cheats on request, but it has consistently rejected anautomatic exchange of data.

Patrick Odier told the Aargauer Zeitung daily paper that thebanking association’s change of heart was largely down toGermany’s rejection in December of a deal to have Swiss banks taxits citizens’ assets without naming them. Odier, who is also seniorpartner of Genevan private bank Lombard Odier, said it was “purecoincidence” that Luxembourg and Austria had both agreed lastmonth to share data on accounts held by foreigners, increasingthe heat on Switzerland to do likewise. “We adjusted our positionin the first quarter after numerous talks with bank representativesand came to the conclusion at the end of March that we should nolonger categorically reject an automatic exchange of information,”he said. “But it should be introduced globally.”

Swiss Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf has signalleda similar willingness to discuss automatic exchange of informa-tion, but the Swiss coalition government remains divided on theissue. —Reuters

B U S I N E S STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Bankers whisper: Spain’s

bailout bill could riseMADRID: Spain’s bill to bail out its banksmay yet rise, some bankers and analystsfear, as a worsening economy hampers thegovernment’s early attempts to sell offnationalized lenders and threatens the“bad bank” housing their rotten propertydeals. Spanish banks say the worst isbehind them after steep losses last yearand they are now recovering - a viewbroadly shared by authorities such as theEuropean Commission, backer of a 41 bil-lion euro ($54 billion) rescue of ailinglenders.

But while Madrid is on schedule withdemanded industry reforms and banks arebetter protected against losses from asunken real estate market, a growing num-ber of bankers argue in private that morestate funds may still be needed to help sellrescued lenders and keep “bad bank”Sareb ticking over.

Sareb was used to clean the balancesheets of state-rescued banks by taking on50.7 billion euros worth of foreclosedproperties and troubled loans to realestate developers.

The assets are matched by 50.7 billioneuros in senior debt and backed by 4.8 bil-lion euros in capital, more than half ofwhich was contributed by Spain’s healthylenders to reduce the burden on statebooks. The 8 percent capital cushion mayhowever be too thin to withstand losseswithout a top-up, which could be hard tosource from the private sector, said severalsenior Spanish bankers and investmentbankers who have worked with the gov-ernment.

“It was a big mistake. The governmentis going to have to take over the entirevehicle sooner or later,” said a Spanishbanking executive, on condition ofanonymity, echoing a view from three oth-er senior bankers. Spain took 41 billioneuros of a 100-billion-euro European cred-it line to bail out its banks last year. The billadded the equivalent of 3.5 percent ofgross domestic product to a deficit thatwas already higher than allowed under EUrules.

The bailout came after several failedgovernment efforts to clean up the finan-cial sector, crippled by more than 300 bil-lion euros in bad loans after a housingbubble burst in 2008.

If the liabilities of the bad bank, knownby its Spanish-language acronym Sareb,were to be put on the state’s balancesheet, it could add up to another 5 per-centage points of GDP to the country’sdebt, pushing it to more than 100 percentof annual output. Spain’s economy min-istry declined to comment.

The real estate parked with Sareb wasalready written down by an average of63.1 percent and the loans by 45.6 whenthe assets were transferred to the badbank, but four bankers argued that furtherlosses could still deplete its capital. Of itsloans, only 22 percent are considered “nor-mal”; 34 percent are rated “substandard”and 45 percent “doubtful”.

Most of the loans are linked to finishedproperties, for which it might be easier tofind a buyer, but 4.3 percent are for unfin-ished developments and nearly 10 percentare for empty lots, for which there is littleor no demand.

Nearly all of the foreclosed propertiesin its portfolio are empty, including apart-ment blocks far outside big cities. Only6,000 of nearly 83,000 housing units havetenants.

Bankruptcies and defaults are on therise in Spain, and the fall in housing pricesaccelerated in the first quarter. The bank-ruptcy of property developer Reyal Urbis,

which now counts Sareb as one of itsmajor creditors, underlined the problem.Meanwhile, Sareb is just beginning tocomb through its assets. “This (structure)could be a problem if the vehicle startsmaking losses and needs more equity,something very likely to happen in ourview once it reappraises its assets,”JPMorgan analyst Jaime Becerril said in arecent note.

One source familiar with Sareb said itwas aware of the risk it might need morecapital, but believed “that would only hap-pen under an extremely distressed eco-nomic scenario.”

A stress test of Spanish banks last yearby consultant Oliver Wyman, which servedas the basis for some of Sareb’s calcula-tions, defined a worst case scenario as a2.1 percent economic drop in 2013 and a0.3 percent contraction in 2014.

Spain expects its economy to shrink 1.3percent in 2013, further than initially fore-cast, while growing 0.5 percent in 2014.Sareb does have a contingency plan forshoring up capital, which involves restrict-ing eventual dividend payments to share-holders, the source said. Otherwise freshcapital will have to come from investors -the state, or sound banks, some of whomhad came under pressure from the gov-ernment to invest.

A spokeswoman for Sareb said “thecontingency plan is the sales plan”, whichentails selling almost half of assets overthe next five years and paying down halfof the debt.

That would bolster Sareb’s capital posi-tion, she said, adding that the vehicle hadenough capital at present to see its strate-gy through and relative to the assets it has.

Spain has already had to fork out morefunds to help sell rescued banks.

After failing to sell nationalised lenderCatalunyaBanc in February as biddersdemanded greater guarantees againstfuture losses, the government was forcedlast month to pump 245 million euros ofextra capital into small nationalised BancoGallego to clinch its sale to Sabadell forone euro.

While a small amount relative to the bil-lions already poured into the system, theneed for a capital hike exposed worriesabout the risks still attached to bailed-outlenders.

Spain still fully owns three banks,including Bankia , controls another, BancoMare Nostrum, and could yet end up con-trolling a fifth, Banco CEISS, if its sale toUnicaja falls through.

These banks and healthy ones alike areincreasingly vulnerable to rising bad loans,especially among small company borrow-ers, as the Spanish economy worsens. Fornow, that is mainly seen as a threat toearnings.

While most banks maintain they havestocked up on enough capital to countergrowing provisions for losses, a handful ofanalysts still believe some will have to domore to ward off problems outside thereal estate realm.

The Bank of Spain on Tuesday tight-ened the rules on how banks classify baddebt in cases of refinancing, in a move thatcould force lenders to recognise more baddebt.

Ratings agency Moody’s had forecastlast October that banks had a 100 billioneuro capital gap, rather than the 54 billioneuros projected by Oliver Wyman in itsstress test.

“Despite all the developments, it’s diffi-cult to see that all of that 100 billion eurosis cancelled out,” Alberto Postigo, analystat Moody’s, said. —Reuters

LONDON: Oil rose above $105 a barrel yesterday to itshighest in nearly a month as an Israeli air strike on a Syrianmilitary facility refocused attention on Middle East supplyrisks, although prices pared gains after weak European eco-nomic data.

Israeli jets hit Syrian targets near Damascus on Sundayin an air raid that Western and Israeli officials called a newstrike on Iranian missiles bound for Lebanon’s Hezbollah.Iran denied the attack was on armaments for Lebanon andurged the region to unite against Israel.

Brent crude touched $105.49 a barrel, the highest sinceApril 11, and was up 70 cents at $104.89 by 1030 GMT. USoil rose to a high of $97.17 and traded up 72 cents at

$96.33. “Rising geopolitical worries have increased the riskpremium on oil and the fear is that the Israeli attack isgoing to lead to a wider involvement of other nations inthe Syrian conflict,” said Victor Shum, an oil consultant atIHS in Singapore.

“That’s allowing oil to extend gains made on the backof strong jobs data in the United States.”

Countering the supply risks, surveys yesterday showedthe euro-zone’s business downturn dragged on in April.The purchasing managers’ indexes (PMIs) also showedGermany is now suffering a contraction in business activitythat has long beset France, Italy and Spain.

“The attack over the weekend of Israel on Syria, on the

one hand, can lead to some increased geopolitical premi-um,” said Olivier Jakob, oil analyst at Petromatrix inSwitzerland. “But the global PMIs are weak and that in itselfis not really bullish for distillates because the economy isstill not providing signs that a strong recovery is ahead.Global oil demand is driven by distillates.”

Brent has gained as much as 9 percent in less thanthree weeks since reaching a 2013 low of $96.75 on April18. Its high for the year is $119.17 reached on Feb. 8.

Prices rallied on Friday in response to an upbeat US jobsreport. Payrolls rose more than expected in April, pushingthe unemployment rate to a four-year low of 7.5 percent,easing concerns about a sharp slowdown in the economy.

Morgan Stanley cited signs of a stronger physical mar-ket for Brent, such as a drop in expected Nigerian crudeexports and supply of North Sea crude Ekofisk in June.

“Crude oil fundamentals continue to tighten, with sup-ply disappointing yet again,” the bank said in a report yes-terday. “The key risk remains weak demand.”

Weak economic data from the world’s second-biggestoil consumer, China, and Europe’s prolonged debt crisis,have helped oil fall from its 2013 high near $120 a barrel.

The official China Securities Journal reported yester-day China’s export growth was expected to slow toaround 10 percent in the second quarter from 18 percentin the first. —Reuters

Oil hits one-month high above $105

PAMPLONA: A man puts up a sign on the window of an association for theunemployed which reads on the last line, “Unemployed but not Stopping” inPamplona, northern Spain, yesterday. —AP

B U S I N E S STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Agaoglu Dubai showroom

Ali Agaoglu

DUBAI: Maslak 1,453 project has been the focus of the buy-ers from the Middle East since it has been introduced atCityscape in Dubai last November. It is currently the largestactive mixed use development in Europe with more than4800 residential units, 200 thousand sqm of retail and a lotof life style activities like a fashion center, amphitheatre,sports facilities etc. with total construction area of 2 millionsqms.

Ali Agaoglu states that before the legislation has passed,there were individual buyers but now investors are buyingtowers. He states that they have sold two towers last weekand another 3 towers are under negotiation. He commentsthat there is special interest for the serviced apartmentssector, the buyers wants to convert the towers for the

needs of the middle eastern families who can reside inTurkey without limitation to exit the country like in the past.

Maslak 1453 project was introduced at $2,650 m2prices and now reached to $3,400m2. General Manager ofAgaoglu Group Hasan Rahval states that comparativeprices in the region is around $6,000m2 and there is a lot ofroom for price increase when the projects construction isfinished. Currently about 65 percent of the residential unitshas been sold. The adds that the size of the project givesthem cost advantage and they are reflecting this to thebuyers that are buying off-the-plan. The government ofTurkey has been improving the ties with the Arab coun-tries. It has liberalized the real estate markets for foreignownership last year and now liberalizing the movement of

people. Arab people who buy real-estate will be entitled tohave residency and will not need Visa as long as they keepthe property. After 8 years, they will be granted full resi-dency.

City of Istanbul As Napoleon said: “If the world was only one country,

Istanbul would be its capital.” Istanbul is a unique city, being the 3rd most popular

European tourist destination after London and Paris.Istanbul enjoys a network of 93 direct flights to Europe andother countries daily. Istanbul is home to ‘The Grand Bazaar’,and soon home to the “ Istanbul International FincanceCenter”, a project by Agaoglu group of companies.

Agaoglu closes over $200m of sales in 10 days New Turkish law bolsters property market sales

KUWAIT: United Industries Company (UIC), amember of the Kuwait Projects Company(KIPCO) Group, posted KD3,618,768 in netprofit for the first quarter of 2013. This repre-sents an increase of 37% over the same peri-od in 2012, where the company reported netprofit of KD 2,648,662.

Earnings per share stood at 8 fils com-pared to 5.45 fils for same period in 2012.UIC’s total assets came to KD179.6 million,showing an increase of 6.7%. This is attrib-uted to the increase in value of investments.

The share of income from associates(QPIC) went up 22% and came to KD 3.37 mil-lion compared to KD 2.76 million during thecorresponding period in 2012. This is due tothe achievement of better results by QPICinvestments.

The share of income from subsidiaries

(SADAFCO) went up 24% and came to KD1.53 million compared to KD 1.23 millionduring corresponding period in 2012. This ismainly attributed to SADAFCO’s improvedsales and operational profit during the peri-od.

Commenting on the results, UIC’sChairman, Sheikh Khalifa Abdullah Al-JaberAl-Sabah said that the Board of Directorsapproved the financial report for the firstquarter of 2013. He noted that the achievedprofits represented a good start to the yearand would contribute to realizing the aspira-tions of the shareholders.

He added: “I would like to express myheartfelt appreciation and gratitude to ourvalued shareholders for their trust and sup-port. We hope to continue to prosper andsucceed with our future plans.”

United Industries posts KD3.61m net profit in Q1

37% rise over same period last year

BEIJING: A Chinese worker sleeps in his bicycle cart under an advertisement for a new building develop-ment as a man passes by wearing a mask due to pollution levels on a street in Beijing yesterday. China’seconomic growth slowed unexpectedly in the first three months of the year, fueling concern about thestrength of its shaky recovery. — AP

LISBON: Portugal yesterday pushed ahead withdeeply unpopular plans to slash 30,000 public sectorjobs by launching talks with unions as part of asweeping savings package to satisfy internationalcreditors. The new “medium-term program”, whichalso includes pushing back the full pension age forcivil servants from 65 years to 66 years and extendingtheir work-week to 40 hours, was announced onFriday.

The program, hoped to be worth about 4.8 billioneuros ($6.3 billion) to the treasury by 2015, is intend-ed to keep the small debt-hit euro-zone member eli-gible for another 2-billion-euro slice of its bailoutfunding. Portugal was granted its 78-billion-eurobailout loan in 2011. Portugal’s “troika” of internation-al lenders-the European Union, the InternationalMonetary Fund and the European Central Bank-needto approve the program and will start evaluating ittoday.

Hundreds of people gathered outside thefinance ministry on Monday to protest as governmentofficials met representatives of the country’s two

main unions, the CGTP and the UGT, to discuss thesavings package. Carrying banners reading “We’rebeing robbed, but we’re not silenced” and “If you’vehad enough: whistle”, demonstrators sang, chantedand whistled against the government’s belt-tighten-ing. The program has also been fiercely attacked byboth unions and government opposition groups.“How can you accept this brutal attack on public sec-tor workers’ rights,” said Ana Avoila with the PublicAdministration Common Front.

The secretary-general of the Socialist Party,Antonio Jose Seguro, also rejected the plans, accusingthe government of bringing Portugal to “the verge ofsocial tragedy” with its austerity measures.

The Portuguese economy is expected to shrink by2.3 percent this year with the unemployment ratepoised to breach a record 18 percent.

With the cuts, however, Portugal’s public deficit isexpected to narrow to 5.5 percent of gross domesticproduct this year, to 4.0 percent in 2014 and finally to2.5 percent in 2015, under the EU’s ceiling of 3.0 per-cent. — AFP

Portugal pushes ahead with wide spending cuts

30,000 public sector jobs to go

Sheikh Khalifa Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announcedyesterday the names of the fivelucky winners of its Yawmi accountdraw, each taking home a prize ofKD5,000.

The lucky winners for the dailydraws took home a cash-prize of KD5000 each, and they are: 1. Kutbuddin Shikari Fakhruddin2. Waleed Fadhel Abdul-Raheem

AlMatrod 3. Laila Ali Khazaal Kamal 4. Ali Taher Mohd AlBaghli5. Fatmah Mohd Ali AlWazzan

With its new and enhanced fea-tures, the Yawmi Account hasbecome more convenient, easier,and faster for customers to benefitfrom. Now, customers will be eligi-ble to enter the draw after 48 hoursonly from opening the account.Customers are also required todeposit KD100 or equivalent only toenter the daily draw, and thecoupon value to enter the drawstands at KD10.

The newly designed Yawmiaccount has been launched to pro-vide a highly innovative offeringalong with a higher frequency andincentive of winning for everyone.Today, the Yawmi account is a wellunderstood product, where its pop-ularity can be seen from the num-ber of increasing account holders.

Burgan Bank encourages every-one to open a Yawmi accountand/or increase their deposit tomaximize their chances to becom-ing a daily winner. The more cus-tomers deposit, the higher thechances they receive of winning thedraw. Opening a Yawmi account issimple, customers are urged to visittheir nearest Burgan Bank branchand receive all the details, or simplycall the bank’s Call Center at1804080 where customer servicerepresentatives will be delighted toassist with any questions on theYawmi account or any of the bank’sproducts and services.

Obama to launchseries of trips on economic plans

WASHINGTON: Immigration, guns and national security aredominating the discussion on Capitol Hill, but Americans byand large are still focused on their bottom line. So PresidentBarack Obama is launching a series of quick jaunts aroundthe country to remind Americans he’s still got jobs and theeconomy on his mind.

Obama will kick off the effort Thursday with a trip toAustin, Texas, the White House said. While in Texas, the presi-dent will visit a technical high school and meet with entre-preneurs. He’ll also drop in on a tech company and talk withblue-collar workers.

The trips come as Obama, less than four months into hissecond term, is facing increasing skepticism from politicalallies and foes alike that he still has the clout to get bigthings done before the 2014 midterm elections creep upand his ability to set the agenda diminishes. Those concernshave been compounded by a failed push on gun controland a similarly unsuccessful effort to avert automatic spend-ing cuts that took effect in March. Obama traveled repeated-ly outside Washington to rally Americans to urge Congressto act on both fronts, but with questionable results.

Progress on the economy provides one opportunity topromote something positive - especially after a solid jobsreport on Friday kicked the unemployment rate down anotch to 7.5 percent, a four-year low that offered hope thatthe US economy is healthier than many had feared. Still,Republicans have criticized Obama over the past four yearsfor announcing several times that he was pivoting back toan issue they say should have taken top billing all along.

“The economy is still Americans’ top concern because thepresident’s policies keep making it harder to create jobs,”said Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker JohnBoehner, R-Ohio, pointing to energy, taxes and Obama’shealth care law. “Unfortunately, I doubt we’ll hear muchabout any of those things during this road show.”

Obama wants to ensure that his economic proposalsdon’t get lost in the shuffle in the coming weeks as Congressgoes to work on an immigration overhaul and the confirma-tion process for Obama’s second-term Cabinet nominees.“Even though some in Congress are determined to createmore self-inflicted economic wounds, there are thingsWashington could be doing right now to help Americanbusinesses, schools and workers,” White House spokesmanJosh Earnest said.

Typically, when Obama touches down for the day in anAmerican town, he delivers a speech and shakes a fewhands before returning to Washington. But these one-daytrips will see Obama make multiple stops at locations thatcan serve to highlight elements of his economic proposals,and will take place every few weeks starting Thursday withAustin. Among the policies Obama plans to push in Austinand elsewhere are proposals, announced in February in hisState of the Union address, to dramatically expand pre-kindergarten programs and raise the minimum wage to $9per hour. Both of those face resistance from some lawmak-ers who say they are too expensive and could put a drag onthe economy. — AP

Burgan Bank announces winners of Yawmi account

PARIS: Shares in a number of companiesin which the deficit-hit French govern-ment has a stake plummeted yesterdayafter Prime Minister Jean Marc Ayraultsaid the state was looking to reduce itsstake in a “number of companies”.

On a slightly falling Paris stockexchange, shares in airliner Air FranceKLM fell by 2.85 percent to 7.39 euros,utility giant GDF Suez fell 1.46 percent to16.49 euros and defence company Safrandropped 1.09 percent to 37.49 euros.

France holds a 37-percent stake inGDF Suez, a 16-percent stake in AirFrance-KLM and a 27-percent stake inSafran. Hit by a stagnant economy, theFrench government is struggling to bal-ance its finances. Last week, theEuropean Union allowed the country atwo-year reprieve to meet the bloc’sdeficit ceiling of three percent of GDPafter Brussels said it expected the Frenchdeficit to reach 3.9 percent in 2013 and4.2 percent in 2014.

The EU also said France will contractby 0.1 percent in 2013 but despite thegloom, there was a glimmer of positivenews on Monday with an index trackingsentiment in France’s key service sectorcoming in slightly better than expected.

The Markit purchasing managers’index for the services sector rose in Aprilto 44.3 from a four-year low of 41.3 inMarch, though at below 50, the result stillindicates economic contraction.

The survey however said manufactur-ing data was at its worst level sinceAugust 2010 as companies prioritize cut-ting staff, helping push French unem-ployment to a record 3.2 million peoplein March.

On Monday French President FrancoisHollande spent the first anniversary of hiselection victory against right-wingerNicolas Sarkozy as the most unpopularpresident in modern French history withmany angered by his government’s fail-ure to turn around the economy. — AFP

French companies hit by government sale talk

ATHENS: Greece is “making progress” in over-coming “deep-seated problems”, theInternational Monetary Fund said yesterday,before adding that Athens must still find away to get the economy growing again afteryears of recession. “Progress on fiscal adjust-ment has been exceptional by any interna-tional comparison,” the IMF said in a regularreport capping the visit of an audit team aspart of the country’s bailout program.

“Greece has also made a significant dent inits competitiveness gap,” the report said.Butthe IMF stressed that “restoring growthremains the overarching precondition forwhether Greece succeeds” in its bailout pro-gram with the IMF and European Union, andmuch work remains to be done especially interms of structural reforms. “Insufficient struc-tural reforms” have meant that deficit-cuttinghas been achieved primarily through slashingjobs and salaries and has brought “unequaldistribution of the burden of adjustment,” theIMF said.

The IMF added that “very little” had beendone to tackle Greece’s “notorious tax eva-sion,” with the rich and self-employed “simplynot paying their fair share” as austerity unfairly

hits workers earning a regular salary or a pen-sion. In a speech last month, Poul Thomsen,the IMF official in charge of the Greek pro-gram, pointed to tacit corruption in a tax serv-ice that “has too many employees who havegotten their jobs because of political connec-tions.” Greece also suffers from too manyclosed professions, the Fund said, a reality thatit believed also unfairly hits salary earners notprotected by special regimes that limit hiringand firing.

Since 2010, the European Union andInternational Monetary Fund have committeda total of 240 billion euros ($317 billion) in res-cue loans to Greece. Greece was obliged toadopt a strict austerity program, includingdrastic salary and pension cuts, as part of itstwo EU-IMF bailout deals.

On Friday the European Union forecastthat Greece would end six years of recessionin 2014 with growth of 0.6 percent, in linewith an earlier forecast by the IMF.

But despite the prediction for expansionnext year-following a recession forecast ofminus 4.6 percent this year-the IMF warnedthat attempts to “artificially” stimulate growthshould be resisted.—AFP

IMF reports Greece‘progress’ to growth

B U S I N E S S

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

KUWAIT: KIPCO - the Kuwait Projects Company - hasannounced the winners of its annual employee awards. Theawards were presented by KIPCO’s Vice Chairman Faisal Al-Ayyar and Group Chief Operating Officer, Samer Khanachet,at the company’s annual Gala Dinner which took place inthe Sheikha Salwa Hall at the Marina Hotel, Salmiya. Theevent brought together over 350 KIPCO Group employeesfrom companies across the MENA region.

The winner of the KIPCO Group Best Company of theYear 2013 award went to OSN - the region’s largest and the

world’s fastest growing pay-per-view company. The awardwas presented to OSN Chief Executive, David Butorac andmembers of the OSN team.

The winner of the Best Group Employee of the Year 2013award was won by KIPCO’s Finance & Accounts department,headed by Senior Vice President, Mazen Hawwa. The awardwas in recognition of the department’s outstanding contri-bution to KIPCO Group operations. The winner of KIPCO’sBest Employee of the Year 2013 was Treasurer, Adel Al-Waqyan.

KIPCO announces

2013 employee awards

KIPCO’s Vice Chairman, Mr Faisal Al Ayyar (sixth from left) and Group Chief Operating Officer Samer Khanachet, presentthe Best Company of the Year Award to OSN.

KIPCO’s Vice Chairman, Faisal Al-Ayyar (third from left) and Group Chief Operating Officer,Samer Khanachet, present the Best Employee of the Year Award to KIPCO’s Finance &Accounts Department.

KIPCO’s Vice Chairman, Faisal Al-Ayyar (centre) and Group Chief Operating Officer, SamerKhanachet, present KIPCO’s Best Employee of the Year Award to Mr Adel Waqyan.

KUWAIT: Commercial Facilities Company (CFC)introduced its new smartphone applicationsproviding its services directly through smart-phone devices that are compatible with the“App Store” and “Google Play”. This includes IOSand Android systems, allowing customers to usethe various services of the company anywhereand at anytime using an easy interface and asecure connection.

Speaking about the new applications, NasserAli Al-Mannai, Assistant Managing DirectorMarketing, Commercial Facilities Company said:“We are always keen to be updated with the lat-est technological developments, and are pleasedto provide our services through our new smart-phone application, which is a remarkable addi-tion to the services provided by CFC. This appli-cation is available in both Arabic and English andallows customers to access all information byusing their smartphone and tablet devicesdirectly and not through a web connection. Withthis new application customers will recognizethe company profile and latest offerings; in addi-tion customers can take advantage of severalbenefits, loan applications, loan calculator, pay-ment of installments by K-NET and quick pay-ment service. To save time and effort customerscan submit their queries to the call center direct-

ly through this application.”Al-Mannai added: “Using phones today is not

limited to only making calls and sending textmessages, but its usage extends to completingand finalizing work, including booking traveltickets and hotels along with paying bills in allits forms. There is no doubt that the quick globaltechnological development has contributed to achange at how companies today communicatewith customers. This is what led us to launchthese new and easy smartphone applicationsthat can be used anytime and anywhere usingthe respected device. Customers can downloadthis application and activate it easily by loggingin and registering with a username, ID number,valid email address, the CFC account No. & pass-word to enjoy all CFC services and benefits.”

In conclusion, Al-Mannai said: “This servicecomes in line with CFC’s commitment to providethe best services that meet our existing andpotential customer’s needs. We will always worktowards developing our services and productsto satisfy our valued customers and hope thatthey benefit from them”.

CFC, the first leading finance company with amarket presence of 34 years, has gained astronger position thanks to its uniqueness inbest serving its clients, quick processing of

transactions and remarkable convenience. CFCcan be reached in Sharq (head office), Hawalli,Al-Riggae, Fahaheel and Al-Jahra, in addition toall 21 car dealerships, or visit their websitewww.cfc-kw.com.

CFC introduces its new

smartphone applications

services through App Store and Google play

DUBAI: Jumeirah Group, the global luxuryhospitality company and a member ofDubai Holding, announces its performancein the first quarter of 2013 and its mid-termgrowth strategy.

During the first quarter of 2013, averageoccupancy in Jumeirah’s portfolio of hotelshas increased by 9 percent globally, com-pared to the same period in 2012. In thesame period the average daily rate rose by 9percent and the revenue per availableroom, an industry standard for measuringperformance, rose by 22 percent. The per-formance data is based on hotels that hadmore than 18 months of operations.

Speaking at the Arabian HotelInvestment Conference in Dubai, GeraldLawless, President and CEO of the JumeirahGroup, said: “The full year of 2012 and thefirst four months of 2013 have been atremendous success for Jumeirah. The Dubaihotels have truly benefitted from the contin-uing attraction of Dubai as a prime holidayand business destination. Our hotel in AbuDhabi, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, has estab-lished itself as one of the top must-visit loca-tions in the capital. Our two properties inthe Maldives are building a strong reputa-tion in that market; and our network ofEuropean properties, including London,Frankfurt, Mallorca, Rome and Istanbul areperforming well. Jumeirah Himalayas Hotelin Shanghai has developed a loyal customerbase and is going from strength to strength.”

The top five source markets forJumeirah’s properties in the UAE continue tobe Russia (19.0 percent), the UnitedKingdom (16.2 percent), the GCC (14.1 per-cent), Germany (7.4 percent) and the UnitedStates (3.5 percent). For Jumeirah’s six prop-erties in Europe, including London,Frankfurt, Mallorca and Rome, the top fivemarkets were the UK (15 percent), UAE (11percent), USA (9.4 percent), Germany (8.5percent) and Saudi Arabia (6.4 percent);while the Asian hotels in China and theMaldives enjoyed strong flows of businessfrom China, Russia, the UAE, USA and UK.

The Dubai properties have benefitedfrom a significant increase in business (115.2percent) from Australia, and we look forwardto welcoming more guests from that regionas the new partnership between EmiratesAirlines and Qantas develops. There has alsobeen strong growth in business from thecompany’s traditional markets for Dubai,namely the UK and Russia, with room-nightsup 28.4 percent and 8.6 percent respectivelyin the first four months of 2013 compared tothe same period last year.

New Madinat Jumeirah Hotel Starts over the Summer

In November 2012, approval was givenfor the construction of a fourth hotel withinthe Madinat Jumeirah resort in Dubai, com-plementing the existing properties - Mina A’

Salam, Al Qasr and Dar Al Masyaf. It has nowbeen confirmed that preparatory works onthe site of the new 430-room hotel, whichsits between Mina A’ Salam and the WildWadi Waterpark, will start during the sum-mer of 2013 and that construction is expect-ed to complete by the end of 2015. Thisdevelopment brings Jumeirah’s total num-ber of hotels in the United Arab Emirates to10, introducing further choice to its guests,employment opportunities to hospitalityprofessionals and pride to the people of theUAE.

Opening in Kuwait on 07 May 2013Jumeirah has also confirmed that its new

hotel in Kuwait, Jumeirah Messilah BeachHotel & Spa, will have its soft opening on 07May 2013. The hotel is located 10 minutesfrom Kuwait International Airport and closeto Kuwait City’s business centre and majorshopping malls. The secluded beachfrontresort features 316 rooms and suites, 80 resi-dential suites and 12 villas, six restaurantsalong with cafes and lounges, a 3,500 m2Talise Spa, a 200-metre private beach, twoswimming pools and a children’s play area.Additionally, extensive conference and ban-queting facilities are available, including ashowpiece 1,950 m2 ballroom. JumeirahMessilah Beach Hotel & Spa is the company’sfirst hotel in the Gulf region outside the UAE.

RecruitmentThere are now over 14,000 people

employed at Jumeirah managed propertiesaround the world, 60 percent of whom workin hotels owned by Jumeirah and 40 percentin hotels operated under managementagreement. Within the workforce there are140 different nationalities and with 2013designated as the Year of Emiratisation,Jumeirah is introducing additional pro-grammes to attract, train and retain the bestEmirati talent.

Gerald Lawless continued: “Travel andtourism is a major driver of economic devel-opment and we are proud to be contribut-ing to it. The whole sector represents 9 per-cent of global GDP and employs over 255million people globally or 8.7 percent of allpeople of working age and it one of the fewsectors that is growing year on year. As aleading luxury hotel company, our focus forthe immediate future will be on continuingto grow our brand presence in the MiddleEast, Africa and Asia Pacific - and on bringingsocial and material benefits to the countriesin which we operate. We are also workingtowards the Vision 2020. Under the visionaryleadership of His Highness SheikhMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum theemirate has successfully built a world classtourism infrastructure that will allow us todouble the number of visitors by 2020. Wealso hope that Dubai will be selected as thehost city of the World Expo 2020.”

Nasser Ali Al-Mannai

New Madinat Jumeirah Hotel

DUBAI: Infiniti has opened its first showroom inHong Kong. This is the next step in the premiumbrand’s quest to establish a strong presence inHong Kong. Last year, the company moved itsglobal headquarters to the city which bridgesthe western world and Asia and provides anexcellent gateway to China. Situated in theheart of Hong Kong’s commercial district, theshowroom, called Infiniti Gallery, is located atG/F Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Road, Central,Hong Kong.

This marks a major milestone of Infiniti’sglobal growth plan as Infiniti Gallery reinforcesits commitment to Hong Kong. The showroomwas officially opened by Johan de Nysschen,President of Infiniti Motor Company Ltd., andDonald Yip, Chief Executive Officer of DahChong Hong Holdings Limited, Infiniti’s localautomotive dealership partner in Hong Kong.

The event featured an appearance byJennifer Tse, the renowned Hong Kong model-actress, against the sleek backdrop of Infiniti’smuch-acclaimed concept car, Essence. Also ondisplay was the FIA Formula One WorldChampionship Constructors’ trophy of theInfiniti Red Bull Racing team. DJ EROK of InfinitiRed Bull Racing provided the entertainment forthe evening. For the first time ever in HongKong and for one night only, Essence took prideof place at the event. The epitome of the Infinitibrand, Essence, a V6 592hp luxury hybrid coupe,is known for its distinctive styling, intuitive tech-nology and dramatic performance.

Along with fellow members of the Infiniti

concept trilogy, Etherea and Emerg-e, Essencehas influenced Infiniti’s recent design languageincluding the all-new Infiniti Q50 which madeits Asian debut at the recent Shanghai AutoShow. “As the only premium automotive manu-facturer to be headquartered in Hong Kong, Iam very pleased that there is now the firstInfiniti showroom, the Infiniti Gallery, right herein our home town, itself a uniquely discerningluxury car market,” said de Nysschen.

“The opening of Infiniti Gallery is the latestmilestone in our global expansion which nowextends to 50 markets worldwide. We look for-ward to welcoming customers to Infiniti Galleryand enabling them to experience our range ofpremium performance Infiniti vehicles.”

“We are honoured to be representing theInfiniti brand in Hong Kong and bringing‘inspired performance’ to the discerning luxurycar customers of Hong Kong,” added Yip. “Theopening of Infiniti Gallery is a significant chapterin the history of Dah Chong Hong HoldingsLimited. To have the stunning Essence on dis-play in Hong Kong for an exclusive viewingmade the night very special. “We are confidentthat Infiniti vehicles, with their definitive styling,performance and craftsmanship will change theway Hong Kong car owners think about premi-um vehicles.” The new Infiniti Gallery will show-case vehicles from Infiniti’s premium model line-up. The showroom will create an ultra-modern,luxurious and sophisticated environment wherevisitors can experience Infiniti’s renowned cus-tomer service and attention.

Hiroyuki Fushiki

GM, Infiniti

product strategy

DUBAI: Hiroyuki Fushiki (53) has been named GeneralManager, Infiniti Product Strategy, effective April 1, 2013.In this role, he will be responsible for the definition andimplementation of Infiniti’s future product portfolio inorder to support the company’s brand promise and itsprojected growth. Fushiki will be based at Infiniti’s globalheadquarters in Hong Kong and report directly to Johande Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.

“A strong product portfolio is the basis for Infiniti’sgrowth,” said President of Infiniti Motor Company Ltd.,Johan de Nysschen. “We are determined to transform thecompany and set it up for future success. Hiroyuki is apassionate car guy who fully understands the premiummarket, its customers and their requirements. I am verypleased to have him as the next new member on ournew and dedicated Infiniti leadership team, and we wel-come him to Hong Kong.”

Fushiki is a seasoned Product planner with almost 30years of global experience. He joined Nissan in 1983 asan engineer in the Planning group within theEngineering division. Throughout his career, he workedon a variety of vehicles including premium SUVs such asthe Infiniti QX56 and JX35. In addition, he brings experi-ence from multiple global vehicle programs includingsome that were implemented jointly with other automo-tive companies.

Fushiki is a Japanese national. He has a degreeBachelor in Mechanical Engineering from Mie Universityin Japan.

Infiniti opens its first-ever

showroom in Hong Kong

Jumeirah Group sees strong

results in first 4 months of 2013

t e c h n o l o g yTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

TORONTO: Worried about what your dog ischewing on when you’re at work, or whetheryour home is secure while on vacation? Newapps can transform old smartphones intoremote security cameras for home monitor-ing systems.

Presence, which was launched late lastmonth, converts a spare Internet-connectediPhone, iPad or iPod Touch into a free videocamera with real-time video and audiostreaming, and motion detection and notifi-cations.

“Essentially we give you an inexpensivesecurity system that you can use to monitor

your house, or help you watch your kids, cats,elderly relatives or act as a baby or nannycam,” said Gene Wang, chief executive of thePalo Alto, California-based company PeoplePower.

Unlike traditional monitoring systemsthat can be expensive and need technicalknowledge to install and use, Wang saidPresence is a free do-it-yourself system thatcan be set up simply by downloading andconfiguring the app.

To use it consumers install and login totheir account on two devices - for exampletwo iPhones. Then they can start the camera

within the app on one of the devices and itcan be viewed from the app on the other.Triggers can also be set to record whenmotion is detected and to send alerts. Theapp can help to avoid false alarms, accordingto Wang, because it sends a video clip in anemail to the user showing the motion thattriggered the alert.

“With these high-end security systems,you have a lot of false positives and then thesecurity company and police come out and itturns out it was your cat knocking over abroom or something like that,” Wangexplained.

He added that many people havereplaced their old smartphones with newones and a monitoring system would be agood way to make use of the old devices.

Another app created by a company calledPeople Power 1.0 for iPhone and Androidreads electricity meters in real time to showconsumers how much they’re spending andwhether they are going over budget. “Thecenter of computing has switched to thesesmart computers that we all carry in ourpockets,” Wang explained.

“What people are going to want to beable to do is control their personal Internet of

Things from their hands,” he added, referringto Internet-connected devices in the home.The company also plans to work with under-funded public schools to help them set upsecurity systems using old devices donatedby the community.

Other apps have similar functions.AirBeam is a home monitoring app for iOSthat allows users to access video feeds from aWeb portal. Izon is an app that streams real-time audio and video from iZon cameras toiPhone and Android devices, and Ivideon, foriOS and Android, also lets people build theirown surveillance system. —Reuters

Apps convert smartphones into home monitoring system

B&N to add Google Play

app store to its Nook HD‘Update will occur over-the-air to all devices’

NEW YORK: Barnes & Noble isteaming up with Google to vastlyincrease the number of apps avail-able on its Nook HD tablets.

The bookstore chain says it willadd Google’s Play app store to its 7-inch Nook HD and 9-inch HD+products in the US and UK via asoftware update. The moveexpands the number of apps avail-able from the roughly 10,000 theNook already offered in its ownstore - such as Angry Birds andNetflix - to 700,000-plus apps andgames offered on Google Play. Andit comes after a weak holiday salesseason for the Nook, which is strug-gling to gain market share in therapidly expanding tablet market.

CEO William Lynch said researchand sales during the holidays showthat consumer preference is shift-ing toward all-purpose tabletsrather than simple e-readers. “Wesaw coming off holiday the marketmoved to multifunction tablets,” hesaid. “Consumer research showedus the breadth of applications avail-able is really critical.”

Lynch said the company hadbeen in discussions with Google“on and off ” for the past severalyears. “This addresses the one per-ceived gap that we had with othertablets virtually overnight,” he said.Terms of the deal were undisclosed.

The update is automatic and willoccur over-the-air to all devicesconnected to Wi-Fi. I t will alsoinclude other Google Inc. serviceslike the Chrome browser, Gmail,YouTube and Google Maps. GooglePlay Music includes millions ofsongs as well.

The prices and styles of theNooks that Barnes & Noble offersare not changing. The 7-inch NookHD starts at $199 and the 9-inchNook HD+ tablet starts at $269.Barnes & Noble also sells non-tablet

e-book readers, the Nook SimpleTouch and Nook Simple Touch withGlowLight, which will not offerGoogle Play.

Barnes & Noble Inc., based inNew York, has invested heavily in itsNook e-book readers and a digital

library as more readers shift to elec-tronic books and competition hasgrown from discount stores andonline rivals.

The retailer launched high-defi-nition versions of its Nook HD andNook HD+ tablets in September inan effort to better compete againstAmazon.com’s Kindle Fire as well as

other tablets like the iPad, iPad Miniand Google’s own Nexus 7.

The company’s Nook unit hasattracted investors - MicrosoftCorp. owns 16.8 percent, whileU.K. publisher and education com-pany Pearson PLC has a 5 percent

stake. But aside from investorfunding, it has not been prof-itable. In its most recent quarter,which included the holiday sea-son, Nook revenue fell 26 percentto $316 million. Barnes & Noblerecorded $21 million in returnsdue to weak demand during theholiday season, and $15 million in

allowances for promotions.Meanwhile market share has

slid. Barnes & Noble had a 1.9 per-cent share of the worldwide tabletmarket in the fourth quarter, mak-ing it the No. 5 Tablet player behindApple, Samsung, Amazon and Asus,

according to data from IDC. But bythe first quarter it had slipped outof the top 5, replaced by Microsoft.

At the same time, competition isproliferating, with the global tabletmarket growing quickly. It morethan doubled to 49.2 million unitsduring the first quarter, accordingto IDC’s estimate. —AP

LOS ANGELES: In this Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 file photo, nook tablets are on display at a Barnesand Noble bookstore in Los Angeles. Barnes & Noble is teaming up with Google to vastlyincrease the number of apps available on its Nook HD tablets. —AP

SHANGHAI: A visitor rides a tricycle during the 23rd China International Bicycleand Motor Fair in Shanghai yesterday. The fair runs from May 6 to 9. —AFP

PARIS: This picture shows the logo of French video-sharing website Dailymotion.The head of Dailymotion, the video-sharing site at the centre of an uproar afterthe French state blocked its sale to Yahoo!, said in an interview published on May3, 2013 there was still a lot of interest abroad for his firm. —AFP

BRUSSELS: EU anti-trust officials said yes-terday that Google-owned Motorola wasabusing its leading position in Germany’smobile phone market by filing a patentinjunction against Apple over some coresmartphone functions.

A statement said that the EuropeanUnion had reached a “preliminary view” ona competition investigation opened in April2012. I t had decided that MotorolaMobility’s action “amounts to an abuse of adominant position prohibited by EU anti-trust rules.”

The Commission spelt out that “whilerecourse to injunctions is a possible reme-dy for patent infringements, such conductmay be abusive where standard-essentialpatents (SEPs) are concerned and thepotential licensee is willing to enter into alicence on Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (so-called “FRAND”) terms.”

EU Competition Commissioner JoaquinAlmunia said: “The protection of intellectu-al property is a cornerstone of innovationand growth. But so is competition.

“I think that companies should spendtheir time innovating and competing onthe merits of the products they offer-notmisusing their intellectual property rightsto hold up competitors to the detriment ofinnovation and consumer choice.”

Almunia’s spokesman said no view hadyet been reached on a related complaint by

Microsoft, but spelt out when pressed onGoogle’s involvement.

Motorola Mobility is a wholly-ownedsubsidiary-that “most of the behaviour inquestion took place before the companywas acquired by Google.”

He said the row centred on “generalpacket radio services technology” con-cerned with “intermediate technologiesbetween 2G and 3G standards,” in otherwords older mobile phone functioning.

In April 2013, the US International TradeCommission tossed out a MotorolaMobility patent claim that threatened toblock the importation of some AppleiPhone models into the United States.

Motorola had accused Apple of infring-ing on patented technology that makestouch screens ignore fingers when peopleare holding smartphones to their ears forcalls.

Also in April 2013, Germany’s patentcourt invalidated a patent held by Apple-and contested by rivals Motorola andSamsung-on its “slide to unlock” functionfor smartphones. It concluded that the hor-izontal swiping gesture was not a technicalinnovation in itself and therefore did notmeet requirements of European patent law.

The aim of the function was to make iteasier for users to unlock their smartphoneand not solve a specific technical problem,the court said. —AFP

EU backs Apple in

Google-Motorola

patent fight

SAN FRANCISCO: Disturbed by the nation-wide epidemic of cellphone robberies andthefts, law enforcement officials across thecountry are looking to the wireless industry tohelp find a cure.

In San Francisco, where half the robberieswere phone-related last year, District AttorneyGeorge Gascon is calling on major companiesin nearby Silicon Valley to create new technolo-gy such as a “kill switch” to permanently andquickly disable stolen smart phones, makingthem worthless to thieves.

The prosecutor said he’s recently had twodiscussions with Apple, maker of the populariPhone, and has talked informally with Google,creator of the Android, the world’s most popu-lar operating smartphone platform. And, healso wants to meet with Samsung, the globalsmartphone market leader.

“We know that the technology can bedeveloped to prevent this. This is more aboutsocial responsibility than economic gain,”Gascon said.

The stakes are huge in the battle to combatcellphone theft. Nearly 175 million cellphones -mostly smartphones- have been sold in the U.S.in the past year and account for $69 billion insales, according to IDC, a Massachusetts-basedresearch firm.

And, now almost one out of three robberiesnationwide involves the theft of a mobilephone, reports the Federal CommunicationsCommission, which is coordinating formationthis fall of a highly-anticipated national data-base system to track cellphones reportedstolen.

The FCC is also working with officials inMexico to crack down on the trafficking ofstolen mobile phones that make it across theborder. San Francisco’s district attorney is notthe only high-ranking big-city law official seek-ing solutions.

In Washington D.C, where than 40 percentof its robberies in 2012 involved cellphones,police Chief Cathy Lanier said new federal lawsare necessary to require all wireless providersto participate in the national stolen phonesdatabase, which is now done by choice.

“This is a voluntary agreement and the deci-

sion makers, heads of these (wireless) compa-nies may transition over time and may not bein the same position five years from now.”Lanier said in an email. “Something needs to beput in place to protect consumers.”

On the theory that an inoperable phone isas useless as a “brick,” Lanier and Mayor VincentGray also have urged residents who have theirphones stolen to call their carriers and ask thatthe device be “bricked,” or disconnectedremotely to prevent resale on the black market.

In New York City, police have created asmartphone squad and partnered with Appleto track down stolen iPhones using the device’stracking number. For example, when an iPhoneis stolen, Apple can report to police where thephone is located, even if it’s been switched to adifferent carrier.

Police said the city’s overall crime rate lastyear increased three percent mostly due to themore than 15,000 thefts of Apple-related prod-ucts - a majority of them iPhones - said PaulBrowne, a police spokesman.

“We would’ve had a one percent decreasein overall crime if you subtracted the Applethefts,” said Browne, adding that police havecoined the phenomenon, “Apple-picking.”

“We’re trying to protect the orchard, so tospeak,” Browne said. He added that policeoften use officers as decoys using their owniPhones to catch would-be robbers and stingsto catch those who sell them on the black mar-ket. About 75 percent of the stolen devicesstay within the city’s five boroughs and somehave been tracked down as far as theDominican Republic.

In addition, New York Police CommissionerRay Kelly has been working with US Sen.Charles Schumer, D-New York, the FCC andCTIA, a trade group for wireless providers, onthe national stolen phone database, along withsix of the largest wireless companies.

Computer security expert Darren Hayes saidlaw enforcement agencies, major corporationsand the wireless industry have respondedslowly to the spike in mobile phone thefts,leaving individuals as well as businesses vulner-able. “Smartphones have become such anextension of our lives with all of our personal

information on them and criminals recognizingits mass appeal,” said Hayes, a professor andcomputer information systems program chairat Pace University in New York. “Professionally,there are some corporate network administra-tors who can control their company serversfrom their smartphone. While it’s convenient, itcould also put them at risk and could be thebiggest source of data loss if they are stolen.

“We could see a potential nightmare emerg-ing,” Hayes said. Jamie Hastings, a CTIA vicepresident, said the national stolen phone data-base is a step in the right direction anddeserves a chance. “To suggest that our mem-bers don’t care about their consumers is com-pletely inaccurate,” Hastings said. “Our mem-bers are now focusing their energies on thedatabase and achieving the start -up goal byNovember. The important thing at this stage isto allow our members to execute the plan thatall of the stakeholders agreed upon.”

The national database will be similar to aglobal database devised by GSMA, a wirelesstrade group based in the United Kingdom.Nearly 100 wireless companies across 43 coun-tries participate in the overseas database forreported stolen mobile phones, said ClaireCranton, a GSMA spokeswoman in London.

But Gascon said a national network to trackstolen phones comes up short and he isadamant that a kill switch is the best strategy torender a phone useless.

In March, he met with Apple’s governmentliaison officer Michael Foulkes to talk aboutcreating a kill switch technology. He describedthe encounter as “disappointing” but said asubsequent phone conversation with Apple’sgeneral counsel Bruce Sewell last month led toplans for talks that would include Apple’s tech-nical people.

Representatives of the tech giant did notrespond to requests for comment. “For me, atechnical solution is probably better than just acriminal solution,” Gascon said. “We can alwayscreate more laws, but look at how long italready takes to prosecute somebody at theexpense of the taxpayers? “If a phone can beinoperable at the flick of a switch, then a data-base will become moot.” —AP

New efforts to curb

cellphone theft

NEW YORK: US Cellular, the only major USwireless carrier to resist the iPhone, says it’sgoing to start selling it this year. CEO MaryDillon announced the reversal on a call withinvestors and analysts. She didn’t specifyexactly when the company would start sell-ing Apple’s phone, or what models it wouldcarry.

A year and a half ago, Dillon said USCellular Corp. had the opportunity to carrythe phone but rejected it because it was tooexpensive. The iPhone is more expensivethan most smartphones, and phone compa-nies absorb this cost to sell it for $199 or less.

Dillon says many of the customers leav-ing the Chicago-based company are doingso because it doesn’t carry the iPhone. In the18 months since she talked about rejectingthe iPhone, the company has lost 268,000,or 5 percent, of its customers on contract-based plans, which are the most lucrative.

Apart from the wholesale cost of the indi-vidual phone, carriers face another obstacle:Apple requires them to commit to purchas-ing a minimum amount. In the case of USCellular, it has promised to buy $1.2 billion

worth of iPhones over three years, accordingto a regulatory filing. That’s roughly 2 millionphones.

Investors appeared to be concernedabout the cost of the phone, too. US Cellularshares fell $1.08, or 2.8 percent, to $37.39 inafternoon trading. The company has its ownstock listing, but is controlled by Telephone& Data Systems Inc., a phone company.

With US Cellular’s embrace of the iPhone,the six biggest cellphone companies in theUS will all be selling it. Many smaller ones doas well. The iPhone was sold exclusively byAT&T for three and a half years, and the sub-sequent broadening of the carrier base hasbeen crucial in boosting Apple’s sales. No. 4T-Mobile USA was locked out of the iPhoneclub for a long time, but started selling it lastmonth after a network revamp enabled thecompany to offer high-speed data service onthe phone. US Cellular is the fifth largest cell-phone company, after No. 5 MetroPCS com-bined with T-Mobile this week. US Cellularalso has a new high-speed data network,and Dillon said that was a factor in the deci-sion to accept the iPhone. —AP

US Cellular embraces

iPhone after rejecting it

NEW YORK: A new hybrid form of yogathat blends calisthenics and rehabilita-tion techniques is gaining popularityacross the United States with itsbrawnier path to fitness.

Fitness experts say DDP Yoga maylack the relaxation benefits of a moretraditional yoga practice, but it can be awell-balanced and effective exerciseworkout. Shirley Archer, an AmericanCouncil on Exercise spokesperson, saidDDP Yoga features traditional yoga pos-tures in a non-traditional format.

“The style is oriented toward a fight-er’s workout,” said the Singer Island,Florida-based fitness and wellness

expert. The program incorporates allaspects of fitness-cardio training, musclestrength and endurance, flexibility andbalance but it does not include the med-itative or relaxation benefits of tradition-al yoga.

“If you do not include the meditativeaspect of yoga,” Archer said, “the benefitof balancing the nervous system andencouraging restoration is lost.”Professional wrestler Diamond DallasPage said he developed DDP for peoplewho wouldn’t be caught dead doing thetraditional mind-body practice.

“At the end of 1999 I blew out myback,” said Page, a three-time World

Championship Wrestling (WCW) WorldChampion. “My wife suggested yogaand I thought, ‘That’s for girls.’ But I triedit and was blown away by how much ithelped me.”

DDP Yoga mixes traditional yoga pos-tures with what Page calls “rehab stuffand old-school calisthenics.” In mid-classhe will drop down for a set of pushups ina boot camp-like setting.

The postures are similar to thosefound in all yoga classes but Page jetti-soned their Sanskrit names and beefedup their English equivalents. In DDPYoga the crescent pose, a back-bendinglunge, is re-named superstar. Mountain,

or standing pose, is called touchdownand child’s pose is re-dubbed safetyzone. A warrior pose becomes road war-rior and packs a martial arts punch. “It’sa difference in tone and attitude,” saidPage, who has been doing workshopsacross the United States and will bringDDP Yoga to Scotland in June. He hasalso taken it to U.S. troops in Iraq andAfghanistan.

Terri Lange, a 61-year-old retirednurse, practices both traditional yogaand DDP Yoga. “I love the flexibility yogagives me. I think that’s the fountain ofyouth,” said Lange, who is based inWoodstock, Georgia.

But she said she likes DDP Yoga forthe cardio punch it adds to her practice.“Traditional yoga is quieter. DDP Yoga isshouted commands and working withforce,” she said.

Archer believes if DDP Yoga attractsmen who would not otherwise be active,then that is a big bonus. “Since this pro-gram does not have a spiritual compo-nent, it is attractive to people who maynot be interested in more traditionalyoga,” she said. Lange said the differentfeel of DDP Yoga attracts a lot of mendisinclined “to walk into a yoga studio intights.” “It’s an aggressive way to do this,”she said. — Reuters

BEIJING: A foreign resident wears a mask as air pollution shrouded Beijingyesterday. Swathes of acrid haze have repeatedly shrouded large parts ofthe country in recent months, provoking outrage among Internet users andunusually outspoken calls for action in state-run media. — AFP

H E A LT H & S C I E N C ETUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Hybrid yoga focuses on brawnier form of fitness

PHILADELPHIA: Double-amputee Jason Kogerused to fly hundreds of miles to visit a clinicianwhen he wanted to adjust the grips on his bionichands.

Now, he’s got an app. Koger came toPhiladelphia this week to demonstrate the i-limbultra revolution, a prosthetic developed by theBritish firm Touch Bionics. Using a stylus and aniPhone, Koger can choose any of 24 grip pat-terns that best suit his needs.

It’s the latest evolution in equipment forKoger, a 34-year-old married father of three fromOwensboro, Ky., who lost his hands in an all-ter-rain vehicle accident in 2008. “Five years ago, Icouldn’t pull my pants up by myself,” said Koger.“Today, I go hunting and do some of the thingsthat I probably never imagined I could havedone five years ago.”

The technology indicates how rapidly thefield of prosthetics is changing, benefitingpatients from injured military members to vic-tims of the Boston Marathon bombing.Practitioners say increased government researchin the wake of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistanis driving some of the advances.

In Koger’s case, he was shocked by a downedpower line. He went into a coma and had noidea until he woke up three days later that doc-tors had amputated both his limbs at mid-fore-arm.

His wife spent those three days researchingprosthetics, Koger said. Since then, he’s used avariety of prostheses, which he considers liketools - different extensions for different tasks.Electric hooks have allowed him to pursue hispassion for hunting. Myoelectric hands, whichreact to electrical impulses generated by hisremaining arm muscles, offer more precisemovements.

The previous version of Koger’s myoelectricdevice required programming by a prosthetist,meaning Koger had to fly to Advanced ArmDynamics in Dallas. The prosthetist would workwith Koger to pick a few grip patterns - such aspinching, pointing or shaking hands - to pro-gram into the i-limb.

Yet sometimes Koger would get home andrealize they weren’t the ones he needed. Now,the latest i-limb comes with iPhone or iPad appthat allows Koger to reprogram his hand with

the touch of a stylus. On Thursday, he demon-strated by gripping an orange, a baseball and acan of soda. The i-limb allows fingers andthumbs move independently to conform aroundcertain objects, said Ryan Spill, a prosthetist forAdvanced Arm Dynamics’ new office inPhiladelphia, who is working with Koger. Thethumb is also motorized, not passive, as in previ-ous prostheses.

The Boston Marathon bombings, whichwounded more than 260 people including manywith serious leg injuries, have shined a light onthe advances in prostheses. But experts notethat technology for upper extremity bionics,which involve fine motor skills, is much differentfrom what’s needed for lower extremities, whichfocuses on weight distribution and gait.

There have also been huge advances in com-puterized knees and feet, said Joe Reda, assis-

tant director of orthotic and prosthetic servicesat the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in WestOrange, N.J.

“The changes are happening rather rapidlynow and I think it’s because of our wars over-seas,” said Reda. “The government is trying toput more money into research and develop-ment.”

The i-limb ultra revolution costs about$100,000, though some insurance might cover it.Koger, who received his free in exchange fortesting them and providing feedback, metFriday in Philadelphia with other amputeesinterested in the new technology.

Mark Dowling, 50, of Newark, Del., lost hisarm to cancer several months ago. He said hecried while watching Koger demonstrate howthe hand worked. “I’m very touched with his sto-ry,” Dowling said. —AP

App lets amputees program their own bionic hands

Technology is rapidly changing

PHILADELPHIA: Double amputee Jason Koger, 34, of Owensboro, Ky., accompaniedby prosthetist for Advanced Arm Dynamics, Ryan Spill, demonstrates his i-limb ultrarevolution prosthetic hands during an interview with the Associated Press, inPhiladelphia.—AP

DUBLIN: Ireland’s Roman Catholic leadersappealed to the public to lobby their law-makers to reject a bill that would permitabortions deemed necessary to save thelife of the pregnant woman, a measurelong ordered by Irish and European courts.

In a joint statement, Ireland’s bishops,archbishops and lone cardinal describedthe bill, unveiled this week after decades ofdebate, as “a dramatic and morally unac-ceptable change to Irish law.”

They argued it would be most grievous-ly wrong to give any woman an abortion toassuage her threats to commit suicide, asthe bill allows. “It is a tragic moment forIrish society when we regard the deliberatedestruction of a completely innocent per-son as an acceptable response to the threatof the preventable death of another per-son,” the bishops wrote.

Cardinal Sean Brady, leader of Ireland’s 4million Catholics, said in an interview thatthe bill made the right to life of the fetussubservient to the rights of the woman.“There are two lives involved here,” he said.

The intervention of Ireland’s dominantchurch in the abortion debate raises thepolitical temperature at a moment whenthe 2-year-old government of PrimeMinister Enda Kenny is already fraying overthe merits of the bill. The government hasbeen under international pressure to clarifythe rights of doctors to perform life-savingabortions since October, when a miscarry-ing Indian woman died from blood poison-ing in an Irish hospital after being denied atermination.

The smaller left-wing party in the coali-tion, Labour, supports the bill but Catholicconservatives in Kenny’s own Fine Gael par-ty are vowing to weaken or block it, chieflyover its suicide section. The bill faces weeksof parliamentary debate and likely amend-ments before reaching a vote expected inJuly. If passed, the bill would permit a sin-gle doctor to authorize an abortion if thewoman’s life was in immediate danger fromcontinued pregnancy; two doctors if thepregnancy posed a potentially lethal risk,such as by triggering the return of cancer inremission; and three doctors if the womanwas threatening to kill herself.

Kenny, who has previously clashed withBrady and other Catholic leaders over theiradmitted involvement in child abuse cover-

ups, declined to respond. But DeputyForeign Minister Eamon Gilmore, theLabour leader, said the bishops had noinfluence on government policy.

“They’re entitled to express their pointof view. This is a democratic country. Butthe laws of this country are made by thoseof us who are elected by the people andare charged with that responsibility,”Gilmore said. “And for 21 years now, legisla-tors have failed to legislate for a SupremeCourt decision which set down what waslawful and what wasn’t lawful in circum-stances where a pregnant woman’s life is atrisk. It is time that that legislation is dealtwith.” In 1992, the Supreme Court ruledthat an abortion in Ireland should be lawfulonly if doctors determined one was neces-sary to preserve the woman’s life. Crucially,the judges found that this rule shouldapply to women making credible threats tokill themselves if denied a termination.

In 2010, the European Court of HumanRights ruled that Ireland’s failure to backthe Supreme Court judgment with lawsand medical regulations meant Irish doc-tors were left in legal limbo and womenwere endangered in the process.

The Strasbourg, France-based courtfound that doctors sometimes told preg-nant patients who needed abortions, par-ticularly to keep their cancer in remission,to travel to England for the procedures. Thecourt ordered Ireland to remedy the situa-tion. But the government still took noaction until the death of SavitaHalappanavar. She was 17 weeks pregnantwhen hospitalized in severe pain at thestart of a protracted miscarriage. Doctorsrefused her requests to terminate the preg-nancy, arguing that the fetal heartbeatmust stop first. During a three-day delay, acoroner’s inquest found, Halappanavar con-tracted blood poisoning from ruptureduterine membranes and died of massiveorgan failure after the fetus’ own death.

Ireland has the most severe restrictionson abortion in Europe. An 1861 law makesit a crime punishable by life in prison toprocure or perform an abortion. The billwould reduce that maximum prison penal-ty to 14 years. Dozens of women in Irishmaternity wards annually do receive abor-tions, but only for the most clear-cut med-ical emergencies.— AP

TRENTON: Men who are bashfulabout needing help in the bedroomno longer have to go to the drugstoreto buy that little blue pill.

In a first for the drug industry,Pfizer Inc. told The Associated Pressthat the drugmaker will begin sellingits popular erectile dysfunction pillViagra directly to patients on its web-site. Men still will need a prescriptionto buy the blue, diamond-shaped pillon viagra.com, but they no longerhave to face a pharmacist to get itfilled. And for those who are both-ered by Viagra’s steep $25-a-pill price,Pfizer is offering three free pills withthe first order and 30 percent off thesecond one.

Pfizer’s bold move blows up thedrug industry’s distribution model.Drugmakers don’t sell medicinesdirectly to patients. Instead, they sellin bulk to wholesalers, who then dis-tribute the drugs to pharmacies, hos-pitals and doctors’ offices.

But the world’s second-largestdrugmaker is trying a new strategy totackle a problem that plagues theindustry. Unscrupulous online phar-macies increasingly offer patientscounterfeit versions of Viagra andother brand-name drugs for up to 95percent off with no prescriptionneeded. Patients don’t realize thedrugs are fake or that legitimatepharmacies require a prescription.

Other major drugmakers likely willwatch Pfizer ’s move closely. I f itworks, drugmakers could begin sell-ing other medicines that are ram-pantly counterfeited and sold online,particularly treatments for non-urgent conditions seen as embarrass-ing. Think: diet drugs, medicines forbaldness and birth control pills.

“If it works, everybody will hop onthe train,” says Les Funtleyder, ahealth care strategist at private equi-ty fund Poliwogg who believesPfizer’s site will attract “fence-sitters”who are nervous about buyingonline. The online Viagra sales arePfizer’s latest effort to combat a prob-lem that has grown with the popular-ity of the Internet. In recent years,Americans have become more com-fortable with online shopping, withmany even buying prescription drugs

online. That’s particularly true forthose who don’t have insurance, arebargain hunters or want to keep theirmedicine purchases private.

Few realize that the vast majorityof online pharmacies don’t follow therules. The Internet is filled with illegit-imate websites that lure customerswith spam emails and professional-looking websites that run 24-hourcall centers. A January study by theNational Association of Boards ofPharmacy, which accredits onlinepharmacies, found that only 257 of10,275 online pharmacy sites it

examined appeared legitimate.Experts say the fake drugs such

websites sell can be dangerous.That’s because they don’t include theright amount of the active ingredient,if any, or contain toxic substancessuch as heavy metals, lead paint andprinter ink. They’re generally made infilthy warehouses and garages inAsia, Eastern Europe and LatinAmerica.

Online buyers are “playing Russianroulette,” says Matthew Bassiur, vicepresident of global security at NewYork-based Pfizer. “The factories are

deplorable. I’ve seen photographs ofthese places,” he says. “You wouldn’teven want to walk in them, let aloneingest anything made in them.” Pfizer,which invented the term “erectiledysfunction,” has long been aggres-sive in fighting counterfeiters. It con-ducts undercover investigations andworks with authorities around theglobe, with good reason.

Counterfeit versions of Viagra anddozens of other Pfizer medicines robthe company of billions in annualsales. Viagra is one of its top drugs,with $2 billion in worldwide revenue

last year. And it’s the most counter-feited drug in the US, according tothe company.

A 2011 study, in which Pfizerbought “Viagra” from 22 popularInternet pharmacies and tested thepills, found 77 percent were counter-feit. Most had half or less of thepromised level of the active ingredi-ent. Viagra is appealing to counter-feiters because it carries a doublewhammy: It’s expensive and it treatsa condition with an “embarrassment”factor. Crooks running the illegalonline pharmacies brazenly explain

their ultra-low Viagra prices - often $1to $3 a pill - by claiming they sellgeneric Viagra.

Generics are copycat versions ofbrand-name prescription drugs. Theycan legally be made after a drugmak-er’s patent, or exclusive right to sell adrug, ends. Generic drugmakers don’thave to spend $1 billion or so on test-ing to get a new drug approved, sotheir copycat versions often cost upto 90 percent less than the originaldrug. But there is no such thing asgeneric Viagra. Pfizer has patents giv-ing it the exclusive right to sell Viagrauntil 2020 in the US and for manyyears in other countries.

Many patients are unaware ofthat. Dr David Dershewitz, an assis-tant urology professor at New JerseyMedical School who treats patients atNewark’s University Hospital, sayserectile dysfunction is common inmen with enlarged prostates, dia-betes and other conditions, but mostmen are too embarrassed to discussit.

He says well over half of hispatients who do broach the issuecomplain about Viagra’s price. Sometell Dershewitz that they go onlinelooking for bargains because theycan’t afford Viagra. “The few that doadmit to it have said that the resultshave been fairly dismal,” but none hassuffered serious harm, he says.

For Pfizer, that’s a big problem.People who buy fake drugs onlinethat don’t work, or worse, harm them,may blame the company’s product.That’s because it’s virtually impossi-ble to distinguish fakes from realViagra.

“The vast majority of patients dobelieve that they’re getting Viagra,”said Vic Cavelli, head of marketing forprimary care medicines at Pfizer,which plans to have drugstore chainCVS Caremark Corp. fill the ordersplaced on viagra.com.

The sales lost to counter feitsthreaten Pfizer at a time whenViagra’s share of the $5 billion-a- yearglobal market for legitimate erectiledysfunction drugs has slipped, fallingfrom 46 percent in 2007 to 39 per-cent last year, according to healthdata firm IMS Health.— AP

Bashful? Buy the little blue pill online

TOKYO: Japan, China and South Koreaagreed yesterday to cooperate in the fightagainst cross-border air pollution, despitestrained relations between the neighboursbecause of territorial disputes.

The annual ministerial environmentalmeeting in Kitakyushu, southern Japan, onSunday and Monday, came after acrid hazeblanketing swathes of China earlier thisyear sparked health warnings in Japan asthe smog spread across the ocean.

The meeting agreed the launch of a newforum to share information on environ-mental policy and technology, according toa joint statement. “We have made a newstep toward solving the air pollution prob-lem through cooperation among Japan,China and South Korea,” Japan’sEnvironment Minister Nobuteru Ishiharatold a news conference.

Ishihara earlier told his counterparts inremarks carried by public broadcaster NHKthat it was “indispensable for China, SouthKorea and other countries to cooperate” onissues such as air pollution and climatechange.

Zhou Shengxian, China’s minister for

environmental protection, cancelled hisattendance, citing a tight schedule afterthe earthquake in Sichuan last month. ButJapanese media reported the likely influ-ence of a territorial dispute over theJapanese-controlled Senkaku islands in theEast China Sea, which Beijing also claimsand calls the Diaoyus.

Li Ganjie, China’s vice minister for envi-ronmental protection, who attended in hisplace, was shown on NHK saying: “We wishto create a more beautiful environment inAsia by continuing cooperation with Japanand South Korea.”

South Korea’s Environment MinisterYoon Seong-Kyu told the meeting that thethree-way cooperation on environmentalissues had reached a “new turning point”with new governments in all three coun-tries.

Relations between Tokyo and SouthKorea have been strained by a separate ter-ritorial row over a Seoul-controlled chain ofislets in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). Themeeting on air pollution, climate changeand and environmental policy has beenheld since 1999. — AFP

Japan, China, S Korea to cooperate on air pollution

Ireland Catholic bishops condemn abortion bill

GROTON: In this Friday, March 2, 2012, file photo, counterfeitViagra pills, top and bottom left, are displayed alongside realones, top and bottom right, in a lab at Pfizer in Groton, Conn.In a first for the drug industry, Pfizer Inc. told The AssociatedPress yesterday, that it will sell erectile dysfunction pill Viagradirectly to patients on its website. — AP

H E A LT H & S C I E N C ETUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

FRESNO: California and federal publichealth officials say valley fever, a poten-tially lethal but often misdiagnosed dis-ease infecting more and more peoplearound the nation, has been on the riseas warming climates and drought havekicked up the dust that spreads it.

The fever has hit California’s agricul-tural hear tland par ticularly hard inrecent years, with incidence dramatical-ly increasing in 2010 and 2011. The dis-ease - which is prevalent in arid regionsof the United States, Mexico, Central andSouth America - can be contracted bysimply breathing in fungus-laced sporesfrom dust disturbed by wind as well ashuman or animal activity.

The fungus is sensitive to environ-mental changes, experts say, and a hot-ter, drier climate has increased dust car-rying the spores. “Research has shownthat when soil is dry and it is windy,more spores are likely to become air-borne in endemic areas,” said Dr. GilChavez, Deputy Director of the Centerfor Infectious Diseases at the CaliforniaDepartment of Public Health.

Longstanding concerns about valleyfever were heightened last week when afederal health official ordered the trans-fer of more than 3,000 exceptionally vul-

nerable inmates from two San JoaquinValley prisons where several dozen havedied of the disease in recent years. A daylater, state officials began investigatingan outbreak in February that sickened28 workers at two solar power plantsunder construction in San Luis ObispoCounty.

Although millions of residents inCentral California face the threat of val-ley fever, experts say people who workin dusty fields or construction sites aremost at risk, as are certain ethnic groupsand those with weak immune systems.Newcomers and vis itors passingthrough the region may also be moresusceptible.

Nationwide, the number of valleyfever cases rose by more than 850 per-cent from 1998 through 2011, accordingto the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention. In 2011, there were nearly22,000 cases, with most cases reportedin California and Arizona.

In California, according to the CDC,valley fever cases rose from about 700 in1998 to more than 5,500 cases reportedin 2011. The disease has seen thesharpest rise in Kern County, followedby Kings and Fresno counties.

Out of the 18,776 California cases

between 2001 and 2008, 265 peopledied, according to the state healthdepartment. Arizona saw an even steep-er rise: The number of reported casesthere went from 1,400 in 1998 to 16,400in 2011, with the highest rates of infec-tion occurring in Maricopa, Pima andPinal counties. Drought periods canhave an especially potent impact on val-ley fever if they follow periods of rain,said Prof. John Galgiani, director of theValley Fever Center for Excellence at theUniversity of Arizona. Rainfall leads tofungus bloom, but limits dust.

“When it dries up, that’s when thefungus goes into the air,” Galgiani said.“So when there is rain a year or two ear-lier, that creates more cases if droughtfollows.” Another reason for the increasein cases, Galgiani said, is new residents,who are more susceptible to the dis-ease, relocating to areas with the spores.

In addit ion, the CDC and theCalifornia Department of Public Healthsay improved reporting methods andbetter diagnosis also partially explainthe increase in valley fever. Despite that,an estimated 150,000 valley fever infec-tions go undiagnosed every year, theCDC says. That’s because valley fever isdiff icult to detect and there’s l i tt le

awareness of the disease, experts say.The fever often causes mild to severeflu-like symptoms, and in about half theinfections, the fungus - cal ledCoccidioides - results in no symptoms.But in a small percent of cases, the infec-tion can spread from the lungs to thebrain, bones, skin, even eyes, leading toblindness, skin abscesses, lung failure,even death. “Valley fever is a very com-mon problem here, and it devastatespeople’s lives,” said Dr. Royce Johnson,professor of medicine at UCLA and chiefof infectious diseases at Kern MedicalCenter. “But many patients don’t knowabout it, and some physicians are onlyvaguely aware of it because half of ourphysicians come from out of state.”

Dale Pulde, a motorcycle mechanic inLos Angeles County, said he contractedthe disease three years ago after travel-ing to Bakersfield in Kern County andwas coughing so hard he was blackingout; he spit blood and couldn’t catch hisbreath. For two months, doctors testedhim for everything from tuberculosis tocancer until blood tests confirmed hehad the fever.

After two lung operations, Puldegave up his job and is on disability. Hesays he has to take anti-fungal medica-

tion that costs him more than $2,000per month out of pocket. He had to sellhis house in Sylmar, Calif., to raise mon-ey for his treatment. “When I found outthat health officials knew about (thisdisease) and how common it is, I wasbeside myself,” said Pulde, now 63. “Whydon’t they tell people?” California publichealth officials say they are working toeducate and train the public and doc-tors to recognize the illness.

The state has trained county healthdepartments about the fungus, Chavezsaid. It has also included information onvalley fever in a newsletter the CaliforniaMedical Board sends to the state’slicensed physicians. The CDPH websiteand social media feature informationand data about the disease, includingadvice to limit outdoor activities on dry,windy days.

As prison officials gear up to moveinmates from the endemic areas, doc-tors and patients say more needs to bedone, including funding research towork on a cure. “If the state is so con-cerned about prisoners, they should beworrying about all of us who live andwork in the valley,” said Kathy Uhley, aformer realtor from Los Banos who con-tracted the fever last year. — AP

Fever hits thousands in parched West farm region

IMAX film programTuesday:** 9:30am Showtime Available for GroupsTornado Alley 3D10:30am, 6:30pm, 8:30pmFlight of Butterflies 3D 11:30am, 9:30pmTo The Arctic 3D 12:30pm, 7:30pmBorn to be Wild 3D 5:30pm

Wednesday: ** 9:30am Showtime Available for GroupsTo The Arctic 3D  10:30amTornado Alley 3D 11:30am, 6:30pm, 9:30pmFlight of Butterflies 3D  12:30pm, 7:30pmJourney to Mecca 5:30pm Born to be Wild 3D 8:30pm

Thursday:** 9:30am Showtime Available for GroupsFlight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 5:30pm, 8:30pmBorn to be Wild 3D 11:30am Tornado Alley 3D12:30pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pmTo The Arctic 3D  6:30pm

SEND US YOURINSTAGRAM PICS

What’s more fun than clicking a beauti-ful picture? Sharing it with others! Letother people see the way you see

Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times willfeature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagramfeeds. If you want to share your Instagram pho-tos, email us at

instagram@kuwaittimes.net

Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Write to us

W H AT ’ S ONTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

AnnouncementsThe TIES Center’s ‘trip’

The TIES Center cordially invites those who areinterested in its trip to the Historical, Vintage andClassic Car Museum, which is the first museum in

Kuwait specializing in old cars on May 30th at 6:00 pm.Revisit past memories or learn something new. If youlove cars then this is the trip for you. Even if you don’tlove cars, come anyway; you will enjoy the trip. Formore information/registration, log onto: www.tiescen-ter.net.

GRAMOLSAV on May 10

Kottayam Association, Kuwait is conductingMalayalam Arts competitions - Gramolsav’ 2013on 10th May 2013 at United Indian School by

4:00pm. The winners of this prestigious competition willbe awarded with trophies and medals. The competi-tions are for Solo Nadan Pattu, Poetry Recitation andKadaprasamgam. The competitions are meant for chil-dren as well as adults. The group is divided as Sub-Junior, Junior, senior and Super Senior where asKadaprasamgam is only for Junior and Senior groups.The closing date of receiving entry forms is 7th May,2013. For entry forms please email togramolsav2013@gmail.com and the entry forms areavailable at Family Super Market and Al-WatanRestaurant, Abbassiya.

NAFO ‘Samanwayam’

T he 10th anniversary of NAFO Kuwait will becelebrated on May 10 at the AmericanInternational School Auditorium from 6pm

onwards. Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta willinaugurate the event. Former Indian Ambassadorto the US and the United Nations T P Sreenivasanand NSS Director Board Member PandalamSivankutty will be guests of honor. NAFO will alsopresent an eclectic dance drama ‘Krishna’ which isconceived and choreographed by PadmashriShobana. She will be accompanied by a 15-mem-ber troupe from Kalarpana Chennai and supportedby Oscar winner Rasool Pookkutty. It has voice-overs in English by film personalities such as IrrfanKhan, Konkonasen, Shabaana Azmi, John Abraham,Prakash Raj, Stephen Devassy and P Rajeevan.

Konkani musical show

U nited Friends Club - Kuwait presents KuwaitTrio’s Konkani Songit Sanz (a Konkani musi-cal evening) with fun filled comedy and

songs, starring: Gracy Rodrigues, Clemmie Pereira,Irene Vaz, Lucy Aranha, Espy Crasto, Bab. Agnel,Katty de Navelim, Salu Faleiro, Gasper Crasto, Brazde Parra, Anthony D’Silva, Agnelo Fernandes, Seby& Seby, Zeferino Mendes, Lopes Bros., ComedianNelson, Laurente Pereira & Cajetan de Sanvordem-Michael D’Silva-Mario de Majorda (Kuwait Trio). Theshow will be held on Friday, 10th May 2013 at 4 pmat the Indian Community School (Senior), Salmiya,Kuwait. Music will be provided by Maestro Shahu.

IMAX

Curves, Kellogg’s kick-off strategic partnership in Kuwait

Curves For Women and Kellogg’s Special K announcedKuwait’s first health-based partnership campaignbetween the two companies targeting residents in

Kuwait to adopt a balanced lifestyle through healthy nutri-tion and exercise. The campaign, which kicked-off onInternational Health Day, will entitle 10,000 lucky womenwho purchase two boxes of Special K to win various mem-bership packages from Curves Kuwait.

Curves For Women, GCC Area Manager, Salma Khreishsaid: “Curves and Kellogg’s Special K both stand at the fore-front of health and fitness excellence. Therefore, we believethis partnership that stems from Kuwait will lead to manymore people here taking the first step towards a healthylifestyle. We hope that the simplified campaign mechanicswhich involves receiving a scratch and win coupon afterpurchasing two Special K boxes will encourage women ofall ages in Kuwait in taking the healthy step forward.”

Kellogg’s Kuwait, Marketing Manager, Samer Hasrounisaid: “We are very excited to launch this partnership here inKuwait and we believe that both our brands stand for two

very important aspects of a healthy lifestyle; nutrition andexercise. Through these two elements, achieving and main-taining your optimum weight level and having a healthyoutlook on life becomes rather simple.”

Created specifically for women, Curves For Womenoffers a complete fitness and weight loss program to helpwomen achieve their objectives. Women interested inincreasing the intensity of their workout to boost energylevels and increase overall mobility of joints and muscles,or reach their ideal weight can join the Curves 30-minuteworkout, three times a week, at any of the Curves clublocations across Kuwait.

The Curves 30-minute workout exercises every majormuscle group and burns fats, up to 500 calories duringeach training session. Through a wide range of strengthtraining, cardio and stretching programs, women will beable to reach their ideal weight and fitness goals, as well asadopt healthier lifestyles. While traveling, members ofCurves For Women can also use their membership card atany of Curves locations worldwide.

Zafran, the contemporary Indianrestaurant by Foodmark, hosted agroup of media representatives to

an up close and personal exclusive mas-ter cookery class held by the restaurantsmaster chefs; Chef Mohit Dhingra andChef Gaurav Singh. Chef Singh was spe-cially flown in for the event to provideinsights and incorporate some of hisfavorite easy-to-prepare ingredients intoapproachable home-style dishes.

During the course of the afternoon,participants put on an apron and discov-ered the secrets of Indian cooking and

the exciting use of flavors. With the chef’sassistance they created interesting dish-es including mushroom and cheesekurkure, murg awadhi korma, jhakiyaand chironji ka pulao and kesar and pistaphirnee. They were treated to the mouthwatering delicacies they cooked. Theytook home a goodie bag consisting ofZafran’s famous spice kit.

Sajan Alex, Country OperationsManager, Foodmark Kuwait, said: “It iswith great pleasure that we conductedthis exclusive cooking session for selectmedia representatives to learn the culi-

nary secrets of Indian cooking. We arereally keen to informally meet up withthe local media once a year, furtherstrengthen our relationship with themand thank them for their ongoing sup-port. Zafran is all about flavour andindulging in Indian spices, the represen-tatives enjoyed a memorable cookingexperience as they reproduced the dish-es. After this huge success, we will con-tinue to conduct many more masterclasses.” The participants had a goodtime as they interacted with Chef Gauravand Chef Mohit. They received food

preparation advice and presentationtechniques on how to deliver sophisti-cated presentation with simple ingredi-ents, all of which will be sure to impressguests. Chef Mohit Dhingra also assem-bled and incorporated some of hisfavorite easy-to-prepare ingredients intoapproachable home-style dishes.

Zafran, located in Salmiya (Salem AlMubarak Street), is known for its vibrantand modern setting, and is a warm andwelcoming retreat for friends and familywho wish to relax and enjoy good highquality food at purse-friendly prices.

Cookery class held by Zafran’s master

chefs Gaurav Singh & Mohit Dhingra

The Gulf University for Science andTechnology (GUST) celebrated theGerman Corner opening on

Sunday, May 05, 2013 in the A M Al-RefaiLibrary. German Ambassador FrankMarcus MANN and Vice President forAcademic Affairs, Dr. Robert Cook offi-cially opened the event. Also present atthe opening were Dean of the College ofArts and Sciences, Assistant Dean,College of Business Administration andother members of the GUST Community,students and staff.

Dr Cook welcomed the GermanAmbassador and the attendees of theevent and said he was pleased at theintroduction of the German Corner in theLibrary and that it was a step forward inintroducing the GUST Community to yetanother foreign language collection. Healso said that the facility of borrowingbooks could be extended to the mem-bers of the German Community inKuwait. On behalf of GUST, Dr RobertCook thanked the German Ambassadorand requested him to say a few words.

The German Ambassador in his speechwelcomed and thanked the attendees,and GUST for its support to the GermanCorner initiative and specifically thankedMs. Elvisa Alduaij for her efforts in coordi-nating with the Library Director, Ms.Shobhita Kohli in arranging the GermanCorner launch. He also notified the atten-dees about a German school that wouldbe opening in Kuwait in the followingyear. Commenting on the collection, theAmbassador said that he would like toarrange for more variety and also an

increase in the number of German booksat the Library.

The A. M. Al-Refai Library houses theGerman Corner in addition to a few otherCorners and works closely with therespective Embassies in maintaining andpromoting their books and audio-visualcollections. On the occasion of theGerman Corner opening the Library hadon display around 200 German booksand a few from Germany which were inArabic too.

German Corner opens at the GUST

Dartmouth and the American University of Kuwait(AUK) renewed their institutional cooperativeagreement that promises to build on the success

of a 10-year relationship. Under the terms of the agreement, first signed in

2003, Dartmouth and AUK collaborate on numerousprograms, including mutually beneficial faculty and stu-dent exchanges. Dartmouth experts in engineering,information technology, library sciences, communica-tions, the arts and sciences, university governance, andother fields regularly visit Kuwait and students, faculty,and staff from Kuwait travel to Hanover to work withtheir counterparts at Dartmouth. Dartmouth also pro-vides a wide range of administrative and academic con-sulting services to AUK. “Global partnerships are critical-

ly important to Dartmouth in an increasingly connectedworld,” said Dartmouth Interim President Carol L. Folt.“We are so proud to partner and collaborate with aninstitution like AUK that values the kind of strong liberalarts education Dartmouth has been committed to fornearly 250 years.” Chair of the AUK Board of TrusteesSheikha Dana Nasser Al-Sabahcommented, “Our part-nership with Dartmouth has been, and continues to be,pivotal to the success of the American University ofKuwait. Dartmouth is a model to which we aspire indeveloping our own programs, curriculum, and creatingthe intellectual infrastructure of what we believe a liber-al arts academic community should be.”

The memorandum of understanding was signed byFolt;Sheikha Dana Nasser Al-Sabah; Dale F. Eickelman,

the Ralph and Richard Lazarus Professor of HumanRelations and Relationship Coordinator for theDartmouth-American University of Kuwait Program; andEarl L. (Tim) Sullivan, member of the AUK Board ofTrustees. “As we prepare to celebrate AUK’s 10-yearanniversary,” Shaikha Dana Al Sabah continued, “welook forward to continuing this relationship as we seekto imbed a liberal arts culture into the Kuwaiti highereducation system.”

“Dartmouth’s entire community has benefitted fromthe deep symmetrical alliance that our two institutionsshare,” said Folt. “The breadth and depth of partnershipsbetween the faculty, students, and staff at both schoolsserves as a powerful cross-cultural model for liberal artseducation in the 21st century.”

Dartmouth, AUK renew institutional agreement

Chair of the AUK Board of Trustees Sheikha DanaNasser Al-Sabah signing the agreement.

Dartmouth Interim President Carol L. Folt signingthe agreement.

A group photo (from left) Dale F. Eickelman, Carol L. Folt,Sheikha Dana Nasser Al-Sabah and Earl L. (Tim) Sullivan.

Information

Embassy

EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIAThe Australian Embassy Kuwait does nothave a visa or immigration department.All processing of visas and immigrationmatters in conducted by The AustralianConsulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.aus-dxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS)immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel:+971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (VisaOffice); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). InKuwait applications can be lodged at theAustralian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor,Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-SalemStreet, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait,Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days:09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit theirwebsite www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more informa-tion. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visason-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm.

n n n n n n n

EMBASSY OF CANADAThe Embassy of Canada in Kuwait doesnot have a visa or immigration depart-ment. All processing of visa and immi-gration matters including enquiries is conduct-ed by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi,UAE. Individuals who are interested in working,studying, visiting or immigrating to Canadashould contact the Canadian Embassy in AbuDhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.going-tocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy ofCanada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St,Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website atwww.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada isopen from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday throughThursday. The reception is open from 07:30 to12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizensare provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sundaythrough Wednesday.

n n n n n n n

n n n n n n n

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency inthe State of Kuwait, the Embassy of theRepublic of Cyprus, on behalf of theMember States of the EU and associatedStates participating in the Schengen cooper-ation, would like to announce that as from2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’Consulates in Kuwait will use the VisaInformation System (VIS). The VIS is a centraldatabase for the exchange of data on short-stay (up to three months) visas betweenSchengen States. The main objectives of theVIS are to facilitate visa application proce-dures and checks at external border as wellas to enhance security. The VIS will contain allthe Schengen visa applications lodged by anapplicant over five years and the decisionstaken by any Schengen State’s consulate. Thiswill allow applicants to establish more easilythe lawful use of previous visas and theirbona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS,applicants will be required to provide theirbiometric data (fingerprints and digital pho-tos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is asimple and discreet procedure that only takesa few minutes. Biometric data, along with thedata provided in the Schengen visa applica-tion form, will be recorded in the VIS centraldatabase. Therefore, as from 2nd October2012, first-time applicants will have to appearin person when lodging the application, inorder to provide their fingerprints. For subse-quent applications within 5 years the finger-prints can be copied from the previous appli-cation file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidencywould like to assure the people of Kuwait andall its permanent citizens that the MemberStates and associated States participating inthe Schengen cooperation, have taken allnecessary technical measures to facilitate therapid examination and the efficient process-ing of visa applications and to ensure a quickand discreet procedure for the implementa-tion of the new VIS.

EMBASSY OF SOUTH KOREAThe Embassy of the Republic of Korea inKuwait will organize 2013 K-POP Contest onThursday, June 6, 2013 at 6:00 pm. The aimof the contest is to provide an opportunity to theparticipants to showcase their exciting talents to theaudience. Everyone is encouraged to participate inthe contest. Application forms can be downloadedfrom the Embassy’s website: http://kwt.mofa.go.kr(Select English from the menu at the top of thepage then Bilateral Relations) or visit the “KoreanCulture Diwaniya” Facebook Group. Interested appli-cants must send their application forms toKuwait@mofa.go.kr by 24 May 2013.

n n n n n n n

EMBASSY GREECE The Embassy of Greece in Kuwait has thepleasure to announce that visa applica-tions must be submitted to Schengen VisaApplication Centre (VFS office) located at 12thfloor, Al-Naser Tower, Fahad Al-Salem Street, Al-Qibla area, Kuwait City, (Parking at Souk Watia). Forinformation please call 22281046 from 08:30 to17:00 (Sunday to Thursday). Working hours:Submission from 08:30 to 15:30. Passport collec-tion from 16:00 to 17:00. For visa applicationsplease visit the following websitewww.mfa.gr/kuwait.

W H AT ’ S ONTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

We are glad to inform you that we launched our site on instagram.Follow us on @sebamedkuwait and (hashtag)#sebamedkuwait andsend us your shots involving all family members and be the lucky

winner of a valuable prize from Sebamed products.

Sebamed on

Instagram

n n n n n n n

EMBASSY OF SOUTH AFRICAThe Embassy of the Republic of SouthAfrica will be closed on Tuesday, 28 May2013, for an official event. The Embassy willresume it’s normal working hours on Wednesday,29 May 2013, from Sunday to Thursday. Pleasenote that the Working hours will be from 8h00 to16h00 & the Consular Section operation hours willbe from 8h30 to 12h30, for any emergenciesplease contact: 94924895.

Congratulations and blessings to Hamada and Khaled on the occasion of theiracademic excellence and wishing them more success. From Uncle Sherif Ismail.

CONGRATULATIONS

Vigor Events & Al Gas Events incooperation with PalladiumGroup will organize a one-day

seminar in Kuwait on the 19th of May2013 for Dr David Norton the famousstrategy guru who has worked withhundreds of organizations around theglobe in the continued development ofthe six-stage Execution PremiumProcess (XPP) strategy execution frame-work, which, with the BalancedScorecard as a core tool, are both a sys-tem and a feedback mechanism toenable executive teams to navigatestrategically through the business envi-ronment. The adoption of the XPPensures that an organization’s leader-ship is capable of preserving at alltimes the focus and the strategic initia-tives that secure the organization’sfuture.

During this seminar Dr. Norton willpresent his latest thinking on thedevelopment of the XPP frameworkand will focus specifically on organiza-tional alignment. He will discuss boththe process approaches of achieving anorganization which is fully-aligned tothe strategy, as well as the infrastruc-

ture approaches necessary to executestrategy, such as Theme Teams and theevolving role of the Office of StrategyManagement (OSM).

David P. Norton is the world’s lead-ing authority on strategic performancemanagement. He is a co-founder anddirector of several professional servicesfirms, such as Palladium Group,

Balanced Scorecard Collaborative, andRenaissance Worldwide. A frequent lec-turer and writer around the world,Norton’s work on strategy manage-ment has been the subject of manybooks, articles, executive conferences,training seminars, and other programs.Norton is co-author, most recently, ofThe Execution Premium: Linking

Strategy to Operations for CompetitiveAdvantage (Boston: Harvard BusinessPress, 2008). Norton’s books have beentranslated into 23 languages. TheBalanced Scorecard concept wasselected by the editors of HarvardBusiness Review as one of the mostinfluential management ideas of thepast 75 years. Along with Kaplan,Norton was voted as one of the world’s12 most influential thinkers by Sun TopMedia’s “Thinkers 50” in 2008. Nortonwas awarded the “Champion ofWorkplace Learning and PerformanceAward” by the American Society forTraining and Development.

This seminar is a part of TheKnowledge Club series of valuable andunique seminars that will be organizedin Kuwait by Vigor & Al Gas Events, TheKnowledge Club is a unique and excep-tional opportunity for companies andorganizations to bridge between mar-keting and HR, brand and culture,inside and outside in order to betterpromote the company brand. TheKnowledge Club is sponsored by HadiClinic, KLSC, Qualitynet, Ahli Unitedbank, Future Tech and IAA-Kuwait.

David Norton speaks in Kuwait about

successful strategy execution

What every manager needs to know

David Norton Bob-Urichuck

While consolidating itsposition on its tradi-tional markets in

Europe and Asia, FAUCHON isfocusing on Middle East wherethe brand has just opened a newbranch of its flagship store inKuwait. Fauchon Kuwait proudlyannounced the opening of itsnew flagship store at Prestige,The Avenues. This is the fourthsuccessful opening of thefamous brand in Kuwait.

Kuwait plays a major role inFAUCHON’s strategy of expan-sion in the Middle East. This jour-ney began with the first openingin Qatar in 1994, followed bytwo stores in Cairo, and eventu-ally making its Kuwaiti debut in2004 with now 4 stores in primelocations around the country.

Created in 1886, Fauchon isrenowned for contemporary lux-ury cuisine, and is internationallyrecognized for its pursuit ofexcellence and the creation ofunique combinations of flavor.FAUCHON, the Ambassador forFrench Culinary Culture world-wide, owned by Michel Ducros,has joined forces with theBukhamseen Group (Al HoudaHotels and Tourism) in 2004 toenter the Kuwaiti market, with

the opening of the first outlet asthe classic Salon de the GourmetChocolate Boutiqueat CrownePlaza Hotel, followed by addi-tional branches in 2007 at theluxurious Salhiya Complex andin 2010 in the exclusive 360 Mallwhere it was awarded in 2012 as“ Best cafÈ/ restaurant” by theMall, as well as the prestigiousaward from Fauchon Paris of “Best F&B outlet”.

Fauchon Kuwait came tomajor developments in 2012-13as it saw the launch of its highend “Events & Catering depart-ment; offering catering servicesof the highest quality for alltypes and sizes of events.

Fauchon Catering has alsogone to the next level by beingthe only and exclusive caterer ofthe new Al Baraka GrandBallroom, which currently standsas the largest and most presti-gious Ballroom in the country.

Today the new flagship storein Avenues Mall- Prestige, whichis Kuwait’s latest luxury shop-ping center, has opened itsdoors as a CafÈ-restaurant com-bined with a Gourmet Boutique.With its central kitchen and pas-try lab, FAUCHON provides itsesteemed customers with the

company’s key fresh Frenchgourmet products for breakfast,lunch, and dinner, includingFAUCHON’s famous pastries,with its signature Èclairs andmacaroons. The store also offersa wide range of confectionary,fine groceries, perfumed teasand chocolates including thenew “Choc, Made in F” collection.

With a presence in 42 coun-tries worldwide, the FAUCHONbrand is now planning morenew openings in the MiddleEast, especially in Oman, Bahrainand Saudi where there is a greatpotential for luxury brands.

In 2011-2012, FAUCHON retailsales reached 169 million Ä, fromwhich 70% is made internation-ally through more than 450 salesoutlets, including 51 brandedstores.

Fauchon Kuwait, with its highstandard of services, has cap-tured the loyalty and trust ofhigh-end clientele in theCountyand is now looking for-ward to new expansion planswithin the country in the nearfuture.

FAUCHON Kuwait opens its doors to

its new flagship store in Avenues

All is set for the 10th anniversary of NAFOKuwait (National Forum Kuwait) titled‘Samanwayam’ this Friday evening (May 10) at

the American International School Auditorium from6 pm onwards.

Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta will inaugu-rate the anniversary event. Former IndianAmbassador to the United States and the UnitedNations TP Sreenivasan and NSS Director BoardMember Pandalam Sivankutty will be guests of hon-or. Other prominent personalities from Kuwait andneighboring GCC countries will also attend the megaevent.

NAFO is also bringing a dazzling musical drama‘Krishna,’ conceived, designed and choreographed bythe multi-faceted actress Padmashri Shobana andher 15-member troupe from Kalarpana Institute,Chennai.

This multimedia dialogue-drama has been sup-ported by the Oscar winner Rasool Pookkutty and ithas voice-overs in English by acclaimed film person-alities such as Irrfan Khan, Konkonasen, ShabaanaAzmi, John Abraham, Prakash Raj, Stephen Devassyand P Rajeevan.

“The two-and-a-half-hour dance with its classical,folk and contemporary styles, will be a real entertain-er for the dance lovers. The dance drama with its cin-ematic techniques, songs and music of the higheststandards, will enthrall and amaze the audience of allage groups. The entry for the show is restricted withinvitations. For details contact: www.nafoglobal.org

Shobhana

Sreenivasan

All set for NAFO’s

‘Samanwayam’

T V PR O G R A M STUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

END OF DAYS ON OSN ACTION HD

JANE EYRE ON OSN CINEMA

00:05 How Tech Works00:30 Patent Bending01:00 Things That Move01:25 Things That Move01:50 The Colony02:45 X-Machines03:35 Things That Move04:00 Things That Move04:25 Superships05:15 The Gadget Show05:40 How Tech Works06:05 Prophets Of Science Fiction07:00 Scrapheap Challenge07:50 Prototype This08:40 The Gadget Show09:05 How Tech Works09:30 Punkin Chunkin 201010:25 Ecopolis11:20 Man-Made Marvels Asia12:10 Race To Mars13:00 Prototype This13:50 Patent Bending14:20 The Gadget Show14:45 How Tech Works15:10 Scrapheap Challenge16:00 Da Vinci’s Machines16:55 What’s That About?17:45 Superships18:35 Prophets Of Science Fiction19:30 Unchained Reaction20:20 Prototype This21:10 The Gadget Show21:35 How Tech Works22:00 Unchained Reaction22:50 The Colony23:40 The Gadget Show

00:15 Food Lover ’s Guide To ThePlanet00:45 Ultimate Traveller01:40 Bondi Rescue02:05 Bondi Rescue02:35 Chasing Time03:00 Bluelist Australia03:30 A World Apart04:25 On Hannibal’s Trail04:50 Travel Madness05:20 Departures06:15 Food Lover ’s Guide To ThePlanet06:40 Food School07:10 Food Lover ’s Guide To ThePlanet07:35 Food Lover ’s Guide To ThePlanet08:05 Ultimate Traveller09:00 Bondi Rescue09:25 Bondi Rescue09:55 Chasing Time10:20 Bluelist Australia10:50 A World Apart11:45 On Hannibal’s Trail12:10 Travel Madness12:40 Departures13:35 Food Lover ’s Guide To ThePlanet14:00 My Sri Lanka With PeterKuruvita14:30 Earth Tripping14:55 Earth Tripping15:25 Ultimate Traveller

01:15 Covert One: The Hades Factor-PG1504:00 The Stool Pigeon-PG1506:00 Legendary Assassin-PG1508:00 Carjacked-PG1510:00 Justice League: Doom-PG1512:00 True Justice: Street Wars-PG1514:00 Carjacked-PG1516:00 Constantine-PG1518:15 True Justice: Street Wars-PG1520:00 Intruders-1822:00 End Of Days-18

00:00 Brickleberry00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition01:00 The Colbert Report GlobalEdition01:30 Family Guy02:00 Louie02:30 Girls03:00 Breaking In03:30 Malibu Country04:00 Seinfeld04:30 The Tonight Show With JayLeno05:30 Til Death06:00 Arrested Development06:30 Samantha Who?07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon08:00 Seinfeld08:30 Til Death09:00 Breaking In09:30 How I Met Your Mother10:30 Samantha Who?11:00 The Tonight Show With JayLeno12:00 Arrested Development12:30 Seinfeld13:00 Til Death13:30 Samantha Who?14:00 Malibu Country15:00 How I Met Your Mother15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition16:00 The Colbert Report GlobalEdition16:30 Arrested Development17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon18:00 Last Man Standing18:30 Friends19:00 How I Met Your Mother20:00 The Tonight Show With JayLeno21:00 The Daily Show With JonStewart21:30 The Colbert Report22:00 The New Normal22:30 Out There23:00 The Big C23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

01:30 Ironclad-1803:30 Money For Nothing-PG1505:45 Yelling To The Sky-PG1507:30 Tora! Tora! Tora!-PG1510:00 Lemony Snicket’s A Series OfUnfortunate-PG11:45 Honey 2-PG1513:45 My Enemy’s Enemy-PG1515:15 Lemony Snicket’s A Series OfUnfortunate-PG17:00 Trust-PG1519:00 Frozen-PG1521:00 Schindler’s List-PG1523:15 Arc-18

00:30 Top 14 Highlights01:00 NRL Premiership03:00 Golfing World04:00 World Pool Masters05:00 World Cup Of Pool06:00 Trans World Sport07:00 Golfing World08:00 Super Rugby10:00 World Pool Masters11:00 World Cup Of Pool12:00 ICC Cricket 36012:30 Top 14 Highlights13:00 Golfing World14:00 AFL Premiership16:30 Top 1418:30 World Pool Masters19:30 World Cup Of Pool20:30 AFL Premiership23:00 Super League

00:00 Mass Participation Ironman01:30 NHL03:30 Mobil 1 The Grid04:00 US Bass Fishing05:00 NHL07:00 WWE NXT08:00 WWE Bottom Line09:00 Ping Pong World10:00 US Bass Fishing11:00 NHL13:00 Mass Participation Ironman14:00 Adventure Challenge15:00 Triahlon UK16:00 Mass Participation Ironman17:30 US Bass Fishing18:30 NHL20:30 Mobil 1 The Grid21:00 UFC Prelims23:00 UFC

01:30 7 Below03:15 Covert One: The Hades Factor06:00 The Stool Pigeon08:00 Legendary Assassin10:00 Carjacked12:00 Justice League: Doom14:00 True Justice: Street Wars16:00 Carjacked18:00 Constantine20:15 True Justice: Street Wars22:00 Intruders

01:00 Premier League Darts04:30 NRL Premiership06:30 ICC Cricket 36007:00 Snooker World Championship11:00 AFL Premiership Highlights12:00 NRL Premiership14:00 PGA Tour Highlights15:00 PGA European TourHighlights16:00 Super Rugby 18:00 AFL Premiership Highlights19:00 Snooker World Championship23:00 Super Rugby

00:00 Girl Walks Into A Bar-PG1502:00 Dazed And Confused-PG1504:00 The Winning Season-PG1506:00 Men In Black-PG1508:00 Police Academy 3: Back InTraining-PG1510:00 Men In Black II-PG12:00 The Winning Season-PG1514:00 Police Academy 4: Citizens OnPatrol-PG1516:00 Men In Black II-PG18:00 The Marc Pease Experience-PG1520:00 Goon-PG1522:00 Girl Walks Into A Bar-PG15

00:00 Trans World Sport01:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 02:00 Snooker World Championship 06:00 PGA European TourHighlights07:00 Super Rugby 08:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 09:00 PGA Tour Players Champions 10:00 PGA European TourHighlights11:00 Super Rugby 13:00 Snooker World Championship 17:00 ICC Cricket 36017:30 Premier League Darts21:00 NRL Full Time

01:15 Dirty Teacher-PG1503:00 I Don’t Know How She DoesIt-PG1505:00 Perfect Plan-PG1507:00 Rising Stars-PG1509:00 Captain America: The FirstAvenger-PG1511:15 Ghost Machine-PG1513:00 Blackthorn-PG1515:00 A Dog Named Duke-PG1516:45 Captain America: The FirstAvenger-PG1519:00 Chronicle-PG1521:00 Cedar Rapids-1823:00 The Thing-18

00:45 Rogue Nature With DaveSalmoni01:35 I’m Alive02:25 Roaring With Pride03:15 Karina: Wild On Safari03:40 Karina: Wild On Safari04:05 My Cat From Hell04:55 Call Of The Wildman05:20 Cheetah Kingdom05:45 Wild Africa Rescue06:10 Wild Africa Rescue06:35 Wildlife SOS07:00 The Really Wild Show07:25 Must Love Cats08:15 Cats 10109:10 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild09:35 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild10:05 Roaring With Pride11:00 Animal Cops Houston11:55 Call Of The Wildman12:20 Wildlife SOS12:50 Dolphin Days13:15 Dolphin Days13:45 Animal Precinct14:40 Roaring With Pride15:30 Cheetah Kingdom16:00 The Really Wild Show16:30 Cats 10117:25 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife17:50 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife18:20 Karina: Wild On Safari18:45 Karina: Wild On Safari19:15 Monkey Life19:40 Rescue Vet20:10 Call Of The Wildman20:35 Cheetah Kingdom21:05 Roaring With Pride22:00 Glory Hounds23:50 Animal Cops Houston

00:40 Come Dine With Me01:30 Masterchef: The Professionals02:15 Gok’s Fashion Fix03:05 Coastal Kitchen03:30 Cash In The Attic04:15 Bargain Hunt05:00 Holmes On Homes05:45 Gok’s Fashion Fix06:35 New Scandinavian Cooking07:00 The Good Cook07:25 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard07:50 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard08:15 Homes Under The Hammer09:05 Bargain Hunt09:50 Antiques Roadshow10:40 Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition11:25 Masterchef: The Professionals12:10 Come Dine With Me13:00 The Good Cook13:30 New Scandinavian Cooking13:55 Bargain Hunt14:40 Cash In The Attic15:25 Antiques Roadshow16:15 Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition17:00 Homes Under The Hammer17:55 The Roux Legacy18:35 Nigel Slater’s Simple Cooking19:00 Baking Made Easy19:25 New Scandinavian Cooking19:50 Come Dine With Me20:40 Extreme Makeover: HomeEdition21:20 Antiques Roadshow22:15 Bargain Hunt23:00 Homes Under The Hammer23:55 Cash In The Attic

00:45 Wacky Races01:35 Duck Dodgers02:00 Duck Dodgers02:25 Dastardly And Muttley02:50 Dastardly And Muttley03:00 Dexter’s Laboratory03:30 Wacky Races03:55 Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries04:20 Tom & Jerry04:45 The Garfield Show05:00 Bananas In Pyjamas05:25 Gerald McBoing Boing05:45 Jelly Jamm06:00 Ha Ha Hairies06:25 Bananas In Pyjamas06:50 Lazytown07:15 Krypto: The Super Dog07:40 Baby Looney Tunes08:05 Gerald McBoing Boing08:30 Cartoonito Tales08:55 Ha Ha Hairies09:20 Lazytown09:45 Baby Looney Tunes10:10 Krypto: The Super Dog10:35 Cartoonito Tales11:00 Jelly Jamm11:25 Gerald McBoing Boing11:50 Lazytown12:15 Baby Looney Tunes12:40 Jelly Jamm13:00 Tom & Jerry Kids13:25 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo13:50 Moomins14:20 Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries14:45 The Looney Tunes Show15:10 The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo15:35 Taz-Mania16:00 Tiny Toon Adventures16:25 Moomins16:50 Tom And Jerry Tales17:15 What’s New Scooby Doo17:40 The Looney Tunes Show18:05 The Garfield Show18:30 Tweety ’s High-FlyingAdventure19:45 What’s New Scooby Doo

00:15 Gold Rush - Season 3 Specials01:10 Jungle Gold02:05 One Car Too Far03:00 Mythbusters03:55 Border Security04:20 Auction Hunters04:50 Storage Hunters05:15 How Do They Do It?05:40 How It’s Made06:05 Sons Of Guns07:00 Mythbusters07:50 Robson Green’s ExtremeFishing Challenge08:45 Flying Wild Alaska09:40 Border Security10:05 Auction Hunters10:30 Auction Kings10:55 How Do They Do It?11:25 How It’s Made11:50 Gold Rush - Season 3 Specials12:45 Jungle Gold13:40 One Car Too Far14:35 Border Security15:05 Auction Hunters15:30 Auction Kings16:00 Ultimate Survival16:55 Flying Wild Alaska17:50 Mythbusters18:45 Sons Of Guns19:40 How Do They Do It?20:05 How It’s Made20:35 Auction Hunters21:00 Storage Hunters21:30 Dual Survival22:25 Yukon Men23:20 Ultimate Survival

00:00 Breakout Kings01:00 Game Of Thrones02:00 Once Upon A Time

00:00 Amanpour00:30 World Sport01:00 Piers Morgan Live02:00 CNN Newsroom Live FromHong Kong03:00 Anderson Cooper 36004:00 Piers Morgan Live05:00 Quest Means Business06:00 The Situation Room07:00 World Sport07:30 African Voices08:00 World Report09:00 World Report10:00 World Sport10:30 Talk Asia11:00 World Business Today12:00 World One12:30 News Special13:00 Amanpour13:30 CNN Newscenter14:00 Piers Morgan Live15:00 News Stream16:00 World Business Today17:00 International Desk18:00 Global Exchange19:00 World Sport19:30 News Special20:00 International Desk

00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives00:55 Unwrapped01:20 Unwrapped01:45 Reza’s African Kitchen02:10 Reza’s African Kitchen02:35 Andy Bates American StreetFeasts03:00 Andy Bates American StreetFeasts03:25 Food Wars03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives04:15 Unique Eats04:40 Chopped05:30 Iron Chef America06:10 Food Network Challenge07:00 Guy’s Big Bite07:25 Guy’s Big Bite07:50 Reza’s African Kitchen08:15 Kid In A Candy Store08:40 Unique Sweets09:05 Barefoot Contessa - Back ToBasics09:30 The Next Food Network Star10:20 Extra Virgin10:45 Extra Virgin11:10 Cooking For Real11:35 Food Crafters12:00 Ultimate Recipe Showdown12:50 Grill It! With Bobby Flay13:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back ToBasics13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back ToBasics14:05 Food Wars14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives15:20 Guy’s Big Bite15:45 Chopped16:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back ToBasics17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back ToBasics17:25 Food Wars17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives18:40 Guy’s Big Bite19:05 Reza’s African Kitchen19:30 Chopped20:20 Chopped21:10 Amazing Wedding Cakes22:00 Food Wars22:25 Food Wars22:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives23:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives23:40 Food Wars

00:00 Princess Sydney: The ThreeGold Coins01:00 Princess Sydney: The LegendOf The Blue Rabbit02:15 Hugo04:30 Princess Sydney: The ThreeGold Coins06:00 Zathura: A Space Adventure08:00 Little Einsteins: Rocket ’sFirebird Rescue

00:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner01:20 A Haunting02:05 Deadly Sins02:55 Who On Earth...03:20 Who On Earth...03:45 I Almost Got Away With It04:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner05:20 A Haunting06:10 Nightmare Next Door07:00 Mystery Diagnosis07:50 Street Patrol08:15 Street Patrol08:40 Real Emergency Calls09:05 Who On Earth Did I Marry?09:30 On The Case With Paula Zahn10:20 Murder Shift11:10 Disappeared12:00 Mystery Diagnosis12:50 Street Patrol13:15 Street Patrol13:40 Forensic Detectives14:30 On The Case With Paula Zahn15:20 Real Emergency Calls15:45 Who On Earth Did I Marry?16:10 Disappeared17:00 Murder Shift17:50 Forensic Detectives18:40 On The Case With Paula Zahn19:30 Disappeared20:20 Nightmare Next Door21:10 Couples Who Kill22:00 Couples Who Kill22:50 Deadly Women23:40 I Almost Got Away With It

00:00 Last Holiday-PG1502:00 Seeking Justice-PG1504:00 Dead Lines-PG1506:00 Alvin And The Chipmunks:Chipwrecked-PG08:00 Vickery’s Wild Ride-PG10:00 The American President-PG1512:00 Seeking Justice-PG1514:00 George Harrison: Living In TheMaterial World-PG1518:00 Madagascar 3: Europe’s MostWanted-PG20:00 Happythankyoumoreplease-PG1522:00 21 Jump Street-18

01:00 The Game Of Their Lives-PG1503:00 The Best Exotic MarigoldHotel-PG1505:15 No Surrender-PG1507:00 B-Girl-PG1509:00 The Game Of Their Lives-PG1511:00 Adventures Of Sharkboy AndLavagirl-PG13:00 Golden Christmas 3-PG1515:00 Jane Eyre-PG1517:00 Larry Crowne-PG1519:00 Joyful Noise-PG1521:00 Hesher-1823:00 Breaking The Girl-18

00:00 BBC World News America00:30 BBC World News America01:00 Newsday01:30 Asia Business Report01:45 Sport Today02:00 Newsday02:30 Asia Business Report02:45 Sport Today03:00 Newsday03:30 Asia Business Report03:45 Sport Today04:00 BBC World News04:30 Asia Business Report

04:45 Sport Today05:00 BBC World News05:30 Asia Business Report05:45 Sport Today06:00 BBC World News06:30 Hardtalk07:00 BBC World News07:30 World Business Report07:45 BBC World News08:00 BBC World News08:30 World Business Report08:45 BBC World News09:00 BBC World News09:30 World Business Report09:45 BBC World News10:00 BBC World News10:30 World Business Report10:45 BBC World News11:00 BBC World News11:30 Hardtalk12:00 BBC World News12:30 World Business Report12:45 Sport Today13:00 BBC World News13:30 BBC World News14:00 GMT With George Alagiah14:30 GMT With George Alagiah15:00 BBC World News15:30 World Business Report15:45 Sport Today16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain16:30 Impact With Mishal Husain17:00 Impact With Mishal Husain17:30 Hardtalk18:00 Global With John Sopel18:30 Global With John Sopel19:00 Global With John Sopel19:30 World Business Report19:45 Sport Today20:00 BBC World News20:30 BBC Focus On Africa21:00 World News Today WithZeinab Badawi21:30 World News Today WithZeinab Badawi22:00 World News Today WithZeinab Badawi22:30 World Business Report22:45 Sport Today23:00 Business Edition With TanyaBeckett23:30 Hardtalk

00:30 Grim Adventures Of...01:20 Johnny Test02:10 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien02:35 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien03:00 The Amazing World OfGumball03:25 Regular Show03:50 Ben 10: Omniverse04:15 Scooby-Doo! MysteryIncorporated04:40 Powerpuff Girls05:05 Evil Con Carne05:30 Cow & Chicken06:00 Casper’s Scare School06:30 Angelo Rules07:00 Ben 10 Omniverse07:25 Johnny Test07:45 Scooby-Doo! MysteryIncorporated08:10 Evil Con Carne08:55 Adventure Time09:45 Regular Show10:35 Angelo Rules11:25 Ben 10: Alien Force11:50 Ben 10: Alien Force12:15 Hero 10812:40 Hero 10813:05 Mucha Lucha !13:30 Angelo Rules14:20 Evil Con Carne15:10 The Amazing World OfGumball15:35 Adventure Time16:00 Regular Show16:30 Johnny Test17:00 Ben 10 Omniverse17:25 Dreamworks Dragons RidersOf Berk17:50 Gormiti New18:15 Young Justice18:40 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien19:05 Total Drama: Revenge Of TheIsland19:30 Total Drama: Revenge Of TheIsland19:55 Mucha Lucha !20:20 Ben 10: Omniverse20:45 The Amazing World OfGumball21:10 Adventure Time21:35 Regular Show22:00 Ben 1022:25 Ben 1022:50 Mucha Lucha !23:15 Mucha Lucha !23:40 Powerpuff Girls

21:00 Quest Means Business22:00 Amanpour22:30 CNN Newscenter23:00 Connect The World WithBecky Anderson

00:00 Hannah Montana00:20 Hannah Montana00:45 Brandy & Mr Whiskers01:05 Brandy & Mr Whiskers01:30 Emperor’s New School01:50 Emperor’s New School02:15 Replacements02:35 Replacements03:00 Brandy & Mr Whiskers03:20 Brandy & Mr Whiskers03:45 Emperor’s New School04:05 Emperor’s New School04:30 Replacements04:50 Replacements05:15 Brandy & Mr Whiskers05:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers06:00 Prankstars06:25 Suite Life On Deck06:45 Cory In The House07:10 A.N.T. Farm07:35 Austin And Ally07:55 Jessie08:20 Good Luck Charlie08:45 Doc McStuffins09:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse09:30 A.N.T Farm09:55 Jonas10:15 So Random10:40 Hannah Montana11:05 Sonny With A Chance11:25 Kim Possible11:50 Shake It Up12:15 Shake It Up12:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place13:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place13:25 Austin And Ally13:45 Jessie14:10 A.N.T. Farm14:35 So Random14:55 The Adventures Of DisneyFairies15:20 Good Luck Charlie15:45 Jessie16:10 Shake It Up16:35 A.N.T. Farm17:00 Austin And Ally17:20 Suite Life On Deck17:45 Suite Life On Deck18:10 Cory In The House18:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place18:55 That’s So Raven19:20 A.N.T. Farm19:40 Good Luck Charlie20:05 Jessie20:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place20:50 Wizards Of Waverly Place21:15 So Random21:40 Hannah Montana22:00 Jonas22:25 Sonny With A Chance22:50 Sonny With A Chance23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place23:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place

03:15 Style Star03:40 Extreme Close-Up04:10 THS05:05 THS

20:10 Tiny Toon Adventures20:35 Puppy In My Pocket21:00 What’s New Scooby-Doo?21:25 Looney Tunes21:50 Dexter’s Laboratory22:15 Tom & Jerry Tales23:05 Pink Panther And Pals23:30 Pink Panther And Pals23:55 Moomins

06:00 THS07:50 Style Star08:20 Opening Act09:15 Opening Act10:15 15 Remarkable Celebrity BodyBouncebacks12:05 Khloe And Lamar12:35 Khloe And Lamar13:05 Married To Jonas13:35 Married To Jonas14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take NewYork15:00 Style Star15:30 E!es16:30 Extreme Close-Up17:00 Chasing The Saturdays17:30 Chasing The Saturdays18:00 E! News19:00 Fashion Police20:00 E!es21:00 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami22:00 Chasing The Saturdays22:30 E! News23:30 Chelsea Lately

16:20 Bondi Rescue16:45 Bondi Rescue17:15 Chasing Time17:40 Bluelist Australia18:10 A World Apart19:05 On Hannibal’s Trail19:30 Travel Madness20:00 Earth Tripping20:30 Earth Tripping21:00 Food Lover ’s Guide To ThePlanet21:30 My Sri Lanka With PeterKuruvita22:00 Departures22:55 Food Lover ’s Guide To ThePlanet23:20 Earth Tripping23:50 Delinquent Gourmet

03:00 Treme04:00 Alphas05:00 Revenge06:00 Breakout Kings07:00 Emmerdale07:30 Coronation Street08:00 C.S.I. New York09:00 Once Upon A Time10:00 Revenge11:00 Alphas12:00 Emmerdale12:30 Coronation Street13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show14:00 C.S.I. New York15:00 Breakout Kings16:00 Emmerdale16:30 Coronation Street17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show18:00 C.S.I. New York19:00 Grey’s Anatomy20:00 House Of Cards21:00 The Americans22:00 American Horror Story23:00 Treme

09:15 Flicka 311:30 Princess Sydney: The ThreeGold Coins12:30 Marco Antonio14:00 Hugo16:15 The Adventures Of Tintin18:00 Flicka 320:00 Freddy Frogface22:00 Marco Antonio23:30 The Adventures Of Tintin

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 7/5/2013Airlines Flt Route TimeBBC 43 DHAKA 00:05QTR 148 DOHA 00:15JZR 267 BEIRUT 00:20JZR 539 CAIRO 00:40PIA 239 SIALKOT 01:05THY 764 SABIHA 01:40ETH 620 ADDIS ABABA 01:45GFA 211 BAHRAIN 01:55UAE 853 DUBAI 02:25ETD 305 ABU DHABI 02:30RJA 642 AMMAN 03:10FDB 67 DUBAI 03:10RBG 555 ALEXANDRIA 03:15MSR 612 CAIRO 03:15OMA 643 MUSCAT 03:20QTR 138 DOHA 03:30THY 770 ISTANBUL 04:35DHX 170 BAHRAIN 05:10FDB 69 DUBAI 05:50KAC 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 06:15BAW 157 LONDON 06:30KAC 416 JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR 06:35KAC 206 ISLAMABAD 07:25JZR 503 LUXOR 07:40FDB 53 DUBAI 07:45KAC 302 MUMBAI 07:50KAC 332 TRIVANDRUM 07:55KAC 352 COCHIN 08:05UAE 855 DUBAI 08:25ABY 125 SHARJAH 08:50QTR 132 DOHA 09:00FDB 55 DUBAI 09:15IRA 605 ISFAHAN 09:20ETD 301 ABU DHABI 09:30GFA 213 BAHRAIN 10:40MEA 404 BEIRUT 10:55JZR 165 DUBAI 11:35JZR 561 SOHAG 12:00TMA 213 BEIRUT 12:00KAC 284 DHAKA 12:05UAE 871 DUBAI 12:45MSR 610 CAIRO 13:00KNE 480 TAIF 13:25KAC 514 TEHRAN 13:40QTR 140 DOHA 13:45FDB 57 DUBAI 13:50KAC 546 ALEXANDRIA 14:15SVA 500 JEDDAH 14:30KNE 472 JEDDAH 14:35KAC 562 AMMAN 14:40

SYR 341 DAMASCUS/LATAKIA 15:50RJA 640 AMMAN 15:55QTR 134 DOHA 16:15JZR 325 NAJAF 16:15ETD 303 ABU DHABI 16:35UAE 857 DUBAI 16:55ABY 127 SHARJAH 17:10SVA 510 RIYADH 17:20GFA 215 BAHRAIN 17:20UAL 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 17:25JZR 177 DUBAI 17:30JZR 777 JEDDAH 17:50KAC 542 CAIRO 18:15QTR 144 DOHA 18:25KAC 786 JEDDAH 18:30KAC 166 PARIS/ROME 18:40KAC 104 LONDON 18:45FDB 63 DUBAI 18:55GFA 219 BAHRAIN 19:05KAC 618 DOHA 19:10AXB 393 KOZHIKODE 19:15KAC 774 RIYADH 19:25KAC 674 DUBAI 19:25KAC 742 DAMMAM 19:30KAC 678 MUSCAT/ABU DHABI 19:35JAI 572 MUMBAI 19:35RBG 553 ALEXANDRIA 19:40FDB 61 DUBAI 20:00OMA 647 MUSCAT 20:00ABY 129 SHARJAH 20:05MEA 402 BEIRUT 20:15IRA 619 LAR 20:20MSR 618 ALEXANDRIA 20:30KLM 415 AMSTERDAM 21:05ALK 229 COLOMBO 21:10UAE 859 DUBAI 21:15ETD 307 ABU DHABI 21:30QTR 136 DOHA 21:35GFA 217 BAHRAIN 21:45QTR 146 DOHA 22:00FDB 59 DUBAI 22:20AIC 981 CHENNAI/HYDERABAD/CHENNAI 22:25JZR 239 AMMAN 22:30UAL 981 BAHRAIN 22:40JZR 185 DUBAI 22:40JZR 135 BAHRAIN 23:00DLH 636 FRANKFURT 23:10JAI 574 MUMBAI 23:20THY 772 ISTANBUL 23:45

Departure Flights on Tuesday 7/5/2013Airlines Flt Route TimeAIC 976 GOA/CHENNAI 00:05PIA 206 LAHORE 00:15JAI 573 MUMBAI 00:20UAL 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 00:25DLH 637 FRANKFURT 00:30KLM 411 AMSTERDAM 00:55BBC 44 DHAKA 01:30JZR 502 LUXOR 01:30PIA 240 SIALKOT/ISLAMABAD 02:20THY 773 ISTANBUL 02:20THY 765 SABIHA 02:40ETH 621 ADDIS ABABA 02:45UAE 854 DUBAI 03:45FDB 68 DUBAI 03:50RBG 556 ALEXANDRIA 03:55MSR 613 CAIRO 04:15OMA 644 MUSCAT 04:20ETD 306 ABU DHABI 04:20QTR 139 DOHA 04:25QTR 149 DOHA 05:15JZR 560 SOHAG 05:35FDB 70 DUBAI 06:30RJA 643 AMMAN 06:35GFA 212 BAHRAIN 07:00THY 771 ISTANBUL 07:10KAC 545 ALEXANDRIA 07:20JZR 164 DUBAI 07:25BAW 156 LONDON 08:25FDB 54 DUBAI 08:25KAC 513 TEHRAN 09:15KAC 561 AMMAN 09:25ABY 126 SHARJAH 09:30UAE 856 DUBAI 09:50FDB 56 DUBAI 09:55QTR 133 DOHA 10:00ETD 302 ABU DHABI 10:15IRA 604 ISFAHAN 10:20KAC 101 LONDON/NEW YORK 10:25GFA 214 BAHRAIN 11:25KAC 541 CAIRO 11:30KAC 165 ROME/PARIS 11:45MEA 405 BEIRUT 11:55JZR 776 JEDDAH 12:25JZR 324 NAJAF 13:00KAC 677 MUSCAT/ABU DHABI 13:00KAC 785 JEDDAH 13:00JZR 176 DUBAI 13:20TMA 223 DUBAI/BEIRUT 13:45MSR 611 CAIRO 14:00KNE 481 TAIF 14:15

UAE 872 DUBAI 14:15FDB 58 DUBAI 14:30QTR 141 DOHA 14:55KAC 673 DUBAI 15:05KNE 473 JEDDAH 15:30SVA 501 JEDDAH 15:45KAC 617 DOHA 15:45KAC 773 RIYADH 16:00KAC 741 DAMMAM 16:30SYR 342 DAMASCUS 16:50RJA 641 AMMAN 16:55JZR 238 AMMAN 17:05QTR 135 DOHA 17:15ETD 304 ABU DHABI 17:20JZR 538 CAIRO 17:40ABY 128 SHARJAH 17:50UAE 858 DUBAI 18:15SVA 511 RIYADH 18:20GFA 216 BAHRAIN 18:20JZR 184 DUBAI 18:30JZR 266 BEIRUT 18:40UAL 982 BAHRAIN 18:40QTR 145 DOHA 19:25FDB 64 DUBAI 19:35GFA 220 BAHRAIN 19:50JZR 134 BAHRAIN 20:05AXB 394 KOZHIKODE 20:15RBG 554 ALEXANDRIA 20:20JAI 571 MUMBAI 20:35FDB 62 DUBAI 20:40ABY 120 SHARJAH 20:45OMA 648 MUSCAT 20:55KAC 343 CHENNAI 20:55KAC 351 COCHIN 21:05MEA 403 BEIRUT 21:15IRA 618 LAR 21:20MSR 607 LUXOR 21:30DHX 171 BAHRAIN 21:50KLM 415 DAMMAM/AMSTERDAM 22:05ETD 308 ABU DHABI 22:15ALK 230 COLOMBO 22:20UAE 860 DUBAI 22:25KAC 381 DELHI 22:30QTR 137 DOHA 22:35KAC 301 MUMBAI 22:40GFA 218 BAHRAIN 22:45FDB 60 DUBAI 23:00KAC 205 ISLAMABAD 23:00QTR 147 DOHA 23:05KAC 411 BANGKOK/MANILA 23:40KAC 283 DHAKA 23:45JZR 528 ASSIUT 23:55

ClassifiedsTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

SHARQIA-1NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 12:45 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 2:45 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 4:45 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 6:45 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 8:45 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 10:30 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 12:30 AM

SHARQIA-2TAD, THE LOST EXPLORER (DIG-3D) 12:30 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 2:30 PMSPIDERS (DIG-3D) 5:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 7:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 9:30 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 12:05 AM

SHARQIA-3OBLIVION (DIG) 1:45 PMFIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) 4:15 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 6:15 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 8:15 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 10:15 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 12:15 AM

MUHALAB-1NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 12:45 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 2:45 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 4:30 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 6:45 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 8:45 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 10:45 PM

MUHALAB-2THE CALL (DIG) 2:00 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 4:00 PMGREEKU VEERUDU (DIG) (TELUGU) 4:00 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 7:00 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 9:00 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 11:00 PM

MUHALAB-3IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 12:30 PMTAD, THE LOST EXPLORER (DIG-3D) 3:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 5:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 7:30 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 10:00 PM

FANAR-1THE CALL (DIG) 1:30 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 3:30 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 6:00 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 8:00 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 10:00 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 12:05 AM

FANAR-2NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 12:45 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 2:30 PMTHE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2 4:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 6:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 8:00 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 9:45 PMTHE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2 (DIG) 11:45 PM

FANAR-3THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (DIG) 2:00 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 4:30 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 6:30 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 8:30 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 10:30 PMTHE COMPANY YOU KEEP (DIG) 12:30 AM

MARINA-1NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 1:30 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 3:30 PMTHE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2 (DIG) 5:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 7:15 PM

WINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 9:00 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 11:00 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 12:45 AM

MARINA-2THE CALL (DIG) 1:45 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 3:45 PMFIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) 6:15 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 8:15 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 10:15 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 12:15 AM

MARINA-3TAD, THE LOST EXPLORER (DIG-3D) 2:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 4:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 6:30 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 9:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 11:45 PM

AVENUES-1WINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 1:15 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 3:30 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 5:45 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 8:00 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 10:15 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 12:30 AM

AVENUES-2OBLIVION (DIG) 12:45 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 3:15 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 5:45 PMTHE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2 (DIG) 8:15 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 10:30 PMTHE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2 (DIG) 1:15 AM

AVENUES-3NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 2:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 4:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 6:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 8:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 10:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 12:15 AM

360º 1NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 1:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 3:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 5:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 7:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 9:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 11:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 1:15 AM

360º 2FIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) 2:30 PMFIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) 4:45 PMFIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) 7:00 PMFIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) 9:15 PMFIRE WITH FIRE (DIG) 11:30 PM

360º 3EMPEROR (DIG) 1:00 PMEMPEROR (DIG) 3:15 PMEMPEROR (DIG) 5:30 PMEMPEROR (DIG) 7:45 PMEMPEROR (DIG) 10:00 PMEMPEROR (DIG) 12:15 AM

AL-KOUT.1TAD, THE LOST EXPLORER (DIG-3D) 1:00 PMSPIDERS (DIG-3D) 3:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 5:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 7:30 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 10:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 12:30 AMNO SUN+ TUE+WED

AL-KOUT.2NO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 12:45 PM

THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2 (DIG) 2:45 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 4:45 PMTHE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2 (DIG) 6:30 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 8:30 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 10:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 12:15 AMNO SUN+ TUE+WED

AL-KOUT.3OBLIVION (DIG) 1:45 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 4:15 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 6:15 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 8:45 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 10:45 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 12:45 AM

BAIRAQ-1IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 1:30 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 4:00 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 6:30 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 9:15 PMIRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 12:05 AM

BAIRAQ-2WINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 12:45 PMTHE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2 (DIG) 3:00 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 5:15 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 7:30 PMWINTER OF DISCONTENT (DIG) 9:30 PMNO TELL MOTEL (DIG) 11:30 PM

BAIRAQ-3THE CALL (DIG) 1:45 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 3:45 PMOBLIVION (DIG) 5:45 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 8:15 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 10:30 PMTHE CALL (DIG) 12:30 AM

PLAZASHADOW (DIG) (TELUGU) 7:00 PMSHADOW (DIG) (TELUGU) 10:00 PMGREEKU VEERUDU (DIG) (TELUGU) 4:00 PMGREEKU VEERUDU (DIG) (TELUGU) 7:00 PMNO THUGREEKU VEERUDU (DIG) (TELUGU) 10:00 PM

LAILAIRON MAN 3 (DIG) 5:45 PMNO MON+TUE+WEDIRON MAN 3 (DIG) 8:15 PMNO MON+TUE+WEDIRON MAN 3 (DIG) 10:45 PMNO MON+TUE+WED

AJIAL.1SHADOW (DIG) (TELUGU) 6:45 PMSHADOW (DIG) (TELUGU) 9:45 PMGREEKU VEERUDU (DIG) (TELUGU) 3:45 PMGREEKU VEERUDU (DIG) (TELUGU) 6:45 PMGREEKU VEERUDU (DIG) (TELUGU) 9:45 PM

AJIAL.2SOODHU KAVVUM (DIG) (TAMIL) 6:00 PMSOODHU KAVVUM (DIG) (TAMIL) 9:00 PM

AJIAL.3ETHIR NEECHAL (DIG) (TAMIL) 4:00 PMFRI+MONETHIR NEECHAL (DIG) (TAMIL) 7:00 PMETHIR NEECHAL (DIG) (TAMIL) 10:00 PM

AJIAL.4SHOOTOUT AT WADALA (DIG) (HINDI) 3:30 PMFRI+MONSOUND THOMA (DIG) (MALAYALAM) 6:30 PMTHU+FRI+SATSHOOTOUT AT WADALA (DIG) (HINDI)

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY(02/05/2013 TO 08/05/2013)

Fajr: 03:35Shorook 05:02Duhr: 11:45Asr: 15:20Maghrib: 18:27Isha: 19:52

Prayer timings

112

No: 15801

FOR SALE

MATRIMONIAL

ACCOMMODATION

SITUATION WANTED

CHANGE OF NAME

Jeep Mitsubishi (ASX)2011, dark gray color, fulloptions, excellent condi-tion, 68000km, price KD3,300/-. Contact: 66729295.

(C 4406)

KIA Sorento - SE Jeep,model 2006, full options,sky blue color, excellentcondition, price KD 1,750.Contact: 50994848.

(C 4407)7-5-2013

Nissan Infiniti G37, 2009model, 6 cylinder, automat-ic, 6 CD changer, mobileconnectivity, rear viewcamera, sunroof, sand col-

Proposals invited for aJacobite Christian girl, 27years, 160cm, masters inoccupational therapy, fromparents of professionallyqualified boys working inIndia or Abroad. Contact:lalu@kic.com.kw (C 4404)

5-5-2013

Rajaraman Sundarraj sonof Sundarraj and Janakibearing an Indian PassportNo. K2091792 and havingan address No. 4A-1,Moongikollai Street,Kumbakonam PO, TanjoreDT, Tamilnadu 612001 -had embraced Islam andchanged the name as RajaMohammed. (C 4401)

4-5-2013

Indian experienced gener-ator operator/ mechanic

Sharing accommodationavailable for decent bache-lor/family, non-smoking,one big room, AmmanStreet, opposite to Al-Rashid Hospital. Contact:66232356. (C 4408)

Sharing accommodationavailable for ladies or bach-elor Filipino only near BigJamiya Farwaniya. Availablefrom May 10, 2013. Contact:66158188.

Accommodation availablefor non-smoking decentbachelors, with separatebathroom and C-A/C, shar-ing with Sri Lankan familyin Khaitan near CarmelSchool. Contact: 66704630.

(C 4409)7-5-2013

or, GPS, excellent condition,60,000 Kms. KD 7,000.Contact: 99742340.

seeking suitable job.Contact: 66368027.

(C 4405)7-5-2013

Storekeeper, experience 4years, Civil ID expiry4/8/2013. Contact: sanalku-martm12@gmail.com /69966306. (C 4403)

5-5-2013

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Finances, purchases, investments and credit in particular could stand someclear thinking. Getting in over your head can happen before you know it, so

keep an eye on the bottom line. Your mind may be very clear now and brought to a sharpfocus. Some of this jumping in over your head could be just a different point of view and not ado-or-die situation, relax . . . Your time will come. It is easy to organize your thoughts and dia-logues of all kinds are encouraged. Your thoughts count, so use your mind and keep your noteshandy. Teaching others the art of communication is something you can do by example andalso through giving lectures. Laughter is the best medicine for all this evening—you are wel-come at any group gathering.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

STAR TRACK

This could be a time for real breakthroughs in the idea department. You arein top form when it comes to mental activity. Being on the go and keeping a finger to thewinds of change make you feel in touch. Learning and communicating satisfy your lust forknowledge. This evening your thoughts may move to secret loves. The hard work you havedone is paying off . . . Your goals are within reach. Your support system, which is your family andthose who give you nourishment, becomes more secure. You are able to dispense with some ofthe unessential and develop what is most basic and true in your environment. Others find youespecially witty. You have insights with regard to your living situation or life circumstances atthis time.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Close relationship is likely to be riding an emotional whirlwind today—keepyour perspective. In the workplace, there is an urge to change the way you do

some daily business. Perhaps you have found a much faster and easier way to gain the resultsyou want. You may try to persuade others to change. You could become too dominating if youare pushy. Do not hesitate, however, to lend your expertise in a crunch. This is a time when thenew and unexpected may figure into your living situation or surroundings. An insight aboutyour support system, your mother or other females may be important today. You could meet astudent or a young person that you can help today. This evening is a good time to reflect andappreciate your life.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Decisive action is the main order of business—if you are working. Fate sendsopportunity your way if you listen to your instincts and give your natural sense of

curiosity a free rein. Travel, as well as further education, can help uncover some of the answers that willgive you an advantage. You might eventually consider mass communication, which can be financiallyrewarding. Think about advertising, broadcasting, publishing, etc. If you are traveling out of the coun-try, consider writing detailed notes on your experiences. You can edit them later. Having lots of infor-mation to weed through will eventually culminate in a fun guide that will help people decide if theywant to follow in your footsteps. A change of residence may be required if a new career opens up.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

This workday is a good one to get the routine business completed quickly.A sustained effort makes almost any task run well. The continued thinking that comes fromseeing a fantastic photograph this last weekend is still stirring in your memories. Big ideas andgrand visions play a leading role in your life. Mysterious or mystical ideas can fire your imagina-tion—now is the time to think first, act later. Maybe this last weekend’s experience has interest-ed you in a little photography experiment. Keep an open mind, learn all you can and ask ques-tions of an experienced photographer so you get the results you want. These days do not cometoo often—so do not ignore an opportunity to let your imagination loose.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Positive energies are stirring with regard to your career or life path. Successdepends on your own ambition which seems strong at this time. You gain attention throughyour quick action and mental keenness without really trying to achieve notice. If there is aneed for someone to take charge, you can own it. You will find that you can really use yourmind to make clear choices and you are able to stay focused. Career decisions or ways in whichto improve finances are straightforward and easy to make. You make your way now throughideas, concepts and your ability to communicate and express these things to others. Goodnews is shared. A romantic evening can be enjoyed. If you do not usually cook, you get extrapoints for doing so tonight.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

You will be able to complete an ongoing project in the workplace thatresults in recognition and cheerfulness. There is not only a desire for outside activities but alsoplenty of opportunities to be outside today. This may mean that you and a group of your co-worker friends will gather a team together to play some sort of team sports during the noonbreak or at the end of this workday. Think smart and spend your money wisely this evening.Think about keeping the mind set to save for a special purchase instead of spending what youdo not have just now. You teach others through your good actions. A young person wants youto teach him or her manners for a special dinner affair. Your good cheer today enhances yoursocial life and may intensify romance.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Good things are attracted to you. Your experiences will be out of the ordi-nary today and you will likely feel more generous than usual. Great opportunities may emergein work or in spiritual affairs. Your sensitivity to others tends to delude you—perhaps encourag-ing you to misplace your affections. The romantic, dreamier side of you is in full bloom. Beaware of compromising too quickly and easily. Work on confidence and self-reliance and trustyour own judgment. Someone may need your advice regarding a very emotional issue. You areable to cut through the red tape and get at what is beneath this problem. You could spreadyour energies too thin today. Begin a ritual, of sorts, that will help you create and maintain abalance.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

You can improve just about all areas of your life this month. Today you canproceed with high hopes and raised aspirations. Energies are working in your

favor throughout the end of the month—you just may be able to get rid of the projects oritems that have caused you frustration. This is a time for decision and action, like it or not. Achange in your lifestyle is likely, in response to changes in your environment. Acting on impulsecan be riskier than usual: get a grip on yourself; do not just react to stimuli and situations. Youwant to shape events now. You will get down to business and clear away any old frustrations sothat you can work on the things that really interest you. While you may be intense at times, donot forget to laugh occasionally.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

CAPRICORNCommunication levels are elevated and important information can be

exchanged. New business opportunities open up for you. Don’t hesitate or youwill miss the boat. Make your intentions clear. You may not appreciate the emotional clout ofsomeone you meet. Push forward with your own responsibilities and you will have few prob-lems. You will have what you need to focus your thinking in a most positive direction. Youroptions are clear. Real insight into your own inner workings or psychology could surface todayand in a manageable form. You may be in the mood for deep and penetrating conversations orthoughts. Your inner resources and emotions are accented. Expect a sense of support from

loved ones.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

You have your own ideas about health techniques, religious and philosoph-ical beliefs. However, your ideas could be in a flux of change and you may find yourself musingover these subjects often in the next few weeks. There is a high-level difference of opinion oroutlook that may represent an important area of change in your life at this time. There is reex-amination in the light of new information and influences that surround these deep subjects.Think about planning some travel or a sightseeing trip in order to bring your loved onestogether into one get-together soon. A relationship needs work and now is the best time togive thought to the idea of making things better between close friends or loved ones. Findways to nurture loved ones.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Fresh insight comes to you through broadcasting, publishing or adver-tising that will give you a whole new perspective. Educational projects require much studyand may involve travel. You may be thinking of changes in your career direction. This maybe a real test for you. Your horizons are opening up and you are on level ground after fol-lowing a rocky road of upsets. You should now feel confident and secure about whateveryou may decide for the future. Be careful, however, not to blow an opportunity for success.It could be easy to overdo today—take it easy. Be protective of your personal time thisevening. You may need more rest than usual this week and you will be wise to just kickback and enjoy a quiet evening.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18)

CROSSWORD 182

ACROSS1. East Indian tree bearing a profusion of intensevermilion velvet-textured blooms and yielding ayellow dye.4. A Dravidian language spoken in southernIndia.11. Lie adjacent to another.15. A member of the Shoshonean people of Utahand Colorado and New Mexico.16. The slender spear of the Bantu-speaking peo-ple of Africa.17. Avatar of Vishnu.18. A compartment in front of a motor vehiclewhere driver sits.19. (Greek mythology) The ferryman whobrought the souls of the dead across the the riverStyx or the river Acheron to Hades.21. Long tubular cell peculiar to xylem.23. A loose sleeveless outer garment made fromaba cloth.25. A colloid that has a continuous liquid phasein which a solid is suspended in a liquid.26. Unable to see.29. A very poisonous metallic element that hasthree allotropic forms.31. In operation or operational.33. Tropical starchy tuberous root.37. Deciduous or evergreen shrubs and shrubbytrees of temperate and subtropical NorthAmerica, South Africa, eastern Asia and north-eastern Australia.41. Large tropical butterfly with degenerateforelegs and an unpleasant taste.43. A rapid series of short loud sounds (as mightbe heard with a stethoscope in some types ofrespiratory disorders).44. Provincial capital and largest city of NovaScotia.46. Electronic equipment that provides visualimages of varying electrical quantities.47. (folklore) Fairies that are somewhat mischie-vous.48. Wearing or provided with clothing.50. A sweater that is put on by pulling it over thehead.54. Eurasian perennial bulbous herbs.55. A city is east central Sweden north northwestof Stockholm.58. (informal) Of the highest quality.59. Group insurance that entitles members toservices of participating hospitals and clinics andphysicians.60. A constellation in the southern hemispherenear Reticulum and Pictor.64. A radioactive element of the actinide series.66. Liquid containing proteins and electrolytesincluding the liquid in blood plasma and intersti-tial fluid.68. (of hair) Having lost its color.70. A Chadic language spoken south of LakeChad.72. The blood group whose red cells carry boththe A and B antigens.74. Remove a monarch from the throne.75. A period marked by distinctive character orreckoned from a fixed point or event.78. United States composer noted for his innova-tive use of polytonality (1874-1954).79. An insecticide that is also toxic to animalsand humans.80. Any of various aromatic herbs of the genusMonarda.81. A small cake leavened with yeast.

DOWN1. A bodily passage or tube conveying a secre-tion or other substance.2. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers.

3. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on askewer usually with vegetables.4. Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in northern-most Burma and adjacent China and India.5. Ash-colored or anemic looking from illness oremotion.6. An anti-inflammatory drug that does not con-tain steroids.7. An aromatic ointment used in antiquity.8. Gone by.9. Fairly small terrestrial ferns of tropical America.10. The branch of computer science that dealwith writing computer programs that can solveproblems creatively.11. (Judaism) Sacred chest where the ancientHebrews kept the two tablets containing the TenCommandments.12. South African term for `boss'.13. A slight rounded elevation where the malleusattaches to the eardrum.14. An official language of the Republic of SouthAfrica.20. An associate degree in applied science.22. At or within a short distance in space or timeor having elements near each other.24. Capital and largest city of Iraq.27. An implement consisting of handle with afree swinging stick at the end.28. Being one more than nine.30. Sorghum having slender dry stalks and smallhard grains.32. The pivot about which a lever turns.34. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.35. English theoretical physicist who applied rel-ativity theory to quantum mechanics and pre-dicted the existence of antimatter and thepositron (1902-1984).36. The clay from which adobe bricks are made.38. A Christian Bishop who translated the Biblefrom Greek into Gothic (311-382).39. (Judaism) A period of seven days of mourn-ing after the death of close relative.40. (astronomy) The angular distance of a celes-tial point measured westward along the celestialequator from the zenith crossing.42. An edge tool with a heavy bladed headmounted across a handle.45. The syllable naming the fourth (subdomi-nant) note of the diatonic scale in solmization.49. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meattrimmed off.51. A genus of temperate and arctic evergreentrees (see spruce).52. An organization of countries formed in 1961to agree on a common policy for the sale ofpetroleum.53. A disinclination to work or exert yourself.56. A solid substance in the form of tiny looseparticles.57. One of 7 to 12 sons of Aditi.61. A statistical method for making simultaneouscomparisons between two or more means.62. The brightest star in Cygnus.63. A port city of south central Ukraine on an armof the Black Sea.65. One of a set of small pieces of stiff papermarked in various ways and used for playinggames or for telling fortunes.67. A card game in which players bet against thedealer on the cards he will draw from a dealingbox.69. Occupied or in the control of.71. Tastelessness by virtue of being cheap andvulgar.73. A decree that prohibits something.76. A metric unit of weight equal to one thou-sandth of a kilogram.77. A state in the eastern United States.

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

Word Search

34s ta r s

Daily SuDoku

inf or m at ionTUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558

Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622

Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967

Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638

Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241

OphthalmologistsDr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426

General PractitionersDr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501

UrologistsDr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427

For labor-related inquiries and complaints:

Call MSAL hotline 128

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 24874330/9

Kaizen center 25716707

Rawda 22517733

Adaliya 22517144

Khaldiya 24848075

Kaifan 24849807

Shamiya 24848913

Shuwaikh 24814507

Abdullah Salem 22549134

Nuzha 22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764

Qadsiya 22515088

Dasmah 22532265

Bneid Al-Gar 22531908

Shaab 22518752

Qibla 22459381

Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082

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

Ardhiya 24884079

Firdous 24892674

Omariya 24719048

N Khaitan 24710044

Fintas 23900322

Al-Madeena 22418714

Al-Shuhada 22545171

Al-Shuwaikh 24810598

Al-Nuzha 22545171

Sabhan 24742838

Al-Helaly 22434853

Al-Faiha 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

GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE

Plastic Surgeons

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700

Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60

Family Doctor

Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists

Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians

DrAdrian arbe 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. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148

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

Paediatricians

Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (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

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 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

Physiotherapists & VD

Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288

Rheumatologists:

Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290

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

Consultant Cardiologist

Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

Soor CenterTel: 2290-1677Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.comwww.soorcenter.com

Psychologists/Psychotherapists

PRIVATE CLINICS

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Kaizen center25716707

Afghanistan 0093Albania 00355Algeria 00213Andorra 00376Angola 00244Anguilla 001264Antiga 001268Argentina 0054Armenia 00374Australia 0061Austria 0043Bahamas 001242Bahrain 00973Bangladesh 00880Barbados 001246Belarus 00375Belgium 0032Belize 00501Benin 00229Bermuda 001441Bhutan 00975Bolivia 00591Bosnia 00387Botswana 00267Brazil 0055Brunei 00673Bulgaria 00359Burkina 00226Burundi 00257Cambodia 00855Cameroon 00237Canada 001Cape Verde 00238Cayman Islands 001345Central African 00236Chad 00235Chile 0056China 0086Colombia 0057Comoros 00269Congo 00242Cook Islands 00682Costa Rica 00506Croatia 00385Cuba 0053Cyprus 00357Cyprus (Northern) 0090392Czech Republic 00420Denmark 0045Diego Garcia 00246Djibouti 00253Dominica 001767Dominican Republic 001809Ecuador 00593Egypt 0020El Salvador 00503England (UK) 0044Equatorial Guinea 00240Eritrea 00291Estonia 00372Ethiopia 00251Falkland Islands 00500Faroe Islands 00298Fiji 00679Finland 00358France 0033French Guiana 00594French Polynesia 00689Gabon 00241Gambia 00220Georgia 00995Germany 0049Ghana 00233Gibraltar 00350Greece 0030Greenland 00299Grenada 001473Guadeloupe 00590Guam 001671Guatemala 00502Guinea 00224Guyana 00592Haiti 00509Holland (Netherlands) 0031Honduras 00504Hong Kong 00852Hungary 0036Ibiza (Spain) 0034Iceland 00354India 0091Indian Ocean 00873Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098Iraq 00964Ireland 00353Italy 0039Ivory Coast 00225Jamaica 001876Japan 0081Jordan 00962Kazakhstan 007Kenya 00254Kiribati 00686Kuwait 00965Kyrgyzstan 00996Laos 00856Latvia 00371Lebanon 00961Liberia 00231Libya 00218Lithuania 00370Luxembourg 00352Macau 00853Macedonia 00389Madagascar 00261Majorca 0034Malawi 00265Malaysia 0060Maldives 00960Mali 00223Malta 00356Marshall Islands 00692Martinique 00596Mauritania 00222Mauritius 00230Mayotte 00269Mexico 0052Micronesia 00691Moldova 00373Monaco 00377Mongolia 00976Montserrat 001664Morocco 00212Mozambique 00258Myanmar (Burma) 0095Namibia 00264Nepal 00977Netherlands (Holland)0031Netherlands Antilles 00599New Caledonia 00687New Zealand 0064Nicaragua 00505Nigar 00227Nigeria 00234Niue 00683Norfolk Island 00672Northern Ireland (UK)0044North Korea 00850Norway 0047Oman 00968Pakistan 0092Palau 00680Panama 00507Papua New Guinea 00675Paraguay 00595Peru 0051Philippines 0063Poland 0048Portugal 00351Puerto Rico 001787Qatar 00974Romania 0040Russian Federation 007Rwanda 00250Saint Helena 00290Saint Kitts 001869Saint Lucia 001758Saint Pierre 00508Saint Vincent 001784Samoa US 00684Samoa West 00685San Marino 00378Sao Tone 00239Saudi Arabia 00966Scotland (UK) 0044Senegal 00221Seychelles 00284Sierra Leone 00232Singapore 0065Slovakia 00421Slovenia 00386Solomon Islands 00677

INTERNATIONALCALLS

L I F E S T Y L ETUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

G o s s i p

Arterton regrets mother’s meanness

Gemma Arterton feels “so sorry” for being “reallymean” to her mum when she was younger. The 27-year-old beauty - who has a sister three years her

junior - still regrets being spiteful towards her mother,Sally, during her teenage years, but insists her mum wasn’t

a conventional parent. She said: “My mum isn’t a typicalmum. She’s individual. At the moment, she’s into clubbing.Last weekend, she went to Area [a superclub in London]. Ihaven’t even been to Area! “So when you’re a kid you’relike, ‘You’re so embarrassing. Why couldn’t you just be likeeveryone else’s mum and sit at home and drink tea?’ Andso we - me, especially - were really mean to mum in theteenage years. I think about it now and ... I’m just always sosorry about that.” But Gemma also recalls positive occur-rences throughout her childhood where she and her sisterbenefited from Sally’s less “typical” parenthood. She addedto Britain’s Marie Claire magazine: “We would always bepainting or doing crafty things with mum, and she’sinspired us to be musical. “My uncle is close to my age andwe used to get the guitars out and sit around for hoursjamming. We did it again recently. “He’s moved to NewZealand and mum and I went to visit him. Now we’ve gotthis video of us doing David Bowie - he’s on the piano,mum’s singing and I’m on the guitar. I’m like, ‘Ah, it’s likewhen I was little.’ “

-

Grammy-winning singer Lauryn Hill is facing sen-tencing Monday in New Jersey on federal taxcharges. Hill pleaded guilty last year to not paying

federal taxes on $1.8 million earned from 2005 to 2007. Ajudge two weeks ago said Hill had paid only about$50,000 of more than $500,000 she owes. Hill said in anInternet posting that she has signed a recording contractwith Sony that will help her pay her taxes. She faces up toa year in prison on each of three counts. Her attorney is

seeking probation for her. The 37-year-old South Orangeresident hasn’t released much music since her 1998 solodebut, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” which has soldmore than 10 million copies and won five GrammyAwards.

Peter Andre wants to take hiskids backpacking. The reali-ty T V star - who has two

children, Junior, seven and five-year-old Princess Tiaamii, with ex-wife Katie Price - would love totake his children with him on anadventure around the world, butsays he’d keep a credit card handyjust in case he got tired of thegreat outdoors. He said: “I reallywant to go backpacking aroundthe world when the kids are oldertoo. I’d do it properly - staying inhostels, living on a budget, allthat kind of thing. But I’d take a

credit card with me just in case Ineeded to splash out on a nicehotel!” The 40-year-old singer clar-ified recent speculation about hisdesire to move back to his nativeAustralia, explaining that he does-n’t plan on going home for “10years or so”. He said: “There’s beena bit of speculation about meplanning to move back toAustralia after I made a commenton my show, but it’ll be a longtime before I do it - probably 10years or so. To be honest, if I didn’thave kids, I might have alreadygone back there. I really love theUK, but until recently, the weatherhad been getting to me a bit!”Peter has already invited his girl-friend Emily MacDonagh, 23, tojoin him Down Under - and themedical student’s parents couldbe joining them too. He added:“Emily’s up for it too and her par-ents are cool with it. In fact, theymight even come out there them-selves.”

Chris Brown has confirmed he andRihanna have split up again. The‘Fine China’ hitmaker celebrated

turning 24 on Sunday with several lavishbirthday bashes in Las Vegas, New Yorkand Los Angeles, and revealed he is sin-gle by saying he hoped to party with asmany girls as he could, despite feeling“love” for his on/off girlfriend. Rihanna -who is said to have planned a surprise forthe singer - didn’t attend any of his par-ties as she was busy performing her‘Diamonds World Tour’ over her his birth-day weekend. Speaking about the bestpresent he could receive ahead of hisbirthday on The Kyle & Jackie O Show onAustralian station 2DayFM, Chris said:“Just peace - centre of your zen, whateverpeace you need, a clear mind ... but, I’m24, I’m going to be in Vegas, so I want toreally see as many girls as possible.” HostKyle asked: “So hang on, what’s your sta-tus, you’re on off . . . are you goingthrough this birthday solo?” Chris quicklyreplied: “I’m going to do it solo, at theend of the day, she’s already doing herthing, she’s on the road ... there’s alwaysgoing to be love, but I’m just going to dome. I’m a grown man.” The couple initiallysplit up in 2009 after Chris assaulted her

and they have both dated in-between,with the rapper having a brief relation-ship with model Karrueche Tran andRihanna, 25, being romantically linked tomusician Drake. However, Chris seemsadamant their recent split is for good thistime as he is “too young” to have a “wife”figure in his life, instead wanting to focuson himself. He added: “The way I look atit is ... I’m always going to love that per-son, but people have differences, andpeople have different wants and needs,at the end of the day she’s a young girl. “Ican’t really be focused on wife-ing some-body that young, and I’m young too. Ijust got to step forward and be the manand be the best Chris Brown I can beinstead of worrying about whoever elseis going to be in my side pocket. “

Emma Roberts and Evan Peters had crushes on each otherbefore they started dating. The loved up couple - who met onthe set of ‘Adult World’ - harbored feelings for each other

before finally getting together and Evan has never been happier. Hetold OK! Magazine: “I think we both had crushes on each other butwe didn’t know it. As soon as the movie was done we started hang-ing out and everything was perfect. “She’s amazing. She’s so muchfun. She has a great laugh, smile, she’s a great kisser. And she’s gor-geous.” Emma - who is the niece of actress Julia Roberts - may be agreat kisser, but Evan declined to let on if she also picked up sometips on how to pole dance from Jennifer Aniston, who played a strip-per opposite her in ‘We’re The Millers’. Emma has previouslydescribed Jennifer’s pole moves as “really hot,” adding: “She’s reallygood. I saw bits and pieces of it and she is amazing. It was unreal!”—Bang Showbiz

The 31-year-old singer, who already has 16-month-old daughter Blue Ivy with husbandJay-Z, is keen to extend her family as she

now feels motherhood is her “biggest” priority,despite initially struggling with it and her musiccareer. She told the Daily Mirror newspaper:“Definitely I would like to have more children.Motherhood has changed everything. You seethings a bit differently after you give birth and mybiggest job now is to protect my child. “After giv-ing birth there’s a moment of rediscovery whenyou are making sure you still have goals and takecare of yourself as a woman. That was something Istruggled with - making sure I was still this strongwoman and also making time for my child andbalancing the two.” Amid her fame, the ‘SweetDreams’ hitmaker - who is currently on her ‘MrsCarter Show’ tour - is grateful to have her motherTina to keep her grounded and she insists she isjust a regular parent when behind closed doorsaway from the limelight. BeyoncÈ added: “I feelthis is temporary and my public life when I’m per-forming on stage is just a few hours of the day.“The rest of the day I’m with my family, I’m chang-ing diapers and I’m with my mother who remindsme, ‘Girl, you’re not a Queen’. So it’s good to havethe balance. “Balancing is something I am strug-gling with, but I am trying to smell the roses andmake sure I don’t work so hard that I don’t enjoythe blessings that are around me every day.”

Molly Sims is trying not to be an over-protective mother. The 39-year-oldactress gave birth to her first child,

Brooks, 10 months ago and while she worriesabout him getting sick or injured, she is tryingto let him be independent. She told People

magazine: “I’ve gotten really great advice toreally let him be a boy and let him explore. I’mtrying not to be a germaphobe, I just have tobe careful about being overprotective. I havea system on my phone where I can see hisroom. I can be obsessive.” Blonde beautyMolly - who wed producer Scott Stuber inSeptember 2011- also can’t stop dressing upBrooks in all the different outfits they havebought for him. Molly wrote: “Scott and I lovedressing him up in all the cute little outfits hehas - sometimes he ends up wearing three dif-ferent outfits in a day - and blue and green aredefinitely his colors.” The proud mother alsoadmitted the feeling she had when she firstheld baby Brooks after giving birth was inde-scribable. The ‘Yes Man’ actress gushed: “Ithink that no matter how prepared you are -no matter how many hours you spendresearching strollers, stocking up on organicbaby food, and decorating the nursery -there’s simply nothing that can prepare youfor the feeling that comes with holding yourbaby for the first time.”

37L IFESTYLETUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

F e a t u r e s

Justin Timberlake brings smooth moves to NYC

Justin Timberlake performs at the MasterCard Priceless Premieres concerton Sunday in New York. —AP

Justin Timberlake brought his smoothmoves to the Roseland Ballroom onSunday night. The nattily dressed croon-

er performed for nearly two hours with hisband, also dressed in suits - and some in ties- for some 3,000 fans. He started his set bystrumming the guitar to “Like I Love You,” andhis falsetto kicked in on “My Love.” “Anyonedrunk yet?” he yelled before going into “CryMe a River.”

He danced - alone and a lot - throughoutthe 15-song set, running to the keys for “Untilthe End of Time” and “Seniorita,” where hetold the crowd, “You’re like an eight rightnow.” He said they were a nine when he fol-lowed with “That Girl” from his new album,

the double platinum-seller “The 20/20Experience.” He thanked the crowd for sup-porting his first release in seven years andperformed the hits “Suit and Tie” and“Mirrors.” Timberlake will release the album’ssecond half on Sept. 30.

The 32-year-old singer closed his concertfor MasterCard with “SexyBack,” withTimbaland joining him onstage. Timberlake’swife, Jessica Biel, was in the audience as wereAndy Samberg and engaged couple OliviaWilde and Jason Sudeikis. He will be per-forming for much larger audiences this sum-mer. His stadium tour with Jay-Z kicks off July17 in Toronto. Timberlake will launch a worldtour in Montreal on Oct 31. —AP

If you called Sarah Brightman a space cadet,it would probably make her smile. That’sbecause she plans on becoming the first

recording artist to venture into space en routeto the International Space Station sometime inthe next two years. The classically trainedsinger-actress always wanted to explore theheavens. She says it began in 1969 when shewas a little girl sitting in front of the televisionduring the historic Apollo 11 landing on themoon. “I was very lucky and privileged to beliving in that time to see that actually happenon a black-and-white TV screen and it changedmany of us. I don’t think there’s been anythingto date that was like that,” Brightman said.

Since then, she’s wanted to go to the moon.Clearly, a firm believer in “her reach must farexceed her grasp,” Brightman set her sights ona trip to the ISS. “It looks as if a special journeyinto space will be happening for me in a cou-ple of years,” said Brightman (she declined tosay how much the trip will cost). She said herfascination follows a long history of artistsinspired by space. “You look at Pink Floyd’s‘Dark Side of the Moon,’ even if there was noth-ing specific about space, the fact that it wascalled what it was and the feeling of the musicwas definitely inspired,” said Brightman. “DavidBowie (too). It goes on and on.”

She’s gone through a battery of diagnostictests to see if she’s “space-worthy.” “I went toStar City in Russia and did a series of psycho-logical tests, physical tests. I was monitoredwhen I was put into a centrifuge taken up toweight G, which I loved and felt very comfort-able with. I passed through everything really,really well and as said by the Russian SpaceFederation, I am officially a cosmonaut in train-ing at this moment,” she said. The intense eval-uation was unlike anything she had ever done.“They put you on something called the rotat-ing chair and basically it’s to test you formotion sickness,” Brightman said.

After spinning for more than 10 minutes,

she dealt with incredible nausea and dizziness.“You have to really focus. It’s very importantnot to pass out. They’re looking at a personspinning around in a chair going in differentdirections. It looks incredibly simple but thatactually was the hardest for me,” she said. TheInternational Space Station is a joint project

among five participating space agenciesincluding NASA and the Russian space agency.The habitable satellite resides in Earth’s lowerorbit and has a wingspan approximately thesize of an American football field. Since its1998 launch, it has hosted more than 125 mis-sions.

The rock band Thirty Seconds to Mars pre-

miered the single to their upcoming album atthe ISS in March. Brightman, 52, is best knownfor originating the role of Christine in both theLondon and Broadway casts of “The Phantomof the Opera.” She was married to the musical’scomposer, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Her latestalbum, “Dreamcatcher,” was inspired by want-

ing to journey into space. She covers songsabout the heavens, including “Angel” and“Venus and Mars.” “It’s given me a beautifultheme to work with, a beautiful palate to workwith and it’s been an incredibly creative time,”said Brightman.

She’s promoting the album with a worldtour. —AP

Sarah Brightman plans on upcoming space journey

This April 15, 2013 file photo shows actress and musician Sarah Brightman in NewYork. —AP

The Black Keys perform at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Sunday. —AP

British actress Helen Mirren gave atroupe of drummers a right royaltelling-off when she burst out of a

London theatre dressed as Queen ElizabethII, swearing at them to shut up. The furiousstar, who won the best actress Oscar for herportrayal of the British sovereign, admittedusing some very unregal language to getthem to clear off. Promoting the As One in

the Park festival for gay and trans-genderpeople, the drummers parked up outside theGielgud Theatre on Saturday as Mirren wason stage.

The noise interrupted the first act of “TheAudience”, in which the 67-year-old Mirrenplays Queen Elizabeth meeting her variousprime ministers. An incensed Mirren stormedout at the interval in a scene which evenstunned her co-star Rufus Wright-himselfplaying David Cameron-who also enteredthe fray. Wright tweeted: “You should haveseen Helen. She came out in full Queen cos-tume and shouted at the drummers too.Honestly. It was breathtaking”. A statementfrom the festival read: “Clearly angered, sheshrieked ‘Quiet! I’m trying to do a play inhere! People have paid a lot of money fortickets’.”

Mirren told The Daily Telegraph newspa-per she went a bit further than that. “I’mafraid there were a few ‘thespian’ words used.They got a very stern royal ticking off but Ihave to say they were very sweet and theystopped immediately,” she said. “They weredestroying our performance so somethinghad to be done. “There was just a thin wallbetween drumming and the theatre so itwas unbelievably loud on stage. “The audi-ence couldn’t hear us speak at all.

“I literally walked straight off stage,straight up the stairs and straight out thestage door and banged my way through thecrowd who were watching and said ‘stop,you’ve got to stop right now’-only I mighthave used stronger language than that. “Theywere very sweet and stopped the minutethey knew I wasn’t just a batty old womanharanguing them on the streets.” —AFP

Actress Mirren gives drummers a right royal ear-bashing

A picture dated April 28, 2013 showsBritish actress Helen-Mirren arrivingfor the Lawrence Olivier Awards fortheatre at the Royal Opera House inLondon. —AFP

OSN subscribers enjoypremiere show of Iron Man 3

OSN Subscribers were among thefirst viewers of the premiere of IronMan 3, the highly anticipated

blockbuster of the season in mind-blow-ing 3D.

Subscribers were given the opportunityto enjoy the first show of the blockbuster,courtesy of OSN’s rewards programme,OSN Privileges.

The exclusive screening for OSNPrivileges members was held at GrandCinemas, in Al Hamra on Saturday 4th Maywhere fans were given the opportunity topose for photos with their favourite super-hero, Iron Man. OSN brings viewers thebiggest and latest blockbusters to theregion. Iron Man 3 will premiere on OSNscreens soon.

For more than two decades, theNew Orleans Jazz and HeritageFestival has closed with a per-

formance by the city’s own NevilleBrothers. On Sunday, that traditionchanged. Aaron Neville performed ona stage with his new band whileyoung brass band frontman Troy“Trombone Shorty” Andrews closedthe festival’s biggest stage - where theNeville Brothers once held court thelast day. Andrews and his band,Orleans Avenue, entertained a jam-packed crowd as the festival ended its2013 run. A sea of faces stretched tothe track’s back fence.

Neville said he views the closinglineup change as kind of a “passing ofthe guard. “Trombone Slim, as I callhim, will do a great job,” Neville said ofAndrews. “I remember when it wasProfessor Longhair out there and thenwe did it for a long time. It’s time. Slimis a big musician and I’m proud of theway he’s handled himself.” Neville ispromoting his new album, “My TrueStory,” released earlier this year. At 72,he says it’s the right time to focus on asolo project.

“My brothers and I have been per-forming together like 35 years,”Neville said. “I wanted to do someother things and I couldn’t do bothbecause of my age and my health, so Idecided to back off the Brothers andfocus on what I wanted to do. I don’tknow how much longer I’m going tobe here and I would be mad at myselfif I didn’t take the time to do me.” Hisbrothers - Art, Cyril and Charles - per-formed during the festival’s firstweekend under a new name, TheNevilles.

Still, he wasn’t completely without

family on stage. Charles Neville playssaxophone in his quintet. AaronNeville gave fest-goers a good sam-pling of the new music which coversa musical genre close to his heart -doo-wop. “If you listen to any of mymusic, there’s a doo-wop essence toit,” he said. “Since I was a little boy, I’ve

listened to people like ClydeMcPhatter and the like. EverythingI’ve ever done has some doo-wop init. It’s innocent music. Music that tellsthe story of boy meets girl. Music Ican listen to with my granddaughterand my grandmother and nobodygets offended.”

Another closing day act was Hall &Oates, who made their Jazz Fest debutSunday under sunny skies and a coolbreeze that the crowd reveled in after

several days of rain and muddyground conditions. John Oates said heand his longtime musical partner,Darryl Hall, have always wonderedwhy this festival was never on theirschedule. “I can tell you, both Darryland I haven’t been more excitedabout a gig in about 20 to 30 years,”

Oates said. “We’re really psyched andexcited about the opportunity.”

Adam Butler, of Lisle, Ill., said hecame a long way for his first Jazz Fest,and Hall & Oates delivered. Their setincluded old favorites such as “Out ofTouch,” “Method of Love,” “Maneater,”and “Say It Isn’t So.” They closed theset with “I Can’t Go For That (No CanDo),” but came back for encore per-formances of “Rich Girl,” “Kiss On MyList,” and “Private Eyes.” “Their music is

timeless,” said Butler, who sipped amargarita as he took in the musicwith friends from California, Indianaand Nevada. Other closing day actsincluded Irma Thomas, Maze featur-ing Frankie Beverly, The Black Keys,Taj Mahal and Pete Fountain.

Fans cheered and stretched theirhands to the sky as Thomas sangbluesy numbers such as “Let’s StayTogether,” “It’s Raining,” “ForeverYoung” and “Let It Be Me.” During herupbeat medley of New Orleansfavorites such as “Iko Iko” and “HeyPocky Way,”

Thomas asked the thousandspacked before the stage to wave atowel or handkerchief in a NewOrleans tradition known as a second-line. “We’re so happy to see the sun,we don’t know what to do,” she said.Many in the crowd were on their feetdancing. “You can’t sit still when youlisten to Irma,” said Cecelia Wright ofSan Diego, Calif., who has attendedJazz Fest every year for the past 30years. “This festival has so many won-derful types of music. I don’t come forthe big names. I come for the jazz, theblues and the funk.”

Among the music was a touch ofromance as festival spokesmanMatthew Goldman exchanged vowswith Elise Gallinot on the front porchof a shotgun house on the festivalgrounds. The wedding party later sec-ond-lined to one of the music stageswhere a crawfish boil reception washeld as the day closed. Weddings arenot uncommon at Jazz Fest, wherecouples in years past have gottenmarried between sets in the Gospeltent and other locations around thegrounds. —AP

Trombone Shorty, Aaron Neville close Jazz Fest

Daryl Hall, left, and John Oates perform at the New OrleansJazz and Heritage Festival.

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

l if e s t y l eF e a t u r e s

By Christopher Reynolds

Here are three tweets I would have sent from myrecent stay at Santa Barbara’s just-reopened ElEncanto hotel if I hadn’t been busy behaving

like royalty and pretending the Internet didn’t exist:Arriving Encanto. Tab for a 375-sf room w/fireplaceand regal bathroom: $575 for 1 night, $35 for pkng,plus tax. Hey, what’s with extra stairs? Sunset on ter-race. Ordering abalone. Below: lush grounds, distantsea, SB’s red roofs. We’re 200 ft above normal life.Waiting for dinner. Wind gusting, asparagus in flight.Superfluous stairs still a mystery.

It’s been seven years since Orient-Express Hotelsclosed the beloved El Encanto for reconstruction and afew weeks since the hotel reopened on March 23. Thegrounds, the views and the mystery stairs all relate tothe same question: Can Orient-Express please the oldEl Encanto’s old guard and win enough new admirersto justify the $134 million it has spent to buy andrebuild the place?

Many old-timers and newcomers will be pleased.The hotel still sprawls over 7 lushly planted acres. Thelily pond is as elegant as ever, twin pines towering atone end. A new twinkling chandelier in the diningroom evokes the water features outside. Still, somepeople must be mourning. Seven years ago, guestspaid as little as $200 a night to stay in faded bunga-lows. Now that’s over, and for those visitors priced out,the $75-a-head Sunday brunch isn’t much consola-tion.

The hotel sits in the hillside Riviera neighborhood,half a mile up from the Old Mission Santa Barbara, amile from the shops and restaurants of State Street, 2miles from the beach. The property’s first Craftsmanbungalows were built before women could vote. By1918, the site had become a hotel called El Encanto (inSpanish, place of enchantment). The hotel’s SpanishColonial Revival buildings went up after a 1925 earth-quake (which prompted a citywide wave of Spanish-style reconstruction). For decades, the restaurant’s ter-race was admired for its views.

When Orient-Express Hotels bought El Encanto,the property had about 65 rooms and plenty of main-tenance issues. The company aimed for a 2009reopening. Then came the recession and preservationregulations.

El Encanto now has 92 units, an enlarged restau-rant terrace and a spa with seven treatment rooms.The buildings are still a mix of Craftsman and SpanishColonial Revival, some occupying the site of the for-mer tennis courts. The old pool is gone too. But a newpool, larger and deeper, has been dug in higherground and given infinity edges so guests can see thePacific while treading warm water.

My wife, Mary Frances, our almost-9-year-old,

Grace, and I stayed a night in a superior bungalow,intended for one or two people, and at the bottom ofthe hotel’s rate schedule. Nice fireplace. Wood floor. Inthe middle of the bed lay a pillow embroidered withthe letter R. (El Encanto stocks an entire alphabet ofmonogrammed pillowcases, then outfits the rooms tomatch every guest’s last name. Pampering with a capi-tal P.)

The bathroom seemed almost as big as the bed-room, with a separate tub and shower, radiant-heatedmarble floor and twin sinks.

I was standing at one of those sinks when I lookedout the window and noticed stairs and a landingbelow-the stairs leading to our bathroom wall. Iwalked around the building and ran my hand alongthe false door on the exterior. Why?

As I later learned, this was one of the property’soldest bungalows. So the city Historic LandmarksCommission required that the building’s footprintremain intact even though the interior was being

reconfigured to eliminate the second door and makeroom for the big bathroom and all its fixtures. Modernluxury, historic preservation: Most awkward bedfel-lows since Rock Hudson and Doris Day.

Anyway, Room 203 was comfortable, and the turn-down service (refreshed linens, artful arrangement ofGrace’s stuffed animals, etc) was expertly done. Andthat’s a good thing, given El Encanto’s rates. Comesummer, the smallest rooms often will fetch morethan $600; the largest, more than $1,200. Rates areabout comparable at the Four Seasons Biltmore, ElEncanto’s seaside competitor across town. If thesenumbers alarm you, be assured that in downtown

Santa Barbara, you can rent spacious rooms, closer tothe beach, for a lot less. At El Encanto, you’re paying forthe grounds, the view, the monogrammed pillowcase.

To get a good look at that view, we booked a ter-race table for dinner. Then the wind kicked up-blewmy wife’s asparagus off her fork-and I wished I’dreserved a table in the covered part of the terrace.

The larger problem was timing. Though we satdown just before 7 pm, the kitchen didn’t get maindishes to our table until after 8. And our waiter, charm-ing though he was, needed to be reminded twiceabout a drink order. The food was tasty when it came(especially the small plate of abalone with mushroomsand onions), but the restaurant might need a fewmore weeks to work out the kinks.

By the way, Grace endured the long dinner welland enjoyed the rest of El Encanto-flipping a coin intothe wishing well, peering through the telescopes onthe property, creeping to the headwaters of the littlebrook by the pond and swimming. Though only 36 of

the hotel’s rooms were occupied that weekend, therewere several contented children around. It’s a kid-friendlier place than I’d expected. The parting tweet Imeant to send: The hill is steep and the tab is steeper.But a cool pool goes a long way, and El Encanto hasone.—MCT

Santa Barbara’s recently reopened El Encanto hotel includes seven acres of lavishly planted grounds with strikingapproaches to the hotel.

An infinity pool with ocean views is among the sellingpoints at El Encanto in Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara’s recently reopened El Encanto hotelincludes seven acres of lavishly planted grounds, includ-ing a few water features.

A wishing well attracts curious guests at Santa Barbara’s recently reopened ElEncanto.

An infinity pool with ocean views is among the selling points at El Encanto inSanta Barbara.

Guests, some with their furry friends, loll in the lounge area of El Encanto, inSanta Barbara.

A fanciful water-drop art-work dominates the center

of the dining room of ElEncanto in Santa Barbara.

The terrace at Santa Barbara’s El Encanto hotel is a popular spot for outdoor dining.

KUWAIT: Home Centre’s new brilliantbuys collection promises to makeshopping for the home an even moreexciting activity. Do away with thefrustration associated with finding theright fits for your dream home.Featuring appealing designs indurable finishing, the collection offersgreat value for money.

The eclectic selection has beenput together to offer a variety of inter-esting picks for diverse home furnish-ing needs. The range includes bed-room, dining and living room sets,linen, kitchenware, bath accessories,wall art and other striking decorpieces, all at very attractive prices.

The new collection showcases amix of modern and transitional furni-ture and home decor accessories in

vivid and colourful styles, offeringsomething for every taste. The collec-tion comprises timeless products thathold utility value and aestheticappeal. Home Centre’s combinationof unique designs and refreshingcolours reflects popular global trendsin home decor. Tagged at accessibleprice-points, the collection alsoappeals to the cost conscious buyers.Now available at all Homecentrestores - Al Rai, Shuwaikh, Awqaf andFahaheel. Opening soon at TheAvenues — Grand Avenue

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

l if e s t y l eF e a t u r e s

The opening of a museum dedicated to US artsuperstar Mark Rothko in his Latvian birthplaceis raising hopes the city of Daugavpils could

attract thousands of new tourists and revitalize theeconomy. Officials believe the Mark Rothko Art Centrewill have a “Bilbao effect”-a term used to describe thepivotal role the Guggenheim Museum played in reviv-ing the depressed Basque metropolis. “The museumwill be both the pearl of our city and the brand of ourcity and the whole country,” mayor Zanna Kulakovasaid at the opening last month.

Rothko, who died in 1970, became a giant of themodern art world through his characteristic style: aseemingly simple but arresting juxtaposition ofblocks of vibrant color. Along with examples of hisabstract expressionism, the Daugavpils collectioncontains figurative works from his earlier experimentswith color. Art lovers willing to make the pilgrimageto the southern city-known as Dvinsk in the RussianEmpire when Rothko was born in 1903 — will have toshow endurance if they want to lay eyes on the cen-tre’s six masterpieces.

The 230-kilometre (140-mile) ride from the capitalRiga takes three hours on a highway that for much ofits route is a pot-holed carriageway. The trundlingtrains take even longer, while Daugavpils airport-a

military remnant of the Soviet era-lies unused. Oncethere, visitors must then locate the museum within alabyrinthine Tsarist-era fortress complex surroundedby crumbling buildings and ramshackle flats. InnaSteinbuka, the head of the European Commission inLatvia, said the museum “will give a new impetus tothe city”, drawing art lovers and spurring economicdevelopment in Daugavpils and the surrounding area.

“We can look at the examples of Bilbao and maybeMetz in France. In Metz the branch of the Pompidoucentre made Metz visible. Daugavpils also needs thisvisibility and its own brand,” she told AFP. Turning theformer arsenal into the gallery cost 5.7 million euros($7.5 million), with 85 percent covered by the EU. In areversal of Riga’s usual cultural dominance, the muse-um will be promoted as an attraction in 2014 whenRiga becomes one of two European capitals of cul-ture, said Armands Slokenbergs, head of the Latviantourism development agency, along with the Swedishcity of Umea.

“Hopefully this will give some impetus to otherthings such as investment into Daugavpils airport,”added Ojars Sparitis, a professor at the LatvianAcademy of Arts. Price tags of up to $86.9 million forRothko’s work stand in stark contrast to the fortunesof the artist’s native city, which lies in one of the EU’s

poorest regions. The gross average monthly wage inthe Latgale region is just 500 euros per month,according to official data, significantly below thenational average of 732 euros.

Unemployment runs at 21 percent, according toMarch figures from the state employment agency. Theday of the opening, the surrounding district wasunder a state of emergency due to flooding after theriver Daugava broke its banks, the waters lappingalmost a stone’s throw from the steps of the freshly-painted art centre. Pushing her baby in a buggy closeto the museum, young mother Liga, who declined togive her surname, said she would wait to see whateffect the museum would have. “The roads aroundthe museum have been repaired, but the others arestill bad,” she said. “What is there for people besidesthe museum? They will look at the pictures then goback to Riga.”

Yet she admitted she plans to visit the museum,whose officials are banking on Rothko’s cult followingto draw 90,000 visitors a year in a city of just 100,000people. Within minutes of reading a report of themuseum’s opening, Swiss hotelier Jean-Paul Herzogdecided to visit in June. “I will visit Daugavpils specifi-cally for the Rothko museum,” Herzog told AFP. ARothko fan since the 1970s, Herzog said he was

inspired by the “radiant calm” of the pictures - a quali-ty that will come in handy after the long, bumpy rideto Daugavpils. — AFP

This picture taken on May 1, 2013 shows visitors attending the Mark Rothko Center in Daugavpils, Latvia. — AFP photos

Visitors attend theopening of the new

Mark Rothko Center.

Spring flowers are in full bloom all overthe city-and we’re not just talking gar-dens. Dresses festooned with roses,

blouses splashed with tulips and blazers inprints that would rival the best floralarrangements are blossoming in boutiquewindows. And the floral trend has made itsway to the accessories counter too.

We’ve picked through the commonweeds to find pieces of jewelry that are well

beyond the garden variety. These neck-laces, earrings, rings, bracelets and head-pieces will add some serious petal power towarm weather wardrobes. — MCT

Getting tattooed with the companylogo is all the rage at one NewYork City brokerage firm. The

reward? A bump in pay. The CEO of RapidRealty NYC says about 40 employeeshave gotten inked with the logo in thepast two years. Anthony Lolli says work-ers are “passionate about the brand.”

They also may be passionate aboutthe extra 15 percent in commission theyget for sporting a tattoo. Lolli started thepolicy a year and a half ago after oneemployee got the tattoo to prove hiscompany loyalty. The franchise hasoffices throughout New York City. Lollisays the company may soon be featuredin a reality show that would depict NewYorkers apartment hunting.-AP

Photo provided by Rapid Realty, tattoo artist Al Fliction inks Mayra Segarra, an employee of Rapid Realty NYC, as herboss, Anthony Lolli, center right, stands by her side while fellow Rapid Reality employees look on at the Ink Mastershop in the Brooklyn borough of New York. — AP photos

Mayra Segarra, an employee of Rapid Realty NYC, shows off her tattooafter being inked in the Brooklyn borough of New York.

Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, 19-years-old, performs in front of a crowd of 15,000 fans at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, on May 4, 2013. This is Bieber’s first visit to the UAE. —AFP

39NYC brokeragerewards employees whoget tattooed

TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013

Justin Bieber fan disrupts Dubai concertAfan jumped on stage at a Justin Bieber

concert in Dubai, sparking a scramble asguards tackled the youth and toppled a

piano over in the process, video footage showedyesterday. The YouTube video shows a boy

dressed in shorts and white shirt running acrossthe stage and approaching the Canadian pop staras he performed on the piano. A security guardquickly pounced, flung him away from Bieber andknocked the piano partly off stage, as thousands

of screaming fans looked on. The footage showsthe boy then being whisked away by two guardsand Bieber skipping away to safety on a side ofthe stage as the music continues to play. “A youngfan desperate to meet his idol did make his way

on stage, but was immediately removed andJustin professionally continued with his show,”said the concert’s organizers.

“As far as we know, no further action has beentaken against the youth.” The 19-year-old singer

was performing for the second night in front ofthousands of fans at a stadium in Dubai. Bieberhad arrived nearly two hours late for the concert,angering young fans who arrived in Dubai fromacross the region to see him perform live. —AFP

Saudi has designs on Beirut

Models present creations by Saudi designer Elham Elyoussef during a fashion show in Beirut on Sunday. —AFP photos

Saudi designer Elham Elyoussefsalutes the crowd following afashion show.