INTERNATIONAL DAILY THURSDAY MARCH 22, 20079

WORLDSCENE Bill Gates loses GERMANY Polar bear cub grips Berlin Berlin Zoo rallied to the defense of Knut, a three-month-old polar bear ‘soccer game’ to cub, on Tuesday, rejecting demands that the animal be allowed to die af- ter being abandoned by its mother. The fate of “cuddly Knut” has gripped the German capital since Mexican player his birth in December. Rejected by his mother Tosca, the cub was adopted by a zookeeper who moved Microsoft boss repeats support for into the animal’s enclosure to care for him round the clock. immigration reform at appearance Some animal rights campaigners think this will humanize the bear icrosoft Corp Chair- more available to schools throughout too much and want the zoo to stop man Bill Gates met the country. saving young animals. his match on Tuesday, The personal computer “is so won- “Hand-rearing a polar bear is not losing a video game derful that we should want every appropriate and is a serious viola- simulation of a pen- child to have the same opportunity tion of animal rights,” Bild newspa- alty-shootoutM to Mexican star soccer to use it and connect up to the world’s per quoted animal rights campaign- player Rafael Marquez as hundreds information over the Internet,” Gates er Frank Albrecht as saying. of Microsoft Mexico employees and said during a morning appearance guests cheered them on. with Mexican President Felipe Cal- UKRAINE As they prepared to face off, Mar- deron at the presidential residence, quez, a defender for FC Barcelona in Los Pinos. Rowing team arrested Spain’s top league and on the Mexi- Gates said he also spoke with Ukrainian border guards arrested can national team, asked the world’s government officials about how to Belarus’s national rowing team on richest man if he dared to take the increase technology use in small Tuesday for illegally entering the challenge. Mexican businesses in order to make country on a fl otilla of eight boats. Gates quipped: “I wouldn’t bet all them more competitive. Spare the knife The border guard service said a of my money on it.” Calderon presented Gates with Canadian Ashley Fruno from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protests outside a shopping coast guard vessel was dispatched The game, displayed on three gi- Mexico’s highest medal of honor to mall in Bangkok yesterday. The markings on Fruno’s body mimic a butcher’s diagram of body parts. Rerters to intercept and detain 10 rowers ant screens above a large stage, took a foreign citizen for his generosity to who had crossed into Ukrainian place during a seminar Gates hosted Mexico, in particular a recent US$30 waters on the border with Transdni- to promote the new Windows Vista million hardware and US$10 million estria, a region of ex-Soviet Moldova and Microsoft Offi ce 2007 software. software donation he made to a pro- controlled by separatists. Gates also took advantage of his gram that is connecting 2,700 public Team members told offi cials they Mexico appearance to repeat his libraries to the Internet. Gates said Can a TV quiz become addictive? were unaware they had crossed the support for US immigration reform. he expected to see all of the libraries border in the southern Ukrainian “I’m a big believer that as much connected by the end of the year. UNITED KINGDOM offering viewers the chance to vote Symptoms of addiction include region. They now face charges in as possible ... freedom of migration Microsoft also is involved in a pilot for their favorite performers — have a TV quiz becoming the most court. is a good thing,’’ Gates said, reiterat- school program in the western state Calling television quiz shows in the grown rapidly in Britain and beyond. important thing in a person’s life, ing comments recently made in the of Sonora and a program digitalizing hope of winning big money cost Julie Companies behind them make money not playing brings on withdrawal THE NETHERLANDS United States. “We’re hopeful that all records at a hospital in the western Ellison nearly $8,000 in phone bills by charging a premium rate on the symptoms and they feel the need we’ll see some immigration reform. state of Jalisco, Gates said. over 18 months and she never won a cost of calls. to play the game ever more fre- Cyclist, 81, hunts down thief ... Hopefully it will be something that On the purely business side, Gates penny, but still she keeps on trying. Premium phone rate services quently, he said. An 81-year-old Dutchman who saw provides predictability and as much said he met privately with fellow Thousands of people in Britain take watchdog ICSTIS says the services Griffiths, of Nottingham Trent a shoplifter fl ee a supermarket in freedom of migration as possible.” billionaire and Mexican telecom part in interactive quiz programs, but in Britain generated a total of about University, has not yet met anyone The Hague chased him on his bike He also was in Mexico to commem- magnate Carlos Slim to discuss ways Ellison, who is housebound after be- $2.3 billion in revenue in 2006. who fi ts his criteria, but said: “There and crashed into the man to stop orate his company’s 20th anniversary of increasing online advertising and ing injured in a fi re two years ago, is While Britons are apathetic when are lots of people out there who are him, police said on Tuesday. here and sign accords with Mexico broadband penetration in Mexico. of an unknown number who say it comes to choosing political leaders, spending lots of money.” Offi cers said the 81-year-old had City and federal offi cials aimed at companies have a business partner- they have become addicted to them. the hope of picking their favorite ce- GamCare, a charity for gambling seen the shoplifter, 29, run from the increasing efficiency in business ship through Microsoft and Slim’s tel- “I want to win,” the 38-year-old, lebrity or winning a prize has enticed addicts, says it has not received a sig- supermarket with two employees in and government, and improving ecommunications company Telmex. from the northern city of Manchester them to call up in their droves. This nifi cant number of complaints from pursuit. health care and education through He also met with the presidents said over telephone. She only started has raised fears that quiz games, in individuals hooked on interactive TV “The man did not hesitate a mo- technology. of Mexico’s two dominant televi- calling because she needed money to particular, are a potentially addictive quiz shows, but adds this could be be- ment, followed the fl eeing suspect Gates told a news conference after sion networks, Televisa and Azteca, buy a mobility scooter. form of gambling. cause viewers do not know where to on his bike, rode into his legs, the seminar that “there’s a lot of according to a news release from “With what I spent (on phone calls) “Interactive television quiz shows turn. “It is an area that is being inves- whereupon both fell,” police said in things going on in Mexico that are Microsoft Mexico. I could have bought one anyway,” she share many of the dimensions of inter- tigated,” a spokeswoman said. a statement. absolutely world-class,” citing the Showing he was not a sore loser fol- said. Her bills totalled $7,744. active television gambling, and also But Promis, a fi rm that offers coun- The cyclist injured his hand and use of information technology at top lowing his competition with Marquez, Britain’s television industry is at raise the same types of concern when seling to beat addictions, is convinced shin in the fall and had to undergo universities and businesses. Gates signed and gave the X-Box to the centre of a storm amid allegations talking about vulnerable and suscep- TV call shows — with their smiling treatment. “The place where there is an op- the soccer star, who presented him of rigged or overpriced phone-ins for tible populations,” Mark Griffi ths, a presenters, seemingly easy questions portunity to do more,’’ he said, is with a signed Mexican national team talent contests and quizzes, prompt- professor of gambling studies, wrote and cash prizes of up to $200,000 UNITED STATES in health care and public education, jersey. ing broadcasters to suspend some in a paper entitled Interactive Televi- — are a form of addictive gambling. digitalizing services to make them shows as they review the system. sion Quizzes As Gambling: A Cause Man charged with arson more effi cient and making Internet Agencies The shows — including contests for Concern? Agencies US prosecutors charged a Califor- nia man on Monday with stealing fi ne wine he had stored for upscale clients and then burning down a warehouse holding 6 million bottles worth $200 million to $250 million go up, up and upscale in land of riches to hide the scam. The US Attorney for the Eastern District of California charged Mark UNITED ARAB EMIRATES fl oors with retail space, a 160 room A fl eet of luxury cars, including a designed and maintained than they A clutch of new 300-metre bio-cli- Anderson with 19 criminal counts hotel and upmarket residential space, Rolls-Royce Phantom, will be avail- were in the past,” said Sally Warren, matic towers planned for the La De- including arson, transporting Dubai has designs on overtaking highlighting a new trend for expen- able to residents as well as yachts, at international architecture practice fense business district west of Paris, fraudulently obtained property, mail Taipei as home to the world’s tallest sive homes with a view. a spa, health clubs, a private theatre Chapman Taylor LLP. including the Tour Generali and the fraud and tax evasion following building. Dubai already has the world’s and business centre. Many of the landmarks to go up Tour Phare, are to be built using new the 2005 fi re of the Wines Central When completed in 2008, the Burj highest hotel in the sail-shaped Burj The apartments will cost from over the next few years will become materials to reduce energy and water warehouse in Vallejo. Dubai tower is expected to be more Arab , and the Persian $2.5 million for a lower level unit up the homes, or second homes, of the consumption. The warehouse was south of Napa, than 800 metres — dwarfing the Gulf state has also set its sights on to $10 million for an upper penthouse, rich and successful rather than the “We are pioneers,” said Bernard one of the nation’s best known 509-metre tower. For the becoming home to the world’s tallest according to Kukreti, who said there average citizen. Bled, who heads up the La Defense and most expensive wine-growing moment its fi nal height is being kept residential tower. were potential buyers from North In , the strikingly modern Public Development Agency that regions, and the crime shocked the secret. The Dubai tower of America, Europe, the Middle East 354 meters — 448 meters with spire is planning to build the new sky- area where wine is big business. “Burj Dubai has scaled over 110 luxury units was unveiled in Cannes and Asia. — will house 200 crapers. Anderson, 58, of Sausalito, Califor- levels and is already in the inter- this week by its developers, Trident Many of the newer skyscraper luxury apartments as well as offi ces, “We want to show how it’s pos- nia, owned a business called Sau- national spotlight,” said Issam International. projects showcased at MIPIM com- restaurants and a fitness centre. sible to build towers that are highly salito Cellars which leased a small Galadari, managing director of Each of the 120 fl oors of the 516- bine retail and office space with It will be Europe’s tallest building energy efficient and set new stand- part of a massive climate-controlled developers Emaar International, at metre building will house a single apartments. when completed. ards in sustainable development,” warehouse and charged clients to the MIPIM real estate conference in residential condominium unit with “Younger people are happier to- In keeping with international he said. store bottles of wine there. Cannes this week. penthouses on the top floors, said day about living in taller buildings trends, many architects are concen- Burj Dubai is to have some 162 Trident’s Ayush Kukreti. as today’s towers are much better trating on being eco-friendly. The Guardian Agencies NEWSMAKERS Reeves’ car grazes Verdes, said a Los Angeles County Reporter fl ies home over four insurgent leaders, including Sheriff’s deputy. the brother of military commander photographer “(The photographer) was standing amid controversy Mullah Dadullah. Italian media in the street in front of Mr Reeves’ reports said fi ve Taliban members Keanu Reeves, star of The Matrix 1996 Porsche when he was grazed An Italian journalist, freed after were freed. blockbuster action mov- by the car,” said Deputy Sheriff being held hostage by the Taliban “I think the price was too high,” ies, grazed a photog- Oscar Butao. in Afghanistan, returned home on said Vittorio Feltri, editor of right- rapher with his car Police are investigating the Tuesday amid political controversy wing newspaper Libero, shortly af- Bolton picks up pen while pulling out of incident, Butao said. over the conditions of his release. ter Mastrogiacomo arrived in Rome a parking space in a The extent of the pho- La Repubblica reporter Daniele on an Italian government plane. to ‘defend America’ southern California tographer’s injuries were Mastrogiacomo was released by the “To rejoice about the fact that community, police unknown, Butao said. Reeves Taliban on Monday after being held fi ve ferocious assassins have been Former US ambassador John Bolton said on Tuesday. was not hurt. hostage for two weeks. freed is crazy,” Feltri told a TV is writing a book titled Surrender is The incident took Reeves, 42, is best known for The kidnappers, who beheaded his talk show. His paper ran a banner Not an Option, which will draw on place just before 7: his role as the hero, Neo, of The Afghan driver, said they freed him headline on Tuesday: “The govern- his 17 months as President George W. 30 pm on Monday Matrix movies in which Earth ing to the US-based adoption agency after the Afghan government handed ment sold out”. Bush’s top envoy to the UN. evening in has been overrun by that organized the process. Bolton told a group of reporters Ran- machines and hu- Jolie has remained out of public on Tuesday that he got “a very nice cho mans are trying view since arriving in southern Ho advance” from Simon and Shuster Pa- to reclaim the Chi Minh City last Wednesday to pick to write the book, which will be los planet. up the 3 1/2-year-old boy from an published November 6. orphanage and traveling to Hanoi on “But my objective is to sell Monday to complete the adoption. enough copies of the book to earn Jolie The boy’s birth name is Pham back the advance because I want fi nalizes Quang Sang but Jolie has renamed the book to be read,’’ he said, adding him Pax Thien Jolie, a name that the subtitle of the book is Defending adoption combines the Latin word for peace America at the UN and Abroad. and the Vietnamese word for sky or “It’s about how policy was made Hollywood heaven. and things were done during my star Angelina “The Vietnamese authorities had tenure there and some of the is- Jolie fi nalized already cleared the adoption, and sues like Iran and the Democratic the adoption of the US Embassy approved it on People’s Republic of Korea and how a Vietnamese or- Tuesday,” said spokeswoman Laura they were dealt with throughout the phan on Tuesday, Feragen on behalf of Philadelphia- Bush administration.” adding a fourth child based nonprofi t agency Adoptions to her family, accord- From the Heart. Agencies