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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 RAJAB 19, 1434 AH www.kuwaittimes.net Russia to send Foreign workers Pakistani TV Swann’s Syria missiles queue to quit smashes taboos six-haul bowls as spillover Saudi Arabia with its England fears grow8 after amnesty9 answer40 to ‘Glee’ to20 victory Assembly refers interior Max 41º minister grilling to panel Min 28º High Tide 03:25 & 13:58 MPs demand action against former oil minister Low Tide 08:42 & 21:37 40 PAGES NO: 15823 150 FILS By B Izzak conspiracy theories KUWAIT: The National Assembly yesterday agreed with a comfortable majority to refer the grilling against Interior Committees Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah to the legal and legislative committee to study if it breached the con- stitution. Forty-six MPs voted in favour of the request season made by Sheikh Ahmad at the start of a heated debate sparked by strong accusations made by MP Safa Al- Hashem, who filed the grilling along with MP Youssef Al- Zalzalah. The minister said the grilling contained a num- ber of suspected violations of the constitution, especially with regards to allegations that former Kuwaiti MPs were By Badrya Darwish accused of being members of a terror cell associated with a similar cell in the United Arab Emirates. The minister also insisted that parts of the accusations in the grilling refer to actions that were taken before he was appointed to the post about two years ago which [email protected] contradicts a ruling by the constitutional court. The par- liamentary committee was given one month to discuss the grilling and find out if it tried hard to remain silent on the Dow deal breached the constitution. for the past few weeks. I think that it was The postponement came as Iwrong to cancel the mega project in the first expected with the next date place. However, the decision was taken after for debating the grilling pressure was exerted on the then prime minister falling after June 16 when the by the opposition. I think that when the deal was constitutional court is sched- cancelled, it was not Sheikh Nasser’s job to look uled to make a very crucial into the matter. Since that day I do not know verdict regarding the amend- who to blame - the ministers, lawyers, those who ment of the electoral law. agreed to scrap the deal without reading thor- Among possible verdicts is oughly the contract or those who signed it. that the court may nullify the December elections and Now we all suffer. Dow is the prevalent sub- order the dissolution of the ject in the media. More to the point, Dow has National Assembly like it did with the previous opposi- opened the Pandora’s box of dirty linen hanging tion-dominated Assembly. in the public sphere and is also doing rounds in MPs Hashem and Zalzalah strongly objected to the the diwaniyas. It showed the worst of men. The minister’s request to delay the grilling debate and worst of it all was exposed on social networks. Hashem launched a scathing attack against the minister Do not ignore social networks. It is the sharpest for allegedly failing to control the security situation and and strongest weapon of this age. Social net- not applying the law against the opposition. MP Ali Al- working can topple governments and make rev- Omair supported the request and accused the two olutions. We saw that in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and KUWAIT: Prime Minister HH Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah attends a session at the National grillers of exaggerating the issue about the UAE terrorist now we see it in Syria. Social networking helped Assembly yesterday. (Inset) Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah speaks during the ses- cell, saying the grilling includes false information. 90 percent in the change of regimes. It doesn’t sion. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Continued on Page 15 mean, however, that whatever is posted on social networks is accurate. As humans we have a tendency to believe Rebels give Hezb 24-hr ultimatum gossip and rumours without verifying them. Even if they are verified and the person clears his DUBAI: Syrian rebel chief Salim Idriss warned Arabi and UN chief Ban Ki-Moon. name, you will see that tweeters and social net- yesterday that if fighters from Lebanon’s Shiite “I will no longer be bound by any commit- work posters are not bothered. Everything goes party Hezbollah do not stop their aggression ments I made, if a decision to stop the hush-hush. in Syria, where they are backing government attacks... is not taken and implemented,” said Back to the Dow deal now. This is one of the troops, “we will take all measures to hunt” Idriss, a brigadier general who heads the most nutritious food items for social networks. them, “even in hell”. “If the attacks of Hezbollah supreme military council of the Free Syrian Since the Dow investigation started, there has against Syrian territory do not stop within 24 Army. “I can no longer restrain the fighters” of been a lot of reshuffling in the government, in hours, we will take all measures to hunt the FSA, he added without saying what con- the oil sector and in key oil positions. There were Hezbollah, even in hell,” he told Al-Arabiya crete action they might take. “We are being not much explanations about the reasons for news channel, addressing Lebanese President subjected to a genocide conducted by this reshuffling. What about the constant setup Michel Sleiman, Arab League chief Nabil Al- Hezbollah,” charged Idriss. “I hope that every- of new committees? There is one committee that one will excuse the Free (Syrian) Army” for is formed and another one that exists to super- retaliating, he said. vise it. Then a third committee oversees what is Iran-backed Hezbollah, a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, sent almost going on in the two committees. Is this the sea- 1,700 fighters to the central Syrian town of son of committees these days? Qusair more than a week ago to support the After a committee is formed, we would like to regimke’s assault on the rebel stronghold. know the progress and secrets they uncover. Initially Hezbollah said it wanted only to Sadly, no one tells us anything. In such cases we defend 13 Syrian villages along the border are left with no other option but to become vic- where Lebanese Shiites live, and the Sayyeda tims of social networks and find out what the Zeinab shrine near Damascus, which is main news in the country is from them. We wait revered by Shiites around the world. However, for a Whatsapp that is usually flooded with BAB AL-SALAM, Syria: US Senator John its fighters later encircled Qusair with regime rumours. We do not know if they are even half McCain (left) is seen with Syrian rebel troops before the launch of a withering JINHUA, China: This frame grab shows rescue workers breaking away bits of right or totally wrong. leader Gen Salim Idriss in this border assault on the strategic border town that is a pipe to remove a newborn baby boy stuck inside in this city in the eastern I hope that in the coming holy month of town on Monday. — AFP (See Page 8) home to 25,000 people. — AFP province of Zhejiang. — AFP Ramadan, the Dow deal inquiry will be over and we will all go back to normal. We will just be Baby rescued from stuck with traffic, deportations and the new China ‘steals’ plans of US shark attacks on illegal residents. weapons, Aussie spy HQ toilet pipe in China BEIJING: A newborn baby boy was spotting the infant. French victim WASHINGTON/SYDNEY: Chinese cyber The cyber spying gave China access to rescued from a sewage pipe in a But according to the state-run news hackers have breached networks con- advanced technology and could weaken Chinese apartment building after site Zhejiang News, a tenant heard the of MERS dies taining designs for an array of advanced the US military’s advantage in the event becoming stuck down a toilet, local baby’s sounds in the public restroom US weapons programs, from stealthy of a conflict, the report said. The police said yesterday, in a case that of the residential building and notified fighter jets to missile defense systems, Pentagon advisory report stopped short provoked a shocked online reaction. authorities. The landlord of the build- 5 new Saudi cases officials said yesterday. The breaches of accusing Beijing of stealing the The mother of the baby, 22 and ing told Zhejiang News that it was were part of a broad Chinese campaign designs, but the conclusions help explain LILLE/RIYADH: France’s first victim of a SARS-like unmarried, hid her pregnancy from unlikely the birth took place in the toi- of espionage against US defense con- recent US warnings to the Chinese gov- neighbours for fear of being let room because there was no evi- virus, which the 65-year-old man is thought to have tractors and government agencies, ernment. Precisely how much sensitive contracted in Dubai, has died, health officials said ostracised, a police officer in Jinhua in dence of blood and she was not aware according to a Pentagon report, said offi- technical information the hackers may the eastern province of Zhejiang, told of any recent pregnancies among her yesterday. “The first patient is dead,” said a cials, confirming a Washington Post have obtained was still uncertain, said a spokesman with the Directorate General for Health, AFP. She gave birth unexpectedly tenants. account. The Defense Science Board, a defense official, who spoke on condition when she went to the lavatory yester- Attempts to pull the baby out referring to the man who was hospitalised on April senior advisory group with government of anonymity. “It’s not clear how much of 23 following digestion problems after his return from day, and the newborn fell into the failed, so rescuers sawed away a sec- and civilian experts, concluded digital our stuff they got,” the official told AFP. squat toilet, said the officer, who tion of the 10-cm diameter conduit Dubai. The virus had claimed two lives in Europe hackers managed to gain access to The latest revelations of suspected already: one in Britain and the other in Germany. The declined to be named. The mother with the baby inside and took him to a designs for two dozen major weapons cyber espionage came before China’s telephoned her landlord, claiming she local hospital, according to Chinese new virus has killed 24 people around the world so systems critical to missile defenses, com- President Xi Jinping was due to meet far, mainly in Saudi Arabia. heard “weird noises” in the pipe, and media reports. bat aircraft and naval ships, according to President Barack Obama in the proprietor called in police after Continued on Page 15 Continued on Page 15 a Pentagon document cited by the Post. Continued on Page 15 WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 LOCAL

KUWAIT: Ambassador of Lebanon to Kuwait Dr Khedhr Halawi hosted an event at the embassy building on Monday in celebration of Lebanon’s Liberation Day, which was attended by ambassadors and other dignitaries. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat Lebanon urges Kuwait to reconsider travel advisory Kuwait-Lebanese ties deep-rooted: Suleiman

KUWAIT: Lebanese president Michel erated, urging Lebanese to cooperate and Responding to a question about whether Suleiman stressed that Kuwaiti-Lebanese consolidate to face foreign disturbances that it would be wise to let the Lebanese parlia- relations are deep-rooted and both countries have been having negative impact on mentary elections take place under the cur- have many joint achievements to their credit. Lebanese domestic issues. rent circumstances, Suleiman said that He also hailed Kuwait’s financial and spiritual Domestically speaking, Suleiman empha- ‘nothing was impossible.’ “We will manage support to his country and expressed hope sized that he would contest any parliamen- to organize the elections despite all region- that Kuwait would reconsider its decision to tary decision to extend the Lebanese parlia- al turbulences, if we have the will,” he call upon the Kuwaitis to leave Lebanon ment’s tenure by more than six months. added. Notably, the Lebanese caretaker immediately. ‘Moderation has not failed yet but extremist cabinet decided to call the elections on ‘The current circumstances in Lebanon positions have been proving a hindrance and June 16 and has already started preparing and the entire region are very critical,’ he reit- not letting it work,’ he underlined. for these. — Al-Jarida Unified education plan gets nod

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education has 11th class, and 75% for 12th class. She language from next year 2014/2015. approved the final touches to the uni- said that Minister of Education Dr. He said in this respect, a memoran- fied secondary system, in force since Nayef Al-Hajraf has informed the dum will be prepared by the public 2006, to bring it up to date and ensure Undersecretaries that the council of education sector for the secretaries’ it was suitable for today’s needs and ministers has approved the decision to council in the coming days. Al-Kandary challenges. In this connection, retire those who have served for 30 said that teaching mathematics and Undersecretary Mariam Al-Wateed said years or more. She also said that the science in English language was a that certain basic amendments have minister has asked the administrative global necessity and the ministry want- been made to the unified secondary sector for names of such officials so ed that Kuwait’s students must be able system. that these can be discussed in the next to compete with the rest of the world. She pointed out that the most meeting. In the meantime, Assistant The first step will be to translate certain important amendment was in respect Undersecretary Mohammad Al- words for numbers and some phrases to the accumulated average where it Kandary said that mathematics and sci- into English language in the subject of becomes 10% for 10th class, 15% for ence subjects will be taught in English mathematics.

KUWAIT: The South African Embassy in Kuwait hosted a reception at the Radisson Blu Hotel - Abdul Hussein Marafie Ballroom yesterday under the theme “Celebrating the Role of Women in South Africa’s Democratic Transition”. — Photos by Joseph Shagra South African embassy celebrates role of women in democratic transition

KUWAIT: The South African Embassy in Kuwait hosted a reception at the Radisson Blu Hotel - Abdul Hussein Marafie Ballroom yesterday under the theme “Celebrating the Role of Women in South Africa’s Democratic Transition”. The event formed part of South Africa’s Freedom Day cele- bration as well as the 50th anniversary commemoration of the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The event was well attended by women from various sectors of Kuwaiti society, South Africa nationals, spouses at foreign diplomatic missions and representatives from the expatriate community in Kuwait. In his welcoming remarks the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa Delarey Van Tonder commemorated the contribution of South Africa women in the struggle for South Africa’s free- dom and democracy. He reminded the guests of the saying created by oppressed women in South Africa to unite against the human rights abuses of Apartheid” You strike a woman- You strike a rock” (Watint Abafazi Watint Imbokodo). Ambassador Van Tonder pointed out that South Africa will celebrate its 20 years of freedom next year while the African Union (AU) is celebrating its golden Jubilee since the establishment of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) fifty years ago in the ancient African State of KUWAIT: Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa Ethiopia. The theme of the 50th anniversary is “Pan Delarey Van Tonder (right) with his wife Sebella Van Africanism and African Renaissance” which also reflect pos- Tonder during the celebration. itively on the role of Women in Africa’s soda-economic development. “I wish to acknowledge that in its short life, structive role of Women in Kuwait society and congratulat- democratic South Africa has carved out significant mile- ed Sheikha Naima Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, stones towards improving the status of women and sub- Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for Women stantively increasing their role in national governance and Sport in the GCC for receiving the GCC Sport and economic life of the country. Equally Women in Africa con- Environment Award. He also acknowledged the continued tinue to fulfill their respective roles and overcome many efforts of Sheikh Salman Al-Sabah, the Minister of challenges towards unity, peace, security and sustainable Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs to development on the African Continent.” strengthen the participation of young people in sport and Ambassador Van Tonder also paid tribute to the con- culture as well as the promotion of the environment. WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 LOCAL

MoI and MoD sent 2,798 for treatment abroad in a year KUWAIT: Nearly 2,800 Kuwaitis 1143 were sent by his ministry the number of applications sub- were sent for treatment abroad on during the specified period. The mitted during the specified period trips paid by two ministries in the number includes 558 people sent reached 2058, of which 914 were course of one year, a local news- to London, 254 to France, 111 to rejected. paper reported quoting official Thailand, 69 to the United States, Meanwhile, Al-Rai’s report also statistics. 39 to Saudi Arabia, 16 to the quoted Sheikh Al-Hmoud’s MP Askar Al-Enizy had sent two United Arab Emirates, ten to answer which indicates that the separate requests to Deputy Jordan, two to Cairo, one to Interior Ministry sent 1655 peo- Prime Minister and Minister of Lebanon and one to the Czech ple for treatment between Defense Sheikh Ahmad Al-Khalid Republic, in addition to 37 sent to January 1, 2012 and January 31, Al-Sabah, as well as First Deputy private hospitals in Kuwait. 2013. They included 817 sent to Prime Minister and Minister of The defense minister’s London, 306 to France, 172 to the Interior Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hmoud response further explains that the United Arab Emirates, 127 to Al-Sabah, to provide the number patients were sent for treatment Saudi Arabia, 54 to Jordan, 35 to of people sent abroad for treat- of complicated conditions that the United States, 23 to Germany, ment by their respective min- included heart diseases, arteriove- nine to Egypt, two to Lebanon in istries between January 1, 2012 nous malformation, organ trans- addition to 110 to private hospi- and January 31, 2013. plants, chronic diseases, brain tals in Kuwait. The minister also Al-Rai newspaper published tumor and neurosurgery, cancer, indicated that his ministry the defense minister’s response and serious injuries resulting from received 3111 applications dur- KUWAIT: The Ambassador of the Republic of Albania, Kujtim Morina visited Kuwait Times and discussed matters of yesterday, which indicates that accidents. The minister added that ing the specified period. —Al-Rai mutual concern with Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan. Raids take the beauty out of Kuwait salons Women complain about safety standards in parlors

By Nawara Fattahova

KUWAIT: Some women complain about coming NBK’s volunteers across salons where service standards leave much to be desired when it comes to minimum preferred hygiene norms. They wonder about what kind of clean Shuwaikh Beach standards they are entitled to, and to whom they can complain, especially if shoddy services prove KUWAIT: National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) social media network will take part in harmful to them in any way. recently organized a beach cleanup this campaign and post photos through The Kuwait Municipality is the institution in event at Shuwaikh Beach. This cleanup NBK Official Page on Facebook or NBK charge of keeping a check on the salons, and it has initiative undertaken by NBK staff and Twitter and Instagram account women inspectors who carry out inspections. volunteers comes as part of NBK’s annu- @NBKPage covering this initiative.” Basically the inspectors pay random visits to these al environmental awareness campaign NBK’s team spent their time cleaning salons in various governorates. In case of any spe- to help keep Kuwait beach clean during the beach and informing the visitors cific complaint by a customer, they will check out the summer season. about the importance of keeping the the salon once again even if it comes just after a “Shuwaikh Beach cleanup campaign beach clean. regular check. is one of similar events that will be NBK is an environment-friendly bank The inspectors check out different parameters planned by NBK throughout this sum- and has launched a range of initiatives at the salon. “First of all, we check the health license mer. said Yaqoub Al Baqer, NBK Public in its continuous efforts to build aware- of the salon. The commercial license should be Relations officer. “The planned environ- ness on the growing environmental hung on a wall where it is visible. We also check the mental campaign is another manifesta- challenges being faced by Kuwait. These health IDs of the workers. Then, we also check the tion of NBK’s deep commitment to the initiatives include: electricity conserva- products used in the salon such as the creams and Unhygienic equipments and gloves seized KUWAIT: A lady inspector at a beauty salon community.” tion and paper recycling- aimed at pro- different masks to ensure that nothing is past its from a salon during a raid. Al Baqer added: “This year NBK’s moting environmental awareness. expiry date and that the products are approved by explained Al-Ajmi. Unsatisfied customers can com- varying between KD 100 - 900. In more serious cas- the Ministry of Health. We also check out the plain to different authorities. “Customers can com- es or repeated violations, the salon may be ordered hygiene procedures followed by the workers, plain at the Kuwait Municipality, at the Consumer to shut down. In case a majority of employees were whether the tools used are properly utilized, espe- Protection Department of the Ministry of found working without health IDs, the salon will be cially those meant for manicure and pedicure, as Commerce, or file a report at the police station. If a closed. The same applies if the salon worked with- well as the towels used,” the head of the Food and customer complained about certain mixed product out a license,” she concluded. Meat inspection sector for the Ahmadi used on her hair or skin, for instance, we will take a Farida, a salon owner, faced some complications Governorate, Hawiya Al-Ajmi, said. sample of this material and refer it to a laboratory. in the beginning when she started her business, Some salons are providing services for which Also, we will give the customer the report about but now she is not complaining about the inspec- they don’t have a license. “Some salons provide this material,” she stated. tions. “The inspectors are doing their job. They laser services for different procedures, but they are Last week the inspectors in all six governorates check the licenses and the cleanliness of the salon. not authorized to provide these services in the registered 38 violations during the course of a sin- When the salon was new, I faced problems espe- salon. Also, some salons that don’t have spa are gle day. “We received a complaint from one of the cially since I’m a Filipina and didn’t know many of providing the Moroccan Bath, while they are not customers that she lost her hair and almost went the rules, particularly those of the Ministry of equipped and prepared to do so. Of course, smok- bald as a result of using some mask on her hair. Commerce. For instance, I was selling shampoo in ing is forbidden in the salons,” she added. Another customer complained that the salon work- the salon and this was forbidden, so I was penal- The condition of the working staff is very impor- er caused her a burn on her back by wrongly using ized. Also the competing salons next to me tried to tant. “We always check the hygiene of the staff, the hair straightener. Also, a customer complained create problems for me in the beginning, but now their clothes, hands if not injured or burnt, their that her hair were damaged due to poor coloring after nine years in the field, I’m fine,” she pointed skin to ensure that they don’t have any allergy or procedure. Mostly, the salons either offer a medical out. acne, and their health condition even if they hold a treatment to the customer who suffered harm or There are many rules that the salons have to fol- valid health ID. In addition to all this, the staff have to pay financial compensation,” stressed Al- low. “With time, I learnt that I have to strictly apply should be always wearing a uniform so that they Ajmi. the hygiene norms in the salon. For instance, I don’t are recognizable and look distinct from the cus- The violating salons can be subject to different use the same towel for more than one customer. tomers. The employer is obliged to provide the sanctions. “The sanctions depend on the nature of Sometimes, I end up using three towels for the uniform, otherwise they will be penalized. In case violation, and these are classified into one that can same customer when doing pedicure for her. I have the owner provided the uniform but the employee be settled and others that cannot be settled. For to ensure cleanliness to keep my customers satis- didn’t wear it, then the employee will be ticketed,” minor violations, the salon may pay a financial fine fied and safeguard my reputation,” stated Farida. WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 LOCAL

wIn my vie Letter to Badrya Hackers look Housing blues for a job to do

[email protected]

Salam, Actually you should thank Allah that your govern- By Labeed Abdal ment grants KD70,000 for building a house. I under- stand that Kuwaitis generally have a large family and it is difficult to live comfortably in apartments or small villas. I am writing this to point out an anomaly in this regard. As more and more buildings are coming up as [email protected] high rises in place of spacious 3-4 floor buildings, the size of the flats is shrinking and rents are rising without any commensurate rise in the income of us expatriates. he latest cyber attack on several official The kitchen, the bath and what we have all come to Saudi Arabian websites being run under the accept as a ‘hall’ is pathetic. Many owners have now Tsupervision of the Ministry of Information started partitioning the so called hall into two and underlines the need for an effective regional cyber renting it as a two bedroom flat. Then there is this defence mechanism. mafia of haris (building watchman). He takes commis- Cyber policing requires steps within the coun- sion for ensuring that whenever vacated, the flat try as well as outside to combat organized cyber would be ours. Majority of buildings do not undergo crimes that could prove to be a big threat for indi- any maintenance. Even when a tenant moves in, the flat is not refurbished in most buildings. Shifting to another building is a nightmare. We have to vacate on Even, in a situation where a battle 25th of any month while the flat in which one is to shift becomes available only on the 26th. So what do we is raging in Syria, both sides are try- do? There is absolutely no sympathy or professional- ing to secure their place in the cyber kuwait digest ism. There is no parking place. What’s worse is that world and even to ensure that chan- many haris (watchman) have the audacity to deny flats to people with children. nels of communication stay open for The tribe as an institution So Badrya, when you whine about KD70,000, any party to make an approach for remember us. It will make you happy. Thanks for stand- peace or calling a truce. Life has By Abdullatif Al-Duaij ing up for expats. Regards, changed tremendously, and every- Khalid thing has a replica in the form of a t looks like some young tribesmen have recently haps some political, roles in the past, the story has copy on the e-cloud. exhibited a sort of ‘rebellion’ against orthodox changed today with the advent of civil institutions Itribal traditions. It also seems that this feeling that have legally and actively assumed these stems from a disappointment that followed the responsibilities. kuwait digest viduals, companies and public bodies. recent stance adopted by a majority of tribal chiefs Tribalism is essential in primitive societies to pro- Cyber security should be updated with latest regarding the political situation. vide protection and care for individuals. But in mod- technological advancements and services of the The tribe is a traditional institution which, by its ern societies, labor unions represent their members, Forever highly intelligent hackers can be availed of for this inherent nature, is in contra- while social security institu- purpose. In many countries, these select e-smart diction with the concept of tions provide care and serv- any modern day institution. Tribalism is essential in primitive ice to individuals. This Number One hackers are actually hired and highly paid to help societies to provide protection and thwart threats and challenges and thus safeguard It is therefore an ideal plat- means that the role of the the country against cyberspace risks. form to serve the interests of care for individuals. But in modern tribe has simply been Ministries like oil, interior, defense, media etc. ‘traditionalists’ or people societies, labor unions represent replaced with these institu- By Jaafar Rajab have been a common target internationally, and who do not prefer to see any their members, while social security tions that are more capable many cyber criminals attack these. changes in the society. The of serving individuals. An ayern Munich won the UEFA Champions institutions provide care and serv- League last Saturday, a news that not everyone Even, in a situation where a battle is raging in same people who applauded individual in democratic might be interested in. Not even football fans Syria, both sides are trying to secure their place in tribal chiefs for their support ice to individuals. This means that societies is supposed to B to the election boycott are receive protection and care who believe that the sport is only about ‘Real Madrid the cyber world and even to ensure that channels the role of the tribe has simply been vs Barcelona’, a bunch of screaming play-by-play today criticizing tribal tradi- from state institutions that of communication stay open for any party to make replaced with these institutions commentators and superstars featured in sponsors’ tions since tribal chiefs have guarantee justice and an approach for peace or calling a truce. Life has that are more capable of serving ads. changed tremendously, and everything has a become closer to the govern- equality among citizens. Football is not the subject of my column today, replica in the form of a copy on the e-cloud. ment than to youths’ political individuals. Therefore, an individual in a but I want to talk a little bit about Bayern Munich. For sure, there is a big cyber empire in the skies groups. democratic state does not When players were crowned as champions, they in the form of search engines, predictive language I have maintained an unchanged position about need to fall back upon tribalism or to seek out a hoisted the trophy while a man stood behind by the and artificial intelligence. the tribe being an old-fashioned institution that tribe for protection and guarantees. name of Uli Hoeness. This man is a former German Also, we need to ensure that our privacy is safe- serves traditionalists. However, some have confused The tribe as an institution has faded away in National Team player and is currently the President of guarded and marketing strategies using informa- between my position and my stance towards tribes- democratic societies, but of course there are many Bayern Munich. It caught my attention when players tion databases and the technological explosion in men. I am against the tribe as a lasting institution, people who still find the best way to achieve their tried to hand him the Champions League trophy and he refused to take it at first, but eventually accepted the world does not affect life to an individual’s dis- not tribesmen, as some people imagine. Every interests, cover up for their arbitrariness or distin- human being around the world is of tribal or primi- guish themselves from others. That is how tribes after players insisted. This is completely the opposite advantage. Without doubt, nothing must be of what we have here where officials accept trophies tive descent. The difference is that some people had managed to survive till date. Their influence remains allowed to reduce us to start living a robotic life on behalf of their players and keep them perhaps in and lose our human identity. the opportunity to evolve and urbanize before oth- linked to the level of democratic development their cars’ trunk. Anyway, what is important here is to ers. Tribalism or partisanship on tribal basis contra- which is opposed by those who are negatively know that the former football player, whose career is dicts with the institutions and foundations of mod- affected by the decreasing importance of tribes as known for wasting the most crucial penalty kick in kuwait digest ern societies. While tribes possessed social, and per- an institution. — Al-Qabas the German National Team’s history, has become the key to Bayern Munich’s success in the past decade.

MPs in cover-up job kuwait digest It took Bayern Munich only two and a half years as well as nearly 250 million euros to build its new A clear case of political offside stadium that is one of the best in the By Saad Al-Maattash world. Of course, the construction By Thaar Al-Rashidi hen I saw a photograph showing a bird was not supervised by any public enter the mouth of a crocodile, I was sur- works ministry or public authority ustoms officers always maintain that the But if we review this entire period of excitement prised as to how the crocodile did not W smuggling attempts that they foil and the right from the beginning, we will discover that the for youths and sports, and the presi- swallow that bird. But after following the programs contraband that they confiscate, comprise case came into the limelight for two reasons. dent of Germany’s football federa- shown on Al-Arabi TV Channel, I came to know that C only 25 percent of what is smuggled into the coun- The first was that it came in handy to attack the the phenomenon is normal and many creatures tion did not stand in the middle of try, including drugs and alcohol. If we apply this 25 opposition on the one hand and make them fight serve other creatures despite the difference in their the stadium after the match was percent as a rule of thumb to gauge the scale of amongst themselves, especially the “HADAS” and species. For instance, the shark is usually accompa- corruption and thefts of public resources, then we the “Popular bloc”, on the other hand. over to promise championship glo- nied by other fish that keep its teeth clean. can say without any further need of proof that the By accusing the opposition of being the main ry, something that happened when Similarly, another snake-like fish uses some kinds of thefts and violations involving the state exchequer reason behind this financial penalty, the cause of shrimps, without killing them, to clean its teeth. the Jaber Stadium was constructed comprise only 25 percent of the real total thefts in the truth is not being served. Perusing the minutes Since the phenomenon of “cleaning” exists among in Kuwait. the state. of the meetings right from when the Dow all animals and creatures, it is logical that it should The problem is that even this one quarter of the Chemical row erupted, we discover that the party also be there among humans. I would like to dou- In addition to Hoeness as chairman, Bayern total violations happening in Kuwait comes in for responsible was neither the government nor the ble-check the names of those who refused to form Munich’s current board includes Adidas AG chairman political bargaining in most cases. In case of any MPs, but a group of “oil men” who were neither a committee to investigate the Dow Chemical case, Herbert Hainer, Audi AG chairman Rupert Stadler, violation being discovered, it comes to light that working in the interest of the government or the in order to find out who all are responsible for our Former Minister-President of Bavaria Dr. Edmund one or the other sitting or MPs but their own, or some Stoiber, Telekom AG chairman Timotheus Hottges, former MP is somehow con- third party. This matter and Volkswagen AG chairman Dr Martin Winterkorn. It is natural that the government nected to it, and then one So, from now on, if anyone tells needs a thorough and It does not include, of course, any ruling family mem- should vote against the formation of political group uses it to bar- me that raising this issue or any oth- transparent investigation. ber, or a merchant with influence that helps them gain. A cover up operation er case of corruption is in the public The second reason why control government contracts, or members who are an investigation committee in order hired on tribal or sectarian basis. follows under the direction interest, I will first ask him to show the issue was being raised to cover up the weaknesses of some of someone influential who so vociferously now was Bayern Munich is credited for charitable works all pro-government MPs. But these MPs claims it was all an issue of me any thief caught for stealing a because the detractors over the world. It had also helped save competitors facing financial crises. Ten years ago, it contributed to no importance. At an appro- million dinar and sent to jail. wanted to hit at the Jaber were the cause of the failure of the financially support Borussia Dortmund - its archrival priate time, the case is again Al-Mubarak government deal, which was also seen as a failure and the same team it faced in the Champions League dug out to serve some vested political interest. by attacking its ministers. Generally speaking, if of the government. final - when it was on the verge of collapse. Bayern You can describe it in Kuwaiti language or the target was the Oil Minister Hani Hussain, then Munich is not only a sports club, but has transformed Arabic language, the truth is that our people are why did they not object to his appointment when itself to become an integrated social institution. actually trading in corruption. Politics has come to the time government was formed? And why did losses. If you do, then you will come to know that It took Bayern Munich only two and a half years as be intertwined with corruption in public funds. they not raise the issue before giving orders to pay well as nearly 250 million euros to build its new stadi- those wild crocodiles are only butterflies in com- Dow Chemical, for example, is presented as win- the fine? um that is one of the best in the world. Of course, the parison to some Kuwaiti crocodiles who cleaned ners, in spite of the fact that everyone, big and So, from now on, if anyone tells me that raising this construction was not supervised by any public works their teeth after committing a crime against Kuwait. small, knows about the verdict, and is clear that we issue or any other case of corruption is in the public ministry or public authority for youths and sports, It is natural, then, that the government should vote are under obligation now to pay the $2 billion plus interest, I will first ask him to show me any thief and the president of Germany’s football federation against the formation of an investigation commit- fine. Suddenly, everyone has woken up to the caught for stealing a million dinar and sent to jail. did not stand in the middle of the stadium after the tee in order to cover up the weaknesses of some match was over to promise championship glory, cause in the NA Council as well as outside, and is NOTE: Finally, we have a ministry for youth and its pro-government MPs. But these MPs were the something that happened when the Jaber Stadium all ready to fight. biggest achievement is that it has announced it is cause of the failure of the deal, which was also seen was constructed in Kuwait. When any neutral and objective outsider will going to decide on its emblem through a competition. as a failure of the government. Therefore, the gov- This is how they think, plan and build their coun- look at the case, he will discover that there was a It took them three months to look for an emblem. If ernment’s move in this regard is something illogical try. This is why Bayern Munich fans sing ‘Forever clear case of political offside that had not been they start looking for something more serious, how and unbelievable. Number One’, while we should be singing ‘Forever noticed by the referee, the audience or the players. long will they need - 30 years? —Al-Anbaa Number Zero’. — Al-Rai WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 LOCAL Foul play suspected in death of Egyptian expat Man held for ‘romantic involvement’

KUWAIT: Police is investigating into the death they had sneaked in past midnight to meet there along with a compatriot after the two of an Egyptian man following evidence of foul the domestic workers there. According to the tried to bribe the police to secure a prisoner’s play found during an examination of the police report, at around 2.30 am when the release. According to the police report, a man apartment where his body was found on homeowner was trying to sleep, he heard approached an officer with an offer of KD500 Monday. Officers reached the Bneid Al-Gar some strange noises. His attempt to find the to release an Asian man detained for unspeci- building after a friend reported that the source led him to the room where two house- fied reasons. The officer informed the Jahra Egyptian man had not left his apartment for maids stayed. When he opened the door, he Security Department Director Major General two days, and that he feared for his safety. A found them in a compromising situation with Ibrahim Al-Tarrah about the development, Arab expat who hid 20,000 pills in cloth pads around his legs. warrant was issued to break into the apart- two men who were strangers to him. He who gave him orders to lure the suspect into a ment after no one answered the door. caught one of them while the other ran away. trap in order to catch him red-handed. The Eventually, the police went in and found man The police were called and they arrived soon man arrested along with KD500 that he Bid to smuggle in lying motionless with blood spots nearby. afterwards at the house in Mishref. An Arab planned to hand over to the officer, after Preliminary examination revealed that the vic- man was arrested along with two Filipina which Maj Gen Al-Tarrah released an order to tim was hit on his head which could have housemaids. The man admitted during investi- deport him as well as the prisoner who tried to 20,000 pills foiled caused his death. The body was taken to the gations that he and his friend were romantical- mediate for his release. forensic department after investigators exam- ly involved with the two women and that they Duo held with hashish ined the scene. had hosted them in their room. The three Motorcyclist dies remain in custody pending legal procedures A motorcyclist died in an accident with a By Hanan Al-Saadoun Two citizens caught Hunt for rapists on while search was on for the fourth suspect car reported recently in Al-Qurain. The 58- Anti-drugs officials arrested two citi- Abu Halifa police are trying to identify and based on information his friend provided. year-old Iranian was already dead by the time KUWAIT: Customs officials foiled an zens for being in illegal possession of 250 arrest two suspects accused of sexually and paramedics arrived at the scene, according to attempt to smuggle 20,000 pills of grams of hashish, as well as guns and physically assaulting a man they kidnapped Search for ingrate son the preliminary examination. The car’s driver, a Tramadol, made by an Arab expat who bullets. Earlier, anti-drugs authorities from the area. In his statements to police, the Search is on for a teenager wanted for threat Kuwaiti college student, reportedly tried to tried to smuggle the drugs in a new way were tipped off that one of the two was Filipino national said that he sat in the sus- to murder charge pressed by none other than resuscitate the victim but in vain, at which by wrapping pieces of cloth around his actively involved in illegal drugs trade. pects’ black SUV after they identified them- his own father. Police were approached by a point he reported the accident to the police. legs. General Director of customs After the police verified the information selves as police investigators and told him that senior citizen who explained that that an argu- praised the customs officials for their and confirmed its truth, legal approval he was wanted for questioning. The suspects ment with his 17-year-old son ended with the Woman shot effort and for following the new inspec- was taken to arrest the suspect. When drove to a remote location where they first boy pointing a knife and verbally assaulting A woman narrowly escaped death in Jahra tion procedure. Customs supervisor the suspect’s house was searched, 150 beat him up, then sodomized him before driv- him, before damaging his car and escaping. He after she was hit by a stray bullet on Monday. Sulaiman Al-Fahad said the female cus- grams of hashish, two guns and some ing away. He gave descriptions of the suspects gave the boy’s description and other informa- The girl, who is in her twenties, was brought to toms inspectors proved their mettle with bullets were found. When asked about and the vehicle they used. tion for detectives to find him. the Jahra Hospital by her family and was the success of the operation. The suspect the source of those things, the suspect immediately taken to the operation room to and the drugs were sent to the authori- said he got them from another citizen, Held for adultery Two deported for police bribe take out the bullet that hit her in the back. The ties concerned. who was later arrested near a commer- One man was arrested while police is look- An inmate locked up at the Jahra police sta- surgery was successful and the girl’s condition cial complex after the police found him ing for another who escaped after being tion was shifted to the detention centre where was described as stable. A case was filed for in possession of 100 grams of hashish. caught inside a Kuwaiti man’s house where those to be deported are kept. He was sent investigations. The two suspects and the hashish were sent to the authorities concerned.

Diesel smuggling Customs sources revealed that some Kuwait wants Iraq to honor customs officials foiled an attempt to smuggle diesel in a trailer on its way to Chapter 7 norms: Official Kuwait through Al-Abdaly border point. The sources said Abdaly customs have sent a sample of petroleum products to KUWAIT: In the first reaction from Kuwaiti 6 under the patronage of the United eign ministry in cooperation with the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) in order to side to the visit of Iraq’s Foreign Minister to Nations, as it is considered a purely International Red Cross Committee. verify whether those products are discuss the closure of Chapter 7 and humanitarian issue. Chairman of the permanent committee, allowed to be exported from Kuwait. release Iraq from restrictions imposed Meanwhile, the training course in the Ambassador Khalid Al-Maghamis said the The customs officials stopped the trailer under it, an official source at the foreign field of the International Humanitarian foreign ministry in cooperation with IRCC at the border before it was to leave ministry said Kuwait encouraged Iraq to Law began in Kuwait on Monday under and other concerned bodies aims to Kuwait. The driver, who is an Asian implement all resolutions under Chapter 7 the title “Boosting the role and efforts to achieve its goals through holding such expat, said the products he was carrying and also lauded Iraq for doing so in the protect Human Rights.” The course is specialized courses. He said the courses were allowed to be exported from the past. organized by the permanent committee will prepare individuals who will be adept state and that he was working for a He said Kuwait does not oppose trans- tasked with following up on the imple- in basic aspects of human rights, and be The arrested duo with the contra- company that specialized in transport- ferring the issue of the missing personnel mentation of the five year plan and the able to convey their country’s views on band. ing oil products. and POWs from chapter seven to Chapter government’s program, run under the for- this issue professionally. Kuwait Cancer Control Center launches its new website

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Ministry of Health The KCCC website aligns with the cen- Health Network and the Princess Margaret and the Kuwait Cancer Control Center ter’s Strategic Plan for 2013 - 2018, that Cancer Centre has allowed us, through this (KCCC), in partnership with the University aims to provide access to relevant, accu- partnership, to bypass many years of Health Network (UHN)today announced rate cancer care related information for development and testing, allowing us to the launch of the first KCCC website. The patients, families, referring doctors and positively impact our patients and the newly launched website has information community in order to become a strong Kuwaiti community as soon as possible.” about the center, its latest news, depart- reference in Kuwait for knowledge and The front page shares the Center’s val- ment details and initiatives, as well as information about cancer. “The successful ues and important links to frequently important facts that the population in completion of the KCCC internet and asked topics under the title “How Can We Help?”. These topics include information for new cases and details about how to get a medical report or be considered for Medical Boarding. Adil Khalfan, Executive Regional Director of the UHN Kuwait team adds, “Today’s patients want and are able to access a large amount of health infor- mation and education, electronically. This tool is another way to empower patients and families to take control of difficult situ- ation and be informed of the most current and consistent information regarding can- cer treatment.”Visitors can browse the website at: www.kuwaitcancercenter.com Earlier this year, the KCCC-UHN Partnership launched an internal corporate site that only KCCC staff can connect to when on duty and at KCCC. This valuable and pow- erful resource provides access to 300+ Kuwait needs to know about cancer pre- intranet would not have been possible KCCC policies, procedures and operational vention, care and treatment. without the commitment of both parties plans and 150+ scanned forms that are This bilingual website has been a in the KCCC-UHN Partnership. We are required daily for the medical team to pro- KCCC-UHN Partnership initiative since ear- working hard to bring KCCC to the twenty- vide patient-centered care. This tool also ly 2012 and is designed around the same first century by maximizing on technology provides access to an online staff directory framework that displays the UHN, Princess that improves communication on the sub- as well as a directory of all Ministry of Margaret Cancer Centre website, combin- ject of cancer in Kuwait.” Stated Dr Ahmad Health hospitals and clinics. It is accessible ing more than six years of experience from Al-Awadhi, Director of the Kuwait Cancer through computers located across the UHN in patient-centered user-interface Control Center.”The experience and spe- buildings of KCCC and has had over 4000 development. cialization brought in by the University hits since its launch in February 2013.

Arab expat held for possessing hashish KUWAIT: An anti-drugs official arrested an Arab expat for being in illegal possession of 1 kilogram of hashish. Earlier, the anti- drugs authorities had been tipped off about a man being active in the business of illegal drugs. After the authorities collected the necessary information and took the legal permission to car- ry out their operation, an undercover agent approached the suspect to buy some hashish from him. Then, the suspect was caught red-handed while delivering the drugs, with numbered bank notes in hand, which he confessed were the proceeds of the sale of one joint of hashish. After searching his house, police found about 1 kilogram of hashish. The man and the drugs were sent to the authorities concerned. WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 LOCAL Bahrain praises Kuwaiti leaders’ ties with people Kuwait envoy meets Dy PM in Manama

MANAMA: A senior official of the Kingdom of Bahrain hailed yesterday keenness of the Kuwaiti leadership in maintaining close ties with the people of Kuwait. The praise was made by Bahraini Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al-Areed during a meeting with the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Kingdom, Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al- Sabah. Minister Al-Areed heaped praise upon the Kuwaiti leaders for their keenness on maintain- ing communications with the ordinary citizens KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for of the Gulf country. He also hailed the substan- Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received a letter yes- tial role of Sheikh Azzam with regard of boosting the warm and brotherly ties between Kuwait terday from Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Leonid Kozhara on the occasion and Bahrain. of the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two For his part, the ambassador affirmed depth countries.—KUNA of these close ties in various sectors, noting the common historic experience of the two peoples as well as the joint destiny bounding them. Kuwait praises Manila Ties between Kuwait and Bahrain date back to hundreds of years ago. The two regional for cherishing Islam countries are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, founded in the early 80s to cement ties KUALA LUMPUR: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Competition, organized by the National and cooperation in diverse fields. The other the Philippines Waleed Al-Kandari praised Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), members are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and MANAMA: Bahraini Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al-Areed during a meeting with the yesterday the Philippines’ efforts to cherish told KUNA. Secretary of the NCMF Mehol Oman. —KUNA Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Kingdom, Sheikh Azzam Mubarak Al-Sabah. —KUNA Islamic principles by continuously holding Sadain also praised Kuwait’s support for Holy Quran reading competitions. Muslims in his country, for sponsoring the Kuwait praises the role played by the competition and developing relations Arab Media Forum Philippines government to encourage between the two countries. The contest Azmi tribesmen call Muslim youth to read and study Quran, the was attended by ambassadors, members of holds heritage event Ambassador who is participating as a guest the diplomatic corps, members of the KUWAIT: The Arab Media Forum held on Monday a Kuwaiti of honor and speaker in the opening cere- House of Representatives and officials in for national unity heritage event for Kuwaiti journalists, aimed at highlight- mony of the 39th Annual Quran Reading the Philippines. —KUNA ing importance of preserving traditions and culture of the KUWAIT: A number of senior men from society; therefore, these unwanted acts Gulf country. the Azmi tribe called for inducing a sense should be avoided to keep the cohesive- The “Heritage of a Nation” event was held in Bait Al- Kuwait to attend 10th of national unity and supporting the ness of national unity.” Othman Museum in cooperation with Kuwait Heritage Kuwaiti leadership to steer away from Ahmad Abdullah Al-Shatli, mean- Team and Kuwait society for media and communication. any friction in the fabric of the society. while, said that the attendance of Their Arab Media Forum secretary general Madhi Al-Khamees Asia Media Summit In various statements to KUNA, the Highnesses to the dinner banquet was a said Kuwaiti heritage was full of genuine values “which tribesmen expressed appreciation to His translation of the closeness of the leader- compel everybody to preserve them and pass them to Highness the Amir of Sheikh Sabah Al- ship to its people. “It is an indication to future generations.” Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His the close connection between the ruler He said Bait Al-Othman was one of the key places in Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf and the ruled.” “This connection is ongo- heritage, and it was symbolizing literature, values and tra- Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for attend- ing since the beginning of Al-Sabah rule. ditions. Head of Kuwait Heritage team Anwar Al-Rifae ing a dinner banquet that was held on It is a familiar sight to see the Amir of underlined importance of development and modernity their honor yesterday. Kuwait connects with the people on dif- but without forgetting “our heritage and tradition.” “The Kuwaiti people have always ferent occasions,” Faraj bin Durai Al-Azmi, The Kuwaiti heritage, he added, was based on love stood behind Al-Sabah family since they another leading tribesman, stressed. between community members. Al-Rifaee called for sticking began their rule,” Fehhad Matir Mubarak He wished prosperity and unity to the to the heritage and traditions “which are the backbone of Al-Mil’abi noted. “Animosity and tension Kuwaiti leadership and its people against society.” He said the heritage also meant views, ideas, poet- are detrimental to the wholeness of the all hardships. — KUNA ry, arts and artifacts. — KUNA Kuwaiti envoy to Spain delivers credentials

MADRID: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Spain as possible to meet Sheikh Sabah Al- Adel Hamad Al-Ayyar has delivered his Khalid. KUWAIT: Kuwait is taking part in the 10th ous workshops preceding the official open- credentials to the Foreign Minister of the The meeting between the ambassa- Asia Media Summit (AMS) that will kick off ing of the event, he added. Principality of Andorra, Gilbert Saboya dor and the minister, held last Thursday, on Mindanao Island in Indonesia today The workshop will address various vital Sunye, as the first non-resident diplomat was attended by the Second Secretary of themed “‘Challenges for Radio in the Digital issues including media changes and “road of the Gulf State to the Principality. the Kuwaiti Embassy in Madrid, Yaacoub Age”. A large number of representatives of to the future,” media ethics in the social Ambassador Al-Ayyar discussed, dur- Ahmad Al-Nasrallah, and a number of media, radio and TV stations and outlets, communications era, usage of three Giga ing the credentials handover meeting eminent figures representing the coun- Arab, Asian, and European organizations technologies by media, and challenges fac- with the minister means of boosting try. Andorra is a small country located in are taking part in AMS, including the Arab ing radios in the digital era, he affirmed. bilateral relations in various spheres the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bor- States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), said This summit will contribute to determining between the two friendly countries for dered by Spain and France. It is the sixth Assistant Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti the challenges facing media and suggested service of joint interests. The two sides smallest nation in Europe, having an area Ministry of Information for Radio Affairs solutions by media figures, besides increas- also examined various regional and inter- of 468 km2 (181 sq mi) and an estimated Youssef Mustafa said yesterday on sidelines ing requirements of using digital radio national issues of common concern. population of 85,000. of the event. technology, he stated. The Kuwaiti ambassador relayed Its capital, Andorra la Vella, is the high- MADRID: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Spain Adel Hamad The three-day summit, organized by It will also promote job opportunities for greetings of Deputy Prime Minister and est capital city in Europe, at an elevation Al-Ayyar has delivered his credentials to the Foreign Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting announcers through working exchanging Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid of 1,023 metres (3,356 ft) above sea level. Development (AIBD), in cooperation with program, besides exchanging of expertise Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to Minister Sunye, The official language is Catalan, although Minister of the Principality of Andorra, Gilbert Indonesia Ministry of Communications and and information between the participating who reciprocated similarly and Spanish, Portuguese, and French are also Saboya Sunye, as the first non-resident diplomat of Information Technology, will include vari- countries. —KUNA expressed desire to visit Kuwait as soon spoken. —KUNA the Gulf State to the Principality. —KUNA

Gulfmart inaugurates 19th branch in Khaitan

KUWAIT: Gulfmart, the fastest growing amidst loyal customers, well-wishers Gulfmart continues to express its com- Fahaheel - of 30,000 sq ft will be inaugu- would prove to be as successful as the retail chain in Kuwait further expanded and top Gulfmart management. mitment to its patrons and its gratitude rated in June. The next outlet in the other outlets opened in various loca- its reach on Monday 27 May with the The new branch, as all the others, is for their support and cooperation over pipeline will be the third in Hawally.” tions. Gulfmart continues to presenting launch of their 19th branch, which is dressed in the brand’s refreshing green the years,” said Dr Remesh T A, Country The management team at Gulfmart customers in niche residential areas their second in Khaitan. hues - an image that was adopted late Head of Gulfmart. expresses the view that the new branch with enormous value through wide Following the soft launch in the last year as part of Gulfmart’s reinvigo- The outlet carries products that cater in Khaitanis in response to clearly selection, competitive prices and excel- morning, Preethi Mehta, the wife of rated, dynamic facade that is based on to all segments of the community in defined needs of customers in the area, lent service, along with great offers and Satish C Mehta, the Indian Ambassador its underlying policy of fresh product. Khaitan with fresh produce, dairy, meat and that the mini-supermarket format superb promotions. to Kuwait, cut the ribbon to officially “With the opening of yet another outlet, as well as beauty products from a wide inaugurate the mini-market at 7pm one that is over 10,000 square feet, variety of brands. Arif Sheikh, Director of Gulfmart Group, said, “We are extremely thankful to all our customers who have patronized Gulfmart over the years. By opening our 19th branch in Khaitan, we are meeting the long-standing demand by customers in this area for easy access to quality products at affordable prices.” The retailer has plans for several more outlets in the coming months in different size formats to suit the needs of customers in different areas across Kuwait, proposing to take the total Gulfmart branches to 25 by end of 2013. Dr Remesh said, “In the immediate future, the 20th branch - the third in WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 Iran candidates clash Protests at Uganda’s closure of newspapers over nuclear approach

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BAGHDAD: A street vendor inspects his destroyed juice cart at the scene of a bomb attack in Sadr City yesterday. — AP No letup in Iraq attacks Cabinet talks security • Death toll passes 500 in May BAGHDAD: Attacks killed 16 people in two more near Tikrit. And four police impact the announced measures would Iraq yesterday, officials said, as the cabi- died in clashes in Mosul, while a bomb- have on security, if any, especially given net discussed how to curb violence that ing near the northern city killed senior that authorities have unsuccessfully has left over 500 dead this month and police intelligence officer Lieutenant struggled for years to curb the violence raised fears of all-out sectarian conflict. Colonel Faris Al-Rashidi and wounded plaguing the country. United Nations The UN envoy to Iraq meanwhile urged three other police. The attacks come a envoy Martin Kobler called yesterday for the country’s feuding leaders to meet to day after a wave of violence, including Iraq’s leaders to engage in dialogue and resolve long-running political crises that bombings in Baghdad that mainly tar- stop the bloodshed. “I once again urge all have paralysed the government and geted Shiite areas, killed 58 people and Iraqi leaders to do everything possible to been blamed for its inability to reduce wounded 187. As the violence raged, the protect Iraqi civilians. It is their responsi- the violence. As yesterday, 519 people Iraqi cabinet discussed the country’s bility to stop the bloodshed now,” Kobler have been killed and over 1,300 wound- “security challenges” and ways to address said in a statement. “It is the politicians’ ed in May, making it the deadliest month them, afterwards announcing a series of responsibility to act immediately and to in at least a year, according to AFP figures measures aimed at stemming the blood- engage in dialogue to resolve the politi- based on reports from security and med- letting. cal impasse and not let terrorists benefit ical sources. These measures included “pursuing from their political differences,” he said. May is the second month in a row in all kinds of militias”, calling for a meeting Iraq is faced with various long-run- which more than 400 people have been of the country’s political powers to dis- ning political crises over issues ranging killed, for a total of almost 1,000 dead in cuss developments, providing unspeci- from power-sharing to territorial bound- less than two months - a toll that contin- fied support to security agencies, and aries, that have paralysed the govern- ued to mount yesterday. In the deadliest warning the media against inciting sec- ment. The country has seen a heightened attack, a bomb exploded on a bus in Sadr tarian strife, a cabinet statement said. level of violence since the beginning of City, a Shiite area in north Baghdad, Iraq has already suspended the licences the year, coinciding with rising discon- killing five people and wounding at least of 10 satellite television channels for tent among Iraqi Sunnis that erupted 26, security and medical officials said. In allegedly inciting sectarianism, although into protests in late December. Although Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad, a suicide an official in the country’s media regula- the violence has fallen from its peak at bomber driving an explosives-rigged tor said yesterday that at least some of the height of the sectarian conflict in truck killed four people and wounded those channels would have their licences 2006 and 2007, when thousands died eight, while gunmen killed two Sahwa restored “soon”. each month, the body count has begun anti-Al-Qaeda militiamen and wounded It was not clear what immediate to rise again in recent months. — AFP 3 Lebanese soldiers killed near border BEIRUT: Gunmen killed three Lebanese soldiers at an army checkpoint in the eastern Bekaa Valley yesterday before fleeing towards the Syrian border, Lebanese officials said. It was not clear who carried out the attack, the latest incident in a frontier region which has been increasingly drawn into the violence in neighbouring Syria. The Syrian civil war has divided Lebanon, with most Lebanese Shiites supporting Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and many Sunnis backing his Sunni rebel foes, putting the Lebanese army under extra pressure to keep a lid on sectarian tensions. Most Sunni groups in northern and eastern Lebanon blame the army for hindering their efforts to support rebels in Syria with guns and fighters and at the same time failing stop the Shiite Hezbollah militant group from send- ing fighters to support Assad. Yesterday’s shooting took place before dawn near the town of Arsal, in an area used by Syrian rebels and their Lebanese backers to smuggle arms and fighters into Syria. The military was searching for the gunmen, who may have fled into neighbouring Syria, Defence Minister Fayez Ghosn said. President Michel Suleiman condemned the killings which he said were “part of a series of criminal terrorist acts trying to spread turmoil in the country”. Hezbollah also called them a “terrorist crime” which threatened the whole country. Several rockets have been fired into the mainly Shiite town of Hermel in the past 24 hours, about 30 km north of Arsal. One of them killed a woman and wounded two people, the army said. Brigadier Selim Idris, head of Western-backed rebel front, said yesterday that unless Hezbollah attacks were halted within 24 hours, the rebels would “chase down” Hezbollah. “We will chase them all the way to hell if a decision is not taken to stop Hezbollah’s attack on Syrian land,” he told Al Arabiya Television. The army has confronted gunmen before in the Bekaa Valley town of Arsal. In February, at least two soldiers and two gunmen were killed in a shootout after the army entered the area to arrested a suspected member of the al Qaeda- linked Nusra Front. — Reuters WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Syria village gives up secrets after killings

BAIDA, Syria: Awakened by the sound of their occupations, ages and relations to government loyalist villages that surround elderly and community leaders. believe the rebels could make it to the gunfire, Ahmad could hear the armed men each other, and the positions of their bod- them. Baida and Ras al-Nabaa became Mohammad Taha, 90, was for decades the mountains. knocking on his brother’s door, shouting ies. The attack left dozens of his relatives havens for army defectors, and many village shoemaker, even after he lost a leg So when the rebels started to make ver- insults and calling the family “dogs”. and neighbours dead. Ahmad recorded young men also joined the rebel Free in a car accident. bal threats against the coast over the past Ahmad’s sister-in-law said the gunmen every detail so that history might judge. It Syrian Army. There was Sheikh Omar Biyasi, 62, few weeks, alarms went off, explained told her husband to “bow to your god, was May 2, a Thursday and the start of a Today, like Ras al-Nabaa, Baida is a whose body Ahmad found alongside the Sadeq. The sectarian killings in Baida and Bashar” - the Syrian president. She and her six-day holiday. Many students had come ghost town. Houses have been torched Sheikh’s slain wife and son, Hamzah, a Ras al-Nabaa were a message from the husband and their two teenage sons were home, and the men of the village had no and hardly any women and only a few medical student. Sheikh Biyasi had been Assad government to the rebels. “It’s a dragged towards the village square. “She plans to venture down to the coast to sell men remain. Except for a few chickens, the village imam for 30 years. He was a reminder that the coast is a red line. That if told me her son’s knees were bloodied as their vegetable crops, as many usually do. most livestock has disappeared. Tightly government loyalist who alienated local they so much as think they can attack the they kicked and dragged him,” Ahmad Children had no school that day. controlled by government security, the people with his political views before coast, this is what will happen to the pock- said. When the violence was over, Ahmad The roosters had already crowed when only way for a stranger to enter Baida is resigning two years ago. “Even though he ets of Sunni Muslims here,” he said. “It was ventured out from his hiding place in an armed men entered Baida, a close-knit vil- through a dirt back road that snakes always opposed the protests, they still ethnic cleansing, and the objective is to attic. In less than two hours, Baida, his pic- lage of narrow alleyways that was home to through the hills. Reuters made the jour- killed him,” said Ahmad. The Biyasi family frighten.” turesque village near the Mediterranean, 5,000 mostly Sunni Muslims. Baida, visible ney to gather eye-witness testimony. “I suffered some of the worst losses, with 36 Ahead of the killings, tensions had had become the scene of one of the worst from surrounding Alawite villages with woke up to the sound of bullets before 7 documented deaths. Ahmad found bodies been rising in Alawite villages, where many mass killings in Syria’s two-year-old war. whose inhabitants it had coexisted well am,” Ahmad said in his modest but immac- belonging to the family in one small room; serve in the Syrian army and security As the country fragments under the enough before the war, sits just outside ulately tidy home. He fetched from anoth- a mother and her three daughters and forces. Alawites have mourned hundreds weight of civil strife, troops loyal to Bashar the small town of Banias, which overlooks er room his notebook, where he had young son, who was at the local school of their dead. During a drive through some Al-Assad have made gains against rebel Syria’s coastline from the hills. According to meticulously recorded in neat handwriting with Ahmad’s children. “They were leaning of the Alawite villages, larger-than-life fighters in a counteroffensive to secure a opposition activists, what came later was a everything he saw. on each other,” Ahmad recalled. posters of the town’s fallen hung on lamp- corridor linking the capital Damascus with sectarian bloodbath followed by another Ahmad withheld his full name and Before dark set in, Ahmad stumbled posts along main roads. The few men the president’s clan heartland on the coast. in Ras al-Nabaa, the next village along. exact occupation in the public sector for upon another chilling sight. Three charred remaining in Baida agreed that the mas- Baida, a tiny pocket of rebel sympathisers The attack on Baida came shortly after fear of reprisal. “None of us knew what was bodies lay one on top of the other. “Smoke sacre was something of a payback for the surrounded by pro-Assad villages, was an rebels had attacked a bus carrying pro- happening. We couldn’t tell where the was still rising from one of them,” he said. village’s pro-uprising stance. “Let us speak ideal place for the government to deliver a Assad militiamen, killing six. The Syrian shells were falling,” he said, reading from They were identified the next day, when the truth. We support the uprising, and harsh message. International peace talks Observatory for Human Rights, based in his account. His wife and children hid in the Red Crescent came in with a govern- they don’t,” said one young man. are expected to be held in Geneva next Britain, says at least 300 were killed in the basement, and Ahmad went to his ment official. One of the charred victims It was not clear to what extent news of month, but there is little hope of a break- Baida and Ras al-Nabaa. Victims were brother’s home, located on the first floor of was Ibrahim Al-Shoghri, 69, who was men- what had happened in Baida and Ras al- through to end a war that has already buried in mass graves, activists say, and the family’s two-storey building. When the tally disabled. The bloodshed has left Nabaa travelled along the coast. In the town killed 80,000 - and left Baida a shell. thousands fled. The International Criminal sound of gunfire kept getting closer, many Syrians wondering if the Syrian gov- of Banias, people were too nervous to dis- A few steps from his home, somewhere Court in The Hague, which deals with war Ahmad’s mother urged her sons to hide. ernment is preparing for an Alawite state cuss the topic. In Latakia, the news travelled near the main village square, Ahmad dis- crimes, cannot investigate in Syria unless it Over the past two years, whenever govern- along the coast. only in hushed conversation among the covered his brother’s body. “He had been receives a referral from the United Nations ment security forces raided the village, The coast is home to the majority of the Sunni Muslims. Sadeq, the Alawite activist, stripped of his clothes,” he said, reading Security Council - something Russia and usually only men with suspected ties to country’s Alawites, a Shiite offshoot sect to said the Alawite community was “in denial from his own record of what he saw. He China have blocked. rebels were arrested. Women and children which Assad and his clan belong. One about it”. “They believe it was a fight against paused and composed himself. “He had The Syrian government has kept silent were left alone. Alawite anti-government activist, who terrorists from Chechnya or something like been shot in the head, and the bullet left a about Baida. But a Syrian intelligence offi- But this time, something urged Ahmad goes by the nom de guerre Sadeq, said it that,” he said. But there is little doubt that gaping hole the size of a hand. His blood cer, speaking anonymously, acknowledged to hide, even though he had done nothing was unlikely Assad would establish a sepa- details of the massacre are known among had been shed on the ground.” For almost that the perpetrators were government wrong. He went up to the attic, but his rate Alawite state, or that he would the ranks of Syrian intelligence. In Tartous, a 90 minutes, Ahmad described how he loyalists, including some from the sur- brother stayed put, arguing with their homogenize it ethnically. But an hefty, tattooed man who works for state found torched bodies and evidence of rounding Alawite villages. The mainly mother. “He kept telling her ‘Why should I autonomous Alawite region, something intelligence, “in the cyber security branch”, mass killings: in one case 30 men, and in Sunni Muslim villages of Baida and Ras al- run away? I haven’t done anything wrong. like Kurdistan, might be viable. So far, and is a member of the pro-government another, 20 women and children who had Nabaa had aligned themselves with the It’s best I stay put at home. They have there have been no direct clashes between shabbiha militia, said his chain of command hidden in a small room. rebels, putting them in a precarious posi- nothing on me,’” Ahmad recalled. The list of rebels and government forces along the knew exactly what had unfolded in Baida He read out the names of the dead, tion amidst the mainly Alawite, staunchly victims included women and toddlers, the coast. Many Alawite villagers did not and Ras Al-Nabaa. —Reuters Fears of foreign-fueled arms race grow in Syria Russia plans to send air defence system to Syria BRUSSELS: Fears grew yester- day of a foreign-fed arms race in Syria as European Union nations decided they could give weapons to the outgunned rebels and Russia disclosed it has a contract to sell the Syrian government sophisticated anti- US Sen John McCain visits rebels in Syria. — AP aircraft missiles. Each develop- ment could significantly raise the firepower in a two-year civil McCain makes surprise war has already killed more than 70,000 people in Syria and sent hundreds of thousands fleeing trip to visit Syria rebels the country. It also comes as the WASHINGTON: Leaders of Syria’s opposition member of the Armed Services and Foreign U.S. and Russia are preparing for forces got a chance to make their case for Relations committees, favors providing arms to a major peace conference in increased US support directly with Sen John rebel forces in Syria and creation of a no-fly Geneva that diplomats have McCain when he slipped into that country for a zone. He has stopped short of backing US called the best chance yet to surprise visit. “We are peaceful people, we ground troops in Syria. A State Department end the bloodshed under Syrian would like to see our country liberated from official said the department was aware of President Bashar Al-Assad’s this dictatorship, liberated from this murder McCain crossing into Syrian territory Monday, regime. The EU move late yester- regime, and we would like to have the best but referred further questions to McCain’s day lifting an arms embargo on relations with all the countries in the world,” office. McCain spokeswoman Rachael Dean Syria sparked broad political fall- Gen Salim Idris, chief of the Supreme Military confirmed the Monday trip, but declined fur- out within hours. Russia, which Council of the Free Syrian Army, said yesterday ther comment. The visit took place at the same has been a strong supporter of in an interview with AP. time as meetings in Paris involving efforts to the Syrian government, criti- Idris accompanied McCain on Monday as secure participation of Syria’s fractured opposi- In this undated file photo, a Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system is on display in an undisclosed loca- cized the EU decision and tion in Russia. — AP the senator made an unannounced trip to tion in an international peace conference in acknowledged its anti-aircraft Syria, the first US senator to travel to the coun- Geneva. And in Brussels, the European Union missile sale. Israel answered to Syria, but said his country reports in neighboring Lebanon field, not only in Syria but also in try since the civil war began more than two decided late Monday to lift the arms embargo Russia’s pledge by warning that reporting that Assad’s forces are the neighboring countries.” years ago. McCain has been a forceful propo- on the Syrian opposition while maintaining all believes they may “help restrain it would be prepared to attack nent of military action against the forces of other sanctions against Assad’s regime after some hotheads considering a planning an offensive to retake France and Britain so far have President Bashar Al-Assad and a critic of June 1, British Foreign Secretary William Hague any such missile shipments. EU scenario to give an international rebel-held parts of Aleppo, not specified what weapons President Barack Obama’s handling of the situa- said. Two years of violence in Syria have killed nations continued to express dimension to this conflict”. The Syria’s largest city. The Syrian they might send in. German tion. McCain spent about two hours in Syria, more than 70,000 people, according to the divisions within their 27-mem- fighting in Syria has threatened rebels may get Western arms Foreign Minister Guido crossing over the border from Turkey, and met United Nations. President Barack Obama has ber bloc over sending arms to to drag in neighbors like Turkey “too late to prevent further gov- Westerwelle told Die Welt news- with about 10-15 rebel commanders, Idris said demanded that Assad leave power, while the rebels while both sides and Lebanon. An official in ernment victories, a scenario paper yesterday: “Germany will in a telephone interview from inside Syria. His Russia has stood by Syria, its closest ally in the fighting in Syria spoke out on Britain’s Foreign Office, firing that might cause the Syrian gov- not deliver any weapons to the discussions focused on the fighting on the Arab world. Last week, the Foreign Relations the decision. Analysts, however, back after Russia’s announce- ernment to rethink its decision Syria conflict and we note that ground, the need for military assistance, Committee voted to provide weapons to rebels said the EU’s move would have ment, said: “We have stated that to participate in the Geneva no other European country has humanitarian aid and medical care. in Syria, as well as military training to vetted little immediate impact on the we have made no decision to peace conference,” Hartwell expressed the intention to do so “The security of Mr McCain was very impor- rebel groups and sanctions against anyone fighting. In Moscow, Deputy supply arms to Syria. At the wrote. in the near future.” France and tant to us. We did not go very far from the bor- who sells oil or transfers arms to the Assad Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov same time, Russia has acknowl- US Sen John McCain, mean- Britain acted amid growing con- der, to keep him secure,” Idris said. McCain, a regime. —AP called the EU’s decision “a mani- edged publicly that it is provid- while, made an unannounced cerns that Assad’s government festation of double standards” ing weapons to the Assad visit to rebel forces in Syria, put- may have resorted to using its that will hurt prospects for the regime. Of course we disapprove ting more pressure on Assad to vast chemical weapons stockpile Syria opposition makes no Geneva talks, which are expect- strongly of continued arms sales seek a negotiated settlement. against the rebels. French mili- ed to happen next month. to the regime.” Britain believes There’s no certainty, however, tary authorities on Tuesday were progress on peace talks France and Britain, meanwhile, the focus should now be on the that the warring sides will come analyzing medical samples from hope the new EU position can “political track”, including the to the table in Geneva. Assad’s patients who had been hospital- ISTANBUL: A week into marathon talks aimed organised opposition group. Conservative help prod the two sides to the Geneva conference, the official regime has provided no sign of ized after inhaling poison gas in at presenting a united front on a proposed Saudi Arabia, which supports more radical negotiating table in Geneva. EU said in a statement. any willingness to cede power in Syria to see if they could deter- peace conference, Syria’s opposition remains rebel groups on the ground and wants to diplomats have said the two In Damascus, a Syrian law- Syria, a key opposition demand mine if such weapons were more divided than ever, pulled apart by downsize the Brotherhood’s influence, has nations are considering provid- maker criticized the EU move, before entering any talks. used. regional power grabs and unpopular with pushed the Coalition to accept new members. ing equipment to the rebels. saying that efforts to arm the Meanwhile, the opposition The French daily Le Monde rebels on the ground. Despite going into sev- “Saudi’s pressure is enormous. It wants to con- Ryabkov confirmed yesterday rebels will discourage the oppo- could try to make a public show said its reporters who traveled eral days of overtime at a key meeting in trol the Coalition. It is threatening to cut off the that Russia has signed a contract sition from seeking a peaceful of willingness to attend the to Syria recently submitted the Istanbul, the main Syrian opposition group, the weapons supply to rebels” in the key central with Assad’s government to pro- samples, taken by Syrian doc- National Coalition, has failed to agree on a Syrian city of Homs, said a Coalition member. solution to the conflict. The talks, only to demand that whether to join a proposed peace conference Analysts say the majority of weapons flowing vide state-of-the-art S-300 air comments by Essam Khalil, a weapons deliveries from Europe tors, to the French government aimed at ending a more than two-year civil into Syria have come from Saudi Arabia and defense missiles, which he said member of the ruling Baath start right away if the hoped-for for analysis. The newspaper said war that has cost some 94,000 lives. Qatar in competing bids for influence. The were important to prevent for- Party, were the first by a Syrian Geneva process breaks down. patients’ symptoms “resemble Coalition members and other dissidents say Istanbul meeting was aimed at reaching a eign intervention in the country. official. In contrast, Louay Safi, a The Syrian opposition itself the effects produced by neuro- progress at the meeting has been ground to a decision on the proposed Geneva conference, Ryabkov would not say whether senior figure in the main remains badly divided. The Al- toxic agents present in the halt by conflicting bids for influence by Saudi choosing a new Coalition president, agreeing Russia has shipped any of the Western-backed Syrian opposi- Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra Syrian chemical arsenal”. The Arabia, which wants to water down the Muslim on an interim government and voting in new missiles to Syria yet. Israel has tion group, the Syrian National is the most powerful Syrian French Defense Ministry has Brotherhood’s strong role in the Coalition, and members to join the group. The Coalition’s been pressing Moscow not to go Coalition, called the EU move a rebel fighting group, and the confirmed it is analyzing the Qatar, which wants to protect the influential paralysis has raised concerns in the West that it through with the delivery of S- “positive step”. Speaking in United States and other Western samples, but would not com- Islamic movement’s clout. Amid the bickering, cannot be trusted with increased military sup- 300s, fearing the missiles could Istanbul, where the opposition powers fear that any European ment further. The White House the Coalition has failed to find consensus on port. slip into the hands of hostile has been holding talks, he weapons could fall into the has said that US intelligence whether to join the proposed peace confer- While the European Union yesterday lifted groups like Hezbollah. Defense warned that any delay in decid- hands of extremists. “We have concluded that Assad’s regime ence in Geneva being pushed by the United an arms embargo on Syria to allow weapons to Minister Moshe Yaalon said yes- ing to provide weapons meant no guarantees about the end has probably used deadly chem- States and Russia. “It is impossible, there will be channelled to the rebels, no member state terday that Israel believes the ical weapons at least twice - but never be an agreement. Each Coalition mem- plans to send any arms immediately for fear of further deaths of Syrian civilians. user,” Belgian Foreign Minister ber is a piece on a chess board, playing for the endangering the prospects of the Geneva Russian missiles have not yet David Hartwell, a Middle East Didier Reynders told a public US officials said the intelligence state that backs him,” said a dissident who peace conference - which Washington and been shipped, but the Israeli analyst for IHS Jane’s, said in a broadcaster yesterday. “So it is wasn’t strong enough to justify spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity. Moscow are trying to convene as early as next military “will know what to do” if note that the EU move has perfectly possible to see arms sending significant US military The main backer of the Coalition as it month. A French official in Paris stressed that they are delivered. “more diplomatic than military disappear in the hands of support to the rebels. President stands is Gulf state Qatar, which supports the “this is a theoretical lifting of the embargo. In Ryabkov said Russia under- weight” so far and will have “lit- extremists and jihadists. And, Barack Obama has said the use Muslim Brotherhood, an organisation out- concrete terms, there will be no decision on stood other nations’ concerns tle immediate impact on the second, it is a real proliferation. of chemical weapons in Syria lawed in Syria that is nevertheless its best- any deliveries before August 1”.—AFP about providing such weapons battlefield”. He noted news There are enough arms in the would cross a “red line”. —AP WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Iran candidates clash over nuclear approach Hardliners criticise deal to suspend some atomic work DUBAI: A former Iranian nuclear negotiator who is running for presi- dent used his first television appear- ance of the campaign to reject accu- sations he had been too soft in negotiations with world powers. The most prominent moderate candi- date in an election dominated by hardliners, cleric Hassan Rohani, nuclear negotiator from 2003 to 2005, oversaw an agreement to sus- pend Iran’s fledgling uranium BENGHAZI: In this Feb 17, 2013 file photo, Libyan interim president Mohammed enrichment-related activities. Iran Magarief flashes the victory sign to the crowd during the celebration of the second has since stepped up the nuclear anniversary of the Libyan revolution. — AP program that many countries, par- ticularly in the West, fear is aimed at acquiring weapons capability, some- Libya congress chief thing Tehran denies. Hardliners see the nuclear pro- gram as a sign of national pride and steps down after ban any concession to outside pressure an affront to Iran’s sovereign rights. TRIPOLI: The head of Libya’s national assem- Front for the Salvation of Libya. The current nuclear negotiator, bly said he was stepping down yesterday fol- He was elected to the General National Saeed Jalili, is running for president lowing the passing of a law banning anyone Congress on the ticket of the National Front on his record of giving no ground in who held a senior post in Muammar Gaddafi’s Party, an offshoot of his old opposition move- talks. Western powers are watching regime from government, regardless of their ment, in Libya’s first free elections for decades the June 14 election to see whether TEHRAN: Iranian presidential candidate conservative former chief of the Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezai part in toppling the dictator. In a televised last July. His tenure has not been smooth - pro- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s (center) walks through the old main bazaar in the capital following a press conference yesterday. — AFP speech to congress, Mohammed Magarief testers have stormed sessions several times as successor will set a new tone in talks announced his resignation after the passage of well forced the assembly out of its headquar- - several rounds of which in the last that it plans to build nuclear policy chief Catherine Ashton, who but finished fourth. Speaking to the “political isolation” law, which critics and ters for a month. In March, gunmen in a crowd year have failed to defuse tensions weapons. Analysts say voters are represents the six powers at the reporters in Tehran’s old bazaar, diplomats fear could strip government of of protesters calling for the new law shot at his over the nuclear program which more likely to decide on candidates talks, suggested the next round Rezaei said he would seek to experienced leaders, further complicating the car. This came after he survived a gun attack at Israel has said it could use military based on how they would reinvigo- should take place after the election. strengthen Iran’s economy to defuse transition to an orderly democracy. his home in the remote desert south in force to stop. rate an economy suffering from high “I think we have to wait and see how Western sanctions while launching a “The people’s representatives have January. In a spirited exchange on state unemployment and inflation. But the elections turn out, because new diplomatic push over the expressed their word - the political isolation Armed violence and lawlessness caused in television on Monday evening, the nuclear issue has been “used to depending on who’s elected, there nuclear file. He said he would also law - and it must be respected,” he said, adding part by militia groups who often do as they Rohani said allegations he had halt- discredit rivals” in the early days of may be differences,” she said. broaden the talks with the US to he was the first to conform to the new law, please has hobbled governance in wide areas ed nuclear development were “a lie” the campaign, said Dina Esfandiary, A former commander of Iran’s include issues such as environmen- which comes amid worsening security in the of the oil-producing state. Magarief received a and suggested his interviewer was an Iran analyst at the International Revolutionary Guard hoping to tal problems in the Gulf and Afghan North African country. “I place my resignation standing ovation from congress members “illiterate”. “It’s good if you study his- Institute for Strategic Studies. become the country’s next president drug trafficking. The former Guard in your hands. I leave with my head held high after his speech, which touched on his exile tory,” a smiling Rohani, dressed in Jalili’s camp is trading on its hard- said yesterday that nuclear talks commander declined to give further and my conscious clear.” The law was adopted and opposition to Gaddafi and which paid the traditional clerical garb, told the line attitude to the nuclear program. with world powers are “fruitless” details, saying he would reveal more on May 5 at the demand of armed factions tribute to the former rebel fighters who ousted besuited interviewer. “We suspend- In the last five years, Jalili, seen as because of the tightening Western after becoming president. who helped end Gaddafi’s 42-year rule in 2011. the dictator. Congress members say the law ed it? We mastered the (nuclear) rigidly devoted to Iran’s Islamic revo- sanctions against Tehran. The candi- International sanctions, led by Analysts fear the decision to hold the vote could be applied to more than 20 people in technology!” The 64-year-old argued lutionary ideals, has overseen a hard- date, Mohsen Rezaei, said that if the U.S. and European Union, have under duress could embolden armed groups the congress of around 200 members. “We the Islamic Republic had expanded ening stance in talks with world elected, he would seek to change sharply increased in recent years, to use force again to assert their will over con- hope that all those who are affected by this uranium enrichment during his powers. “Our national interests and the course of the current dialogue targeting Iran’s vital oil exports and gress. The heavily armed groups had besieged law will follow what he has done,” congress tenure while demonstrating the pro- security were tarnished and hurt,” between Iran and the six powers. In limiting its access to global financial two ministries before the passing of the law, member Mohammed Amari said. gram’s peaceful nature and prevent- said Ali Bagheri, Iran’s deputy nuclear his remarks yesterday, Rezaei networks. The sanctions, compound- which comes into effect on June 5 and pro- Congress spokesman Omar Hmaidan told ing a US military attack. “We didn’t negotiator who is supporting Jalili’s blamed the United States for the ed with domestic fiscal mismanage- hibits former officials from holding any high reporters Magarief’s first deputy Giuma allow Iran to be attacked,” he said, campaign, in a recent speech, refer- failure of the talks so far, saying ment, have locked Iran in a down- position. It does not make provisions for those Attaiga would be acting congress president referring to the US military cam- ring to Rohani’s tenure under Washington has pursued a policy of ward economic spiral, with unem- who spent decades in exile and actually until an election for a successor was held. paigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. reformist President Mohammad tightening sanctions against Tehran ployment at nearly 14 percent and a became instrumental in toppling Gaddafi. An Diplomats in Tripoli said it was still too early to “They (the US) imagined tomorrow Khatami. “The fate of that period was in order to bring about concessions 32 percent inflation rate. “We will economist and former ambassador to India identify any frontrunners. In a sign of Libya’s or the day after, it would be Iran’s unhappy and God forbid it should be at the negotiating table. uproot inflation and unemploy- under Gaddafi, Magarief was born in 1940 in disarray, a group from the Tibu tribe blocked turn.” Nuclear policy is ultimately a period that we return to.” “I will liberate the nuclear talks ment,” Razaei pledged as he visited the eastern city of Benghazi, where the 2011 off the airport in the southern desert town of decided by supreme leader Several rounds of nuclear talks from this fruitless status,” said Rezaei. the bazaar, apparently in an effort to uprising broke out. He lived in exile from the Sabha yesterday in protest at what they said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and all can- between Iran and six world powers “It’s buying time for the USto see reach a wider audience and under- 1980s and became a leading figure in Libya’s was the disappearance of a local brigade didates emphasise Iran’s right to have failed to reach an agreement. more effects of the sanctions.” score the “importance of the econo- oldest opposition movement, the National leader, a military spokesman said.— Reuters peaceful nuclear energy and deny On Monday, European Union foreign Rezaei, 58, ran for president in 2009, my.”—Agencies Foreign workers queue to quit Saudi Arabia

RIYADH: Tens of thousands of foreign workers are trying to The kingdom has large numbers of workers from India, Pakistan, leave Saudi Arabia after the government of the world’s No. 1 oil Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Indonesia, Yemen, exporter said they would be forgiven any fees or fines for visa Ethiopia and other Arab states, many of which benefit from high violations such as overstaying or switching jobs. Riyadh is pursu- levels of remittances. ing sweeping labour reform that would tackle domestic unem- Saudi law says expatriates must work for a designated Saudi ployment by pushing firms to hire Saudi nationals - who now sponsor in the professional field registered on their residency hold only about one in 10 private sector jobs - instead of some permit, or iqama. Expatriates brought in to work for Saudi com- of its roughly 9 million foreign residents. panies often complain they are paid much less than was prom- The disproportion of foreigners in jobs arises, some firms say, ised or are denied exit visas by sponsors who hold their pass- from the fact Saudis demand higher wages and are harder to ports. Many subsequently break the law to find work with a bet- sack than expatriates. Other firms, particularly those in fields ter employer. Another common illegal practice is the so-called involving manual labour, say they cannot attract Saudi workers. “free visa” system, under which a sponsor allows workers to find Earlier this year the kingdom began to crack down on the many alternative employment but charges them a commission to foreign workers who violated their visa terms with surprise renew their residence permit or seek an exit visa. inspections on streets and in company offices, followed in some The Labour Ministry started cracking down on such practices cases by the deportation of offenders. Saudi Arabia, whose total after imposing rules last year to force companies to employ population is 28 million, has long turned a blind eye to the more Saudis, with fines and hiring restrictions imposed on firms impact of its rigid foreign worker laws, resulting in a huge black that do not meet localisation quotas. Local newspapers on market for expatriate labour. Monday quoted the labour minister as saying the new rules had Yesterday, thousands queued in blazing sunshine outside the localised 600,000 jobs so far. In early April King Abdullah main passport office in Riyadh to secure exit visas, with many announced a three-month grace period for workers to rectify people saying they had waited in line for more than 24 hours. “I their residence status by changing their sponsor or profession just want to go back to Nepal because my salary is no good - without facing the usual penalties. That period will end on July 3, only 600 riyals ($160) a month. I came here yesterday afternoon, when the Labour Ministry has said it will renew the crackdown. slept on the ground and didn’t eat anything. But when I got to However, many have been unable to switch their sponsor to the front of the line they said my papers were incorrect,” said their current employer or to change their residence papers to Dinesh Kumar Sar, 25, a labourer. Local media quoted the show their current profession because doing so would put their spokesman for the Saudi passport office as saying 124,000 peo- company in breach of localisation rules. Others have reported ple had left the country since early April when the government that their sponsor demanded large sums of money to transfer announced a three-month grace period for illegal workers to sponsorship. “We don’t have any law to punish sponsors who are rectify their status. asking for money or commission. What we can do is to just warn The economic impact of such a foreign exodus is not yet expats not to pay,” Arab News quoted Labour Ministry clear. Arab News said yesterday that roadworks in Riyadh had spokesman Hattab Al-Enizi as saying. Many expatriates have just been delayed because of a foreign worker shortage. However, decided to return home. Officials have said if they leave within economists in the kingdom have previously said Saudi compa- the grace period, they will be allowed to apply for another visa nies tend to overemploy due to the low cost of foreign labour. to work in the kingdom.— Reuters UAE, Canada end visa row

OTTAWA: The United Arab Emirates will nix costly visa requirements imposed on Canadian travelers as of June 1, officials said yesterday, ending a row between the two countries that started in 2010 over aviation rights. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and his UAE counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, had agreed last month to restoring the previous visa regime. The agreement has now been formalized, Baird told reporters, calling it “a tremendously important signal to the world that bilateral relations between our two countries are strong and getting stronger each and every day”. “We are on an upward trajectory,” he said. The UAE in Jan 2011 started charging Canadians $1,000 for a six-month multiple entrance visa, while three-month and one-month visas cost $500 and $250 respectively. The steep hikes in obtaining a visa for the UAE came as the two countries had been at odds over landing rights in Canada for UAE-based carriers and the closure of a UAE military base to Canadian use. Canada was forced a few months earlier to close a military base in Dubai that was part of a key supply route to Afghanistan after refusing to grant the UAE’s two national carriers more landing rights.—AFP WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Italy comic’s rising star wanes in local polls

ROME: A comic’s anti-establishment politi- Grillo led the final campaign rally for the with the main parties. Its Rome candidate crete ideas for how the 5-Stars would rule many of Grillo’s campaign stump speeches cal movement that scored a stunning suc- 5-Star candidate in Rome last week. But the finished third among the 19 candidates on cities and towns worried about local jobs, this time were “almost deserted”. The cess in elections for parliament has flopped comic, who peppers his tirades against tra- the ballot, taking 12.4 percent. That was a crime, public transport and other services movement, said prominent political jour- in crucial local ballots across Italy - raising ditional parties with insults, sarcasm and steep plunge among Roman voters, com- in cash-strapped municipalities. One ana- nalist Nicola Graziani, “must decide what it questions about how much growth poten- obscenity, drew a crowd in the capital far pared to the 27.3 percent the 5-Stars polled lyst noted on state radio yesterday that wants to do when it grows up”. —AP tial there is for a grassroots phenomenon smaller than what he had attracted in his in the capital in the national elections three that only weeks ago seemed destined to be barnstorming campaign for parliament. In months earlier. Like all of the 5-Star move- a major power broker. Beppe Grillo’s Rome, by far the biggest City Hall up for ment’s candidates, Marcello De Vito upstart 5-Star Movement was touted as a grabs, the two top vote-getters were from emerged after an “online primary” among new political force when it emerged from Italy’s two biggest parties. The center-left supporters. February elections with a quarter of the and center-right parties are bitter rivals The 5-Star Movement, which rails vote. But its refusal to engage in coalition forced into an awkward coalition after the against generous state funding for political building at a time when Italy needs in deci- February elections yielded no clear winner. parties and boasts that it has been the only sive leadership, coupled with a paucity of Finishing a distant second, with 30.3 major party to give back millions of euros positive ideas, appears to have cost it sup- percent, but with enough to earn a runoff in taxpayer-funded assistance, blamed port. spot, was media mogul Silvio Berlusconi’s tight campaign budgets in part for its poor Confirmation of that may have come candidate - the right-wing incumbent showing in the municipal balloting. In a with this week’s mayoral races. Final results Gianni Alemanno. Ahead with 42.6, but sarcastic post-mortem of the election across the nation dealt Beppe Grillo’s short of the 50 percent-plus needed to results, Grillo claimed that those who voted upstart 5-Star Movement a dramatic set- clinch a first round victory, was Ignazio for the biggest vote-getters proved that back, leaving it scrambling Tuesday for Marino, a former transplant surgeon who is there are “two Italys” - an Italy of elites that explanations. The movement failed to win a prominent figure in Premier Enrico Letta’s wants to preserve the status quo and any significant races or make it into runoffs center-left Democratic Party. Grillo’s “second, Class B Italy”, which lives in hundreds of small towns slated for June. The 5-Star Movement shook up long- precariously in the financial crisis. The May 26-27 elections saw a sharp drop established parties when its electoral tri- Political commentators and mainstream in turnout, deepening a trend of apathy umph allowed it to become the third- politicians had wondered for weeks among voters angered by a ruling class largest national force. But many political whether the 5-Star Movement would score that has failed to revive a stagnant econo- analysts were quick to wonder if it risked well in the local vote, especially since much ROME: This file photo dated Feb 22, 2013 shows Italian comic-turned- my or deliver on promises to reform cor- squandering its popularity through its of its campaigning consisted of blasting political agitator Beppe Grillo, leader of the anti-establishment 5 Star ruption-plagued politics. post-election strategy of refusing dialogue the establishment and offering few con- Movement, delivering a speech during a final election rally. — AP Protests at Uganda’s closure of newspapers Independent media gagged over leaked letter

KAMPALA: Ugandan police fired tear gas yester- demned the newspaper closures. “It’s disturbing based Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF - Reporters day at journalists protesting at the week-long that intimidation and harassment are being Without Borders) and the Foreign closure of key independent media, after they used in retaliation against the exercise of free- Correspondents’ Association of Uganda have all reported arguments among army generals over dom of expression,” the UN High Commissioner also condemned the closures. Despite the clo- whether the president’s son is to succeed him. for Human Rights said last week. “Ahead of the sure of its presses, The Red Pepper managed to Riot police scattered around 100 journalists, 2016 elections, the current events may serve to sneak out black market copies, but police last their supporters and human rights activists who reinforce self-censorship and severely constrict week even arrested vendors selling the paper. tried to gather outside the offices of The Daily freedom of opinion and expression at a key The Sejusa case has riveted many in this East Monitor and Red Pepper newspapers, which moment in Uganda’s political development.” African country that once was prone to violent were closed on May 20 by armed police. “This is It is not clear if Museveni - an army general takeovers of power but which has seen relative a violation of media freedom and economic sab- himself who rose to power as guerrilla com- stability under Museveni. But the president now otage,” rights activist Geoffrey Ssebaggala shout- mander - plans to run again for the presidency in faces growing pressure within and outside his ed at police. The closure of the two papers 2016. Uganda law blocks anyone aged over 75 party to retire when his current term expires in leaves only one major operating newspaper, the from running for the country’s top job. The vet- 2016. Some say Tinyefuza, a decorated hero of government-owned New Vision. Two radio sta- eran Ugandan leader claims he does not know the bush war that brought Museveni to power in tions in the Monitor’s offices also remain off air. his exact date of birth but says he was born in 1986, may be positioning himself to become of “Instead of arresting criminals killing people 1947 - making him 66. Activists, however, say he the leader of those within the military who want in the country, you are here terrorising us,” jour- is older. Media watchdogs including the US- to discourage Museveni from hanging onto nalist Moses Ouma told police as they dragged based Committee to Protect Journalists, France- power. —Agencies him away from outside the Monitor’s offices. “The police are turning violent yet this is a peaceful demonstration,” said Simon Anguzu, a protestor outside the Red Pepper. The closures came after the newspapers in early May printed ABIDJAN: Members of a drug squad arrest suspected users and drug dealers a leaked confidential memo by a senior general, during a raid on a drugs den yesterday. The number of drug users has David Sejusa Tinyefuza, alleging that President increased exponentially in the Ivory Coast capital with many cartels using Yoweri Museveni was grooming his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba to succeed him. Tinyefuza said West Africa as a transit point for narcotics from Latin America to Europe and there were plots to assassinate those opposed to Asia. — AFP the plan. Muhoozi, a brigadier who now commands Uganda’s special forces, has recently enjoyed Boko Haram claims rapid promotion through the ranks, although Museveni has made no mention of plans for him to succeed. Tinyefuza has reportedly fled to victories over army London, while last week Museveni reshuffled top army commanders. Ugandan police chief KANO: The leader of Islamist extrem- through an intermediary in a manner Kale Kayihura said that police searching newspa- ist group Boko Haram claims in a similar to previous Boko Haram mes- per offices would leave once journalists “cooper- ated”. video obtained by AFP yesterday that sages. The images of Shekau in the Last week army chief Aronda Nyakairima - video are consistent with those previ- Nigerian soldiers have retreated dur- listed in a leaked memo as allegedly opposing ing an ongoing military offensive and ously released. Nigeria launched the Muhoozi’s possible takeover - was shifted to a insurgents have sustained little dam- offensive against Boko Haram after civilian post as minister of internal affairs. age. The video marks the first public President Goodluck Jonathan Nyakairima, along with other generals, has since comments from Boko Haram leader declared a state of emergency in three condemned Tinyefuza’s memo. The United KAMPALA: A Ugandan policeman beats up a journalist yesterday outside the Daily Abubakar Shekau since the start of a states in the country’s northeast, the Nations and European Union have both con- Monitor and Red Pepper newspapers. — AFP sweeping offensive by the Nigerian Islamist insurgents’ stronghold. army on May 15 and also includes a Several thousand troops were call for foreign Islamists to join the deployed and fighter jets hit alleged fight in Nigeria. Shekau’s whereabouts Boko Haram camps. On May 20, the Kenya MPs hike pay to cannot be determined in the video, in military said it had re-established con- which he is shown seated while trol in five remote areas of the north- dressed in camouflage with a turban, east where Islamist insurgents had 130 times minimum wage an AK-47 at his side. seized territory. It had also claimed His comments contradict state- the arrests of 120 suspected insur- ments from the military, which has gents. NAIROBI: Kenyan members of par- power to determine MP salaries, The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) term, wants a slimmer government claimed major successes during the The military’s latest statement says liament, already among the world’s and the legislators’ decision is said it would go to court seeking to as part of efforts to make savings. offensive, including the destruction of 25 insurgents were arrested and three best-paid lawmakers, voted yester- expected to be challenged in court challenge whether the MPs can set He has proposed a cabinet of 18 Boko Haram camps and dozens of killed during operations at the week- day to increase their salaries to by civic rights groups. the new salaries. “The supreme law members instead of the maximum arrests. It has been impossible to veri- end, including one identified as “Abba” more than 130 times the minimum The lawmakers’ move to over- (Constitution) ended the era when 22 granted by law. fy the claims of either side independ- included on a most-wanted list. One wage in defiance of government turn a reduction in their pay decid- elected leaders could use their Officials say the economy will ently, with the military having cut soldier was also killed, it said. “Troops plans to cut them as part of spend- ed by the state Salaries and muscle to illegally determine their grow 6 percent in 2013, up from ing reforms. President Uhuru Remuneration Commission before remuneration,” LSK chairman Eric 4.6 percent last year. Kenya’s public mobile phone service in much of the of the special forces have intercepted Kenyatta, who won a closely fought the election has caused anger that Mutua said in a statement. Kenyans sector wage bill stands at 50 per- messages sent to fleeing insurgents country’s northeast and access to March 4 election on an economic has led to street protests. But law- are worried that by increasing their cent of annual government tax rev- remote locations restricted. “Since we urging them not to give up but fight growth agenda, has implored law- makers said the pay cut was pay, the lawmakers could provoke enue. The International Monetary started this ongoing war which they to the end,” the statement said. “The makers to accept pay cuts and help imposed illegally. They argued demands for higher wages from Fund puts the global benchmark at call state of emergency ... in some attempt by some of them to heed the rein in public sector salaries to free they needed high wages because local officials in the country’s new- about 35 percent. Kenyatta’s instances soldiers who faced us call was foiled during the weekend as up cash to create jobs. Many constituents expected them to ly-demarcated counties, as well as Jubilee coalition has promised to turned and ran,” Shekau said in the they were trailed to some settlements Kenyans view members of parlia- provide charitable support. Some teachers, police and doctors. deliver free maternity care, laptops hour-long video. He claimed Nigerian and towns towards the border where ment as symbols of a greedy politi- also said that MPs could be vulner- Kenyatta, who made an election to primary school children, better forces “threw down their arms in they plan to regroup.” cal culture, seeking public office as able to bribes if their salaries were pledge to achieve double-digit roads and a million new jobs a flight”. He called on like-minded Last week, the military also said it an opportunity for personal gain at set too low. economic growth in his five-year year. —Reuters Islamists in countries including had freed three women and six chil- the expense of a country mired in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq to join dren abducted by Boko Haram. poverty and where the unemploy- the fight to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s government has also pledged ment rate stands at 40 percent. UAE begins construction Nigeria. “We call to us our brethren in to release certain suspects held in con- Lawmakers on both sides of the these countries I mentioned. Oh! Our nection with the insurgency as a house voted overwhelmingly for brethren, come to us,” he said in the peace gesture, including all women higher pay. “They have taken away of second nuclear reactor video, which alternates between and children. Boko Haram has waged our dignity and we must reclaim it,” Arabic and the Hausa language spo- its insurgency since 2009, with an esti- member of parliament Jimmy ABU DHABI: The oil-rich UAE began construction yes- the first plant, which is expected to enter service in ken across northern Nigeria. The mated 3,600 people left dead, includ- Angwenyi told the assembly, back- terday of a second nuclear power plant, one of four 2017 after further regulatory approvals. Unit 2 is to video later purports to show vehicles ing killings by the security forces. The ing a motion to overturn a legal reactors aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions by begin commercial operations in 2018. In addition to notice slashing their pay and to some 12 million tonnes a year in 2020. Emirates diversifying the UAE’s energy supply once operational, and weapons seized from Nigerian group has pushed for the creation of increase it to an average of 851,000 Nuclear Energy Corp (ENEC) said it poured the first part the four plants should cut 12 million tonnes of CO2 an Islamic state in Africa’s most popu- soldiers. Shekau, designated a global shillings ($10,000) a month, up of safety concrete for Unit 2, in a ceremony attended emissions annually by 2020, ENEC said. terrorist by the United States last year, lous nation and largest oil producer, from 532,000. The average monthly by visiting Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Sang-jick ENEC said it had applied in March to the Federal repeats earlier statements that Boko though its demands have repeatedly wage in Kenya is 6,498 shillings Yoon. In 2009, an international consortium led by the Authority for Nuclear Regulation for construction Haram “will not stop the kidnap of shifted. It is believed to include vari- ($76). Many Kenyans expressed state-run Korea Electric Power Corp won a $20.4 billion licences for Units 3 and 4, but did not indicate when your women and children until you ous factions with differing aims. outrage at the pay increase. “Did we deal to build four nuclear power plants in Baraka, west work would begin. The UAE sits on a large wealth of oil set free our women and children, and Nigeria’s military has come under vote in the wrong guys? This is non- of Abu Dhabi. and gas, and pumps 2.8 million barrels per day of our brethren”. He also says Boko heavy criticism over its response to sense! What work have they done Under the biggest single contract Seoul has ever crude oil. In March, Abu Dhabi opened the world’s Haram’s goal is either the creation of Boko Haram, including allegations of in the last two months to deserve won abroad, South Korean firms including Samsung, largest operating plant of concentrated solar power, an Islamic state or “martyrdom”. extra-judicial killings, arbitrary arrests this?” prominent businessman Chris Hyundai and Doosan Heavy Industries will build the which has the capacity to provide electricity to 20,000 The video was delivered to AFP and unlawful detentions.— AFP Kirubi said on Twitter. four 1,400-megawatt reactors. Work began last year on homes. — AFP The president has no direct WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Fire breaks out aboard Caribbean cruise ship

BALTIMORE: A fire that broke out tion devices. The attendant said it for four hours, he said, and the cap- mula and held while their parents aboard a Royal Caribbean ship did wasn’t a drill. tain “provided us as much informa- used the bathrooms. In Freeport, enough damage that the rest of the Ormesher, a native of England, tion as we needed to stay safe.” Bahamas, passenger Andrea cruise was canceled and the com- who lives in Manassas, Virginia, said Ormesher, who is 25 and making Sanders of Washington, DC, said pany said the more than 2,200 pas- he and his girlfriend smelled acrid his first cruise, said the air condi- she slept on the deck with hun- sengers will be flown from the smoke as they went to their muster tioner had been shut off, and as the dreds of other passengers as smoke Bahamas back to Baltimore where station, the ship’s casino. The crew hours passed and the ship got hot, billowed out of the stern of the the trip began. The fire that began quickly provided instructions. “This bottled water was distributed. The ship. “I was terrified with it being at 2:50 am Monday was extin- encouraged calm amongst the pas- crew and passengers remained my first cruise,” Sanders told The guished about two hours later with sengers,” he said. Passengers were calm, and helped those who need- Freeport News as she ate lunch in no injuries reported. A cause wasn’t required to remain at their stations ed it. Crying babies were given for- port. Royal Caribbean said all immediately known. The Grandeur guests and 796 crew were safe and of the Seas, which left Baltimore on accounted for. Royal Caribbean Friday, never lost power and was spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez WASHINGTON: In this file photo FBI Director Robert Mueller (from left) able to sail into port in Freeport, said in an email that the company Bahamas, Monday afternoon. It had was arranging 11 different charter National Intelligence Director James Clapper, CIA Director John Brennan, been planned to be a seven-night flights for passengers. Photos show and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt Gen Michael Flynn testify on cruise. a substantial area of the stern Capitol Hill in Washington at the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on It was the latest trouble for burned on several decks of the ship worldwide threats. — AP Carnival Corp., whose Triumph ship the length of about three football was disabled by an engine room fields. The company in a statement US intelligence embraces fire during a February cruise in the on its website said it is “deeply sorry Gulf of Mexico. Thousands of pas- for this unexpected development sengers endured cold food, unsani- in our guests’ vacation. We under- debate in security issues tary conditions and power outages stand that this may have been a while the ship was towed to very stressful time for them. We WASHINGTON: In the months leading up to agency, and its director was the president’s Mobile, Alabama. It remained there appreciate their patience and coop- the killing of Osama bin Laden, veteran US principal intelligence adviser. for repairs until early May when it eration in dealing with this unfortu- intelligence analyst Robert Cardillo cast doubt The system was still in place in 2002, when headed back to sea under its own nate situation.” that the terror network leader and mastermind the White House was weighing whether to power. On the Grandeur, after passen- was actually in a high-walled compound in invade Iraq. Intelligence officials widely - and Royal Caribbean said on its web- gers were allowed to leave their northern Pakistan. President Barack Obama wrongly - believed that then-dictator Saddam site and through social media that stations, Ormesher said he saw ultimately decided to launch a May 2011 raid Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruc- executives met with passengers water on the outside of deck 5 and on the compound that killed bin Laden. But tion. By December 2002, the White House had from the Grandeur of the Seas in in the hallways. The mooring lines the level of widespread skepticism that decided to invade and was trying to outline its port and that the cruise line is were destroyed he said; crew mem- Cardillo shared with other top-level officials - reasoning for doing so when then-CIA Director arranging flights for all 2,224 guests bers brought new lines from stor- which nearly scuttled the raid - reflected a sea George Tenet described it as “a slam-dunk on Tuesday. It said passengers will age. The damage at the rear of the change within the US spy community, one that case.” The consequences were disastrous. There receive a full refund of their fare ship “looks bad,” Ormesher said; embraces debate on tough national security were no WMDs, but the US wound up in a and a certificate for a future cruise. burned out equipment was visible. decisions. nearly nine-year war that killed nearly 5,000 Aboard ship early Monday, the cap- The ship will stay docked in The same sort of high-stakes dissent was American soldiers, left more than 117,000 tain announced that passengers Freeport at least overnight. The on public display recently as intelligence offi- Iraqis dead and cost taxpayers at least $767 bil- needed to go to their muster sta- National Transportation Safety cials wrestled with conflicting opinions about lion. tions, rousing Mark J. Ormesher Board said in a tweet that it will join threats in North Korea and Syria. And it is a The war also damaged US credibility from his stateroom. Ormesher said the US Coast Guard in investigating vital part of ongoing discussions over whether throughout the Mideast and, to a lesser extent, in an email to The Associated Press the fire. Martinez said in a news to send deadly drone strikes against terror sus- the world. Tenet later described his “slam- that immediately after the release that a cruise set aboard the pects abroad - including US citizens. The three dunk” comment as “the two dumbest words I announcement, his room attendant FREEPORT: The fire-damaged exterior of Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas for May 31 cases provide a rare look inside the secretive ever said.” Two years later, Congress signed knocked on the door and told him Grandeur of the Seas cruise ship is seen while docked in has been canceled so the ship can 16 intelligence agencies as they try to piece sweeping reforms requiring intelligence offi- and his girlfriend to grab their flota- Freeport, Grand Bahama island. — AP be repaired.—AP together security threats from bits of vague cials to make clear when the spy agencies information from around the world. But they don’t agree. Retired Amb. John Negroponte, also raise concerns about whether officials who became the first US national intelligence who make decisions based on their assess- director in 2005, said if it hadn’t been for the Venezuela’s President accuses ments can get clear guidance from a divided faulty WMD assessment “we wouldn’t have intelligence community. had intelligence reform.” At the helm of what he calls a healthy dis- “It was then, and only then that the real fire CNN of seeking to foment coup cord is Director of National Intelligence James was lit under the movement for reform,” Clapper, who has spent more than two-thirds Negroponte said in a recent interview. “In CARACAS: Venezuela’s President Nicolas ing intervention against our nation,” Maduro speaker Diosdado Cabello of conspiring against of his 72 years collecting, analyzing and some respects it was understandable, because Maduro on Monday accused US-based news warned, charging “it is broadcasting 24 hours a Maduro. The newscaster, Mario Silva, dismissed reviewing spy data from war zones and rogue Saddam had had all these things before, but network CNN en Espanol of working to promote day not to tell what’s going on in the world but the recording as a montage pieced together nations. Clapper, the nation’s fourth top intelli- we just allowed ourselves to fall into this erro- a coup d’etat as part of a wider media war rather to make Venezuela look bad.” from his television show. He later announced he gence chief, says disputes are uncommon but neous judgment.” To prevent that from hap- against his socialist government. “CNN en Maduro-who won a disputed presidential was suspending the show indefinitely for undis- absolutely necessary to get as much input as pening again, senior intelligence officials now Espanol is a network controlled by those seeking poll held last month following the death of closed health reasons. The recording purports to possible in far-flung places where it’s hard for encourage each of the spy agencies to debate destabilization, which openly urges people to leader Hugo Chavez-has been enraged by capture a conversation between Silva and the US to extract - or fully understand - information, and if they don’t agree, to object carry out a coup d’etat in Venezuela, and which reports of splits within the ruling party leader- Aramis Palacios, a Cuban intelligence chief, that ground-level realities. to their peers’ conclusions. Intelligence assess- is delivering a distorted version of our nation’s ship, maintaining that they are false. Last week purportedly was held days after Venezuela’s “What’s bad about dissension? Is it a good ments spell out the view of the majority of the political and social life,” Maduro said in an he denounced a leaked audio recording that April 14 presidential election. Maduro was thing to have uniformity of view where every- agencies, and highlight any opposing opinions address carried on national television. purports to show a power struggle among key declared the winner by a narrow margin, but the one agrees all the time? I don’t think so,” in a process similar to a Supreme Court ruling The Spanish-language US network is part of a followers of Chavez, who lost a long battle with results are being contested by opposition candi- Clapper said in an interview Friday. “...People with a majority and minority opinion. wider campaign of “brutal psychological war- cancer in March. In the recording, which has set date Henrique Capriles, who says the election lust for uniform clairvoyance. We’re not going The result, officials say, is an intelligence fare” led by the “fascist right-wing” seeking his off a sensation since it was made public by an was stolen. Maduro was hand-picked by Chavez to do that.” “We are never dealing with a per- community that makes assessments by majori- government’s demise, Maduro said. “CNN en opposition lawmaker, a well-known government to succeed him, and Cabello has assumed the fect set of facts,” Clapper said. “You know the ty vote instead of group-think, and where each Espanol has become the spearhead for promot- newscaster is heard accusing National Assembly role of the loyal number two.— AFP old saw about the difference between myster- agency is supposed to have an equal voice. In ies and secrets? Of course, we’re held equally effect, officials say, the CIA has had to lean responsible for divining both. And so those back over the last decade as officials have giv- imponderables like that just have to be fac- en greater credence to formerly marginalized Americans honor fallen service members tored.” agencies. Among them is the State Looking in from the outside, the dissension Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and ATLANTA: Susan Jimison was 14 in the summer of said. He told the stories of three soldiers who had far cry from how her family and friends handled can seem awkward, if not uneasy - especially Research, which warned before the 2003 Iraq 1969 when her older brother, Warrant Officer Mark died. Each had been devoted to their mission and her brother’s death when it happened. “Nobody when the risks are so high. At a congressional invasion that the CIA had overestimated Clotfelter, was shot down on a mission in Vietnam. were praised by others for saving lives. talked about it,” she said, recalling how politically hearing last month, Rep Doug Lamborn read Saddam’s prospects to develop nuclear He was later confirmed dead. Forty-four years later, In Atlanta, sprinkled at the park grounds was unpopular American involvement in Vietnam had from a Defense Intelligence Agency report weapons. she’s writing a book about her brother and his dirt from the banks of the Delaware River, where become and how that affected how veterans and suggesting North Korea is able to arm long- Also included is the DIA, which has company. “It’s written as a letter to him,” she said. General George Washington crossed during the military families were viewed publicly. range missiles with nuclear warheads. The increased its ability during the Iraq and “The title is ‘Dear Mark.’” On Monday, as Americans Revolutionary War. Soil came from Germany and So it took many years before she learned much April 11 disclosure, which had been mistakenly Afghanistan wars to gather ground-level intel- across the country celebrated Memorial Day with France for the Great War now known as World War about her brother’s service. “My brother died doing declassified, came at the height of Kim Jong ligence throughout much of the Mideast and parades, tributes and traditional observances, I. For its successor a generation later came water what he loved doing,” she said. “He was a pilot, and Un’s sabre-rattling rhetoric and raised fears southwest Asia. In an interview, DIA director Lt including President Barack Obama laying a wreath from Pearl Harbor, sand from the beaches of he flew for his country.” At the National World War II that US territory or Asian nations could be tar- Gen Michael Flynn would not discuss his at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Normandy, dirt from the island of Iwo Jima. Chunks Museum in New Orleans, about 20 bicyclists clus- geted for an attack. agency’s debated assessment on North Korea, Cemetery, Jimison helped christen a new veterans of earth came from Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. tered around veteran and museum volunteer Tom Within hours, Clapper announced that the but described a typical intelligence communi- park in Atlanta. Even pieces of the Berlin Wall for those who served Blakey. The paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne DIA report did not reflect the opinions of the ty discussion about “ballistic missiles in name- From a canteen used by a soldier in World War II, throughout the Cold War. There was none from the Division jumped at Normandy on D-Day - June 6, rest of the intelligence community, and that that-country” during which officials weigh in she poured onto the park grounds water collected Civil War, Lester, said, because “that was a time that 1944 - and in May 1945 helped liberate the work North Korea was not yet fully capable of on how confident they feel about the informa- from oceans and waterways significant to our country was divided.” camp at Wobbelin in northwest Germany. launching a nuclear-armed missile. Two weeks tion they’re seeing. American military history. Retired Army Lt Col Rick Before they were sprinkled, the soil samples “Most of us wondered why we were there, later, the White House announced that U.S. “In the intelligence community we should Lester, who helped organize the event, said the were mixed in a helmet Lester’s father wore on D- killing people and being killed,” he said. “We didn’t intelligence concluded that Syrian President encourage, what I would call, good competi- water symbolized the tears shed by the families of Day in France during World War II. It was sprinkled do anything to deserve it. When we got to that Bashar Assad has probably used deadly chemi- tion,” Flynn said. He added: “The DIA, in gener- soldiers, airmen, Marines and seamen slain over from metal cups his uncle, a Marine, used through- camp and saw what was there, the lights came on.” cal weapons at least twice in his country’s al, is always going to be a little bit more generations of conflict. Jimison joined others who out the same war. His father survived. His uncle did The cycling group makes regular weekend training fierce civil war. But White House officials said aggressive. ...As a defense community, we’re sprinkled what Lester called reminders “of our not. The importance of the military refrain “never runs, and on Monday started a Memorial Day ride the intelligence wasn’t strong enough to justi- closer to the war-fighting commanders; it may country’s timeline of freedom.” forget” seared into his mind, he said, as a child, as about seven miles away at the national cemetery in fy sending significant US military support to be in that part of our DNA.” Without the all the At Arlington, as combat in Afghanistan he watched his uncle’s fellow Marines visit his Chalmette, where the Battle of New Orleans - the Syrian rebels who are fighting Assad’s regime. varying strands of information pieced together approaches 12 years, Obama urged the nation to grandmother. A pilot in Vietnam, he recalled in last in the War of 1812 - was fought.In the nation’s Because the US has few sources to provide from across the intelligence agencies, officials remember. “Let us not forget as we gather here detail the numbers of men lost from missions he heartland, a veterans park that usually would have first-hand information in Syria, the intelligence now say the bin Laden raid would not have today that our nation is still at war,” Obama said flew. been a spot for Memorial Day barbecues instead agencies split on how confident they were that happened. The CIA was running the manhunt, after laying the tradition wreath at the Tomb of the “All I can think about is how those were some of drew volunteers staffing a medical clinic and clean- Assad had deployed chemical weapons. The but the National Security Agency was con- Unknowns. “When they give their lives, they are still the greatest guys I ever met and what they would ing up debris in Moore, Okla. Homes east and west best they could do was concluded that the tributing phone numbers and details from being laid to rest in cemeteries in quiet corners have done for this country once they got back,” he of the park were destroyed in last week’s tornado, Syrian regime, at least, probably had undertak- conversations it had intercepted in overseas across our country, including here in Arlington,” he said. For Jimison, Monday’s commemoration was a and flying debris damaged park equipment and en such an effort. This put Obama in the awk- wiretaps. ripped out countless trees - some 50 feet high. Out ward political position of having said the use The National Geospatial Intelligence West, once again aboard the historic USS Hornet, of chemical weapons would cross a “red line” Agency provided satellite imagery of the 83-year-old Dale Berven reflected on his tour of and have “enormous consequences,” but not Abbottabad compound - from years past and duty in Korea as a naval aviator as he took in the moving on the news of chemical weapons use, more recently - to get a sense of who might be commemoration. when the occasion arose, because the intelli- living there. And it produced photos for a tall As the bugle corps warmed up, Berven looked gence was murky. man walking the ground inside the compound out from the now-decommissioned aircraft carrier Lamborn said he welcomes an internal - even though they were never able to get a docked in Alameda, across the bay from San intelligence community debate but is con- close look at his face. One of the compound’s Francisco, which ferried him around the world in a cerned that the North Korean threat was balconies was blocked off by a wall, Cardillo goodwill tour in 1954, the year after the Korean brushed aside. “If they want to argue among said, raising questions about who might want War ended. At just 23 years old, Berven said he flew themselves, that’s fine,” said Lamborn, a mem- his view obscured by such a tall barrier. dozens of sorties as a lieutenant junior grade with ber of the House Armed Services Committee. Officials also were keeping tabs on the people the 91st Fighter Squadron. “I was young and single, However, he also said, “We should be cautious who lived in the compound, and trying to I had volunteered and I wanted to do that type of when evaluating different opinions, and cer- track how often they went outside. work,” said Berven, now a docent at the USS Hornet tainly give credence to the more sobering pos- Cardillo was vocal about his skepticism in Museum. sibilities. ... When it comes to national security, I each strand of new information he analyzed “That is how people are now. They’re not draft- don’t think we want to have rose-colored during the eight months he worked on the ed, so you have 18-, 19-year olds who are giving up glasses on, and sweep threats under the rug.” case. “I wasn’t trying to be negative for the their lives for the freedom of this country. We Current and former US intelligence officials sake of being negative,” Cardillo, a deputy ought to honor all those service men and women say the vigorous internal debate was spawn national intelligence director who regularly and not bring politics into it.” The holiday weekend from a single mistake about a threat - and an briefs Obama, said in an interview Friday. “I felt, also marked the traditional start of the US vacation overly aggressive response. Congress demand- ‘Boy, we’ve got to press hard against each season. AAA, one of the nation’s largest leisure trav- ed widespread intelligence reform after the piece of evidence.’ Because, let’s face it, we el agencies, expected 31.2 million Americans to hit Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks to fix a system wanted bin Laden to be there. And you can the road over the weekend, virtually the same where agencies hoarded threat information get into group-think pretty quick.” To prevent ARLINGTON: Visitors to Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery gather around number as last year. Gas prices were about the instead of routinely sharing it. The CIA general- that from happening, officials encouraged President Barack Obama (center) during his visit there on Memorial Day in Arlington, same as last year, up 1 cent to a national average of ly was considered the nation’s top intelligence wide debate. —AP Va. Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans are buried in Section 60.— AP $3.65 a gallon Friday.— AP WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 INTERNATIONAL China graft buster orders staff to ditch VIP cards

BEIJING: China’s top anti-corruption offi- ing at popular restaurants, and hence plinary and supervisory departments doable,” he added. “Men of honor need end restaurants and dented the sale of cial has demanded his staffers ditch their offer countless opportunities for abuse should discard all their VIP cards by June to show that they are honorable.” Since expensive food and drink, as the party VIP cards, commonly given out by by corrupt officials and businesspeople. 20 and follow this order “seriously and becoming Communist Party boss in tries to allay criticism of the extravagant Chinese businesses to grant access to “Although membership cards are earnestly”, the report added. November, and president in March, Xi lifestyles of some officials. However, discounts or exclusive services, state small (objects), they reflect big problems This campaign is a way for graft- Jinping has made battling pervasive cor- there has been little apparent progress media said on Monday, as part of the of working style,” the official Xinhua busters to act by example for other party ruption a top theme of his administra- to get officials to publicly disclose their country’s push to defeat graft. VIP cards news agency cited Wang Qishan, head of members by showing they have high tion, warning the problem is so severe it assets, and the party has given no indica- in China can offer everything from cheap the ruling Communist Party’s anti-cor- standards, Wang said. “The demands of could threaten the party’s survival. tion it will allow the establishment of a deals at massage parlors to free gifts in ruption bureau, as saying at a meeting. the campaign are not onerous, but they A major theme of that fight has been fully independent judicial body to tackle department stores and preferential seat- Officials and employees working in disci- have to be followed and are totally an austerity drive that has emptied top- corruption. —Reuters

News Myanmar powerful Wa in brief

Armenia troops kill Azerbaijani soldier rebels seek ‘own state’ BAKU: Armenian forces have killed an Azerbaijani soldier in the latest outbreak of border violence over the disputed Nagorny Karabakh region, the defense ministry in United Wa State Army commands 30,000 troops Baku said yesterday. Soldier Namig Hamidov died on his way to hospital MANGPAN: Myanmar’s most heavily-armed assurances it would be considered in the there have been heightened tensions rapid rearmament”-a claim denied by both Monday after been heavily wounded as a and powerful rebel group has said it is look- country’s parliament. Myanmar has seven between the UWSA and the military for two Beijing and the Wa. Tone Sann said some result of a “ceasefire violation” by Armenian ing to carve out a legitimate state, as ethnic minority states and seven regions, years, when the group was asked to join a aircraft had been bought as “samples” to forces in the Tartar district on the volatile experts say it is flexing its muscles amid mainly of the majority Burman ethnicity. so-called border guard force under the put on display to the public. “These are not tense relations with the government. The Tone Sann said the Wa want their region to command of the Myanmar army. real ones and cannot be used. We just want- frontline, the ministry said. Armenia- United Wa State Army, which commands an be recognized as a state to take advantage The Wa claim comes as the country’s mil- ed to attract more people to visit our muse- backed separatists seized Nagorny estimated 30,000 troops, holds sway over a of regional development, as resource-rich itary is locked in a deadly conflict with um,” he said. Karabakh from Azerbaijan in a 1990s war remote mountainous area on the northeast that killed 30,000 people. Despite years of border with China that is believed to be negotiations since a 1994 ceasefire, the two awash with drugs and has long been aloof sides have still not signed a peace deal. from central Myanmar control. Azerbaijan has threatened to take back the Shielded from the reach of the previous disputed region by force if negotiations do junta by its close links to Beijing and formi- not yield results, while Armenia has vowed dable military might, observers say the group is using political openings under a to retaliate against any military action. new government to push for greater official acknowledgement. The Wa self-adminis- North Korea building tered region consists of six townships in the world-class ski resort rugged borderlands of Shan state, but SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un UWSA spokesman Tone Sann told AFP that has inspected work on a “world class” ski the current arrangement was “not enough”. resort being built as rival South Korea pre- “We want them to be acknowledged as a pares to host the 2018 Winter Olympic state,” he said on the sidelines of a religious ceremony in northern Shan that marked a Games, state media reported. Kim visited rare public appearance for officials from the the construction site on Masik hill in the rebel group. northeast of the country on Monday, the The UWSA has upheld a ceasefire agree- official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) ment with the government since 1989, one said. The resort, which could be operational of the longest such deals in a country that by the end of the year, will boast 110 kilo- has been riven by pockets of ethnic rebel- meters of multi-level ski runs, a hotel, heli- lion since independence in 1948. A raft of port and cable cars, KCNA said. During his tentative new ceasefires have been inked by the new quasi-civilian government that inspection, Kim said it was the firm deter- replaced military rule two years ago as part mination of the ruling Workers’ Party “to of reforms that have raised hopes of greater build the skiing ground into a world class federalism in a nation long gripped by junta one” and he urged workers to complete insistence on unity and conformism. construction by the next winter season. “The Wa have proven adept, in the past, Praising the site chosen for the resort, the at garnering the concessions they need,” Swiss-educated Kim said it would be “more MANGPAN: Photo shows local ethnic Palaung women attending a religious ceremony by the ethnic Shan militia Nicholas Farrelly of the Australian National fantastic to see the ground covered with group in Mangpan in Myanmar’s northeastern Shan State. Ethnic Wa make up about one percent of the Myanmar University told AFP, adding that the group’s snow”, KCNA reported. The South Korean military, economic and political resources population, with about 800,000 people of various ethnic groups in the self-administered region. —AFP makes them a “force to reckon with”. resort of Pyeongchang will host the 2018 “Moreover, given they run what often feels and strategically located Myanmar looks to rebels in neighboring Kachin, where a 17- “It is not true that we bought helicopters Winter Olympics, and there has been spec- like an independent borderland fief, it is reap the rewards of ending decades of iso- year ceasefire collapsed soon after the new from China,” he added, also rejecting per- ulation that the South and North might logical that the Wa leadership would be the lation. government came to power in 2011. Peace sistent claims of widespread opium and attempt to field a unified team. The two first to test a new style of decentralisation.” Sai Pao Nap, an upper house MP from talks with the Kachin, which were set to methamphetamine production in Wa terri- nations marched together at the Summer Ethnic Wa make up about one percent of the Wa Democratic Party said the group is continue yesterday, have stumbled at sever- tory as “just accusations”. Farrelly said China Games in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in the Myanmar population, with about also keen to deal directly with the central al hurdles and the unrest has continued was the “sponsor and facilitator of Wa suc- 2004. 800,000 people of various ethnic groups in government, rather than the current amid suspicions that the army is deter- cess”, a situation that the Myanmar govern- the self-administered region, according to arrangement of communicating through mined to bring all the insurgents to heel ment may “resent” but would have little Tone Sann. authorities in Shan state. “I do not think once and for all. opportunity to counter. “It is a borderland 7 dead in landslide He said the UWSA made an official their demand to be a state can cause any A recent report by analysts IHS Jane’s defined by its entanglements and ambigui- PACHUCA: A landslide in central Mexico request for their region to be upgraded to complication,” said the politician, who is said the UWSA ceasefire was “fragile” and ties, with the Chinese playing an inevitable smothered a road with rocks, mud and “Wa State” in talks with a government peace also a chairman of the parliament’s National suggested the group had purchased armed role in what they consider their own back- trees, killing seven people driving on the team this month, adding they received Races Affairs Committee. But he added that helicopters from China as part “a program of yard.” —AFP motorway, police said. Sunday’s accident happened in the central state of Hidalgo when part of a hill slid down onto the road, Chinese defaces Egypt temple; sparks outcry Federal Police said. A local resident in the nearby town of Tepeji del Rio had warned BEIJING: A Chinese teenager who defaced an via Twitter that the land above the road ancient temple in Egypt with graffiti has come looked unstable. Hidalgo governor Jose under fire at home where his vandalism Francisco Olvera said the deaths could have prompted public fretting about how to culti- vate a good image overseas as more newly been avoided. But he added that assessing affluent Chinese travel abroad. The teen the state of the hill when the warning was scratched “Ding Jinhao visited here” in Chinese received would have been difficult due to on a temple wall in the ancient city Luxor, and the torrential hailstorm. However, highway the incident came to light when another officials said the warning tweet had been Chinese tourist posted a photo of it on a popu- acted upon but had turned out to be inac- lar microblog with the comment: “My saddest curate. Earlier Sunday 16 people died in moment in Egypt. Ashamed and unable to show my face.” another highway accident in Hidalgo when The photo quickly caught the attention of a bus ran into a wall. the Chinese public, attracting thousands of comments, and someone was able to identify Outspoken Japanese the person responsible for the graffiti as 15- mayor cancels US trip year-old Ding Jinhao from the eastern city of TOKYO: The outspoken mayor of Japan’s Nanjing. Many criticized Ding’s act as an Osaka city said yesterday he had cancelled embarrassment to the country. “Why there are so many citizens who go abroad and humiliate a trip to the United States after sparking a us? How many generations will it take to furor by saying “comfort women” played a change this kind of behavior?” Xuan Kejiong, a “necessary” wartime role. Toru Hashimoto, prominent journalist with Shanghai Television, the joint leader of the national Japan wrote on his microblog. The sentiment was Restoration Party, had been set to visit San echoed by the mouthpiece of the ruling Francisco and New York to meet local politi- Communist Party, the People’s Daily newspa- cians and businessmen starting from June per. “Nowadays, people in China no longer 10. But yesterday he told reporters the trip want for food and clothing, and even in the was off. “Travelling to the United States luxury shops abroad, there are advertisement LUXOR: The Chinese words “Ding Jinhao visited here” is seen on bas-relief in the 3,500-year-old Luxor temple in under the present circumstances will not posters in Chinese,” the paper wrote in a com- Luxor, Egypt. A Chinese teenager who defaced the ancient temple in Egypt with graffiti has come under fire at home bring any merit and will cause difficulties mentary. “But many people also feel as though where his vandalism prompted public fretting about how to cultivate a good image overseas as more newly affluent for local people,” he said. Hashimoto their ‘hands are full but hearts are empty.’ In Chinese travel abroad. —AP prompted outrage at home and abroad by the process of modernization, how have the suggesting battle-stressed soldiers needed people come to lack modern manners and 2000 to 83 million in 2012 - accompanied by a the services of up to 200,000 sex slaves consciousness?” The outcry prompted Ding’s nearly eightfold increase in spending. parents to publicly apologize. In an interview Last year, China surpassed Germany to Singapore tightens from Korea, China, the Philippines and else- with a Nanjing newspaper, Ding’s father said become the largest spender in international where who were forcibly drafted into “the child has committed a mistake and the tourism, with tourists’ expenditure amounting rules on websites Japanese brothels during World War II. The main responsibility falls on the adults. It was to a record $102 billion, the organization said. US denounced his remarks as “outrageous because we did not supervise him well, and But Chinese travelers, many of whom join tour SINGAPORE: Singapore’s official media watchdog statement. “This will place them on a more consis- and offensive”, while countries across Asia have not taught him well.” groups, are frequently criticized for rude yesterday announced licensing rules for news web- tent regulatory framework with traditional news responded similarly and many at home The soul searching comes as Chinese behavior. Deputy Premier Wang Yang earlier sites, including the local Yahoo! portal, that will sub- platforms which are already individually licensed,” it sought to distance themselves from the tourism overseas has seen an explosion in this month during the passage of a tourism ject them to the same regulations as traditional said. Yahoo! has gained popularity as an alterna- growth over the past decade, fueled by rising law urged Chinese travelers to mind their man- comments. Seeking to contain the fallout media. From June 1, websites which have more than tive news and opinion source in Singapore, where from his remarks, the lawyer-turned- incomes and the relaxation of government ners. “They make a racket in public places, 50,000 unique visitors from Singapore every month the mainstream media is widely perceived as pro- restrictions on citizens’ ability to travel abroad. carve words at scenic spots, cross the road and publish at least one local news article a week government. It has also become a magnet for stri- politician said Monday Tokyo should apolo- China has been the fastest-growing source of when the light is red, spit, and do other uncivi- must obtain an annual license from the Media dent anti-government and anti-foreigner com- gize to former comfort women for past international tourists in the world for the past lized things,” Wang was quoted as saying. “This Development Authority (MDA). ments posted by readers in reaction to some news wrongdoing. But he still insisted that 10 years, the World Tourism Organization, a is detrimental to the image of the country’s Websites granted a license will have to remove stories. The MDA said it expected “no change in Japan’s wartime soldiers were not unique in U.N. agency, said in April. The organization people and leaves a bad impression.” “prohibited content” such as articles that under- content standards” since websites must already brutalizing women. said the volume of international trips by Associated Press researcher Fu Ting con- mine “racial or religious harmony” within 24 hours comply with content restrictions under current reg- Chinese tourists has grown from 10 million in tributed to this report from Shanghai. —AP of being notified by the authority, the MDA said in a ulations. —AFP WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 INTERNATIONAL Colombia peace still distant despite a first deal BOGOTA: A land reform deal reached by He said these are distributing land to said the land reform deal will create “some leader even made the surprising suggest- istries,” Ciurlizza said. The complex conflict Colombia’s government and leftist FARC peasants who have none or not enough, trust between the delegation” and has giv- ing that he would favor Santos winning re- once included far-right paramilitary mili- rebels marked a major step forward in their via a “major land fund”; special develop- en the two sides a “way of working that election next year in order to “give continu- tias that were created by wealthy landown- peace talks, but they still face a long slog to ment programs for areas most affected by works.”The fact that an agreement ity to the peace process.” But the negotia- ers in the 1980s to combat the guerrillas end Latin America’s oldest conflict. The the inequality; nationwide plans to emerged on anything in the negotiations tions are taking place without a ceasefire and which officially demobilized in 2006. land dispute was among the thorniest improve health, education, housing and proves that communist Cuba was the right and they still face many obstacles, includ- Almost four million Colombians have issues being negotiated between the other services in rural areas; and food and location for the talks, he said. ing whether the rebels can avoid jail been driven from their homes in the past administration of President Juan Manuel nutritional security for rural people via “It’s been very useful. Cuba offers secu- before returning to civilian life, the FARC’s five decades and the government has Santos and the Revolutionary Armed greater food production. The agreement rity guarantees and allows the delegations role in drug trafficking, disarmament and launched a plan to return two million Forces of Colombia, whose rebellion won praise. “It is a very important message to work in peace. This wouldn’t have been compensation for victims. hectares of land that was seized and began as a peasant insurrection in 1964. for Colombians. Previous discussions with possible if journalists and cameras were “We must be prudent and realistic another four million that was abandoned. After six months of negotiations in the FARC never went this far,” Alejo Vargas, present every day to ask about the because tougher questions that are even Ciurlizza said the redistribution of land will Cuba, which is facilitating the talks along political expert at National University of progress,” Vargas said. The international more divisive will come up,” Javier Ciurlizza, face “very important interests,” while major with Norway, the two sides announced Bogota, told AFP, stressing that the agrari- community and the United Nations wel- regional director of the International Crisis investments will be needed to make it suc- late Sunday a deal on “land access and use” an dispute was the “most complicated” comed the agreement, while Santos Group, a non-governmental organization ceed.”You need universal access to rural and the “regularization of property.” Land issue of the conflict. described it as a “fundamental step” specialized in conflict resolution, told AFP. credit and techniques for these lands to be distribution is an old and extreme source The government’s three previous towards a full agreement to end a conflict “The path is still full of thorns and rocks,” he productive,” he said. “This will require a lot of tension in Colombia, where one percent attempts at peace talks in the past 30 years that has left 600,000 people dead and said. Implementing the land deal could of time and money.” The peace talks of the population holds half of the rural never achieved such a result and ultimate- 15,000 missing. prove tricky in the first place since legisla- resume June 11. The next issues on the land. Santos released some details Monday ly failed. In 1984, the rivals managed to The handshake between government tion is needed to modify property rules. agenda include getting the rebels involved night, saying the agreement would involve agree on a ceasefire, but it ended three negotiator Franck Pearl and senior FARC “It’s an enormous challenge because in politics, the drug trade, disarming the “comprehensive rural reform” based on years late after a wave of assassinations of member Pablo Catatumbo in Havana Colombia historically has had a deficit guerrillas and reparations to victims of the four pillars. elected officials close to the FARC. Vargas became a symbol of hope. The rebel when it comes to agricultural property reg- war. —AFP ‘Tragedy’ Pakistan has nukes but no power Gunmen kill female polio worker

LAHORE: Pakistan’s incoming Prime Minister Kaggawala village on the outskirts of the main tion work in Pakistan, condemned the attack. It Nawaz Sharif said yesterday it was a “tragedy” northwest city of Peshawar, police officer said it was in touch with Pakistani officials in In Venezuela, the voice of that a country with a nuclear arsenal was crip- Mushtaq Khan said. Senior police official Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as they discussed what to pled by chronic electricity shortages. Years of Shafiullah Khan said two attackers on foot fired do next. Dr Nima Saeed Abid, acting WHO coun- dissent lowering volume mismanagement, underinvestment and corrup- a pistol at the women. He said police have start- try head for Pakistan, said the safety of his polio tion in the power sector have led to blackouts of ed a search operation. Health, municipal and workers, many of whom are women, was para- CARACAS: Venezuela’s only TV channel government. Globovision’s Twitter account, up to 20 hours a day in the blistering heat of other officials in the northwest Khyber- mount. “I hope the government will provide that has been openly critical of the one of Venezuela’s most popular, was losing summer, when temperatures reach up to 50 Pakhtunkhwa province met yesterday evening them with the requested security for the health socialist government was in turmoil 10,000 followers by the hour Monday. Tinedo Celsius. Sharif vowed to build new power plants to discuss whether to suspend the vaccinations, workers,” he said. “And after careful assessment, Monday after a popular talk show host Guia, president of Venezuela’s largest journal- to tackle the problem, which acts as a huge according to a provincial government official they should resume their activities.” Pakistani was fired and the opposition’s leader said ists association, said he asked for a meeting drag on the economy-shaving up to four per- who requested anonymity because he was not President Asif Ali Zardari blasted what he called he was being denied live coverage. with Globovision’s new owners to find out cent of GDP, according to the Planning authorized to discuss the matter with reporters. a “cowardly” attack, and resolved that “the gov- Changes in Globovision’s editorial line “first-hand what editorial line they want to Commission. The World Health Organization, the UN ernment will not permit militants to deprive our had been expected after new owners pursue.” But he warned there would be no quick fix. agency that oversees much of the polio vaccina- children of basic health care.” —Agencies took over the broadcaster earlier this A major change would mean “that In a speech marking the 15th anniversary of month and signaled they would tone democracy is finished in Venezuela, that Pakistan’s first successful nuclear weapons test, down the channel’s confrontational everything will go down one single road Sharif-who was prime minister at the time-said stance. ... The government can impose its editori- it was shameful that the country struggled so But there had been no sign of a sharp al line on all stations, besides those it badly just to keep the lights on. “It’s a tragedy deviation from Globovision’s anti-govern- controls,” Guia said. Press freedom that a country with atomic weapons is deprived ment line until Henrique Capriles, who activists had criticized Chavez, who died of electricity and has no electricity for even 20 emerged as the chief political rival to the in March, of taking restrictive measures hours a day. How can a country develop in such dying President Hugo Chavez last year, to gradually weaken the country’s private a situation?” he said. said Sunday that the channel no longer news media. Concerns have mounted The hated power cuts, known euphemistical- allowed live broadcasts of his speeches. over more tightening under Maduro. ly as “loadshedding”, were arguably the single Prior to this year’s presidential election, Little is known about the political affili- biggest voter complaint in the runup to the May which Capriles narrowly lost to Chavez’s ation of the Venezuelan businessmen who 11 general election, which Sharif’s party won-a hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro, bought a majority stake in Globovision far bigger daily concern than Taleban violence. Globovision often carried live speeches by earlier this month, Juan Domingo Violent protests over power cuts erupt every the opposition leader that were ignored Cordero, Raul Gorrin and Gustavo summer. On Monday thousands of demonstra- by state media. Perdomo. In a series of tweets, Capriles tors took to the streets in Pakistan-administered Another sign of the editorial shift came said they are linked to the government, Kashmir, pelting police with stones. Wealthy Monday when Francisco “Kico” Bautista, a calling them “enchufados” - people with steel magnate Sharif said his government would popular talk show host, said he was fired political connections. Capriles routinely build more dams to exploit Pakistan’s huge for questioning Globovision’s new leader- uses the term in a denigrating way against hydroelectric potential, as well as more coal- ship. “This is a country of dreams and it the representatives of officialdom in fired power stations, and would seek help from deserves a government and a democracy Venezuela. allies China and Turkey. that is better than what we have,” Bautista After a meeting with Maduro last He said foreign firms setting up power proj- said at a news conference. “It cannot be week, Cordero said Globovision would ects would be allowed to repatriate profits, but that what you dream of is the life that we remain a news channel, but would also warned against expectations of a swift end to LAHORE: Pakistan’s incoming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif speaks during a ceremony have, where there’s not even toilet paper,” work to reduce conflict and promote the crisis. “Please do not expect that we will in Lahore, marking the 15th anniversary of Pakistan’s first successful nuclear he said, referring to chronic shortages of peace in Venezuela. “We will transmit the solve this energy problems in days,” he told an weapons test. —AFP basic necessities. Globovision did not news, exclusively the news, and telling audience in the eastern city of Lahore. “We will immediately answer a request for com- the truth,” he said. Signaling a less con- try our best and will use all our resources to ment, though its legal consultant, Ricardo frontational stance against the govern- solve this problem but you will have to show patience. I cannot give you an exact timeframe Antela, tweeted Monday that he would ment, he said: “You know the reasons why but I will struggle and will do my best.” advocate preserving an editorial line “inde- Globovision didn’t come to this palace pendent of the government and other (under the previous owners). That’s not POLIO WORKER SLAIN interest groups.” Antela also said he would going to happen again with Globovision.” In another development, gunmen shot dead attempt to fight for “the rights of citizens A website dedicated to Cordero a female polio worker and wounded another in describes him as a “brilliant economist” to receive truthful and opportune informa- Pakistan’s northwest yesterday, the latest attack tion, and opinions, without censorship.” who was a board member on the Caracas against people involved in efforts to eradicate Raimundo Urrechaga, an information min- Stock Exchange and the board of trade in the crippling disease from this violence-torn istry official, did not respond to an email the state of Miranda. It says he also country. The attacks have made it harder for seeking comment on Capriles’ allegation served on a commission the Central Bank Pakistan to join the vast majority of nations that Globovision’s new owners were pres- established “to integrate the activities of declared polio-free, and yesterday, government sured by authorities to prohibit the broad- the stock market in the metropolitan officials were debating whether to suspend the cast of his live speeches. area.” The site says Cordero took over the UN-backed vaccination campaign in the north- Critics lashed out at the channel on social Seguros La Vitalicia insurance company west. media and wondered whether it would fire with partners Gorrin and Perdomo in No group has claimed responsibility for the other editorial staff members who criticize the 2008. —AP latest killings, but some Pakistani militants have alleged in the past that the polio workers are US spies and that the vaccine makes people sterile. Reinforcing those suspicions was the disclosure 23 missing after boat that the CIA used a Pakistani doctor to run a hepatitis vaccination campaign to try to get blood samples from Al-Qaeda founder Osama flips on Borneo river bin Laden’s family before US commandos killed him there in May 2011. PESHAWAR: Pakistani paramedics move the body of a female polio health worker to a hospital following an attack by gunmen in Peshawar yesterday. —AFP KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty-three people are were believed to be heading home for the The two women were attacked yesterday in missing in remote Borneo island after a coming weekend’s Gawai festival, a major boat overloaded with holidaymakers head- cultural and religious observance for ing home for a festival capsized yesterday indigenous Borneo tribes that triggers India rules out talks with Maoists rebels in treacherous rapids on a jungle river, heavy travel in Sarawak. Officials have said Malaysian police said. The accident the boat, which set off at the Bakun dam, NEW DELHI: The Indian government yesterday ruled state leaders of the Congress party and eight police occurred on Malaysia’s longest river, the was heading downstream and was out peace talks with Maoist rebels who killed 24 peo- officers were among the 24 people killed. The other Rajang, which flows from deep in the believed to have struck a rock while navi- ple in a daring attack over the weekend in an eastern victims were party supporters. The state leaders rugged interior of Borneo in the state of gating one of many rapids on the 560-km state. Indian Junior Home Minister RPN Singh said the included Mahendra Karma, a Congress official who Sarawak. Sarawak police chief Acryl Sani waterway. government had offered to hold talks with the insur- founded the much-criticized Salwa Judum militia to Abdullah said 181 people had been res- Sarawak is Malaysia’s largest state by gents in the past, but no one came forward. combat the rebels. The Salwa Judum had to be reined cued, but 23 were still unaccounted for area but also one of its least developed. The Maoists instead demanded that the govern- in after it was accused of atrocities against the tribal after the accident Tuesday morning. The Gawai is one of the most important festi- ment first withdraw thousands of paramilitary soldiers people it claimed to be protecting. The BBC said it boat was supposed to carry a maximum 74 vals celebrated each year by Borneo’s deployed to fight the rebels in a number of states. “The received a note late Monday from the rebels saying passengers. dozens of indigenous tribes and other eth- time for talking is over,” Singh told the CNN-IBN televi- they carried out the attack to protest the govern- “So far no bodies have yet been found nic groups, with thousands travelling to sion news channel. “I think that’s how we need to ment’s “anti-people policies.” The BBC said the rebels until 6 pm this evening when we stopped meet family and friends for the occasion. review the situation.” India’s Rural Development apologized for the deaths of some innocent people in the operation because there is no light any- Boat operators often come under intense Minister Jairam Ramesh described the rebels as terror- the attack. more. We will resume our operation tomor- pressure from travellers demanding to be ists. “They are spreading fear, terror,” Ramesh said in an Also yesterday, Indian Rural Development Minister row,” he told AFP. The overturned boat allowed on board so they can reach their interview with New Delhi Television news channel. Jairam Ramesh called for a “very tough security and remains in the river and there are fears that destinations in time for the festival, said The rebels, known as Naxalites, have been fight- police action in the areas highly affected” by the insur- some people may have been trapped Belaga police chief Bakar Anak Sebau. “The ing the central government for more than four gency. He said the government’s focus was on develop- inside. Acryl Sani said some may have been operators are sometimes threatened with decades, demanding land and jobs for tenant farmers ment in insurgency-hit areas and addressing problems swept downstream and managed to climb assault if they refuse to ferry passengers,” and the poor. Since 2005, more than 6,000 people - tribal people face, particularly relating to land acquisition. ashore. The accident happened near the he said. including civilians, security troops and the rebels The rebels have ambushed police, destroyed govern- town of Belaga, deep in the wild and Many members of the indigenous tribal themselves - have died in Maoist violence across the ment offices and abducted government officials. They sparsely populated interior of Sarawak, one groups who predominate in Sarawak still country, according to data compiled by the Institute have blown up train tracks, attacked prisons to free their of two Malaysian states located on Borneo. live in traditional wooden longhouses in the for Conflict Management. Singh’s comments came as comrades and stolen weapons from police and paramili- Rom Kulleh, an aide to a local Belaga jungle, where fast-flowing rivers are the thousands of troops searched for the attackers in the tary warehouses. The insurgency began in 1967 as a politician, told AFP by phone that he saw quickest mode of travel. Thirteen people NEW DELHI: Indian United Progressive Alliance (UPA) densely forested stronghold of the Maoist rebels in network of leftwing ideologues and young recruits in the overturned and mostly submerged died in the last major boat accident in government Chairperson and Congress Party President Chhattisgarh state. The ambush on Saturday came the village of Naxalbari outside Kolkata, the capital of boat in the river while flying over the area Sarawak two years ago. Indigenous groups, despite claims by the government that it has greatly West Bengal state. The Naxalites are now estimated to in a helicopter. “The boat was stuck in the typically Christian or animist, make up about Sonia Gandhi (left) and Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi (center) arrive to pay tribute to congress weakened the guerrilla insurgency it termed the have 30,000 fighters and have pledged to violently over- water. It was upside down,” he said, adding half of Sarawak’s 2.4 million people, in con- nation’s greatest internal security threat. The Maoist throw the Indian government. They control vast swaths that some of those rescued were plucked trast to far more developed and populous leaders and persons killed in a Maoist attack in attack targeted Congress party politicians returning of the so-called Red Belt in central and eastern India, from the water by passengers aboard other mainland Malaysia, where Muslim ethnic Chhatisgarh state, during a ceremony at Congress Party from an election campaign event with the indige- where troops and officials rarely venture. The rebels are boats plying the river. Most passengers Malays are the majority group. —AFP Headquarter in New Delhi. —AFP nous tribal community in a rebel stronghold. Four thought to operate in 20 of India’s 28 states. —AP WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 ANALYSIS14

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Issues Europe’s austerity to growth shift largely semantic

By Paul Taylor

o listen to some European leaders, especially in France, you would think the era of austerity was over and the Teuro zone was going full steam ahead to revive eco- nomic growth. In a striking change of tone, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said last month that austerity - the policy of cutting public debt by reducing spending and raising taxes - had reached the limits of public acceptance. In reality, the shift is more in words than deeds. The rhetoric has changed but there has been no policy U- turn. To be sure, the European Commission is granting gov- ernments more time to reduce their budget deficits to EU limits, chiefly because recession had made those targets unattainable. Euro zone states have a breathing space because bond markets have ceased to panic since the France and Britain roll dice on Syria European Central Bank said last year it would act decisively if necessary to preserve the euro. The EU emphasis is now on By Luke Baker policy chief Catherine Ashton. The Briton, whose role is happening, with weapons now set to bolster either side reducing “structural deficits” - an elastic measure meant to to represent a common diplomatic approach by the on the battlefield while the political track faces many take account of the economic cycle - and on reforming ritain and France claimed victory yesterday with Union, had offered states many options but no one pro- obstacles. Russia’s foreign minister accused the EU of labour markets and pension systems, opening up more sec- an EU decision to let them supply arms to Syrian posal they could back, Bonino said. undermining the Geneva peace efforts. tors to competition and easing business regulation to Brebels but it brings many risks and was cast by Some analysts described a far wider fallout, worrying Coming in a week that has seen Moscow supply improve countries’ growth potential. other diplomats and regional experts as a “miscalcula- that the decision will scupper what little chance there more missiles to Damascus and a declaration by Small initiatives are in the works, amid great political fan- tion”. Shortly after midnight, after more than 12 hours of was of success at US- and Russian-sponsored peace Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia that it stands with Assad, fare, to combat the scourge of mass youth unemployment negotiation, the EU’s 27 member states failed to agree talks in Geneva next month, and will invigorate the flow the EU dropping its arms embargo has ended up look- which threatens southern Europe with a lost and alienated on how to renew their Syrian arms embargo. That of arms to President Bashar Al-Assad from his Russian ing much more warlike than pacific. “The EU decision to generation. The ECB is exploring ways to ease lending to means the restrictions expire as of June 1, allowing EU and Iranian allies. “I would call it a serious miscalcula- allow members their own discretion - within limits - of smaller businesses in the hardest-hit peripheral countries of states to export arms if they want, although only Britain tion,” Daniel Levy, the head of the Middle East and North arming the Syrian rebels is the third shoe to drop in a the euro zone. But while it is keeping the liquidity taps to banks open, it has no intention of following the US, British and France are inclined to do so. It is the most funda- Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign week that will be considered the full internationalisa- and Japanese central banks into massive money printing to mental internal disagreement over foreign policy the Relations in London, said of the Franco-British push that tion of the Syrian war,” said George Lopez, a professor of try to spur growth. “It is not that we are letting austerity poli- European Union has had since the Iraq war 10 years ago dismantled the EU arms embargo. “The risk is that esca- peace studies at the University of Notre Dame. cies go,” said Carsten Brzeski, European economist at ING in and casts doubt on efforts to carve out a common lation begets escalation,” he said, setting out the likeli- There may be further pitfalls for Britain and France, Brussels. “It’s only about the pace of adjustment and a shift stance that would help bind its members more closely hood that Russia will ramp up its own arms supplies to too. If the Geneva talks fail - and many diplomats fear towards structural reforms to avoid ending up in a down- together. Assad with weapons that come with far less oversight or they will - then the two allies, who worked closely ward spiral of austerity.” But more immediately, it has raised questions about restriction than any arms the EU may supply to the together to help Libya’s rebels, will have little choice but While the ECB could perhaps do a bit more to increase what impact Britain and France - the EU’s leading mili- rebels. “There’s a strong chance that things will be made to show they can follow through on commitments in the supply of credit to business in depressed southern tary powers - can expect to have on the ground in Syria, worse, and then there’s the risk of mission creep, espe- Syria too. The rebels will expect it. London and Paris say Europe, the main inhibitor to investment there was the lack what it means for a negotiated peace and whether it cially when the Syrian opposition are very clear that they would supply arms to “moderate” factions only, of demand, for which there was no easy solution, he said. EU begins a slippery slope towards far deeper involvement that’s what they’re after, that they want more Western which means careful monitoring on the ground by policymakers and central bankers say highly indebted coun- in the world’s most combustible region. British Foreign skin in the game.” European observers. The last thing Prime Minister David tries will have no alternative for several years to curbing pub- Secretary William Hague described Tuesday’s outcome France and Britain say they have taken no decisions Cameron or President Francois Hollande want are head- lic spending and shrinking the state, however politically as “the right decision”, even though the overwhelming yet on supplying arms, saying they first want to see lines revealing that British arms have ended up in the unpalatable that may be. “Growth is the key to getting out of majority of EU nations, led by Austria, opposed not only what comes of the Geneva talks. But they also empha- hands of Al-Qaeda. They also face strict limits on the the crisis, we all agree on that,” German Bundesbank chief the lifting of the arms embargo but also any notable sised on Tuesday that they now have legal authority to type of weaponry they can send since longstanding EU Jens Weidmann, the ECB’s leading hawk, said in a speech to easing of it. send weapons to Assad’s opponents if they want, which law proscribes the export of any equipment, whoever French businessmen last week. “But renouncing budget A French official highlighted the confrontational they hope will pressure him to negotiate. “Our focus in the recipient, that would “provoke or prolong armed consolidation will not bring us closer to that objective.” tone, saying Vienna would not be allowed to “dictate the coming weeks is the Geneva conference,” said conflicts or aggravate existing tensions”. Bound by Barroso’s April 22 recognition of the political limits of aus- Europe’s foreign policy”. By holding to their position, Hague. “What this is doing is sending that signal loud those rules, there is little chance Britain or France could terity recalled his predecessor Romano Prodi’s 2002 com- match the arms Russia or Iran might supply. That is one ment that the EU’s budget rules were “stupid” because they Paris and London made any consensus impossible, forc- and clear to the regime and ... being very clear about were too rigid. “While I think this policy is fundamentally ing the embargo’s collapse. Diplomats and EU officials the flexibility that we have if it refuses to negotiate.” reason why Israel, still in a cold war with Damascus but right, I think it has reached its limits,” Barroso said. “A policy to were surprised by how unbending the two proved to Yet some analysts see that calculus as faulty. If the EU also wary of the rebels, opposes weapons being sent to be successful not only has to be properly designed, it has to be, describing the mood in the negotiating room as had decided to extend its arms embargo ahead of the either. “At the end of the day, Britain and France are have the minimum of political and social support.” To some, downcast and the result as a “bad day for Europe”. Italy’s Geneva talks, it might have called upon Russia to follow playing bluff in a game of poker,” said Levy of the that sounded a bit like the pope questioning the existence foreign minister, Emma Bonino, called the outcome suit, de-escalating an arms race inside Syria and giving European Council on Foreign Relations. “But they’ve got of God. It prompted gleeful “austerity is over” headlines in “inglorious” and laid the blame in part on EU foreign more scope for negotiation. Instead, the opposite is a transparent hand.”—Reuters countries such as Ireland that have endured harsh cuts, and irritated several European governments. In Brussels, a senior official in regular contact with nation- al leaders said Barroso had “miscommunicated” and there A nation of co-existing, conflicted values was no alternative to austerity, even if the word was avoided. “The idea that there will now be deficit spending, that the By Liz Sidoti in an exact balance even though a lot of polit- ed. But he largely kept intact the Patriot Act, bipartisan heat over the Justice Department’s age of austerity is finished, is misleading,” the official said, ical rhetoric suggests each value carries equal signing a four-year extension in 2011. Both secret seizure of Associated Press journalists’ speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitiv- he Obama administration kills four US weight. “Presidential actions to ensure the the Bush and Obama administrations have phone records and following the disclosure ity of his position. “On the margins, we can postpone budget citizens in counterterrorism drone security of the country do have implications said America is in a war with no foreseeable by The Washington Post that the FBI, in court consolidation by a year, or by two years, but it’s not really the Tstrikes overseas. It helps pay for the New in both directions for people’s liberty,” Wittes end. What does that mean for the tension documents, said a Fox News journalist, whose answer. The answer is growth, and that is only going to come York Police Department’s controversial sur- says. “Most things that make you more secure, between safety and rights? Outlining the next records it also took, had broken the law, “at through structural reform and improved productivity.” veillance program against Muslim Americans. make you more free. And most things that phase of America’s posture against terrorism, the very least, either as an aider, abettor German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has used Berlin’s It says a journalist seeking national security make you less secure, also make you less Obama last week said some of the policies and/or co-conspirator.” financial clout since the start of the crisis to press for fiscal information may have been a criminal “co- free.” “compromised our basic values” while others After Obama’s speech, Republicans com- discipline, made clear that austerity and growth were not conspirator.” All this as it wages the war on This debate inevitably intensifies in “raised difficult questions about the balance plained that he generally wasn’t taking the opposites and that budget savings must continue. In a terrorism at certain, perhaps necessary, costs wartime. During 1798 and following the that we strike between our interests in securi- security challenges seriously enough, while veiled criticism of close ally France, which has so far raised to our rights. This president offers no apolo- French Revolution, John Adams, the second ty and our values of privacy.” the American Civil Liberties Union suggested revenue rather than cut public spending to narrow its budg- gies. “Americans are deeply ambivalent about president, signed into law the Alien and A day after his administration acknowl- that he had much further to go to ensure et gap, Berlin says governments should avoid increasing the war, but having fought for our independence, Sedition Acts. That move gave him powers to edged that it had killed four American citi- rights are protected. Of course, neither com- tax burden because that harms growth. Two events in the we know a price must be paid for freedom,” restrict speech critical of the government zens abroad in drone strikes since 2009, plete safety nor absolute freedom is ever truly economics profession have sapped the theoretical case for Barack Obama said last week. Even so, he and, without a hearing, detain or deport Obama said, “For the record, I do not believe plausible. Nor would a nation want either; so-called front-loaded austerity - making drastic public added, “Our commitment to constitutional immigrants considered dangerous to the US. it would be constitutional for the government that could produce unforeseen, even more spending cuts at the start of an economic adjustment pro- principles has weathered every war, and In 1862, as the Civil War raged, Abraham to target and kill any US citizen - with a drone, consequential, problems. gram. First IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard acknowl- every war has come to an end.” Lincoln wanted to deter people from helping or with a shotgun - without due process.” Yet, So, like most presidents, Obama straddled edged that cutting government spending may have had a Every American president has faced the the Confederacy. So he suspended the Writ of he also said citizenship should not “serve as a the issues. “He aligned himself rhetorically bigger impact than previously calculated on reducing eco- same central questions: What is the appropri- Habeas Corpus, which ensures prisoners their shield” when a US citizen goes abroad to with critics of his administration as much as nomic output. Then US economists found flaws in data ate relationship between security and liberty? rights to appear before a judge. He also said actively plot to kill Americans. Left unsaid: he could while not backing off his administra- underpinning the influential theory of Harvard economists When should the scales tip one way or the Southern sympathizers disrupting Union According to the government, three of the tion’s ability to do the things it needs to do - Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen Reinhardt that public debt other? We have never found a universal activities would be subject to martial law. four killed were not specific targets. and that is a difficult dance,” Wittes says. “He above 90 percent of GDP stunts growth. That leaves the eco- answer, which says as much about the enor- Just weeks after the 1941 attack on Pearl Obama also talked about the need to really identifies with the conscientious objec- nomics of austerity murkier today than when the euro zone mous challenge our elected leaders accept as Harbor, President Franklin D Roosevelt creat- review law-enforcement powers to ensure tors to his policies even as he pursues those debt crisis struck in 2010, while the politics just keep getting it does about who we are and what we value. ed a censoring operation and allowed the the government can intercept new types of policies and in some senses defends those harder.—Reuters Presidents often do what they insist needs to government to use private census informa- communication while also protecting against policies.” That could be precisely what the be done to protect their people - and gamble tion to round up Japanese-Americans in privacy abuses. He didn’t mention that large founders wanted presidents to do - be mind- that they’ll be forgiven for the inevitable ero- internment camps - authority granted by federal anti-terrorism grants have gone to the ful of both sides, while tipping toward securi- sion of rights. Congress and the public typi- Congress’ passage of the first and second War New York Police Department, and that a ty when necessary. After all, they set up a sys- All articles appearing on these cally fall in line, particularly in the post-9/11 Powers Acts. And in the aftermath of the 9/11 White House anti-drug program helped pay tem with perpetual tension baked into the pages are the personal opinion of world. And the nation moves on until the attacks, President George W Bush - with over- for some surveillance equipment used in the responsibilities of government: Keep us safe the writers. Kuwait Times takes no next situation flares. whelmingly bipartisan support on Capitol Hill controversial - and, some Muslims say, uncon- and keep us free, or - depending on your phi- responsibility for views expressed In general, both presidents and their peo- and throughout the terror-stricken nation - stitutional - targeting by the NYPD of entire losophy - keep us free and keep us safe. Or ple inherently believe in America’s ability to signed into law the USA Patriot Act. It loos- Muslim neighborhoods. maybe they were even more calculated. therein. Kuwait Times invites read- remain true to its identity and not let others ened restrictions on wiretapping, searches At the same time, the president referenced Maybe the framers thought that by ensuring ers to voice their opinions. Please define it, as long as it abides by the country’s and seizures. It also quickly became contro- multiple investigations into the unauthorized a continual debate between security and send submissions via email to: opin- founding principles. The trouble, or perhaps versial. Backers argued that the government disclosure of classified national security infor- freedom, they would ensure that Americans the gift, is that the framers of our Constitution needed sweeping powers to root out terror- mation to journalists, saying both that some would always need to discuss who we are at [email protected] or via snail made sure to include leeway in the ability for ists; critics claimed civil liberties were need- information must be kept secret and the our core, and let those principles guide us as mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait. leaders to tip the security-vs.-liberty scales lessly restricted. tenets of a free press should be upheld. we monitor our leaders, regardless of who The editor reserves the right to edit when the situation demands. Obama inherited the wars in Afghanistan “Journalists should not be at legal risk for might be living in the White House at any par- Benjamin Wittes, a fellow at the Brookings and Iraq and many of Bush’s policies. Some, doing their jobs,” Obama added. He made ticular moment. If that was their intent, it’s any submission as necessary. Institution, is among those who don’t believe like torture and secret prisons, Obama reject- those comments as his administration took still working today. — AP NEWS WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

A student stands inside the installation “Dots Obsessions” by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama at the “Obsessions” exhibition held at the Japanese Foundation centre in Hanoi yesterday. The exhibition is part of celebrations of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Year 2013. — AFP Baby rescued from toilet pipe in China KNPC in $516m deal Continued from Page 1 added. Despites the offers to adopt the child - named Baby No. 59 from the number of his hospital incubator - Firefighters and doctors spent nearly an hour taking a doctor at the hospital said the boy would be handed the tube apart piece by piece with pliers and saws and over to social services if his parents do not claim him, with Korean Daelim finally recovered the newborn, whose placenta was still Zhejiang News said. attached, the reports said. From the time he was found The incident triggered hundreds of thousands of KUWAIT: Kuwait National Petroleum Co said yesterday it form and navigation systems at Mina Al-Ahmadi, the main until when he was taken out, the baby was stuck in the comments on China’s hugely popular weibos, services has signed a $516 million contract with South Korean crude oil exporting terminal in Kuwait, Ajmi said. Daelim tube for two to three hours, according to the police- similar to Twitter, with users astonished by the circum- Daelim Industrial for the repair and expansion of sulphur said on its website that when completed in 2015, the proj- man. “The woman was on the scene during the entire stances and expressing good wishes for the baby. processing facilities at the state’s largest refinery of Mina Al- ect will raise Kuwait’s annual sulphur output from 850,000 rescue process... and admitted (she was the mother) “What? A baby was dropped in a toilet pipe? It goes Ahmadi. Daelim will undertake all processes from design, tonnes to two million tonnes. OPEC member Kuwait has when we asked her,” he said, adding they were still look- beyond my imagination,” said a user with the pseudo- engineering, and construction to test run, besides installing three refineries with a daily production capacity of around ing for the boy’s father. “We need further investigations nym Long Live Little D. Another user, If-Free, said new equipment that includes large tanks for liquefied sul- 930,000 barrels a day, almost half of which comes from to find out if she had any malicious intentions” before watching the rescue left her distraught. “Seeing the lit- phur, KNPC spokesman Mohammad Al-Ajmi said in a state- Mina Al-Ahmadi. The state has already initiated building of deciding whether the young mother would be charged, tle one wriggling and groaning as the pipe was torn ment. a new state-of-the-art refinery with an output capacity of he added. apart bit by bit wrings my heart... You’ve lived through The contract also includes modernising the sulphur plat- 615,000 bpd at a cost of around $14 billion. — AFP The 2.3-kg boy suffered some cuts to his face and the hardest moment in your life and your future will limbs and was put in an incubator at the hospital, definitely be smooth,” she wrote. “The parents who did according to earlier reports - which alleged the new- this have hearts even filthier than that sewage pipe,” born had been deliberately dumped down the toilet. wrote another user. Chinese babies born out of wed- China ‘steals’ plans of US weapons, Aussie... According to the officer his condition had improved. lock are sometimes abandoned because of social and “The baby is very healthy now and can be released from financial pressures. The country’s one-child policy can Continued from Page 1 being speculated about takes us by surprise”. the hospital,” he said. But the mother was in a serious also mean heavy fines for couples who have more than But he refused to confirm or deny any cyber attack, condition due to complications from the delivery, he one baby. — Agencies California next week. White House spokesman Jay or whether China was behind one, saying he wouldn’t Carney told reporters yesterday cyber security will fea- comment “on whether the Chinese have done what is ture in the leaders’ talks. The list of weapons programs being alleged or not.” “I won’t comment on matters of affected were outlined in an undisclosed, secret section intelligence and security for the obvious reason: we Assembly refers interior minister grilling... of a previously released report by the Defense Science don’t want to share with the world and potential Board. The designs hacked included the advanced aggressors what we know about what they might be Continued from Page 1 days before quitting his post, say- Hussein and other oil officials who Patriot missile system; a US Army system for shooting doing, and how they might be doing it.” ing the decisions are illegal and were involved in the payment of down ballistic missiles and the Navy’s Aegis ballistic For its part, China noted that it was “very difficult to In another development, MPs must be stopped. MP Khaled Al- the fine. MP Saadoun Hammad said missile defense system. find the origin of hacker attacks”, with foreign ministry strongly criticized former oil minis- Adwah said Hussein must be the massive reshuffle in the oil sec- The cyber spying also targeted designs for combat spokesman Hong Lei questioning “where the evidence ter Hani Hussein who resigned to referred to the ministers’ trial tribu- tor is illegal and the minister should aircraft and ships, including the stealthy new F-35 fight- is for the relevant media to make such reports.” “China avoid questioning over the pay- nal to try him for the payment not have done it when he knew he er, the F/A-18 warplane, the V-22 tilt-rotor Osprey, the pays high attention to the cyber security issue and is ment of a $2.2 billion penalty to US’ which he described as an “all-time was leaving. MPs called on Finance Black Hawk helicopter and the Navy’s new Littoral firmly opposed to all forms of hacker attacks,” Hong told Dow Chemical. Lawmakers also crit- robbery”. Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali, who is Combat Ship. A public version of the report disclosed in reporters in Beijing. “Since the cyber security issue is a icized the massive changes Hussein MP Yacoub Al-Sane said he will also acting oil minister, to suspend January had warned the United States was ill-prepared problem faced by the whole world, so we should have undertook in the oil sector just file a criminal lawsuit against the oil appointments. in the case of a full-scale cyber war. The Pentagon said an even-tempered discussion on this issue and make yesterday the department had “growing concerns” joint efforts to maintain a peaceful, secure, open and about cyber espionage. The spying posed “a global cooperative cyberspace. Groundless accusations will threat to economic and national security from persist- not help solve this issue.” French victim of MERS dies ent cyber intrusions aimed at the theft of intellectual While Australia has a longstanding military alliance property, trade secrets and commercial data, which with the US, which has traded accusations with Beijing Continued from Page 1 people aged between 73 and 85 who had been grap- threatens the competitive edge of US businesses like over cyber espionage, China is its key trade partner and pling with chronic illnesses. Saudi Arabia counts by far those in the Defense Industrial Base,” it said in a state- the two countries have been forging closer ties. Carr Another man in France, who shared a hospital room the most cases of the new virus, with more than 30 con- ment. insisted that the relationship would not be damaged by with him for three days, was later found to have the firmed infections and 18 fatalities. Cases have also been If the report is accurate, “it means the US military is the allegations, which follow several other hacking virus, a cousin of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome detected in Jordan, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab less effective and the Chinese military is more effective,” attacks on government facilities in the past two years. (SARS) that sparked a health scare around the world in Emirates, Germany, and Britain. SARS erupted in east said James Lewis, a cybersecurity expert at the Center “It’s got absolutely no implications for a strategic part- 2003. The virus, which until now has been known as the Asia 10 years ago, leaping to humans from animal hosts for Strategic and International Studies. “It tilts the bal- nership,” he said. “We have enormous areas of coopera- novel coronavirus, or nCoV-EMC, was redubbed the and eventually killing some 800 people. Like SARS, the ance.” Lewis, a former US government official, said it was tion with China.” Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, or MERS. new virus appears to cause an infection deep in the not clear when these breaches took place, but noted Opposition politicians called for an independent The other man, who is in his 50s, has been in hospital lungs, with patients suffering from a temperature, cough that “people did wake up to this issue in the last couple inquiry into the “sorry saga” but Prime Minister Julia in the northern city of Lille since May 9. Hospital authori- and breathing difficulty, but it differs from SARS in that it of years and made it harder.” But he said that “between Gillard declined to comment on what she called “inac- ties said in a statement that both men had been placed also causes rapid kidney failure. 1999 and 2009 it was an open door for Chinese (cyber) curate” and “unsubstantiated reports”. The state broad- in isolated rooms and that “all human and material Scientists at the Erasmus medical centre in Rotterdam espionage.” caster’s investigative program “Four Corners” said the means had been deployed to treat” the dead man. The have pointed to bats as a natural source for the virus. The weapons programs affected are built by major cyber attack on a contractor linked to the new second man “was in a serious but stable condition,” it Bats were also pinpointed as a likely natural reservoir for defense contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Canberra headquarters of the Australian Security said. Both patients were given cardiac and respiratory SARS in a 2005 study, and are known carriers of the Raytheon and Northrop Grumman. Lockheed Martin Intelligence Organisation was traced to a server in support oxygen, which is administered to patients deadly haemorrhagic fever Ebola. The WHO said Friday said in a statement that it “has made significant invest- China. It cited security experts as saying the theft whose hearts and lungs are so severely diseased or dam- that much uncertainty remained surrounding MERS, ments in countering cyber security threats and we exposed the agency to being spied on, and may be the aged that they cease working, the statement added. stressing that it aimed to work closely with Saudi Arabia, remain confident in the integrity of our robust, multi- reason for a cost blowout and delays to the opening of French Health Minister Marisol Touraine expressed Tunisia and perhaps other Middle Eastern countries to layered information systems security.” the building, which was supposed to be operational sadness over the death, adding: “Authorities remain on determine how great the risk is. Separately, Chinese hackers have stolen top-secret last month. alert but ... there is no new situation in our country Professor Ian Jones, a virologist from the University blueprints of Australia’s new intelligence agency head- Des Ball, from the Australian National University’s regarding the epidemic.” Like SARS, the virus appears to of Reading, sought to play down fears of infection. quarters, a report said yesterday, but Foreign Minister Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, said the blue- cause an infection deep in the lungs, with patients suf- “Apart from the unusual circumstances of very close Bob Carr insisted ties with Beijing would not be hurt. prints would show which rooms were likely to be used fering from a temperature, cough and breathing difficul- containment with already hospitalised persons, it does The Australian Broadcasting Corporation said the docu- for sensitive conversations, and how to put devices into ties, but it differs from SARS in that it also causes rapid not seem to transfer among people,” he said. “As a ments taken in the cyber hit included cable layouts for the walls. “Once you get those building plans you can kidney failure. result, the overall risk remains very low and the most the huge building’s security and communications sys- start constructing your own wiring diagrams, where Meanwhile, the Saudi health ministry said yesterday it pressing need is to identify where the virus is coming tems, its floor plan and its server locations. Carr said the the linkages are through telephone connections, has recorded five new cases of MERS in the east of the from so that these occasional infections can be pre- government was “very alive” to the threat of cyber through wi-fi connections,” he was quoted as saying by oil-rich kingdom. It identified those affected as elderly vented.” — Agencies attacks on national security, adding that “nothing that is ABC. — Agencies WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 SPORTS

Lotus still backing Grosjean High court suspends Ashraf Everton target Martinez LONDON: Lotus are backing Romain Grosjean to come good despite the Frenchman picking KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf was suspended by the LONDON: Roberto Martinez asked to leave Wigan Athletic yesterday having guided the club to up a 10 place grid penalty for next week’s Canadian Grand Prix after crashing out of Sunday’s Islamabad High Court yesterday over what it described as the “polluted” process FA Cup glory days before being relegated from the Premier League, with Everton already making Monaco showcase race. to elect him to the post. contact about his signature. The Spaniard had been in charge since 2009, having previously Formula One stewards ruled that Grosjean, who was suspended for last year’s Italian Grand The decision came after a petition filed by a former coach of the Pakistan helped turn Swansea City into one of Britain’s most attractive sides. Wigan pulled off a series of Prix after an accident, had caused the collision with Toro Rosso’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Army team, Ahmed Nadeem, who said the board of governors which elected relegation escapes under Martinez while winning admirers for their attacking football and he turned down an approach from Aston Villa two years ago. punished him strongly. “We will sit down with him and go through the weekend,” said team Ashraf was illegal as it had no representation from Punjab, the country’s largest The underdogs then managed a 1-0 FA Cup final triumph over principal Eric Boullier. “It’s always the same story, especially in Monaco. province. Manchester City earlier this month to win their first major trophy “He had the pace, we could see it. It’s even more frustrating “Since the election of Ashraf is illegal, we have also asked the court to order but were relegated three days later after eight years in the top fresh elections,” advocate Faiz Ahmed, representing Nadeem, told Reuters. because of that.” Grosjean — whose team mate Kimi Raikkonen is flight. “He wanted permission to move so I’ve given that. He “But today it passed an order restraining him from working as PCB Chairman second in the championship — crashed heavily in Thursday has 12 months left on his contract, so whoever comes in for till the next hearing which is next week.” practice in Monaco and then did the same on Saturday morn- him must pay the remainder of his contract,” Wigan owner ing, giving his mechanics a race against time to fix the car for He read a portion of the order passed by Justice Shaukat Aziz which said: Dave Whelan told the BBC. “He feels he’s not the man to lead qualifying. “The petitioner has a good arguable case in his favour as the entire process of us into the Premier League. I’ve got to accept what he feels. In qualifying, he complained bitterly that Ricciardo the election of the PCB chairman appears to be motivated and polluted.” He loves Wigan and the fans. We have to move on now and obstructed him and prevented him reaching the crucial final Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has also filed a petition against the want applications for the job.” The 39-year-old Martinez is phase. “We just need to keep cooling him down and have a elections in Sindh High Court. Ashraf was directly appointed chairman of the wanted by Everton, who have lost manager David Moyes to proper discussion back at the factory,” said Boullier. board in October 2011 by president Asif Zardari under the old constitution of champions Manchester United after Alex Ferguson’s retire- “He did a great job over the winter and fixed all the problems the board. ment. “I did tell Roberto before I spoke to him this morn- he had last year. But there is some frustration some time when But under the new constitution, remodelled on more democratic lines as a ing that Everton chairman Bill Kenwright had rung he knows he can be fast. He just needs to build himself say- result of an International Cricket Council directive, Ashraf was elected for a four- me on Friday and asked for permission to speak to ing he is fast, and he can deliver some big results.”—Reuters year term on May 8 by the board of governors. —Reuters him,” Whelan added.—Reuters Nationals thrash Phillies

WASHINGTON: In a showdown of aces run homer and Kyle Blanks also had two with disappointing records, Stephen RBIs for the Padres. Strasburg and Cole Hamels matched each other until the Washington CARDINALS 5, DODGERS 3 Nationals scored five runs in the seventh In Los Angeles, Matt Carpenter drove inning of a 6-1 win over the Philadelphia in the go-ahead run with an infield sin- Phillies on Sunday. gle and Pete Kozma hit a three-run dou- Strasburg (3-5) allowed five hits in ble against Clayton Kershaw, leading the eight innings, walked none and struck Cardinals to a victory over the Dodgers. out a season-high nine, giving up a run The Cardinals improved the major in the eighth on his first big league balk. league’s best record to 32-17 and Making his latest no-support start, increased their NL Central lead over Hamels (1-8) struck out six and allowed Cincinnati to 1 1/2 games. only three hits through six innings. Ryan Seth Maness (4-1) got credit for the Zimmerman’s infield single started a ral- victory in relief of starter Shelby Miller ly that included a pair of errors and despite retiring only two of the six bat- Steve Lombardozzi’s two-run double. ters he faced. Edward Mujica pitched a Hamels has lost five straight starts, has perfect ninth inning for his 14th save in had only 20 runs of support scored all BOSTON: Andrew Miller No. 30 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the 14 attempts. Kershaw (5-3) gave up four season when he’s been in the game and Philadelphia Phillies during the interleague game at Fenway Park. —AFP runs, seven hits and three walks in seven hasn’t pitched with a lead since April 7. Series against the crosstown-rival New Gallardo (3-5) labored through just four innings and struck out five as his ERA York Yankees beginning Monday night. innings. rose from 1.35 to 1.68. CUBS 5, REDS 4 In Cincinnati, Alfonso Soriano hit a PIRATES 5, BREWERS 4 DIAMONDBACKS 6, PADRES 5 GIANTS 7, ROCKIES 3 tying two-run homer in the eighth In Milwaukee, Wandy Rodriguez In Phoenix, Patrick Corbin worked six In San Francisco, Brandon Belt hit a inning and Welington Castillo had a go- won his fourth consecutive start, Pedro innings without his best stuff to become tiebreaking, two-run double in the fifth ahead double in the 10th, helping the Alvarez had a two-run double and the the first Arizona left-hander to start with inning to back a shaky outing by Matt Cubs rally from a four-run deficit in a win Pirates built an early four-run lead before eight straight wins, Martin Prado Cain, and the Giants rallied past the over the Reds that stopped a season- holding off the Brewers. matched a career high with four hits Rockies. Buster Posey homered and high, six-game losing streak. The Pirates have won 13 of 15 and and the Diamondbacks beat the Padres. Andres Torres added two hits and an RBI Soriano singled in the seventh and are a season high 12 games over .500 . Corbin allowed more than two runs to help the Giants close a six-game scored Chicago’s first run off Johnny Rodriguez (6-2) gave up three earned for the first time this season, but helped homestand with consecutive wins. The Cueto on Luis Valbuena’s two-out single. runs on seven hits in five innings to earn himself with a run-scoring single in the defending World Series champions play Anthony Rizzo hit an RBI double against 14 of their next 18 games on the road. LOS ANGELES: Second baseman Mark Ellis No. 14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers the victory. He struck out four and didn’t fifth inning off Tommy Layne (0-1) to Logan Ondrusek in the eighth - his third walk a batter. Jason Grilli pitched a become the third Arizona pitcher to Cain (4-2) matched his season high throws to first to complete a double play after forcing out Chris Nelson No. 8 of double in two games - and Soriano fol- scoreless ninth for his major league- start a season 8-0. Eric Chavez homered of five walks but allowed only two runs the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ninth inning. —AFP lowed with his fifth homer of the season leading 20th save. for the second straight game, Prado and two hits in five innings. In his first and first since May 13, a 394-foot drive Pittsburgh got to Milwaukee starter drove in a run in the seventh inning after appearance at AT&T Park, Jon Garland Angels roll over Royals to left-center. Yovani Gallardo for a run in the second getting three hits the night before and (3-6) allowed five runs - two earned - JJ Hoover (0-4) walked Scott Hairston on Jordy Mercer’s two-out triple, which Heath Bell worked a perfect ninth for his seven hits and four walks in five KANSAS CITY: Josh Hamilton started the Angels’ to make it 6-1. with two outs in the 10th, and Castillo scored Michael McKenry, who walked. eighth save. Carlos Quentin hit a two- innings. —AP comeback when he homered leading off the sev- Mike Pelfrey (3-5) allowed five runs and five hits followed with his double into the left- enth inning, and Los Angeles beat the Kansas City in 5 2-3 innings. He walked three and struck out five. field corner. Kevin Gregg (1-0) pitched 1 Royals 5-2 Sunday for its eighth straight win. Minnesota has lost 11 of 12. 1-3 hitless innings, stopping the Reds’ MLB results/standings The Angels were unable to get into their dugout five-game winning streak. until about 90 minutes before the game because BLUE JAYS 6, ORIOLES 5 Baltimore 6, Washington 2; Detroit 6, Pittsburgh 5; Cincinnati 4, Cleveland 2; St. Louis 6, Kansas City 3; bees swarmed into it. A beekeeper was summoned In Toronto, Munenori Kawasaki hit a game-end- METS 4, BRAVES 2 Minnesota 6, Milwaukee 3; Houston 3, Colorado 2 (12 innings); Tampa Bay 10, Miami 6; Arizona 5, Texas 3; In New York, Ike Davis busted out of to solve the problem. ing two-run double in a four-run ninth inning, lifting Oakland 4, San Francisco 1; Seattle 9, San Diego 0; Toronto 9, Atlanta 3; Boston 9, Philadelphia 3; Chicago Cubs his prolonged slump with a tiebreaking Jerome Williams (4-1) then allowed two runs and the Blue Jays to a victory over the Orioles. 7, Chicago White Sox 0; NY Mets 2, NY Yankees 1; LA Dodgers 8, LA Angels 7; Arizona 5, Texas 4. seven hits in six innings for the Angels, on their Trailing 5-2 to begin the ninth against Orioles single in the eighth inning and the Mets longest winning streak since taking eight straight closer Jim Johnson (2-5), the Blue Jays got a leadoff rallied past the Braves to end an eight- American League National League from May 22-29 last year. double from Edwin Encarnacion, a single from game losing streak at home. Eastern Division Eastern Division Kansas City has lost nine of 10 and 16 of 20, Adam Lind and an RBI single by J.P. Arencibia. Shaun Marcum struck out a career- W L PCT GB Atlanta 30 20 .600 - dropping to 21-26. In only three of those 16 losses Brett Lawrie flied out and Anthony Gose walked high 12 and Lucas Duda homered for Boston 32 20 .615 - Washington 26 25 .510 4.5 have the Royals scored more than three runs. to load the bases for Mark DeRosa, who made it 5-4 the Mets, who stopped Atlanta’s eight- NY Yankees 30 20 .600 1 Philadelphia 24 27 .471 6.5 game winning streak and avoided a Los Angeles trailed 2-0 before Hamilton home- with a fielder’s choice. Baltimore 28 23 .549 3.5 NY Mets 19 29 .396 10 red on the first pitch of the seventh from Wade Davis That brought up Kawasaki, who lined a double three-game sweep. The Braves had won Tampa Bay 26 24 .520 5 15 of 18 against New York and five in a Miami 13 38 .255 17.5 (3-4), giving the former AL MVP home runs in con- up the alley in left-center, scoring Arencibia and Toronto 22 29 .431 9.5 secutive games for only the third time since signing DeRosa from first with the winning run. row at Citi Field. with the Angels during the offseason. The blown save was Johnson’s fourth of the sea- Pinch-hitter Justin Turner led off the Central Division Central Division son and fourth in five chances. Steve Delabar (4-1) eighth with a single against Cory St. Louis 33 17 .660 - RED SOX 6, INDIANS 5 got the win despite allowing Matt Wieters’ two-run Gearrin (1-1). David Wright struck out Detroit 29 20 .592 - Cincinnati 32 19 .627 1.5 Cleveland 27 23 .540 2.5 In Boston, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a game-ending, double in the ninth. but Duda punched a ground-rule dou- Pittsburgh 31 20 .608 2.5 Chicago White Sox 24 25 .490 5 two-run double on Joe Smith’s first pitch, capping a ble to left and John Buck’s run-scoring Chicago Cubs 20 30 .400 13 Kansas City 21 27 .438 7.5 four-run, ninth-inning rally that lifted the Red Sox RAYS 8, YANKEES 3 single tied it at 2. Pinch-hitter Mike Milwaukee 19 30 .388 13.5 over the Indians. In St. Petersburg, Alex Cobb took a three-hit Baxter was hit by a pitch to load the Minnesota 20 28 .417 8.5 Boston won three of four against Cleveland, shutout into the ninth inning and led the Rays to a bases for Davis, who pulled a two-run Western Division managed by Terry Francona in his first series back at win that extended CC Sabathia’s winless streak to single through the right side for a 4-2 Western Division Fenway Park since leaving the Red Sox after the five, one short of his career high. Mets lead. Texas 32 20 .615 - Arizona 30 22 .577 - 2011 season. Cobb (6-2) lost his shutout bid when Brett LaTroy Hawkins (1-0) worked a score- Oakland 29 23 .558 3 San Francisco 28 23 .549 1.5 Cleveland led 5-2 entering the ninth, when Chris Gardner homered leading off the ninth and he less inning and Bobby Parnell struck out LA Angels 23 28 .451 8.5 Colorado 27 24 .529 2.5 Perez (2-1) walked Dustin Pedroia leading off. David wound up allowing two runs and five hits in 8 1-3 two in the ninth for his seventh save. It Seattle 22 29 .431 9.5 San Diego 22 28 .440 7 Ortiz doubled, and Mike Napoli and Jarrod innings with eight strikeouts. was a spirited and heartening win for Houston 15 36 .294 16.5 LA Dodgers 21 28 .429 7.5 Saltalamacchia hit consecutive RBI groundouts. Sabathia (4-4) dropped to 0-2 with a 4.85 ERA the Mets heading into their Subway Walks to Jonny Gomes and Jose Iglesias around since he beat Toronto on April 27. He allowed seven Stephen Drew’s single loaded the bases. Perez fell runs and seven hits in seven innings and is 10-11 in behind Ellsbury 2-1 in the count and left with an arm 31 starts against the Rays, including a 3-10 mark injury. Ellsbury then doubled to left-center. Craig since joining the Yankees. His overall ERA is 3.96. Blackhawks avoid elimination Breslow (2-0) allowed one run and two hits in two Sabathia’s career-high streak for consecutive innings. winless starts is six, from July 3-Aug. 1, 2002, and CHICAGO: Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw scored March 31-April 27, 2003, according to STATS. power-play goals in the second period as the Chicago OAKLAND 6, HOUSTON 2 Blackhawks avoided elimination with a 4-1 victory over In Houston, Bartolo Colon struck out a season- MARINERS 4, RANGERS 3 the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday in Game 5 of their high nine in seven scoreless innings, and the In Seattle, Jason Bay hit a two-out RBI single in second-round NHL playoff series. Athletics won their ninth straight against the Astros the 13th inning, lifting the Mariners to a victory over Shaw added his third career playoff goal in the third this season. Texas that snapped an eight-game skid. as the Blackhawks stopped the Red Wings’ three-game Oakland’s Nate Freiman, who was with the Bay came through after he was robbed of a winning streak by creating chaos in front of Jimmy Astros in spring training as a Rule 5 selection, had a game-winning homer in the 11, when David Howard, who had shut down Chicago’s attack while double and home run with three RBIs for the A’s. Murphy leaped above the fence in left-center field moving Detroit to the brink of the Western Conference Dating to 2007, Oakland has won 11 straight to catch Bay’s drive. finals. against Houston, tied for the third longest winning Raul Ibanez tied it at 3 earlier in the 11th with a With the sellout crowd chanting “Ho-ward! Ho-ward!” streak against one team in A’s history. home run. AJ Pierzynski had given Texas a 3-2 lead in an attempt to shake him, the standout goalie made 41 Colon (5-2) won his second straight start, scatter- in the top half with a pinch-hit RBI single off Oliver saves in another solid performance. But the Blackhawks ing nine hits two day after turning 40. The Astros are Perez. Yoervis Medina (1-0) worked out a jam in the created enough quality chances that he simply couldn’t 14-36 in their first year in the AL, their worst 50- top of the 13th. Michael Kirkman (0-1) was the loser. stop all of them. Bryan Bickell scored the first goal of the game start in club history. game and Corey Crawford had 25 stops for Chicago, After leaving runners on third in two of the first INTERLEAGUE which managed only two goals during its first three- three innings, Oakland sent nine batter to the plate WHITE SOX 5, MARLINS 3 game losing streak of the season. Daniel Cleary scored in a five-run fourth against Dallas Keuchel (1-2). In Chicago, Dayan Viciedo and Alex Rios each for the second straight game for Detroit, which will have threw out a runner at the plate, and the White Sox another chance to close out the top-seeded Blackhawks TIGERS 6, TWINS 1 beat Alex Sanabia and Marlins to sweep their week- in Game 6 on Monday night. That will be at home, too, In Detroit, Max Scherzer pitched six solid innings end series. where the Red Wings are 4-1 in this postseason. to remain undefeated this season, and Avisail Garcia The White Sox have won five of six and nine of broke the game open with a bases-loaded triple, 12 to climb back to .500 for the first time since they BRUINS 3, RANGERS 1 leading the Tigers over the Twins. were 4-4 on April 10. Dylan Axelrod (3-3) benefited In Boston, Tuukka Rask stopped 28 shots and DETROIT: Michal Rozsival No. 32 of the Chicago Blackhawks tries to control the puck in front of Cory Scherzer, who retired his last 22 batters in a win from a two-run homer by Adam Dunn and a Gregory Campbell scored twice as Boston beat New York Emmerton No. 25 of the Detroit Red Wings in Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals during at Cleveland on Tuesday, allowed a run and three tiebreaking two-run double from Alejandro De Aza to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. The Bruins will face the Pittsburgh Penguins for the the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. —AFP hits Sunday in improving to 7-0. He struck out six to pick up his third consecutive victory. right to play for the Stanley Cup. Torey Krug scored his Dan Girardi scored and Henrik Lundqvist made 29 Lundqvist was pulled for an extra skater. and walked three. Sanabia (3-7) pitched into the seventh inning fourth goal of the series for Boston, which reached the saves for the Rangers, who lost to New Jersey in last The Rangers fell behind 3-0 in the series before win- Torii Hunter homered for the Tigers, and Prince against the Phillies to end a personal five-game los- third round of the NHL playoffs for the second time since year’s East finals. ning Game 4 on Thursday to avoid a sweep. They took an Fielder drove in a run with a fourth-inning double. ing streak. But he was unable to sustain that success 1992. The other time was 2011, when the Bruins won the Campbell broke a 1-1 tie in the second period, then early lead Saturday but couldn’t send the series back to Garcia, pinch-hitting in the sixth, cleared the bases against Chicago (24-24). —AP sixth Stanley Cup in franchise history. added an empty-netter with 51 seconds left after New York for a sixth game. —AP WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 SPORTS 8 sports bidding to make 2020 Olympics

ST. PETERSBURG: Capsules of eight sports • Came very close in 2005 when, along traverse the route. No ropes are used in boul- replays to spectators on giant screens. the freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines. bidding for inclusion in the 2020 Olympics. with squash, just failed to get support from dering. • Bid has been supported by tennis super- • Serbian official Nenad Lalovic has won The International Olympic Committee exec- two-thirds of IOC members in the final round. • Bid presented by 81-nation World stars Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Kim praise as new FILA president, elected after utive board today is expected to recom- Four years later, golf and seven-a-side rugby Climbing Federation (IFSC), representing 25 Clijsters in bid to join their sport and bad- Swiss predecessor Raphael Martinetti was mend a shortlist from which the full IOC were voted on to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro million climbers worldwide, led by President minton as the third racket sport at the ousted within days of the IOC’s rejection. membership should choose one sport in Games program. Marco Scolaris of Italy. Olympics. • This month in Moscow, FILA members September: • World Karate Federation (WKF) is leading • Bid will stress appeal to youth with ath- decided to modernize the sport by simplify- a campaign called “The K is on the Way.” letes aged 20 on average, and unique look - Wakeboarding ing scoring, rewarding attacking tactics and Baseball-Softball • First world championships held in 1970. claiming that it looks unlike any other • A first-time candidate hoping to profit increasing women’s medal classes if Olympic • Now united as the World Baseball WKF claims 10 million athletes in 185 coun- Olympic sport. from the IOC’s wish to appeal to young ath- status is retained. Softball Confederation (WBSC) after IOC vote tries. • A young sport with first world champi- letes and audiences. • FILA campaign has brought the United defeats in 2005 and ‘09. Then, both ran for onships held in 1991. However, mountaineer- • Bid proposed by the International States and Iran together to support wrestling. inclusion as separate Olympic sports. Roller Sports ing was a discipline in the Military Patrol event Waterski and Wakeboard Federation, found- • Russian state president Vladimir Putin • Bid proposes separate men’s baseball • Like karate and squad, roller sports is at the inaugural Winter Olympics held in 1924 ed in 1936 and now with almost 100 member has supported the bid and is scheduled to and women’s softball events of eight teams back for a third consecutive bid. at Chamonix, France. countries. World championships held since meet with Olympic officials in St. Petersburg each, played as back-to-back six-day tourna- • Bid presented by the International Roller • Presentation in St. Petersburg is exactly 2000. this week. ments. Sports Federation (FIRS), and its Italian presi- 60 years - May 29, 1953 - since Edmund • IWWF’s Swiss president Kuno Ritschard • Presentation on Wednesday will include • With 296 total athletes, would add sub- dent Sabatino Aracu. Hillary of New Zealand led the first expedition hopes to link wakeboarding to the success Jim Scherr, a former wrestler and one-time stantially to the overall Summer Games quota • Olympic proposal features only inline to reach the summit of Mount Everest. and appeal of snowboarding in the Winter U.S. Olympic Committee CEO, and Canadian compared to other bidding sports. skating speed races where athletes reach Games since 1998. freestyle wrestler Carol Huynh, a medalist at • Both were last played at 2008 Beijing speeds up to 60 kph (37 mph). Squash • Wakeboarding requires a specially built past two Summer Games. Games - having gained full medal status at • Proposal is for 10 medal races, five each • Looked like the clear favorite until cablepark to host competitions over two or the 1992 Barcelona Games (baseball) and for men and women, over sprint and February when wrestling joined this contest three days. Wushu 1996 Atlanta Games (softball). marathon distances from 300 meters to 15 after being dropped by the IOC board as a • Just 60 athletes - 30 men, 30 women - • Another martial art, though wushu is • Both were dropped from the 2012 pro- kilometers. core sport in Olympic program. would be added to Summer Games quota. proposing the noncombat artistic discipline gram in a 2005 vote, then failed to be read- • World championships held since 1937, • Just missed Olympic status in 2005 and • Riders score up to a maximum of 100 for Olympic approval. mitted four years later when IOC members and featured athletes from more than 100 then in ‘09, when golf and seven-a-side rugby performing tricks and jumps while pulled by • A likely outsider which would perhaps chose golf and seven-a-side rugby. countries last year. were voted on. cable on flatwater course. Seven judges give have a stronger chance going by its better • Baseball previously criticized for not • 17 nations won medals at 2012 worlds • World Squash Federation created in mark, athlete’s score is the average of middle known name of kung fu. delivering top players to the Olympics. Unlike held in Italy. 1967, represents 185 countries with all five five. • Wushu originated in China and retains its the NHL’s concession to the Winter Games, • Athletes Cecilia Baena of Colombia and continents having produced men’s and strong links there. The 119-nation MLB commissioner Bud Selig says the season Kalon Dobbin of New Zealand will help make women’s world champions. Wrestling International Wushu Federation (IWUF) was won’t be stopped to free players for the the presentation to the IOC board. • Women’s world number one Nicol David • Strong contender after the original founded in China in 1990 and its president, Yu Summer Games. of Malaysia and men’s top-ranked player Olympic sport was stunningly rejected in Zaiqing, is Chinese. • Officials promoting the bid include Sports Climbing Ramy Ashour of Egypt will help present the February. The IOC board had been predicted • A wushu tournament was held in Beijing WBSC vice president Antonio Castro, son of • First-time bidder which proposes an bid to IOC board. to drop modern pentathlon from the core during the 2008 Summer Games to increase former Cuban president Fidel Castro. event combining the three disciplines of • Proposals call for men’s and women’s program at the 2020 Summer Games. its visibility. speed climbing, lead climbing and boulder- tournaments, each of 32 players, played over • Even the official IOC website acknowl- • Bid proposes the technical form of Karate ing. five days. edges “with the possible exception of athlet- wushu, known as taolu, in which athletes use • Another third-time candidate after miss- • Three disciplines, say bid supporters, • Matches would be played in two glass ics, wrestling is recognized as the world’s old- swords and staffs to perform artistic moves. ing out in the 2005 and ‘09 IOC votes. together epitomize the Olympic motto: courts, which could be set up in telegenic est competitive sport.” • Supporters compare wushu to gymnas- • Originated in Japan and seeks to be the Faster, Higher, Stronger. locations. • Governing body FILA reacted quickly to tics for its grace and artistic appeal, rather third combat martial art on the Olympic pro- • In lead climbing, competitors scale an • Modernized presentation by using video the IOC snub, which was seen as punishing than contact martial arts such as karate, judo gram after judo and taekwondo. artificial wall while secured by ropes as they review for refereeing decisions, and showing complacent leadership as well as failings with and taekwondo. —AP Hamilton knows he needs to get his act together

LONDON: Lewis Hamilton is calm one of his favourite tracks, Hamilton “Actually, even in winter testing I he had struggled to get heat into the about what could happen to had shed more light on the problems was struggling,” he said. tyres, it was a confidence thing. Mercedes if they are hauled before a he is having in his first season at “The setup they have on the car in “It’s just a general feeling with me,” Formula One tribunal to explain their Mercedes after what seemed like a terms of brake cylinders and all this he explained. “It’s difficult to really secret tyre test, but he is worried lifetime at McLaren. kind of thing, the steering wheel, it’s a explain it. I’ve just not been on it all about his own form. While loving the freedom he has lot different to what I obviously expe- weekend. “I’m not concerned about it, that’s been given by his new team, and rienced before, where I was very com- “It’s not through not being for the team to worry about,” the 2008 defending himself against critics ques- fortable. I’d been there for years so I focused, it’s not through not being world champion said of his team’s apparent breaking of a ban on in-sea- son testing by putting in 1,000 km with Pirelli in Spain. “I just have to focus on myself and try and get my shit together,” he told reporters after Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton started on the front row and finished fourth behind team mate Ali Al-Baghli giving the award to the best player Nico Rosberg who won from pole. It was the second race in a row the Briton had started in second place ABK felicitates ‘Best Player’ and failed to make the podium. In Spain — where he finished 12th at Volleyball Championship — it was all about the tyres “dropping off” dramatically in performance, but KUWAIT: Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait is keenly chosen as the best player. in Monaco it was more about involved in lending support to the youth of Ali Al Baghli, Assistant Manager, Public Hamilton. Kuwait, and has always taken an enthusias- Relations stated, “We congratulate Sultan With Mercedes deciding to pit tic interest especially in their sport pro- Khalaf, the winner in the Volleyball champi- both drivers once the safety car had grams. In line with this ABK has, in several onship, whose display of talent and sports- been deployed for the first time, tournaments instated the ‘Best Player’ prize, manship is exemplary!” Hamilton was told to keep a six-sec- in order to felicitate the best player of the He added, “ABK is eager to participate in ond gap to ensure a smooth stop tournament. several youth activities, with an emphasis without losing places. But he slowed Recently, ABK presented a cash prize to on sport, under the Bank’s CSR banner “Our down too much and slipped behind the best player at the Kazma vs AlSahel Society...Our Responsibility.” Activities Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Sporting Clubs final game during the under this are designed to engage in and Webber. Volleyball Championship. Sultan Khalaf support social initiatives at various levels Hamilton apologised to the team Mabrook from Kazma Sporting Club was and for different segments of society. for the loss of what might have been a one-two finish and vowed to work Lancaster hails young guns harder. MONACO: Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton drives during the Monaco Formula One “I don’t put it down to bad luck. I Grand Prix in this file photo. —AFP LONDON: England head coach Stuart Lancaster him an extra dimension to some wings. You can see just wasn’t good enough over the praised his exciting youngsters after they showcased his potential, as you can of some of the other young weekend. The whole weekend has tioning a lifestyle that includes bring- was used to it, it was always the same. centred. It’s just feeling comfortable their potential in an emphatic 40-12 rout of the lads. been a missed opportunity,” he said. ing his pet bulldog Roscoe to races, “That’s been the slight weakness in the car. At McLaren I had 100 per- Barbarians at Twickenham. “Christian took his try well and he’s such a hard “I’ve got lots to sort out on my side Hamilton recognised he was still for me this year. Even in the first few cent confidence in the car ... particu- Lancaster is now licking his lips at the prospect of runner to stop once he gets up a head of steam. of the garage, and within myself, and adjusting to his new surroundings. races, but particularly in the last cou- larly on this track where you need 100 letting the same collection of raw talent off the leash Freddie’s kicking from hand and ground was excel- I’ll take time to do that. I’m not quick Despite two podiums this season, ple, I’ve been pretty poor,” he said. percent confidence in the car against Argentina in the coming weeks as the lent and he controlled the game well. It was a strong enough, not on it enough, so I need to the Briton said he had not felt fully Hamilton said the problem was beneath you. “It’s just that I’ve been England squad prepare to fly out to South America performance from him.” get on it.” comfortable in the car since the open- less to do with the engineers and struggling with getting that confi- today. Burns, making the most of his chance at fly-half After qualifying on what remains ing race in Australia. more for him to deal with. Although dence.” —Reuters Lancaster certainly hopes he has unearthed a few with Owen Farrell set to go with the British and Irish sparkling young diamonds in the likes of Freddie Lions to Australia and Toby Flood given the summer Burns, Marland Yarde, Kyle Eastmond and Christian off to rest, was certainly impressive as he scored a try Woods to play in Wade, who all scored tries in the crushing defeat of a after just 39 seconds and kicked 13 more points. disappointing Baa-Baa outfit on Sunday. The Baa-Baas, coached by Dai Young, failed to Turkish Open sparkle in the first half and only briefly threatened to cross the England line as the home side dominated ANTALYA: World number one Tiger Woods is to compete in for most of the game. the inaugural Turkish Open in Antalya in November, the Yarde’s try was outstanding, the London Irish European Tour said yesterday. wing cutting through the Baa-Baas defence with The $7 million event at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal ease, and the 21-year-old could give Lancaster a real selection headache for the November internationals course in Belek will form part of the new Final Series on the if he impresses in Argentina. Race to Dubai, Europe’s lucrative end-of-season equivalent Former St Helen’s rugby league player Kyle of the U.S. Tour’s FedExCup competition. Eastmond made an instant mark on his debut. Just a Fourteen-times major winner Woods also featured in few minutes after coming on as a replacement, he last year’s unofficial World Golf Final in Turkey played at the cut in from the right flank and raced over the line. nearby Antalya Golf Club. Wade darted over the line and Twelvetrees fol- That invitational eight-man tournament was won by Freddie Burns lowed as England ran riot for over an hour. Veteran Justin Rose who claimed a first prize of $1.5 million after he The opposition may not have been up to the South African hooker Schalk Brits and London Wasps defeated fellow Briton Lee Westwood by one stroke in the usual Baa-Baas standard, but England’s inexperi- and England Saxons full-back Elliot Daly salvaged final. enced team produced a thoroughly professional job. some late pride with tries but it was a day the Baa- “I had a great time during my first visit to Turkey,” Woods Billy Twelvetrees also crossed the line for England Baas will want to forget. said in a news release. “The fans who came to watch made as they thrilled the 60,601 crowd and Lancaster had a Daly said: “The game didn’t go to plan but it was broad smile as he said: “There were quite a few out- still a great honour to wear the famous Baa-Baas jer- it a really special event and I’m looking forward to playing standing performances out there and I was delight- sey. To score a try was a great experience as well, and there once again.” ed by the control and dominance of the overall per- something special. The Turkish Open is to be held from Nov. 7-10 and will formance. “We just could not match England in physicality have a 78-strong field. The European Tour’s inaugural Final “It was a case of objective achieved with people or use the ball as well as they did.” Bath hooker Rob Series also comprises two events in Shanghai, the $7 mil- coming in and pushing themselves forward for Webber, captaining England in place of the “rested” lion BMW Masters from Oct. 24-27 and the $8.5 million future chances in the team. “Marland scored a fantas- Chris Robshaw and unavailable Tom Wood, added: “It WGC-Champions Tournament from Oct. 31-Nov 3. tic try and showed both his running skill and power was an honour and privilege to lead the side out at The series offers a combined prize fund of $30.5 million plus his defensive qualities as well. Twickenham. But it certainly helps when you walk off and ends with the $8 million DP World Tour Championship “The fact he has good upper body strength gives having won and won well.” —AFP in Dubai from Nov. 14-17. —Reuters Tiger Woods WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 SPORTS ‘Mussell’ Russell still Photo of the day loving the old routine

PARIS: For Michael Russell it was a famil- despite missing out on the chance to “It was a high and a low moment, iar routine. The Houston-based 35-year- face Nadal in the second round. being so close. “Playing (Lleyton) Hewitt old had just been forced to retire from “Tennis is full of what-ifs, and whys,” on centre in Australia in 2007 and taking his first-round match at Roland Garros the third oldest player in the men’s draw him to five when I had just come back with a hamstring injury and was head- told Reuters. Injuries have been part and into the top 100 was pretty neat too. ing back to his hotel to begin patching parcel of Russell’s life and he says he is Being on that big stage again. up his body again. It has been like that lucky that his wife Lilly is a physiothera- “I’ve played in all the four big stadi- for 15 years for a player whose nick- pist. It’s also fortunate that Russell’s first ums and not many players can say that. names include “Iron Mike” and “Mussell”. love is “working out”. But facing Rafa at Wimbledon was prob- Russell is thankful he has played in “Hence the nickname. Even though ably my favourite moment. I lost 4, 2 an era graced by Pete Sampras, Roger my life is consumed in tennis when I get and 2 but it was a fun match with lots of entertaining points and diving around.” While those moments are for the scrapbook, Russell’s bread and butter is making enough money to pay his way. “I love the competition and as long as I can stay in the top 100 and get in the tournaments I want, I can make money,” he said. “If I wasn’t in the top 100 then maybe it would be time to start doing something else. “I thought about quitting in 2012. My ranking was 130 or so, I was unhappy with my equipment, but then I got to the semis in Houston and three weeks later I was back in the top 100. “It’s not just the physical side of the tour, it’s the mental side with all the trav- elling - it’s like groundhog day.” Should he decide to step off the ten- nis treadmill, Russell is already primed for a new career after gaining a BA in business administration while globe- trotting on the tour. “I remember at the Australian Open I Michael Russell played (Juan Martin) Del Potro, a three- hour match that ended at 9.30 at Federer and Rafael Nadal yet, for the an injury I get frustrated because I can’t night...then I had to come home and do most part, his path has been far from work out. a three-hour exam paper. Not many the bright lights enjoyed by the sport’s “I’ll start tonight, I’ve got special tools players have to deal with that.” elite. and machines that help me recover “I got a 3.94 average too,” he adds He has never got higher than 60th in from injuries so I’ll be doing that bashfully. Clearly cut out for more than the world and has reached only one ATP tonight,” he said. “I’ll be fine in three or what he describes as the “me, me, me” semi-final, but a graph of Russell’s rank- four days.” world of tennis, Russell says he could ing is a flat line nearly always inside the Russell’s greatest claim to fame is have earned far more than the $1.9 mil- top 100 - where the money is made. having match point against Gustavo lion he has pocketed in prize money At 1.73m, Russell is dwarfed by the Kuerten at Roland Garros in 2001. The had he followed his brother’s path to giants who shred the felt off tennis balls Brazilian eventually won through and Harvard. these days, yet through hard graft and went on to take a third title. But it might not have been so much “hours each day icing and stretching” he “Playing Guga was amazing,” he said. fun. “I think I’m smart enough to have continues to hold his own. “To be that close to beating a player like worked my way up in the business Matthias Dandois performs during Red Bull Design Quest in Milan, Italy. Talking in the bowels of Philippe that. I remember winning my opening world,” he said. “But I love the sport. And —www.redbullcontentpool.com Chatrier Court, Russell remained upbeat service game and thinking at least I’m I will walk away knowing I gave it my after retiring against Martin Klizan, not losing 0-0-0. all.” —Reuters The Andretti Curse lives on

INDIANAPOLIS: Marco Andretti poked is what we all strive for, and I know how trying futilely to do it again. Even essentially since the day he was born. across the finish line, his family curse badly he wants it as a driver. When though he led a total of 556 laps over Much like his father and grandfather, firmly intact at the Brickyard. Somehow, you’re up front, you know you’re a legiti- 29 starts “third-most behind four-time he’s becoming quite an all-around driv- you just knew the Indianapolis 500 mate contender. It’s just positioning, winner Al Unser and Ralph DePalma. er, working hard during the offseason would end this way. and I still thought we had a shot before “Andretti never got another taste of to improve his road racing skills, which While it was hard to complain about the very last yellow because his car was milk. Sadly, the most common words at is why he’s leading the standings after Tony Kanaan ending his own Indy fast enough that with any kind of break, Indy turned out to be, bMario is slowing the first four races were held on road heartache with a hugely popular win he was a contender.” down.” and street courses. on Sunday, you had to feel for the third- Contending at Indy? The Andrettis Then along came son Michael, a But with each excruciating Indy set- generation racer in the No. 25 car. have that down pat. Winning the race? championship driver in his own right. back, you have to wonder if he’ll start Andretti wanted a chance to be That’s an entirely different story. On pit Except at Indy, where he led in nine believing his family is truly jinxed. You there at the end, and that’s just what he road afterward, Marcob’s eyes were races for a total of 431 laps without ever have to wonder if he’ll ever reach his full got when the green flag waved with moist. He dabbed at his nose with a tis- winning the 500. No driver has come potential. three laps to go on a fall-like day filled sue. Sure, he’s now leading the IndyCar close to setting the pace for so many As a 19-year-old rookie in 2006, with more back-and-forth racing than standings after five races, having fin- laps without actually finishing ahead of Marco was passed on the last straight- we’ve ever seen around this place. ished no lower than seventh in any of everyone else. Sometimes, Michael was away by Sam Hornish Jr., losing by less The 26-year-old was running fourth than a half-second in the second-clos- and daringly swerved to the inside est finish in Indy 500 history. The next coming down the front straightaway, year, the youngster was knocked out by looking for a way to surge all the way to a collision while contending for the lead the front. It was a bold move. Too bold. late in the race. In 2008, he led 35 laps The opening closed up quickly and on the way to a third-place showing, Andretti wisely backed off, while and there was another third-place finish Lance Armstrong Kanaan drove around Ryan Hunter- in 2010. Reay for the lead. Rookie Carlos Munoz Last year, Marco led a race-high 59 went on past, too, to take the second laps before striking the wall with 13 laps Nike cuts ties with spot. to go. Now, another close call. I mean, No problem. There were still about seriously, how does this keep happen- seven miles to go, still plenty of time for ing to one family? Armstrong charity Andretti to make another move for the The odds, it would seem, are totally front. Only this is Indy, where the irrelevant. In those closing laps Sunday, LOS ANGELES: Nike has ended its partner- expected and planned for changes like this “Andretti Curse” reigns supreme. Andretti Autosport “Michael’s team” had ship with disgraced cycling champion and are therefore in a good position to Marco never got another chance to three guys contending for the victory: Lance Armstrong’s anti-cancer charity adjust swiftly and move forward with our challenge for the front. Back in the field, Marco, Munoz and Hunter-Reay. Even if Livestrong, the campaign group said yes- patient-focused work. defending race winner Dario Franchitti his son didn’t win it, Michael thought terday. “Because of our sound fiscal health, the slammed into the wall b effectively one of his other cars would surely bring The Austin, Texas based Livestrong Foundation is well-positioned to continue ending the race. Kanaan spent the final it home. Silly man. Foundation thanked the global sportswear to grow our free services for cancer 2 laps on a victory parade, the yellow ‘Unfortunately,’ Michael Andretti giant Nike-which broke all ties with patients and survivors that improve quality flag waving and no one able to pass. INDIANAPOLIS: Tony Kanaan, of Brazil, pumps his fist in front said, “the racing gods took control of it Armstrong himself last October-saying it of life and access to care.” Andretti settled for fourth behind of Marco Andretti to celebrate after winning the Indianapolis and didn’t allow that to happen. It had helped raise over $100 million for it It added: “Because 14 million Americans Kanaan, Munoz and Hunter-Reay. It was 500 auto race in this file photo. —AP would have been quite interesting, to since 2004. face the daily challenges of living with can- another gut-wrenching blow for a guy be honest with you.” The Foundation “is deeply grateful to cer, our mission has never been more criti- who gave a glimpse of just what this them. That’s not what drives him. Not doomed by a mechanical failure Through the pain, Marco tried to be Nike not only for the time and resources it cal and for some, it will mean the difference place means to him when he tweeted at all. beyond his control. Other times, he magnanimous in defeat. He noted that invested in helping us improve the lives of between life and death.” the day before the race: “I have never He wants his face on that Borg- made an inexplicable mistake that cost Kanaan, his former teammate and a people affected by cancer.. but also the cre- Armstrong was an inspirational figure wanted something so badly. ... Let’s give Warner Trophy. “Consistency is great, him the race. dozen years his senior, was a deserving ative drive it brought to our nine-year part- for millions after recovering from testicular it hell!” but Indy is a championship in itself,” he Even though Michael has won twice winner after finishing second in 2004, nership. cancer and then winning the world’s most Andretti sure drove that way. He led said. “It’s good to be leading the overall as a car owner b with Franchitti and the third two other times, and coming into “While the Foundation created and owns celebrated cycling event, the Tour de 15 times for a total of 31 laps, more than points, but it came down to the last late Dan Wheldon “it’s clear the family this year’s race having led 221 laps with- the Livestrong brand, Nike shone a spot- France, seven times in a row. anyone except for pole-sitter Ed couple of laps shootout. I think if it won’t be redeemed until one of their out winning” more than anyone except light on the spirit of courage and resilience But the US Anti-Doping Agency (USA- Carpenter (37) and Kanaan (34). would have stayed green, we would own gets back to that place where Michael Andretti and Rex Mays. “He’s it represents,” it said in a statement. The DA) banned Armstrong and took away his Watching from the pits, Mario have been in a prime position. But it’s Mario stood 44 long years ago. Which been knocking on the door a little bit charity played down the potential impact titles last year after he chose not to fight Andretti really thought his grandson the way the cards fell today.” Boy, does brings us to Marco, who now carries longer than me,” Marco said. “Good for on Livestrong, saying: “This news will the doping accusations. He admitted tak- had what it took to end up in Victory that sound familiar. that burden. him.” One curse lifted. Another lives on. prompt some to jump to negative conclu- ing banned performance enhancing sub- Lane. Mario won the 500 in 1969 and Given his youth, he’s got plenty of For the Andretti family, it’s the same ol’ sions about the Foundation’s future. stances in an interview with US talk show “Of course,” Mario said. “I mean, this spent the rest of his long, brilliant career time to reach the goal that’s been there story. Wait “until next year.” —AP “We see things quite differently. We host Oprah Winfrey in January.—AFP Lions eye glory Down Under

SYDNEY: Australia is billing the British and Irish Some will be injured, others will be destined a horde of 30,000 red-shirted fans helping con- own tour since 1989, existing previously as a body shapes now since 2001. They were racing Lions tour as “12 years in the making” but the 37 for the midweek ‘dirt-trackers’ side but the two tribute to what the Australian Rugby Union esti- stopover on the visits to New Zealand with the sardines and now the backs are built like the for- tourists know that if they return with a series win, dozen or so who do make the test arena have a mates will be a $100 million boost to the local Wallabies providing practise fodder for the Lions. wards were. their names will live on in rugby folklore for a lot chance to join the immortals of 1971, 1974, 1989 economy. Hard playing surfaces, sometimes hos- The Australia side which lost 2-1 to the Lions “And then you bring the enthusiasm that will longer than that. and 1997 as winning Lions tourists in the mod- tile crowds and provincial players keen to make a on the 1989 tour, however, went on to become come with the teams and the context with the Some fine players have pulled on the famous ern era. name for themselves by “softening up” the world champions two years later, while the crowd and noise, it’s going to be a great specta- red jersey and some great matches been played “Until you win a series it’s difficult to place tourists await the Lions in their six tour matches Wallabies held the Webb Ellis Trophy when they cle.” on the tours to Australia, New Zealand and South yourself in that elite group of great Lions players,” around Australia. came from behind to win the 2001 series 2-1. The tour could be a defining moment for Africa in the 16 years since Martin Johnson’s side Irish centre Brian O’Driscoll told local media Then there are the tests in Brisbane, Both series were thrillingly close and Australia Deans with defeat likely to signal the end of his beat the Springboks 2-1 in 1997. before embarking on his fourth attempt to win a Melbourne and Sydney against a Wallabies side coach Robbie Deans is expecting a brutal battle five-year reign as Wallabies coach. The latest aspirants to rugby greatness - 15 tour. with all the traditional attributes of Australian without parallel in Six Nations, Rugby Deans has already lost David Pocock and Welshmen, 10 Irishmen, nine Englishmen and “It’s not enough to produce one-off perform- rugby with ball in hand but resolute in defence Championship or even World Cup. 2001 series veteran George Smith, both openside three Scotsmen - arrived in Hong Kong on ances or be nearly-men. You’ve got to win a and with perhaps fewer weaknesses up front “It’s going to be vibrant like no test match flankers, to knee injuries, while one of his best Tuesday for the first leg of the tour, which starts series to be properly remembered.” than teams past. you’ve ever seen,” Deans said last month. “The backs, Kurtley Beale, continues his battle with his with a match against the Barbarians on Saturday. Hoping O’Driscoll can achieve his goal will be Australia has only been deemed worthy of its ante’s gone up. You look at the change in the personal problems. —Reuters 19 WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 SPORTS

Iraq footballers stumble as Baghdad rocked by bombs

BAGHDAD: It was the 60-minute mark two years, fans scrambled to the top of hit us on the roads, and our team loses them, “Thanks be to God for safety,” shock sat down, resting one arm on in Iraq’s football friendly against the stands, looking to see where the on the field!” “Is there anything worse and “God will compensate you.” the blackened chassis of what had Liberia and fans in Baghdad were blasts had struck, while two sides on than this?” “A car came here while we were been a car. nervously hoping against hope that the pitch gamely played on. The car dealerships targeted by the busy watching football, and it went When his phone rang, he immedi- their national side would ward off But after the final whistle, with Iraq bombs were surrounded by soldiers off,” he told AFP. “They (militants) took ately handed it to another man, telling defeat. down 1-0, frustration with the national and policemen, all trying to convince advantage of our love for football.” him, “I think I have lost my hearing in Then explosions just a short dis- side mixed with resignation over the the crowd that had gathered to dis- As Anwar spoke, 47-year-old dealer the explosion. Please answer whoever tance from the stadium yanked their continuing violence in Baghdad, perse, fearful of a follow-up attack, a Fadhel Hanun interrupted by launch- is calling, and tell them that I am minds back to what is an all-too-famil- where more than a dozen bombings common feature of violence in Iraq. ing into a tirade. “Guards are here, and okay.” iar story in the violence-plagued city. killed 55 people on Monday. No group has claimed responsibility a car explodes here! How can we The atmosphere was a far cry from Two car bombs went off about 20 “In the middle of these explosions, for the carnage, but Sunni militants understand this? This is a failed state.” the hope espoused ahead of the minutes apart at used car dealerships we live our lives,” said Ghazwan, walk- linked to Al-Qaeda often set off coor- Nearby, at the site of the second match in Shaab stadium, where the in Habibiyah, both echoing through ing out of Baghdad’s Shaab stadium, dinated attacks in Baghdad. They typi- explosion, 27-year-old Rabiyah Liberian side were positive about the the stadium as Iraq battled to over- as smoke hung over nearby areas. cally target Shiite Muslims, whom they recounted the moments following the future for Iraq. come a 1-0 deficit on Monday after- “We are not afraid of these explo- regard as apostates, or the govern- blast, when he had been in his car. “As human beings, we were afraid noon. sions; we are afraid of this terrible ment or security forces in a bid to raise “I threw myself to the ground,” he of coming here, but football for us rep- The second, which sounded even team.” As spectators passed by, curs- tensions and undermine confidence in said, standing among more than a resents a path to solving any crisis,” closer than the first, sparked shouts ing Iraq’s players and coaches, the 35- the authorities. dozen destroyed cars, all of which had said team spokesman Henri Flomo. from the thousands of spectators of year-old stopped and simply said of Anwar, owner of one of the dealer- been for sale. “I felt so much fear that Referring to his country’s own bru- “La ilaha ila Allah,” or “There is no God the victims of Monday’s violence, “God ships, scanned the damage to his and it pushed me to open the door and tal civil war, Flomo said, “In Liberia, we but God,” a chant typically reserved for have mercy on those who were sacri- other businesses, which had been tar- run.” had an internal crisis for 14 years, but funerals or news of deaths. ficed.” geted by the first blast. “I was only here to sell my car,” he we came back, and now we are unit- At what was only the second inter- While he paused, another fan The 57-year-old tried to calm his said. Also at the site of the attacks, a ed.” “We are sure that Iraqis can national to be played in Baghdad in walked nearby, screaming, “Explosions fellow businessmen, repeatedly telling heavyset man who looked to be in achieve this.”—AFP Britain hands back FIFA position after 67 years

PORT LOUIS: Britain’s once-untouchable posi- year. The British associations collectively dis- not upset over the handing back of the seat. “It tion on FIFA’s executive committee will be missed the idea of joining FIFA at the outset and is perhaps a long overdue move and we are hap- swept away after 67 years at this week’s reform- the repercussions of this aloofness still resonate py about it happening,” Horne told Reuters. driven Congress of world soccer’s governing to this day. Two years ago at the Congress in “What is far more important to us now, is that body. England, and to a lesser extent Scotland, Zurich, FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona of we continue to have a major influence in the Wales and Northern Ireland, have had a love- Argentina called the English “pirates” after they International Board. hate relationship with FIFA from the time it was attempted to delay the election of Sepp Blatter “There are also other positives in handing formed in 1904 and none of them were among as president for a fourth term. A number of dele- over the British vice-presidency to a European the founding fathers. gates took the floor to berate the English for representative through which we still hope to This has been due partly to the permanent suggesting the vote should be delayed because have a say on the top table.” vice-president’s seat on the executive commit- Blatter was standing unopposed in the wake of In other words, the British nations will contin- tee that Britain enjoys, but that seat is to be Qatari Mohamed Bin Hamman’s withdrawal ue, along with FIFA, to keep a controlling hand handed back at the Congress in Mauritius. from the presidential race. on the laws of the game that was invented and QATAR: Real Madrid’s goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas poses for a photo- The affable Jim Boyce of Northern Ireland will The guaranteed vice-presidency was written nurtured in Britain through the International graph after the signing of a partnership between the Aspire Academy be the last British vice-president and he is not into the statutes in 1946 when the four nations Football Association Board (IFAB). The seat’s Foundation and the Spanish goalkeeper, at the Aspire Academy of Sports unhappy about the change. rejoined FIFA after they had left in the 1920s in a return is one of a number of changes that will Excellence, in Doha. —AFP “The time has come, it was a bit of an row over players’ payments. become part of a new FIFA statute book being anachronism, but I do not think our influence They returned in the immediate aftermath of written once the dust has settled after the will be diminished in the slightest,” he said. World War Two when Stanley Rous, then general Congress on this tropical Indian Ocean island. FIFA has six vice-presidents and the removal secretary of the English FA and later the presi- Something that will not change is England, Rain damages Brazil stadium of the British one should go some way to placat- dent of FIFA, promised the impoverished world Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland continu- ing nations who have long regarded Britain, and governing body all the gate receipts from a ing as four separate nations. Some Asian and RIO DE JANEIRO: the English in particular, with suspicion. Britain v Rest of the World match in Glasgow. African nations are unhappy about that but, as Heavy rains in the site. Attendees at a re-inauguration of The English Football Association, the world’s That helped put FIFA back on its financial feet Blatter says when challenged on the matter: northeastern city of Salvador tore the stadium last month had to be bused first, was founded in 1863, some 41 years before and, in return, Britain were handed the seat. Like “That is not up for discussion and, as far as through the roof of a newly constructed in from a nearby facility. Visitors at other FIFA, and is celebrating its 150th anniversary this Boyce, English FA chief executive Alex Horne is FIFA is concerned, it never will be.”—Reuters venue for Confederations Cup soccer stadiums have complained of unfinished games starting next month, a warm-up bathrooms, leaky plumbing and other before Brazil hosts the World Cup next problems that critics blame on hasty year. preparations. The downpour ripped a large swath Engenh„o, another big Rio stadium Monaco close in on record Falcao deal out of one of 36 panels of plastic which was built from scratch before the MONACO: Atletico Madrid’s Colombian striker a major power in the French game has come stretched above the seating in the stadi- 2007 Pan-American Games and is slated Radamel Falcao was in Monaco yesterday nego- since Russian billionaire Dimitri Rybolovlev — um, local authorities said. Televised to host Olympic events, has been closed tiating a transfer to the principality club as Real the world’s 100th-richest man according to images showed a large triangular tear in after inspectors discovered structural Madrid’s Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho Forbes magazine — bought the club in the covering that dwarfed workers gath- flaws in its roof. Botafogo, the club that completed his move to the Ligue 2 champions. December 2011. Their Russian sporting director, ered around the rim of the hole to used the stadium for home matches, has Sources close to Monaco said the duo were Vadim Vasilyev, has been given carte blanche to inspect it. been unable to play there since March. set to undergo their medicals later, but added spend big since their promotion to Ligue 1 was Stadium administrators said mainte- Brazilian officials say all stadiums and that Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes was not sealed recently and last Friday they announced nance workers had mistakenly bent part other infrastructure will be ready for the present despite also being close to a move to the double signings of James Rodriguez and of the roof, causing excessive rainwater big events. In a weekly radio chat broad- the Stade Louis II. Monaco are believed to have Joao Moutinho from Porto for a combined fee of to accumulate. cast on government radio, President agreed a fee of some 60 million euros (£51.3m, 70 million euros. Although officials say the roof will be Dilma Rousseff on Monday expressed $77.2m) for Falcao, which would make him the However, Vasilyev has sought to play down repaired before Confederations Cup delight at having christened, often by most expensive player in French football history. expectations in an interview with L’Equipe. games begin on June 15, the damage kicking a ball at midfield, all six Falcao, 27, won the 2012 Europa League and When asked if his team could compete for the underscores concerns about Brazil’s pre- Confederations Cup venues. has netted 28 goals this season for Atletico, Ligue 1 title next season, he said: “No, no...PSG paredness to host the World Cup in 12 “These six stadiums show that the whom he also helped to glory in the Spanish have a great team. There are others too like cities next year and the 2016 Olympics in (Brazilian) people have the determina- Copa del Rey. Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille...It will be diffi- Rio de Janeiro. tion, capacity and competence to host The Colombian international initially made cult. It is still too early to envisage being French Other major venues have also suf- the best World Cup of all time,” she said. his name in Europe with Portuguese club FC champions.” fered problems in recent weeks as Brazil, The 50,000-seat Salvador stadium, Porto, helping them win the Europa League in On the club’s transfer policy, and despite the which has invested billions of dollars on known as the Fonte Nova, has been 2011 before moving to Atletico for a reported huge sums already spent, Vasilyev added: “We fee of 40 million euros. don’t want to pay more than the market price. If construction of new facilities, races to rebuilt at a cost of 600 million reais ($293 Meanwhile, Carvalho, 35, has signed a one- we give the impression that we can spend with- meet deadlines set by organizers of the million). Disaster struck at a previous are- year contract with the option of a further year out counting, it’s not the case.” events. Much of the area around Rio’s na on the same site in 2007, when part of after his deal with Real Madrid expired. Indeed, doubts have been raised as to how Maracana stadium, which is one of the the structure gave way during a match, “I am delighted to join Monaco and partici- they can sustain such a policy as UEFA seeks to best-known soccer arenas in the world killing seven people. Salvador is Brazil’s pate in this new adventure. It is a new challenge implement its Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, and has been totally rebuilt for the forth- third-largest metropolitan area and a for me,” said Carvalho, who played in the Porto which encourage clubs to live within their Atletico Madrid’s Colombian forward coming events, remains a construction popular tourist attraction. —Reuters team that beat Monaco 3-0 in the Champions means, only spending money they earn rather Radamel Falcao League final in 2004. Valdes, 31, was believed to than living off donations from wealthy owners. make a profit afterwards.” Monaco also currently be in the Mediterranean principality on Monday Monaco are one of the most successful clubs in benefit from the favourable tax laws in place in but his current club Barcelona are yet to finish French football history, with seven league titles the principality. Key match-fixing suspect their season and he took part in their training to their name, but FFP looks set to pose a serious Foreigners playing for the club do not pay session on Tuesday. Valdes has a year remaining problem to a club whose average attendance income tax, while French players have paid less questioned in Singapore on his contract at the Camp Nou but announced this season was just 5,295. in national insurance contributions than they in January that he wanted to leave for a new Even when they reached the Champions would at other clubs in France. SINGAPORE: Singapore yesterday said issued European and international challenge elsewhere after spending his entire League final in 2004, their average domestic However, a decision taken in March by the key match-fixing suspect Dan Tan is arrest warrants for him. career to date in Catalonia. gate that season was just 10,394. French football league (LFP) means Monaco will helping with enquiries after he was Apart from Dan Tan, all the others However, his agent, Gines Carvajal, is “These are the rules, so we must follow be subject to the same tax laws as other French charged in Hungary in relation to the charged are Hungarians, and include believed to also be weighing up an offer from a them,” Vasilyev told L’Equipe. “But to begin a clubs from June next year.—AFP Premier League club. Monaco’s reemergence as project, you need to be able to invest in order to alleged manipulation of 32 games former players, players still active, refer- across three countries. ees, club owners, managers and coach- Dan Tan, whose full name is Tan Seet es. Eng, is “currently assisting the “The Singapore authorities are also Jagielka eager to seize England chance Singapore authorities in their investiga- in contact with a few European coun- LONDON: tions”, said a joint statement from the tries for more information on their Everton defender Phil that they can play key roles in the to prove he deserves a chance to league Michael Carrick. city-state’s police and anti-corruption investigation findings,” the Singapore Jagielka says England’s players will all weightier games to come. become one of England’s first-choice Carrick was one of the outstand- agency. statement said. have points to prove when they Following another friendly with centre-backs. ing performers in United’s league tackle old rivals the Republic of neighbors Scotland in August, “We don’t really know what the title triumph, earning a place in the Singapore is also working with “In addition, a team of German Ireland in an end-of-season friendly England will resume their 2014 starting XI will be, so it’s all about Professional Footballers’ Association Hungarian authorities over the case, police officers visited Singapore in early at Wembley Stadium today. World Cup qualifying campaign with putting down a marker this week,” (PFA) Team of the Year, but he says which is the result of a four-year probe May 2013 to exchange information. England travel to Rio de Janeiro a double-header against Moldova said the 30-year-old, who has not he is bemused by suggestions that into games in Hungary, Italy and Investigations are ongoing.” after the game for a glamour fixture and Ukraine in early September. played for his country since October he has enjoyed a breakthrough sea- Finland. As well as Dan Tan, 44 Police did not directly answer ques- with Brazil, and the two matches rep- With only three games scheduled because of injury. son. “It slightly amuses me when I Hungarians have also been charged. tions about whether Dan Tan has been resent opportunities for players to before Moldova come to Wembley “There are no points available, see or hear people saying different “The Singapore authorities are in touch charged or arrested. In previous cases convince manager Roy Hodgson on September 6, Jagielka is hoping but I’m sure everyone will be trying things, as if I have suddenly with the Hungarian authorities,” the in Singapore, people who were to cement their place ahead of the appeared from nowhere,” he said. statement said. described as assisting investigations games in August and September. “I have maybe played a little bit “We have in fact sent an official have been charged or appeared as wit- “Previous players nailed down that better than I have done in the past, request to the Hungary authorities in nesses. position for three or four years, so it but I have been happy with my form mid-April 2013 to interview a witness in The latest developments follow the will be interesting.” for a long time really.” connection with the case, as well as to arrests in April of three Lebanese refer- Andy Carroll, Tom Cleverley and Today’s game marks the start of a seek more information on their investi- ees and a businessman in Singapore Kyle Walker have all pulled out of the run of four matches in two weeks for gation findings.” Dan Tan is also want- over allegations that the officials squad due to injury, with injuries to Ireland, who host Georgia in a ed in Italy over the “calcioscommesse” received sexual bribes in return for captain Steven Gerrard and Jack friendly on Sunday before meeting scandal and emerged as a key suspect agreeing to fix an AFC Cup match. Wilshere leaving England particularly the Faroe Islands in a World Cup in February when the European police Singapore is considered at the heart light in central midfield. qualifier on June 7. They finish the LONDON: England’s manager Roy Hodgson (center) and agency Europol said Asian-linked fixers of international football match-rigging, Although Hodgson drafted Jack season with a prestige friendly in England midfielder Frank Lampard (right) attend a press confer- had targeted hundreds of games fuelled by illegal gambling, after fixers Rodwell into his squad to provide New York against world and ence at Sopwell House Hotel. England are to play Republic of around the world. learned their trade in the local and cover last week, it is more likely to European champions Spain, who Ireland in a friendly match at Wembley today where defender open the door to a starting place for beat them 4-0 at last year’s Last week, he was charged in absen- Malaysian league before venturing into Ashly Cole will captain the England team. —AFP Cleverley’s Manchester United col- European Championship.—AFP tia by Hungarian prosecutors who also Europe in the 1990s.—AFP Woods to play in Monaco close Turkish Open in on record Falcao deal

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 17 19 Iraq footballers stumble as Baghdad rocked by bombs Page 19

LEEDS: England’s Ian Bell (second left) catches New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell during the fifth day’s play in the second international cricket Test match between England and New Zealand at Headingly. — AFP Swann spins England to victory

LEEDS: Graeme Swann bowled England to a say the ‘A’ word but it was great to get some However, an eighth-wicket stand of 56 in 41 commanding 247-run win in the second Test wickets ahead of the Ashes.” balls between Southee and Doug Bracewell SCOREBOARD against New Zealand in Leeds yesterday, with England captain Alastair Cook, who extended delayed England. Southee, on 24, was dropped rain unable to save the tourists. his own England Test century record to 25 on by Jonathan Trott at slip off Swann. LEEDS, England: Scoreboard after England beat New Zealand by 247 runs to win the second Off-spinner Swann took six for 90, for a Test- Monday with 130 in a second innings total of 287 But Swann had his man when Southee, on 38, and final test at Headingley yesterday: best match return of 10 for 132, as New Zealand for five declared, praised Swann’s efforts. edged to slip and this time Trott held the catch. England first innings 354 (J.Root 104, T.Southee c Trott b Swann 38 were dismissed for 220. This win gave England a “We all know how good a bowler he is, he When rain forced an early lunch, New Zealand J.Bairstow 64; T.Boult 5-57. D.Bracewell c Bell b Swann 19 2-0 win in the two-match series after their 170- doesn’t need the help from the footmarks but were 219 for eight. England second innings 287-5 dec (Cook N.Wagner not out 0 run victory in the first Test at Lord’s. when he gets it he’s nigh-on unplayable.” Play resumed at 3pm local time (1400GMT), 130, Trott 76) T.Boult c Prior b Anderson 0 Swann’s figures topped his previous Test Rain, as much as New Zealand’s lower-order albeit under leaden skies and with drizzle falling. New Zealand first innings 174 (G.Swann 4- match-best of 10 for 181 against Sri Lanka in batting, was the biggest obstacle to England Bracewell was out soon afterwards, well caught Extras (b-2 lb-11 w-1) 14 42) Total (all out, 76.3 overs) 220 Colombo last year. The scale of New Zealand’s recording a thumping win on the final day. at silly point by Ian Bell off Swann. New Zealand Second innings Fall of wickets: 1-21 2-40 3-65 4-144 5-153 task was that their victory target of 468 was 50 But the weather held off long enough for Number 11 Trent Boult gamely made a 26- P.Fulton c Bell b Broad 5 6-154 7-162 8-218 9-220 more than the Test record fourth innings winning England to take the four wickets they needed minute nought before he was last man out, H.Rutherford c Root b Swann 42 total of 418 for seven made by the West Indies yesterday and New Zealand captain Brendon caught behind off James Anderson’s third ball K.Williamson lbw b Swann 3 Bowling: Anderson 11.3-4-28-1 Broad 11-3- against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03. McCullum said batting collapses had cost his Tuesday as the paceman equalled the late Fred R.Taylor b Swann 70 26-2 Finn 19-5-62-1 (1W) Swann 32-12-90-6 For man-of-the-match Swann, who missed side dear. Trueman’s mark of 307 Test wickets on the D.Brownlie c Bell b Finn 25 Root 3-2-1-0. England’s recent 0-0 drawn series in New “Our bowlers have been outstanding, but our Yorkshire great’s home ground. M.Guptill c Trott b Swann 3 Result: England won by 247 runs Zealand as he recovered from elbow surgery, his batters still have work to do, both individually England’s first innings 354 featured new B.McCullum c & b Broad 1 England win the series 2-0 match-haul was particularly notable as he was and as a group.” McCullum added: “Credit where Yorkshire hero Joe Root’s 104, his maiden Test left out of last year’s corresponding Headingley credit’s due, England have some class bowlers hundred achieved on home turf. Test against South Africa. Graeme Swann was outstanding and showed In reply, New Zealand made 174, with Swann Surgery in the United States under the Swann told Sky Sports. “I never thought I’d do it at Headingley. I actu- why he’s one of the premier bowlers in the taking four for 42.Cook opted against enforcing guidance of O’Driscoll, who also treated Swann was left out of the corresponding ally agreed with the decision not to pick me here world.” the follow-on but, ultimately, his caution did not England seamer Tim Bresnan for a similar Headingley Test against South Africa last last year as I bowled like a drain at The Oval and New Zealand, 158 for six overnight, resumed harm his side. injury, proved a success and man-of-the- year, when England opted for an all seam it looked a seamers’ pitch,” Swann told BBC Radio. with McCullum nought not out and paceman Swann thanked surgeon Shawn O’Driscoll for match Swann was duly grateful. attack. This was England’s last Test before they begin Tim Southee four not out. But McCullum was out saving his career after his Test-best match haul “The elbow feels great, I’m very thankful “The world should have left-armers in the defence of the Ashes against Australia in July for one when he chipped a full toss back low to saw England to a crushing win over New to the surgeon Shawn O’Driscoll — he their team, left-hand batsmen or bowlers, and Swann added: “I know we’re not allowed to Stuart Broad. Zealand. probably saved my career, good man,” it’s better for me,” Swann said. — AFP Patience pays for Djokovic as Tomic sticks with dad PARIS: Novak Djokovic, bidding to win a first tear. The world number 61 then launched a French Open and become just the eighth passionate defence of his father, and coach, man to complete a career Grand Slam, John Tomic who is facing criminal charges in played a game of patience with the Paris rain Spain after being accused of assaulting his yesterday and it paid off. son’s training partner. The world number one only got onto “My dad is in Paris, he’s still my dad and Court Philippe Chatrier just after 1830 he will remain my coach. I love him a lot,” (1630GMT) after a marathon women’s match said Tomic, who dropped the first two sets and a four-hour total rain stoppage left him against Hanescu before quitting in the third kicking his heels. to hand a 7-5, 7-6 (10/8), 2-1 win to his But the top seed came out fired-up to Romanian opponent. beat David Goffin of Belgium 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, John Tomic was banned from attending 7-5 to reach the second round. “Thanks to all the tournament after he was accused of the fans for waiting. It was a good match, attacking Thomas Drouet, in Madrid on May David is a good player and has a lot of talent,” 4. Drouet was left with a broken nose after a said Djokovic, who next faces Guido Pella of brawl outside the hotel where players in the Argentina. “I’m happy to win and hope to Madrid Masters were staying. PARIS: Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova returns to Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic during continue like this.” Djokovic, the runner-up to Highly-rated Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, their French Tennis Open first round match at the Roland Garros stadium. — AFP Rafael Nadal in 2012, would have been wary dubbed ‘Baby Federer’ because of his similar the third round of a Grand Slam for the first days from her 2004 showing. of the challenge posed by Goffin, who made style to the 17-time Grand Slam winner, time when he faces French wildcard Lucas Fully 57 players in this year’s women’s sin- the last 16 in 2012 after coming through went through when Colombian opponent Pouille, the world number 324. gles draw were not even born when Date- qualifying. But the world number 58 lacked Alejandro Falla retired with the Bulgarian World number 83 Kimiko Date-Krumm, Krumm made her Roland Garros debut. the firepower to consistently trouble the 26th seed 6-4, 1-0 to the good. who played her first Roland Garros in 1989 “Stosur is so strong and she’s a specialist world number one. The 22-year-old Dimitrov, the boyfriend — three years before Dimitrov was born- on clay,” said Date-Krumm. “Today she didn’t On a day when 13 matches of the 40 of Maria Sharapova, could face Djokovic in probably wished it had kept on raining on make mistakes because I couldn’t put her scheduled were held over until Wednesday the third round. “These are the kind of Tuesday. The 42-year-old Japanese lost 6-0, under pressure.” Elsewhere, in the rain-hit and three were uncompleted, it was trou- matches I always want to play in. I feel good 6-2 to Australian ninth seed Samantha programme, French women’s number one bled Australian Bernard Tomic who found on the big courts and playing against good Stosur, the 2010 runner-up and former US Marion Bartoli, the 13th seed, needed three himself at the centre of attention during the players,” said the Bulgarian, who beat Open winner. Date-Krumm became the hours and five match points to beat Olga PARIS: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Belgium’s David cool and damp afternoon. Djokovic in Madrid and pushed Rafael Nadal third oldest player to compete in women’s Govortsova of Belarus, 7-6 (10/8), 4-6, 7-5. Goffin during their first round match of the French Open tennis tour- Tomic, 20, retired from his first round to three sets in the Monte Carlo Masters singles in the tournament-Martina Bartoli, a semi-finalist in 2011, also saved two nament at the Roland Garros stadium. — AP match against Victor Hanescu with a muscle quarter-finals. Dimitrov will attempt to reach Navratilova holding the record at 47 and 232 match points. — AFP Youth in crisis-hit Spain becoming ‘lost generation’ Page 22 China is pressuring Business European govts: EU WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 Page 22 Toyota consolidates position as the brand Current account surplus, financial outflows at all-time high: Kuwait of choice in Gulf Page 23 Page 26

DOHA: Visitors look at a model during the second day of the “Qatar Cityscape” real estate exhibition yesterday. Cityscape Qatar aims to serve as a platform to bring together regional, international and local investors, architects and designers involved in property development in Qatar.— AFP Qatar eyes shifting to dollar peg Economy needs to diversify, local markets should develop first

DUBAI: Qatar may change its peg to dollar peg provides a credible anchor under a record 15 percent inflation, anchoring inflation expectations even the dollar when the economy becomes for our monetary policy as almost all of and in 2009. with the dollar peg,” he said. Egypt’s OT hits less dependent on hydrocarbons and Qatar’s export contracts and invoicing Last week, the central bank’s Inflation in Qatar climbed to 3.7 per- local financial markets deepen, are done in the dollar. Thus, a stable research and monetary policy director cent on an annual basis in April, the although no changes are currently exchange rate renders stability to our Khalid Alkhater told a forum that Qatar highest level since at least 2009, 56-mth high on being considered, its central bank foreign export earnings, the main and other Gulf states should consider fuelled by rising rental costs. The chief said. Asked by Reuters which component of government revenue.” moving to a more flexible exchange International Monetary Fund sees it Altimo offer economic conditions needed to be Qatar and other Gulf Arab monarchies rate regime to better manage inflation edging up gradually to reach 5.0 per- DUBAI: met for Qatar to consider changing its adopted fixed exchange rate regimes risk in the next decade. One-year riyal cent in 2017 and 2018. Sheikh Egypt’s heavyweight Orascom Telecom (OT) surged to a 56-month high yesterday after Russia’s currency regime, Central Bank in the past to stabilise their currencies forwards dropped 45 points to 30 Abdullah said it would be premature Altimo said it would go ahead with a smaller stake-pur- Governor Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al- and import low inflation from over- points, the lowest level since June to comment on whether pegging to a chase if the regulator allowed. Most regional markets Thani said: seas. Spiralling inflation in 2007 and 2012, on his comments. They have basket of currencies, Alkhater suggest- rose. OT shares jumped 6.1 percent to 6.85 pounds “With increasing integration in 2008 put the viability of pegs under recovered most of the losses since ed as an option, would be a good ($0.98), their highest close since September 2008. international trade, services, and asset fire at the time. then, floating at around 65 points bid alternative to the dollar peg. Altimo failed to secure a majority stake in the Egypt- markets, a higher degree of exchange Sheikh Abdullah said, however, that yesterday. While pegging to a currency basket based telecom operator by a Monday deadline. rate flexibility may become more desir- the economy benefited from the dollar would reduce monetary policy Shareholders with 15.9 percent of Orascom Telecom able to ensure external stability and peg for most of the time and inflation Currency basket dependence on the United States, it stocks listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange offered to international competitiveness of our remained modest despite the green- Sheikh Abdullah said the arguments has a disadvantage that traders would sell shares during the tender offer, but the total came in exports. “Moreover, our financial mar- back’s fluctuations in recent years. for a greater monetary policy inde- have to bear the exchange rate risk, he below the minimum 26.6 percent required for a buy- kets would have to deepen and devel- “With our emphasis on greater eco- pendence had their limitations in said. “In a relatively underdeveloped out. Altimo launched an offer in April to buy out minor- op further in order to provide the nomic diversification, we aspire to Qatar’s case. “Since our financial mar- financial market, hedging exchange ity shareholders of the Egypt-based company for $0.70 appropriate instruments for hedging develop the non-hydrocarbon sector kets are in a formative stage and the rate risk would be difficult and costly.” per share, which OT’s board said undervalued the of risk in a more flexible exchange rate over a period of time so as to reduce monetary transmission mechanism is Out of six Gulf Arab oil producers stock. environment.” our reliance on the hydrocarbon sec- yet to evolve fully, it would constrain only Kuwait does not peg its currency Bluechips Commercial International Bank Egypt and It was the first time a Qatari policy- tor. Till such time, our exchange rate the effectiveness and efficiency of an to the dollar. Its dinar has traded Orascom Construction Industries added 1.9 and 1 per- maker has publicly suggested that the framework would continue to be char- independent monetary policy,” he said. against a basket of undisclosed trad- cent respectively. Foreign buyers returned, lifting country may one day change its dollar acterized by the dollar peg,” he said. Imported inflation pressures in ing partners’ currencies since 2007 but Cairo’s measure by 1.7 percent, the second rise in the peg, although Sheikh Abdullah Qatar adopted a currency peg after Qatar have been restricted due to lim- is believed to be heavily dollar domi- last five sessions. In Saudi Arabia, real estate and relat- emphasised that nothing was current- gaining independence from Britain in ited low pass-through effects achieved nated. The oil and gas sector account- ed stocks and banks rose in a shift back to fundamen- tally strong firms that have lagged gains in small-cap ly in the works. “We continue to reiter- 1971. It has kept the riyal pegged at through price controls on select items, ed for 58 percent of Qatar’s economy stocks, which are usually targetted for short-term gains. ate our faith in the dollar peg and (are) 3.64 riyal to the dollar since 2001. The Sheikh Abdullah added, pointing to a and 59 percent of exports in 2012. “There are expectations of improvement and stabi- not contemplating any change for the world’s top liquefied natural gas modest inflation recently. “Therefore, Hydrocarbon receipts represent some lization in net interest margins in the second quarter time being,” he said yesterday in writ- exporter had been questioning merits we are confident of our abilities in 70 percent of the government budget for banks,” said Sleiman Aboulhosn, investment analyst ten answers to Reuters’ questions. “The of the peg in 2008, when it reeled keeping inflation under check and income. — Reuters at ING Investments. “Lending and deposits year-on-year growth in double-digits for April is very solid. Retail lending is still robust, and mortgage lending should continue growing gradually, so these are the key driv- France, Germany declare war on youth job crisis ers.” The kingdom’s construction sector is reaping the PARIS: France and Germany joined hands Labour Minister Michel Sapin said a blue- which are not tenable for a longer term.” be leveraged and used as guarantees to benefit of heavy government spending on housing and yesterday to confront a jobs crisis blight- print-dubbed the New Deal by the media Hollande and German Chancellor Angela raise up to 10 times more in loans, said infrastructure and moves to develop the mortgage sec- ing the lives of millions of young people in reference to US president Franklin D. Merkel have taken divergent stands on the report. Werner Hoyer, the president of tor. In late February, Saudi Arabia issued final regula- in the euro-zone, saying that the key to Roosevelt’s Great Depression recovery tackling the crisis. The French leader has the Luxembourg-based EIB, has said that tions for real estate financing under its planned mort- creating work lies with small businesses. plan-would target small- and medium- urged less austerity while Merkel is push- credits could be provided to companies gage law, which the government hopes will help to “Give youth a chance,” declared German sized businesses to create jobs. ing for cutting debt and reform of labour creating jobs. He said Germany’s so- rectify a housing shortage. Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen at a “It is the small and medium businesses markets to create employment. called dual system of formal education Samba Financial Group added 2 percent, helping lift conference in Paris preparing the way for that create the most jobs for youth, it is and on-the-job training could be intro- the sector’s index by 0.9 percent. Developers Jabal a joint drive in a month’s time to open them we have to support,” Sapin said, Reported role for the EIB duced in southern Europe. Omar rose 2.9 percent and Dar Al Arkan climbed 2.8 doors for young people. promising a “concrete and very strong ini- Hollande, who is under pressure to The European Commission said this percent. The index advanced 0.7 percent to hit a new Opening the conference, French tiative”. The German minister said: “Many reform his recession-hit economy, is also month in a forecast that the euro-zone one-year-high and extended year-to-date gains to 8.5 President Francois Hollande called for an small and medium businesses, which are facing the heat from the left-wing of his economy will likely shrink for a second percent. Elsewhere, Dubai Financial Market, the Gulf “offensive” to avoid what he called a gen- the backbone of our economies, are Socialist Party, which is strongly critical of year while unemployment will rise to a only listed bourse, surged 8.9 percent to a 27-month erational “rupture”. Unemployment ready to raise production, but they need Germany’s influence on economic policy record 12.2 percent. A Eurostat report on high in heavy trade as it played catch up with bluechip among young people is a critical problem capital. They can only access it at exorbi- in the European Union, and indirectly on April 30 said that a total of 5.6 million stocks. in many countries in the eurozone, partic- tant rates. It’s a vicious circle.” France. Germany’s Rheinische Post daily people aged under 25 were registered as DFM accounted for more than a fifth of total market ularly those enacting tough reforms to Hollande said a complete plan would said earlier this month that the initiative unemployed in the 27-member European trading. The stock gained 44.1 percent year-to-date. restructure their economies and reduce be presented at a EU summit on June 27 to create jobs for the youth would see bil- Union in March, of whom 3.5 million were Market heavyweight Emirates NBD added 0.7 percent debt. and 28. “This plan must mobilise the pri- lions of euros (dollars) in loans from the from the euro-zone. Germany has the and is up 91.6 percent in the same period. “DFM stock In some of these countries the unem- vate and public sectors and social part- European Investment Bank (EIB) to pro- lowest rate of youth unemployment in has been a lagger, monthly turnover has been high in ployment rate among youth exceeds 50 ners... it must develop training pro- mote education, training and job place- the European Union, with only eight per- second-quarter so people are expecting strong results,” percent. “We have to act immediately, six grammes and ease mobility in Europe,” ments for young people. cent of the working population aged said Marwan Shurrab, vice-president and chief trader at million youths are (officially) unemployed Hollande said in a statement. And The newspaper said the blueprint built between 15 and 24 without work. In Gulfmena. “We’ve seen money circulating out of in Europe,” Hollande said, adding that German Finance Minister Wolfgang on a six-billion-euro ($7.8 billion) initia- France the figure is 24 percent, while it is bluechips and into laggers. There’s a lot of upward “nearly 14 million are without work, not Schaeuble warned that “no short-term tive by the European Union to combat more than 55 percent in Greece and potential on DFM given that the turnover remains studying and are not apprentices.” French promises should be made to youths youth unemployment. That money could Spain. — AFP strong going forward.” —Reuters WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 BUSINESS China is pressuring European govts: EU Beijing warns it will not ‘sit on sidelines’

BRUSSELS: The European Union’s trade chief with me,” De Gucht said. Commission accuses Huawei and ZTE of dump- bluntly told China yesterday it was wasting its The solar case is the largest the Commission ing in Europe and gaining almost a quarter of time trying to put pressure on him to drop has undertaken, with about 21 billion euros the EU market by unfair means, a sensitive plans to impose punitive import duties on ($27 billion) of Chinese-made solar panels sold security issue as more and more European firms Chinese solar panels. The European in the European Union. The split between the rely on cheaper Chinese equipment to run their Commission, the EU’s executive, accuses China Commission and EU member countries, as well mobile networks. of flooding Europe with cheap solar panels sold as division among the bloc’s 27 governments, European manufacturers Ericsson, Alcatel- at below the cost of production, and intends to sets the European Union up for a potentially Lucent SA and Nokia Siemens Networks also impose duties. That has prompted energetic debilitating dispute over how to deal with fear retaliation if the Commission acts against lobbying from Beijing against the move and China, its second largest trade partner. Huawei and ZTE. Division over Europe’s strategy MADRID: The Cibeles statue holds a flag from Spain’s second republic that divisions have emerged in Europe on the issue, France and Italy support De Gucht and say on China is even more difficult to resolve somebody placed during a march. —AP foreshadowing a bruising internal battle over China’s rapid rise in solar panel production - to because in the solar panels case the how to respond to China’s trade practices. more than total global demand - could not Commission has set in motion a process within A majority of European countries, led by have happened without illegal state support. European Union law that cannot be stopped Youth in crisis-hit Spain Germany and Britain, oppose EU Trade They blame Chinese overproduction for the easily. Commissioner Karel De Gucht’s plans to levy loss of thousands of EU jobs in the sector. A group of European firms led by Germany’s tariffs of 47 percent on solar panel imports But countries such as Germany, Britain, Solar World complained of Chinese dumping becoming ‘lost generation’ from China next month, according to a survey Sweden and the Netherlands do not want last year and the Commission launched an MADRID: Despite having a bachelor’s degree, five students in languages to earn some money. by Reuters. De Gucht, who met Chinese Vice- duties on Chinese solar panels because they investigation in September. The Commission is years of professional experience and speaking Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan in Brussels are worried about retaliation from China and now legally obliged to act, because it has found three languages, Paloma Fernandez has joined the ‘I will look for work wherever ‘ on Monday, confirmed there was widespread being shut out of its lucrative markets. clear evidence of dumping by Chinese produc- swelling ranks of Spain’s “lost generation” that can’t Rocio Alarcon, who completed a degree in resistance among member states, but said gov- Chinese diplomats in Brussels said in a state- ers, according to a copy of its solar investiga- find work in a grinding recession. The 28-year-old, political sciences last year with the third highest ernments were clearly being lent on by Beijing. ment late on Monday that if the European tion obtained by Reuters. who has a degree in translation, lost her job of four grade in her class, shares her worries. The 23-year- “They (the Chinese) are not going to Commission were to impose sanctions “the De Gucht has also calculated that imposing years at the justice ministry in December 2011 and old, who lives with her parents in Getafe, a Madrid impress me by putting pressure on member Chinese government would not sit on the side- duties for a trial period from June is the best as of last month she lost the right to collect unem- suburb, had hoped to find a job to contribute to states,” De Gucht, a Belgian lawyer, told the lines, but would take necessary steps to defend way to force China’s new president, Xi Jinping, ployment benefits. Since losing her job she has the family’s budget and to save to pay for a mas- European Parliament’s influential trade com- its national interest”. to engage in finding a solution. “It is about giv- sent out dozens of resumes for jobs as a translator, ter’s degree which she will begin in September. mittee. “I couldn’t care less whether that hap- ing us leverage with China,” said one EU official, administrative assistant or receptionist but has not “I didn’t aspire to work as a political scientist pens with ... the biggest and most populous ‘Don’t blink now’ speaking on condition of anonymity. “If we had any luck. from the beginning. But the fact is that out of all state in the world. For me it is the same. So The case also has implications for how blink now, in one fell swoop, the Chinese will “Sometimes you feel like yelling: ‘I want a job, I the resumes I sent, I have not been called for any they can try to put pressure on member states, Europe handles another complex dispute, over have broken our trade defence system,” the offi- want to have a routine!’ We always complain about interview,” said Alarcon, adding employers usually but they will waste their time trying to do so Chinese telecoms equipment makers. The cial said. —Reuters routines but when you don’t have it, you miss it,” ask for a high level of English and previous work said Fernandez. Many other Spanish youths find experience. themselves in the same situation. The unemploy- “It is a curious thing to ask for previous experi- Libya to move state oil firm HQ Greek banker ment rate for those between the ages of 16 and 24 ence from young people who have just finished has soared to 57.22 percent, and a record 27.16 their studies. They have not given us time to get BENGHAZI: Libya plans to move the head- Company, was set up in Benghazi in 1968. Sorotos is Bank percent overall, at the end of the first quarter as any experience.” Like many young out of work quarters of its state oil firm to Benghazi, the The NOC was established in 1970, a year the country struggles through a double-dip reces- Spanish youths, Alarcon plans to look for work city that started the uprising against after Gaddafi came to power, and relocated of Cyprus CEO sion sparked by the collapse of a decade-long abroad once she completes her master’s degree if Muammar Gaddafi and now wants greater to Tripoli. NOC Chairman Nuri Berruien said building boom in 2008. she can’t find a job in Spain, a trend that worries influence, if a plan to restructure the corpo- Prime Minister Ali Zeidan had promised to NICOSIA: Greek banker Christos Sorotos was appointed yes- “It is probably a generation, I don’t know if you experts who fear the country is losing its talent. ration is approved by the national assembly. relocate the headquarters to Benghazi, but terday as interim CEO of the island’s largest lender, Bank of should call it lost, but which will mark a before and “I will look for work wherever. If it is in Spain Despite about 80 percent of Libya’s oil being said it was a government issue. “Moving an Cyprus, to guide it through tough restructuring under Cyprus’ after the crisis” in terms of consumption and great and if it is abroad I would have no problem,” located in the east, Gaddafi moved the state NOC or establishing an NOC has to be done bailout terms, the central bank said. Britain-based Sorotos, 61, lifestyle habits, said Sara Balina, chief economist for she said. Fernandez said she had always been oil firm to the capital Tripoli and starved the by the government,” Berruien said in is an expert in corporate restructuring who has worked in Spain at Madrid-based consultancy Analistas open to working abroad but now sees it as a eastern region of investment. “The head- Istanbul. “There have been promises, (but) I Greece, the United States, Bulgaria and Romania, said a state- Financieros Internacionales. As an example she necessity. “Going abroad attracts me but right now quarters will be in Benghazi,” said deputy oil don’t know if there’s been any action.” ment said. It is hoped his experience in restructuring banks in points out that young people are putting off the it is not a question of tastes, it is the only option I minister Omar Shakmak, referring to the trouble will help steer the Bank of Cyprus - currently under age at which they move out of home since they have. The feeling that you are being forced to go or terms of a new plan being finalised for Security threats central bank control-through the island’s worst economic struggle to find stable employment. that you have no option is the hardest part,” she approval by Libya’s highest political body. Oil is Libya’s lifeblood, which pumps at a meltdown. Fernandez shares a bright but sparsely decorat- said. From the beginning of 2012 to the end of Easterners have been calling for greater rate of around 1.6 million barrels per day “He previously served as deputy governor of the National ed flat that she rents for 400 euros ($520) a month March, some 365,000 Spaniards between the ages control over the country’s oil reserves - esti- and has made the country rich despite its Bank of Greece and was responsible for the management of from her family in Moratalaz, a Madrid suburb, of 16 and 29 have left the country, according to the mated to be the largest in Africa - since the troubles.While Benghazi led the uprising non-performing loans and the creation of a ‘bad bank’ con- with her boyfriend who is also unemployed, and a National Statistics Institute. With Spain in need of a uprising began in their region in early 2011. against Gaddafi, the city is far from being tributing to the restructuring of the bank and its exit from the cat called Rayo. “It is very unstable and I don’t change in its economic model, the loss of young At the start of the year, eastern workers and welcoming to foreigners these days. In crisis,” said the central bank. Sorotos also served as country know what my life plan is. I apply for jobs and I people with university studies represents the loss if activists rejected a compromise by the gov- September, the US ambassador and three corporate officer at Citibank and general manager at can’t make major long-term plans, not even short- “one of the key elements for growth, which is ernment to move refining and petrochemi- other Americans were killed in an assault on Eurobank, both in Greece. His appointment comes into effect term plans,” she said, adding thinking of having human capital,” said Balina. “We can’t have a situa- cals to the east and even considered staging their diplomatic mission, while an Italian from Wednesday. To secure a 10-billion-euro EU-IMF rescue children now “would be crazy”. Fernandez, who is tion where young people with higher education protests to threaten oil output. consul was shot at in his armoured car in package Cyprus has had to severely cut back its bloated bank- already fluent in English and French in addition to who can help revitalise sectors that Spain needs to Several assembly members told Reuters January, escaping unscathed. The United ing sector, and businesses struggle to survive without suffi- her native Spanish, tries to keep busy by learning grow, are the ones to abandon the country,” she that easterners had since been promised Nations and Red Cross missions have also cient working capital as the eurozone’s first capital controls Japanese, attending fitness classes and tutoring added. —AFP the National Oil Corporation (NOC) head- been targeted by violence. remain in place. Banks have been operating under stringent quarters would also move to Benghazi, but Various governments, including Britain capital controls since they reopened on March 28, after a near Ex-RBS MENA CEO joins Abu Dhabi bank it was difficult to say when this would hap- and the United States, advise against travel two-week lockdown prompted by fears of a run on deposits. pen as they had not seen official paperwork to Benghazi, although British oil firm BP and A bail-in from depositors was a key element of a deal DUBAI: Royal Bank of Scotland’s former While Western banks have scaled back yet. “The prime minister then went to some embassies have also pulled staff out Nicosia struck with its EU partners and the International chief executive of its Middle East and Africa their operations in the region mainly due Benghazi and promised to move the NOC of Tripoli, where government control has Monetary Fund last month to help fund a 23 billion euro res- regional investment banking business is to issues back home, local banks, who are back to the city but no official resolution on started to slip. Shakmak said Zeidan had cue package. Bank of Cyprus depositors have seen a 37.5 per- joining Abu Dhabi-based First Gulf Bank flush with liquidity, have been aggressive- this has been seen by the General National already signalled his support for the plan to cent loss on deposits over 100,000 - exchanged for shares- (FGB), two banking industry sources said ly expanding and taking away market Congress (GNC) committee yet,” said a move the headquarters. with another 22.5 percent frozen until the final cost of restruc- yesterday. Penney, who resigned from RBS share from international banks in lending member of the assembly’s energy commit- “I have discussed this with Zeidan and he turing is determined. This process is expected to be complete in March, will join FGB as head of its whole- and other capital markets activity. Banks tee. confirmed it was clear to him that this is his by the end of July in deciding whether all or part of the 22.5 sale banking division, the sources said. At such as Qatar National Bank and Dubai- The wrangling over how to split the state intention, and (the move) is only a matter of percent will also be converted into shares. Savers at the now RBS he was replaced by James Miller. FGB based Emirates NBD have also acquired oil firm has added to broader discontent in time,” Shakmak told Reuters. Zeidan’s office defunct Laiki Bank will have to wait years to see any of their declined to comment, while Penney could some of the assets of European lenders in Benghazi over the prospect of further mar- said it could not comment and advised cash over 100,000 euros. Laiki was split into a “good” and “bad” not immediately be reached for comment. the last year to diversify regionally and ginalisation of the east by Tripoli and fuelled speaking with the oil ministry, which is in bank, the healthy part - insured deposits and serviceable One of the sources said an internal circular attracted several senior bankers from calls for greater autonomy. The NOC’s pred- charge of the industry’s regulatory frame- loans - were absorbed by the Bank of Cyprus. —AFP was sent out by FGB recently confirming global banks to look at opportunities in ecessor, the Libyan General Petroleum work. —Reuters Penney’s appointment. local firms. EXCHANGE RATES

Commercial Bank of Kuwait Malaysian ringgit 94.221 Omani Riyal 744.69 748.000 Guinea Franc 0.0000446 0.0000506 Irani Riyal 0.271 Qatari Riyal 79.07 79.500 Hg Kong Dollar 0.0344513 0.0375513 Irani Riyal 0.273 Saudi Riyal 76.49 77.000 Indian Rupee 0.0051002 0.0051642 US Dollar/KD .2770000 .2880000 Indonesian Rupiah 0.0000244 0.0000295 GB Pound/KD .4310000 .4470000 GCC COUNTRIES Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Jamaican Dollars 0.0028724 0.0038724 Euro .3680000 .3760000 Saudi Riyal 76.657 Japanese Yen 0.0027581 0.0029381 Swiss francs .3020000 .3170000 Qatari Riyal 78.986 Rate for Transfer Selling Rate Kenyan Shilling 0.0033556 0.0035856 Canadian Dollar .2780000 .2920000 Omani Riyal 746.650 US Dollar 286.750 Malaysian Ringgit 0.0896040 0.0966040 Nepalese Rupee 0.0030879 0.0032879 Australian DLR .2940000 .3020000 Bahraini Dinar 763.520 Canadian Dollar 282.465 Pakistan Rupee 0.0028905 0.0029305 Indian rupees .0040000 .0069000 UAE Dirham 78.276 Sterling Pound 436.890 Sri Lanka Rupee .0020000 .0035000 Philippine Peso 0.0064572 0.0069272 Euro 370.980 Sierra Leone 0.0000733 0.0000763 UAE dirhams .0771240 .0778990 ARAB COUNTRIES Swiss Frank 295.860 Bahraini dinars .7513970 .7589480 Egyptian Pound - Cash 40.200 Singapore Dollar 0.2231395 0.2291395 Bahrain Dinar 759.185 Sri Lankan Rupee 0.0022314 0.0022734 Jordanian dinar .3930000 .4110000 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 40.438 UAE Dirhams 78.050 Saudi riyals .0720000 .0770000 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.341 Thai Baht 0.0092030 0.0098030 Qatari Riyals 78.710 Arab Omani riyals .7366120 .7440150 Tunisian Dinar 174.200 Saudi Riyals 76.430 Jordanian Dinar 405.950 Bahraini Dinar 0.7552440 0.7637440 Egyptian pounds .0370000 .0440000 Jordanian Dinar 404.225 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.929 Egyptian Pound 0.0384730 0.0405030 Egyptian Pound 40.419 Ethiopeanbirr 0.0129538 0.0194538 Syrian Lier 3.123 CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES Sri Lankan Rupees 2.269 Ghanaian Cedi 0.1460100 0.1478000 Morocco Dirham 34.006 US Dollar/KD .2841000 .2862000 Indian Rupees 5.174 Iranian Riyal 0.0000799 0.0000804 GB Pound/KD .4338920 .4370990 Pakistani Rupees 2.908 Iraqi Dinar 0.0001765 0.0002365 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES Euro .3707360 .3734770 Bangladesh Taka 3.680 Jordanian Dinar 0.3994455 0.4069455 Swiss francs .3043390 .3065880 US Dollar Transfer 287.350 Kuwaiti Dinar 1.0000000 1.0000000 Euro 374.560 Philippines Pesso 6.954 Canadian dollars .2795430 .2816100 Cyprus pound 703.420 Lebanese Pound 0.0001762 0.0001962 Danish Kroner .0497330 .0501010 Sterling Pound 437.580 Moroccan Dirhams 0.0219552 0.0459552 Canadian dollar 281.270 Japanese Yen 3.795 Swedish Kroner .0443660 .0446940 Thai Bhat 9.710 Nigerian Naira 0.0012248 0.0018598 Australian dlr .2963730 .2985640 Turkish lira 158.750 Omani Riyal 0.7348357 0.7458357 Swiss Franc 302.000 Syrian Pound 4.095 Hong Kong dlr .0365940 .0368650 Nepalese Rupees 3.330 Qatar Riyal 0.0782176 0.0790006 US Dollar Buying 286.150 Saudi Riyal 0.0760400 0.0766800 Singapore dlr .2291130 .2308060 Malaysian Ringgit 94.935 Japanese yen .0029600 .0028810 Sudanese Pounds 0.0466918 0.0472418 GOLD Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0052870 Syrian Pound 0.0027765 0.0029965 20 Gram 298.000 Bahrain Exchange Company Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0022880 Tunisian Dinar 0.1723211 0.1783211 10 Gram 150.000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0029190 UAE Dirhams 0.0767591 0.0782031 5 Gram 77.500 COUNTRY SELL CASH SELLDRAFT Yemeni Riyal 0.0012958 0.0013958 Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0036810 Europe UAE dirhams .0773800 .0779520 British Pound 0.4278481 0.4368481 Bahraini dinars .7538810 .7594530 UAE Exchange Centre WLL Czech Korune 0.0062612 0.0182612 Al Mulla Exchange Jordanian dinar .0000000 .4048090 Danish Krone 0.0457656 0.0507656 Saudi Riyal/KD .0757800 .0763400 COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH Euro 0.3664124 0.3739124 Omani riyals .7382100 .7436660 Australian Dollar 285.82 283.000 Norwegian Krone 0.0452526 0.0504526 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Philippine Peso .0000000 .0069870 Australian Dollar 282.25 283.000 Scottish Pound 0.4235148 0.4310418 Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) Canadian Dollar 281.89 283.000 Swedish Krona 0.0392353 0.0442353 US Dollar 286.600 Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Swiss Franc 300.90 299.000 Swiss Franc 0.2939051 0.3009051 Euro 373.000 Euro 374.24 372.000 Australasia Pound Sterling 435.800 US Dollar 286.35 288.000 Australian Dollar 0.2677639 0.2797639 Canadian Dollar 279.700 ASIAN COUNTRIES Sterling Pound 436.82 438.500 New Zealand Dollar 0.2246165 0.2346165 Japanese Yen 2.875 Japanese Yen 2.837 Japanese Yen 2.87 3.300 Uganda Shilling 0.0001140 0.0001140 Indian Rupee 5.160 Indian Rupees 5.168 Bangladesh Taka 3.688 3.740 America Egyptian Pound 40.430 Pakistani Rupees 2.918 Indian Rupee 5.125 5.400 Canadian Dollar 0.2713010 0.2803010 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.268 Srilankan Rupees 2.272 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.262 2.460 Colombian Peso 0.0001462 0.0001642 Bangladesh Taka 3.672 Nepali Rupees 3.286 Nepali Rupee 3.215 3.420 US Dollars 0.2850000 0.2871500 Philippines Peso 6.890 Singapore Dollar 229.200 Pakistani Rupee 2.910 2.985 Asia Pakistan Rupee 2.912 Hongkong Dollar 37.017 UAE Dirhams 78.03 78.800 Bangladesh Taka 0.0036421 0.0036971 Bahraini Dinar 762.200 Bangladesh Taka 3.679 Bahraini Dinar 762.14 763.500 Cape Vrde Escudo 0.0031866 0.0034166 UAE Dirham 78.000 Philippine Peso 6.906 Egyptian Pound 40.38 40.500 Chinese Yuan 0.0457618 0.0507618 Saudi Riyal 76.500 Thai Baht 9.580 Jordanian Dinar 407.53 415.000 Eritrea-Nakfa 0.0166100 0.0197100 *Rates are subject to change WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 BUSINESS Kuwait: Current account surplus, financial outflows at all-time high NBK ECONOMIC BRIEF KUWAIT: Latest data from the in ownership of foreign assets - be Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) show a they debt or equity, currencies and further strengthening in Kuwait’s deposits, or other items. For the already robust external position in most part, these changes broadly 2012. Strong oil revenues lifted the mirror changes in the current surplus in the current account to a account - but in the opposite direc- new high, and financial flows to tion: a rise in the current account sur- investments abroad continued their plus generates a rise in the deficit on post-financial crisis growth. the capital and financial account. The current account - a measure Since Kuwait traditionally runs a cur- of net international trade in goods, rent account surplus, it has tended services, factor income and transfers - to see large outflows of capital, rep- saw a record surplus of KD 22.2 bil- resenting an increase in the coun- DHAKA: A Bangladeshi street vendor prepares for customers in front of a lion in 2012, surpassing the previous- try’s investments abroad. 2012 was closed shop. —AFP ly set record of KD 18.5 billion in no exception. The combined capital 2011. A record goods trade surplus and financial accounts saw a deficit more than offset record deficits in of a record KD 22.9 billion in 2012 - a Uniqlo not ready to join services and remittance outflows. As whopping KD 6.1 billion higher than a percentage of GDP, the surplus the previous year. B’desh garment safety pact stood at 45 percent, up from 42 per- The widening deficit was mainly cent in 2011. attributed to the ‘portfolio invest- DHAKA: Japanese clothing chain Uniqlo said part that they must play for a sustainable solu- The rise in the current account ments’ component of the financial yesterday it had so far declined to sign up to a tion,” she said Monday. Francois Zimeray, surplus was mainly attributed to a KD account, which saw outflows rise by new safety pact for Bangladesh’s disaster-hit France’s ambassador for human rights who KD 5.1 billion in 2012. Net invest- garment factories as the US urged brands to ended his two-day visit to Bangladesh yester- 4.8 billion surge in the balance of help improve workers’ conditions. US retailers day, also called on retailers to face up to their goods. Goods exports rose by 18 per- ments in foreign securities reached such as Gap and Walmart have already refused responsibilities. cent to KD 33.4 billion on the back of KD 7.2 billion - their highest post- to sign up to the “Accord on Fire and Building “We must put an end to the era of fashion a 12 percent y/y expansion in oil pro- financial crisis level. Most of this Safety” which has been promoted by workers’ cynicism. In terms of industrial responsibility, duction levels and record oil prices, increase came from increased rights groups. European brands such as H&M, the Savar tragedy is a watershed in the gar- which averaged $109 per barrel in Kuwaiti investments in foreign debt Zara, Marks & Spencer and major supermarket ment sector like the Bhopal disaster in the 2012. Meanwhile, goods imports rose securities, which saw the reversal of buyers have committed to the agreement and chemical industry,” he told a press briefing. at a much slower pace of 3 percent a KD 0.4 billion repatriation of invest- its fire and building inspection regime in the Zimeray, who held talks with the govern- y/y to KD 6.3 billion. ments in the previous year. ment, unions and victims of the tragedy, wake of last month’s garment factory tragedy. The services account deficit con- The ‘other investments’ account - “We are continuing to study whether to sign asked the brands whose labels have been tinued to widen to KD 2.7 billion, led which has constituted the single (the deal). We have not reached a conclusion found in the rubble of the nine-storey factory at the moment,” said a spokesman for Fast complex to pay compensation to the victims. by KD 2.4 billion imports of travel largest source of outflows since 2009 Retailing, which owns the Uniqlo brand. International workers’ associations such as services. Year-on-year, imports of - saw its deficit widen further to a “While giving it serious consideration, we Swiss-based UNI and IndustriALL Global construction services saw the largest record KD 15.4 billion in 2012. This have started doing what we can do now,” the Union have pressured Western retailers to rise of around KD 0.3 billion - and volatile account is mostly made up spokesman said in Japan, adding the firm had sign up to the legally binding Accord on Fire could rise even further this year as of investments in shorter-term this week begun checks on fire prevention and and Building Safety. the government speeds up execu- deposit accounts and net overseas other safety measures at its Bangladeshi sup- IndustriALL’s Bangladesh affiliate, the tion of projects. loans. The majority of the increase in pliers.More than 1,100 workers were killed National Garment Worker Federation, criticised Meanwhile, net investment outflows came via a KD 2.0 billion Uniqlo’s delay in making a decision, saying it when a building housing several factories col- income edged up slightly to KD 2.6 increase in government investments lapsed last month in Savar just outside the was an “irresponsible move from a very billion - up KD 0.1 billion from the in foreign currencies and deposits - a capital, highlighting the poor safety record of responsible company”. “By not signing the the world’s second-biggest garment exporter agreement, Uniqlo is sending a wrong mes- previous year. These inflows com- trend that has persisted over the after China. sage to their consumers that they are indiffer- prise receipts from income-generat- past three years. This could reflect a A visiting United States delegation to the ent to workers’ safety in Bangladesh,” NGWF ing assets primarily held by the gov- switch in the government’s accumu- capital Dhaka urged Bangladesh to learn the president Amirul Haque Amin told AFP. The ernment. Income from portfolio and lation of foreign assets towards safer lessons from its tragedy and undertake a Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and direct investments were down slight- and more liquid investments after “transformation” in the industry. US Under Exporters Association, which represents 4,500 ly, but these were more than offset the financial crisis. Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman garment factories, has welcomed the agree- by a large 50 percent y/y rise in Only the ‘direct investments’ com- also said brands had a “critical role” to improve ment as “a reflection of Western retailers’ long inflows from ‘other investments’. ponent - or long-term equity stakes - term commitment to Bangladesh”. It says an industry plagued by accidents and “sweat- Outflows from current transfers saw reduced outflows, whereby net shop” conditions for workers, who are paid less retailers accounting for about half of the coun- rose by some KD 0.8 billion in 2012, investments abroad fell back by than $40 a month. “Absolutely the buyers try’s $20 billion apparel sales have now signed have a critical role. We will continue to work in up. Walmart, which accounts for 10 percent of as workers’ remittances surged by 21 some KD 0.6 billion to KD1.6 billion. every way to get the buyers to come to the orders in Bangladesh, is the most significant percent y/y to a record KD 4.4 billion. Lower net outflows were due to the table and every appropriate way to play the player to opt out. —AFP The rise is much stronger than combined effect of a KD 0.3 billion expected given the 3 percent reduction in investments by Kuwaitis increase in the number of expatriates abroad, alongside a KD 0.3 billion in the workforce during the year. The increase in foreign direct invest- French central bank urges reasons for this are not clear, but it is ments (FDI) in Kuwait. The latter possible that it reflects increased reached their highest ever level at government to cut spending remittances from Kuwait’s large KD 0.5 billion, likely driven by Qtel’s PARIS: The French central bank waded into Pension reform “ineluctable” Egyptian diaspora in light of the purchase of shares in local telecom troubled and highly controversial waters yes- At the beginning of May, the European weak Egyptian economy, and larger company Wataniya. Meanwhile, the terday, urging the government to cut spend- Commission granted France en extra two years, transfers by Indian expatriates taking smaller capital account saw inflows ing and avoid raising taxes further. The head of until 2015, to reduce its public deficit to within advantage of the weak rupee. edge up to KD 1.2 billion in 2012 - an the central bank, Christian Noyer, issued his the ceiling limit of 3.0 percent of gross domestic Looking forward, this year we all-time high. This account is largely admonishment in a letter a day before the product. But this was on condition that the gov- expect the surplus in the current driven by UN compensation pay- European Commission states its view of the ernment push ahead with structural reforms to account to be trimmed to around 35 ments to Kuwait. performance and outlook for reforms of EU raise efficiency. Such talk is anathema to forces - 40 percent of GDP as a result of economies. The Commission is widely expect- on the left in the majority supporting the ed to press France to do more, and quickly, to Socialist-Green government elected a year ago. softer exports and stronger imports. Balance of payments surplus restructure its public finances and economy. On one area of particular sensitivity, the Lower oil prices and cutbacks in pro- and foreign reserves France, together with Germany, is one of length of contributions to pension systems and duction levels are likely to limit oil Combining all of the above, the the two main pillars of the euro-zone. Noyer, the retirement age, Noyer urged the govern- exports. Meanwhile, an improve- surplus in the balance of payments who also sits on the monetary policy council at ment to undertake “wide-ranging” reforms to ment in non-oil sector growth is like- reached KD 0.9 billion in 2012, com- the European Central Bank, urged the govern- bolster the pension budgets, which are heading ly to help imports pick-up in 2013. pared to KD 1.2 billion in the previ- ment to set about cutting the number of peo- into big deficits. On a recent visit to Germany, ous year. This is also equivalent to ple with public-sector, civil servant status, and Hollande praised the courage of reforms by a Capital and financial account the change in reserve assets held by he defended the line taken by EU bodies previous, Social Democratic government in The combined capital and finan- the CBK. Reserves accumulated for demanding radical action to correct public Germany, widely credited with putting the cial accounts record the net change the ninth consecutive year. finances. In a letter to President Hollande and German economy in its relatively strong posi- to the presidents of the Senate and the tion today. National Assembly, Noyer declared: An increase of pension contributions, or of “To achieve the announced targets, it is the retirement age, appeared “ineluctable”, Czech govt split on energy project now necessary to concentrate efforts on pub- Noyer warned. Regarding social welfare spend- lic spending, given the high level of tax pres- ing overall, he said that temporary or partial PRAGUE: A project cost in billions of euros to expand a Czech nuclear sure attained and the impossibility of increas- action not to increase allowances in line with plant has been undermined by the effects on energy prices of the shale ing charges on businesses without worsening inflation could be justified. Noyer, who himself gas revolution in North America, and is splitting the government. activity and employment further.” Noyer said is in the midst of restructuring the central bank, Several politicians are echoing experts who say that the tender process he expected growth of the French economy to said that there should be a drive at every level of for the huge contract should be delayed or abandoned. A fall in energy be “close to zero” this year. The ECB, together public administration in France to increase pro- prices, driven largely by the huge expansion of shale gas in North with the Commission and the International ductivity and to apply a “shock” to simply America, has thrown the economics of the Temelin expansion project Monetary Fund, forms the “Troika” of auditors administration, as President Francois Hollande into controversy. which ensures that those countries which has promised. The International Energy Agency said this month that the shale-oil have received bailout help apply radical The objective should be to to do away with and gas revolution in North America is a shock for global energy mar- reforms in order to qualify for each slice of “multiple layers of structures” so as to gain in kets. The Temelin plant, built with technology from the time of the funding. terms of efficiency and to save money. Soviet Union, is also problematic in neighbouring Austria where there France is not among the countries rescued “Therefore the strategic long-term objective are concerns over the safety of the facility. The Czech state-run power and is able to borrow at exceptionally low must be a trend of reducing the number of civil group CEZ has opened the tender to build two new units at the Temelin interest rates, but there is concern, notably in servants which is very high in France with plant, and this has lured American, Russian and French bidders. The Germany, about the pace of reform in France. regard to comparable countries,” he said. eventual contract would be worth an estimated 200 billion to 300 bil- In a reference to what are commonly termed Noyer’s remarks come after a recent lion koruna (8-12 billion euros, $10-15 billion). But the benefits of the austerity policies, Noyer said that those who report by the prestigious public audit office, two units due to come online in 2025 are questionable, experts say, objected to what they considered “excessive chaired by a Socialist, found that a main plank pointing to a fall of the price of energy and particularly of coal, and of constraints” had got it wrong and had an “erro- of the government’s policy, the recruitment the price of carbon pollution permits. These factors raise the economic neous” vision of the situation. He said: “If rules of 60,000 teachers, went in the wrong direc- benefits of other sources of energy. “It would pay off to consider for European discipline exist, it is because they tion and that the focus should be on reform- expanding energy sources cheaper than nuclear plants,” David Marek, are necessary for the cohesion and the balance ing the education system and getting value an analyst with Prague-based investment bank Patria Finance, told AFP. of the euro-zone.” for money. —AFP “Temelin simply doesn’t pay off with the current energy prices. The mar- ket is regulated through carbon permits, and if they are as cheap as they are, coal-fired plants are more profitable,” he added. —AFP Al-Noor eyes $50m acquisition in UAE ABU DHABI: UAE healthcare provider Al-Noor Hospitals listings in preference to moribund regional equity mar- global coordinators, with HSBC Holdings as joint Group aims to raise some $150 million through an initial kets. “Demand for healthcare is set to grow rapidly in the bookrunner for the IPO. Al-Noor is owned by Ithmar public offering (IPO) of shares on the London Stock United Arab Emirates (UAE) (and) the IPO is to pursue Capital and its affiliates with 50 percent, and its two Exchange (LSE) to finance planned acquisitions. The Abu expansion and ... growth opportunities,” Alom said on a founders, Sheikh Mohammed bin Butti Al-Hamed and Dhabi-based group, the largest private healthcare conference call with reporters. Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kassem Alom with 35 percent provider in the oil-rich emirate, is looking at several acqui- The company plans to issue new and existing shares and 15 percent respectively. In December, Reuters sition opportunities within the UAE, including a $50 mil- to secure a free float of readily tradable shares of 30 to 45 reported that the consortium which owns half of Al-Noor lion specialty treatment centre, said Sami Alom, chief percent of the total. It gave no further detail on the pric- planned to revive a sale of its stake through a stock mar- strategy officer, declining to provide further details. ing and number of shares to be sold. Al-Noor chose to list ket listing in 2013. The group operates three hospitals Al-Noor is the second UAE healthcare company to in London to gain access to international investors, Alom and nine medical centres and has the largest market launch an IPO and list on the LSE. In 2012, NMC said, adding bookbuilding for the IPO and listing would share among private healthcare providers for both out- Healthcare raised 117 million pounds ($186.9 million), be in the latter half of next month. Deutsche Bank AG patients and inpatients, according to the Health joining a growing list of Gulf companies seeking overseas and Goldman Sachs are mandated joint sponsors and Authority of Abu Dhabi’s latest report. —Reuters BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Money laundering distorts Colombia’s economic comeback Govt struggles to contain problem

PUERTO NUEVO: Rotting wooden planks heave as said Gaviria, taping the box up and reaching for by experts to be as much as $17 billion a year - cent of the amount estimated to come into from inflation to real estate, retail, exports, imports dozens of barefoot Wayuu Indians carry washing another. “We found some doctored papers on this more than 5 percent of the economy’s total value Colombia, according to government data. “It’s an and agricultural output may be different than machines, fans and stereos on their backs from the ship.” Contraband smuggled into Colombia is part and more than total foreign direct investment last impossible task,” said Luis Carlos Canas, head of the reported due to fake or overstated sales from laun- hull of a cargo ship docked on the tip of northern of multi-billion-dollar money laundering opera- year. tax office in northern Maicao, as he inspects ingots dering. The problem for ordinary Colombians, Colombia. Throughout the night, they unload thou- tions that damage legitimate businesses, under- Much of the merchandise unloaded by the of aluminum on an 18-wheeler crossing the border Ortega says, is that laundered goods are mostly sands of boxes piled 30 feet (10 meters) high and mining Colombia’s bid to reinvent itself as a thriv- Wayuu - the bulk of it legitimate - will make its way from Venezuela. “We just don’t have the human sold at below-market prices, which elbows out and haul them down the battered ramp to waiting ing economy after decades of political and drugs to the desert town of Maicao, a Wild West type of resources to check everything.” often shutters competitors. trucks. By torchlight, customs director Claudia violence. place that sells cheap designer perfumes and Exports also are part of the laundering business. Conversely, it can create price bubbles in certain Gaviria rips open a box at the makeshift wharf at In complicated schemes, Colombian traffickers whiskey at half the retail price, alongside knock offs Fake paperwork is created for overseas sales that sectors when criminals pay excessive amounts for Puerto Nuevo on the La Guajira peninsula. She receive drug money from overseas dealers in the of Prada and Giorgio Armani label goods. “That do not exist. Once the paperwork is filed at the cus- goods like farms or bill extra through restaurants counts the number of fans against documents sup- form of goods, often shipped along with legitimate goods are sold at lower prices than they are pro- toms office, cash from international drug deals can and stores. “For a poor country, the social impact is plied by the ship. merchandise. Once the goods are sold and a sales duced in the factory says it all,” said national tax enter without raising suspicion. Colombia’s official brutal,” Ortega said. “It limits growth and destroys “If there’s more than the paperwork says, we will receipt given, the drug money is clean. The amount agency head Juan Ricardo Ortega. annual gold exports are reported to be as much as opportunity for legitimate business.” Cattle ranch- seize the merchandise and investigate because it of money laundered from the trafficking of drugs, Last year, as much as $128 million worth of con- 70 tons, Ortega said, although the industry only ing, for example, is a common financing vehicle could be contraband or even money laundering,” arms and human beings in Colombia is estimated traband was seized by authorities, less than 10 per- produces 15 tons. While there is a considerable along with drugs for left-wing rebels of the amount of artisanal gold that could account for Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known some of the extra, Ortega suspects the bulk is ficti- as FARC, as well as other drug cartels. tious sales. Cutting cattle prices Distortions They often pay above value for cattle farms and So while Colombia continues to transform its that in turn pushes up prices for neighboring prop- image from a violence-plagued nation to an invest- erty. Then they liquidate assets, the cattle, to ment magnet with booming oil and mining indus- receive quick cash, cutting the price of livestock in tries, the economy is skewed by the money laun- the area. Many agriculture businesses in central dering of traffickers’ cocaine sales abroad. Meta province, for example, are looking to sell off Colombia has for decades struggled to reduce and get out because they cannot compete with the crime linked to the drug trade, waging a U.S.- low livestock prices on offer. backed war against Marxist rebels, right-wing para- “You can tell from the price of beef in some rural military groups and cocaine cartels. But crime areas when a crime gang is selling its stock of cat- gangs have become more wily in duping authori- tle,” Suarez said. Farmers are intimidated into selling ties. their land and offered cash sums they can’t refuse, Back in the days of Colombia’s best-known drug according to a cattle rancher with land in Meta who lord, Pablo Escobar, in the 1980s, so much laun- requested anonymity for security reasons. dered cash simply came in by plane from the “It’s hard to refuse the drug dealers,” the rancher United States that dealers just buried it around said. “And we also face herds of cattle coming in their homes. Now things are far more sophisticated. illegally from Venezuela as contraband that slashes There are three main ways the gangs clean their the price of the beef.” The government says the money: smuggling undeclared physical cash across FARC is among the biggest owners of cattle - assets the border; through the financial system; and via that are easy to turn into cash to buy weapons or contraband. It is not just the proceeds from drug food and clothing for their 8,000-strong fighting trafficking - about $8.8 billion a year - that gets force. laundered. Money earned from corruption, gun Colombia’s financial system, surprisingly, is running, prostitution, and illegal gold mining also among the most rigid and successful in protecting needs to be cleaned. against money launderers. Red flags go up with Once it makes it into Colombia’s $330 billion any unusual movement of cash. Banking clients economy, it can inflate economic growth numbers complain about the charges levied each month by several basis points, said Luis Edmundo Suarez, and the mountain of paperwork needed to open head of the UIAF, a government body that looks an account, but Maria Mercedes Cuellar, head of into suspicious money movements and sends the Asobancaria banking union, says that is what them for investigation. “The launderer is only inter- keeps the system safe. “Colombia has more con- ested in injecting the money into the system,” trols in its system than most places in the world, Suarez said at his Bogota office. “It creates suffering, even more than in the US,” she said. But that also distorts the economy and alters reference prices as causes its own set of problems, she says, since it he doesn’t care if he loses money, just that it’s facilitates a cash-based economy that enables cleaned.” launderers. They simply work outside the system, Ortega reckons a large range of official data she said. — Reuters

KARACHI: Pakistani stockbrokers watch the latest shear prices on a digital board during a trad- ing session at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) yesterday. The benchmark KSE-100 index was 21266.43, with increase of 307.57 points in mid of the day’s session. — AFP How Fed could ruin your summer holiday

NEW YORK: Have your summer vacation all Open Market Committee meetings will be released booked? Hoping to ignore your phone for a while, three weeks later. The June meeting is likely “as feeling safe in your investments and secure in the good a target as any” for a signal from the Fed about knowledge that the world’s financial authorities their future plans, said Omer Esiner, chief market aren’t planning any surprises just yet? Think again. analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange in US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke made Washington, DC. The Fed doesn’t want to startle it clear in congressional testimony this week that investors, because that would be disruptive. Expect the central bank could very well entertain a plenty of flags, through meeting statements and change in policy sooner than many had predicted. minutes, before policymakers make any move- That would mean providing less stimulus to the ments. economy by cutting back on its bond buying pro- gram. Data deluge: Jobs vs inflation The result was an unsettling bout of volatility, The Fed’s dual mandate means that both jobs with Treasury yields jumping while stocks slid, as and inflation data will be key. Labor data has been investors feared the Fed’s support might start to more encouraging of late, with the unemployment recede. And that means this could be a summer rate down to 7.5 percent. The Fed has said it wants when investors may find the waves are not only on to see the rate fall to 6.5 percent before it raises the beach. While Fed-watchers are hard-pressed to interest rates. The data has been spotty enough see a turning point at the bank’s June policy meet- that policymakers could want more consistency. ing, there are plenty of other spots this summer Nonfarm payroll growth has averaged about when the Fed could start to prepare markets for 208,000 monthly over the past six months but has change. dipped below that level in some months. Chicago Besides the June meeting, there is a policy meet- Fed President Charles Evans said he would like to ing in July and the release of minutes from both see growth of 200,000 each month before cutting those meetings that will follow. There are three back on bond purchases, also referred to as quanti- Fridays where monthly jobs data will be released, tative easing. and plenty of inflation readings and other, lesser Also far from target is inflation. The Personal economic datapoints. And of course, there are other Consumption Expenditures index, which is the potential flashpoints. Will an heir to Bernanke measurement most watched by the Fed, was only at emerge? Will the annual monetary policy sympo- 1 percent in March. The April reading is due on May sium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, this August matter 31. “They would be more comfortable with inflation without Ben Bernanke? Here’s what to watch for at 2, 2.5 percent,” said Wilmer Stith, co-manager of this summer on the Fed front. the Wilmington Broad Market Bond Fund in Baltimore. With inflation hardly threatening, there Fed meetings and minutes are few price pressures to argue for ending the Fed policymakers meet twice more before the flood of easy money, and the data only goes to Sept 2 Labor Day holiday this year: June 18-19 and underscore the relative weakness of the economy, July 30-31. In addition, the minutes of those Federal Stith noted.—Reuters BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 With debt cancelation, Brazil touts growing Africa interest Congo-Brazzaville has $352m debt cancelled

BRASILIA: Brazil’s move to cancel or restructure and political leaders at the Economist Summit in Africa is relatively small compared with that of $900 million worth of debt from 12 African Nigeria last March, highlighting the historic ties deep-pocketed China, its projects fit well with countries is a further sign of its growing strate- between Africa and Brazil, where more than half the continent’s current economic development, gic interest in a booming region where it is com- of the population has African roots. particularly technical cooperation in the farming peting for influence with China. President Dilma And Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan sector, food security, biofuel production and Rousseff announced the decision Saturday in cited Brazil as a model for what he termed his social programs to eradicate poverty. Renault Unveils Twin’Run Addis Ababa where she attended African Union drive to curb poverty in Africa’s most populous Brazil is notably sharing its broad expertise in celebrations to mark 50 years of the continental country and top oil producer. Brazil’s trade with tropical agriculture, which has helped it become at 71st Monaco Grand Prix bloc. It was her third trip in three months to Africa jumped from $5 billion in 2002 to $26.5 one of the world’s leading food exporters. “In the Africa, a continent with which Brazil has close billion in 2012 and Brasilia now has 37 past decade, Brazil had become a major player Twin’Run drove its first laps in front of spec- tance of Tork Engineering/Poclain cultural and economic affinities. embassies on the continent. Brazilian mining on the continent, competing with China and tators at the Monaco Grand Prix. Monaco, Vehicules, a French firm specialised in the “Brazil is fully aware that Africa is the last giant Vale, the world’s biggest iron ore producer, India for influence” although as a resource-rich with its legendary track, is the ideal theatre preparation of chassis for competition. The frontier of the global economy, where we will has investments of $7.7 billion in nine African country itself, it is less interested in African natu- for the concept car’s debut. Twin’Run is a concept car is a real racing car that has see high growth rates in the next decades,” countries while the state-owned BNDES devel- ral resources and more in a “promising market sports car through and through and further benefited from that competition expertise. Oliver Stuenkel, a professor of international rela- opment bank has allocated 682 million dollars in for its goods and services,” said a report released cultivates the Renault brand’s passion for The bodywork in composite material cov- tions at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, told AFP. 2012 for Brazilian companies operating in Africa, by Britain’s Chatham House Royal Institute of racing, picking up where the famous R5 ers a multi-tube steel chassis powered by a “This reflects an economic but also political 46 percent more than in 2011. International Affairs. It noted that Brazil’s Turbo and Clio V6 left off. The public at mid-engine engine derived from MÈgane interest: There are 54 African countries in the Brazil’s state-owned oil company Petrobras involvement in Africa should not be seen as a Monaco got to see the three racers in action Trophy. United Nations, where Brazil is seeking a perma- has also invested hundreds of millions of dollars “purely economic strategy” but as a reflection of in a pursuit race organized to celebrate nent seat in the Security Council, and they in Nigeria’s coal, oil, natural gas and alternative its ambition to be recognized as a “main player” Renault motorsport history. Twin’Run led A V6 engine for competition recently helped elect a Brazilian as head of the energy sectors. Although Brazil’s presence in on the international scene. — AFP the way with Carlos Tavares, Chief Twin’Run is fitted with the V4Y engine World Trade Organization,” he pointed out. Operating Officer, at the wheel, tailed by a from the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which is Rousseff stressed that the debt cancelation Clio V6 driven by F1 star Charles Pic and a used on the road for Laguna, Espace and was part of Brasilia’s efforts to boost economic Maxi 5 Turbo with its celebrated driver, Jean Latitude but also used in competition with ties with Africa, home to some of the world’s Ragnotti, at the helm. MÈgane Trophy. Mounted longitudinally fastest growing economies. Among the 12 coun- ahead of the rear axle centerline, the V6 tries whose debts were canceled, Congo- Twin’Run: Compact, potent and playful! 3,498 cc power plant delivers 320 hp at Brazzaville was the highest with a $352 million Twin’Run ties in perfectly with the series 6,800 rpm and torque of 380 Nm at 4,850 debt cancelled, with Tanzania’s $237 million of concept cars illustrating Renautl’s design rpm. The engine is full-bodied and gener- strategy. The diamond-dominated front end ous from low revs, delivering linear acceler- debt the second largest. underscores the brand identity in line with ation and providing excellent traction Rousseff noted that Brazil was also setting up Renault’s new styling approach. Like Twin’Z, around bends and in acceleration. an agency to support investments in industry and Twin’Run gets blue paint in reference to the The V6 is mated to a SADEV six-speed development in Africa and Latin America. This “Play” petal of the fifth stage in the brand’s sequential gearbox with limited slip differ- country, which has the world’s second largest design strategy. Twin’Run’s stomping ential, enhancing Twin’Run stability and black population after Nigeria, enjoys very close ground is the world of motorsport. traction in curves. The twin metallic clutch cultural and historical ties with Portuguese- “Twin’Run is a cocktail of energy, passion is also borrowed directly from competition. speaking African countries such as Angola, and athleticism, rekindling the memory of The air intake vents are positioned at Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. emblematic Renault racing cars,” says the level of the rear wheel arches. Air And its interest in Africa is part of a larger Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice extractors in the rear quarter lights help trend boosting so-called South-South coopera- President, Corporate Design at the Renault keep the engine cool. The cooling system tion. With a population of nearly 200 million group. “Following its twin, Twin’Z, a stylish has received special treatment with pol- people, this South American giant is one of five urban concept car, Twin’Run shows that ished aluminum pipes set visibly into the members of the BRICS bloc of emerging powers personalisation is a core strategy at Renault.” cabin floor. The engine is separated from along with China, India, Russia and South Africa. Twin’Run, has a compact, ultra-dynamic the driving position by a plexiglass panel. With a GDP of $2.425 trillion in 2012, Brazil is the body. The wheels set in the far corners, min- To ensure good weight distribution world’s seventh largest economy and is forecast imal overhang and high waistline under- despite the mid-engine architecture, vari- to grow 3.5 percent this year. score the dynamic feel and promise a great ous components were positioned under Rousseff is continuing a policy launched by drive. the bonnet. These include the fuel tank, her predecessor Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who SAO PAULO: Digital art is projected on the facade of the Fiesp building, headquarters of the the radiator and the hydraulic system. The made Africa a priority in Brasilia’s foreign policy. Industry Federation of Sao Paulo, during the “Brazil-Germany: Cultures Connected” exhibition as Blue and red concept car is well balanced with a 43/57 part of the year of Germany in Brazil. — AFP The blue paint finish on Twin’Run fea- weight distribution. “We are indebted to Africa,” Lula told business tures taut, graphically drawn lines with emphatic shoulders enhanced by touches Composite body of red on the strip running all the way along The bodywork in a glass-polyester com- Brussels expected to the body and above the rocker panel, as posite has also benefited from racing 170,000 plus living in well as two red bands on the roof. Red also expertise. This includes carbon fibre for the figures at the front, where it underlines the front blade, roof, rear vent and wheel arch- increase pressure for grille and air intakes, and on the ultra-slim es. Carbon fibre technology combines aes- economic reform subdivided flats in HK door mirrors and the tips of the rear airfoil. thetics and efficiency, while keeping costs A red surround emphasises the circumfer- down. BRUSSELS: The European Commission is expected HONG KONG: More than 170,000 people in Hong Kong. The Census and Statistics ence of the black and white wheel rims. Hong Kong are living in cramped subdivided Department last October estimated 64,900 Competition aerodynamics today to increase the pressure on several countries, particularly France, to speed up structural reforms seen flats, a government-commissioned study has people live in subdivided flats, cubicles, Homage to a prestigious forerunner The two-box architecture of Twin’Run as the only reliable way to boost growth and job cre- found, underlining the scale of the city’s caged bed spaces and cocklofts, which are The “5” on the doors refers to the R5 creates lift at high speeds. The aerodynam- ation. With Europe still mired in recession, the housing crisis. Tens of thousands of low- usually around 40 square feet (3.72 square Turbo, the emblematic 1980s rally car. A ics have received special attention with a Commission will today release its latest economic rec- income families and immigrants are forced to metres). The smallest of these cubicles cost host of details pay homage to this illustrious vent channeling the air flow under the car ommendations for member states-except for those live in the tiny subdivided units, unable to less than HK$200 ($26) a month. But poor forerunner, including the design of the and a fixed airfoil for enhanced aerody- under bailout programmes: Greece, Ireland, Portugal afford sky-high rents in the crowded city of workmanship and lax standards in subdivid- headlights and the generous haunches at namic support at high speeds. and Cyprus. During the debt crisis Brussels has gained seven million. Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed ed apartments often create structural dan- the back. The four additional, extra-flat additional powers to police the economic policies of leader Leung Chun-ying has promised to gers, hygiene problems and fire hazards. headlights with LED technology are a mod- A racing chassis the member states. If persuasion fails it can impose make tackling the housing problem a “top In 2011 a fire which started in a street mar- ern-day take on the light racks used in Twin’Run rests on a multi-tube high- sanctions, although this weapon has yet to be wielded. priority” by boosting the number of new ket killed nine people from a nearby tene- nighttime rally specials. The fully customis- performance steel chassis derived from The Commission prefers the carrot to the stick, a homes for Hong Kong people. ment after they became trapped as they tried able light sequences are controlled by an in- aeronautics and used in competition. The European source said, favouring a constant dialogue But the study showed the problem is even to escape cubicle-style flats through a maze car system. The development of this system chassis was developed entirely by Tork with member states. However certain countries, like greater than previously thought, with an esti- of narrow hallways. Many of the victims died was a real challenge as the designers had to Engineering. France and Spain, are expected to face added pressure. mated 171,300 people living in 66,900 subdi- of suspected smoke inhalation in a stairwell provide a powerful light source in a lamp The ground link is provided by front In exchange for an extra two years to bring their budg- vided flats. “About 30,600 such units do not that appeared to have been blocked. The measuring just 25 mm deep. Shod in 18- and rear axles fitted with double-wish- et deficits back within the 3 percent EU ceiling they have essential facilities such as kitchen facili- Asian financial centre has some of the highest inch Michelin sport tires, Twin’Run sits firmly bone suspension with independent piv- should commit to undertake reforms that, according to ties, independent toilet and water supply,” property prices in the world, driven by limited on the track. ots. The four pivots, in solid aeronautical Brussels, have been put off for too long. Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony supply and speculation from wealthy main- “Twin’Run embodies the mad genius quality aluminum, deliver high perform- The Commission would like in particular to see Cheung told reporters late Monday. land Chinese investors. The government has Renault has been known for over the ance on the track. For filtering and body France further liberalise its labour market and reform The study was carried out from January to raised real-estate purchasing and resale costs decades, to the delight of motor sports stability, Twin’Run is fitted with OHLINS its pension system. French President Francois Hollande April by Policy21, a survey organisation com- for non-local buyers in an attempt to cool the enthusiasts. No one has forgotten the R5 spring shock absorbers at the front and pledged to undertake reforms when he visited Brussels prising academics from the University of overheating market. — AFP Turbo and the Clio V6. Twin’Run is the true rear. The axles have an anti-roll bar with a earlier in May and met with European commissioners. heir of those racing cars that had so much diameter of 22 mm at the front and 25 “We have implemented competitiveness reforms and appeal,” says Axel Breun, Head of Concept mm at the rear. Roll is perfectly controlled we will continue to do so, not because Europe requests Car Design. for agility and responsiveness. The alu- minum wheel covers with a special hub us to, but because it is in the interest of France,” said Hollande at a joint news conference with Commission Twin’Run: A real racing car with a central bolt can be dismounted in chief Jose Manuel Barroso. Twin’Run was developed with the assis- three parts and fit 18” Michelin tires. The case of France, which has just tipped into reces- sion, is crucial. If the euro-zone’s number two economy continues to contract it will make it difficult for the region as a whole to rebound. France will not be alone in the spotlight, however. Slovenia’s troubles have been mounting due to problems with its banks, and since Cyprus was forced to seek help it has warned of a double-digit contraction in GDP this year. The British government has been intent on carrying out austerity policies, despite advice from the IMF to moderate the programme. The Netherlands could get a delay in the deadline to bring its deficit back within EU limits. The Commission will also update today its forecasts on deficit reduction efforts by member states. This could see Italy escape the excessive deficit procedure, if the Commission judges that efforts Italy has pledged to undertake are sufficient to keep the country under the agreed 3.0 percent threshold. Italy has been forecast to reduce its public deficit to HONG KONG: This picture shows high rise buildings in Hong Kong. — AFP Reality gap widens on EU 2.9 percent this year and 2.4 percent in 2014. However the country with a massive debt of 130 percent of car fuel efficiency claims annual output must account for how it plans to South African growth finance 10 billion euros ($13 billion) recently BRUSSELS: The gap has widened between the “The number of vehicles per carmaker announced by the new prime minister, Enrico Letta. slows down suddenly fuel-efficiency that carmakers declare for their that have been analysed varies considerably Belgium will come in for criticism for not having models and the reality for drivers, with luxury and is based on only a very small and subse- reduced its deficit sufficiently, according to the JOHANNESBURG: The South African econo- mate. Meanwhile Dawie Roodt from financial German vehicles showing the biggest diver- quently less representative section of our Belgian daily L’Echo, although with France and Spain my suddenly slowed down in the first quarter services firm Efficient Group forecast an gence, a study has found. Research by the non- customer base,” the carmaker said in a state- having been granted delays it appears sanctions are to show growth of 0.9-percent, a five-year under-two percent growth after the “shocker” profit International Council on Clean ment. The ICCT, which aims to improve effi- unlikely. Furthermore, the Commission has been talk- low, official data showed yesterday. Growth of announcement. Transportation (ICCT) found “real-world” car- ciency in transportation to benefit public ing about adjusting how it calculates budget deficits, gross domestic product (GDP) fell from 2.1 The national currency the rand-already at bon emissions for new cars based on fuel con- health and mitigate climate change, said its inorder to offer greater leeway. It has been widely criti- percent at the end of last year, with a 1.2 per- its lowest point in four years fell to 9.73 to the sumption are about 25 percent higher on aver- report was based on data from nearly half a cised for targeting nominal deficit levels, which coun- cent fall of output by manufacturing industry, dollar following the release of the latest age than carmakers say, compared to 10 per- million private and company vehicles across tries have had difficulty meeting under the impact of data from Statistics South Africa showed. The growth figures-compared to 9.59 at the close cent a decade ago. Europe. austerity measures they implement and a longer and quarterly growth was the worst since a 1.7- of trading on Monday. Maintenance shut- The findings will add to pressure to reform Volkswagen AG’s luxury unit Audi had the deeper recession in Europe. Spokesman Simon percent contraction in 2009. The South downs in notably petroleum and other indus- vehicle testing procedures at international lev- second widest disparity, reporting emissions O’Connor said Monday that the Commission would African economy, the biggest in Africa, grew tries contributed to a 7.9-percent slump in el and stoke ongoing EU debate on how to 28 percent below actual use, while Mercedes reflect on the issue in the coming weeks and present by 2.5 percent in 2012. manufacturing and overall negative 1.2-per- enforce 2020 car emissions goals for the 27- showed a gap of 26 percent. Figures for emis- options to European leaders at their June summit. The Analysts, shocked at lower-than-expected cent quarterly growth in manufacturing, said member bloc. BMW reported vehicle emis- sions from Toyota vehicles were found to be leaders are expected to discuss the Commission’s rec- figures, revised projected annual growth Stats SA’s Gerhardt Bouwer. “There were a few sions figures on average 30 percent lower than about 15 percent less than in real use and ommendations at the summit at the end of June downwards. “We were looking at 1.9 percent,” weeks they stopped for maintenance,” he told said Nicky Weimar, Nedbank senior econo- AFP. Output by the sector of agriculture also those found in actual use, said the report, pub- Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroen’s published before they are formally approved later by finance mist. “Obviously we are extremely disappoint- contracted slightly, “but the pace of activity in lished yesterday. But BMW questioned data was about 16 percent lower than for ministers of the 27 EU member countries. — AFP ed.” Nedbank expects 2.2 percent-growth this most other sectors slowed noticeably over the whether the research was representative. vehicles on the road.—Reuters year, down from its earlier 2.6-percent esti- quarter,” Nedbank said in an analysis. —AFP BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 Toyota consolidates position as the brand of choice in Gulf

Toyota announced strong growth performance in well in Q1 reflecting the demand for this category the Gulf Region, selling 158,223 units in Q1 2013, of vehicles among consumers in the GCC. Toyota which resulted in the brand further consolidating PRADO sold 18,443 units to post a 56 percent its leadership with a 39.6 percent market share. In growth in unit sales y-o-y, while the new look RAV4 achieving this performance, Toyota registered a 23 sold 3,057 units for a 51 percent increase in sales percent increase in sales as compared to the same during the same period. In terms of sedans, the period in Q1 2012. This impressive first quarter new Toyota Avalon received tremendous response growth in the GCC follows the record sales per- from customers in the region recording sales of formance of Toyota last year when over 593,000 3,998 units to register a 58 percent increase while units were sold. the Yaris also recorded an impressive sales growth According to Nobuyuki Negishi, Chief with 9,221 units to record a 56 percent increase in Representative of Middle East & North Africa sales. Representative Office, Toyota Motor Corporation In terms of new launches in 2013, Toyota intro- “With our strong lineup of products backed by our duced the 2013 Avalon in the GCC market in Q1 acclaimed after sales service, our impressive sales signaling the entry of a world class sedan with a growth in the first quarter continues the strong unique combination of more emotional styling, momentum in sales at the close of 2012. Toyota’s improved dynamic performance, and greater emphasis on developing exciting new design and refinement. Toyota also launched the 2013 RAV4 product innovations for our vehicles is also having which is a bold reinvention of the world’s original a favourable impact on customers. With the confi- crossover sport utility vehicle offering customers dence of our expanding customer base in Toyota’s sophisticated and strong styling, refined, premium- reliability and product quality and their implicit quality interior design and a new Dynamic Torque trust in our brand, I look forward to partnering with Control 4WD, in addition to a more engaging and our dealers and our staff across the region to con- fun drive with fuel efficient powertrain. tinue Toyota’s success story.” Gulf Region includes Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Toyota’s SUV product range did exceptionally Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Dewa Projects Pvt Ltd signs MoU with Reliance Property Solutions

The Dewa Group (Cochin, Kerala) today signs an MoU tors realised on a grand scale. The project was offi- water facing party hall, exclusive lounge, guest with Reliance Property Solutions to market their proj- cially launched in 2012 and more than 100 apart- rooms and service apartments; the largest land- ect Dewa Pier 20, located at Marine Drive, Kochi. ments was sold out within a very short period of scaped garden in Cochin; the 25,000 sq ft indoor Reliance Property Solutions and Dewa Projects Pvt time. The construction and bookings are in full sports centre with options for playing including Ltd Cochin will jointly market the project ‘Dewa Pier swing. Perfectly located on the magnificent Cochin indoor cricket, basketball, volleyball, squash, bad- 20’ and it is the first MoU signed by Reliance Property Marine Drive, Dewa Pier20 is the largest and tallest minton, swimming and table tennis; the largest Solutions with a builder in Kerala. apartment project in that location. Only Dewa Infinity pool in Cochin etc are the main features of The Dewa Group Cochin, established in 2005, is Pier20 offers 2 BHK apartments in Marine Drive Dewa Pier20. “Dewa Pier20 is the best opportunity promoted by a group of accomplished NRI business- which is coming up few minutes away from the High to own a waterfront luxury apartment in Marine men. The Group has an asset base of Rs.1400 Crore Court Junction. The 605 apartments are clubbed in 7 Drive, Cochin at affordable price” said Ranjit Jacob, and capital of Rs 225 Crore. Based in Kerala, the Dewa towers are individually designed to provide water Director, Dewa Projects Pvt Ltd. Projects Pvt Ltd has its Registered Office in view from the private terrace and equipped with Reliance Property Solutions is a vertical of Thiruvananthapuram and Corporate Office at facilities expected by today’s modern buyers. Dewa Reliance Home Finance Ltd and is a technology-led Cochin. The company has marketing offices at Pier20 is the only project in Marine Drive having end-to-end real estate service provider that strives Kuwait, Mumbai, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram. largest landholding proudly promising ‘all apart- for excellence in customer satisfaction. It is a one- The Rs 1,400 crore Dewa Group is headed by K ments with a water view’. stop-shop for all property needs including Buying, Venugopalan Nair, Chairman and Managing Director, The project includes 2 BHK and 3 BHK apart- Selling or Leasing. Reliance Property Solutions brings who has over 35 years of hands-on experience in ments and 4 BHK and 5 BHK Duplex Penthouses. a formidable combination of global outlook with project management in the Middle East. Dewa Pier20 has limited edition apartments of 6,500 local expertise having expertise in Site Selection and Dewa Pier20, Cochin is the prestigious project of sq ft inclusive of 1,000 sq. ft. master bedroom. The Transactions, Valuation and Consulting, Investments Dewa Projects that meets world-class comfort fac- Sky Club at 24th and 25th floors which includes and Alliances and Project Marketing. (From left) Abdulqader Alhenawi, Abdulwahab Al-Nakib, Nasser Al-Meslim, and Hamad Al-Selmi American Mattress FASTtelco wins bid to provide summer sale ‘The Gate Mall’ with services is up to 60%

KUWAIT: FASTtelco, the leading internet achieve their sought goals.”. KUWAIT: Staying true to its annual tradition, American Mattress has service provider in Kuwait, specializing in Al-Nakib added, “Winning this bid started the summer season off with a bang with its special summer providing innovative internet and data among the other major bidders affirms promotion that reaches up to 60 percent off on the storeís mat- communications solutions, announced that FASTtelco’s expertise in the integrated solu- tresses and accessories. The sale also comprises world-renowned it has successfully won and signed a KD tions field. We are set to “Share” our expert- brands including Adjustables, Natura, Visco Pro, Kluft, Luxury Latex, 500,000 bid offered by Qurain international ise in developing highly sophisticated inte- Aireloom, Stylution and other high quality brands. The sale started Real Estate Company - a subsidary of grated solutions and infrastructures in the on May 20 and will end on June 28, 2013. Shuwaikh Gate Holding - to convert “The Kuwaiti market, which provides us the American Mattress has always been committed to providing its Gate Mall” into a smart and integrated opportunity to contribute to the develop- client base in Kuwait with the highest quality by carefully selecting building, through connecting all its vital ment of the Kuwaiti market in general. leading global brands. One of the quality brands that the company systems such as fire alarms, security and Al-Nakib asserted that “FASTtelco” carries is Aireloom, an American brand that provides a wide range CCTV systems through the installation of strives to offer value added services to the of luxurious, hand made mattresses that are created with natural high-tech and innovative integrated solu- mall tenants, and promises them with more cotton, silk and latex so as to comfortably cushion its usersí times of slumber. Another brand, Kluft, provides mattresses that lie on the tions and infrastructure. smart solutions which are to be revealed to TOKYO: A man and a woman pass before a share prices board yesterday. — AFP exact point where luxury merges with elegance. Made with durable It is worthy to mention that “The Gate the public at the opening day, adding more and high quality New Zealand wool and natural Egyptian cotton, Mall” is located in Al-Aqeelah area, in facilitation to their commercial activities. Kluft has become a highly favored choice for all due to its attention Japan retains status Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate and Al- On the other hand, Nasser Al-Meslim, to detail and delivering comfort with every stitch. American CEO of Qurain International Real Estate Co., Ahmadi, with a rental area exceeding Mattress also carries other globally known brands that have been as top creditor nation 58,000 square meters, hosting major inter- expressed on behalf of the company and chosen by many luxury hotels, resorts as well as homes. national and regional brands, marking it as their anticipation to work with FASTtelco in Apart from the wide range of natural and luxurious mattresses, the second largest shopping mall in this project, and turning The Gate Mall in to TOKYO: Japan kept its position as the world’s Meanwhile, Tokyo stocks finished 1.20 per- American Mattress also provides a selection of medical mattresses largest creditor nation for the 22nd straight year cent higher on Tuesday in another volatile ses- Kuwait. becoming one of the most advanced and including Aristocrat Mattress, Doctorís Choice, Dreamer, Health in 2012, government data showed yesterday, as sion with the market casting off early losses as a Through the establishment and installa- internationally compliant smart buildings. Care and other orthopedic mattresses including adjustable ones the dollar’s gains helped inflate the value of weakening yen helped push the market back tion of this innovative integrated solutions AL-Meslim continued “ We have placed that provide the spinal cord the essential support it needs and bal- overseas assets. Tokyo was followed by main- into positive territory. The benchmark Nikkei 225 infrastructure, many services will be provid- our choice in partnering with FASTtelco in ances the bodyís position during sleep. When it comes to pillows, land China and Germany in third place in the index closed up 169.33 points to 14,311.98, ed to corporate entities and mall shops this particular project due to the high repu- American Mattress provides a vast assortment of accessories as well ranking, which reflects the difference between while the broader Topix index of all first-section such as, the internet services, data transfer tation in holds in the data and communica- as the chance for customers to touch, feel and use the pillows inside the value of assets held abroad, including for- shares was 1.23 percent, or 14.20 points, higher solutions, advanced phone services and tion field, and due to its vast and outstand- American Mattressí showroom. Due to the many services it pro- eign debt and property, minus a nation’s liabili- to 1,168.27. “Investors are buying back cyclically- communications network, and security sys- ing expertise in the integrated systems vides such as its delivery and warrantee services, American Mattress ties, such as foreign purchases of its own debt sensitive stocks helped by the strengthening tems. technologies. We look forward to com- has grown to become the store of choice for many hotels, resorts, Abdulwahab Ahmad Al-Nakib, Chairman mence this project, and highly consider this chalets as well as homeowners who all seek the truest forms of lux- and domestic assets. dollar as they were sold off in previous sessions,” and Managing Director of Al-Deera successful partnership as a strong base for urious comfort. In Japan’s case, net overseas assets stood at said Kenichi Hirano, operating officer at Holding, and CEO of FASTtelco, said that a prosperous future”. Discover the many features and offers that American Mattress 296.3 trillion yen at the end of last year, or $2.9 Tachibana Securities. “Players are betting on a “FASTtelco is keen to deliver its expertise in Al-Nakib asserted that “FASTtelco” provides including globally renowned mattress brands that are all trillion at yesterday’s rate, from 86.32 yen at the strong Wall Street performance later in the glob- the field of advanced and integrated com- strives to offer value added services to the offered at a discounted price. Benefit from this limited time offer by end of the year, according to the finance min- al trading day.” munications to provide its individual or mall tenants, and promises them with more visiting the stores that supplies American Mattressí products includ- istry. Japan’s currency has tumbled since Prime However, the Nikkei may slip to the 13,500 corporate clients with the latest innovative smart solutions which are to be revealed to ing Good Night in Shuwaikhís Pepsi Street, Kids Mattress located in Minister Shinzo Abe swept landslide December level in the coming weeks after months of rapid and modern communication means, to the public at the opening day, adding more the Creative Design Center in Shuwaikh, block 2, American elections on a pledge to boost the world’s third- rises, said Yoshihiro Okumura, general manager facilitate their businesses and aid them to facilitation to their commercial activities. Mattressí showroom in Tunis Street and Boland Mall in Farwaniya. largest economy with a plan that includes big of research at Chibagin Asset Management. government spending and aggressive central “We’ll be in a correctionary phase for a month or bank monetary easing, which tends to weigh on two,” he said. “Broader sentiment is profit-taking the unit. A weaker yen means that assets rather than dip-buying.” Others said the Tokyo Central bank promise lifts shares denominated in another currency, such as the market’s underlying uptrend remains intact. dollar, would become more valuable when cal- “The Japanese economy has experienced a 20- culated in yen terms. But analysts said there year long bear market, and the problems caused LONDON: Investors seized on clear pledges of poli- now it’s time for taking stock and deciding whether index was up 1.6 percent, led by banking were no guarantees Japan would retain the title by the collapse of the bubble, such as bad debt, cy support from Japanese and European central we continue to go higher or we are due a correc- stocks.MSCI’s world equity index had risen 0.4 per- going forward as it faces big trade deficits, have been resolved,” Daiwa Securities said. banks yesterday to drive world shares higher, send- tion,” Michael Hewson, senior market analyst at cent by mid-morning, reversing four days of losses. fuelled by surging dollar-denominated energy “Given these conditions, long-term stock ing the yen down sharply against the dollar and CMC Markets said. The question is being asked imports in the wake of the Fukushima atomic market rallies may well emerge if the govern- boosting oil prices. That put Wall Street on course most about the Japanese market, where the Nikkei Safety abandoned crisis, while carrying a massive public debt. ment and the Bank of Japan (BoJ) implement for a higher open when trading resumes after stock index had reached a 5-1/2-year high before The dollar rose 1.0 percent to 102.00 yen, up Abe’s pro-spending measures threaten to appropriate reflationary measures.” Prime Monday’s Memorial Day holiday, reversing the dropping 7.3 percent last Thursday - its largest more than a full yen from a two-week low of 100.66 inflate a debt pile, which at more than twice the Minister Shinzo Abe swept December elections trend that saw all three major stock indexes end one-day loss since the March 2011 earthquake and hit on Friday. While against the Swiss franc, anoth- size of the economy is the worst among industri- on a pledge to boost the world’s third-largest last week in negative territory. tsunami. er currency seen as a safe haven, the dollar up 0.5 alised nations. “The exchange-rate effect pro- economy and conquer deflation with a mix of Heightened expectations the US central bank The Nikkei steadied yesterday, ending 1.2 per- percent to 0.9675 francs. “The yen and Swiss franc vides only a temporary boost,” said Tsuyoshi big spending and aggressive central bank mon- could soon taper its stimulus programme cent higher after long-serving board member have dropped noticeably this morning, essentially Nakazawa, foreign investment analyst for etary easing, which has helped weaken the yen. unleashed turbulence across the markets last Ryuzo Miyao said the Bank of Japan would fine- because risk assets seem to be stabilising,” said Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities in That, in turn, makes Japan’s exporters more week, leaving it to central banks in Japan and tune market operations to ensure its unprecedent- Societe Generale currency strategist Alvin Tan. Tokyo. “Whether Japan can stay as a major credi- competitive overseas and boosts the value of Europe to reassure investors their liquidity taps ed easing campaign is not derailed. European The euro was little changed at $1.2940 against tor nation will depend on its economic competi- repatriated foreign income. Yen weakness has remain open. “There is still some nervousness, but Central Bank officials also weighed in to help ease the dollar, trading well within its recent range of tiveness and energy consumption pattern... been a major driver of the Tokyo market’s mete- investors are also feeling that equities are the best investor’s nerves, sending the broad FTSE Eurofirst $1.28-1.32. Investors also turned away from Japan is living off its legacy right now,” he told oric rise in recent months. Europe’s stock mar- asset class,” Keith Bowman, analyst at Hargreaves 300 index up 1.25 percent by midday, its best day German government bonds though the talk of Dow Jones Newswires. kets closed on a positive note on Monday while Lansdown, in a month. future ECB rate cuts lent support. The yield on the Mainland China’s net overseas assets were the London and New York markets were closed Equity markets around the world hit their high- ECB Executive Board member Peter Praet said 10-year bond was flat at 1.43 percent. The rally in 150.3 trillion yen last year, followed by Germany for holidays. Japanese automakers outper- est levels in many years this month due to the the bank could still cut interest rates further to equity markets and signs of rising Middle East ten- with 121.9 trillion yen, Switzerland at 84.7 trillion formed the broader indices yesterday, led by cheap funding from the Fed and other central stimulate the economy if needed. His comment sion lifted oil prices sharply. US crude futures yen and Hong Kong with 63.4 trillion yen, the Toyota which was up 4.89 percent to 6,210 yen, banks. But the comments by Fed chairman Ben echoed that of ECB Executive Board member Joerg gained 0.8 percent to $94.78 a barrel and Brent Japanese government figures showed. Separate while Honda gained 3.86 percent to 4,035 yen. Bernanke suggesting a US recovery could bring a Asmussen on Monday who said the loose policy rose 1.5 percent to $104.16 a barrel. “Oil has made data released by the Bank of Japan yesterday In Tokyo forex trading the dollar bought 102.00 shift in policy have made investors question would stay as long as necessary. Yesterday’s gains today on the back of friendly equity markets,” showed China last year remained the biggest yen, gaining from 101.09 yen in Europe late prospects for further gains. rebound took Germany’s DAX up 1.2 percent to said Carsten Fritsch, senior oil analyst at foreign holder of Japanese debt, raising its hold- Monday, while the euro strengthened to 131.80 “We have had a significant move higher and near recent record highs. In London, the FTSE 100 Commerzbank in Frankfurt. — Reuters ings by 14 percent from 2011 to 20 trillion yen. yen against 130.69 yen in Europe. — Agencies WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 technology

BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel touches a Mercedes E-drive electric car next to Daimler AG BERLIN: A Smart forvision concept car is pictured in front of the Electric Mobility conference of German CEO Dieter Zetsche during the Electric Mobility conference of German government in Berlin. —AFP government in Berlin. —AFP

New tech palaces: Electric vehicles slow to visionary HQs, or gain traction in Germany cursed trophies? Electric cars can help clear the air in congested cities BERLIN: SEATTLE: While much of corporate America would be in part a monument to former Germany plans to have one million elec- fear being left on the side of the road with dead share of electric and hybrid cars is just 0.13 per- is retrenching on the real estate front, the Chief Executive Steve Jobs, who described it tric vehicles on its roads by 2020, but so far that batteries. After Japan’s 2011 Fukushima nuclear cent, calling it “less than a niche of a niche mar- four most influential technology companies as like a spaceship and was closely involved goal seems remote as the nation’s motorists have accident Merkel rang in an ambitious energy tran- ket”. But proponents say the boom is just around in America are each planning headquarters in the plans before he died in 2011. The shown little love for the quietly humming vehicles. sition away from fossil fuels and nuclear power the corner. that could win a Pritzker Architecture Prize project, which could cost up to $5 billion So far, the number of electric vehicles registered in toward renewables such as wind, solar and biofu- German carmakers plan to launch about 15 for hubris. Amazon.com last week revealed according to reports, would house about Germany is just some 7,000. Chancellor Angela els. Speaking on Monday, she said the push for electric car models by late 2014, with plans to plans for three verdant bubbles in down- 12,000 Apple employees. An Apple spokes- Merkel put on a brave face in light of the statistics, electric cars would dovetail with that plan, to move into mass production by 2017. Over the town Seattle, joining Apple’s circular “space- woman declined to comment. speaking Monday at a government-organized ensure that the power that drives electric cars is next three to four years, German industry is set to ship,” Facebook’s Frank Gehry-designed international forum in Berlin, where she affirmed produced from clean, alternative energy sources. invest about 12 billion euros to develop alterna- open-office complex and a new Googleplex TEMPTING FATE that she is a believer in electric mobility. “Our plans She said electric cars could be a “core sector of tive fuel engines. VW chief Martin Winterkorn- on the list of planned trophy offices. The technology sector has amassed are ambitious,” she conceded about the one-mil- our industrial production”, with the auto sector whose company this year launches its new elec- “It signals a desire, a statement, to say large cash piles in recent years, leaving lion goal pronounced by her government in 2009. making up one quarter of Germany’s exports. But tric Golf-said at the weekend that the govern- that we’re special, we’re different. We have many companies over-capitalized, said Bill “But we have a good chance of sticking to the so far Germans, used to putting their gas pedals ment must help by improving infrastructure, such changed the world and we are going to Smead, head of Smead Capital timetable.” to the floor on the famous autobahn highways, as a network of charging stations and incentives continue to change it,” said Margaret Management, which oversees $465 million Her government has spent almost 1.5 billion have been slow to accept electric cars. In the first such as electric-car-only lanes. O’Mara, associate professor of history at the in assets and does not own shares of Apple, euros ($1.9 billion) to subsidize research and four months of the year, only about 1,500 electric In comments to the newspaper Bild am University of Washington, who has written Amazon, Facebook or Google. “Over-capital- development in electric mobility and is promoting cars were newly registered, after a total of about Sonntag, he said the one-million goal was realistic about the building of Silicon Valley. “It’s also ized companies often don’t perform well, the models by scrapping car registration tax for 3,000 last year. There are also 65,000 registered if prices fall with mass production, adding: “I am a reflection of robust bank accounts. They and leaders of over-capitalized companies the first 10 years. However, unlike neighboring hybrid vehicles with both electric and fuel convinced that that can happen.” Transport have a lot of cash.” Historically, however, sometimes squander the money,” he said. France, Germany does not offer bonuses for the engines. Minister Peter Ramsauer also insisted “the govern- when a company becomes preoccupied Apple, Amazon and Facebook are not get- purchase of electric vehicles. Electric cars produce Henning Kagermann, coordinator of the ment sees no reason to step back from the goal of with the grandeur of its premises, it often ting tax breaks or other similar financial no exhaust pipe emissions and can help clear the Platform for Electric Mobility that evaluates the one million electric cars by 2020. The first steps signals a high point in its fortunes. These incentives for their plans, according to local air in congested cities, while their carbon footprint electric car strategy, said that, under current con- are usually the hardest, but sales will increase rap- fantastical buildings may end up as little officials. It is not clear if Google is receiving ultimately depends on the type of energy used to ditions, 600,000 electric vehicles is a more realis- idly.” Philippe Varin, chief executive of PSA more than costly monuments to vanity and any incentives. charge their batteries. tic figure for 2020.”Electromobility is treading Peugeot Citroen, said “it will be a gradual process a loss of focus on the core business that While these plans radiate optimism, they Problems so far include the high cost of the water,” said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, director of over 10 years” to convince consumers to embrace made for success in the first place. risk bringing down a curse that has befallen batteries, usually lithium-ion types, and limited the automotive research centre of the University first hybrids and plug-in hybrids and finally 100 “I’ve been thinking the Apple spaceship big companies just as they construct pyra- networks of charging stations, which make drivers of Duisburg-Essen. He said so far the market percent electric vehicles. —AFP is going to get nicknamed the ‘Death Star’ mid-scale palaces. AOL-Time Warner started because the project is so big and the timing building the Time Warner Center, a 2.8 mil- is so bad,” said hedge fund manager Jeff lion square foot structure on the edge of Matthews of Ram Partners. The building is New York’s Central Park featuring two tow- Kaspersky Internet Security shows high coming to fruition just as Apple’s product ering glass skyscrapers, right as the tech cycles may be maturing, he explained. “It is stock bubble popped in 2000, destroying efficiency in Real-World Protection Test such a classic contrary indicator that you more than three-quarters of the Internet just get the shakes.” He no longer holds and media company’s value. The New York DUBAI: Kaspersky Lab announces Reader, Flash, Java etc. to a number of advanced antivirus Internet Security 2013 earned AV Apple stock. Times Co, Wall Street bank Bear Stearns and that its security solution Kaspersky Testing of each security solution technologies implemented in Comparatives’ top Advanced+ rating Walter Price, who runs technology chemical company Union Carbide also built Internet Security 2013successfully was conducted on a computer run- Kaspersky Internet Security 2013.We following the results of a similar, investment funds at RCM Capital ambitious headquarters just before their repelled the overwhelming majori- ning under Windows 7. The test place great emphasis on developing more rigorous test conducted from Management LLC, shares the outlook: businesses hit tough times. The “campus ty of malicious attacks in a Real- designers prepared a total of 545 proactive antivirus technologies to August-November 2012. The prod- “When companies build big headquarters curse” has claimed several tech victims as World Protection Test conducted by infection scenarios involving the combat the ever-growing number of uct’s previous edition, Kaspersky it’s usually when they’re doing really well well. the authoritative Austrian antivirus most recent vulnerabilities and mal- threats. The results of the Real-World Internet Security 2012, also won the and have strong outlooks, and that often In the early 1990s, Borland Software - test laboratory AV-Comparatives in ware samples. Kaspersky Internet Protection Testshowthat this is the top award from AV-Comparatives fol- coincides with a peak in their stock.” Apple, once the second-largest independent soft- April 2013. Security 2013 was among the best right approach,” said Nikita Shvetsov, lowing a Real-World Protection Test Amazon, Google and Facebook are battling ware company - spent more than $100 mil- The Real-World Protection Tests performers, missing just one mal- Deputy CTO (Research) at Kaspersky conducted in June 2012. to recruit tech talent, and attractive campus- lion on offices just south of Silicon Valley designed to test the ability of secu- ware sample. As well as Kaspersky Lab. AV-Comparatives’ Real-World es help with that, he added, but Apple’s plan that featured ponds, tennis courts and a rity solutions to manage attacks in Lab’s product, 20 other popular secu- Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 Protection Test is one of the most has not gone down well with investors. swimming pool. By 2008 the company had real-world conditions by replicating rity solutions from other manufactur- has regularly proved to be highly authoritative professional tests in the RCM’s tech funds no longer hold shares. been hammered in the market by Microsoft scenarios that commonly occur ers participated in the testing. effective in real-world conditions. In sphere of IT security. This year, it has and was worth less than the cost of the during everyday computer use. “With each new set of test results March this year, the product been nominated for the Austrian PROJECT RUNAWAY complex. Since then, Yahoo Inc, MySpace, Such scenarios typically involve our product repeatedly demon- achieved a 100% result in a similar government’s Constantinus Award Amazon’s design, presented to Seattle Inktomi, Sun Microsystems and Silicon web browsing and working with strates a high level of protection test conducted by AV-Comparatives. 2013, a leading award in computer city planners last week, includes three steel Graphics have either hatched plans for or popular applications such as Adobe from real-world threats. This is thanks In December 2012, Kaspersky science. and glass spheres almost 100 feet (30 moved into swaggering headquarters, only meters) high, which will serve as the center- to hit the skids. Google moved into Silicon piece for three new skyscrapers that will Graphics’ campus and Facebook took over house a rapidly growing workforce in down- Sun’s headquarters. town Seattle. The plans call for “a series of Salesforce.com Inc got the shakes in Google’s recipe for excitement intersecting spheres with ample space for a time. In late 2011 the stock had fallen from a wide range of planting material, as well as July high, and analysts were criticizing the CALIFORNIA: Even though its ubiquitous people’s habits and lives that it can under- ling of Wall Street. Analysts still fret that has shot up 65 percent since Page took individuals working alone or in groups.” company for excessive spending on sales Internet search engine practically mints stand what they want - sometimes before searches on desktop computers, Google’s charge. Google recently surpassed the mar- Amazon declined further comment. and marketing. Earlier approved plans to money, Google Inc. was widely seen as a they themselves know it. “There’s not much most lucrative way to sell ads, will cool off ket cap of Microsoft. Prospects could get Google Inc, the world’s largest Internet build a $2 billion high-tech campus in San company whose best days were behind it. It competition” when it comes to exploring before it can come up with its next big mon- brighter if Page realizes his big ambitions for search company, has outgrown its original Francisco were canceled by the following was written off as the next Microsoft Corp - a technological frontiers, Page said during the eymaker. But they say Page has impressed Google. Page wants Google to be on every headquarters in Silicon Valley’s Mountain February. staid high-tech giant in the shadows of company’s first-quarter earnings call, investors by running this $50 billion business screen and every device so online advertisers View and is planning to build a 1.1 million Apple Inc. and Facebook Inc that had lost its “because no one else is crazy enough to try.” of nearly 54,000 workers with hardheaded can reach consumers wherever they are and square foot Googleplex nearby. Called Bay PRODUCTIVITY PREMIUM? sense of urgency and innovative edge. But These attention-getting projects have discipline. Page has sharpened the compa- whatever they are doing. View, it will have nine rectangular buildings, Despite these cautionary tales, some say that sentiment has shifted dramatically over reinvigorated Google’s image in Silicon Valley ny’s focus on a handful of product areas to Analysts aren’t sure Page can pull off that horizontally bent, with living roofs sur- the new breed of tech companies are smart the last year, and when Google swings open and beyond. The company has a starring role deliver, in his words, “one consistent, beauti- feat. And not everyone sees Google through rounded by courtyards and connected by to construct their own buildings, which the doors to its annual conference for soft- in a new Vince Vaughn-Owen Wilson movie ful and simple Google experience,” some- such rose-colored glasses. Google must crack bridges. No employee will be more than a match the collaborative way they work and ware developers, it won’t just be showcasing coming out June 7, “The Internship,” which thing Google executives say will be on dis- the code on making money on mobile two-and-a-half-minute walk away from any can yield long-term productivity and ener- its latest products. It will be showing off the showcases Google products and casts play at its developers’ conference this week. devices. It also faces growing pressure to colleague, a design aimed at encouraging gy-efficiency benefits. “As they see energy newest version of Google. Google as “the greatest place to work in As rivals Apple and Facebook each experi- show investors it can turn all this costly tech- collaboration. A Google spokeswoman prices going up they recognize that these “A year ago, everyone thought Google America.” And it has again become the dar- enced their own bruising falls, Google stock nological wizardry into moneymaking busi- declined further comment. buildings have to last longer, and they need was just going to collect its pension checks” nesses. “If you look at the revenue of core Facebook Inc is taking the collaborative to be more in control of the operation costs from search advertising, said Steven Levy, Google.com sites, we have had three quar- idea a step further, with plans for Facebook of these buildings. A property developer author of the book “In the Plex: How Google ters in a row of year-over-year growth below West, an addition to its main campus in does not focus on such long-term things,” Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives.” “Now 20 percent,” BGC Partners analyst Colin Gillis Menlo Park, California, that will be the size of said John Barton, director of the architectur- it’s the hot company again.” One of the main said. “If you go back and look at what the rev- seven-and-a-half football fields. Facebook al design program at Stanford University. reasons Google is the company that every- enue used to be, it was a rocket ship. The hired Gehry to bring his trademark style of “Employees are more productive in the right one is talking about: big ideas. rocket ship is slowing down.” Google faces unexpected angles and understated drama kinds of environments. That may be more Google has long been known for making major obstacles on other fronts, too. As the to what is essentially one enormous open- expensive, but if it pays back in a 5 percent long-term bets on audacious ideas, some of technology giant has grown ever bigger and plan office, where a worker can wander productivity increase, that may be really which evolve into indispensable parts of our more powerful, worming its way into every from one end to the other without ever smart,” he added. everyday lives: photographing every street detail and facet of people’s lives, it has drawn going through a door. The rooftop serves as O’Mara at University of Washington sug- on Earth to create a digital replica of the heavy scrutiny from government regulators a park. gests the new tech giants are emulating the planet, say, or providing instant translations and consumer watchdogs the world over. An earlier version of the building plan workplace innovations of the famous Bell of websites in any language. Under Larry Google emerged largely unscathed from an featured flares on the ends of the structure Labs, the historic research arm of AT&T that Page, the Google co-founder who took the antitrust probe in the US. But its privacy prac- like butterfly wings, but Facebook decided gave birth to the transistor, the laser and reins two years ago from longtime Chief tices are under attack in Europe, where it not to go ahead with them, said Rachel technology behind mobile phones over Executive Eric Schmidt, Google is experi- could face fines or restrictions on its opera- Grossman, associate planner for the city of many decades. Bell’s legendary facility, menting even more. Building artificial intelli- tions. And Google’s competitors are trying to Menlo Park. Facebook spokesman Tucker designed by modernist architect Eero gence software to power driverless cars. undermine an agreement the company Bounds said the expansion will be “extreme- Saarinen in the late 1950s, might not be the Wiring homes with super-speedy broad- reached with European antitrust authorities, ly cost-effective” and is needed to help the right role monument. Now owned by global band. Developing futuristic glasses that CALIFORNIA: A team member can see what software developer which could force major concessions or scut- company develop new products for its telecom giant Alcatel Lucent, the quarter- when spoken to or touched let users take Monica Wilkinson is writing on a white board while she wears tle the deal. Still, these days the criticism is users. He declined to comment further. mile-long mirrored box lies empty, and is photos and snippets of video or send email. Google Glass at Crushpath in San Francisco. The electronic more muted, and more investors are betting Apple has the most ambitious idea, a 2.8 likely to end up being turned into a medical Google even has a small group of researchers on Google than against it. “Google can do no million square foot glass ring on 176 acres. It center - or razed. —Reuters coming up with a simulation of the human glasses are not available to the public yet, but some develop- wrong right now,” said Anthony Valencia, brain, part of its effort to bore so deeply into ers have been able to buy them to prepare apps. —MCT media analyst at TCW Group. —MCT WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 HEALTH & SCIENCE China province to abolish teacher HIV tests: Report

BEIJING: A Chinese province is likely to list of health standards for teaching candi- changed is inevitable,” he told AFP. Kong cessful. An HIV-positive teacher in Jiangxi the end of 2011 there were an estimated abolish mandatory HIV tests for teachers, dates in Guangdong, in the south of the Lingkun, of AIDS advocacy group Beijing province, which neighbors Guangdong, 780,000 people with HIV/AIDS in China, state media said yesterday, making it the country. Rainbow Centre, said provincial testing won 45,000 yuan compensation after according to the Chinese Center for first region on the mainland to eliminate The announcement represents a policies were at odds with central govern- suing his local education department for Disease Control and Prevention, out of the the measures long-branded as discrimina- “breakthrough” in a campaign to overturn ment statements, adding: “Guangdong’s employment discrimination, China’s country’s total population of about 1.35 tory. HIV carriers are excluded from civil discriminatory laws and brings Chinese move is more one of correcting their mis- Xinhua news agency reported in January. billion. service jobs including teaching and polic- policy into line with international norms, takes.” “There are now many more influential The first 10 months of 2012 saw more ing in many provinces across China, lead- said Lu Jun, head of Beijing-based human The China Daily quoted a lawyer as say- voices in China calling for the revision or than 34,000 new cases of AIDS reported in ing to accusations of prejudice from rights rights group the Yi Ren Ping Centre. “It’s ing that people with HIV have filed an complete removal of the pre-employment China, up 12.7 percent over the same peri- groups. the first time (Chinese authorities) has increased number of anti-discrimination health check system,” Hong Kong-based od last year, the state-run Global Times But the state-run China Daily said that made a change. Such rules are unimagin- lawsuits which have raised awareness of labour rights group China Labour Bulletin reported, citing a health ministry docu- HIV tests had been removed from a draft able in other countries and having them the issue, though most have been unsuc- said in a commentary on the case. As of ment. — AFP Mom’s obesity surgery may help break cycle in kids Children with fewer risk factors for diabetes, heart diseases WASHINGTON: Obese mothers tend to have weight at the start of pregnancy are supposed to marinated” depending on mom’s weight and kids who become obese. Now provocative gain 25 to 35 pounds. Those who already are health, said Dr. John Kral of New York’s SUNY research suggests weight-loss surgery may help obese should gain no more than 11 to 20 Downstate Medical Center, who co-authored the break that unhealthy cycle in an unexpected pounds. Overweight mothers-to-be fall in the Canadian study. That may do more than over way - by affecting how their children’s genes middle. stimulate fetal growth. Scientists know that cer- behave. In a first-of-a-kind study, Canadian Sticking to those guidelines can be tough. tain molecules regulate gene activity, attaching researchers tested children born to obese The National Institutes of Health just began a like chemical tags. That’s what Laval University women, plus their brothers and sisters who were five-year, $30 million project to help overweight lead researcher Dr. Frederic Guenard was look- conceived after the mother had obesity surgery. or obese pregnant women do so, and track how ing for in blood tests. He took samples from chil- Youngsters born after mom lost lots of weight their babies fare in the first year of life. Called the dren born to 20 women before and after com- were slimmer than their siblings. They also had LIFE-Moms Consortium, researchers are recruit- plex surgery that shrank their stomachs and fewer risk factors for diabetes or heart disease ing about 2,000 expectant mothers for seven rerouted digestion so they absorb less fat and later in life. studies around the country that are testing dif- calories. On average, they lost about 100 More intriguing, the researchers discovered ferent approaches to a healthy weight gain and pounds. that numerous genes linked to obesity-related better nutritional quality. They range from put- Guenard compared differences in those SHUANGXI: Former construction worker and pneumoconiosis sufferer Xu health problems worked differently in the ting pregnant women on meal plans and exer- chemical tags in more than 5,600 genes Zhihui holding up an x-ray of his chest as he sits on his bed at his home in younger siblings than in their older brothers and cise programs, to weekly monitoring, to peer between the younger and older siblings. He the village of Shuangxi, Hunan province. Safety standards are poorly sisters. pressure from fellow parents trained to bring found significant differences in the activity of enforced and according to experts, millions of those workers are now ill with Clearly diet and exercise play a huge role in nutrition advice into the homes of low-income certain genes clustered in pathways known to pneumoconiosis, the incurable lung disease that has left many waiting to how fit the younger siblings will continue to be, mothers-to-be. affect blood sugar metabolism and heart dis- die. —AFP and it’s a small study. But the findings suggest It’s best to get to a healthy weight before ease risk. the children born after mom’s surgery might conceiving, noted Dr. Mary Evans of the National Only time will tell if these youngsters born have an advantage. Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney after mom’s surgery really get lasting benefits, “The impact on the genes, you will see the Diseases, who oversees the project. Just how whatever the reason. Meanwhile, specialists Ladybird can be impact for the rest of your life,” predicted Dr much mom has to lose for a healthier baby is urge women planning a pregnancy to talk with Marie-Claude Vohl of Laval University in Quebec “obviously a research gap,” she said. Monday’s their doctors about their weight ahead of City. She helped lead the work reported Monday research findings from Canada may shed some time. Besides having potential long-term con- pest in disguise in the journal Proceedings of the National new light. Consider: Overweight mothers have sequences, extra pounds can lead to a variety Academy of Sciences. Why would there be a dif- higher levels of sugar and fat in the blood- of immediate complications such as an ference? It’s not that mom passed on different stream, which in turn makes it to the womb. increased risk of premature birth and cesarean LOS ANGELES: The harlequin ladybird was which has very strong anti-microbial prop- genes, but how those genes operate in her Fetuses are “marinated, and they’re differently sections. — AP once a stalwart ally of greenhouse growers erties that allow the beetles to resist infec- child’s body. The idea: Factors inside the womb around the world. Native to Japan, Korea tions. (It’s so strong, in fact, that it’s being seem to affect the dimmer switches that devel- and other parts of eastern Asia, the bright studied as a way to help fight microbes like op on a fetus’ genes - chemical changes that red ladybugs were prized for their aphid- Mycobacterium tuberculosis and make genes speed up or slow down or switch on eating abilities - until they caused serious Plasmodium falciparum that cause serious and off. That in turn can greatly influence health. declines in other ladybug populations. diseases in humans.) The sibling study is “a very clever way of look- Now researchers have discovered the harle- Was harmonine a secret ladybug bio- ing at this,” said Dr. Susan Murphy of Duke quin ladybird’s secret weapon: a deadly weapon? It was a plausible theory: Previous University. She wasn’t involved in the Canadian parasite that lives harmlessly in its body research showed that native ladybugs who research but studies uterine effects on later but kills other species with abandon. The fed on Harmonia eggs and larvae became health. She says it makes biological sense that findings, published this week in the journal sick and died. Invasive Harmonia ladybugs, the earliest nutritional environment could affect Science, demonstrate how things can go on the other hand, could feed on the a developing metabolism, although she cautions awry when a foreign creature is introduced young of other species without suffering that healthier family habits after mom’s surgery into an ecosystem, even when done with any ill consequences. may play a role, too. It’s the latest evidence that the best intentions. But the harmonine alone couldn’t be the environment - in this case the womb - can Ladybugs are beloved by humans and poisoning the native species because when alter how our genes work. And the research has are valuable to gardeners, who deploy the Vogel’s team pumped the beetles full of implications far beyond the relatively few spotted beetles to eat plant-munching synthetic harmonine, they survived just women who take the drastic step of gastric aphids rather than spray their shrubs, flow- fine. Something else in the harlequin lady- bypass surgery before having a baby. ers and crops with harsh chemical pesti- birds’ blood was causing the deadly effects. Increasingly, scientists are hunting other ways to cides. It’s a prime example of an environ- “There must be some other player in the tackle obesity before or during pregnancy in mentally friendly agricultural practice game,” Vogel said. “That’s why we started to hopes of a lasting benefit for both mother and known as biological control. But one partic- look more closely into the hemolymph.” baby. ular ladybug, Harmonia axyridis, has When researchers examined the What’s clear is that obesity is “not just impact- proved to be a two-faced friend. These Harmonia beetles’ blood, they found ing your life, it’s impacting your child,” Duke’s bugs gobble up aphids at jaw-straining extremely high spore counts of a parasitic, Murphy said. More than half of pregnant women speeds but spread like wildfire once they single-celled fungus related to Nosema are overweight or obese, according to the escaped the greenhouse, quickly taking thompsoni. The counts were so high that American College of Obstetricians and over native ladybugs’ turf in large parts of they thought they had made a mistake. Gynecologists. But it’s not just a matter of how Europe and North America, among other With so many spores in their hemolymph, much moms weigh when they conceive - doc- regions. “you should be dead,” Vogel said. But his tors also are trying to stamp out the idea of eat- In Europe, swarms of the pests have team found the same high levels in hun- ing for two. Gaining too much weight during MICHIGAN: Women walking down the street on Michigan in Chicago, Illinois. started taking wintertime shelter in houses, dreds of individual beetles. The researchers pregnancy increases the child’s risk of eventually Members of the World Health Organization (WHO) gathered since May 20, 2013 for a said study co-author Heiko Vogel, a biolo- soon realized that this must be the key to developing obesity and diabetes, too. general assembly and took commitment to halt the rise of obesity in the world by gist at the Max Planck Institute for the Harmonia beetles’ success. What’s too much? Women who are normal 2020. — AFP Chemical Ecology in Germany. Vogel’s own Somehow, their immune systems had mother’s residence has been plagued by managed to tame the spores - they weren’t the beetles, which can fly through win- eradicated, but remained in a handy, inac- dows, slip under carpets and burrow into tive state. Then, when gobbled by another Poland dumps old garbage any crevice a human home has to offer. species of ladybug, the spore would infect - “Thousands of beetles - even if they are and perhaps spread through the native nice-looking - crawling into your house is population. “It was a surprise,” said Stuart system for greener setup not fun,” Vogel said. Scientists aren’t sure Reynolds, an evolutionary immunologist why some species are able to thrive and with the University of Bath in England, who dominate when introduced to a new envi- was not involved in the study. “The harle- Municipal disposal tax for s service coming ronment. In extreme cases, the invaders quin ladybird is one of the best studied wipe out the resources of native predators invasive insects there is, and nobody had WARSAW: With too many people chucking their cent recycled or composted. The new system is 600,000 people will pay for garbage disposal, of and throw the ecosystem wildly out of bal- any idea.” garbage into neighbors’ bins-or worse, the woods-to expected to both cut down on litter and increase the Warsaw’s total population of two million,” Zbigniew ance. The Harmonia ladybug has been The findings offer a cautionary tale for avoid paying for disposal, Poland has taken on a mas- recycling rate. Starting July 1, municipalities-and not Gawron, head of an association of Warsaw housing studied for years, but scientists hadn’t biological control, which has been used to sive overhaul of its laissez-faire waste management individual households-will be responsible for coordi- cooperatives, was quoted as saying by the Gazeta uncovered many clear answers that explain control invasive pests, the scientists said. system. The new greener setup, which enters into nating garbage collection and recycling for their dis- Wyborcza daily. The Constitutional Court has already their success. Even with rigorous testing, there may be force in July, will lower the incentive to litter by trict as a whole. Most are expected to hold tenders received several complaints over the legislation. “In To take another crack at the question, unpredictable factors that could allow a requiring everyone to pay a municipal disposal tax to contract out the services. Households will pay a Warsaw, the new law is a mess,” said Jaroslaw German researchers analyzed the ladybugs’ foreign species to alter a native environ- for a service that up to now has been left up to each monthly tax calculated by each municipality based Krajewski, a spokesman for the main opposition par- hemolymph - its blood, essentially - under ment in unforeseen ways. “You should think household to coordinate. on its criteria of choice: number of residents, home ty PiS. But industry officials stress that it will promote a microscope. They knew from earlier work twice before you introduce an alien species While Poland has a long way to go to catch up to square footage, water usage, flat rate. infrastructure development and open up new mar- that the beetles’ hemolymph contained an into a new environment, even if it’s for a green superstars like Austria or Germany-which recy- “Now, once the tax is paid, people won’t have a kets in the country. In March, French water and alkaloid compound called harmonine, good reason,” Vogel said.—MCT cle or compost over 60 percent of their rubbish the reason to empty their garbage cans in the woods,” waste management group Veolia Environnement new system should help bring Warsaw into line with Arkit said. The change will particularly affect homes, opened a giant sewage treatment plant in the capi- EU norms. “It will be revolutionary,” says Tadeusz since apartment buildings already have communal tal, together with a Polish subsidiary of Vinci and Arkit, head of a parliamentary commission in charge garbage bins whose cost is included in the rent. The Germany’s WTE. Women more at risk than men of waste management for the EU member of 38 mil- new system, while eco-friendly, has not won over Warsaw funded 60 percent of the 565-million- lion people. Present laws leave it up to each house- everyone, with Warsaw’s mayor forced to lower cer- euro ($730-million) investment, while EU funds cov- of smoking, drinking: Study hold and business to sign a contract with one of the tain planned taxes because of complaints. And Poles ered the rest. Last month, France’s Suez many garbage collection companies, but the model are still coming up with ways to cheat the system. To Environnement inked a 850-million-euro contract to PARIS: Women who smoke and drink heav- the study. But the picture changed drasti- has proven difficult to implement and oversee. pay a lower tax rate, some apartment owners have build and run an incinerator for 25 years in the west- ily are at a higher risk of early death than cally when alcohol was thrown into the The system is “fair in theory” because everyone claimed fewer residents on forms. “Based on the dec- ern city of Poznan, which will double as a heating men who do the same, a study said yester- mix. pays for his own share, Arkit told AFP. larations submitted to my housing co-op, I think only plant. —AFP day. Data taken from a Europe-wide survey For men who smoked more than 26 “But it’s not effective since there are many people of some 380,000 people aged 40 and older, cigarettes and drank the equivalent of who, to avoid paying, dump their trash into others’ revealed that women faced a dispropor- more than 30 grams of alcohol per day, the garbage bins or toss it outdoors.” Last year, the Philippines drops ‘SEX’ tional risk from the already well-known ill death risk on a separate scale was 2.38 European Commission rapped Poland and 11 other effects of heavy alcohol and tobacco use. compared to men who never smoked and eastern and southern EU members for lagging on Of the group, followed over an average drank up to a maximum of five grams of the environmental front. Though Poland generates for health slogan period of 12 years, 26,411 died during the alcohol. For women the risk rose to a mas- less municipal waste per person than the EU average, study period, said a report by French sive 3.88. more of it winds up being left untreated and illegally tossed into the wild. MANILA: The Philippine Health Department said. However representatives of the call cen- researchers published in the journal “Women who consume excessive said yesterday it had dropped a cheeky slogan tres objected, saying their sector was already Bulletin epidemiologique hebdomadaire amounts of alcohol have a significantly Of the 315 kilograms (695 pounds) of waste each Pole produced in 2011, 60 kilograms wound up as lit- that recommended ‘SEX’ for call centre workers being stigmatized by reports that HIV infec- (BEH). On a risk scale that places never- higher risk from tobacco use than those after the industry failed to find it funny. tions were higher among their workers, Tayag smokers on level “1”, the death risk rose to who consume little or no alcohol,” the study ter, according to the Eurostat data agency. That com- pares to the EU average of 503 kilograms of waste The SEX tagline, which stood for “Stress- told AFP. 1.38 for men who smoked one to 15 ciga- authors wrote. They did not elaborate on free, Eat the right foods and Exercise”, was sup- He said he also did not expect newspaper rettes per day, 1.86 for those who smoked the possible reasons for the stark differ- per person and 17 kilograms litter. But perhaps even more telling is what Poland does with the 255-kilo- posed to encourage the country’s army of call headlines such as “Call Center Agents need to 16 to 26, and 2.44 for those who smoked ence. The study also confirmed earlier find- centre workers to lead healthier lifestyles, said have more SEX: Department of Health.” The more. ings that current smokers have mortality gram majority that it treats: it dumps 71 percent into landfills, burns one percent, and recycles or com- Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag. “We department is still continuing the campaign For women, the equivalent risks were rates around 1.5 to three times higher than thought it would be funny. They used (the but with the tamer slogan of “Live Well, Work similar: 1.32, 2,04 and 2.44 respectively, said people who never smoked. — AFP posts 28 percent. The EU average, in comparison, is 37 percent landfilled, 23 percent burnt, and 38 per- acronym) SEX to make it a simple message,” he Well”, Tayag said. — AFP WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 HEALTH & SCIENCE Cockroaches adapt to sugar-based traps

LOS ANGELES: In the war against pests, the the mid-1980s. Placed under sinks and in world who picked up samples from infested feine (whose bitterness is used by plants to those for “bitter,” Schal said. That gave the lowly cockroach makes for a fearsome cupboards, the traps lured in hungry cock- homes in the US, Puerto Rico and Russia, he deter predators). scientists a fingerprint of each taste. Next adversary. It can go weeks without water, roaches with sugary temptations and then and his colleagues gathered 19 different Then they watched the electrical signals they fed the cockroaches a glucose-laced survive decapitation for a time - and, like poisoned them quickly with insecticide. But populations of German cockroaches and the neurons sent to the brain. Signals for solution and watched the electrical sig- any proper supervillain, can send humans by 1993, exterminators started noticing tested the bugs for the anti-sweet-tooth. “sweet” had a very different shape than nals.—MCT screaming from a room. Now researchers something strange: The traps seemed to This was easy enough: Normal cock- have discovered how some roaches have have lost their power. Somehow, cock- roaches will gladly dig into a batch of sweet, eluded humans’ once-infallible traps: They roaches were thriving in baited homes. sticky jelly, while glucose-averse roaches have evolved so that glucose-sweetened Jules Silverman, an entomologist, got on will jump back, as if repulsed. Sure enough, bait tastes bitter. The discovery, published the case. His employer at the time, The the glucose-haters cropped up in seven of in Friday’s edition of the journal Science, Clorox Company, owned a bait-making the populations studied, said Coby Schal, an solves a 20-year mystery even as it sheds business, and he began taking the traps entomologist at NCSU and senior author of light on the cockroach’s powerful ability to apart, testing the ingredients one by one on the Science study. “It’s really interesting how adapt. Blattella germanica, the German cockroach. they jump away from it,” he said. “It’s like an “These roaches are unbelievable,” said Silverman could see that the pesticides still electric shock, almost.” The cockroach’s taste Walter Leal, a chemical ecologist at the killed the roaches; clearly, the problem had system is much more decentralized than University of California, Davis, who was not to be with the sweet baits. They were that of humans, Schal said. They have taste involved in the study. “There’s an arms race sweetened with a formulation of high-fruc- buds on several facial appendages, and here.” Cockroaches are an inevitable com- tose corn syrup that was about 55 percent even on their feet. panion to human civilization. They infest fructose and about 45 percent glucose - a The researchers focused on the para- dark corners of homes, feed on all types of simple sugar that serves as standard energy glossae, which sit closest to the cockroach food - not to mention hair, glue and soap - currency in living things. mouth and allow the critters to taste and skitter away quickly when spotted. Companies switched baits to favor fruc- objects before eating them. The paraglos- tose, and the traps have seemed to work sae are lined with hair-like sensilla, just a They can fill homes in the tens of thou- NEW JERSEY: Hanan Davidowitz holds up an acetate rendering of a cock- sands. Exterminators once responded to the since. But the cause of cockroaches’ glucose few micrometers long, that contain taste onslaught by spraying a home’s baseboards boycott remained a mystery. Silverman receptor neurons. The researchers stuck tiny roach. Scientists at NEC research institute in Princeton, New Jersey have fig- with strong insecticide, but this risked revisited the question two decades later, glass electrodes onto these sensilla and ured out how cockroaches manage to scurry away just as people get ready exposing children and pets to harsh chemi- after he had joined the faculty of North then had the cockroaches taste a variety of to swat them. Tiny hairs sense a change in wind speed and direction, cals. Carolina State University in Raleigh. Using a sweet and bitter compounds, including according to the scientists, who monitored the nerve impulses in a roach The baited trap solved this dilemma in network of cockroach collectors around the fructose (the sugar found in fruit) and caf- they’ve embedded in wax and stuck in a wind tunnel. — MCT WHAT’S ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 EQUATE sponsors American

SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS Safety Society’s beach cleanup QUATE Petrochemical Company sponsored the hat’s more fun than clicking a beauti- American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) - ful picture? Sharing it with others! Let E W Kuwait Chapter beach cleanup day. As part of other people see the way you see ongoing bilateral collaboration, EQUATE’s sponsorship Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will of this initiative for the second year is an extension of its feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram sustainability driven Corporate Social Responsibility feeds. If you want to share your Instagram pho- (CSR) efforts with several organizations within and out- tos, email us at side Kuwait. [email protected] Reflecting EQUATE’s “Partners in Success” tagline, EQUATE and ASSE have enjoyed much cooperation in several initiatives for a number of years. Established in 1995, EQUATE is an international joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Greetings Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). Commencing production in 1997, EQUATE is the single operator of a fully integrated world-scale manufacturing facility producing over 5 million tons annually of high-quality petrochemical products which are marketed throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.

appy Birthday to our son Syed Danial. We Hwish you all the happiness and success in your life. With lots of love and best wishes from Mom and Dad, Sister Yasmin Syed and Aisha Syed.

Announcements

Legal awareness camp ichar Bharathi Kuwait in association with the VIndian Lawyers Forum will hold a ‘Legal Awareness Camp’ on May 31 at the United Indian School from 10am to 1230pm. The program will be inaugurated by Adv Labeed Abdal who will also will join our experts panel. The participating lawyers from Indian Lawyers Forum are Adv. Thomas Panicker, Adv Sumod MK, Adv Mohammed Basheer, Adv Thomas Stephen. The function will be organized in three sessions, as follows. Subject presentation by the Lawyers Panel, on the following topics: Creating expatriate awareness on basic Kuwait Labor/Civil/Criminal Laws. And creating expatriate awareness on basic Indian Civil/Criminal Laws. 15th CBSE Kuwait Cluster Volleyball Tournament

IMAX he 15th CBSE Kuwait Cluster Volleyball the host school, Sr Maria Lytta and Sr Serena on March manship, UIS and CSK emerged in the finals with UIS TTournament was hosted by Carmel School 21, 2013. Six schools competed for this championship being victorious in the battle. Congratulations to the Kuwait. It was inaugurated by the principals of over a span of three days. In the spirit of true sports- champions

IMAX film program ICSK inducts new members Wednesday: ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups To The Arctic 3D 10:30am to the board of trustees Tornado Alley 3D11:30am, 6:30pm, 9:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 12:30pm, 7:30pm he Board of Trustees of the Indian at IIT Madras. Journey to Mecca 5:30pm Community School, Kuwait unani- Every year new dedicated individuals Born to be Wild 3D 8:30pm T mously elected prominent from the Indian community, who wish to Consultant cardiologist Prof Dr CG contribute to the betterment of the Thursday: Suresh and academician Dr S Neelamani school, are inducted and placed on the ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups and as members of the Board.Dr CG Board. Flight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 5:30pm, 8:30pm Suresh is a Senior Consultant The management, students and staff Born to be Wild 3D 11:30am Cardiologist at Mubarak Hospital and of the Indian Community School, Kuwait Tornado Alley 3D 12:30pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pm Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine. Dr S extend a hearty welcome to esteemed To The Arctic 3D 6:30pm Neelamani is a Senior Research Scientist new members of the Board of Trustees & Program Manager in Kuwait Institute and appreciate them for taking up this Friday: for Scientific Research (KISR). Before com- honorary position. Fires of Kuwait 2:30pm ing to Kuwait he was a Faculty member ICSK Dr S Neelamani Dr CG Suresh Tornado Alley 3D3:30pm, 5:30pm, 8:30pm To The Arctic 3D 4:30pm, 7:30pm Flight of Butterflies 3D 6:30pm en.v introduces participants of NGO capacity Born to be Wild 3D 9:30pm

Saturday: building program at media round table ** 9:30am Showtime Available for Groups he en.v initiative, a leading Kuwait- build the capacity of local civil society initia- Flight of Butterflies 3D 10:30am, 1:30pm, 8:30pm Tbased organization dedicated to pro- tives as we begin to play an active role in moting social responsibility in the Arab shaping the field of social development on a Tornado Alley 3D 11:30am, world, today announced the finalization of regional level as well.” The STAND program is 2:30pm, 5:30pm, 7:30pm, 9:30pm the first phase of training of the STAND divided into three primary phases: Bedaya, To The Arctic 3D 12:30pm, 6:30pm Program. STAND (Support for Training, Injaz and Ta’awun. During the first phase, Born to be Wild 3D 3:30pm Advocacy and Networking in Development) which was recently completed, 10 local Civil Journey to Mecca 4:30pm is a regional program which aims to build the Society Organizations (CSOs) received train- capacity of the local civil society sector ing in NGO Governance, Leadership Notes: through training, funding, and networking Development, Strategic Planning and opportunities. The announcement was made Cooperative Advocacy. Participating CSOs will All films are in Arabic. For English, headsets are at a media roundtable, which was held at the soon be receiving a small grant to implement available upon request. Safir Hotel. STAND is funded by the Middle a project and apply their newly-acquired “Fires of Kuwait” is in English. Arabic headsets are East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) through a skills. en.v will then assess the participating available upon request. non-profit organization, PARTNERS (PDC), and CSOs, and seven of them will be selected to Film schedule is subject to changes without notice. implemented in collaboration with The en.v graduate to the next phase. Initiative in Kuwait. The two-year program The 10 organizations which were selected utilizes an integrated approach to capacity- to participate in the first phase of the pro- building, which combines small grants, train- gram are: Deera, a non-profit project aiming ing and mentoring. The program’s main to promote greater civic engagement and Write to us objectives are to provide access to learning good governance in Kuwait; Equait, a local tools and skills sets for emerging Civil Society youth group fighting against discrimination an organization promoting awareness of the Monitoring and Evaluation, Coalition Organizations (CSOs) and contribute to the in all of its forms; Fursa, a non-profit initiative Constitution and the rights enshrined within Building, Networking, Communications, Send to What’s On creation of a more transparent, accountable aiming to promote local SMEs; Group 29, a it; Spread the Passion, a leading Kuwaiti vol- Social Media, and Conflict Management. They and professional third sector in Kuwait, the local activist organization promoting the unteer center, and Thmeen, a local self- will also receive larger grants to continue civic sector. “At en.v, we are proud to be rights of Kuwaiti bedoons (stateless citizens) empowerment group aiming to create working on their local projects, while utilizing upcoming events, birthdays or spearheading a program that supports and through campaigning, lobbying and advoca- greater visibility for positive Kuwaiti role the skills acquired through their accumulated celebrations by email: trains the individuals and organizations that cy; INJAZ Kuwait, an organization promoting models . During the next two phases of the training. The ultimate goal of the program is [email protected] are dedicated to furthering Kuwait as a coun- youth entrepreneurship and education; K’S STAND program, selected CSOs will receive to empower participating organizations to be try and a community,” stated Zahed Sultan, PATH, an animal welfare organization; Kuwait training in: IT for Office Administration, more effective and structured in their work, Fax: 24835619 / 20 Managing Director of the The en.v Initiative. Transparency Society, an NGO dedicated to Fundraising and Proposal-Writing, Financial as well as promote collaboration and net- “We aim to continue to raise visibility and fighting against corruption; Sout Al Kuwait, Management, Project Management, working across the civic sector. WHAT’S ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 Embassy Information

EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.aus- [email protected] (VFS) [email protected] (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more informa- tion. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm. n n n n n n n EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration depart- ment. All processing of visa and immi- gration matters including enquiries is conduct- ed by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.going- tocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-im- [email protected]. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through The British Academy of Sport is organizing a summer swim camp which is spon- The British Academy of Sport is organizing a four-week Ramadan camp which Thursday. The reception is open from 07:30 to sored by Sebamed and Kefan Optics. is sponsored by Sebamed and Kefan Optics. 12:30. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday. n n n n n n n AUK successfully concludes EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Spring 2013 Senior Capstone Exhibition Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooper- ation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on short- stay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application proce- dures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital pho- tos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes he Art& Graphic Design Program ences through the medium of Graphic Hosseinnia said. personal voice, conceptual understand- a few minutes. Biometric data, along with the (GDES) at AUK hassuccessfully con- Design. The displayed projects reflected Amongst the projects that attracted ing, and the use of research for a graphic data provided in the Schengen visa applica- T tion form, will be recorded in the VIS central cluded itsSpring 2013 Senior a culmination of semester-long, self-ini- visitors during this year’s exhibition design exhibition. According to Sharon Capstone Exhibition on May 23. The tiated, and largely self-directed ideas wereproject “Constitution Awareness Lawrence, Chair of the Department of database. Therefore, as from 2nd October exhibition, which was one of the largest implemented through diverse applica- Center” which aims to raise awareness Art and Graphic Design, “the Capstone is 2012, first-time applicants will have to appear in AUK history, witnessed a significant tions. The students were graded based on the constitution of Kuwait; and proj- meant to be the culmination of four in person when lodging the application, in visitor turnout and was juried by on their creativity and presentation, ect “Clinic” that proposed creative ways years of learning for our Graphic Design order to provide their fingerprints. For subse- renowned advertising experts. theirability to conduct and use graphic to facilitate the operation of Kuwait’s majors, showcasing their talents, abili- quent applications within 5 years the finger- Over a course of 3 days, the GDES design research strategy effectively, and governmental clinics. Also featured dur- ties, and learning. I’m very pleased to prints can be copied from the previous appli- Capstone Exhibition showcased the cre- their ability to plan and implement a ing the exhibition were branding proj- say I think this is the best one yet. The cation file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency ative work of AUK students, reflecting compelling graphic design exhibition. ects for “Failaka” and “The Kuwait Opera faculty of Art and Graphic Design is con- would like to assure the people of Kuwait and their abilities to design concepts and Held oncea year in May, the Capstone House”. As the exhibition concluded, stantly working to improve the learning all its permanent citizens that the Member develop themedcampaigns on a wide exhibition brings together visitors from Khair stressed in an interview with Al environment for our students. This States and associated States participating in variety of topics including, social and the field of graphic design, includingex- Watan TV that “the exhibition is an Capstone shows the hard work and the Schengen cooperation, have taken all cultural awareness, corporate identity, pertsfrom graphic design studios, pub- opportunity for students to present earned expertise of our students as necessary technical measures to facilitate the health and safety, and national con- lishing houses, film and video produc- themselves, their creative capabilities, well.” rapid examination and the efficient process- sciousness. tion companies, advertising, and multi- and their technical skills through a proj- The American University of Kuwait ing of visa applications and to ensure a quick Under the supervision of AUK GDES media firms. Hosseinnia sees this as ect in which they have utilized every- (AUK) is an independent, private, equal and discreet procedure for the implementa- professors, Maryam Hosseinnia and Rita anopportunity for Graphic Design thing they have learned over the past opportunity, and co-educational liberal tion of the new VIS. Merheb Khair,the participating students majors to showcase their learning, tal- four yours of study at AUK.” arts institution of higher education. The were able to investigate a topic of their ents and commitment to excellence all As one of the final year courses, the educational, cultural and administrative n n n n n n n choice, research and analyze it, and at once. “The students have worked GDES Capstone course is designed to structure, methods and standards of EMBASSY OF ITALY come up with interesting communica- hard for four years; this exhibition is teach graduating students how to visu- AUK are based on the American model tion tools, addressing their target audi- their goal and their celebration,” alize the complex intersection between of higher learning. The Board of the Kuwait Italian Business Group (KIBG), will unveil the KIBG website on 28 May 2013. The event starts at 18:00 with registration and socialization and includes a wel- come address at 19:00 by the Ambassador of Italy to IHG (InterContinental Kuwait followed by the formal presentation of the KIBG website. The event will end at 20.00. Event Hotels Group) appoints Location Italian Embassy Jabriya Block 9 Street 1 Villa 84. Valet service will be provided . No mobiles new Area General Manager nor equivalent devices are allowed in the Embassy. n n n n n n n EMBASSY GREECE HG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has appointed Carlos The Embassy of Greece in Kuwait has the I pleasure to announce that visa applica- Malliaroudakis as Area General tions must be submitted to Schengen Visa Manager for InterContinental Application Centre (VFS office) located at 12th Kuwait and Holiday Inn Kuwait floor, Al-Naser Tower, Fahad Al-Salem Street, Al- Down Town effective May 1, 2013. Qibla area, Kuwait City, (Parking at Souk Watia). For Carlos, a Greek national born in information please call 22281046 from 08:30 to Beirut, brings with him 25 years of 17:00 (Sunday to Thursday). Working hours: experience in the hospitality indus- Punalur project Submission from 08:30 to 15:30. Passport collec- try in different countries such as tion from 16:00 to 17:00. For visa applications Greece, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar and for homeless please visit the following website Kuwait. www.mfa.gr/kuwait. He has been working with IHG in unalur NRI association Kuwait chapter began its home for poor. The program was held at United Indian Sschool on May 23, 2013, Thursday different brands and roles for more P n n n n n n n evening 6:30 pm. The aim of this program is for a” home for homeless” than 13 years (6 years as General and poor and needy in Pathanapuram Thaluk. The program was officially EMBASSY OF SOUTH KOREA Manager) and was prior to this cur- launched by the vice president of Kerala’s ruling party, Bharatheepuram Sasi, The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in rent appointment General Manager a well known social and Indian political leader from Punalur. The chairman of Kuwait will organize 2013 K-POP Contest on for InterContinental Kuwait (A posi- the NRI association, Jacob Channapetta said the home construction program Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 6:00 pm. The aim tion he is still holding). Carlos, for the poor and needy is a one year long project. As per the scheme, the 10 of the contest is to provide an opportunity to the speaks English, French, Arabic and selected people from the poor and homeless section of the society are the participants to showcase their exciting talents to the Greek. In 2009 he was elected as beneficiaries for this program. The inaugural function was presided over by audience. Everyone is encouraged to participate in Mintu Cherian. Markos William, Nelson Sebastian, Somu Mathew, Thomas the contest. Application forms can be downloaded General Manager of the year for Mathew Kadavil, K Abubaker, Basheer Batha, Murali Krishna, Saji Jacob Maliyil IHG in EMEA region. Carlos was from the Embassy’s website: http://kwt.mofa.go.kr spoke at function. The prominent personalities/dignitaries from Kuwait and (Select English from the menu at the top of the recently involved as well in differ- India, and members of various organizations, large number of Indian public page then Bilateral Relations) or visit the “Korean ent projects related to career from all fields/areas of Kuwait attended Punalur Fest 2013. Georji George, Culture Diwaniya” Facebook Group. Interested appli- development, hotels opening, and Rajan Edamulackal, Bovas Kulathupuzha, Abey M Babu, Mathew Alex, Shijin cants must send their application forms to hotels quality evaluation. Jose, Achen Kutty Anchal, Joju Thomas, Shaji Rasheed Punalur, Alexander, [email protected] by 24 May 2013. Philip, John K Abraham, Stanley John Mathew, Biju Mathew, Prathapan, and Ajay Kumar led the program. TV PROGRAMS WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

03:45 Sport Today 18:30 Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries 20:00 International Desk 03:15 Style Star 04:00 BBC World News 18:55 The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo 21:00 Quest Means Business 03:40 Extreme Close-Up 04:30 Asia Business Report 19:20 Tom And Jerry Tales 22:00 Amanpour 04:10 THS 04:45 Sport Today 19:45 What’s New Scooby Doo 22:30 CNN Newscenter 05:05 THS 00:45 Monsters Inside Me 05:00 BBC World News 20:10 Tiny Toon Adventures 23:00 Connect The World With 06:00 THS 01:35 I’m Alive 05:30 Asia Business Report 20:35 Puppy In My Pocket Becky Anderson 07:50 Style Star 02:25 Wildwives Of Savannah Lane 05:45 Sport Today 21:00 What’s New Scooby-Doo? 08:20 Opening Act 03:15 Gator Boys 06:00 BBC World News 21:25 Looney Tunes 09:15 Opening Act 04:05 World Wild Vet 06:30 Hardtalk 21:50 Dexter’s Laboratory 10:15 THS 04:55 Shamwari: A Wild Life 07:00 BBC World News 22:15 Tom & Jerry Tales 12:05 Married To Jonas 05:20 Echo And The Elephants Of 07:30 World Business Report 23:05 Pink Panther And Pals 00:15 Dual Survival 12:35 Married To Jonas Amboseli 07:45 BBC World News 01:10 Yukon Men 13:05 Playing With Fire 05:45 Dolphin Days 08:00 BBC World News 02:05 Moonshiners 14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New 06:10 Dolphin Days 08:30 World Business Report 03:00 Mythbusters York 06:35 Wildlife SOS 08:45 BBC World News 03:55 Border Security - Series 6 14:30 Kourtney & Kim Take New 07:00 The Really Wild Show 09:00 BBC World News 00:30 Grim Adventures Of... Specials York 07:25 Karina: Wild On Safari 09:30 World Business Report 01:20 Johnny Test 04:20 Auction Hunters 15:00 Style Star 07:50 Karina: Wild On Safari 09:45 BBC World News 02:10 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:50 Storage Hunters 15:30 THS 08:15 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 10:00 BBC World News 02:35 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:15 How Stuff Works 16:30 Extreme Close-Up 09:10 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 10:30 World Business Report 03:00 The Amazing World Of 05:40 How Stuff’s Made 17:00 Chasing The Saturdays 09:35 Chris Humfrey’s Wildlife 10:45 BBC World News Gumball 06:05 Sons Of Guns 18:00 E! News 10:05 Wildwives Of Savannah Lane 11:00 BBC World News 03:25 Regular Show 07:00 Mythbusters 19:00 Fashion Police 11:00 Animal Cops Phoenix 11:30 Hardtalk 03:50 Ben 10: Omniverse 07:50 Ultimate Survival 20:00 E!es 11:55 Shamwari: A Wild Life 12:00 BBC World News 04:15 Scooby-Doo! Mystery 08:45 Gold Rush 21:00 Kourtney And Kim Take Miami 12:20 Wildlife SOS 12:30 World Business Report Incorporated 09:40 Border Security - Series 6 22:00 Chasing The Saturdays 12:50 SSPCA: On The Wildside 12:45 Sport Today 04:40 Powerpuff Girls Specials 22:30 E! News 13:15 SSPCA: On The Wildside 13:00 BBC World News 05:05 Evil Con Carne 10:05 Auction Hunters 23:30 Chelsea Lately 13:45 Animal Precinct 13:30 BBC World News 05:30 Cow & Chicken 10:30 Auction Kings 14:40 Wildwives Of Savannah Lane 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 06:00 Casper’s Scare School 10:55 How Stuff Works 15:30 Echo And The Elephants Of 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 06:30 Angelo Rules 11:25 How It’s Made Amboseli 15:00 BBC World News 07:00 Dreamworks Dragons Riders 11:50 Dual Survival 16:00 The Really Wild Show 15:30 World Business Report Of Berk 12:45 Yukon Men 00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 16:30 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 15:45 Sport Today 07:25 Johnny Test 13:40 Moonshiners 00:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:25 Weird Creatures With Nick 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 07:45 Scooby-Doo! Mystery 14:35 Border Security - Series 6 00:55 Unwrapped Baker 16:30 Impact With Mishal Husain Incorporated Specials 01:20 Unwrapped 18:20 Groomer Has It 17:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 08:10 Evil Con Carne 15:05 Auction Hunters 01:45 Food Wars 19:15 Escape To Chimp Eden 17:30 Hardtalk 08:55 Adventure Time 15:30 Auction Kings 02:10 Food Wars 19:40 Bondi Vet 18:00 Global With John Sopel 09:45 Regular Show 16:00 Jesse James: Outlaw Garage 02:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 20:10 Shamwari: A Wild Life 18:30 Global With John Sopel 10:35 Angelo Rules 16:55 Gold Rush 03:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 20:35 Echo And The Elephants Of 19:00 Global With John Sopel 11:25 Ben 10: Alien Force 17:50 Mythbusters 03:25 Food Wars Amboseli 19:30 World Business Report 11:50 Ben 10: Alien Force 18:45 Sons Of Guns 03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 21:05 Charles & Jessica: A Chimp 19:45 Sport Today 12:15 Hero 108 19:40 How Stuff Works 04:15 Unique Eats Tale 20:00 BBC World News 12:40 Hero 108 20:05 How It’s Made 04:40 Chopped 22:00 Wildest Africa 20:30 BBC Focus On Africa 13:05 Mucha Lucha ! 20:35 Auction Hunters 05:30 Iron Chef America 22:55 Galapagos 21:00 World News Today With 13:30 Angelo Rules 21:00 Storage Hunters 06:10 Food Network Challenge 23:50 Animal Cops Houston Zeinab Badawi 14:20 Evil Con Carne 21:30 Unchained Reaction 07:00 Guy’s Big Bite 21:30 World News Today With 15:10 The Amazing World Of 22:25 James May’s Man Lab 07:25 Guy’s Big Bite Zeinab Badawi Gumball 23:20 Mythbusters 07:50 Reza, Spice Prince Of India 22:00 World News Today With 15:35 Adventure Time 08:15 Unique Sweets 00:40 Come Dine With Me Zeinab Badawi 16:00 Regular Show 08:40 Kid In A Candy Store 01:30 Masterchef: The Professionals 22:30 World Business Report 16:30 Johnny Test 09:05 Barefoot Contessa 22:45 Sport Today 02:15 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 17:00 Ben 10: Omniverse 00:05 How Tech Works 09:30 Food Network Star 03:05 Mitch And Matt’s Big Fish 23:00 Business Edition With Tanya 17:25 Dreamworks Dragons Riders 10:20 Extra Virgin A SEPERATION ON OSN CINEMA Beckett 00:30 Sci-Fi Science 03:30 Cash In The Attic Of Berk 01:00 Prototype This 10:45 Extra Virgin 23:30 Hardtalk 17:50 Gormiti New 11:10 Cooking For Real 04:15 Bargain Hunt 01:50 Sport Science 05:00 MSNBC The Last Word With 18:15 Young Justice 11:35 Food Crafters Kuruvita 05:00 House Swap 02:45 Unchained Reaction 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Lawrence O’Donnell 18:40 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 05:45 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 03:35 Prototype This 12:00 Ultimate Recipe Showdown 19:30 My Sri Lanka With Peter 16:00 Emmerdale 06:00 NBC Nightly News 06:35 Mitch And Matt’s Big Fish 19:05 Total Drama Island 04:25 Engineered 12:50 Grill It! With Bobby Flay Kuruvita 16:30 Coronation Street 06:30 ABC World News With Diane 07:00 The Roux Legacy 19:30 Total Drama Island 13:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 20:00 Delinquent Gourmet 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 00:45 Wacky Races 05:15 The Gadget Show Sawyer 07:40 Nigel Slater’s Simple Cooking 19:55 Mucha Lucha ! Basics 20:30 Kimchi Chronicles 18:00 The Finder 07:00 Live NBC Nightly News 01:35 Duck Dodgers 05:40 How Tech Works 08:05 Homes Under The Hammer 20:20 Ben 10: Omniverse 13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To 21:00 Gone to save the planet 19:00 Touch 07:39 ABC Nightline 02:00 Duck Dodgers 06:05 Voyage Dans L’espace-Temps 09:00 Bargain Hunt 20:45 The Amazing World Of 07:00 Stephen Hawking’s Grand Basics 21:30 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 20:00 Bones 09:00 MSNBC The Last Word With 09:45 Antiques Roadshow 02:25 Dastardly And Muttley Gumball 14:05 Food Wars 22:00 Long Way Down 21:00 Castle Lawrence O’Donnell 02:50 Dastardly And Muttley Design 10:40 Extreme Makeover: Home 21:10 Adventure Time 07:50 Bad Universe 14:30 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 22:55 Gone to save the planet 22:00 The Client List 10:00 ABC World News Now Edition 03:00 Dexter’s Laboratory 21:35 Regular Show 14:55 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 23:20 Market Values 10:30 Live ABC World News Now 03:30 Wacky Races 08:40 The Gadget Show 11:25 MasterChef Australia 22:00 Ben 10 09:05 How Tech Works 15:20 Guy’s Big Bite 23:50 The Frankincense Trail 11:00 NBC Early Today 12:10 Come Dine With Me 03:55 Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries 22:25 Ben 10 15:45 Chopped 11:30 ABC America This Morning 04:20 Tom & Jerry 09:30 Scrapheap Challenge 00:00 Killer Elite 13:00 The Roux Legacy 22:50 Mucha Lucha ! 10:25 Future Weapons 16:35 Barefoot Contessa 12:30 Live ABC America This Morning 13:30 New Scandinavian Cooking 04:45 The Garfield Show 23:15 Mucha Lucha ! 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 02:00 Elfie Hopkins 13:30 MSNBC First Look 05:00 Bananas In Pyjamas 11:20 Superships 00:00 Elfie Hopkins-PG15 04:00 House Of The Rising Sun With Andreas Viestad 23:40 Powerpuff Girls 12:10 Meteorite Men 17:25 Food Wars 14:00 Live NBC Today Show 05:25 Gerald McBoing Boing 02:00 House Of The Rising Sun-18 06:00 Ice Road Terror 18:38 Live MSNBC The Ed Show 13:55 Bargain Hunt 13:00 Bad Universe 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 05:45 Jelly Jamm 04:00 Ice Road Terror-PG15 08:00 True Justice: Violence Of 19:19 Live MSNBC The Rachel Maddow 14:40 Cash In The Attic 13:50 Sci-Fi Science 18:15 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 15:25 Antiques Roadshow 06:00 Ha Ha Hairies 18:40 Guy’s Big Bite 06:00 True Justice: Violence Of Action Show 06:25 Bananas In Pyjamas 14:20 The Gadget Show Action-PG15 09:45 Transformers: Dark Of The 20:00 MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports 16:15 Extreme Makeover: Home 14:45 How Tech Works 19:05 Reza, Spice Prince Of India Edition 06:50 Lazytown 19:30 Chopped 07:45 Transformers: Dark Of The Moon 21:00 MSNBC Newsnation 07:15 Krypto: The Super Dog 00:00 Amanpour 15:10 Stephen Hawking’s Grand Moon-PG15 12:15 The Man Inside 22:00 MSNBC The Cycle 17:00 Homes Under The Hammer Design 20:20 Chopped 17:55 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 07:40 Baby Looney Tunes 00:30 World Sport 21:10 Amazing Wedding Cakes 10:15 The Man Inside-PG15 14:00 True Justice: Dead Drop 23:00 MSNBC Martin Bashir 08:05 Gerald McBoing Boing 01:00 Piers Morgan Live 16:00 Scrapheap Challenge 12:00 True Justice: Dead Drop-PG15 15:45 Transformers: Dark Of The 18:20 Food And Drink 16:55 Future Weapons 22:00 Charly’s Cake Angels 18:45 The Hairy Bikers USA 08:30 Cartoonito Tales 02:00 CNN Newsroom Live From 22:25 Charly’s Cake Angels 13:45 Transformers: Dark Of The Moon 08:55 Ha Ha Hairies Hong Kong 17:45 Engineered Moon-PG15 18:30 X-Men: First Class 19:10 New Scandinavian Cooking 18:35 Voyage Dans L’espace-Temps 22:50 Unique Sweets With Andreas Viestad 09:20 Lazytown 03:00 Anderson Cooper 360 23:15 Unique Sweets 16:30 X-Men: First Class-PG15 20:45 True Justice: Dead Drop 01:00 Test Cricket 09:45 Baby Looney Tunes 04:00 Piers Morgan Live 19:30 Stephen Hawking’s Grand 18:45 True Justice: Dead Drop-PG15 22:30 Covert One: The Hades Factor 08:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 19:45 Come Dine With Me Design 23:40 Food Wars 20:35 Extreme Makeover: Home 10:10 Krypto: The Super Dog 05:00 Quest Means Business 20:30 Covert One: The Hades Factor- 09:00 Super Rugby Highlights 10:35 Cartoonito Tales 06:00 The Situation Room 20:20 Bad Universe PG15 10:00 Top 14 Edition 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 11:00 Jelly Jamm 07:00 World Sport 23:30 Wrong Turn 4: Bloody 12:00 Super League 11:25 Gerald McBoing Boing 07:30 News Special 21:35 The Tech Show Beginnings-18 00:00 Grabbers-PG15 13:30 PGA Tour Highlights 22:15 Bargain Hunt 00:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 11:50 Lazytown 08:00 World Report 22:00 Stephen Hawking’s Grand 02:00 The Romantics-PG15 14:30 PGA European Tour 23:00 Homes Under The Hammer 01:20 A Haunting 12:15 Baby Looney Tunes 09:00 World Report Design 04:00 The Smurfs-PG Highlights 02:05 Couples Who Kill 12:40 Jelly Jamm 10:00 World Sport 06:00 While You Were Sleeping- 15:30 ICC Cricket 360 02:55 Deadly Women 13:00 Tom & Jerry Kids 10:30 Inside Africa 01:15 The Marc Pease Experience- PG15 16:00 NRL Full Time 03:45 I Almost Got Away With It 13:25 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo 11:00 World Business Today PG15 08:00 Bushwhacked-PG 16:30 Dubai Duty Free Darts 04:30 Dr G: Medical Examiner 13:50 Moomins 12:00 World One 03:00 Horrid Henry-PG 10:00 The Waterboy-PG15 Masters 05:20 A Haunting 00:00 BBC World News America 14:20 Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries 12:30 News Special 05:00 A Separation-PG15 12:00 The Smurfs-PG 20:00 Futbol Mundial 00:00 Hannah Montana 06:10 Nightmare Next Door 00:30 BBC World News America 14:45 The Looney Tunes Show 13:00 Amanpour 07:15 When Love Is Not Enough-PG15 14:00 Police Academy 6: City Under 20:30 PGA PGA European Tour 00:20 Hannah Montana 07:00 Mystery Diagnosis 01:00 Newsday 15:10 The 13 Ghosts Of Scooby-Doo 13:30 CNN Newscenter 09:00 The Marc Pease Experience- Siege-PG15 Weekly 00:45 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 07:50 Street Patrol 01:30 Asia Business Report 15:35 Taz-Mania 14:00 Piers Morgan Live PG15 16:00 The Waterboy-PG15 21:00 Inside The PGA Tour 01:05 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 08:15 Street Patrol 01:45 Sport Today 16:00 Tiny Toon Adventures 15:00 News Stream 11:00 The Vow-PG15 18:00 The Winning Season-PG15 21:30 Trans World Sport 01:30 Emperor’s New School 08:40 Real Emergency Calls 02:00 Newsday 16:25 Moomins 16:00 World Business Today 13:00 Extremely Loud & Incredibly 20:00 Take Me Home Tonight-18 22:30 AFL Premiership Highlights 01:50 Emperor’s New School 09:05 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 02:30 Asia Business Report 16:50 Tom And Jerry Tales 17:00 International Desk Close-PG 22:00 Grabbers-PG15 23:30 Super Rugby Highlights 02:15 Replacements 09:30 On The Case With Paula Zahn 02:45 Sport Today 17:15 What’s New Scooby Doo 18:00 Global Exchange 15:15 A Dog Named Duke-PG15 02:35 Replacements 10:20 Undercover: Double Life 03:00 Newsday 17:40 The Looney Tunes Show 19:00 World Sport 17:00 Something Borrowed-PG15 03:00 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 11:10 Disappeared 03:30 Asia Business Report 18:05 The Garfield Show 19:30 News Special 19:00 In Time-PG15 03:20 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 12:00 Mystery Diagnosis 00:00 WWE Bottom Line 21:00 The Hangover 2-18 01:00 Resolution 819-PG15 03:45 Emperor’s New School 12:50 Street Patrol 03:00 The Last Samurai-PG15 01:00 NRL Full Time 23:00 The Girl With The Dragon 01:30 Futbol Mundial 04:05 Emperor’s New School 13:15 Street Patrol 05:00 The Evening Star-PG15 Tattoo-R 02:00 Dubai Duty Free Darts 04:30 Replacements 13:40 Forensic Detectives 07:00 The Way-PG15 Masters 04:50 Replacements 14:30 On The Case With Paula Zahn 09:15 Wuthering Heights-PG15 05:30 NRL Full Time 05:15 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 15:20 Real Emergency Calls 11:15 Page Eight-PG15 06:00 Super Rugby 05:35 Brandy & Mr Whiskers 15:45 Who On Earth Did I Marry? 00:30 The Daily Show With Jon 13:15 Taken Back: Finding Haley- 07:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 06:00 Prankstars 16:10 Disappeared Stewart PG15 08:00 PGA European Tour 06:25 Suite Life On Deck 17:00 Undercover: Double Life 01:00 The Colbert Report 15:00 Wuthering Heights-PG15 Highlights 06:45 Dog With A Blog 17:50 Forensic Detectives 01:30 The New Normal 17:00 Black Forest-PG15 09:00 Ladies European Tour 07:10 A.N.T. Farm 18:40 On The Case With Paula Zahn 02:00 Out There 18:45 Oscar And Lucinda-PG15 10:00 Super Rugby 07:35 Austin And Ally 19:30 Disappeared 02:30 The Big C 21:00 White Irish Drinkers-PG15 12:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 07:55 Jessie 20:20 Nightmare Next Door 03:00 Last Man Standing 23:00 Ripley’s Game-PG15 13:00 Top 14 08:20 Good Luck Charlie 21:10 Couples Who Kill 03:30 Friends 15:00 NRL Full Time 08:45 Doc McStuffins 22:00 Nightmare Next Door 04:00 Seinfeld 15:30 NHL 09:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:50 Nightmare Next Door 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay 17:30 Futbol Mundial 01:00 A Little Bit Of Heaven-18 09:30 A.N.T Farm 23:40 I Almost Got Away With It Leno 18:00 Ladies European Tour 03:00 Dead Lines-PG15 09:55 Jonas 05:30 Hope & Faith 19:00 Super Rugby 05:00 Christmas Comes Home To 10:15 So Random 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 20:00 HSBC Sevens World Series Canaan-PG15 10:40 Hannah Montana 08:00 Seinfeld 23:00 PGA Tour Highlights 07:00 Senna-PG15 11:05 Sonny With A Chance 08:30 Hope & Faith 09:00 The Big Year-PG 11:25 Kim Possible 00:15 Kimchi Chronicles 09:00 Last Man Standing 11:00 Taken From Me: The Tiffany 11:50 Shake It Up 00:45 George Clark’s Amazing 10:00 Men At Work Rubin Story-PG 00:30 Top 14 Highlights 12:15 Shake It Up Spaces 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay 13:00 Certain Prey-PG15 01:00 World Pool Masters 12:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 01:40 Market Values Leno 15:00 A Mother’s Choice-PG15 02:00 World Cup Of Pool 13:00 That’s So Raven 02:05 Market Values 12:30 Seinfeld 17:00 The Big Year-PG 03:00 Super Rugby 13:25 Austin And Ally 02:35 Banged Up Abroad 13:00 Hope & Faith 19:00 Safe House-PG15 05:00 PGA European Tour 13:45 Jessie 03:30 Dive Detectives 14:00 Friends 04:25 My Sri Lanka With Peter 21:00 Saving Grace B. Jones-PG15 Highlights 14:10 A.N.T. Farm 14:30 Men At Work 06:00 Trans World Sport Kuruvita 23:00 A Dangerous Method-18 14:35 Suite Life On Deck 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon 07:00 Golfing World 14:55 So Random 04:50 My Sri Lanka With Peter Stewart 08:00 Top 14 15:20 Good Luck Charlie Kuruvita 16:00 The Colbert Report 10:00 Top 14 Highlights 15:45 Jessie 05:20 Long Way Down 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 10:30 World Pool Masters 16:10 Shake It Up 06:15 Gone to save the planet 01:15 Pacific Pirates 11:30 World Cup Of Pool 18:00 Ben And Kate 02:45 D’Fenders 16:35 A.N.T Farm 06:40 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 18:30 The Simpsons 12:30 Golfing World 04:30 Vickery’s Wild Ride 13:30 Trans World Sport 17:00 Austin And Ally 07:10 Delinquent Gourmet 19:00 Modern Family 17:20 Suite Life On Deck 07:35 Kimchi Chronicles 06:00 Crab Island 14:30 ICC Cricket 360 19:30 The Mindy Project 08:00 Kong Return To The Jungle 15:00 AFL Premiership Highlights 17:45 Suite Life On Deck 08:05 George Clark’s Amazing 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay 18:10 Cory In The House Spaces 10:00 Cheaper By The Dozen 16:00 World Pool Masters Leno 11:45 Blue Elephant 2 17:00 World Cup Of Pool 18:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place 09:00 Market Values 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon 09:25 Market Values 13:30 Little Einsteins: Rocket’s 18:00 AFL Premiership 18:55 That’s So Raven Stewart 20:30 Super League 19:20 A.N.T. Farm 09:55 Banged Up Abroad Firebird Rescue 21:30 The Colbert Report 14:30 D’Fenders 23:30 ICC Cricket 360 19:40 Good Luck Charlie 10:50 Dive Detectives 22:00 Weeds 20:05 Jessie 11:45 My Sri Lanka With Peter 16:00 The Tooth Fairy 2 22:30 It’s Always Sunny In 18:00 Cheaper By The Dozen 20:25 Shake It Up Kuruvita Philadelphia 20:50 A.N.T Farm 12:10 My Sri Lanka With Peter 20:00 Olentzero Christmas Tale 23:00 The Ricky Gervais Show 22:00 Kong Return To The Jungle 02:00 Mass Participation Ironman 21:15 So Random Kuruvita 03:00 Ping Pong World 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 23:30 Little Einsteins: Rocket’s 21:40 Hannah Montana 12:40 Travel Oz 04:00 US Bass Fishing Firebird Rescue 22:00 Jonas Los Angeles 13:05 Travel Oz 05:00 NHL 22:25 Sonny With A Chance 13:35 Gone to save the planet 07:00 WWE Vintage Collection 22:50 Sonny With A Chance 14:00 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 01:00 American Horror Story 08:00 WWE NXT 23:10 Wizards Of Waverly Place 14:30 Delinquent Gourmet 02:00 The Americans 00:00 MSNBC Hardball With Chris 09:00 Ping Pong World 23:35 Wizards Of Waverly Place 14:55 Kimchi Chronicles 04:00 House Of Cards Matthews 10:00 US Bass Fishing 15:25 George Clark’s Amazing 07:00 Emmerdale 01:00 MSNBC Politicsnation 11:00 NHL Spaces 07:30 Coronation Street 02:00 Live NBC Nightly News 13:00 WWE SmackDown 16:20 Market Values 08:00 The Finder 02:30 ABC World News W ith Diane 15:00 Mass Participation Ironman 16:45 Market Values 09:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Sawyer 16:30 European Le Mans Series 00:00 Opening Act 17:15 Banged Up Abroad 11:00 The Americans 03:00 MSNBC All In With Chris Hayes 17:30 UFC Prelims 00:55 Style Star 18:10 Dive Detectives 12:00 Emmerdale 04:00 MSNBC The Rachel Maddow 19:30 UFC TRANSFORMERS DARK THE MOON ON OSN ACTION HD 01:25 THS 19:05 My Sri Lanka With Peter 12:30 Coronation Street Show 22:30 Prizefighter Classifieds

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Kuwait KNCC PROGRAMME FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (23/05/2013 TO 29/05/2013)

SHARQIA-1 IRON MAN 3 (DIG) 8:00 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 10:30 PM BAIRAQ-1 PHANTOM (DIG) 1:00 PM PHANTOM (DIG) 10:30 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 12:45 AM DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 12:30 PM PHANTOM (DIG) 3:00 PM IRON MAN 3 (DIG) 12:30 AM NO SUN+ TUE+WED FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 2:30 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) :00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 5:00 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) :00 PM 360º- 1 FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 7:00 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 9:00 PM FANAR-3 FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 12:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 9:45 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 11:00 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 1:15 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 3:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 12:30 AM PHANTOM (DIG) 1:00 AM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 4:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 6:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED NO SUN+ TUE+WED STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 6:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 8:45 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 8:45 PM NO THU BAIRAQ-2 SHARQIA-2 AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 10:45 PM Special Show “FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG)” AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 1:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 12:30 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 12:45 AM 8:45 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 3:45 PM DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 3:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED THU THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) 6:00 PM THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG-3D) 5:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 11:30 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 8:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 7:45 PM MARINA-1 AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 11:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED ACCOMMODATION FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 10:15 PM PHANTOM (DIG) 12:30 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 1:00 AM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 12:45 AM PHANTOM (DIG) 2:30 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED 360º- 2 Fully furnished 2 bedroom, NO SUN+ TUE+WED STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 4:30 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 2:00 PM 2 bath, salah with satellite, PHANTOM (DIG) 7:15 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 4:45 PM BAIRAQ-3 internet, telephone, sea SHARQIA-3 STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 9:15 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 7:30 PM THE CALL (DIG) 1:00 PM view closet, near Burger THE CALL (DIG) 12:30 PM PHANTOM (DIG) 12:05 AM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 10:15 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 3:00 PM King, Blagat Street, from 01- SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 2:30 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED PHANTOM (DIG) 1:00 AM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 5:15 PM 6-2013 to 20-08-2013, rent STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 4:45 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED THE CALL (DIG) 7:30 PM KD 270. Contact: 50687350. SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 7:30 PM MARINA-2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 9:30 PM 28-5-2013 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 9:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 12:30 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 11:45 PM 360º- 3 STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 12:05 AM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 3:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 2:15 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 5:15 PM DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 4:15 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 7:45 PM FOR SALE DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 6:15 PM PLAZA MUHALAB-1 FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 10:00 PM DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 8:15 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 5:45 PM CHANGE OF NAME THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG) 1:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 12:30 AM For sale Honda model 2001, DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 10:15 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 8:15 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 4:15 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED gold color, good condition, SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 12:15 AM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 10:45 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 6:15 PM price KD 750/-. Contact: I, Moidin Kunhi Badiyar NO SUN+ TUE+WED 50952218. (C 4426) Husan, S/o Husan Kunhi AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 8:15 PM MARINA-3 LAILA Urmene Moidin holder of AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 10:15 PM DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 1:30 PM AL-KOUT.1 IRON MAN 3 (DIG) 5:30 PM For sale Mercedes Benz Indian Passport No. DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 3:30 PM IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 1:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 8:00 PM C300, model 2009, mileage F4932532 have changed MUHALAB-2 AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 5:30 PM 54,000km, body kit AMG, my name to Mohammed DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 3:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 10:30 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 12:30 PM THE GREAT GATSBY (DIG-3D) 7:30 PM Price KD 7,500/-. Contact: Mohideen for all purposes. DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 5:15 PM PHANTOM (DIG) 2:45 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 10:15 PM 97479763. (C 4427) SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 4:45 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 12:15 AM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D) 7:00 AJIAL.1 28-5-2013 26-5-2013 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 7:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED PM LADIES & GENTLEMAN (DIG) 6:30 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 9:15 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG-3D) 9:45 LADIES & GENTLEMAN (DIG)) 9:30 PM AVENUES-1 PM IRON MAN 3 (DIG-3D) 12:30 AM MUHALAB-3 FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 12:45 PM AJIAL.2 NO SUN+ TUE+WED No: 15823 DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 12:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 3:30 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 6:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 2:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 6:15 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 8:30 PM DINO TIME (DIG-3D) 5:15 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 9:00 PM AL-KOUT.2 AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 10:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 7:15 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 11:45 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 12:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 9:45 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 2:30 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 4:30 PM AJIAL.3 FANAR-1 AVENUES-2 AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 6:45 PM ISHKQ IN PARIS (DIG) (HINDI) 5:30 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 1:00 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 1:00 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 8:45 PM ISHKQ IN PARIS (DIG) (HINDI) 7:45 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 3:30 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 3:45 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 11:00 PM ISHKQ IN PARIS (DIG) (HINDI) 10:00 PM THE CALL (DIG) 5:45 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 6:30 PM AT ANY PRICE (DIG) 1:00 AM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 7:45 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 9:15 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED METRO-1 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 10:00 PM STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (DIG) 12:05 AM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 5:30 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 12:15 AM NO SUN+ TUE+WED AL-KOUT.3 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 8:00 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 2:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 10:30 PM AVENUES-3 FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 5:00 PM FANAR-2 SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 1:30 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 7:45 PM METRO-2 PHANTOM (DIG) 1:30 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 3:45 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 10:15 PM LADIES & GENTLEMAN (DIG) 6:30 PM IRON MAN 3 (DIG) 3:30 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 6:00 PM FAST & FURIOUS 6 (DIG) 12:45 AM LADIES & GENTLEMAN (DIG) 9:30 PM PHANTOM (DIG) 6:00 PM SAMEER ABOO ELNEEL (DIG) 8:15 PM NO SUN+ TUE+WED

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Arrival Flights on Wednesday 29/5/2013 SVA 500 JEDDAH 14:30 Departure Flights on Wednesday 29/5/2013 CLX 792 GIALAM 14:45 Airlines Flt Route Time RJA 640 AMMAN 15:55 Airlines Flt Route Time QTR 141 DOHA 14:55 QTR 134 DOHA 16:15 AIC 982 AHMEDABAD 00:05 IRC 6693 MASHHAD 15:00 QTR 148 DOHA 00:15 IYE 824 SANAA 16:30 JAI 573 MUMBAI 00:20 MSR 576 SHARM EL SHEIKH 15:00 JZR 267 BEIRUT 00:20 ETD 303 ABU DHABI 16:35 UAL 981 WASHINGTON 00:25 KAC 673 DUBAI 15:05 ETH 620 ADDIS ABABA 01:45 UAE 857 DUBAI 16:55 DLH 637 FRANKFURT 00:30 SVA 503 MADINAH 15:45 GFA 211 BAHRAIN 01:55 ABY 127 SHARJAH 17:10 THY 773 ISTANBUL 02:20 KAC 617 DOHA 15:45 UAE 853 DUBAI 02:25 GFA 215 BAHRAIN 17:20 ETH 621 ADDIS ABABA 02:45 KAC 773 RIYADH 16:00 JZR 539 CAIRO 00:40 SVA 510 RIYADH 17:20 UAE 854 DUBAI 03:45 RJA 641 AMMAN 16:55 ETD 305 ABU DHABI 02:30 UAL 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 17:25 FDB 68 DUBAI 03:50 JZR 238 AMMAN 17:05 FDB 67 DUBAI 03:10 KNE 462 MEDINAH 17:45 MSR 613 CAIRO 04:15 QTR 135 DOHA 17:20 MSR 612 CAIRO 03:15 NIA 251 ALEXANDRIA 18:00 OMA 644 MUSCAT 04:20 ETD 304 ABU DHABI 17:20 OMA 643 MUSCAT 03:20 QTR 144 DOHA 18:25 ETD 306 ABU DHABI 04:20 IYE 824 SANAA 17:30 QTR 138 DOHA 03:30 FDB 63 DUBAI 18:55 QTR 139 DOHA 04:25 JZR 538 CAIRO 17:40 THY 770 ISTANBUL 04:35 GFA 219 BAHRAIN 19:05 QTR 149 DOHA 05:15 ABY 128 SHARJAH 17:50 DHX 170 BAHRAIN 05:10 MSC 405 SOHAG 19:20 TMA 225 DUBAI 05:15 UAE 858 DUBAI 18:15 TMA 213 BEIRUT 03:45 MSR 606 LUXOR 19:30 JZR 560 SOHAG 05:35 GFA 216 BAHRAIN 18:20 FDB 69 DUBAI 05:50 JAI 572 MUMBAI 19:35 FDB 70 DUBAI 06:30 SVA 511 RIYADH 18:20 BAW 157 LONDON 06:30 OMA 647 MUSCAT 20:00 GFA 212 BAHRAIN 07:00 JZR 184 DUBAI 18:30 FDB 53 DUBAI 07:45 FDB 61 DUBAI 20:00 THY 771 ISTANBUL 07:10 JZR 266 BEIRUT 18:40 UAE 855 DUBAI 08:25 ABY 129 SHARJAH 20:05 JZR 164 DUBAI 07:25 UAL 982 BAHRAIN 18:40 KAC 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 08:00 ETD 933 ABU DHABI 08:30 MEA 402 BEIRUT 20:15 KNE 471 JEDDAH 18:40 BAW 156 LONDON 08:25 ABY 125 SHARJAH 08:50 AXB 489 COCHIN 20:35 NIA 252 ALEXANDRIA 19:00 KAC 302 MUMBAI 07:50 FDB 54 DUBAI 08:25 KLM 417 AMSTERDAM 21:05 QTR 145 DOHA 19:25 KAC 352 COCHIN 08:05 KAC 117 NEW YORK 09:05 ALK 229 COLOMBO 21:10 FDB 64 DUBAI 19:35 KAC 382 DELHI 07:30 JZR 534 CAIRO 09:10 UAE 859 DUBAI 21:15 GFA 220 BAHRAIN 19:50 KAC 206 ISLAMABAD 07:25 KAC 789 MADINAH 09:15 ETD 307 ABU DHABI 21:30 JZR 134 BAHRAIN 20:05 KAC 344 CHENNAI 08:20 ABY 126 SHARJAH 09:30 QTR 136 DOHA 21:35 MSC 404 ASSIUT 20:20 JZR 555 ALEXANDRIA 06:20 KAC 787 JEDDAH 09:35 GFA 217 BAHRAIN 21:45 MSR 619 ALEXANDRIA 20:30 JZR 529 ASSIUT 06:40 QTR 146 DOHA 22:00 UAE 856 DUBAI 09:50 FDB 56 DUBAI 09:55 JAI 571 MUMBAI 20:35 QTR 132 DOHA 09:00 JAI 576 COCHIN 22:05 QTR 133 DOHA 10:00 FDB 62 DUBAI 20:40 IRM 1186 TEHRAN 09:10 FDB 59 DUBAI 22:20 FDB 55 DUBAI 09:15 ETD 302 ABU DHABI 10:15 ABY 120 SHARJAH 20:45 AIC 975 CHENNAI 22:25 IRA 603 SHIRAZ 09:25 IRA 602 SHIRAZ 10:25 KAC 331 TRIVANDRUM 20:50 UAL 981 BAHRAIN 22:40 ETD 301 ABU DHABI 09:30 IRM 1187 IMAM KHOMEINI 10:30 KAC 361 COLOMBO 20:50 DLH 636 FRANKFURT 23:10 GFA 213 BAHRAIN 10:40 ETD 934 ABU DHABI 10:30 OMA 648 MUSCAT 20:55 KAC 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 15:50 MEA 404 BEIRUT 10:55 JZR 356 MASHHAD 11:00 KAC 351 KOCHI 21:05 KAC 674 DUBAI 19:25 IAW 157 BAGHDAD 11:00 GFA 214 BAHRAIN 11:25 MEA 403 BEIRUT 21:15 MSC 403 ASSIUT 11:20 KAC 786 JEDDAH 18:30 KAC 541 CAIRO 11:30 DHX 171 BAHRAIN 21:50 IRM 1188 MASHAD 11:45 KAC 166 PARIS 18:40 MEA 405 BEIRUT 11:55 KLM 417 DAMMAM 22:05 KNE 470 JEDDAH 12:15 KAC 542 CAIRO 18:15 IAW 158 AL NAJAF 12:00 ETD 308 ABU DHABI 22:15 UAE 871 DUBAI 12:45 KAC 788 JEDDAH 15:00 KAC 175 FRANKFURT 12:10 ALK 230 COLOMBO 22:20 MSR 610 CAIRO 13:00 KAC 102 NEW YORK 19:35 MSC 406 SOHAG 12:20 UAE 860 DUBAI 22:25 THY 766 ISTANBUL 13:10 KAC 774 RIYADH 19:25 JZR 776 JEDDAH 12:25 KAC 381 DELHI 22:30 CLX 792 LUXEMBOURG 13:15 KAC 618 DOHA 19:10 KAC 103 LONDON 12:30 QTR 137 DOHA 22:35 KNE 480 TAIF 13:20 JZR 777 JEDDAH 17:50 JZR 786 RIYADH 12:50 KAC 301 MUMBAI 22:40 QTR 140 DOHA 13:45 JZR 787 RIYADH 16:15 KAC 785 JEDDAH 13:00 GFA 218 BAHRAIN 22:45 FDB 57 DUBAI 13:50 JZR 177 DUBAI 17:30 IRM 1189 MASHHAD 13:10 KAC 205 ISLAMABAD 23:00 KAC 790 MEDINAH 13:55 JZR 535 CAIRO 16:10 KNE 461 MADINAH 13:10 FDB 60 DUBAI 23:00 KAC 412 MANILA 11:00 JZR 135 BAHRAIN 23:00 JZR 176 DUBAI 13:20 QTR 147 DOHA 23:05 KAC 284 DHAKA 12:05 JZR 357 MASHAD 16:50 MSR 611 CAIRO 14:00 JAI 575 KOCHI 23:05 JZR 165 DUBAI 11:35 JZR 185 DUBAI 22:40 THY 767 ISTANBUL 14:10 JZR 554 ALEXANDRIA 23:20 JZR 561 SOHAG 12:00 JZR 239 AMMAN 22:30 KNE 481 TAIF 14:10 KAC 283 DHAKA 23:45 IRC 6692 MASHAD 14:00 JAI 574 MUMBAI 23:20 UAE 872 DUBAI 14:15 KAC 415 KUALA LUMPUR 23:50 MSR 575 SHARM EL SHEIKH 14:15 THY 772 ISTANBUL 23:45 FDB 58 DUBAI 14:30 JZR 528 ASSIUT 23:55 Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw) stars34 WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

CROSSWORD 204 STAR TRACK

Aries (March 21-April 19) Libra (September 23-October 22)

You spend a great deal of time helping others. You will be in a position to New discoveries will provide that wonderful feeling of enthusiasm at this communicate to your co-workers and people apart from work as well. You will time. These could be scientific discoveries or new combinations of products. This will be very flourish by pursuing your own standards and your deepest dreams of what you want in your stimulating, but do not count on the day working out as you had planned. If you are not flexi- life. Don’t be afraid to plan and make those dreams real. Ideas of group cooperation could fur- ble, this could be a very nerve-wracking time. Your concentration may be shot this afternoon; ther your career. You excel at professions that allow you to be in contact with many different steady. Show your appreciation to a colleague by picking up a little something like flowers or people and to travel to new and exciting locations. If your job does not do this, think about perhaps those sports tickets that you know would be appreciated. Some form of art or a little how you can make changes that would point you in that direction. Your sensitivity may be a bit exercise will help you to relax after the workday is over. Consider taking the family or a friend off at this time so be aware of the probability that you could be easily misled. Romance is possi- out to a nice dinner. Don’t take your important home relationships for granted. Continue to ble tonight. learn and grow.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

Avoid the tendency to be fooled by others as you may sometimes find your- A co-worker or customer may cause you to stop your own work in order self ignoring what is underneath a conversation. Your intuition is very strong and may lead to to help another. You may be asking too many questions. By asking many questions, the new insights. This may be the best time to talk over future plans or goals. Big changes, like a person in question may go another direction. Perhaps you will understand whatever move or large purchase or quitting a job just now, may not be a good idea. Others may chal- answers you need by just sitting back and listening. Education, late nights, changing resi- lenge the direction you want to take. You may find, however, that someone close to you under- dence and many stressful tests make you stop and appreciate just how much you have stands and is supportive of your decisions. This evening you may really decide to get serious accomplished in the last few years. A creative ability that you alone possess comes in about some vitamin diet, exercise program, etc. There is an instinctive urge to get serious about handy as you solve a problem at work. Judge your success by what you had to give up in taking care of yourself now. Deep within you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate order to succeed. You have a friend that has had a lucky break today and you may find through you and out into the world. yourself invited to the celebration. Take a listening ear.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Correct choices and the best path for you may be at odds with your sense of You work hard and have a very strict schedule. Today is one of those days values. You may not appreciate the easy way or clear-cut option and may when you may find yourself huffing and puffing, either between classes, choose instead, a more difficult path. Your thirst for experience and growth keeps you always appointments or some business transactions. Others have a difficult time keeping up with you. on the move. You work through an enormous amount of change compared to the average per- You may be thinking about an upcoming professional goal most of this day—pre-planning. ACROSS of having artificially (and vulgarly) mannered or son. You adjust and change your ideals often and struggle not to become too carried away This afternoon you may decide to bring your work home. Work at planning a time budget that will leave you with more opportunities to relax and enjoy each day. What you achieve and what 1. The unit of frequency. banal or sentimental qualities. with each new vision. The world of your imagination is a major focus of change. Expect a sense you gain in monetary possessions is nothing compared to what you gain with regular attention 4. A plaster containing powdered black mustard. 2. Having nine hinged bands of bony plates. of support and goodwill from those around you. Avoid unnecessary risks—your movements are impulsive and it would be easy to stumble and fall. This evening would be the perfect time to relationships or your physical well-being. Enjoy the feeling of laughter with a friend or loved 12. (informal) Of very poor quality. 3. Any of a number of fishes of the family one this evening. 15. A former agency (from 1946 to 1974) that Carangidae. for a leisurely meal with your loved one. was responsible for research into atomic energy 4. A island in the Netherlands Antilles that is the and its peacetime uses in the United States. top of an extinct volcano. 16. Lack of strength or vigor esp from illness. 5. An artificial language that is a revision and 17. (Irish) Mother of the ancient Irish gods. simplification of Esperanto. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Capricorn (December 22-January 19) 18. A master's degree in business. 6. City in Sudan. CAPRICORN Work, achievement and ambition are the things that mean a lot to you. This 19. The amount of cargo that can be held by a 7. (Babylonian) Consort of Anu. You are at your best concerning practical matters and work-related affairs. Events may create opportunities to place you in a power-oriented position. If you have a is a perfect time to be assertive and to move forward in your career decisions. boat or ship or a freight car. 8. Smaller than Florida pompano. You have all the determination and desire to achieve that which will get you where you want to 20. A user interface in which you type com- 9. The United Nations agency concerned with point to make, people will be listening. A promotion or recognition for accomplishments could be imminent. You could find that co-workers appreciate your ability to respond to your work in positive, go. It should be easy to channel your mind and focus. You will find the path is clear. This is a mands instead of choosing them from a menu international maritime activities. upbeat ways and to accomplish much. This is possibly a time in your career that may require some time when you can expect a little boost with some sort of extra support or recognition from or selecting an icon. 10. A city of central China. careful thought and good judgment on your part; an upgrade or new proposition is in the making. those around you. You may feel that you are in touch and in harmony with others and friend- 21. A genus of Ploceidae. 11. A Brazilian river. The current flow of events indicates your best talents and abilities are respected. Never sell yourself ships are strong. The support you need is available. You may find yourself helping friends this 23. A Nilotic language. 12. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single short; your professional goals are within reach. Old projects will come to a positive end. afternoon. You will enjoy the company of a loved one today. You and your loved one will enjoy 24. An antibiotic (trade name Nebcin) that is ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy a walk after the evening meal. especially effective against gram-negative bac- wall or pericarp. teria. 13. Not set afire or burning. 28. Feeling or showing extreme anger. 14. A state in New England. Leo (July 23-August 22) Aquarius (January 20- February 18) 29. Constituting the full quantity or extent. 22. Any supernatural being worshipped as con- 33. An international organization of European This may not the best time for career or vocational decisions and practi- trolling some part of the world or some aspect Career decisions are uncomplicated at this time. You make your way countries formed after World War II to reduce cal advice to others. It is a good time for clearing away whatever is left unfinished. At last, of life or who is the personification of a force. though ideas, concepts and you can communicate and express them to others. Group you see a reward in the making. Your commitment in the workplace now will show the most trade barriers and increase cooperation among 25. An awl for making small holes for brads or projects in the workplace and community concerns in the neighborhood could play a key positive of results. You realize that making a commitment and sticking with it is worthwhile. its members. small screws. role that influences your professional and perhaps political progress. Altruism and humani- You could have trouble holding onto money, through bad investments, unpaid debts, 34. An intensely radioactive metallic element 26. Tropical American tree bearing a small edible tarian efforts can affect your work and life-path. This is a time of good fortune when things which may surface now, or through a loan or giving to charities that solicit your aid. You that occurs in minute amounts in uranium ores. open up in a very natural way. Situations are almost tailor-made and it is easy to see which fruit with green leathery skin and sweet juicy must be cautious and try to discriminate between those who truly need help financially and 35. Put (things or places) in order. path is the one to take. You may find yourself able to do most anything. Taking chances translucent pulp. those engaged in rip-offs. Take a walk with your loved one after the evening meal—enjoy 36. A New England state. can bring big rewards. You are unusually affectionate this evening and you will likely have 27. A radioactive element of the actinide series. the wonderful, fragrant smells of the season. 37. Make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose. 30. Of or pertaining to or characteristic of Nepal your affections reciprocated. 41. Type genus of the family Aplysiidae. or its people or language or culture. 43. A river in north central Switzerland that runs 31. Analgesic drug (trade name Talwin) that is northeast into the Rhine. less addictive than morphine. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Pisces (February 19-March 20) 46. American novelist (1909-1955). 32. Any plant of the genus Reseda. 47. The 23rd letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 38. The ninth month of the Hindu calendar. Needing to feel secure in your business is very important to you. There is 48. Surpassing the ordinary especially in size or Work moves along smoothly and you have a talent for finding and 39. Having or as if having especially high- working through problems. March and April had you busy trying to balance finances, nothing better than to know you are useful and needed in the profession that you have cho- scale. pitched spots. emotions and responsibilities. This month is making the way easier for better progress sen. If you have been looking for a good job or a job advance, this just might be your lucky day. 50. Small arctic whale the male having a long 40. A character printer connected to a telegraph toward your goals; there are fewer demands—you may enjoy getting home at a decent Your power is expressive and emotive and you are concerned with awareness and a sense of spiral ivory tusk. that operates like a typewriter. hour for a change. You can use the time between daylight and dark to your advantage by pride and ownership. Being in the spotlight is common now and it would be good to take a 51. A Greek epic poem (attributed to Homer) 42. The branch of computer science that deal working a little in the yard or with some potted plants. You might enjoy experimenting humble attitude and see where your work or talents can best help others. There is always a describing the siege of Troy. with writing computer programs that can solve with some herbs this summer. The healing properties in the herbs and the good smells sense of confidence from which your strong expressive ideas originate. You can feel free to exert your charm this evening as you will find many opportunities to be around animals and 53. Highly excited. problems creatively. will give you many days of enjoyment. Working with nature always gives a unique satisfac- children, and perhaps enjoy sports with friends. 54. A body of (usually fresh) water surrounded 44. Small buffalo of the Celebes having small tion. Read about alfalfa for help with allergies. by land. straight horns. 55. Of a vivid red to reddish-orange color. 45. A motley assortment of things. 58. The elementary stages of any subject (usual- 49. Any of various long-legged carrion-eating Word Search Yesterday’s Solution ly plural). hawks of South and Central America. 60. (Greek mythology) Greek goddess of the 52. A former copper coin of Pakistan. night. 56. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun. 61. Pompous or pretentious talk or writing. 57. A silvery ductile metallic element found pri- 63. An associate degree in applied science. marily in bauxite. 65. A Russian prison camp for political prisoners. 69. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is 59. A white metallic element that burns with a opened and a section of a blood vessel is graft- brilliant light. ed from the aorta to the coronary artery to 62. Living quarters reserved for wives and con- bypass the blocked section of the coronary cubines and female relatives in a Muslim house- artery and improve the blood supply to the hold. heart. 64. An enclosed space. 71. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in 66. Large sweet juicy hybrid between tangerine Turkey). and grapefruit having a thick wrinkled skin. 75. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in 67. Being or occurring at an advanced period of Turkey). time or after a usual or expected time. 76. The capital of Eritrea. 68. A short labored intake of breath with the 80. In or of the month preceding the present mouth open. one. 70. Capital city of the Apulia region on the 81. A cut of pork ribs with much of the meat Adriatic coast. trimmed off. 72. Any of various small biting flies. 83. A flat wing-shaped process or winglike part 73. Goddess of the dead and queen of the of an organism. underworld. 84. Small cubes with 1 to 6 spots on the faces. 74. (Babylonian) God of storms and wind. 85. Low stingless nettle of Central and South 77. A health resort near a spring or at the sea- America having velvety brownish-green toothed side. leaves and clusters of small green flowers. 78. An adult male person (as opposed to a 86. A slight amount or degree of difference. woman). 79. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from DOWN aba cloth. 1. Providing sophisticated amusement by virtue 82. Being nine more than ninety. Yesterday’s Solution

Daily SuDoku Yesterday’s Solution WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 information

For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 Al-Madeena 22418714 Al-Shuhada 22545171 GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE Al-Shuwaikh 24810598 Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883 Sabah Hospital 24812000 Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414 Al-Nuzha 22545171 Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558 Amiri Hospital 22450005 Sabhan 24742838 Maternity Hospital 24843100 Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518 Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622 Al-Helaly 22434853 Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700 Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184 Al-Faiha 22545051 Chest Hospital 24849400 Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967

Farwaniya Hospital 24892010 Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000 Al-Farwaniya 24711433 Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201 Adan Hospital 23940620 Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638 Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983 Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300 Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265 Al-Fahaheel 23927002 Al-Razi Hospital 24846000 Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075 Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999 Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983 Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9 Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549 Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559 Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554 Ahmadi 23980088 Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264 Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581 Al-Mangaf 23711183 Kaizen center 25716707 Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241 Al-Shuaiba 23262845 Rawda 22517733

Adaliya 22517144 Al-Jahra 25610011 Khaldiya 24848075 Al-Salmiya 25616368 Kaifan 24849807 Shamiya 24848913 INTERNATIONAL Shuwaikh 24814507 CALLS Abdullah Salem 22549134

Nuzha 22526804 Afghanistan 0093 Iran 0098 Albania 00355 Iraq 00964 Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764 Algeria 00213 Ireland 00353 Qadsiya 22515088 Andorra 00376 Italy 0039 Angola 00244 Ivory Coast 00225 Dasmah 22532265 Anguilla 001264 Jamaica 001876 Antiga 001268 Japan 0081 Bneid Al-Gar 22531908 Argentina 0054 Jordan 00962 Shaab 22518752 Armenia 00374 Kazakhstan 007 Australia 0061 Kenya 00254 Qibla 22459381 Austria 0043 Kiribati 00686 Bahamas 001242 Kuwait 00965 Ayoun Al-Qibla 22451082 Bahrain 00973 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Mirqab 22456536 Bangladesh 00880 Laos 00856 Barbados 001246 Latvia 00371 Sharq 22465401 Belarus 00375 Lebanon 00961 Belgium 0032 Liberia 00231 Salmiya 25746401 Belize 00501 Libya 00218 Jabriya 25316254 Benin 00229 Lithuania 00370 Bermuda 001441 Luxembourg 00352 Maidan Hawally 25623444 Bhutan 00975 Macau 00853 Bolivia 00591 Macedonia 00389 Bayan 25388462 Bosnia 00387 Madagascar 00261 Mishref 25381200 Botswana 00267 Majorca 0034 Brazil 0055 Malawi 00265 W Hawally 22630786 Brunei 00673 Malaysia 0060 Bulgaria 00359 Maldives 00960 Sabah 24810221 Burkina 00226 Mali 00223 Jahra 24770319 Burundi 00257 Malta 00356 Cambodia 00855 Marshall Islands 00692 New Jahra 24575755 Cameroon 00237 Martinique 00596 Canada 001 Mauritania 00222 West Jahra 24772608 Cape Verde 00238 Mauritius 00230 South Jahra 24775066 Cayman Islands 001345 Mayotte 00269 Central African 00236 Mexico 0052 North Jahra 24775992 Chad 00235 Micronesia 00691 Chile 0056 Moldova 00373 North Jleeb 24311795 China 0086 Monaco 00377 Ardhiya 24884079 Colombia 0057 Mongolia 00976 Comoros 00269 Montserrat 001664 Firdous 24892674 Congo 00242 Morocco 00212 Cook Islands 00682 Mozambique 00258 Omariya 24719048 Costa Rica 00506 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 N Khaitan 24710044 Croatia 00385 Namibia 00264 Cuba 0053 Nepal 00977 Fintas 23900322 Cyprus 00357 Netherlands (Holland) Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 0031 Czech Republic 00420 Netherlands Antilles 00599 Denmark 0045 New Caledonia 00687 Diego Garcia 00246 New Zealand 0064 Djibouti 00253 Nicaragua 00505 PRIVATE CLINICS Dominica 001767 Nigar 00227 Dominican Republic 001809 Nigeria 00234 Ecuador 00593 Niue 00683 Egypt 0020 Norfolk Island 00672 El Salvador 00503 Northern Ireland (UK) Plastic Surgeons Paediatricians Ophthalmologists Endocrinologist England (UK) 0044 0044 Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272 Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898 Equatorial Guinea 00240 North Korea 00850 Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700 Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300 Eritrea 00291 Norway 0047 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60 Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444 Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Estonia 00372 Oman 00968 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Ethiopia 00251 Pakistan 0092 Family Doctor Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Falkland Islands 00500 Palau 00680 Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581 Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514 Faroe Islands 00298 Panama 00507 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Physiotherapists & VD Psychiatrists Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Fiji 00679 Papua New Guinea 00675 Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282 Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047 Finland 00358 Paraguay 00595 Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0 (1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288 France 0033 Peru 0051 French Guiana 00594 Philippines 0063 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Gynaecologists & Obstetricians Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, Rheumatologists: French Polynesia 00689 Poland 0048 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581 FRCS (Canada) 25655535 Gabon 00241 Portugal 00351 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dentists Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321 Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060 Gambia 00220 Puerto Rico 001787 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539 Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581 Georgia 00995 Qatar 00974 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290 Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406 Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2 Germany 0049 Romania 0040 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 Ghana 00233 Russian Federation 007 Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272 Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226 Internist, Chest & Heart General Practitioners Gibraltar 00350 Rwanda 00250 Dr. Salem soso 22618787 Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444 Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210 Greece 0030 Saint Helena 00290 Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557 General Surgeons Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Mohammad Zubaid Greenland 00299 Saint Kitts 001869 Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044 MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Grenada 001473 Saint Lucia 001758 Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148 Assistant Professor Of Medicine Guadeloupe 00590 Saint Pierre 00508 Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111 Guam 001671 Saint Vincent 001784 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Internists, Chest & Heart Head, Division of Cardiology Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Neurologists Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Guatemala 00502 Samoa US 00684 Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939 Guinea 00224 Samoa West 00685 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324 Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300 Guyana 00592 San Marino 00378 Urologists Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875 Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004 Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555 Haiti 00509 Sao Tone 00239 Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Gastrologists MD, PH.D, FACC Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Saudi Arabia 00966 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515 Dr. Sami Aman 22636464 Inaya German Medical Center Honduras 00504 Scotland (UK) 0044 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446 Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030 Te: 2575077 Hong Kong 00852 Senegal 00221 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3 Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135 Fax: 25723123 Hungary 0036 Seychelles 00284 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Sierra Leone 00232 Soor Center Iceland 00354 Singapore 0065 Psychologists [email protected] Tel: 2290-1677 Kaizen center William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 India 0091 Slovakia 00421 /Psychotherapists www.soorcenter.com Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688 25716707 Indian Ocean 00873 Slovenia 00386 Indonesia 0062 Solomon Islands 00677 lifestyle WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013 Gossip

he ‘Breaking Bad’ star - who popped the question in bird (sic).” Aaron previously revealed he begged Lauren to Paris in early January 2012 - married the documentary marry him. He said: “I’m the luckiest man on the planet. It Tfilm director and activist at the Cottage Pavilion at doesn’t make sense to me. The way she looks at me ... she has Calamigos Ranch in front of guests including co-stars Bryan that magical glow about her. “We got engaged over New Cranston,Dean Norris, Anna Gunn, and Giancarlo Esposito Year’s and I walked from the Eiffel Tower to St Germain recent- and burlesque star Dita Von Teese. Bryan acted as groomsman ly and I went to the stoop, the little step where I proposed to for the ceremony which was followed by a 1920s style carni- Lauren - and I took a picture of it and I sent it to her. val masquerade reception. After the wedding, a besotted Aaron tweeted: “A day will never go by without me reminding you how special you are. Thanks for last night my pretty little

he ‘Don’t Wake Me Up’ singer reportedly refused to hand over his dri- lthough the couple had appeared to put ver’s license and insurance information when he crashed his Range Kristen’s infidelity behind them - following her TRover into the back of a Mercedes at a set of traffic lights in Beverly Hills, Afling last year with married director Rupert California last week and police are now looking into the incident, according Sanders - the relationship reportedly fell apart earlier to TMZ. Chris, 24, is still on probation for violently assaulting his then-girl- this month because Robert felt Kristen had become friend Rihanna in 2009, leaving her face battered and bruised, and this “too dependent” on him. A source told alleged hit-and-run could trigger a violation. This is not the first time the ‘Fine HollywoodLife.com: “Through the years, Kristen defi- China’ hitmaker - who was en route to a recording studio with his former nitely became too dependent on Rob saving the day lover Karrueche Tran - has been involved in a car accident. In February, Chris and taking her back. He had to constantly feel in wrecked his Porsche 911 after he hurtled into a wall claiming he was cut off charge of Kristen and eventually it just became too by “aggressive” paparazzi photographers in Los Angeles, California. A tiring.” Friends also believe Robert, 27, and 23-year- spokesman at the time said: “The occupants jumped out, with cameras, and old Kristen are at different points in their lives right aggressively approached his vehicle. In an effort to remove himself from the now. The insider added: “Kristen is too concerned situation, he [Chris] began to back down an alley at which point his was cut about being a Los Angeles hipster and he’s preoccu- off by two additional vehicles. pied with working these days. Rob’s ready to focus on his career and take it to the next level; Kristen’s priori- ties obviously don’t line up with that. He felt like an adult taking care of a child” at times. Now he’s glad to only have to be in charge of himself... He thinks she has a lot of growing up to do.”

he 37-year-old actress and her fiance Brad Pitt want the actor’s parents, Jane and William, to join them at their Chateau Miraval estate in Provence, France, after the family bonded follow- Ting Angelina’s decision to have a double mastectomy to prevent her from getting breast can- cer. Jane has been a rock to Angelina throughout the ordeal and now the couple want Brad’s par- ents to be nearer them and their six children - Maddox, 11, Pax, nine, Zahara, eight, Shiloh, six and four-year-old twins, Knox and Vivienne. A source told the new issue of Britain’s Grazia magazine: “Angelina’s illness has brought the whole family closer together. Jane has really been there for Ange. They never used to spend a lot of time together, but now Ange is really keen to have her close by ... The shock of Angelina’s experience has really forced them to bond.” Brad, 49, and Angelina - who are believed to be getting married in the summer - have started renovating their abode to cater for Brad’s parents and want to create them a permanent, private living space so they can come and go as they please from their home in the US. he 27-year-old actress feels incredibly proud when she reads messages from teenagers and women who say they are Tinspired by her curvier figure, and she strives to be a positive role model for girls who struggle with their body image. Speaking on British TV show ‘Lorraine’, Gemma said: “I’m really passionate about it (being a role model) because women are wonderful and we come in all shapes and sizes and that’s OK. “I think we’re so inundat- ed by images of what people think is beautiful, but if we start put- ting things out there that aren’t [perfect], I think its good for girls to see things differently. “I’ve had the most wonderful letters - it makes me cry weekly - from girls saying, ‘I used to have an eating disorder and I look at you and you inspire me to be normal [sized].’ “It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ It’s so important.” Gemma’s latest role in fan- tasy thriller ‘Byzantium’ sees her play a blood- sucking vampire called Clara, who raises daugh- ter Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan) alone. he 26-year-old actress was charged with attempted evidence tampering, reckless endangerment and marijuana possession in court last week, after Tbeing arrested at her New York City apartment, but Amanda insists she did nothing wrong and was unfairly targeted by police. In a lengthy rant on Twitter, she wrote: “For once and for all, this is the last thing I’ll say about the mistaken arrest. I’m suing NYPD for illegally entering my apartment, lying about drugs on me and lying about me tampering with non existent drug paraphernalia, then I’m suing for being put into a mental hospital against my will, then locked up overnight for coming home after a facial and working out with my trainer like the good girl that I am. I’m allergic to alcohol and drugs and don’t partake in any of the above. “I’m so offended by all of this but so proud to not be a drug or alcohol user. I don’t need to talk about this anymore. My lawyer and I are taking this offense so seriously! Everything they did was against the law and The judge saw that there was no drugs on me or proof of any type of bong or mental illness (I was so offended to even be taken to a mental hospital and they would not let me call my lawyer until the next day after being in jail all night, then I went to court and was immediately released because the judge saw that I was wrongly arrested. lifestyle WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Gossip

he ‘Les Miserables’ actor saved the day at assisted by one of Hollywood’s most famous leading men, Southampton Village farmers’ market in the the actor joked he deserved some cash for his hard-earned THamptons when he rescued a damsel in distress who work. He quipped: “You know I get $7.50 an hour.” The 44- was struggling to set up her food stand. The Hollywood year-old star is no stranger to charitable deeds, and kept hunk swept in to help erect vendor Donna McCue’s Fat Ass everyone’s spirits up on the ‘Les Miserables’ set by treating Fudge Company tent in the windy weather before it got the crew and his co-stars - including Anne Hathaway, blown away. An eye witness told the New York Post news- Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried - to fun gifts like lot- paper: “He very kindly helped set up the tent in the wind tery tickets. and even posed for pictures afterwards.” The star also bought fudge and power bars from Donna, who failed to recognize him at first. When Donna realized she was being

he 49-year-old actor convinced the casting director of his forthcoming sci- fi thriller ‘Transcendence’ - which sees him star opposite Morgan Freeman, TCillian Murphy and Rebecca Hall - to employ two people living on the streets after he spotted them while out and about in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Johnny always likes to help out the commu- nity when on location. “While scouting out the area around Albuquerque, he came across these two characters. He was straight on the phone to the casting he 32-year-old hotel heiress and her boyfriend River Viiperi director.” It is not the first time Johnny has helped out people living on the almost had to abandon their romantic trip to the tropical streets after he bought a hat from a homeless person in 2011 to add to his vast Tisland of Maui after problems with their flight from London collection of headgear. However, Vanessa Paradis - the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ to California left the pair stranded at Heathrow airport for four star’s partner at the time although they split last June after 14 years together - hours. The socialite vented her frustration on Twitter after being was said to be furious at the Hollywood actor for purchasing so many hats. delayed in UK: “So annoyed. Still at airport, flight has been delayed 4 hours. So not going to make our connection flight from LA to Maui. #Brutal (sic)” The lovebirds made it back to Los Angeles, California, just in time and have finally touched down in the Valley Isle to enjoy a “relaxing vacation.” She tweeted: “Aloha! Just landed in Maui. Excited for a beautiful and relaxing vacation with my love. #Hawaii (sic)” Paris took to the social networking site to inform her fans of the holiday events, tweeting: “Amazing 1st day in Maui. Beautiful lunch on the beach, swimming, shop- ping & just had an amazing facial & massage in the spa. So relaxed. (sic)” Before adding: “Can’t wait to go ziplining again with @riverviiperi. So much fun! I love going on adventures @ Maui. (sic)”

he 31-year-old star is currently dating legal researcher David Lucado, 27, and one of the reasons things are going so well between the pair Tis because of the lack of legal ties between them, unlike with her for- mer fiancÈ Jason Trawick. A source told Life & Style magazine: “Britney’s rela- tionship with David is night and day from her relationship with Jason. “Not only was Jason her agent, for a lot of their relationship he was also her con- servator. Business was wrapped up in the romance in a really weird, confusing way.” Britney - who has sons, Sean Preston, seven, and Jayden James, six, from her marriage to Kevin Federline - was set up with the businessman by her father Jamie Spears and the blonde beauty is enjoying the “fun” side of their relationship. The source added: “With David it’s just all fun, just because they like each other. It must be a breath of fresh air for Brit.” It was previously reported David underwent a back- ground check and signed a non-disclosure contact as a means of precaution recommended by Jamie, who is co-conservator of his daughter’s affairs.

he 38-year-old sportsman - who recently retired from professional as it’s the most luxurious on The Strip. “When you add David Beckham’s soccer - and TV chef have reportedly joined forces with business global status into the mix it has the potential to be the most talked about Ttycoon Steve Wynn to open an eaterie in his luxury hotel down the restaurant in Vegas. “[Steve’s] ambition is quite simply to have the best city’s Strip. Gordon, 46, already has three joints in the hot spot - a BurGR hotels in the world. He spent more than £2billion doing that with the joint at Planet Hollywood, a steak house at Paris and a Pub & Grill at Wynn Resort and thinks Gordon and David can make it even better.” Caesars Palace - but Steve believes David’s star touch will help generate David - who has sons Brooklyn, 14, Romeo, 10 and Cruz, eight, as well as popularity for the new sports bar and grill. A source told The Sun news- 21-month-old daughter Harper with his wife Victoria - is already set to paper: “The Strip has never seen such fierce competition for food, but open the Union Street Cafe with Gordon near London’s Borough Market Gordon’s places are full seven nights a week. He’s this September and revealed how excited he is about the venture last one of the best chefs in the world, so it’s year. only natural that Steve feels he should have a place in his hotel

he ‘Oblivion’ actor - who has a seven-year-old daughter Suri back door with a bodyguard. Connor might be trying to forge a career with his ex-wife Katie Holmes, as well as 20-year-old daughter as a DJ, but Tom recently hinted he could see his kids choosing an act- TIsabella and 18-year-old son Connor with his ex-wife Nicole ing career because of their fascination with films, thanks to both Kidman - played the doting dad on Sunday evening when he turned up ‘Dawson’s Creek’ star Katie and A-list actress Nicole being in the industry at Hyde Lounge on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood to watch his adop- as well as Tom. He said: “Suri, Connor and Isabella have grown up on tive son show off his skills on the decks. An insider told the New York movie sets - the door is always open for them.” Post newspaper: “He drank sparkling water the entire night. Tom was focused on watching Connor spin. He was beaming with pride and he was extremely gracious to everyone.” The 50-year-old star was as dis- creet as ever as he pulled up in a black SUV with ‘Rock of Ages’ music producer Adam Anders at midnight. The pair slipped into the club via a lifestyle WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

ook at these people, this wildlife.” As the ing France’s recent legalization of gay marriage. partying journalist of Paolo Sorrentino’s The global stage of Cannes immediately catapults “L“The Great Beauty,” Toni Servillo was survey- Kechiche to greater international renown, inducting ing Rome’s colorful nightlife, but he might as well him into the prestigious group of Palme d’Or winners, have been contemplating the Cannes Film Festival. from Francis Ford Coppola to Terrence Malick. But this The 66th edition of the Cote d’Azur extravaganza year’s festival boasted many breakout stars, including drew to a close Sunday, awarding the sensual, heart- the two daring actresses of “Life of Adele,” Adele breaking lesbian romance “Blue is the Warmest Color: Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux, who, in a twist, also The Life of Adele” the festival’s top honor, the Palme shared in the Palme d’Or. As a bitter, sarcastic 1960s d’Or. The Cannes Film Festivale is a 12-day circus of folk singer in “Llewyn Davis,” newcomer Oscar Isaac perpetual red-carpet flashbulbs, beachside soirees also shined in Cannes’ spotlight. and, yes, a feast of some of the finest, wildest movies Familiar faces turned in some of their best work the world has to offer. The most exotic creatures including Berenice Bejo, as a single mother juggling a weren’t the high-heeled ones parading the Croisette, new man and an old one in Asghar Farhadi’s shifting they were the ones gracing Cannes’ pristine movie domestic drama “The Past”; Kristin Stewart Thomas, as screens. Lady Macbeth meets Donatella Versace in the stylish This year, the festival was a particularly captivating Bangkok noir “Only God Forgives”; and Bruce Dern, as coterie of rare birds. There was Tilda Swinton as a a gruff, aging father in Alexander Payne’s black-and- white-haired, centuries-old vampire (Jim Jarmusch’s white Midwest road trip “Nebraska.” “Only Lovers Left Alive”); Joaquin Phoenix as a 1920s Screenings at Cannes begin with the festival intro pimp, sticking out his jaw like Marlon Brando (James of red steps ascending from the sea up to the heav- Gray’s “The Immigrant”); a sequin-covered Michael ens, but for the first half of Cannes, it felt as though Douglas as Liberace (Steven Soderbergh’s “Behind the the festival was stuck underwater. Constant rains Candelabra”); a battered and bloodied, but still cool dampened the French Riviera atmosphere in the early Ryan Gosling (Nicolas Winding Refn’s “Only God days, and the films - though full of intriguing entries - Forgives”); and the disabled but acrobatic dancer didn’t quite catch until the Coens premiered their Souleymane Deme (Mahamat-Saleh Harouns melancholy story of a frustrated artist passed over by “Grigris”). history. There was literal wildlife, too, including a cat Reality also threatened to overshadow the movies. named Hercules (the Coen brothers’ “Inside Llewyn On the same night as the premiere of Sofia Coppola’s Director Anthony Chen (left) is presented the Camera d’Or award for Ilo Ilo by director Jane Campion during an awards Davis”), a vanishing giraffe (“The Great Beauty”) and “The Bling Ring,” a film about Los Angeles teenagers ceremony at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France. — AP an unfortunate pooch caught up in Mexico’s brutal who rob the houses of celebrities, news broke that $1 drug war (Amat Escalante’s “Heli”). Cannes, alas, is a million worth of jewelry had been stolen in a Cannes films - including those by the Coens, Payne, Jarmusch, was broadcast on HBO, is planning to work more in dog eat dog world. A strong, deep slate of films in hotel. Never mind that its value turned out to be sig- Soderbergh and Gray - were among some of the best television - an arena many directors discussed in competition left some mystery before Steven nificantly less: The world had already conjured cine- entries at the festival. “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Nebraska” Cannes, claiming its quality and cultural relevance Spielberg’s jury named “The Life of Adele” tops of the matic images of Cary Grant nimbly tiptoeing on and perhaps the Ellis Island melodrama “The now equals or even surpasses movies. While that may festival. The three-hour coming-of-age tale, by Riviera rooftops. Immigrant” will likely be players in this fall’s Oscar sea- be true in many parts of the world, it isn’t in Cannes. Tunisian-born director Abdellatif Kechiche, emerged Hollywood’s noisiest intruder was “Catching Fire,” son. At the annual glamour fest, the big screen - and all its as a landmark film not for its lengthy, graphic sex the “Hunger Games” sequel that used Cannes’ plat- Soderbergh’s “Behind the Candelabra” marks the varied vitality - still reigns supreme. — AP scenes, but for its tender intimacy. It won the Palme form to stir up worldwide fervor for the next install- director’s final film, at least for a time, as he’s with- on the same day thousands marched in Paris protest- ment of the Jennifer Lawrence blockbuster. American drawing from filmmaking. Soderbergh, whose film

eith Urban is no different than the rest of us: He has no idea what’s Kgoing on with “American Idol.” Urban’s got plenty to distract him while he waits for the popular TV singing con- test to decide whether he’ll return for a second season as a judge. The New Zealand-born, Australian-raised country Street billboard advertising double-jaw surgery at a subway station in Seoul. — AFP photos music star has set a Sept. 10 release date for his new album, “Fuse,” and that means he’s got to finish it. Urban thinks he’s got a few months of work left to do on the follow-up to 2010’s “Get Closer,” but leaves on tour in mid-July and hasn’t left himself much of a cushion. outh Korea’s obsession with plastic surgery is moving on that others might not offer. A number of celebrities, some able to more people. “If we are seeing more complications, “I have no official information of any- from standard eye and nose jobs to embrace a radical reportedly paid by doctors, underwent double-jaw surgery that’s largely because the sheer number of people getting the thing,” the 45-year-old country singer-gui- Ssurgical procedure that requires months of often painful and later appeared on TV talk shows saying it had provided a surgery has increased rapidly in such a short period of time,” tarist said. “I’m pretty much in the same recovery. A stream of celebrities boast on TV shows how it “turning point” in their career and personal lives. said the doctor, who declined to be identified. “Yes, it was boat as everybody else here with the gave them a “new life,” while advertisements extolling its cos- There is no official data on how many double jaw surgeries originally invented to correct a dental deformity, but you can’t rumors that have been floating around. I metic benefits are everywhere from street billboards to sub- are performed. One recent study estimated the annual figure blame someone for getting the surgery to look good, espe- don’t know anything more about what’s way stations, magazines and popular Internet sites. But there’s at 5,000, but it did not differentiate between cosmetic and cially in a place like the South where beauty, especially for happening next season. It was like this nothing really “cosmetic” about double-jaw surgery. medically prescribed procedures. Some 52 percent of those women, pretty much trumps it all,” the doctor said. before I signed on ... so it’s not unusual for A radical solution to congenital facial deformities or for who had taken the surgery suffered sensory problems such as Advertising for the procedure is prevalent and unambigu- the ‘Idol’ folks to be in this place of figur- people unable to chew properly due to excessive over or facial numbness, the study said. Seoul’s consumer protection ous. “The double jaw surgery clinic chosen by the pickiest ing out what they want to do, then they underbite, the operation involves realigning the upper and agency saw the number of registered complaints surge from ladies,” reads one typical poster on a Seoul subway station always pull it together.” lower jaws. One result of the bone-cutting procedure is often 29 in 2010 to 89 last year, though many more cases of post- wall, with large before and after photos. “Everyone but you These things usually don’t take so a slimmer jawline-and that’s what caught the attention of operative problems are believed to go unreported. has done it,” admonishes another on a metro bus. A Seoul law- long, but Urban is using a new approach South Korea’s booming beauty industry. A small face with a “V- “My mouth keeps moving leftward and the jaw area has maker in January proposed setting a minimum age limit for with “Fuse.” He is branching out from his shaped” chin and jawline is considered a mark of feminine gone numb,” wrote one user of a medical consumer online plastic surgery, noting the danger of “bone-related surgeries” longtime partnership with producer beauty in much of East Asia, along with a high-bridged nose forum, showing photos of her skewed mouth. “I can’t even feel in particular. Dann Huff. While Huff is still onboard on a and big eyes. when saliva keeps dripping out of my mouth,” she said. Last But Lim In-Sook, professor of sociology at Korea University, handful of songs, Urban signed up Jay “This surgery alters your look far more dramatically than, August, a 23-year-old college who underwent double-jaw sur- said legislation couldn’t tackle the root causes that push some Joyce, known best in country music for say, Botox or a nose job because it changes your entire facial gery killed herself. She left a suicide note explaining her des- women to risk their health for a prettier face. “This is a highly his work with Eric Church and Little Big bone structure,” said Choi Jin-Young, a professor in dentistry at peration after the surgery left her unable to chew food or stop male-dominated nation where women need both brains and Town, and Taylor Swift collaborator Seoul National University. “But it’s a very complex, potentially crying due to nerve damage in a tear duct. beauty, or often beauty more than brains, to get a job, get Nathan Chapman. He’s also enlisted rock- dangerous surgery ... it’s disturbing to see people with no real Shin Hyon-Ho, a medical malpractice lawyer in Seoul, said married and to survive in all aspects of life,” she said. Plastic er Butch Walker. dental flaws daring to go through it just to have a small, pretty he had seen cases where the surgery had resulted in chronic surgery, according to Lim, has become just another accepted Urban went to their studios, used their face,” Choi said. The procedure, which involves general anaes- jaw pain, a skewed mouth, misaligned teeth and an inability way of giving yourself an edge in what is a super-competitive engineers and players, and tried to thesia and takes months to recover from, carries the risk of to chew or smile. “The number of plastic surgery-related cases society. “So every single part of our bodies becomes an object expand and infuse his sound with their various complications including permanent facial numbness is growing ... with complications becoming more serious,” Shin for nip and tuck,” Lim said. “Today it’s your jaw, but who knows energy. He released the first single, the or even paralysis. said. A doctor with the Korean Society of Plastic and what we’ll have to fix tomorrow?” — AFP Chapman-produced “Little Bit of Data from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Reconstructive Surgeons said the procedure took off around Everything,” on May 13, and country radio Surgeons suggests South Korea has one of the highest per- four years ago when a Seoul dental clinic ran a major ad cam- responded positively. “It’s just been really capita rates of plastic surgery procedures in the world. Cut paign promoting the cosmetic benefits. creatively liberating to me,” Urban said. throat competition among the growing number of plastic sur- As it became popular, plastic surgeons began offering the “I love collaborating. It’s the thing I’ve geons has driven some to promote more radical procedures surgery, causing the price to fall and making it more afford- always loved doing, whether it’s writing or performing or being in the studio, I love the collaborative process. I think finding people’s strengths is the thing I love the most.” That sensation is what would bring him back to “Idol,” if asked. It’s one that sustained him through a diffi- uly will see the return of the multi- “The second season of Hareem Al Sultan who will steal Sultan Suleiman’s heart? cult season that culminated with the Fox award winning hit series Hareem Al was a huge hit with our viewers across Tune in to find out exclusively on OSN - singing contest’s lowest ratings and the JSultan to OSN screens with a brand the region and we are delighted to bring where you always see it first. departures of original judge Randy new and highly anticipated third season. the third season to OSN screens before it Jackson and lightning rod Nicki Minaj. The most talked about series of the year airs anywhere else in the region keeping “I did as much as I could in the envi- is guaranteed to satisfy fans with more true to our promise that you always see it ronment we had,” Urban said of the romance and betrayal, power struggles, first on OSN. judges. Yet he was able to find some satis- secrets and new characters in a season “In addition to showing this epic faction working with the contestants: “I that promises to be even more epic than series exclusively from 1st July, we have love artists. I love the beginnings of artists the first two. also produced a special behind-the- when all they’ve got is raw talent and The lavish Turkish drama chronicling scenes show reel for OSN viewers start- nothing else. They’ve got no star power, the life of Suleiman the Magnificent pre- ing later this month. I am confident that just nothing going on but just this raw mieres on Monday, 1st July exclusively the third season will be one the biggest talent that’s just beautiful to see, and you on OSN Yahala! HD and will screen from TV events of the year and beyond doubt look at them and just go, ‘All you’re need- Saturday through Wednesday dubbed in is the crowning glory of our Ramadan ing is life experience ... because you’ve Arabic and subtitled in English. A smash offering this year. Plus, OSN subscribers got everything else ready to go.’”— AP hit with viewers in the Middle East and will get to enjoy the costumes and visual Africa, Hareem Al Sultan is a fictional por- effects in true HD only on OSN Ya Hala! trayal of life in the Ottoman royal court HD.” and is a visual majestic masterpiece of In the much awaited third season, the this incredible period. The epic series struggles for power and games of makes its regional premiere exclusively intrigue in the harem gain strong on OSN Ya Hala! HD from July 1st at 21:00 momentum. New characters appear and KSA - the perfect treat for viewers this tensions reach new heights. What does Ramadan. destiny have in store for Feryal and Khulud Abu Homos, Senior Vice Ibrahim Pasha’s newborn son? Will a new President of Programming at OSN added: favourite emerge from within the Harem; lifestyle WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

f you try to grow other crops here they will fail,” says Ahmed, surrounded by lush green “Ifields of cannabis, the illegal plant he and thousands of other poor farmers in Morocco’s Rif Mountains depend on. The country’s most notori- ous export has been cultivated in the traditionally rebellious northern region for centuries, where the climate for growing cannabis, or “kif”, is considered ideal above an altitude of about 1,200 metres. Along the stunning valley that runs between the towns of Taounate and Issaguen, women work in the fields tending this year’s emerging crop, while young dealers ply the 70-kilometre (43-mile) road in their cars looking for customers. But after a massive bust in Spain this month, the attention of European drug agencies is likely to focus again on the conti- nent’s main source of hashish-and on Moroccan efforts to stem the supply. Spanish police found 32 tons of the drug in a truck carrying melons from Morocco at the end of April, and this month the same force discovered 52 tons at a warehouse in the southern Spanish city of Cordoba, setting a European record. Also in April, Egypt said more than 20 tons of hashish from Morocco were found aboard a ship in the Mediterranean which a gang of Egyptians and Syrians had been trying to smuggle into the country. Morocco’s interior ministry insists it has spent heavily on tightening border controls and combat- ing trafficking, while deploying “enormous human and material resources” to eliminating cannabis cul- tivation. And there are indications Morocco’s once- unchallenged title as the world’s number one pro- ducer is finally under threat, but only due to a rise in Afghan cultivation. Its continued importance as a top hashish exporter is not, however, in doubt, despite Rabat’s efforts to encourage farmers to diversify. The International Narcotics Control Board said in its latest report, published in March, that 72 percent of cannabis resin seized by customs authorities worldwide in 2011 originated in the north African country. “Implementing a policy of alternative devel- opment is the cornerstone of our strategy in the fight against the supply of drugs,” the ministry said Authorized by the Spanish, who ruled northern dedicated to producing the drug by 60 percent over A general view in an email to AFP. But on the Taounate-Issaguen Morocco as a protectorate from 1912, the crop the past decade to around 50,000 hectares (125,000 shows a field of road there are few signs other sources of livelihood remained legal until the 1970s. “Ketama used to be a acres). Noureddine Mediane, an MP with the Istiqlal cannabis plants in are emerging, and Ahmed, the 55-year-old farmer, hippie Mecca,” says Hamoudani, as he takes a sniff of party who has lobbied on behalf of the producers, Issaguen in the tra- dismisses talk about the government pushing the kif-enhanced snuff. Since it was banned, efforts have told AFP 30 percent of those serving time in ditionally rebel- region’s farming community to quit the habit. been made to introduce alternative forms of agricul- Moroccan jails are drug traffickers and cannabis lious northern “There is no pressure on us to change.” “Kif is the ture around Issaguen, including tending to livestock farmers. region of Morocco. only crop that can support my family, even though such as cows and goats from Europe. But farmers He called on the government to initiate an open it’s not enough, because at the end of the year we insist there is not enough grass for livestock, and dialogue on kif cultivation, “which is a reality, need credit,” explains the father of eight, who says that it is too cold to grow other crops. whether we like it or not.” “It is still there because it is he earns 40,000 dirhams ($4,700; 3,600 euros) per And there is little by way of tourist infrastructure a part of the culture of the people of the mountains. year. According to figures cited by the interior min- around Ketama, despite its spectacular scenery, The farmers were born with kif. Their parents and istry, an estimated 90,000 households, or 760,000 snow-capped peaks and famous local product, grandparents grew it, as they have done for cen- Moroccans, depend on kif production, which is con- though the picturesque town of Chefchaouen 100 turies.” “The majority of these peasant farmers can centrated in the northern regions of Al-Hoceima, kilometers west is a renowned destination for dope barely feed themselves for three to four months of Chefchaouen and Ouazzane. smokers. Hamoudani says cannabis farming is basi- the year. We know them and we know how they live. cally tolerated here “as long as things go smoothly,” The people who profit are the traffickers, the A Moroccan woman RAISED ON KIF but if there’s a big bust, for example in Casablanca, exporters and the distributors,” he said. — AFP holds up a cannabis Aberrahmane Hamoudani, 64, a former mayor of “then they send in the police.” “So here we have a plant in Issaguen in Issaguen, or Ketama as it used to be known, is an lack of development-the people are poor-but the the traditionally ardent advocate of cannabis cultivation in the Rif, farmers live with this pressure and fear.” rebellious northern which he believes dates back to the time of the Those fears are justified by official figures, accord- region of Morocco. Phoenicians, who brought the seeds from the east. ing to which Morocco has seized 1,089 tonnes of — AFP photos “Kif doesn’t kill you, but hunger does,” he quips. hashish since 2005 and reduced the area of land

he fruity flavor of raspberry and the sweet aroma of vanilla major trend; they also treat the user to a far more authentic flavor about launching this new and fun product, we are sure it will be in can trigger positive associations and therefore have a gen- and fragrance experience. An Original Lip Butter for people who the handbags of many women in the region soon!” New Labello Tuinely beneficial effect on our physical and mental balance. prefer neutral lip care with no aroma is also included in the new Lip Butter is available in the flavors of Raspberry RosÈ, Vanilla & Our ability to remember flavors is even greater than our ability range. Macadamia and Original and can be purchased from all leading to remember things we have seen. Pleasant aromas have A rich formula containing shea butter and natural almond oil supermarkets and pharmacies for AED 10. an amazing ability to soothe our senses and aid relax- ensures that the new Lip Butter melts the moment it touches the ation. New Labello Lip Butter is an aromatic treat lips, which feels fantastic. Among others the shea butter is respon- for the lips. It comes in an innovatively designed tin sible for the butter’s creamy consistency. It is obtained from the and three different flavors, each uniting trendy aro- nut of the African shea tree and is exceptionally well tolerated by mas with a unique lip care experience. The rich for- the skin. The formula with shea butter, which is rich in vitamins, mula with shea butter, almond oil and Hydra IQ protects the sensitive skin of the lips against the elements. Mild melts on the lips, restoring suppleness and adding almond oil with a vitamin E content helps to condition and calm a silky gloss. even very dry skin for unique and long-lasting softness. The practically designed tin delivers a brand new, luscious THREE TRENDY FLAVORS Labello lip care experience. Nadim Gholam Brand Manager Raspberry Rose, Vanilla & Macadamia are the new Labello Lip Labello Lip Care commented, “the new Lip Butter engages all the Butter flavors with aromas that smell absolutely scrumptious. senses, smell, taste, sight and touch! Not only do the lips feel soft Products with aromas instead of conventional scents are not just a and silky, they also taste and smell wonderful. We are very excited

n 1982, Giorgio Armani created his first fra- liquid amber. In 2012, Giorgio Armani reinter- grance for women. Inspired by the rhythmic prets the bottle of his first fragrance. Igeometric patterns of Art Deco, the bottle In the hands of master crystal workers in designed by Pierre Dinand is a clear, pure block Saint Louis, the initial block of glass is trans- of sculpted glass adorned with vertical black formed into a precious block of crystal. Each lines. Light plays a key role: through the trans- step is the result of century-old expertise. The parent design, it illuminates each side of the Saint Louis Crystal Works is a world of its own, bottle and the fragrance takes on the color of where almost nothing has changed since its creation in 1767. The totally transparent bottle holds a drop of amber and, in keeping with classic perfumery tradition, a black crystal rod allows you to extract the fragrance drop by drop. A celebration of light, this bottle exclu- sively offers only 100 women the opportunity to rediscover the fragrance created in 1982 by Giorgio Armani. Giorgio Armani has taken has taken a tradi- tional Chypre accord and wrapped it with a generous garland of flowers. The scents of corollas of narcissi, jasmine flowers, rose petals and the scapes of tuberoses blend together ñ fresh, delicate, and heady in turn. They add suppleness and bring clarity and a delightful feminine dimension to the woody character of patchouli and sandalwood. They perfectly illus- trate the fragile balance between feminine and masculine, the powerful signature of the cou- turierís creations. The Crystal Edition is an exceptional show- case for this fragrance: with the same exacting standards, luxury, Haute Couture, Fine Perfumery and Crystal Glass-making come together to offer a unique object symbolic of their expertise. 100 numbered pieces will be sold in a deluxe coffret containing two 30-ml refills, available in a very exclusive selection of retail outlets. High in the Rif, Morocco’s kif culture39 thrives WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

A couple ride their Citi Bike bicycles from a station near Union Square as the bike sharing system is launched May 27, A man gets his Citi Bike bicycles from a station near Union Square as the bike sharing system. — AFP photos 2013 in New York. About 330 stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn will have thousands of bicycles for rent.

en months behind schedule, New York City on tle bit difficult to put it back. ... But it’s great. I love it,” the unlimited 30 to 45 minute rides. There is a charge for rides Monday launched what aims to be one of the world’s software engineer said. He said he wants to use the bike that last longer. The program, sponsored by Citibank, was Tbiggest bike share programs, following in the path share program every day to get around Manhattan. The roll- supposed to have begun in July 2012 but it was postponed already taken by Paris, Montreal, London and Barcelona. out, which has caused changes in traffic patterns and in the twice, initially for logistical reasons, and later because some New Yorkers will now be able to move around on the 6,000 urban landscape, have caused some grumbling among equipment suffered flood damage during Superstorm blue “Citi Bikes” distributed among 333 stations in New Yorkers who have seen parking places disappear and Sandy in October. Manhattan and Brooklyn-the first phase of a network that is complain the bike racks look ugly. The city has added hundreds of miles of dedicated bike supposed to grow to 10,000 bikes at 600 stations. And there is raging debate over the risks posed by a lanes in recent years. When it reaches full strength, the New Light traffic because of the Memorial Day holiday made higher degree of road sharing among cars and bikes in a York bike share program will be the third largest in the for ideal conditions to try out the new subscription-based city not known for patience. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, world, after the Chinese tourist hotspot of Hangzhou, which service on quiet city streets. Organizers said that as of 5:00 who formally launched the program Monday with city has 60,000 bikes on offer, and Paris, with more than 20,000 pm (2100 GMT), more than 6,000 separate trips had been transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, told rid- cycles. Many other cities around the world have launched made, with riders traveling a total of 13,750 miles (22,000 ers it was “important to be careful” on the Big Apple’s similar initiatives including Berlin, Boston, Brisbane, kilometers). About 14,000 New Yorkers have paid an annual streets. “It will take some time for walkers and drivers to get Hamburg, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, Munich, $103 fee entitling them to unlimited rides of 45 minutes. accustomed to seeing thousands more bikes on the streets,” Stockholm, Tel Aviv and Washington. — AFP Daily and weekly plans will be available as well from June 2. Bloomberg said. Alex Nash, who pedaled into Union Square on his first The initiative operates under the same basic scheme “Citi bike” ride at 8:30 am, said he was delighted by the adopted in other cities with bike share programs, with users Sheryl Yvette rides a Citi Bike bicycle near Union experience despite some glitches. “To start with, it was a lit- offered daily, weekly and annual plans at varying rates for Square from her home in Brooklyn. — AFP

ay romance, Islamic extremism and a soundtrack of one scene the two gay lovers dance and sing in a small porise that music so that the younger audience does not classic love songs make for Pakistan’s taboo-breaking room but never embrace-their relationship is suggested feel left out,” Sarwar said. The show hopes that by taking on Ganswer to the hugely successful US television series rather than overtly shown. The moment is interrupted when difficult issues in a light-hearted way it will both reflect the ‘Glee’. Like its smash hit forerunner, ‘Taan’ follows the lives a radical Islamist character bursts in. Director Samar Raza changing nature of Pakistani society and attract a young and loves of a group of young people who regularly burst said representing the lives of gay characters was difficult in audience currently hooked on imported Turkish soap into song. But this time they attend a music academy in a country where homosexuality is still illegal. operas. Local dramas struggle to compete with the likes of Lahore, instead of an American high school. “Let’s say in a certain scene, there are two boys talking to “Manahil and Khalil” and “Ishq-e-Mamnu” (Forbidden Love) - Taan-which is a musical note in Urdu-tackles subjects each other, they are not allowed to show their physical Turkish serials starring Westernised characters with fair skin considered off limits in Pakistan’s deeply conservative attachment to each other,” he said. “So I bring a third charac- and dubbed into Urdu. Muslim society, with plotlines including love affairs between ter who says: ‘God designed Adam and Eve, not Adam and Turkish soaps are widely watched across the Muslim two men and between a Taleban extremist and a beautiful Steve’.” It is not only the sensibilities of the censors the pro- world, but the popularity of “Ishq-e-Mamnu” has prompted Christian girl. The plan is for the 26-episode series to air in ducers must navigate. While 70 percent of Pakistan’s popula- a lively debate about the “Turkish invasion” of the small September or October, and while producer Nabeel Sarwar tion is under 35, a huge and potentially lucrative audience screen in Pakistan, with local production companies com- insisted the program was not a “political pulpit”, he is deter- for advertisers, it is the head of the household who decides plaining that they do not have the resources to rival them. mined to take on the tough issues. what families watch on TV, explains Sarwar. Yasmin Huq, one of the stars of Taan, told AFP a homegrown “Nobody wants to have controversy for the sake of con- “The head of the household during the day is the matri- show could speak more clearly to Pakistanis than foreign troversy, nobody wants to have an assignment to violence, arch and the head of the household at night is the patriarch- imports. “Today’s generation is watching Turkish and Indian nobody wants to push a button that would result in a disas- they control access to TV,” he told AFP. “You have to find pro- dramas,” she said. “But no one can make a musical story like ter for anyone,” he told AFP. “But the truth has to come out gramming that allows the matriarch and the patriarch to Pakistanis. Even if you watch the Turkish and Indian dramas, somewhere. Where are we going to put a line in the sand join in and participate, but there has to be room for the you will see that nobody can talk about Pakistan like and say, ‘Look, this is what we are’?” Taking a public stand to younger audience.” In a bid to appeal to older viewers the Pakistanis.”— AFP defend liberal values like this is rare in Pakistan, where makers of Taan have licensed around 100 classic Pakistani forces of religious conservatism have risen steadily in recent songs, some by legendary artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali years. Khan, and have reworked them to suit modern tastes, as Risque scenes in foreign films are routinely cut by the Glee does. authorities and the team behind Taan are acutely aware that “We try to find music that resonates with the older gen- Pakistani drama artist seen prior to shooting a scene in the play “Taan” in Lahore. they must tread carefully with their challenging material. In eration which control the access to the TV but we contem-

Pakistani female artists seen prior to shooting a scene in the play “Taan” in Lahore. — AFP photos Female Pakistani drama artist Yasmin Huq has her makeup done prior to shooting a scene in the play ‘Taan’ in Lahore.