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RABI ALAWAL 17, 1432 AH
protesting bedoons Official insists Kuwait treating ‘illegal residents’ humanely
US vetoes UN resolution on settlements
Zain rejects all three offers for Saudi stake COO to leave
clashed with police in Jahra. Like in Jahra, protesters in Sulaibiya carried Kuwaiti flags and pictures of HH the Amir and also demanded their right to work. Maha Al-Barjas, vice president of the Kuwait Human Rights Society, said seven people had been wounded in the clashes. The bedoons, who are estimated at more than 100,000, claim they have the right to Kuwaiti citizenship, but the government says that ancestors of many of them came from neighbouring countries and they are not
entitled to nationality. But the Chairman of the Central System for the Remedy of Status of Illegal Residents (CSRSIR) Saleh AlFadhala said yesterday Kuwait has never relinquished its humanitarian responsibility over the “illegal residents” (bedoons). “For a long time the state undertook the mission of providing all humanitarian treatment and services for all residents without exception,” Fadhala said in statements to KUNA. The CSRSIR focuses primarily on how to settle Continued on Page 14
Libyan regime cracks down
MANAMA: Bahraini protesters celebrate at the Pearl Square roundabout soon after the military pulled out yesterday. — AP
Protesters back in Pearl Square Oppn rejects dialogue MANAMA: Thousands of jubilant Bahrainis returned yesterday to Manama’s Pearl Square, the focal point of bloody anti-regime demonstrations, after police and troops withdrew in an apparent conciliator y move. After the security forces had pulled out, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa ordered that they were to stay away from demonstrators. Salman, deputy commander of the armed forces, ordered “all security forces to immediately withdraw from assembly areas”, the BNA state news agency reported. He also asked the “crowds to leave” to start a “new phase of national action that would bring together all parties.” The latest developments
come as pressure grows on the pro-West and strategically vital Gulf k ingdom to talk to the Shiite -led opposition, which demands that the government resign before talks offered by the king can begin. Protesters erected tents in the square after removing barbed wire and pouring in from three streets. They later lit candles in memory of the “martyrs” of the uprising. Police, who had earlier fired tear gas in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent people from reaching the square, eventually followed the army’s lead and also withdrew. Some demonstrators were evacuated to Salmaniya hospital after inhaling gas, an AFP journalist there reported. Continued on Page 14
CAIRO: Muammar Gaddafi’s forces fired on mourners leaving a funeral for protesters Saturday in the eastern city of Benghazi, killing at least 15 people and wounding scores more as the regime tried to squelch calls for an end to the ruler’s 42-year grip on power. Libyan protesters were back on the street for the fifth straight day, but Gaddafi has taken a hard line toward the dissent that has ripped through the Middle East and swept him up with it. Government forces also wiped out a protest encampment and clamped down on Internet service throughout Libya. Snipers fired on thousands of people gathered in Benghazi, a focal point of the unrest, to mourn 35 protesters who were shot on Friday, a hospital official said. A hospital official said 15 people were killed, including one man who was apparently hit in the head with an anti-aircraft missile. The weapons apparently were used to intimidate the population. “Many of the dead and the injured are relatives of doctors here,” he told AP in a telephone interview. “They are crying and I keep telling them to please stand up and help us.” The official said many people were shot in the head and chest. The hospital was overwhelmed and people were streaming to the facility to donate blood. Like most Libyans who have talked to AP during the revolt, the hospital official spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Before yesterday’s violence, Human Rights Watch had estimated at least 84 people have been killed. Continued on Page 14
WASHINGTON: Demonstrators gather near the White House in a show of solidarity with the Libyan protestors yesterday. — AP
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KUWAIT: Kuwaiti riot police used teargas to disperse hundreds of stateless Arabs who demonstrated for the second day yesterday to demand basic rights and citizenship. Police arrested dozens from around 300 protesters who had gathered in Sulaibiya to press for their demands. On Friday, at least five people were wounded and local media said as many as 100 protesters were arrested when around 1,000 stateless Arabs, known as bedoons from the Arabic “bedoon jinsiyya” (without nationality),
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KUWAIT: Bedoons demand the right to work in Sulaibiya yesterday. Kuwaiti riot police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of the stateless Arabs, who demonstrated for the second day to demand basic rights and citizenship. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat (See Page 2)
DUBAI/KUWAIT: Kuwait telecoms carrier Zain rejected all three offers for its Saudi unit yesterday. A proposed $12 billion takeover of Zain by Etisalat depends on the sale of the assets in Zain Saudi, valued at $750 million, due to regulatory requirements. “The board met today and declined all three offers,” the source, familiar with the discussions, told Reuters. Nasser Al-Kharafi, the head of the Kharafi Group, told CNBC Arabiya on Friday that Etisalat needed to complete the due diligence before the end of February, rejecting any extensions. Etisalat’s chief international investment officer said on Wednesday the due diligence would be completed by end-March. Kingdom Holding had been seen as the favourite over rival bidder Bahrain Telecommunications Co (Batelco) and a consortium to buy a one quarter holding in Zain’s Saudi subsidiary. An investment consortium led by Al Riyadh Group has also made an offer for Zain Continued on Page 14
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UNITED NATIONS: The United States has vetoed an Arab-sponsored UN resolution branding Israeli settlements illegal, prompting angry Palestinians to vow to re-evaluate the entire Middle East peace process. The Obama administration cast its first veto in the United Nations Security Council Friday, after intense diplomacy failed to convince Palestinians to accept a non-binding compromise statement condemning Jewish settlement activity. The row dealt a further blow to Washington’s already struggling bid to forge a Palestinian state this year and risked further estranging US ties with Arab leaders already tetchy at its response to unrest sweeping the Middle East. US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said Washington was “regrettably” blocking the draft resolution and warned Israeli should not interpret the move as backing for settlement building in east Jerusalem and the West Bank. But she said the United States - one of five permanent Security Council members with veto power - did not believe the United Nations was the best place to seek to resolve the decades-old IsraeliPalestinian conflict. “This draft resolution risks hardening the positions of both sides,” Rice said. “It could encourage the parties to stay out of negotiations.” Later, in a conference call with reporters, Rice added “We reject in the strongest terms the legitimacy of the continued Israeli settlement activity.” But Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said the US veto was “unfortunate and affects the credibility of the American administration”. As a result, the Palestinians will “re-evaluate the entire process of negotiations” towards peace in the Middle East, he said. Rabbo said yesterday Palestinian leaders had decided to make another attempt at the world body’s General Assembly, which convenes in New York in September. “Our decision now is to go to the General Assembly of the United Continued on Page 14
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KUWAIT: Bedoon (stateless) residents protested for a second day yesterday, demanding citizenship and basic rights at a demonstration in Sulaibiya. — Photos by Yasser Al Zayyat
Govt body will resolve bedoon issue, says interior minister Call to ‘maintain patience’ KUWAIT: Kuwait's interior minister yesterday asserted that the massive public protests by bedoon (stateless) residents in Jahra made no sense, saying that the demonstrations took place during a period in which the latest government body established to find solutions to the problems facing the country's bedoon population has not completed its work. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, who is also Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, issued a press release on the protests, which were quelled by police and state security officers using water cannons, tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. Thirty people were officially reportedly injured in the protests, including a number of police officers, with the interior minister insisting that the problems facing Bedoons would be resolved by the newest committee established to resolve the longstanding issue. Speaking on condition of anonymity, another senior Cabinet official criticized the protesters for "organizing an illegal gathering" during a period in which the government has vowed to proceed with measures to end the stateless residents' long suffering. Claiming that some bedoon residents already receive limited medical treatment and education services from the government, the official urged the bedoon community to "maintain patience," insisting that the issue of naturalization is being studied closely. The official called on bedoon people to refrain from illegal activities, "which could lead to them facing legal charges." The official also indicated that interrogators are grilling some of the protesters arrested in order to track down those who called for the protests. Around 1,000 stateless residents gathered for a peaceful protest on Friday in the Taima and Sulaibiya areas of Jahra, with police sealing off entries and exits to the affected areas, only allowing in heavily armed security reinforcements to disperse the protesters. Clashes broke out after negotiations between state security officials and representatives of the protesters failed to lead to the protesters' dispersal. In addition to naturalization, the protesters demanded basic civil rights, including education, medical treatment and official registration entitling them to obtain civil IDs, as well as marriage and birth certificates. The government recently established the latest committee to study the issue of naturalizing those bedoons seen as meriting citizenship, while finding viable final solutions for those who fail to meet the naturalization requirements, reported Al-Qabas. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti Anti-Discrimination Society criticized the "calls made by some individuals for protests at one of Kuwait's governments to demand bedoons' rights." Society chairman Fayez Al-Nashwan insisted that the subject of stateless residents is an "entirely humanitarian" one which should not be affected by political issues. "Engaging bedoon residents with unjustified activities by which they become criminalized for violating the law makes the humanitarian subject a tool to be used in challenging the state", the statement reads. AlNashwan further said that calling for protests at a time in which the region is going through a critical period "proves the short-sightedness" of those who called for the protest concerning the situation of Kuwait. "Kuwait is a small country where maintaining security should be given top priority," said Al-Nashwan, reiterating the society's support of peaceful demonstration "as long as it doesn't violate the law."
Kuwait-KSA media forum to strengthen special ties RIYADH: The first joint Kuwaiti-Saudi Arabian media forum, due to open here today, will further cement the close ties between the two fraternal nations, said Kuwaiti MP Dr. Mohammad Al-Howaila yesterday. Speaking on the eve of the two-day gathering, Dr. Al-Dowaila said the event, which coincides with the celebrations marking Kuwait's 50 Independence Day and 20th Liberation Day, as well as the fifth anniversary of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Sabah's investiture, will provide an
opportunity for the Kuwaiti delegates to reiterate their gratitude for Saudi Arabia's role in Kuwait liberation war. "The late king of Saudi Arabia, Fahad Bin Abdulaziz, adopted a bold decision in siding with the rights of Kuwait to regain independence and legitimacy," said Dr. Al-Dowaila, who is also a member of the Kuwaiti media delegation to the gathering. "The deep-rooted neighborly ties between the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are an example for
the ties among all Arab countries," he continued. The Kuwaiti parliamentarian will address the forum together with member of the Saudi Shura Council, Dr. Mohammad Al-Helwah, and the Editor-in-Chief of Kuwaiti daily Al-Seyassah, Ahmad Al-Jarallah. The forum provides a platform for intellectuals, media people, politicians and parliamentarians from the two countries to explore ways of enhancing the people-to-people relations as
well as the cultural, economic and political exchanges, Dr. Al-Dowaila added. On the sidelines of the gathering a number of eminent Saudi figures will be honored for their support of Kuwait's struggle against the Iraqi invasion of 1990; these include Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, the then commander of the joint Arab force, as well as the late governor of the eastern region of the kingdom Prince Fahad Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, he revealed. — KUNA
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Final concert in Layali Febrayer festival a hit with music fans Al-Kbesi, Nawal, Abdo enthral audience By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Layali Febrayer Music Festival concluded on Friday night with a final concert at the Ice Skating Rink. Tickets for the event sold out weeks beforehand, just as they had for the fourth and fifth concerts in the popular series of concerts. The event began just af ter 10pm, with the young Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kbesi who, despite only releasing one album to date, has already attained massive popularity, with a number of his songs played on the radio. On Friday night, the young singer performed for one hour, and expressed his happiness at having the chance to be singing in Kuwait during this festival. At 11:45 pm, the well-loved Kuwaiti singer Nawal came on stage to an enthusiastic welcome from the audience. After opening with a song about Kuwait, she went on to sing many of her old and new romantic ballads. S o m e o f h e r f a n s i n t h e a u d i e n ce w ave d b a n n e r s s ay i n g, ‘ M I S S YO U NAWAL.’
in brief
‘Food items’ contents KUWAIT: MP Dr Mohammad Al-Huwailah has proposed the creation of a draft law that will mandate importers and manufacturers to print package details of contents and its percentage. He said that local and international foodstuff manufacturers produce certain items, according to specifications that have been approved in advance by local Minister of Health, reported Al-Anba. Since the consumers of these goods are not aware of content details, its effects on health, especially certain ingredients could damage human health.
Coastguard station approved KUWAIT: The Kuwait Municipality has requested the Municipal Council to approve a Cabinet decision that accords permanent status to the current coastguard station located in Al-Subbiya. It will serve the future city of Al-Hareer, reported Al-Qabas. The 82,000 square meter area is owned by the Interior Ministry. It requires that environmental conditions be passed before permanent status is approved. The Municipality’s Structural Planning Department has already confirmed that the site’s presence does not conflict with the bridge project that connects the planned Hareer City with Boubyan port.
MEW robbed of KD 38m
Nawal, who has released many albums since she first burst onto the music scene in the 1980s, explained that she didn’t release any last year as
Premarital test centers handle 35,000 cases KUWAIT: Dr Yacoub Al-Kandari, Director of professional health administration at the Ministry of Health said that four premarital test centers received about 35,000 cases since being medically tested before being married became mandatory in August, 2009, reported Al-Shahed. He added that the number of unsafe cases recorded were less than one percent and that the rate of marriages between people who are related was at 11-12 percent. The doctor explained that premarriage health tests include screenings for inherited diseases, epidemic deceases such as AIDS and other sex-
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ually transmitted diseases. He emphasized that the premarital test centers provide absolute confidentiality and advise patients on the best course of action. Al-K andari explained that of those taking the tests, 0.002 percent were found to be HIV positive while 0.004 percent tested positive for syphilis. He added that 98 percent of Kuwaitis who got married carried out the pre-marriage test and that 85 percent of those did were university graduates. He said that the test is free of charge and that it takes about one week to receive the test’s results.
she was pregnant, recently giving birth to her first daughter, Haneen. Her performance concluded at 1:15 am. During the event, representatives from Zain, the festival’s main sponsor, handed out free CDs of Kuwait-themed songs by talented young Kuwaiti singers to audience members. The special CDs were issued to commemorate the upcoming national celebrations. The grand finale of Friday night’s event was an appearance by veteran Saudi singer Mohamed Abdo, who got a rapturous reception from the audi-
ence on his appearance at 2:00 AM. Abdo began his performance with a new song about Kuwait which he had written especially for the concert. This was followed by one of his trademark lengthy classical songs which lasted for 30 minutes. Abdo, who began his music career in the 1960s and now has a vast fanbase of all ages, is particularly well known for these long classical ballads, with his two-hour performance at Friday night’s event delighting audience members young and old.
KUWAIT: Official Sources revealed that more than 2,000 electrical stations and transformers were robbed during the past year, reported Al-Shahed. They explained that KD 38.769 million was lost in stolen copper wires and transformers. They said the thefts occurred most frequently in Salmiya, Amghara, Saad Al-Abdullah, Old Jahra, Khaitan, Abdullah Al-Mubarak and Jleeb AlShuyoukh. The sources added that the Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) did nothing to protect its stations and ignored requests to appoint guards to certain locations.
EPA inspectors seize aerosol foam cans KUWAIT: Inspection teams from the Environmental Public Authority (EPA) recently raided several stores that sold aerosol foam cans. The sale of these objects have been banned owing to the apparent health risks involved. The campaigns, that also included shops in Jabriya, Mubarakiya, Salmiya, Sharq, and Kaifan, also sold party string spray cans in various toy shops at local CoOperative Society in Kaifan. Citations were issued to violators who are required to pay fines. Talking to reporters, EPA Managing Director Dr Salah Al-Madhahi insisted that their efforts, initially designed to pursue violators, seek to trade in banned products prior to the national celebrations. Moreover, he explained that the EPA’s 100 inspectors will be present between 24 and 26 of the month, reported Al-Qabas.
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MPs differ over anti-govt ‘public protest outside Assembly’ plan Campaigning begins on social networking sites KUWAIT: Popular Action Bloc (PAB) MPs and some supportive journalists have reportedly begun campaigning and coordinating on social networking sites Twitter and Facebook in order to gather the largest possible number of Kuwaiti citizens to hold a demonstration outside parliament on March 8 demanding the government’s resignation, the day that parliamentary business resumes following the current recess. PAB MPs have also been working closely with their parliamentar y colleagues from the Reform and Development Bloc (RDB) to rally their support for the demonstration, but the RDB has so far apparently
shown reluctance about throwing its support behind the calls, reported AlShahed. Many RDB members repor tedly believe that such protests outside parliament are unnecessary, feeling that the National Assembly (parliament) itself can serve as a forum for dialogue between all parties and opinions and can hold government accountable, without the need for public protests. One parliamentary insider said, however, that the difference in views between the two blocs has not stopped the PAB from continuing with its preparations for a public demonstration on
March 8. Meanwhile, the KD 1,000 Amiri grant will be deposited in 98 percent of Kuwaitis’ bank accounts by February 24, 2011, reported Al-Rai. The remaining two percent will have to wait somewhere between a few days to six months for their deposit. The announcement was made by the chairman of the governmental performance monitoring system, Sheik h Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak AlSabah, who indicated during a televised interview that the recent Amiri grant which also covers citizens currently abroad - is the largest in the history of
the countr y. On Al-Rai T V, Sheik h Mohammad Abdullah indicated that the number of Kuwaiti citizens receiving the grant is 1,149,578 as of 7:00 pm this past Thursday. He further asserted that the payment could’ve been delayed if it weren’t for the efforts of a certain ministry - which he chose not to name - that worked through the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) holiday so that the payment could be made a day before the independence and liberation anniversaries. He also said that the rights of minors and inmates in rehabilitation centers for the grant will be protected.
KUWAIT: On the occasion of the birthday of the Korean leader Kim Jong Il, Chairman of the National Defense Committee of the Korea Democratic Republic, the Korean Ambassador Hu Jong hosted a reception on the embassy premises in Surra on Wednesday. A number of dignitaries attended the function. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat
Ahmadi festival marks national anniversaries KUWAIT: Fahaheel’s Al-Dabous Street last week hosted a festival celebrating the upcoming major national anniversaries, namely the 50th anniversary of Kuwait’s independence, the 20th anniversary of liberation and the fifth anniversary of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah’s investiture.
The festival, organized on behalf of the Ahmadi governorate, was patronized and attended by the area’s governor, Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim Al-Duaij AlSabah. Various prominent social figures attended the event, joining hundreds of local residents in their celebrations.
“These celebrations demonstrate the loyalty of governorate residents to their country,” festival coordinator Badr Shu’ail told Al-Rai. Ahmadi began its activities marking the upcoming anniversaries on January 26, with the celebrations set to last until the end of this month.
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In my View
The rise of new media By Fouad Al-Obaid
fouad@kuwaittimes.net
F
acebook, Twitter, YouTube, Bb-messenger and the like have become the new means of gathering, generating and disseminating information instantaneously. They are free, quick, and efficient at spreading news to people via mobile devices. The novelty of these new forms of information is that they can circumnavigate any state apparatus that traditionally has been in the business of controlling the flow of information. The new platforms ignore state sanctions and have led to the demise of various governments in the region. This new trend that has allowed for large unrelated crowds of people to unite for a cause as simple as saving a puppy from abandonment to leading revolutions has taken experts by surprise. The reason is that even in countries where Internet penetration is considered low, the ability to use the Internet to generate massive internal bases coupled with enticing external media coverage has been drastic. The Egyptian revolution has been broadcast across several international news channels - I myself commented on the events extensively on one of the given channels. What made the revolution global, paving the way for many more in the region and I suspect around the world, will be how different groups of ‘revolutionaries’ will learn from others’ experiences and tactics used by their international peers. This might be the year that democracy makes its universal debut. One is asked to reflect on what such uprisings really mean. Are they organized groups who have planned and executed a revolution? The answer is no! When things become too unbearable only a small spark was necessary to unleash chaos. Some sister countries today are facing similar challenges to those that have led to fundamental changes in Egypt and Tunisia; many are starting to question whether this will lead to more stability or more chaos. Certainly such uprisings have had one beneficial aspect to them and that is universal to the entire region. Governments, who were not seen as doing enough in terms of reforms and change are hastily adapting to the new reality and ushering in eras of reforms. In analyzing the general picture, we come to an understanding that change is here and it is not expected to leave. Some governments might sail on the wind of freedom blowing through the region. Others that have built tall castles might - and I suspect will - be prone to gusts that will lead to the destruction of their castles! What has become crystal clear to all is that people have inherent, inalienable rights. If governments are not willing to understand that this decade is one of freedom they will come to see that they too will be part of history.
in brief
Citizen, Filipina die in motorbike collision KUWAIT: A citizen and a Filipina died yesterday in a motor accident that took place along the Arabian Gulf road. The young man was riding his motorcycle when he lost control over the vehicle and accidently hit the woman. The intensity of the resulting collision, caused the motorist to be flung into the air and landed on the ground with a death. Both victims died instantly. Reshuffle at MoH KUWAIT: Official Ministry of Health (MoH) sources announced a large scale rotation of central administration and hospital department head positions within the next few days, reported Al-Shahed. The sources said that the rotation would include the transfer of some current directors to consultants for the minister’s office or the undersecretar y ’s office. They added that the reshuffle would result in several changes that ensures the entry of new individuals into the ministry. The transition will be carried out by an undersecretary to avoid the interference of some MPs that may wish to impose individuals that are unqualified for the available positions, they concluded. No bonuses for expats KUWAIT: Official sources revealed that the Civil Service Commission (CSC) intends to stop work bonuses for state employees that are not Kuwaiti, reported Al-Shahed. The sources said that the commission finalized a study they carried out regarding the suspension of bonuses to non-Kuwaitis. A special decision may be issued and circulated to state ministries within the next few days limiting bonuses to Kuwaiti citizens only.
Free Trade Zone shops KUWAIT: A number of shop owners from the Free Trade Zone have complained against the closure of businesses because of their failure to produce health licenses. However, they have been provided with a copy of the ‘shutdown order’ that can be used to proceed with procedures that help legalize their status. The Municipality had launched a campaign earlier this year to ‘clean’ the FTZ of unlicensed commercial enterprises. This also includes violations that pertain with cleanliness and commitment of staff workers to legalize their stay in the country and comply with sanitation requirements, reported Al-Qabas. In recent complaints, a number of cafés were shut down as staff workers failed to produce medical licenses. Retired servicemen appeal KUWAIT: A senior Kuwaiti security figure has urged the government and parliament to include retired military personnel alongside serving personnel being awarded pay rises at the interior and defense ministries, as well as the National Guard and Kuwait Fire Ser vices Directorate (KFSD). According to Al-Rai, Staff Colonel (Retd.) Fahad Al-Shulaimi, the official spokesperson for retired officers, appealed to His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah, as well as to the Vice President of the National Guard Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad AlSabah and the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, along with MPs, to “address the injustice” which he says that 220 retired officers, ranked from colonels to Major Generals, and their families, have been subjected to.
Khairan resort ready for national holidays KUWAIT: The Khairan resort, one of Touristic Enterprises Company’s(TEC) facilities, will organize various activities on Feb 25 and Feb 26th as part of the programs being held to celebrate Kuwait’s national holidays. Adnan Zinedine, Managing Director of Khairan Resort, announced that celeAnwar Al-Nisf brations will begin at 3:30 pm on Friday afternoon. The day’s activities will conclude with a cake cutting ceremony. The second day will start at 4:00 pm in the afternoon, followed by competitions. A fireworks show will wrap up the day’s events. Visitors can also enjoy sporting-related activities at the Khairan resort. This includes tennis, football, basketball, volleyball, billiards, Adnan Zinedine table tennis and cycling. Meanwhile, on the occasion of national holidays, the Touristic Enterprises Company(TEC) will offer discounted entry ticket rates to the Entertainment City for KD 2 instead of KD 3.5 on February 25 and 26. Anwar Al-Nisf, Managing Director of TEC’s Activities and Operations Department, further revealed that a special program has been prepared for the Entertainment City. This includes Kuwaiti traditional activities, competitions and a fireworks show.
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Sheikh Nawaf ‘a man loved by all Kuwaiti people’
kuwait Digest
Kuwait Govt Authorities face off
Crown Prince marks fifth year of assumption of post KUWAIT: Coinciding with Kuwait's 50th anniversary of Independence Day, 20th of Liberation Day and 5th anniversary of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's assumption of power, Kuwaitis will also be celebrating on Feb 20 the fifth year of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah's assumption of his post. On Feb 20, 2006, His Highness the Crown Prince took the oath at an extraordinary parliamentary session in the presence of His Highness the Amir and parliament members who unanimously pledged allegiance to His Highness the Crown Prince. During the session, members of Parliament lauded His Highness the Amir's choice of choosing His Crown Prince, asserting that His Highness Sheikh Nawaf is "a man loved by the Kuwaiti people." On his part National Assembly Speaker, Jassem Al-Khorafi, asserted the leading role played by His Highness Sheikh Nawaf in severing the country, noting that Kuwaiti people are holding on to His Highness as a great leader for the present and the future. Al-Khorafi added that His Highness the Crown Prince is well known for his generosity, commitment, selflessness as well as the purity of his heart, adding that His Highness Sheikh Nawaf's service to his country is both appreciated by the government and the people of Kuwait. During the oath taking ceremony, Sheikh Nawaf, asserted that the history of Kuwait stands as a testimony to the perseverance and toughness of this tiny Gulf nation in overcoming every obstacle and hardship it has encountered throughout the years because of Allah Almighty's blessings as well as the wisdom of its leadership and the solidarity of its people. "With pride and gratitude, I bow before the greatness of this nation, its loyal people and its wise leadership led by His Highness the Amir," Sheikh Nawaf said. His Highness the Crown Prince expressed his gratitude for His Highness the Amir's trust in him in holding such prestigious position as Crown Prince, thanking all members of the Parliament for their unanimous approval, which he considered as a badge of honor bestowed upon him. Sheikh Nawaf affirmed that the national unity resembles a protective wall that keeps the enemies of this country away and as a fort that provides shelter and protection for its people against hardships and tough challenges. During the past five years, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf had accomplished many exceptional achievements for his country. In March 7, 2006, His Highness the Crown Prince made an inspection visit to the northern area where he lauded the great efforts of security, military, and police men in protecting the country and securing its borders. On May 21st, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf patronized Kuwait University graduates for the academic year 2004-2005. On that occasion, His Highness the Crown Prince said that one of the noblest tasks that should be achieved by every Kuwaiti individual was to strive to take the path of moderation in life and to focus on getting the highest and latest knowledge in science and technologies. In 2007, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf first consummated his duties as a Crown Prince by taking on his first GCC states tour that included Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain. At the beginning of the tour, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf stressed that this tour was an embodiment of cooperation and brotherly connections between the Gulf States. The tour also aimed at discussing and reviewing the various issues and developments on local, regional and international levels. At the end of this tour, His Highness sheikh Nawaf pointed out that his visit to many of the Gulf states was successful and exceeded expectations which proved the depth of ties between Kuwait and the Gulf States. His Highness went on saying that the GCC states were transparent and clear in their stance on the Palestinian cause and the return of their legitimacy and full rights which were guaranteed by the UN Security Council. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf expressed his aspiration that peace should prevail in the Gulf region in order to build a better and brighter future, asserting that the GCC states' leaders are taking the right path in building this future so that the GCC citizens would enjoy stability and security in their homelands. Once again, in April 15, 2007, His Highness the Crown Prince patronized the graduation ceremony for the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in Egypt for the year 2005-2006, through which he lauded the accomplishments of graduates and encouraged them to exert more efforts to better serve their country. Meanwhile, on April 17th, His Highness the Crown Prince also patronized the unified annual graduation ceremony of Kuwait University for the year 2005-2006. In his speech to the graduates, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf encouraged them to peruse more knowledge and to continue succeeding in
Kuwaiti hospital in Gaza holds free medical day GAZA: A specialist hospital run by Kuwait's Al-Rahma International Charity (AIC) in Rafah City in the south Gaza Strip organized a free medical day on Friday. The event is part of the celebrations marking Kuwait's 50 Independence Day, 20th Liberation Day and the fifth anniversary of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah's investiture, explained the hospital's director Dr Abdulati Al-Mezein yesterday. "The AIC-funded activity benefited more than 1,000 Palestinian patients who received medical care and drugs free of charge," he revealed. The hospital, the only specialist hospital in south Rafah, plays an essential role in alleviated the suffering of residents of the besieged enclave, and has served more than 100,000 patients since its inception four years ago, Dr. AlMezein added. AIC representative Kamal Mosleh said the move was part of a series of humanitarian activities being conducted by the charity in Gaza Strip to mark the national celebrations. He highlighted the close bonds between the Kuwaiti and Palestinian people, noting that the Palestinian people hold HH the Amir and the Kuwaiti people and government in high esteem. —KUNA
all fields of life for a promising future not only for themselves but also for the prosperity of their country as well. In June 2007, His Highness the Crown Prince went on an official Arab tour that included Egypt, Syria and Jordan during which many issues of different domains were discussed, especially the one concerning the stability and peace of the Middle East region. On Sept 9, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf attended the inauguration ceremony of "Al-Watan" television channel. Furthermore, in Nov 26-27, 2007, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf visited the UK to check on the health of His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Chief of National Guards, who was at a specialized hospital in London for medical treatment.
HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah In February 17th, 2008, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf, in the presence of His Highness the Amir, inaugurated the opening ceremony of the National Convention for Developing Education which was held under the slogan of "Education...Means of Development." In his speech, His Highness asserted that the goal of this convention was to set modern and proper mechanisms to achieve transformation in the educational and learning processes of this country since both science and knowledge were the basic principles in building the Kuwaiti individual, which in return, was regarded as the true national wealth of this country. Sheikh Nawaf also stressed, in his speech, the importance of reviewing the educational path in Kuwait in order to avoid any of its past negative aspects to build a better and clearer educational strategy based on pre-set executive programs derived from more experienced educational institutes. In March 2, 2008, on behalf of His Highness the Amir, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf attended the opening ceremony of the 5th EuropeanAsian Conference of Heterocyclic Chemistry, organized by the College of Science at Kuwait University. Sheikh Nawaf also patronized the final soccer match played for the Amir Cup tournament, on March 3rd, between Qadisiya and Kuwait Sports Clubs. His Highness also attended, in April 9th of 2008, the awarding ceremony for the winners of His Highness Sheikh Salem AlAli Al-Sabah's informatics Award. In May 6th, 2008, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf once again patronized the annual unified graduation of Kuwait University for the academic year 2006-2007. His Highness also patronized the 10th photography exhibition, organized by the Kuwait Sea Sports Club, under the slogan of "The Amir: The Father." In November 2008, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf attended the opening ceremony of the Arab Economic Integration Conference from the Private Sector's Perspective which was held at the Kuwait's Chamber of Commerce and Industry and was organized by both the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries and Kuwait's Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The conference focused on infra-structure projects as well as the necessary legitimate and political procedures to eliminate any obstacles placed in the path of the rise of the Arab economic integration of private sector both on national and regional levels. In November 22nd, 2008, His Highness the Crown Prince left for
Qatar to attend the opening ceremony of Islamic Art Museum, in Doha, on behalf of His Highness the Amir. In March 2009, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf inaugurated Sheikh Saad General Aviation Terminal and launched Al-Wataniya Airlines. On March 11th, His Highness attended the opening ceremony of the new headquarters for the Asian Olympic Council, located in Salmiya. He also attended the opening ceremony of a national operetta held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of establishing Al-Ahmadi city. Once again, His Highness the Crown Prince attended Kuwait University's graduation ceremony for BA, MA and PHD holders for the year 2007-2008. In June 2009, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf stressed the importance of the media role in building and developing nations during his reception of Chairman and members of Kuwait's Journalists Association (KJA) on the occasion of its 45th anniversary. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf also received Chairman and board members of the Kuwait's Teachers Association (KTA) on the occasion of forming a new Board of Directors, in July 2009. During his meeting with the KTA members, His Highness lauded the efforts of teachers in playing an educational role to incept social values in students which would lead to the development of the country and elevating its educational process. His Highness encouraged teachers to put more efforts and dedication in their education, calling to employ the latest educational techniques in order to raise future generations capable of uplifting Kuwait's status. Meantime, in December of 2009, His Highness the Crown Prince visited Saudi Arabia to express his well wishes to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abudlaziz for his safe return from medical treatment aboard. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf started the year of 2010 by visiting the National Blood Bank, on January 19th, where he reviewed the framework of the bank and donated his blood to raise the spirit of voluntary work. On February 9th, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf headed the National Security Meeting in which he stressed the importance of intensifying efforts of cooperation and coordination between the National Security and all concerned state's departments to eliminate hardships that might prevent the security bodies from doing their tasks. His Highness Sheikh Nawaf patronized the GCC states' Police International Tournament for shooting, on February 16th, during which he expressed that this sport gathering would lead to strengthening bridges of love, trust and cooperation in the Gulf region. Again, in March 2010, His Highness attended the annual unified graduation ceremony of Kuwait University of the academic year 20082009. on April 21st, His Highness the Crown Prince stressed the importance of keeping national unity and solidarity among the different denominations of the Kuwaiti people as well as between the people and the ruling Al-Sabah family. In a meeting with members of the royal family, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf called on avoiding any political disputes or any misuse of democracy and freedom of speech through media, adding that such hostile environment would only lead to stepping out of what was familiar to the Kuwaiti people of their concept of unity and solidarity. Representing His Highness the Amir, His Highness Sheikh Nawaf headed a delegation to participate in the 3rd Summit of the Conference for Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, which was held in the Turkish capital of Istanbul in June 9th, 2010. The summit discussed means of enhancing cooperation to achieve peace and stability in Asia and ways of strengthening multilateral ties between Asian countries as well as activating mutual dialogue for the best interests of these nations. — KUNA
By Abdulmuhsin Jamal olitical tensions have clearly not calmed down during the parliament's break and preparation for the national holidays. Antigovernment MPs have clearly expressed that they want His Highness the Prime Minister Sheik Nasser Al-Muhammad AlSabah to resign from his position and that they will do anything to achieve their goal. After failing to pass their last no-confidence motion against His Highness the Prime Minister, antigovernment MPs will resort to using all the constitutional tools at their disposal to fight with the government, even if it means filing continuous interpellations. This kind of challenge - which is in violation of article 50 of the constitution because it calls for cooperation between both authorities - is technically legal. The constitution allows MPs to present up to sixteen motions in a single day, meaning a lawmaker can go ahead with this action even if it doesn't sound logical. If the Cabinet wants to have a good chance against the continuous assault of antigovernment MPs, ministers need to stand firm against those interpellation motions and be responsible enough to convince the public of their cause. This means that ministers should not back down from any MPs' challenges and prove how MPs overuse their constitutional tools. It should be mentioned that the government's reluctance and indecision in the face of political questioning from MPs is the main reason for their inability to cope with the increasing power of the opposition. The Kuwaiti people are used to freedom, honesty and integrity. Committing to those attributes is the only way for either authority to claim victory.—Al-Qabas
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local kuwait Digest
A different Egyptian revolution By Dr Abdulatif Al-Suraikh any people have noted that international public reaction on the Egyptian revolution has been stronger than some others from the region. For example, people in Kuwait are highly interested in Egypt's situation. The public were divided between supporters of protestors, and those who sided with former president Hosni Mubarak. This is mainly due to his strong support for Kuwait during 1990 Iraqi Invasion. Either way, there are a number of points which makes Egypt's revolution more special: 1Egypt is considered to be the Middle East region's fulcrum due to its geographical location and size, its population of 80 million, borders with Israel, and others. People in Kuwait share strong ties with the North African country and its people. This is owing to the strong relations shared between the two countries and their citizens' interactions. 2The Egyptian revolution was purely local in character. Since it began, with an idea that had been evolving in the minds of young men and women for two years, it reached its climax with the public protests. This - as far as I'm concerned - was not influenced by foreigners. 3During the Egyptian revolution, protestors never made religious, sectarian or partisan slogans, but only national ones. We saw Muslims and Christians stand side by side at the Tahrir Square. They were supported by intellectuals, even actors and TV personalities. 4The revolution also saw the participation of middle-class citizens. It also was not against a tyrannical regime which completely suppressed freedom of expression. However, the revolution was against the system by which the country was run. It overlooked the actions of influential people who usurped Egypt's wealth without being prosecuted. 5The political system in Egypt is republican. This means that people have the choice of electing their own president, and likewise have the right to call for his ouster in civil and peaceful means; similar to those demonstrated by the Egyptian protestors. 6The Egyptian people never sabotaged public or private properties. The actions we saw on TV were mostly attributed to 'thugs' that were sent out by the government. We all saw young men in Egypt join efforts to maintain safety and security at residential areas, worship places and all other properties. Those six points, are in my opinion, the reasons why the Egyptian revolution is different from the others that erupted in Arab countries. This explains the reluctance in supporting the latter revolutions despite having faith in people's right to self-determination.— Al-Rai
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30-member gang destroys electric shop in Hawally Youth accused of sexual harassment KUWAIT: A group of thugs destroyed a lamp shop in Hawally following a dispute with the shop's owner, reported Al-Watan. It was reported that a citizen walked through the shop and informed the attendant that he would return after he took a look at a few other shops. The altercation occurred when he returned and started yelling at the shopkeeper for not preparing his purchase order. When the shopkeeper informed the customer that he did not inform him of his selection the customer got even more upset. When the shop's owner, a 77-year-old Lebanese man, intervened to resolve the problem the customer struck him and about 30 of the man's friends ran into the store and started destroying the shop. The thugs beat up the store owner and anyone that tried to stop them. Police responded to the incident and arrested some of the thugs but most of them escaped. Suicide case An Indian man hanged himself to death from a tree on the side of a road in Mahboulah, reported Al-Watan. According to eyewitnesses the man was seen climbing the tree and wrapped a robe around his neck before jumping to his death. The man died despite attempts by pedestrians to save his life. Authorities responded to the scene and pronounced the man dead upon their arrival. A case was filed at the Fintas police station. Khaitan operation Khaitan authorities arrested 24 men and women for operating an illegal international phone call center, reported Al-Watan. The men were arrested during a campaign through the area and 40 illegal call centers were discovered by police. Police also arrested 14 fugitives wanted for previous offenses. Fugitives nabbed Police arrested two fugitives on Fahaheel Highway on separate occasions and referred them to the proper authorities. The first suspect, an Arab man wanted for a case of theft, was arrested after he was pulled over for driving suspiciously when his vehicle was approached by a police patrol. The other fugitive, a bedoon
man wanted for consuming alcohol, was arrested after he stopped his car suspiciously on the side of the road. Sexual harassment An investigation was launched in search of a young man charged with sexually harassing his girlfriend at a camp in Jlaiah, reported Al-Watan. The couple agreed to meet since their families’ camps were close to each other and went for a ride on an ATV after the girlfriend's sisters facilitated their meeting. The boyfriend convinced the girl to escort him to a tent where a suspicious party was taking place and started harassing her after he got drunk. The girlfriend fled the party and called her sisters for help who in turn called the police. Authorities responded to the scene of the party but were unable to locate the boyfriend. Police are still searching for the young man. Missing child Police officers in Salwa are looking for the family of a seven-year-old child that was found unattended in the area, reported AlWatan. Authorities responded to the situation after being informed that a child was walking through the area alone and crying. Addict held A drug addict was arrested while attempting to break into a house in Surra while under the influence of drugs, reported Al-Rai. Police responded to the scene after being informed of the situation by the house's residents. While being arrested drugs were found in his possession and he was referred to the proper authorities.
Showing "Habibityi ya Kuwait" operetta to the audience.
NBK Festival Day at The Avenues KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) organized the Festival Day event at The Avenues Mall on Thursday on the occasion of Kuwait's independence Golden Jubilee, the 20th anniversary of liberation and the 5th anniversary of assuming power by HH the Amir of the State of Kuwait. The day witnessed several surprises and received an overwhelming response by both NBK customers and excited shoppers. During the Festival, NBK presented to
Camp theft A camp's owner informed police that three thieves robbed him of a few dieselfueled power generators and other equipment from his camp in Jadailiyat, reported Al-Rai. The man reported the incident when he came back to his tent and discovered that his janitor was tied up and that much of the camp's contents were missing. The janitor explained that the thieves told him they were police officers carrying out an investigation and insisted on searching the area before attacking him and stealing the camp's contents. An investigation was launched.
the audience a special musical operetta presented as a commemorative gift to H.H the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and to Kuwait people. Titled "Habibityi ya Kuwait", the operetta consists of a series of musical tableaux that depict the evolutionary history of Kuwait and will be aired and broadcasted via all audio and visual media in Kuwait. A number of fun activities and contests were also held throughout the day.
Part of the audience.
Kuwaiti ambassador holds farewell party ANKARA: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Turkey Abdullah Al-Thuwaik held here yesterday a farewell party for his Saudi, French, and Japanese counterparts whose tenure had just ended. The event was attended by a number of Arab and foreign diplomats in addition to Turkish and other officials. In a speech during the
event, Al-Thuwaik lauded the efforts by Ambassadors Mohammad AlHusseini, Bernard Emie, and Nabuaki Tanaka respectively, saying that their nations must be proud of their strong efforts to bolster relations with Turkey. The Kuwaiti diplomat thanked Ambassadors for their countries' just stance with Kuwait during the Iraqi
invasion. Al-Thuwaik also thanked the Turkish government participation in Kuwait's upcoming national occasions, saying that such reflected Ankara's strong feeling of solidarity with his nation. The Kuwaiti Ambassador wished the celebrated diplomats all the luck in their future endeavors.— KUNA
KISR participates in AAAS annual meeting in Washington WASHINGTON: A delegation representing Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) headed by Director General Dr Naji Al-Mutairi is taking part in the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) being held in Washington, D.C. through Feb 21. KISR has an exhibit describing the new vision of the Institute, the areas of technical expertise, and the new RD strategy. KISR Director General Dr Naji Al-Mutairi will present a lecture entitled "Significant Partnership Opportunities" where he will outline the opportunities for collaboration with regional and international institutions. Thousands of scientists, engineers, policymakers and educators from about 50 nations are attending this event to explore a broad range of recent discoveries and looming global challenges and to present new and exciting multidisciplinary research and developments. Associate Research Scientist at KISR's Coastal and Air Pollution Department Dr Khaled Al-Banaa said that 2011 AAAS is one of the biggest and most important international conferences on science and technology. The theme for 2011 is science without borders challenging members to search for innovation through international collaborations. He said that the aim of KISR's participation is mainly for scientific collaboration. According to Dr Al-Banaa, KISR is initiating a development process "with a vision by the administration to open the door for experts and scientists from all over the world." "It is an opportunity for all to see what is available in the Institute and to let other like institutions know more about Kuwait's RD," and "to discuss the problems present and work on having a cooperation between KISR and international institutions to resolve the problems we have in the region," he noted. He indicated that some of the challenges being faced are environment ones such as the fish death, the red tide, the oil spills, and problems related to sedimentation. As for the symposium, he said Dr Al-Mutairi's speech will shed light on the new strategy that the
Institute will adopt and the future plans. He added that the new strategy of KISR will be one that will "transform the divisions and departments into centers of excellence," under which there will be programs with a timetable with specific targets, to try and resolve the problems and to better understand them. Dr Al-Banaa indicated that KISR has created 29 programs under four centers covering water, oil, environment and life sciences and energy, noting that Kuwait also has a new vision of looking into sources of alternative energy such as solar and wind. Advisor at the Office of KISR's Director General Richard Chidester said that KISR can be a valued par tner for other institutions that are doing research and development. "We have not only facilities but people with a long history of accomplishment." "We have people working on renewable energies and how to manage the nexus between energy and water," he affirmed. He remarked that "we have some really smart researchers with unique perspectives on technical challenges and working together with international partners, we can develop new approaches and solutions to common problems." The theme of this year's conference, Science Without Borders, stresses "science's increasingly global nature and highlights the impor tance of utilizing multidisciplinar y approaches to the practice of science," according to Alice Huang, the distinguished virologist and proponent for women in science. She said that "it challenges us to break down barriers and embrace diversity so we can leverage science to solve the urgent global problems we face and advance society." Symposia and seminars across the range of science, such as astronomy, neuroscience, and climate change, the role of innovation in economic growth, the state of US research and development funding, and the importance of science diplomacy are being held during the AAAS Annual Meeting, which is considered America's largest general scientific conference. — KUNA
International SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
Protesters defy Algeria police Protest inspired by uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia
After the carrot, Egyptian rulers show their stick Page 8
ALGIERS: Protesters clash with riot police officers during a protest in Algiers yesterday. — AP
ALGIERS: Algerian police in riot gear yesterday surrounded about 500 protesters trying to stage a march through the capital inspired by uprisings in other parts of the Arab world in defiance of a ban. A Reuters reporter at the scene said a group chanting “Algeria-free and democratic!” tried to reach May 1 Square in the city centre to begin the protest march but were driven two blocks away by police using batons. They were then corralled into the courtyard of a residential block, where police in helmets and
protective gear surrounded themtogether with several hundred onlookers and some pro-government demonstrators. Unrest in Algeria could have implications for the world economy since it is a major oil and gas expor ter, but analysts say an Egypt-style revolt is unlikely because the government can use its energy wealth to placate most grievances. The protest was organized by human rights groups, some trade unionists and a small opposition
party. Algeria’s main opposition forces were not taking part. Large numbers of police had been mobilized to try to prevent the protest from going ahead. Dozens of police vans and militar y-style police armored vehicles were dotted around the capital hours before the demonstration was supposed to begin. On the streets approaching May 1 Square, near the city’s port, police were lined up along the road while riot-control vehicles with water cannon were on standby. A police
No go-ahead yet for Iran warships: Suez Authority Israel sees warships’ transit as ‘provocation’ CAIRO: Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority has not yet received military approval to allow two Iranian navy ships to pass north into the Mediterranean, a source at the authority said yesterday. “The two ships have not yet reached the southern entrance of the Canal and are not even in the waiting area,” the source said. “The approval may reach us at any moment and the Suez Canal will agree to their passage immediately after the approval has been received,” the source added. Approval would allow the ships “to enter with the first convoy coming from the south”. They would be the first Iranian military vessels to transit the canal since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Wednesday that Iran’s plan to send the ships through the canal en route to Syria was a “provocation”. An Egyptian army source said on Friday the military had given its approval to Iran’s request, which has presented an early diplomatic test to Egypt’s
AT SEA: Picture shows Iranian warship Alvand in the Gulf. Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority said it has received no request to allow Iranian warships passage to the Mediterranean, after Israel said two vessels were on their way. — AFP
interim government after the overthrow of president Hosni Mubarak last week. Egypt’s Western allies are watching for hints of any shift in policy towards its neighbors, espe-
cially Israel, with which it has a peace treaty. Northbound ships head through the canal every day in a convoy that begins entering from the Red Sea at 6 am.— Reuters
helicopter hovered over the centre of Algiers, a city of densely-packed whitewashed buildings sloping down towards the Mediterranean Sea. “If the authorities are democratic, why are they not allowing us to march?” said a 52-year- old woman at the protest. Police at the protest detained Belaid Abrika, a prominent opposition figure and campaigner for the rights of Algeria’s large Berber minority. The authorities had refused permission for the march, citing public order concerns, but said the oppo-
sition could instead rally in an officially sanctioned venue. At 2 pm, the protesters were dispersed by police. No clashes took place, and traffic returned to normal. About 150 protesters held a protest last Saturday in May 1 Square and said they wanted to make it a weekly event until their demands for more democratic freedoms are met. Many Algerians are unhappy with the government over high prices, unemployment and poor housing conditions. But they also fear turmoil in a countr y still
Pirates grab four American sailors MOGADISHU: A yacht with four Americans on board is believed to have been hijacked in the Arabian Sea, the US embassy in Nairobi said yesterday. Pirate gangs plaguing the shipping lanes through the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean typically target large merchant ships, with oil tankers the prize catch, but the snatching of foreigners can also yield high ransoms. “Preliminary reports indicate that a US-flagged vessel tentatively named as the Quest has been hijacked in the Arabian Sea. There were four US citizens on board,” an embassy spokesman said. All relevant US government agencies were monitoring the situation, he added. Earlier, a regional maritime expert said the 58-foot S/V Quest had been hijacked 240 miles off Oman on Friday afternoon as it sailed from India to Salalah in Oman. Ecoterra, an advocacy group monitoring piracy in the Indian Ocean, said the 58-foot yacht was owned by Jean and Scott Adam. It was not immediately clear if the couple were on the yacht at the time of the attack. The couple began a round-the-world trip in 2004, according to their website. East Africa maritime expert Andrew Mwangura said the ship was now heading towards Somalia, on the Horn of Africa. Somalia has been mired in violence and awash with weapons since the overthrow of a dictator in 1991, and the lack of effective government has allowed piracy to flourish. Pirate gangs in the Indian Ocean are making tens of millions of dollars in ransoms, and international navies have struggled to contain the problem owing to the vast distances involved. Pirates in southern Somalia are still holding two South Africans seized from their yacht late last year. — Reuters
emerging from nearly two decades of conflict with Islamist insurgents. “We need to change the political system, but I do not believe that the change will come from these protesters,” a commentator wrote in an editorial in the independent daily El Khabar. Though the protests themselves have been too small to rattle the authorities, there have been signs of pressure building from inside the ruling establishment for substantial change, including a new government lineup.— Reuters
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Pro-and anti-Saleh protesters battle One anti-government protester killed
CAIRO: Veteran labor activist and journalist Hossam El-Hamalawy is pictured next to graffiti celebrating the recent Egyptian uprising, on a street leading to Tahrir Square in downtown Cairo. — AP
After the carrot, Egypt rulers show their stick Military moves to ban strikes CAIRO: Egypt’s new military rulers, after promising to deliver civilian rule in six months, have warned workers using their new-found freedom to protest about pay and conditions that strikes must stop. The military council, under pressure from activists to speed up the pace of reform, has adopted a softly-softly approach since taking power after the downfall of Hosni Mubarak, but said late on Friday that labor unrest threatened national security. The order came amid exuberant celebrations by millions across Egypt with fireworks, dancing and music to mark a week since Mubarak, 82, was swept aside after 30 years, triggering a cascade of protest throughout the Middle East. “They (strikes) will be confronted and legal steps will be taken against them to protect the security of the nation and citizens,” said the statement on state media, which in effect bans strikes and industrial action. “It’s Not The Time For It”, said a banner headline in the state-owned Akhbar Elyom newspaper, urging the nation to end work stoppages which were causing “a state of paralysis to our national economy” and losing Egypt crucial revenue. Banks, which have been closed this week because of strikes that have disrupted business, are due to open today, the first day of the working week in Egypt. The military believes this is an important step towards restoring normality. Workers cite a series of grievances. What unites them is a new sense of being able to speak out in the post-Mubarak era. Businessmen welcomed the statement but had wanted it sooner. “I think it is a very late decision. The army should have given a firm statement for all kinds of sitins to stop, immediately after Mubarak stepped down,” said Sami Mahmoud, a board member of the Nile Company, a food distributor. “Though this statement should have come way earlier, I think the army was just allowing people to take their chance to voice their demands and enjoy the spirit of freedom,” said Walid Abdel-Sattar, a businessman in the power industry. The message to return to work was reinforced by influential preacher Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi at Friday prayers. “I call on everyone who has stopped working, gone on strike or who is at a sit-in, to support this revolution by
working. Be patient,” Qaradawi told the faithful. Life is far from normal in Egypt after the 18-day uprising erupted on Jan 25, with schools closed, tanks on the streets in major cities and nationwide public sector strikes. The military statement also said that “some elements” were preventing state employees from working. Others were appropriating state land and building on farm land. “The Supreme Council for the Armed Forces will not allow the continuation of those illegitimate practices,” it said in the strongly-worded statement, without specifying precisely what steps would be taken against the perpetrators. Protests, sit-ins and strikes have occurred at stateowned institutions across Egypt, including the stock exchange, textile and steel firms, media organizations, the postal service, railways, the Culture Ministry and the Health Ministry. In a sign of economic nervousness, Egypt’s stock exchange, closed since Jan 27 because of the turmoil, said it would remain shut until it was sure banks were functioning properly. The council understood workers’ demands and had instructed the relevant state bodies to study and act on them, the military statement said. But citizens had a duty towards the state. “It was also noted that the continuation of the state of instability and the consequences resulting from it will lead to damage in national security,” the statement said. Pro-democracy campaigners welcomed the army’s suspension of the constitution, dissolution of parliament and a referendum on constitutional amendments but still want the immediate release of political prisoners and lifting of emergency laws. Uncertainty remains over how much influence the military will exert in reshaping a corrupt and oppressive ruling system which it has propped up for six decades. It has also been unclear how much freedom the army will allow in the transition. Most Egyptians, however, are keen to get back to normal, begin earning again and restart the damaged economy. Workers were sweeping up debris yesterday at Tahrir Square, the centre of the protests that toppled Mubarak and the venue of a jubilant all-night party, with the planks of a plinth used by Qaradawi being dismantled. — Reuters
TEHRAN convicts two Germans then frees them TEHRAN: Iran released two German journalists from prison yesterday after convicting them of spying, state media reported. “The two were released and will go to Tehran to be handed over to Germany Embassy officials,” the head of the judiciary in the northwestern city of Tabriz, where they had been jailed, said on state media. A Revolutionary Court convicted them of spying but then converted their jail sentences to fines, the student news agency ISNA said yesterday. “Their jail sentences have been changed to $50,000 cash payments for each. They will be released after that,” ISNA quoted a Revolutionary Court official as saying earlier. A spokesman for Germany’s Foreign Ministry said in Berlin: “The two German citizens are currently in Tabriz accompanied by civil servants from the consulate. We hope to get them into the care of the German embassy in Tehran today.” The two men, reporters for the German weekly newspaper Bild am Sonntag, were arrested after meeting the son of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, whose death sentence for adultery was suspended this month after a global outcry. Under Iran’s Islamic sharia law, adultery is punishable by stoning. The judiciary said in November that the Germans would be charged with spying, a crime that can be punishable by death. ISNA said they had been sentenced to 20 months’ jail but the sentence had been commuted to a fine. “They enjoyed Islamic clemency because of their special status and also because of the clarity of being misused (by others) to act against national security,” ISNA reported, quoting from the verdict issued by the court in Iran’s Eastern Azerbaijan province. Their arrests have added an irritant to Iran’s relations with the European Union at a time of tension over its nuclear program, which the West says is covertly aimed at developing an atomic bomb, something Tehran denies. A hundred German political and business leaders including Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle had published an appeal to Iran to free the two reporters. Iran says the Germans entered the country on tourist visas and were working as reporters illegally. Accredited journalists working for foreign media need official permission to travel outside Tehran. — Reuters
SANAA: An anti-government protester was killed and seven injured in clashes with supporters of Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa yesterday, a day after five people died in protests against his 32-year rule. Saleh blamed a “foreign agenda” and a “conspiracy against Yemen, its security and stability” for the string of protests against poverty, unemployment and corruption which have gained momentum since the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. The protester was shot in the neck and was taken to a hospital near Sanaa University where he died, witnesses said. At one stage both sides fired pistols and assault rifles-the first reported use of firearms by demonstrators. Four other Saleh opponents were seriously wounded by gunfire, two of them seriously, and three were wounded when demonstrators threw stones at each other outside the university. A Reuters photographer saw one man with his face covered in blood and another being carried away by protesters. Around 1,000 anti-Saleh demonstrators chanted “Leave! Leave!” and “The people want the fall of the regime!”, echoing the slogans of Tunisian and Egyptian protesters. Between 200 and 300 Saleh supporters called for dialogue. “Those who want power let them come with us to the polling stations ... the Yemeni people face elements of sabotage and those who are outside the system and the law,” Saleh said in a speech to representatives of civil society organizations. In a concession to protesters, he has promised to step down when his term ends in 2013 and not to hand power to his son. A coalition of opposition parties has agreed to talk to him, but protests have continued.
MAIN ROAD BLOCKED In south Yemen, where resentment of rule from Sanaa runs high, dozens of men used their cars in the town of Karish to block the main road between Taiz and the southern port city of Aden, shouting for “the fall of the regime”, residents said. In Aden as many as 400 protesters staged a peaceful sit-in, holding banners saying: “No to oppression. No to corruption”. The local council of Sheikh Othman, a directorate in Aden, said in a statement it resigned in protest at the use of live bullets by security forces against protesters which led to deaths and injuries in the city on Friday. In Sanaa, the editor of Defense Ministry newspaper September 26 was wounded when he was beaten and stabbed by antigovernment protesters, a government official said. On Friday, security forces and pro-government loyalists clashed in several cities with crowds demanding Saleh step down. Doctors said four people died from gunfire in Aden and one was killed by a grenade in Taiz, Yemen’s second city. US President Barack Obama said he was deeply concerned by the violence in Yemen, Bahrain and Libya. “The United States condemns the use of violence by governments against peaceful protesters in those countries and wherever else it may occur,” he said in a statement. Saleh, a US ally against a Yemen-based AlQaeda wing that has launched attacks at home and abroad, is struggling to end month-old protests flaring across his impoverished country. Yemen is also struggling to quash Al-Qaeda militants, defuse a southern separatist revolt and maintain a shaky truce with northern Shiite rebels. Analysts say any
Iraqi orphans and widows cry for help BAGHDAD: Hundreds of orphans and widows marched in downtown Baghdad yesterday, calling on the Iraqi government to take care of them. In the Kurdish north, students demanded an apology over a deadly shooting at a protest earlier this week. The uprisings sweeping the Middle East have galvanized many in Iraq, one of the rare democracies in the region, to demand better services from their leaders. The demonstrations in the capital and the northern city of Sulaimaniyah were peaceful but five protesters were killed in protests earlier this week. About 1,500 people rallied in Baghdad in a demonstration organized by non-governmental organizations looking to highlight the plight of some of Iraq’s most vulnerable citizens. The hundreds of thousands of women who lost their husbands in wars over the decades or children who have lost parents are particularly vulnerable. One of those in attendance was 9-year-old Ahmed Nasir, who lost his father in 2006 in a roadside bombing in western Baghdad. “We have seven children at home,” he said. “My mother takes care of us by sewing clothes, and we have no salary.” In a statement, the organizations behind the demonstration said they want the government to give each orphan a monthly stipend. At the University of Sulaimaniyah, in the city of the same name, university students rallied to demand that the president of the Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, apologize for a deadly protest earlier this week in which two people were killed and dozens injured. — AP
Top MP in Iraq PM bloc resigns over ‘cronyism’ BAGHDAD: A popular MP and mem-
ber of Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s political bloc who has resigned told AFP yesterday that he stepped down in protest at pervasive patronage and cronyism in Iraqi politics. Jaafar AlSadr’s resignation on Thursday came amid a wave of protests across Iraq against corruption, poor basic services and high unemployment that has left three dead and more than 100 wounded. “Of course parliament plays a vital role in the life of the nation,” he said in response to e-mailed questions. “But, in Iraq, this institution has found itself hamstrung by quotas and cronyism.” Sadr, the only son of the founder of Maliki’s Islamic Dawa party, added: “This cronyism is corrupting official political life, while average people are increasingly left on their own to deal with their problems.” “I do not wish to overwhelm those who have taken on the heavy responsibility of leading the country, but we must admit that disillusionment and a deep malaise has seized the population,” said the 41-year-old. Country-wide protests this week, from the northern Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah to the southern port city of Basra, have called for the government to combat corruption, and rebuild Iraq’s war-battered economy and crumbling infrastructure. “Ever ything is wrong with the political process, both in the government and in parliament: there have
been for many years no solutions to the country’s most pressing problems, no strategy, no vision,” said Sadr. “People are still waiting for even the smallest improvement.” He continued: “The legacy of the former regime, the occupation and the mistakes that came with it, the increasingly aggressive intervention by countries in the region, and terrorism which strikes continuously have all contributed to this impasse.” “But we must have the courage and the honesty to admit that there has also been a major failure of policy since 2003.” Sadr, who won the second highest number of votes in Baghdad province after Maliki in the premier’s State of Law coalition in a March legislative poll, said he had no “political objectives” for his post-parliamentary career. His father, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Baqr Al-Sadr, founded the Islamic Dawa party in 1957 but was killed in 1980 by president Saddam Hussein, who was overthrown in the 2003 US-led invasion. Jaafar Al-Sadr, a cousin and brotherin-law of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr, studied religion in Baghdad, the holy Shiite city of Najaf and in Qom, Iran, before earning a degree in sociology and anthropology in Lebanon. Sadr said that given the fragility of Iraq’s democracy, all sides must scrupulously respect the constitution and the law. — AFP
SANAA: Supporters of the Yemeni government hurl stones at anti-government demonstrators during clashes in Sanaa. — AP
struggle to unseat Saleh could prove bloodier than popular revolts in Tunisia and Egypt because Yemen is driven by tribal and regional conflicts and awash with guns. Saleh, a master at juggling tribal and political loyalties, has been touring Yemen to drum up suppor t, aware of the gravity of the protests that have gained momentum in the past month. — Reuters
Tehran warns crackdown against opposition rallies Iran hangs six drug smugglers TEHRAN: Iran yesterday warned of a
crackdown if opposition supporters stage new rallies which they have called to mourn the deaths of two victims of recent unrest and to show support to their leaders. Websites of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi have posted calls by their supporters to stage nationwide rallies today. “We will confront them as per the law,” Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar was quoted as saying on state news agency IRNA when asked about today’s expected rallies. “The agents of sedition and sedition leaders, who staged illegal rallies” on February 14 with the help of “monafeghin (hypocrites), monarchists, rascals and thugs, should know that the interior ministry will confront” them, Najjar added. Kaleme.com and Sahamnews.org posted calls for today gatherings to mourn the deaths of Sane’e Zhale, a Sunni Kurd, and Mohammad Mokhtari, a Shiite, who were slain on Monday in clashes with security forces. The fatal confrontation erupted when opposition supporters took to Tehran streets protesting against the government. The so-called Council for Coordination of the Green Movement Hope, which posted the call, said today rallies will also show “decisive support” to the stance taken by Mousavi and Karroubi in “continuing on the difficult path of freedom and human dignity.” Mousavi and Karroubi have steadfastly refused to acknowledge the presidency
of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and their rebellion has triggered one of the worst crises in the history of the Islamic republic. In another development, Iran has hanged six men convicted of drug trafficking, four in the central city of Kerman and two in the northern province of Mazandaran, reports said yesterday. All the six executions were carried out this week, reports said. Iran’s Arman newspaper said the four executed in Kerman were identified as Akbar M, Zaher G, Saeed J and Khodabakhsh A, and were convicted of possessing various quantities of heroin, opium and crack cocaine. The Mazandaran provincial judiciary said on its website that two drug traffickers had been hanged in the city of Sari this week. It gave no further details. The latest hangings bring to 77 the number of executions reported in Iran so far in 2011, according to an AFP count based on media reports. The authorities say 80 percent of those executed have been drug traffickers. State media reported 179 hangings last year. In 2009, Iran executed 388 people, according to international human rights groups, making it second only to China in the number of people it put to death. Iran says the death penalty is essential to maintain law and order and applied only after exhaustive judicial proceedings. Possession of more than 30 grams (just over an ounce) of narcotics is punishable by death in Iran, as are murder, rape, armed robbery and adultery. — Agencies
BRUSSELS: Protesters demonstrate near the European Parliament in Brussels, symbolically wrapped in the Iranian Kurdistan flag to show solidarity to the people of Iran and the Middle East, fighting for democracy yesterday. — AP
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Women hold Berlusconi’s fate in their hands ROME: A panel of three women will judge Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in April-the supreme irony for an ageing Latin lover notorious for his sexist jokes and his taste for voluptuous bimbos. Catholic weekly Famiglia Cristiana in an editorial said the prostitution case evoked the spirit of Nemesis-the Greek goddess of vengeance. "You Berlusconi used women, now they will judge you," the weekly said. The ancient Greek divinity seems an appropriate symbol for an inquiry in which Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and then getting her out of police custody in order to hide his crime. The charges-vehemently denied by Berlusconi-revolve around Moroccan-born pole dancer Karima El Mahroug, nicknamed "Ruby the Heart Stealer" whose
testimony is a vital part of the prosecution's case. Ruby and the dozens of women alleged to have taken part in raunchy nights at Berlusconi's residences are far from being the only women in the scandal. The three judges in the case-selected randomly by a computer-all turned out to be women: Giulia Turri, Carmen D'Elia and Orsolina De Cristofaro. But there is also a key prosecutor in the case, Ilda Boccassini, who has already led numerous corruption investigations against Berlusconi. The examining magistrate who on Tuesday approved a request from prosecutors to put Berlusconi on trial on sex crime and abuse of power charges is also a woman, as was the police officer pressured by Berlusconi to release El Mahroug. For many Italian women, this umpteenth Berlusconi scandal is
Protests clog downtown Tunis after weeks of calm TUNISIA: About 18,000 people clogged the main avenue of Tunis yesterday, many protesting against Islamists, following more than two weeks of calm in the North African country's capital. Tunisia's former president Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted in January after a wave of demonstrations, sending shockwaves through the rest of the Arab world. As many as 15,000 of the demonstrators on Saturday were protesting against Tunisia's Islamist movement, calling for religious tolerance a day after the Interior Ministry announced a Polish priest had been assassinated by an extremist group, Reuters reporters said. "We need to live together and be tolerant of each other's views," said Ridha Ghozzi, 34, who was among the protesters carrying signs and chanting slogans including "Terrorism is not Tunisian" and "Religion is Personal". There was little evidence of security forces along the traffic-choked avenue, though a barbed-wire perimeter remained around the Interior Ministry building with a detachment of soldiers, some on trucks with mounted machine guns. Tunisia's Islamist movement has shown signs of organizing since the overthrow of Ben Ali, who had suppressed them during his more than two decades of rule, and have pressured authorities to shut at least three brothels in recent weeks. Another 3,000 protesters gathered around the French embassy building nearby, calling for the removal of the French ambassador-a target of local media coverage after being curt with reporters from the state broadcaster. Several hundred other protesters were calling for the replacement of Tunisia's transitional government, charged with preparing elections to replace Ben Ali. North Africa's smallest country was plunged into turmoil after one man's self-immolation in a protest against authorities started a revolt last month that led Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia and encouraged a similar revolution in Egypt. Ben Ali, who took power in 1987, was seen by many as an oppressive ruler who raided public funds. Elections to replace him are expected by July or August.— AP
ROME: Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi arrives at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See on the occasion of the 1929 Patti Lateranensi anniversary, in Rome.— AP
the last straw. Some 500,000 women took to the streets of dozens of Italian cities last weekend to say "basta" to the playboy billionaire and to complain more generally about women getting ahead via the bedrooms of powerful men. Giulia Bongiorno, a former member of Berlusconi's ruling People of Freedom party and now one of his leading critics, told a crowd in Rome during protest: "The raunchy parties have become a way of selecting a ruling class." Bongiorno said the issue had nothing to do with morality, but philosopher Roberta De Monticelli said: "This really is a moral question." Italian feminist Ida Dominjanni said: "The women who have had anything to do with the 'Sultan' whether they are famous or anonymous, enemies or friends, have all predicted his fall... It's the end of seductive populism."
Commentators say the beginning of the end for Berlusconi came in April 2009 when his long-suffering second wife Veronica Lario filed for divorce, saying she could no longer be with a man who "cavorts with minors". She said Berlusconi was "a dragon to whom young virgins offer themselves." If prosecutors can prove that Berlusconi knew that Ruby was a minor and paid her to have sex with him he risks up to three years in prison. If they prove the abuse of power charge he could get a sentence of up to 12 years. Leftist daily La Repubblica said the true embodiment of Berlusconi's Nemesis is Rosy Bindi, chairwoman of the main opposition Democratic Party. When Berlusconi mockingly said she was "more beautiful than intelligent" in 2009, the strict Catholic replied: "I am not a woman at your disposal."—AFP
UK, France halt security gear exports amid Mideast unrest Bahrain, Libya licenses revoked
MANAMA: This image from video shows unidentified people on the ground after being wounded during an anti-government demonstration in Manama. — AP LONDON: Britain and France halted exports of some security equipment to Bahrain and Libya after violent clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters in both Arab states. A day after announcing a review of British arms export licenses, the government had decided to revoke 44 licenses for Bahrain and eight for Libya, said minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, on Friday. Licenses for Yemen and other countries were under review amid a wave of popular uprisings spreading across the Middle East after the overthrow of regimes in Tunisia and Egypt. Burt said licenses would not be issued "where we judge there is a clear risk that
the proposed export might provoke or prolong regional or internal conflicts, or which might be used to facilitate internal repression." He added that the government had "no evidence of British equipment being used in the unrest in Bahrain". A British government source said the revoked licenses were mainly for riot control equipment, including tear gas and rubber bullets. France also announced it had suspended exports of security equipment to Libya and Bahrain. "Authorizations for the export of security equipment bound for Bahrain and Libya were suspended yesterday," foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said. Britain's Foreign Office amend-
Muscovites gunned down in Russia North Caucasus
ed its travel advice to Bahrain late Friday, warning against all non-essential travel to the kingdom after security forces fired on protesters in the capital Manama, with reports of dozens wounded. "In light of recent developments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has changed its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain," said a foreign ministry statement. Britons travelling to Libya are being advised against all nonessential travel to Benghazi, Al-Baida, Derna, Ajdabiya, Al-Marj and Tobruk, all in the east of the North African state, said the ministry. At least 41 people have lost their lives since demonstrations first erupted on
Tuesday, according to a toll compiled by AFP from different local sources. Benghazi and Derna have both been hit by violence. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was alarmed that soldiers had fired on protesters in Bahrain and urged authorities to exercise restraint. "I am alarmed by reports of soldiers firing on protestors in Bahrain," said a statement from Hague, who visited the Gulf state last week as part of a visit to the Middle East and North Africa. "The circumstances of what happened are not yet clear, but I call on the Bahrain authorities to avoid violence and the use of excessive force and to exercise restraint."— AFP
Britain issues Bahrain, Libya travel warnings
Cable car blown up near Mount Elbrus MOSCOW: Masked gunmen shot dead three vacationers from the Moscow area on a road in Kabardino-Balkaria in the violence-plagued North Caucasus region, Russian news agencies reported yesterday. Separately, attackers blew up a cablecar support pole near Mount Elbrus in the same province late on Friday, bringing down dozens of cabins, news agencies reported. Nobody was hurt. The attacks underscored the persistent violence in the North Caucasus, home to a spreading Islamist insurgency, and clouded the Kremlin's plans to draw investment and tourists by developing ski resorts in the region southeast of Sochi, where Russia is
to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. Assailants in a black car forced a minibus carrying five vacationers from the Moscow area to a halt and demanded to see their documents, Itar-Tass reported. When the passengers asked to see identification, the assailants opened fire, killing two men and a woman and wounding the other two passengers, it said. The Kremlin is struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency rooted in two postSoviet wars against separatists in Chechnya. The insurgents, who want an Islamic state in the mostly Muslim North Caucasus, claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed 36 people at
Moscow's busiest airport last month. The insurgency has spread from Chechnya in the past decade to other provinces in the North Caucacus, primarily Dagestan and Ingushetia but also Kabardino-Balkaria, whose wooded peaks attract skiers, mountaineers and other vacationers from Russia's heartland. Most militant attacks in the North Caucasus target police and security forces. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for either of the attacks. The killings of Muscovites could add to tension between Muslims from the Caucasus and Russia's Orthodox Christian majority.—Reuters
SOCHI: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (right) holds a meeting with the United Russia ruling party leadership in the Black Sea resort of Sochi yesterday. — AP
LONDON: Britain has warned its nationals against all but essential travel to Bahrain and parts of eastern Libya amid violent antigovernment protests in both countries. The Foreign Office advised against all non-essential travel to Bahrain after security forces opened fire on anti-regime demonstrators in the capital Manama, with reports of dozens wounded. "In light of recent developments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has changed its travel advice to advise against all but essential travel to the Kingdom of Bahrain," said a Foreign Office statement. The decision was taken "in response to reports of live fire in the capital Manama," it said. "The risk of further demonstrations and sporadic outbreaks of violence remains high," the government warned. The ministry added that all British nationals currently in Bahrain were being urged to remain on high alert particularly in public places and on major roads, and to avoid demonstrations and large crowds. Between 8,000 and 10,000 British nationals live in Bahrain, and thousands more visit each year, according to the Foreign Office. London amended its travel advice shortly after the United States urged American citizens to "defer non-essential travel" to
Bahrain. In addition, the Foreign Office warned Britons in Libya against visiting the country's second city Benghazi, Al-Baida, Derna, Ajdabiya, Al-Marj and Tobruk, all in the east of the North African state. Visitors were further advised to avoid all but essential travel to areas bordering Sudan, Chad, Niger and Algeria. There are currently around 3,500 British nationals in Libya, of whom between 40 and 50 are
thought to be in the areas affected by protests, a foreign ministry spokeswoman said. At least 41 people have lost their lives in Libya since demonstrations first erupted on Tuesday, according to a toll compiled by AFP from different local sources. The protests in Bahrain and Libya are part of a wave of anti-government demonstrations sweeping across the Arab world that have already toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt. — AFP
Anti-government protests hit Djibouti DJIBOUTI: Anti-government protestors clashed with security forces in Djibouti yesterday as the political uprising sweeping through the Middle East reached the tiny Horn of Africa state. Interior Minister Yacin Elmi Bouh said at least one policeman had been killed in earlier clashes on Friday when hundreds of demonstrators demanding the president step down hurled rocks at riot police who fired back with teargas. "The opposition wants to take power by force," Elmi Bouh said, adding that yesterday's rioting was taking place in a city suburb called Balbala. Other sources said one protester had also been killed. The opposition put the number of demonstrators on Friday in their thousands, in a rare outpouring of anger as opposition to President Ismail Omar Guelleh grows. Guelleh, an ally of the United States which has established its only military base in Africa in Djibouti, oversaw a change to the constitution last year that allows him to seek a third term in elections this April. "The people don't want this dictatorial regime. Our freedom is in our hands. We won't stop until our dreams come true," said opposition supporter Hawa Abille by telephone from Balbala.— Reuters
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For US, new warzone envoy may mean new tact WASHINGTON: In appointing Marc Grossman as the new special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, the United States is turning to a consummate diplomat who may change tact in two deeply complex relationships. Grossman’s methodical, behind-the-scenes approach marks the polar opposite from that of his hard-charging predecessor Richard Holbrooke, who relished his role on the center-stage and rarely hesitated to ruffle feathers. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Grossman’s appointment during a speech in New York in memory of Holbrooke, who suddenly died of a torn aorta in December at age 69. Grossman “knows our allies and understands how to mobilize common action to meet shared challenges,” Clinton said at the Asia Society. “I am absolutely confident in his ability to hit the ground running.” Grossman, a Los Angeles native, served at the US embassy in Pakistan from 1977 to 1979 and rose steadily through the ranks of the US Foreign Service. He assisted Holbrooke in the Dayton peace talks that ended the Bosnian war.
Grossman served as undersecretary of state for political affairs-the top position for a career diplomat-from 2001 to 2005, when he faced the tough challenge of mending US relationships overseas during the Iraq war. While Grossman has managed the inner workings of the State Department, Holbrooke brazenly skirted the hierarchy. When appointed at the start of President Barack Obama’s administration, diplomats wondered whether Holbrooke was overriding the authority of embassies in Islamabad and Kabul. Holbrooke had an uneasy relationship both with some US military officers running the Afghan war and with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who was widely accused of rigging 2009 elections. “A fresh face is certainly an opportunity. And no matter what the reputation of that fresh face may be, they would be coming after someone who had the reputation as The Bulldozer,” said David Markey, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who served under Grossman at the State Department. “I think Grossman has a lighter touch, anyway,”
Markey said. “He is more the consummate diplomat-in the sense of being diplomatic, not in the sense of knocking heads.” Grossman immediately faces delicate diplomatic tasks. Ties with Pakistan, uneasy even in the best of times, have been in crisis for weeks over US demands that Pakistan free a US government employee who shot dead two men. Karzai’s relations with most senior US officials also remain sour, despite US hopes to start pulling out troops in July and to hand over security to Afghans by the end of 2014. While widely respected for his work in the Balkans, Holbrooke was deeply unpopular in India. He initially suggested adding India to his portfolio, irritating Indians who want to be seen as a global player and not primarily as Pakistan’s adversary. The United States briefed India beforehand on Grossman’s appointment, a diplomat said. Grossman has also been US ambassador to Turkey. Since retirement from the Foreign Service, he has been vice chairman of the Cohen Group, a business consultancy founded
by former defense secretary William Cohen. In a recent scholarly article, Grossman reflected on the changing nature on his profession by saying that post-conflict efforts had become the most crucial part of diplomacy. But it is difficult to promise economic development and democracy by a certain date, leading to impatience, Grossman said. “Thus, the potential for failure is high. Industrial war produced winners and losers; today’s lines are not so clearly drawn, and the timeline may be longer,” he wrote. While generally low-key, Grossman played a role in a major scandal during president George W. Bush’s administration. Grossman testified in court that he was instructed by Lewis “Scooter” Libby, a top aide to then vice president Dick Cheney, to find out details about spy Valerie Plame. Plame alleged Libby then deliberately exposed her as a CIA agent to reporters to get back at her diplomat husband for criticizing the push to war in Iraq. Libby was sentenced to more than two years in jail for obstruction of justice and perjury, but Bush commuted his term. — AFP
Mideast unrest putting US military access in jeopardy Popular unrest sweeping the Middle East WASHINGTON: Popular unrest sweeping the
ACAPULCO: A Mexican army soldier is reflected in the window of a pick-up truck containing the body of a young man in Acapulco. — AP
4 thrown to deaths from bridge in Mexico’s south ACAPULCO: Four men with their hands and feet tied and heads covered in duct tape were thrown 600 feet to their deaths from a bridge Friday, authorities said as Mexico’s increasingly bloody drug battles reached a new level of cruelty and intimidation. The four were among 13 people slain Friday in Guerrero, which has seen a spike in violence since rival factions of the Beltran Leyva cartel began fighting over territory after leader Arturo Beltran Leyva died in a battle with Mexican marines in December 2009. The other nine were killed in the resort city of Acapulco. In the most gruesome of those killings, police found a severed head that had been scalped and whose face had been skinned. The unidentified men were dropped from a 600-feet-high bridge near the Guerrero state capital of Chilpancingo, the Guerrero state Public Safety Department said. The men had bruises all over their bodies and “it’s presumed they were thrown alive from the Solidarity bridge,” the statement said. Drug gang members have taken increasingly drastic measures seeking to intimidate rivals, from beheadings to
skinning their victims. Guerrero state authorities said earlier Friday that eight people, including four teenagers, were slain before dawn in a string of attacks throughout Acapulco. Guerrero state police said it was not clear if the attacks were related. Nationwide, nearly 35,000 people have been killed in drug-gang violence since President Felipe Calderon deployed troops and federal police four years ago to crush the cartels in their strongholds. In Mexico’s north Friday, soldiers killed eight suspected drug cartel members in two clashes near the industrial city of Monterrey, the military said. Soldiers intercepted a group of gunmen toting high-powered rifles and a grenade launcher and chased them into the Monterrey suburb of Guadalupe, where a shootout left five gunmen dead, Mexico’s Defense Department said in a statement. Another group of gunmen later fired on soldiers in Juarez, another Monterrey suburb, sparking a firefight that killed three attackers, it said. Monterrey and the surrounding area has suffered a surge in drug violence as the Gulf Cartel battles the Zetas group for territory. — AP
Middle East highlights the US military ’s reliance on Arab regimes that offer privileged access to airfields and ports from Cairo to Qatar. The military’s dominant role in the region hinges on a web of agreements with friendly Arab states that allow American forces to patrol oil shipping routes in the Gulf, target Islamist militants and keep a watchful eye on arch-foe Iran. Roughly 27,000 US forces are deployed at an array of bases and sites throughout the Gulf, along with a 50,000-strong contingent in Iraq and thousands more aboard naval ships, a US military official said. Major air fields in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, a large base in Kuwait and the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain serve as key points in an arc around Iran, ensuring American forces can move swiftly with heavy firepower. In Bahrain, where security forces have cracked down on street protests after popular revolts ousted leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, about 4,000 Americans are stationed as part of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters. With a flotilla of aircraft carriers, destroyers and amphibious ships at its disposal, the Fifth Fleet oversees an area spanning the Red Sea, the Gulf and the Arabian Sea. The Pentagon on Friday played down the impact of the unrest in Bahrain and elsewhere, saying the violence had not disrupted the naval headquar ters or other bases. Former officials say losing the headquarters in Bahrain would be a setback but not a catastrophe, as the Navy could move the command post elsewhere. No single base or agreement represents an Achilles heel, but taken as a whole, the network is a crucial linchpin for American military power, said David Aaron, a former diplomat and a senior fellow at the Rand Corporation think tank. “What could be at stake here is an ability to have forces in the Gulf to reassure our allies out there, our partners, that they will be
OREGON: President Barack Obama looks through a transmission electron microscope as he tours a semiconductor manufacturing facility at the Intel Corporation in Hillsboro, Ore. — AP
protected from Iran,” he said. “If we lost all of those because of the turmoil that would be a blow to our ability to deter Iran.” Instead of Cold War-style bases housing large numbers of troops, the US military depends on overflight rights, the use of air bases in the western Gulf and special access to the strategic Suez Canal, where American naval ships receive top priority. Losing swift passage through the canal or broad access to Egypt’s air space “would either diminish our militar y mobility or sharply increase time and cost to overcome them,” Aaron said. US commanders are always looking to expand their network of partners in the region while working to accommodate regimes that prefer American forces keep a low profile to avoid stirring up popular
resentment. In 2003, the US military shut an air base and scaled back its presence in Saudi Arabia-amid acrimony surrounding the Iraq invasion-and shifted air operations to Qatar and Oman. Some bases are shrouded in secrecy, including Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, which the Pentagon does not officially acknowledge. The Air Force reportedly uses the airfield to fly U2 spy plane missions and tanker aircraft for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the September 11 attacks, air bases in Djibouti, Oman and elsewhere reportedly have provided vital platforms for launching drone missile strikes against Al-Qaeda operatives in nearby countries. Last year, the United States reportedly moved Predator unmanned aircraft to a base at a Yemeni Red Sea port. — AFP
Mind your own business, Caracas tells Washington CARACAS: Venezuela’s top diplomat hit back at the United States over its suggestion that President Hugo Chavez’s government should allow an international investigation into alleged human rights abuses. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said the matter is a domestic affair and Washington has no business meddling. “We absolutely reject that the US get involved in this issue,” he said. “Our country does not accept tutelage from anybody.” Maduro was responding to a statement Thursday from the US State Department, which urged the South American nation to permit an investigation “as a means to promote dialogue and understanding.” Diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the United States have been tense for years due to mutual antagonism, spurred by Chavez’s frequent condemnations of US foreign policy in Latin America and Washington’s accusations of deteriorating democracy in Venezuela. The human rights probe is the key demand of a small but growing group of students conducting a hunger strike and sympathizers who want the chief of the Organization of American States to look into their allegations that the government improperly uses judges and prosecutors to attack Chavez’s political adversaries. Maduro said OAS Secretary-general Jose Miguel Insulza has not contacted Venezuela
to make a formal request for a visit. But Insulza said Friday that he has repeatedly asked for permission to travel to Venezuela. “I’m not going to start a scandal over this issue, but the truth is I’ve asked to go numerous times,” Insulza said. “I’m not going to go if the government doesn’t think I should go.” The hunger strikers, who organizers say number about 68, have been protesting since Jan. 31 in front of the OAS offices and several embassies in Caracas and in other cities. They say they are subsisting only on water and saline solution. Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said he discussed the demands with protesters Thursday, and officials were considering some of their demands. But he ruled out the release of government opponents who have been sentenced to prison for crimes such as murder. Activists vowed Friday to press on until their demands are met. “If there is no positive response from the government, more people will join the strike,” Julio Cesar Rivas said in a phone interview. Rivas said governments throughout the Americas should press Chavez’s administration to respect human rights. “The issue of human rights is an international issue, so governments in the region have to realize what’s happening in Venezuela and react,” he said. Chavez denies his government persecutes opponents.- AP
As US cuts back, China aims to be top at science
CARACAS: A boy feeds a squirrel in one of the main squares of Caracas on February 17, 2011. — AFP
Guantanamo prisoner to help prosecute suspects GUANTANAMO BAY: A US military jury sentenced an admitted Al-Qaeda conspirator from Sudan to 14 more years in prison on Friday but he will serve far less if he keeps his promise to help prosecutors in cases against other Guantanamo captives. All but 34 months of the sentence will be suspended if defendant Noor Uthman Muhammed keeps his agreement to help prosecute his former colleagues, the judge in the war crimes tribunal at the Guantanamo Bay US naval base said. That means Noor, who has already spent nearly nine years in US custody, could go home in
December 2013. The weapons trainer pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiring with Al-Qaeda and providing material support for terrorism. The jury of nine US military officers issued the maximum-but largely symbolic-sentence. Noor’s case is the last one pending in the Guantanamo tribunals that have completed only six trials in nine years, but prosecutors expect to file more charges as soon as Defense Secretary Robert Gates signs off on them. Noor has valuable information and his plea deal calls for him to assist US civilian prosecutors as well, said the chief prosecutor, Navy
Captain John Murphy. Congress may have constrained Noor’s usefulness by passing laws that ban him and other Guantanamo prisoners from going to the United States for any reason, even to testify at trials. Much of this week’s sentencing hearing focused on laying the groundwork to prosecute a “high-value” Guantanamo prisoner Noor was captured with, Abu Zubaydah. The US military calls him a terrorist facilitator who funneled recruits to Al-Qaeda training camps, then supplied them with money and forged passports as they left to carry out attacks. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: China has its eye on becoming the top science nation in the world, overtaking the United States and European nations, researchers at a US science conference said. After being the world’s main source of cheap manufactured goods, China is investing heavily in science and technology. “China hopes to become one of the leading sources of intellectual property in coming years,” said Denis Simon, a professor at Penn State University who is also the science and technology adviser to the mayor of the Chinese city of Dalian. At a time when the United States and Europe are hamstrung by shrinking budgets, China has increased spending on science and technology “significantly,” Simon said at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). “The Chinese have indicated that by 2020 they hope to spend around 2.5 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) on research and development,” said Simon. In the United States, meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are talking about trimming a billion dollars from the National Institutes of Health, the world’s largest public research institute, and slashing funds for other science and research agencies, in a bid to narrow a trillion-dollar US deficit. That is at odds with the billion-dollar boost President Barack Obama proposed for science and health research in his 2012 budget. The Republicans also want to slash funds for education by some $5 billion, even though Education Secretary Arne Duncan has warned that the United States must better educate its kids, especially in science and math, or risk becoming uncompetitive in the global economy. A report last year showed the United States has slipped from second place to 13th out of 34 countries in the
number of students enrolled in university, and that it was stagnating in science teaching-in 17th place-and doing poorly in math, in 25th place. The Chinese city of Shanghai, which was considered a country for the education report, made its debut in the rankings in first place. More Chinese are enrolling in universities, which means there will “be more researchers in China than there are in the US,” which will drive up Chinese scientific output and the quality of the reports, said Penn State professor Caroline Wagner at the AAAS meeting. In another sign that China is serious about moving into the top slot for science, the number of quality scientific papers coming out of the country-measured by how often they are cited in other studies-is growing exponentially. How often a peer-reviewed scientific report is cited by another scientist is considered a key measure of quality, Wagner said. The number of Chinese papers being cited is up, while the number of citations of US or European reports is declining. In sheer volume of work, China already produces more research papers in the fields of natural science and engineering than the United States, which is overall the biggest producer of scientific reports in the world, said Wagner. “But based on current trends, China will publish more papers in all fields by 2015,” Wagner said. But there are obstacles standing in the way of China becoming the world’s leading science nation. Among them, China has to overcome a massive brain drain, which sees nearly three-quarters of Chinese who travel abroad to study staying overseas, and a culture of fabrication and plagiarism among Chinese researchers, that Simon said could be driven by intense pressure and competition. — AFP
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India charges Pakistani singer with currency violations NEW DELHI: India charged a well-known Pakistani singer with currency violations yesterday after he and his entourage were allegedly caught with $124,000 in undeclared cash at New Delhi’s airport, reports said. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, a nephew of late Pakistani singing great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and his group were boarding a plane to Lahore via Dubai last Sunday when authorities alleged they found the $124,000 cash in their bags. Thirty-seven-year-old Khan is accused of carrying undeclared foreign currency in violation of India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act and customs rules, the Press Trust of India and other media reported. Khan’s manager Maroof, who goes by one name, faces similar charges, the reports said. The singer was stopped at the airport and his passport confiscated after perform-
ing a string of concerts in India. According to Indian customs rules, visitors are allowed to carry only $5,000 in cash in and out of the country. Central Board of Excise and Customs chairman S Dutt Majumdar said the cash had allegedly been found divided among the musical troupe. Rahat, a frequent visitor to India, is rated as one of the top “playback” singers in Bollywood, the country’s prolific Hindi-language film industry, performing songs to which actors lip-synch the words. He has several hit songs to his credit and won India’s Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer this year. A spokesman for the Pakistan High Commission (embassy) in New Delhi said he was not immediately aware of the charges. But the Pakistani foreign ministr y said in Islamabad earlier in the week it was “closely
monitoring the situation”. The charges were laid just over a week after nuclear rivals India and Pakistan agreed to resume peace talks suspended more than two years ago after Islamist gunmen killed 166 people in Mumbai. Authorities could impose “heavy penalties” on Rahat and his manager, the Press Trust of India said, quoting unidentified official sources. It was not immediately known what penalties the pair could face. Khan’s agent Yusuf Salahuddin said the singer was perhaps unaware of India’s stringent foreign currency laws. “He was in India for 10 days and did about seven concerts all across the country and this must have been some of the money which possibly was given to him at the airport,” he told Times Now TV station earlier this week. — AFP
NEW DELHI: Pakistani Qawwali (Sufi devotional music) singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is brought to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence offices in New Delhi. — AFP
Washington in direct talks with Taleban? Clinton: Split Taleban from Qaeda
BANGKOK: Wearing a red wig, an anti-government protestor dances to rock music at a Red Shirt protest rally yesterday. — AP
Thai ‘Red Shirts’ push for leaders’ release BANGKOK: Thai anti-government “red shirts” mobilized tens of thousands of suppor ters to seek the release of detained leaders yesterday, underlining festering problems in the divided nation ahead of elections planned this year. The largely rural and urban working class demonstrators defied a special security law to rally at three locations in Bangkok, including the Supreme Court, which is due to make a ruling on whether to grant bail to seven top leaders held on terrorism charges since violent protests last April and May. Police said some 30,000 people had gathered by early evening in what was the red shirts’ fourth big rally this year. It comes ahead of an election a deputy prime minister on Thursday said would take place before June. The poll is unlikely to settle a long-running crisis in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy and analysts say it could lead to more instability if the result is disputed by groups for or against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s militar y-backed Democrat Party, which heads the current coalition. There was a heavy police presence at the rally, during which the red shirts crit-
icized the government over a state investigation into the 91 people killed during last year’s crippling 10-week protests broken up by the military. The probe into Thailand ’s worst political violence in recent history has so far been largely inconclusive. The red shirts claim troops were instructed to kill the demonstrators and have asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to carry out its own investigation. Thailand has not ratified the ICC ’s Rome Statute, meaning the ICC has no jurisdiction. However, red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan told the crowd that Abhisit could be investigated, claiming the premier held both British and Thai nationality. The British-born Abhisit told Thai television yesterday he was a Thai citizen and was classed as a foreign student while at Britain’s Eton College and Oxford University. However, he did not explicitly deny holding dual nationality. The red shirt protest moved to the city’s Democracy Monument, close to a rally by rival “yellow shirts”, another anti-government group demonstrating since Jan 25. —Reuters
US military bases ‘depend on Afghanistan neighbors’ KABUL: The possibility of the United States retaining long-term bases in Afghanistan could only be addressed once peace has been achieved and must take into account the country’s neighbors, the Afghan president said yesterday. Russia has urged the United States not to establish long-term military bases in Afghanistan, suggesting that even discussing the subject could undermine peace efforts and anger Afghanistan’s neighbors. Often-uneasy ties between Afghanistan’s government and its main Western backers have become even more tense of late over a bank corruption scandal, a ban on private security contractors, election fraud and decision by the Afghan government to take over the running of women’s shelters. That deteriorating relationship comes at the same time as Russia tries to increase its influence in Afghanistan, where Soviet troops fought a disastrous Cold War conflict that was followed by civil war in Afghanistan and contributed to the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. “Some American officials have suggested the US government wants perma-
nent bases in Afghanistan in the framework of enduring and strategic ties between the two countries,” Afghan President Hamid Karzai told a news conference. “I have heard about Russian concern. We are not living in an island in which its surroundings are empty, we live in a restive region with major neighbors,” he said. Karzai suggested any decision about long-term US military bases would have to be discussed by parliament or a loya jirga, or traditional gathering of elders. “Any agreement between Afghanistan and US ties on the issue of bases must first result in peace in Afghanistan,” Karzai said. US President Barack Obama has promised to begin drawing down US troops in Afghanistan from July, with Afghan forces to take over security responsibility by 2014. The pace and scale of that drawdown has not yet been determined and will depend on conditions on the ground. With the start of the transition only months away, violence across Afghanistan remains at its highest levels since the Taleban were ousted in 2001, despite the presence of about 150,000 foreign troops. —Reuters
KABUL: Afghan President Hamid Karzai (center) gestures towards journalists during joint press conference with Croatian counterpart Ivo Josipovic at The Presidential Palace yesterday. — AP
WASHINGTON: The administration of President Barack Obama has entered into direct, secret talks with senior Afghan Taleban officials, The New Yorker magazine reported Friday. The talks were characterized in the story as an attempt by the Obama administration “to assess which figures in the Taleban’s leadership, if any, might be willing to engage in formal Afghan peace negotiations, and under what conditions.” Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Steve Coll wrote that several sources, which were not identified in the story, briefed him about the talks. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has voiced hope that military efforts would split the Taleban from Al-Qaeda, laying the groundwork for a political solution in Afghanistan. In a speech at the Asia Society in New York, Clinton reaffirmed US plans to start reducing troops in July and complete the drawdown by the end of 2014 as Afghans take charge of their war-torn country. Clinton said the surge in US-led troops over the past year was part of a strategy to “split the weakened Taleban off from Al-Qaeda and reconcile those who will renounce violence and accept the Afghan constitution.” The top US diplomat said that the Taleban faced a similar choice as in 2001, when the United States toppled the hardline Islamic regime for hosting Al-Qaeda leaders who planned the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. “Today, the escalating pressure of our military campaign is sharpening a similar decision for the Taleban: break ties
with Al-Qaeda, renounce violence and abide by the Afghan constitution and you can rejoin Afghan society. “Refuse and you will continue to face the consequences of being tied to Al-Qaeda as an enemy of the international community,” Clinton said. “They cannot wait us out. They cannot defeat us. And they cannot escape this choice.” The relationship between AlQaeda and the Taleban has long been a source of contention within US policy circles. After the September 11 attacks, president George W Bush’s administration described the two groups as virtually indistinguishable. US troops, now led by General David Petraeus, have focused on taking the fight to the Taleban. But key civilian leaders under President Barack Obama have put a focus on political reconciliation, arguing that many rank-and-file Taleban are simply seeking a livelihood and can be co-opted. “I know there are some on Capitol Hill and elsewhere who question whether we need anything more than guns, bombs and troops to achieve our goals in Afghanistan,” Clinton said. “As our commanders on the ground will be the first to say, that is a short-sighted and ultimately self-defeating view. We will never kill enough insurgents to end this war outright,” Clinton said. Petraeus, who has sought time for the military strategy, is widely expected to step down in the medium-term, although the Pentagon denied a British newspaper report that he has decided to leave this year. Clinton was delivering an inaugural lecture in memory of hard-charging US
Marc Grossman diplomat Richard Holbrooke, who served as Washington’s special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan and was a leading advocate for a political settlement. Holbrooke, a former chair of the Asia Society, died suddenly on December 13 of a torn aorta. He was 69. Clinton announced the appointment of Holbrooke’s successor: Marc Grossman, a retired
At least nine killed in Afghan bank attack
News
in brief
‘Reconsider’ Bahrain trips SYDNEY: Australia told travelers to reconsider trips to Bahrain yesterday after security forces opened fire on demonstrators in escalating protests against the governing regime. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said the situation in Bahrain had deteriorated, and there were also worrying developments in Libya. Protests are rising in the Middle East after the toppling of Egypt’s longterm ruler last week. “We have seen clear reports of fatalities among protesters and a large number of injuries as well,” Rudd told reporters in Sydney. “The travel advisory for Bahrain now reads that Australians should reconsider their need to travel due to the unpredictable security situation as a result of recent clashes between protesters and government security forces.” Rudd also called on Bahrain to respect its people’s right to demonstrate peacefully. The foreign affairs department estimates there are 1,000 Australians in the tiny, oil-rich kingdom. A Bahrain opposition MP said 55 people were wounded in firing by security forces on Friday. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa promised to open a sweeping national dialogue once calm returns. 13 die as trains hit buses DHAKA: Two trains plowed into packed buses at unmanned railroad crossings in separate accidents yesterday, killing at least 13 people and injuring 45 others, police and news reports said. Police recovered eight bodies from the wreckage of one bus in Comilla district, 90 kilometers east of the capital Dhaka, United News of Bangladesh news agency reported. Another 25 people were injured in the
career diplomat who has served in Pakistan and Turkey and rose to the top position of undersecretary of state for political affairs. Grossman will face major challenges including a crisis with Pakistan over its detention of a US government employee accused of shooting two Pakistanis-an issue Clinton did not mention in her wide-ranging speech. —Agencies
accident at an unmanned level crossing, the report said. Some of the injured were taken to hospital in serious condition, the agency said quoting unnamed police officials. In the second accident, police officer Ismail Hossain said five people died and 20 were injured yesterday in Jessore district, 140 kilometers west of the capital. The guard at the crossing had left his post when the accident occurred, said Hossain. The dead and the injured were all bus passengers. Australia, Austria in mail mix-up SYDNEY: One is a landlocked, mountainous country in Europe; the other is a vast, island continent in the southern hemisphere. But it seems some people still confuse Austria and Australia. In the latest sign of collective dyslexia about the countries, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd admitted he sometimes gets his Austrian counterpart’s post, and vice versa.”Yes, we do occasionally get each other’s correspondence because the rest of the world doesn’t know about the extra syllable,” Rudd said, during a visit by Austria’s Michael Spindelegger. It is not the first time the countries, which are thousands of kilometers apart but separated by just two letters when written down, have been muddled up. During November’s G20 meeting in Seoul, a model of Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard appeared in Sound of Music-style traditional Austrian dress, before being hastily replaced. The mix-up was prophetically lampooned in 1994’s comedy “Dumb and Dumber”, when Jim Carrey’s character tells an Austrian acquaintance to “throw a shrimp on the barbie”.
JALALABAD: Gunmen dressed as border police killed at least nine people and wounded more than 70 in an attack on a bank in the main city in Afghanistan’s east yesterday, witnesses and government officials said. A Reuters witness reported hearing blasts and said gunfire could still be heard coming from a branch of the Kabulbank, Afghanistan’s top private lender that handles salaries for the Afghan police and armed forces, in Jalalabad city. Baz Mohammad Sherzad, a senior health official in Nangarhar province, of which Jalalabad is the capital, said nine deaths had been confirmed so far. Ahmadzia Abdulzai, a spokesman for the Nangarhar government, said fighting was still going on and that police and civilians were among the casualties. He described the scene as “chaotic”. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, although coordinated assaults by insurgents against government buildings and military bases have increased in recent years, especially in eastern provinces near the Pakistan border. Insurgents often dress in the uniforms of Afghan security forces, or as women, at the start of such attacks. The Taleban later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying three suicide bombers had entered the bank when Afghan security forces were collecting their salaries. Taleban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a text message to Reuters that “many” of the security forces were killed and that fighting was continuing. It is rare for the Taleban to launch complex attacks with robber y as their primar y motive. Violence across Afghanistan last year reached its worst levels since the Taleban were toppled by US-backed Afghan forces in 2001, with civilian and military casualties at record levels, despite the presence of about 150,000 foreign troops. “I was inside the bank when seven gunmen in border police uniform attacked,” said a government employee who identified himself only as Salman and was wounded in the attack. “My brother was killed by them,” he said. Another witness, Sediqullah Momand, said: “They shot the bank tellers first. I saw dead and wounded people inside the bank.” Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack. He said in a statement released by the palace that three suicide bombers had blown themselves up inside the bank. Traffic from Jalalabad to the capital, Kabul, was blocked by Afghan police and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force) (ISAF) troops, witnesses said. —Reuters
12
OPINION
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
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Washington Wath
The change we need By Dr James J Zogby hen speaking about the Arab uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and beyond, the language used here in the US is euphoric. Expressions like “nothing will ever be the same again” and “the existing order is being swept away” are common. But when the conversation comes home, the exuberant rhetoric is pushed aside and hard-nosed practicality becomes the order of the day. “The President had no choice,” the pundits said, “he had to veto. Republicans would have pounced on him and the pro-Israel crowd would have made his life miserable.” This is the accepted wisdom. It is, of course, always easier to discuss what other countries and their leaders must do, than it is to face up to the hard realities of what must be done in our own backyard. At the same time, though, it is a bit brazen, and even bizarre, that we can be so blind to the stark contradiction between what we advocate for others and what we fail to do for ourselves. But this is what is taking place. Right now in commentaries the Bush crowd is crowing “we were right,” finding new justification in their past promotion of democracy - ignoring, of course, the utter hypocrisy of their overall approach to the region. They gave lip-service to democracy, to be sure, but then they: led America into two deadly and failed wars (both of which they wrongly projected would usher in democratic change); turned a blind eye as Israel ravaged Palestinians and Lebanese; and instituted the widespread use of profiling, prolonged detentions without due process, and prisoner abuse - all of which they pressured Arab allies to support. The net result was a roiling of Arab public opinion and a delegitimizing of some Arab leaders, who had befriended America, making them more vulnerable and less receptive to proceed on the path of reform. Then, after strong electoral performances by hard-line religious parties in several countries, the Bush Administration, not liking the outcome, shelved their democracy rhetoric. More disturbing than this irritatingly predictable neo-conservative effort to rewrite history and hijack the Arab uprising, is the fact that many liberals can find no more creative response to these Arab uprisings than to become latter-day “neo-cons,” themselves. All this posturing ignores several uncomfortable truths. America’s favorable ratings across the Arab World are back to Bush-era lows and the post-Cairo optimism that America would change its approach to the region has all but evaporated. America, it bears repeating, is not unpopular among many Arabs because we have supported their leaders, rather it is some Arab leaders who have become unpopular because they have supported our policies. We were, in a real sense, not in the game, having long ago dealt ourselves out. In their efforts to make change in their own countries, Tunisians and Egyptians weren’t looking to us. This was their movement, not ours. There is a real danger that in this moment of crisis we will either learn the wrong lessons, or learn no lessons at all. What is required now is to recognize the degree to which our failed policies of the past have alienated Arab public opinion, undercut our stated values, and put at risk those who sought to be our friends. At a critical moment in the midst of the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King delivered his “Declaration of Independence from the War in Vietnam.” In this speech he said “I am convinced that if we are to get on the right side of the world revolution, we as a nation must undergo a radical revolution of values...A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of our past and present policies.” This challenge is as true today as it was then. Unless our political leaders can put aside “politics as usual” and end their callous disregard for the suffering of Palestinians; unless leaders are willing to challenge their political fears and do what is right, instead of what is convenient; unless we can stand up against the Islamophobes who threaten to tear apart the fabric of our nation; unless we can restore our commitment to fundamental freedoms and constitutional protections; and unless we can stop ignoring Arab concerns and truly listen to what Arab voices are telling us about their needs and aspirations - we will continue to operate clumsily, and, at times, brutally on the wrong side of history.
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NOTE: Dr James J Zogby is the President of the Arab American Institute.
All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.
US expects Bahrain to contain unrest By Mark Hosenball national security and intelligence agencies expect Bahrain’s government to ride out the protests and violence sweeping the Gulf kingdom, a small but vital ally to Washington in a volatile region. A senior US official familiar with government reporting and analysis on the island nation said on Friday that Bahraini authorities believe they can handle the unrest, which has included security forces shooting and killing demonstrators. US intelligence agencies agree, for the moment, that government forces will eventually restore order, the official indicated. The upheaval in Bahrain, which hosts a major US military base and borders the world’s No. 1 oil producer, Saudi Arabia, appears rooted in discontent among the Shiite community that is much larger than the Sunni minority dominating the monarchy and government. But the senior US official said Bahraini Shiites viewed themselves as “nationalists” and were therefore less susceptible to outside influences such as protests roiling other parts of the Middle East or attempted subversion from neighboring Iran. The relatively optimistic US take on the Bahrain unrest is consistent with upbeat assessments of the leadership and political situation recorded in classified State Department cables obtained by the WikiLeaks website. Several 2009 cables from the US Embassy in Manama characterized King Hamad bin Isa AlKhalifa as an enlightened and deeply pro-American ruler who, since assuming the throne in 1999, has fostered reconciliation with the Shiite majority and undertaken serious political and economic reforms. The cables were made available to Reuters by a third party. One cable, classified “Secret,” reported in Dec 2009 that King Hamad “inherited a country torn by sectarian violence and accustomed to dealing with the Shia majority underclass as a problem”. “(The new king) quickly embarked on a program of reform and reconciliation with Bahrain’s Shia: he allowed exiles to return home, abolished the State Security Courts, and restored the parliament suspended since 1975,” it said. “King Hamad understands that political stability is also tied to economic prosperity and has undertaken far-reaching economic reforms intended to increase Bahrain’s competitiveness, productivity and living standards,” it said. “The result is that the Bahrain of today is a far cry from the Bahrain of the 1990s. Political parties operate freely ...Street protests are significantly fewer and less violent.Perhaps most tellingly ... (the Shia Wefaq party) will continue to engage in parliamentary politics because ... there is more to gain in the long run by participating than by boycotting.” Following the violence against protesters, Wefaq representatives resigned from parliament on Thursday. A Nov 2009 cable classified “Confidential” and entitled “Grading Bahrain’s Parliament” - said: “From the government’s point of view, parliament has done what it was intended to do. It has contributed to internal security and stability by giving the Shia opposition a forum in which to air its grievances, and it has devolved much of the traditional tribal problem-solving.” The cable noted that, since joining parliament in 2005, the Shia Wefaq party had “portrayed itself as a loyal opposition and has won the quiet respect of the interior ministry for its ability to organize peaceful demonstrations of tens of thousands of supporters”. “In broad terms, Bahrain’s seven-year-long parliamentary experience has been successful. It has provided an open, albeit controlled, forum for the Shia opposition to press its demands and engage with the government on controversial issues.” The extent of the ruler’s enthusiasm about cooperating with the United States is outlined in a “confidential” cable from May 2009 describing a meeting between King Hamad and General David Petraeus, then head of US Central Command. In introductory remarks, the king spoke fondly of his personal experience training at US military facilities at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and welcomed a possible deployment of US P-3 maritime reconnaissance aircraft at a Bahrain base. “Anything you want on land, sea or air, we can do it,” the king told Petraeus. While US officials said they believe Hamad’s government will eventually restore order, the eruption of protests in Tunisia and Egypt had put Bahrain on their radar as a potential trouble spot. Some officials said Bahrain was one of several countries in the Middle East identified by US intelligence agencies as possible venues for the spread of political unrest in reports to President Barack Obama and some of his senior advisers. Some members of congressional intelligence committees have questioned whether US agencies were behind the curve in recognizing and reporting on the wave of unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. James Clapper, the new director of national intelligence, insisted at recent congressional hearings that US agencies did a good job of monitoring and forecasting the events. “But we are not clairvoyant,” he said. Two government sources who regularly read intelligence analyses said they saw little early reporting by agencies about the possible spread of unrest to countries like Bahrain and Libya. If such reports were produced, the sources said, their circulation must have been confined to Obama and other very high-ranking officials. — Reuters
US
Bahraini protesters chant slogans at the Pearl roundabout soon after the military and police pulled out in Manama yesterday. – AP
Change to ratchet pressure on Israel By Jonathan Wright gypt’s revolution and upheavals across the region herald a shift in the balance of power between Israel and its neighbours, as Arabs push out autocrats who often put U.S. and European ties before their people’s demands. The Egyptian revolt that put an end to President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule, is still in its early days. No one can yet predict who will be holding Mubarak’s place as leader of the Arab world’s most populous country at the end of the year. But few of the likely outcomes include an extension of Mubarak’s policies towards Israel that involved cooperation in blockading Gaza, hostility to Hamas and Hezbollah, and muted criticism of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians. Unless the Egyptian military clings to power or elements of the ancien regime make a miraculous comeback, ordinary Egyptians will have more say in their country’s foreign policy than at any time in the 5,000 years Egypt has existed as a political entity. Judging by opinion polls and the views of most of the main political forces, Egyptians will be more assertive than Mubarak in backing Palestinian rights and less willing to comply with requests from Israel and its allies in the United States. No significant group, not even the Muslim Brotherhood, is calling for outright abrogation of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, a pillar of Israel’s regional security strategy since Egypt’s late President Anwar Sadat signed the document in 1979. But between abrogation and a continuation of Mubarak’s policies, the next elected Egyptian government will have a range of options likely to put Israel on the defensive and bring to an end the cosy relationship the Jewish state enjoyed with Mubarak. Coupled with a recent shift in the policy of Turkey, now more outspoken in challenging Israeli policies, the Egyptian revolution marks, as Israeli politicians say they fear, a break with the strategic dominance they felt they had established. “The Middle East’s tectonic plates are shifting,” writes Peter Beinart, associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York. “For a long time, countries like Turkey and Egypt were ruled by men more interested in pleasing the United States than their own people, and as a result, they shielded Israel from their people’s anger. Now more of that anger will find its way into the corridors of power.” A democratic transformation in Egypt, especially if it is replicated in other Arab states, would undermine one argument Israelis have made to win sympathy in Europe and the United States: that it is the sole Middle East democracy, an oasis of “Western values” surrounded by Arab despots ruling by force. “What is at stake here is the pretence that Israel is a stable, civilized, western island in a rough sea of Islamic bar-
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barism and Arab fanaticism,” writes post-Zionist Israeli historian Ilan Pappe. “The ‘danger’ for Israel is that the cartography would be the same but the geography would change. It would still be an island but of barbarism and fanaticism in a sea of newly formed egalitarian and democratic states,” he writes. Unlike their authoritarian predecessors, an Arab democracy would be able to criticise with credibility and a clear conscience Israel’s conduct towards the Arabs it governs. New Arab democratic rulers could highlight what they, and many in the international community, see as discriminatory practices towards Israeli Arabs, the use of violence to quell Palestinians challenging an occupation and Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank which major powers say is illegal. Israel disputes such criticisms. It says Arabs in Israel enjoy more rights now than their compatriots in neighbouring states, including a right to vote for Arabs in their parliament.They also say any use of force is to stop terrorism. Israel has, nevertheless, been watching Egypt with concern. “Ultimately the people of Egypt are those who will decide their own fate, but Israel cannot profess a neutrality as to the outcome,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “I cannot simply hope for the best, I must also prepare for the worst,” he told American Jewish leaders on Feb 16 in Jerusalem, in a speech in which he said Israel was committed to peace and said he hoped Egypt would remain committed too. Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel, followed by Jordan in 1994. An interim accord was reached with Palestinians in 1993. “It is ironic that Israel ... seems so uncomfortable in a democratizing Middle East,” says Beinart, adding: “But at root, that discomfort stems from Israel’s own profoundly anti-democratic policies in the West Bank and Gaza.In an increasingly democratic, increasingly post-American Middle East, the costs of those policies will only continue to rise.” There is no end to the wave of protests that have been sweeping the Middle East since the start of 2011. Egypt’s uprising followed one in Tunisia, which overthrew President Zine el-Abdine Ben Ali in January. Protests have erupted in Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Jordan, Yemen and Bahrain. Once a stable Egyptian government emerges, the litmus test will be how it handles the border between Egypt and Gaza, which has been more closed than open since the Islamist group Hamas took control of the densely populated territory in 2007. Mubarak, in collaboration with Israel and in line with US policy, enforced strict limits on the movement of people and goods across the border, adding to the suffering and deprivation of the more than 1.5 million Palestinians who live there. — Reutres
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Iranian film wins at Berlin film festival BERLIN: Iranian drama “Nader and Simin: A Separation” won the Golden Bear for best picture at the Berlin film festival yesterday, while its ensemble cast also picked up the best actor and actress prizes on a triumphant night. Director Asghar Farhadi’s portrayal of a marriage in crisis was favourite for the coveted award after winning praise for its subtle exploration of Iran’s class divisions and religious conservatism combined with the tension of a crime thriller. Farhadi paid tribute to fellow Iranian film maker Jafar Panahi, who was unable to accept Berlin’s invitation to sit on the main jury after being sentenced to six years in jail and banned from making movies or travelling abroad for 20 years. He
stands accused of inciting opposition protests in 2009 and making a film without permission, and his sentence has caused an outcry in the movie making world. “I want to remind you of Jafar Panahi,” Farhadi told the glitzy awards ceremony. “I really think his problem will be solved, and I hope he will be the one standing here next year.” Farhadi was honored as best director in Berlin two years ago for his previous movie, “About Elly”. The runner-up film prize, which comes with a Silver Bear, went to Hungarian director Bela Tarr’s blackand-white “The Turin Horse,” a slowmoving, bleak feature about a farmer and his daughter’s forsaken lives in a windswept, isolated house. The love-it-or-loathe-it picture,
which Tarr has said would be his last, sharply divided critics, but its stark images, sparse dialogue and piercing score were considered among the most memorable at this year’s festival. One of the few surprises at the awards, which wound up the 10-day event where hundreds of new films are shown to the press and potential buyers, was the best director prize to Germany’s Ulrich Koehler for the generally unfancied “Sleeping Sickness”. Best script went to Joshua Marston and Andamion Murataj for “ The Forgiveness of Blood”, which looks at the sometimes tragic consequences of ancient codes governing blood feuds which are still enforced in some parts of rural Albania today. — Agencies
BERLIN: Iranian director Asghar Farhadi and actress Sarina Farhadi hold the Golden Bear Award for the Best Film and the Silver Bear Award for the best actress-ensemble of the film ‘Nader And Simin A Separation’ at the International Film Festival Berlinale yesterday. — AP
Protesters back in Pearl Square
Libyan regime cracks down
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“I am happy we are back - I told you we would be back,” 23-year-old Ibrahim told AFP in the square from which protesters were driven in a deadly police raid on Thursday and the army moved in with threats of firm measures. But three days later, yesterday afternoon, the soldiers returned to base. “People want the regime to fall,” chanted demonstrators, saying they wanted “peaceful” protests. “The will of the people has prevailed in the end,” said one. “Our old tent was destroyed by police (in the raid), so we brought a new one,” said Ibrahim, who arrived with a group of friends. Earlier, the opposition had rejected the crown prince’s offer of dialogue, saying it would join talks only after troops withdrew and the cabinet quit. The Islamic National Accord Association, which is boycotting parliament over the army’s iron-fisted response to protests sweeping the country, said 95 people were wounded on Friday, of whom three were “clinically dead”. Six people have died since Monday, according to the opposition and relatives, while the government puts the figure at five. At least 250 more have been hurt. “To consider dialogue, the government must resign and the army should withdraw from the streets,” said INAA parliamentary leader Abdel Jalil Khalil Ibrahim. “What we’re seeing now is not the language of dialogue but the language of force.” Meanwhile, Bahrain’s main labour union called an indefinite strike from today to protest at police violence and demand the right to demonstrate peacefully. King Hamad announced on Friday that he had assigned his son to begin a dialogue. In a television interview, Prince Salman said “our dialogue must take place in a climate of total calm,” adding that “no issue can be excluded from that dialogue”. The violence forced the cancellation of a lower-tier auto race in Bahrain scheduled for this weekend. Formula One officials also are weighing whether to cancel the season-opening event in Bahrain on March 13 - a move that would be a huge blow to the nation’s prestige. “We do not accept dialogue with any of the murderers,” said a large banner posted in the middle of Pearl Square. Another read “Khalifa, Go!” addressing Prime Minister Sheikh
Khalifa bin Salam, the uncle of King Hamad who has been in office since 1971 and is widely despised by the Shiite-led opposition. Some protesters were wary of Bahrain’s leaders, despite the military withdrawal. “Of course we don’t trust them,” said Ahmed Al-Shaik, a 23-year-old civil servant. “They will probably attack more and more, but we have no fear now.” He was skeptical that dialogue could proceed after the crackdown and said the government should step down. Hassan Youssef, 33, said the crown prince’s speech was self-serving. “He is afraid for his Formula One contract and thinks by just telling us to calm down we will listen,” Youssef said. “We want the entire royal family to step aside. We don’t want dialogue.” “We don’t fear death anymore, let the army come and kill us to show the world what kind of savages they are,” said Umm Mohammed, a teacher wearing a black abaya. People circling through the square clapped, whistled and wept. Some wore white sheets symbolizing their readiness for martyrdom, while others carried Bahraini flags, flowers and signs that said “Peaceful”. “We are victorious!” they chanted as they marched back into the square that has been the headquarters for their revolt against the Sunni monarchy in the predominantly Shiite island nation. EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said it was vital that the promised dialogue “should begin without delay”. Britain, the former colonial power in Bahrain, the United States, which headquarters its Fifth Fleet in the island state, and Austria have all warned their nationals to avoid nonessential travel. The army’s intervention came after a deadly police action prompted protesters, inspired by the Feb 11 overthrow of veteran Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, to occupy Pearl Square. US President Barack Obama condemned the violence in a telephone conversation with the king. He said “the stability of Bahrain depends upon respect for the universal rights of the people of Bahrain, and a process of meaningful reform that is responsive to the aspirations of all Bahrainis,” according to a White House statement. British Foreign Secretary William Hague urged the authorities “to reach out to the protesters and to hold to account those responsible for deaths. — Agencies
US vetoes UN resolution on settlements Continued from Page 1 Nations to pass a UN resolution against the settlements and condemn them and to emphasise its lack of legitimacy,” he told AFP. “And then we will put forward a draft to condemn the settlements to the UN Security Council.” The widely supported Palestinian drive to win the Council’s condemnation of Israeli settlement was foiled by the US veto after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas ignored sweeteners and reported strong-arm tactics from the White House to have the motion withdrawn. But Abbas yesterday told a group of university students at his Ramallah headquarters that the UN vote - despite the US veto - was a “victory” for Palestinian diplomacy. “The Palestinian leadership faced intense pressure for two consecutive days,” he said, adding that Palestinians are determined to “preserve our interests and legitimate rights.” The resolution, sponsored by 130 countries, reaffirmed “that the Israeli settlements established in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.” It also reiterated “its demand that Israel, the occupying power, immediately and completely ceases all settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”. Egypt said the US veto, while the Council’s 14 others members all voted in favour, damaged Washington’s credibility as a peace broker. “The veto, which contradicts the American public stance rejecting settlement policy, will lead to more damage of the United States’s credibility on the Arab side as a mediator in peace efforts,” the foreign ministry in Cairo said. The Islamist movement Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip said the US use of its veto was “outrageous,” and urged an end to all Palestinian-
Israeli contacts. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the move should serve as a wake-up call for Abbas, the Islamist movement’s fierce rival, and his West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA). “This is an arbitrary and outrageous decision against the Palestinian people,” he told AFP. “It should push the PA to adopt a strategy of unity... and take a national decision to end all forms of negotiations with” Israel. Barhoum said Washington had again shown itself to be “completely biased” towards Israel and confirmed the failure of the US-brokered peace process. Saeb Erakat, a senior member of Abbas’ mainstream Fatah movement who last week quit as chief Palestinian negotiator, said the latest setback undermined the Palestinian government. “Israel has stripped the Palestinian Authority of its meaning, and (its usefulness) as a tool for the independence of the Palestinian people should be reconsidered,” he told AFP. Ahead of Friday’s vote, the United States had pressured the Palestinians to drop their backing for the resolution, but to no avail, with Abbas rejecting a personal appeal from US President Barack Obama to withdraw the motion for condemnation and settle instead for a council statement calling for an Israeli settlement freeze. One senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP the offer, made in an hour-long phone call late Thursday from Obama, was accompanied by veiled threats of “repercussions” if it were refused. “We have to maintain our credibility in the eyes of our people and avoid a repetition of previous incidents,” Palestinian foreign minister Riyad AlMalki said on Thursday. Abbas came under harsh criticism in Sept 2009 when he bowed to US pressure to accept a UN Human Rights Council ruling that both Israel and Hamas had failed to properly probe the findings of the Goldstone
Commission. The UN-sponsored commission found that both parties had committed war crimes during Israel’s Dec 2008-Jan 2009 assault on Gaza. Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down last September after the expiry of a temporary freeze on Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank. US attempts to coax Israel into renewing the freeze ran aground in December, with the Palestinians refusing to return to the negotiating table while Jewish settlers build on land they want for a future state. Jewish settlement activity on Palestinian land seized during the 1967 Six-Day War is considered illegal by the international community, including the United States. Washington, although saying it views settlement activity as illegitimate, has stopped short of declaring it “illegal” saying that doing so could add further complications to future final status peace talks. The Palestinians balked at the US compromise despite intense diplomacy by Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The row came at some political as well as diplomatic cost to the administration as it took incoming fire from bipartisan lawmakers who support Israel for even offering a compromise solution. Fourteen of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution but the US veto effectively killed the move. Israel reacted to the veto by calling for a resumption of direct talks with the Palestinians. And Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that “Israel deeply appreciates the decision by President Obama to veto the Security Council resolution”. “Israel remains committed to pursuing comprehensive peace with all our neighbors, including the Palestinians,” it said. Britain has called on Israel and the Palestinians to get back round the negotiating table after the US veto. — AFP
Zain rejects all three offers for Saudi stake Continued from Page 1 Saudi, but Zain said no price was stated and the group’s backers remain unknown. Kingdom said earlier yesterday that its offer expired without reaching a deal. “The board of Zain Kuwait did not provide Kingdom Holding with an answer with regard to the presented offer
so the offer period expired without reaching any agreement,” Kingdom Holding said in a statement issued via the Saudi bourse. Zain said in a statement yesterday its chief operating officer Barrak Al-Subaith will leave the firm at the end of March due to personal commitments. Zain’s chief strategy and business development officer
Haitham Al-Khaled and Salah AlFouzan, adviser to the chief executive, will also leave the firm in the same period and for the same reasons, the statement added. Regional operators are wrestling with lower margins at home due to new competition in liberalised markets and financing costs for acquisitions and new licences abroad. — Reuters
Just after 2 am local time in Libya, the US-based Arbor Networks security company detected a total cessation of online traffic in the North African country. Protesters confirmed they could not get online. Information is tightly controlled in Libya, where journalists cannot work freely, and activists this week have posted videos on the Internet that have been an important source of images of the revolt. Other information about the protests has come from opposition activists in exile. Egyptian officials briefly tried to cut Internet service during the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak on Feb 11, but that move was unsuccessful. Libya is more isolated, however, and the Internet is one of the few links to the outside world. The Cairo-based Arabic Network for Human Rights Information released a report back in 2004 that said nearly 1 million people among Libya’s population of about 6 million had Internet access at the time. That was just three years after Internet service had been extended to the public. About 5 am yesterday, special forces attacked hundreds of protesters, including lawyers and judges, camped out in front of the courthouse in Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city. “They fired tear gas on protesters in tents and cleared the areas after many fled carrying the dead and the injured,” one protester said over the phone. Doctors in Benghazi said Friday that 35 bodies had been brought to the hospital following attacks by security forces backed by militias, on top of more than a dozen killed the day before. Standing in front of Jalaa Hospital morgue, a witness said that the bodies bore wounds from being shot “directly at the head and the chests”. Residents of the city set up neighborhood patrols yesterday, after police left the streets. “We don’t see a single policeman in the streets, not even traffic police,” a lawyer in Benghazi said. People regarded the disappearance of the police as an ominous sign, fearing that pro-government forces would soon follow up the encampment raid with houseto-house attacks. A resident in Benghazi said security forces which killed dozens of protesters over the past 72 hours were confined to a compound, which he called the Command Centre, from which snipers were firing at protesters. “Right now, the only military presence in Benghazi is confined to the Command Centre Complex in the city. The rest of the city is liberated,” he said. “Thousands and thousands of people have gathered in front of Benghazi’s courthouse. There are now makeshift clinics, ambulances, speakers, electricity. It’s fully-equipped. There is no shortage of food although not all stores are open. Banks are shut. All of the revolutionary committee (local government) offices and police stations in the city have been burned,” he said. The account could not be independently verified. A security source earlier gave a different account, saying the situation in the Benghazi region was “80 percent under control”. Switzerland-based Libyan activist Fathi Al-Warfali said that several other activists had been detained including Abdel-Hafez Gougha, a well-known organizer who was
being held after security forces stormed his house in a night raid. Away from the eastern region, Libya appeared calm. In Green Square in the centre of Tripoli, next to the walled old city, several hundred people gathered, waving portraits of Gaddafi and chanting “Our revolutionary leader!” and “We follow your path”, a Reuters reporter said. A state-controlled newspaper said the violence was part of “the dirty plans and the conspiracies designed by America and Zionism and the traitors of the West”. Libya-watchers say an Egypt-style nationwide revolt is unlikely because Gaddafi has oil cash to smooth over social problems, and is still respected in much of the country. Noman Benotman, a former dissident Islamist, told Reuters the government was talking to tribal leaders in Benghazi to try to defuse tensions. But he said if the authorities decided to restore order by force it would be done “toughly”. The security source said clashes were still going on in the region between Benghazi and the town of Al Bayda, about 200 km away, where local people said dozens also had been killed by security forces in the past 72 hours. “The situation in the eastern area from Al Bayda to Benghazi is 80 percent under control ... A lot of police stations have been set on fire or damaged,” the security source told Reuters. He also said: “Please do not believe what foreign radio and television are saying. Their information is not accurate.” Gaddafi is facing the biggest popular uprising of his autocratic reign, with much of the action in the country’s impoverished east. The nation has huge oil reserves but poverty is a significant problem. US diplomats have said in newly leaked memos that Gaddafi’s regime seems to neglect the east intentionally, letting unemployment and poverty rise to weaken opponents there. The British Foreign Office yesterday warned against all but essential travel to five cities in eastern Libya where demonstrations have been concentrated, including Benghazi. A female protester in Tripoli, the capital city to the west, said it was much harder to demonstrate there. Police were out in force and Gaddafi was greeted rapturously when he drove through town in a motorcade on Thursday. “People are under siege and those who dare to show up are arrested,” she said. Earlier in the week, forces from the military’s elite Khamis Brigade moved into Benghazi, Al Bayda and several other cities, residents said. They were accompanied by militias that seemed to include foreign mercenaries, they added. Several witnesses reported French-speaking fighters, believed to be Tunisians or sub-Saharan Africans, among militiamen wearing blue uniforms and yellow helmets. The Khamis Brigade is led by Gaddafi’s youngest son Khamis Gaddafi, and US diplomats in leaked memos have called it “the most well-trained and well-equipped force in the Libyan military.” The witnesses’ reports that it had been deployed could not be independently confirmed. Gaddafi, 68, is the longest-serving leader in the Arab world. His oil-producing North African state is sandwiched between Tunisia and Egypt, whose long-time leaders have been toppled by popular uprisings. — Agencies
Riot police tear-gas protesting bedoons Continued from Page 1 the issue of illegal residents through a legal and humanitarian perspective, he said. “The demonstrators claim that they have no access to marriage, birth, death or driving documents, which is not true. No state department fails to produce documents to any illegal residents if they have the necessary requirements,” he said. The law ensures provision of educational, healthcare and housing services as well as immigration and marriage documentations and driving and residency licenses for illegal residents under Article 17 (of the residency law), he added. In coordination with the Zakat House, the government launched a charity fund for needy students including the illegal residents, Fadhala said, noting that some 12,000 students benefitted from the fund. The annual allocations for the fund amount to KD 6 million. The government and the Zakat House also co-founded a fund for providing healthcare for needy people including illegal residents. Medical insurance fees, levied from illegal residents, were brought down from KD 50 to KD 5. The Ministry of Health in coordination with Zakat House has issued health insurance cards for needy families. More than 39,000 persons benefited from this ser vice between Sept 2003, and Dec 31,
2009, with the appropriations amounting to KD 1.127 million, he added. On housing welfare, Fadhala said the state made available 4,866 houses for military and police personnel belonging to this category of residents at token rent rates. In addition, military and police personnel who did not get government-funded housing units are entitled to get housing allowance totaling valued at KD two million a year. Under Article 17, the Ministry of Interior issued passports for 32,727 illegal residents in just one and a half years to help them perform haj and umrah and get treatment overseas. The number of marriage and divorce documents issued in the last three years for this segment of people amounted to 10,210, Fadhala disclosed. The Ministry of Health is working with the CSRSIR to issue birth and death documents for illegal residents, he said noting that the number of such documents issued between 2005 and 2010 topped 3,608 while 12,471 applicants failed to show up at the ministry to receive their documents which are ready. The Zakat House offers monthly cash aid amounting to KD 5 million to 10,923 families including 55,278 persons along with assistance to illegal residents in the form of foodstuff, clothes and stationery items amounting to KD 618,000 to 3,180
families comprising of 22,260 persons, he added. We are doing our utmost to solve the problems of the illegal residents once and for all,” Fadhala said. Kuwait launched a crackdown on the bedoons in 2000, depriving them of basic rights including the right to health, education and jobs, in a bid to force them to reveal what the authorities say are their true identities. Many bedoons have no right to a driver’s licence, cannot get birth certificates for their babies or death certificates for the dead. They are also banned from getting their marriage contracts attested. Due to stringent government restrictions, a majority of them are living in dire economic conditions Kuwait, where the average monthly salary of native citizens is more than KD 1,000 ($3,500). Authorities said that following the crackdown, some 20,000 bedoons disclosed their original citizenship and were given residence permits like other foreigners. Most bedoons claim to be Kuwaitis whose forefathers, who lived as bedouins in the desert, failed to apply for citizenship when the state first introduced its nationality law in 1959. Kuwaiti MPs have called on the government to quickly resolve the problem of bedoons and Kuwait’s society for human rights called in a statement yesterday for the release of detainees. — Agencies
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
sp orts Ranieri: ‘I am not leaving’
Roberto follows money trail to hotspot Caucasus
NFL seek new labor deal
ROME: Beleaguered AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri says he has no intention of leaving despite growing dissatisfaction with the team’s recent performances. Roma has lost three major matches in succession — to Inter Milan and Napoli in the Serie A and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League — and about 200 fans protested outside the training center south of the city yesterday. Police detained four supporters after paper and smoke bombs were thrown. Earlier in the week fans hung banners outside the training center demanding the teams raises its effort. “I am not jumping ship from Roma. I am not leaving and I won’t be leaving at the end of the season either,” Ranieri told reporters. “I like a challenge and have a healthy set of players. (They are) Strong, determined and confident of qualifying for the Champions League next season. “It is a difficult situation, but in Rome bad things are double what they are elsewhere.” Ranieri has already been criticized this season for indecision over who his main strikers are, and leading scorer Marco Borriello was seen arguing with the coach after he started on the bench against Donetsk. Roma is eighth in the Serie A standings, six points from the last qualifying spot for the Champions League. On Sunday,Roma is away to Genoa.— AP
WASHINGTON: The National Football League and its players union met with a federal mediator Friday as they sought to hammer out a new labor deal. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on March 4. Talks between the two sides broke down last week and the league filed an unfair labour practice complaint against the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). The NFL and NFLPA in a joint statement confirmed the two groups had met with George Cohen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, in Washington on Friday. Both NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NFLPA Executive
Director DeMaurice Smith attended the session. Neither group would comment on whether any progress had been made in finding a new agreement. Their statement said Cohen had asked both sides to refrain from making public comments about the process. The league and the players disagree on a number of issues. Despite a successful season with high television ratings, NFL owners insist their profit margins are being squeezed and want to modify distribution of annual revenues of $9 billion. There are also disputes over drug testing, a rookie wage scale, health and pension benefits and plans to increase the regular season to 18 games from 16. — Reuters
MOSCOW: Former Brazilian fullback Roberto Carlos has followed fellow footballing great Ruud Gullit in accepting a lucrative deal to ply his trade in the troubled Caucasus region of Russia — which has left many scratching their heads in wonderment. Wonderment at the reported five million euros a season the 37-year-old will be paid by powerful oil and metals magnate Suleiman Kerimov, the ambitious owner of mediocre Russian Premier League outfit Anzhi Makhachkala. There is also bemusement that Roberto Carlos — a World Cup winner in 2002 and finalist in 1998 - should decide in the dying days of his career to risk his life by settling in Dagestan, which is the scene of daily explosions, abductions and other forms of ethnic and gang-related violence. Gullit for his part has agreed to coach another mediocre but ambitious Premier League club Terek Grozny and earn a reported two million dollars on his 18-month contract - the two-time world player of the year has also said he will only come to Grozny for matches. He will spend the rest of the time at a team training base about 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of the Chechen capital. — AFP
Devils top Rangers, Blues win NEWARK: Ilya Kovalchuk scored for the fourth straight game and Johan Hedberg made 15 saves to give the streaking New Jersey Devils a 1-0 victory over the New York Rangers in the NHL on Friday. New Jersey won its season-high sixth straight and improved to 14-2-1 in its past 17 games to turn its season around. Even with the surge, the Devils will need to jump over five teams to make the playoffs with only 24 games remaining. They trailed the seventh-place Rangers by 31 points on Jan. 8, but are now only 14 points behind.
NHL results/standings Results and standings from the NHL games on Friday: New Jersey 1, NY Rangers 0; Carolina 3, Philadelphia 2; St. Louis 3, Buffalo 0; Boston 4, Ottawa 2; Detroit 4, Florida 3; Minnesota 5, Anaheim 1; Columbus 4, Chicago 3.
Blues 3, Sabres 0 In Buffalo, New York, Ty Conklin stopped 25 shots to lead St. Louis over Buffalo shortly after the Blues traded captain Eric Brewer. TJ Oshie had a goal and assist to for his first two-point game since he returned Jan. 18 after missing 31 games with a broken left ankle. David Backes and Vladimir Sobotka also scored for the Blues, who won their second in a row and improved to 4-1-2 in their past seven. The Sabres lost two straight for the first time in a 21-game stretch in which they’re now 13-2-6. The Blues traded Brewer to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Brock Beukeboom, an unsigned draft pick and a third-round pick in the 2011 draft. Bruins 4, Senators 2 At Ottawa, Brad Marchand scored twice and Nathan Horton had a goal and an assist to lead Boston. Tuukka Rask made 32 saves and Dennis Seidenberg also scored for the Bruins, who acquired three-time All-Star defenseman Tomas Kaberle from Toronto in a trade earlier in the day. Kaberle made his Bruins debut along with former Senators center Chris Kelly, who was acquired in a trade with Ottawa on Tuesday. Bobby Butler scored for a third straight game early in the second to give the Senators a brief 1-0 lead. Alex Kovalev then scored a power-play goal with 1:30 left in the third to draw Ottawa within two. Red Wings 4, Panthers 3 In Sunrise, Florida, Todd Bertuzzi had two goals, including the gamewinner with 7:32 remaining, to lift Detroit. Pavel Datsyuk and Dan Cleary also scored for the Red Wings, who matched their longest winning streak of the season with their fourth consecutive victory. Henrik Zetterberg had two assists, giving
Philadelphia Pittsburgh NY Rangers New Jersey NY Islanders Boston Montreal Buffalo Toronto Ottawa Tampa Bay Washington Carolina Atlanta Florida
Detroit Nashville Chicago Columbus St. Louis NEWARK: New Jersey Devils’ Ilya Kovalchuk (foreground) of Russia, keeps his eyes on the puck as New York Rangers’ Marc Staal (rear) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game.—AP
him eight in his last five games. Joey MacDonald stopped 29 shots for Detroit. Weiss had a goal and an assist for the Panthers, who have lost seven of eight at home. Wild 5, Ducks 1 At St. Paul, Minnesota, Matt Cullen scored a short-handed goal and Eric Nystrom scored his first career power-play goal as Minnesota beat Anaheim. Mikko Koivu, Kyle Brodziak and Martin Havlat also scored for the Wild, who had just two goals in their last two games. Corey Perry scored for the Ducks, who lost on the road for the first time in seven
games. Koivu left the game after one period with an upper body injury. Hurricanes 3, Flyers 2 In Raleigh, North Carolina, Erik Cole scored with 3:03 left to lift Carolina past Philadelphia. Chad LaRose and Jeff Skinner scored early goals about 21/2 minutes apart for the Hurricanes, who seemed inspired by a pregame ceremony to retire former captain Rod Brind’Amour’s No. 17 jersey. Braydon Coburn leveled the score at 22 with 5:11 to play, but Cole’s goal denied Philadelphia its second straight season sweep of the Hurricanes.
Blue Jackets 4, Blackhawks 3 In Chicago, Antoine Vermette, Derek MacKenzie and Anton Stralman scored in a span of 5:54 in the second period as Columbus topped Chicago. Matt Calvert added a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets, who improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight and have climbed back into the Western Conference playoff race. Patrick Sharp had two goals and an assist for the Black hawks. Chicago coach Joel Quenneville missed his second game after being hospitalized on Wednesday with gastrointestinal bleeding caused by an ulcer. — AP
Vancouver Calgary Minnesota Colorado Edmonton Phoenix San Jose Dallas Los Angeles Anaheim
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF 38 15 5 192 36 19 4 176 31 25 4 166 24 30 4 124 21 30 7 158 Northeast Division 33 19 7 185 31 21 7 154 27 24 6 165 25 27 6 150 18 31 9 131 Southeast Division 34 18 6 177 30 19 10 162 28 23 8 173 25 24 10 170 24 26 7 151 Western Conference Central Division 36 16 6 197 31 19 8 154 29 23 6 183 29 23 6 159 26 21 9 151 Northwest Division 37 13 9 197 30 22 8 181 31 22 5 153 25 26 7 173 18 32 8 145 Pacific Division 31 19 9 169 32 21 6 163 31 21 6 162 32 22 4 163 32 23 4 166
GA PTS 147 81 143 76 148 66 160 52 195 49 144 150 169 178 194
73 69 60 56 45
182 152 180 192 156
74 70 64 60 55
168 136 163 175 164
78 70 64 64 61
140 175 153 198 195
83 68 67 57 44
165 154 166 139 169
71 70 68 68 68
Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).
Takahashi wins men’s Four Continents crown
Kuwaiti team excel in Arab Drag Race Championship By Nawara Fattahova QATAR: The Kuwaiti team took first position in the 8th and final round of the Arab Drag Race Championship held in Qatar by the Qatar Car Racing Club. Kuwaiti champion Abdullah Al-Shatti, clinched first place in the Super Street 8-cylinder Category. Also Kuwait participant Ali Al-Failakawi was third in this round and Mizher Al-Tannak ranked fourth. In the 4.5 category, Kuwaiti Bader Khorshid was second overall in the championship, and third in this round. Also
Kuwaiti participant Jamal Al-Jaber ranked fourth. In the motorcycle category, the Kuwait champion Mish’al Al-Saber grabbed first spot in the Pro Bike Category, and he achieved the title of ‘Champion of Champions’. While Kuwaiti participant Mohammed Burashid gained the title Chicago Champion. Also in the Super Street Bike Category, Kuwait’s Mohammed Al-Baddah ranked first. In the Street Bike Category, Kuwaiti Ahmad Al-Hamidan ranked first, and his colleague Bader Bin Eidan was second followed by their colleague Yaqoub Al-Ali.
TAIPEI: World champion Daisuke Takahashi of Japan breezed to victory in the men’s competition at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships yesterday, electrifying the Taiwanese crowd with his precision, power and poise. Aside from missing a quad toeloop at the beginning of his program, the 24-year-old Takahashi was near perfect, scoring a season’s best 160.51 in the free skating for a total of 244.00, after his dominating performance in Friday’s short program. Finishing behind Takahashi was compatriot Yuzuru Hanyu, the 2020 world junior champion. He registered 228.01, including a personal best of 151.58 in the free skating. Jeremy Abbott, the 2009 and 2010 US champion, came in third with 225.71 points. His 148.98 in the free skating was his best this season. With Takahashi’s win, Japanese skaters are in a strong position to score a clean sweep in singles events at this year’s Four Continents. Earlier yesterday, Miki Ando of Japan established a narrow lead in the short program of the ladies competition, wowing the Taipei crowd with the kind of form that made her world champion in 2007.
Her closest pursuer is compatriot and current world champion Mao Asada, who finished just ahead of Rachael Flatt, the 2010 US national champ. The ladies free skating element is scheduled for
Sunday. Featuring sk aters from t h e A m e r i c a s, A s i a , A f r i c a a n d Oceania, the Four Continents is seen as an important prelude to next month’s world championships in Tokyo. — AP
TAIPEI: USA’s Alissa Czisny performs during the ladies short program in the ISU Four Continents figure skating championships. — AP
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Eagle lifts Tseng in Thailand
KEARNS: Martina Sablikova, of the Czech Republic, takes the final lap in her record-breaking run in the women’s 5000-meter World Cup speedskating competition. —AP
Sablikova lowers own record KEARNS: Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic broke her own world record in winning the women’s 5,000 meters at a speedskating World Cup event at the Utah Olympic Oval on Friday. Sablikova finished in 6 minutes, 42.66 seconds, lowering the mark of 6:45.61 she set at the 2007 world championships. Stephanie Beckert of Germany was second in 6:47.03 and Eriko Ishino of Japan took bronze in 6:55.07. In a “B” race earlier in the day, five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein of Germany showed she has returned to form after a two-year doping ban, winning in 6:51.62 seconds. Pechstein’s time qualified her for the world championships in Germany in March, as well as the final World Cup races in two weeks in the Netherlands. Pechstein has always denied doping, arguing that a hereditary anomaly was responsible for the abnormal blood levels that led to her ban from the International Skating Union two years ago. The ban ended earlier this month and a Feb. 12 international race earned her a spot in the “B” races in Utah — for those who do not have enough World Cup points to compete for medals. “I was really down. It’s not so easy to tell. I was at home and really, really often crying and everything. Then I think about to quit my life and it was really hard,” Pechstein said. “Now I am back.” Pechstein set world records in winning the 3,000 and 5,000 on the Utah Olympic Oval during the 2002 Games. Sablikova, a two-time gold medal winner at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, said her coach told her she was capable of skating a world record time. “The race was so crazy,” Sablikova said. “The first five laps was so cool and I skate so light, but after 3K I was so tired. But when I (finish), I was so happy. It’s cool.” Trevor Marsicano won gold in the men’s 1,500, using a strong finish to clock 1:43.35 and edge fellow American Shani Davis by 0.03 seconds. Mark Tuitert of Netherlands was third in 1:43.54. Marsicano got help from Tuitert as the two came into the final corner even. Davis, meanwhile, was practically racing against himself during the next heat, as distance specialist Ivan Skobrev of Russia was far behind in finishing 18th. —AP
PATTAYA: The top-ranked Yani Tseng closed in on her third tournament victory in three weeks when she grabbed a one-shot lead in the LPGA Thailand in the third round yesterday. A four-foot eagle putt on her finishing hole on the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club carded the Taiwanese star a 2-under 70 and lifted her to a 9-under 207 total, one better than Michelle Wie (71) and secondround leader IK Kim (72). “It was very exciting finishing eagle, that’s for sure,” Tseng said. “Nice to have a one-shot lead over IK and Michelle.” Tseng double-bogeyed the second hole but made up a shot by the turn. Three birdies spanning holes 10-15 put her in front by two, but they were offset by consecutive bogeys on 16-17, and the closing eagle saved her round. “It was better for me today,” she said. “A tough start but I had a good comeback and I stayed really patient. I don’t put too much tension on myself. I wanted to stay relaxed. Don’t be afraid if I miss a shot. If I bogey a hole, I’ll birdie the next hole. Keep smiling and relax.” Tseng became the world No. 1 when she won the Australian Open by seven strokes then the Australian Ladies Masters by four last weekend. “It would be great (to win three in a row),” she said. “Right now, I’m prepared and not afraid when I’m on top. I know how to win a tournament. I’m going to go enjoy the tournament like today.” Wie compensated for four bogeys with five birdies, finishing better than she started. “On the front nine I putted horribly, couldn’t make a single thing, but on the back nine I put myself together,” Wie said. “Tomorrow, hopefully I’ll learn from my mistakes.” Kim’s round was much like Wie’s. Her one-shot lead to begin the day evaporated in the humidity by the fifth hole with her third straight bogey, but she closed with birdies on three of her last four holes to remain in
THAILAND: Yani Tseng of Taiwan reacts after a putt on the 10th hole during the third round of LPGA Thailand golf tournament. —AP contention. “I just had a really rough start, like yesterday,” Kim said. “I had the same mindset through all 18, very relaxed. I didn’t really do that very well on the front nine. I tried to play smart on the back, dropped some putts with a lot of break. I feel much better on the back nine.”
American Paula Creamer (70) was alone in fourth at 7 under and Kerrie Webb (68) was fifth at 6 under. MJ Hur (68) of South Korea followed at 5 under, then a group of four at 4 under included former world No. 1 Juli Inkster (73). Defending champion Ai Miyazato (73) was at 1 over, 10 shots behind. —AP
Larrazabal leads Indian Masters NEW DELHI: A final hole eagle on the way to a sixunder 66 earned Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal the third round clubhouse lead at the Indian Masters yesterday. Keeping him company at 11-under was Briton Robert Coles, who will return on Sunday to first play the remaining two holes of his third round as 90 minutes’ play were lost to a dense fog on Saturday morning at the DLF Golf and Country Club. “The eagle at the last was the highlight, obviously. I hit a nice drive and then got to the ball on the fairway and found it was in an old divot,” Larrazabal told reporters. “I had 184 metres to the flag and I thought that I had
to hit plenty of club to compensate for the divot. I did that, with a nice faded four iron into about 10 feet and made the putt.” “Now that I am in this position with a great chance to win going into the final round, tomorrow will be a big test to show me exactly where I am.” After his 15th hole eagle, Cole was eyeing the title as well. “I got a little bit lucky on it to be honest but you need those kind of breaks if you are going to contend and try to win golf tournaments,” he said. On his thought for today, he said, “I am very much looking forward to it. This is why you play the game: to get into contention to win tournaments. —Reuters
Couples leaves pack behind CALIFORNIA: Veteran Fred Couples loved playing at Riviera Country Club the first time he saw the course and for the umpteenth time in recent years he defied back pain to soar to the top of a leaderboard. The 51-year-old, long beloved by the fans here, coolly sank a 100-foot eagle putt at the par-five first on the way to a flawless fiveunder-par 66 in the second round of the Northern Trust Open on Friday. Couples also sank two 30-footers for birdie on the classic Riviera layout to take a two-shot lead at eight-under 134, finishing his round in dry, overcast conditions before a late afternoon thunderstorm swept across the course. “Riviera is a special spot for me,” Couples told reporters. “I have won twice but I’ve had a lot of other great finishes and fun rounds, and today was one of them.” Big-hitting American J.B. Holmes briefly joined Couples at the top before double-bogeying the par-four last for a 69 to share second place with Australian John Senden (69). Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa (67) and 2001 winner Robert Allenby of Australia (70) were among a group of five knotted at five under when play was suspended for the day in fading light. Twenty-six players will have to complete the second round on Saturday morning, among them American Spencer Levin who was at six under with three holes remaining. Couples, champion here in 1990 and 1992, began another marathon day at Riviera a stroke off the pace but immediately took charge with his spectacular eagle start. He rolled in a 30-footer to birdie the ninth and reach the turn in threeunder 32 before picking up further shots at the 12th and 15th to tighten his grip on the PGA Tour event. “I’ve played 150 rounds on this course probably,” Couples said. “I don’t think anyone in this field has played as many rounds as I have, so that’s an advantage for me.” Holmes, lifted by four birdies on the back nine, joined Couples at the top before stumbling at the last where he overshot the green with his approach and took four more shots. “I’m playing pretty good,” Holmes said. “I’m definitely not disappointed with it (my game). I’m not getting everything out of it I think I can ... but I’m just playing solid.” Senden, one of nine players tied for the lead when the first round was completed earlier in the day, got to seven under before three-putting for bogey at the last. “Obviously I didn’t want to hit it as far past ... but I wanted to sort of just baby it down there,” he said of his first putt from 10 feet which ended up 12 feet beyond the cup. “It wasn’t a great putt, but, I’ve been putting well, and I’m tak ing that into the weekend.” American world number four Phil Mickelson, a Riviera fan favourite and winner here in 2008 and 2009, limped to a 70 that included five birdies and four bogeys. —Reuters
Sheikh Fahad tourney scores bulls eye in shooting By Abdellatif Sharaa KUWAIT: The Late Sheikh Fahad Al-Salem AlSabah Grand Prix Shotgun Tournament proved very competitive as was evident by the scores by the Kuwaiti, British and German shooters. The Double trap event witnessed a shoot off between Kuwait’s Mishfi Al-Mutairi and Britain’s Peter Wilson as both scored 183 out of 200. Al-Mutairi hit six targets while Wilson scored five declaring Kuwait’s Al-Mutairi as the first place winner followed by Wilson in second and Saad Al-Mutairi third with a score of 180. In the women’s trap event Britain’s Shona Marshall was first with a score of 87 out of 100 followed by Germany’s Jana Beckmann with a score of 85 and Britain’s Charlotte Kerwood. I n the women’s skeet event Sheikha Al-Rashidi was first with a score of 88 out of one hundred followed by Britain’s Pinky Le Grelle with a score of 84 and Germany ’s Vanessa Hauff was third with a score of 83. I n men’s skeet event Germany ’s Sven Kor te scored 147 out of 150 while his compatriot Tino Wenzel scored 144 while German Axel Wenger was third with a score of 143. In the men’s trap event Late Sheikh Fahad Al-Salem Al-Sabah K halid Al-Mudhaf from Kuwait was first with a score of 144 out of 150 while Britain’s John MacDonald ended in second and Kuwait’s Abdelrahman Al-Faihani ended third as both had to go through a shoot off round. Tournament Sponsor Sheikha Latifa AlFahad Al-Salem was on hand during the closing ceremony along with Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governor Sheikh Ali Abdallah Al-Salem, and other dignitaries. In his closing ceremony speech Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah thanked Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad Al-Salem AlSabah for her valued initiative to encourage shooters and her patronage of the Grand Prix Championship. He said it is the polic y of the Kuwait Shooting Club to immortalize the names of those who contributed significantly to Kuwait
Kuwaiti Shooter Mishfi Al-Mutairi such as Sheik h Fahad Al-Salem who was instrumental in laying the foundation for modern Kuwait in many fields. He said this Grand Prix represents the first step for qualification to the London 2002 Olympics as we wish all participating shooters success. Sheikh Salman thanked His Highness the Amir and HH the Crown Prince for their continued suppor t of Kuwait ’s shooters and Kuwait’s shooting sport. Sheik h Salman welcomed the Arab Shooting Federation board members who met in Kuwait on Friday, and attended the activities of the Grand Prix. S h e i k h S a l m a n s a i d t h a t Twe l ve A ra b, Asian and international shooters federations par ticipated in this special grand prix in addition to Kuwait Shooting Federation as the number of shooters male and female was 136 in the skeet, trap, double trap event. He said that “we are very happy that the competition was characterized by being strong and fair, as all shooters did their best to come out winners. The closing ceremony was marked with a flavor of Kuwait heritage when school child re n p e r fo r m e d fe w fo l k l o r i c s o n g s a n d dances that pleased the audience. Sheikha Latifa, Sheikh Salman, Engineer Duaij Al-Otaibi and Obeid Al-Osaimi distrib-
KUWAIT: Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad hands Sheikha Al-Rashidi her first place trophy.
KUWAIT: Sheikh Sabah Ali Fahad Al-Salem, Sheikha Latifa Al-Fahad, Sheikh Ali AlAbdallah, Sheikh Salman Al-Humoud and Obied Al-Osaimi with school children. uted cups and prizes to the winners. Then the higher organizing committee recognized members of the board of the Arab Shooting
Federation, heads of delegations and the judges who participated in officiating the tournament.
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Wozniacki in Dubai final
GERMANY: Austria’s Marlies Schild speeds down the course on her way to win the gold medal in the women’s slalom, at the Alpine World Skiing Championships.—AP
Gold at last for Schild GERMANY: Marlies Schild maintained her perfect record of winning every slalom race she has completed this season yesterday to put a golden seal on her brilliant career at the world championships. Victory at a worlds or Olympics had always eluded the 29-year-old Austrian despite having the second highest total of World Cup wins but she finally topped the podium by edging out team mate Kathrin Zettel. Sweden’s in-form Maria PietilaeHolmner, who won a silver medal in the giant slalom at home in Are in 2007, took the bronze after picking up a place on her second descent. Zettel finished 0.34 seconds behind over two runs on the Gudiberg course to complete the domination of the championships
by Austrian women who bagged four of the five gold medals. “This is far more than just another medal in my collection,” Schild told reporters after winning in a combined time of one minute 45.79 seconds. “This is everything I was looking for, all I needed. Whatever you might think, a gold medal is something else.” Despite her victor y Schild’s immediate thoughts were for boyfriend Benjamin Raich who tore his knee ligaments in the team event three days ago. “It’s important in the hard times we’re going through,” she said. “I was very sad about Benni’s injury and I still am.” The Salzburg skier has had her own bitter experience with injuries with knee damage keeping her out
of action two seasons ago before she returned to become the world’s most prolific slalomist still on the tour. Only Switzerland’s Vreni Schneider stands in front of her total of 26 World Cup slalom wins. “I was one of the favorites but it was a very tough race, without a second to relax,” said Schild, who since returning from her knee problems has won every slalom she had finished except one-the Olympic race in Whistler when she lost to Germany’s Maria Riesch. Riesch, the Garmisch-born defending champion, lost her crown in front of her home crowd and even missed the podium, finishing four th, leaving the host country without a gold medal with only the men’s slalom race left yesterday.—Reuters
Blues see off Crusaders AUCKLAND: Captain Keven Mealamu scored the winning try as the Auckland Blues came from behind to beat the the Canterbury Crusaders 24-22 in a thrilling Super 15 rugby match yesterday. The derby match brought to life the new Super 15 competition after its drab start on Friday with a substandard match between the Wellington Hurricanes and Otago Highlanders and a one-sided contest between the New South Wales Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels. Canterbury led 19-6 at halftime but Auckland fought back with second half tries to All Blacks Benson Stanley, Tony Woodock and Mealamu to win the match and to
lead the New Zealand conference under the new tournament format. “We learned a lot from the matches last night about the importance of protecting the ball. It’s just so important,” Mealamu said. “We made a few mistakes in that first half but we managed to get it right in the second and I’m just so happy for the boys.” Mealamu scored the decisive try in the 71st minute as Auckland gradually seized the intiative from Canterbury which dominated the match early and led 22-11 after 53 minutes. All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter kicked four penalties from eight attempts to give Canterbury its lead but Auckland controlled possession
in the last quarter of the match to decide the outcome. “I think we just missed a beat in the second half and you can’t do that against these guys. They’re just too good,” said Kieran Read, who captained the Crusaders in the absence of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, who has a stress fracture in his right foot. Canterbury seemed on the way to a comfortable win at halftime but lost rhythm and continuity of possession in the second half as Auckland asserted itself through outstanding forward play. A brilliant counter-attack set up Stanley’s try but concerted forward play created the tries to Woodcock and Mealamu. —AP
Brumbies hold their nerve to beat Chiefs CANBERRA: The ACT Brumbies made a storming start then held their nerve in the second half to open their Super rugby season with a 28-20 victory over the Waikato Chiefs in the Australian capital yesterday. Australia’s only champions in the southern hemisphere’s annual provincial championship dominated the first half with tries from Robbie Coleman and Francis Fainifo but rode their luck in the second as the Chiefs hit back. After trailing 18-3 at halftime, Chiefs winger Sitiveni Sivivatu and debutant replacement scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow scored tries to give the visitors a chance of a comeback victory. However, Matt Giteau, who kicked three penalties and two conversions, kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Brumbies, and prop Salesi Ma’afu gave them sufficient breathing room with a try nine minutes from time. “We got the win, which is pretty crucial,” said Brumbies captain Giteau in a pitchside interview. “What
we ask for in the first game is effort, the execution may not be there but the effort was good.” Replacement winger Lelia Masaga scored a consolation try after the hooter had gone but winger Tim NanaiWilliams hit the uprights with his conversion attempt which prevented the Chiefs from collecting a bonus point. Although much of the pre-match talk had been about the Chiefs’ 37-year-old centre Tana Umaga, it was the skills of a trio of 20-somethings who left the lasting impression on the match. Brumbies centre Coleman, just 20 and looking several years younger, capped a dazzling opening spell with a brilliant try after 13 minutes. Blinding pace took him past three tacklers and a sidestep beat the fourth as he touched down under the posts. Nanai-Williams, 21, then showed some dazzling footwork of his own but the Chiefs failed to capitalise on three apparently certain try-scoring chances with handling errors proving costly. —Reuters
Al-Ahli Bank Team
DUBAI: Caroline Wozniacki reached the final of the Dubai tennis championships by beating Serbian sixth seed Jelena Jankovic 7-5 6-3 yesterday. The top seed from Denmark, who will return to the top of the world rankings next week, will next face 11th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta or 16th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, who were playing later yesterday. Jankovic made the more positive start, breaking Wozniacki’s serve to love as she built up a 3-0 lead and then holding off two break points when leading 4-2. However, she failed to take advantage of four set points as she led 5-3, 40-0 and then held an advantage point, before Wozniacki recovered the break by rushing her opponent into a forehand error. Wozniacki then broke again to lead 6-5 and held off two break points as she served out the set. Jankovic, who had been taken to three sets in her previous two matches, clearly began to tire in the second set, and an exchange of three consecutive breaks left Wozniacki leading 4-3. Once again Jankovic held but failed to convert two break points as Wozniacki held for 5-3, and the
DUBAI: Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki returns the ball to Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic during a semi final match of Dubai WTA Tennis Championships.—AP
Dane then broke to love in the next game to seal her victory. “I didn’t think about the score,” Wozniacki told reporters when asked about being set points down. “I just felt, ‘Okay, just hit the ball. Just make her win the point. Just play aggressively. You have to dictate. If you make a mistake, fine, that’s what happens. But don’t just put the ball in because you’re done’.” Jankovic admitted that she had not played her set points well and that her recent long matches had
taken their toll on her. “I had those set points and I kind of rushed a little bit,” said Jankovic. “I didn’t really take my time, you know, and play those points. But she was very solid and she ran a lot of balls down. “Obviously, you know, I’m a little bit exhausted. The last couple of days took a lot out of me and maybe it showed today. But I still fought very hard, as hard as I could. I really gave my best, but credit to her.”—Reuters
Roddick tops Hewitt MEMPHIS: Andy Roddick overcame a shaky start to beat Lleyton Hewitt 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. The top-seeded Roddick needed 2 hours, 13 minutes to win his sixth straight match against the Australian and improve his record for the year to 10-2. He next plays Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, who defeated Michael Russell 6-4, 62. “I haven’t gotten off to the best starts in two out of three of my matches,” Roddick said. “I’m going to have to start playing better from the get-go. But a match can turn quickly, and it did tonight in the third set. The end of the second set and the third set was probably the best I’ve played in this tournament so far.” Only Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have more career titles than Roddick (29) and Hewitt (28) among active players, and the matchup between the two veterans lived up to expectations. Roddick served 21 aces, but he opened the match by double-faulting twice as Hewitt broke him in the first game. “He made quite a few unforced errors early on, though, and his serve percentage probably wasn’t as high as he would’ve liked. From them on, he served a lot better,” Hewitt said. “I couldn’t get up in his service games and put pressure on him from there. He’s one of the better closers out there with his serve when he’s up in a game.” In the second set, Roddick broke Hewitt in the fourth game on his fourth break point when the Aussie put a forehand into the net. Roddick then served out the set and opened the third set by breaking Hewitt again. Hewitt fought off four match points in the ninth game of the third set before holding to make it 5-4. Roddick finally closed out the match with a 135-mph ace. Roddick, who now leads Hewitt 7-6 in their rivalry, hasn’t lost to the Australian since 2005. “He just keeps plugging away,” Roddick said of Hewitt. “He definitely makes you earn it if you want to get a win.” Also Friday, Canadian Milos Raonic hit 20 aces as he defeated American Robert Kendrick 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to advance his second straight ATP semifinal.
MEMPHIS: Andy Roddick celebrates after defeating Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, in a quarterfinal round match at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships tennis tournament.—AP
The victory will propel Raonic into the Top 50 in the ATP rankings, a year after he was ranked No. 361. Raonic has had quite a run after losing in the third round of qualifying in Chennai, India, to start the year. He went through qualifying and won three matches at the Australian Open and then won the tournament in San Jose last week. He will next play No. 4 seed Mardy Fish, who beat defending champion Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-4. “It’s tough after having such an amazing week after last week to come back and sort of keep up the same level,” Raonic said. “I’m very proud I was able to do that that I was able to stay there
The Gulf Bank Team
mentally and do what I needed to do to get the wins not playing the brightest of tennis.” Fish reached his third semifinal in Memphis and will try to advance to the finals for the first time. He said he’s feeling better after a thyroid condition caused him to skip San Jose last week. He needed just 79 minutes to beat Querrey, hitting eight aces and saving three of four break points. In women’s play in the accompanying Cellular South Cup, Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia beat Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the final. She will play Canadian Rebecca Marino, a 6-7 (1), 6-4, 6-1 winner over Evgeniya Rodina of Russia. —AP
Al-Ahli United Bank Team
Ahli Bank wins triples bowling contest KUWAIT: Al-Ahli Bank led the standings fo r t h e t r i p l e s b ow l i n g co n te s t o rg a n ized by the Kuwait Banks Club, as par t of their numerous bowling competitions held in participation of teams
from local banks. The winning team, consisting of Tr e v o r B o s h , F r e d G a b r i e l a n d M a r i o Satos, came first ahead of the Ahli United Bank which consists of Nasser Al-
Ghadhban, Ludovico Matchodo and Lito L a z i o , w h i l e t h e G u l f B a n k ’s t e a m o f S a a’e d A l - H u m a i d i , A b t h a r D a s h t y a n d Bashayer Al-Ajran came in third place. Chairman of the KBC’s sports commit-
tee Khalil Al-Bloushi acknowledged in a press statement the “high level” of par ticipating teams in the tournament, wishing them best of luck in other bowling contests they are set to hold.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
S P ORT S
Lee backs speed kings to shine AHMEDABAD: Australia fast bowler Brett Lee believes his team’s pace battery will not be neutralised by slow, spin-friendly pitches at the World Cup. Lee, who missed the 2007 tournament with an ankle injury, will shoulder the fast bowling burden with Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger, leaving Jason Krejza as the champions’ only frontline spin option. “I don’t see any problem with the pace which
we have and playing on the slow wickets - at the end of the day the ball is still coming at 150 kmh (93 miles an hour) through the air,” said Lee. “The pitch is a massive part of the equation. But if you have a bowler like Shaun Tait bowling around 160 kmh at the batsmen’s toes, it doesn’t matter where you are playing. It is still going to hit the batsmen on the full.” Lee also believes that history could be on his side with Australia having won the 1987 World Cup and 2006
Champions Trophy on Indian pitches. “For pace bowling you’ve got to get the ball in the right spot. The way we bowled in the Champions Trophy, with lots of pace bowlers, we won that event. Playing slow wickets like in Delhi, it tends to suit our pace attack.” Lee also believes that Australia, who arrive at the World Cup buoyed by a 6-1 one-day international thrashing of England, can call on a variety of options when it comes to bowling.—AFP
Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya Group B: Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands
Blazing Sehwag silences B’desh Scoreboard DHAKA: Full scoreboard of the opening match of the World Cup between India and Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium yesterday: India V. Sehwag b Shakib 175 S. Tendulkar run out 28 G. Gambhir b Mahmudullah 39 V. Kohli not out 100 Yusuf Pathan c Rahim b Shafiul 8 Extras: (b1, lb2, w16, nb1) 20 Total (for four wickets, 50 overs) 370 Did not bat: Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Munaf Patel. Fall of wickets: 1-69 (Tendulkar), 2-152 (Gambhir), 3-355 (Sehwag), 4-370 (Pathan). Bowling: Shafiul 7-0-69-1 (nb1, w4), Rubel 10-060-0 (w5), Razzak 9-0-74-0 (w1), Shakib 10-0-61-1 (w3), Naeem 7-0-54-0, Mahmudullah 7-0-49-1 (w3) Bangladesh Tamim Iqbal c Yuvraj b Patel 70 Imrul Kayes b Patel 34 Junaid Siddique st Dhoni b Harbhajan 37 Shakib Al Hasan c Harbhajan b Pathan 55 Mushfiqur Rahim c sub (Raina) b Zaheer 25 Raqibul Hasan not out 29 Mohammad Mahmudullah b Patel 6 Naeem Islam lbw b Patel 2 Abdur Razzak lbw b Zaheer 1 Shafiul Islam run out 0 Rubel Hossain not out 1 Extras: (lb9, w13, nb1) 23 Total (for nine wickets, 50 overs) 283 Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Kayes), 2-129 (Siddique), 3188 (Tamim), 4-234 (Shakib), 5-248 (Rahim), 6261 (Mahmudullah), 7-275 (Naeem), 8-279 (Razzak), 9-280 (Shafiul). Bowling: Sreesanth 5-0-53-0 (nb1, w5), Zaheer 10-0-41-2 (w4), Patel 10-0-48-4, Harbhajan 10-041-1 (w1), Pathan 8-0-49-1 (w2), Yuvraj 7-0-42-0 (w1) India won by 87 runs Man of the match: Virender Sehwag (IND)
DHAKA: Virender Sehwag plundered 175 off 140 balls and rising star Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 100 as India overpowered Bangladesh by 87 runs in the opening match of the World Cup yesterday. The pair added 203 for the third wicket as India piled up 370-4, the fifth highest World Cup total, after being given first strike by Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan in the day-night match at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium. Bangladesh made a spirited chase of the daunting target before ending at 283-9 with opener Tamim Iqbal making 70 and Shakib playing a captain’s knock of 55 off 50 balls in the Group B match. Munaf Patel picked up four wickets and Zaheer Khan took two, but the Bangladeshi batsmen exposed the limitations of the Indian attack in containing runs on slow wickets. The result silenced a sell-out stadium crowd of 25,000 and thousands of home fans watching on television, who had expected Bangladesh to repeat the famous win over India in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. Despite the win, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said there was still work to be done ahead of their next match against England in Bangalore on February 27. “In the fielding, we need to contribute more and save around 10 runs,” said Dhoni, who praised Sehwag and Kohli. “When you have lost a couple of wickets, you need to stabilise, and it was nice to see Sehwag and Kohli do that.” Shakib admitted that loose bowling early in the India innings had cost his side. “We bowled too many boundary balls. Sehwag took it away, he played really well. Our fast bowlers were a bit rusty, hopefully they will come back well,” he said. Sehwag narrowly missed his pre-tournament aim to
bat out the full 50 overs, just as his team-mate Sachin Tendulkar had done last year while scoring the firstever 200 in one-day cricket. He was bowled by Shakib in the 48th over soon after equalling former Indian skipper Kapil Dev’s score of 175 not out against Zimbabwe during the World Cup winning campaign in 1983. Sehwag lashed 14 boundaries and five sixes in his 14th one-day century. Sehwag hit the first ball of the tournament for a four, rocking on the backfoot to punch Shafiul Islam to the cover fence, before reaching his half-century with a six. Sehwag and Tendulkar hammered 69 for the first wicket by the 11th over when Bangladesh broke through with a stroke of luck. Tendulkar drove a ball to mid-on and charged down the wicket, but found no response from the other end to leave both batsmen at the non-striker’s end. Shakib’s direct throw to the wicketkeeper ended the world batting record holder’s innings of 28.
DHAKA: India’s batsman Virender Sehwag bats during the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium. — AP
Sri Lanka confident ahead of Canada clash
SRI LANKA: Canada’s Zubin Surkari delivers a ball during a practice session. — AP
Gautam Gambhir continued the run spree by adding 83 for the second wicket with Sehwag before he was bowled off Mohammad Mahmudullah’s second delivery for 39. Sehwag had scored half the team runs when he reached his first one-day century against Bangladesh in the 32nd over, adjusting his strokeplay on a wicket where the ball came slowly off the wicket. Kohli took over after Sehwag suffered a leg injury and called for a runner in the 38th over, stroking eight boundaries and two sixes in his maiden Cup appearance. Bangladesh raced to 51-0 in the first five overs as seamer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth conceded 24 in his third over, including four boundaries by Imrul Kayes (34). Tamim, who put on 56 for the first wicket with Kayes, added another 73 for the second with Junaid Siddique to lift Bangladesh to 129-1 by the 24th over. After Siddique was stumped off Harbhajan Singh, Tamim and Shakib added 59 for the third wicket when Patel ended the opener’s resistence by having him caught at mid-wicket. Shakib holed out in the deep off Yusuf Pathan in a bid to step up the scoring, ending Bangladesh’s bid to force an improbable win. — AFP
Preview
Preview
SRI LANKA: Kumar Sangakkara believes Sri Lanka will have too much firepower for minnows Canada as the 1996 champions launch their World Cup campaign at a new stadium today. Despite having little knowledge of Canada, and of the ground in the tourist town of Hambantota, Sangakkara is confident his team will make a bright start. “We are confident of a good start and when we go to play sides that we haven’t played much we don’t need to worry because in those games it’s all about us, how well we do and how well we play our cricket,” said Sangakkara. Sri Lanka will be without middle-order batsman Chamara Silva, whose elder sister died on Thursday, making way for all-rounder Thisara Perera to bolster both bowling and batting.
DHAKA: India’s Yusuf Pathan drops a catch off Bangladesh’s batsman Zunaed Siddique (unseen) during the opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup.—AP
Sangakkara said giving a run-out to all 15 players in the squad in the warm-up matches had been crucial. “We had given chances to all 15 players in the warmup matches, so that when an opportunity arrives we have another player to fill the gap,” said Sangakkara, who denied he was already thinking ahead to the clash against Pakistan. “We can’t think ahead. Once we finish today’s match then only we will plan and think about the match against Pakistan,” said Sangakkara, referring to the match in Colombo on February 26. Sri Lanka, runners-up in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, go into the tournament in good shape after comfortable wins in their two warm-up matches. All of the side’s batsmen-except for Mahela Jayawardene-had good workouts in the build-up and are likely to relish the inexperienced Canadian bowling attack. Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Angelo Mathews and Perera will lead the pace attack but Muttiah Muralitharan’s off-spin is likely to cause the most problems for the Canadian batsmen. The leading wicket-taker in one-day internationals, Muralitharan, with 519 wickets in 341 matches, has fully recovered from knee problems. Canadian captain Ashish Bagai admitted his team faces a big challenge. “Obviously Muralitharan and Malinga are the big threats but if we can get through a couple of their bowlers we have a good chance,” said Bagai, who also played down the issue of the new venue. “It is a new venue, even they won’t know what to expect, so it’s going to be tough for both teams,” said Bagai of the ground, built at a cost of nearly $8 million. Consistent rain has given little time for the pitch to settle down but it is likely to help slow bowlers. Besides Bagai and Davison, Rizwan Cheema and Sri Lankan-born Ruvindu Gunasekera lead the batting in the 15-man squad, which includes players born in India, Pakistan and Uganda among other nations. But whether Davison, who initially walked away from the squad because two experienced players were excluded, can find his top form at the age of 40 remains to be seen. The two countries have only met once before, with Sri Lanka mauling Canada, dismissed for 36 — still the lowest total in a World Cup match-by nine wickets at Paarl in the 2003 World Cup. Canadian batsman Rizwan Cheema said his team would give their best shot against the strong Sri Lankans. “We will go out and give it our best try,” said Cheema. “We are here to play our best cricket and that’s what we will do today.” — AFP
CHENNAI: Kenya’s Steve Tikolo throws a ball during a practice session. — AP
Injury scare for Kiwis CHENNAI: Beleaguered New Zealand are likely to be without all-rounder Nathan McCullum when they take on underdogs Kenya in their opening World Cup game today. The key player was hospitalised with high fever and was expected to be discharged only on Saturday, making him a doubtful starter for the day match at the Chidambaram Stadium. Over the last few months McCullum has established himself as a regular member of the one-day side, backing up captain Daniel Vettori as the second spinner and contributing runs lower down the order. In his likely absence, Vettori may have to draft in leftarm spinner Luke Woodcock, who has played only two one-day internationals. McCullum’s setback is the latest in a long list of worries for the Kiwis who go into the tournament low on confidence, having lost 14 of their last 16 one-day internationals. Their woeful run prompted the cricket board to go for a major reshuffle ahead of the recent Pakistan series with John Wright named as coach and an independent selection panel put in place. Semi-finalists in two of the three previous World Cups, the Kiwis have had little to cheer about after arriving in the sub-continent. They scraped to an unconvincing win over lowly Ireland despite scoring 311 before a 117-run thrashing at the hands of India in their two warm-up games. Ross Taylor, deputising as captain for an injured Vettori in the India match, accepted that the team needed to lift their game in all the departments.
“Our spinners are not known as big turners,” he said. “We yielded big runs to the Indians. We need to find ways to score runs quickly and also find the boundary options. “When chasing that big a total, you got to get runs by boundaries. You need to do that otherwise you get eliminated. Hopefully, we can improve our performance in the World Cup.” Vettori, nursing a hamstring strain, is expected to be fit in time for the match. A major headache for the Kiwis has centred around where to play attacking batsman Brendon McCullum. McCullum, the younger brother of Nathan, was pushed down the order in one-dayers against Pakistan last month but has been restored as an opener once again. “The previous two World Cups I played down the order where you’ve got reasonably limited opportunities to create an impact,” said McCullum, who scored just 152 runs from 10 innings in the last two World Cups. “That’s why I’m absolutely determined to play a role at the top of the order. Coming to India the best time to bat is when the ball is new.” Kenya have their own issues to deal with, although they must be eyeing their chances of an upset win against their under-achieving rivals. The Kenyans slipped into oblivion after their surprise semi-final appearance in the 2003 World Cup with the sport at home hit by political intrigue. During the World League for non-Test playing nations in the Netherlands last year, the team finished last without winning a match.—AFP
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Celtics, Heat vs. Kobe in NBA All-Star game LOSANGELES: For one celebritysoaked weekend in Hollywood, the NBA’s two biggest constellations of stars are teaming up to see if they can take down Kobe Bryant in the NBA AllStar game. The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have a combined seven players on the East team for Sunday night’s game at Staples Center, including Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. But playing at home, Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers’ five-time NBA championship winner, will have the crowd behind him and the rest of the West team. “Oh, people in L.A. don’t like us too much,” said the Heat’s Chris Bosh, playing on the East squad. “We’ll get booed. It’s OK, though. It’s only
the All-Star game. Everybody is just here to have fun.” The annual All-Star contest pits the best players in the NBA’s Eastern Conference against the best players from the Western Conference, with the starters selected by fans in a vote and the reserves chosen by coaches from each division. The East won last year’s matchup, 141-139. The NBA’s biggest names couldn’t wait to report to the city that pretty much invented modern celebrity on Friday for a weekend that also includes gimmicky games and contests, opulent parties and endorsement appearances. “It’s great for the game,” Wade said. “This is our showcase weekend, and especially having it out here in LA, it really brings the All-Star kind of
Killy happy with progress for 2014 Sochi Games KRASNAYA POLYANA: Three metres of fresh snow disrupted Sochi’s plans to run the first test events for the 2014 Winter Olympics this week but former Olympic ski champion JeanClaude Killy still gave the Russian resort a pat on the back. “I have to be fully satisfied with what I’ve seen,” said the Frenchman, who chairs the International Olympic Committee (IOC) coordination commission for the Sochi Games, when he visited the resort this week. “I don’t know if there ever was an Alpine event that was not affected by the weather in some way, whether it’s held at Val d’Isere, Kitzbuehel, St Moritz or anywhere else in the world.” A men’s Europa Cup downhill had to be postponed for 24 hours and a super-G race was cancelled because of the heavy snow, but the disruption did little to diminish the enthusiasm of the athletes, officials and fans. “ We had three metres of fresh snow that hit the area in the last few days,” said Markus Waldner, the race director for the International Ski Federation (FIS) responsible for the Europa Cup. “It was crazy.” Killy, however, was quick to point out that Sochi’s overall plans were going well. “We’ve come here almost every month and the progress we’ve seen is unbelievable,” he told a small group of repor ters at a luxur y hotel in Krasnaya Polyana, a ski resort that will host all the outdoor Olympic events in 2014. “I have to say that never before were the Games awarded to a country where 85 percent of the infrastructure had to be built from scratch, so this (progress) must be considered as the greatest achievement in the history of the Olympic movement. “Now we have 40 percent of the construction completed and by the end of this year it will be 70 percent completed.” Killy said the 2014 Olympics would leave a long-lasting legacy for the whole region. “The
image, the effects of these Gamesthe roads, tunnels or sewerage system for example- will be felt for the next 100 years.” Asked by Reuters if he considered the Sochi Games his personal project, having spent so much time in the region, he said: “Well, it’s going to be my grave. “No, just a bad joke,” added Killy with a big smile. The Frenchman, now 67, won three gold medals in the 1968 Winter Olympics and also competed in the 1964 Games. He served as co-president of the 1992 Albertville Games in his home region and has helped to coordinate every Winter Games since 1988. Killy said he had no doubt the 2014 Olympic downhill course, designed by Swiss former world and Olympic champion Bernhard Russi, would satisfy every top skier. “(Russi) has worked for five years on this slope. I’ve known him for 25 years, he’s a great course designer and has designed downhills everywhere in the world,” he said. “It’s an extremely challenging course and the biggest problem is to control the speed of the skiers because safety is a paramount concern for everyone. “The piste probably will have to be modified, you must make it sharp enough. It’s like a suit that you try several times before it fits.” Killy was asked if the skiers would also have to adjust to a different kind of snow in the sub-tropical environment of Sochi, a resort on the Black Sea. “Mr Putin told me Sochi has the best snow in the world and I have no reason not to believe him,” he said, referring to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who was largely responsible for Sochi’s successful bid to host the Games. Putin and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev were among the visitors to Krasnaya Polyana, some 40km from Sochi, this week. —Reuters
Kello the hero for Hearts GLASGOW: Marian Kello saved an injurytime penalty as ten-man Hearts held on for a 2-1 win over Dundee United at Tynecastle to move just two points behind second-place Rangers in the Scottish Premier League. United got off to a great start when Barry Douglas stooped to get his head on a cross by David Goodwillie that flew past Kello, although the last touch may have come off Hearts defender Andy Webster. Hearts lost Lee Wallace to injury and Garry Kenneth limped off for United before Czech international Rudi Skacel tapped in an equaliser after Dusan Pernis spilled Stephen Elliott. The game looked to be ending in a draw but Hearts skipper Marius Zaliukas rose highest to meet Craig Thomson’s corner and bullet a header past Pernis in the 88th minute. There was still time for Ruben Palazuelos to see red for tripping David Robertson in the box deep into injurytime. However, Goodwillie’s spot-kick was stopped and he fired the rebound wide. The dramatic finale leaves Hearts 18 points clear of fourth-placed Kilmarnock, who were hammered 5-0 by Aberdeen, but while they are only two points adrift of Rangers, they have played three games more. At Pittodrie, Aberdeen got their biggest league win of the season when they thrashed Kilmarnock. Scott Vernon scored his 14th of the season to give Aberdeen the lead before Sone Aluko doubled their advantage before the break. Chris Maguire converted a secondhalf penalty after being brought down by Frazer Wright, Rory McArdle headed home the Dons’ fourth before Josh Magennis’ drive completed the rout.
Motherwell won the Lanarkshire derby with a 1-0 victory over bottom-placed Hamilton. John Sutton won a penalty nine minutes before the break when he was pulled back by Martin Canning and he converted it himself to move Stuart McCall’s side to within two points of fourth place. Inverness dented St Johnstone’s bid to break into the top six with a comfortable 2-0 home win. Ross Tokely rose unchallenged to head in from an Aaron Doran corner in the 28th minute to give the hosts the lead. Russell Duncan fired in at the nearpost just after the hour mark to make sure of the three points after good work by Richie Foran. The Old Firm go head-to-head at Parkhead today as Celtic host their Glasgow rivals Rangers and St Mirren also face Hibernian. —AFP
feeling to it. This is Hollywood, and they’ve done a great job of making it special.” Much of the NBA’s spike in television ratings and overall fan interest in recent years is due to the teams stacked with stars in Boston, Miami and Los Angeles. For the All-Star game, Wade, James and Bosh will form an uneasy alliance with their rivals on the Celtics — Pierce, Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. With Atlanta also sending two All Stars, just six teams are represented on the East squad. “We’ll be rivals once again when we walk out of here,” James said. “But for right now, we’re trying to win for each other.” East coach Doc Rivers was already talking strategy on Friday, saying fans should look out for a lineup
with James playing alongside four Celtics. James liked the idea, saying he could play power forward in that configuration. The West team will be led by Bryant, a 13-time All-Star player who will become the first athlete to put his hands and feet in the cement outside Hollywood’s famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Saturday. “It seems like it was yesterday that I was at the (Madison Square) Garden for my first one,” Bryant said. “It’s pretty surreal. It’s always fun playing an All-Star game, but to host it makes it a little bit more exciting.” Bryant is still the basketball king of Los Angeles, but his likely heir works just down the hallway at Staples Center — Blake Griffin of the Los
Angeles Clippers. Griffin is the first player since Yao Ming in 2003 to be named an All Star in his first year playing in the league. But the high-energy forward also participated in Friday night’s less prestigious rookie-sophomore game, in which the league’s best first-year players take on a team of top second-year players. The rookies won the game 148140, getting 33 points and 14 rebounds from Sacramento’s DeMarcus Cousins, 22 assists from Washington’s John Wall and 14 points from Griffin. Griffin also plans to take part in Saturday’s dunk contest. “You know, why not?” he said. “You don’t know how often you’re going to get this opportunity, so I think I should make the most of it.”—AP
Dortmund blank St. Pauli BERLIN: Lucas Barrios scored one goal and was involved in the other yesterday as Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund won 20 at home against St. Pauli. St. Pauli could only muster one attack before Dortmund deservedly took the lead in the 39th minute. Barrios controlled Nuri Sahin’s cross with his left before turning and slotting the ball with his weaker right past goalkeeper Thomas Kessler. St. Pauli defender Ralph Gunesch was unlucky to knock a cross from Barrios into his own net in the 49th. Hamburger SV won 4-0 against Werder Bremen, with two goals from Jose Paolo Guerrero. Freiburg beat Wolfsburg 2-1, Hannover beat Kaiserslautern 3-0, and Hoffenheim and Cologne drew 1-1. Dortmund has 13 more points than Bayer Leverkusen, which plays Stuttgart at home on Sunday, and 16 more than Bayern Munich, which can cut the gap and reclaim third place from Hannover with a win at Mainz in yesterday’s late game. Some 7,600 St. Pauli fans made the trip from Hamburg, to see Dortmund end their side’s unbeaten start to 2011. Dortmund had 14 shots on goal in the first half, compared to one from the visitors. Roman Weidenfeller denied Fin Bartels from pulling a goal back for St. Pauli with half an hour remaining, after some neat interplay between Charles Takyi and Marius Ebbers, and Kevin Grosskreutz missed a great chance at the other end when he scuffed his shot narrowly wide. Mladen Petric gave Hamburger SV the lead in the 94th Northern Derby to Werder Bremen in the 42nd, volleying a cross from Jonathan Pitroipa past goalkeeper Sebastian Mielitz. Per Mertesacker was at fault for Hamburg’s second in the 64th, when Petric dispossessed the defender in front of the penalty area before feeding Guerrero for a simple tap-in. Guerrero’s second in the 79th compounded the misery for Werder coach Thomas Schaaf, and Aenis Ben-Hatira completed the rout in the 87th. “Unfortunately we were unable to build on what we showed in the first half. Then the goal came and we had to come from behind again. If you then concede a second goal, the belief suffers a bit, your self-confidence is not
GERMANY: Dortmund’s Lucas Barrios of Paraguay celebrates during the German first division Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and FC St. Pauli. —AP flowing. We have to keep working on it,” said Schaaf. Bremen remains in 14th, one point above the relegation playoff place. Papiss Demba Cisse scored the winner as Freiburg came from behind to beat Wolfsburg. Patrick Helmes opened the scoring with scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in the 28th, coolly lifting the ball over Oliver Baumann. Substitute Stefan Reisinger was on for less than two minutes before he equalized after receiving a pass from Anton Putsila. Wolfsburg protested as Putsila clearly controlled the ball with his hand, but referee Robert Hartmann allowed the goal to stand. Cisse showed his class in the 70th, when — surrounded by three Wolfsburg defenders — he controlled the ball twice in the air before blasting past Marwin Hitz for his 16th of the season. Brazilian midfielder Cicero hit the
crossbar for Wolfsburg with a header late in the game. Wolfsburg is only ahead of Kaiserslautern in the relegation play off on goal difference. “I’m sure we can change the situation,” said Wolfsburg playmaker Diego. Two goals from Jan Schlaudraff and one from Mohammed Abdellaoue earned Hannover its win at home to Kaiserslautern, to move Mirko Slomka’s side to third, pending Bayern’s result at Mainz. An own goal gave Hoffenheim the lead at home to Cologne in the 48th, when Milivoje Novakovic headed the ball into his own net from a Sebastian Rudy free kick. Ryan Babel hit the post for Hoffenheim in the 67th, and Cologne equalized two minutes later with Youssef Mohamad’s header from a Christian Clemens free.-AP
Waltrip wins on anniversary of Earnhardt’s death DAYTONA BEACH: Michael Waltrip won at Daytona International Speedway Friday night on the 10-year anniversary of his first victory on the track, the one marred by the death of Dale Earnhardt. Waltrip passed Elliott Sadler in the closing stretch of the season-opening Trucks Series race, then celebrated an emotional victory a decade after his car owner died on the last lap of the Daytona 500. Waltrip, who became the 22nd driver to win races in each of NASCAR’s top three series, had tears in his eyes as he talked about what the win meant. “This day was hard,” Waltrip said. “I’ve been emotional all day long.” Waltrip, Sadler, Timothy Peters, Miguel Paludo and Clay Rogers were the only ones who avoided damage in two wild, multi-truck wrecks late in the race. Sadler and Waltrip pulled away from the field after the officials waved the green flag to
start a two-lap sprint to the checkered flag. Rogers finished third, followed by Paludo, Kyle Busch and Jennifer Jo Cobb. Waltrip pushed Sadler most of the way, then veered outside coming out of the final turn and edged Sadler at the line. “If anybody deserves a win in today’s race, it’s probably Michael Waltrip,” Sadler said. The final pileup seemingly started when Aric Almirola ran into the back of Brad Sweet with four laps remaining, setting off a 10truck, chain-reaction collision. Officials stopped the race for 10 minutes afterward to clean up debris. Most of the trucks remaining in the race had significant damage. Fourteen trucks were also caught up in an accident with 26 laps remaining. That wreck happened after Travis Kvapil slowed up because of a flat tire, slid to the top of the track and got turned sideways by two-time series champion Todd Bodine. Before the race, Waltrip talked openly with
broadcasters, including his brother, Darrell Waltrip, about his strategy of staying behind Sadler until the final turn and then racing him to the finish line. It worked to perfection. “He made a great move at the end,” Sadler said. “It does ease the pain in the end.” Waltrip took a celebratory lap before climbing out of his car, embracing his daughter and then trying to explain what winning 10 years to the day of his first NASCAR Sprint Cup victory meant. It was a struggle. Waltrip’s truck had a broken rear spoiler, which could have helped him slice through the air at the superspeedway. But Sadler said Waltrip still would have beat him. “I think he still would have won anyway,” Sadler said. “He made a really good move off of turn four. ... Might have been a little bit closer to the line, but he had a lot of momentum. That’s not the reason why. It definitely helped some.”—AP
Matches on TV (Local Timings)
English Premier League West Bromwich v Wolves Abu Dhabi Sports HD 3 Abu Dhabi Sports HD 5
15:00
FA Cup Man City v Notts County Al Jazeera Sport +5 Al Jazeera Sport +3
17:00
Leyton v Arsenal Al Jazeera Sport +5 Al Jazeera Sport +3
19:30 DAYTONA BEACH: Brendan Gaughan (62), Jason White (23), and TJ Bell (50) crash during the NASCAR NextEra Energy Resources 250 Truck series auto race. —AP
Wozniacki in Dubai final
Celtics, Heat vs. Kobe in NBA All-Star game
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Blazing Sehwag silences Bangladesh
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LONDON: Chelsea’s John Terry reacts after a chance to score is missed against Everton during their fourth round FA Cup replay soccer match. —AP
Neville sends Chelsea packing United edge past Crawley LONDON: Chelsea’s hopes of a third straight FA Cup title were dashed after losing to Everton on penalties in a fourth-round replay yesterday, while Manchester United required Wes Brown’s header to edge past non-league side Crawley 1-0 in a last-16 match. Captain Phil Neville converted the winning spot kick for Everton at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea left back Ashley Cole skied his attempt over the bar with the score at 3-3 in the shootout. The match finished 1-1 after extra time, with Leighton Baines’ free kick with a minute remaining canceling out Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard’s close-range strike in the 104th. Everton will take on second-tier team Reading in the fifth round on March 1. “We’ve been practicing (penalties) all week,” Neville said. “The manager just told us to hit them as hard as possible. “Out of the two ties with Chelsea, I think we just deserved to go through.” Crawley is 93 places below United in the league ladder but took the 11-time champions all the way at Old Trafford, almost nicking a shock draw when substitute Richard Brodie headed against the crossbar in the final seconds. United, which played a second-string team but brought on star striker Wayne Rooney for the second half, was hanging on in the last 10 minutes and had Brown to thank for his 28thminute glancing header from Darron Gibson’s textbook cross. In the two other fifth-round matches, Premier League sides Birmingham and Stoke eased to 3-0 home victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton, who both play in England’s third tier. Arsenal travels to London minnow Leyton Orient for a last-16 match on Sunday, when Manchester City hosts third-tier side Notts County in a fourth-round replay. The latest defeat for Chelsea, which has won three of the last four FA Cups, piles the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti. His side has dropped to fifth place in the Premier League after an alarming dip in form and could struggle to qualify for the Champions League.
“Every time the team doesn’t get the result, obviously the manager is under pressure,” Ancelotti said. “I have fantastic support from the club, from my players. Together we have to move on. “ We deser ved to win,” said Ancelotti. “Obviously, penalties are a lottery and sometimes you can win and sometimes you can lose.” Chelsea came closer to scoring in regulation time when Lampard’s free kick was glanced by Everton defender Phil Jagielka onto his own post in the first half. Lampard timed his run into the area to perfection for his goal, reacting to Didier Drogba’s miscontrol from Nicolas Anelka’s cross to drill home from 10 yards. The game was sent to penalties, though, when Baines curled in a sublime free kick from 20 yards. Baines was the first player to miss in the shootout as Chelsea took a 2-0 lead but Anelka had an effort saved by Tim Howard and Cole shot over, allowing Neville to be the matchwinner. Chelsea was trying to become the first side to win three straight FA Cups since Blackburn achieved the feat between 1884-86. Crawley was looking to become the first non-league team to make the quarterfinals of the FA Cup but came up just short, ending its giantkilling run that had been the story of the famous competition this season. “We’re a bit disappointed,” captain Pablo Mills said. “But the lads put a great shift in. If we were going to go out, we did it at the best place.” United, which is top of the Premier League and also still in the Champions League, hardly threatened Crawley’s goal in the second half although Mexico striker Javier Hernandez did waste a good chance before the break. Nigeria striker Obafemi Martins scored his first goal for Birmingham since his transferwindow move from Russian side Rubin Kazan in its comfortable win at St. Andrew’s. Jean Beausejour also netted in the first half, with David Murphy adding the third after the break. Stoke joined Birmingham in the last eight, with John Carew, Jon Walters and Ryan Shawcross scoring in first-half goals in an easy win over Brighton.—AP
Valencia fire blanks
SPAIN: Valencia’s Miguel Brito from Portugal (left) duels for the ball with Sporting’s Andre Castro during their soccer match at Mestalla stadium.—AP
Marseille reel in Lille PARIS: Marseille beat Saint-Etienne 2-1 yesterday in the French league to keep up its title challenge. The defending champion cut Lille’s lead to three points and provisionally moved up to second in the standings. Lille is at Montpellier today. Lucho Gonzalez opened the scoring for the defending champion in the 68th minute after being set up by Andre-Pierre Gignac. Gignac picked up a groin injury however and was replaced by Jordan Ayew in the 74th. Ayew was denied by Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Jeremie Janot in the 78th but Loic Remy followed up to convert the rebound. Christophe Landrin scored a consolation goal for Saint-Etienne in stoppage time. Also yesterday, it was: Brest 2, Monaco 0; Lens 2, Sochaux 3; Caen 2, Valenciennes 2; Auxerre 1, Arles-Avignon 1. Bordeaux played Lorient later yesterday.—AP
MADRID: Third-placed Valencia missed the chance to pull away from Champions League rivals Villarreal following a disappointing 0-0 home draw with strugglers Sporting Gijon yesterday. Valencia were in a rich vein of form with six league wins from seven in 2011 but were out of sorts at the Mestalla stadium as they failed to score in the league for the first time since early December. Valencia stay third but fourth-placed Villarreal can move level on points with a home victory over bottom side Malaga today. For Sporting, who drew 1-1 with Barcelona last time out, it was a valuable point and they move two points above the relegation zone. Argentine Gaston Sangoy had an early opening for Sporting in the 10th minute before Chori Dominguez wasted Valencia’s best chance six minutes later. It was largely disappointing first half but both coaches resisted the temptation to freshen up their sides with changes at the interval. On 54 minutes Sporting forward Diego Castro, with eight league goals to his name this season, almost gave Gijon the lead and it prompted coach Unai Emery into action. Forward Roberto Soldado replaced midfielder Dominguez as Emery, celebrating his 100th league match in charge of Valencia, opted for a more adventurous formation. Valencia, who drew 1-1 with Schalke in their Champions League last 16 first leg match in midweek, looked slightly jaded and Sporting almost won the game in the final seconds with Mate Bilic inches away from connecting with a cross from the left. Real Madrid host Levante later on Saturday knowing victory would help them close to within two points of league leaders Barcelona. Real have won all 11 home matches at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium and thrashed Levante 8-0 in the Kings Cup although the league match ended 0-0. “Every game is different. They (Levante) are a strong team that fight for every ball,” said Real midfielder Lass Diarra. “We have played them three times already (twice in the Kings Cup and once in the league) and we know what we have to do.” Real coach Jose Mourinho has hinted that he may rest key stars against Levante with Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 first leg against Lyon in mind. Madrid will be without goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas who is suspended so youth team product Antonio Adan, 23, is expected to start between the sticks. —AFP
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SEOUL: A South Korean model poses with General Motor’s Chevrolet Camaro during a launching ceremony to the domestic market. The South Korean unit of US auto giant GM unveiled its sports coupe as part of an ambitious plan to introduce eight models this year to expand its domestic and global market share. — AFP
China resists G20 deal on indicators China rejects exchange rate and reserves criteria PARIS: China was holding out yesterday against an agreement among the world’s major economies on ways to measure and correct global economic imbalances, refusing to have its massive currency reserves used as an indicator. Finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of 20 countries were struggling to agree on a set of yardsticks to identify problems that could cause another global financial crisis after senior officials failed to achieve a breakthrough in an all-night negotiating session, delegates said. China continued to reject attempts to use real effective exchange rates and currency reserves to measure imbalances and wanted trade figures rather than current account balances used to assess economic distortions. “China and Brazil are objecting, including on real exchange rates. Some countries do not want the words exchange rate included in the set of indicators. This is why the talks are blocked,” Italian Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti said. A senior G20 official said French Economy Minister Christine Lagarge, chairing the talks, was leaving the indicators issue until the final session in hopes of clinching a last-minute compromise. “It is looking bleak as of now, the negotiations have turned quite political,” another senior G20 source said. “But I’m not saying it’s a dead end. Ministers want to put something in the communique.” The world’s number two economy, which overtook Japan this week, has resisted Western pressure to substantially revalue its currency to help rebalance global growth. Germany held out hope for a deal despite the Chinese stance. “I think we will reach agreement today on which indicators we (use to) measure imbalances in the future, to fight timely mis-developments, to come to a balanced growth,” German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told reporters. The main developed and emerging economies have agreed on some key indicators, such as government debts and deficits, consumer borrowing and private savings. But failure to agree even on how to measure mismatches in the world economy would augur badly for the G20 process, charged with finding ways of coordinating global economic policies to smooth out distortions before they trigger future crises. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who holds the G20 presidency this year, urged ministers on Friday not to get sidetracked by the indica-
tors dispute and welcomed the fact that China had agreed to host a seminar on reforming the international monetary system in Shenzhen in late March. “I want to avoid your debates getting bogged down in interminable discussion about these indicators, which are distracting us from the essentials,” Sarkozy said in a speech. He said a joint approach was the only way forward. “Giving priority to national interests would be the death of the G20,” he said. Compromise? Even if all the yardsticks are agreed, there is no sign of numerical targets even being broached. “Until April in Washington the process of implementation of indicators will be talked about,” Schaeuble said. France has also run into opposition with its two other G20 priorities-greater transparency and regulation of commodities prices and reform of the international monetary system. On Friday, ministers said there was broad agreement over two indicators measuring public and private debt but France, and most of the group, wants a full slate covering not just those areas but the current account, the real effective exchange rate and currency reserves as well. China’s trade surplus has shrunk of late, perhaps explaining why it prefers that measure. It has consistently pushed back against US pressure to allow its yuan currency to revalue more quickly and complains that “hot money” risks destabilizing its economy, pointing the finger at the Federal Reserve’s money printing via a $600 billion bond purchase program. One option mooted on Friday was to allow China to opt out of the balance of payments criterion and use its trade balance instead. But two G20 sources said an opt-out was a non-starter. China’s opposition left G20 deputies-the experts who negotiate on details-with limited options to propose: either accept all the indicators or reject them; introduce a hierarchy where some indicators count more than others or use a time delay for their gradual introduction. But some delegates said there was doubt whether the Chinese delegation, led by finance minister Xie Xuren, was empowered to compromise. With world shares at 30-month highs, investors seem content for the G20 to take its time, whereas at the height of the crisis two years ago markets were baying for policy action. — Reuters
Egypt must manage labor’s high hopes CAIRO: When a housekeeper came to work in Cairo on Thursday, she had a dreamy look in her eyes. According to a calculation she had heard, if all the money looted by businessmen and government officials were recovered and divided up, Egypt’s 80 million people would each get 250,000 Egyptian pounds ($42,500). “What I could do with such money!” she sighed. If that figure were true, it would mean an impossibly huge $3.4 trillion-some 15 times Egypt’s annual GDP-had been looted. The idea that vast amounts can be recovered is shared by the civil servants and workers who have gone on strike at businesses and factories across the country, at a time when the government finances are at their most vulnerable. Whoever rules Egypt, one of its biggest challenges will be to manage the expectations of newly empowered workers. Analysts say this will put pressure on the military to quickly bring credible opposition figures into government to deliver a message many Egyptians do not want to hear-that it is in no position to meet demands for higher salaries. The government’s finances had already been under pressure. In the financial year to June 2010, it financed almost a quarter of its 367 billion Egyptian pound budget by borrowing locally and from abroad. That was equivalent to 8.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The government before the protests had hoped to reduce this financial year’s deficit to 7.9 percent to GDP. It now says it could be
as high as 8.4 percent. “If they begin to bow to these demands in a short period, I think you’re going to have a second level of shock effects to the economy” after the earlier political protests, said John Sfakianakis, an economist with Banque Saudi Fransi. “Wage increases would boost inflation, because that would translate into direct additional consumption by Egyptian workers. People will spend the money and drive prices up.” The government’s revenue from taxes will drop substantially in the coming months because of a short-term collapse in tourism, worker remittances and foreign investment. If it borrows to finance any wage increases, it will be doing this precisely when the cost of borrowing is highest because of a political risk investors are placing on its debt. The yield on 91-day Egyptian pound treasury bills has jumped by a full percentage point since protests erupted last month to about 10.95 percent. Hard task It will not be easy to explain this to people like Safat Goudah, 52, a widow with five children who was on strike in front of the television building last week. An assistant editor, she said she earned 700 pounds a month, including bonuses, after working at state television for 22 years. “If they distributed all the billions that Mubarak stole and distributed it to the 80 million Egyptians it would be enough.” Egypt’s new military rulers warned
workers on Friday that the labor unrest threatened national security and the strikes must stop, but analysts said that unless opposition faces are quickly brought into the government these warnings may fall on deaf ears. The military is expected to announce a new cabinet in the coming days. Many influential figures seem to appreciate the size of the problem. On Friday, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradawi, a Qatarbased preacher and one of the first to back the revolution, called on Egyptians to return to work. “I call on everyone who has stopped working, gone on strike or who is at a sit-in, that they support this revolution by working. Be patient,” he said in a televised sermon he gave in front of hundreds of thousands of Egyptians in Tahrir Square. Analysts said it will be a hard slog for the government to decide what money was illegally gained, let alone track down and recover it. “Corruption was widespread in Egypt. You could not do business without being involved in corrupt deals. If they start indicting ever ybody, then they will have to indict the entire wide business community in Egypt,” Sfakianakis said. Even tracking down the money of the Mubarak family will not be easy, which analysts say could run into billions of dollars. “It is a laborious thing that is going to take a hell of a time to trace it, find it and repatriate it,” Sfakianakis said. “It could be in shell companies...it’s not going to be cash just sitting in Switzerland waiting for the authorities to call it up.” — Reuters
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Elliott Wave Principles and canadian dollar By Kamel Mansour s Aristotle once said: “It is the principles and causes of the things that are that we are seeking, and clearly it is their principles and causes just as things that are ....” The principles and causes of the currency market movements are what we are in quest of using Elliott Wave Principles. Elliott originally put these principles to test on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, but no record mentioned that Elliott applied them to the currency markets. The Canadian dollar against the US dollar (CAD/USD) is better known as the “Loonie”; a name whose rights were secured by Royal Canadian Mint in 1996. The Canadian Two Dollar Coin was nicknamed the “Toonie” (a portmanteau of “two” and “loonie”). The Loonie is nearing its top within very few weeks. The US dollar is going to appreciate against the Loonie for a long period to come. The Loonie is no exception to the Principles of Elliott and I am going to prove its application over the last half a century of movement using Elliott Wave Principles in an unprecedented manner. We need to note that the main difference between the currency market and the stock market is that the latter is of continuous growth; whereas the former is not as it is a cyclical movement. Moreover, the Major Bearish Wave correcting the five upward impulses retraces back to where the First Wave originated in order to start a new Five Waves; a condition that never applied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average since the maximum retracement seen in its 234 years was to the 4th Wave of the Preceding Cycle.
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History of the Loonie in perspective High-Low-Close data was available since January 1971. Prior to that date, the only data was the close of the market that went back to 1950. Hereunder are the wave decompositions of the Loonie using the quarterly (Q) and/or daily data to mark the waves throughout half a century based on my newly plotted data which was the only personal digression outside the Elliott Principles. Loonie long term historic analysis The Five Super Cycle Waves followed strict impulsive nature adhering to Elliott’s prominent Principles. The Fourth Super Cycle Wave (IV) did not cross the Top of Super Cycle (I). The long term channel which caught Super Cycle (II) to (IV ) at the lower side caught the Super Cycle ( V ) and the Irregular Top (B) by extending the parallel line from Super Cycle (I). Super Cycle (III) shot above the upper channel showing extension which was the case. Fibonacci ratios also applied to the Loonie in different stages. First, Super Cycle (IV) retraced 61.9 percent of the Super Cycle (III). Second, the wave from the All Time
low in Q4-2007 at 0.9056 to 21 November 2008 at 1.2984 retraced 63 percent of the wave from Q1-2002 at 1.6188 to the low in Q4-2007 at 0.9056. Third, if we take 61.8 percent of movement from the high on 21 November 2008 at 1.2984 to the Low in Q4-2007 at 0.9056 we end up at a level of 0.9620 marks on the Loonie. We can notice that this level has not been broken at all up to the date of this article. There was a special element noticed about the downside of the Loonie which was probably the key in the study of the currency markets. It was the extension of the ( C ) Wave. After the Five Impulsive Waves, the Bear market pursued in Three Waves. The market went down from the High Level at 1.5845 beginning 1998 to an All Time Low Level at 0.9056, end of 2007, in Three Cycle Waves (A), (B) and (C). An extension of the (C) wave into a further 4 waves took place to total nine waves. The extension occurred between mid 2003 to mid 2004, between 1.2676 marks to 1.4001. Wave 4, which ended its development during Q2-2004, formed a Running Irregular correction which gave a very weak sign in the market that pushed the final sub-wave to extend further into the extra 4 waves. After an extension, the market should Double Retrace to recover the full ground it lost from the beginning of the extension. The Loonie moved, in three waves, to 1.2984 that ended the First Retracement. Thereafter, the Second Retracement commenced to take us to the current date of this publication which would soon finalize the Final Wave on the downside. Where next? The market is currently forming its final five sub-waves of the (( c )) Wave that commenced on 9 March 2009 at 1.3063 marks and also the final five sub-waves of the corrective Super Cycle that started on 27 August 1998 at 1.5845. The market is moving in very narrow diagonal skewed shape whose bottom range is estimated to be around 0.9800 - 0.9700 marks. Even though the following observation on the Loonie may be Dow Theory related and not Elliott Principles related, but it is worth mentioning. Any weekly close above the upper line that joined the intraweek tops from 1.3063 on 9th March 2009 to 1.0673 on 30 August 2010, to 1.0285 on 29 November 2010, to 1.0207 on 19 December 2010, to 1.0057 on 30 January 2011 and to 0.9985 on 10 February 2011 would trigger the change in the trend. If we were to use this with Elliott Principles, we need to re count the waves on the hourly and the daily chart from the last Low prior to this weekly close outbreak. If the count reveals a wave that is impulsive in nature, then the downward wave has finalized. It is just a matter of limited time now to finalize this formation where we will see a new phase, a new era in the bullishness of the US Dollar against the Loonie for many years to come.
ALLAHABAD: Indian vendors sell vegetables at a market yesterday. Inflation is climbing across Asia as the cost of food jumps, echoing the previous global food crisis that peaked in 2008. Inflation in India powered to 8.2 percent, where the cost of vegetables skyrocketed by almost two thirds. — AP
Central Asia braces for global food crisis impact Price stabilization is ‘key issue for govts’ ALMATY: Faced with soaring global food prices, authoritarian Central Asian regimes fear social unrest like that in Egypt and Tunisia and are resorting to market intervention to control consumer prices. “Central Asia is a region where these food prices have increased quite substantially,” World Bank president Robert Zoellick said earlier this week. “And given the poverty levels, people have a large percentage of their budget, 50 percent or higher, that will go to these purchases,” he said, adding that the situation was aggravated by a fall in remittances from Russia. “So there is a real stress point that could have social and political implications across Central Asia,” he said. The region is strongly dependent on imported foodstuffs, and therefore suffers from the growing global prices, which hit a historic record in January, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization. The trend has not made Central Asia’s shoppers happy. “You come back to a shop after one or two days, and the prices have already gone up. It’s outrageous!” complained Sofia Mukhazhanova, 63, a pensioner, as she shopped in Almaty, Kazakhstan. “Take buckwheat. It cost 360 tenge ($2.46) two weeks ago and now costs 420 ($2.87). They put up our pensions and we were happy, but now it has all gone down the drain,” Mukhazhanova said. In neighboring Uzbekistan, rising prices are also noticeable. “Three or four years ago, my salary was OK. But with this speed of inflation, it feels like throwing money out the window,” said one Tashkent resident, who earns $600 per month and supports a family of six.
Even more critical is the situation in Central Asia’s poorest state, Tajikistan, where the average monthly salary is $70 and the price for a 50 kilogram sack of flour has risen from $22 to $32 since end of December. President Emomali Rakhmon, who has ruled since 1992, this week advised families to “stock up enough essential products to last for two years, especially wheat, given this global food crisis.” In an attempt to address the problem, Tajik authorities organized markets in capital Dushanbe and all the main towns last weekend with subsidized food prices. Other governments in the region are also intervening to lessen the impact of inflation. Uzbekistan’s authorities have called for regular inspections of markets to cap the prices. In Kyrgyzstan, the state has the right to intervene if prices suddenly jump by more than 10 percent. Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov recently called price stabilization of staple foods a “key issue for the government.” Askar Beshimo, a Kyrgyz political analyst and former deputy foreign minister, blamed “irresponsible” new government policies and corruption, saying that prices were growing five times faster than elsewhere in the world. “The ground is prepared for mass discontent,” he said. Kyrgyzstan and its economy were ravaged by last year’s regime change and subsequent deadly ethnic clashes that led to a humanitarian crisis. Some residents have already tightened their belts. “It feels like a time of war,” said Amina Tairova while shopping at a market in Bishkek. “I don’t even remember when I ate enough meat, and I’ve now started economizing on bread and milk too.” — AFP
Saudi Cement Co full year net profit up 13% JEDDAH: Saudi Cement Co, the country’s second-largest producer, said yesterday its net profit rose by 13 percent in 2010 as it boosted capacity to meet higher local demand. Saudi Cement made a net profit of 660 million riyals ($176 million) in 2010 compared with 582 million riyals in the previous year, the firm said in a statement. “The reason for the rise in net profit for the year compared to the previous year is the increased production capacity as new production lines were used... as well as increased local demand,” the statement said. Operational profit increased 14 percent to 681 million riyals from 598 million riyals in 2009. Cement companies in Saudi Arabia are still faced with an export ban that was imposed in 2008 after cement prices skyrocketed as firms sought more lucrative offers abroad, leading to a shortage in local market and a hike in prices. The ban, compounded by supply from new production lines in the country resulted in a saturation of the local cement market which led to lower prices and profits for cement producers in 2009. — Reuters
EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso
.2750000 .4480000 .3750000 .2870000 .2800000 .2765000 .0045000 .0020000 .0757290 .7378040 .3900000 .0710000 .7232850 .0045000 .0460000 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2789500 .4504760 .3773080 .2890220 .2822950 .0506030 .0431740 .2786010 .0357970 .2179130 .0033310 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0000000 .0759670 .7401170 .0000000 .0744070 .7247340 .0000000
Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.
Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka
ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.418 6.203 3.276 2.522 3.886 220.430 36.014 3.859
.2850000 .4570000 .3830000 .2960000 .2880000 .2850000 .0075000 .0035000 .0764900 .7452190 .4090000 .0785000 .7305540 .0072000 .0560000 .2810500 .4538680 .3801480 .2911980 .2844200 .0509840 .0434990 .2806990 .0360660 .2195870 .0033560 .0062110 .0025430 .0033060 .0039870 .0765390 .7456890 .3975250 .0749670 .7301900 .0064830
Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash
6.462 9.168 0.271 0.273 GCC COUNTRIES 74.751 77.042 728.280 744.530 76.334
Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham
ARAB COUNTRIES 50.500 47.613 1.313 199.490 395.960 186.000 6.079 34.904
EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 280.280 Euro 388.190 Sterling Pound 459.940 Canadian dollar 288.350 Turkish lire 177.730 Swiss Franc 301.700 Australian dollar 284.150 US Dollar Buying 279.595 GOLD 266.000 135.000 70.000
20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram
Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees
SELL CASH SELL DRAFT 288.000 286.500 745.180 745.180 4.230 3.865 286.600 287.100 550.300 14.100 52.100 167.800 221.000 50.810 47.640 388.000 388.500 36.690 36.540 6.470 6.200
Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal
0.033 0.262 0.252 3.450 397.650 0.190 94.600 46.700 4.390 217.400 1.908 49.200 727.830 3.360 6.670 77.510 74.810 221.010 41.130 2.718 459.500 44.300 300.400 6.100 9.530 198.263 76.460 280.600 1.350
10 Tola
GOLD 1,450.250
Sterling Pound US Dollar
0.032
396.040 0.189 94.600 3.900 215.900
298.900 6.100 9.350 76.360 280.200
TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 457.500 280.200
Selling Rate 280.100 285.505 451.100 381.160 288.645 741.355 76.238 76.914 74.663 395.675 47.652 2.519 6.170
3.297 3.867 6.418 687.080 3.454 9.207 6.209 3.944 92.119
Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. 727.650 3.300 6.470 77.080 74.810 221.040 41.130 2.524 457.500
Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees
Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit
Currency US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Nepali rupee Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Canadian Dollars
Rate per 1000 (Tran) 280.050 3.305 6.175 2.530 3.880 6.465 76.365 74.895 744.600 47.610 458.900 0.00003280 3.910 1.550 397.900 5.750 384.600 290.200
Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 279.750 Euro 384.000 Pound Sterling 455.600 Canadian Dollar 286.500 Japanese Yen 3.375 Indian Rupee 6.202 Egyptian Pound 47.610 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.520 Bangladesh Taka 3.861 Philippines Peso 6.458 Pakistan Rupee 3.282 Bahraini Dinar 745.000 UAE Dirham 76.300 Saudi Riyal 74.780 *Rates are subject to change
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NBK Qatar Equity Fund ranked first KUWAIT: NBK Capital announced that its NBK Qatar Equity Fund was ranked as best Qatar equity funds according to the latest Fund Ranking by Zawya, the leading source of financial information in the Middle East. The ranking process is based on four components: fund returns, fund volatility, fees, and compliance. NBK Qatar Equity Fund seeks to increase the value of capital over the long term by investing in the shares of the State of Qatar. The fund was established in 2006 as a result of an extensive study of regional markets and of NBK’s belief in the future of Qatar’s economy which has seen remarkable growth in the past few years. This Zawya Funds Ranking is announced on a quarterly basis and includes funds investing in the Doha Securities Market. The ranking excludes funds that are less than $15 million and funds that have not completed the minimum period for evaluation, which is three years of historical data. Nabil Maroof, Managing Director of Asset Management at NBK Capital, stated, “achieving a 32.6 percent return for 2010, and now being named as top Qatar equity fund by Zawya is a result of to the Fund’s successful strategy, which focuses on the
Hundreds of tanneries employ cheap labor
Nabil Maroof
detailed analysis of different equities and their expected returns in the long run. This strategy is a reflection of the company’s strategy which seeks to provide the best services and products to customers.” NBK Qatar Equity Fund is one of three local and regional equity funds managed by NBK Capital, which include the NBK Kuwait Equity Fund and the NBK Gulf Equity Fund, which achieved a return of 42.5 percent and 15.56 percent during 2010, respectively. Subscription and redemption to NBK Qatar Equity Fund is on a weekly basis and the minimum investment is $100,000.
Jazeera Airways grabs largest market share KUWAIT: According to Kuwait’s Directorate for Civil Aviation (DGCA) 2010 full-year report, which tracks and analyzes passengers movement at Kuwait International Airport, more travelers chose to fly the award-winning Jazeera Airways in 2010 than any of its Kuwaiti competitors, making Jazeera Airways the largest Kuwaiti operator on the routes it served in the year. In 2010, the airline carried 1.2 million passengers in total, or 15 percent of Kuwait International Airport passengers, on a total of 14,156 flights across its network that includes high-demand business, leisure, family, and weekend destinations such as, Dubai, Bahrain, Beirut, Alexandria, Amman, Damascus, Istanbul, Sharm El Sheikh, Doha, Assiut, Aleppo, Deir Ezzor, Luxor, Mashhad and Sohaj, Jeddah and Riyadh. The report does not include the Kuwait-Jeddah and Kuwait-Riyadh routes, where the airline has lower seat-
Workers pay with health at Bangladesh export tanneries
allocation restrictions compared to other airlines. In 2010, the airline also outperformed Kuwaiti airlines to popular destinations in the Middle East with a 30 percent market share on the Kuwait-Beirut route, a 33 percent market share on the Kuwait-Amman route, a 48 percent market share on the Kuwait-Alexandria route and a 42 percent market share on the Kuwait-Damascus route. Jazeera Airways also continued to grab the largest market share among Kuwaiti airlines to business destinations with a 21 percent share on the Kuwaiti-Bahrain route and 20 percent market share on the Kuwait-Dubai route. Jazeera Airways was the preferred airline to leisure destinations, leading with a 45 percent share on the KuwaitSharm El Sheikh route and a 57 percent share on the Kuwait-Luxor route, and continues to be the only Kuwaiti airline to serve cultural destinations in the Middle East such as Aleppo, Assiut and Deir Ezzor.
DHAKA: Standing barefoot in toxic chromium effluent at a tannery in Dhaka’s Hazaribag district, 23-year-old leather worker Sumon fears his job is sending him to an early grave. A decade of inhaling fumes from the chemicals used to turn Bangladeshi raw hide into soft leather for shoes to be sold in the West has given Sumon, who started working in the tannery at 13, a shallow cough and stabbing chest pains. “I don’t like the work but I have no choice, I need the money,” Sumon, who uses only one name, told AFP as he pulled freshly tanned skins out of huge barrels of blue-grey chromium liquid, which is used to process raw hide. Cow and goat skins, caked in salt or still bloody from the slaughterhouse, are stacked in piles inside the tannery, but Sumon said the stench from the raw hides is the least of his problems. “When I first started, the chemical fumes made me so sick I couldn’t eat for two months, now I can’t even smell them,” he said. “We get no training, no safety equipment-workers have to learn to be careful of the chemicals. I had a few accidents at first,” he added, pointing to large, burn-like scars on his forearms and shins. In Hazaribag district, home to hundreds of tanneries like the Salma Leather Cooperation where Sumon works, the environmental and public health costs of the rapid growth of global demand for cheap shoes are on full display. The area, once a pleasant, semi-rural district in the Bangladeshi capital, is now a wasteland of toxic swamps, garbage landfills and mountains of decomposing leather scraps, surrounded by slums where tannery workers live. Piles of shouldering trash line the banks of the nearby Buriganga, which is classified as a “dead” river after it hits Hazaribag as pollution from the tanneries has made it impossible for any fish or plantlife to survive. Every day, the tanneries collectively dump 22,000 cubic liters of toxic waste, including cancer-causing chromium, into the Buriganga-Dhaka’s main river and a key water supply-according to the ministry of environment. More than 90 percent of tannery workers suffer from some kind of disease-from asthma to cancer-due to chemical exposure, according to a 2008 survey by SEHD, a local charity, with local residents being almost as badly affected. Despite their shocking environmental and work safety records, business is booming in Hazaribag, as growing global demand for footwear coupled with rising manufacturing costs in China prompts western buyers to turn to Bangladesh. Leather is the country’s fastest growing export, and Hazaribag’s tanneries produced the bulk of the 32 billion taka (460 million dollars) worth of leather shipped in 2009, mostly to Europe, Russia, Japan and
DHAKA: A Bangladeshi laborer works in a tannery. Leather is Bangladesh’s fastest growing export as major Western brands hit by China’s rising costs relocate to Dhaka, but experts warn the tanning industry must stop polluting if it wants to cash in. — AFP
China. Leather exports were also up 45 percent year on year from July to November 2010, with shoe shipments to American markets alone up 50 percent in the same period, according to export bureau figures. Eager for the leather industry-and its export earnings-to grow, the Bangladeshi government has long turned a blind eye to the rampant pollution and terrible working conditions inside the tanneries, activists say. “The only reason the Hazaribag tanneries are allowed to operate is the export earnings,” said Rezwana Hossain, an environmental rights lawyer. “These tanneries are operating right in the middle of the city, in the middle of residential areas and they are continuing to pollute the major river of the city, year after year,” she said. “If you look at the environmental damage, the killing of the Buriganga river, the pollution of the city’s water supply, the public health costs-then these export earnings don’t look so impressive.” The industry’s export earnings could increase significantly in the next few years if Dhaka can capitalize on the “China effect”, said Sayed Nasim Manzur, managing director of ApexAdelchi, a joint venture shoe manufacturer. Brands like Jones Bootmaker and Macy’s already source shoes in Bangladesh, and many others are likely to follow suit, he said. “But you can’t expect to export to the European Union if you’re polluting like they are at Hazaribag,” added Manzur, whose factories in Savar district have their own waste treatment plants, unlike the
Hazaribag tanneries. Successive Bangladeshi governments have promised to relocate the tanneries to Savar, north of Dhaka, and pledged to build a central effluent treatment plant to prevent water pollution. The relocation also aims to force tanneries, many of which have been in Hazaribag since the 1970s, to set up purpose-built factories and improve safety standards for workers. But progress has stalled, and while the government maintains the move will happen soon, no exact date has been set and the infrastructure at the new Savar site has not yet been completed. The delay has not deterred foreign buyers, who are flooding the existing tanneries with orders. Most of the raw hide tanned at Hazaribag is exported as semi-processed leather to shoe factories in Russia, China, Japan and Spain, where it is turned into shoes for the Western market, tannery owners told AFP. Leather worker Sumon said the Salma tannery had become busier than ever. “Workers haven’t seen any of the benefits though-the factory tells us buyers pay low prices for the leather, they say the tannery isn’t making much profit,” he said. Sumon earns 6,000 taka (100 dollars) a month for a 12-hour shift, seven days a week, but says his main worry about his job is its impact on the health of his family who live close to the tannery. “The tanneries pollute the water, and we all use the water-we drink it, wash it in. It smells bad, and it makes your skin itch, but what can we do,” he said. — AFP
Allegiance is synonymous with corruption KUWAIT: We talked much about public administration in Kuwait and said it started in the sixties of last century with a sound state project and was abducted to a ruling project as is the case in most of the Arab region; both have failed. We said that for the development project to succeed, it should be linked with the state’s project which puts performance in the senior public administration before allegiance; the former protects the present and the future of the state while allegiance protects the ruling and it is a temporary and unguaranteed protection. We say this so as not to delay radical reform process in Kuwait which is different from Tunis and Egypt and the too many incoming examples in the region. The rules or the foundations for the state’s projects still exist with great potential to build on. The rest of the Arab world lives in the past. With the exception of Lebanon, with its democracy built on the Sectarian quota system, the Arab region remains the only region in the world where there is no ex-ruler who lives a normal life in his country. Former Arab rulers are either dead or in exile. We do not have ‘Bush’, ‘Clinton’, ‘Tony Blair’ or ‘Nelson Mandela’ or ‘Mahathir Mohammed’ or ‘Lee Qyan Yu’. The Arab region will not go back to its former norm. What happened in both Tunis and Egypt is an earthquake that moved the entire Arab region from its isolation from the world similar to what happened to Britain in the 17th century, France in the 18th and 19th centuries and the USA in the 19th century after their revolutions. It will happen in each Arab country, at varying degrees, which has just exited from the absolute rule to the state project. This will not be a painless and smooth transition without backfires. It will be much better in the medium to the long terms as in Turkey and Malaysia, for instance. The willful transition to the state’s scheme is better and safer with very simple conditions, namely, the semi-absolute supremacy of law and putting performance in administration before allegiance. This is exactly what Kuwait needs. We should not commit sins fearing from developments of events in the Arab region. In addition to restored respect to the constitution and the array of laws, there is need for starting a willful change in managing the State’s affairs at the highest level, namely, the Council of Ministers. It is absolutely meaningless to talk about implementation of the principle of performance before allegiance in the government departments and institutions if it is not applied in the Council of Ministers, the highest institution. The principle of the position-award or putting allegiance before performance will be generalized to all the state’s institutions similar to the highest executive powers. Allegiance is synonymous to corruption and comes at the account of capability and competence. Corruption and poor competence are the imminent recipe to transforming the country to a barrel of
AL-SHALL WEEKLY ECONOMIC REPORT explosives, which transformed many Arab states in the region to barrels of explosives that looked quiet and stable. Al-Bou Azizi in Tunis and the greed of the ruling party in Egypt with the 99 percent power were the match sticks. Kuwait is not a barrel of explosives yet. Reforming the executive authority starting with its top level, by preventing the influential persons within or outside of it from sabotaging the outcome of the parliamentary elections by supporting corrupt service deputies which will lead to the legislative authority, is a basis for the willful transition to the state ‘s scheme. The country with all its authorities should alienate itself from the concept of buying political allegiance by public bribes. There is no meaning for the state’s project if the distribution of its provisional wealth will lead to its inability to counter the necessities of the overwhelming majority of its citizens in the future. Perhaps the fear from what is happening around us, which is unjustifiable, will transform to public bribes project, which is nothing more than a project of a deadly buying of chairs and a return to the rule project at the account of the state project. The CMA ‘s list of executive regulations The Capital Markets Authority (CMA), and after an adequate period, distributed the executive regulations draft for its law comprised of 432 articles. Its distribution and providing a period to receive reactions is a positive indicator. It means transparency, the desire to communicate and the precise time commitment, which is a good start. We are not going to get involved in the details of comments on the regulations articles. We know most of them and believe they took adequate time to prepare and they are an exact copy of regulations prevalent in the world around us and that enforcement is more important than perfection. The executive regulations in their final form after studying the various proposals of various agencies are ready for publication and enforcement sometime in March 2011. Then there will be a complete separation between security trading and its supervision. The tough penalties for violations are an acceptable philosophy because securities trading history in Kuwait was closer to making a crisis than benefiting from it as a necessary channel for financing development similar to other advanced markets. The first year following the law enforcement is the more important because it is the test which will yield the impression about the extent of congruence between provisions and their application. We are quite confident that the present commissioners ‘ panel is capable of imposing the respect for its law once it becomes effective. It might be a coincidence that the panel begins its
activity with the enforcement of Article 74 of its law. On the way, there is talk about a major takeover operation for more than 30 percent of the largest company in the Kuwaiti stock market in terms of capital value. If the deal came true after entry into force of Article 74 of the Law, the buyer and within 30 days should provide an offer to the rest of the shareholders at a price not less than the average trading price of the company ‘s stock for the 6 months preceding the completion of the takeover process. A lot of fear will vanish when the articles and the executive regulations provide solution to whatever emerges. This article in particular exists in the laws of all decent global stock markets. Its purpose is to guarantee the minimum limit of the minorities ‘ rights. The authority of capital markets authority remains the reference to increase the price if it perceives that the market ‘s trading average doe not achieve the minimum level of justice. State, financial administration accounts report In its monthly follow up reports to the State’s accounts for January 2011, the Ministry of Finance indicates that during January 2011 revenues sustained their rise. Until 31/01/2011 (10 months of the current fiscal year 2010/2011), total received revenues scored about KD16.9087 billion, which is 74 percent higher than the total estimated revenues for the entire current fiscal year (KD9.7193 billion) and a 14.9 percent rise over received revenues for the same period of last fiscal year 2009/2010 at KD14.7172 billion. In details, the bulletin estimates actual oil revenues until 31/01/2011 by KD15.7926 billion, which is 83.3 percent higher than estimated oil revenues for the entire present fiscal year (KD8.6166 billion) and by 93.4 percent of total received revenues due to the continued rise in oil prices. Achieved oil revenues in 10 months of the current fiscal year were higher by KD1.865 billion, which is 13.4 percent higher than its counterpart period last fiscal year. KD1.1161 billion, or a monthly average of KD111.611 million, was achieved from nonoil revenues compared to estimate KD1.10275 billion for the entire current fiscal year. Thus, the realized amount will be higher by KD236.6 million than the estimated assuming that non-oil revenues would continue at the same monthly average. Expenditures allocations for the current fiscal year were estimated at KD16.310 billion. According to the bulletin, KD9.1151 billion has been actually spent until 31/01/2011, a monthly spending average of KD 911.511 million. We however do not recommend relying on this figure because there are expenditures which have become due but have not been spent. Besides, spending in the late months of the current fiscal year is usually higher than in the early ones.
Though the bulletin concludes that the budget surplus in the end of these ten months of the fiscal year scored about KD7.7936 billion, we publish the figure without endorsement because we believe that the actual budget surplus will be less than the published figure. The monthly spending average will be ascending which will reduce the actual budget surplus the further we move forward and we expect it will be less when the final account is issued though its amount will rely mainly on oil price movement. NBK financial results FY 2010 NBK announced results of its operations for the year ending December 31, 2010 which indicate the bank achieved KD301.7 million net profits after deduction of the share of Kuwait Foundation, taxes, minority interests and Zakat, a rise by about KD36.5 million (13.7 percent). The bank ‘s gross profit margin went up in the end of 2010 to about 48.7 percent (38.7 percent in the end of 2009). The main reason for the rise is due to a decrease in total provisions by about KD35.7 million. These are distributed among decreased provision of charge for credit losses -general- by about KD26.8 million to KD370 thousand in 2010 (KD27.2 million in 2009), a drop by KD10 million in impairment losses for investment securities to reach about KD8.1 million in 2010 (KD18.2 million in 2009), while provision charge for credit losses -specificincreased by about KD1.2 million from KD10.3 million in 2009 to reach KD11.4 million in 2010. The bank achieved operational revenues amounting to KD621.7 million which are KD66.7 million (9.7 percent) less than their value in 2009. when they scored KD688.4 million. Most of these revenues were generated from interests amounting to about KD481.9 million (77.5 percent of total operational revenues), which are KD64.8 million less than their 2009 level. Net profits from investments in securities also contributed to the drop in total revenues scoring KD3.2 million (KD12.9 million in 2009). Share of results in associates went up by about KD16.9 million (325.2 percent) to reach KD11.8 million in 2010 vis-avis losses by KD5.2 million in 2009. Average cost of paid interest dropped to 1.2 percent (1.6 percent in 2009). Average of received interest also dropped to 5 percent in 2010 (5.8 percent in 2009). Interests revenues decreased by about 11.9 percent and interests charges decreased at a higher rate than interests revenues, dropping by about KD46.8 million (27.5 percent) which led to a slight decline in the net interest income of about 4.8 percent in 2010. It is worth mentioning that the bank’s operational expenses decreased by KD67.7 million (19.3 percent) due to the drop in interests charges as we indicated above. Other administrative expenses declined by 27.4 percent, about KD21.1 million while depreciation increased by about KD2.5 million to reach KD10.2 million (KD7.6 million in 2009).
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Egypt politics continue to influence market negatively BAYAN INVESTMENT WEEKLY REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) ended last week in the red zone, as both its main indices recorded losses. The price index ended last week with a decrease amounted to 2.66 percent, while the weighted index retreated 3.41 percent compared to the closings of the week before. Furthermore, last week’s average daily turnover increased by 35.02 percent, compa r ed t o t h e p r e c e d ing w eek, reaching KD32.10 million, whereas trading volume average was 145.92 million shares, recording a rise of 23.09 percent. The political circumstances in Egypt have continued to have a negative influence on the market, despite of that the situation was
relatively calm compared to the week before, yet, the situation is not settled. Moreover, banks sector has continued to lead the daily trading, as it was subject to buying deals. In addition, a caution state dominated the market, as the traders were still waiting for the annual results disclosures, until Wednesday, where the numb er o f co mp a n ies an n oun ced their results were around 19 percent. As a result, the trading activities were notably limited. By the end of the week, the price index closed at 6,559.5 points, down by 2. 66 p ercent fr om th e week b efo re cl o sin g, wh er eas th e weighted index registered a 3.41 percent weekly loss after closing
at 458.66 points. Sectors’ indices All of KSE’s sectors ended last week in the red zone except for one sector. The investment sector headed the losers list as its index declined by 3.95 percent to end the week’s activity at 4,584.2 points. The industry sector was second on the losers’ list, which index declined by 3.04 percent, closing at 4,942.4 points, followed by the banks sector, as its index closed at 11,929.6 points at a loss of 2.86 percent. The non Kuwaiti companies sector was the least declining as its index closed at 6,543.6 points with a 1.24 percent decrease. On the other hand, the Insurance sec-
tor was last week only gainer, which index grew by 0.53 percent, closing at 2,736.1 points. Sectors’ activity The real estate sector dominated total trade volume during last week with 163.69 million shares changing hands, representing 28.05 percent of the total market trading volume. The investment sector was second in terms trading volume as the sector’s traded shares were 27.09 percent of last week’s total trading volume, with a total of 158.11 million shares. On the other hand, the banks sector’s stocks where the highest traded in terms of value; with a turnover of KD63.26 million or
49.27 percent of last week’s total market trading value. The Services sector took the second place as the sector’s last week turnover of K D 21. 68 m i l l i on r e p r e s e nt e d 16.88 percent of the total market trading value. Market capitalization KSE total market capitalization declined by 3.41 percent during last week to reach KD33.14 billion, as all of KSE’s sectors recorded a decrease in their respective market capitalization except for one sector. The investment sector headed the decliners list as its t ot a l m a r ke t c a p i t a l i za t i on reached KD2.68 billion, decreasing by 4.64 percent. The industry
sector was the second in terms of recorded decline with 4.37 percent decrease after the total value of its listed companies reached KD2.67 billion. The third place was for the real estate sector, which t ot a l m a r ke t c a p i t a l i za t i on reached KD1.76 billion by the end of the week, recording a decline of 4.29 percent. The food sector was the least declining with 2.04 percent recorded decrease after its market capitalization amounted to KD736.19 million. On the other hand, the insurance sector was last week’s only gainer as its t ot a l m a r ke t c a p i t a l i za t i on i nc r e a s e d b y 0. 50 p e r c e nt t o reach, by the end of the week, KD334.75 million.
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South Korea bank suspends operations SEOUL: South Korea suspended operations at four more savings banks yesterday after runs developed as customers rushed to get at their money despite official assurances the financial sector was secure. The move came just days after two other institutions had their activities suspended and state-owned finance groups joined forces with commercial banks to pledge billions of dollars in liquidity for a sector beset by souring property loans. One of those suspended on Thursday was the Busan Savings Bank, South Korea's largest in terms of assets. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) said Saturday it was sus-
Intel to invest $5bn in new Arizona plant HILLSBORO: US computer chip giant Intel announced plans on Friday to invest more than $5 billion to build a new state-of-the-art chip manufacturing facility in Arizona. The announcement was made by Intel president and chief executive Paul Otellini during a visit by President Barack Obama to an Intel facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. Intel, the world's largest computer chip maker, said construction of the new facility, Fab 42, in Chandler, Arizona, will begin in the middle of this year and it is expected to be completed in 2013. "When completed, Fab 42 will be the most advanced high-volume semiconductor factory in the world," Otellini said, and will create thousands of jobs. Intel said the new Arizona factory will make transistors with a minimum size of 14 nanometers. "Building the new fab on the leading-edge 14nanometer process enables Intel to manufacture more powerful and efficient computer chips," Intel said in a statement. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter or one ninety-thousandth the width of a human hair. "The investment positions our manufacturing network for future growth," said Brian Krzanich, senior vice president and general manager for manufacturing and supply chain at Intel. "The products based on these leading-edge chips will give consumers unprecedented levels of performance and power efficiency across a range of computing devices from high-end servers to ultra-sleek portable devices," Krzanich said. Intel announced plans in October to invest between $6 billion and $8 billion in its US manufacturing facilities to produce next-generation computer chips, including building a new fabrication plant in Oregon. The new Arizona facility is in addition to the previously announced investment. Obama traveled to Intel's most sophisticated semiconductor plant in Oregon to tout his plans to invest in science and education despite seeking ways to rein in spending in other areas to deal with a ballooning deficit. Obama also Friday named Otellini to his jobs council in a move designed to harness the power of innovation to ignite economic and employment growth. Otellini will serve on the president's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, an advisory board, headed by General Electric chief executive Jeffrey Immelt that is dedicated to finding new ways to boost growth, hiring and the education and training of US workers. — AFP
pending three affiliates of Busan Savings BankJungang Busan Savings Bank, Busan II Savings Bank and Jeonju Savings Bank-as well as Bohae Bank for six months each. "Considering recent waves of deposit withdrawals, available liquidity, remaining deposits and capacity to borrow, the FSC concluded that they might face a situation where they are unable to pay customers," the FSC said. The freeze may be lifted if the banks recoup their liquidity, it said. The FSC on Thursday put a six-month block on the operations of Busan Savings Bank and its affiliate, the Daejeon Mutual Savings Bank, and announced steps
lion while the KDIC will fill in the bank's unspecified debts-assets gap. The FSC said on Thursday that 94 of the country's 105 savings banks meet capital adequacy standards and it did not expect any more suspensions in the first half of the year. It was not clear if the three institutions suspended Saturday were among the 11 the FSC deemed to have inadequate capital. It said stateowned Korea Finance Corp, four major commercial banks and the Korea Securities Finance Corp would supply a total three trillion won (2.69 billion dollars) in liquidity to the sector. — AFP
Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo seizes four int’l banks ‘Nationalization of banks could result in serious implications’ ABIDJAN: Ivory Coast's incumbent leader who is clinging to power seized four major international banks Friday that had closed their operations earlier this week, attempting to pay civil servants amid a deepening liquidity crisis. The spokesman for the sitting president, Laurent Gbagbo, read a decree on state TV late Thursday saying that the banks closed without giving the three months notice required by Ivorian law. Ahoua Don Mello said the government would take over the offices of Britain's Standard Chartered, France's BNP-Paribas and Societe Generale along with US bank Citibank. He also said that the government was imposing a citywide curfew, as panic spread. The international community had said it would use financial sanctions to dislodge Gbagbo, who is refusing to step down although results issued by his country's election commission and certified by the United Nations showed he had lost the Nov 28 ballot by nearly 9 percentage points. Among the sanctions slapped on Gbagbo's regime was the revocation of his signature on state accounts at the regional central bank, known by the French acronym BCEAO, which prints the currency used in Ivory Coast. Once that happened late last month, the Gbagbo government was no longer able to make deposits into the private banks where government salaries are cashed. The US condemned Gbagbo's nationalization of the banks, US State Department spokesman P J Crowley said. He said the banks had previously closed operations because Gbagbo had forced them to participate in "irregular banking transactions" to circumvent measures put in place by the international community following Gbagbo's refusal to cede power after November's presidential election. "Nationalization of banks could result in serious implications for monetary stability and investor confidence in what should be one of West Africa's leading economies," Crowley said. "This political standoff continues to have a very real impact on Ivorian citizens who have long awaited lasting peace and prosperity after years of instability and civil war. The best hope for the Ivorian people to regain their economy and future is for a democracy to prevail and Mr Gbagbo to step down." On Friday, all four banks' head offices were still shuttered,
and soldiers and policemen loyal to Gbagbo were posted outside the two French banks. Between them, these banks hold virtually all of the bank accounts for civil servants, and their closures had sent panic through Ivory Coast's biggest city, with hundreds of people lining up desperate to withdraw cash. The banks' closure "is part of the will of the international community to suffocate Ivory Coast," Minister of Communications Gnonzie Ouattara told the press Friday. "The government felt obliged to take this measure to alleviate the suffering of Ivorians." Shaun Gamble, spokesman for Standard Chartered Bank in London, said "Our position hasn't changed from a couple of days
the firm "embark on a journey of its own." "We wish the business and the Lonely Planet community every success in the future," they said in a statement, after selling the final part of the firm for the equivalent of US $68 million or 50 million euros. The publisher has increased its market share from 18 percent to more than 20 percent in tough conditions since the BBC bought a majority stake, according to figures from the British broadcaster. The BBC has focused on the digital
comment on Friday. Gbagbo's government would nationalize the banks in order to pay February's salaries, Don Mello said. It is unclear, however, how Gbagbo will access the banks' funds. Gbagbo has already nationalized the central bank, the electricity company and the stock exchange in an attempt to keep the Ivorian economy running amid increasing international financial pressure. The European Union announced targeted sanctions in December and January on nearly 100 of Gbagbo's closest allies as well as key institutions like the ports. "These sanctions are hitting home now," said Joseph Lake of the London-based Economist Intelligence
ABIDJAN: People queue in front of a BIAO-CI bank cash machine. Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo said that he would take control of two French bank affiliates that closed due to the post-election crisis as residents began a run on banks over fears of more closures. — AFP ago when we said that given the increasingly challenging operating environment in the Ivory Coast, we have decided to temporarily suspend our operations there until it is safe to reopen." Gamble said they would continue monitoring the situation. Both Societe Generale and BNP-Paribas declined immediate
BBC buys final stake in Lonely Planet LONDON: The BBC's commercial arm said Friday it had bought the remaining 25-percent stake in travel publisher Lonely Planet that it did not already own for 42.1 million pounds (67.2 million Australian dollars). BBC Worldwide said it had this week acquired the final part of the Australia-based company that produces the popular travel guides, dubbed the "backpackers bible", after purchasing 75 percent of the firm in 2007. Lonely Planet founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler, who launched the company in 1973, said the past three years had seen
to support others that may be hit by increasingly precarious-looking property loans. Busan is the country's biggest savings bank, with assets worth 3.74 trillion won ($3.4 billion). Last month, regulators shut down Samhwa Mutual Savings Bank which became insolvent because of soured property loans. Woori Finance Holdings Co, South Korea's secondlargest financial group by assets, was chosen on Friday as the preferred bidder for Samhwa being sold by the state-financed Korea Deposit Insurance Corp (KDIC). Woori, which beat out two local rival bidders to buy Samhwa, will inject fresh funds worth $90 mil-
market and capitalized on the growing popularity of applications for smart phones. It now offers more than 140 travel apps, while its website has become more popular. But the core of its business remains its hundreds of guide books, which offer advice on accommodation, dining and transport for budget travelers venturing to destinations across the globe. The Wheelers wrote the first Lonely Planet guide, "Across Asia on the Cheap", at their kitchen table after travelling overland across Europe and Asia to get to Australia. — AFP
Unit. "This move shows and increasing desperation on Gbagbo's part." Even if Gbagbo is able to open the banks Monday, it's unlikely to solve the underlying economic problem in Ivory Coast, Lake said. "It's not that there aren't enough assets in the country to pay these salaries, it's that there's not enough cash," he
Ford plans to team up with Sollers in Russia DETROIT: Ford Motor Co is teaming up with Russian automaker Sollers to make and distribute cars in Russia, one of the fastest growing auto markets. Under a deal announced Friday, Sollers will build Fords at Russian plants, helping boost a struggling local industry. Ford will have access to a huge market that could bolster its revenues. Financial details weren't disclosed, but the automakers said they will have equal stakes in their joint venture called Ford Sollers. Ford declined to give production or sales targets for the venture. The announcement came shortly after Italian automaker Fiat SpA backed out of a potential partnership with the same Russian company. The unraveling of the Fiat Sollers venture gave Ford an opportunity to step in. Ford and Sollers are expect-
ed to finalize their deal in June. The venture's operations could start by year's end. The Dearborn, Michigan, company began selling cars directly to Russians in 2002, and like many car makers is eager to expand business there as demand improves. While domestic auto companies in Russia have been struggling, the market itself has been gaining strength. Car sales in Russia rose by 30 percent last year to 1.9 million, according to the Moscow-based Association of European Businesses. Nine of the 10 best-selling models were produced locally, while Ford Focus was in the top five best-sellers. Ford's sales in Russia increased to 91,000 in 2010 from 82,000 the year before, but they haven't grown as fast as the rest of the market. Ford needs to grow
Japan court orders $2.4bn tax refund
BEIJING: An elderly woman walks on an oval stair case with her grand children at a commercial and residential building yesterday. Home prices in most major Chinese cities rose in January, the government said, in its first such announcement since changing the way it publishes the cost of property across the country.— AP
said. Banks began shutting down earlier this week and currently total nine, including Nigeria's Access bank and Ecobank. France's Societe Generale, the country's largest financial institution, announced it was shuttering all 47 branches of its local subsidiary serving 230,000 clients. Gbagbo has nationalizing the BCEAO office in the country and attempted to set up an ad-hoc national central bank. When the BCEAO threatened to sanction any bank dealing with Gbagbo's central bank, the private banks started closing their doors. The move was expected to prevent public and private employees from receiving their salaries and once the first banks closed on Monday, panicked people lined up desperately seeking to take out their savings in fear of a cash shortage. Now, it's unclear how Gbagbo will obtain enough liquidity to keep the economy from freezing up. Last week, US Ambassador Phillip Carter III said that Gbagbo has been shaking businesses down for cash by sending armed men to demand payment of taxes in cash. He may resort to emergency methods of obtaining cash like having a fire sale of state assets, Lake said. But Gbagbo's government maintains that it will have no problem paying salaries next week. "There isn't an economic problem in Ivory Coast. There isn't a problem of liquidity in Ivory Coast," the communications minister said Friday. "All our problems are political." Diplomats and analysts have been wagering that once civil servants stop receiving their pay, they will defect en masse away from Gbagbo. He is still backed by the army which has brutally cracked down on supporters of opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, who has been unable to assume office even though he is internationally recognized as the winner of the vote. An African Union appointed panel of five African presidents is due in Abidjan on Monday to meet with both sides in the power struggle and propose a binding solution. But it's unclear whether their propositions have any chance of being listened to. Gbagbo's camp has already dismissed a handful of previous mediators and said last month it would not accept any solution that contradicted the constitutional council, which proclaimed Gbagbo winner. — AP
TOKYO: A Japanese court has ordered the government to give one man a record $2.4 billion tax refund, newspapers reported yesterday. The Supreme Court ruled tax authorities had no right to ask for 160 billion yen ($1.92 billion) in gift tax from Toshiki Takei, a former director of consumer loans firm Takefuji Corp., the Yomiri Shimbun said. The court said the government should give the money back to Takei, who experts estimate will be entitled to interest at four percent, taking his payout to 200 billion yen. Interest rates on bank savings in Japan are currently around 0.02 percent. The sum is the largest-ever tax refund for an individual and twice as big as Japan's entire gift tax revenue over a year, the newspaper said. Takei was ordered to pay the tax after receiving shares in a Dutch company from his parents in 1999. He had argued that he had been living in Hong Kong at that time, but authorities maintained his residency was temporary and a way of avoiding paying Japanese tax. On Friday the Supreme Court ruled Takei spent more days in the Chinese city than in Japan in the years around the stock gift and was therefore technically resident there, reports said. Takefuji, which was once the nation's top consumer finance company, filed for bankruptcy protection with the Tokyo District Court last year with liabilities of 433.6 billion yen. The lender, which called itself a "yen shop", has been hit by a deluge of claims by customers for refunds of high interest charges. "What will be returned to Mr Takei is an asset originating from excessive interest (charged on borrowers). We want the entire money back," Yoshio Honda, a lawyer for former Takefuji customers, said Friday, as quoted by Jiji Press. The news agency and other media said up to two million customers were entitled to seek interest payment refunds in accordance with a 2006 court ruling. Should all of them do so, Takefuji's liabilities could exceed two trillion yen, according to Japanese media. — AFP
in emerging markets such as Russia, Brazil, India and China to maintain momentum. The company's market share in the U.S., the most profitable region in the world, isn't expected to increase dramatically even though it has returned to profitability. It is relying on markets outside the U.S. to increase sales. Ford's stock fell 20 cents, or 1.25 percent, to $15.77 on Friday. Under the FordSollers deal, plants in the St Petersburg region and Tatarstan will make Ford passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and engines. The venture will also produce parts for Ford vehicles made in Russia and distribute imported Ford products and accessories. The joint venture will help strengthen Russia's auto industry and its local supply base, said Ford of Europe CEO Stephen Odell. Many automakers have used joint ventures to make inroads in international markets. General Motors' partnership with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. in China has helped it become one of the largest automakers in the country. Russia has poured millions of rubles into its stagnant car industry over the past decade to try to resuscitate it. Last year, the government said the industry would survive only in partnership with global players. Fiat and Russian automaker Sollers had signed a memorandum of understanding last year to produce up to 500,000 vehicles a year in Russia in a bid to become the country's second-largest car maker. The two companies said in a joint statement Friday that they would "pursue independent strategies." Fiat owns US automaker Chrysler. Fiat's proposed partnership with Sollers had been viewed as a key joint venture. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin oversaw a high-profile ceremony last February that announced the potential deal. But the venture fell into a financial limbo for months after VEB, a Russian state-owned bank which was expected to give the car makers a §2.1 billion ($2.85 billion) loan, said in December that Fiat and Sollers had not provided enough documents to support the application for the loan. —AP
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business
Portugal’s debt spells more trouble for Europe Investors turned off by high risk level
MADISON: Protesters gather at the state Capitol, Friday, Feb 18, 2011. Massive protests at the state Capitol entered a fourth day as demonstrators vowed to stay as long as was needed to get the concessions they want. — AP
Wisconsin battle lines harden over union curbs Thousands protest deep budget cuts MADISON: Public worker protests against a Republican governor’s plan to curb union bargaining rights and raise worker contributions to benefits swelled on Friday, forcing Wisconsin’s largest school district to close for lack of teachers. Thousands of demonstrators, some of them wearing the cheese wedge-shaped hats favored by fans of the National Football League champion Green Bay Packers, crowded the streets around the Capitol for the fifth day in a row. “Every day the crowds are bigger,” said Jay Heck, the executive of Common Cause Wisconsin, an advocacy group. The Milwaukee Public School system, which serves 85,000 students, canceled classes after nearly 630 teachers called in sick early on Friday. The demonstrations were peaceful but the risk of confrontations emerged when the conservative Tea Party movement, which is pushing for deep government budget cuts, announced it would hold a rally at the Capitol in Madison yesterday in support of the Republican plan. New Republican Governor Scott Walker, whose plan to cut the budget deficit prompted the protests, on Friday called his proposals a “modest request.” Democrats in the state Senate failed to show up at the legislature in the capital Madison for a second straight day on Friday morning. They had left the state on Thursday to protest Walker’s plan, effectively delaying legislative consideration of the measure by depriving the senate of a quorum. Wisconsin has become a flashpoint for a deepening struggle over how US states should contend with
multibillion-dollar budget deficits caused by steep declines in tax revenues amid higher outlays due to the financial crisis. If Republicans in Wisconsin prevail, analysts said other states could be emboldened to take on public employee unions. ‘Assault on unions’ President Barack Obama on Thursday called Walker’s proposal an “assault on unions.” House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner criticized Obama and said he supported his fellow Republicans. Walker’s administration puts the deficit for the remainder of the current fiscal year at $137 million and for the next two fiscal years under its biannual budget at $3.3 billion. Republicans propose that state workers contribute 5.8 percent of their salaries to underfunded pensions, and double their share of health insurance premiums to 12.6 percent. Walker said he wants to limit collective bargain-
ing to wages, and cap increases to the rate of inflation, with approval from voters needed for bigger increases. He also would end government collection of union dues, allow workers to opt out of unions, and require unions to hold recertification votes every year. Walker said the alternative is to lay off more than 10,000 workers. “This is a bold political move, but it is a modest request of our employees,” the governor said on CBS’s “Early Show.” “The people who are here, the thousands of protesters, union protesters ... have a right to be heard, but the millions and millions of taxpayers in the state have a right to be heard as well,” Walker said. US state and local governments are struggling to balance their budgets after the recession decimated their finances. Some states such as Wisconsin, Texas, Arizona and Ohio are trying to make deep cuts in spending to balance the books. Others such as Minnesota and Illinois are raising taxes. — Reuters
7-figure payouts If Citicorp earns $12 billion pretax from continuing operations over the next two years, just 30 percent of what it earned in the previous two, then Havens would earn his $5.2 million bonus under a predetermined ratio. But if Citicorp were again to generate a $39.9 billion pretax profit, then Havens’ bonus could reach at least $17.2 million, according to that ratio. Other executives’ bonuses if Citicorp’s two-year pretax profit reaches $12 billion include: Chief Financial Officer John Gerspach, $1.7 million; Manuel Medina-Mora, head of consumer banking in the Americas, $2.7 million; and Alberto Verme, head of Europe, Middle East and Africa, $2.3 million. Their payouts would also be higher if Citicorp were to earn more. Citigroup said other executives it did not name would also qualify for cash awards. Risk management executives are not eligible for these awards, according to an emailed statement from Citigroup spokeswoman Shannon Bell. The filings do not address compensation for Pandit, whose base salary has already been raised to $1.75 million from $1. But Citigroup’s board plans to “develop a comprehensive compensation package” for Pandit, to be disclosed at a later date, according to a statement by Chairman Richard Parsons. Even if Citicorp meets or exceeds the $12 billion target, the payouts are not a given. —Reuters
Monetary Fund and euro-zone countries charged Athens and Dublin for their loans and making a bailout look more palatable for the Portuguese. A number of analysts think the bailout option will become more acceptable for Portugal, given that its economy is contracting once again. “Although Portugal has a lower debt level than Greece, its high fiscal deficit and dismal growth prospects expose the country’s debt dynamics to market risks,” said Athanasios Vamvakidis, a strategist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “Beyond debt sustainability concerns, the lower IMF-EU borrowing cost should look increasingly attractive to Portugal.” But the Portuguese government, keen to keep its domestic political reputation for economic management intact, insists it doesn’t want or need assistance. It says its austerity package of pay cuts and tax hikes will lower its grievous debt load and restore international faith in its economy. It is also urging the European Union to set aside the differences between member states and quickly take some action that would ease market tensions. “(Europe) has to do its part and respond to the scale of the problem,” Portugal’s minister for the Cabinet, Pedro Silva Pereira, said Thursday. Germany, however, appears reluctant to increase the size and scope of Europe’s current bailout fund unless all euro countries agree to stricter fiscal policies and Portugal bites the bullet and applies for a rescue. Financial markets mistrust Portugal just as they did Greece and Ireland, but for different reasons. Portugal has recorded feeble growth over the past decade, forcing it to run up high debts in order to keep financing its economy. The outlook for the future is no brighter. Portugal’s central bank now predicts a double-dip recession after a slight recovery last year, when the jobless rate climbed to a record 11.1 percent. Moody’s Investor Services has warned it may cut its A1 rating on Portugal, while Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services is also considering a downgrade. Those considerations are helping push Lisbon, which also has to find almost €5 billion ($6.8 billion) to settle outstanding debts in June, into a corner. The prevailing view is that the March 25 summit of EU leaders will have to come up with something big and bold on how to deal with Europe’s debt crisis or else face the wrath of the markets. — AP
California Republicans cool to Brown tax plan
Citigroup sets bonuses for executives NEW YORK: Citigroup Inc, recovering after a series of government bailouts, will pay some top executives millions of dollars of cash bonuses if its core operations earn at least $12 billion before taxes over the next two years. The awards “are intended to sharpen the executives’ focus” on long-term performance without excess risk, and align their interests with those of stockholders, the third-largest US bank by assets said in a regulatory filing on Friday. John Havens, the bank’s chief operating officer and a longtime confidant of Chief Executive Vikram Pandit, could get a $5.2 million bonus under the plan, and the sum could grow significantly higher if the bank performs well. Friday’s filing is the second time this week that Citigroup has discussed long-term compensation for top executives. The New York-based bank is trying to reward those who helped it recover from the crisis and ensure they do not take risks that might endanger it again. Citigroup took $45 billion in bailout money during the financial crisis. The US Treasury finished selling its common stock stake in the bank in December. Last month, Citigroup reported a profit for 2010, its first full year in the black since 2007. Its main Citicorp unit earned $20 billion from continuing operations before taxes in 2010, just above the $19.9 billion a year earlier. In contrast, its Citi Holdings unit, comprising businesses that the bank wants to sell or wind down, lost $6.6 billion before taxes in 2010.
LISBON: Portugal’s financial agony has deepened, threatening to pitch Europe into a whole new round of economic turmoil over its debt crisis. The country’s borrowing costs are punishingly high, with the interest rate on its 10-year bonds holding above 7 percent for a 10th straight session Friday. As Portugal - one of the smallest and frailest in the 17nation euro zone - runs out of options, its leaders are pressing fellow European nations to adopt new crisis management measures at a summit next month, before a €4.5 billion ($6.13 billion) debt repayment that falls due for Portugal in April. Yet the broad consensus in markets is that Portugal is doomed to become the third member of Europe’s bailout club, after Greece and Ireland, partly because the continent’s paymaster Germany doesn’t want the issue to fester for much longer. Another bailout for a euro-zone member is sure to further undermine market confidence in the fiscal soundness of the single currency bloc and carry severe consequences for other vulnerable - and much bigger - countries such as Spain, Belgium and Italy. Filipe Sila, debt manager at Portugal’s Banco Carregosa, said investors have turned their backs on Portugal, frightened away by a level of risk that’s deemed too great and worried they might not get their money back. “Many political decisions are pending that could have a lot of bearing” on what happens, he said. “It’s an additional risk. I think nobody is buying Portuguese debt at the moment except the European Central Bank.” The catalyst for the renewed tensions was euro-zone leaders’ failure at a Brussels meeting two weeks ago to come up with anything dramatic that could douse the yearlong financial firestorm, despite bold pronouncements from many that a “comprehensive package” was in the offing. Those predictions briefly calmed investors. The most visible sign of the new heightened state of stress is in the bond markets, where Portuguese bond yields have spiked dramatically. The spread between two-year Portuguese and German bond yields has risen by more than a percentage point this week alone, while Portugal’s 10-year yield has risen three quarters of a percent to a potentially unsustainable 7.5 percent. Portugal’s borrowing costs for its three-year government bonds stands at 5.6 percent more or less the rate the International
SYDNEY: This file photo shows ground staff (below) with Qantas planes at Sydney International Airport. — AFP
Qantas in talks with Rolls-Royce SYDNEY: Qantas yesterday said it was checking with Rolls-Royce after an oil problem with an A380 superjumbo’s engine, but added the incident was not connected to November’s mid-air blast. A spokeswoman said the flagship Airbus craft was flying from Singapore to London on Tuesday when oil supplies dropped on one of its four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, but did not pose a safety problem. “The crew detected a decrease in oil supply to the engine, so they just monitored it throughout the flight,” she told AFP. “The engine was never shut down. There was no need for the flight to be diverted and it landed without any issue.” However, she added that power to the engine was reduced about two hours
before landing “as a precautionary measure”. “We always work with Rolls-Royce when things like this happen to engines,” the spokeswoman said. “It has happened previously to another Trent 900 operator other than ourselves. We are obviously in talks with Rolls-Royce to see if this is something that needs a permanent fix.”On Thursday, Qantas estimated that it suffered an Aus$80 million ($81.1 million) financial hit from November’s blast, and said it was still discussing compensation with the British engine-maker. On November 4, a Trent 900 engine exploded minutes into a flight from Singapore, forcing an emergency landing, in an incident that sent jitters through the industry and prompted Qantas to ground its A380 fleet. — AFP
SAN FRANCISCO: California Democratic Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to close the state’s huge budget gap is running into a wall of Republican opposition over a proposed referendum on extending tax increases. If Republicans hold firm and withhold votes for a tax ballot measure, they could force Brown and his fellow Democrats who control the Legislature to seriously consider a budget plan relying almost exclusively on spending cuts to tackle a deficit that may top $27 billion. Putting a measure on the ballot requires a two-thirds legislative majority, which Democrats lack. They could try to put tax increases on the ballot on their own through procedural maneuvering, a worst-case option given that they want bipartisan support for a measure. The political struggle over the budget in America’s most populous state comes as state finances garner attention in the US Congress, where some have called for legislation to allow financially troubled state governments to declare bankruptcy. State finances also are weighing on investors. They have fled US municipal bonds recently, spurred by some analysts predicting a wave of defaults. Brown unveiled his budget plan last month after being sworn in to his third term-he was also governor in the 1970s and 1980s-and Republicans are showing no interest in his proposal for a ballot measure on taxes until their demands for spending cuts and regulatory reform are met. Some analysts had expected Republicans would propose talks with the governor to strike a deal on a tax measure in exchange for reforms aimed at the state’s pension system. But Republicans have yet to draft a plan on pensions and are hewing to their traditional anti-tax stance. “Further increasing taxes will hurt the economy and put more people out of work,” Jann Taber, spokeswoman for state Senate Republican leader Bob Dutton, said on Friday. Brown wants lawmakers to approve a budget framework by next month along with a tax measure to put
on the ballot in June. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said Democrats would press ahead with Brown’s plan, adding they were endorsing many of its spending cuts, which should appeal to Republicans. “We’ve already made several billion dollars of cuts,” Steinberg told Reuters. “We need to get voters the opportunity to have a say,” he added. “We’ll get this done hopefully with Senator Dutton. But with or without him, we’ll get this done.” Riding out ‘headline risk’ Brown’s budget plan pairs $12.5 billion in cuts with a referendum on extending tax increases expiring this year to plug the state deficit. California’s leaders got a sense on Monday of how the state government would look minus revenue from tax extensions in a budget scenario based on spending cuts. The scenario by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined more than $13 billion in cuts on top of Brown’s proposed cuts from an $86.6 billion general fund budget. Additional cuts would fall hard on schools and public safety, largely spared in Brown’s budget plan. While California’s budget politics are fueling broader concerns about the finances of state governments, muni market professionals such as Alexandra Lebenthal, whose family name has been synonymous with munis since the 1970s, say fear of defaults is overblown. ((For interviews with Lebenthal, click on and)) They point to legal requirements for municipal bond issuers, including nearly every state, to balance budgets and meet all their debt obligations to bondholders. Investors holding California’s general obligation, or GO, debt have a call on state payments second only to schools, worth keeping in mind amid glum headlines about the state’s budget politics, said Herb Morgan of Efficient Market Advisors. “If you actually get a sell-off in Cal GOs because of a headline, I’ll be the first guy in line to start buying,” said Morgan, whose firm in Del Mar, California, oversees $180 million in assets for high-net worth individuals. — Reuters
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
TECHNOLOGY
‘Facebook phones’ promise one-button uploads BARCELONA: After months of rumours, “Facebook phones” offering instant posting to the popular social networking site were unveiled this week at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. None of these new mobile phones has an official Facebook logo on the back. But even a casual test shows that the controls revolve around status updates, pokes, likes and other Facebook features. The site’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has a vision of the entire globe becoming a network of Facebook friends. And these new mobile phones lead that way. It is already estimated that onethird of Facebook’s 600 million members post or read friends’ updates on phones.
Apple’s iPhone and Android phones have had Facebook apps for ages. What is different on the new devices is the phone does not feel like a tool that helps you connect to Facebook - it seems to be a part of Facebook already. On “Facebook phones” from HTC of Taiwan, for instance, when the user takes a photograph the Facebook button blinks. It is urging the user to post that picture to the website. When the cellphone plays a song that the user enjoys, it is possible to tag it with an instant “like” and share that with friends. If a Facebook friend phones, their profile comes up on the screen. HTC calls the variant with a keyboard the ChaCha and the one with a touchscreen the
Salsa. Zuckerberg had denied in recent months that he was planning a Facebook phone. In a sense that has proved true - it’s not one phone, it’s dozens. On a video conference call to Mobile World, he said even more phones with profound Facebook integration are on the way. Last week a little-known maker, INQ, launched two phones that are built around Facebook, offering direct access to the user’s Wall. Postings from friends constantly stream into the INQ phones’ news page and invitations and other events go automatically into its calendar. Like the HTC products, the INQ devices run on Android. A smartcard company, Gemalto, has brought a novel approach to Barcelona - inte-
grating some of Facebook’s more basic functions into the SIM card instead of the phone itself. The advantage is that the user can then interact with Facebook using practically any mobile phone. This can be major money saver, since the user does not have to buy a costly smartphone or subscribe to an expensive data pricing option to send and see status updates, give and receive pokes and invitations, all of which run as texts. The short message service (SMS) technology does not handle photographs and videos, but this mode of Facebooking could have enormous appeal for budget-minded users. Gemalto’s Facebook for SIM service will not be free, but financed by subscriptions. — dpa
Smartphones set to jolt world mobile industry Smartphones are in effect pocket-sized computers
WASHINGTON: This January 11, 2011 screen image shows the Google logo in Washington, DC. Google unveiled an online payment platform for publishers on Feb 16. — AFP
THE TECH HELPER
Solving printer problems WASHINGTON: Printers are our silent computing partners - until they give us trouble. That’s when the component we think of only when needed becomes a hindrance to productivity. While it’s not always easy to solve printer issues, determining the source of the problem is often half the battle. Read on to learn why. Q: I live in a residence with several other students. We all use Windows. How can I give the others wireless access to my printer, which is connected to my computer by USB? A: Assuming all of the students you live with are sharing the same wireless network, sharing a printer that’s connected to one of the computer is as easy as setting up the printer to be shared. To do so, open the Devices and Printers panel in Windows (you can search for this panel using the Start menu). Rightclick the printer that’s connected to your PC, and select Printer Properties from the pop-up menu. From the Printer Properties dialog box, select the Sharing tab, and then select the check box labeled “Share this printer.” Note that to share a printer this way, your computer - or the computer to which the printer is connected - will have to remain on all the time or whenever someone else wants to print. To share a printer independent of whether your PC is on, you’ll need a printer that’s designed as a network printer, and you’ll need to hook that printer up to your wireless router. Q: The colours in the photos that I print at home do not match the colours that I see when viewing the photos on my monitor. How can I fix this problem? A: The problem is two-fold: monitor calibration and printer calibration. Both devices have to be set up to accurate display and represent colours in the same way. The best way to calibrate your monitor and printer is to purchase a calibration tool specifically designed for this task. You’ll find a number of them available from online retailers who specialise in equipment for photographers, such as New York’s B&H Photo. Good calibration tools cost as little as 100 dollars and will generally pay for themselves, since without them you’ll spend more money in paper and ink printing multiple copies of an image as you try to get your prints to match what you see on screen. Q: The memory in my printer can be upgraded. What will I gain if I upgrade the printer? Faster performance? A: Print speed generally has little
to do with the amount of printer memory installed - unless, that is, you send large print jobs to the printer. For most printing tasks, however, maxing out your printer’s memory will result in no print speed improvement whatsoever. What adding memory will give you is greater capacity to print rich, graphics-rich documents at the highest resolution. Since many printers “build” the image to be printed directly inside the printer, rather than in the host computer, the amount of memory installed can allow you to print jobs that other wise would not be possible. Before you run out and buy more memory, though, do a test. Find the most graphics-rich, font-rich document and try to print it out. If it works, leave well enough alone. Q: I have an HP printer hooked up to my home network so that several computers can share it. From time to time, the printer does not print, and I have to turn it off and back on. Could this be a driver issue? A: A network printer that occasionally becomes unresponsive is dropping off of the network, and the reason typically has nothing to do with the printer driver. Rather, the problem usually resides with some component of the network - a router, switch, or hub into which the printer is connected by Ethernet cable, for instance - or with the printer itself. Finding the source of the problem is usually a process of elimination, and by turning the printer off and on again, you’ve likely located the culprit. Visit the printer manufacturer’s website to see whether a firmware update that addresses the dropped connectivity is available. If not, contact the manufacturer. Sometimes problems of this nature are correctable only with a hardware fix or by having the unit repaired or replaced. Q: I never experienced any paper jams with my printer when it was new. Lately, however, jams are increasingly common. Does this mean the printer is wearing out? A: It probably means that the paper feed mechanism, or roller, is not grabbing the paper in the way that it did when the printer is new. Sometimes it’s possible to clean the roller; other times the roller is included as part of the toner cartridge, so you get a new one when the cartridge is replaced. Check your printer manual to see how you can clean the paper feed mechanism. — dpa
BARCELONA: A portentous number slipped past almost unnoticed last week when technology news concentrated on Nokia joining forces with Microsoft to develop platforms for mobile phones. Sales of smartphones topped those of personal computers for the first time. According to research from the International Data Corporation, vendors delivered 101 million smartphones during the fourth quarter of 2010, well above the total of 93.5 million PCs signalling an entry into a new age in computing. At a recent concluded Mobile World Congress, an annual mobile phone expo in Barcelona, Spain, there are likely to be some uncomfortable meetings between the losers and gainers. Smartphones are in effect pocket-sized computers that just happen to also make phone calls. A world that carries its computers around in its pockets will come up with new varieties of advertising and money-making ideas. About one in five mobile phones sold worldwide last year was a smartphone. Market analysts remain divided in their predictions about what will happen next, agreeing only that it depends on the price of tomorrow’s smartphones. Carolina Milanesi at Gartner, a leading analyst, suggests smartphones could claim 35 per cent of the market within two years. “And that’s a conservative estimate,” she said. If smartphones become cheaper, the share might range above 50 per cent. And if they become really affordable on all continents, maybe the share would be 70 to 80 per cent. The sales figures in “mature” markets such as Western Europe and North America, where already more than half the phones sold are smartphones, suggest the way ahead. But invert the figures and one sees that worldwide, eight out of 10 mobile phones currently sold are not smartphones. The industry term for them is “dumbphones,” made for phone calls only and economic to buy. The prospects send a chill through Nokia of Finland, the company that makes hundreds of millions of “dumbphones” per year and cur-
BARCELONA: A new video calling ooVoo application is displayed on a tablet at the 3GSM World congress in Barcelona. — AFP rently rules the roost. If the trend continues, Nokia could soon be a blast from the past, a maker of yesterday’s technology. That is why Nokia announced last week it was ceasing further development of its Symbian operating system and would adopt Windows Phone from Microsoft for its highend phones. The gainers from the smartphone boom are Google and Apple. Web search giant Google leads an alliance pushing the Android operating system for phones, while Apple has given the world its iPhone, running Apple’s proprietary operating system iOS. With each iteration of their software, the two giants set the bar even higher for potential competitors. That was where Symbian lost out. Their notable achievement has been to create “platforms” that allow each user to turn a telephone into a “smart” device by loading applications or apps to suit their needs.
Selling apps has become a key revenue stream for big web companies. Market analysts estimated last year that annual sales of apps brought in 5 billion dollars worldwide, and that the market could expand to more than 15 billion dollars in four years’ time. That is revenue that the wireless companies operating networks, the big kids on the block in the “old system,” largely miss out on. Wireless companies can still decide what operating systems and what phone models to sell in their shops, but the platform model cuts them out of the business selling the money-spinning apps. Gartner’s Milanesi said they have been degraded to service providers in the emerging system and forecasts they may not be able to escape from this niche. But Google and Apple are also well aware that a smartphone is nothing without a fast web connection. — dpa
COMPUTER AND INTERNET BRIEFS WASHINGTON: Need the text in a graphic or PDF turned into editable text? Try Free OCR (http://www.free-ocr.com), a website that allows you to upload an image file in any of a number of image formats. Files can be up to 2 megabytes in size. Once converted, the results are displayed directly on the webpage. There’s no need to provide your email address for delivery. WASHINGTON: Want to be more productive on the computer? Consider a new keyboard. Many keyboards today feature one-button access to often-used functions of today’s operating systems. For example, on a keyboard designed for Windows, look for dedicated buttons to access the calculator, web browser, email and search function. Ergonomic keyboards can also help to avoid repetitive stress injuries. BARCELONA: Participants gather around the Google Android stand. — AP
Twitter: We’re making money BARCELONA: Twitter said in Barcelona last week it had become profitable, disclosing that its live messaging service is carrying 130 million daily tweets, or short messages, from its members. The US-based company, which has been one of the fastest-growing socialnetworking services, said 40 per cent of tweets are transmitted by mobile devices, typically smartphones. “We’re making money,” chief executive Dick Costolo said in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress expo, but gave no figures. Twitter sets a size limit of just 140 characters on each communication. Each tweet goes to a user’s mixed collection of followers. Founded in 2006, Twitter has been slow to develop a sustainable business model, with its originators opposed from the start to heavy advertising for fear this would put users off. Costolo has ushered in a more advertising-centred approach, partly
focussed on charging companies to tweet. He said further products to earn revenue would be coming up this year. Past statements suggest Twitter now has 200 million registered users worldwide, and newspaper reports say the company has told investors it hopes to build its market value to 8 billion-10 billion dollars. Costolo told reporters in Barcelona that Twitter’s latest traffic record was set on New Year’s Eve in Japan, when it was handling 6,000 tweets per second. During key US sports events such as the Super Bowl, it has peaked at 3,000 per second. Twitter was driving people back to watching TV shows live instead of using video recorders to time-shift viewing, Costolo said: “People want to talk about the shows with their friends.” He said the service was about to launch an instant translation facility. This would allow people to input a tweet in English and have it broadcast in Russian and other languages. — dpa
WASHINGTON: When buying a notebook computer, should you pay extra for a more powerful, longer lasting battery? Many notebook manufacturers today offer you the choice. If you opt for the longer-lasting battery, keep in mind that the extra staying power comes via a battery that is physically larger than the less-powerful option, and the bigger battery may protrude beyond the edges of your notebook, making the unit not only heavier but more cumbersome to carry. WASHINGTON: With search built into Windows 7, is there a reason to use another desktop search tool? Perhaps. While Windows 7 does an effective job at indexing and searching for files where they are commonly stored, it won’t index certain locations, such as network drives. Other products, including Copernic Desktop, will. Also, some say that Google’s free desktop search product still finds more results quicker than Windows 7’s built-in search. Each product is worth a try. WASHINGTON: Need to shorten a long URL? There are many free tools from which to choose. Some of the more popular are bit.ly (http://bit.ly), Google url shortener (http://goo.gl), and Tiny URL (http://tinyurl.com). Each works essentially the same way: paste in a long URL, click Shorten, and in an instant, a shorter version of the URL appears, ready for you to copy to the clipboard and paste into an email or document. — dpa
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health & science
US House votes to deny Obama healthcare law funds Americans sharply divided on healthcare law WASHINGTON: The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives voted on Friday to choke off cash to fund President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law, intensifying a fight with Democrats over budget cuts and deficits. The House move against the 2010 healthcare law-one of Obama’s main legislative victories-is certain to be rejected by the Democratic-led Senate, but it has raised tensions over federal spending that could lead to a government shutdown.
YUXI: In this photo taken on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, a doctor shows a 4-inch (10-centimeter) knife which has been removed from the skull of Li Fuyan against the x-ray scan at the People’s Hospital in Yuxi in southwest China’s Yunnan province. Surgeons in southern China successfully removed a rusty, 4-inch (10-centimeter) knife from the skull of a man who said it had been stuck in there for four years, the hospital said Friday. —AP
Singapore grannies take up ballet to stay healthy SINGAPORE: Clad in a black shortsleeved leotard, matching leggings and light pink ballet flats, Lee Poh Ying warms up in the glass-walled studio with fellow dance students. But Lee and a few of the other weekend ballerinas are not your typical preteen ballet students stretching their backs and kicking up their legs to prepare for their group lessons. She is a 62-year-old grandmother with her hair bundled up in a hairnet, one of a growing number of older people in Singapore trying to stay fit and active in a fast-greying society with an average life expectancy of 81.4 years. Ballet was Lee’s childhood dream, but it took her decades before she finally had the time and freedom to pursue it. “My mother did not allow me to learn ballet, saying I should focus on my studies, and that dance was not a well-paying job,” she said. “I could only admire the girls in my school dance, and then secretly try the moves in my room.” Now the former supervisor at an electronics factory, who retired in 2002, dances with other adult students every Sunday morning at a community centre near her suburban apartment. “I like ballet a lot. It makes me very happy. I will continue dancing until I cannot dance,” she told AFP. Singapore, like other affluent Asian societies such as Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, is grappling with an ageing population because of falling birth rates and longer lifespans. By 2030, 20 percent of Singaporeans are forecast to be 65 years or older, according to official statistics. The government has been encouraging senior citizens to lead healthy lifestyles, and elderly Singaporeans are taking it upon themselves to explore various forms of exercise including dance. Amy Tan, executive director of Women’s Initiative for Ageing Successfully (WINGS), a non-profit education centre for mature women, finds the trend beneficial. “Physical activities for elderly women require their mind and body to partici-
pate together, which is wonderful for their mental and physical wellness,” said Tan. However, learning ballet is not easy for mature women, some of whom have to struggle with medical conditions, injuries-and fear of failure. Jacqueline Chow, 53, who has studied ballet at a community centre since 2008, finds it hard to execute some ballet steps because of her spinal, knee and foot problems. To help her out, her ballet teacher alters the exercises. “As I have stiff joints in my leg, I cannot do a grand plie, which is the bending movement of both knees,” she said. “So I only do a plie within my own limits.” She once swung too hard and fell down while doing a pirouette, the classic ballet move of turning on one foot. “It was very painful, but I learned from it. Now I know that I cannot shift my body too hard when I do a pirouette,” said the university employee. After three years of ballet, Chow says her back is stronger and her body more flexible. Yu Shuhuai, 55, a China-born dance instructor who has been teaching ballet at several government-funded community centres in Singapore for eight years, enjoys working with mature women because of their attitude. “Once when I came to class early, I saw the dancers reading their notes and revising the dance steps,” Yu said. “I was so touched.” Their age does show occasionally, and not only in their restricted movements. “Once a dancer wore hard shoes on top of her ballet flats, and then went around looking for her ballet flats,” he said. In 2003, a group of elderly women approached him and asked if he could help them fulfill their dream of learning ballet. He agreed and started classes with six students. Now he has more than 40. To cater to this group, Yu did some research on their body structure and physical condition before devising dance moves that allow them to understand the characteristics of ballet, yet do not harm them. —AFP
Late on Friday, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, noting the need to “avoid the calamitous effect of a government shutdown,” proposed legislation to continue current spending levels until March 31 from the March 4 deadline. That would give Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate more time to work out a compromise spending plan for the rest of the year. Kevin Smith, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, did not specifically reject the idea. But he told Reuters, “Americans are asking Congress to cut spending to help create a better environment for job creation, not lock in the massive ‘stimulus’ spending levels that have failed to produce the jobs that Democrats promised.” On largely party-line votes, the House approved several amendments to deny funds to federal agencies to implement the healthcare overhaul, which Republicans deride as a costly government intrusion into the marketplace. The House debate on the spending bill extended late into Friday with passage anticipated sometime later yesterday. During late-night debate, the House voted to stop the Obama administration from enforcing new regulations on some types of coal mining and rolled back a gun control law aimed at individuals’ multiple purchases of rifles and shotguns. The House also voted to overturn the
Pentagon’s decision to close the Joint Forces Command facility in Virginia. But it rejected Democratic attempts to cap farm subsidies and close a loophole so oil companies would have to pay up to $53 billion in royalties for drilling projects in the Gulf of Mexico. Financial markets are closely watching fights over spending, as Obama and Republicans position themselves for the 2012 presidential election, and Republicans flex their muscles after congressional election victories last year. Political gridlock could cause a shutdown of government next month, and a separate showdown over whether to allow the United States to borrow more is also brewing. The healthcare measures were part of a Republican-led bill that would cut spending for domestic programs by $61.5 billion through September to try to rein in the record US budget deficit. Democratic Representative Sander Levin said the risk of a federal shutdown was heightened by the Republicans’ healthcare amendment. “Instead of searching for common ground, this amendment intensifies warfare,” Levin said. “The Republicans have become a wrecking crew.” Republicans say the healthcare reform burdens doctors, insurers and employers with unnecessary costs and bureaucracy as the
country is slowly recovering from a recession. The law is aimed at ensuring more Americans get medical insurance and provide consumer protections in the healthcare industry. Polls show Americans sharply divided on the healthcare law. Republicans cite their election win last year to justify holding back healthcare law money. In votes on other amendments on Friday, the House approved two more conservative initiatives sure to arouse opposition in the Senate. One would save $363.2 million by denying federal funds to Planned Parenthood, a family planning agency that provides services for women, including abortion. There already is a prohibition against using federal funds for abortions, but the Republican amendment would hit other Planned Parenthood activities. The second amendment would stop the Environmental Protection Agency from enforcing rules related to emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas pollutants. Obama has outlined his own plan for less severe spending cuts in 2012 to shrink a deficit expected to be about $1.65 trillion this year, equivalent to 10.9 percent of the economy. He has warned that tightening the belt too much too soon could harm the slow economic recovery. —Reuters
NEW DELHI: In this photograph taken on February 17, 2011, Spanish couple Mauro (L) and Juan Carlos embrace their new born twin girls at a hospital in New Delhi, after an Indian surrogate mother gave birth to the children. Commercial surrogacy is a booming industry in India, and in recent years the ranks of childless foreign couples have been swelled by gay partners looking for a low-cost, legally-friendly path to parenthood. —AFP
Food tax could trim some peoples’ calorie intake
HONG KONG: This photo taken on January 31, 2011 shows “Big Snake Mak” — otherwise known as serpent salesman Mak Tai-kwong, holding some snakes at the She Wong Lam snake soup shop in Hong Kong. Snake has been used in China for thousands of years to cure a host of ailments — snake-fermented wine for arthritis, snake genitals for the kidneys and male sex drive, snake gall bladder for bronchitis. —AFP
NE W YORK : Would you still reach for those french fries if their price was jacked up by a substantial tax? A study says not everybody would. Junk food taxes and greater openness with calorie information have both been advocated as ways to help consumers limit their calorie intake -and, the hope is, to keep their weight in a healthy range. In a computer-based experiment with nearly 200 US college students, researchers led by Janneke Giesen of M aastricht Universit y in the Netherlands found that the students generally “bought” fewer lunchtime calories when sugary, high-fat fare came with a tax of 25 percent or more. “The most important finding of our study is that a tax of 25 percent or more on (high-calorie) foods makes nearly every-
one buy fewer calories,” Giesen told Reuters Health in an email. Th e exce ption was when calorie-conscious eaters were given calorie information on their lunch options, in which case the tax did not seem to sway their opinions. Policies to require restaurants and other vendors to be frank with calorie information have made gains recently-most notably in New York, which in 2008 became the first US city to mandate that fast food restaurants and coffee chains put calorie information on their menus. But just how effective such measures have been, or could be, is controversial. The current study, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that the effectiveness of junk food taxes might partly depend on whether calorie information is given or
not, as well as the customer’s own awareness of calories. Giesen and colleagues had 178 US college students choose a hypothetical lunch from a computer menu on three separate occasions. Each time, the prices for high- calorie items such as bacon cheeseburgers, brownies and chips, were increased- first by 25 percent, then 50 percent. About half the students were given calorie information. Overall, students tended to order fewer calories when a junk food tax was in place. They curbed their average calorie intake by about 100 to 300 calories, depending on the tax in place. The only students who did n o t re s p o n d to t h e p r i ce increases were those who were already watching their diets and given calorie information.
They ate fewer calories than their peers without any food tax, and showed little change in their eating when the tax was added. “However, if one wants to help people in general to prevent caloric overconsumption, then our results indicate that imposing a high tax on (highc a l o r i c ) fo o d i te m s i s m u c h more efficacious,” Giesen said. Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, said that while the study had a limitations, including the small sample size, its results fit with larger experiments that suggest a junk food tax might work. But Industr y trade groups argue that there is no evidence the taxes will fight obesity and say that these taxes would unfairly burden low-income families. —Reuters
China adopts heavy metal reduction plan BEIJING: China has adopted a plan to tackle heavy-metal pollution, state media reported yesterday, after more than 30 major poisoning incidents since 2009. The government has set a target of reducing emissions of five metals-lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium and arsenic-by 15 percent
from 2007 levels over the next five years, the China Daily said. China discharged 900 tonnes of the highly toxic metals in 2007, the paper reported, and Environment Minister Zhou Shengxian said 75 billion yuan ($11.4 billion) would be needed over the five years to address the problem.
The report did not say whether this funding had been allocated. Nearly 4,500 enterprises, including mines, batter y manufac turers, leather producers and the chemical industry, have been identified as key monitoring targets. “More than 30 major heavy-metal poisoning incidents have occurred since
2009, posing a grave threat to public health, especially to children,” Zhou said. Last month 28 children, including some less than a year old, were rushed to hospital in the eastern province of Anhui with lead poisoning caused by a local battery factory. A report earlier this week
found that up to 10 percent of rice grown in China is tainted with heavy metals. The China Daily cited the breakneck expansion of heavy-metal industries, outdated technology and a lack of effective monitoring as the main reasons for the pollution. —AFP
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Nigeria halts transmission of Guinea worm ATLANTA: Nigeria has halted transmission of Guinea worm disease, bringing closer the moment when a disease is eradicated from the planet for just the second time in histor y, former US President Jimmy Carter said. Just 1,800 cases of the painful disease remain and 94 percent of those are in South Sudan, which last month voted to secede from Sudan in the aftermath of a long civil war. Scattered cases have also been found in eastern Mali and western Ethiopia, while Ghana is likely to announce soon that that it has halted transmission entirely. “We have a few years to go yet before we have the last case of Guinea worm on earth,” Carter told a news conference at the Carter Center in Atlanta, which has spent $275 million fighting the disease. There were around 3.5 million cases of Guinea worm in 20 coun-
tries in Africa and Asia in 1986 when the former president organized a global effort to eradicate the disease. Few people die from the parasitic Guinea worm but it is very debilitating with fevers, blisters and extreme pain when the worms emerge from the body. It is spread by drinking unboiled stagnant water containing the larvae. There are only 85 villages in South Sudan with five or more cases and thousands of people, mainly volunteers, are working to eliminate it, he said. “I feel now that the prospects for rapid movement to a complete eradication in South Sudan is enhanced by the recent vote and by the ceasefire,” Carter said. Nigeria found its last case of Guinea worm in 2008 and so confident is the government that no more cases exist that it has set a
bounty of 10,000 nairas (around $65) for any confirmed cases, said Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu. He, Carter and others including former Nigerian President Yakubu Gowon were speaking before a ceremony at the center to honor Nigeria and its northern neighbor Niger for stopping the spread of the disease. Transmission could be halted globally by the end of 2012 and by around 2015 the U.N. World Health Organization could declare the disease eradicated, said Donald Hopkins, the center’s vice-president for health programs. A global vaccination effort eradicated the smallpox virus in 1979, but one unusual feature of the Guinea worm campaign was that it was led not by a government or a United Nations body but by a nongovernmental organization, Hopkins told. —Reuters
AGARTALA: Indian health workers carry killed ducks to bury them at the R.K. Nagar Government Duck Farm in Agartala, India, Feb. 18, 2011. According to a local news agency, at least 3,000 poultry, including chickens and ducks were culled Friday in a state-owned poultry at Agartala, in the north eastern state of Tripura. Avian flu remains difficult for humans to catch, but experts fear the virus might mutate into a new form that spreads easily among people. — AP
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National, Liberation Day and HH the Amir’s assumption of Power Events
ICSK bids adieu to its batch 2010-2011 students Kuwait’s 50th anniversary of Independence and school’s Golden Jubilee celebrated with recognition award to staff
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he Indian Community School Kuwait (ICSK) organized a solemn valedictory function on Wednesday, February 16th, to bid farewell to 216 of its 12th standard students of 2010-2011 batch, at the ICSK campus in Salmiya. The Ambassador of India Ajai Malhotra was the Chief Guest. In his inaugural address, Ambassador Malhotra reminded the students that only a burning desire would turn their thoughts into success. He encouraged the students to achieve a sterling performance in the approaching board exams and also in the fields of their chosen professions. The ambassador commended their achievements and commitment to studies. He also appreciated teachers who work hard behind the scenes so that students could achieve great results in their board examinations. K. Narasing Rao, Counselor at Indian Embassy also graced the occasion as a guest of honor. An atmosphere of pride and excitement prevailed in the campus as students in traditional academic regalia went on stage to collect their credentials from Narsing Rao in the presence of family, friends, faculty and staff, alumni, distinguished board members and members of the Parents Advisory Council. Ashok Kalra, Honorary
Chairman of Board of Trustees of ICSK on his part applauded the sincere efforts of the teachers in training the students to do well in academics and getting them ready to face the trials and tribulations of the world. He advised the students to keep the culture and tradition of their country intact wherever they go. On the auspicious occasion of Golden Jubilee of ICSK which coincides with the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of the State Of Kuwait, the Honorary Chairman, on behalf of the ICSK Board of Trustees announced a Golden Jubilee Recognition Award in the form of one-month salary to all teaching and non-teaching staff of ICSK. Kalra explained that despite the adverse economic environment that prevailed during the last few years, ICSK has developed several path-breaking initiatives to provide the best environment for the students and staff alike. The board of trustees
of ICSK believes that the students of the ICSK will play a responsible role in shaping the country’s future. Briefing touching on the history of Indian Community School, Kalra said, the ICSK, which started its eventful journey in 1959 with 20 students, has come a long way. Today it is heralded as the largest Indian School in Kuwait with total student strength of 6,376 with the quality of student and the strength of its teaching and nonteaching faculty at the top in all key parameters. The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) of ICSK, elected annually by the parents plays a pivotal role in school administration. The efforts of the Council in support of promoting educational excellence in ICSK have been substantial, and ICSK management are particularly gratified by the increasing awareness and acceptance of the important role that parents play through PAC, both in the education of their
children and the school. Over the years ICSK has not only grown in terms of academic excellence, but also has excelled in sports where the students have brought laurels to the institution by being the Champions for the 9th year consecutively in CBSE cluster athletic meet held in Kuwait. ICSK being a Community School believes in the power of using education as a transformer of society, and is committed to the cause of education to ensure that the fruits of the nation’s economic progress reach a wider section of society. Kalra added, “To transform its belief into actions, ICSK has introduced an ‘Endowment Scheme’ to provide free scholarships to the needy students of the school who cannot afford quality education in this country.” The honorary vice chairman Archie Menezes and the honorary treasurer Dinesh Kamath and the honorary joint secretary Francis Machado also were present and presented awards and certificates to 24 students who had 100 percent attendance during the academic year. ICSK is the pioneer private school in Kuwait established by a group of philanthropic Indian nationals in the year 1959. The school’s strong alumni base is spread across many countries in a wide spectrum of sectors.
MACE honors young entrepreneur Neighborhood clean up event on 25th February
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he Indian community in Kuwait shall celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Kuwait in a special way. Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA) the leading social welfare organization of Indians in Kuwait is organizing a Neighborhood Park Clean Up Event to commemorate their host country’s golden jubilee of independence. The program dubbed as “Beautiful Kuwait” is a thanksgiving program for Kuwait and its people on the occasion of Kuwait’s Independence Day, says the organizers. The program held in Jleeb Park is patronage by the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) and supported by Indian business units, namely, UAE Exchange Center, Gulf Mart and Apsara Bazaar. The program also coincides with KKMA’s 10th anniversary celebrations and it is conducted as a symbol of love and appreciation of Indian nationals in Kuwait towards Kuwait. It will also demonstrate the community spirit for keeping the neighborhood clean and safe and to attract other users of the park to realize the importance of keeping the park clean and it should be their determination to maintain high standards in its usage. On Friday, 25th February 2011, a large number of KKMA volunteers, representing the Indian community in Kuwait along with employees of UAE Exchange Center, Gulf Mart and Apsara Bazar will clean the Jleeb Park — all sidewalks, children’s play area, football and cricket courts, by collecting trash from the entire site and disposing them safely. The program will start at 8 am and expect to complete by 10:30 am. All Indian nationals and Park users who are interested to join in this campaign should report to the venue by 7:30 am on the day. A grand inaugural session will be held at the Park on this day at 8 am in which embassy officials and community leaders and general public are expected to participate.
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ACE Alumni Association honored John Thomas with “Young Entrepreneur Award”. During the well attended Sargotsav function, Indian Ambassador Ajai Malhotra Ambassador of India to Kuwait presented the award to John Thomas. This award is presented to John Thomas in appreciation of his initiative and courage to start a business of his own in Kuwait. John Thomas, the sole Entrepreneur in MACE Alumni Association Kuwait Chapter, graduated from MACE in 1995, came to Kuwait in 1996, joined Gulf Aluminum Co and worked there for 10 years. In spite of having a lucrative pay package, he decided to give up the job in 2006 and started his own contracting Co MG Kuwait Doors and Windows. His company specializes in the
state of the art metal cladding, curtain walling, sky lights and interior decorative steel structures. Some of his prestigious projects are 360 degree mall, Abdul Aziz Tower, Discovery Mall and Seven Zone’s Design Centre. We wish him all the best and success in all his future ventures. Hope this award will also serve as an inspiration and motivation for other engineers to start their own business ventures.
Chittagong Samity celebrates Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) birthday
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hittagong Samity in Kuwait held a prayer mahfil on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) at Gulshan Restaurant Kuwait on 16th February. This Mahfil was presided by President Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury of the Chittagong Samity and chief guest was Sayed Yousuf Hisham Al Refai (Ex Minister of Kuwait) and Dr Mohammad Mustaq Khaderi and MVL Kamrul Islam also were present in this prayer mahfil as special guest. The mehfil was conducted by Gen Sec of Chittagong. Samity S.M. Jahanagir Alam. Mahfil started with recitation from Holy Quran by Mohd Javed Jafar. Chief guest mentioned in his address from the Holy Quran “Waz kuru niyamat illahi alaykum” (Remember Allah Azzawajal) favours and “Wama arsalnaka illah rehmatullil alameen” (I have sent as blessing for whole mankind) “By all means Prophet Mohammed (Salla Allahu ta’ala’alayhi wa sallam) is the uzma of Allah (Azzawajal)” By doing milaad sharif you are performing Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) (Salla Allahu ta’ala’alayhi wa sallam) zikr also mention that the above aayats Allah (Azzawajal) has ordered to do zikr of Prophet Mohammed (Salla Allahu ta’ala’alayhi wa sallam). The Special Guest Dr Mohd Mustaq also addresses that Allah’s Messenger (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) told: “Whoever believes in Allah and the hereafter
should either say what is good, or otherwise remain silent”. And address the audience the importance to deliberate Eid E Milad Un Nabi. Special Guest MVI Kamrul Islam recited few verses from holy Quran and Nath-E-Rasut (PBUH). In the Presidential address Jafar Ahmed referred that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had come with the message of universal Brotherhood, peace, and equality which is infinite in nature and indeed it’s wrong to confine his personality to Muslims only. He also said that Prophet (PBUH) made every effort all his life to unite and integrate human being for the peace and betterment of the mankind. He further noted that now it’s our responsibility to follow those teaching of the messenger of Allah (PBUH) to being a positive change in our societies which are ridden with bad elements. The meeting concluded by prayer for peace and prosperity for the state of Kuwait and Bangladesh and whole mankind. This gathering was attended by more than 700 people and later served all attendee with dinner with historical Chittagonean “Mezvan Style” by the organizer. In this mehfil Dr Khaled, Dr Shahajahan, Jubair, Eng Manjoo, Swapan, Mohiuddin, Shafiul Alam, M. Jamal, Faruk, Salam, Lockman, Masood Karim, Tawhid, Kalam, Amin and local news reporter, social activities, politician, professional with many Bangladeshis and other nationality from various part of Kuwait attended the function.
Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20
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Kuwait English School defeat BSK
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uwait English School defeated local rivals British School of Kuwait by 24 to 18 to become champions of the ISAAC Open Girls Basketball League. In a nail biting finish, KES went 22-18 up in the final minute with Kelly Lynch scoring the last 2 points to clinch a hard earned win. “KES Open Girls have been outstanding all season”. KES beat ESF by a convincing 34 to 11 in the semi final. In the League matches on their way to victory, the team overcame ABS by 75 - 3, NES by 35 - 17, ESF by 34 - 19 and BSK by 17 16. Having won all their league games, KES had a comfortable but competitive win over English School Fahaheel in their semi-final. KES then had the pleasure of playing against their old foes, the British School of Kuwait, in the final of the ISAAC Open Girls Basketball Competition. After narrowly beating BSK in the league match (17 -16), and scoring in the last two seconds of the match, it was always going to be a tense match. Both teams displayed excellent guile and skill. In the first quarter only four points were scored, shared at 2 -2. “Clearly both teams were nervous. The basketball would not drop through the net despite plenty of shooting opportunities for both sides”. In the second quarter KES girls dominated the early exchanges to take a 10 2 lead. BSK managed to get free throws and pulled the score back to 8 -10 at the half time interval. In the third quarter both teams exchanged points up to 14 - 12. Despite lots of pressure on the BSK defence, the
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
Information EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The visa Application Centre (VAC) will be reopen today, Feb. 20, 2011. The opening hours of the Visa Application Centre are 0930-1630. Application forms remain available online from the UKBAs’ website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or from the Visa Application Centre’s website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com And also, from the UK Visa Application Centre located at: 413, First Floor, Al Banwan Building (Burgan Bank Branch Office Building), Al Qibla area, opposite Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City. For any further inquiries, please contact the Visa Application Centre: Website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com E-mail: info@vfs-uk-kw.com Telephone: 22971170 The Consular Section will also be closed on the same dates. For information on the British Embassy services, visit the British Embassy website: www.ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk
game was still very close going into the fourth quarter. BSK went up 17-16 but KES responded immediately taking the lead 18-17. In the final two minutes the pressure was building again. KES went 22-18 up in the final minute with Kelly Lynch scoring the final points to seal a great and well deserved win for Kuwait English School. “The team has been led superbly by
Lulu Al Huniedi and all the girls have trained very hard for this win.” KES squad comprised Lulu Al Huneidi, Sonja Madzikanda, Kelly Lynch, Alex Bertz, Shatha Al Huneidi, Mishaal Sharif, Dana Al Khayat, Farah Al Huneidi, Lina Najem, Shahad Awadh, Alice Moumdjian, Jasmin Salem, Zeinab Kawaja, Namrata Soni, Farah Al Sayyed and Lina Malliaroudakis
“Coach Gwilliam is very proud of all the team members, having coached them for the last seven years”. Students from the U15 team played with the open squad and have greatly improved, especially Shatha Al Huneidi. Sadly we will lose Kelly, Lulu and Sonya, as they go off to university next year. However, the future looks very bright for KES basketball.
NBK trains EQUATE’s employees
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he National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), leading bank in Kuwait and the highest rated bank in the Middle East, organized an interactive and handson banking and administrative skills training course for EQUATE employees. This comes in line with NBK commitment to shouldering its social responsibilities and comes as a further manifestation of its support to the national oil sector. In addition to the various theoretical and practical training sessions on the administrative and banking skills and procedures, the course was highlighted by a lecture and a presentation delivered by NBK Team. “NBK, Executive Manager for Foreign Corporate-Oil and Gas Unit, Saud Y. AlQemlas believes that training and success go hand in hand in the constantly expanding oil and petrochemical business sector and this is why NBK commenced the “Know Your Bank” Training Course The Know Your Bank initiative is a testament of NBK’s commitment to take its CSR -corporate social responsibility a
step further through providing consistent support for the national manpower. The Know Your Bank is a high level banking orientation course offered by NBK to familiarize employees of the KPC and its subsidiaries’ with banking operations. The ‘Know Your Bank’ project promotes the business relationship between NBK and Equateby enhancing communication skills with regard to daily transaction and processing requirements that are fulfilled by NBK. It was arranged for KPC,PIC, KOC, KNPC, KPI, KAFCO. Commenting on the conclusion of the training program, Al Qemlas said that this initiative is another testament of NBK’s commitment to take its corporate social responsibility a step further through providing consistent support for the national manpower. “This program is also a manifestation of NBK’s interest and commitment towards enhancing its fruitful and firm relationships with the major national economic sectors, particularly the companies and organizations operating in the oil and petrochemical fields” he added.
Sahara Kuwait Resort participates in celebration of national, liberation days
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ahara Kuwait Resort participates in the celebration of Kuwait 50th National Day & 20th Liberation Day through the following facilities and offers: l Golf tournament will be held on Feb 25th, 2011 involving professional golf players. l Sahara Kuwait Resort will offer to all clients who were born on Feb 25, 1961 and Feb 26, 1990 complementary stay for one night in the resort’s luxury villas. l Sahara Kuwait Resort will offer a discount of 25% to all citizens who were born on Feb 25 & 26, without consideration to their year of birth. l The Hunting & Equestrian Club is next to Sahara Kuwait Resort. Hassan Bayerli (General Manager Sahara Kuwait Resort) stated that our Golf Course classed as one of the finest courses in the GCC region, Sahara Kuwait Resort offers 18 hole golf course built to Championship standards. Induction and training programs are available at the Golf Academy and are carried out by a team of PGA accredited trainers. The Spa at Sahara is unique. Indulge your senses, clear your mind and free yourself from stress while
being pampered at Sahara Spa. All spa treatments are designed to ensure mental and physical indulgence and relaxation. Enjoy the luxurious services of the health club and fully equipped fitness centre, with access to all areas of leisure, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sauna, steam rooms, Jacuzzis, tennis and squash courts. The team at Sahara Kuwait Resort has put together menus representing the ultimate in culinary creativity and innovation sure to entice all tastes. Func tions and meeting rooms at Sahara Kuwait resort offer the latest in audio and visual technology. Villas at Sahara Kuwait Resor t embody the height of luxury and privacy. Enjoy the beautiful green views while relaxing on your veranda. Residents of the villas can enjoy all the leisure facilities offered at Sahara Kuwait resort. Sahara Kuwait Resort has recently become the preferred place for world figures stay through their visit to Kuwait. Bayerli concluded that our concept of hospitalit y is that we exceed the level of satisfac tion expected by our guest when they are in the resort facilities.
EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India has further revamped and improved its Legal Advice Clinic at the Indian Workers Welfare Center, and made the free service available to Indian nationals on all five working days, i.e. from Sunday to Thursday every week. Kuwaiti lawyers would be available at the Legal Advice Clinic daily from Monday to Thursday, while Indian lawyers would be available on Sundays. Following are the free welfare services provided at the Indian Workers Welfare Center located at the Embassy of India: [i] 24x7 Helpline for Domestic Workers: Accessible by toll free telephone no. 25674163 from anywhere in Kuwait, it provides information and advice exclusively to Indian domestic sector workers (Visa No. 20) as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters. [ii] Help Desk: It offers guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal, and other issues (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iii) Labour Complaints Desk: It registers labor complaints and provides grievance redressal service to Indian workers (Embassy premises; 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4.30 PM, Sunday to Thursday); (iv) Shelters: For female and male domestic workers in distress; (v) Legal Advice Clinic: Provides free legal advice to Indian nationals (Embassy premises; Kuwaiti lawyers 3 PM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday; Indian lawyers 2 PM to 4 PM on Sunday); and (vi) Attestation of Work Contracts: Private sector worker (Visa No. 18) contracts are accepted at the Embassy; 9 AM to 1 PM; Sunday to Thursday; Domestic sector worker (Visa No. 20) contracts are accepted at Kuwait Union of Domestic Labor Offices (KUDLO), Hawally, Al-Othman Street, Kurd Roundabout, Al-Abraj Complex, Office No 9, Mezzanine Floor; 9 AM to 9 PM, Saturday to Thursday; 5 PM to 9 PM on Friday. Embassy of India would like to inform that application forms for passport/visa services and labor contracts that are on its website, www.indembkwt.org, have been upgraded to include the facility for online data entry. Affidavit forms on the embassy website have had this facility since May 6, 2009. EMBASSY OF THE US
The United States Depar tment of State announces the increase in various visa fees to ensure sufficient resources to cover the increasing cost of processing nonimmigrant visas (NIVs). U S l a w re q u i re s t h e D e p a r t m e n t t o recover the cost of processing non-immigrant visas through the collection of the application fees. The increased fees are to take effect June 4, 2010. Under the new rule, applicants for all visas that are n o t p e t i t i o n - b a s e d, i n c l u d i n g B 1 / B 2 tourist and business visitor visas and all student and exchange-visitor visas, will pay a fee of $140. Applicants for petition-based visas will pay an application fee of $150, as each of the below categories requires a review of extensive documentation and a more in- depth inter view of the applicant than other categories, such as tourists. These categories include: H visa for temporary workers and trainees L visa for intra-company transferees O visa for aliens with extraordinary ability P visa for athletes, artists and entertainers Q visa for international cultural exchange visitors R visa for religious occupations Th e a p p l i c a t i o n fe e fo r K v i s a s fo r fiance(e)s of US citizens will be $350. The fee for E visas for treat y-traders and treaty-investors will be $390.
EMBASSY OF NETHERLANDS The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands welcomes Dutch citizens living in Kuwait to register with the Embassy. This registration service is provided so that the Embassy can contact and assist Dutch citizens in case of an emergency, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Dutch citizens in case of a family emergenc y in the Netherlands. Registration forms are available online at: www.mfa.nl/kwe.
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The Ellen Degeneres Show Karen Sisco Good Morning America Supernatural Rescue Me Commander In Chief Karen Sisco Good Morning America Glee Friday Night Lights The Ellen Degeneres Show Psych Friday Night Lights Commander In Chief Glee Karen Sisco Live Good Morning America Psych American Idol Detroit 1-8-7 Criminal Minds Sons Of Anarchy Kathy Griffin: My Life On The
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Untamed And Uncut Journey Of Life Dogs 101 Gorilla School Orangutan Island Pit Bulls And Parolees I’m Alive Untamed And Uncut Cats 101 Meerkat Manor Growing Up...: Orang-Utan Predator’s Prey Breed All About It Corwin’s Quest Project Puppy Project Puppy Animal Precinct Wildlife Sos E-Vets: The Interns Life Of Mammals Life Of Mammals Baby Planet Must Love Cats Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 Last Chance Highway World Wild Vet Wildest Africa Dogs 101 Weird Creatures With Nick
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K9 Cops
Big Top Doctor Who Doctor Who Confidential The Weakest Link The Weakest Link Big Top My Family My Family Balamory Tweenies Fimbles The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Charlie And Lola Balamory Tweenies Fimbles The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Charlie And Lola Balamory Tweenies Fimbles The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Charlie And Lola Balamory Tweenies Fimbles The Large Family Spot’s Musical Adventures Charlie And Lola My Family My Family Doctor Who
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The Weakest Link Casualty Casualty The Weakest Link The Weakest Link Doctors Doctors Doctor Who Doctor Who Confidential My Family My Family Himalaya With Michael Palin Robin Hood Inspector Lynley Mysteries Jekyll
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Fantasy Homes By The Sea Design Star Cash In The Attic USA Come Dine With Me Come Dine With Me Cash In The Attic USA Glamour Puds Cash In The Attic Glamour Puds Come Dine With Me Bargain Hunt Cash In The Attic Home For Life Cash In The Attic USA Superhomes Superhomes Design Star Come Dine With Me
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BBC World News Dateline London BBC World News World Features Our World BBC World News World Features BBC World News Dateline London BBC World News Newsnight BBC World News Click BBC World News India Business Report BBC World News Fast Track BBC World News World Features BBC World News BBC World News World Features Dateline London BBC World News Explore BBC World News World Features Newsnight BBC World News World Features Africa Business Report BBC World News Click BBC World News Sport Today BBC World News India Business Report BBC World News World Features Africa Business Report BBC World News Sport Today Click BBC World News World Features BBC World News
Hong Kong Phooey New Yogi Bear Show Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDroopy And Dripple Popeye Classics The Jetsons Dastardly And Muttley
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
TV PROGRAMS 03:20 03:45 04:10 04:30 04:55 05:25 05:50 06:15 06:40 07:05 07:30 08:00 08:25 08:55 09:20 09:45 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:30 12:20 12:30 14:00 14:20 14:45 15:10 15:30 15:55 16:20 16:40 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:20 18:45 19:10 19:35 20:00 20:20 20:45 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15 23:40
The Flintstones Scooby Doo Where Are You! Tom And Jerry A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Yogi’s Treasure Hunt Looney Tunes Hong Kong Phooey Droopy: Master Detective Dastardly And Muttley The Flintstones Tex Avery Show Droopy And Dripple Looney Tunes Pink Panther And Pals The Scooby Doo Show Tom And Jerry Paddington Bear Duck Dodgers The Garfield Show Tom And Jerry Hour Wacky Races Scooby Cinema Dastardly And Muttley The Jetsons Hong Kong Phooey Looney Tunes The Flintstones Help! It’s The Hair Bear Bunch King Arthur’s Disasters Dexter’s Laboratory Johnny Bravo Tom And Jerry Wacky Races Dastardly And Muttley Top Cat The Scooby Doo Show Tom And Jerry Looney Tunes The Garfield Show Duck Dodgers Pink Panther And Pals Tom And Jerry The Jetsons Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Looney Tunes Tom And Jerry Kids
00:15 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 00:40 Chowder 01:05 Cow And Chicken 01:30 Cramp Twins 01:55 George Of The Jungle 02:20 Adventure Time 02:45 Eliot Kid 03:10 Ed, Edd N Eddy 03:35 Ben 10: Alien Force 04:00 The Powerpuff Girls 04:15 Chowder 04:40 The Secret Saturdays 05:05 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 05:30 Ben 10: Alien Force 05:55 Best Ed 06:20 Skunk Fu! 06:45 Cramp Twins 07:10 Eliot Kid 07:35 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:25 Chop Socky Chooks 08:50 Chowder 09:15 Ben 10: Alien Force 09:40 Bakugan: New Vestroia 10:05 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 10:30 The Secret Saturdays 10:55 George Of The Jungle 11:20 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 11:30 Angelo Rules 11:55 Best Ed 12:20 Eliot Kid 12:45 Skunk Fu! 13:10 Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes 13:35 Bakugan: New Vestroia 14:00 Ben 10 14:25 Codename: Kids Next Door 14:50 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 15:15 The Life And Times Of Juniper Lee 15:40 George Of The Jungle 16:05 Ed, Edd N Eddy 16:35 Chop Socky Chooks 17:00 Robotboy 17:25 Squirrel Boy 17:50 Chowder
18:15 The Secret Saturdays 18:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 19:05 Bakugan: New Vestroia 19:30 Angelo Rules 19:55 Best Ed 20:20 Adventure Time 20:45 Cow And Chicken 21:10 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 21:35 Courage The Cowardly Dog 22:00 The Powerpuff Girls 22:25 Ed, Edd N Eddy 22:50 Robotboy 23:00 Batman: The Brave And The Bold 23:25 Skunk Fu! 23:50 Ben 10
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Shallow Grave-18 Sticks And Stones-PG Gattaca-18 W-PG15 Far North-PG15 Sins Of The Mother-PG15 Crimes Of The Past-PG15 Keith-PG15 Man In The Chair-PG15 Punch-Drunk Love-18 Never Cry Wolf-PG15 The Innocent-R
00:00 News Special 00:30 Political Mann 01:00 The Best Of Backstory 01:30 World Sport 02:00 World Report 02:30 Mainsail 03:00 World Report 03:30 Inside Africa 04:00 Your $$$$$ 05:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 06:00 The Best Of The Situation Room 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Mainsail 08:00 World Report 08:30 The Best Of Backstory 09:00 World Report 09:15 CNN Marketplace Middle East 09:30 Revealed 10:00 World Report 10:15 CNN Marketplace Africa 10:30 I Report For CNN 11:00 World Sport 11:30 Mainsail 12:00 African Voices 12:30 Talk Asia 13:00 Larry King Live 14:00 World Report 14:30 World Sport 15:00 News Special 15:30 Political Mann 16:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps 17:00 State Of The Union With Candy Crowley 18:00 International Desk 18:30 World View 19:00 I Report For CNN 19:30 World Sport 20:00 Prism 20:45 CNN Marketplace Middle East 21:00 International Desk 21:30 Revealed 22:00 World Report 22:30 Mainsail 23:00 World Report 23:30 African Voices
00:40 Behind Bars 01:35 Surviving Disaster 02:30 Destroyed In Seconds 03:00 Destroyed In Seconds 03:25 Battle Machine Bros 04:20 How It’s Made 04:50 How Do They Do It? 05:15 Extreme Fishing 06:05 Mythbusters 07:00 Fifth Gear 07:25 Fifth Gear 07:50 Battle Machine Bros 08:45 American Chopper: Senior Vs Junior 09:40 How Do They Do It? 10:05 How It’s Made 10:30 River Monsters 11:25 Extreme Fishing 12:20 Motor City Motors 17:50 How It’s Made 18:15 River Monsters 19:10 Extreme Fishing 20:05 Time Warp 20:35 Time Warp 21:00 Mythbusters 21:55 Kidnap And Rescue 22:50 Surviving Disaster 23:45 Police Women Of Broward County
00:40 Nextworld 01:30 Weird Or What? 02:20 The Gadget Show 02:45 The Gadget Show 03:10 The Future Of... 04:00 Sci-Fi Science 04:25 Sci-Fi Science 04:50 How Stuff Works 05:45 Engineered 06:40 Cool Stuff And How It Works 07:10 Superships 08:00 What’s That About? 08:55 Catch It Keep It 09:50 Brainiac 10:45 How Stuff’s Made 15:55 Patent Bending 16:20 The Gadget Show 16:45 The Gadget Show 17:10 Sci-Fi Science 17:35 Sci-Fi Science 18:00 Nextworld 18:50 Mighty Ships 19:40 Mega World 20:30 How Stuff Works 21:20 What’s That About? 22:10 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 23:00 Alien Storms 23:50 The Future Of...
Public Enemies on Show Movies
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Replacements Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Fairly Odd Parents A Kind Of Magic A Kind Of Magic
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Stitch Stitch Kim Possible Kim Possible Emperors New School Emperors New School Stitch Stitch Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Fairly Odd Parents Sonny With A Chance Phineas And Ferb Have A Laugh Double Teamed Hannah Montana Forever Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up Phineas And Ferb Fish Hooks Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Have A Laugh Hannah Montana Forever Fairly Odd Parents Jonas La Replacements Have A Laugh Phineas And Ferb Jonas La Fairly Odd Parents Sonny With A Chance Hannah Montana Forever Wizards Of Waverly Place Shake It Up Fish Hooks Have A Laugh Hannah Montana Forever Good Luck Charlie Sonny With A Chance Cheetah Girls: One World Hannah Montana Forever Have A Laugh Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas La Good Luck Charlie Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas Hannah Montana Forever Kim Possible
00:00 Programmes Start At 7:00am KSA 07:00 Kid vs Kat 07:25 Kick Buttowski 08:00 Phineas And Ferb 09:40 Have A Laugh 09:45 Phineas And Ferb 10:10 Have A Laugh 10:25 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 10:50 New Spiderman 11:15 Zeke And Luther 11:40 I’m In The Band 12:05 The Super Hero Squad Show 12:30 The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody 13:00 Thirteenth Year 14:30 Pokemon 15:00 The Super Hero Squad Show 15:25 Kick Buttowski 15:50 Pair Of Kings 16:15 Phineas And Ferb 16:40 Have A Laugh 16:45 Phineas And Ferb 18:30 Pokemon 18:55 Suite Life On Deck 19:20 Suite Life On Deck 19:45 Phineas And Ferb 20:10 The Avengers: Earths Mightiest Heroes 20:35 New Spiderman 21:00 Kick Buttowski 21:30 Kick Buttowski 22:00 Zeke And Luther 22:25 I’m In The Band 22:50 Have A Laugh 22:55 American Dragon 23:20 The Super Hero Squad Show
00:15 Kendra 00:40 Fashion Police 01:05 Chelsea Lately 01:30 THS 02:20 THS 03:15 Extreme Hollywood 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Battle Of The Hollywood Hotties 05:30 Streets Of Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:45 Behind The Scenes 08:10 Behind The Scenes 08:35 E! News 09:25 Extreme Close-Up 09:50 Extreme Close-Up 10:15 Style Star 10:40 Style Star 11:05 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 12:00 E! News 12:50 Married To Rock 17:10 Behind The Scenes 17:35 Married To Rock 20:30 Then And Now 20:55 Then And Now 21:20 Giuliana And Bill 21:45 Giuliana And Bill 22:10 E! News 23:00 Chelsea Lately 23:25 The Soup 23:50 E! News
00:40 01:30 02:20 03:10 04:00 04:50 05:45 06:15 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:30 10:55 11:20 12:10 13:00 13:50 14:15 14:40 15:30 15:55 16:20 17:10 18:00 18:50 19:40
A Haunting Psychic Witness The Haunted Ghost Lab A Haunting Psychic Witness Amsterdam Vice On The Case With Paula Zahn Mystery Diagnosis Forensic Detectives Accident Investigator Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Real Emergency Calls Accident Investigator Fbi Files On The Case With Paula Zahn Who On Earth Did I Marry? Who On Earth Did I Marry? Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Real Emergency Calls Accident Investigator Forensic Detectives Accident Investigator Fbi Files Mystery Diagnosis
An Education on Super Movies 20:30 20:55 21:20 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:50
01:30 03:10 04:55 06:25 08:00 09:45 11:10 13:30 15:05 16:55 18:45 20:15 22:00 23:35
Real Emergency Calls Real Emergency Calls On The Case With Paula Zahn Who On Earth Did I Marry? Who On Earth Did I Marry? On The Case With Paula Zahn Deadly Women
Dead Of Winter Cold Heaven Desert Hearts Dead On Sight Paper Lion Haunted Honeymoon Avanti Cornbread, Earl And Me Sweet Land Burn! A Dog’s Breakfast The Organization The Defiant Ones The Mean Season
00:00 The Office 00:30 Family Biz 01:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:30 The Colbert Report 02:00 Entourage 02:30 Cougar Town 03:00 Saturday Night Live 04:00 South Park 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Coach 06:00 Yes, Dear 06:30 The Drew Carey Show 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Family Biz 08:30 Coach 09:00 Yes, Dear 09:30 The Drew Carey Show 10:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 10:30 Melissa And Joey 11:00 Coach 11:30 Yes, Dear 12:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 13:00 Family Biz 13:30 Coach 14:00 Yes, Dear 14:30 The Office 15:00 Melissa And Joey 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 The Drew Carey Show 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Just Shoot Me 18:30 According To Jim 19:00 Billable Hours 19:30 Two And A Half Men 20:00 Entourage 20:30 Cougar Town 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Saturday Night Live 23:00 South Park 23:30 Billable Hours
00:00 The Guitar-18 02:00 Emotional Arithmetic-PG15 04:00 Harold-PG15 06:00 Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel-FAM 08:00 Dean Spanley-PG15 10:00 Emotional Arithmetic-PG15 12:00 Christmas At The Riviera-PG 14:00 Annihilation Earth-PG15 16:00 Dean Spanley-PG15 18:00 Emotional Arithmetic-PG15 20:00 Precious-18 22:00 Public Enemies-18
01:00 Tears Of The Sun-18 03:00 Star Trek-PG 05:15 The Tripper-18 07:00 Final Encounter-PG15 09:00 Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle Of Life-PG15 11:00 Kiss The Girls-18 13:00 Ghost Image-PG15 15:00 Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The
Cradle Of Life-PG15 17:00 Mutant Chronicles-PG15 19:00 Air Force One-PG15 21:00 Se7en-18 23:15 Amusement-18
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The Hudsucker Proxy-PG15 New York City Serenade-PG15 Bride Wars-PG15 Before You Say I Do-PG15 Bitter Suite-PG15 Wild Child-PG15 National Security-PG15 Car Babes-PG15 The Hudsucker Proxy-PG15 Saved!-PG15 Van Wilder: Party Liaison-18 Election-18
00:00 Scruff And The Legend Of Saint George-FAM 02:00 Kung Fu Magoo-PG15 04:00 Santa Buddies-PG 06:00 G-Force-PG 08:00 The Prince Of Dinosaurs-PG 10:00 Santa Buddies-PG 12:00 Mamma Moo And Crow-FAM 14:00 Kung Fu Magoo-PG15 16:00 Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs-PG 18:00 Tom And Jerry: Blast Off To Mars-FAM 20:00 Zeus And Roxanne-PG 22:00 Mamma Moo And Crow-FAM
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Scoundrels Damages The Martha Stewart Show White Collar The View The Deep End Emmerdale Coronation Street White Collar The Martha Stewart Show The Deep End White Collar The View Emmerdale Coronation Street The Martha Stewart Show Scoundrels Damages The Deep End The View Emmerdale Coronation Street C.S.I. New York Huge White Collar The View The Deep End
02:00 04:00 06:00 07:00 09:00 09:30 11:30 12:30 14:30 15:00 15:30 17:45 19:45 20:15 22:15
Aviva Premiership Aviva Premiership Pool World Cup Super 15 Total Rugby Live Super 15 Trans World Sports Super League Futbol Mundial Live Football Special Live Scottish Premier League Live Scottish Premier League Football Special Scottish Premier League Super 15
01:15 03:15 05:15 07:00 09:00 09:30 13:30 14:00 16:00 16:30 20:30 21:30 22:00
Super 15 Super 15 Super League Aviva Premiership European Tour Weekly Live PGA European Tour Futbol Mundial Super 15 European Tour Weekly Live Snooker Trans World Sport ICC Cricket World Live Snooker
00:30 WWE Vintage Collection 01:30 WWE Bottom Line 02:30 WWE NXT 03:30 V8 Supercars Championship 04:30 V8 Supercars Extra 05:00 UFC Unleashed 06:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 WWE Vintage Collection 08:00 WWE Bottom Line 09:00 WWE NXT 10:00 WWE SmackDown 12:00 UAE National Race Day Series 13:00 Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge 14:00 Red Bull X-Fighters 15:00 WWE Vintage Collection 16:00 WWE Bottom Line 17:00 WWE NXT
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Say It In Russian-18 Home Run-PG15 Snow 2: Brain Freeze-FAM Creation-PG15 Primo-PG15 The Ramen Girl-PG15 Delgo-FAM The Dust Factory-PG15 Disco-PG I Love You Beth Cooper-PG15 The Ruins-R An Education-PG15
00:40 01:30 02:20 03:10 04:00 04:55 05:50 06:40 07:30 08:20 09:10 10:00 10:55 11:50 12:40 13:30 14:20 15:10 16:00 16:55 17:50 18:40 19:30 20:20 21:10 22:00 23:50
Evolve Dinosaur Secrets Life After People Conspiracy? Lost Worlds Battle Stations Tunnellers Evolve Dinosaur Secrets Life After People Conspiracy? Lost Worlds Battle Stations Tunnellers Evolve Dinosaur Secrets Life After People Conspiracy? Lost Worlds Battle Stations Tunnellers Evolve Dinosaur Secrets Life After People Conspiracy? Ancient Aliens Ufo Files
00:40 School Daze-PG15 02:40 The Prize-PG 05:00 The Outfit-PG15 06:40 The Oklahoma Kid-FAM 08:00 The Prize-PG 10:10 The Charge Of The Light Brigade-FAM 12:05 Grand Prix-PG 14:50 The Prisoner Of Zenda-FAM 16:30 Son Of Lassie-FAM 18:10 Ride, Vaquero!-FAM 19:40 Hearts Of The West-PG 21:20 Singin’ In The Rain-FAM 23:00 A Soldier’s Story-PG15
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Playlist Sound System 10 Playlist Urban Hit Playlist Playlist Playlist Africa 10 Playlist Playlist Urban Hit 30 Playlist Playlist New
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Classifieds SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
Years
I January is National Book Month. I It took Noah Webster 36 years to write his first dictionary. I One out of every eight letters you read is the letter e. I Americans buy approximately 5 million books a day.
“My daughter said that if I didn’t say ‘hi’ to you, I’d be in big trouble, so, ‘hi’ from my daughter.” — This year’s winner of the People’s Choice Awards for favorite movie actor Johnny Depp, to his award presenter Taylor Swift.
— www.odd50.com
2010’s best books BY CHRIS CLEMENTE, KAITLYN DOWSETT, KELSEY HUFF AND DANNY SLEDGE Newsday
t the end of 2010, race car driver Carl Edwards was experiencing a late-season rally in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. On Nov. 12, he broke the track-record for the fastest qualifying lap at Phoenix International Raceway, scoring his 6th career pole. He went on to win the Kobalt Tools 500 on Nov. 14, with his Aflac Ford Fusion, and the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The late season rally would take Edwards to 4th in points. We met up with Edwards recently, to ask him about racing, teaching and speeding tickets. Q: Are you afraid or nervous driving at high speeds? I don’t get afraid or nervous riding really fast. What I think makes me nervous is making sure I do my job right. Q: Would you rather win the Daytona 500 or a cup Championship? I would prefer to win the Championship. The Daytona 500 would be spectacular, but the trick would be to do both in the same season. Like what Jimmie Johnson’s done. That would probably be cool.
NASCAR driver talks about racing, teaching and tickets Q: How many tires do you
usually go through in a race? You go through a lot of tires in a race. A lot! They recycle all of them now, so it’s good we’re not being wasteful. ... I’d say we go somewhere between six and 12 sets (of two) every race. So between 12 and 24 tires. Q: Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket? Yes. I’ve gotten a speeding ticket on a regular road. Not lately. I’ve been pretty safe lately. The biggest thing is if you’re going to drive on the road just always wear a seat belt no matter what. ... Be nice to the officers. That helps. Q: When you were a teacher, what did you teach? I was a substitute teacher. I would just come in for a day or an afternoon. You should always be nice to subs. It’s a lot harder job than it looks. You usually come in and a lot of people joke with you. They’ll change seats and stuff. ... Teachers really have a hard job. I learned a lot doing that. You guys are really hard to deal with. I was hard to deal with when I was a student. Q: Have you ever crashed? Yes. I have crashed a lot. I’ve probably crashed a lot more cars than the
average person. ... Hitting your head is the worst thing. We always have our helmets (and seatbelts); and then fire is another thing you worry about. So you have a fire extinguisher in the car. I’ve had some pretty wild wrecks. But I always come out OK. Q: Does the car actually have a door or do you have to go through the window? Yeah, there’s no door because the inside (has a roll cage). ... So that part of the car is like a tank, it’s really, really sturdy. You have to climb through the window. (Also,) the steering wheel comes off. Because (if it didn’t come off), you wouldn’t be able to get down in your seat. You take the steering wheel off and then you get into the car and they put the steering wheel back on. Q: How many sponsors does it take to make a team? That’s a good question. You just need enough to pay for everything. So it could be one sponsor or 15. Q: What got you interested in racing and what’s the most exciting part? When I was your age my dad raced at the local dirt track and so I’d go watch. That looked kind of scary to me and it kind of interested me a little bit because I thought it was a real challenge. I started racing with my dad when I was about 15; and I don’t know, it’s just really fun to do. I don’t know if you guys ever rode, like, go-carts, things like that. So it’s fun to be able to drive something real fast. That’s what I like about it. Q: What is the fastest speed? The fastest speed is probably 206 or 207 mph.
On Jan. 10, the American Library Association announced the top children’s books of 2010. Here are the winners. Author Clare Vanderpool took home the John Newbery Medal for outstanding contribution to children’s literature for “Moon over Manifest.” The book is about a young girl’s magical adventures in a small Kansas town in 1936. Vanderpool said she was shocked to learn she had won. “You grow up reading legendary authors like Madeleine L’Engle, but I never expected to be put in a category with her,” Vanderpool told Time For Kids. “It’s humbling.”
PICTURE THIS!
The picture book “A Sick Day for Amos McGee” won the Randolph Caldecott Medal. The book was illustrated by Erin E. Stead and written by her husband, Philip C. Stead. It tells the story of an elderly zookeeper and the animals that visit him when he’s not well enough to go to work. “I love drawing animals and I love drawing people and I love drawing the emotional connection between animals and people,” Erin Stead said. — Brenda Iasevoli © 2011 Time Inc. All Rights Reserved. TIME FOR KIDS and Timeforkids.com are registered trademarks of Time Inc.
ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for decent Keralite bachelor in Abbassiya near German Clinic. Call 66941892. (C 3127) Sharing accommodation available for Keralite family, working ladies or couple, Abbassiya. Tel: 55189851. (C 3126)
A part time / full time livein maid Indian / Sri Lankan is urgently required for an Indian family in Salmiya. Contact: 25635450 / 99838117. (C 3114) 14-2-2011
One room available for sharing, suitable for small family, (Indian only) opposite Indian Central School, Jleeb. Contact 94947880. 20-2-2011
FOR SALE
Abraq Khaitan single room available for decent Indian bachelor beside main road in C-A/C, new building with DSL line from 15th Feb or 1st March. Contact: 97523316 / 24745162. (C 3039) 16-2-2011
One room for rent for a single or two bachelors with a Goan family behind Arbid Buildings in Farwaniya. Contact: 97245851. (C 3120)
M A RT Y W E S T M A N / M C T
A house maid and a house driver are needed for a Kuwaiti house. Only transferable visa holders are needed to apply. Interested persons may contact 66111034. (C 3124) 19-2-2011
One room available for rent in a two bedroom flat for a single or two bachelor, behind Harbid buildings Far waniya. Contact: 97245851. (C 3128)
C-A/C finished big room available for executive bachelor with small Goan Hindu family at Amman Street, Salmiya. Please call: 99408202. (C 3119)
MCT
SITUATION VACANT
F6264365 hereby change my name to Abdul Rahim Mohammed Bashir Shaikh. (C 3122) 16-2-2011 I, Derick Flaman D’Souza, holder of Indian Passport No. F 9268120, hereby change my name to Derick Flaman Souza. (C 3115) I, Susan Kurian, D/O Malamon Thomas Kurian and Achamma Kurian hailing from Ranny in Pathanmthitta District, Kerala, India has embraced the religion of holy Islam and change my name to Subeena Habeeb. (C 3117) 14-2-2011
MATRIMONIAL
Mitsubishi Nativa 2008, GLS white color, low mileage 63,000km, well maintained, excellent condition, ready to check, price KD 3,150. Interested person call only. Contact: 66015265. (C 3118) 15-2-2011 Camry 2001, excellent condition, next passing January 2012. Price KD 2,000/-, genuine buyers please contact: 99827113. (C 3105) 12-2-2011
CHANGE OF NAME I, Abdul Rahim Mohammed Bashir, holder of Indian Passport No.
Matrimonial alliance are invited for our daughter working as a technician at the Ministr y of Health Kuwait, from Marthomite/CSI/Orthodox, God fearing parents. Email: bg7445@gmail.com (C 3123) 17-2-2011
Proposals invited for graduate Marthomite boy 31 years, 182cms, working in Kuwait. Looking for girls working in Kuwait. Email: kmtharakan@hotmail.com (C 3111) 13-2-2011 Seeking proposals for Pakistani Muslim family
SITUATION WANTED
An Indian MBA (Finance) having 5 years experience in Kuwait seeking suitable placement in Investment/ Auditing/ Corporate Finance. Fluent in English, Arabic & Hindi and proficient on MS-Office, Excel, Word and Power point. Please Call: 66516791. (C 3109) Licensed practitioner of general sawing, advance diploma in Industrial Engineering, having 20 years experiences as Industrial Engineering manager in foreign countries, seeking suitable placement in garment or related industry. Contact: 66317879. Email: prabashpremasinghe@gmail.com (C 3112) 13-2-2011
FLIGHT SCHEDULE FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION 161 In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines JZR ETH THY UAE WAN QTR DHX GFA FDB ETD JZR KAC JZR KAC FCX BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE KAC QTR ABY ETD GFA IRA FCX JZR IRC JZR IRA MEA KAC MSR JZR KAC KAC FDB JZR UAL SVA
Flt 267 620 772 853 408 138 370 211 67 305 207 544 223 546 201 157 412 206 53 382 302 332 676 284 855 286 132 123 301 213 603 203 121 6801 165 615 404 772 610 561 672 512 57 555 982 500
Arrival Flights on Sunday 20/2/2011 Route BEIRUT ADDIS ABABA ISTANBUL DUBAI BEIRUT DOHA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI ABU DHABI DAMASCUS CAIRO ALEPPO ALEXANDRIA DOHA LONDON MANILA / BANGKOK ISLAMABAD DUBAI DELHI MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DUBAI DHAKA DUBAI CHITTAGONG DOHA SHARJAH ABU DHABI BAHRAIN SHIRAZ DUBAI BAHRAIN AHWAZ DUBAI SHAHRE KORD BEIRUT RIYADH CAIRO SOHAG DUBAI TEHRAN DUBAI ALEXANDRIA WASHINGTON DC DULLES JEDDAH
Time 0:45 1:45 2:15 2:35 2:35 2:45 2:55 3:05 3:05 3:10 3:50 4:40 5:40 6:10 6:15 6:40 6:45 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:10 8:15 8:30 8:35 9:05 9:05 9:30 9:35 9:40 10:30 11:10 11:15 11:20 11:35 11:55 12:40 12:55 13:00 13:25 13:40 13:50 14:00 14:10 14:30
KAC QTR JZR SYR WAN WAN ETD UAE GFA SVA JZR RJA JZR ABY JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC ALK AFG KAC FDB OMA JAI DHX GFA WAN VOS MEA QTR UAE KAC IAC JZR JZR RBG JZR UAL JZR AXB DLH PIA
562 134 257 341 110 304 303 857 215 510 213 800 239 127 177 502 542 618 786 614 744 674 166 102 267 405 552 61 647 572 372 217 104 81 402 136 859 172 981 157 185 3553 135 981 553 389 636 205
AMMAN DOHA BEIRUT DAMASCUS DUBAI CAIRO ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH DEIREZZOR AMMAN AMMAN SHARJAH DUBAI BEIRUT CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN DAMMAM DUBAI PARIS / ROME NEW YORK / LONDON COLOMBO / DAMMAM KABUL / DUBAI DAMASCUS DUBAI MUSCAT MUMBAI BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI BAGHDAD BEIRUT DOHA DUBAI FRANKFURT CHENNAI / AHMEDABAD / HYDERABAD DOHA DUBAI ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA KOZHIKODE / MANGALORE FRANKFURT LAHORE
14:40 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:15 16:20 16:50 16:55 17:05 17:20 17:25 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:15 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:55 20:00 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 21:00 21:15 21:15 21:15 21:20 21:35 21:40 21:45 22:05 22:10 22:45 22:50 22:55 23:00 23:15 23:30 23:35 23:55
Airlines AXB UAL IAC DLH ETH THY FDB UAE ETD QTR DHX JZR JZR JZR RJA GFA VOS JZR FDB BAW KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR ETD GFA IRA FCX JZR KAC JZR IRC KAC IRA MEA KAC KAC JZR
Depatrure Flights on Sunday 20/2/2011 Flt Route 394 COCHIN / KOZHIKODE 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 576 GOA / CHENNAI 637 FRANKFURT 620 BAHRAIN / ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 371 BAHRAIN 560 SOHAG 554D ALEXANDRIA 164 DUBAI 803 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 94 DUBAI / KANDAHAR 120 BAHRAIN 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 171 FRANKFURT 256 BEIRUT 671 DUBAI 511 TEHRAN 561 AMMAN 771 RIYADH 856 DUBAI 124 SHARJAH 133 DOHA 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 602 SHIRAZ 204 BAGHDAD 212 DEIREZZOR 541 CAIRO 238 AMMAN 6802 AHWAZ 103 LONDON 614 SHAHRE KORD 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI
Time 0:40 0:45 0:50 1:30 2:30 3:15 3:45 3:50 4:00 4:55 5:45 5:55 6:30 6:55 7:00 7:15 8:00 8:20 8:25 8:55 9:00 9:00 9:00 9:15 9:20 9:20 9:40 9:45 10:00 10:20 10:20 10:40 11:45 11:45 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:30 12:35 12:55 13:00 13:40 13:50
Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)
MSR FDB KAC KAC UAL KAC SVA JZR SYR KAC QTR KAC ETD GFA UAE RJA JZR ABY JZR SVA JZR JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC ALK OMA JAI DHX KAC GFA MEA KAC KAC FCX QTR KAC UAE JZR KAC RBG JZR KAC KAC
611 58 551 673 982 617 503 552 342 613 135 743 304 216 858 801 184 128 156 511 204 134 283 361 62 351 228 648 571 373 675 218 403 203 381 102 137 301 860 502 343 3554 530 415 411
CAIRO DUBAI DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA MEDINAH / JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA DAMASCUS BAHRAIN DOHA DAMMAM ABU DHABI BAHRAIN DUBAI AMMAN DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA RIYADH DAMASCUS BAHRAIN DHAKA COLOMBO DUBAI COCHIN COLOMBO MUSCAT MUMBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI BAHRAIN BEIRUT LAHORE DELHI BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI DUBAI LUXOR CHENNAI ALEXANDRIA ASSIUT KUALA LUMPUR / JAKARTA BANGKOK / MANILA
13:55 14:35 14:40 15:10 15:25 15:35 15:45 16:00 16:05 16:20 16:30 16:40 17:40 18:05 18:10 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 19:15 20:05 20:15 20:20 20:50 20:55 21:05 21:10 21:15 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:30 23:35 23:35 23:45 23:55
34
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
s ta rs CROSSWORD 235
STAR TRACK
CALVIN & HOBBES
Aries (March 21-April 19) Right away you must know that this is a challenging day. Without the challenging days in our life, however, we could be uninterested in future growth. Careful, if you are stressed, you may have a tendency to be sharp with the expression of your opinions. This could hurt your good intentions. The main idea here is to be gentle but truthful. This is a time when you can put your practical insights into words and convey them to others. Communication with authority figures is enhanced. Someone may criticize your good works, but if you let the comments go right over your head, you will be very pleased with the outcome. Bargaining with someone about what seems to be a set price may find everyone surprised at the results you achieve.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Some unexpected bills may come to your attention today. If you are going to be late in paying, call and let them know. Look for ways to make some extra money—a temporary work agency would be happy to have you on their team. Exchanging information takes on significance that is more emotional. Concentrate on the job at hand and you will be pleased at the results. If you can close doors to keep from being interrupted this afternoon, do so. Being more involved with neighbors or siblings this evening satisfies a deep emotional need. You can demonstrate great understanding to the needs of others just now. There is a guardian angel or mentor available if you need one; you may have the opportunity to play such a role for someone else.
POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Enlarged prostate. 4. Division of a group into opposing factions. 10. A state of southwestern India. 13. Towards the side away from the wind. 14. Brilliantly colored arboreal fruit-eating bird of tropical America having a very large thin-walled beak. 15. The sign language used in the United States. 16. A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Telescopium and Norma. 17. One or more recordings issued together. 19. Passing or able to pass air in and out of the lungs normally. 21. South African term for `boss’. 22. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill. 23. A benevolent aspect of Devi. 25. A light springing movement upwards or forwards. 28. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America. 33. Transient cessation of respiration. 35. Bottom-dweller of warm western Atlantic coastal waters having a flattened scaleless body that crawls about on fleshy pectoral and pelvic fins. 37. Tree of the genus Catalpa with large leaves and white flowers followed by long slender pods. 39. Treated with oil. 40. English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984). 42. A colorless and odorless inert gas. 47. The Mongol people living the the central and eastern parts of Outer Mongolia. 51. A percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance. 54. A human limb. 55. Essential oil or perfume obtained from flowers. 56. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad. 60. Ancient Greek philosopher who formulated paradoxes that defended the belief that motion and change are illusory (circa 495-430 BC). 61. A city in northern India. 62. (Islam) The man who leads prayers in a mosque. 63. A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause). 64. An official language of the Republic of South Africa. 65. A small cake leavened with yeast. DOWN 1. (Scottish) Bluish-black or gray-blue. 2. A republic in western South America. 3. A collection of objects laid on top of each other. 4. French romantic writer (1766-1817). 5. Acute abdominal pain (especially in infants). 6. Cap that fits over the hub of a wheel. 7. A hospital unit staffed and equipped to provide intensive care. 8. An Italian liqueur made with elderberries and flavored with licorice. 9. A hard brittle gray polyvalent metallic element that resembles iron but is not magnetic. 10. Mentally or physically infirm with age. 11. A law passed by US Congress to prevent employees from being injured or contracting diseases in the course of their employment. 12. By bad luck. 18. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth. 20. Greek mythology. 24. A Powhatan Indian woman (the daughter of Powhatan) who befriended the English at Jamestown and is said to have saved Captain John Smith’s life (1595-1617). 26. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment. 27. (prefix) In front of or before in space. 29. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens. 30. Aromatic bulb used as seasoning. 31. The compass point midway between south and southeast. 32. An American doctorate usually based on at least 3 years graduate study and a dissertation. 34. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite. 36. A tax on employees and employers that is used to fund the Social Security system. 38. A public promotion of some product or service. 41. Being nine more than ninety. 43. Nocturnal badger-like carnivore of wooded regions of Africa and southern Asia. 44. American professional baseball player who hit more home runs than Babe Ruth (born in 1934). 45. A radioactive element of the actinide series. 46. Egyptian statesman who (as President of Egypt) negotiated a peace treaty with Menachem Begin of Israel (1918-1981). 48. Wild or domesticated South American cud-chewing animal related to camels but smaller and lacking a hump. 49. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables. 50. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World. 52. Type genus of the Ranidae. 53. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples. 57. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey). 58. An undergarment worn by women to support their breasts. 59. A castrated tomcat.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Through the end of the month, matters surrounding gossip could cause you to assume the truth without proof. This would certainly cause some real emotional problems if you do not weigh the facts before jumping to a conclusion. Diet and exercise somehow mean more now: you want to feel good about yourself and the way you do things. One person’s diet can be another person’s poison, so do not push your ideas on others. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you might consider a doctor to guide you. Success can be yours! Action and adventure are in the forecast and you want to do something or go somewhere never experienced before. Now is the time to make your goals and plans for an adventure—perhaps a cruise or big camping trip.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
NON SEQUITUR
Your day starts out on a positive note and will stay that way, even when one or two outside frustrations come your way. These are temporary obstacles and they can be handled if you can distance your emotions and realize you are not being attacked, just questioned. Emotional security, a sense of belonging and nurturing are issues felt instinctively now. You will see positive results from your choices. There are energies surrounding new and better. This could mean purchasing a computer, new car or even real estate. A greater appreciation for things of value and the idea of value itself is in order now. This could be a period of great material gain; it is certainly a time when material things have a great deal of importance for you.
Leo (July 23-August 22) Work continues today—even at home. Circumstances that surround you tend to pull you into a group project. Work will eventually come to a successful end and afterwards a few of you may want to enjoy each other?s company through different surroundings. This could mean an early dinner and a movie for a group of you. If the result of your work together is a party or wedding, of course, all will enjoy this evening. You are in top thinking form and guests or anyone visiting from out-of-town will get the royal treatment in your care. You are able to make changes, additions, suggestions or lend support to others. You appear more charming and refined than usual this evening. Tonight may be the night you enjoy the company of someone new.
ZITS
Virgo (August 23-September 22) Someone you meet today is too secretive and underhanded for your taste. Your thoughts and ideas go against their secretive, power-oriented manner and you are not afraid to tell them so. You could be seen by others as just the person to be put in charge of some project. This does not necessarily mean that you will be working in a place of business; instead, you could be coordinating group events for charity or volunteer involvement. Your nervous system will be happier now if you could make sure that your diet is rich in B vitamins. Try to maintain a balance between sound reasoning and impulsiveness in order to bring about a focus into your life. Involve yourself in a routine of exercise, perhaps with a friend.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM
Scorpio (October 23-November 21) A new way of looking at life or a widened point of view is achieved today. You can really become focused on your own ideas or viewpoint. Often, some people’s points of view seem all wrong to you. You try to succeed at understanding someone else’s point of view today. Involvement with idealistic groups takes on greater importance now; the old is suspect and the new seems to hold all the answers. A challenge can be fun when you seek to achieve new things. This new challenge could come to you today in the form of organizing a group, person or event. If you have just finished school, you will find a wonderful job opportunity coming available for you now. Extra attention to a physical symptom brings relief to a chronic problem.
Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Your friends are the type that you can depend upon, as they, you. Generally, you will enjoy many get-togethers in the coming months. This last week was very busy and now is the time to put the work behind you and enjoy your friends and loved ones. Someone in your family or neighborhood may need a ride to a doctor or grocery store and you could help. Check this out and make it a point to encourage others along this line of a helping neighbors mind set. Stability and permanence satisfy in emotional ways. You and a mate or friend may decide to purchase furniture or similar household items. This fills a need that you have had for a long time and can bring about a feeling of satisfaction. This can be an expansive and creative time.
Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
To
Yesterday’s Solution
Law, politics, education, travel or religion is one of the areas in which an emotionally charged drama will be played. This means dealing with deep emotional changes that could include a spiritual awakening. There are opportunities opening now for you to complete old projects or pool your resources with others to end some research tasks. Clearing away, revamping or utilizing old and perhaps forgotten possessions will bring the potential to strengthen your finances. By the way, while shopping, make sure you receive the right amount of change. This evening you may enjoy a good movie or book or feel like escaping from day-to-day realities for a while and visit friends. Conversations surrounding what-if ideas bring much contemplation.
Young people play a big part in your day. Remember to keep your budget steady as there are many fun activities to do—some costly—some not. While interacting with young people, it is easy to remember the activities of your own youth. You will have a natural sense for communicating with young people. Emotional security, a sense of belonging and nurturing are the issues felt intuitively. Enjoy a calmer way of life by harnessing your emotions in a constructive way. Read self-help books from the library or investigate the new ones from the bookstores. Searching for the tools you need in order to help all sorts of hard-to-help people will soon be within your reach. You will also learn some great techniques for yourself. Enjoy life.
Yesterday’s Solution Yester
Aquarius (January 20- February 18) The secret of this successful day is to think before speaking. Real pleasure and rewards come soon—you will see life on the home front, as well as work, running a bit more smoothly. So, pace yourself and know that changes for the good are coming your way. Perfect opportunities present themselves for making phone calls, writing letters, doing research or working on personal paperwork. Refinement and relationships are the keys to emotional satisfaction for you now. Harmony and beauty are deeply satisfying. This evening will present opportunities to socialize with friends and since this is not a dress-up-and-actyour-best affair, you will be more relaxed and find your sense of humor has returned. Love talk is exciting.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Word Sleuth Solution
This morning could be challenging. Others may challenge your authority or the direction you are taking. Events could conspire to make it difficult for you to act. You may occasionally have a tendency to act suddenly, without thought or consideration. Steer clear of mental tension or worries by learning a few meditation techniques. It is good that you are trying to break out of old mental patterns that could be destructive. Pace yourself and enjoy being with people. If possible, ask questions that will help you achieve a focus. You may even be trying to get a focus on your contribution for an important afternoon get-together. This afternoon is much better for decision making. A good noon meal will renew your energies as well as your mental outlook.
A
y
e niv rsar n
Years
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
i n f o r m at i o n
FIRE BRIGADE
112
Al-Madena
22418714
Al-Shohada’a
22545171
Al-Shuwaikh
24810598
Al-Nuzha
22545171
Sabhan
24742838
Al-Helaly
22434853
Al-Fayhaa
22545051
Al-Farwaniya
24711433
Al-Sulaibikhat
24316983
Al-Fahaheel
23927002
Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh
24316983
Ahmadi
23980088
Al-Mangaf
23711183
Al-Shuaiba
23262845
24812000
Al-Jahra
25610011
Amiri Hospital
22450005
Al-Salmiya
25616368
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
Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128
Hospitals Sabah Hospital
POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station
Clinics Rabiya
4732263
Roudha
22517733
Adhaliya
22517144
Khaldiya
24848075
Keifan
24849807
Shamiya
24848913
Shuwaikh
24814507
Abdullah Salim
22549134
Al-Nuzha
22526804
Industrial Shuwaikh
24814764
Al-Khadissiya
22515088
Dasmah
22532265
Bneid Al-Ghar
22531908
Al-Shaab
22518752
Al-Kibla
22459381
Ayoun Al-Kibla
22451082
Al-Mirqab
22456536
Sharq
22465401
Salmiya
25746401
Jabriya
25316254
Maidan Hawally
25623444
Bayan
25388462
Mishref
25381200
W.Hawally
22630786
Sabah
24810221
Jahra
24770319
New Jahra
24575755
West Jahra
24772608
South Jahra
24775066
North Jahra
24775992
North Jleeb
24311795
Al-Ardhiya
24884079
Firdous
24892674
Al-Omariya
24719048
N.Kheitan
24710044
Fintas
3900322
22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988
PHARMACIES
AIRLINES
ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE
PHARMACY
ADDRESS
PHONE
Ahmadi
Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan
Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd
23915883 23715414 23726558
Jahra
Modern Jahra Madina Munawara
Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92
24575518 24566622
Capital
Ahlam Khaldiya Coop
Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop
22436184 24833967
Farwaniya
New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan
Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11
24734000 24881201 24726638
Hawally
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
lifestyle G o s s i p
Gaga
Hilton
ent m e g a g or en shops f
ring
be single forever ady Gaga admits she could be single forever - because she won’t put a man before her career. The ‘Born This Way’ singer refuses to make sacrifices in her professional life for her lovers because her music is her priority, and if that means she doesn’t stay in relationships then so be it. She said: “Women have to make decisions and it’s the toughest thing ever. Is it a man or is it a career? I was with a man once who couldn’t understand that other things could come first. I tried not to let them but then I was just unhappy, I had to break away. I know I run the risk of being alone forever, but it’s the price I’ll have to pay.” One of the reasons why Gaga won’t make compromises for guys is that her music can never disappoint her like a man could. She added: “I’d never let any man come before my career. I guess there’s some fear inside of me which makes me this way. My music is never going to roll over in bed one morning and tell me that it doesn’t love me anymore. I have a big problem with rejection.”
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). engaged (getting it v t u re o fo b a ith him talked eaur: “We’ve nt to be w ewspape in a lifetime. I wa st bought me a b xus n n ju e a e L c r e n e H fo o e whit taste. pping This is has great as referring to th ought her went sho on Friday. y s C it a d n W A y sw er. db rk City n and C s car.” Pari a r boyfrien aris Hilto nt ring in New Yo tted in jewellers tiful sport ible supercar he eauty topped off o e p s m e re g , rt b e e rs e v e w le d n is n le o enga n rk c p e a lo u p eb LFA nd D rent s -up co thday. Th fore g her frie The loved ing at several diffe ond. Despite for her bir rtying by meetin t on Thursday, be atery k m o ia lo e d . v a o a e n e p h C p ra f lu ’t & u o b to n t k b ta t o s e o a ra d c al ir we Ja -ca a re by a a rare 30 ratory me ds, the pa did at Asellin Richards family for a celeb day cakes stolen y on including the betrothal ban just yet, but Paris r th rt e g e ir joining h had one of her b her Hollywood pa inspectin news to announc black diamond- on s 0 s y Lavo. Pari nown as ‘Paz ’ from any happ tore with a $25,00 thday - which wa n’t ir k o s musician leave the ring for her 30th b heiress insists it w o l d d . te y y te o a C s h Tuesd encru r, the owner . Howeve gas club Post Thursday til she and Las Ve ld the New York to n be long u one another. She to it m m o c
P
Hudson
Colin
Bieber
is very independent
he ‘Baby’ singer is surrounded by a team of advisers and managers throughout most of his average day, and looks forward to having a little time to reflect. He told Bang Showbiz: “I guess I’m fine with being by myself. I’m a very independent person, so I don’t really get lonely. I don’t get much time to myself. “I work a lot, but at night time, that’s basically my down time when I get to just lay in bed, play on my computer, check twitter and all that. I never get to feel anonymous anymore, not really.” The 16-year-old teen sensation relies on his mother, Pattie Mallette, and music mentor Usher to keep him “grounded” while travelling across the world on tour, and being surrounded by teenage fans almost everywhere he goes. He added to Bang Showbiz: “I have some great people on my team that keep me grounded, my mum is always with me and they keep me sane, and Usher has been
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there, so he knows, he helps keep me sane.” ‘Never Say Never’, which charts Justin’s rise to fame is in cinemas now.
enjoys not worrying about appearance
ate Hudson enjoyed not having to worry about her appearance for ‘A Little Bit Of Heaven’. The actress plays a woman dying of cancer in the film, which she admitted was a huge challenge, but meant she didn’t have to worry about her looks or spend hours in a make-up trailer each day. She said: “It was nice not to have to wake up and worry about bags under my eyes! Usually when you walk into a make-up trailer your make-up artist puts ice under your eyes, but in this film, we just threw all that stuff away. “There was not a stitch of make-up on my face. It’s fun when you haven’t had it done in a while, but when you’re working on a movie, it’s just a lot of people poking at you.” The 31-year-old actress - who has a seven-year-old
K
may
son Ryder from her marriage to Chris Robinson and is currently expecting her first child with boyfriend Matt Bellamy - also said she had to change her appearance during filming to reflect her character’s battle with cancer, but not in the way most people would expect. She explained: “The one thing that I found really interesting was the process of what kind of treatment she would have had, and what her body frame would have looked like if she went through it. “A lot of times people associate sickness with frailty and getting real skinny, and, in this situation we had to work with her not being too skinny but actually getting bloated, which was odd. I had to eat salty things on certain days.”
Firth didn’t impress his wife’s parents he ‘King’s Speech’ star married film producer Livia Giuggioli - with who he has sons Luca, nine, and Matteo, seven - in 1997 and admits one of the main reasons why he learned to speak her native Italian was a desperate bid to win over her mother and father. Speaking on CNN’s ‘Piers Morgan Tonight’, Colin - who also has a 20-yearold son Will with his ex-girlfriend Meg Tilly - said: “Her parents warmed up. I mean, taking a stab at their language, you know, I had to do an awful lot to convince them that I was good material for their daughter. Because I had a lot of strikes against me. I was 10 years older nearly, English, didn’t speak the language. Already had a child. I was an actor. I mean, the list really does get very, very bad so I had to fix the language. It was one thing I could deal with and, you know, there’s nothing like communicating with people in their own tongue.” The 50-year-old actor is also under no illusions as to who has the upper hand in his and Livia’s relationship. When quizzed on the dynamic of their marriage, he joked: “I’m afraid she’s the ball breaker and the brains - which leaves me taking out the trash!”
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Diaz
eats an ‘upside down’ diet
he 38-year-old actress’ trainer Teddy Bass says the blonde beauty watches what she eats, and though she generally has a balanced meal plan, she isn’t afraid to indulge in her favourite calorific treats. Teddy said: “Her diet is an upside-down one where you have your carbs at the beginning of the day then taper off, so in the evening you just eat protein and vegetables. “She’ll eat junk food if she feels like it but if she fancies a burger,
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she’ll just have a few bites.” Cameron meets with Teddy several times a week in order to maintain her “lean and strong” shape. He explained: “Cameron has good genes but she makes working out a priority, so we train as often as we can. Depending on her schedule, we’ll do 45 minutes of Pilates or if she has 90 minutes we’ll do half weights and half Pilates and flexibility work. “Cameron loves having a lean, strong body rather than a curvy figure.”
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
Years
lifestyle Music and Movies Third grade students from the Mississippi Arts Creative Magnet School in St. Paul, Minn. wear Egyptian-style headdresses at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn. on Friday as they study a statue of Amenemhat III. He ruled from 1860-1814 B.C.E. The piece is part of the exhibit “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” which opened on Friday. —AP
Musician sues after ‘Twilight’ tribute shutdown
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n Ohio musician with ambitious plans to have his music heard by fans of “The Twilight Saga” is now suing the film’s distributor, Summit Entertainment, for standing in his way. Matthew Smith, who works under the moniker Matt Heart, created a song entitled “Eternal Knight” in 2002. This past November, Heart engaged in a bold marketing campaign to connect the
song to new audiences. He posted the song on YouTube and sold it via iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and other sites. Most audaciously, he says he negotiated to distribute and promote the song in various movie theaters for 28 weeks, hoping to reach an estimated 5 million viewers via an agreement with Screen Vision, which sells ads in theaters around the nation. But Heart
got into trouble when he commissioned a CD cover for “Eternal Knight” indicating it was inspired by the “Twilight Saga.” The cover art shows a moon and uses a similar typeface to that of “ Twilight’s” movie poster. The move caught the eye of Summit’s legal department, which alerted YouTube, iTunes, Amazon and others to alleged infringement
of its intellectual property. Heart’s song was removed from those outlets. Heart and Summit’s legal counsel then e-mailed each other, with Summit lawyer Regan Pederson telling him that “YouTube’s digital infrastructure does not differentiate between copyright infringement and trademark infringement,” but that Summit was concerned about the trademark violation and had
thus initiated a takedown. Pederson wrote Heart that absent the “Twilight” mark, Heart could repost his music so long as there was no reference whatsoever to Summit’s intellectual property. Heart now claims in his lawsuit, filed yesterday, that Summit misrepresented its legal rights and that the song couldn’t have infringed “Twilight” since it was written and
copyrighted first. Never mind, it seems, that Heart may have done a bit of misrepresenting himself over how the work was inspired. He’s suing Summit for fraud, misrepresentation, infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference, and defamation for allegedly getting in the way of his contractual agreements on the song. He wants at least $75,000 in damages. —Reuters
Iranian drama is film to beat at Berlin festival Fiennes, Redgrave, Spacey in running for acting honors n” is the title ranian drama “Nader and Simin: A Separatio s towards head val to beat as this year ’s Berlin film festi cove ted the re whe y erda yest the clos ing cere mony le and subt A out. ed hand is re pictu best Golden Bear for tradiious relig e, divid l gripping examination of Iran’s socia the of l raya port adi’s Farh ar Asgh m, tions and justice syste e prais l ersa univ st break-up of a marriage has won almo . case show from critics at the annual cinema differ, however, What critics say and judges decide often of surprises. In full making it an unpredictable event often another in a nst agai d pitte is ly Nader and Simin, one fami rscored the unde said adi Farh h whic e tussl l gripping lega er, tradipoor and uals” gap between middle class “intellect more be to ed tend fs belie ious relig tional Iranians whose d. entrenche is the struggle “One (undercurrent in Iranian society) are more trawho , poor the en etwe es-b between the class h wants to whic class ditional and religious, and the other n. “It’s a Berli in said he ,” rules live according to modern new in and old the een betw gle strug en somewhat hidd ” . dear our society. It will cost our society petition lineWhile many of the 16 films in the main com or s one two strong up were seen as forgettable, it only take n, and Nader and Berli like val contenders to light up a festi neatly with what in fits also It k. spar Simin provided that ian Berlinale,” “Iran an some German media have dubbed allow director to Iran for calls with after the festival opened
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pt his invitation to Jafar Panahi to travel to Berlin and acce sit on the jury. jail and banned Panahi was sentenced to six years in 20 years after for ad abro ling trave or ies from making mov in 2009 and ests being accused of inciting opposition prot was marked nce abse His n. issio making a film without perm Rossellini lla Isabe head jury e gsid alon chair with an empty en Bear Gold ntial Pote at the opening press conference. nia’s Alba ut abo d,” Bloo of ess iven rival s are “The Forg rise of viothe t abou ” Who Us, Not “If s, feud d ancient bloo Hungarian direclent German leftist groups in the 60s, and e.” Hors Turin “The stark and ge tor Bela Tarr’s stran d-white pork-an blac a is re pictu last ared decl selfHis of daily life for a trayal of the seemingly endless repetition r from a well, wate ing draw hterdaug his and poor farmer sleeping. and sing dres eating potatoes, stok ing the fire, iolanus,” “Cor t debu l toria direc nes’s British actor Ralph Fien set in edy trag are a bloody adaptation of the Shakespe val. festi the at fans modern times, won plenty of in the title role The Hollywood Reporter tipped Fiennes mnia as possiVolu and Vanessa Redgrave as his mother ely. Acting ectiv resp ers winn ss ble best actor and actre er facing bank a as ey Spac n Kevi to go also d honors coul crash in cial finan 2008 a moral dilemma on the eve of the ess of iven Forg The of cast g youn “Ma rgin Call,” to the spanew e trad the Blood or to the leads in If Not Us, Who, per added.—Reuters
Liz Taylor ‘greatly improved’ after heart scare
F
ilm legend Elizabeth Taylor continues to show “great improvement” but will remain hospitalized for the time being after being admitted for a heart scare last week, her spokeswoman said Friday. The 78year-old actress was hospitalized at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, suffering from “symptoms caused by congestive heart failure, an ongoing condition,” her publicist announced last Friday. On Tuesday the spokeswoman said Taylor was “comfortable” and improving steadily, while Friday’s update was even more upbeat. “Elizabeth Taylor has continued to show great improvement, and her family and friends are very pleased with her progress. She will continue to remain at Cedars-Sinai for monitoring for the time being,” she said in a state-
ment. Taylor’s health has been the subject of intense speculation in recent years. In 1997, she underwent surgery to have a brain tumor removed and she appeared on US television in 2006 to deny rumors she had Alzheimer’s disease. In July 2008, she was hospitalized in Los Angeles but her spokesman denied reports that she was close to death and had been placed on life support. In 2009, she underwent heart surgery to repair a “leaky valve,” tweeting afterwards: “It’s like having a brand new ticker.” Her publicist said this week that Taylor was receiving the best medical treatment possible. “Friends and fans around the world should be reassured that Elizabeth Taylor is in good hands and receiving the best possible care from her skilled and dedicated doctors and nurses,” she said.—AFP
In this photo taken Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011 Chicago rapper and alderman candidate Che “Rhymefest” Smith, talks about the problems in the 20th Ward and his decision to seek political office.—AP
s e f e m y h R r e p p Ra ago City Council could be on Chic
d number of people , nearly he award-winning rapper who wants tics. A recor ng council positions and seeki are , 250 d to be a Chica go alder man looke geover is expe cted. Expe rts down the block and counted up the majo r chan 20 new aldermen on the 50to up ct boarded houses in this slice of the city’s predi a likely power shift. That and il counc seat Five. South Side. One. Two. Three. Four. ral s mayo cand idate s like form er Six. Seven. Eight. “How can you walk here mean House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel White and not feel some thing in your heart ? d face an unpredictable and likely We’re living in an urban ghost town,” Che woul inde pend ent City Coun cil. “Rhym efest ” Smith told The Assoc iated more paints himself as an alternative efest Rhym Press during a van tour of the ward where business as usual for the 20th Ward, he lives. “I see two things. The first is neg- to includes some of the poorest and which lect. The second is opportunity.” In a lande areas of Chicago. First-term st-crim highe r winne the mark year for Chicago politics, Coch ran, who faces a Willie rman of a 2004 Grammy is running an unortho- Alde sition, was elected to oppo of ll dswe groun dox campaign for City Council. His street rman Aren da Alde eed form er wise lyrics have given him a youthful fol- succ to prison in nced sente was She man. lowing, in Chicago and beyond, but it’s Trout g paytakin to guilty ing plead after 2009 shot a more than his fame that gives him from ons ibuti contr aign and camp at winning. In a field of five candidates, offs es. chang g zonin for return in opers devel he’s picked up support from the powerful d Che name , r rappe ar-old 33-ye The politi al Chicago Teachers Union and sever the 1950s Cuban revolutionary Che cal experts say a victory Tuesday or mak- after , has pledged to give up a portion ara Guev ing an April runoff vote are quite possible. aldermanic salary for loans to bring The prese nce in a coun cil seat of of his to the area and says he’ll only ess Rhym efest , a broad battl e rappe r who busin four-year terms. His campaign two serve say once went toe-to-toe with, and many quarters are inside a dingy car wash easily defeated, Eminem , would certainly head nded by vacant lots, and some of his surrou shake things up in a body seen in recent aisers have been held at nightclubs years as a comp liant rubb er stam p for fundr where he performs. Rhymefest has received retiring Mayor Richard Daley. praise from Princeton University scholar a “He’s a home grow n advo cate with l West and rapper Kanye West, with heart for his peop le,” said Stacy Davis - Corne he shared a Grammy for co-writing Gates, a spokeswoman for the teachers’ whom .” Though born in Missouri, his Walks “Jesus l initia union “He’s a hip hop artist , his has lived in Chicago since the 1960s. expression is to champion the oppressed family ded city schools and Columbia atten He and inspire transformation.” But he’s far e downtown. His wife is a teacher for from alon e in his visio n of bring ing Colleg go Public Schools.—AP change and opportunity to Chicago poli- Chica
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
lifestyle F a s h i o n
Lights, camera, glamour as
Models present outfits by Bora Aksu at London Fashion Week in London, Friday, . — AP photos
A model wears an outfit by Daks.
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ondon Fashion Week opened Friday with the rarest of things , a model who actually smiled on the catwalk, as if to welcome the return of the style limelight to the British capital. The grin as Paul Costelloe’s show opened Fashion Week set a positive tone for a catwalk display that featured upbeat, cheerful autumn-and-winter outfits. The usually stern and expressionless models seemed to be enjoying themselves and the comfortablelooking ensembles. Each female model wore an identical short red wig and simple makeup to contrast a series of short poncho-style dresses and short skirts with matching jackets. The men didn’t wear wigs, but they sported burgundy velvet jackets, orange trousers, and other adventurous outfits. The fashion crowd popped bottles of champagne Friday morning while Samantha Cameron, the prime minister’s wife, and Harold Tillman, chairman of the British Fashion Council, got the festivities going with speeches that emphasized the central role fashion plays in Britain’s economic life. “Fashion is one of our most important industries, full stop,” said Cameron, wearing an elegant black outfit. “It brings about 20 billion pounds ($32 billion) a year to our country, and it sends a positive message about British creativity. This should be a great week for London and for UK fashion.” Cameron was debuting in her role as a Fashion Week ambassador. She is expected to attend several shows in the next five days amid a packed schedule that includes Burberry Prorsum, Vivienne Westwood, Issa of London, Paul Smith and other fashion icons. US designer Tom Ford is reportedly showing his womenswear collection for the first time in London _ although he will not be staging a full catwalk show and only a select number of fashion editors will be able to view his designs. There are also dozens of shows by up-and-comers at other venues throughout London, and a full tilt of menswear shows on Wednesday. “We feel very upbeat and excited, but we are all suffering along with others because of the cuts the government has made,” Tillman said. He said the fashion council is working with city officials and private sponsors to try and expand the program, despite the financial austerity gripping Britain as the country struggles with a large budget deficit. He said registration for London Fashion Week has increased and that international buyers are playing an increasingly important role. Costelloe’s show shrugged off the financial crunch. It was more colorful than in recent years, and seemed to be a relaxed celebration. Many outfits featured shades of green, while others had bright prints. The rest of the shows seemed to effortlessly move back and forth in time as different styles were showcased.
A model wears an outfit by Betty Jackson.
A model wears an outfit by Betty Jackson.
Models present outfits by PPQ.
CAROLINE CHARLES Veteran designer Caroline Charles, a mainstay on the London scene, showed a taste for days gone by in her autumn-and-winter collection before a packed London Fashion Week crowd. To a background of Mozart sonatas, she showed tweeds, herringbones and plaids in outfits that featured long skirts and a wide variety of hats, including men’s-style fedoras and bowlers, some in striking midnight blue. The colors were serious and somber: chocolate, cappuccino and black mixed with a smattering of bright ruby and jade. One colorful outfit was topped with a nearly full length black veil. The effect was slightly retro, evoking the 1950s and elegant country house parties from an even earlier era. The overall style was understated. But there were playful outfits as well, including some skirts paired with leopard skin tops and pantsuits with similar prints. Evening gowns were sparkly and mid-length, and Charles did not cater to the miniskirt trend. She also showed well-tailored, very high-waisted trousers and some slouchy tuxedo-styled jackets in sparkly midnight blue.
A model wears an outfit by Daks.
CORRIE NIELSEN Young talent Corrie Nielsen, winner of the “Fashion Fringe” award last year, showed her highly theatrical outfits Friday to an appreciative crowd. Her models had a slightly androgynous look, with braided hair tied down tightly over their heads amid an Elvis-style pompadour. She also opted for extremely pale makeup that gave some of the outfits an otherworldly look. Nielsen, who has American roots but has taken to the London scene, showed many monochromatic outfits, including many in a dark gray, and set off some outfits with classical Greek references. Purple shoes added a needed touch of whimsy to sever-
A model wears an outfit by Jaeger.
A model presents an outfit by John Rocha.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
lifestyle F a s h i o n al ensembles. She says some of her inspiration comes from 18th century illustrators. Nielsen used long length skirts and jackets with exaggerated shoulders to give her outfits a distinctive silhouette, and showed a number of sexy evening gowns, including some that mixed purple and black. At the show’s climax she displayed several dresses with long trains, and the models seemed to float along the catwalk, their shoes almost completely hidden.
Models present outfits by PPQ at London Fashion Week.—AP
A model wears an outfit by Daks at London Fashion Week in London.
AMINAKA WILMONT This unusual design duo showed a series of signature asymmetric print dresses Friday, including some cut well above the knee in front but nearly reaching the floor in back. Some trousers sported uneven leg lengths. Many models wore high lobster-claw black boots. The asymmetric look extended to outerwear, including one dark shearling jacket that was cut unevenly in the back. The designers are Maki Aminaka Lofvander, originally from Japan and Sweden, and Marcus Wilmont, from Denmark. BORA AKSU Turkish born designer Bora Aksu wowed a crowd that included models and pop stars Friday night with a series of unusual dresses, including one with a separate hood and several with veils fashioned like chin bandages. Some of his models clad in silver metallic outfits looked like injured but sexy and elegant aliens on the catwalk. Many wore trademark patterned tights set off with diamante and paisley patterns. Some of the outfits mixed gray and black with green detailing, and there were a number of sheer tops, plunging necklines, and low backs to his cocktail dresses. Evening wear also included some brocaded trousers and a tailored waistcoat worn over a sheer black top. One of the few full length dresses featured a mermaid flare at the hem. The show was jammed to capacity, and perhaps beyond, and included ‘60s supermodel Twiggy. —AP
Models present outfits by John Rocha, during London Fashion Week.
Models display autumn/winter designs by Amaya Arzuaga and Hannibal Laguna during the Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid yesterday. —AP photos
Lifestyle
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f any of the frontrunners for the best film Oscar win the world’s top movie award in nine days, the idea that voters are out of touch with mainstream movie fans may be over after two years of trying. For that, Oscar owes a big “thank you” to Batman and Clint Eastwood. Or, to director Christopher Nolan and his 2008 Batman movie “The Dark Knight,” and Eastwood with his feature “Gran Torino,” neither of which was even nominated for the best film of 2008 despite being popular hits. In each of the movie years 2009 and 2010, when Academy Award organizers doubled the number of best film nominees to 10 from five, the combined box office for the nominees was bigger than the total of all 15 contenders in the three years before. The 10 nominees of 2010 have accounted for nearly $1.3 billion in US and Canadian ticket sales, and for 2009, it was $1.7 billion. In each of 2008, 2007 and 2006, it was $354 million, $357 million and $296 million, respectively. “Popular movies and Academy voters have come together in this perfect storm of events, and it’s nice to see that,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of box office tracker Hollywood.com. In 2008, mainstream movie fans complained loudly that Oscar voters were out of touch. At that time, it seemed as if almost every nominee for best film came mostly from art houses or were specialty films, such as “The Reader” or “Milk.” That year, Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” was a hit with critics and the No 1 film at domestic box offices with $533 million. “Gran Torino” similarly was a 2008 smash hit. But neither was nominated for best movie, raising hackles from fans. The best picture Oscar winner for 2008, “Slumdog Millionaire,” took in $141 million. But of the other four nominees, only “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” could top $100 million. PUMP UP THE VOLUME The next year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences raised the number of nominees to broaden the pool of contenders, and five films topped the magic $100 million, led by smash hit “Avatar” with $761 million. The list included “Up” at $293 million and “The Blind Side” at $256 million. For
Iranian drama is film to beat at Berlin festival
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Indian dancers Raja Reddy, left, and Radha Reddy perform traditional Kuchipudi dance during an international dance festival in Hyderabad, India on Friday. Kuchipudi is a classical Indian dance form from Andhra Pradesh state. —AP
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2010, four films-”Toy Story 3,” Nolan’s “Inception,” “True Grit,” and “Black Swan”have crossed $100 million and “The King’s Speech” ($96 million) will likely do so. “The Social Network” ($97 million) is close and a sixth, “The Fighter” at $86 million, will easily top $90 million. Dergarabedian reckons two factors were at work. One is the widening of the best film category, and the second is that no one movie dominated box offices through Hollywood’s award sea-
Widening best film nominees to 10 boosted popular fare son which, generally speaking, begins in November. “That left opportunity for these films to become mainstream hits,” Dergarabedian said. The Academy and TV network ABC couldn’t be happier because more popular films, traditionally, mean more TV viewers for the Academy Awards ceremony. Indeed, last year’s TV audience of 41 million was the highest in five years. Ironically, the biggest box office hit of that group of films, “Avatar” lost best movie to one of the lowest performers, war film “The Hurt Locker” ($17 million). But in this second year of change, the frontrunner for best film, “The King’s Speech,” is both a critical and popular hit, as are “Social Network”, “Inception”, “Toy Story 3”, “True Grit”, “The Fighter” and “Black Swan.” — Reuters
Singer Justin Bieber, center, makes his way down the court during a BBVA All-Star celebrity basketball game at the NBA All Star Weekend in Los Angeles, Friday. —AP
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ustin Bieber finally won a trophy in LA. The Canadian teen singing sensation, who was shut out at the Grammys, was chosen most valuable player despite playing for the losing team in the National Basketball Association All-Star celebrity game on Friday night. Bieber had eight points, four assists and two rebounds for the West team, which lost 54-49 to the East at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen led the Magic Johnson-coached East team with 17 points in a game whose defensive highlight might have been Pippen’s third-quarter block of Bieber. The vertically challenged Bieber scampered up and down the court, his famous shaggy ‘do bouncing with every step as girls shrieked at the sight. “He has the softest hair,” marveled former Los Angeles Laker Rick Fox, who patted his West teammate Bieber on the head during the game. Wearing a black T-shirt under his red-and-white jersey, Bieber spent most of the game hitching up his shorts that fell well below the knee. His pregame stretching included trying, but failing, to touch his toes. Bieber showed off some slick moves, dribbling behind his back, and driving and dishing to taller teammate
and ESPN analyst Jalen Rose. Bieber fed A.C. Green for the game’s first basket, and the singer later hit a 3pointer. “I’m just running back and forth,” Bieber said during an in-game interview. “I’m controlling this whole team. I’m just kidding.” With actor Jamie Foxx and Lakers star Lamar Odom watching, Bieber missed a 3pointer that would have tied it with 30 seconds to go. Afterward, the 16year-old was hurried off the court by burly security guards. Bieber’s week began when he lost out on his two Grammy nominations at Staples Center. But things picked up with another TV guest appearance on “CSI” and his “Never Say Never” concert movie was No. 2 at the box office. Bieber’s celebrity teammates were Zac Levi of “Chuck,” R&B singer Trey Songz, rapper Romeo Miller, and Rob Kardashian, whose sister Khloe is married to Odom. “He didn’t embarrass the family,” Odom said afterward. Besides Rob and Khloe, who stood out in skintight leopard leggings, the Kardashian clan was represented by their stepfather Bruce Jenner and Khloe’s half-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner.—AP
ormer “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson has appealed to India’s top medical institute to retire old monkeys used in scientific research, animal rights group PETA India said yesterday. The Hollywood actress said she had seen a video allegedly secretly filmed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) that showed sick monkeys and rabbits which had been kept in cages for up to 20 years. “It broke my heart to see the suffering,” Anderson said in a letter written to AIIMS director R C Deka on behalf of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The video, which was enclosed with the letter, showed animals under extreme distress, with a monkey racing up the walls of the cage to get out and a rat compulsively running in circles, she said. “The animals suffering behind closed doors at AIIMS must endure this nightmare every day,” she said. The video also depicted newborn rats being shaken in their cages by attendants as well as wounded rats being denied veterinary care, Anderson said. “Please, won’t you at least agree to retire the animals who have been at AIIMS the longest to a sanctuary?” Anderson asked Deka, adding that Indian law required all laboratories to “rehabilitate” animals after three years. A spokesman for AIIMS told Indian newspaper The Times of India that the institute had not received any letter from Anderson, and said that the research facility was “state of the art” and fully compliant with Indian laws. Spokesman Y K Gupta said that AIIMS already had rehabilitation facilities for animals after they had been spent three years as experiment subjects. Anderson, 43, recently came to India’s financial capital Mumbai to participate in the reality television show “Bigg Boss,” the Indian version of “Big Brother.” — AFP