UAE widENS cRAckdOwN; MORE ISlAMiStS ... - Kuwait Times

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40 PAGES NO: 15524 150 FILS
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012 RAMADAN 11, 1433 AH www.kuwaittimes.net
Romney eyes
foreign policy
kudos
7
US to train
pilots for
hi-tech threats
27
Sharapova wins
Olympic debut
in straight sets
13
UAE widens crackdown;
more Islamists arrested
in the
news
Dubai warns of plot to overthrow GCC governments
Kuwaiti royal
detained
Sheikh Meshaal vows
to expose corruption
KUWAIT: A Gulf rights group and a Kuwaiti MP yesterday
criticized the arrest of a member of the Kuwait
ruling family for expressing “political views” deemed
offensive. “Freedom for Sheikh Meshaal Al-Malek Al-
Sabah who was arrested by the state security police,”
the Gulf Forum for Civil Societies, an organization of
liberal activists, said on its
Twitter account. It said Sheikh
Meshaal was arrested “because
of his courageous views that
opposed the policies of the
Kuwaiti ruling family.”
Sheikh Meshaal
Islamist opposition MP
Waleed Al-Tabtabai deplored
the arrest of Sheikh Meshaal “for his political views,”
and criticized what he called the return of a government
policy of harassing activists who use social
media.
Tabtabai said Sheikh Meshaal has been detained
by the secret service for the past three days. Activists
said he was arrested on Thursday on his return from
Continued on Page 13
Assad forces declare
‘victory’ in Damascus
ALEPPO: The government of Bashar Al-
Assad declared victory yesterday in a hardfought
battle for Syria’s capital Damascus,
and pounded rebels who control parts of
its largest city Aleppo. Assad’s forces have
struggled as never before to maintain their
grip on the country over the past two
weeks after a major rebel advance into the
two largest cities and an explosion that
killed four top security officials.
Government forces have succeeded in
re-imposing their grip on the capital after a
punishing battle, but rebels are still in control
of sections of Aleppo, clashing with
reinforced army troops for several days.
“Today I tell you, Syria is stronger... In less
than a week they were defeated (in
Damascus) and the battle failed,” Foreign
Minister Walid Moualem said on a visit to
Iran, Assad’s main ally in a region where
other neighbors have forsaken him. “So
they moved on to Aleppo and I assure you,
their plots will fail.”
Rebel fighters, patrolling opposition
districts in flat-bed trucks flying greenwhite-and-black
“independence” flags, said
they were holding off Assad’s forces in the
south-western Aleppo district of
Salaheddine, where clashes have gone
on for days. Opposition activists also
reported fighting in other rebel-held districts
of Aleppo, in what could herald the
start of a decisive phase in the battle for
Syria’s commercial hub, after the army sent
tank columns and troop reinforcements
last week.
Helicopter gunships hovered over the
city shortly after dawn and the thud of
Parcel bomb kills
tribal chief’s son
SANAA: A booby-trapped parcel has killed the son of a
Yemeni tribal chief in an attack suspected to be the work
of Al-Qaeda, police said yesterday. Ali Dahab, 14, died
instantly when the parcel exploded after it was given to
him to pass to his father, Sheikh Majed, as a present,
police said in a statement carried by the official Saba
news agency. “Terrorists from Al-Qaeda could be behind
this crime.” Sheikh Majed is a known opponent of Al-
Qaeda, whose militants overran his native village of
Radah, in the central province of Bayda, earlier this year,
before being chased out by armed tribesmen. Also,
armed men kidnapped an Italian diplomat from outside
the Italian embassy in Sanaa yesterday, a security source
said. “The diplomat was near the embassy building when
men came by in a car and took him by force. He is
responsible for security in the embassy,” the source said,
adding that it was not known where the men had taken
the diplomat.
KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hosted an iftar banquet in
honor of visiting Jordanian King Abdullah II and his entourage at Dasman Palace yesterday evening. — KUNA
artillery boomed across neighborhoods.
Syrian state television said soldiers was
repelling “terrorists” in Salaheddine and
had captured several of their leaders.
Some rebel-held areas visited by Reuters
were empty of residents. Fighters were
basing themselves in houses - some clearly
abandoned in a hurry, with food still in the
fridges.
A burnt out tank lay in the street, while
nearby another one had been captured
intact, covered in tarpaulin and left in a car
park, perhaps for the rebels themselves to
use against any ground assault by Assad’s
forces. In a largely empty street, flanked by
closed shops and run-down buildings,
women clad in long black abaya cloaks
walked with children next to walls daubed
with rebel graffiti - “Freedom”, “Free Syrian
Army” and “Down with Bashar”. Rubbish
lay uncollected and in one street families
were packing vans full of mattresses in
apparent preparation to flee.
The leader of Syria’s main political
opposition group, the Syrian National
Council, called for foreign allies to provide
heavy weapons to fight Assad’s “killing
machine”. “The rebels are fighting with
primitive weapons...We want weapons
that we can stop tanks and planes with.
This is what we want,” SNC chief
Abdelbasset Seida said in Abu Dhabi. He
also urged foreign allies to circumvent the
divided UN Security Council and intervene
to help topple Assad. “Our friends and
allies will bear responsibility for what is
happening in Aleppo if they
Continued on Page 13
LONDON: India’s flagbearer Sushil Kumar (right)
leads his delegation during the opening ceremony
of the London 2012 Olympic Games. An unidentified
woman, dressed in a red top and blue pants, was
seen walking alongside India’s flag-bearer. — AFP
India protests over
Olympic intruder
NEW DELHI: India has protested to London Olympic organizers
after a mysterious woman gatecrashed their squad at
the opening ceremony, media reports said yesterday. The
unidentified woman, dressed in a red top and blue pants,
was seen walking alongside India’s flag-bearer Sushil Kumar
at Friday’s ceremony even though she was not part of the
contingent. India’s acting chef-de-mission Muralidharan Raja
slammed the intrusion, but stopped short of calling it a security
breach even though the woman was not wearing the
customary identification badge. “She had no business being
there. It was a clear case of intrusion,” Raja was quoted as saying
by the Times of India. “We are taking up the issue with
the organizers. “We don’t know who she is and why she was
allowed to walk in. It is a shame that she was walking with
our athletes. “I can’t say that (if it was a security breach) as
she was in a sanitized zone, but this was bizarre. We will ask
for an apology. “She embarrassed us in front of the world.
The Indian contingent was shown (on television) for just 10
seconds, and to think this lady hogged all the limelight.”
Professor on
quest for India
hidden inventors
Max 48º
Min 33º
High Tide
07:57 & 22:27
Low Tide
01:09 & 15:30
DUBAI: At least 10 local Islamists have been arrested in
the United Arab Emirates over the past several days as
part of a widening crackdown on dissidents, activists
said yesterday, The arrests brought to at least 20 the
number of dissidents, most of them Islamists, detained
since July 15 when the Gulf Arab state said it was investigating
a foreign-linked group planning “crimes against
the security of the state”. Activists say around 40 have
been arrested since March. Many of them are Emiratis
but an Omani and stateless residents of the UAE were
among those detained.
Interior Ministry officials were not available for comment.
The UAE, a federation of seven emirates and a
major oil exporter, allows no organized political opposition.
It has avoided the political unrest that have swept
the Arab region thanks in part to its cradle-to-grave
welfare system. But it has also moved swiftly against
dissidents, stripping citizenship from Islamists whom it
deemed a security threat and issuing jail sentences to
activists who called for more power for a semi-elected
advisory council.
Relatives and activists said most of those arrested
have links to the local Al-Islah (Reform) Islamist group,
which has been the target of a crackdown in the UAE.
Hamad Roqait, 61, one of the founders of Islah and a
well-known figure in the emirate of Sharjah, was arrested
by security officials on Tuesday, a relative said. “They
came at night at the house and took him after searching
the house and seizing his mobile phone,” the relative
said. “We still don’t know his whereabouts.”
Continued on Page 13
Israel denies Iran war plan report
Saudi fumes as
hijab row rages
JEDDAH: A female Saudi Arabian judo competitor, one of
the first two female athletes sent to the Olympics by the
conservative kingdom, will withdraw if she is not allowed
to wear her hijab or headscarf, during bouts, her father was
quoted as saying. Wojdan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shaherkani
is due to compete in the +78kg judo category on Friday. A
Saudi official said earlier this month its female athletes
would have to obey Islamic dress codes.
But last week, International Judo Federation (IJF) president
Marius Vizer said Shaherkani would have to fight without
a headscarf to comply with “the principle and spirit of
judo”. Sunday’s edition of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Watan newspaper
quoted the father, Ali Shaherkani, as saying over the
telephone from Britain that his daughter “will not compete
in the Judo Games on Aug 3 if the committee insists that
she removes her hijab”. He was quoted as telling Al-Watan
he had not heard back from the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) on the matter.
The IJF, whose regulations for the Olympic Games state
no headgear can be worn, was in regular discussions with
Olympic and Saudi officials to find a solution, IJF
spokesman Nicolas Messner said. He said the hijab was
banned for safety reasons, as judo fighters can try to strangle
each other using their judogi or kit. While using a hijab
to do this would be illegal it could happen by mistake during
a move. “It can be dangerous,” Messner said. “It could
happen during a move, something wrong could happen.”
Female participation in sports has long been a controversial
issue in Saudi Arabia, where conservative Muslim
clerics have said it is immodest and goes against women’s
nature. Until this year, Saudi Arabia was one of three countries,
alongside Brunei and Qatar, never to have sent female
athletes to the Olympics. Human rights groups urged the
IOC to ban the countries from the Games unless they
agreed to send women. Saudi Arabia reached an agreement
on the participation of Shaherkhani and Sarah Attar,
an 800 metre runner, just two weeks ago after talks with the
IOC. — Reuters
JERUSALEM: A senior Israeli official
denied yesterday a newspaper report
that President Barack Obama’s national
security adviser had briefed Israel’s
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a
US contingency plan to attack Iran
should diplomacy fail to curb its nuclear
program. The Israeli liberal Haaretz daily
yesterday quoted an unnamed US official
as saying the adviser, Thomas
Donilon, had described the plan over
dinner with Netanyahu earlier this
month.
“Nothing in the article is correct.
Donilon did not meet the prime minister
for dinner, he did not meet him one-on-
one, nor did he present operational
plans to attack Iran,” the senior official,
who declined to be named given the
sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters.
Haaretz said the briefing was the most
significant effort by high-level US officials
who had visited Israel in the past
month, including Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, to try to dissuade Israel
from launching its own military strike on
Iran. The report coincided with a visit to
Israel by Obama’s main rival in his reelection
bid this November, Republican candidate
Mitt Romney, who met the conservative
Continued on Page 13
NABLUS: Palestinian girls pose for a photographer while attending Quran classes
during the Muslim’s holy month of Ramadan in a mosque yesterday. —AP
World poverty to be
eliminated by 2030
ASPEN: Poverty across the planet will be virtually eliminated
by 2030, with a rising middle class of some two billion people
pushing for more rights and demanding more resources, the
chief of the top US intelligence analysis shop said Saturday. If
current trends continue, the 1 billion people who live on less
than a dollar a day now will drop to half that number in roughly
two decades, Christoper Kojm said. “We see the rise of the
global middle class going from one to two billion,” Kojm said, in
a preview of the National Intelligence Council’s global forecast
offered at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. “Even if some
of the most dire predictions of economic upheaval” in the coming
years prove accurate, the intelligence council still sees “several
hundred million people...entering the middle class,” Kojm
said. The National Intelligence Council analyzes critical national
security issues drawing from all US intelligence agencies. The
unclassified global forecast, which is due out by the end of the
year, tries to “describe drivers of future behavior” to help government
agencies from the White House to the State
Department plan future policy and programs, Kojm said.

local
KUWAIT: The Missoni Hotel recently celebrated
the advent of the holy month of Ramadan by
holding a special Ghabqa for members of the
media. They were received by Alfio Bernardi,
General Manager and Wassim Tarabay Sales and
Marketing Manager. Several competitions and
recreational activities were held. Winners were
awarded valuable prizes.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
KUWAIT: Kuwait Teachers Association held a Ramadan Ghabqa at its premises on Thursday for its members.

INGREDIENTS
KUWAIT: The Regency’s Silk Road restaurant was the
venue of a sumptuous Iftar attended by a bevy of guests
representing Kuwait’s best known media establishments
and all the hotel’s senior management, including Adib
Rawas Acting General Manager who stood in for Riaz
Mahmood who was away on annual vacation.
On July 25, crowds of media were seen heading into
the hotel’s lobby Al Liwan. For this year’s Ramadan, it has
as its centerpiece a gilded ‘fanooz’, (Arabic lantern), surrounded
by ruby-red and gold diwaniya-style seating,
specially constructed by the hotel’s craftsmen.
As guests arrived, they were met at the beautifully
adorned entry to the restaurant by food and beverage
staff, the men dressed in dishdashas and ghutras, while
the ladies wore colorful beaded red darah. Almost a
dozen chefs were on hand to serve a myriad of dishes to
guests who commented on the spectacular decorations
such as a metre-high golden coffee pot or ‘della’ and a
huge silver leaf creaking with ripe fruits next to a plethora
of homemade Arabic and international desserts.
Guests marveled at the range of irresistible goodies
displayed across the vast room; silver chafing dishes of
favorite local and regional foods steamed away while
three chefs were busy in the show kitchen grilling a variety
of meats and fish.
At other live stations, guests could order fresh helpings
of chicken shawarma, delectable qozi and handmade
saj. As the call to prayer sounded, they happily
broke their fast with glasses of sharab al ward bin ghalib,
ruby-red Karkade, Qamar Al-Deen and deliciously sweet
Jallab. Others ate freshly baked breads or nibbled on
fresh dates and dried fruits laid out in baskets in an
appetizing display that made use of the traditional red
‘sadu’ cloth.
As the evening wore on, more guests turned up,
some who had not seen the hotel for a while commented
on the many improvements that have taken place
and the wide variety of quality dishes.
Over a hundred VIP media attended the Iftar which
was the first one held at The Regency. Each guest was
offered a small souvenir of the evening from the
Marketing Department team, headed by Charlotte
Shalgosky, Marketing and Communications Director,
Ahmed Mourad Assistant Marketing and
Communications Manager. They were joined by fellow
members Preetha Manoj, Marketing Executive Mariam
Emil, PR Executive and newcomer Lemuel Leachon,
Senior Designer.
For those who cannot wait for the festival of Eid Al-
Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, The Regency will be
local
Sumptuous Iftar held to welcome guests at The Regency
Resha Galouti
Lamb cubes - 2 kilograms
Vegetable Oil - 1 cup
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Green cardamom -1teaspoon
Cloves - 1/2 teaspoon
Bay Leaf - 2-3 nos
Sliced onion - 2 medium size
Ginger garlic paste -1/2 cup
Turmeric powder -1 teaspoon
Kashmiri chilly powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Coriander powder - 2 tablespoon
Black cardamom seeds - 1 teaspoon
Crushed roasted cumin seeds - 2 tablespoon
Ghee- 1 cup
Chopped ginger - 2-3 tablespoon
Chopped coriander - 1 cup
Chopped onion - 1 cup
Egg white - 2 nos
Hung curd/ Labneh - 1/2 cup
Mint Leaves - 1/ 2 Bunch
METHOD
1-Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan. Add whole spices (cinnamon
, cardamom , clove , bay leaf) allow to splutter.
2-Add sliced onion to the pan. Saute till golden brown,
add lamb cubes followed by ginger garlic paste and coriander
powder.
3-Cover the lamb and cook gently on a low flame.
4- Add little water while stirring.
5-Once the lamb is cooked, add turmeric powder,
Kashmiri chilly powder and salt. Allow the excess moisture
to evaporate.
6-Use a whisk or wooden mallet to pound on the meat
while it is cooking. The plan is to shred the meat and tenderize
it at the same time. Once all the meat acquires a
thread-like (called resha, in india. Hence the name) texture,
transfer to a tray and cool.
7-Pick out the whole spices from the pounded lamb, add
black cardamom seeds, crushed cumin seeds, chopped ginger,
coriander and onions followed by clarified butter and
egg white.
8-Knead the lamb mixture thoroughly to mix the flavors.
Divide the mix into small balls (approx 30 grams each). Stuff
each lamb ball with a teaspoon of hung curd and shredded
mint leaves. Flatten between the palms to shape like discs .
9-Shallow fry the lamb patties on a medium to hot flame
on both sides to form a golden brown crust.
INGREDIENTS
Chana masala
• Chick peas boiled -2 cups
• Vegetable oil -2 tablespoon
• Ajwain seeds-1/2teaspoon
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Onion chopped - 1/2 cup
• Ginger grated - 2 tablespoon
• Chopped garlic -1 tablespoon
• Tomato puree - tablespoon
• Turmeric powder -1teaspoon
• Red chilly powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Corriander powder - 2 tablespoon
• Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
• Tamarind pulp -1/2 cup
• Chopped coriander- 2tbsp
• Ginger juliennes - 1 tablespoon
• Black cardamom -2 nos
• Bay leaf - 2 nos
• Kasurimethi powder - 1/2 no
METHOD:
-Wash the chickpeas and soak them overnight.
-Boil the chickpeas in water, seasoned with salt
bay leaf and black cardamom.
-Once the water starts boiling, reduce the temperature,
cover the pot and allow to simmer till it turns
soft.
-In a separate pan, heat oil add cumin seeds,
ajwain seeds allow them to splutter add chopped
onions, followed by grated ginger and chopped garlic
.
-Once the onion turns golden brown add tomato
puree allow it to cook for 10-15 minutes add boiled
chickpeas mix them gently with onion tomato
masala.
-Add all the powdered spices (coriander powder ,
turmeric powder, red chilly powder,dry fenugreek
leaves ) along with tamarind pulp and salt.
-Allow the chana masala to cook till required consistency.
Adjust the seasoning with salt and lemon
juice if required.
-Serve chana masala hot garnished with chopped
coriander and ginger juliennes.
launching a spectacular four-day Eid celebration, which
will include amazing buffets and activities for families.
Moreover, there will be an offer which will see a very
limited number of special room and suite rates for the
‘early birds.’ These will be available strictly on a firstcome,
first-serve basis and will include plenty of benefits.
Enquiries may be made on 2576 6666.
During Eid, there will be a chance for citizens to see
one of the Middle East’s biggest singing stars, Hala Al-
Turq, who will be joined by a host of other TV celebrities
at an exclusive event at The Regency. The promoters of
the event will be giving more details of ticket sales very
soon in the local media.
The Regency’s management and staff would like to
take this opportunity to wish all readers a very blessed
Ramadan and would like to offer their thanks to patrons,
old and new, for their wonderful support.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012

kuwait digest
Opposition group
still together?
By Thaar Al-Rashidi
Let us start the subject from where N.A. Speaker
Jassem Al-Khorafi ended his declaration on
Monday at the National Assembly. In my opinion,
Abu Abdul Mohsan did nothing in his declaration
except include in it some “comic” sense, which is used
by the majority figures day and night.
The man only tried to joke with them by how they
embarrass their opponents in their own declarations.
But it seems that they did not like it, and it even made
them angry, and the proof is their reaction and criticism
of the new style which was not known before for
Abu Abdul Mohsan, and they forgot that he said very
important things. The necessity to protect the election
system constitutionally to avoid falling into constitutional
default, and this is demanded by everyone and
on top of them the majority, though some of its members
became angry by the speaker’s declaration, who
came back based on the government’s verdict.
Secondly, he explained the simple steps that he will
take later on which calls for convening the N.A. Council
if a quorum is incomplete. He will call for another convening
and again if a quorum is incomplete, he will
then take up the matter with His Highness the Amir, to
make a decision and this is what will happen and
everyone will call for it, including the majority members.
We like the majority, and some of the members of
the majority whom we like and respect their political
work are making jokes in their declarations. I don’t find
anything wrong in that, as everyone has his style in
declaring there are some who play around with words
and others who play around with the truth and some
who play around with the overall meaning of speeches,
similar to all politicians throughout the world. But
apparently they became very nervous when they were
faced with their own style, although I see among them
those who are more patient, especially those among
them who are experienced MPs.
“The majority is still together” is what is said by
some of its members. And I don’t know if their saying it
is truth or just political hope. Apparently, the majority
has lost some of its glory. But in my opinion the majority,
in the end, is popular again in its current shape and
should remain together. They are not simply an opposition
group, but they are a fence for any possible violations
and their staying together is something that
concerns us all.
Trying to offend the majority through some
rumours by the media is nothing more than the
attempt of children through telling stories about the
neighbor’s tree. They might get 20 to 30 fruits out of
the tree by their stories. But in the end, the tree
remains in the ground as it is the property of the
neighbors and the kids are nothing but small thieves,
and we laugh at them when we see them.
NOTE: It is very easy to spoil the image of someone
though a rumour, but if you use one thousand rumours,
you will not be able to improve your image, especially if
your political image is very bad. — Al-Anbaa
NO: 15524 RAMADAN 10, 1433 AH
11
The dawn prayer for Muslim called?
Fajr
Zhur
Mughrib
The ‘warning’ that Secretary General of the
National Democratic Alliance Khalid Al-Khalid
made to the cabinet against amending the
electoral constituencies system is perplexing. It is not
a secret that the NDA and other democratic groups
are the biggest losers from the current distribution of
constituencies, which was proven by the results of
the last elections. It seems unjustifiable that the NDA
would strongly push for keeping the current system;
not only due to a lack of interest, but also because
this system lacks legitimacy and constitutionality.
It’s common knowledge that the current distribution
of constituencies resulted from a governmental
ill-planned approach to take over the parliament that
started in 1981 (the year in which constituencies
were first expanded from 10 to 25). Lawmakers elected
via the altered distribution would normally be in
favor of keeping it. And since the MPs who were
elected through the 25 constituencies system made
the amendment to merge constituencies into five,
this automatically would make the current system a
product of an initial tampering with the initial 10constituencies
system, the only legal and constitu-
LOCAL
kuwait digest
The NDA’s questionable stance
By Abdullatif Al-Duaij
tional distribution of constituencies. The government
has for certain sought to change the electoral constituencies
system. Today, they reportedly seek to
amend the system once again. Some believe that the
government plans to alter the system even more in
order to control the results of upcoming elections.
Others, in the meantime, argue that the government
could be seeking to correct the mistakes made
before. While I personally wouldn’t bet on the second
scenario, there’s still a chance that it could be true. I
am concerned, however, about the probability of further
tampering in the constituencies distribution
which haven’t been corrected since 1981 - and
apparently the NDA is trying hard to keep it that way.
The safest way for the NDA to avoid public criticism
was to call for the issue pertaining to the electoral
system to be left to the court to handle. Their recent
stance is naive and puts them in an unnecessary battle
through which not only they are going to be hurt,
but so are all democratic groups and the country as a
whole. On the other hand, the only party benefiting
from this stance is the tribal-religious coalition of
oppositionists. —- Al-Qabas
kuwait digest
Our political
absurdity!
By Dr Shamlan Yousif Al-Essa
At a time when the government is trying hard to
find a legal and constitutional way out of the crisis
that started with the constitutional court’s
verdict on annulling the 2012 parliament and dissolving
it, the majority is holding intensive meetings and its
leaders are issuing daily statements with threats to the
PM and his cabinet. They simply refuse to amend the
five electoral constituency system and the number of
votes, on the ground that this would only serve the
government and its allies, which is against their wish to
return to the upcoming parliament with a majority bloc
of 40 MPs that is, itself, full of contradictions and competition
amongst the oppositions MPs. How can one
ensure the winning of the same bloc again with all its
diverse elements, including the Muslim Brethren,
Salafis, Tribes, public powers and the development
group?
During the last meeting of the opposition majority
at Ahmed Al-Sadoun’s diwaniya, youth groups decided
to launch a signature collection campaign to seek signatures
on a memo declaring their intent to boycott
the coming parliamentary elections if the law is
amended by a necessity decree in the absence of the
parliament. The question is: If the young people and
those who support and encourage them really believe
in the constitution and institutional work, why then do
they jump to conclusions, throw accusations around
and declare they will boycott the elections before
knowing what the constitutional court will have to say
once the government referred the law to it on Monday
(today)? HH the Amir and the government will decide
the next move according to the constitutional court
ruling, which means that the government is more
transparent and keener to ensure the constitutionality
of the coming elections in order to avoid previous mistakes,
especially when there were many cases filed with
the constitutional court contesting the constitutionality
of the five electoral constituency system with
unequal number of voters in each, namely in the fourth
and fifth constituencies with over 120,000 voters, while
the second constituency has less than 50,000 voters. So
what’s wrong with the rational measures taken by the
government so far in the course of executing the constitutional
court verdict? What’s wrong with waiting till
everything is clear about whether the coming elections
will be constitutional or not?
We wished that the opposition’s icons would offer
their legal and constitutional view on how to get out of
the current crisis, instead of insisting on keeping things
as they are despite the problems. Why on earth have
they called to collect signatures and boycott the elections
after hearing what the constitutional court has to
say?
Will boycotting the elections stop democracy in
Kuwait? Why are they so afraid of the court ruling and
decreasing the number of votes from four to one per
voter, the way all the countries throughout the world
do? The sure thing is that the coming elections will
have winners and losers; the opposition might win or
lose, which is normal in all democracies. Do you want
to always win as all the oppressive Arab regimes do?
Come on, be democratic....the whole world is changing!
— Al-Watan
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
kuwait digest
Majority Bloc
wasting time
By Omar Al-Tabtabaei
After youth activists ended their pressure on
lawmakers who claimed commitment to
achieving reform as being their top priority,
and MPs were left without motivation to achieve
these demands or at least attempt to, this led to the
majority position MPs obtained in parliament to be
exploited for their electoral benefits.
During the months in which the 2012 parliament
was in session, the majority opposition did nothing
more than infighting, as well as submit a number of
‘embarrassing’ proposals that hurt the block’s position
and reputation. Moreover, controlling the majority
number of seats led some Majority Bloc members
to count on the numbers game by giving priority to
personal aspects, ahead of public demands.
Unfortunately, such actions were not stopped or
even criticized by the Majority Bloc, which became
more concerned about keeping their numerical
advantage than to realizing priorities that, if
achieved, might benefit all. Said attitude also resulted
in strange appeasements with the Cabinet of Sheikh
Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, which brought nothing
new to the table and did not even have a timetable
for work.
All of the above led the Majority Bloc to implode.
The pressure that youth activists put on the opposition
to give top priority to achieving public demands
was the glue that kept members of the Majority Bloc
together.
Of course, there are other factors that prevented
the Majority Bloc from achieving public demands,
including the short life of the 2012 parliament, as
well as the Cabinet’s ability to create obstacles while
mastering the art of ‘playing by the book’. However,
this doesn’t give the opposition any excuses for failing
to create a proper way to manage the process of
presenting public demands, as well as exerting all
efforts to achieve them, instead of wasting time on
increasing their popularity among voters. The
Majority Bloc had a golden opportunity to accomplish
achievements that would change the image
people have about lawmakers; that they give priority
to their personal interests before that of the public
good.
The Majority Bloc failed to predict the public’s
reaction after the Constitutional Court made its ruling
that annulled the dissolution of the 2009 parliament.
They then pushed this verdict into the headlines
in an attempt to take people’s attention away
from their breakdown, and put the blame for the
political crisis entirely on the government. While I do
not try to defend the Cabinet, I believe that the
Majority Bloc’s failures are not better than the governments’.
Exploiting people’s enthusiasm to achieve
personal gains is a crime that is equal to corruption.
The Majority Bloc should have come up with a
timetable for achieving priorities, and then follow it
strictly through productive work, instead of being
motivated by vengeance. They ought to avoid presenting
draft laws that damage national unity, such
as certain constitutional amendments, as well as
respect the different opinions expressed inside the
parliament building. They were supposed to focus
more on internal problems, as a struggling country
cannot help solve other countries’ problems.
Members of the Majority Bloc should have done
away with ‘campaigning’ once elections were over,
and instead adopted a political speech that points to
the framework of dealing with the present issues.
Most importantly, the opposition should have maintained
a decent level of dialogue.
When people defended the Majority Bloc during
their tenure in the 2012 parliament, they were actually
defending their demands, which they hoped MPs
would realize. This is exactly why the same people are
criticizing the bloc now; because they are defending
their demands. Therefore, the opposition should never
think that they could use the people as a tool to
fight the government whenever they like. On the contrary,
the opposition is the tool by which the people
can outline their blueprint for a better future. — Al-Rai
kuwait digest
Government’s
mismanagement
Dr. Yaqoub Al-Sharrah
Accounting is one of the most important
aspects of management science that helps
improve quality of performance.
Accounting means holding each party responsible
for direct or indirect negligence of duties or violations
of law and regulations. It is, therefore, an
effective means to correct mistakes and avoid mistakes
in the future, as well as to correct negative
behaviors in society.
Although everything mentioned above is common
sense, I felt the need to write this introduction
before talking about the situation of management
in Kuwait which has been deteriorating in all
fields for a long time. Management is the key in
each profession which organizes the work of individuals,
administrations, finances, etc. Several
aspects of advancement in our lives can be attributed
to the presence of the quality of the management
behind it; while poor management is mostly
found behind the regression in development.
Errors in Kuwait’s governmental departments
are countless due to their complexity and effects.
Errors in systems and administrative regulations
lead to hurting employees’ motivations to carry
out productive work, thus hurting the organization’s
general productivity level. Unproductive
labor forces in the public sector - or what is known
locally as masked unemployment - squanders
public funds and leaves negative influences on the
role of productive employees. Therefore, management
science experts believe that in order for
management to be successful, the quality of all
aspects in a department must equally be maintained.
This means that not only should the quality
of employees’ performances be maintained, but
also the quality of regulations running the process
of work. — Al-Rai

LOCAL
Liberal bloc divided over
swear-in ceremony
Al-Omair slams ‘quitters’
By A Saleh
KUWAIT: The National Action Bloc members are
divided over whether to take part in any demonstrations
following the Cabinet’s swearing-in
event on Tuesday of the reinstated 2009 parliament,
according to sources close to the liberal
group. The main point of conflict pertains to
whether to vote on any bills that can be produced
during the session, or walk out immediately after
ministers finish taking the oath.
On that regard, sources explained that “MP
Saleh Al-Mullah strongly pushes for walking out
right after the Cabinet’s swearing-in.” The lawmaker
further informed his colleagues about his
intention to resign following the ceremony, or if
the session is not held due to lack of quorum, said
the sources. The remaining bloc members believe
that they should wait and see if the Cabinet presents
a request to refer the electoral system to the
Constitutional Court “and vote in approval of said
request,” sources added.
Neutral stance
MP Ali Al-Omair criticized lawmakers who
announce plans to resign from the 2009 parliament
“but fail to live up to their promises.”
“Lawmakers refusing to take part in the 2009 parliament
are advised to resign from their posts and
give up their immunity and all other privileges
that the MP’s position provides,” Al-Omair told
reporters who attended a ghabqa he hosted
Saturday for third constituency voters.
And while announcing his ‘neutral’ stance at a
potential request by the government to preside
over the dispute of the current electoral system -
an action that the opposition highly opposes, Al-
Omair indicated that he plans to attend tomorrow’s
session “if that would help the government
continue with constitutional procedures.”
Constitutional Court’s rulings
MP Adnan Al-Abdulsamad criticized oppositionist
lawmakers for often using the word ‘tampering’
to describe a potential step of the Cabinet
to verify the constitutionality of the current fiveconstituency
electoral system by referring it to
the Constitutional Court. “Opinions about constituencies
or votes must be kept within constitutional
framework that are built on studies instead
of statements,” Al-Abdulsamad said in a statement
released yesterday. “Using the term tampering to
refer to a verdict made within the frameworks of
the Constitution as a violation of the Constitution
itself,” Al-Abdulsamad explained, further insisting
that “the 2009 Parliament is legal and constitutional.”
Al-Abdulsamad also announced that he
will not be attending tomorrow’s session, and
warned the Cabinet against “submitting to pressure
in order to take steps outside the legal and
constitutional framework.”
Salafists look for replacement
The Islamic Salafist Assembly plans to nominate
former MP Fahad Al-Khannah as a candidate
in the second constituency, while they are still
looking for another candidate to replace Khalid
Al-Sultan and Abdullatif Al-Omairi.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, sources
indicated that the assembly looks to convince former
lawmaker and minster Ahmad Baqer to run
for Parliament “because he currently does not
appear to be planning to contest elections.”
Meanwhile, sources confirmed that Al-Sultan and
Al-Omairi “will run as independents” in the
upcoming elections.
‘Where else can we seek justice?’
Lawmakers from the annulled 2012 parliament,
Nabil Al-Fadhl stressed that real reform
should start by altering the electoral constituencies
and allowing a voter to choose only one can-
didate instead of four. “The four vote-system is
susceptible to forgery, the nation’s will,” he
stressed. Furthermore, Al-Fadhl pointed out that
the call made by the majority MPs to boycott
elections will not change the situation. “In the
previous elections, 40 percent of voters failed to
take part. With the opposition MPs, it will hardly
be 41,” he underlined. “If the constituencies are
amended and the one vote system is used, the
only MP who will not run for the elections will be
Ahmed Al-Saadoun. He would know that he does
not stand a chance,” added Al-Fadhl expressing
surprise at the rejection of the majority MPs to go
to the Constitutional Court. “If they refuse to
move the Constitutional Court, where else should
we go to achieve justice?” he concluded.
Dashti sues Al-Harbash’s son
Attorney and lawmaker of the annulled 2012
parliament Abdulhameed Dashti filed a lawsuit
against citizen Abdullah Jamaan Al-Harbash, son
of MP Dr Jamaan Al-Harbash, in the parliament
storming case that took place late last year. In a
petition filed with the Attorney General yesterday,
Dashti argues that there is “photographic evidence”
as well as testimonies of eye witnesses
which level the same accusations against Al-
Harbash which 68 suspects face in a case filed
after the incident.
KTUF demands leave on 50 C days
The Kuwait Trade Union Federation(KTUF)
demanded that employees be given “paid
leaves during days on which temperatures
exceed 50 degrees Celsius,” in a statement
released yesterday. The KTUF based its demand
on regulations “which ban work in unsuitable
weather conditions for safety reasons”, adding
that “the difficulty of working during fasting
hours throughout Ramadan adds to the need
for taking this decision.”
27 oppositionists to boycott ‘amended’ elections
KUWAIT: While several lawmakers
announced plans to boycott a session
of the 2009 parliament next
Tuesday, the Cabinet looks to take
part “as a step to implement the
Constitutional Court verdict” that
reinstated the dissolved parliament.
This was revealed by a government
insider who indicated that a recommendation
in that regard made by
the Cabinet’s legal committee is
expected to be viewed during the
Cabinet’s weekly meeting today.
Meanwhile, 27 members of the
35-member coalition of opposition-
ists which formed the Majority Bloc in
the annulled 2012 parliament have
reportedly signed a petition to boycott
upcoming elections if the state’s
current 5-constituencies electoral
system is amended. Those signing
include 13 members from the 2009
parliament, according to sources
close to the bloc, who indicated that
members Shaya Al-Shaya, Abbdullatif
Al-Omairi, Mohammad Al-Kandari
and Ammar Al-Ajmi remain undecided
on the decision to boycott.
And while MP Saadoun Hammad
announced plans to boycott
Tuesday’s session, citing “the
Cabinet’s inability to resolve an
unconstitutional electoral situation”,
sources with knowledge of the Shiite
MP’s thinking believe that Dr. Yousuf
Al-Zalzalah, Faisal Al-Duwaisan,
Husain Al-Qallaf, Massouma Al-
Mubarak, Saleh Ashour and Adnan
Al-Mutawa’a have decided to boycott
the session as well, while MPs Adnan
Al-Abdulsamad and Dr. Hassan
Jowhar haven’t made a similar decision.
In the meantime, opposition
lawmaker Dr. Waleed Al-Tabtabaei
argued that the current Cabinet
would become null and void if the
Constitutional Court ruled the current
electoral system as being unconstitutional
on the grounds that such a
verdict would automatically annul
both the 2008 and 2009 parliaments.
In that regard, constitutional expert
Mohammad Al-Muqate’a agreed that
the verdict would deem the 2009
parliament null and void, and automatically
return the 25-constituencies
electoral system through which a
citizen has two votes instead of the
four votes given by the 5-constituencies
system.
KUWAIT: Kuwait Dive Team of the
Environmental Voluntary Foundation made
a comprehensive survey in the North of
Kubbar Island to clean up waste harmful to
the marine environment and reefs.
Walid Al-Shatti, in charge of marine
operations of the team, said in a statement
that the team has been examining the reefs
for the last 20 years to protect them against
adverse effects, in addition to submitting
periodic reports about their condition to
the research center of University of
Queensland, Australia.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Kuwait Dive Team cleans up
location north of Kubbar isle
KUWAIT: The court order annulling the
2012 parliament and reinstating the
2009 one has greatly impacted investigations
at the Public Prosecution Office
where some MPs’ bank accounts are
under scrutiny over millions-worth cash
deposits.
This is, of course, a procedure that
requires lifting the parliamentary immunity
of the lawmakers under scanner. A
number of accused MPs’ lawyers made
official requests to Public Prosecutor
Dherar Al-Assousi, asking him to stop
investigations and contact the National
Assembly, requesting that parliamentary
immunity be lifted before proceeding
with the investigation.
Meanwhile, Kuwait University law
professor, Dr Redha Al-Feeli stressed that
The team lifted damaged fishing iron
cages from coral reef sites, threatening the
marine organisms underwater, Al-Shatti
said.
Placing the iron cages at these natural
sites constitutes violation of laws of the
Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and
fish resources, Al-Shatti said, explaining
that the reefs are considered as natural
reserves. He also explained that fishing
with cages or other means is prohibited
within a three-mile-long radius around the
islands. — KUNA
Lawmakers insist on
enjoying immunity
the Public Prosecution Department
would have to lift the immunity of
accused MPs before interrogating them
because they are now members of the
revived 2009 parliament.
Some legal sources asserted that the
previous investigations conducted
were void because they were interrogated
without lifting parliamentary
immunity.
Other high-ranking sources stressed
the legality of the previous investigations
on the ground that they were
conducted when the parliament was
annulled. “However, resumption of
investigations under current circumstance
will call for lifting their immunity
since the 2009 parliament was reinstated,”
stressed sources.

6 LOCAL
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent Society fundraising campaign in progress. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
KRCS holds fundraising
campaign for Syrians
By Nawara Fattahova
KUWAIT: The Kuwait Red Crescent
Society (KRCS) is holding the
Fundraising Campaign for the Relief
of the Syrian People. During this five
days campaign it is accepting financial
donations until Thursday from
10:00am - 1:00pm, and 9:00pm -
12:00 midnight.
Until yesterday afternoon the
campaign already collected about
USD 1.5 million. They are now
preparing the trucks that will carry
the donations to the Jordanian-
Syrian borders for the Syrian
refugees in Jordan. “We are cooperating
with the Jordanian Red
Crescent and the Kuwaiti Embassy
in Jordan to distribute the donations.
These trucks will leave there
next week, and the volunteers will
distribute the food there,” Khaled
Al-Zaid, Head of Media Center told
the Kuwait Times yesterday.
“We are preparing other team
with donations to leave to Lebanon,
particularly the Lebanese-Syrian
Burgan Bank completes summer training program
KUWAIT: Burgan Bank recently held a graduation
ceremony to mark the conclusion of its
annual summer training program. 47 students
participated in this program, which aimed to
develop their talents and introduce them to
the world of banking, which is one of the key
sectors of the Kuwait economy.
Students aged between 15 and 19 years
old were split into two groups, each group
undergoing extensive two-week training. The
course was divided into a week of classroom
theory and another week of practical execution.
Throughout the program, participants
got to visit the head office vault, the Private
Banking and Treasury department, as well as
the call center.
A key component of the internship program
was to induct students about basic
banking operations, and Burgan Bank’s wide
range of products and services. Students
received the chance to develop their creativity,
understand the basics of successful customer
services, and finally, they were trained
on how to write winning resumes.
The students celebrated the completion of
their training in a prestigious ceremony host-
borders. This team will go by plane.
Even after the holy month of
Ramadan is over we will still collect
donations for the Syrians until this
problem is over. In fact we aim to
Khaled Al-Zaid
enter Syria and deliver the donations
to all areas in Syria,” he added.
The KRCS is cooperating with
the United Nations Refugee Agency
ed by Burgan Bank, where Halah El Shirbini,
Burgan Bank’s Chief Human Resources and
Development Officer gave a motivational
speech in congratulations to the graduates.
The bank’s Chief Retail Banking Officer,
Muneera Al-Mukhaizeem was also present
and distributed certificates of completion.
Burgan Bank continues to embrace an
active role in its contributions towards the
Kuwaiti social fabric. The bank continuously
holds summer training programs with an
objective to foster and encourage future leaders
and talent working across the banking sector.
Established in 1977, Burgan Bank is the
youngest commercial bank based in Kuwait,
with a significant focus on the corporate and
financial institutions sectors, as well as having
a growing retail and private bank customer
base.
Burgan Bank has four majority owned subsidiaries:
Gulf Bank Algeria - AGB (Algeria),
Bank of Baghdad - BOB (Iraq), Jordan Kuwait
Bank - JKB (Jordan) and Tunis International
Bank - TIB (Tunisia), (collectively known as the
“Burgan Bank Group”).
UNHCR and other organizations.
“The Jordanian Red Crescent for
instance have told us what are the
needs of the refugees there, so we
are only sending food staff including
sugar, milk, tea, oil, rice, and other
commodities which will supply
all the families there for a month. As
they informed us that these are the
most important things they need in
Ramadan. There are about 150
thousand Syrian Refugees in
Jordan,” explained Al-Zaid.
The donations accepted at
KRCS are only financial. “Our society
is experienced with the materials
and commodities that we have
to buy. Also we have to make sure
that the food stuff has certain
validity and is not expired, this is
why we don’t accept from people.
Thus we made an exception today
for instance, a donor came and
brought us 100 rice bags each of
20 kg, and we had to accept it,
especially that it’s one of the commodities
that the refugees need,”
he pointed out.
Reckless drivers close Sabhan road
KUWAIT: A large group of reckless drivers
closed Sabhan road Friday night and damaged
several police cars when the road
became a “closed track” where the young
men showed off their skills and dangerous
driving moves. A large crowd of young men
gathered on both sides of the road to
watch and this kept police from reaching
the area. A security source said that patrols
headed to Sabhan Road after reports that a
large crowd was obstructing traffic. As soon
as patrols arrived, however, the crowd
began throwing stones at them, then threw
nails onto one of the roads, damaging the
police cars’ tires. The source said there were
nearly 150 young men, and they have been
gathering there almost daily since the start
of Ramadan and staying from 1:00 am until
dawn. The young men show off with their
cars, and an accident took place a few days
ago when one of the reckless youths hit a
family car, injuring a 13 year old girl. Police
authorities are taking measures to put an
end to such acts.
Woman in custody
Airport security officers apprehended a
female citizen and transferred her to concerned
authorities when they discovered
marijuana in her luggage. A security source
said customs officials noticed the woman
was acting strangely, so they searched her
bag, where a small amount of marijuana
was found. The woman told officials that
the drug was for her personal use. Airport
detectives sent the woman and the marijuana
to drug authorities.
Jahra fight
Police in Jahra acted to break up a fight
between two families during which four
persons were injured and they all were
issued medical reports detailing their
injuries. A security source said a call from a
resident in Jahra reported a large fight had
broken out between two families, so
patrols rushed to the scene and broke up
the fight. The injured were sent to different
hospitals so they would not resume fighting.
The “combatants” were bedoons. A girl
from one of the families told police that a
woman attempted to kidnap her at a flat,
but she was able to escape and this caused
the fight.
Grocery store fire
Fire destroyed a grocery store behind
the chamber of commerce and industry,
prompting Hilali and Madina fire centers to
respond. No injuries were reported, and
investigations are underway to find out the
exact cause of the fire.
Farwaniya fire
A fight broke out between an Indian
and an Egyptian expat in Farwaniya, and
the Indian received a heavy bruise on his
right eye. The Indian was sent to Farwaniya
Hospital, while the Egyptian was placed
under arrest pending further action.
Car accident
A car accident killed a 17 year old
Kuwaiti man at Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the
man lost control of his car, striking trees
and a light post. The driver was taken to an
area hospital where he was pronounced
dead.
Boy arrested
Police arrested a 15 year old boy as he
was driving a car in Failaka Island that he
stole from Hawally. A security source said a
citizen told Hawally police that his car had
been stolen while it was parked near a football
field. Officials said police published the
car descriptions, and a few days later
Failaka police informed their Hawally colleagues
that they found the car and arrested
the thief.
This five days campaign was
also supported by the Ministry of
Information and the Kuwait
Channel is broadcasting the donations
daily. “I would like to thank
the Minister of Information for his
support to this campaign which
made it successful especially in
Ramadan. Also many banks have
collected donations and brought
them here and we reached this
number,” concluded Al-Zaid.
Um Ahmad is one of the
donors who came to donate for
Syria said this is a duty to help our
brothers in Syria. “Especially in
Ramadan it is the best time to
donate. We can also pay Zakat of
Ramadan to Syria. We have to help
them as they need our help, it is a
religious and human responsibility
to support them. We don’t like to
call it donation and instead it
should be called support to
respect their feelings. We call
upon the citizens to support the
Syrian nation through their donations,”
she stressed.
The bank has continuously improved its
performance over the years through an
expanded revenue structure, diversified funding
sources, and a strong capital base. The
adoption of state-of-the-art services and technology
has positioned it as a trendsetter in the
domestic market and within the MENA region.
Burgan Bank’s brand has been created on
a foundation of real values - of trust, commitment,
excellence and progression, to remind
us of the high standards to which we aspire.
‘People come first’ is the foundation on which
its products and services are developed.
Earlier this year, ‘Brand Finance’ - the international
brand valuation company- rated
Burgan Bank brand as AA with positive outlook.
The rating places Burgan Bank Brand at
2nd amongst the most valuable banking
brands in Kuwait.
Excellence is one of the bank’s four key
values and Burgan Bank continually strives to
maintain the highest standards in the industry.
The bank was re-certified in 2010 with the
ISO 9001:2008 certification in all its banking
businesses, making it the first bank in the
GCC, and the only bank in Kuwait to receive
By Ben Garcia
KUWAIT: Warning to unregistered and
uninsured vehicles. The General Traffic
Department at the Ministry of Interior
plans to launch a campaign to look for
more than 250 thousand vehicles registered
in its database that are uninsured.
They will be impounded if found,
although notice will be served.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity,
sources from the traffic department
said vehicle owners will first be contacted
to either renew their cars’ registrations
or hand over their license plates,
otherwise the drivers’ privileges at the
traffic department will be suspended.
There are people in Kuwait who
ignore directives from authorities, even
as their cars have been uninsured and
unregistered for a long period of time.
Billy and Muhammad are just two of
them. “I had a problem with my visa 2
years ago. So I can’t renew my residency
and other personal and public documents,
but I was allowed by the MSAL
to stay in Kuwait while my case was
such accreditation. The bank also has to its
credit the distinction of being the only Bank
in Kuwait to have won the JP Morgan Chase
Quality Recognition Award for twelve consecutive
years.
Burgan Bank won the prestigious “Banking
Web Awards” prize in the commercial and corporate
Category for Kuwait. In 2010 Burgan
Bank was awarded with the “Best Internet
Banking Service award” from Banker Middle
East Awards. Burgan Bank was recognized in
2011 as Kuwait’s “Best Private Bank”, by World
Finance. The bank also won, in 2011, the coveted
“International Platinum Star for Quality”
award from Business Initiative Directions, and
“The Best Technical Award” from Banking Web
Awards. In 2012, Global Banking and Finance
Review online magazine recognized Burgan
Bank as the “Best Banking Group in the
MENA” as well as the “Best Corporate Bank in
Kuwait”. The bank also won the coveted “Best
Bank Branding” award by the Banker Middle
East.
Burgan Bank, a subsidiary of KIPCO
(Kuwait Projects Company), is a strongly positioned
regional bank in the MENA region.
News
in brief
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Ministry plans hunt
for 250,000
unregistered vehicles
KUWAIT: Despite low demand for fish
during the holy month of Ramadan, the
prices of all kinds of fish, especially local
varieties, have been soaring. A medium
size zubaidi (Pomfret)was sold for KD
135, and a basket of small mullet was
sold for KD 75 and Balool was sold for
KD seven per kilogram.
Salem Al-Salmi Al-Failakawi, supervisor
of the Main Fish Market in Sharq,
said that the prices of fresh fish have
reached record rates, with zubaidi
being sold for KD 10 per kilogram. Al-
Failakawi also urged the Public
Authority for Agricultural Affairs and
Dama championship
to begin Tuesday
KUWAIT: Under the patronage of Sheikh Ali Al-Yousif Al-
Sabah, the Touristic Enterprises Company’s(TEC), 8th
‘Computer Dama’ (PC Checkers) competition will begin
on July 31, 2012 at the Yachts Club overlooking the Gulf
Road.
Commenting on this year’s championship, Sheikh Ali
stressed that holding it this year means that the past seven
championships had proven to be very successful and
had attracted many participants
from various age groups
and nationalities.
Chairman of the organizing
committee, Dr Nouri Al-Wattar
stressed that previous competitions
have greatly contributed
to boosting this year’s
competition level. He added
that the championship mainly
Dr Nouri Al-Wattar
being heard,” admitted Billy, who is
from England. Billy’s car has been
parked at its flat and is rarely used for
business purposes. His new company,
however, provides him with transportation.
“I don’t know how it will affect me,
but I am ready. Maybe they’ll take my
car, which is okay,” he said.
But the likes of Muhammad, a mandoub
from Egypt, has a different story.
His car wasn’t registered for over eight
years, yet he seems not to care. “I have a
big wasta,” he brags. “I avoid police
because I don’t want hassles, I don’t
want delays, but if they are there, I will
give up my car,” he said.
Currently, there is a proposal to raise
the penalty to KD100 for the current
‘fixed KD5 fine’, although sources
admitted the penalty is not always a
good deterrent, which motivated the
ministry to go ahead with its planned
campaign, which reportedly seeks to
look for some vehicles registered to
Kuwaiti citizens that haven’t been
insured since before the 1990 Iraqi
Invasion.
Fish prices continue to soar
focuses on reviving Kuwaiti
heritage by spreading the
game among younger genera-
tions in both Kuwait and other GCC states. He added that
starting from the fifth year, female participants began
taking part in the competition.
Al-Wattar also hailed the competition sponsors like
Abdul Aziz Soud Al-Babtain and Sons Company and the
Touristic Enterprises Company that will give away valuable
prizes for the winners besides the ones provided by
the organizing committee.
Fish Resources (PAAAFR) to put out a
trawl near Kuwaiti islands, namely
Boubyan, where schools of fish exist.
“This ban has caused a shortage in fish
supplies. The excuse of placing a ban
during fish mating season is not needed.
In neighboring countries, trawling is
done freely,” he complained.
He also noted that for the first time in
Kuwait’s history, a basket of small mullet
(Maid) was sold for KD 75 and Nuwaibi
was sold for KD four per kilogram.
Finally, Al-Failakawi expressed hope
that prices will return to normal after
Eid. —Al-Watan
Safar sworn in as minister
KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received yesterday
at Seif Palace, in the presence of His Highness
the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-
Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime
Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-
Sabah, D. Fadhel Ali Safar. Safar was sworn-in as
Minister of Public Works. The swearing-in ceremony
was attended by Deputy Minister of the
Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al-Sabah,
Secretary General of the Cabinet Abdulatif
Abdullah Al-Roudan, Director of His Highness
the Amir’s office Ahmad Fahad Al-Fahad, and
Head of Amiri protocols Sheikh Khaled Al-
Abduallah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah.
Municipal Council
disapproves of Jleeb church
KUWAIT: Member of the Municipal Council,
Mane Al-Ajmi stressed that the formal approval
granted by the Ministry of Awqaf to construct a
new church building should not be understood
to mean that the Municipality has completely
approved of the request. He added that the
ministry may not authorize building of a church
in Kuwait. “The old fatwa bans building churches
in the Arabian peninsula and Kuwait is part
of it,” said Al-Ajmi noting that Muslim scholars
have prohibited building churches in the lands
of Muslims. “We already have enough churches
in Kuwait,” he added, noting that the Municipal
Council does not approve of the idea of building
a new church in Jleeb. —Al-Watan
One killed, several
injured in a spate
of accidents
By Hanan Al-Saadoun
KUWAIT: A car accident took place at Kabd near Radio
Kuwait’s premises, resulting in an unidentified individual’s
death. A 45-year-old Sri Lankan expat suffered
bruises and a 55-year-old Egyptian expat fractured his
left thigh bone. The body was removed for an autopsy
by the medical examiner. The others were referred to Al-
Farwaniya Hospital.
Another car accident took place at the Fifth Ring
Road under Al-Rumaithiya and Bayan bridge, resulting
in two Egyptian expats aged 18 and 48 respectively sustaining
fatal injuries. They were admitted to Mubarak
Hospital.
A car accident took place at Al-Fintas and Al-Eqaila
crossroads, resulting in a 30-year-old Bangladeshi
expat suffering injuries. A 39-year-old Egyptian expat
suffered facial injuries. Both were admitted to Al-
Adan Hospital.
Fire incident
A fire broke out at a building in Bnaid Al-Gar. Two
Indian expats aged 48 and 60 years and a 41-yearold
Egyptian national also suffered from smoke
inhalation. They were administered treatment on
the site. The other two were admitted to Al-Amiri
Hospital. The flames were tackled within an hour’s
time.

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
JERUSALEM: White House hopeful
Mitt Romney yesterday held top-level
talks in Israel about how to handle
fears over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, on
a visit aimed at burnishing his foreign
policy credentials. “Like you, we are
very concerned about the development
of nuclear capabilities on the
part of Iran and feel it is unacceptable
for Iran to become a nuclear armed
nation,” Romney told reporters on
meeting President Shimon Peres. “The
threat it would pose to Israel, the
region and the world is incomparable
and unacceptable.”
The Republican challenger, who
will face off against President Barack
Obama in November’s US election,
flew in from Britain late on Saturday
for a one-day visit expected to focus
on Iran’s nuclear program, which Israel
and much of the West believes is a
covert bid to develop atomic
weapons.”Iran and its effort to
become a nuclear-capable nation (is
one) which I take with great seriousness,
and look forward to chatting
with you about further actions that we
can take to dissuade Iran from their
nuclear folly,” Romney told Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier
yesterday in remarks carried on Israeli
public radio.
He also said the two could discuss
“developments about the region”
including in Syria and Egypt.
Netanyahu told him it was important
to have “a strong and credible military
threat” because sanctions and diplomacy
“so far have not set back the
Iranian program by one iota”. “I think
Romania decides fate of suspended president
it’s important to do everything in our
power to prevent the Ayatollahs from
possessing that capability,” he said.
“And that’s why I believe that we need
a strong and credible military threat,
coupled with the sanctions, to have a
chance to change that situation.”
Romney also met Palestinian prime
minister Salam Fayyad later yesterday
and was to give a statement on foreign
policy.
Shortly before talks with
Netanyahu, Romney’s senior national
security aide, Dan Senor, told
reporters travelling with the candidate:
“If Israel has to take action on its
own, in order to stop Iran from developing
that capability, the governor
would respect that decision.” The
comment seemed to put Romney at
odds with Obama’s efforts to press
Israel to avoid any preemptive strike
before tough Western economic sanctions
against Iran run their course.
Senor later expanded on his
remarks, saying Romney felt “we
should employ any and all measures
to dissuade the Iranian regime from its
nuclear course”. It was Romney’s “fervent
hope that diplomatic and economic
measures will do so” and “no
option should be excluded”, Senor
said, adding that “Romney recognises
Israel’s right to defend itself, and that
it is right for America to stand with it”.
Romney has consistently attacked
what he says is Obama’s weak and
misguided Middle East policy, saying
in January that the Democratic incum-
Page 10
JERUSALEM: US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Prime
Minister Salam Fayyad yesterday. —AP
bent “threw Israel under the bus”, by
defining the 1967 borders as a starting
point for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
He has also charged that
Obama’s policy towards Iran is too
weighted towards engagement with
an Israeli enemy with suspected
nuclear ambitions, and has vowed
tougher sanctions if he is elected.
Obama made a show of support for
Israel at the White House on Friday,
signing a law reinforcing US security
and military cooperation with Israel as
Anti-nuke human
chain surrounds
Japan parliament
Page 12
Romney eyes foreign policy kudos
Republican hopeful supports Israel strike on Iran
representatives of the pro-Israel lobby
AIPAC stood next to him in the Oval
Office.
Israeli journalists were invited to
attend the signing along with photographers
and reporters accredited to
the White House. Such signing ceremonies
have been uncommon in the
Obama presidency. The law, which
gives Israel preferential access to US
arms and munitions, “underscores our
unshakable commitment to Israel’s
security,” Obama said. Israel is widely
believed to have the Middle East’s
only, albeit undeclared, nuclear arsenal,
which international experts
believe contains between 100 and 300
nuclear warheads.
Yesterday, Israeli daily Haaretz
reported that US National Security
Adviser Tom Donilon had briefed
Netanyahu on Washington’s contingency
plans for a pre-emptive strike on
Iran’s nuclear facilities. Citing a senior
US official, the paper said Donilon met
Netanyahu for three hours over dinner
in Jerusalem two weeks ago and
shared with him details of US military
capabilities for attacking Iranian
bunkers. “Donilon sought to make
clear that the United States is seriously
preparing for the possibility that negotiations
will reach a dead end and military
action will become necessary,”
Haaretz wrote. Israeli officials did not
formally confirm or deny the report.
“We don’t comment on what is discussed
in closed diplomatic meetings,”
one official told AFP on condition of
anonymity. “But the story is full of factual
errors.” —Agencies

ALEPPO: The route to Aleppo from the Turkish border
is a long web of dirt back roads with miles of
exposed ground. But undaunted and in total darkness,
dozens of young men jump onto white trucks
with their AK-47 rifles, keen to join the fight there.
Syria’s 16-month revolt has finally erupted in the
country’s commercial hub, but the momentum was
not generated inside the city - it was brought into
the historic city’s ancient stone alleyways from the
scorched fields of the surrounding countryside.
“We liberated the rural parts of this province. We
waited and waited for Aleppo to rise, and it didn’t.
We couldn’t rely on them to do it for themselves so
we had to bring the revolution to them,” said a
rebel commander in a nearby village, who calls
himself Abu Hashish.
The short scrawny man with a drooping grey
moustache sits juggling cell phones and a walkietalkie,
arranging for the next convoy to head for
Aleppo. Tanks of fuel and homemade grenades for
use in rocket launchers are piled up along the outside
of his house, ready to be dispatched. “About
80 percent of the fighters in this city come from the
countryside. Aleppo is a business town, people said
they wanted to stay neutral. But now that we have
come, they seem to be accepting us,” he said.
As towns across Syria were rocked by the uprising
against President Bashar Al-Assad - in which it
is estimated 18,000 people have been killed -
Aleppo, home to conservative Muslim families and
businesses, stayed largely silent. Although armed
resistance began in poorer districts where residents
had more tribal allegiances or rural backgrounds,
Aleppo’s sacrifices have paled in comparison to
nearby northern Idlib, central Homs or even
Damascus, the capital. Exasperated by the slow
progress in Aleppo, rebels in the countryside said
they were finally emboldened to push into the city
after an assassination in the capital Damascus of
four top government officials, including the
defense minister.
“It was a boost to our spirits. We were so excited
because we knew it was time. Aleppo is the economic
centre, the true source of regime power. If
we can strike it hard, and hold on, we can bring
Bashar down,” said one rebel fighter joining the
convoy who called himself Abu Bakr. As they
arrived in Aleppo before dawn, the fighters sped
through the winding alleyways of the city’s outskirts
shouting: “God is great”. And then the morning
skirmishes began. The rattle of rebel machinegun
fire greeted the thuds of army tank fire,
artillery could be heard in the distance, and an air
force fighter jet streaked overhead.
SCHOOL PARTY
The streets of rebel-held neighborhoods are a
graveyard of overturned, torched buses, specially
placed along the streets by rebels to block army
tanks from rolling in. The charred remains of tanks
can also be seen - in heaps - by palm trees lining
main thoroughfares. “So far things here are going
well for us. We have been used to fighting in olive
groves and open fields. We were always exposed,”
said Hakour, a 23-year-old with a straggly beard
wearing camouflage fatigues. Lounging inside a
school taken over by the rebels as a temporary
base, he said: “It’s much nicer to fight here where
we can hide in alleyways and buildings. We will stay
INTERNATIONAL
Rural fighters pour into Syria’s Aleppo for battle
Rebel-held areas deserted, fighters use houses as bases
JINDERES: Syrian Kurds guard a check point at the entrance of the Kurdish town of
Jinderes, near the northern Syrian city of Aleppo as Kurdish activists on the Syria-
Turkey border started taking control of towns in the area without encountering
much resistance from the forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. — AFP
Kurds in secret
weapons deal
BAGHDAD: A high-ranking Iraqi official
yesterday said security agencies have
uncovered a secret weapons deal between
the autonomous Kurdistan region and an
unnamed foreign country. “Iraqi security
agencies (discovered) a secret weapons
deal between the president of the Iraqi
Kurdistan region, Massud Barzani, and a
foreign country,” the security official said on
condition of anonymity. “The weapons
include anti-armor and anti-aircraft missiles,
and a large number of heavy
weapons,” the official said, without specifying
the exact weapons systems.
The official said Iraqi authorities have
obtained “all the documents” pertaining to
the deal, which is for “weapons of a Russian
type made in 2004,” and are trying to block
it. “This step is a breach of the law and the
Iraqi constitution, because the only side
that can (buy arms) is the federal ministry
of defense,” the official said. Several Kurdish
officials either declined to comment on the
allegation or could not immediately be
reached by AFP. For its part Baghdad has
ordered 36 F-16 warplanes from the United
States, and has already fielded M1 Abrams
tanks. Barzani expressed concern over the
F-16s earlier this year, saying he was
opposed to the sale of these warplanes
while Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki was in
office, fearing they would be used against
Kurdistan.
On July 17th, Umeed Sabah, spokesman
for the Kurdistan region presidency also said
in a statement that Maliki had “plans for the
militarization of Iraqi society and supports
the option of violence as a means to reach
political aims.” Relations between Baghdad
and Kurdistan are at a low ebb over multiple
festering disputes. The two sides are at odds
over Kurdistan’s refusal to seek approval
from the central government for oil contracts
it has awarded to foreign firms, and
over a swathe of disputed territory in north
Iraq. Barzani has also supported efforts to
pass a no-confidence motion against Maliki.
And on Wednesday local Kurdish peshmerga
security forces prevented soldiers sent by
Baghdad from reaching a disputed north
Iraq area that borders Syria, a top Kurdish
security official said.— AFP
Iran young, urbanized
and educated: Census
TEHRAN: Iran is a very urbanized society with
a largely educated, young Muslim population
that ranks as the Middle East’s second-biggest,
its latest census figures, published yesterday,
show. The snapshot, issued on the website of
the presidency’s planning and strategic supervision
department (www.amar.org.ir), also corrected
some misconceptions about the country,
notably by reporting fewer than expected
Jews and Internet users. The census, whose
data was collected in 2011 and presented in
resume last week by the department’s officials,
gave Iran’s total population as 75.2 million,
99.4 percent of whom are Muslim. That was
larger than any other country in the region
except for Egypt (81 million, according to the
World Bank).
Iranians accounted for 73.5 million of the
total, with 1.5 million Afghans making up the
biggest minority living in the country. Other
minorities included Iraqis (51,500), Pakistanis
(17,700) and Turks (1,600). An overwhelming
proportion of the population - 71 percentlived
in urban areas, and Tehran and its satel-
lite towns are home to 12.2 million inhabitants.
The literacy rate for those aged between
10 and 49 was 93 percent. Most of the population
is young, with 55 percent aged under 30.
The proportion of young Iranians use to be
even higher, but a rapidly slowing birth ratean
average 1.29 children per couple, compared
to 1.62 in the last census in 2006 - has
resulted in a decrease in recent years.
The supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei, has recently sought to reverse a
previous policy favoring birth control in a bid
to boost the population to between 150 million
and 200 million. Even though Iran-a
Shiite theocracy-is almost completely
Muslim, other faiths are present. There are
8,756 Jews in the country, according to the
census. That was fewer than the 20,000 figure
previously estimated. There are also
117,704 Christians, the census said, as well as
25,271 Zoroastrians (adherents of a faith that
dominated pre-Islamic Persia), and 49,101
listed as “other.” A total 265,899 people did
not give a religion. —AFP
until Aleppo is free.”
Toting grenade launchers, the fighters are
incongruous alongside the school’s pastel-colored
walls. Every rebel unit that has passed through
here has left a message in graffiti. “The Farouq
Brigade was here”, “The Muthanna Brigade will topple
Bashar”, “God is with those who will triumph”.
One rebel plays on an electric keyboard that he
found in the school music room. Other men play
table tennis in the main hallway. Nearby, fighters
sleep along the walls, curled up next to their guns
and grenades.
HOMS: Armed Syrian rebels inspect a destroyed Syrian armored vehicle in Homs, Syria. — AP
TEHRAN: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-
Muallem arrived in Tehran yesterday for
unscheduled talks with Iranian officials, state
media reported. The trip, confirmed by Iran’s
foreign ministry, came as Syrian troops battle
rebels in Syria’s second city of Aleppo in an
offensive that world powers fear could result
in heavy civilian casualties and spark a
humanitarian disaster. The foreign ministry
said Muallem was greeted by Foreign Minister
Ali Akbar Salehi.
“The Syrian foreign minister in his trip to
Tehran will discuss bilateral relations, developments
in Syria, and other regional and
international issues,” Iran’s deputy foreign
minister in charge of Arab affairs, Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian, was quoted as saying by
the official IRNA news agency. He said that, as
well as Salehi, Muallem would see the head of
Iran’s supreme national security council,
Saeed Jalili, who is close to supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and parliamentary
speaker Ali Larijani.
The idea of a managed transition of power
in Syria is an “illusion,” Iran’s foreign minister
said yesterday, as his Syrian counterpart
expressed Damascus’ commitment to international
mediator Kofi Annan’s peace plan.
“Thinking naively and wrongly that if there is
a power vacuum perhaps in Syria and if there
is a transition of power in Syria, simply another
government will come to power, that I
think is just a dream,” Ali Akbar Salehi said at a
news conference with his Syrian counterpart,
Walid Al-Moualem.
“It’s an illusion. We have to look carefully at
Syria and what’s happening inside the country.”
Moualem said Syria was also committed
to Annan’s six-point plan that aims to end 16
months of violence in which 18,000 people
have been killed. The plan calls for a ceasefire,
which has been widely ignored by both sides,
as a first stage in the political transition to
ending the violence. It also calls for access for
aid, the release of arbitrarily detained people,
freedom of movement for journalists and the
freedom to protest peacefully. “We are committed
to fulfill Mr. Annan’s plan fully because
we consider this plan a reasonable plan,” he
said.
Moualem said Syria was able to defend
every inch of its soil from what he called a
conspiracy by armed terrorist groups that
served Israel’s interests. “I assure you the
Syrian people are insistent, not just on confronting
this conspiracy, but they are insistent
“It took us months and months to liberate the
countryside. But here things are moving quickly.
We have even set up a security team with a hotline
if residents want us to help them,” Hakour says. The
rebels drink fizzy soft drinks as they sing and make
jokes. But their jubilation is premature. A few minutes
later a loud blast shakes the school and the
rebels scatter to grab their weapons and head to
the basement - a reminder of the army’s determination
to crush the uprising. As another ripple of
on emerging victorious,” Moualem, who has
not appeared since a bomb attack killed four
of President Bashar Al-Assad’s top security
officials nearly two weeks ago. “Today I tell
you, Syria is stronger ... In less than a week,
they were defeated and the battle failed (in
Damascus) so they moved on to Aleppo, and I
assure you, their plots will fail,” said Moualem.
SYRIANS SHOULD BE ENABLED
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia said Syrians
should be enabled to protect themselves
against government attacks but declined
direct comment on a report that it had helped
set up a secret liaison centre in Turkey to aid a
rebellion against President Bashar Al-Assad.
Gulf sources said on Friday that Saudi Arabia,
Turkey and Qatar had established a centre in
Adana, southeastern Turkey, to help the rebel
Free Syrian Army with communications and
weaponry as it battles in major cities against
forces loyal to Assad.
“The very well-known position of the kingdom
of Saudi Arabia is to extend to the Syrian
people financial and humanitarian assistance,
as well as calling upon the international com-
mortar fire echoes nearby, the men decide that
they should switch bases.
LET THEM DESTROY US
“We had to start the battle to encourage Aleppo
and get the residents accustomed to being part of
the uprising. A lot of families have given the fighters
money secretly, but they didn’t want to do more.
And there are even people unfortunately who still
support the regime,” said a fighter named Jumaa. “I
think for Aleppo the memories of the 1980s are still
very deep,” Jumaa said, referring to an Islamist uprising
which was crushed by Assad’s late father, whose
forces killed at least 10,000 people in the central
city of Hama. The rebel-held area of Aleppo visited
by a Reuters reporter appeared to be completely
deserted by residents. Fighters were using houses
as bases to sleep in. Just 20 km outside Aleppo,
rebels have declared most of the countryside free of
Assad’s forces. In the villages men gather to smoke
and chat at night, while women wrapped in colorful
veils let their children run onto the rubble-strewn
streets to cheer at smiling gunmen. “God protect
the Free Syrian Army,” they shouted. Despite the
tentative calm their home towns now enjoy, there is
a hint of resentment towards Aleppo’s residents
from rural fighters gathered on the city’s streets.
“My brother was shot dead just last month,” says 22year-old
fighter Mustafa. He points out other faces
in the crowd of rebel fighters. “His cousin died six
months ago. Soldiers poured gasoline on him and
set him on fire,” Mustafa says. Pointing to another
group, he says: “Their families have fled and they
haven’t seen them in a year.” Outside the city, rebel
commander Abu Hashish says more sacrifices are
necessary, and that the time has come for his urban
brothers to share the burden. “In Aleppo they only
think about trade, about money. They think about
their own life, they think about their children’s
future. They don’t fight the regime because they
care about the here and now,” he said. “In the countryside
we know we must give up on the present. I
will sacrifice my life and my children’s lives. Let them
destroy our homes. This fight is for a new generation
coming that will have a chance to have a life of
dignity. And for me, that is worth sacrificing everything.”
— Reuters
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Notion of Syria power
transition ‘an illusion’
Syria can defend every inch of its soil: FM
SANAA: About 100 armed tribesmen loyal to
former President Ali Abdullah Saleh stormed
the Interior Ministry building in the Yemeni
capital Sanaa yesterday demanding to be
enlisted in the police force, an official said. The
tribesmen briefly held some employees
hostage before freeing them a few hours later,
the Interior Ministry official said. Yesterday’s
showdown highlighted the continuing turmoil
in the country despite a peace deal
under which Saleh stood down after months
of protests against his 33-year rule and was
replaced in February by his deputy, Abd-
Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (left) shakes hands with Syrian Foreign
Minister Walid Al-Muallem (R) in Tehran. — AFP
It is also a direct challenge to Hadi’s authority.
He is trying to restructure the armed
forces and stabilize the impoverished Arab
nation, where Saleh’s legacy still looms large.
The Interior Ministry official said the tribesmen
were Saleh loyalists, who were promised
they would be enrolled in the police force in
return for helping tackle last year’s uprising.
The reward has not been granted to them. “At
midday, the armed tribesmen... stormed the
ministry’s building, took control of it and
climbed onto the roof with their guns,” the
official said. “They refuse to leave until their
demands are met.”
munity to enable them to protect themselves
at the very least if the international community
is not able to do so,” a foreign ministry
spokesman said by text message on Saturday,
answering a Reuters query about the base.
“The Syrian regime is importing and using all
kinds of weapons to fight and oppress its own
people in a fierce war as if it’s launched
towards a foreign enemy - not against its disarmed
population”, the spokesman added.
The Gulf sources had also said the Adana
centre, which is near the Syrian border and a
US airforce base at Incirlik, was set up at the
suggestion of Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister
Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah during a trip to
Turkey. However, the foreign ministry
spokesman said Prince Abdulaziz, who was
promoted to deputy foreign minister last year,
and is a son of King Abdullah, had not visited
Turkey. Saudi Arabia, the largest Gulf Arab
country by size and population has led efforts
by Sunni Muslim states to isolate President
Assad’s government, which is dominated by
members of the Alawi Shiite sect, since the
outbreak of a popular revolt against him early
last year. — Agencies
Gunmen take over ministry building
Tribesmen have fought alongside government
troops in a US-backed offensive against
Al Qaeda-linked militants that drove insurgents
out of several towns in the south of
the country last month. Many tribal fighters
also sided with Saleh who was toppled by a
popular uprising. Disgruntled tribesmen
often kidnap foreigners and bomb oil and
gas pipelines as a way to press demands on
authorities. In April, officers and tribesmen
loyal to Saleh forced Yemen’s main airport to
close for a day in protest at the sacking of
the air force commander, a half-brother of
Saleh. — Reuters

INTERNATIONAL
In Cyprus, a new generation inherits a conflict
PYLA, Cyprus: Tell a Greek Cypriot
that your next destination is the
Turkish city of Istanbul, once the seat
of empires, and there’s a chance you
will be gently chided. “You mean
‘Constantinople,’” the conversation
partner might say, referring to the former
Byzantine capital, which fell to
Ottoman armies in 1453. This allegiance
to the past is tinged with defiance,
a stubborn refusal to call a place
by the name chosen by the inhabitants
of a hostile country. But it is
more recent civil strife and war, nearly
half a century ago, that infuse the psyche
of Cyprus, a Mediterranean island
favored by vacationers for its sun and
beaches.
In a strange twist, divided Cyprus
has taken on a role meant to unify, this
month assuming the rotating presidency
of the European Union, a sixmonth
stint that gives it a self-promotional
platform even as it scrambles for
a multi-billion dollar bailout to support
its troubled banks. In another
quirk of split-screen Cyprus, it is seeking
money from oil-rich Russia, an
increasingly important friend, in addition
to the EU, as it tries to avoid the
austerity measures that would likely
come with any European aid.
At the heart of these dueling directions
lies the “Cyprus problem”, as it is
blandly known. Talk of a peace settlement
between the island’s majority
Greek Cypriot community and Turkish
Cypriots that would end decades of
political uncertainty is giving way to a
sense that the problem is, unofficially,
the default solution. “People are simply
not interested in any form of power-sharing,”
said Yiannis Papadakis, a
social anthropologist at the University
of Cyprus. “There is a strong denial of
this reality.” Papadakis said the problem
is so consuming that it has sapped
will on both sides to debate migration,
the environment, women’s rights and
other important social issues. He questioned
whether they can compromise
and trust each other if they ever reach
a political settlement.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in
2004, split into an internationally recognized,
Greek-speaking south and a
Turkish-speaking north after a 1974
invasion by Turkey, a reaction to a
coup attempt by supporters of union
with Greece. Travel restrictions
between the two sides have relaxed,
but negotiations on security and territory
foundered. Only Turkey, whose EU
candidacy has stalled partly because
of the impasse, recognizes the government
in the north.
The result is an island that is not
quite a nation, with an identity that is
the sum of its shards. When George
Andreou became the first Cypriot to
climb Mount Everest and held up his
nation’s flag at the summit in May, it
was a reminder of division as well as a
symbol of unity. The flag, designed by
a Turkish Cypriot and adopted in 1960
after independence from British rule,
shows a map of the whole island and
two olive branches, a symbol of peace
between communities. But Turkish
Cypriots use a flag that is a variation of
the star and crescent emblem of
Turkey, their patron.
In his rucksack, Andreou, 39, also
carried the old flag of his hometown
Famagusta, which he and his ethnic
Greek family fled ahead of Turkish
MBABANE, Swaziland: A picture taken on July 24, 2012 shows a group of pupils
playing in an empty geography class at St Mark’s High School. — AFP
Swazi strike battling
to gain more traction
MBABANE: In the geography class at St
Mark’s High School, boys play chess on a
board scratched onto a workbench in
one corner, while in another a girl knits a
scarf while her friends gossip. Swazi
teachers have been on strike for more
than a month, but so far their abandoned
classrooms are the only tangible
result of a movement that wants not just
salary increases but democratic reforms
in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. “Our
ultimate goal is democracy,” said
Sibongile Mazibuko, president of the
Swaziland National Association of
Teachers, who see King Mswati III as the
country’s biggest problem. “He creates
the poverty himself.”
Teachers went on strike on June 22
demanding a 4.5 percent salary increase.
Other public servants joined briefly, but
the movement is stuttering after nurses
returned to work on Tuesday following a
court interdict.
Sporadic protests have drawn hundreds
into the streets, where police
greet them with rubber bullets, water
cannons and batons. Now most teachers
go to school only to sign attendance
registers, but still don’t teach. Police
have arrested 41 teachers, and the union
has spent almost 150,000 emalangeni
($18,000) on legal fees, Mazibuko said.
“The protests have become unsustainable.
We are looking at stayaways, picketing
on the premises,” she said.
Their financial demands are modest -
they want a 4.5 percent raise, while inflation
is around nine percent. It’s their
political demands that roil the palace,
which like to paint a picture of traditional
mountain kingdom where the
monarch is revered by his subjects. That
image has faded as pro-democracy
protests mushroomed over the past
year, sparked by a crippling financial crisis.
The International Monetary Fund has
urged the government to slash its public
wage bill as the economy stagnates, but
has pulled its team from the country
after the kingdom made no progress on
reforms.
Striking teachers have had their
salaries slashed as authorities retaliate
against the strikes, receiving as little as
30 emalangeni for their last paycheck.
Some were handed dismissal letters and
threatened with jail for contempt of
court if they didn’t report to work, said
government spokesman Percy Simelane.
“Even if money could come now it
would be very difficult to increase
salaries,” he told AFP. “We need to adhere
to this advice or sink.”
Teachers point to a 30 percent
increase lawmakers awarded themselves
in 2010. “If you’ve paid yourself so much,
why can’t you pay them?” asked
Mazibuko. “The politicians’ kids are outside
the country. The king’s children are
outside the country.
They will not invest in educating kids
for the poor,” she said.
Public servants also blame the lavish
lifestyle of Mswati and his 13 wives.
Forbes magazine rates him as among
the world’s 15 richest royals, keeping
each wife in her own palace. This week
opposition groups claimed three of the
queens and an entourage of 66 would
travel to Las Vegas for a holiday. The lawmakers’
big paychecks “could be contributing
towards the hefty salary bill
that we have,” Simelane said. “If it is not
(withdrawn) amid the outcry... discontent
will be very rife.”
But he insisted democratic reforms
were not necessary. “We are one of the
most democratic societies in the region,”
he said. “The king loves his people. I
don’t think he can create conditions
where people go hungry,” he said. About
60 percent of the tiny country’s 1.1 million
people live on less than $2 a day.
The UN World Food Programme says
one-fifth of the country experienced
food shortages this year.
Simelane also justified police violence
against protesters. “In most cases provocation
of some kind came out,” he said.
“We have one of the most disciplined
police forces in the region. They normally
don’t shoot to kill.”
Life in Swaziland continues despite
the school groundings, the tiny country’s
troubles far from the international
spotlight. Other government workers
are also demanding raises, but generally
are not downing tools. But
Mazibuko is adamant that growing
awareness will see her movement succeed.
“Little by little people are seeing
the light,” she said.
forces, less than one year after he was
born. The climber has never returned
to his house in Famagusta, where
Turkish Cypriots now live, because he
thinks it would help to legitimize
Turkish forces based in the northern
part of the island.
“It is like I never lived my childhood
or I refused to remember,” Andreou
wrote in an email. “I know from my
parents that they had been very difficult
years since we left everything
behind, hoping we would go back
soon. It never happened. Instead, we
lived in houses without doors and
windows, in tents, in the fields, anywhere
just to stay safe and away from
war.” Days after Andreou, a banker,
returned from the Himalayas, his wife
gave birth to their first child, who may
grow up to discover the same sour
politics. The same goes for the 3-yearold
daughter of Ahmet Sozen, a
Turkish Cypriot research director at
Cyprus 2015, a group that seeks to
In this May 19, 2012 photo, Cypriot George Andreou, 39, holds up his
nation’s flag on Mount Everest. — AP
BUCHAREST: Romanians voted yesterday on
whether to impeach their unpopular president,
Traian Basescu, after a government campaign
to remove him that has drawn international
criticism of its methods and raised
doubts about the country’s IMF aid deal.
Prime Minister Victor Ponta’s leftist Social
Liberal Union (USL) has suspended Basescu
and its drive to unseat him has brought a
stern dressing-down from Brussels, which
accused him of undermining the rule of law
and intimidating judges.
Ponta’s government took office in May and
is holding the referendum to seek popular
backing for the impeachment of Basescu for
overstepping his powers. He is unpopular for
backing austerity and for perceptions of
cronyism. Opinion polls show that some 65
percent of Romanians want to remove the former
sea captain from office, but the opposition
has called for a boycott of the vote and
the USL is struggling to get the turnout of
over 50 percent needed for a valid vote. “I am
not a fan of Basescu but I will not vote
because I do not approve of the way the government
stepped on laws to have their way,”
said Dan Popescu, a 52-year-old Bucharest
pensioner.
Many people are on holiday and the temperature
is expected to hit 39 Celcius, prompting
the government to set up extra polling
stations, many of them at seaside restaurants
and hotels, to make it easier to vote. After
three hours of voting, the election bureau said
turnout was 9.1 percent by 10 a.m. (0700
GMT), suggesting it could be very close to 50
percent by the time polls close at 11 pm.
Basescu and his allies, the opposition
Democrat Liberal Party (PDL), asked their supporters
to boycott the referendum. The suspended
president initially urged Romanians
to vote against what he called a coup d’etat,
but his stance shifted this week when he and
his PDL allies said they were concerned about
the possibility of electoral fraud.
promote joint understanding. Sozen
said the uncertainty goes back to the
1950s, when his father, now 80 years
old, was a police officer in a British
administration fighting a Greek
Cypriot guerrilla group that sought
union with Greece.
While today’s stalemate is violencefree,
Sozen maintains the ethnic
Greek-Turkish divide has a corrosive
impact on Cypriot psychology. “I don’t
want my little daughter to go through
the same thing in her life,” said Sozen,
The government had tried to make it easier
to impeach Basescu by removing the minimum
turnout rule but was forced to back
down by harsh EU criticism and a
Constitutional Court ruling that a 50 percent
turnout was obligatory. “I hope the voting
presence will be decisive and ... that by the
end of this day we will know and enforce the
will of a majority of citizens,” interim president
and USL co-leader Crin Antonescu said after
voting. The row over Basescu has delayed
policymaking, raised doubts about Romania’s
5 billion euro International Monetary Fundled
aid deal, sent the leu currency plunging to
record lows, and pushed up borrowing costs.
The IMF has said it will begin a two-week
review of Romania’s aid deal on July 31, a
who was inspired to become a professor
of politics in order to help find a
solution, even though his selfdescribed
“life mission” sometimes
exhausts and frustrates him. Polls by
his group indicate that Turkish
Cypriots, who have leaned toward living
apart because of fears of being
dominated, and Greek Cypriots, who
have tended to prefer a one-state
island dominated by their majority, are
moving further from the compromise
of a power-sharing federation.
Greek Cypriots fear encroachment
from Turkey, a rising power that
objects to Greek Cypriot plans for offshore
oil and gas exploration. They
highlight past suffering, but gloss over
the question of 1960s attacks on
Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots
resent the Greek Cypriot rejection of
unification in a 2004 referendum. “As
more time passes, it’s not good for the
result, meaning that people are not
moving toward the solution spirit. On
the contrary,” said Sozen, noting that
the problem is exacerbated by a gap
between Cypriots and their leaders.
“People are alienated in the sense that
the common people are shut away
from the official process. The general
public is not really informed by what is
happening.”
In February, Turkish Cypriot leader
Dervis Eroglu said negotiations with
the Greek Cypriot leader left “a zucchini
taste in the mouth,” a Turkish
way of saying they have grown bland.
His Greek Cypriot counterpart,
President Demetris Christofias said in
May that talking to Eroglu was like
trying to knock down a wall by throwing
eggs at it. — AP
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Romanians vote on
impeaching president
Basescu unpopular for backing austerity
KOMAGGAS, South Africa: The
man slips the plastic pouch of
gems into his mouth, an illicit haul
from the sandy deposits scattered
among the mountains of South
Africa’s diamond coast. “It’s my
safe,” he explains, sliding the stash
week later than planned because of the
impeachment referendum. Romania has
made progress since the 1989 overthrow of
communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and
joined the EU in 2007, but the economy
slipped back into recession in the first quarter
of this year and pockets of severe poverty
remain. Brussels has a wide range of levers
with which to put pressure on Romania,
whose justice system is under EU monitoring.
Romania gets European cash to help it catch
up with other members and the bloc contributes
to its IMF-led aid deal. Ponta felt the
full weight of EU wrath after his government
took on the Constitutional Court, threatening
to replace judges and reduce its powers, and
ignoring one of its decisions. — Reuters
MAMAIA, Romania: A Romanian tourist casts her ballot at one of the additional polling
stations which have been set up along the Black Sea coast to facilitate voting for holidaymakers
and rural populations in this Black Sea resort city yesterday. — AFP
Death no deterrent for S African gem diggers
back along the inside of his cheek.
The group of diggers are waiting
for the cover of darkness to make
another raid on a disused mine,
opposite their make-shift camp,
where 10 miners died in an avalanche
three months ago. Illegal
KOMAGGAS, South Africa: A picture taken on July 6, 2012 shows an
illegal miner sifting sand and stones as he looks for diamonds. — AFP
miners in South Africa are ready
to risk death to chase a share of
the mineral riches that shaped the
continent’s biggest economy.
In sparsely populated
Namaqualand, where the famed
gem deposits run along the icy
Atlantic Ocean to the Namibian
border, diamond giant De Beers
was once the top employer, providing
3,000 jobs and building
two towns with recreation halls, a
golf course and schools, to house
its staff. But its mines were halted
in 2008 and the company’s
Namaqualand operations are in
the final stages of a 225 million
rand ($27 million, 22 million euro)
sell-off after years of retrenchments.
The slowdown has emptied
out the private mining towns,
but has lured growing numbers of
diggers from the area’s other
small settlements into the abandoned
fields.
“I can say that more than 60
percent of the active workforce
are involved in the informal diamond
trade,” said Andy Pienaar, of
the social outreach office in
Komaggas, one of the few small
villages in the mining area. “There
was sort of a blessing from the
community that ‘people, you may
go’” dig, he added. “It was about
survival. It was about sustaining
and we’re not talking about high
life standards, we’re talking about
just basically survival.”
Komaggas has little sign of
gem wealth along dirt roads that
wind past humble homes where
many residents survive on government
welfare payments. But
one local buyer, who also digs
with a team who share the profits,
estimates that he has made about
400,000 rand since he started digging
three years ago. “It changed
my life completely. I don’t even
mind about looking for a job now
because I was running around
Cape Town, Johannesburg, looking
for a job - there’s no need
now, I’ve got a job now,” he told
AFP. “I’m not a rich man but I can
support my family each and every
month.” — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR: The surprise statement came during
a rainy spell and when the seven dams in
Malaysia’s richest, most populous state were full.
Reserves of treated water in the opposition-controlled
state of Selangor were perilously low, said the water
company supplying a population of 7 million in the
country’s main industrial base. It was seeking approval
to start immediate rationing. For many it looked like
politics, not water, was behind the problem - a measure
of how high tensions are running ahead of national
elections that must be called by early next year and
which may be the closest in Malaysia’s history.
“Of course, it’s a political conspiracy,” said Teresa
Kok, a member of the Selangor state executive council
and opposition member of parliament. The July 14
announcement has set off an ill-tempered battle
between the opposition-run state and the federal
government that foreshadows an intense election
struggle for the crucial swing state that is a base for
multinationals including Panasonic Corp and British
American Tobacco. The state leadership says the ruling
coalition is using water supplier Syabas to manufacture
a water crisis and sow doubts in voters’ minds
over the opposition’s competence.
Syabas, a unit of Puncak Niaga Bhd, has links with
the Malaysia’s ruling United Malays National
Organization (UMNO). Rozali Ismail, the chairman of
Puncak Niaga and executive chairman of Syabas, is
INTERNATIONAL
Water ‘crisis’ signals fierce fight for Selangor
CANNING, India: An Indian farmer participates in a bull race in a paddy field in this
village around 105 km south of Kolkata yesterday. Farmers participate in the race in
the belief that participation before ploughing their fields will bring good rain and a
better harvest. — AFP
Philippines nabs top
Abu Sayyaf militant
MANILA: Philippine police commandos
have captured a militant from the violent
Abu Sayyaf group who is linked to past kidnappings
and helped Southeast Asian terrorists
travel in and out of the southern
Philippines, officials said yesterday.
Regional police chief Senior
Superintendent Edgar Danao said a special
police action force and agents of the
Philippine Center on Transnational Crime
arrested Ahmadsali Badron on Saturday in
Lamion village in Tawi Tawi, the country’s
southernmost province. Tawi Tawi is near
Sulu province, where the Al-Qaeda-linked
Abu Sayyaf has jungle strongholds.
Badron, who also uses the names
Asmad and Hamad Ustadz Idris, has been
implicated in the 2000 kidnappings by Abu
Sayyaf gunmen of 21 people, mostly
European tourists, from Malaysia’s Sipadan
diving resort, Danao said. Badron is also
suspected of helping arrange the entry and
exit from the southern Philippines of Asian
operatives belonging to the Indonesiabased
Jemaah Islamiyah militant network.
Among the top terror suspects who managed
to travel in the country’s south with
Badron’s help was Dulmatin, an Indonesian
militant accused of helping plot the 2002
nightclub bombings that killed 202 people
in Bali, Indonesia, Danao said.
Dulmatin, a suspected bomb-maker
who was on a US list of most-wanted terrorists,
hid for years with the Abu Sayyaf in
the southern Mindanao region and
returned to Indonesia, where he was
gunned down by police in March 2010.
Badron allegedly received funds from a
Palestinian militant that were used to
spread Islamic extremism. A Muslim
preacher from Sulu, Badron is also believed
to have kept ransom money raised by the
Abu Sayyaf. He has been identified by former
hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf,
according to a police report.
The Abu Sayyaf is blamed for the country’s
worst bomb attacks, kidnapping
sprees and for beheading some of its
hostages during the last two decades. The
Abu Sayyaf was founded in 1991 on southern
Basilan island with suspected funds
and training from Asian and Middle Eastern
radical groups, including Al-Qaeda. It came
to US attention in 2001 when it kidnapped
three Americans, two of whom were later
killed, and dozens of Filipinos. The kidnappings
prompted Washington to deploy
hundreds of troops in the country’s south
in 2002 to train Philippine forces and share
intelligence, helping the military capture or
kill most of the Abu Sayyaf’s top commanders.
Now without a central leader, the
group still has close to 400 armed fighters
and is still regarded as a key threat. — AP
US drone kills seven
militants in Pakistan
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan: A US drone
attack yesterday killed at least seven militants
in Pakistan, officials said, days
before the country’s intelligence chief
visits Washington with the contentious
raids likely to be discussed. Attacks by
unmanned American aircraft are deeply
unpopular in Pakistan, which says they
violate its sovereignty and fan anti-US
sentiment, but US officials are said to
believe the attacks are too important to
give up. Drone strikes are likely to be a
major issue when Pakistan’s spymaster,
Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam,
holds talks in Washington on August 1-3
with his CIA counterpart.
In yesterday’s attack, the second in
the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan,
missiles struck a compound in Khushhali
Turikhel village of the troubled North
Waziristan tribal district, which lies on the
border with Afghanistan. “US drones fired
six missiles into a militant compound. At
least seven militants were killed,” a security
official told AFP. “It is not immediately
clear if there was an important militant
killed in the attack.”
The toll might rise as militants search
for colleagues buried under the rubble of
the compound, the official said, adding
that missiles also hit and destroyed two
militant vehicles. Local intelligence officials
confirmed the attack and casualties.
Khushhali Turikhel lies around 35 km east
of Miranshah, the main town of North
Waziristan which is considered a stronghold
of Islamist militants. Washington
regards Pakistan’s semi-autonomous
northwestern tribal belt as the main hub
of Taleban and Al-Qaeda militants plotting
attacks on the West and in
Afghanistan.
Ten militants were killed on Monday
in a similar attack in Shawal area of North
Waziristan. In a drone attack at the start
of July, six militants were killed and an
attack on June 4 killed 15 militants,
including senior Al-Qaeda figure Abu
Yahya Al-Libi. There has been a dramatic
increase in US drone strikes in Pakistan
since May, when a NATO summit in
Chicago could not strike a deal to end a
six-month blockade on convoys transporting
supplies to coalition forces in
Afghanistan.
On July 3 however, Islamabad agreed
to end the blockade after the United
States apologised for the deaths of 24
Pakistani soldiers in botched air strikes
last November. Islam’s trip on Wednesday
marks the first Washington visit in a year
by the head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services
Intelligence and signals a thaw in relations
beset by crisis since US troops killed
Osama bin Laden near Islamabad in May
2011. In protest at US drone attacks, local
Taleban and Pakistani warlord Hafiz Gul
Bahadur have banned vaccinations in
North and South Waziristan, putting
240,000 children in the region at risk.
They have condemned the immunisation
campaign as a cover for espionage. In
May, a Pakistani doctor was jailed for 33
years after helping the CIA find bin Laden
using a hepatitis vaccination program as
a cover. — AFP
treasurer for the party’s Selangor branch and was
dubbed Malaysia’s “water king” by Forbes, which ranks
him as the country’s 37th richest person. The federal
government says the state has jeopardised its water
supply by blocking the construction of a 3.8 billion
ringgit ($1.2 billion) treatment plant.
“If we can make Malaysia the global centre for
IPOs, how can it be that we can’t resolve water issues,”
Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying this
week by The Star newspaper, referring to several big
stock debuts in Malaysia this year. The problem could
be resolved, he said, once the people of Selangor
“choose a government that can do it”.
As Malaysia’s traditional engine of growth, the
west-coast state was a prized, unprecedented win for
the opposition in the last election in 2008, and the
most potent symbol of the ruling coalition’s worst
election performance. Wresting back the state would
help lay to rest doubts about Najib’s leadership within
his own party and help the coalition rebound nationwide.
For the opposition, retaining Selangor is crucial
if it is to have any chance of winning a parliamentary
majority and forming a government for the first time.
The state has been at the centre of concerns over
voter fraud, with the opposition accusing the government
of handing out voting rights to thousands of
illegal immigrants. “The stakes are the highest in
Selangor. The prime minister really needs to win it
NEW DELHI: Indian activist Anna Hazare, who
galvanised the country last year with his hunger
strikes against corruption, began a new fast yesterday
to press demands for a crackdown on
official graft. Hazare and his supporters want
parliament to strengthen a pending anti-corruption
bill and the creation of a special team to
probe possible graft allegations against 15 ministers,
including Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh. The 75-year-old former army truck driver
threatened to fast until death if the demands are
not met.
“I am confident that... the people of my country
will not let me die. I draw my strength and
confidence from you,” Hazare told several thousand
supporters gathered at a popular protest
site in central New Delhi. Some senior members
of the Hazare campaign had already started
hunger strikes at the same venue four days
before. Hazare became an unlikely national hero
last August when he led countrywide protests
that tapped into a rich seam of public anger at
India’s endemic corruption.
During a 12-day hunger strike, he was feted
as a latter-day Mahatma Gandhi and mobbed at
a triumphal procession through the capital New
Delhi. Singh’s government, tainted by a series of
graft scandals, was caught out by the outpouring
of public emotion and forced to negotiate
with the Hazare campaign, which it previously
condemned as manipulative and undemocratic.
Although around 4,000 supporters turned out
Sunday as Hazare began his latest fast, observers
say the campaign has lost much of its momentum
since the heady days of last summer.
The media has also been less supportive, suggesting
that Hazare risks overstepping in insisting
that parliament adopts his campaign’s input
for the new anti-corruption bill. “Anna and his
cohorts must realise that they are only a pres-
back,” said Ong Kian Ming, a political analyst and lecturer
at Kuala Lumpur’s private UCSI university.
The perceived performance of the four oppositioncontrolled
states will be a crucial campaign issue as
the three-party opposition alliance tries to convince
voters it is capable of running the country. Penang,
another opposition-held state, has set an enviable
record, attracting the country’s highest level of investment
in the manufacturing sector for two years running
and slashing public debt levels by over 90 percent
in three years. Selangor’s record is less spectacular.
The state government has been dogged by talk of
infighting and Malaysia’s ruling coalition is presenting
the water issue as exhibit A to show the state is being
mismanaged.
“They want to influence the course of the elections.
They have a monopoly over water resources and
are holding the people to ransom,” said opposition MP
Tony Pua, adding that uncertainty over water supply
was endangering investment in the state. Syabas’
shock warning of water rationing this month prompted
indignant state officials to pose for pictures in front
of dams brimming with water to show there was no
shortage. Syabas hit back with images showing treatment
plants at low reserve capacity, bolstering its case
for the new plant. “The responsibility for ensuring that
Selangor has enough water treatment plants lies with
the Selangor state government,” it said in a statement
sure group. They cannot hold parliament to ransom.
Their primary job is to keep the issue of
corruption in play, the Times of India said in a
recent editorial. Using fasts to arm-twist the government
is against the very spirit of democracy
and amounts to political blackmail,” it said.
Hazare’s direct attacks on Prime Minister
Singh and the ruling Congress party have also
led to accusations that he and his campaign
organisers were pursuing a political agenda. But
his supporters who gathered yesterday insisted
that Hazare’s message was very much alive and
rejected suggestions that the campaign was los-
released on Thursday.
Selangor has threatened to take over the water
company’s operations, a bid that was rejected by the
government. The state government remains set on a
takeover and is going ahead with plans to sack Rozali,
aiming to use its 30 percent stake in Syabas to trigger
a vote of no-confidence. The federal government
wants to open tenders for the new plant in a month,
but it needs Selangor’s permission to proceed. The
state government says the plant would lead to a steep
rise in water tariffs and that projections for water consumption
and population growth used to justify its
construction are too high. Instead, it wants 225 million
ringgit from the federal government to upgrade two
existing plants and is prepared to add 200-300 million
ringgit of its own funds.
Selangor state sources say the level of non-revenue
water - the volume lost before it reaches the customer
- at Syabas is above 33 percent. That measure of
efficiency compares with Singapore’s 5 percent,
Denmark’s 6 percent, and even falls short of
Bangladesh’s 29 percent, they say. Campaigners
against Syabas are urging the company to open its
books to show if there really is a shortage. “Failing to
do so would only prove that the water crisis is manufactured,”
said Charles Santiago, an opposition member
of parliament and coordinator of the Coalition
Against Water Privatisation group. — Reuters
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
India anti-graft activist
Hazare starts new fast
Campaign has lost momentum, media support
KABUL: Afghan security forces are dying at five
times the rate of NATO soldiers as Taleban insurgents
step up attacks ahead of the withdrawal of
foreign troops in 2014, the latest figures show.
While deaths among NATO’s troops are regularly
chronicled in the 50 countries that contribute soldiers
to the war, the daily casualties among the
Afghans they are fighting alongside rarely make
headlines. A total of 853 Afghan soldiers and police
were killed in the past four months, government
figures show, compared with 165 NATO troops,
according to a tally kept by the website
icasualties.org.
President Hamid Karzai warned in May that the
Afghan death toll would increase as the US-led
troops start withdrawing and hand increasing
responsibility for security to Afghan forces. Both
NATO’s International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) and Afghanistan’s interior ministry have noted
a surge in attacks in recent months since the
start of the Taleban’s annual summer offensive.
“Enemy-initiated attacks over the last three months
(April-June) are 11 percent higher compared to the
same quarter last year,” ISAF said in a report last
week. The month of June alone saw the highest
number of attacks in nearly two years, with more
than 100 assaults a day across the country, including
firefights and roadside bombings, the US-led
coalition said. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq
Seddiqi said at the weekend that there had been a
surge in casualties suffered by police in the past
four months, with 635 killed and 1,246 wounded.
“This year, the enemies of Afghanistan have intensified
their attacks against Afghan security forces,” he
said. “We have increased our operations against the
enemy and they also intensified their attacks,” he
said, adding that 1,730 insurgents had been killed
over the same period.
The upturn comes as NATO countries have
already started to withdraw their 130,000 troops
after more than 10 years of war and ahead of a 2014
deadline for an end to combat operations.
Politicians in NATO countries, where polls show that
most voters want their soldiers out of Afghanistan,
regularly refer to “ending the war in 2014”. But all
signs point to the fact that the war will not end for
the Afghans - and could get much worse. “The
Taleban are sure that at the end of the day the foreign
forces will leave and the only force that will
remain to fight them is the Afghan force,” author
NEW DELHI: India’s anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare gestures at a protest yesterday. — AP
and analyst Waheed Mujda told AFP. “Since they
started their new summer offensive their goal has
been to target Afghan forces, to demoralise them
and to create fear so that no one could join them,”
he said.
Mujda also suggested that the government
underplayed casualties in their statistics because
“they don’t want to demoralise the forces”. He said a
more realistic figure had been presented earlier this
month by a former chief of the National Directorate
of Security, Amrullah Saleh, who said more than
1,800 members of the Afghan security forces were
killed in the previous three months - well over double
the official figure. Defence Ministry sources told
AFP that in the four months since the start of the
Afghan solar year at the end of March, 218 Afghan
soldiers had been killed.
Police, who play a paramilitary role in the wartorn
country, are more exposed to insurgent attacks
ing steam. “This rally is not about numbers. Our
strength should not be measured in how many
people have come here. Our strength lies in our
conviction and truth,” said Mitul Rana, 26, a software
engineer. Housewife Kaushalya Devi, 40,
brought her eight-year-old son to the protest
venue. “Hazare is fasting for us, so we thought it
was our duty to come and show our support,”
Devi said. “I want my son to know about him
because he is the only true leader of our country.
Those who claim to be the leaders are corrupt
from head to toe. We must expose their real
faces,” she added. — AFP
Afghan forces deaths
outstrip NATO’s 5-1
in local areas where they are always on the roads or
manning small checkposts while the army operates
out of fortified bases. ISAF said one reason for the
increase in the number of attacks over recent
months was an earlier start to the summer fighting
season because of an early end to the harvest of
opium poppies - a major source of income for
Taleban Islamist insurgents.
Another was the increased presence on the battlefield
of Afghan security forces as they take more
responsibility from NATO troops ahead of the drawdown.
Despite the rise in attacks, the number of
coalition deaths in the first six months this year -
220 - was down on the same period last year when
282 died, according to icasualties.org. About half of
all deaths in both periods were due to roadside
bombs, the statistics show. The homemade bombs
are also responsible for most civilian deaths - which
run higher than those for either army. —AFP
MANILA: A Filipino woman holds on to the umbrella as strong winds blow while her son eats
bread in a Manila suburb yesterday. Rains continue to pour in the city as tropical storm Saolan
blows off the northeastern coast of the Philippines. — AP

NEWS
MADHYA PRADESH: Dharamveer Kamboj (left) an innovator, explains his aloe vera processor invention in a temple in
the village of Lasukiya in the Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh, India. (Inset) Prof Anil Gupta walks towards a village
during his Shodh Yatra (Journey for the Search of Knowledge) in the Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh. — AP
Professor on quest for
India hidden inventors
SEHORE: It’s 43 degrees Celsius (110 F), and Prof Anil Gupta
has been hiking the scorched plains of central India for
hours. But he smiles widely as he enters a tiny village in
search of another unsung genius. “If you have any new ideas
or you have any new inventions, I’m here to promote you,”
he tells farmers squatting beside a dusty roadside shrine to
the Hindu god Shiva. For more than two decades, Gupta has
scoured rural India for its hidden innovations, motivated by
the belief that the most powerful ideas for fighting poverty
and hardship won’t come from corporate research labs, but
from ordinary people struggling to survive.
Gupta and his aides have uncovered more than 25,000
inventions, from the bicycle-mounted crop sprayer to the
electric paintbrush that never needs to be dipped in a paint
can. Many of the cheap, simple ideas he spreads for free
from one poor village to another with the inventor’s blessing.
Some he is working to bring to market, ensuring the
innovator gets the credit and the profit that will spur others
to create as well. Many ideas are simply documented in his
database waiting for some investor to spot their potential.
He routinely dispenses tiny grants, either from a government
fund or his own web of organizations, to help poor
innovators finish their projects.
The 59-year-old management professor with a thick
graying beard reminiscent of an ascetic holy man says he
gets no financial benefit from his finds, reveling instead,
with almost childlike joy, in the process of discovery itself.
“Every time we walk in a place we discover a solution that
we would not have imagined, and we find that eagerness,”
he said.
Many finds focus on agriculture: a more productive
strain of peppers, a makeshift seat that lets coconut harvesters
rest high up in trees, a hollow spear that pierces a
hole in a field and drops in a seed.
There are traditional herbal medicines for cracked heels
and sore muscles, stoves and engines modified to be more
efficient, and a rice cleaner designed by a 13-year-old after
he watched his mother wearily picking pebbles from yet
another sack of grain. And there are the eyebrow-raisers: the
washing machine mounted on the back of a scooter and
powered by its engine, the bulletproof vest packed with
herbs that absorb the concussive force of the bullet, the
amphibious bicycle.
Gupta has received the Padma Shri, one of the Indian
government’s top honors. He works with India’s president to
fete the innovators. He helped found the government-sponsored
National Innovation Foundation, routinely addresses
top business conferences and recently linked up with one of
India’s largest retailers, Future Group, to bring some of the
most promising finds to market. Consumers will be attracted
to the products - everything from all-natural cookies to a
toothbrush that adds its own toothpaste - because the profits
go to a good cause and because of the subtle simplicity
of the inventions, said Ashni Biyani, a top Future Group exec-
Continued from Page 1
Netanyahu yesterday. Haaretz said Donilon had told
Netanyahu the Pentagon was planning for a possible
decision to attack Iran’s nuclear sites, and had shown him
some of the plans. The failure of talks between Iran and six
world powers to secure a breakthrough in curbing what
the West fears is a drive to develop nuclear weapons has
raised international concerns that Israel, widely assumed
to be the Middle East’s only nuclear-armed state, may opt
for a go-it-alone military strike.
utive.
“These are ideas that are rooted within the context of
India,” she said. Gupta’s explorations have boosted inventors
throughout rural India who, much like the “mad” uncles tinkering
away in garages around the world, are dismissed as
nuts by their neighbors until he arrives and declares them
geniuses. Take Nattubhai Vader, a farmer from the state of
Gujarat, who watched women and children harvesting an
especially troublesome variety of cotton and figured there
had to be a better way. Vader designed and then obsessively
tweaked a massive apparatus of spinning rubber hoses
and vacuums that fits over a tractor and can pick as much
cotton in one hour as 10 people can in two days, he said.
He sank more than $20,000 into the harvester before his
wife threatened to divorce him if he didn’t save the family’s
remaining money for their kids’ education. A few years later,
Gupta found Vader, gave him the funding to restart and
now plans to bring in a team of engineering students to
refine it. At the heart of Gupta’s mission are his grueling
weeklong Shodh Yatras, consisting of 20 kilometer daily
hikes in the searing summer and frigid winter, nights spent
sleeping in school courtyards, meals of watery lentils. The
idea is to scare off uncommitted “tourists” and give participants
a taste of peasant life.
“Your eyes will open and you will see things you’ve never
seen before,” Akash Badave, a 23-year-old preparing to be
rural administrator, says Gupta told him before the first of his
three Shodh Yatras. “And that was the case.” On one recent
trek along parched hillsides in the central state of Madhya
Pradesh, Gupta was accompanied by dozens of followers:
young urbanites curious about rural poverty, an engineer
who came to find herself, a team of inventors he collected
from his previous journeys.
He began the hike after arriving on an overnight flight
from China, marched in rubber sandals, drank little water
despite the heat and even fasted for a day. His arrival at a village
rarely visited by outsiders was an event akin to the circus
coming to town. He handed out colorful magazines and
pamphlets showing farmers how to make natural pesticides
out of local plants, to treat cattle diseases with spice mixtures,
to prolong the life of their water pump by sticking an
old tire under the handle. And he appealed to them to
come up with ideas of their own.
“Solutions to our problems are not so scarce,” he
declared. As an example, he introduced Amrit Agrawat who
more than two decades ago was watching women in his village
struggle to pull heavy water buckets from a well.
Agrawat made a pulley with an automatic brake so the
women could rest without the bucket plunging back down.
It costs $7. Wonderful, one man said, “now my wife can
answer her cellphone while she gets water.” Agrawat has
sold 5,000 of his pulleys, but donated one to each village
along the way and encouraged the farmers to copy it for
themselves. — AP
Israel denies Iran war plan report
Israel has warned the West it thinks it is only a matter of
time before Iran’s nuclear program achieves a “zone of
immunity” in which bombs will not be able to effectively
strike uranium enrichment facilities buried deep underground.
Iran says its program is solely for peaceful purposes.
On a visit to Jerusalem this month, Clinton said Israel
and Washington were “on the same page” with respect to
Iran, calling Iran’s latest proposals to world power talks on
the issue “non starters.” “Our own choice is clear, we will
use all elements of American power to prevent Iran from
obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Clinton said. — Reuters
Continued from Page 1
Others detained included Salem Al-Shehhi, a lawyer,
Abdul-Raheem Al-Zarooni, who worked for a media
organization, Musbah Al-Rumaithi, another Islah member,
and Issa Al-Suwaidi, a former education official,
activists and relatives said. Most of the men detained
over the past months are from the more religiously
conservative emirates such as Sharjah and Ras Al-
Khaimah, which are also less affluent than the oil-rich
capital Abu Dhabi and trade hub Dubai. Many are wellknown
figures and include a ruling family member,
under house arrest in Ras Al-Khaimah emirate.
The arrests are the latest in what international rights
groups and activists describe as a crackdown on political
opposition in general, and Islamists in particular. On
Friday, the Geneva-based International Commission of
Jurists (ICJ) said the UAE must end its crackdown on
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
UAE widens crackdown; more Islamists...
Continued from Page 1
do not move soon,” he said, adding that talks would
start on forming a transitional government.
Arab League head Nabil Elaraby said the battle in
Aleppo amounted to “war crimes”, and perpetrators
would eventually be punished, Egypt’s MENA state
news agency reported. The Arab League has suspended
Syria and lined up with the West and Turkey against
Assad. Assad’s government blames Arab states, especially
Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for the revolt. Reuters
reported on Friday that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey
had set up a base in southeastern Turkey to aid the
rebel Free Syrian Army.
Asked about the base, a Saudi Foreign Ministry
spokesman declined yesterday to comment directly but
said Riyadh provided financial and humanitarian aid to
the Syrian people. Hinting at more direct support for
the rebels, he said countries should enable Syrians “to
protect themselves at the very least, if the international
community is not able to do so”. Assad’s ruling structure
draws strongly on his Alawite minority sect, an offshoot
of Shiite Islam, while his opposition is drawn
largely from the Sunni Muslim majority, backed by
Sunni leaders who rule nearly all other Arab states.
That has raised fears that the 16-month-old conflict
could spread across the wider Middle East, where a sectarian
divide between Sunnis and Shiites has been at
the root of violence in Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain and elsewhere.
Shiite Iran demonstrated its firm support for
Assad by hosting his foreign minister. At a joint news
conference with Moualem, Iran’s own Foreign Minister
Ali Akbar Salehi rebuked the West and Arab states for
holding the “illusion” that Assad could be easily replaced
from power in a managed transition.
In Damascus, where Assad’s forces pushed back a
rebel offensive following a deadly bomb attack on his
Kuwaiti royal detained
Continued from Page 1
Saudi Arabia where he met the governor of Riyadh.
So far, there has been no official comment on his arrest.
Sheikh Meshaal is a member of the Al-Sabah family
which has ruled the oil-rich emirate for the past 250
years without challenge. In tweets he wrote over the
past few days, he said he will contest the next parliamentary
election to become the first royal in Kuwait to
lawyers and human rights defenders. “The recent crackdown...is
part of a broad campaign of intimidation and
harassment by UAE authorities that aims to silence any
and all critical voices. This campaign must end immediately,”
said Said Benarbia, Senior Legal Advisor for the
ICJ Middle East and North Africa Program.
UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville has
said the crackdown looked like an excuse to silence
legitimate demands. But the UAE authorities, like other
Gulf monarchies, are concerned that the rise of
Islamists in Egypt and other states in the wake of the
Arab Spring could stir up Islamist groups and dissent
on their turf. Last week, Dubai police chief Dahi
Khalfan warned of an “international plot” to overthrow
the governments of Gulf Arab countries, saying
the region needed to be prepared to counter any
threat from Islamist dissidents as well as Syria and
Iran. — Reuters
Assad forces declare ‘victory’ in Damascus
inner circle, many residents have fled fighting on the
outskirts for relative safety in the heart of the capital.
Even the centre has been shattered by the violence.
Shops open only between 9 am and 3 pm, food prices
have soared and no one dares walk outside after dusk,
even in the holy month of Ramadan when streets are
normally packed late into the night with people celebrating
after a day of fasting. “To begin with I was with
the regime, for sure,” said Ahmed, from one of the
southern suburbs where the army, backed by helicopter
and tanks, launched its fierce counter offensive. “But
now, no, the regime must go. Take what they want with
them, but they must go.”
The battle for Alelppo, a city of 2.5 million people, is a
decisive test of the government’s ability to retake its
two main cities. It has committed huge military
resources to the battle there after losing control of outlying
rural areas and some border crossings with Turkey
and Iraq. Fighters from the rebel Free Syrian Army were
also in evidence on the approaches to Aleppo from the
north, where many villagers were still shopping or tending
their fields. One man in his 40s, carrying his family
on a motorcycle, said he was fleeing the fighting in the
city. “We are living in a war zone,” he told Reuters. “I and
my relatives are just going back and forth, trying to stay
away from the fighting. We left Aleppo when we saw
smoke and helicopters firing.”
The British-based Observatory, which compiles
reports from anti-government activists, said 26 people
were killed in Aleppo on Saturday and 190 total across
Syria. It reported fighting in Deraa, the cradle of the revolution,
Homs, the scene of some of the bloodiest combat,
and Hama. There was no way to verify its figures.
The fighting in Aleppo follows a July 18 bomb attack
that killed four top security officials including Assad’s
defense minister, intelligence chief and powerful brother-in-law.
— Reuters
do so, and also vowed that if he becomes an MP, he
would expose corruption among top officials. He also
complained that the Kuwaiti constitution entrusts power
to only one branch of the Al-Sabah family—the
descendants of Mubarak Al-Kabeer who ruled Kuwait
from 1896 to 1915. Sheikh Meshaal, who is not
descended from Mubarak Al-Kabeer, called for the constitution
to be amended and the introduction of political
reforms. — AFP

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US in major
policy ‘shift’
in Rwanda
W ashington
Issues
By Nicolas Revise
is loosening its ties to Rwandan
President Paul Kagame, long a favorite of the
donor community, amid allegations his government
is stirring violence in neighboring DR Congo, analysts
say. Last week, in a statement slipped out without
fanfare late Sunday, the United States said it was freezing
its modest $200,000 in 2012 military aid to Rwandaa
move experts say represents a major shift in long-held
US policy.
“As we have repeatedly said to the government of
Rwanda, we have deep concerns about Rwanda’s support
to the Congolese rebel group that goes by the
name M23,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria
Nuland said. The M23 are Tutsi ex-rebels from the
Rwanda-backed National Congress for the Defense of
the People (CNDP). They were integrated into the regular
army of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in
2009 as part of a peace deal that followed their failed
2008 offensive on the Congo’s eastern city of Goma.
But the ex-rebels mutinied in April, demanding better
pay and the full implementation of a March 23, 2009
peace deal, and have been engaged in running battles
with the Congolese army in the eastern Nord Kivu
region. Kinshasa accuses Kigali of sponsoring the rebellion-a
complaint supported by a UN panel, which said in
June that Rwanda was supplying the rebels with arms
and soldiers. Nuland said the United States also has its
own evidence of Rwandan involvement in the
upheavals, but believed the UN report was “quite comprehensive
and quite concerning.”
US State Department war crimes investigator
Stephen Rapp even told the British daily The Guardian
this week that Kagame could one day find himself
charged with war crimes. The Netherlands also cut its
military aid to Rwanda. “It is really the first time we have
heard strong words spoken against Paul Kagame in
Rwanda by the US government. There is a real shift,” said
Richard Downie, expert at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies. “This is a real change in tone.
Rwanda will find itself in a unusual and uncomfortable
position right now,” he said.
Since Kagame took up the reins of power of his
African nation in 1994 ending a bloody genocide which
left some 800,000, mainly Tutsis, dead, Rwanda “has
been the darling of donors’ community for so long,”
Downie said. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is a
special advisor to Kagame, and has been a steadfast
supporter of Rwanda’s development through his Africa
Governance Initiative. But the winds began to change in
June with the publication of the United Nations report.
Even if the amount of aid was small “there are other
signs of unhappiness by the United States,” Downie said.
“I am told that the head of the Africom postponed a visit
to Rwanda and also some people are making some
noise that Rwanda wants to get a seat on the UN
Security Council.” John Campbell, from the Council on
Foreign Relations, said: “The report the UN experts produced
provided a clear evidence of Rwandan meddling
in Eastern Congo. It is a careful and credible report. “It
has long been US policy to oppose outside intervention
in Eastern Congo. In light of the UN report, the Obama
administration had to respond.”
Rwanda has categorically denied that it is interfering
in the DR Congo, accusations which Kagame told CNN
were “not true” and “actually ridiculous.” “You see, I hope
people can just be fair. It’s not even very complicated.
I’m really surprised people called experts can make a
report this way.” There have long been tensions between
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Rwanda has been accused on several occasions of aiding
Tutsi forces in DR Congo to combat Hutu rebels on
its western border. It charges the Hutu rebels with joining
the 1994 genocide and says they remain a threat to
their country.
Kigali sent troops into the DR Congo from 1996-1997
and then between 1998 to 2002, before moving to act
through proxy militias, experts say. Nuland insisted: “We
are continuing to watch this case very carefully and to
send public and private messages to the government of
Rwanda.” French journalist and expert on the region,
Pierre Pean said the US decision could mark a major shift
in regional policy. It could “perhaps signal the beginning
of the end for the soldier Kagame and his license to kill
and pillage since 1994 as well as a revision of American
policy in the Great Lakes region,” he said.— AFP
All articles appearing on these pages
are the personal opinion of the writers.
Kuwait Times takes no responsibility
for views expressed therein. Kuwait
Times invites readers to voice their
opinions. Please send submissions via
email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or
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Kuwait. The editor reserves the right
to edit any submission as necessary.
By Steven C Johnson
and Chris Francescani
P harmacist
Michael Nastro is full of
admiration for how police responded
to a deadly robbery in his suburban
New York neighborhood in 2011. A gunman
walked into a pharmacy near his own on
Long Island, killed four people and fled with
a stash of painkillers. Police in the area,
which is part of wealthy Suffolk County,
best known for the exclusive Hamptons
beach towns, boosted patrols and gave
advice on what to do if the robber hit again.
They caught him three days after the shooting.
But Nastro, 50, admits he’s torn about
police officers’ pay and retirement benefits.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t conflicted,”
he said. “I want good police work, but
I’m a taxpayer too. There’s got to be a middle
ground.” The average annual pension for
Suffolk County cops who have retired since
2007 was $86,702, according to figures
from the Manhattan Institute, a public policy
think tank, against $37,270 for other
county employees, excluding teachers. The
county, facing a three-year deficit of $530
million, declared a fiscal emergency in
March.
Traditionally, US voters have backed
generous pay and benefits for the cops and
firefighters willing to risk their lives to keep
citizens safe. That was especially so after the
deaths of many emergency workers in the
Sept 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade
Center in New York. But as economic conditions
have worsened and many local governments
have run into severe fiscal problems,
that attitude has started to change.
Since the 2007 recession, some cities have
tried to roll back pension benefits and pay,
among the most rigid and, in some cases,
highest expenses in municipal budgets.
From New York to California and points
in between, cops and firefighters have been
drawn into pitched battles over their pay
and benefits. In San Diego and San Jose,
California’s second and third biggest cities,
voters in June overwhelmingly backed
sweeping pension reforms. In San Jose, all
employees will have to choose between
reduced benefits or higher retirement contributions.
In the mid-sized California cities
of Stockton and San Bernardino, officials say
public safety costs were among the factors
that forced both to declare bankruptcy.
In Vallejo, a former US Navy town near
San Francisco that emerged from a threeyear
bankruptcy last year, public safety pay
and benefits were consuming three-quarters
of the city’s general fund. Detroit,
plagued with one of the highest crime rates
in the country, nonetheless cut pay and
healthcare benefits for city workers, including
police, by 10 percent just over a week
ago, a move the mayor says will save the
cash-strapped city $102 million a year. A
legal challenge by the Detroit Police
Officers Association failed, even as union
President Joe Duncan publicly complained
of what the cuts would mean for Detroit’s
ability to hire police, noting that the city is
“already 50th on the list of pay for the
biggest 50 cities in the United States.”
St Louis this month approved an overhaul
of the firefighter retirement system
that rolls back decades of increases, while
Miami officials trying to plug a $60 million
budget gap this week declared “financial
urgency,” which will let them alter employee
contracts.
Among the city’s proposals: limit overtime
for firefighters and require higher
health care contributions. According to an
analysis by New York-area newspaper
Newsday published last month, police and
sheriff’s department employees in Nassau
and Suffolk counties reached nearly two-
14 opinion
thirds of each county’s payroll. “That is why
a lot of municipalities are choosing bankruptcy,
because it’s the only way - other
than getting a state control board - of getting
out of these salary and pension
requirements,” said the former top official of
Suffolk County, Steve Levy.
SAVINGS AND SAFETY
Striking the right balance between savings
and safety is a touchy business,
though. While it’s become almost routine
for voters to rail against fat paychecks and
generous benefits for teachers, transit
workers and other public employees, cops
and firefighters have in the past been largely
spared such anger. For example, in
Wisconsin, where most public workers were
stripped of their collective bargaining rights
and made to pay more to fund their pensions,
firefighters, cops and other public
safety workers were given an exemption.
Still, Jim Carver, president of the Nassau
County Police Benevolent Association, says
politicians have started to target cops and
firefighters. The state seized control of
Nassau County’s finances after the county
failed to balance its budget and had its
credit rating cut last year. Carver bristles at
the notion that police and firefighters don’t
deserve what they earn. “After 9/11, you
couldn’t find a politician that wasn’t rushing
to put his arms around a cop or a firefighter,”
he said. “Ten, 12 years later, we are to
blame for everything. Politicians have
made us the enemy. We didn’t put a gun to
anybody’s head. These were fairly negotiated
contracts.”
EVERYBODY’S COMPLICIT
To be sure, it took decades of bad decisions
and poor management by local
authorities to put many communities in fiscal
dire straits. In countless cases, cities,
counties and states over-promised benefits
to retirees but neglected to set aside sufficient
reserves to cover their liabilities. When
the economy and stock market were booming,
cities often sweetened pension benefits,
confident the money would be there in
the end. After 9/11, the cops and firefighters’
heroic status with the public meant that
they were in a particularly strong bargaining
position.
But the 2007-2008 recession and the
impact of the housing bust on real estate
taxes hammered municipal revenues and
badly hurt pension funds’ investment
returns. The Pew Center on the States said
the gap between states’ pension promises
and liabilities was $757 billion in 2010.
“Everybody’s complicit in this,” said
Lawrence Levy, executive dean of the
National Center on Suburban Studies at
Hofstra University.
Noel DiGerolamo, head of the
Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association in
Suffolk County, has harsh words for the
public officials, saying they should be bearing
the blame for fiscal woes. “Rather than
being responsible leaders of government
and saying, ‘We have these pension obligations
that we’re going to have to pay,’ and
saving towards those obligations, they are
being politicians,” DiGerolamo said. “And
when the bill comes due, blaming employees
who have worked towards and earned
these pensions for 20 or 25 years.”
BROKE IN CALIFORNIA
Of course, scores of municipalities are
managing to balance their budgets even as
costs rise. Only a few of the 90,000 issuers in
the municipal debt market are in true distress.
Even many with escalating pension
costs can meet their current obligations. It’s
keeping up with promises to aging citizens
who are living longer that keeps officials up
at night. In some cases, contracts that may
once have seemed fair are helping to bankrupt
cities and leading to severe cuts in
services, including fire station closures and
reductions in police forces.
Eight municipalities have sought protection
from their creditors so far this year,
following 13 that filed in 2011, and many
others are having to slash their budgets.
San Bernardino, a city of 210,000 some 65
miles east of Los Angeles that has been hit
hard by the collapse of the housing market,
says public safety spending eats up 73 percent
of its general fund budget, with overtime
for firefighters especially onerous.
Pension costs are expected to reach $25
million this year, double the 2006 level. The
city imposed a temporary 10 percent pay
cut, but the firefighters’ union successfully
challenged it in court and is entitled to
back pay. The city council voted last week
to suspend debt payments and quit paying
into a retiree health fund. Some 350 miles
to the north, Stockton, the biggest US city
ever to file for bankruptcy, allows police
officers to retire at 50 with pensions based
on 3 percent of final pay for each year in
service.
When he signed the bankruptcy filing in
June, Stockton city manager Bob Deis said
a 1996 decision to provide firefighters with
free health care in retirement, later expanded
to all city employees, was a “Ponzi
scheme” that saddled the city with a $417
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
US loves cops and firefighters - but not their pensions
COLORADO: Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates arrives for the funeral of
Aurora, Colo, movie theater shooting victim Micayla Medek in
Denver. — AP
million liability. Because their jobs are dangerous
and physically taxing, cops and firefighters
typically retire after 20 or 30 years
on the job, and that’s as it should be, said
Michael Coleman, a policy adviser for the
League of California Cities, an association
of municipal officials from the state.
But that’s why it’s important to keep
pensions reasonable. “I don’t think anyone
disagrees that these are dangerous jobs.
But how much is enough? Unfortunately, I
think it’s gone too far,” Coleman said. The
contrast between benefits in the public
and private sectors is stark.
Only 26 percent of US companies offer
retiree healthcare benefits, compared with
66 percent that did so in 1988, according to
the Kaiser Family Foundation. Most private
sector employees bear the brunt of providing
for their retirement by saving money in
funds known as 401(k) plans, with companies
typically also making contributions.
After the 2007 recession, some firms
stopped making contributions altogether.
It can all add to tensions as some taxpayers
question why their services are
being cut or property taxes raised so a city
or county can find the money for generous
retirement benefits. In New York, a 2010
investigation by then-attorney general
Andrew Cuomo, now governor, found
widespread incidence of “pension padding”
- public employees working extra overtime
in their last year on the job to boost pay
and retirement income. That’s especially
costly when it comes to well-paid public
safety workers. The Manhattan Institute
estimates nearly 10 percent of New York
State cops and firefighters who retired in
2011 will receive six-figure pensions, from 2
percent in 2001.
NO QUICK FIXES
Quick fixes, however, are unlikely. Efforts
to revamp public pension plans face stiff
legal challenges. Each state has its own
constitution, courts and case law that
affect how it can go about changing retirement
systems. Firefighters in San
Bernardino have filed seven legal actions
against attempts to scale back pay and
benefits since 2007. In many municipalities,
public salaries and pensions are pegged to
those offered in comparably sized regional
cities. In New York, pensions, once set by
the state, cannot be negotiated through
collective bargaining. At the same time,
alternative ways to tackle deficits, such as
raising taxes, are politically unpopular.
In the small Southern California city of
Stanton, voters recently rejected a proposed
utility tax hike that would have
raised $1.1 million. The city instead cut
back on active police and fire staff, which
account for 77 percent of its spending. “Will
there be some impact on response time?
There could be,” said city manager Carol
Jacobs. “But this city is not going to go
bankrupt.” In some cases, unions have preferred
layoffs to reduced retirement benefits.
Two troubled cities in New Jersey are
cases in point. Camden, one of the state’s
poorest and most crime-plagued cities,
recently cut its police force by about half,
and Newark cut its force by a third after
unions declined concessions demanded by
their city governments.
In New York, former Nassau County
Executive Thomas Suozzi, a Long Island
Democrat who has clashed with police
unions, gave a stark assessment. “We’re facing
a problem that will be faced by every
town in America. “You can’t raise property
taxes anymore - people won’t go for it.
There’s no more money. So, do you cut
services, which will result in the death of
the suburbs, I think, or do you make these
salaries and pensions more rational than
they’ve been?”— Reuters

sports
Park wins Evian Masters
FRANCE: South Korea’s Park Inbee had a magical
day with the putter to hold off a bunch of
players and win the Evian Masters with a fantastic
closing 66 here yesterday.
The 24-year-old started the day tied with
American Stacy Lewis, but had 11 single putts
and eight birdies to post a 17 under par total
and won by two shots from Lewis and Karrie
Webb, the veteran Australian who won back in
2006. Lewis, the leader from round one,
eagled the last from 30 feet for a 68, while
Webb birdied the final two holes for a 67.
China’s Feng Shanshan, who holed a
bunker shot for an eagle at the last and a 66,
South Korean amateur Kim Hyo Joo (68), and
the 2007 champion Natalie Gulbis (68) of the
United States shared fourth place on 14 under
par. “This is so exciting,” said Park, who
dropped shots at the third and 11th but
birdied four holes in each half. “Today I was red
hot with the putter.”
Park’s win was just her second as a professional,
but she has proved she has the nerve
for the big occasion. Her first win was as a 19year-old
in the US Women’s Open - and the
350,000 euro ($431,000) first prize at Evian is
the most lucrative in women’s golf.
“It’s been tough to wait so long for another
win but I think this will be really big for me.”
By contrast her playing partner Lewis, the
runner-up last year, could not buy a putt in the
first 14 holes and had another hiccup when
she cracked the face of her driver hitting from
the 12th tee.
But she battled bravely with birdies at the
15th and 16th and then holed the monster for
eagle at the 18th. South Korea’s 17-year-old
amateur Joo completed an amazing week
with her 68 her fourth sub-70 score - for 14
under par.
Winner of the World Junior (15-17-years)
Championship last year, Kim has already won
as a 16-year-old amateur on the Korean and
Japanese Women’s Tours and intends joining
the professional ranks at the LPGA
Championship in South Korea in October. “I
have had a great time here,” she said through
an interpreter. “It was really good fun and I
played really well.”
Karine Icher, who has had three top tens on
the LPGA Tour in America this season, was on
her first trip back home to France since the
birth of her first child, Lola. And she produced
a great final round of 69 to tie for 12th place
on nine under par.
Lola is 11 months old, and the 33-year-old
said: “My life has changed forever since she
arrived. To have a baby, it’s completely different.
Now my priority is not my golf but my
daughter. But I’m more relaxed and it’s fun to
travel with her.”
Icher had four birdies in the final round and
she is already looking forward to next year
when the tournament will become the fifth
women’s major alongside the US and British
Women’s Opens and the Kraft Nabisco and
LPGA Championships.
“It’s going to be super,” she said after her
closing four birdie round. “France is not a big
country. We don’t have a lot of golf courses
like in the United States. We’re going to have
the Ryder Cup in 2018 and next year we’re
going to have a women’s major. It means so
much.” —AFP
FRANCE: Korea’s Park Inbee kisses the trophy after winning the Evian
Masters women’s golf tournament. —AP
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Garrigus leads
Canadian Open
ONTARIO: Robert Garrigus grabbed a one-shot
lead as American players took a stranglehold on
the Canadian Open after the third round in Ontario
on Saturday. Garrigus fired a six-under-par 64 to
move to 16-under 194, one clear of William McGirt
(66) and two in front of Scott Piercy (67). McGirt
and Piercy had shared the lead overnight.
American players made up the top 10 players
on the leaderboard with former major winners
Retief Goosen of South Africa (63) and Fijian Vijay
Singh (69) the best of the international challengers,
seven shots back.
Garrigus carded four birdies and an eagle on a
bogey-free day and promised to continue to attack
on Sunday as he searches for his second PGA Tour
victory. “It’s foot to the floor as much as possible,”
he said. “I know I can’t let anybody in the golf tournament
and if I go out and make birdies they’re
not going to catch me so I’m just going to go hammering
at flags and hit fairways and hopefully
everything works out.
“I just like the way the course sets up. It’s a hilly
golf course, fitness is a big issue and I’m in really
good shape right now so I’m loving where I am at.”
Goosen rose 42 places into a tie for 11th with
his seven-under round. Scott Stallings and Chris
Kirk matched his 63 and share fourth spot with fellow
American Bo Van Pelt (67) on 198.
Kirk looked set to smash the course record of 62
at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club after getting
to seven under through 10 holes but he
parred the last eight.
David Hearn and Graham DeLaet were the best
of the locals on 208, meaning Canada’s victory
drought in the tournament is almost certain to be
extended to 58 years. —Reuters

sports
Taylor gets England’s call Pocock heads to Brumbies
LONDON: Uncapped Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor is poised to make his
England test debut in the second match of the series against South Africa starting on
Thursday after Ravi Bopara said he was unavailable for personal reasons.
Taylor, who is set to bat at six and has one limited-overs cap, is the only change
for the Headingley contest after England were trounced by an innings and 12 runs
in the first match of the three-test series at the Oval.
“We were outplayed during the first test last week but it is important that this
squad regroups and focuses on preparing for the second test,” England national
selector Geoff Miller said in a statement. “We have made one change to the squad
with James Taylor replacing Ravi Bopara, who is unavailable
for selection due to personal reasons.
“James has been part of the England Performance
Programme for a number of years and has performed consistently
for England Lions and now has an opportunity to
step up and experience the Test environment.”
Bopara, who only returned to the team for the first
test after an absence of almost a year, has struggled
to impose himself in the test arena but the full
reason for his withdrawal has not been
released. Pace bowler Steven Finn will be
looking to return to the side after
England took just two wickets at the
Oval as they battle to avoid losing the
series and their number one test ranking
to the South Africans. —Reuters
DENVER: Ryan Ludwick No. 48 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a home run in the
eighth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. —AFP
Dodgers pound Giants
SAN FRANCISCO: Matt Kemp homered among
his four hits and drove in four runs, Chad
Billingsley took a two-hitter into the eighth
inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the
San Francisco Giants 10-0 on Saturday. Hanley
Ramirez had three RBIs in helping the Dodgers
beat San Francisco for the second straight day to
pull within a game of the NL West-leading
Giants. Billingsley (6-9) drove in a run for Los
Angeles with a sacrifice fly. He gave up leadoff
doubles to Buster Posey in the second and Angel
Pagan in the fifth, the only base runners he
allowed through seven innings. He gave up two
more hits and was lifted with one out in the
eighth. Barry Zito (8-7) gave up four runs on seven
hits over 5 1-3 innings. He walked one and
struck out four.
Cubs 3, Cardinals 2
At Chicago, pinch-hitter Reed Johnson drove
in the go-ahead run with a bunt single in the seventh
inning and the Cubs got past St. Louis,
ending the Cardinals’ four-game winning streak.
The Cubs had lost five in a row to St. Louis,
but has won nine of its last 11 overall at Wrigley
Field. Johnson caught the Cardinals by surprise
when he squared up on the first pitch with runners
on first and third and two outs. His bunt fell
perfectly between reliever Brian Fuentes and
third baseman Matt Carpenter, allowing pinchrunner
Tony Campana to score. James Russell
(3-0) earned the win in relief, with Joe Kelly (1-4)
taking the loss.
Braves 2, Phillies 1
Mike Minor struck out nine and combined
with Craig Kimbrel on a four-hitter, Jason
Heyward had two hits and drove in a run, and
Atlanta edged Philadelphia. Minor (6-7) allowed
one run and four hits, and didn’t issue a walk in
eight innings. He matched a season high with
nine strikeouts and retired his last 13 batters.
The Phillies’ only run came on Chase Utley’s
homer in the fourth. Kimbrel pitched a perfect
ninth for his 30th save. The Braves, who lost 12
of 18 games to the Phillies in 2011, are 6-2
against Philadelphia with five straight wins in
2012. Joe Blanton (8-9) gave up two runs and
four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts in
seven innings.
Pirates 4, Astros 3
At Houston, Rod Barajas hit a tiebreaking single
in the eighth inning, and Pittsburgh sent
Houston to its club-record 12th straight loss.
Wandy Rodriguez pitched six innings in his
Pittsburgh debut, allowing three runs and six hits
with five walks against his former team. The freefalling
Astros, who have lost 25 of 27, traded the
left-hander to the Pirates on Tuesday. Alex
Presley and Neil Walker homered for Pittsburgh.
Barajas stopped an 0-for-18 slide with his
clutch single off Fernando Rodriguez that scored
Andrew McCutchen. The hit also ended an 0-for-
17 streak with runners in scoring position for the
Pirates. Chris Resop (1-3) earned the win with a
scoreless seventh. Brad Lincoln pitched the
eighth, and Jason Grilli earned his second save.
Chuckie Fick (0-1) gave up a run and two hits.
Nationals 4, Brewers 1
At Milwaukee, Wisconsin-native Jordan
Zimmermann pitched his first game against
Milwaukee, and his teammates hit three home
runs in Washington’s win over the Brewers.
Zimmermann (8-6) struck out six and gave up
five hits in six innings. Tyler Clippard pitched the
ninth for his 19th save. Washington center fielder
Bryce Harper was a late scratch because of a
stomach virus and was replaced by Corey Brown.
In the fourth, Brown’s solo homer to left - his first
career hit - and Tyler Moore’s two-run blast gave
Washington a 3-0 lead. Ryan Zimmerman added
a solo homer in the fifth.
Randy Wolf (3-7) gave up four earned runs
and nine hits in seven innings for Milwaukee,
which got a home run from Rickie Weeks.
Marlins 4, Padres 2
At Miami, Jose Reyes hit a two-run homer,
and Nathan Eovaldi won his Miami debut, leading
the Marlins over San Diego. Justin Ruggiano
also homered, and Steve Cishek earned his
fourth save for the Marlins, who ended a threegame
slide. Yonder Alonso had two hits and
drove in a run for the Padres, who had won seven
of 10. Eovaldi (2-6) was traded to Miami on
Wednesday from the Dodgers in a four-player
swap that sent Hanley Ramirez to Los Angeles.
The 22-year-old right-hander allowed one run
and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out five
and walking two. Eovaldi reached base on an
infield single in the third and scored on Reyes’
shot to right field off Ross Ohlendorf (3-1) for a 3-
0 advantage. The home run extended Reyes’ hitting
streak to 15 games, which ties a season high.
D’backs 6, Mets 3
At Phoenix, Miguel Montero homered, scored
twice and drove in a pair of runs to help Arizona
overcome Ike Davis’ three home runs in a win
over the sinking New York Mets.
Ian Kennedy pitched into the seventh inning,
and Gerardo Parra added three hits and two RBIs
for Arizona (51-50), which has won eight of 11.
New York managed nothing at the plate
besides three solo shots by Davis and lost for the
14th time in 16 games. Davis connected in his
first three at-bats, all against Kennedy. The first
baseman added a single in the eighth and finished
4 for 4, raising his batting average to .216.
He was on deck when J.J. Putz struck out David
Wright with two on to end it.
Mets starter Chris Young (2-5) lasted four
innings, his second-shortest outing of the season.
He allowed six runs and seven hits.
Reds 9, Rockies 7
At Denver, Johnny Cueto withstood a rough
start to pitch effectively for six innings, Ryan
Ludwick hit two home runs, and Cincinnati won
their season-high ninth straight by beating
Colorado. Scott Rolen, Drew Stubbs and rookie
Todd Frazier also homered for the NL Central
leading Reds, who have gone 13-2 since the All-
Star break and hit a high-water mark for the season
at 20 games above .500 (60-40). The winning
streak is the longest for the Reds since a 10-game
run in 1999. —AP
Kuwait Cricket invites
players for ACC Trophy
KUWAIT: Kuwait Cricket would like to
invite cricketers to attend a selection
trial which is to be held at Sulaibiya
cricket ground today, July 30, 2012 at
9:30 pm and on Wednesday, Aug 1,
2012 at 9:30 pm. The selection trial is
part of Kuwait Cricket’s intension to
select the National cricket team to participate
in the forthcoming ACC trophy
(ODI format) which is slated to be held
in UAE between Oct 1-12, 2012.
As per ICC eligibility qualification
criteria, players should be passport
holder or Kuwait born or valid residents
of Kuwait. Players who are valid
Kuwait residents for a minimum period
of 7 years and 4 years also are eligible
to participate in the selection trials.
Players are hereby requested to bring
either their original passport or a copy
of the passport while attending the
selection trials. Please contact Murali
Kutticode on 99542107 for more
details.
SYDNEY: David Pocock will swap Perth for Canberra in the next
Super Rugby season after the Wallabies captain ended a sevenyear
association with the Western Force by signing a three-year
deal with the Brumbies, local media said yesterday.
The move is likely to present the openside flanker, who made
his debut with the Force when they were established in 2006,
with a greater opportunity to win the Southern Hemisphere’s
most prestigious club rugby title.
The chance to work under South African World Cup-winning
coach Jake White from the 2013 season also played a part in his
decision.
“The Brumbies have a good coaching and management team
of Jake White, Laurie Fisher, Stephen Larkham and Tony Thorpe,”
the 24-year-old told Australia’s AAP.
“The opportunity to learn from them and challenge myself was
appealing,” said Pocock, who added that the move would also
allow him to spend more time with his family. “Over the last seven
years, I have travelled long distances to visit my family in
Brisbane,” he said. “With the Wallabies schedule there is more and
more of my time required on the east coast with training camps.
“Being based in Canberra will make it easier to travel to Brisbane
and Sydney.”—Reuters
TORONTO: Edwin Encarnacion,
Colby Rasmus and Yunel Escobar
homered off Detroit newcomer
Anibal Sanchez, leading the Toronto
Blue Jays over the Tigers 5-1
Saturday.
The Tigers have lost three straight
and four of five after a five-game winning
streak that briefly lifted them
into first place in the AL Central.
Sanchez, acquired from Miami
earlier in the week along with infielder
Omar Infante, gave up five runs
and eight hits in six-plus innings in
his Detroit debut.
Sanchez (5-8 overall) lost to
Toronto for the second time this season;
he gave up six runs in 3 1-3
innings of a 12-5 loss on June 22
while pitching for the Marlins.
Henderson Alvarez (7-7) pitched
seven innings for the win.
Encarnacion hit his 28th home run
and Rasmus went 2 for 3 with three
RBIs in his first start of the season at
designated hitter.
Mariners 4, Royals 3
At Seattle, Kevin Millwood pitched
effectively into the seventh inning,
Jesus Montero hit a two-run homer
and Seattle beat Kansas City.
Millwood (4-8) gave up one
unearned run and six hits in 6 1-3
innings. He struck out three, walked
one and was aided by two excellent
plays from shortstop Brendan Ryan.
Tom Wilhelmsen worked the
ninth for his 13th save. Lorenzo Cain
hit an RBI triple with two outs before
Alex Gordon grounded out.
Royals third baseman Mike
Moustakas sprained his right knee
while diving for a grounder in the
first inning. He is day to day and will
be examined again Sunday.
Billy Butler was 3 for 3 for Kansas
City. Montero hit his 10th home run,
connecting in the third off Bruce
Chen (8-8).
Athletics 6, Orioles 1
At Baltimore, Yoenis Cespedes
and Chris Carter hit two-run homers
to back an effective pitching performance
by Bartolo Colon, and
Oakland beat Baltimore for their
ninth win in 10 games.
Jemile Weeks had three hits and
scored twice for the surging A’s, who
are on course for the best July in
franchise history. They are 18-3 (.857)
this month.
Colon (7-8) scattered seven hits
over 5 2-3 shutout innings, striking
out five and walking one, to earn his
first win in six starts since June 12.
Nick Markakis’ ninth-inning homer
off Evan Scribner enabled the Orioles
to avoid being kept scoreless for the
eighth time.
Tommy Hunter (4-6) gave up five
runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.
The right-hander has yielded 23
home runs this season.
Red Sox 8, Yankees 6
At New York, Curtis Granderson
misplayed Pedro Ciriaco’s ninthinning
flyball into a go-ahead triple,
and Boston beat the New York
Yankees after Mark Teixeira had tied
the score with a two-run homer off
nemesis Vicente Padilla in the eighth.
Down 6-1, the Yankees closed in
the fifth on Jayson Nix’s two-run
homer off Jon Lester and Derek
Jeter’s RBI grounder.
After Teixeira’s homer, Rafael
Soriano (2-1) walked Jacoby Ellsbury
with one out in the ninth and Ciriaco
hit a fly that could have been caught.
Andrew Miller (3-1) got one out
for the win, just the second for
Boston in eight games against the
Yankees this year. Alfredo Aceves finished
for his 22nd save in 26
chances.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Querrey in LA Open final
LOS ANGELES: Two-time Los Angeles Open champ Sam Querrey came back from
a break down in the second set to reach his third straight final at his home event
with a defeat of Rajeev Ram 6-3, 7-6 (7/4). The southern Californian will be bidding
to join Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors as three-time champions at the UCLA
campus facility when he plays Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis, who put out
Australian sixth seed Marinko Matosevic 7-5, 6-1 in the other semi-final Saturday.
Querrey, winner of 12 straight matches in Los Angeles, and the 22-year-old
Berankis have never played. The youngster will be
competing in his first final on the ATP Tour, the
best ever achieved for a player from his small
nation. Querrey lost serve for the first time this
week as Ram, a semi-finalist in two of the last
three weeks, finally cracked the code to catch
the second seed’s serve for a 2-0 lead. Querrey
wrapped up the opening set in half an hour.
Querrey, seemingly dis-satisfied with his string
tension and calling out grumpily to his coach, rallied
to break back in the seventh game en route to a
tiebreaker.
He notched 11 aces in victory, along with 38 winners
and 31 unforced errors and now stands at 3-1
against Ram. “It was a tough match, he’s a serveand
volley guy and knows how to use his slice. I
managed to win by serving well to recover the
break.—AFP
Blue Jays tame Tigers
ANTIGUA: Brendon McCullum and
Martin Guptill put on a 123-run partnership
to help New Zealand end the fourth
day of the first Test on 199 for three on
Saturday, but two late wickets will give
the West Indies hope of securing a victory.
After the hosts built a 171-run first
innings lead in Antigua with skipper
Darren Sammy (50) and Narsingh
Deonarine (79) ensuring they reached
522, the tourists needed to show plenty
of resolve to save the Test.
Guptill (67) and Daniel Flynn put on
47 for the first wicket before Sunil
Narine, who grabbed a five-wicket haul
in the first innings, trapped the latter on
the back foot lbw for 20. Despite the
wicket, New Zealand knuckled down
with McCullum (84) and Guptill batting
White Sox 5, Rangers 2
At Arlington, Texas, Adam Dunn hit
his major league-leading 31st home
run, Philip Humber pitched six solid
innings, and the Chicago White Sox
won their fifth straight game by beating
Texas.
Paul Konerko added a two-run
homer for Chicago, which increased its
AL Central lead to 21/2 games over
Detroit. The White Sox have won the
first two in a three-game series
between the division leaders. Humber
(5-5) didn’t allow a hit through three
innings and won for the second time in
three starts. He yielded one run and
four hits, and struck out four.
Matt Harrison (12-6), who lost his
second straight start, gave up five runs
and seven hits in seven innings. The
left-hander walked three and struck
out four.
Twins 12, Indians 5
At Minneapolis, Samuel Deduno
pitched seven strong innings for his
second major league win, and Josh
Willingham hit his 27th homer of the
season, leading Minnesota over
Cleveland.
Deduno (2-0) allowed two hits and
struck out a career-high six in his fourth
big league start. The Twins routed the
Indians for the second consecutive
night after being swept three games in
Chicago.
Cleveland starter Justin Masterson
(7-9) allowed 10 runs - eight earned -
over 5 2-3 innings. The Indians are 6-10
since the All-Star break.
Rays 3, Angels 0
At Anaheim, California, Matt Moore
outpitched C.J. Wilson, scattering four
ANAHEIM: CJ Wilson No. 33 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitches against the Tampa
Bay Rays at Angel Stadium. —AFP
sensibly, exercising caution against
Narine’s spin as they looked to see the
visitors through to the close of play
without any more alarms.
However, Narine struck again, coming
around the wicket and getting some
bounce with a ball that struck Guptill’s
glove and was snapped up by Assad
Fudadin at short leg. The momentum
shifted further towards the West Indies
when McCullum, looking well set for a
century, played on with an inside edge
from Kemar Roach.
A lead of 28 runs with seven second
innings wickets remaining ahead of
Sunday’s final day will require some disciplined
batting from New Zealand
against a West Indies attack that can
sense victory. —Reuters
hits over 6 1-3 innings, and Ben Zobrist
homered to lead Tampa Bay past the
Los Angeles Angels.
Moore (7-7) struck out six to
increase his season total to 112, second-most
among rookies behind
Texas’ Yu Darvish. The 23-year-old lefty
pitched a career-high eight innings in
his previous start and retired his final
17 batters in a 2-1 loss to Seattle last
Sunday. He is 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA in his
last 10 outings. Fernando Rodney
worked a perfect ninth for his 29th
save in 30 attempts, dropping his ERA
to 0.79 in 46 appearances.
Wilson (9-7) threw 121 pitches in 6
2-3 innings, allowing three runs - two
earned - and four hits. He struck out
seven and walked three. The All-Star
lefty is 0-3 with a 4.23 ERA over his last
six starts after going 5-0 with a 1.30
ERA in his previous seven. —AP
Windies sniff victory after
breaking N Zealand stand
ANTIGUA: In this image released by DigicelCricket.com, West Indies’
batman Narsingh Deonarine plays a shot off New Zealand’s bowler
Chris Martin (unseen) during the first cricket Test match. —AP
Scoreboard
DHAKA: Complete scoreboard of the one-off Twenty20 international
between Bangladesh and the West Indies yesterday:
Scoreboard at the end of the fourth day of the first test between West
Indies and New Zealand at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
New Zealand first innings
West Indies first innings (overnight 442-6)
351
C.Gayle c McCullum b Williamson 150
K.Powell c Van Wyk b Wagner 134
A.Fudadin c McCullum b Williamson 55
M.Samuels b Martin 28
S.Chanderpaul c Van Wyk b Martin 0
N.Deonarine b Martin 79
D.Ramdin b Bracewell 3
D.Sammy c & b Vettori 50
S.Narine run out 4
K.Roach not out 6
R.Rampaul lbw b Bracewell 1
Extras (lb-9, nb-3) 12
Total (all out, 163 overs) 522
Fall of wickets: 1-252, 2-304, 3-355, 4-355, 5-410, 6-428, 7-497, 8-502, 9-
516, 10-522
Bowling: Martin 30-9-134-3 (nb-3), Bracewell 29.3-5-96-2, Wagner 33-8-
112-1, Vettori 51-14-124-1, Williamson 20-2-47-2.
New Zealand second innings
M.Guptill c Fudadin b Narine 67
D.Flynn lbw b Narine 20
B.McCullum b Roach 84
R.Taylor not out 11
N.Wagner not out 4
Extras (b-3, lb-7, nb-3) 13
Total (three wickets, 64 overs)
Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-170, 3-194
199
Bowling: Rampaul 6-0-25-0, Roach 13-1-44-1 (nb-3), Narine 26-5-67-2,
Sammy 12-3-24-0, Samuels 3-1-22-0, Deonarine 4-2-7-0.

sports
Chiefs to face Sharks in Super 15 final
WELLINGTON: South Africa’s Sharks have crisscrossed
the globe to reach the final of the Super 15 rugby tournament
and now face one last, long journey to take on
the Waikato Chiefs in the first-ever final played in
Hamilton.
The Sharks were forced to travel 11,000 kilometers
(7,000 miles) from Durban to Brisbane for their quarterfinal
against the defending champion Queensland
Reds and, having passed that formidable obstacle, flew
another 11,000 km to Cape Town where on Saturday
they beat the top-ranked Stormers 26-19. Already travel-weary
and with a mounting air points balance, the
Sharks will board another flight this week for a further
11,000 km flight to Auckland followed by a 120 km (80
mile) bus trip to Hamilton on New Zealand’s North
Island where the Chiefs lie in wait.
The Chiefs reached the final for only the second
time in 17 years with a 20-17 win over the seven-time
champion Canterbury Crusaders as both semifinals fell
to the underdogs.
While the Chiefs won the New Zealand conference
and finished second behind the Stormers in the overall
standings they were still underdogs against the powerful
Crusaders, who were playing their 14th semifinal in
17 years and who had never previously lost a playoff
against a New Zealand opponent.
The victories of the Chiefs and Sharks over more
MIAMI GARDENS: Djamel Mesbah No. 15 of AC Milan is challenged by
(center) Eden Hazard No. 17 of Chelsea as (left) Mathieu Flamini
No.16 of AC Milan looks on during the Herbalife World Football
Challenge.—AP
Milan edge Chelsea 1-0
MIAMI: With several offseason player departures
and the absence of a top scorer, Urby
Emanuelson showed how valuable he is to AC
Milan.
Emanuelson scored in the 69th minute to
lift AC Milan to a 1-0 victory over Champions
League winner Chelsea in an exhibition
match Saturday night. “It always feels good to
score,” he said. “Tonight was a good test for
us. We played well and I’m happy that I scored
a goal.”
Emanuelson dribbled unmarked deep
toward the Chelsea penalty area and, as
defenders closed in, he sent a pass toward
the left wing to Stephan El Shaarawy.
Shaarawy returned an immediate pass to
Emanuelson, who beat Chelsea goalkeeper
Petr Cech with a shot near the 6-yard box.
“We were standing good on defense,
when we got the ball there was a lot of space
to go to the goal,” Emanuelson said.
Emanuelson has scored both AC Milan goals
in its two preseason matches. He also scored
the only goal in a 1-0 win over Schalke 04
Tuesday in Germany.
“Last year I played a lot of games and now
it’s a chance to build on that,” Emanuelson
said. “I want to feel important.”
Milan played without star striker Robinho,
who could not leave his native Brazil because
of a passport problem. Robinho is expected
to join the club for an exhibition match
against Real Madrid on Aug. 8 in New York.
“I’m very happy the way the team played,”
Milan coach Massimilano Allegri said. “This is
a team that has to grow and this was a very
good step.”
Eden Hazard had Chelsea’s best attempt to
draw level with 4 minutes remaining but his
free kick near the edge of the box sailed a
couple of feet above the crossbar.
highly-rated opponents led to the least likely of finals
in the least likely of venues. Hamilton, a rural service
and university town 120 kilometers south of Auckland,
is New Zealand’s fifth-largest city and the Chiefs draw
their players from the smallest population base among
the five New Zealand franchises.
On Friday, against all odds and expectations, they
stared down the formidably experienced Crusaders
whose appearance in the playoffs stages each season
is almost a tournament tradition.
In a physical and sometimes spiteful match, in
which clattering tackles led to errors and turnovers
from both sides, the Chiefs emphatically declared they
wouldn’t be intimidated by the Crusaders. They handed
out some rough justice throughout the match when
Canterbury players routinely infringed at rucks and
mauls, particularly targeting the All Blacks captain
Richie McCaw.
The match was punctuated by flare-ups among the
forward packs but South African referee Craig Joubert,
with admirable restraint, kept a lid on emotion and
didn’t issue a single yellow card in a tense match. The
Chiefs outscored the Crusaders two tries to one, with
all three tries coming in the first half. Prop Sona
Taumalolo scored his ninth try of the season in his 50th
match for the Chiefs to remain the leading New
Zealand try scorer in the tournament.
“This is what pre-seasons are for, these are
games to give young players a chance,”
Chelsea head coach Roberto DiMatteo said.
The match at Sun Life Stadium was played
before 57,748 fans, the highest of the 2012
Herbalife World Football Challenge and second-best
for a football game in the stadium’s
history.
“I’m not surprised because the four cities
we went to had great support from the fans,”
DiMatteo said after his team finished its fourmatch,
preseason tour in the U.S.
After a scoreless first half, both teams
sought in an immediate strike in the opening
minutes of the second half. In the 47th
minute, Milan goalkeeper Marco Amelia
stopped Hazard’s shot from 20 yards. Milan
nearly broke through 4 minutes later as
Emanuelson dribbled deep into the goal area
and flicked a shot that required Chelsea goalkeeper
Petr Cech’s diving save.
Amelio was tested again in the 53rd
minute when he stopped Frank Lampard’s
shot from 20 yards. Chelsea had the first scoring
opportunity of the match in the sixth
minute when John Terry’s shot deep in the
penalty area sailed above the crossbar.
The Blues controlled the ball for most of
the first 20 minutes but could not mount
additional scoring threats. Milan came into
the game midway through the first half with
several shots on Cech’s goal.
In the 26th minute, Bakaye Traore blasted
a shot near the large area that sailed a couple
of feet wide right. Boateng had another shot
from a similar distance that also went wide of
the right post. Traore pressured the Chelsea
backline again in the 33rd minute as his shot
from the right wing sailed above the crossbar.
Chelsea ended its North American tour with
just one win from its four matches.—AP
Wenger rues ‘fragile defence’
HONG KONG: Arsenal manager Arsene
Wenger said Sunday his side have “a lot of
work to do” defensively before they are ready
for the upcoming English Premier League
campaign, following a 2-2 draw in Hong
Kong.
The boss of the north London club said he
was disappointed with his “fragile” defence,
adding that several players who had taken
part in the club’s pre-season tour of Asia were
not yet ready to play in England’s top flight.
Wenger’s comments imply he may be
tempted to delve into the transfer market to
strengthen at the back, however he has a
number of experienced defenders at his disposal
who were left out of the tour because
of a lack of fitness.
“Defensively we looked fragile, especially
in the first half. In the second half not so
much because we weren’t challenged,”
Wenger said in the southern Chinese city following
the draw to local outfit Kitchee. “We
have a lot of work to do as a unit to defend
much better,” he added.
The club shipped five goals in their three
games in Asia, including one against a select
Malaysian side on Tuesday and two against
Manchester City in Beijing on Friday, much
more than Wenger would have liked.
“We let everybody play today and some
players are not yet at the level of the Premier
League,” he said. “It’s a learning process. If you
don’t do it in the pre-season, you never do it
you know, to give them a chance to see what
is requested at the top level.
“I played all the defenders during this tour
to see who is ready, who is not ready, and we
have (Bacary) Sagna and (Laurent) Koscielny
at home, (Per) Mertesacker at home, so we
have three experienced defenders at home.”
Arsenal started with a back four of Kieran
Gibbs, Johan Djourou, Ignasi Miquel and
Craig Eastmond. A capacity crowd of 40,000
filled Hong Kong Stadium to cheer on both
sides, in a match that was much more competitive
than some had anticipated.
Kitchee broke the deadlock after only seven
minutes when Spaniard Yago Gonzalez
Lopez neatly slotted the ball into the corner,
giving Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny
no chance.
England international Theo Walcott then
pulled the match level on 23 minutes, passing
the ball casually into the net after it broke
kindly for him in the six-yard box.
Undeterred, Kitchee were ahead again
only five minutes later when left-back Daniel
Cancela Rodriguez lashed the ball into the
roof of the goal from around 12 yards, giving
the local side a 2-1 lead at half-time. Arsenal
pressed but their lack of firepower was evident
as they spurned a number of chances,
highlighting how crucial striker Robin van
Persie, left out of the tour after saying he
wanted to leave the club, is to the team.
On 77 minutes Arsenal had their equaliser,
however. Playmaker Gervinho skillfully took
the ball to the byline before cutting it back to
right-winger Thomas Eisfeld for the easiest of
tap-ins.—AFP
BUDAPEST: Lewis Hamilton delivered
a flawless drive from pole position to
the chequered flag to win yesterday’s
Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren
and revive his challenge for this year’s
Formula One drivers’ world championship.
The 27-year-old Briton took control
of the race from the start and
stayed in front, pit stops apart, as he
resisted strong late pressure to come
home ahead of Finland’s Lotus driver
Kimi Raikkonen.
Hamilton’s win was his second of
the year and the 19th of his career.
Raikkonen pushed hard to find a way
of passing Hamilton in the closing
laps, but the Englishman resisted
despite having to fight to preserve his
worn tyres.
Raikkonen finished a strong second
ahead of his Lotus team-mate,
Frenchman Romain Grosjean, and
defending world champion Sebastian
Vettel of Red Bull. Current world
championship leader Fernando
Alonso of Ferrari came in fifth, with
Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate
Jenson Button finishing sixth. Alonso
stays on top of the drivers’ standings,
but Hamilton closed the gap and his
victory in the much improved
McLaren boosted his team’s hopes of
mounting a challenge for the title in
the second half of the season following
the annual summer break. After
11 of this year’s 20 races, Hamilton is
back in fourth place with 117 points
behind Alonso on 164, Webber on
124 and Vettel on 122. As they
climbed the podium, a grinning
Hamilton said to Raikkonen: “It’s just
like old times, Kimi.” Hamilton added:
When flanker Liam Messam ran onto a short offload
from Sonny Bill Williams to score Waikato’s second try
in the 32nd minute, he gave the Chiefs their largest
leading margin of 11 points at 17-6. But the Crusaders
hit back with a try to center Ryan Crotty on the tick of
halftime, closing the margin to 17-11 at the interval
and setting up a nerve-wracking second half in which
the only points came from penalties. Crusaders flyhalf
Dan Carter kicked two second half penalties for the
Crusaders to one by his All Blacks understudy Aaron
Cruden for the Chiefs. Carter, who surpassed 100
points for the season, had a chance to take the match
to extra time with a penalty four minutes from fulltime
but his attempt, from 45 meters, fell short.
“Their try before halftime certainly made the game
interesting,” Chiefs captain Craig Clarke said. “They talk
about good teams scoring before and after halftime
and we talked about having to come out in the second
half and be strong.”
The Chiefs disrupted Canterbury’s usually fluent
attacking game by dashing up quickly on defense and
placing intense pressure on Carter and scrumhalf Andy
Ellis. Their ability to maintain that intensity throughout
the match, especially in the desperate final minutes
when Carter tried to set up a dropped goal, won the
match.
“From a forward’s point of view, looking up from a
“An amazing day, fantastic work by all
the team and the fans have been fantastic.
Thank you for having us.
“I am looking forward to the continuation
of the championship.
There’s a long way to go and a lot of
work to do but we have shown we
can compete. It is very, very close but
we are going to give it all we can.” A
less than ecstatic Raikkonen said that
a problem with his car’s kinetic energy
recovery system (Kers) was partly
to blame for his inability to catch
Hamilton.
“We came second, it’s not enough,
but we had some problems with the
set piece and seeing our backs getting up and smashing
guys does wonders,” Clarke said.
The Sharks also defended with courage to hold out
a late rally by the Stormers and to book their latest airline
ticket for the final. The Stormers seemed out of the
match when JP Pietersen’s try gave the Sharks a 14
point lead with 20 minutes remaining. But Gio Aplon
scored for the Stormers seven minutes later and the
home team pressed relentlessly for the try that would
have leveled the scores.
The Sharks held on to complete one of the most
astonishing late season rallies in the history of Super
rugby. They seemed almost out of the reckoning with
only weeks remaining in the regular season but they
won three of their last four matches, beating both the
Stormers and three-time champions the Bulls, to grab
the sixth and last playoffs place.
They then toppled the Australian and South African
conference winners to reach the final and must now
beat the New Zealand conference champions to clinch
their first title. Neither the Sharks nor Chiefs have ever
won a Super rugby title.
Coach John Plumtree said the Sharks had resolved
during the break in the Super 15 schedule for June test
matches - three weeks before the end of the regular
season - to throw everything into a last-ditch bid to
make the playoffs.—AP
Kers,” said the Finn. “We had some
speed and we’ll try to win the next
race. At least we are up there all the
time and we put ourselves in a good
position but we are not happy until
we win.” His teammate Grosjean
added: “It was a fantastic race and we
were fighting for the win but we
wanted to get back onto the podium
with the two cars and that’s what we
did.”
On another hot day at the
Hungaroring, where the air temperature
was 32 degrees celsius and the
track temperature 45 degrees,
Hamilton had stayed cool at the start
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Flawless Hamilton
wins Hungary GP
BUDAPEST: British Formula One winner Lewis Hamilton
of McLaren Mercedes (centre) celebrates with the trophy
on the winners’ podium, as second placed Finnish driver
Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus (left) and third placed French
driver Romain Grosjean of Lotus (right) looks on after
the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix.—AP
when, after one aborted effort
because Michael Schumacher’s
Mercedes failed to start, he pulled
away from pole position and into the
lead. Behind him, with the race
reduced from 70 laps to 69 because of
the aborted first start, Schumacher
started from the pit lane and collected
a drive-through penalty for speeding
when he came in for an early tyre
change.
Schumacher ended a dreadful day
in 24th and last place, seven seconds
adrift of compatriot Timo Glock of
Marussia. Hamilton went on to build
up a lead of 2.1 seconds ahead of
Grosjean, but that lead was cut down
to less than a second as the
Frenchman, on used softer tyres,
closed on Hamilton, running on harder
medium tyres.
In the searing heat, tyre-wear and
management was a major factor and
Hamilton’s teammate Button made a
second pit stop after 35 laps to
change to soft tyres.
McLaren had changed to a “plan B”
for Button, understood to be a threestop
strategy instead of two, although
Hamilton stuck to a two-stop plan.
As Hamilton pitted again,
Raikkonen enjoyed a spell in the lead
before making another stop of his
own in the hope that his fresher tyres
would give him an advantage in the
closing laps.
Hamilton’s lead increased to 4.4
seconds from Raikkonen and
Grosjean with 20 laps remaining and,
although the rapid Finn ate away at
that gap, Hamilton battled successfully
to preserve his tyres and win the
race.—AFP
10 Kuwaiti players shine at Manchester
United’s training program in England
Al-Khudhur recalled by United’s Soccer School for further training
KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and
most advanced mobile telecommunications
service provider, yesterday
announced the return of the 10 players
who visited and practiced at
Manchester United’s Cardington training
ground in England as part of the
five-season sponsorship agreement
VIVA has with this world leading football
club. All the players enjoyed a fully
funded week-long training camp in
Manchester, being trained by the
team’s best coaches, and playing a
game at Old Trafford, the club’s main
stadium.
Khaled Faisal Al Khudhur was the
star of the trip; his display of football
skills and talents has persuaded MUSS
coaches, to recall him to train at their
facility in the future.
VIVA held an honoring ceremony
for the 10 players at its headquarters
on their return to recognize their
efforts during the training course.
Commenting on the occasion, Eng.
Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Badran,
VIVA’s Chief Executive Officer at VIVA
said: “We are very proud of each and
every player who went to MUSS and
demonstrated their skills, and particularly
Khaled Faisal Al Khudhur, whose
unique talents were noted by the distinguished
MUSS coaches.
“We were pleased to support all
these young athletes in bringing them
closer to their dream of becoming
professional football players. VIVA is
very committed to encouraging
young people to develop their talents
and hone their skills, and the
Manchester United program is just
one of the many ways in which we
attempt to do this.”
The top 10 players who trained at
the Manchester United Soccer School
(MUSS) from 8 July to 15 July were:
Abdullah Meshari Al Yehia, Khaled
Faisal Al Khudhur, Ali Mohamed Ali Al
Mutawa, Sayed Abdullah Abdel Reda,
Abdelrahman Adel Al Attar, Ali
Mansour Abdullah Abl Sadeq, Bader
Waleed Bader Al Qanaei, Meteb Fahad
Nahar Al Mutairi, Duaij Al Duaij, and
Mahmoud Mohamed Jawad Abdullah
Sadeq. Each of the players received
practical sessions on football skills and
football tactics, workshops on football
formations, nutrition and psychology.
The training program focused on different
technical areas, such as dribbling,
short passing, turning and finishing.
The programs were also
designed to develop young players’
skills in other fields, such as tactical
understanding, and mental, physical
and social growth. In 2011, VIVA
announced a five-year sponsorship
agreement of Manchester United,
starting with the 2011- 2012 Premier
League season. In August 2011 VIVA
started to provide football fans with
the chance to win VIP tickets to watch
Manchester United play at Old
Trafford in England. To support its
sponsorship, VIVA has also developed
a number of exciting promotional
offers and distinguished gifts, entertaining
programs, interactive competitions,
and organized a number of
activities to provide the subscribers
with chances to watch the club stars
playing matches at Old Trafford.

LONDON: Rule Britannia? Try cruel
Britannia. An unrepentant ex-doper
from Kazakhstan kissing his gold
medal on the queen’s front drive was
hardly how Brits had imagined Day 1
of their Olympics. Instead of a British
champion in cyclist Mark Cavendish,
they got Borat without the fun and a
lesson in how to lose. As if they needed
one.
The omens for Britain had been so
good. Everyone figured Cavendish -
a.k.a “the Manx Missile,” on account of
his ungodly speed in the finishing
straight - as a sure thing. Prince
Charles and his wife, Camilla, came to
give Cavendish a royal send-off. The
world champion also had Bradley
Wiggins in his corner, ready to repay
one good turn with another after
Cavendish helped the rider now universally
known across these isles as
“Wiggo” (soon to be Sir Wiggo?)
become the first Briton to win the Tour
de France. “Cav,” the thinking went,
would get Britain’s first gold of 2012 -
hopefully, the first of many.
Only hours earlier, director Danny
Boyle had made maximum use of his
license to thrill and ensured everyone
had a gas, gas, gas at the opening ceremony.
If Cavendish could then follow
James Bond and the rock of the
Rolling Stones by kick-starting Britain’s
medal count, then London 2012
would be off to the best possible
beginning. IOC President Jacques
Rogge himself had said beforehand
how important an early British medal
would be to the mood and atmosphere
of the London games.
But what’s that phrase about best
laid plans going awry? Alexander
Vinokourov had it memorized. Wiggo
huffed, puffed and gave his all, as did
Cav’s three other teammates in their
Team GB jerseys, as they guided and
pulled him across the English countryside.
They’d hoped to maneuver their
human rocket into a sprint finish on
The Mall, the road that leads to Queen
Elizabeth II’s rather large pad. But
Vinokourov shot off too far ahead to
be caught.
Britain agonized long and hard
before these games about whether its
own ex-doper cyclist, David Millar,
deserved a spot on Team GB. After
strong-arming from the World Anti-
Doping Agency and sport’s highest
court, which ruled that Millar and other
Britons who served doping bans
can’t be barred from the games for life,
British Olympic officials held their nose
and let him in.
Kazakhstan, as far as we know, had
no qualms fielding Vinokourov. Unlike
Millar, now an ardent and eloquent
campaigner against doping, he’s never
been keen to come clean about his
past, the blood doping at the 2007
Tour de France and his subsequent
two-year ban. Nor was he about to
start now, not after the Grand Duke of
Luxembourg hung the gold medal
around his neck on the top step of the
podium set against the backdrop of
Buckingham Palace.
“I’ve turned the page on 2007. I’ve
shown and proved to everyone that
Vino is still here,” he said. “Today is not
the day to talk of that.”
Just because Vino says so doesn’t
actually make it so. Still, American rider
Chris Horner said Vinokourov has
served his time, “done the same drug
tests all of us have done” and should
be cut some slack.
“I haven’t seen anything out of him
that tells me that he’s still doing any-
thing sketchy,” Horner said. “Those are
the rules and that’s the way it is. It’s
crazy to think that those are the rules
and you come back and then all of a
sudden everybody still wants to hang
you.”
Well, not exactly. But a “sorry” from
Vinokourov would have been good.
Millar’s readiness to address his doping,
why and how he started and his
subsequent repentance, has made it
easier to forgive him.
But, hey, that’s sports. Win some,
lose some, sometimes to people who
don’t feel quite right. As the British
say, on T-shirts and tea mugs, Keep
Calm and Carry On. There will be
medals aplenty for Team GB in the two
weeks ahead.
Plus, it wasn’t all negative. The
monster crowds - pre-race estimates
of about 1 million looked on the mark
- that lined the 250-kilometer route
Saturday from the British capital
through rolling countryside and back
again had a jamboree, at least until
Cavendish proved the streets of
London aren’t paved with gold.
If their enthusiasm is a foretaste of
things to come, Rogge has nothing to
18
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
London 2012 learns again how to lose
LONDON: Maria Sharapova of Russia returns to Shahar Peer at the All England
Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon at the 2012 Summer Olympics. —AP
Murray, Sharapova win
at Wimbledon wash-out
LONDON: Hail and heavy
rain caused chaos at the
Olympic tennis at
Wimbledon yesterday as
play was forced indoors
for the first time in 100
years. Andy Murray and
Maria Sharapova were among just a
handful of winners under the Centre
Court roof, which was hastily closed after
a cloudburst as play was about to get
under way. Out of a schedule of 43
matches, only three results were possible
by 6:00 pm (1700 GMT). Olympic tennis
had not been played indoors since
Stockholm 1912. Despite the disruption,
Murray and Sharapova both enjoyed the
first Olympic wins of their careers. The
Scot beat Swiss flag-bearer Stanislas
Wawrinka 6-3, 6-3, while French Open
champion Sharapova thrashed Israel’s
Shahar Peer 6-2, 6-0.
It was a cathartic victory for Murray,
who was back on Centre Court for the
first time since crying tears of frustration
after his Wimbledon defeat against
Roger Federer exactly three weeks ago.
The 25-year-old, who had hoped to
become the first British man to win
Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936,
brushed aside Federer’s compatriot to
set up a last-32 clash with Finland’s
Jarkko Nieminen or India’s Somdev
Devvarman. Murray admitted he had
been keen not to repeat his first round
exit in Beijing at the hands of Taiwan’s Lu
Yen-Hsun. “I was disappointed with the
way I played in Beijing. I didn’t understand
what the Olympics meant to me,”
he said. “I know how much that loss hurt
me and I wanted to come here as well
prepared as I could be. Today was a
good start.” For Sharapova, beating Peer
meant more than just a place in the last
32 as the Russian finally got to savor a
taste of the Olympic experience-as she
chases a career “Golden Slam” of all four
grand slam titles and Games gold.
Sharapova missed Beijing 2008 with a
shoulder injury and the world number
three looked determined to make up for
lost time as she reached the second
round for the loss of just two games.
The 25-year-old, who carried her
country’s flag at the Games’ spectacular
opening ceremony at the Olympic Park
on Friday, will play Britain’s Laura Robson
or Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic
for a last 16 berth. Meanwhile, world
number two Agnieszka Radwanska
endured more Centre Court woe as the
Polish second seed was beaten 7-5, 6-7
(5/7), 6-4 by Germany’s Julia Goerges,
less than a month after her Wimbledon
final defeat to Serena Williams.
The 23-year-old was the first Pole to
reach a Grand Slam singles final since
1939 when she got to this year’s
Wimbledon title match, an achievement
which lifted her to a career-high second
place in the world rankings.
But she was unable to recapture that
magic under the Olympic banner and
stumbled to a lacklustre defeat against
the world number 24, who was making
her Games and Centre Court debuts.
Goerges, who served 20 aces and hit
56 winners, will play Varvara Lepchenko
of the United States or Paraguay’s
Veronica Cepede Royg in the last 32.
“It was great,” she said. “I know if I
play well it’s dangerous for anyone and
that’s how it was today. It was a lucky
day.” —AFP
US impress despite
Wieber heartbreak
LONDON: Jordyn
Wieber’s dream of emulating
her World
Championship title with
Olympic gold ended in
tears yesterday as she
failed to qualify for the women’s artistic
gymnastics individual all-around final.
While the United States shone in qualifying
for the team event, the 17-year-old
from Michigan was left in tears as she
missed out on a place in the individual
final by the narrowest of margins.
Wieber’s score of 60.032 was the thirdhighest
of the session but because she
was beaten by two of her own teammates,
Alexandra Raisman (60.391) and
Gabrielle Douglas (60.265), she will not
be able to compete in Thursday’s final.
“It is a bit of a disappointment,”
Wieber said, before pledging to throw
her support behind her USA team-mates.
“It has always been a dream of mine to
compete in the all-around final of the
Olympics but I’m proud of Aly and Gabby
and happy that they reached the allaround
(final) and that I was able to help
the team get to the finals.” Wieber had
been expected to compete in the allaround
final alongside Douglas but a
superb 15.325 floor routine from Raisman
saw the 18-year-old from Boston surge to
the top of the individual standings at her
room-mate’s expense. “She’s a really
good friend and I know that she’s going
to support me,” said Raisman. “I’m really
proud of her and I hope that she’s happy
with how she did today.” — AFP
LONDON: With US First Lady
Michelle Obama and a host
of top US Olympic athletes
watching them, the
American collection of NBA
stars sent a message to
Olympic rivals-we’re ready for you.
Kevin Durant scored 22 points and
grabbed nine rebounds to lead the United
States over France 98-71 on Sunday in their
opening game of Group A round-robin play
at the Olympic men’s basketball tournament.
“It was important for us to come out
and make a statement for ourselves,” US
guard Chris Paul said. “We are the most talented
team on paper. You don’t win a game
on paper.”
After the victory, US players traded hugs
with Obama, who had also watched them
in a pre-Olympic exhibition game in
Washington. Also in the stands were some
US Olympians who were not competing
yesterday. “We’re representing all the country,”
US playmaker LeBron James said. “We
understand that every time we step on the
floor, it’s about the name on the front of the
jersey (USA) not the one on the back (of a
player).”
Kevin Love added 14 points for the NBA
multi-millionaire squad while Kobe Bryant
had 10 points. James and Carmelo Anthony
each had nine as the Americans rose to 55-1
since revamping the team after taking
bronze at the 2004 Olympics.
“It’s a huge responsibility,” Paul said of
defending 2008 Olympic gold. “We don’t
take that lightly. We know about what
we’re here for. That’s what makes this special.”
For spectators, what made the game
special were some spectacular slam dunks
and fast breaks by the US stars, especially
from Durant, the reigning NBA scoring
champion.
“We just played with attitude, fighting
for each ball, defending hard and getting
every rebound,” Durant said. “That’s how
we beat teams that are hard to beat. We
just have to play hard and we’ll be fine. “
Durant produced two electrifying back-to-
back slam dunks in the early minutes-one
off a half-court-length pass from James in a
game that became a romp after the opening
quarter.
“I threw it because I could get it to him,”
James said. “He got it with one hand, dribbled
it and finished it off. “KD is on this
team for a reason. We don’t need him to be
reserved.” The US NBA stars led only 22-21
after the first quarter, but began the second
quarter with an 11-0 run, stretching the
margin to 12 points and keeping the French
fighting an uphill battle. “Defence is our
strength. I’m glad we could take advantage
of it,” James said. “We’ve still got room for
improvement. We had too many turnovers
(14). We can cut down on the fouls (26). We
can get more rebounds (56).”
The Americans pulled ahead 52-36 by
half-time and from there it was simply a
worry about. The landmarks of London
- the queen’s palace, the royal guards
in the bearskin hats whose band
regaled the crowds with the James
Bond theme and music from “Chariots
of Fire,” the lush parks - provide
pathos and stunning images. Even
without gold from Cav, one felt
London 2012 will still be quite a party.
“Exceptional. Even at the Tour de
France, I’ve rarely seen so many people,”
French rider Sylvain Chavanel
said.
“Insane,” Horner said, “but to a
degree that it was just absolutely,
probably, the most dangerous and
crazy race I’ve done, for sure.”
And besides, it’s not as if Brits don’t
know how to lose. Learning how to
laugh off defeat is practically the only
way to stay sane for a country that
invented modern football but hasn’t
won the World Cup since 1966, and
hasn’t seen a British man win
Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
Richard Jones, a Londoner who
hustled over to Buckingham Palace,
got the tone just right when Cav didn’t
deliver. “I was there when he didn’t
win it!” he yelled. —AP
US NBA stars rip
France in opener
LONDON: Neymar
showed just why
the world’s top
football clubs
want to sign him
with a virtuoso
display as Brazil
came from a goal behind to beat
Belarus 3-1 at a packed Old
Trafford on Sunday.
Spanish giants Barcelona are
the latest leading club to have
expressed an interest in the 20year-old
and it was easy to see
why as, thanks largely to
Neymar’s brilliance, they qualified
for the quarter-finals of the
Olympic tournament with a
match to spare.
Belarus took a shock lead in
front of a crowd of more than
66,000 at the home ground of
English giants Manchester United.
But from then on Brazil battled
back in this Group C clash, with
Neymar setting the seal on a
superb display with a 65th minute
free-kick bent over the wall and
beyond the reach of diving
Belarus keeper Aleksandr Gutor.
Brazil, five-times the world
champions but still seeking a first
Olympic gold medal, were 1-0
down when Belarus’s Renan
Bardini Bressan opened the scoring
with an eighth minute header.
However, Neymar then took
centre stage, crossing for AC
Milan star Pato to equalise, then
putting Brazil in front and also
setting up Oscar for the clinching
third goal.
Earlier at Old Trafford, Egypt’s
last eight hopes suffered a setback
when they were held to a 1-
1 draw by New Zealand. The All
Whites took the lead through a
16th minute strike from Chris
Wood, who plays his club football
dominant US side flexing its muscles to the
finish.
“The first half they were able to slow the
game down,” Anthony said. “The second
half we were able to shut them down.”
In their first Olympic meeting since the
US squad outlasted France 85-75 in the
2000 Sydney final, the Americans served
notice by half-time that this matchup
would not have such drama in the final
minutes. “It seems like we get better as the
game progresses. We have to get better at
LONDON: US guard Kobe Bryant (right) is challenged by French guard Tony Parker during
the Men’s Preliminary Round Group A match at the London 2012 Olympic Games. —AFP
the start,” Paul said. “We learned a lot of different
things about how the game will be
officiated. You have to adjust every game.”
Ali Traore led France with 12 points while
San Antonio Spurs playmaker Tony Parker
added 10 in a losing cause. “USA played a
great game, especially defensively,” Parker
said. —AFP
Neymar the star as Brazil bounce back
LONDON: Brazil’s Neymar (right) vies with Belarus’ Aleksei Kozlov
during the London 2012 Olympic Games men’s football match
between Brazil and Belarus at Old Trafford. —AFP
for English Premier League West
Bromwich Albion.
Mohamed Salah equalised
from close range shortly before
the break and the Africans could
have had several more goals by
the final whistle but instead
squandered a host of chances.
Now Egypt must beat Belarus
on Wednesday to get to the quarter-finals
while New Zealand will
have to cause one of the great
upsets by defeating Brazil if they
are to go any further in this tournament
than the group stage.
Elsewhere Tottenham
Hotspur’s Giovani dos Santos
scored both goals in Mexico’s 2-0
Group B win over Gabon at the
City of Coventry Stadium.
Giovani, who struggled to earn
a place at White Hart Lane under
former Spurs manager Harry
Redknapp, broke the deadlock in
the 63rd minute after coming on
as a second-half substitute and
then scored from the penalty spot
in injury-time. This was Mexico’s
first win of the tournament and it
kept their quarter-final hopes
alive. —AFP

London 2012 Olympic Games 19
Rhode makes US history
LONDON: World recordequalling
shooter Kim Rhode
earned a place in the US record
books yesterday after destroying
the field to win women’s
skeet gold as China fired an
ominous warning to their rivals.
Thunderstorms lashed the Royal Artillery
Barracks throughout the day but the American
took advantage of a dry spell to put on a flawless
display in the final, hitting all 25 targets to
take her overall score to 99 out of 100.
Earlier, as rain hammered on the roof of
one of the temporary venues in south London,
China’s Guo Wenjun showed nerves of steel,
coming from behind on the very last shot to
successfully defend her 10m air pistol Olympic
title.
Rhode’s win means she becomes America’s
first individual medallist at five straight
Olympics after medals at Atlanta, Sydney,
Athens and Beijing.
China’s Wei Ning was a distant second, winning
silver with 91 hits. Danka Bartekova of
Slovakia took bronze after a shoot-off.
Rhode, 33, won golds in women’s double
trap in Atlanta in 1996 and in Athens in 2004,
taking bronze in the event in Sydney in 2000.
She switched to skeet full-time when
women’s double trap was discontinued as an
Olympic event after Athens, and grabbed silver
in the discipline four years ago in Beijing.
“One got away but everyone misses every now
and then,” said a delighted Rhode, who then
vowed to go on and on.
“I know that I felt very comfortable in that
final round and through the match and was
really ready. I felt that I had done everything I
could and there wasn’t anything more and I
was just going to let the chips lay where they
may.” “It’s just been an incredible journey and
ultimately I couldn’t be happier for bringing
home the gold for the United States,” she
added.
Speaking about her American first, she said:
“I don’t think it’s hit me yet. I’m sure later on
tonight that the record and everything that
represents (will hit me). Right now I’m just
focusing on my second event... and hopefully
we’ll be looking at 2016. I’m not looking at this
being my last Olympics.”
Rhode missed just one target out of 100, in
the morning qualifying session, equalling the
world record and setting a new Olympic mark.
Gold for Rhode, who will also entered in
the trap, comes after flight problems forced
her to miss her team’s training camp in
Denmark. Her four-month-old puppy even ate
her plane ticket.
Earlier, protected from the elements, China
won their second shooting gold of the Games,
when Guo, with her final effort, shot a 10.8,
just 0.1 points short of a maximum score,
LONDON: Tamas Kasas (left) of Hungary defends against Filip Filipovic of Serbia
in a preliminary water polo match at the 2012 Summer Olympics.— AP
Croatia and Spain open
water polo with wins
LONDON: Croatia used a
late surge to pull away
for a 8-6 win over Greece
yesterday in the opening
match of the men’s water
polo competition at the
London Olympics.
With the score level at 5-5 after three
quarters, Croatia netted three unanswered
goals from Niksa Dobud, Miho
Boskovic and Sandro Sukno to take control
of the match.
“It was a bit nervous start for us, the
first two quarters, and after we started
to play more aggressively our quality
came to give us the result,” Boskovic
said. The win puts Croatia, one of the
leading medal contenders in a crowded
field in London, atop Group A with
world champion Italy and Spain.
Spain opened its Olympic campaign
in Group A with an easy 14-6 victory
over Kazakhstan behind five goals from
Filipe Perrone Rocha.
“It was amazing, we feel like we were
flying in the water,” Rocha said. “To
score five goals is perfect, but the most
important thing is that we were playing
amazing and that we beat Kazakhstan.”
Alex Giorgetti scored twice to lead 2011
LONDON: US Kimberly Rhode competes in the skeet shooting women final at the London
2012 Olympic Games at the Royal Artillery Barracks. Rhode took the gold medal and
scored a new Olympic record of 99 points. —AFP
world champion Italy past Australia 8-5
in the third match.
The 12-team field is broken down
into two groups of six for the preliminary
stage, and the top four teams from
each group advance to the knockout
round.
The marquee matchup on day one of
the competition is later yesterday in
Group B between three-time defending
champion Hungary and gold medalfavorite
Serbia.
Hungary, which is looking to win an
unprecedented fourth consecutive gold,
hasn’t lost an Olympic match in 12 years,
a streak of 17 games that dates back to
the Sydney Games. Serbia, meanwhile,
has been the most impressive team in
the past few years, and has its sights set
on the nation’s first water polo gold as
an independent nation.
Two other serious medal contenders
also face off in the final game of the day
between the United States and
Montenegro. The U.S. is looking to
improve upon its second-place finish in
Beijing four years ago and win the
Americans’ first water polo gold since
1904. In the other Group B match,
Romania plays host Great Britain.—AP
drawing gasps from the packed crowd.
That meant she overhauled France’s Celine
Goberville, who had led going into the last
round. Goberville could only manage 8.8, putting
her level on points with Athens 2004
gold-medallist Olena Kostevych of Ukraine. In
a shoot-off, Goberville recovered from her disappointment
at missing gold and secured silver.
Ice-cool Guo, 28, who said her motto was,
“Never give up”, maintained she always felt
she had a chance of gold going into the final
shot-even though she was trailing by 0.5
points.
“I just focused on doing my best on the
final shot,” she said, adding: “I think everyone
is good, I just never give up.” Guo finished
with a total score of 488.1, 1.5 points ahead of
Goberville. —AFP
LONDON: Japan’s Yoshaki
Oiwa outshone a posse of
more established stars to take
the lead in the individual
Olympic Games eventing
standings at the conclusion of
a stormy dressage session yesterday.
Oiwa, riding Noonday de Conde, and
who begins every performance by spreading
salt over himself and his mount, leapt to the
top with a score of 38.10 — raising his top hat
in celebration at Greenwich Park.
Italian Stefano Brecciaroli, on 38.50, was in
second with New Zealand legend Mark Todd,
Olympic gold medallist in 1984 and 1988, and
last of the 74 competitors to step into the
ring, third on 39.10. The Germans, with three
of their riders in the top 10, were in pole in
the team competition from Australia with
Great Britain placed third and New Zealand
and Sweden in a tie for fourth.
Britain were helped by an honourable
Olympic debut from Zara Phillips, granddaughter
of Queen Elizabeth II, with grandfather
Prince Philip and mother the Princess
Royal, watching from the stands.
For Oiwa, third in the 2010 Asian Games,
but only 49th at the Beijing Olympics in 2008,
this was a red letter day, and after emerging
from the arena he lapped up the applause
from the Japanese fans. The 36-year-old,
whose pre-performance superstition involves
sprinkling salt over himself and his horse,
comes from a sporting family-his aunt was a
Japanese champion figure skater and uncle, a
swimming silver medallist at the 1960 Rome
Olympics.
“I still can’t believe I’m leading,” he
beamed. “Probably everybody in Japan is in a
state of shock! Just look around, there aren’t
many Japanese journalists here, no one was
expecting it.”
Oiwa added: “Before I began my horse was
spooked by lightning, but after a few minutes
listening to me she calmed down.”
Asked if he had ever dreamt of being in the
lead at the Olympics he shook his head, only
for Todd, appearing alongside him at a press
conference, to chip in: “Yes, he dreams about
this every night!”
Phillips, meanwhile, who just scraped into
Nation G S B Tot
China 6 3 2 11
US 3 3 2 8
Italy 2 3 2 7
South Korea 2 1 2 5
Kazakhstan 2 0 0 2
Brazil 1 1 1 3
Hungary 1 1 1 3
Netherlands 1 1 0 2
Russia 1 0 2 3
Australia 1 0 1 2
North Korea 1 0 1 2
Georgia 1 0 0 1
Japan 0 2 3 5
France 0 1 1 2
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
At London, yesterday 10 of 14 medal events 22 of 302 total medals.
the top 25 with a score of 46.10, was revelling
in her first Olympic appearance.
“It’s incredible to be selected for the team
and to be here at home in London is an amazing
feeling and I just want to do my best for
the team,” said the 2006 world champion.
“The Olympics is the greatest show on
Earth and it is incredible to be here and to be
competing for my country.” On her horse’s
performance she added: “This was High
Kingdom’s second biggest test, after the
Burleigh Horse Trials, he’s only getting better.”
“Although he’s inexperienced he’s coped
with the crowds well. He is a chilled character.”
Lying in 15th in the individual classification
was a Buddhist monk, Japan’s Kenki Sato,
who scored 40.20 with Chippieh. He commented:
“It is really special I am sure I am the
first monk to be an Olympic rider but I am not
so prefect a monk and not so perfect a rider.
“Every morning I close my eyes and think
of getting better.” After Saturday’s sunshine
came the storm, leaving one competitor positively
fuming.
Britain 0 1 0 1
Colombia 0 1 0 1
Cuba 0 1 0 1
Poland 0 1 0 1
Romania 0 1 0 1
Taiwan 0 1 0 1
Belgium 0 0 1 1
Canada 0 0 1 1
Moldova 0 0 1 1
Norway 0 0 1 1
Serbia 0 0 1 1
Slovakia 0 0 1 1
Ukraine 0 0 1 1
Uzbekistan 0 0 1 1
Japan’s Oiwa rubs salt into
dressage rivals’ wounds
LONDON: Veteran British
marathon runner Paula
Radcliffe withdrew from the
London Games with a foot
injury yesterday. There had
been prolonged speculation
the 38-year-old world record holder, who
has never won an Olympic medal of any color,
would pull out because of her foot problem
and Radcliffe confirmed her exit in a
statement yesterday.
“From the day when it was announced
that London had won the bid, taking part
and performing well in the London Olympic
Games has been a major goal in my life,”
Radcliffe said. “The goal of a fifth Olympics in
my home country, what better? The chance
to make amends to myself for bitter disap-
LONDON: Karin Donckers from Belgium competes with her horse Gazelle De La Brasserie
in the equestrian eventing dressage phase at Greenwich Park. —AP
pointments at the previous two Olympics.
“Through a lot of tough times it has kept
me fighting, motivated and focused. That is
why it hurts so much to finally admit to
myself that it isn’t going to happen,” added
Radcliffe, who will be 42 by the time of the
2016 Games in Rio. Radcliffe, whose career
has been blighted by injury and illness, tried
to put a brave face on her crushing disappointment.
“My sport is a beautiful sport, it
gives so much fun and enjoyment, I believe
it helps me to be a better person, and I have
been very fortunate to experience some
great success and have so many beautiful
and happy memories,” she insisted.
“However, the downside is that it can
break your heart and spirit many times over
when your body is simply unable to match
Todd’s veteran teammate Andrew
Nicholson was made to wait for 10 minutes by
the judges as the arena was hit by heavy rain
and lightning.
“They didn’t mind the thunder and the
lightning and the rain earlier, and then suddenly
it’s a 10-minute delay,” said the Kiwi. “It
was a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. I
thought the British were meant to be sporting
people. I’m serious.”
Britain’s Tina Cook was in the middle of her
routine when the roof on one of the judge’s
wooden huts came loose in the wind.
She commented: “When the judge’s roof
went up I was a bit worried and there was
some muttering from the crowd because they
didn’t like the weather, but it was okay
because he kept focussed and I was able to
keep a lid on things.”
The eventing continues today with the
cross country for which organisers are forecasting
a 50,000 crowd, with the competition
concluding in the show jumping ring tomorrow.
— AFP
Britain’s Radcliffe out of Olympics
what your heart and brain want it to do.
“Sadly mine is not a career or a hobby
where mind over matter can work when
your body is hurt, nor where giving less than
your best each day can ever work.”
UK Athletics head coach Charles van
Commenee added: “This is obviously a disappointing
day for Paula and our sport, but
it was important to her that if she made the
start line it would be in the best possible
shape. “It wasn’t meant to be and she has
taken the right decision to withdraw at this
stage,” the Dutchman added.
“I think it is important that we don’t look
at Paula’s career in Olympic cycles. She is
undoubtedly one of the greatest female distance
runners of all times and still holds the
marathon world record. —AFP

LONDON: Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya
Chinshanlo set a world record in
the clean and jerk as she powered
to Olympic gold in the
women’s 53kg class yesterday
to claim a cash bonus from her
country’s president. The twotime
world champion, 19, snatched 95kg and
then registered a best of 131kg in the clean and
jerk for a combined total of 226kg.
Asian champion Hsu Shu-Ching of Taiwan
took silver with a total of 219kg (96, 123), on
countback from Moldova’s Cristina Iovu, who
took bronze with 219kg (99, 120). “I want to celebrate
the gold medal by drinking a glass of beer.
Actually, I am only able to drink half a glass,” said
Chinshanlo, who was not too upset at just missing
out on breaking the world record in the total
with a narrow miss at 135kg in the clean and jerk.
“On the last lift I had a plan to break the record
but I failed. I am a bit disappointed.” Chinshanlo
said that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev
had been in the stadium to watch her claim the
central Asian country’s second gold medal in as
many days following Alexandre Vinokourov’s win
in the men’s cycling road race.
“He came and said congratulations, but I
won’t tell you how much money he will give me.
I am afraid I will be robbed,” she said with a
laugh. The Chinese team, looking to repeat their
Beijing Games form, made a bad tactical blunder,
Zhou Jun failing to register a mark in the
snatch after opting to compete in the ‘B’ group.
Zhou offered up a low 150kg entry total, having
recorded 220kg in domestic competition. But
after waiting for all her rivals to finish, Zhou
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
LONDON: Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo clears 131
kilograms on her second clean and jerk attempt for a world
record during the women’s 53-kg, Group A, weightlifting
competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Inset)
Germany’s Julia Rohde competes during the weightlifting
women’s 53kg Group B at the Excel Center in London during
the 2012 London Olympic Games. —AFP
Chinshanlo wins 53kg class
Dutch, Argentina
cruise as Kiwis
stun Australia
LONDON: Defending champions The Netherlands
eased to a 3-0 win over Belgium while World Cup
holders Argentina coasted to a 7-1 victory against
South Africa on the first day of Olympic Games
women’s hockey.
Elsewhere, New Zealand pulled off a 1-0 victory
over former champions Australia, while Asian Games
champions China outplayed South Korea 4-0.
Kim Lammers fired two field goals and Caia van Maasakker capitalised
on a late penalty corner to launch the Dutch campaign with a
sound win over hard-working Belgium in Pool A.
The Dutch dominated the game, but were kept at bay until
Lammers opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when she shot in
after picking up a long pass from Eva de Goode.
Lammers was again on mark in the 42nd minute on a pass from
Ellen Hogg before van Maasakker rounded off the scoring in the 60th
with a low penalty corner drive.
Captain Luciana Aymar converted two penalty corners in the first
session to lead Argentina’s scoring spree against the South Africans.
Josefina Sruoga, Silvina D’Elia and Noel Barrionuevo scored from
penalty corner action while Martina Cavallero and Carla Rebecchi
fired in field goals as Argentina stamped their authority over South
Africa in Pool B. The South Africans got a consolation goal through
Dirkie Chamberlain on a counter-attack.
New Zealand rode on an early goal from Cathryn Finlayson in the
Pool B match to score their maiden victory in the Olympic Games
against rivals Australia. It was the first time the Black Sticks had taken
even a point off Australia in the Olympics. They had always lost by at
least three goals in the past. Finlayson scored from a corner in the
third minute with a follow-up shot from eight yards after the initial
drive by New Zealand captain Kayla Sharland had been saved. New
Zealand were the more cohesive team but both sides created enough
chances to have added to the score. “It was not pretty, we were lucky.
They hit the post,” said Kiwi coach Mark Hager. Australian coach Adam
Commens admitted his team paid for missing opportunities. “We created
enough chances, and when you do so you should be able put
the ball in,” he said.
China came back to form after two lean years with what their
coach Kim Sang-Ryul described as an “unbelievable” win over South
Korea in Pool A. China had not beaten their Asian rivals in their previous
nine matches. “Everything went right for us today. I have had faith
in this team. Others doubted me. Such a result against Korea,” said
Kim. Ma Yibo helped by scoring her side’s first and last goals with
penalty corner shots, the others came from Zhao Yudiao and Li
Xongxia.— AFP
LONDON: Roccio Sanchez Moccia of Argentina takes evasive action from a shot
by Jennifer Wilson of South Africa during the preliminary round women’s field
hockey match of the London 2012 Olympic Games. —AFP
failed three times to register a snatch at 95kg.
“The basic move went totally wrong,” she said.
“I don’t know what happened on the platform. I
just couldn’t find how to relax in my body. My
condition today was bad. “It was the coach’s decision,”
Zhou added of her snatch entry weight,
with only three lifters in the ‘A’ group having registered
similar or higher. The clean and jerk was
given some extra spice when Turkey’s Aylin
Dasdelen, in the running for a medal after nailing
91kg in the snatch, failed to register a mark in the
clean and jerk. Dasdelen, who finished fourth at
LONDON: The Olympic judo
quarter-final between world
champion Masashi Ebinuma
and Cho Jun-Ho of South
Korea descended into farce
yesterday after Cho was
awarded victory, only for his
Japanese rival to be declared the winner
moments later.
The under-66kg fight remained level after a
five-minute contest, plus an extra three minutes
of golden score, meaning it went to a
judges’ decision.
All three judges on the mat awarded the
bout to Cho, clad in blue, but the International
Judo Federation’s Refeering Commission then
intervened. Following frantic discussions on
the sidelines, referees director Juan Carlos
Barcos, who had been seen consulting federation
president Marius Vizer, called the judges
over and seemingly told them to change their
minds. The three judges then went back onto
the mat and having originally all lifted blue
flags denoting a Cho victory, this time thrust
up three white ones instead.
Ebinuma was declared the winner and
although he lost to eventual gold medallist
Lasha Shavdatuashvili of Georgia in the semis,
both he and Cho went on to take the two
bronze medals.
When the original decision was made it
brought protests from the crowd and Ebinuma
felt that helped him. “I thought I was going to
lose but there was all this support in the spectator
seats and that allowed me to get this
medal,” he said.
“But I’m feeling a bit bad for (Cho).” Having
matched Ebinuma’s medal, the Korean let
sleeping dogs lie.”Initially I thought I had won
but when it was reversed I was a little sad,” he
said.
“But I had my remaining fights to focus on
and I hoped (Ebinuma) would get a good
result because he beat me. We both won
US NBA stars rip
18
France in opener
the 2004 Olympics in Athens in the -58kg class,
and a twice world silver medallist, bombed out
after two failed attempts at 129kg.
That left the baby-faced Chinshanlo to step
forward to roars from the crowd that included
London Games chief organiser Sebastian Coe.
As the packed stadium at the ExCel arena
slowly hushed, Chinshanlo paced the lifting dais,
slowly approached the barbell and threw the
weight up just metres away from Coe. “What an
outstanding piece of sport,” beamed Coe. “What
composure for a 19-year-old.” —AFP
Farcical scenes
in judo q-final
bronze so I’m happy.”
Federation general secretary Jean-Luc
Rouge told AFP the move was made as it was
believed an Ebinuma attack had not been
scored.
“The referees weren’t told to change their
minds, they were merely reminded about an
incident (an attack by Ebinuma that could
have scored) that should have influenced their
decision,” he said. “It had escaped their minds
but having reconsidered it they then gave
their modified verdicts.”
When put to him that the incident had
been damaging for the federation, Rouge
added: “It’s better that the federation is damaged
rather than judo.”
The crowd, who were upset over the original
decision and jeered loudly, became even
more vocal following the farcical overturn and
Cho was afforded a standing ovation as he left
the mat. Already, during the sudden death
golden score period, the referees commission
had overturned the award of a winning score
for Ebinuma by the judges — the incident the
commission then reminded the judges to consider
in their later decision.
For the first time at the Olympics, video
replay technology is being used to review contentious
scoring but the over-rule of a judges
decision following a draw has never been
done before. The federation later put out a
statement trying to clarify its ruling. “The
International Judo Federation (IJF) is strongly
committed to equity and, as part of our sport
judo, to the development of all the tools that
in our competitions help the referees to make
the right decisions, so that the best fighters
win. “In order to achieve this, a video system
was set up and has proved successful. “The referee
and the two judges of the fight, after having
received the details from the experts commission,
decided to change their decision and
give victory to the Japanese. “The IJF states
that this is the final and right decision.” — AFP

Business
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Driven by China sales,
luxury goods challenge
slowdown
Page 22
India is likely to keep
rates on hold: Analysts
Page 23
Wary consumers, trade curb US growth in Q2 Page 26
PARIS: Picture shows an illustration made with a figurine and euro coins. Europe’s economic crisis has deepened, with a slump in German confidence, worsening British recession. —AFP
BRUSSELS: Over the past couple of years, Europe
has muddled through a long series of crunch
moments in its debt crisis, but this September is
shaping up as a “make-or-break” month as policymakers
run desperately short of options to save the
common currency. Crisis or no crisis, many European
policymakers will take their summer holidays in
August. When they return, a number of crucial
events, decisions and deadlines will be waiting.
“September will undoubtedly be the crunch time,”
one senior euro zone policymaker said. In that
month a German court makes a ruling that could
neuter the new euro zone rescue fund, the antibailout
Dutch vote in elections just as Greece tries to
renegotiate its financial lifeline, and decisions need
to be made on whether taxpayers suffer huge losses
on state loans to Athens. On top of that, the eurozone
has to figure out how to help its next wobbling
dominoes, Spain and Italy - or what do if one or both
were to topple.
“In nearly 20 years of dealing with EU issues, I’ve
never known a state of affairs like we are in now,”
one euro zone diplomat said this week. “It really is a
very, very difficult fix and it’s far from certain that
we’ll be able to find the right way out of it.” Since the
crisis erupted in January 2010, the euro-zone has
had to rescue relative minnows in Greece, Ireland
and Portugal as they lost the ability to fund their
budget deficits and debt obligations by borrowing
commercially at affordable rates. Now two much
larger economies are in the firing line and policymakers
must consider ever more radical solutions. If
Spain, the euro-zone’s fourth biggest economy and
the world’s 12th, loses affordable market financing
the next domino at risk of falling is Italy - the eurozone’s
third biggest economy and a member of the
G7 group of big wealthy nations. A bailout of Spain
would probably be double those of Greece, Ireland
and Portugal combined, while Italy’s economy is
twice as large as Spain’s again. The European Union
has already agreed to lend up to 100 billion euros to
rescue Spanish banks. One euro-zone official said
Madrid has now conceded that it might need a full
bailout worth 300 billion euros from the EU and IMF
if its borrowing costs remain unaffordable.
Deflating life raft
The euro-zone does not seem to have enough
cash in the current setup to deal with a scenario of
Spain and Italy needing a rescue, and a sense of
doom is growing among some policymakers.
Fighting the crisis, said the euro-zone diplomat, is
like trying to keep a life raft above water. “For two
years we’ve been pumping up the life raft, taking
decisions that fill it with just enough air to keep it
afloat even though it has a leak,” the diplomat said.
“But now the leak has got so big that we can’t pump
air into the raft quickly enough to keep it afloat.”
Compounding the problems, Greece is far behind
with reforms to improve its finances and economy
so it may need more time, more money and a debt
reduction from euro-zone governments. If Greek
debt cannot be made sustainable, the country may
have to leave the euro-zone, sending a shockwave
across financial markets and the European economy.
Sept. 12 is a crucial date in the European diary. On
that day the German Constitutional Court is scheduled
to rule on whether a treaty establishing the
euro zone’s permanent bailout fund, the 500 billion
euro European Stability Mechanism (ESM), is compatible
with the German constitution. A positive ruling
is vital, because Germany is the biggest funder of
the ESM, and the euro zone would be powerless to
protect Spain or Italy without the ESM.
On the same day, parliamentary elections are
held in the Netherlands where popular opposition
to spending any more money on bailing out spendthrift
euro zone governments is strong. The Dutch
vote may complicate talks on a revised second
bailout for Greece, which also has to be agreed in
September. Athens wants two more years than originally
planned to cut its budget deficit to below 3
percent of GDP, so as not to impose yet more spending
cuts on a country which is already in a depression.
This would mean Greece’s 130 billion euro second
bailout package may need to be increased by
20-50 billion euros, according to estimates by some
euro zone officials and economists, and there is no
appetite in the euro zone to give Greece yet more
extra money. More importantly Greece needs to
bring its debt, which is equal to 160 percent of its
annual economic output, under control. This means
euro zone governments, which own roughly two
thirds of it, may need to write part of it off. Private
creditors have already suffered a huge writedown in
the value of their Greek debt holdings but so far
euro zone taxpayers have not lost a cent on any of
the bailouts.
Last chance options
Policymakers are working on “last chance”
options to bring Greece’s debts down and keep it in
the euro zone, with the ECB and national central
banks looking at also taking significant losses on the
value of their bond holdings, officials said. If governments
swallowed the bitter pill by also accepting a
cut in the value of their contributions to loans
already made to Greece, this would break a taboo
and could provoke demands for similar treatment
from Ireland or Portugal. Peter Vanden Houte, chief
economist at ING bank, said euro governments
might be forced to accept a halving of the value of
their Greek debt - known in the business as haircut.
“If Greece is to be saved, we must see some debt
forgiveness from euro zone governments in the
coming years because otherwise Greece is never
going to come out of the situation it is in now,” he
said. “We are talking about potentially a 50 percent
haircut, which would still mean the Greek debt
Lexus unveils 2013
ES 350 and ES 250 in
Kuwait
Page 25
Continued pressure for bailout fund
Euro-zone crisis heads for September crunch
Market relief no cure
for Spain’s economy
MADRID: Vows of support for the eurozone calmed
financial worries about Spain this week but could not
polish its economy, whose recession is set to deepen
as unemployment nears 25 percent. European Central
Bank chief Mario Draghi delighted investors Thursday
when he vowed “to do whatever it takes to preserve
the euro,” which implied the bank may ease credit
conditions by buying bonds or making cheap loans.
“We hope Draghi’s words will last and will serve as an
oxygen tank for the financial markets in the coming
weeks,” said analysts at brokerage Link Securities in a
report.
But they added: “This does not mean the problems
of the economies of southern Europe are over.” After
Draghi’s comments, Spain’s sovereign interest rates
eased back from danger levels and Madrid’s stock market
shot up on Thursday and Friday, recovering some
of the huge falls of previous days. The government
Friday dismissed warnings that Spain might need a full
international bailout as economists have warned.
But Spain’s economic and financial problems run
deep, the legacy of a decade-long real estate boom
that went bust in 2008 with the debt crisis. The
International Monetary Fund warned Friday that the
Spanish recession would be worse than previously
thought, forecasting a contraction of 1.7 percent this
year and of 1.2 percent in 2013. Spain’s economic
growth figures for the second quarter were due to be
released on Monday by the national statistics office.
The Bank of Spain last week estimated the contraction
in growth has accelerated in the second quarter to
0.4 percent, after falls of 0.3 percent in each of the previous
two quarters. Under pressure from European
authorities who have agreed to bail out Spanish banks,
Spain’s conservative government has approved tens of
billions of euros’ worth of spending cuts, tax hikes and
other measures to cut the deficit and restructure the
economy.
Critics say the the poor will suffer unfairly from
moves such as a public sector bonus cut and a rise in
sales tax that together will hit consumption. “All the
spending cut policies they are taking are restrictive
and run counter to growth,” said Alberto Roldan, an
analyst at Spanish brokerage Inverseguros. “Raising
the fiscal pressure in a country with 25 percent unemployment
is absolutely regressive.”
Hundreds of thousands of Spaniards have marched
noisily in the street over recent weeks in protest at the
measures. Labour unions have threatened a general
strike and have called for fresh demonstrations on
September 15. Figures from the national statistics
office Friday showed Spain’s jobless rate rose in the
second quarter to 24.63 percent and a huge 53 percent
among the under-25s, despite the tourist season
which usually boosts jobs.
The job losses “are further blows for households
already struggling to cope with poor real income
developments and the prospect of a sharp VAT hike,”
wrote Raj Badiani of analysis group IHS Global Insight.
“Very low consumer confidence will weigh down
heavily on spending in late 2012 and 2013, adding further
tensions to a faltering economy,” he added.
The Spanish government’s latest unemployment
forecast is for a rate of 24.6 percent at the end of 2012,
easing to 24.3 percent in 2013 and 23.3 percent in
2014, but some economists made darker forecasts.
Analysts at financial group Citi forecast unemployment
would average 24.7 percent in 2012 and climb to 26.1
percent next year. Badiani forecast the rate would top
25 percent in late 2012 and early 2013. Economists
were waiting for the European Central Bank’s next policy
meeting on August 2 to see if it announces concrete
measures. “The crisis in the eurozone is as much
about growth as it is about debt,” wrote John Higgins
of consultancy Capital Economics. “Buying sovereign
bonds does nothing to address the fundamental problem
of a lack of competitiveness that plagues troubled
euro-zone countries.” —AFP
DUBAI: Dubai-based real estate giant
Emaar Properties said yesterday it
posted an 82 percent surge in net
profits in the first half of 2012 as retail
and hospitality grew, costs fell and a
write-off was not repeated. The developer
of the world’s tallest building,
Burj Khalifa, saw its net profit in the
first six months rise to 1.22 billion
dirhams ($332.4 million), compared
with 671 million dirhams ($182.8 million)
in the corresponding period last
year, a company statement said.
Net profits in the second quarter of
2012 more than doubled to 614 million
dirhams ($167.3 million), compared
with 250 million dirhams ($68.1
million) in the second quarter of 2011,
when the company wrote off 172 million
dirhams ($46.87 million) investment
in its loss-making Dubai Bank.
Revenues in the first half stood at
3.921 billion dirhams ($1.06 billion),
two percent down from 4.014 billion
dirhams last year, while costs dropped
to 1.723 billion dirhams ($469.48 million),
compared with 2.023 billion
dirhams ($551.2 million).
The hospitality and retail sectors
contributed 51 percent to revenues,
with rental and retail businesses,
mainly malls, generating earnings of
would be (proportionately) around the euro zone
average.” The euro zone would want concessions
from Athens. “Most probably in exchange, euro zone
partners will be more strict on Greek compliance
with structural reforms and may ask Greece to give
up some sovereignty,” said Vanden Houte. While no
official discussions are underway on another Greek
debt restructuring, euro-zone officials say privately it
may be necessary if Greece is to have a fighting
chance. “The Greeks might say they are in such a
mess that to survive they we need to ease up the
austerity a bit, and to still regain debt sustainability
they will have to default on 30-40 percent of the
loans,” one euro-zone official said.
“There would be a lot of people saying this is
understandable, so maybe this makes sense and
maybe we could have a reasonable discussion
among the member states on how Greece can
move forward,” the official said. The official speculated
that euro-zone debt forgiveness for Greece could
be made dependent on progress in structural
reforms or that it could be reviewed once Athens
has to start paying back the capital of the loans in 10
years. “Maybe we could agree to give debt relief of,
say, 25 percent to make possible some changes in
the programme. Then we implement that for six
months or a year and maybe we find out that we
need to give them another 25 percent and at the
end of the day we might get to a stable situation,”
the official said. —Reuters
Dubai’s Emaar’s H1
profits surge 82%
1.3 billion dirhams ($354 million), 23
percent up from the same period last
year. Dubai Mall hosted around 30
million visitors in the first six months
of 2012. Mohamed Alabbar, chairman
of Emaar Properties, said that Dubai’s
property is turning around after crashing
in 2009 because the global financial
crisis dried up available finance for
the overheated sector.
“The real estate market in Dubai is
turning around, led by the robust performance
of key growth sectors
including aviation, retail, hospitality,
tourism and foreign trade,” he said.
“The city’s appeal to high net worth
individuals as the ideal destination for
a home is also gaining strength.
Emaar’s financial results for the first
half of the year reflects the growing
strength of Dubai’s economy,” he
added. The company said it recorded
sales exceeding 1.6 billion dirhams
($436 million) in the first half of 2012
in Dubai, approximately five times
more than the same period in 2011. A
major developer throughout Dubai’s
five-year real estate frenzy, Emaar has
succeeded in diversifying its business,
focusing on hospitality and retail,
while also spreading its real estate
business activities abroad. —AFP

EXCHANGE RATES
Commercial Bank of Kuwait
US Dollar/KD .2797210 .2851140
GB Pound/KD .4341140 .4424830
Euro .3390920 .3456290
Swiss francs .2822760 .2877180
Canadian Dollar .2747220 .2840180
Australian DLR .2880150 .2935680
Indian rupees .0050240 .0051200
Sri Lanka Rupee .0021460 .0021880
UAE dirhams .0761870 .0776560
Bahraini dinars .7422620 .7565720
Jordanian dinar .3956460 .4032730
Saudi riyals .0746120 .0760500
Omani riyals .7268320 .7408440
Egyptian pounds .0466200 .0475190
CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES
US Dollar/KD .2812000 .2833000
GB Pound/KD .4364080 .4396670
Euro .3408850 .3434300
Swiss francs .2837680 .2858870
Canadian dollars .2761740 .2782360
Danish Kroner .0458160 .0461580
Swedish Kroner .0405370 .0408400
Australian dlr .2895380 .2917000
Hong Kong dlr .0362490 .0365200
Singapore dlr .2233160 .2249840
Japanese yen .0035930 .0036200
Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0050880
Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0021740
Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0030080
Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0034780
UAE dirhams .0765900 .0771620
Bahraini dinars .7461850 .7517580
Jordanian dinar .0000000 .4007070
Saudi Riyal/KD .0750070 .0755670
Omani riyals .7306740 .7361310
Philippine Peso .0000000 .0067920
Bahrain Exchange Company
22
BUSINESS
Driven by China sales, luxury
goods challenge slowdown
PARIS: Fuelled by surging demand in
China, luxury goods makers are bucking
the global economic slowdown and
reaping huge profits on sales of highend
handbags, expensive jewellery and
posh perfumes. Results for the first-half
of 2012 released this week showed
major brands, including world leaders
LVMH, PPR and Luxottica with rising
profits driven by growing sales in
emerging markets. The results beat
analyst expectations and allayed fears
that the cooling down of China’s economy
would dampen luxury sales.
Company bosses even expressed confidence
that year-end figures would
show continued growth.
Paris-based LVMH, whose assets
include jeweller Bulgari, fashion house
Louis Vuitton and a string of brands,
said Thursday its net profit was up 28
percent in the first half at 1.68 billion
euros ($2.06 billion). Sales were up 26
percent, with 29 percent of revenues
coming from Asia outside Japan, the
group’s largest market. “We approach
the second half of the year with confidence,”
company CEO Bernard Arnault
said, with LVMH noting the “global market
(is) experiencing strong growth”
despite “an uncertain economic environment
in Europe.” Another leading
French luxury and retail group, PPR,
said the same day its first-half net profit
was up 5.9 percent to 477 million euros,
following a 17 percent jump in sales.
PPR’s sales of luxury goods, which
Al-Muzaini Exchange Co.
ASIAN COUNTRIES
Japanese Yen 3.553
Indian Rupees 5.072
Pakistani Rupees 3.053
Srilankan Rupees 2.141
Nepali Rupees 3.173
Singapore Dollar 220.090
Hongkong Dollar 36.173
Bangladesh Taka 3.425
Philippine Peso 6.439
Thai Baht 8.876
Malaysian Ringgit 89.338
Companies optimistic on year-end growth
Credit Suisse cuts
back ME private
banking research
DUBAI: Credit Suisse has moved the head of its
Middle East private banking equity research division
to Geneva, two sources told Reuters yesterday, the
latest European bank to scale back research roles in
the region. Kamran Butt will support private banking
sales in Switzerland with market research after
spending six years in Dubai, two people familiar with
the matter said. “Other analysts from outside the
Middle East will be covering the local market here,”
one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity
because the matter is not public, said.
Credit Suisse could not immediately be reached
for comment. The Swiss bank unveiled measures this
month to boost its capital base in response to criticism
from the central bank, and also announced new
cost cuts, including at the investment bank, although
some analysts have called for even more radical
steps. Leading global investment banks have been
cutting research staff in the Middle East to save
costs amid tough global conditions and a dearth of
work in the region. In the past year, Credit Suisse
and Deutsche Bank have cut top equity research
jobs while Japan’s largest bank Nomura has shut
down its research department, sources told Reuters.
Middle East private banking staffing is down about
30 percent in the last two years due to redundancies
and relocating staff to other regions, the second
source said. — Reuters
include fashion brands like Gucci, Yves
Saint Laurent and jeweller Boucheron,
were up by nearly a third, compensating
for a 9.2 percent drop in sportswear
sales dragged down by its Puma brand.
“Business in greater China remained
extremely buoyant, with sales climbing
by an overall 21.5 percent, fuelled by a
24.4 percent surge in mainland China,”
the company said of its luxury division.
Italy’s Luxottica, the biggest eyewear
GCC COUNTRIES
Saudi Riyal 74.883
Qatari Riyal 77.158
Omani Riyal 729.380
Bahraini Dinar 745.850
UAE Dirham 76.464
ARAB COUNTRIES
Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.250
Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.466
Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.309
Tunisian Dinar 176.65
Jordanian Dinar 396.190
Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.884
Syrian Lier 4.899
Morocco Dirham 32.64
EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES
US Dollar Transfer 280.700
Euro 354.52
Sterling Pound 441.820
Canadian dollar 274.79
Turkish lire 152.400
Swiss Franc 295.01
US Dollar Buying 279.500
GOLD
20 Gram 293.000
10 Gram 148.000
5 Gram 75.250
maker in the world, said its first-half
profits jumped 20.6 percent to 195.5
million euros. The company, which produces
Oakley and Ray-Ban sunglasses
as well as eyewear for Chanel and
Prada, said sales rose by just one per-
SHANGHAI: A woman leaves a luxury shopping mall. Chinese shoppers are
increasingly buying luxury goods in mainland China, turning away from
high-end stores abroad and in Hong Kong. — AFP
cent in Europe but were up 35 percent
in emerging markets. The results
echoed similar figures released earlier
this month by French luxury goods
group Hermes, which reported first-half
COUNTRY SELL CASH SELL DRAFT
Australian dollar 292.700 291.200
Bahraini dinar 751.680 751.680
Bangladeshi taka 3.730 3.449
Canadian dollar 278.700 277.200
Cyprus pound 555.100
Czek koruna 46.000
Danish krone 46.900
Deutsche Mark 167.800 225.400
Egyptian pound 48.140 46.571
Euro Cash 345.600 344.100
Hongkong dollar 37.140 36.990
Indian rupees 5.330 5.050
Indonesia 0.032 0.031
Iranian tuman 0.161
Iraqi dinar 0.237
Japanese yen 3.710
Jordanian dinar 400.540 400.510
Lebanese pound 0.191 0.190
Malaysian ringgit 91.700 91.700
Morocco dirham 43.600
Nepalese Rupees 4.340 3.180
New Zealand dollar 224.900 223.400
Nigeria 1.831
sales up 21.9 percent to 1.59 billion
euros, with Asian sales excluding Japan
up 25 percent.
Analysts say China now accounts for
about 40 percent of the global luxury
goods market and that Chinese
appetites are driving sales not only in
the country but abroad, as Chinese
tourists often rack up sales while on foreign
trips. Despite high taxes on luxury
goods in mainland China, companies
are also increasingly expanding into its
retail market, with PPR alone opening
22 stores in China in the first half of the
year.
Still, analysts are warning that some
sort of slowdown in luxury goods sales
is to be expected if China’s red-hot economic
growth continues to cool.
China’s economy grew by a still-strong
7.6 percent in the second quarter, but
the expansion was at its slowest pace in
more than three years as global economic
problems started to hit the
world’s second-largest economy.
Thomas Mesmin, an analyst at CA
Chevreux, said it was inevitable that a
global economic downturn would have
an impact on luxury goods. “Saying
that luxury goods are resistant to the
crisis sounds good, but it’s wrong.
There is a fairly strong correlation
between the development of the global
economy and the luxury market,” he
said. “We are accustomed to caviar, but
we’re probably going to have to eat a
little more salmon,” he said.
Poor S African kids unlikely to
escape poverty: World Bank
JOHANNESBURG: Inequalities in South Africa are
threatening economic growth, with children born
into poor families unlikely ever to escape poverty or
reap the rewards of living in Africa’s largest economy.
The World Bank’s sobering assessment released
last week found that a child’s gender and ethnicity
at birth, combined with a lack of education, largely
determine that person’s chances of success in lifeeven
18 years after the end of apartheid.
“South Africa, the continent’s largest economy
by far and its only G-20 member, displays strikingly
high and persistent inequality and marginalization
for an upper middle-income country,” said the
report. Although South Africa has made great
strides in transforming the economy, which has produced
one of the continent’s fastest-growing black
middle classes, poverty levels and unemployment
remain high outside urban centres.
South Africa is often compared to Brazil, which
also has a huge income gap, but while the Latin
American country has narrowed the divide over the
last decade, here the chasm is as deep as ever, the
World Bank said. The richest 10 percent of South
Africans account for 58 percent of the nation’s
income, while the bottom 10 percent accounts for
0.5 percent, the Bank said. The bottom half earns
less than eight percent of the nation’s income.
The country will struggle to grow the economy
until its riches are spread more evenly, the Bank
said. Sharp economic and social inequalities were
especially visible along racial lines, said the report,
with whites largely shielded from economic hardships
thanks to privileges inherited from the fallen
apartheid regime.
“Peering past the first-world living conditions of
urban South Africa, it is not too hard to see the
downcast situation of townships, informal settlements,
and former homelands,” said Sandeep
Mahajan, who headed the report. “Our results show
that a South African child not only has to work harder
to overcome the disadvantages at birth due to
circumstances, but having done so, finds that these
reemerge when seeking employment as an adult,”
he said.
The report said residents of these areas were
usually unemployed or lacked the means to look for
jobs, as they were disconnected from the job market.
Unemployment in the first quarter of 2012 rose
to 25.2 percent, up from 23.9 percent in the previous
quarter, and black people form the bulk of the
jobless. Modest economic growth, which averaged
3.2 percent since 1995, had proved “insufficient to
absorb the wave of new entrants to the labour market
from dismantling apartheid’s barriers”, the
report said.
Labour analyst Andrew Levy said challenges of
inequality were “deep rooted and not unique to
South Africa”. — Reuters
Norwegian krone 47.700
Omani Riyal 734.190 734.010
Pakistani rupees 3.100 3.002
Philippine peso 6.980 6.715
Qatari riyal 78.180 77.750
Saudi riyal 75.470 75.470
Singapore dollar 225.390 225.390
South Africa 36.490 36.490
Sri Lankan rupees 2.692 2.155
Sterling pound 442.000 440.000
Swedish krona 41.500
Swiss franc 287.700 286.200
Syrian pound 4.400 4.400
Thai bhat 9.290 9.100
Tunisian dollar 198.290
UAE dirham 77.060 76.960
U.S. dollars 283.000 282.600
Yemeni Riyal 1.360
GOLD
10 Tola 1,705.960
TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE
Sterling Pound 440.000
US Dollar 282.600
UAE Exchange Centre WLL
COUNTRY SELL DRAFT SELL CASH
Australian Dollar 294.51 294.00
Canadian Dollar 281.95 282.00
Swiss Franc 289.17 288.00
Euro 345.07 344.00
US Dollar 282.00 282.85
Sterling Pound 441.81 442.50
Japanese Yen 3.68 3.63
Bangladesh Taka 3.455 3.580
Indian Rupee 5.030 5.295
Sri Lankan Rupee 2.161 2.380
Nepali Rupee 3.168 3.650
Pakistani Rupee 2.990 3.150
UAE Dirhams 76.85 77.35
Bahraini Dinar 750.87 750.00
Egyptian Pound 46.52 48.10
Jordanian Dinar 401.76 399.00
Omani Riyal 733.93 736.00
Qatari Riyal 77.87 78.00
Saudi Riyal 75.41 75.65
Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd
Rate for Transfer Selling Rate
US Dollar 282.400
Canadian Dollar 282.280
Sterling Pound 438.165
Euro 344.215
By Hayder Tawfik
O n
Swiss Frank 286.125
Bahrain Dinar 747.650
UAE Dirhams 76.865
Qatari Riyals 77.515
Saudi Riyals 75.270
Jordanian Dinar 398.085
Egyptian Pound 46.538
Sri Lankan Rupees 2.151
Indian Rupees 5.053
Pakistani Rupees 2.991
Bangladesh Taka 3.451
Philippines Pesso 6.705
Cyprus pound 692.730
Japanese Yen 4.605
Thai Bhat 9.010
Syrian Pound 4.400
Nepalese Rupees 3.265
Malaysian Ringgit 88.875
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Fragility of euro needs
daily encouragement
Thursday, the European
Central bank, president said
that “The ECB will do everything
in its power to preserve the
euro”. Very encouraging statement.
Investors around the world pushed
global stock markets higher and
the Euro bounced back by a mere
0.5 percent! What the ECB president
said is very clear, that they Hayder Tawfik
will do everything at their disposable
to “Preserve” the euro, not the value of it or come to
the help of the euro nations who need further financial
help. Is it a coincidence that the ECB president comes out
with such statement a day after Moody’s, the credit rating
agency put Germany on its credit watch for a possible
downgrade! I think it is not a coincidence as I said on so
many occasions the ECB is not acting as an independent
central bank for the whole euro-zone members.
The reaction of the European stock markets and the
good performance which followed in the US and on Friday
in Asia shows how nerves investors are of missing a long
waited bull market rally. I am a strong believer that most
of the bad news is discounted already and any hints of
some financial or economic measures are welcomed
immediately. I think investors are aware of this and they
just need reassurance and encouragement on daily basis.
Long term inventors should divorce themselves from the
animal herd mentality and take advantage of the sell off
and accumulate top quality stocks which are trading way
below their intrinsic value. The crisis in Europe are not
going away by daily statements from central bankers or
some politician who have no idea how to tackle the problems
apart from keep pumping money into the system.
At last, maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Is Europe waking up after spending years, borrowing
money on a big scale then spending it without any
accountability? We remember the days of borrow and
spend and when faced with crisis, just devalue and to hell
with investors. Hopefully, those days are over. I am not
that optimistic at all. However, investors around the world
have said what they think and warned and now they are
carrying out their warnings. European politicians should
take note of this. We have to be fair to history too. Banks
around the world in particular in Europe and US have
played a big part in creating the mess we are all in now.
They were the facilitators and in doing so made huge profits
and warmed up to politicians for personal benefits now
some of them paying the price for it.
How do we know that politicians are waking to the
fact? Because whatever decisions taken by politicians are
immediately rejected. Just look at the daily demonstration
taking place in Spain, Italy and Greece even in Germany
and France. They call the crisis in Europe a financial one. I
totally disagree. It was created by politicians and now it
requires those same politicians to solve them. Central
bankers have done most of what is required from them.
Literally short term interest rates in Europe and US are
zero. Even long term rates are just above 1 percent. How
much more they can do? People in Europe have lost trust
in politicians to solve their problems. I have doubt in trusting
these politicians to come up with solutions, because
they don’t know themselves where to start. The crisis is
too big for them to handle. They need men or women
who have great vision and who prepared to take decisive
actions. Unfortunately not many of them around these
days, at the same time people need to accept the facts
and start changing their behaviour. I always say that good
economics start at home. Politicians should be determined
and tell the truth and stick with it. Part of this truth
is that some people and countries have benefited a lot out
of the euro crisis and now they should come to the rescue
and help, because otherwise the snow ball will engulf
everyone. They should put self interest aside and work
together for the benefit of all.
Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.
Currency Rate per 1000 (Tran)
US Dollar 282.400
Pak Rupees 2.984
Indian Rupees 5.060
Sri Lankan Rupees 2.160
Bangladesh Taka 3.454
Philippines Peso 6.750
UAE Dirhams 76.990
Saudi Riyals 75.460
Bahraini Dinars 750.700
Egyptian Pounds 46.545
Pound Sterling 443.800
Indonesian Rupiah 2.990
Nepali rupee 3.205
Yemeni Riyal 1.550
Euro 348.800
Canadian Dollars 285.000
Al Mulla Exchange
Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000)
US Dollar 281.700
Euro 349.200
Pound Sterling 444.850
Canadian Dollar 281.710
Japanese Yen 3.655
Indian Rupee 5.095
Egyptian Pound 46.443
Sri Lankan Rupee 2.140
Bangladesh Taka 3.440
Philippines Peso 6.735
Pakistan Rupee 2.995
Bahraini Dinar 750.140
UAE Dirham 76.800
Saudi Riyal 75.300
*Rates are subject to change

PARIS: Vintage cars pass by the Concorde square yesterday, during a
parade as part of the fifth summer edition of the “Traversee de Paris
Estivale” (“Summer Paris Crossing”), the largest gathering of classic
vehicles in the French capital streets. — AFP
French consumer morale
weaker than expected
PARIS: French consumer confidence fell
unexpectedly in July to its lowest level
since February in the face of growing fears
about unemployment as a slew of companies
unveil plans for major layoffs, a survey
showed. The INSEE official statistics office
said that its consumer confidence index fell
to 87 in July from 89 a month earlier. The
June figure was also revised down from 90
originally. The reading, well below the longterm
average of 100, fell short of expectations
in a Reuters poll of 16 economists
which had indicated an average forecast of
90.
The survey showed that a rash of headlines
about factory closures and surging
unemployment were taking their toll on
consumer morale with the proportion of
households reporting it to be a concern at
the highest level since June 2010. The number
of households expecting their personal
finances to get tighter in the months ahead
worsened while the number expecting
their economic situation to get tougher
rose the most since November 2007.
France’s new Socialist government has
made fighting unemployment a top priority
but is struggling to halt a wave of layoffs
in the face of a deteriorating economic outlook.
The nation’s biggest carmaker PSA
Peugeot Citroen announced plans this
month to cut 8,000 jobs in France and companies
such as Air France, Alcatel Lucent
and Sanofi also have job cuts in the works.
Unions have warned that up to 75,000
job cuts could be forthcoming as companies,
many of which withheld plans to
reduce their workforce until after elections
in May and June, cut capacity in the face of
a European downturn. The jobless total
rose in June for the 14th month running to
hit its highest level in nearly 13 years,
according to labour ministry data on
Wednesday. The consumer confidence figures
bode ill for June consumer spending
data due on Tuesday, with economists forecasting
an increase of 0.6 percent on average
over the month. —Reuters
Empty stomachs in N Korea
as Kim eyes fiscal changes
SEOUL: Talk that North Korea’s young
leader plans to reform the broken economy
is already having an impact. It’s helping
send rice prices even further out of the
reach of most families in one of the world’s
most under-fed societies. Seo Jae-pyoung,
a defector who now lives in South Korea,
spoke this week to a friend in the secretive
North who had furtively called him by
mobile phone from a mountain-side to
plead for cash to be smuggled across to
help.
“He couldn’t cope with the high prices,
saying rice prices had shot up ... and he is
running out of money,” Seo told Reuters. “It
shows that the economic situation is seriously
worsening...I feel that...(it) has
already reached the critical point and
(leader Kim Jong-un) may know that without
reform or openness, the regime is not
going to last long.”
One of the reasons he and others gave
for the price increase was rice hoarding by
middlemen hoping that talk of reform
would materialise into a chance to turn a
profit. A source with ties to North Korea
and its chief backer, China, told Reuters last
week that the North is gearing up to
experiment with economic reforms.
Evidence is hard to come by in the
almost hermetically sealed and suspicious
state, where casual contact with outsiders
can mean imprisonment. And because it
usually takes defectors many months to
make their way out of the North to a country
where they can speak openly, information
can be out of date. But some of the
defectors Reuters spoke to in Seoul said
they were in clandestine contact with people
inside the North. Reuters also spoke to
foreigners who had gone to North Korea in
recent months under government-sponsored
visits.
The overall impression was that in the
about seven months Kim Jong-un has
been in office, there have been few tangible
changes inside a country which is now,
since Myanmar’s decision to open up,
Asia’s last pariah state. “I’ve not heard anything
to suggest any improvement for the
rank and file there. And in some sectors,
things continue to slide,” said one Christian
activist with Helping Hands Korea, which
works with refugees fleeing the North.
Kim, thought to be in his late 20s, is the
third generation of a family dynasty that
has ruled North Korea since its founding.
He took over when his father Kim Jong-il
died in December. With international sanctions
over weapons programmes, and the
insistence of the Kims on food and
resources going to the military first, the
general population has been on the edge
of starvation for decades.
Startling
The effects of such prolonged meagre
diets is one of the startling images of
North Korea, making the chubby leader
Kim stand out even more against his subjects.
“What’s strikingly obvious is peoples’
stunted growth, they’re all very short for
their age,” said one humanitarian worker
who visited the North earlier this year.
“There’s always going to be a food shortage,
The problem is, what they can produce,
the best always goes to the best (top
of society).” That elite refers especially to
the military, estimated at 1.2 million out of
a population of 25 million.
According to North Korean defectors
who still keep in touch with family and
friends and Daily NK, which monitors conditions
in the reclusive state, the price of 1
kg (2.2 pounds) of rice in the market was
estimated to be at least one month’s salary.
But that, said one defector, is meaningless
because the cash-starved state, the main
employer, rarely pays salaries.
“Even if you are employed by the state,
you do business in the market. If you are
an office worker, you do business in the
market in the afternoon ... There’s no way
other than this to make it there,” said the
woman, in her 30s, who asked not to be
identified because she feared reprisals
against family members still in the North.
She fled the North late last year.
“Basically, many people are doing
restaurant business or selling things on
credit and pay off credits later. There is a
huge gap between the rich and the poor.
Pyongyang has enough supplies but other
areas fall short. So it is completely up to an
individual’s effort. If you try hard to make
money, you can survive. But if you don’t,
you struggle,” she said.
She and other defectors said the
authorities had been tightening their
watch on the border with China, about the
only route for escape. The dangers of
crossing the border are compounded by
the very high risk of being sent back to the
North by Chinese authorities to face
imprisonment or even execution.
Fear of reform
North Korea has dabbled with reforms
over the years but never stuck to them,
forced to rely increasingly on China to prop
up a rusting industry and broken infrastructure.
Most recently, in 2009, it orchestrated
the re-denomination of the currency,
a move deemed so catastrophic that
the official who initiated it was reportedly
executed. None of the defectors Reuters
spoke to believed the leadership would
dare allow reforms that damage its grip.
Some thought the Pyongyang elite had
been scared by the disastrous 2009 experiment.
Analysts say this fear of reform explains
why the Kim dynasty has stuck so rigidly
with a system that ensured the country
was excluded from any benefit of being at
the centre of the world’s most rapidly
growing region-China, Japan and South
Korea. While their economies have surged,
North Korea’s has shrunk. Once wealthier
than the South, its economy is now less
than three percent of South Korea’s. Its
population is half the size.
“I think even if it loosens up, it would
only be partial. If it fully opens, the regime
will collapse. People began to not trust the
regime after the currency reform in 2009,”
said the woman defector who said she fled
because she could no longer tolerate the
constraints on her life. Kim Yong-hwa, a
defector who heads the NK Refugees
Human Rights Association on Korea, was
equally dismissive. “Is North Korea is planning
to reform and open up? I thinkthe foreign
press is over-reacting. The only thing
Kim Jong-il left to Kim Jong-un is debt. He
has no funds to run the regime.” — Reuters
business
NEW DELHI: Despite a slowing economy India will
likely keep interest rates on hold this week as worries
mount that a truant monsoon could drive up
food costs and stoke still-high inflation, analysts
forecast. Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the central
bank, made a half-percentage-point cut in April to
jump-start Asia’s third-largest economy following
an aggressive rate-hiking cycle that reduced inflation
from double-digits. But since then, the bank
has been holding back on easing monetary policy
amid fears about the impact on the cost of living of
a possible drought and the lack of decisive steps by
the government to curb a gaping fiscal deficit.
“With below-normal monsoons and little (reform)
policy action out of Delhi, the central bank is likely
to keep rates unchanged” at its meeting tomorrow,
said Leif Eskesen, HSBC’s chief India economist.
Wholesale inflation stands at 7.25 percent-far
above the bank’s comfort level of five to six percent-while
the consumer price index, which covers
a smaller band of goods, is at 10.02 percent.
“Unless the bank sees a trend that inflation is actually
coming down, I don’t see the RBI reducing
interest rates,” Deepak Parekh, chairman of leading
bank HDFC, told shareholders. Central bankers
have reason to worry about rising prices with
memories still fresh of India’s severe 2009 drought
that sent food prices soaring and fuelled overall
inflation, analysts say.
Also, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s
Congress party-led government has not made any
significant strides toward scaling back hefty subsidies
on food, fuel and fertilisers and cutting its sizeable
fiscal deficit, analysts note. The bank is “waiting
for heavy rain and a drizzle of (economic)
reform” before it reduces rates, Eskesen said. Heavy
government subsidies are pumping too much
money into the system and are undermining monetary
authorities’ anti-inflation battle, the bank
maintains.
But the government is caught in a vicious circle
as it attempts to reduce subsidy spending while
the economy is losing steam. The economy grew at
5.3 percent between January and March-its weakest
quarterly pace in nine years-and latest economic
numbers have been discouraging. Industrial production
was up a paltry 2.4 percent in May. There
are big divisions about spending cutbacks among
the ruling centre-left coalition’s members who fear
voter anger. There is also discord over proposed
reforms such as allowing entry of foreign supermarket
chains-seen by economists as a vital step in
removing bottlenecks in India’s antiquated foodsupply
chain and reducing food inflation.
Singh, who unleashed India’s first wave of economic
reforms, said this month he wants to restore
the economy’s “animal spirit”. But coalition divisions
have “again brought an air of uncertainty to
the flexibility (Singh) has on revving up the pace of
reforms”, said Ajay Bodke, investment strategist at
Indian brokerage Prabhudas Lilladher.
Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to hold off
on widely anticipated fuel subsidy and retail
reforms because of renewed opposition from party
colleagues and coalition allies, leaving budget targets
in tatters and rattling investors. Members of
Singh’s Congress Party and senior government officials
told Reuters that no movement was expected
until at least the second week of September,
despite market expectations of an announcement
this week or the next.
The Indian rupee fell for a fourth successive session
on Wednesday on growing worries of dithering
on policy reform. Despite consultations with
partners and state governments, it was not clear
how Singh would be able to build a consensus on
opening the $450 billion retail sector to foreign
supermarkets like Wal-Mart Stores or on increasing
fuel prices.
“Such an announcement will not be made
unless a political consensus is reached,” one party
leader said. A senior civil servant with knowledge
of the reform agenda said “efforts are on” to allay
fears of coalition allies and party members. He
declined to give a timetable for implementing the
policies. A month-long session of parliament starts
on Aug. 8. While the government does not need
parliamentary approval for the reforms, many
Congress politicians said the party would find it
hard to stomach protests from allies and the opposition.
Singh took over the finance ministry portfolio
after Pranab Mukherjee resigned in June to contest
and later win election to the largely ceremonial
role of the nation’s president.
The architect of India’s initial economic reforms
in the 1990s, Singh has promised to revive the “animal
spirit” of the economy and many investors had
expected him to move in the period between
Mukherjee’s election on July 19 and the opening of
what is dubbed as the monsoon session of parliament.
Changing rules to allow multi-brand foreign
retailers to operate in India was expected to be the
first major announcement. But that plan hit fresh
opposition from the Samajwadi (Socialist) Party, a
Congress ally. “We urge the government not to
open up the retail trade to FDI (foreign direct
investment) any further,” Samajwadi leader
Mulayam Singh Yadav and communist party leaders
told Singh in a letter on Saturday that predicted
News
in brief
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
India is likely to keep
rates on hold: Analysts
India seen holding back on reforms
Feared Putin lieutenant
making major of Rosneft
MOSCOW: The man regarded as President
Vladimir Putin’s most mighty lieutenant may
now be just three months away from cobbling
together the world’s biggest publiclytraded
oil company for the Russian state. The
last piece of the puzzle for Igor Sechin-
Rosneft chief and long-time surveyor of
Russia’s globe-topping energy sector-would
be clinching a deal to acquire British group
BP’s troubled half of its TNK-BP venture in
Siberia. But some see the rapid rise of Rosneft
as part of a mad scramble in Russia by both
the state and private players to pool
resources as they seek to replace dwindling
Soviet-era field output with the promise of
untapped Arctic oil.
This consolidation “is based on the need to
Russian Deputy Prime Minister in
charge of energy Igor Sechin
substitute inexpensive onshore oil and gas
sites with far more expensive ones located
offshore and in other remote locations,” said
Renaissance Capital analyst Ildar Davletshin.
The unquestioned leader and instigator of
this drive is Sechin-a quiet man with a past in
Portuguese-speaking Africa that some link to
Soviet military intelligence. His precise biography
details have never been publicly confirmed.
“If he takes something on, you can be
sure that the job gets done,” Putin said of his
fellow Saint Petersburg native in March. “This
is very important for the executive.”
Russia’s steely ruler followed those rare
words of praise by sending the 51-year-old to
the day-to-day running of the company he
massive job losses.
Shares of retailers fell as much as 7 percent after
the contents of the letter were made public. Singh
had introduced the retail plan last year but quickly
abandoned it after protests in parliament and on
the street. The plan to reduce subsidies on diesel,
kerosene and cooking gas, that are aimed at India’s
poor and rural majority, also looks in trouble
because crop yields and farm incomes could be
affected this year by poor rains.
Most Indians work in agriculture and political
parties are loathe to hurt their pockets, especially
since inflation has run at over 7 percent for two
years. Singh’s office said this week that the rains in
the June-September monsoon season that irrigate
55 percent of India’s farmlands were likely to be
below average. The season accounts for 75 percent
of the country’s annual rainfall and half of that is
usually delivered in June and July. The oil ministry
indicated this week that diesel prices wouldn’t be
raised before September, and unlikely to cover the
subsidy, putting more pressure on the budget.
Already spent
A senior finance ministry official told Reuters
delays to reforms, especially raising heavily-subsidised
fuel prices, meant India would struggle to
meet the fiscal deficit target of 5.1 percent of the
budget, or $91.4 billion. The government has
already spent most of the $7.6 billion set aside for
fuel subsidies in the 2012-13 fiscal year. To make
matters worse, demand for diesel is expected to
rise as farmers try to cope with poor monsoon rains
by pumping more from wells. Subdued tax income
and hiccups in plans to sell stakes in state-run companies
are adding to pressure on the budget and
subsidies for food are also rising, leading the government
to mull asking for $5 billion-$7 billion
beyond budgeted subsidy spending, the official
said.— Agencies
AHMEDABAD: An Indian farmer sprays fertilizer in a paddy field. Indian farmers
are desperately waiting for the long-delayed monsoon, the annual rains
that replenish rivers and quench crops to keep this agricultural nation of 1.2
billion fed through the year. — AP
had already overseen as energy sector tsar
during the Putin’s 2008-2012 spell as premier.
Rosneft’s unlikely emergence began a decade
ago when it first hoovered up the prized
pieces of Yukos-a private firm that was not
only the country’s largest but whose owner
Mikhail Khodorkovsky openly fought with the
state.
Khodorkovsky is now in jail on tax and
fraud charges while Yukos exists only on
paper. Its owners still blame Sechin of masterminding
a dubious campaign as a top member
of Putin’s administration to get Rosneft
better control of oil. Rosneft now has some of
the world’s largest proven reserves but is still
suffering from lagging production. One
recent state study said output may actually
start falling across Russia by 2025 unless
action is taken fast.
The firm’s response has been rapid and
transformational for Sechin’s image abroad.
Three huge Arctic deals with world majors in
the past year have seen Putin’s favourite turn
into the pointman for oil executives in the
West. Yet Rosneft’s prospects of becoming
established as a bigger producer than
ExxonMobil depend largely on what happens
should it forge an alliance with the same
tycoons who had served as BP’s acrimonious
partners since 2003.
The Alfa Access Renova (AAR) billionaires
were being treated with open disdain by
some Rosneft insiders during a 2011 meeting
that came just days after the group managed
to block Rosneft’s initial Arctic tie-up with BPa
deal masterminded by Sechin. One
unnamed AAR shareholder assured Russian
media this week that “I don’t see a big problem
if BP decides to sell its stake in TNK-BP to
Rosneft.”
To which UBS Investment Research
responded that “while AAR is willing to accept
Rosneft as a partner in TNK-BP, it is unclear at
this stage whether Rosneft sees AAR as a
long-term shareholder in the company.” The
tycoons have entered their own talks to buy
out BP. But they would just as easily sell their
stake instead in exchange for the British
group’s shares and cash-a deal that would
make a Rosneft-BP alliance complete.
Yet no deal seems certain while some
question the wisdom of Rosneft-its debt at
$25 billion and no big cash project on hand
besides the backup it gets from the stategoing
after a BP stake estimated at around
$30 billion. — AFP
Hungarian PM blames EU for economic crisis
BUDAPEST: Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban
lashed out at the European Union for failing to solve
the bloc’s economic crisis on Saturday, a day after calling
for a new economic system. “It must be said: The
crisis is in fact Brussels’ crisis,” Orban told several thousand
supporters during a visit to the prominent
Hungarian minority in neighbouring Romania.
“Brussels is the main obstacle to finding ways to
resolve the economic problems,” the conservative
Hungarian premier said in Baile Tusnad, 230 kilometres
(145 miles) north of the Romanian capital
Bucharest. “Brussels wastes weeks defining the size of
chicken cages, forcing farmers to put toys in pigsties,
worrying that the peace of a goose’s soul is an important
European issue while hundreds of thousands of
citizens lose their jobs, watch their financial system
collapse and feel it is getting harder and harder to survive,”
he added. There are no “European recipes” to
manage the debt crisis, Orban charged. He has repeatedly
clashed with European Union officials owing to
moves that would stem Hungarian media freedoms,
stack members of his rightwing Fidesz party in key
institutions and undermine the national central bank.
On Friday the outspoken Hungarian leader told entrepreneurs
in Budapest: “We hope that it will not be necessary
to introduce a new system to replace democracy,
but we need new economic systems and new
ideas.”
Greek steel workers end nine-month strike
ATHENS: The union at one of Greece’s main steel
plants has decided to end its nine-month strike, state
television reported. Workers are expected to return
Monday to the Hellenic Halyvourgia plant at
Aspropyrgos west of Athens, where police have
clashed with striking workers in recent weeks. The
workers first downed tools last October, protesting
lay-offs as well as cuts in working hours and in pay to
500 euros ($615) per month that were imposed amid
Greece’s deep economic crisis. At a union meeting
with 150 workers reported present, 107 voted to end
the protest, while 14 voted against and 29 abstained.
They agreed to return to work as long as police forces
now guarding the plant leave the premises. Last week,
police intervened following a court order and opened
the gates of the factory, meeting resistance from a
group of strikers while others wanted to return to
work. Some protesters were detained and later
released, now awaiting trial, charged with breaching a
court order that had outlawed the strike weeks ago.
The government said it had acted upon the wishes of
the workers, while the radical left main opposition
party Syriza and the Communist Party condemned the
police action.

Y ou
24 business
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Brazil’s Rousseff pledges more economic stimulus
Everyday tasks the new
frontier in service jobs
can hire Sara Fisher to straighten up your room. You
can hire Amber Leigh Salisbury to straighten out your
love life. And why stop there? You can call Deneane
Maldonado when your child needs minding and Dennis
Freeman when you want to improve your child’s mind. Of
course, you could also do all those things yourself. But if you
hire someone, you can save time, avoid stress, make your life
less cluttered - and maybe even better.
By the way, you’ll also be fanning a series of small, glowing
embers amid the ashes of the job market. Many
American families are juggling an array of tasks every day.
And they are increasingly hiring people and companies to do
what they can’t do - or don’t want to. “I am sure that the market
is growing,” said Freeman, owner of In-Home Tutors
Atlanta, which sends tutors to client homes. “On a good
week, I pay about 100 tutors, who are working with maybe
150 students. People have a lot on their plates.”
The trend accelerated after the recession, starting in late
2007, cast millions of workers into unemployment. The lackluster
recovery beginning in 2009 has not created enough
jobs to pull all those people back onto payrolls. The result
has been a huge supply of potential entrepreneurs. Many of
them have started offering services - from dog-walker to
rent-a-friend. Sue Cleere, for example, started She’s Wired
LLC after being laid off by WebMD in late 2008, just as the
economy was falling off a cliff. She installs technology, fixes
problems and teaches her clients how to get the most out of
their devices.
“They are not necessarily tech people, but they want the
latest technology,” she said. “They are always looking for the
next thing.” Right now, Cleere said, she has enough business
Stimulus to focus on ports, airports, railroads, roads
to consider taking on an employee or even franchising what
she does in different cities. Many of her clients are themselves
entrepreneurs who are running small businesses.
The trend extends through all sorts of personal needs,
according to sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild, author of a
new book, “The Outsourced Self.” “Every stage of life has its
corresponding market service,” she wrote. “I interviewed love
coaches and wedding planners, birth surrogates and parenting
counselors, paid friends and mourners-for-hire.”
Hochschild discounts narrow economic explanations. The
trend, she argued in a recent email, has been caused by a
conjunction of factors: growth in the two-job family, decline
of community services and rising demand as more for-profit
businesses get contracts to run public institutions like prisons,
schools and parks. “What comes out as an economic
‘demand’ is a result, I’d argue, of a modern-day ‘perfect
storm,’ “ she said. “So if we’re privatizing public life, the thinking
is, why not privatize private life?”
Are these “outsourced” services just marginal jobs at the
edge of the economy that will never amount to much?
E.J. Reedy, a research fellow at the Kauffman Foundation,
which studies entrepreneurship, predicted that some will be
able to “scale,” or expand to provide the same services to
more customers by hiring more employees. Some services
have already made the jump to a larger scale, creating many
jobs. Nanny Poppinz Inc. - a project that Deneane
Maldonado started two decades ago when she was a stay-athome
mother - now has more than 3,000 nannies placed in
metro Atlanta. A database with tens of thousands of names
lets the company find nannies who fit client requests, she
said. —MCT
ATLANTA: Certified professional organizer
Sara Fisher organizes paperwork at a
client’s home. — MCT
LONDON: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said on
Friday her government will unveil more measures to
stimulate the economy in the next few months, including
investments in ports, airports, railroads and highways.
Speaking to reporters in London, where she is
attending the opening of the Olympic games, Rousseff
also said Brazil’s economy will grow at a faster rate in
coming months, despite the impact of the global economic
crisis.
“We will move forward with our counter-cyclical program
in August and September,” she said, referring to
the slew of stimulus measures Brazil has deployed
since the beginning of the year, such as tax breaks to
stimulate consumer demand. The government does
not rule out additional tax breaks, but the focus now
seems to be on tackling the so-called “Brazil cost” - the
mix of logistical bottlenecks, high taxes and other costs
that make Brazil one of the world’s most expensive
places to do business.
“We’re very worried about the country’s cost,”
Rousseff said, citing plans to reduce electricity costs by
lowering taxes for energy utilities. Brazil, which will
host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics two years
later, has been struggling to improve and expand its
infrastructure as its economy grinds to a near halt. After
strong growth of 7.5 percent in 2010, the economy
grew by just 2.7 percent in 2011. This year, economists
are forecasting growth of as low as 1.5 percent.
Rousseff said additional stimulus measures will not
compromise Brazil’s fiscal stability, even as some economists
warn the country may miss this year’s primary
surplus target - a measure of revenues left over at yearend
that excludes debt payments. “We surely are on a
path to stability. We will do all of that while maintaining
our fiscal strength, inflation under control and
keeping our social policies,” she said. — Reuters
Agriculture sector
down on profit-making
WEEKLY COMMODITIES UPDATE
By Ole S Hansen
T he
president of the
European Central
Bank, Mario Draghi,
reacted to the continuing
deteriorating outlook for
Europe and rise in borrowing
costs for some
euro-zone countries by
saying that the ECB was
“ready to do whatever it
takes”. This resembled the
now famous Jackson Hole
speech by the US Fed’s
chairman in 2010, when he signalled the introduction
of QE1 later that year. The market took the comment by
Draghi as a sign that the ECB will intervene to buy sovereign
bonds issued by Spain and Italy, which both
have seen borrowing costs reach levels where a bailout
could become necessary.
The euro jumped from a two-year low and the dollar
weakness generally helped commodities move higher
as well. The chance, however, that this risk-on rally in
currency markets turns out to another one of a relative
short duration is very high, given the current
north/south divide within Europe as to what can and
will be done to save the Euro in its current set-up. In a
change from recent weeks, the agriculture sector saw
the weakest performance during the past week, as
both the grains and soft sub-sectors suffered losses
above four percent on the back of profit taking following
a dramatic rally recently. US weather forecasters
now sees the chance of rain to reach drought-stricken
parts of the country but the risk - particularly for corn -
is that it is too little too late. Precious metals were the
best performers, not least helped by a weaker dollar,
with gold taking the lead after moving above previous
levels of resistance at $1,610.
Oil markets finding support
The strong rally in oil markets - which was kicked off
in late June by geo-political concerns regarding Syria,
Iran and most recently Iraq, together with lost supplies
from a Norwegian oil strike - seems to have run out of
steam as the macroeconomic sentiment continues to
deteriorate.
The sanctions against Iran have proved very effective
so far and exports from the country with nuclear
aspirations have slowed to a trickle, removing an
amount equal to what was lost during the Libyan conflict
in 2011. The escalating tensions in Syria and worrying
signs that it could spill over into Iraq have also
unnerved the oil markets. All in all, this leaves the global
oil market with less supply at a time of seasonal peak
demand, and it has helped the price of Brent crude, the
global benchmark for more than 50 percent of physical
transactions, to recover almost half of its March to June
sell-off.
The rally has primarily been supportive for Brent
crude as the tightness from lost Norwegian production
and geo-political worries impacts this global benchmark
the most. The front month futures spread
between WTI and Brent crude has as a consequence
widened by USD 5 dollars since the oil prices reached
the low point on June 21.
Following the strong rally since mid-June, Brent
crude has now settled into a 102 to 108 trading range
while trying to decipher which leg to stand on. Geopolitical
tensions and the chance of renewed quantitative
measurements in Europe and potentially the US
leaves the market supported despite weak macroeconomic
conditions across many different economies.
Economic data from China has improved slightly
recently, but at the same time oil imports in June were
down 12 percent from May, which could signal that the
rush to fill commercial and strategic reserves have
begun to slow as they fill up. The building and filling of
strategic storage facilities has been a Chinese aspiration,
in order to bring its forward cover closer to 90
days which is what OECD nations generally have.
Speculative investors who got badly burned during
the June slump on overextended long positions have
only slowly begun to rebuild long exposure, following
sharp reductions in net-long positioning in both WTI
and brent crude. This could indicate some hesitancy in
getting too bullish at this stage, with higher prices from
current levels not being justified, while support
towards 100 dollar equally should contain any sell-offs
until the market works out whether slowing demand
from weaker economic activity or the risk to supplies
carries the greatest risk.
Hot weather supports natural gas - for how long?
The dynamics in the US gas market have changed
over the last couple of months as the heat wave across
the country have significantly helped to reduce the
overhang of natural gas held in underground storage
facilities. As the chart shows the current surplus inventory
over the five year average have now shrunk from
60 percent in March to just 16 percent today. The
demand for gas has been strong enough to push the
Aug12/Sep12 futures contract spread into backwardation
(August price higher than September) which is a
relatively unusual event this time of year but which also
reflects the fact that demand for gas has generally
been rising as the low prices during the early months
of 2012 saw power generators replace coal with gas.
The summer related peak in demand generally
occurs within the next couple of weeks and as demand
begins to slow, with another few months still to go
before winter heating demand begins to exceed injections,
storage levels can still climb towards and above
the record high of 3,852 billion cubic feet from
November 2011 and on that basis further advances
much above $3 will begin to find some resistance.
Gold back above 1600 - looking for momentum
The yellow metal has taken a small initial step in its
attempt to break out of the relatively tight trading
range which has prevailed for several months this
week. Spurred on strength against other currencies
than the dollar, not least the euro combined with signs
of renewed safe-haven interest it broke above previous
resistance at 1,610. Whether this will be enough to
drive it higher at this stage remains to be seen, as many
view the recent dollar weakness as temporary and once
the speculative overhang of long dollar positions has
been removed renewed headwind from a strengthening
dollar will make further advances difficult.
Hedge funds and other large investors are still holding
a relatively small net-long gold position while ETP
investors have scaled back their holdings from a recent
record of 2,413 metric tons to 2,396 currently. The
threat by Moody’s, the credit rating agency, might
downgrade core European economies should support
gold, as there are increasingly few quality investments
available to the global investors looking to a safe place
to put their cash. While these all offer some level of
support to gold, the main driver for a move higher will
be the emergence of momentum in the market, something
that has not been seen for months. Whether this
require a break above the June high at 1,641 or the 200
day moving average at 1,655 remains to be seen but at
least for now gold has a fighting chance of that happening
providing 1,600 holds up against any downside
selling attempts.
US crops desperate for a drink
The price of key US crops finally succumbed to some
selling this week following one of the strongest rallies
in recent memory, which resulted in the price of both
soybeans and corn reaching new record highs. The selling
was triggered by weather forecaster who predicted
that some rain would finally hit some of the drought
stricken areas of the US Midwest, bringing some temporary
relief, and causing some selling by money managers
who had been scrambling to build long exposure
as prices surged higher. Further dry and hot weather is
however expected for next week, and while corn crops
in many areas are beyond repair, soybeans could still
benefit from rain. This helps to explain why corn has
been the relative better performer during the recent
setback as the chart below highlights.

KUWAIT: Toyota Motor Corporation’s & MNSS Kuwait has
announced the launch of the all-new 2013 Lexus ES lineup including
the ES 350 and ES 250. Featuring a progressive new design
and enhanced handling, the 2013 ES sedan range is set to continue
as a favorite of luxury car buyers in the region. The ES 350 is
powered by a 2GR-FE V6 DOHC VVT-i engine, featuring advanced
technologies and providing excellent acceleration feeling and
sporty driving. The six-speed automatic Electronically Controlled
Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) provides enhanced performance,
fuel efficiency and smooth shifts. Low friction materials
further improve efficiency. In addition to ES350, Lexus newly
introduces ES 250 which is powered by a 2AR-FE I4 DOHC 4-Valve
Dual VVT-i engine and has adopted various features such as roller
rocker arm system which help achieve advanced engine performance
and low fuel consumption.
Signature Lexus design
The new ES features a lower, progressive profile, and clean,
continuous styling lines from front to rear. All four corners are
pulled tightly inward to the wheel arches, creating distinctive proportions.
The wheelbase of the new ES has been lengthened by
45mm, while the overall length of the vehicle has grown by just
25mm, resulting in a more spacious interior.
The new ES unmistakably bears the new face of Lexus with its
distinctive, spindle grille. Oversized grille molding with a chrome
plated finish and a grille with a dark gray metallic finish have been
adopted, creating a sense of luxury. High Intensity Discharge
(HID) headlamps have been adopted, effectively ensuring nighttime
visibility. LED daytime running lights which enhance product
appeal while effectively ensuring visibility, and combination rear
lamps which enhance appearance and fuel economy, reflect the
“L” design motif.
Interior designed for comfort, spaciousness
The modern interior of the 2013 ES has been designed to provide
both a sense of openness and security. Sightlines and visibili-
ty are improved, controls are logically placed, and new cabin
materials express a high level of craftsmanship. A newly sculptured
seat enhances driver comfort. A power tilt & telescopic
steering column has been adopted. The steering wheel position
can be adjusted in the up/down and forward/rearward directions,
ensuring an optimum driving posture. Fluid-filled engine mounts,
new sound absorbing materials and a tuned engine intake minimize
the intrusion of outside noise.
Greater rear seat legroom and knee room are the hallmark of
the redesigned, more spacious cabin. The seat backboards have
been made thinner to expand knee space for rear seat occupants.
Knee room is increased by 70mm and legroom is increased by
104mm. The new design also offers additional foot room below
the front seats.
Available comfort and convenience features include manual
door window shades, a power rear shade, and a one-touch power
trunk closer. Optional ambient lighting, discretely placed under
the wood trim, softly illuminates the surfaces of the instrument
panel and all four doors.
The new ES will feature enhanced NuLuxe seating surfaces,
developed to reduce environmental impact. Embossed leather is
also available, as is semi-aniline leather for an even more refined
look and feel. In addition to the Black, Light Gray and Ivory color
schemes from the current generation semi-aniline interior colors,
Criollo*1 has been newly added to the lineup for a total of four
available color schemes.
Crisp, confident driving dynamics
Suspension and steering changes and a stiffer body deliver
more precise handling. Opposite-wound coil springs on the front
suspension enhance straight-line stability. Revised rear suspension
geometry and improved shock absorber damping characteristics
enhance ride comfort. A reduction in the steering gear ratio
delivers a more responsive and direct steering feel. Increased
body rigidity is achieved through lightweight, high tensile
strength steel, added bracing and additional spot welds. The ES
25 business
comes equipped with standard 215/55R17 low rolling resistance
tires on 17-inch alloy wheels.
Driver-focused cockpit
Designed with attention to ergonomics and driver focus, the
cockpit features separate display and operation zones to help
keep the driver’s eyes on the road. The instrument panel, with its
long, layered look, places the main information display directly in
the driver’s line of sight. Just below the center display is a dial-illuminating
LED analog clock. Controls are clustered beneath the
information zone, on the steering wheel, and on the center console.
The second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) allows
the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, optional
navigation system and more. The screen menus are selected with
a controller conveniently located on the center console. RTI
reduces eye and hand movement, helping reduce effort and distraction.
Safety features
An array of safety features aid the driver. The available Blind
Spot Monitor helps detect vehicles in side blind spots. Available
Lane Departure Alert (LDA) is integrated with automatic high
beam dimming technology. The available Pre-Collision System
(PCS) uses sub-millimeter wave radar to detect obstructions and
prepare the vehicle for a potential collision.
The brake control system features that have been adopted
include: Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake force
Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, TRaction Control (TRC), Vehicle
Stability Control (VSC) and Emergency Stop Signal. A brake mechanism
developed with the concept of braking performance that
provides the driver with a sense of security has been adopted,
realizing excellent brake feeling and anti-fade performance.
Ventilated front 17-inch(V6) or 16-inch(L4) disc brakes are available
and solid rear 16-inch disc brakes have been adopted.
The ES features a segment-leading 10 airbags as standard
equipment, including dual-stage SRS airbags for the front seats as
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Lexus
unveils 2013 ES 350 and ES 250 in Kuwait
An elegant sporty style with spindle grill
KUWAIT: Toyota and Al-Sayer officials are pictured during the launch of the all-new Lexus ES lineup. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat
well as driver and front passenger SRS knee airbags, front and rear
SRS side airbags, and full-length SRS curtain shield airbags.
Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) front seats are designed to limit
excessive head movement in certain rear-end collisions helping to
decrease the severity of whiplash-type injuries.

26 BUSINESS
Wary consumers, trade
curb US growth in Q2
Second-quarter GDP rises 1.5%
WASHINGTON: US economic growth slowed as
expected in the second quarter as consumers
spent at their slowest pace in a year, potentially
pushing the Federal Reserve closer to pumping
more money into the economy. Gross domestic
product expanded at a 1.5 percent annual rate
between April and June, the weakest pace of
growth since the third quarter of 2011, the
Commerce Department said on Friday. First-quarter
growth was revised up to a 2.0 percent pace
from the previously reported 1.9 percent. Output
for the fourth quarter was raised to a 4.1 percent
rate from 3.0 percent.
“The economy is struggling to maintain altitude,”
said Robert Dye, chief economist at
Comerica in Dallas. Dye made the comments
before the release of the report. The ailing economy
could cost President Barack Obama a second
term in office when Americans vote in November.
The expansion following the 2007-09 recession is
the slowest since the 1980-81 period and the
recession itself was the deepest in the post-war
period, annual revisions to the data showed.
The weak second-quarter reading, which was
in line with economists’ expectations, could raise
expectations of a third round of bond purchases,
also known as quantitative easing, by the Fed. No
major policy announcement is expected at the
Fed’s two-day meeting next week, but many economists
now say the central bank could move
when policymakers gather on Sept. 12-13.
The economy has been hit by worries of deep
government spending cuts and higher taxes
scheduled to kick in at the start of 2013, as well as
troubles from the debt crisis in Europe. The
biggest factor weighing on the recovery is fear
that politicians in Washington would be unable to
avoid the so-called fiscal cliff at the turn of the
year, economists said. Recent economic data ranging
from employment to manufacturing suggest
limited scope for growth to bounce back in the
third quarter.
Consumers hunker down
Much of the slowdown in growth in the second
quarter was caused by a softening in consumer
spending as Americans eased off on automobile
purchases due to tepid job and income growth.
Consumer spending, which makes up about 70
percent of U.S. economic activity, increased at a
1.5 percent rate, a step down from the 2.4 percent
pace logged in the previous three months.
Consumer spending was the weakest in a year.
Much of that reflected a drop in spending on
long-lasting goods such as automobiles, which
had buoyed consumption in the prior period. But
there was some silver lining, with spending on
services rising at a 1.9 percent rate, stepping up
from 1.3 percent. Labor market weakness, marked
by three straight months of job growth at less
than 100,000 jobs per month, remains a major
constraint to spending.
The economy needs to grow at a rate of
between 2 percent and 2.5 percent to keep the
unemployment rate stable. Business inventories
rose $66.3 billion in the last quarter, contributing
nearly a third of a percentage point to GDP
growth. However, with domestic demand slowing,
businesses could find themselves with
unwanted stock, which would hurt growth in the
third quarter. Excluding inventories, GDP rose at a
1.2 percent rate, the weakest pace since the first
quarter of 2011. In the first quarter, the comparable
figure was 2.4 percent.
Export growth pushed higher, despite slowing
global demand, especially in Europe and China.
But that was offset by a strong rise in imports.
Trade subtracted almost a third of a percentage
point from GDP growth. Government spending
contracted for an eighth straight quarter, but the
pace of decline slowed. Defense spending fell
marginally after two quarters of hefty declines.
There was no relief from state and local government
spending, which has been a drag through
much of the recovery. State and local government
spending fell at 2.1 percent rate after dropping 2.2
percent in the first quarter. Housing - the Achilles
heel of the US economy for six years - increased at
a 9.7 percent rate, slowing from the prior period’s
weather-related 20.5 percent surge.
Business spending on equipment and software
rose at a 7.2 percent rate. With demand weak,
inflation pressures subsided during the quarter. A
price index for personal spending rose at a 0.7 percent
rate, the lowest rate since the second quarter
of 2010, after rising 2.5 percent in the first quarter.
A core measure that strips out food and energy
costs advanced at a 1.8 percent rate, moderating
from 2.2 percent in the prior quarter. —Reuters
Al-Tijari Announces Najma draw winners
KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of
Kuwait held the Al-Najma Account
draw yesterday. The draw was
held under the supervision of the
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
represented by Saquer Al-Manaie.
The winners of the Al-Najma Daily
Draw who get KD 7,000 are:
Jumana Rezq Jerjes Abdulmaseeh
Jerjes; Mohammed Fahad
Mohammed Al-Atiqi; Diab Ahmad
STUTTGART: With the new CLS
Shooting Brake, Mercedes-Benz is once
again setting an example when it
comes to creativity of design, and as
such highlighting its leading role in this
area: in terms of its proportions, the
new CLS is quite clearly a coupe, but
with five doors and a roof which continues
through to the rear, it promises
some remarkable new possibilities. The
idea of the four-door coupe - successfully
introduced in 2004 with the first
CLS and long imitated in the meantime
- has now been taken to new heights
and to innovative effect. The result is
automotive independence at its most
beautiful.
According to CEO Dr. Dieter
Zetsche: “Any memorable machine is
equal parts art and science. A car has to
first deliver in function - the ticket of
entry - and then in fascination: the ticket
to real excitement. The CLS Shooting
Brake excels on both accounts - unlike
any other car in the market”. The proportions
of the CLS Shooting Brake are
surprising but clearly those of a coupÈ,
and create a basic stance which makes
it look ready for the off: the long bonnet,
narrow-look windows with frameless
side windows, and dynamic roof
sloping back towards the rear. It is only
when taking a second look that it
becomes clear that the Shooting Break
actually has five doors and offers
“more” in terms of function.
In essence it represents an unprecedented
version of a sports car with five
seats and a large tailgate. It is a special
proposition for people looking to differentiate
themselves from the mainstream,
and who do not wish to compromise
on either sportiness or
stowage space when it comes to travelling
in style. The Shooting Brake is a
further highlight in the innovative luxury
vehicle series from Mercedes-Benz
and, like the CLS CoupÈ, has the potential
to become the role model for a
new market segment. “The CLS
Shooting Brake is based on the great
tradition of stylish sportiness which has
always characterised Mercedes, and
takes these unique icons an exciting
step further”, explains Gorden
Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-
Benz. “It stands for the enhanced
design idiom of Mercedes-Benz which
is oriented towards aesthetic, avant-
Jabr; Mohammed Ashraf
Mohammed Aazzam; and Fidaa
Jamel Al-Tabaa.
The Commercial Bank of
Kuwait announces the biggest
daily draw in Kuwait with the
launch of the new Najma account.
Customers of the bank can now
enjoy a KD 7,000 daily prize which
is the highest in the country and
another 4 mega prizes during the
garde principles”. This is seen in the
impressive series of market-defining
new vehicle concepts, such as the SLK
for example, which in 1996 established
a genre as the first Roadster with a
retractable steel roof, the M-Class as
the first premium SUV in 1998, or the
first four-door CLS CoupÈ in 2004.
Exclusive innovation
in the interior
The second generation of the CLS
set high standards in terms of the
design and quality of the interior:
straightforward elegance combined
with innovative details and handcrafted
perfection. The Shooting Brake also
applies this same aspiration in the luggage
compartment. It is lined with
high-quality carpet, and the handstitched
material is also incorporated
into the sideliners in conjunction with
leather appointments. Optional
designer loading rails made of aluminium
give an even more exclusive look.
An extravagant and unique feature
for the automotive industry is the
designo wooden luggage compartment
floor, which serves to underscore
the hand-finished nature of the interior.
Cherry tree wood is a classic among
fine wood species and contrasts perfectly
with the inlaid smoked oak and
aluminium rails. This affords the luggage
compartment a touch of elegance
normally found on yachts, combined
with the exciting worlds of technology
and precision craftsmanship.
The wood is characterised by its flexibility
and elasticity, as well as its density
and fine texture. For the luggage
compartment floor made of American
cherry tree wood, selected veneer
sheets are glued and pressed together
by hand in five cross-bonded layers to
achieve high dimensional stability. The
blanks are milled into their precise
shape using a CNC machine, and the
surfaces sanded to a smooth finish and
waterproofed to maintain the natural
beauty of the wood. Inlaid work using
darker smoked oak, precisely cut into
three millimetre strips using laser technology,
helps to enhance the design of
the wooden floor. The lavishly produced
aluminium rails have a brushed
finish and rubber inserts, and not only
help to protect the wooden floor but
also feature anti-slip properties.
year worth KD 100,000 each on
different occasions: The National
Day, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and
on June 19 which is the date of
the bank’s establishment.
With a minimum balance of KD
500, customers will be eligible for
the daily draw provided that the
money is in the account one week
prior to the daily draw or two
months prior to the mega draw. In
The CLS coupÈ already set new
standards in interiors with its wide variety
of individualisation options. The
Shooting Brake also offers five interior
colours, five trim designs and also
three qualities of leather to choose
from. Customers have a choice of three
exclusive wood types: high-gloss
brown burr walnut, high-gloss black
ash and satin-finish light-brown poplar.
The interior is given an even more progressive
look with the addition of
piano lacquer or AMG carbon
fibre/black piano lacquer trim elements.
A completely new addition
comes in the form of porcelain interior
appointments which afford both CLS
models a sense of luxury normally
found in the S-Class. The CLS Shooting
Brake also lives up to its role as a
design icon thanks to the innovative
nature of the materials used. These
comprise a mixture of satin and highgloss
finishes used on the metal surfaces.
A new dimension in
vehicle concepts
No-one likes to have to compromise:
even when the focus is not on
the practical elements of the design of
the Shooting Brake (length x width x
height: 4956 x 1881 x 1413 mm), the
new CLS model still has some trump
cards up its sleeve. With a load volume
of between 590 and 1550 litres, the
luggage compartment offers a lot of
room despite the flat, sporty lines of
addition, for each KD 25 a customer
can get one chance for winning
instead of KD 50. Commercial
Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity
to congratulate all lucky winners
and also extends appreciation
to the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry for their effective
supervision of the draws which
were conducted in an orderly and
organized manner.
the roof, and is easy to use thanks to
the automatically opening tailgate fitted
as standard. A load compartment
cover also protects luggage from prying
eyes.
The standard air suspension at the
rear helps to ensure optimum road
holding at all times. For additional flexibility,
the rear seat backrests can be
folded down from the luggage compartment
as standard. The rear seats
themselves provide room for three
people, with individual seats on the
outsides and a third seat in the middle.
The three saddle-type head restraints
on the rear seats barely affect the view
towards the rear, and can be lowered
at the touch of a button by the driver.
An optional trailer coupling is also
available.
Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Board
Member of Mercedes-Benz Cars
responsible for Sales & Marketing,
sums it all up: “The new CLS Shooting
Brake represents a new dimension in
vehicle concepts and offers discerning
customers independence at its most
beautiful.”
Lightweight construction
and aerodynamics
Intelligent lightweight construction
plays a decisive role in bridging the
classic conflict between the objectives
of low weight and high strength in the
CLS Shooting Brake. The model features
frameless, all-aluminium doors
made from deep-drawn aluminium
SEVILLE: Andalusia’s sunny beaches, shady
plazas and flamenco dancing attract millions of
northern European visitors each year but the
southern region has become symbolic of
Spain’s decline and its small businesses are paying
the price. Nearly one in 10 of Andalusia’s
companies has closed in the last three years and
more than 80 percent of those remaining are
tiny, with less than three employees. This makes
them particularly vulnerable to the economic
slump caused by a 2008 property crash, a banking
crisis and growing concern over the future
of the euro zone.
After growing faster than the national average
for more than a decade, Andalusia is slumping
faster than the rest of Spain and is stuck
with massive unemployment and growing
poverty. Local authorities say they don’t plan to
follow Valencia and ask for a central government
bailout. While Andalusia has one of the
country’s highest debt levels, it is also the most
populous region with the lowest debt-per-person
ratio. However, with its economy expected
to shrink this year and next, pressure to slash its
deficit and no access to credit markets, doubts
linger about how it can refinance some 1.6 billion
euros of debt by the end of the year without
help. Since the real estate boom years ended,
Andalusia has survived almost entirely on
tourism and agriculture.
Parked in front of a centuries-old bullring on
the banks of the Guadalquivir river, Juan Zabala
Franco, 44, who has been offering visitors horse
and cart rides around the city for 25 years, can’t
remember such a quiet summer. “Tourism right
now is a disaster. There was an explosion of
money as the banks lent to everyone, and now
we’re paying for that,” he said, offering a halfprice
ride to a Spanish family. “Families come
here on package holidays, with their little paper
bracelets and all included. They don’t have a
budget for anything else.” The story is the same
in the bars and restaurants surrounding the
Cathedral, the world’s oldest gothic church,
with empty tables at the Bar Giralda. “Many
don’t spend and would rather buy lunch from a
supermarket than eat in a restaurant,” says Yusef
Najib, a waiter at the Giralda since 2006. “Before,
this bar would take in 5-6,000 euros a day. We’re
lucky if we make half that now.”
Accelerated development
For a quarter of a century, Andalusia gorged
on European Union funds that helped it blossom
from a backwater with a high illiteracy rate,
paying for high-speed rail lines, thousands of
panels with extruded sections, and in
comparison with conventional steel
doors, are some 24 kilograms lighter.
The tailgate, bonnet, front wings, various
support profiles and substantial
parts of the suspension and engines
are all made of aluminium too.
The aerodynamics also make a significant
contribution to the efficiency
of the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting
Brake. With a frontal area of 2.30 msq
and a Cd value of 0.29, the drag area is
0.67 msq.
Drive system: powerful
and efficient
The CLS Shooting Brake is available
with two different Petrol engine variants
-Features common to all engines
include the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic
transmission as well as the ECO
start/stop function. In addition, CLS
500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY, available
with all-wheel drive CLS 350
BlueEFFICIENCY produces 225 kW
(306 hp). The top-of-the-range model
is the CLS 500 BlueEFFICIENCY with a
V8 biturbo engine producing 300 kW
(408 hp). Efficiency is also increased
by the standard electro-mechanical
power steering EPS (Electric Power
Steering). EPS is a radical move in the
relationship between the driver, car
and road surface. This is because for
the first time, it gives engineers the
freedom to choose and programme
many of the parameters that influence
steering feedback. So they defined a
Mercedes-Benz feeling behind the
wheel. In addition to fuel economy,
the result is a considerable improvement
in handling and agility. The
electromechanical power steering
also enables another innovation to be
implemented - Active Park Assist. The
CLS Shooting Brake is not only able to
detect parking spaces, but can also
park automatically.
Another world exclusive:
dynamic full LED headlamps
The CLS was the first passenger
car in the world to offer optional
dynamic full LED High Performance
headlamps, which combine the exciting
colour elements of LED technology
- similar to those of daytime driving
lights - with the performance,
functionality and energy efficiency of
today’s bi-xenon generation. Some
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Andalusia’s small business
crushed by Spanish slump
km (miles) of highways, modern schools and
universities. Much of this bonanza was negotiated
by the region’s favourite son, former Socialist
Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez, who signed
Spain’s accession treaty in 1985 and brought an
extravagant world fair to his home town, Seville,
in 1992.
EU funds accounted for one-third of all
investments in the region in 1996 but only 12.3
percent by 2008, according to the OECD. They
run out next year, and their loss will only add to
growing pressure on the region. Andalusia was
sucked into the property fever and grew fast as
cheap money poured into concrete especially
along its hundreds of km of once-pristine coastline.
The construction industry has collapsed
and gross domestic product per capita is now
17,587 euros, one of the lowest in the country,
compared to 31,288 euros in the industrialised
northern Basque Country region and an EU
average of 25,134 euros. One in every three
workers in Andalusia is now unemployed, compared
to a national average of nearly one in
four. Some 7.5 percent of all the jobless in the
euro area live here.
Almost 30 percent of the region’s residents
live below the poverty line, compared to the
national average of 19.5 percent. “Every day we
hear worse news about data and risk premiums
and that has pushed people from fear to panic,”
said Seville Business Confederation president
Miguel Rus Palacios.
Palacios, whose office is in the orange-treelined
centre of Seville, says he has been criticised
for his outright views, but needs to speak
his mind. “Businesses must make some very difficult
decisions to define their own futures. Our
project, as a country, is just not viable and we
can’t carry on like this.” Andalusia is only one of
three regions the Socialists managed to hold
this year after losing national power when they
were trounced by Prime Minister Mariano
Rajoy’s conservatives in a general election last
November. They blame his austerity measures
aimed at reducing the deficit for worsening the
crisis. “No one will ever grow through Rajoy’s
policies. How can we grow with these cuts? We
agree with cuts, but not with these cuts,” says
Pepe Caballos, economy secretary for the
Socialists in Andalusia’s parliament. “To rise from
this crisis, we need to change the model of productivity,
invest in it, invest in research.” The conservatives
accuse the Socialists in Andalusia of
having squandered boom-year revenues on an
inflated bureaucracy designed to keep themselves
in power indefinitely. —Reuters
Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake sets a striking example
95 percent of all customers have opted
for these lights in the CLS CoupÈ.
Of course, as the world’s second car
to feature this optional extra, the CLS
Shooting Brake also offers the new
light system. For the first time ever, it
provides the Intelligent Light System
already proven in Mercedes models
fitted with bi-xenon headlamps in
combination with LED technology.
The headlamps, with their 71 LED
lamps in total, look exciting; and they
serve to underline the unmistakable
appearance of the CLS. The light specialists
from Mercedes-Benz have for
the first time been able to use LED
technology in the innovative
Adaptive Highbeam Assist, resulting
in an entirely new quality of illumination
when driving at night. In contrast
to the first vehicles equipped
with LED headlamps, no compromises
are now necessary with respect to
the functionality and performance of
the lighting technology. There are
further arguments for LED-based
lighting technology: the average
operating life of an LED is around
10,000 hours, around five times
longer than that of a xenon light;
moreover, LED headlamps most
closely approximate to the colour of
daylight. This means that LED light is
in keeping with the normal human
perception patterns and that the
driver experiences significantly more
brightness on the road at night.
Studies have shown that the closer
the colour of artificial light comes to
daylight, the less the strain on the
eyes. With a colour temperature of
5,500 kelvin, LED light is closer to
daylight (6,500 K) than xenon light
(4,200 K).
More than a dozen driving assistance
systems help to prevent traffic
accidents and reduce the severity of
an accident. Active Blind Spot Assist
and Active Lane Keeping Assist are
available as part of the Driving
Assistance package Plus, in combination
with Distronic Plus, Bas Plus and
the Pre-Safe Brake. Both assistance
systems are not only able to detect an
unintentional lane change or vehicles
in the blind spot, but can also correct
the direction of travel by gentle brake
intervention if the driver ignores the
visual or audible danger warnings.

LONDON : After being caught spying
on people across Europe and
Australia with its Wi Fi-slurping
Street View cars, Google had told
angry regulators that it would delete
the ill-gotten data. Google broke its
promise. Britain’s Information
Commissioner’s Office (ICO) received
a letter from Google in which the
company admits it kept a “small portion”
of the electronic information it
had been meant to get rid of.
“Google apologizes for this error,”
Peter Fleischer, Google’s global privacy
counsel, said in the letter, which
the ICO published on its website. The
ICO said in a statement that Google
Inc. had agreed to delete all that
data nearly two years ago, adding
that its failure to do so “is cause for
concern.” Other regulators were less
diplomatic, with Ireland’s deputy
commissioner for data protection,
Gary Davis, calling Google’s failure
“clearly unacceptable.” Davis said his
organization had conveyed its “deep
unhappiness” to Google and wants
answers by Wednesday.
Google said that other countries
affected included France, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden,
Finland, Switzerland, Austria and
Australia. Attempts to reach regulators
in several of those countries
weren’t immediately successful
Friday. Google angered officials on
both sides of the Atlantic in 2010
when it acknowledged that its map-
27
TECHNOLOGY
Google: Didn’t delete Street View data after all
CHIBA: Engineer Kogoro Kurata (C) walks in front of Japanese electronics
company Suidobashi Heavy Industry’s newly unveiled robot “Kuratas” at the
Wonder Festival in Chiba, suburban Tokyo yesterday. The Kuratas robot,
which will go on sale with a price tag of one million USD, measures four meters
in height, weighs four tons and has four wheeled legs that can either be controlled
remotely through the 3G network or by a human seated within the
cockpit. —AFP
Apple buying AuthenTec
for about $356 million
NEW YORK : Apple has agreed to buy fingerprint
reader AuthenTec Inc. for approximately
$356 million as the maker of
iPhones and iPads looks to strengthen its
digital security capabilities. Apple’s acquisition
comes as consumers use their
smartphones for more and more daily
activities, including shopping. “As cellphones
become essentially credit cards,
consumers will look to secure them in the
event of theft or loss. AuthenTec’s fingerprint
sensors offer one way to secure
handsets,” said Raymond James analyst J.
Steven Smigie.
It’s not known what Apple’s plans are.
Rival devices running Google’s Android
system are starting to come with a wireless
technology that can let phones make
payments with the tap of a reader. Apple’s
patent filings hint at an interest in the
technology, known as near-field communications,
but the notoriously secretive
company has given no clue when the
technology might show up in iPhones. A
new model is expected this fall. Beyond
protecting payments, a fingerprint system
could keep unauthorized people from
accessing email, contact lists and more.
Current phones offer protection through
passwords, which can be guessed or forgotten.
AuthenTec said Apple Inc. is paying
$8 for each of its common shares, a 58
percent premium to their closing price on
Thursday.
AuthenTec’s stock jumped $3.27, or 65
percent, to $8.34 in Friday afternoon trading,
above Apple’s offer. That could suggest
investors think there will be a higher
bid for the company. The deal was unanimously
approved by AuthenTec’s board. It
still requires approval from a majority of
the holders of the Melbourne, Fla., company’s
stock. AuthenTec has about 44.5 million
outstanding shares, according to
FactSet. A higher offer for AuthenTec is
possible. In a regulatory filing, AuthenTec
said it’s not allowed to actively seek out
other offers, but it could hold talks with
other parties before its stockholders
approve Apple’s buyout terms. — AP
8.7 m mobile customers
hacked in South Korea
SEOUL: South Korean police have
arrested two hackers who stole personal
data of 8.7 million customers of the
nation’s second-biggest mobile operator,
the company said yesterday. KT said
the hackers-formally arrested yesterdayhad
stolen data such as customers’
names, phone numbers and residential
registration numbers for five months
since February and sold the information
to telemarketing firms.
“The number of affected people
account for nearly a half of about 17 million
customers of ours,” a KT spokesman
told AFP, adding the company had alerted
police on July 13 after detecting
traces of hacking attacks. Yonhap news
agency, citing police, said the duoincluding
a former veteran programmer
at a local IT company-had earned at least
1 billion won (about $880,000) by selling
the stolen data. Seven other people were
also booked for buying the leaked data
for telemarketing purposes, Yonhap said.
“We deeply bow our head in apology for
having your precious personal information
leaked... we’ll try our best to make
such things never happen again,” KT said
in a statement to customers. Hacking
attacks on major companies aimed to
gain access to the personal data of their
customers is a frequent occurence in
South Korea, one of the world’s mostwired
nations. Seoul authorities said in
July last year hackers using an Internet
address registered in China had gained
access to South Korean major websites
including web portal Nate.com and may
have stolen the private data of 35 million
users.
WASHINGTON: David Schwartz, Oblong Industries vice president for sales
demonstrates the use of a data glove to navigate on a computer screen at Los
Angeles-based software company Oblong Industries’ offices in Washington yesterday.
The software behind the film “Minority Report” — where Tom Cruise
speeds through video on a large screen using only hand gestures — is making
its way into the real world. —AFP
ping cars, which carried cameras
across the globe to create threedimensional
maps of the world’s
streets, had also scooped up passwords
and other data being transmitted
over unsecured wireless networks.
Investigators have since
revealed that the intercepted data
included private information including
legal, medical and pornographic
material. The Mountain View,
California-based company had been
meant to purge the data, and Google
chalked up its mistake to human
error. The company said it recently
discovered the data while undertaking
a comprehensive manual review
of Street View disks. The company
said it had contacted regulators in all
NEVADA: For more than a decade, US fighter
pilots have become accustomed to “owning
the sky” in wars against insurgents who have
no warplanes or air defenses. But in the desert
outside Las Vegas, the US Air Force is trying to
get back to basics, reminding pilots how to
fly against a sophisticated enemy with fighter
jets, surface-to-air missiles and satellite jammers.
Traditional combat skills have gotten “a
little rusty,” said Steve Imonti, a former fighter
pilot who helps oversee simulated air battles
out of Nellis Air Force Base.
If a pilot goes three years or more without
attending the “red flag” mock battles at Nellis,
“then you see that rust really start to build
up,” said Imonti, director of programs and
evaluation for the 414th Combat Training
Squadron. American pilots have become
adept at precision air strikes in Iraq and
Afghanistan, with a handful of planes circling
over a single target after receiving a call for air
power from troops on the ground.
With the United States withdrawing most
of its combat troops from Afghanistan by the
end of 2014, senior commanders are anxious
for crews to train for operations other than
close air support, officials said. Military leaders
want pilots from all the services to spend
more time training for large-scale assaults in a
“contested environment,” where US air superiority
is not a given and where batteries of
anti-aircraft missiles pose a lethal threat.
“When we pull out of Afghanistan, we will
have an increase here” at Nellis, said Colonel
Chip Thompson, chief of the vast range just
north of Las Vegas where the red flag exercises
take place.
“The goal is, I want every lieutenant within
his first two years to go to a red flag,” he said,
instead of the current average of about three
years. “So that when you go to war, you’ve
seen it before.” At red flag, pilots on a “blue
team” face off against a hostile “red” fleet of
fighters that employ tactics drawn from intelligence
reports on Iran, China and other
potential adversaries. Instead of insurgents
equipped with AK-47s and roadside bombs,
the red team is well-armed, with an array of
simulated surface-to-air missiles and the ability
to jam radar, disrupt radio communications
and disable computer networks at a command
center.
Although officers insist the red side represents
a generic enemy, the scenarios and tar-
of the countries where it had promised
to delete data but realized it had
not. Fleischer’s letter asks Britain’s
ICO for instructions on how to proceed;
the ICO told Google that it
must turn over the data immediately
so it can undergo forensic analysis.
Friday’s disclosure comes just over
a month after the ICO reopened its
investigation into Google’s Street
View, saying that an inquiry by
authorities in the United States
raised new doubts about the disputed
program.
In April, the U.S. Federal
Communications Commission fined
Google, saying the company “deliberately
impeded and delayed” its
investigation into Street View. It’s
gets often closely resemble real world armies,
particularly Iran. The red flag exercises started
in 1975 after American pilots suffered heavy
losses in Vietnam, where the “kill ratio” was
2:1, much worse than in previous conflicts.
Senior officers decided pilots needed more
realistic training that would convey the intensity
of aerial combat, as statistics showed if
airmen could survive their first 10 sorties, their
chances of survival dramatically improved.
“When you’re flying around and you look
over and see a smoke trail coming at you, it’s
OK to have your pucker factor as long as it
occurs at red flag,” said Lieutenant Colonel
Brian Morrison, deputy commander of the
57th Adversary Tactics Group. “So that when
it actually happens in combat, you’re saying,
‘I’ve been there and done this,’” he said. After
the end of the Cold War, the red flag exercises
were scaled back, and drills held at bases
overseas were scrapped. But the exercise got
a new lease on life starting in 2005, with the
Air Force adding mock surface-to-air missiles
(SAM) and space and cyber warfare units.
At this month’s red flag, young US pilots,
unclear what, if any, penalties would
be imposed on Google by Britain’s
ICO or regulators in any of the 10
other jurisdictions in which the company
had wrongly retained Street
View data. “We need to take a look at
the data... There’s all sorts of questions
we need to ask,” an ICO
spokesman said, speaking on condition
of anonymity because office
rules prohibit him from being named
in print.
The ICO has the power to impose
fines of up to 500,000 pounds
(roughly $780,000) for the most serious
data breaches, although penalties
are generally far less severe and
can involve injunctions or reprimands.
— AP
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
US Air Force looks to train
pilots for hi-tech threats
Air Force getting back to basics
WASHINGTON: Crime fighters
have long used brains and brawn,
but now a new kind of technology
known as “predictive policing”
promises to make them more efficient.
A growing number of law
enforcement agencies, in the US
and elsewhere, have been adopting
software tools with predictive
analytics, based on algorithms
that aim to predict crimes before
they happen.
The concept sounds like something
out of science fiction and
the thriller “Minority Report”
based on a Philip K. Dick story.
Without some of the sci-fi gimmickry,
police departments from
Santa Cruz, California, to
Memphis, Tennessee, and law
enforcement agencies from
Poland to Britain have adopted
these new techniques. The premise
is simple: criminals follow patterns,
and with software-the same
kind that retailers like Wal-Mart
and Amazon use to determine
consumer purchasing trendspolice
can determine where the
next crime will occur and sometimes
prevent it.
Colleen McCue, a behavioral
scientist at GeoEye, a firm that
works with US Homeland Security
and local law enforcement on predictive
analytics, said studying
criminal behavior was not that different
from examining other types
of behavior like shopping.
“People are creatures of habit,”
she said. “When you go shopping
you go to a place where they have
the things you’re looking for... the
criminal wants to go where he will
be successful also.” She said the
along with crews from the United Arab
Emirates and Colombia, woke every day to a
briefing on a daunting new mission involving
dozens of aircraft, including F-15 and F-16
fighters, B-1 and B-52 bombers, A-10 ground
attack planes, aerial refueling tankers,
unmanned drones and early warning radar
aircraft. In day and night time battles, they
faced off against US pilots flying F-15 and F-16
fighter jets painted in camouflage resembling
the patterns on Russian warplanes.
NEVADA: This US Air Force photo released July 27, 2012 shows a three-ship of F-16
Fighting Falcons from the 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, fly alongside
a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron Tinker Air Force
Base, Oklahoma during Red Flag 12-4 July 20, 2012, over the Nevada Test and Training
Range. —AFP
technology could help in cities
where tight budgets were forcing
patrol reductions.”When police
departments are laying more
sworn personnel, they can do
more with less,” she said.
The key to success in predictive
policing is getting as much data as
possible to determine patterns.
This can be especially useful in
property crimes like auto theft and
burglary, where patterns can be
detected. “You can build a model
that factors in attributes like the
time of year, whether it is hot and
humid or cold and snowy, if it is a
payday when people are carrying
a lot of cash,” says Mark Cleverly,
who heads the IBM unit for predictive
crime analytics. “It’s not saying
a crime will occur at a particular
time and place, no one can do
that. But it can say you can expect
a wave of vehicle thefts based one
everything we know.”
IBM has worked with dozens of
agencies such as London’s
Metropolitan Police, the Polish
National Police and a number of
US and Canadian cities. In
Memphis, officials said serious
crimes fell 30 percent and violent
crimes declined 15 percent since
implementing predictive analytics
in a program with IBM and the
University of Memphis in 2006.
The program known as CRUSH-
Criminal Reduction Utilizing
Statistical History-targeted certain
“hot spots” to allow police to
deploy more efficiently.
John Williams, crime analysis
manager for the city’s police, said
the system has had a dramatic
impact, allowing Memphis to get
off the list of worst US cities for
crime. ‘Quality arrests’- “If the data
is indicating a hot spot, we are
able to immediately deploy
resources there. And in a lot of
instances we are able to make
quality arrests because we’re in
the right area at the right time,” he
told AFP.
Although beat officers can use
their instincts for similar results,
Williams said the software could
be far more precise, such as predicting
burglaries in a small geographic
area between 10 pm and
2 am. In one case, the software
was able to help police break up a
group that was committing
armed robberies on the city’s
Hispanic population. “There were
84 robberies, but we had no idea
it was so organized,” Williams said.
By crunching the numbers, police
were able to pinpoint the zone
and time of likely holdups: “We
caught a group of robbers in
progress, we had leads on additional
robberies,” he said.
Williams said police officials
from as far away as Hong Kong,
Rio de Janeiro and Estonia have
come to review the experience in
Memphis. In Los Angeles, another
program developed by scientists
at the University of California-Los
Angeles and Santa Clara
University was tested in a single
precinct, and resulted in a 12 percent
drop in crime while the rest
of the city saw a 0.2 percent
increase.
That test and others led to the
creation of a company called
PredPol. And Los Angeles will
expand its use of the program
The red team pilots are part of dedicated
“aggressor” squadrons that work full-time at
emulating tactics of potential enemies, based
on the latest intelligence analysis from spy
agencies. Commanders are also increasingly
adding simulated underground targets to red
flag scenarios, officials said, training pilots on
techniques that might be required if the
United States moves to take out buried
nuclear sites in North Korea or Iran.
“Underground targets are becoming more of
a factor, especially with Iran, North Korea scenarios,”
Thompson said. “These are very hard
to find, hard to destroy.” — AFP
‘Predictive policing’ takes byte out of crime
under contract with PredPol, said
CEO Caleb Baskin. Baskin said the
system is based on a model from
mathematician George Mohler
which “is very effective in predicting
the time and location for
crimes that have not yet taken
place.” PredPol had begun working
with other cities in California
and “we’ve had inquiries from a
lot of places in the US and international
locations,” Baskin said.
“The science that underlies the
tool will work anywhere. The
question is does the agency maintain
a database that we can plug
into.” While use of such analytics
generally wins plaudits for helping
“smarter” policing, it does raise
concerns about Big Brother-like
snooping. Andrew Guthrie
Ferguson, a law professor at the
University of the District of
Columbia, said the use of technology
could be positive but that it
could lower the threshold for constitutional
protections on “unreasonable”
searches.
“To stop you and frisk you and
search you, a police officer needs
reasonable suspicion, so my question
is how will this affect reasonable
suspicion?” he said. If the
search is based on a computer
algorithm, Ferguson said, and the
case comes to court, “How do you
cross-examine a computer?” IBM’s
Cleverly said the technology can
in many cases improve privacy.
“You can pinpoint the record of
who has access to information,
you have a solid history of what’s
going on, so if someone is using
the system for ill you have an
audit trail,” he said. — AFP

BOHEME: In this file picture taken on August 7, 2007 nine-week-old baby
gorilla Tatu lays in the arms of her mother Kijivu at the gorilla enclosure
of the Zoo in Prague. A gorilla accidentally hanged himself at the Prague
zoo, five years after gaining the spotlight when his birth was broadcast
live on the internet. Tatu died in the morning while playing in a rope
structure in the gorilla wing, the zoo director said. —AFP
Zoo moves orangutan
to stop her smoking
JAKARTA: Indonesian zookeepers
have moved an orangutan out of visitors’
sight so she’ll no longer smoke lit
cigarettes people regularly throw into
her cage. Taru Jurug Zoo spokesman
Daniek Hendarto said Thursday that
Tori and her male companion, Didik,
were moved Wednesday to a small
island within the zoo. There are four
endangered orangutans at the zoo in
the Central Java town of Solo.
NEW YORK: If you’re having chest pains,
an advanced type of CT scan can quickly
rule out a heart attack. New research
suggests this might be good for hospitals,
but not necessarily for you. These
heart scans cut time spent in the hospital
but didn’t save money, the study
found. They also prompted more tests
and questionable treatments and gave
relatively large doses of radiation to
people at such low risk of a heart attack
that they probably didn’t need a major
test at all.
There is no evidence that adding
these tests saved lives or found more
heart attacks, wrote Dr. Rita Redberg, a
cardiologist at the University of
California, San Francisco in an editorial.
Her commentary accompanied the
study in Thursday’s New England Journal
of Medicine. And since radiation from
the scans can raise the long-term risk of
developing cancer, doctors “may legitimately
ask whether the tests did more
harm than good,” she wrote.
Let’s be clear: None of this changes
the advice to seek help quickly if you’re
having chest pain or other signs of a
heart attack. Any delay raises the risk of
permanent heart damage. But more
than 90 percent of the 6 million people
who go to hospitals each year in the U.S.
with chest pain have indigestion, stress,
muscle strain or some other problem -
not heart disease. Doctors are afraid of
missing the ones who do have it, and
increasingly are using CT scans - a type
of X-ray - with an injected dye to get
detailed views of arteries.
More than 50,000 of these scans were
done in Medicare patients in 2010, and
their use is growing. Far more than that
were done in younger patients like the
ones in this study, who were 54 years
old, on average.
The test requires a substantial dose of
radiation, which can raise the risk of cancer
years down the road. In some cases,
patients might just be told that a doctor
wants the test. They may be too frightened
to question it or unaware they can
refuse or ask about other testing options
without jeopardizing their care.
The aim of the study was to see
whether these heart scans, called coronary
CT angiography, were faster, better
or less expensive than usual care, such
as simpler tests or being kept a while for
observation. Researchers led by Dr. Udo
Hoffmann at Massachusetts General
Hospital enrolled 1,000 patients who
went to one of nine hospitals around the
country during regular daytime, weekday
hours with chest pain or other possible
heart attack symptoms. All showed
no clear sign of a heart attack on initial
tests - an electrocardiogram and blood
work. They were randomly assigned to
further evaluation either with a CT
angiography scan or whatever is standard
at that hospital, such as a treadmill
or other heart tests. Those given the CT
scans spent an average of 23 hours in
the hospital versus 30 hours for the others.
More patients given the scans were
sent home directly from the emergency
room rather than being admitted - 47
percent versus 12 percent.
“Identifying the underlying cause of
The 15-year-old Tori has been
smoking for a decade. She mimics
humans by holding cigarettes casually
between her fingers while visitors
watch and photograph her puffing
away and flicking ashes on the
ground. Hendarto said recent medical
tests show the four primates are in
good condition. The two other orangutans
will be moved later to another
island.— AP
Study questions CT scans
to rule out heart attacks
chest pain more quickly with CT scans
could allow medical care providers to
better allocate limited resources to the
patients who are most in need of treatment”
while letting others go home
faster, said a statement by Dr. Susan
Shurin, acting director of the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, which
sponsored the study. However, the average
cost of care was $4,289 for patients
given the CT scans versus $4,060 for the
others, despite spending seven hours
less in the hospital. That’s because CT
scans led to more follow-up tests and
treatments, even though the burden of
disease was about the same; 8 percent
of both groups turned out to have heart
disease and only 5 of the 1,000 had had
a heart attack.
In the CT group, 29 patients wound
up getting a heart bypass or arteryopening
angioplasty and stent procedures
versus 18 patients in the usual
care group. That suggests overtreatment,
said Dr. W. Douglas Weaver, a former
American College of Cardiology
president from Henry Ford Hospital in
Detroit. “If you look more, you’ll find
more, and the more you’ll do” to treat
whatever is found, said Weaver, who had
no role in the study. He also said time in
the hospital seemed unusually long for
both groups - most hospitals have protocols
to evaluate such cases within 12
hours.
Furthermore, patients fared the same
in the month after their ER visit regardless
of how the hospital evaluated them
for chest pain.
No heart attacks were missed, and no
one died. Those given CT scans had
nearly triple the amount of radiation -
about 14 millisieverts (a measure of
dose) versus less than 5 millisieverts for
the others, some of whom received tests
requiring less radiation. “Exposures of 10
millisieverts have been projected to lead
to 1 death from cancer per 2,000 persons,”
Redberg wrote in her editorial.
“Equally alarming, the testing may
lead to an increased risk of breast cancer
among these patients, many of whom
are middle-aged women.” Radiation risks
are a growing concern - Medicare’s
HospitalCompare website recently started
adding information on inappropriate
radiation exposure rates at the hospitals
it tracks. Many study authors have consulted
for imaging device makers and
radiology groups.
A much larger study comparing CT
scans and other tests for evaluating
heart risks in 10,000 patients is under
way now, but it won’t provide answers
for several years. In the meantime, a
patient’s gender, age, and history of
chest pain or other illnesses such as diabetes
go a long way toward predicting
risk as long as the initial EKG and blood
work suggest no problem, Redberg contends.
“With no evidence of benefit and
definite risks, routine testing in the
emergency department of patients with
a low-to-intermediate risk...should be
avoided,” she wrote.
“The question is not which test leads
to faster discharge of patients from the
emergency department, but whether a
test is needed at all.” —Reuters
HEALTH&SCIENCE
PISA: Once the preserve of science fiction,
increasingly sophisticated robotic devices are
vying for a place side by side with humans in
the real world. At Italy’s Sant’Anna university,
a bionic arm commanded by the human brain
or a limb extension that allows rescuers to lift
rubble after earthquakes are just some of the
futuristic innovations in the pipeline.
“The idea is to get robots out of factories
where they have shown their worth and to
transform them into household machines
which can live together with humans,” says
Professor Paolo Dario, director of the college’s
bio-robotics department. The university in the
historic town of Pisa in Tuscany is a veritable
factory of ideas. Researchers here are working
on projects ranging from a robot that can
come to your door to collect your recycling to
tomatoes that slow the effects of ageing and
plants that survive underwater to help floodprone
regions of the world.
“You can innovate here. Whoever has a
project gets help, ideas are not blocked. We
are investing in individuals,” the rector of
Sant’Anna, Maria Chiara Carrozza, a professor
of bio-robotics said in an interview. The dustcart
looks like the famous R2-D2 from Star
Wars with its laser scanner and location sensors.
The idea is that it can work through
phone bookings to come to your street at a
fixed time to collect your waste.
“We tested it for two months with 15 fami-
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Science fiction comes
to life in Italian lab
Bionic arm commanded by human brain
PISA: A picture taken on July 17, 2012
shows Researcher Paolo Dario, director
of the BioRobotic Institute of the St.
Anna School University in Pisa. —AFP
Aging AIDS epidemic
raises new questions
WASHINGTON: AIDS is graying. By the end
of the decade, the government estimates,
more than half of Americans living with HIV
will be over 50. Even in developing countries,
more people with the AIDS virus are surviving
to middle age and beyond. That’s good
news - but it’s also a challenge. There’s growing
evidence that people who have spent
decades battling the virus may be aging prematurely.
At the International AIDS
Conference this week, numerous studies are
examining how heart disease, thinning bones
and a list of other health problems typically
seen in the senior years seem to hit many
people with HIV when they’re only in their
50s. “I’m 54, but I feel older,” said Carolyn
Massey of Laurel, Md., who has lived with HIV
for nearly 20 years. “When I hear young people
talk about, ‘Well you get HIV and you take
your drugs and you’ll be all right’ - that’s just
not the truth,” she said. “This is a lifelong thing
we’re talking about, and it unfolds every day
on you.” The graying isn’t just because people
like Massey are surviving longer. Some of it
comes from older adults being newly diagnosed,
a trend U.S. health officials say is small
but slowly growing. Yes, grandparents still
have sex - and that’s an age group missed by
all those hip safe-sex messages aimed at
teens and 20-somethings.
“They let down their guard,” is how Dr.
Kevin Fenton of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention puts it. Already, a
third of the nearly 1.2 million people living
with HIV in the U.S. are over 50, and by 2020
half will be, Fenton said at one of numerous
sessions on aging at the world’s largest AIDS
meeting.
People 50 or older accounted for 17 percent
of new HIV diagnoses in 2009, according
to the CDC’s latest data. That’s up from 13
percent in 2001. There aren’t as good counts
in poor regions of the world, where access to
life-saving medications came years later than
in developed countries.
But even in hard-hit sub-Saharan Africa,
home to most of world’s HIV-infected population,
studies suggest 3 million people living
with HIV are 50-plus, said Dr. Joel Negin of the
University of Sydney in Australia. By 2040, he
said, that could reach 9 million. There, challenges
are different. Ruth Waryaro of Kenya,
addressing the conference on her 65th birthday,
said clinic workers hassle her when she
goes to pick up her monthly supply of medication
- not believing a grandmother really
needs it.
“If you’re not strong enough, you just
leave the medication and go home,” said
Waryaro, who raised four children of her own
and now is raising four AIDS orphans. She
also has diabetes and high blood pressure. As
Negin pointedly told the conference, “50 is
not old.” But for years, world health authorities
didn’t even measure HIV in people
beyond age 49. Today, people who are diag-
MADRID: Spain’s conservative government has provoked
a storm among women’s groups with plans to
tighten the country’s abortion laws to make the
procedure illegal in cases where the foetus is
deformed. The government announced Friday it
would alter an abortion law introduced by its
Socialist predecessors in 2010 which gave women
the legal right to abortion on demand for up to 14
weeks of pregnancy.
The 2010 law also allowed women the legal right
to abort up to the 22nd week of pregnancy in cases
where the mother’s health is at risk or the foetus
shows serious deformities. In cases of an extremely
severe serious malformation of a foetus, an abortion
could be carried out at any time if approved by an
ethics committee. But last week Justice Minister
Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon came out strongly against
allowing abortion in cases of a deformed foetus.
“I don’t understand why we should deprive a foetus
of life by allowing abortion for the simple reason
that it suffers a handicap or a deformity,” he said in
nosed and treated early can expect a nearnormal
life-span, Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious
disease chief at the National Institutes of
Health, told The Associated Press. The new
focus is on what these pioneering survivors
can expect as they reach their 50s, 60s and
beyond. They’re now getting chronic illnesses
such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease
and osteoporosis - some of the common
ailments when anyone gets old. But studies
suggest people with HIV may be at higher risk
for some of those illnesses, or get them earlier
than usual.
“It’s almost created a new subspecialty of
medicine,” Fauci said. Perhaps the strongest
evidence links HIV and an increased risk of
heart disease. Some AIDS medications raise
that risk. But in research published for the
AIDS meeting, scientists at Massachusetts
General Hospital uncovered another reason.
They scanned the arteries of people with and
without HIV, and found the HIV patients had
more inflammation inside their arteries, putting
them at risk for the kind of clots that trigger
heart attacks. That’s even though the HIV
patients had their virus well-controlled and
weren’t that old - their average age was 52,
the researchers reported in the Journal of the
American Medical Association.
HIV triggers body-wide inflammation as a
person’s immune system tries to fight the
virus, a process that persists and can quietly
damage organs even with good medications,
CDC’s Fenton said. HIV is not acting in a vacuum,
said Dr. Amy Justice of Yale University,
noting that people’s histories of smoking, for
example, also contribute to inflammation. But
she pointed to data from a Veterans Affairs
study that said older people with HIV use
more medications for other diseases than
HIV-free patients the same age. At the conference,
some older people with HIV lined up to
have their photographs made and their personal
histories recorded, part of a Web project
called “The Graying of AIDS.”
It’s a chance to be counted, and share
knowledge. “We’re so concerned about the
youth factor, we forget about the people
who’ve brought us thus far,” said Massey, the
Maryland woman, who leads an HIV group
called Older Women Embracing Life and
works with churches to raise HIV awareness.
CDC’s Fenton noted that those voices can
help other older adults realize they’re at risk,
when they’re getting back onto the dating
scene after years of monogamous relationships.
Older people don’t use condoms as
much as younger people. “We still have this
huge issue with stigma so thick you can cut it
with a knife,” says Massey, who also wants HIV
testing to become a routine part of health
check-ups. “We have to normalize the conversation.”
The latest installment of Aging
America, the joint AP-APME project examining
the aging of the baby boomers and the
impact that will have on society.— AP
an interview published in conservative daily La
Razon on July 22. On Friday the minister justified his
plans on the grounds that the United Nations’
Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities urges nations to “adopt all necessary
measures to guarantee the rights of disabled people”.
A collective of women’s rights groups has
planned a protest in Madrid yesterday against the
planned abortion law reform that will get under way
at noon (1000 GMT).
“The reform will send the law back to an era close
to the Franco dictatorship and it distances Spain
from the vast majority of European nations in terms
of women’s rights,” the collective said in a statement.
Santiago Barambio, the head of the Spanish association
of abortion clinics, Acai, and one of the authors
of the 2010 abortion law, accuses the Popular Party
government, in power since December, of hypocrisy.
“It is the peak of cynicism. At every international
conference, all UN health agencies, the World Health
Organisation, the Council of Europe, they all say not
lies living in one of the towns near here.
Everything worked well but there are still
some problems to sort out,” said Pericle
Salvini, a member of the team behind the
project. “First of all it is slow for security reasons
and it sometimes blocks the traffic. Also
it cannot legally be on the road since there is
no type of insurance for this type of robot in
case of an accident,” he said.
Professor Dario also heads up a project
entitled “The Robot Companions for Citizens”
which is one of six contestants for a European
Union prize of one billion euros ($1.2 billion)
in funding spread out over a decade. Marco
Controzzi, who is working on a bionic arm,
says it will operate by using electrodes
attached to the skin or implanted in your
head. “It will move only according to your
intentions,” he said, adding that powering it
would be easy as it can run on just two mobile
phone batteries.
The exoskeleton or “body extender”, a prototype
costing a million euros, meanwhile, is a
kind of armour weighing 160 kilos (353
pounds) which multiplies the strength of its
human user by 20. “The idea is to use this type
of instrument for emergency workers in disasters
like an earthquake,” said engineer Marco
Fontana.—AFP
Humans would be
also-rans in all
species Olympics
PARIS: Human beings would be made to look decidedly
unimpressive were animals allowed to compete in
the Olympics-outperformed by the likes of kangaroos,
gorillas and ostriches, a science paper said Saturday.
Usain Bolt, currently the world’s fastest man, may just
be able to outrun a Dromedary camel but would trail
the cheetah, greyhound and ostrich in a sprint race, said
a feature in the Veterinary Record journal.
“‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ (faster, higher, stronger) is the
Olympic motto, but if we allowed the rest of the animal
kingdom into the Games ... we could not offer much
competition!” wrote author Craig Sharp. Jamaican track
star Bolt holds the 100m-record of 9.58 seconds, which
translates into a speed of 37.6 kilometres per hour.
The world’s fastest land animal, the cheetah, can
reach speeds of 104 kph, a thoroughbred racehorse 70
kph, a greyhound 69 kph and an ostrich 64 kph, said
Sharp of the Centre for Sports Medicine and Human
Performance at Brunel University in London. The camel
comes in just behind Bolt at 35.3 kph. The 2012
Olympics were officially opened in London on Friday
evening. When it comes to marathon running, the
human athlete could not hold a candle to endurance
animals like camels or sled dogs, and he would also be
beaten in the long jump by the kangaroo (12.8 meters
compared to the human record of 8.95 m). The high
jump record of 2.45 m would be smashed by the springbok
gazelle, which can bound over three metres into
the air, and the snakehead fish which can leap over four
metres out of water.— AFP
FRIEDRICHSKOOG: Two seals swim in the water
at the seal nursery in Friedrichskoog, northern
Germany yesterday. A young seal “Fips” was
found at a shipyard in Hamburg at the beginning
of July and was brought to the nursery in
Friedrichskoog. —AFP
Spain angers feminists with
plan to tighten abortion law
to restrict abortion,” he told AFP. “The minister represents
the extreme right and the ultra-Catholics,
which are perhaps a minority but are very powerful
economically, such as Opus Dei for example,” he
added in a reference to the conservative Roman
Catholic organisation whose name in Latin means
“Work of God”. Trinidad Jimenez, a health minister in
the previous Socialist government who now acts as
the party’s secretary for social policy, called the
planned abortion law changes a “counter-reform”.
“It sets us back 35 years,” she said. Before the
2010 abortion reform, women could have an abortion
only in cases of rape, serious deformity or
when the mother’s mental or physical health was
threatened. The vast majority of the 115,000 abortions
carried out in 2009, the year before the
reform, were performed at private clinics and were
justified on the grounds that the pregnancy posed
a “psychological risk” to the woman. Anti-abortion
groups welcomed the planned abortion law
reform. —AFP

Australian kids
can’t run, jump,
throw: Study
SYDNEY: Australia may pride itself on its sporting
prowess, but a new study has revealed that most
of its children struggle to run, jump, kick and catch
a ball. Research led by the University of Sydney
has uncovered an overall decline in children’s ability
to perform the skills at the appropriate agewith
most seven year olds yet to have mastered
leaping, running and jumping. “The majority of
our children don’t have these skills,” Louise Hardy
from the university’s School of Public Health told
AFP yesterday.
“It’s a total myth that kids will naturally acquire
these particular skills. They do need some tuition.”
The study, which analysed data gathered in 2010
from up to 8,000 school children aged five to 16
years from New South Wales state, found that girls
performed better at movement skills such as running
or leaping. But boys had a greater mastery of
those used in ball sports such as kicking and
catching. Overall, the data revealed a poor performance
on movement skills, with only about 30
percent of children aged nine and 10 able to run
properly.
And only about five percent of girls at this age
had mastered throwing or kicking a ball. Hardy
said the key reasons for the poor performance on
these skills was the lack of sports teachers in primary
schools in New South Wales state, the country’s
most populous, and the fact there were not
enough parents kicking a ball around with their
kids.
By high school, most students had improved
but Hardy said that the slow development of
these activity goals could have health consequences
for later in life. Research suggested that if
a child failed to master the basic “building blocks”
of physical activities, they would not have the skill
or confidence to do them and this could impact
their overall fitness, she said.
The research, conducted in collaboration with
the University of Wollongong and Southern Cross
University, raised serious issues because low fitness
is associated with an increased risk of diabetes
and heart disease, Hardy said. “It’s just
important that we get our kids out there moving,
and teaching them how to move properly,” she
said.—AFP
KITGUM: Augustine Languna’s eyes welled
up and then his voice failed as he recalled the
drowning death of his 16-year-old daughter.
The women near him looked away, respectfully
avoiding the kind of raw emotion that
the head of the family rarely displayed. “What
is traumatizing us,” he said after regaining his
composure, “is that the well where she died is
where we still go for drinking water.”
Joyce Labol was found dead about three
years ago. As she bent low to fetch water
from a pond a half mile from Languna’s compound
of thatched huts, an uncontrollable
spasm overcame her. The teen was one of
more than 300 young Ugandans who have
died as a result of the mysterious illness that
is afflicting more and more children across
northern Uganda and in pockets of South
Sudan. The disease is called nodding syndrome,
or nodding head disease, because
those who have it nod their heads and sometimes
go into epileptic-like fits. The disease
stunts children’s growth and destroys their
cognition, rendering them unable to perform
small tasks. Some victims don’t recognize
their own parents.
Ugandan officials say some 3,000 children
in the East African country suffer from the
affliction. Some caregivers even tie nodding
syndrome children up to trees so that they
don’t have to monitor them every minute of
the day. Beginning today, Uganda hosts a
four-day international conference on nodding
syndrome that health officials believe
will lead to a clearer understanding of the
mysterious disease.
World Health Organization officials in
Uganda said the conference will be attended
by about 120 scientists from all over the
world. Anthony Mbonye, of Uganda’s Ministry
of Health, said the conference will allow scientists
to share knowledge about the disease.
Scientists are working to find the cause of the
disease, which is stretching health care
capacities here and testing the patience of a
community looking for answers as to why it
attacks mostly children between the ages of 5
and 15, why it’s concentrated in certain com-
HEALTH&SCIENCE
munities, and whether it is contagious.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, which has been investigating
nodding syndrome at the request of the
Ugandan government, has ruled out 36 possible
causes since 2009 and is carrying out a
clinical trial for potential treatments. In mid-
February the lead investigator said on a visit
to Uganda that there is now “clear evidence
that this is an epidemic” about which very little
is known. “We did repeated exams on several
of these children and found that some of
the children had stayed the same, some of
the children had gotten worse, none of the
children had improved,” said Scott Dowell,
director of CDC’s Division of Global Disease
Detection and Emergency Response.
Researchers are focusing on the connection
between nodding syndrome and the
parasite that causes river blindness, Dowell
said, though it is not yet clear there are any
links. Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, has
been around for a long time, but nodding
syndrome is somewhat new, he said. “And we
also know that there are many parts of the
world that have onchocerciasis but have no
evidence of nodding syndrome.” Many residents
here in the northernmost reaches of
Uganda, nearly 300 miles from Kampala, say
they think the disease is rooted in violence.
Locals have said it’s the only explanation for
the disease’s prevalence in places most affected
by the legacy of a brutal war carried out by
Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s
Resistance Army, a rebel group. Kony and the
group have waged a campaign of murder,
rape, and the abduction of boys and girls who
go on to become killing machines or sex
slaves.
“We the Acholi have suffered a lot, and I
am asking why,” said Benjamin Ojwang, an
Anglican bishop in the area. “In the absence
of Kony, we were beginning to find relative
peace. When are our people going to rest?” A
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Mysterious nodding disease
afflicts young Ugandans
Some 3,000 children in East Africa suffer from affliction
KITGUM: In this photo of Monday Feb. 20, 2012, Ugandan children sit in a
classroom in Kitgum, Uganda. Uganda this week hosts a four-day international
conference on nodding syndrome that health officials believe
will lead to a clearer understanding of the mysterious disease. —AP
disease as strange as nodding head gives
people a sense of hopelessness and helplessness,
said N.K. Okun-Okaka, a retired veterinarian
who has the status of a village elder.
“They can only do something about it if
they know the cause, how it is spread. My
heart goes out to these children. We feel very
sorry and we feel like we do not live in the
modern world,” he said. Ugandan health officials
have known about the disease for nearly
10 years. By 2006, after Kony was repulsed
from Ugandan territory, health care providers
had diagnosed several cases of epilepsy without
stopping to ask why. “This thing is old,”
said Emmanuel Tenywa, a World Health
Organization official in northern Uganda.
“After the war there were so many cases of
epilepsy. That’s how this thing started.”
Yet serious steps to manage the disease
were taken only in the last year after a group
of parliamentarians accused the authorities of
criminal negligence. The government then
announced a $2.2 million plan. But the cash
has been slow to reach treatment centers.
Sick children have remained stuck in villages
where biting poverty sometimes combines
with the inattention of caregivers. Children
have been badly burned after falling in fires.
Others have died falling into water, like
Languna’s 16-year-old girl. And it is common
to see children tethered to trees by caregivers
too busy to look after them.
In Languna’s household alone, eight children
suffer from the disease, including a 12year-old
boy whose growth is so stunted he
looks half his age. Languna has given up on
all of them. “We lost a child who was so promising,”
he said. “But what pains us more is that
these ones you see are destined to (die).”
Investigators said they are not certain the disease
is non-communicable, but they advise
against alarm. In the absence of definitive
answers, some here have been taking matters
in their own hands by isolating the sick. At
the Okidi primary school, which Labol attended
before she drowned, teachers once
attempted to segregate the children and then
dropped the idea after being criticized. —AP

Greetings
Hurraaa! Cross and Dante are two day.
May the good Lord bless you as you
grow to be a blessing to our family.
Greetings from mom and dad.
Announcements
Indian Embassy
passport and visa
Passports and Visa applications can be
deposited at the two outsourced centers of M/S
BLS Ltd at Sharq and Fahaheel. Details are available
at www.bls-international.com and
www.indembkwt.org .
Consular Open House
Consular Wing is providing daily service of
Open House to Indian citizens on all workings
days from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs and from 1430 hrs
to 1530 hrs by the Consular Officer in the
Meeting Room of the Consular Hall at the
Embassy. For any unaddressed issues, Second
Secretary (Consular) can be contacted.
Furthermore, the head of the Consular Wing is
also available to redress grievances.
Indian workers helpline/helpdesk
Indian workers helpline is accessible by toll
free telephone number 25674163 from all over
Kuwait. It provides information and advice to
Indian workers as regards their grievances, immigration
and other matters. The help desk at the
Embassy (Open from 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to
4:30PM, Sunday to Thursday) provides guidance
to Indian nationals on routine immigration,
employment, legal and other issues. It also provides
workers assistance in filling up labour complaint
forms. For any unaddressed issues, the
concerned attachÈ in the Labour section and the
head of the Labour Wing can be contacted.
Legal Advice Clinic
Free legal advice is provided on matters pertaining
to labour disputes, terms of contracts
with employers, death/accident compensation,
withholding of dues by employers, etc. by
lawyers on our panel, to Indian nationals on all
working days between 1500hrs to 1600hrs.
Ambassador’s Open House
The Open House for Indian citizens by the
Ambassador is being held on all Wednesdays at
the Embassy for redressal of grievances. In case
Wednesday is an Embassy holiday, the meeting
will be held on the next working day.
Register and Win
promotion at
Q8India.com
City Centre, Kuwait’s premier mega-market, in
association with Q8India.com, a leading online
Indian community portal, is holding a monthlong
‘Register and Win’ promotion campaign. Any
resident in Kuwait can participate in the promotion
by visiting www.Q8India.com and registering their
name, email and phone number. A winner will be
picked each day (except Friday), from the list of
names registered on the previous day, and receive a
free shopping voucher worth KD10 from City Centre.
Student Visa Day
at US Embassy held
T o
support Kuwaiti students currently studying or
planning to study in the United States, the US
Embassy’s Consular Section, in cooperation with
the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) - US
Branch, held a Student Visa Day on July 18. The
Consular Section allotted 200 appointments for student
visa applicants, coordinating closely with NUKS-US
Branch representatives to ensure that a successful
event be held. Encouraging Kuwaiti students to pursue
higher educational opportunities in the US is one of the
top priorities of this US Mission.
For instructions on how to apply for a student visa to
the US, please see our website for more information:
http://kuwait.usembassy.gov/student3.html.
To avoid delays during periods of high demand, students
are encouraged to apply for their visa as early as
possible.
Write to us
Send to What’s On
upcoming events, birthdays or
celebrations by email:
local@kuwaittimes.net
Fax: 24835619 / 20
I PC
‘Leniency of Islam’
An unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the
new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by
Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al-Turkait. The
program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in
Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program
email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to- 97822021
and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry
Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and
fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program
every Friday at 1:00 pm.
Registration for Ramadan STARS
Squash Tournament begins
Once again this year, the stage is set for the fourth annual
‘Ramadan STARS Squash Tournament’ to be held from August
3 to 9 at the Kazma Sporting Club, Adailiya. Abdulrahim Al-
Awadi, the Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee has
announced that doors are now open for registration to all
those who are interested in participating, stating that the
deadline for registration will be August 1. The participation in
30
WHAT’S ON
ACK students visit Warba Bank’s call center
Warba Bank recently hosted a
group of students from the
Australian College of Kuwait
(ACK) during a field visit through which
they got introduced to the work nature
of the call center and its significance in
serving clients with the most integrated
facilities.
On this occasion, Ahmed Al Bukhari,
Call Center Manager at Warba Bank, said,
“We were very pleased to receive the
(Islam Presentation Committee) and all its branches
is opening free Arabic Language Course for non-
Arab ladies accessible in beginners and advance levels.
Class will commence from September 14, 2012.
ACK students in the bank and to introduce
them to the daily work system at
the call center. The students expressed
great interest in the several products and
services offered by the bank, in addition
to the unique communication facilities
and skills applied by the center which
adopts state-of-the-art technologies and
leading strategies for best customer
service.”
He added, “Our clients can contact us
at 1825555 to receive all the information
they need about our different products
and services, and to inquire about their
balance, apply for new accounts, or to
receive new credit cards. The center also
offers information about the bank’s
deposits and Murabaha, while customers
can register in the short message service
(SMS). The center is also ready to serve
its investors and provide information for
all their inquiries.”
Free Arabic course in IPC
Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different
languages. Registration is on! Call the nearest IPC
branch: Rawdah: Offers 2 alternatives for Level 1 - Call:
22512257. Once a week class (4-month course) and
this tournament is open to all and will fall under three categories
this year. The first category is for amateurs from ages 17
and above, second category is for professional players from
ages 20 and above and the third category is for ladies 17 and
above. Following its last three years of grand success, the 4th
annual Ramadan STARS Squash Tournament is being organized
during Ramadan for squash lovers who will have an
opportunity to practice the sport while being encouraged to
develop their skills in a healthy, competitive and social environment.
Al-Awadi, the Chairman of the Higher Organizing
Committee, commented, “In our last tournaments, we have
received very positive feedback and have witnessed a huge
number of interested participants thus giving us immense
encouragement to hold an exciting tournament this year. The
2012 squash tournament offers a great opportunity to all
squash players to accept another challenge and build on their
sports skills in midst of a friendly atmosphere. I highly encourage
all interested players to maintain their level of activity during
Ramadan while balancing fitness and fasting and to register
before the deadline ends”.
All details pertaining to the tournament and means to participate
can be found on the tournaments facebook page under
‘Ramadan Stars Squash Tourney’ or follow the official twitter
page @RamadanStars for updates. The registration is taking
place at GO SPORT store located at The Avenues Mall.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
On her part, Tara Norris, Senior
Instructor and Academic Coordinator at
the ACK thanked Warba’s management
for hosting them at their premises and
for supporting such visits which enrich
the skills and knowledge of the students.
This initiative is a reflection of the bank’s
commitment towards the youth and the
constructive communication built with
leading educational institutions.
Sahara Kuwait
Resort blood
donation drive
S ahara
Kuwait Resort recently
organized a blood donation
drive with the coordination of
Kuwait Blood Bank. Many staff and
guests contributed to this humanitarian
cause which is common practice
annually.
twice a week class (2-month course). Salmiya:
25733263/97533263; Kheitan: 24730137/99285459;
Mangaf: 23723002 ext. 124/123; Jahra:
24558830/97533948.
Alawadi also pointed out the great interest the ‘Ramadan Stars
Squash tournament’ received from the private sector, where
companies took the initiative in sponsoring the tournament.
Alawadi expressed his gratitude and thanks to Kazma Sporting
Clun, Go Sport, Comtel, Vio, Unite Colors and Alawadi
Photography guaranteeing unique prizes for all winners.
Your health & Ramadan
You are invited to “Your Health & Ramadan Dasman Diabetes
Institute” from 9 am till 2 pm, today 15th July.* Blood Glucose
Monitoring. * BMI Calculation * Blood Pressure Monitoring. For
any inquiries, please contact us on: www.facebook.com/dasmaninstitute
Burgan Bank Ramadan timing
Burgan Bank announced its new branch timings which will be
applicable all throughout the holy month of Ramadan. All
Burgan Bank branches will commence work in one shift from
10 am to 1:30 pm. Additionally, the Airport branch will be open
seven days a week in the mornings from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm
and in the evenings from 9:30 pm to 11:30 pm. On this occasion,
Burgan Bank extends its best wishes to everyone during
the holy month of Ramadan.

I ndo-Kuwait
Friendship Society, Kuwait (www.indokuwaitfriendshipsociety.com)
is planning to conduct
competitions in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic
songs. This is the first time in Kuwait, an Indian
Association is organizing contests in “Patriotic Songs”
for both Indian and Kuwaiti School students. The first
3 places will be declared separately by Judges who are
experts in Indian and Kuwaiti Patriotic songs. Several
prizes and awards will be handed over for the winning
schools. Pradeep Rajkumar and A K S Abdul Nazar said
that IKFS wants let our children learn what they mean
as a “Patriotic” to their home country. 4 pages of spot
Essay competition related to “Patriotism” also will be
held in the same day as a spot registration. 1 Girl and 1
Boy student from each School can participate in the
ESSAY contest. Dr. Mohamed Tareq, Chairman of the
First Indian Model School in Kuwait “ Salmiya Indian
Model School (SIMS) already confirmed as a Co-
Sponsor of the Program.
31
WHAT’S ON
MP Ali Al-Omair recently threw a Ghabqa to the honors of the third constituency residents that was
attended by other lawmakers, dignitaries and the media.
Competitions in Patriotic songs
Conditions apply
1) The competitions are meant for all the Schools
located in Kuwait and should be nominated by
school authority.
2) Each school can select group of 7 students for the
“PATRIOTIC SONGS (Indian and Kuwaiti)” and nominate
separately.
3) Children of above 12 years till 17 years (VII classes
to XII classes) are eligible for the contest. But if
School is permitted
4) Musical instruments or KARAOKE mixer should be
accompanied by the participating
students/Children and the school team should
operate and select the mixers.
5) Time frame: 7 minutes - Names will be called as
“First come” in the Registration.
The Event will be held at the auditorium of
“Salmiya Indian Model School” on Saturday, 27th
October 2012 from 09:30 am onwards. It will be a full
day program with fun and full of entertainments.
Food-stalls of different Kuwaiti and Indian tastes will
installed.
Dr. Ghalib Al-Mashoor said in a press release that
Invitations for all schools located in various parts of
Kuwait are already been sent. Schools under one management
but from different locations can also participate
in the contest individually. As per the school
directory, there 23 Indian schools in Kuwait. The last
date of receiving names of the Participants is scheduled
on 2nd day of October, 2012 (INDIA’s GHANDI
JAYANTHI DAY). The entry is free to all and due to 2nd
day of Eid Al-Adha holidays, a large crowd is expected
to attend in addition to, Senior Kuwaiti and Indian citizens
will also grace the function.
All the applications of interest should be sent to:
ikfsociety@gmail.com Phone:99430786
Embassy
Information
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
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.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS)
immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (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
information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist
visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF ARGENTINE
The Embassy of Argentina requests all
Argentinean citizens in Kuwait to proceed to
our official email ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar in
order to register or update contact information.
The embassy encourages all citizens to do so,
including the ones who have already registered in
person at the embassy. The registration process
helps the Argentinean Government to contact and
assist Argentineans living abroad in case of any
emergency.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF BANGLADESH
The Embassy of the People’s Republic
of Bangladesh in Kuwait will follow the
following office hours during the holy
month of Ramadan. Sunday to Thursday: 9 am
- 3:30 pm. Friday and Saturday: Weekly holidays.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF BRITAIN
Consular section at the British Embassy will be
starting an online appointment booking system
for our consular customers from Sunday, 01 July
2012. All information including how to make an
appointment is now available on the embassy website. In
addition, there is also a “Consular Appointment System”
option under Quick links on the right hand side on the
homepage, which should take you to the “Consular
online booking appointment system” main page.
Please be aware that from 01 July 2012, we will no longer
accept walk-in customers for legalisation, notarial services
and certificates (birth, death and marriages). If you have
problems accessing the system or need to make an
appointment for non-notarial consular issues or have a
consular emergency, please call 2259 4355/7/8 or email
us on consularenquirieskuwait@fco.gov.uk. If you require
consular assistance out of office hours (working hours:
0730-l430 hrs), please contact the Embassy on 2259 4320.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF INDIA
During the holy month of Ramadan, the
office timings of the Indian Passport and
Visa Service Centres of BLS International
Visa Services Co, Kuwait, situated at (i)
Emad Commercial Centre, Basement Floor,
Ahmed Al Jaber Street, Sharq, Kuwait, and (ii)
Mujamma Unood, 4th floor, Office No. 25-26
Makka Street, Fahaheel, Kuwait, will be from 8.00
am - 3.00 pm from Saturday to Thursday (i.e. six
days a week). Tokens for submission of applications
will NOT be issued after 2.00 pm. Delivery of
passports and visas will be from 11.00 am
onwards. Embassy of India, Kuwait, will maintain
its usual working hours.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF KENYA
The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya
wishes to inform Kenyan residents
throughout Kuwait and the general public
that with effect from June 1, 2012 the Embassy
has moved from its current location to a new
location in Surra Block 1, Street 8, Villa 303.
Please note that the new telephone and fax
numbers will be communicated as soon as possible.
For enquiries you can contact Consular
Section on mobile 90935162 or 97527306.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF MEXICO
The Embassy of Mexico is pleased to inform that it
is located in CLIFFS Complex, Villa 6, Salmiya,
block 9, Baghdad street, Jadda Lane 7. The working
hours for consular issues are from 9:00 to
12:00 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed
from 14:00 to 15:00 hours for lunch break. The Embassy of
Mexico kindly requests all Mexicans citizens in Kuwait to
proceed to the e-mail: embkuwait@sre.gob.mx in order to
register or update contact information. Other consultations
or/and appointments could be done by telephone
or fax: (+965) 2573 1952
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF MYANMAR
Embassy of the Republic of the Union of
Myanmar would like to inform the general
public that the Embassy has moved its office
to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, Al-
Salaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes
to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to
Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new
location. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749,
e-mail:myankuwait11@gmai1.com
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF THAILAND
The Royal Thai Embassy in Kuwait, wishes to
invite the Kuwaiti companies that deal business
with Thai companies or those agencies of Thai
commercial companies to visit the Embassy’s
Commercial Office to register their relevant information
to be part of the embassy’s business and trade
database. The Royal Thai Embassy is located in Jabriya,
Block 6, Street 8, Villa No. 1, Telephone No. 25317530 -
25317531, Ext: 14.
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
EMBASSY OF PHILIPPINES
In reference to our announcement last July
14 2012 announcing the transfer and opening
of our new Philippine Overseas Labor
Office due on August 1 , we regret to inform
Filipinos in Kuwait that due to unavoidable circumstances,
the August 1 opening will be moved to
new date August 5. POLO will be closed to public
transactions on July 30, 31 and August 1 & 2. For
emergency please contact the POLO hotline at Tel
99558527.

00:45 Sharkman
01:40 Animal Cops Specials 2009
02:35 Speed Of Life
03:30 Monster Bug Wars
04:25 Wildest Africa
05:20 Great Ocean Adventures
06:10 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101
07:00 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer
07:25 Austin Stevens Adventures
08:15 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild
08:40 Breed All About It
09:10 Jeff Corwin Unleashed
10:05 Monster Bug Wars
11:00 Wildlife SOS
11:25 Gorilla School
11:55 Animal Cops Houston
12:50 New Breed Vets With Steve
Irwin
13:45 Animal Precinct
14:40 Monster Bug Wars
15:30 Ned Bruha: Skunk Whisperer
16:00 Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild
16:30 Baby Planet
17:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101
18:20 Dogs 101
19:15 Wildlife SOS
19:40 Gorilla School
20:10 Living With The Wolfman
20:35 Animal Battlegrounds
21:05 Monster Bug Wars
22:00 Great Animal Escapes
22:55 Cats 101
23:50 Animal Cops Houston
00:15 Blackadder The Third
00:45 Last Of The Summer Wine
01:15 Doctor Who
02:00 Life On Mars
02:50 Spooks
03:40 Blackadder The Third
04:10 Fimbles
04:30 Bobinogs
04:45 Nina And The Neurons
05:00 Teletubbies
05:25 The Roly Mo Show
05:40 Charlie And Lola
05:50 Fimbles
06:10 Tellytales
06:20 Bobinogs
06:30 Nina And The Neurons
06:45 Teletubbies
07:10 The Roly Mo Show
07:25 Charlie And Lola
07:35 Allo ‘allo!
08:10 The Impressions Show
08:40 Supernova
09:05 Elephant Diaries
09:55 Doctors
10:25 Coast
11:25 New Tricks
12:15 Allo ‘allo!
12:50 The Weakest Link
13:35 The Impressions Show
14:05 Doctors
14:35 Elephant Diaries
15:25 New Tricks
16:15 The Weakest Link
17:00 Eastenders
17:30 Doctors
18:00 Coast
19:00 One Foot In The Grave
19:35 Katy Brand’s Big Ass Show
20:00 Spooks
20:50 Dinnerladies
21:20 As Time Goes By
21:50 London Hospital
22:40 Gavin & Stacey
23:10 The Weakest Link
23:55 Coast
00:10 Puppy In My Pocket
00:35 Tom & Jerry Kids
01:00 Scooby Doo Where Are You!
01:25 The Flintstones
01:50 Pink Panther And Pals
02:15 Looney Tunes
02:40 Popeye Classics
03:00 Dexter’s Laboratory
03:25 Tom & Jerry
03:50 Looney Tunes
04:15 The Scooby Doo Show
04:40 Johnny Bravo
05:00 The Flintstones
05:25 The Jetsons
05:50 Wacky Races
06:00 The Garfield Show
06:15 Tom & Jerry Kids
06:30 Bananas In Pyjamas
06:55 Baby Looney Tunes
07:20 Gerald McBoing Boing
07:45 Ha Ha Hairies
08:00 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo
08:25 The Garfield Show
08:50 Johnny Bravo
09:15 Dexter’s Laboratory
09:40 Pink Panther And Pals
10:05 The Scooby Doo Show
10:30 Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-
Doo
10:55 Dastardly And Muttley
11:15 The Flintstones
11:40 Wacky Races
12:00 Jelly Jamm
12:15 Baby Looney Tunes
12:40 Ha Ha Hairies
12:55 Gerald McBoing Boing
13:20 Bananas In Pyjamas
13:35 Puppy In My Pocket
14:00 Looney Tunes
14:50 Scooby Doo Where Are You!
15:15 Scooby-Doo And Scrappy-
Doo
15:40 Dastardly And Muttley
16:00 Tom & Jerry
16:40 Pink Panther And Pals
17:30 The Garfield Show
18:10 Johnny Bravo
18:35 Dexter’s Laboratory
19:00 Jelly Jamm
19:15 Baby Looney Tunes
19:40 Ha Ha Hairies
19:55 Gerald McBoing Boing
20:20 Bananas In Pyjamas
20:35 Dexter’s Laboratory
00:30 Bakugan: New Vestroia
01:20 Powerpuff Girls
02:10 Courage The Cowardly Dog
03:00 The Amazing World Of
Gumball
03:25 Ben 10
03:50 Adventure Time
04:15 Powerpuff Girls
04:40 Generator Rex
05:05 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien
05:55 Angelo Rules
06:00 The Marvelous
Misadventures...
06:25 Casper’s Scare School
07:00 The Amazing World Of
Gumball
07:15 Adventure Time
07:40 Johnny Test
08:05 Grim Adventures Of...
08:55 Courage The Cowardly Dog
09:45 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien
10:10 Redakai: Conquer The Kairu
10:35 Powerpuff Girls
11:25 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey
12:15 Ed, Edd n Eddy
13:05 Bakugan Battle Brawlers
13:30 Sym-Bionic Titan
13:55 Foster’s Home For...
14:45 Angelo Rules
15:35 Powerpuff Girls
16:25 The Amazing World Of
Gumball
16:40 Johnny Test
17:00 The Amazing World Of
Gumball
17:55 Scooby-Doo! Mystery
Incorporated
18:20 Batman Brave And The Bold
18:45 Young Justice
19:10 Hero 108
19:35 Ben 10
20:25 Courage The Cowardly Dog
21:15 Grim Adventures Of...
22:00 Codename: Kids Next Door
22:01 Grim Adventures Of...
22:10 Codename: Kids Next Door
00:00 Aiming For Gold
00:30 World Sport
01:00 World Report
03:00 Backstory
03:30 Talk Asia
04:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps
05:00 CNN Newsroom
06:00 I Report For CNN
06:30 News Special
07:00 World Sport
07:30 Inside Africa
08:00 World Report
09:00 World Report
10:00 World Sport
10:30 World’s Untold Stories
11:00 World Business Today
00:35 Tech Toys 360
01:25 Mega World
02:15 Game Changers
02:45 Scrapheap Challenge
03:35 Junk Men
04:25 Mega World
05:15 Prank Science
06:05 Game Changers
07:00 Engineering Ground Zero
07:50 Head Rush
07:53 Bang Goes The Theory
08:20 Sci-Fi Science
08:50 Smash Lab
09:40 Junkyard Mega-Wars
10:30 Superships
15:35 The Gadget Show
16:00 Head Rush
16:03 Bang Goes The Theory
16:30 Sci-Fi Science
17:00 Invisible Worlds
17:50 Smash Lab
18:40 Cosmic Collisions
19:30 Mighty Ships
20:20 Mega World
21:10 The Gadget Show
22:00 Mighty Ships
22:50 Mega World
23:40 Smash Lab
GRIDLOCKʼD ON OSN MOVIES ACTION
12:00 Backstory
12:30 African Voices
13:00 World One
14:00 Fareed Zakaria Gps
15:00 News Stream
16:00 World Business Today
17:00 International Desk
18:00 Global Exchange
19:00 World Sport
19:30 African Voices
20:00 International Desk
21:00 Quest Means Business
22:00 Amanpour
22:30 CNN Newscenter
23:00 Connect The World With
Becky Anderson
00:15 How Sports Are Made
07:00 American Chopper
07:50 Mythbusters
08:45 Ultimate Survival
09:40 Border Security
10:05 Auction Kings
10:30 How Do They Do It?
10:55 How It’s Made
11:25 Hillbilly Handfishin’
12:20 Extreme Fishing
13:15 River Monsters
14:10 Border Security
14:35 Auction Kings
15:05 Ultimate Survival
16:00 American Chopper
16:55 Fifth Gear
17:20 Swamp Loggers
18:15 Mythbusters
19:10 How Do They Do It?
19:40 How It’s Made
20:05 Border Security
20:35 Auction Kings
21:00 The Gadget Show
21:30 Hillbilly Handfishin’
22:25 Extreme Fishing
23:20 Robson Green’s Extreme
Fishing Challenge
00:10 Replacements
01:00 Fairly Odd Parents
01:50 A Kind Of Magic
02:40 Stitch
03:30 Replacements
04:20 Fairly Odd Parents
05:10 A Kind Of Magic
06:00 Fish Hooks
06:15 Recess
06:40 So Random
07:05 Wizards Of Waverly Place
07:30 Good Luck Charlie
07:55 Shake It Up
08:20 Phineas And Ferb
08:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
09:10 Jake & The Neverland Pirates
09:20 Handy Manny
09:35 The Hive
09:45 Mouk
10:00 Recess
10:25 So Random
10:50 Hannah Montana Forever
11:15 Fish Hooks
11:40 Jake & Blake
12:05 Sonny With A Chance
TV PROGRAMS
12:30 Wizards Of Waverly Place
12:55 Phineas And Ferb
13:20 Timon And Pumbaa
13:45 Jessie
14:10 A.N.T. Farm
14:35 Good Luck Charlie
15:00 Jessie
16:40 A.N.T. Farm
17:00 Den Brother
18:25 Wizards Of Waverly Place
18:45 Jessie
19:10 A.N.T. Farm
19:35 Good Luck Charlie
20:25 So Random
20:50 Suite Life On Deck
21:15 Jonas
21:40 Shake It Up
22:05 Good Luck Charlie
00:25 Keeping Up With The
Kardashians
00:55 Style Star
01:25 E!es
02:20 THS
04:10 Sexiest
05:05 Then And Now
06:00 30 Best & Worst Beach Bodies
07:50 Behind The Scenes
08:20 E! News
09:15 Kourtney & Kim Take New
York
10:15 40 (More) Crimes Of Fashion
12:05 Mrs. Eastwood And Company
13:05 Keeping Up With The
Kardashians
14:05 Kourtney & Kim Take New
York
15:00 Style Star
15:30 THS
16:25 Behind The Scenes
16:55 Giuliana & Bill
17:55 Kourtney & Kim Take New
York
18:55 THS
19:55 Keeping Up With The
Kardashians
20:55 Ice Loves Coco
22:25 E!es
23:25 Chelsea Lately
23:55 Keeping Up With The
Kardashians
00:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives
00:30 Outrageous Food
00:55 Unwrapped
01:45 Grill It! With Bobby Flay
02:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives
03:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives
03:25 Meat & Potatoes
03:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives
04:15 Outrageous Food
04:40 Unwrapped
05:05 Unique Eats
05:30 Chopped
06:10 Barefoot Contessa - Back To
Basics
06:35 Grill It! With Bobby Flay
07:00 Food Network Challenge
07:50 Unique Sweets
08:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To
Basics
08:40 Paula’s Best Dishes
09:05 Gourmet Farmer
09:30 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam
09:55 Food(Ography)
10:45 Unwrapped
11:10 Unique Eats
11:35 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives
12:00 Food Network Challenge
12:50 Grill It! With Bobby Flay
13:15 Cooking For Real
13:40 Barefoot Contessa - Back To
Basics
14:05 Mexican Made Easy
14:30 Unique Sweets
14:55 Paula’s Best Dishes
15:20 Extra Virgin
15:45 Chopped
16:35 Cooking For Real
17:00 Barefoot Contessa - Back To
Basics
17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives
17:50 Unique Eats
18:15 Food(Ography)
19:05 Unique Sweets
19:30 Food Network Challenge
20:20 Chopped
21:10 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco
21:35 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco
22:00 Andy Bates Street Feasts
22:25 Andy Bates Street Feasts
22:50 World Cafe Middle East
23:40 Grill It! With Bobby Flay
00:30 Stalked: Someone’s Watching
00:55 I Was Murdered
01:20 Australian Families Of Crime
02:05 American Greed
02:55 Scorned: Crimes Of Passion
03:45 Stalked: Someone’s Watching
04:10 I Was Murdered
04:30 On The Case With Paula Zahn
05:20 Mystery Diagnosis
06:10 Disappeared
07:00 FBI Files
07:50 Murder Shift
08:40 Mystery Diagnosis
09:30 Real Emergency Calls
09:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?
10:20 True Crime With Aphrodite
Jones
11:10 Disappeared
12:00 Street Patrol
12:50 Murder Shift
13:40 Mystery Diagnosis
14:30 Real Emergency Calls
14:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?
15:20 True Crime With Aphrodite
Jones
16:10 Disappeared
17:00 FBI Files
17:50 Murder Shift
18:40 Real Emergency Calls
19:05 Mystery Diagnosis
19:55 Who On Earth Did I Marry?
20:20 True Crime With Aphrodite
Jones
21:10 Disappeared
00:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses
01:00 Chasing Che: Latin America
On A Motorcycle
01:30 Chasing Che: Latin America
On A Motorcycle
02:00 Departures
03:00 Banged Up Abroad
04:00 Don’t Tell My Mother
05:00 Gone to save the planet
06:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses
07:00 Chasing Che: Latin America
On A Motorcycle
07:30 Chasing Che: Latin America
On A Motorcycle
08:00 Departures
09:00 Banged Up Abroad
10:00 Don’t Tell My Mother
11:00 Gone to save the planet
12:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses
12:30 Keeping Up With The Joneses
13:00 Chasing Che: Latin America
On A Motorcycle
13:30 Chasing Che: Latin America
On A Motorcycle
14:00 Departures
15:00 Banged Up Abroad
16:00 Don’t Tell My Mother
17:00 Gone to save the planet
18:00 Keeping Up With The Joneses
19:00 Madventures
20:00 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan
21:00 Chasing Time
22:00 Treks In A Wild World
23:00 Meet The Natives: USA
00:00 Child’s Play 3-18
02:00 Street Kings 2: Motor City-18
04:00 Child’s Play 2-18
06:00 Kull The Conqueror-PG15
08:00 Rocky v-PG15
10:00 Ladder 49-PG15
12:00 Green Lantern: Emerald
Knights-PG15
14:00 Rocky v-PG15
16:00 Behind Enemy Lines-PG15
18:00 Green Lantern: Emerald
Knights-PG15
20:00 The Silence Of The Lambs-18
22:00 The Killing Room-18
01:00 Cars 2-FAM
03:00 Oceans-PG15
05:00 The Conspirator-PG15
07:00 Justice For Natalee Holloway-
PG15
09:00 Cars 2-FAM
11:00 Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs.
Evil-PG
13:00 African Cats: Kingdom Of
Courage-PG
15:00 A Trace Of Danger-PG15
17:00 Stonehenge Apocalypse-
PG15
19:00 Jumping The Broom-PG15
21:00 Daydream Nation-PG15
23:00 Win Win-PG15
00:30 The Daily Show With Jon
Stewart
03:00 2 Broke Girls
03:30 Last Man Standing
04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay
Leno
06:00 Seinfeld
07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
08:30 2 Broke Girls
09:30 Two And A Half Men
10:00 Happy Endings
11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay
Leno
12:00 Seinfeld
14:00 Last Man Standing
14:30 Happy Endings
15:00 Two And A Half Men
15:30 The Daily Show With Jon
Stewart
16:30 Seinfeld
17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
18:00 2 Broke Girls
18:30 Raising Hope
19:30 Happy Endings
20:30 King Of The Hill
21:00 The Daily Show Global Edition
22:30 American Dad
23:00 American Dad
07:00 Century City
08:30 Coronation Street
10:00 The Martha Stewart Show
16:00 Century City
19:00 Suits
20:00 Justified
21:00 Missing
23:00 Warehouse 13
00:00 Cold Case
01:00 Top Gear (US)
02:00 Revenge
03:00 Bones
04:00 Covert Affairs
05:00 Revenge
06:00 Cold Case
07:00 Emmerdale
07:30 Coronation Street
10:00 Bones
11:00 Burn Notice
12:00 Emmerdale
15:00 Cold Case
16:00 Emmerdale
17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show
18:00 Necessary Roughness
19:00 Suits
20:00 Justified
21:00 Missing
22:00 Top Gear (UK)
23:00 Revenge
01:00 Gridlock’d-18
03:00 Law Abiding Citizen-18
05:00 Friday Night Lights-PG15
07:00 True Justice: Brotherhood-
PG15
09:00 Red Faction: Origins-PG15
11:00 Friday Night Lights-PG15
13:00 Tremors-PG15
15:00 Red Faction: Origins-PG15
17:00 Tron: Legacy-PG15
19:15 Malibu Shark Attack-18
21:00 Sugarhouse-18
23:00 Deadtime Stories 2-PG15
00:00 Lottery Ticket-PG15
02:00 The Open Road-PG15
04:00 French Kiss-PG15
06:00 Elle: A Modern Cinderella
Tale-PG15
08:00 The Open Road-PG15
10:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15
12:00 Flubber-PG
14:00 Kuffs-PG
16:00 Charlie & Boots-PG15
18:00 Paper Man-PG15
20:00 The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The
Galaxy-PG
22:00 A Fork In The Road-PG15
01:00 Strange Culture-PG15
03:00 The Kid-18
05:00 Divorces!-PG15
07:00 On Strike For Christmas-PG15
09:00 Stomp The Yard 2:
Homecoming-PG15
11:00 Get Low-PG15
13:00 Stone Of Destiny-PG15
15:00 Stomp The Yard 2:
Homecoming-PG15
16:45 Celine: Through The Eyes Of
The World-PG15
18:45 Random Hearts-PG15
21:00 Brothers-18
23:00 2:22-18
01:00 The Romantics-PG15
03:00 13 Going On 30-PG15
05:00 How To Train Your Dragon-PG
07:00 A Family Thanksgiving-PG15
09:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage
Of The Dawn Treader-PG
11:00 Marley & Me: The Puppy
Years-PG15
13:00 The Prince And Me 4: The
Elephant Adventure-PG15
15:00 Battle For Terra-PG15
17:00 Chronicles Of Narnia: Voyage
Of The Dawn Treader-PG
19:00 Just Go With It-PG15
21:00 Knight And Day-PG15
01:45 The Spy Next Door-PG
04:00 Young Fisherman-PG
06:00 Micropolis-FAM
08:00 Marco Antonio-PG
10:00 Beethoven’s Christmas
Adventure-PG
12:15 Young Fisherman-PG
14:00 4 Angies-PG15
16:00 Supertramps-FAM
18:00 Beethoven’s Christmas
Adventure-PG
20:00 Adventures Of A Teenage
Dragonslayer-PG
22:00 Supertramps-FAM
00:00 Olympics - Sailing Summary
01:00 Olympics Repeat
11:00 Olympics - Shooting
11:45 Live Olympics - Swimming
13:45 Olympics - Handball or
Volleyball
15:45 Olympics - Archery
16:45 Live Olympics - Diving
18:15 Live Olympics - Beach
Volleyball
20:15 Olympics - Beach Volleyball
21:15 Live Olympics - Swimming
00:30 Live Olympics - Volleyball
01:00 Live Olympics - Volleyball or
Basketball
02:00 Olympics
10:45 Live Olympics - Basketball or
Volleyball
13:00 Olympics - Fencing
14:15 Live Olympics - Shooting
16:00 Live Olympics - Boxing
19:00 Live Olympics - Gymnastic
22:00 Live Olympics - Basketball
00:00 Olympics - Handball or
Basketball or Volleyball
02:30 Darts World Match Play
06:30 Futbol Mundial
07:00 Golfing World
08:00 Darts World Match
10:15 Live Olympics - Badminton
13:00 Olympics - Shooting
14:15 Live Olympics - Badminton
19:00 Olympics - Fencing
19:45 Live Olympics - Fencing
22:45 Live Olympics - Tennis
02:00 UFC 149
05:00 UFC Unleashed
06:00 UFC Unleashed
07:00 WWE Bottom Line
08:00 WWE Experience
09:00 V8 Supercars Highlights
10:00 V8 Supercars Highlights
11:25 Live Olympics - Judo
14:33 Olympics - Sailing
15:55 Live Olympics - Judo
19:00 Olympics - Handball or
Volleyball
21:55 Live Olympics - Beach
Vollyball
00:00 Top Shot
01:00 Beyond The Big Bang
03:00 Top Shot
04:00 The Universe
05:00 Ancient Aliens
06:00 Decoded
07:00 Pawn Stars
08:00 Ancient Aliens
09:00 Britain At War
10:00 Pawn Stars
11:00 Ax Men
12:00 Beyond The Big Bang
THE CONSPIRATOR ON OSN CINEMA
14:00 Britain At War
15:00 Ancient Aliens
16:00 Beyond The Big Bang
18:00 Britain At War
19:00 Ancient Aliens
20:00 Pawn Stars
20:30 Pawn Stars
21:00 Ax Men
22:00 IRT: Deadliest Roads
23:00 Pawn Stars
23:30 American Restoration
00:00 Jerseylicious
01:00 Wicked Fit
01:55 Videofashion Daily
02:50 Videofashion News
03:20 How Do I Look?
04:15 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?
05:10 Married Away
06:05 Clean House
07:00 Videofashion News
07:30 Videofashion News
08:00 Videofashion Daily
09:00 Open House
09:30 Fashion Classics
10:00 How Do I Look?
10:55 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?
11:55 Clean House
12:50 Mel B: It’s A Scary World
13:50 Clean House: New York
14:45 How Do I Look?
15:40 How Do I Look?
16:35 Big Rich Texas
17:30 Big Rich Texas
18:25 The Amandas
19:25 The Amandas
20:20 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane
21:15 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane
22:10 The Amandas
23:05 Fashion Police
06:00 Kid vs Kat
06:20 Pokemon: Black And White
06:45 Rated A For Awesome
07:10 Kickin It
07:35 Phineas And Ferb
08:25 Pair Of Kings
08:50 Kick Buttowski
09:15 Zeke & Luther
09:40 I’m In The Band
10:05 Phineas And Ferb
10:30 Kid vs Kat
10:55 The Avengers: Earths
Mightiest Heroes
11:20 Aaron Stone
11:45 Rekkit Rabbit
12:10 American Dragon
12:35 Kick Buttowski
13:00 Phineas And Ferb
13:25 I’m In The Band
13:45 Kid vs Kat
14:10 Pair Of Kings
14:35 Zeke & Luther
15:00 Fort Boyard - Ultimate
Challenge
15:25 Iron Man Armored
Adventures
15:50 Rated A For Awesome
16:15 Kickin It
16:40 Lab Rats
17:05 Lab Rats
17:30 Scaredy Squirrel
18:00 Kickin It
18:25 Phineas And Ferb
19:15 My Babysitter’s A Vampire
19:40 Pair Of Kings
20:05 Zeke & Luther
20:30 Zeke & Luther
20:55 Mr. Young
21:20 Aaron Stone
21:45 The Avengers: Earths
Mightiest Heroes
22:10 Phineas And Ferb
22:35 Kid vs Kat
23:00 Programmes Start At 6:00am
KSA
00:05 Pro Hunter Journal
00:30 Dream Season: Celebrity
01:45 Mathew’s World Class
Bowhunting
03:00 Pro Hunter Journal
04:15 Dream Season: Celebrity
05:30 Mathew’s World Class
Bowhunting
07:00 Ride To Adventure
08:15 Adventure Guides - Fishing
Edition
09:30 Ride To Adventure
10:45 Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
12:00 Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife
13:15 World Class Sports Fishing
14:30 Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish
15:45 Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife
17:00 World Class Sports Fishing
18:15 Trev Gowdy’s Monster Fish
19:30 Steve Gruber’s The Wildlife
20:45 World Class Sports Fishing
22:00 Ride To Adventure
23:15 Adventure Guides - Fishing
Edition
00:15 Little Einsteins
00:40 Jungle Junction
01:10 Little Einsteins
01:30 Special Agent Oso
02:00 Lazytown
02:25 Little Einsteins
02:50 Jungle Junction
03:05 Jungle Junction
03:20 Little Einsteins
03:40 Special Agent Oso
03:55 Special Agent Oso
04:10 Lazytown
04:35 Little Einsteins
05:00 Jungle Junction
05:15 Jungle Junction
05:30 Little Einsteins
05:50 Special Agent Oso
06:15 Jungle Junction
06:45 Handy Manny
07:00 Special Agent Oso
07:15 Lazytown
07:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
08:10 The Hive
08:20 Handy Manny
08:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates
09:05 The Hive
09:15 Mini Adventures Of Winnie
The Pooh
09:20 Mouk
09:45 Minnie’s Bow Toons
09:50 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
10:15 Minnie’s Bow Toons
10:20 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
10:45 Art Attack
11:10 Imagination Movers
11:35 Lazytown
12:00 The Hive
12:10 Handy Manny
12:25 Jungle Junction
12:40 Imagination Movers
13:05 The Hive
13:15 Special Agent Oso
13:30 Minnie’s Bow Toons
13:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
14:00 Minnie’s Bow Toons
14:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
14:30 Handy Manny
14:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates
15:00 Mouk
15:15 The Hive
15:25 Handy Manny
15:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates
15:55 Imagination Movers
16:20 Lazytown
16:45 Art Attack
17:05 Tangled Ever After
17:10 Jake & The Neverland Pirates
18:10 Little Einsteins
18:35 Pixie Hollow Games
19:00 Minnie’s Bow Toons
19:05 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
19:30 Minnie’s Bow Toons
19:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
20:00 Mini Adventures Of Winnie
The Pooh
20:05 Jake & The Neverland Pirates
20:20 The Hive
20:30 Tangled Ever After
20:35 Minnie’s Bow Toons
20:40 Animated Stories
20:45 Mouk
21:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
21:25 Jake & The Neverland Pirates
21:40 Special Agent Oso
21:55 Little Einsteins
22:20 Timmy Time
22:30 Jungle Junction
22:45 Handy Manny
22:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
23:20 Special Agent Oso
23:50 Lazytown
01:40 Somebody Up There Likes
Me-PG
03:35 White Heat-PG
05:25 Never Let Me Go-FAM
07:00 Boom Town-PG
08:55 Two Weeks In Another Town
10:45 Invitation To The Dance-FAM
12:20 Young Bess-FAM
14:15 The Outriders-FAM
15:45 G-Men-FAM
17:10 Seven Women-PG
18:35 Skyjacked-PG
20:15 Hearts Of The West-PG

Classifieds
DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION
Arrival Flights on Monday 30/7/2012 Depature Flights on Monday 30/7/2012
Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
FOR SALE
Nissan Pathfinder model
2006, silver color, mileage
104000 km, new tyres and
battery, non-accident, price
KD 3,600/-. Contact:
99949612. (C 4091)
29-7-2012
SITUAITON WANTED
Looking for job, having 20
years of experience in cooking.
Contact: 55052382.
(C 4088)
26-7-2012
POLICE STATION
Al-Madena Police Station 22434064
Al-Murqab Police Station 22435865
Al-Daiya Police Station 22544200
Al-Fayha’a Police Station 22547133
Al-Qadissiya Police Station 22515277
Al-Nugra Police Station 22616662
Al-Salmiya Police Station 25714406
Al-Dasma Police Station 22530801
THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR
CIVIL INFORMATION
Automated enquiry
about the Civil ID card is 1889988
Ministry of Interior
website: www.moi.gov.kw
GOVERNMENT WEB SITES
Kuwait Parliament
www.majlesalommah.net
Ministry of Interior
www.moi.gov.kw
Public Authority for Civil Information
www.paci.gov.kw
Kuwait News Agency
www.kuna.net.kw
Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair
www.islam.gov.kw
Ministry of Energy (Oil)
www.moo.gov.kw
Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water)
www.energy.govt.kw
Public Authority for Housing Welfare
www.housing.gov.kw
Ministry of Justice
www.moj.gov.kw
Ministry of Communications
www.moc.kw
Supreme Council for Planning and Development
www.scpd.gov.kw
Prayer timings
Fajr: 03:37
Duhr: 11:54
Asr: 15:30
Maghrib: 18:42
Isha: 20:08
The Public Institution for Social Security
www.pifss.gov.kw
Public Authority of Industry
www.pai.gov.kw
Prisoners of War Committee
www.pows.org.kw
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
www.mofa.gov.kw
Kuwait Municipality
www.municipality.gov.kw
Kuwait Electronic Government
www.e.gov.kw
Ministry of Finance
www.mof.gov.kw
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
www.moci.gov.kw
Ministry of Education
www.moe.edu.kw
Ministry of Information
www.moinfo.gov.kw
Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation
www.awqaf.org

For labor-related inquiries
and complaints:
Call MSAL hotline 128
Sabah Hospital 24812000
Amiri Hospital 22450005
Maternity Hospital 24843100
Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital 25312700
Chest Hospital 24849400
Farwaniya Hospital 24892010
Adan Hospital 23940620
Ibn Sina Hospital 24840300
Al-Razi Hospital 24846000
Physiotherapy Hospital 24874330/9
Kaizen center 25716707
Roudha 22517733
Adhaliya 22517144
Khaldiya 24848075
Keifan 24849807
Shamiya 24848913
Shuwaikh 24814507
Abdullah Salim 22549134
Al-Nuzha 22526804
Industrial Shuwaikh 24814764
Al-Khadissiya 22515088
Dasmah 22532265
Bneid Al-Ghar 22531908
Al-Shaab 22518752
Al-Kibla 22459381
Ayoun Al-Kibla 22451082
Al-Mirqab 22456536
Sharq 22465401
Salmiya 25746401
Jabriya 25316254
Maidan Hawally 25623444
Bayan 25388462
Mishref 25381200
W.Hawally 22630786
Sabah 24810221
Jahra 24770319
New Jahra 24575755
West Jahra 24772608
South Jahra 24775066
North Jahra 24775992
North Jleeb 24311795
Al-Ardhiya 24884079
Firdous 24892674
Al-Omariya 24719048
N.Kheitan 24710044
Fintas 23900322
Ophthalmologists
Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444
Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222
Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171
Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999
Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700
Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223
Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223
Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510
Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660
Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478
Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996
Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988
Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426
General Practitioners
Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123
Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312
Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920
Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465
Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528
Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781
Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501
Urologists
Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534
Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955
Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660
Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120
Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427
Psychologists
/Psychotherapists
Soor Center
Tel: 2290-1677
Fax: 2290 1688
information
GOVERNORATE PHARMACY ADDRESS PHONE
Ahmadi Sama Safwan Fahaeel Makka St 23915883
Abu Halaifa Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd 23715414
Danat Al-Sultan Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd 23726558
Jahra Modern Jahra Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 24575518
Madina Munawara Jahra-Block 92 24566622
Capital Ahlam Fahad Al-Salem St 22436184
Khaldiya Coop Khaldiya Coop 24833967
Farwaniya New Shifa Farwaniya Block 40 24734000
Ferdous Coop Ferdous Coop 24881201
Modern Safwan Old Kheitan Block 11 24726638
Hawally Tariq Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25726265
Hana Salmiya-Amman St 25647075
Ikhlas Hawally-Beirut St 22625999
Hawally & Rawdha Hawally & Rawdha Coop 22564549
Ghadeer Jabriya-Block 1A 25340559
Kindy Jabriya-Block 3B 25326554
Ibn Al-Nafis Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St 25721264
Mishrif Coop Mishrif Coop 25380581
Salwa Coop Salwa Coop 25628241
STA ATTE
OF KKUWA
AIT
DIRECTORAT
TE GENE GENERAL OF CIVIL AV VIATTION
METEOROLOGICAL DEP DEPAARTMENT
BY DAYY
:
BY NIGHT:
WAARNING
STA AT TION
KUWAAIT
CITY
KUWAAIT
AIRPORTT
NUWA AISEEB
WA AFRA
SALMI
ABDALYY
JAL ALIYAAH
FA AILAKA
AHMADI PORT T
UMM AL-MARADEM
WA ARBA - BUBYAAN
DAYY
Monday
Tuesday
Weednesday
Thursday
DATTE
PRIVATE CLINICS
Plastic Surgeons
Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf 22547272
Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari 22617700
Dr. Abdel Quttainah 25625030/60
Family Doctor
Dr Divya Damodar 23729596/23729581
Psychiatrists
Dr. Esam Al-Ansari 22635047
Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan 22613623/0
Gynaecologists & Obstetricians
DrAdrian arbe 23729596/23729581
Dr. Verginia s.Marin 2572-6666 ext 8321
Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan 22655539
Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami 25343406
Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly 25739272
Dr. Salem soso 22618787
General Surgeons
Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer 22610044
Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher 25327148
Internists, Chest & Heart
Dr. Adnan Ebil 22639939
Dr. Mousa Khadada 22666300
Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan 25728004
Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra 25355515
Dr. Mobarak Aldoub 24726446
Dr Nasser Behbehani 25654300/3
info@soorcenter.com
www.soorcenter.com
Expected Weeather
e for the Next 24 Hours
Paediatricians
Dr. Khaled Hamadi 25665898
Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed 25340300
Dr. Zahra Qabazard 25710444
Dr. Sohail Qamar 22621099
Dr. Snaa Maaroof 25713514
Dr. Pradip Gujare 23713100
Dr. Zacharias Mathew 24334282
(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar,
FRCS (Canada) 25655535
Dentists
Dr Anil Thomas 3729596/3729581
Dr. Shamah Al-Matar 22641071/2
Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed 22562226
Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer 22561444
Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan 22619557
Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash 22525888
Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan 25653755
Dr. Bader Al-Ansari 25620111
Neurologists
Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri 25633324
Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan 25345875
Gastrologists
Dr. Sami Aman 22636464
Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly 25322030
Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali 22633135
Kaizen center
25716707
Te el.: 161 Ext.: 262 2627 - 2630
Fax: 24348714
WWW.MET.GOV.
.KW
Ve ery ery hot h hot with light variable wind changing to light to moderate north easterly wind, with speed of 08 - 30
km/h and some scattered clouds will appear
Relatively hot with light to moderate north easterly becoming south easterly wind, with speed of 08 - 28
km/h
30/07
31/07
01/08
02/08
Fajr
Sunrise
Zuhr
Asr
Sunset
Isha
MAX. EXP. .
47 °C
48 °C
46 46 °C
48 °C
47 °C
49 °C
48 °C
41 °C
38
°C
39 °C
42 °C
PRA RAY YER TIMES
All times are local time unless otherwise stated.
WEATTHER
very hot
MIN. REC. SFC. CHART
T
03:37
05:07
36 °C
31 °C
32 32 °C °C
32 °C
33 °C
30 °C
34 °C
31 °C
35
°C °C
34 °C
31 °C
very hot + high clouds
very hot + scattered clouds
very hot + scattered clouds
11:54
15:30
18:42
20:09
No Current Wa arnin arnings
4 DA DAYYS
FORECAST
Temperatur
emperatur es
MAX.
48°C
49°C
49°C
48°C
MIN.
32°C
33°C
34°C
33°C
MAX.
Temp.
MIN.
MIN.
T
emp.
29/07/2012 0000 UTC
Wind
Direction
VRB-SE
NE-VRB
NW-NE
N-NE
Endocrinologist
Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman 25339330
Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888
Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924
Physiotherapists & VD
Dr. Deyaa Shehab 25722291
Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees 22666288
Rheumatologists:
Dr. Adel Al-Awadi 25330060
Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah 25722290
Internist, Chest & Heart
DR.Mohammes Akkad 24555050 Ext 210
Dr. Mohammad Zubaid
MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC
Assistant Professor Of Medicine
Head, Division of Cardiology
Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital
Wind
Speed
08 - 30 km/h
08 - 30 km/h
12 - 35 km/h
15 - 38 km/h
RECORDED
YESTERDAYY
ATT
KUWAAIT
AIT AIRPORT
MAX. RH
MIN. RH
MAX.
Wi ind
TOTAAL
RAI INFAALL
IN 24 HR.
50 °C
31 °C
24 %
03 %
SE
32 km/h
00 mm
Consultant Cardiologist
Dr. Farida Al-Habib 2611555-2622555
MD, PH.D, FACC
Inaya German Medical Center
Te: 2575077
Fax: 25723123
William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677
Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Al-Madena 22418714
Al-Shohada’a 22545171
Al-Shuwaikh 24810598
Al-Nuzha 22545171
Sabhan 24742838
Al-Helaly 22434853
Al-Fayhaa 22545051
Al-Farwaniya 24711433
Al-Sulaibikhat 24316983
Al-Fahaheel 23927002
Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh 24316983
Ahmadi 23980088
Al-Mangaf 23711183
Al-Shuaiba 23262845
Al-Jahra 25610011
Al-Salmiya 25616368
INTERNATIONAL
CALLS
Afghanistan 0093
Albania 00355
Algeria 00213
Andorra 00376
Angola 00244
Anguilla 001264
Antiga 001268
Argentina 0054
Armenia 00374
Australia 0061
Austria 0043
Bahamas 001242
Bahrain 00973
Bangladesh 00880
Barbados 001246
Belarus 00375
Belgium 0032
Belize 00501
Benin 00229
Bermuda 001441
Bhutan 00975
Bolivia 00591
Bosnia 00387
Botswana 00267
Brazil 0055
Brunei 00673
Bulgaria 00359
Burkina 00226
Burundi 00257
Cambodia 00855
Cameroon 00237
Canada 001
Cape Verde 00238
Cayman Islands 001345
Central African 00236
Chad 00235
Chile 0056
China 0086
Colombia 0057
Comoros 00269
Congo 00242
Cook Islands 00682
Costa Rica 00506
Croatia 00385
Cuba 0053
Cyprus 00357
Cyprus (Northern) 0090392
Czech Republic 00420
Denmark 0045
Diego Garcia 00246
Djibouti 00253
Dominica 001767
Dominican Republic 001809
Ecuador 00593
Egypt 0020
El Salvador 00503
England (UK) 0044
Equatorial Guinea 00240
Eritrea 00291
Estonia 00372
Ethiopia 00251
Falkland Islands 00500
Faroe Islands 00298
Fiji 00679
Finland 00358
France 0033
French Guiana 00594
French Polynesia 00689
Gabon 00241
Gambia 00220
Georgia 00995
Germany 0049
Ghana 00233
Gibraltar 00350
Greece 0030
Greenland 00299
Grenada 001473
Guadeloupe 00590
Guam 001671
Guatemala 00502
Guinea 00224
Guyana 00592
Haiti 00509
Holland (Netherlands) 0031
Honduras 00504
Hong Kong 00852
Hungary 0036
Ibiza (Spain) 0034
Iceland 00354
India 0091
Indian Ocean 00873
Indonesia 0062
Iran 0098
Iraq 00964
Ireland 00353
Italy 0039
Ivory Coast 00225
Jamaica 001876
Japan 0081
Jordan 00962
Kazakhstan 007
Kenya 00254
Kiribati 00686
Kuwait 00965
Kyrgyzstan 00996
Laos 00856
Latvia 00371
Lebanon 00961
Liberia 00231
Libya 00218
Lithuania 00370
Luxembourg 00352
Macau 00853
Macedonia 00389
Madagascar 00261
Majorca 0034
Malawi 00265
Malaysia 0060
Maldives 00960
Mali 00223
Malta 00356
Marshall Islands 00692
Martinique 00596
Mauritania 00222
Mauritius 00230
Mayotte 00269
Mexico 0052
Micronesia 00691
Moldova 00373
Monaco 00377
Mongolia 00976
Montserrat 001664
Morocco 00212
Mozambique 00258
Myanmar (Burma) 0095
Namibia 00264
Nepal 00977
Netherlands (Holland)
0031
Netherlands Antilles 00599
New Caledonia 00687
New Zealand 0064
Nicaragua 00505
Nigar 00227
Nigeria 00234
Niue 00683
Norfolk Island 00672
Northern Ireland (UK)
0044
North Korea 00850
Norway 0047
Oman 00968
Pakistan 0092
Palau 00680
Panama 00507
Papua New Guinea 00675
Paraguay 00595
Peru 0051
Philippines 0063
Poland 0048
Portugal 00351
Puerto Rico 001787
Qatar 00974
Romania 0040
Russian Federation 007
Rwanda 00250
Saint Helena 00290
Saint Kitts 001869
Saint Lucia 001758
Saint Pierre 00508
Saint Vincent 001784
Samoa US 00684
Samoa West 00685
San Marino 00378
Sao Tone 00239
Saudi Arabia 00966
Scotland (UK) 0044
Senegal 00221
Seychelles 00284
Sierra Leone 00232
Singapore 0065
Slovakia 00421
Slovenia 00386
Solomon Islands 00677

Keeping Queen’s
secret ‘a hell of a job’
K eeping
Queen Elizabeth’s role in the Olympic
Games Opening Ceremony a secret was “a
hell of a job”. The monarch delighted those
attending the ceremony at the Olympic Stadium
in Stratford, East London and an estimated worldwide
audience of one billion by taking part in a
pre-recorded segment with Daniel Craig as James
Bond where she appeared to parachute into the
stadium. Scenes were filmed in April and a source
told MailOnline: “It’s been a hell of a job keeping it
secret for so long.” A palace spokesman said: “She
was delighted to be asked to be involved in something
so exceptional.” The film began with James
Bond arriving at Buckingham Palace in an iconic
black cab and walking down a hallway flanked by
two of the 85-year-old royal’s beloved Corgi dogs,
Monty, 13, who used to belong to the Queen
Mother and Holly, nine. He entered a room to be
greeted by Queen Elizabeth, wearing a pale peach
dress, with the words “Good evening Mr. Bond.”
The spy returned the formal greeting by answering
“Good evening You Majesty” before the pair
walked outside to a waiting helicopter before taking
off, leaving the disappointed Corgis behind.
Queen Elizabeth and Bond travelled in the Union
Jack decorated helicopter past a number of iconic
London sights including Tower Bridge,
Westminster Abbey and the London Eye before
arriving at the Olympic Stadium for her “jump”.
However, the royal revealed the joke when she
and her husband Prince Philip appeared to loud
cheers, where they walked down the steps in the
stadium to their seats.
Cole loses appetite
Cheryl Cole can’t eat when she’s stressed about men. The ‘Fight For This
Love’ singer - who split from husband Ashley Cole in 2010 - loses her
appetite when she has personal problems, though she has always tried to
watch what she eats since she shot to fame after taking part in ‘Popstars: The
Rivals’ in 2002. Cheryl’s niece Melissa Armstrong said: “Cheryl tells us that if she
gets stressed with men, she can’t eat. When she went on ‘Popstars: The Rivals’, I
remember [Girls Aloud] were all upset
because they were told to lose weight.
That was ridiculous. “I know Cheryl loves
her takeaways, and she did tell us that
she wanted to lose weight, cos she joked
she’d become a pop star and put on
weight and that definitely wasn’t what
was supposed to happen.” However,
Melissa admits Cheryl will indulge in her
favourite takeaways when relaxing at
home with her family in Newcastle, North
East England. Melissa added to heat magazine:
“She likes to dress down when she’s
with us. She’s in tracksuit bottoms - sometimes
pyjamas - and no make-up and she
looks stunning. We always have a Chinese
takeaway - her favourite is duck.” Despite
being catapulted into the limelight 10
years ago, Melissa is adamant Cheryl is
the same small town girl Newcastle she
always was. Her niece added: “She’s a
very proud Geordie girl. She’s someone
you can just to and chat to at a party. She
loves you to call her up and tell her what’s
going on - who’s ordered a new washing
machine and that.”
Hathaway to
get in shape
A nne
Hathaway had to “change her
lifestyle” to play Catwoman in
‘The Dark Knight Rises’. The
actress worked hard to get into shape
to become the villain in the action film,
so she could perform her own fight
sequences and stunts. She said: “I had
to change my lifestyle in order to play
this character. Nobody told me to lose
weight, but I was told I had to be
strong enough to do my own fight
scenes, so I spent several weeks getting
into the best physical shape I
could. “I made sure I got to the gym
and made a conscious effort to make
healthy food choices, and yes, I did
feel healthier. Not only did I have to
get into shape, but I had to maintain
it for the ten months of shooting.
I definitely did learn better
eating habits during that time.”
However, soon after shooting
the film, Anne had to dramatically
lose weight for her role
as tuberculosis-ridden
prostitute Fantine in ‘Les
Miserables’, which provided
a completely different
and difficult
challenge for her. She
added to Britain’s
Hello! magazine: “I
lost 25lb. It was very
hard. I lost the first
10 in three weeks and the subsequent
15 in the next two weeks. I don’t recommend
anyone try this. It was not
designed with any health benefits in
mind except to make me look like an
impoverished prostitute who was near
death. “I’m back to my usual weight
now and feeling fine, but while shooting
the film I didn’t look healthy or
good and wasn’t supposed to. Dying of
tuberculosis is not romantic and it’s not
pretty.”
A shton
36 LIFESTYLE
G o s s i p
Kutcher buys
phone case for Kunis
Kutcher bought Mila Kunis a $5,000 phone case
engraved with both their initials. The ‘Two and a Half
Men’ actor reportedly designed the bejeweled case
himself, with pink crystals and a heart encircling both their
initials in real diamonds, leaving the ‘Ted’ actress thrilled. A
source told National Enquirer magazine: “He spent five thousand
bucks on Mila’s case. Needless to say, she loved it!” It
had recently been claimed Ashton and Mila are living
together and how the former ‘That ‘70s Show’ co-stars are
inseparable from each other. A source said: “They’re basically
living together. Like any new couple in love, they’re pretty
much joined at the hip. “They’ve been sneaking around for
months but there’s only so long you can keep it quiet.
They’re staying with each other most nights. Mila’s practically
moved in to Ashton’s Hollywood home.” Ashton’s marriage
to Demi Moore broke down last November, following
reports of his cheating and the ‘Ghost’ actress is said to be
devastated he has now found love with Mila.
T he
Watts needs two years
off from bandmates
Robert was ‘weeks away’
from proposing to Kristen
R obert
Pattinson was “weeks away” from proposing to Kristen
Stewart before finding out she cheated on him. The
‘Twilight’ star was due to ask for the brunette beauty’s hand
in marriage in the spring and he had even bought a £5 million Los
Angeles mansion for the couple’s future before being told of the
22-year-old star’s affair with her ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’
director Rupert Sanders, 41. A source told the Sunday Mirror
newspaper: “Robert hoped to marry Kristen and was making
preparations to spring a proposal before she admitted cheating.
He had bought the house in Los Angeles to be their home and
saw them staying there for a long time.” But since discovering the
news, Robert - whose character in ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking
Dawn - Part 1’ married Kristen’s alter-ego onscreen last year - is
“angry” with Kristen and the 26-year-old hunk has moved out of
their LA home. The insider added: “Now Rob is angry - he’s left the
mansion and not spoken to her since. They have exchanged heated
text messages only.” After pictures of Kristen and Rupert
together emerged, the pair publically confessed to cheating on
their respective lovers, and the director has “apologized profusely”
to his model-and-actress wife Liberty Ross - who played
Kristen’s mother in ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’ - in the hope
he can save his marriage. A friend explained: “Liberty is hurting.
But she’s realistic. Things happen and marriage isn’t easy - she just
hates the fact her name’s been dragged into all of this. Rupert has
apologized profusely and she has accepted his apology. She
hopes things get back on track - after all, they have kids together.”
Robert now wants to have a one-on-one chat with Rupert to find
out “exactly what happened” between the filmmaker and his girlfriend.
A source said: “Rob wants to have a man to man chat with
Rupert to find out exactly what happened between him and
Kristen. “Kristen has already betrayed his trust by cheating, so he
can’t be sure that she will tell him exactly what went on between
her and Rupert.” Robert and Kristen are contractually obliged to
be pictured side by side on the red carpet at the premiere of their
final ‘Twilight’ movie together, ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -
Part 2’, later this year.
N icole
Rolling Stones Charlie Watts doesn’t want to see Ronnie Wood “for two
years” after touring. The drummer spends so much time with his bandmates
- Ronnie, Keith Richards and Sir Mick Jagger - when they stage
huge worldwide tours, he doesn’t want to spend any more time with them
after they have finished. He said: “The tours are two years long, so I’m living
with Ronnie Wood for all that time, so I don’t need to see him for another two
years.” Charlie added in the band’s 60s heyday they had a much more hectic
schedule, and would spend even more time together, but didn’t mind being
photographed all the time as they were more youthful. He told Classic Rock
magazine: “In the mid 60s the tours would be a trip around England, then a trip
around America, then recording in America back to Europe, England to
America. You were living together the whole time, you’d get a month off at the
most. You were younger though. And also, you were more photogenic, to be
honest. I don’t think Keith would want you photographing him at two in the
morning now.” —Bang Showbiz
Kidman attends ‘amazing’
Olympics Opening Ceremony
Kidman attended the “amazing”
London Olympics Opening
Ceremony. The Australian actress -
who was accompanied by husband Keith
Urban - couldn’t contain her excitement at
watching the spectacular show live from
the Olympic stadium in Stratford, East
London and took to her Facebook page to
share her enthusiasm. Posting a picture of
herself, she wrote “At the Olympics with
omega! Amazing!!” Fans in the audience
were also thrilled to spot the star, with one
twitter user writing “forget about the athletes,
Nicole Kidman is at the Olympics
opening ceremony (sic).” Other well known
faces at Danny Boyle’s spectacular show
included performers such as Kenneth
Branagh and Rowan Atkinson. Duchess
Catherine and her husband Prince William
also attended along with a number of other
royal family members including Queen
Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Meanwhile
despite being famously snubbed from
Team GB for the Games , David Beckham
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
still made a spectacular appearance.
Fireworks appeared on Tower Bridge before
a powerboat appeared which seemed to be
driven by David as it passed along the River
Thames to the Olympic Stadium in
Stratford, East London. On the boat with
him were Jade Bailey, Arsenal and England
Under 17 ladies footballer player and the
famous Olympic torch.
Spears confused about wedding
B ritney
Spears isn’t sure what type of wedding she wants. The US ‘X
Factor’ judge - who has been married twice before - is set to tie the
knot with her former manager Jason Trawick and while he is keen
to get married this Christmas, Britney is delaying plans as she is “confused”
about whether she wants her nuptials to be huge or intimate. A
source told National Enquirer magazine: “There is still no date or really
even any plans in place yet. Jason really hope to get married around
Christmas, and he wants to have a huge bash. Britney, on the other
hand, is completely holding back from making any plans. “She just isn’t
ready to commit to concrete
plans, because she’s
not sure what the right
thing to do is. She’s confused.
This is her third wedding,
so she doesn’t know
whether she should go really
big and make a huge
statement or just do it super
toned down.” Britney was
previously married to childhood
sweetheart Jason
Alexander, although their
marriage was annulled after
just 55 hours in January
2004. She then wed dancer
Kevin Federline in
September 2004, and had
two sons with him, Sean
Preston, six, and five-yearold
Jayden James. She got
engaged to Jason last
December.

Indian Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha pose with director
Prabhu Deva during the DVD launch for the Hindi film Rowdy Rathore in
Mumbai on July 28, 2012. —AFP
A lawyer
Snoop Dogg denied
Norway entry for
2 years for pot
representing Snoop Dogg
says the American rapper has been
banned from entering Norway for
two years after trying to enter the country
with a small amount of marijuana last
month. Holger Hagesaeter, the rapper’s
legal representative in Norway, told The
Associated Press on Saturday that his
client “can live with the decision” and has
no immediate plans to appeal it.
Snoop Dogg, whose name is Calvin
Broadus, was on his way to a music festival
in southern Norway in June when
sniffer dogs detected eight grams of marijuana
in his luggage. He was also carrying
more cash than is legally allowed and
was fined 52,000 kroner ($8,600) after
admitting to the two offenses, the lawyer
said. —AP
37 LIFESTYLE
Members of the band Metallica, from left to right; Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo, pose at a photocall
before their first of eight concert performances in Mexico City, Saturday, July 28, 2012. The heavy metal band added two
more tour dates to their Mexico City run after a record six sold out August shows. —AP
A Russian
Russia courts Hollywood
with vast new studios
company has spent $89 million
building Eastern Europe’s largest production
facilities in a field outside Moscow
and hopes to lure Hollywood majors to shoot
and produce movies. The idea is to create a
modern flagship studio that will make Russia a
competitively priced destination for film projects
and in turn modernize the local industry. “It is
one of the targets for us to invite international
projects to get their experience, to get their
technologies,” general-director of the Glavkino
grou, Ilya Bachurin, told AFP.
Opened by President Dmitry Medvedev in
February, on a recent tour the Glavkino studios
were still dusty from the construction process
and smelled of paint.
Bachurin, 42, a former impresario and television
executive, led the way through the studios
to show off echoing sound stages and hi-tech
3D equipment. The largest sound stage measures
3,108 square metres (33,4340 square feet), a
space so large that it swallowed up a bus parked
in the corner. “It’s the biggest in eastern Europe,”
Bachurin said. The studios have a Hollywoodstyle
sign on the roof visible from passing
planes. Their website boasts they are “equivalent
to the best studios of America and Europe”. So
far one feature film has been completed at
Glavkino: “August 8,” a strongly pro-Russian drama
based on the 2008 Russia-Georgia war that
was 90 percent funded by the Kremlin.
It aims to attract major global players to do
studio shoots and post-production there and
pass on their expertise to Russia’s technically lagging
film industry. “In fact we do not need their
money-it’s not our major goal,” said Bachurin.
“We need to attract their experience and their
specialists: those who can make the studio a
part of the big international filmmaking industry.”
In June Glavkino gave British art-house
director Peter Greenaway a voucher worth
30,000 euros ($37,000) to spend on post-production
for a planned remake of “Death in Venice.”
Greenaway told Hollywood Reporter he was
considering Saint Petersburg as a location.
Without giving details, Bachurin said that
Glavkino was planning to submit quotes for several
big international projects.
‘We do not feel competition with Mosfilm’
One problem is that Russia offers no tax
breaks for filmmakers. Add in a mass of
headaches from tough rules on customs to visas
and work permits. “We are going to make special
proposals, make prices lower,” said Bachurin.
“This is a pragmatic business. If it is convenient
and profitable, people will be ready to do the
maths.” Viktor Ginzburg, a Russian-born film
director based in the United States was visiting
the studios with a view to making his next film
there-an adaptation of Viktor Pelevin’s novel
“Empire V”. He said he was impressed by the
facilities. “It seems terrific. They should dust it,
though,” he added. Yet he said the hi-tech studios
still lacked something: “film culture”. “You
need projection designers, art directors, set decorators,
craftsmen,” he said.
“Unfortunately there is a real problem in the
Russian film industry right now with these key
positions.” That is a hangover from the 1990s
when the film industry almost dried up and professions
skipped an entire generation. While
Glavkino is brand-new, it reeks of money and
connections. Its name uses Soviet-speak abbreviations:
“glav” or main and “kino” meaning cinema
or film, to suggest the historic roots it lacks.
One co-founder with Bachurin is actor and director
Fyodor Bondarchuk, 45, who made hit films
including “The 9th Company.” His father Sergei
Bondarchuk directed the Oscar-winning “War
and Peace.” Another co-owner is Konstantin
Ernst, the director-general of state-controlled
Channel One television, which also has a major
film-making division.
The three men together with UralSib bank
own 50 percent, while the other 50 percent
belongs to private investor Vitaly Golovachev,
according to Glavkino’s website. The studio was
built after the owners raised a massive loan from
VTB bank. Glavkino could hardly be more different
from what is still Russia’s main film studio,
Mosfilm, a maze of buildings dating from the
1930s in a busy urban area hemmed in by construction.
“We do not feel it will be competition
with Mosfilm, because the market for technical
services is not filled, even now as we finish the
Glavkino studios,” Bachurin said.
Currently Glavkino is mainly being used to
make television shows, while the plan is for the
proportion to change to half-and-half. A second
stage upgrading the studios with equipment
and everything from costume workshops to a
five-star hotel will cost a further $120 million
and is expected to be finished by the end of
2013. —AFP
Seb Webber stood in a stark office space 12
floors above Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood,
surveying his new domain. The 27-year-old
London expatriate and the recently minted managing
director of the music-services firm SQE was
dressed in his typical plastic Buddy Holly glasses
and skinny black jeans. His office’s polished concrete
floors lacked furniture for the moment _
move-in day was a week or so away _ but he had a
gorgeous floor-to-ceiling panorama of the
Hollywood Hills to his north and, on this clear day,
almost to Catalina Island in the west.
It’s a workplace view befitting a lavish new tech
startup or a cash-flush film production house. But
Webber’s company is in a more volatile (pessimists
might even say doomed) line of work. SQE is a
contrarian bet that the music industry won’t be
saved by novel technology or a radical new profit
stream. Its magic bullet, if there is one, is absolute
flexibility and transparency in handling a growing
stable of artists like the punky Coachella 2012
headliner At the Drive-In and pop-savvy dubstep
auteur Rusko.
“Our idea was, ‘Isn’t there a good company
where you don’t feel cheated?’” Webber said. “I see
us as a service. We literally just execute on their
behalf. No one knows better than them what they
want.” The L.A. office of SQE is the American arm
and new flagship of the British Columbia-founded
firm that President Nathan Beswick and Chief
Executive Duncan MacRae _ both in their mid- to
late 20s _ started in 2010.
SQE’s first big coup was landing Webber. He left
his position as the vice president of A&R for the
U.K.-based XL Recordings to helm the firm.
Billboard had even named Webber one of its “30
Under 30” music-biz stars in 2010 for his regional
scouting acumen for XL. But after working on
Adele and M.I.A.’s A&R teams and cosigning Odd
Future’s Tyler, the Creator to the label, Webber
wanted to build something from the ground up
instead of being an L.A.-based “Our Man in
Havana” for an English hit label.
“It was really difficult being the L.A. point person
for a U.K. company,” he said. “I’m still close with
Richard (Russell, XL’s founder), and the one thing
he hammered home was that nothing exists without
quality music. But if there was any time to
stand on my own two feet, it was now.” SQE’s business
model is simple _ find ambitious artists, ask
them what they need to realize their career goals
and be able to do anything that can help.
I t’s
not a concert, Danny Boyle stressed. It’s
about the athletes. In a very real way,
though, the director of the Olympic
opening ceremony was wrong. While sports
are the heart of the Olympics, music - loud,
bold, world-conquering British music, amplified
in the most global of settings - was the
booming beat Friday night. One of Boyle’s
stated aims was to showcase “the best of us”
- and ever since the Beatles and the Rolling
Stones appropriated American blues, country
and rock and remade them into something
new, the best of British has been
music.
Music ran like a river through Boyle’s
“Isles of Wonder” extravaganza, which
depicted a Britain brutally wrenched from its
rural past by industrialization and upheaval
before being thrust into a fast, uncertain,
exciting new world - all propelled by the
throb of homegrown music. It began gently,
with Edward Elgar, the hymn “Jerusalem”
and “Danny Boy” - but soon started to rock.
Olympic ceremonies often play it safe.
But Boyle, who brought in the electronic
duo Underworld as musical directors, gave
his show a cheeky edge. The Sex Pistols,
once the outrageous face of punk, were
included with their song “Pretty Vacant.”
Boyle even slipped in a few bars of the
Pistols’ snarling “God Save the Queen” (“the
fascist regime”) early on - although he
respectfully did it before Queen Elizabeth II
herself had entered the stadium. Fashion
designer Wayne Hemingway said including
the Pistols was typical of Boyle’s “wit and
guts.”
“Normally it would be brushed over, but
the punk spirit which is in Britain was written
through the ceremony,” he said. “Anyone
cynical about this has no lust for life. It’s just
bloody brilliant.” In parts, it was like a Union
Jack jukebox - a medley of tracks from the
Beatles and the Rolling Stones, David Bowie
and Queen, the Specials and the Jam, the
Stone Roses and Eurythmics, and what
seemed like dozens more. The list spanned
generations, from The Who’s “My
Generation” right up to live performances
from two of the hottest homegrown acts of
the moment: grime star Dizzee Rascal - who
performed his hit “Bonkers” - and singer
Emeli Sande.
The musical melange continued during
the athletes parade, with members of the
204 national teams circling the track to
everything from “West End Girls” by the Pet
Shop Boys and “Rolling in the Deep” by
Adele. And of course the evening could not
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Olympic opener showed
music is best of British
Dizzee Rascal performs during the Opening Ceremony.
Many traditional record labels and management
teams farm out aspects of artist-caretaking
to specialists at different companies _ a label
fronts advances and distributes physical albums; a
licensing firm places songs in commercials, films
and TV; a publicity company wrangles media coverage.
SQE can do all these things for an artist _ or
take on as few as one of those jobs. SQE handles
management, licensing, press, marketing and
record label duties in-house, with a staff of around
14 who specialize in each field.
When they sign an artist, the musician can
choose which aspects they want to use. Don’t call
have been complete without a Beatle - a
rousing live performance from Paul
McCartney, still rocking at 70. The amazing
thing about the outpouring was how endless
it seemed - a reminder that British
music, decade after decade, has retained its
genius.
Could any other country have pulled off a
similar homegrown aural feast? The United
States, certainly. But Boyle reminded Britain
Opening Ceremony artistic director
Danny Boyle speaks next to the
Olympic Bell ahead of the Opening
Ceremony at the 2012 Summer
Olympics, Friday in London.
—AP photos
how much it has to be proud of - and the
clapping, cheering, singing 60,000-strong
crowd loved him for it. Broadcast to a television
audience estimated at 1 billion, it
played like an excellent ad for Cool Britannia
2.0.
Singer-songwriter Billy Bragg spoke for
many when he tweeted: “Impressive though
(the opening ceremony) in Beijing was, they
didn’t have any great pop music to play, did
they?” And if you haven’t heard enough,
have no fear - Universal Music said an album
of the ceremony soundtrack would be on
sale “within moments” of the ceremony ending.
—AP
SQE takes an all-encompassing approach to handling musical acts
Seb Webber leads the artist management
firm SQE, handling management,
PR, record label and licensing for a select
group of clients, photographed with
their mascot goat, in their new headquarters
on Sunset Boulevard, in the
heart of Hollywood, California, June 4,
2012. —MCT
it a “360 deal” _ SQE has banished that term for a
deal in which a label gives larger advances but
takes cuts from all streams of an artist’s income
from its offices. But the firm does imagine music
management as a holistic project.
“Artists are able to control a lot by themselves
nowadays, and considering the established awareness
of how the business side of their art works, a
la carte is a no smoke-and-mirrors, transparent
way for them to get what they want when they
want it,” Beswick said in an email. For artists, that
transparency and selectivity is the key selling
point. SQE handles artists at all points in their
careers, from a seasoned and recently reunited act
like At the Drive-In down to the young Irish electronica
artist Mmoths, who was signed off a
YouTube demo and has barely an EP to his name.
For an artist like Rusko, who is beloved in serious
beat-music circles but who has also produced
for Britney Spears, Rihanna and T.I., SQE’s flexibility
is an asset in navigating an unconventional career.
“They do it all for me, or at least figure out how to
get it done. Many times, they’ll take initiatives and
bring cool opportunities that I didn’t even think
about,” he said, highlighting SQE’s recent work
with Cat Stone of Stone Management, a filmplacement
and promotions firm. In a music business
defined by decimated record sales, that creativity
is essential _ even for an artist who headlined
the 3,800-capacity Hollywood Palladium to
rapturous crowds. “In one week, I’ll play to more
kids in the U.S. than have bought my first album. I
have only received one royalty check in my life,
and it equaled the same amount as two months of
my T-shirt sales.”
After a brief signing spree in which the firm
snapped up promising young electronica acts
Audrey Napoleon and Data Romance alongside
locals L.A. Riots and Daniel Ahearn & the Jones,
Webber is ready to dive into the details of making
careers. He was about to fly to Texas to join Rusko
_ one of the few clients he personally manages _
on the road for the Western leg of his U.S. tour. But
he was eager to get back to L.A. For him, SQE has
become as much a space for music-management
creativity as much as it is for any of his artists.
“When you become a home where artists can
explore, eventually you’re going to get an Andy
Warhol,” he said. “But you can’t just go out and buy
an Andy Warhol.” —MCT

By Lori Johnston
A guest bedroom
where blue color
palette is used.
Inside
When you’re paying for the view, a vacation home
doesn’t need to have fussy decor or over-the-top
interiors that distract from the lake setting. “That’s
the reason why they’re buying the house,” said Alicia Mooney-
Macchia, owner of Alicia Mooney Interiors, an interior designer
at Lake Oconee, Ga., and throughout metro Atlanta. “What
you want to do is walk in the house and look straight back at
the view.”
Heavy fabrics and details such as fringe on furniture are
out, replaced with clean lines, linen fabrics and neutral colors,
she said.
Still, vacation homes don’t have to be shabby or suffer
from the bare-bones look of a college apartment. Lake home
style can enhance the serene environment while maintaining
functionality for friends and family.
“The layouts are more efficient and effective,” said Dan
Jones, owner of Jones and Jones Premier Builders and president
of the Lake Oconee Builders Association. “There’s not as
much wasted square footage. Obviously, openness is a contin-
uing trend, and less walls.”
Carol Morrison, who owns a vacation home with husband
Ken on the 10th hole of the Harbor Club golf course at Lake
Oconee, said they used minimal window treatments to keep
the house open and emphasize the view.
The desire for openness even extends to decisions about
placing stair rails so they don’t obstruct the view. Dennis
Chamberlain, owner of Stair South, based in Eatonton, Ga.,
said his company situates iron rails horizontally (allowed by
local building codes), instead of vertically, both inside and
outside the home.
“If you’re sitting on your porch and looking onto the lake ...
you can look horizontally and see more,” he said. Builders, interior
designers and homeowners shared other ways to decorate
vacation homes with the scenery in mind:
Using nautical decor
You don’t want to get seasick at your lake home. If you
want to give a nod to the water setting and participate in the
nautical trend in homes and fashion, Mooney-Macchia advises
against creating a “lake room.” Instead, keep it simple.
She accessorizes with nautical items, such as old oars or
glass fishing floats and buoys covered with netting. Or a throw
pillow could have a nautical or water motif.
Making space for guests
Requests for bunk-bed rooms are rising, especially as
grandparents seek to accommodate multiple grandchildren
during weekends and summers. “One of the neat things we’ve
done is bunk rooms,” Jones said. “You know you’re going to be
loading the house with people. Instead of a bedroom with a
queen or king bed, put bunks.” He adds that the main thing to
consider is ceiling height — at least 9 feet is optimal.
Stair South recently was installing bunk beds out of solid
ash in Bert and Trudy Hene’s home at Harbor Club. The downstairs
room will have seven beds. The couple first owned a
three-bedroom, 2 bath villa, or condo, at Lake Oconee, but
lifestyle
F E A T U R E S
last year they moved into a five-bedroom, 4 { bath home
there. “We have three children and we outgrew the condo. We
have five grandchildren now,” said Trudy Hene. “We just knew
that we wanted something bigger, that if all the kids came,
and grandkids, we would have enough room for everybody.”
The Morrisons’ home, built in 1996, underwent a two-year
renovation project, using DreamBuilt, a custom homebuilder
and general contractor at Lake Oconee. With guests in mind,
they also reworked the third level of the home, turning it into
two master bedrooms, said Ken Morrison. The changes also
included making the basement friendlier for entertaining,
including a wine cellar and theater room.
Going big
While much of the time is spent outdoors, homeowners are
placing a greater emphasis on creating large spaces for themselves
and their guests to eat indoors.
Chamberlain is seeing an increase in requests for massive
tables that seat 12 to 16 people. The Henes have a custom 12foot
table at their lake home. “We had it made to look like a
picnic table, but it’s real heavy wood,” Trudy Hene said.
Working in wood
Whether the interior design style is modern, traditional or
transitional, vacation homeowners often use wood elements
indoors to reflect their love for the outdoor surroundings.
Incorporating cedar beams or placing tongue-and-groove
boards on the walls and ceilings in keeping rooms, living
rooms and master bedrooms are two popular ways homeowners
add natural elements. In lake homes, though, the
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
vacation homes
should be all about what’s outside
Bert and Trudy Hene’s Lake Oconee home is featured in Atlanta,
Georgia.
Stair South is placing stair rails in a horizontal format to emphasize
the views at Lake Oconee.
The sitting room of Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake
Oconee home.
Ken and Carol Morrison’s
Lake Oconee home is featured in
Atlanta, Georgia. — MCT photos
The living room of Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake Oconee home. The sitting room of Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake Oconee home.
Stair South recently was installing bunk beds out of solid ash in Bert
and Trudy Hene’s home at Harbor Club.
When you’re paying for the view, a vacation home doesn’t need to have fussy decor or over-the-top interiors that
distract from the lake setting. Here, a view from Bert and Trudy Hene’s Lake Oconee home.
The deck view of Ken and Carol Morrison’s Lake Oconee home.
wood is painted with a whitewashed look.
“It’s not going to be overwhelming. It’s not going to feel
like a rustic log cabin,” Mooney-Macchia said.
Another option, which can be more affordable, is using
bead board, which adds wainscoting as a detail in rooms of
the house.
Matching the scenery
Neutrals keep the attention on the view, and grays are the
new neutral, Mooney-Macchia said. She brings in bold splashes
of orange and blue through pillows and other accessories.
Homeowners find that water-inspired hues can add to a
home’s soothing setting.
“I think the best thing that you could say about it is when
we have guests that come, they just totally, totally relax,” said
Carol Morrison, who used a blue color palette in her guest
bedroom. “Everybody we’ve had that’s ever come to spend the
night there, they’ve all thought that this is the most peaceful,
relaxing stay that they’ve had.” — MCT
Whether the interior design style is modern, traditional
or transitional, vacation homeowners often use wood
elements indoors to reflect their love for the outdoor
surroundings. Incorporating cedar beams or placing
tongue and groove boards on the walls and ceilings in
keeping rooms, living rooms and master bedrooms are
two popular ways homeowners add natural elements.
In lake homes, though, the wood is painted with whitewashed
look.

Gymnast Jonathan Horton was just 10
when he had that first Olympic
moment. “I remember watching the
1996 Olympic Games and ... the women’s
gymnastic team,” he recalls. “It came down
to Kerri Strug _ she had to land her vault _
and she did it on a broken foot. I just have
this perfect memory of seeing them on the
awards podium with gold medals ... the
national anthem playing, and that was the
moment I realized ... it’s time to commit
myself to this idea of the Olympic Games.”
That memory comes at you not from
NBC, ESPN or Sports Illustrated, but from a
video of Olympic athletes-including Horton,
swimmer Ryan Lochte, soccer star Heather
Mitts and paralympic basketballer Matt
Scott-on Ralph Lauren’s website.
These days, fashion websites are looking
pretty darn sporty, as designers catch the
Olympic spirit, creating gear for athletesand
fans.
Lauren, an official outfitter of the 2012
U.S. Olympic team, has designed uniforms
inspired by vintage pieces worn by
American athletes at London’s 1948
Summer Games. You’ll find consumer versions
online, plus profiles of Olympic hopefuls.
Stella McCartney worked for more than
two years on Great Britain’s team
uniforms, collaborating with
KUWAIT: Getting back to school will be even
more fun this year as Centrepoint launched its
‘Back to School’ and ‘Summer Collection’ with
children’s favorite characters! A beautiful flow of
colors streams through Centrepoint’s new summer
line ranging from trendy outfits to fashionable
and colorful accessories, from stylish summer
footwear to fun and bright outfits for kids
and to sum up with beautiful gifts ideas for your
loved ones. An array of school related items
including trolley bags, backpacks, lunch kits,
water bottles, pencil cases, wallets and color
pencils have been designed in exclusive theme
based fun characters!
Looking to capture
the imagination of
kids and make
the new school year an enjoyable and memorable
one, Junior’s reveals an exciting and new
‘Back to School’ collection for children aged 3-16
years. Featuring some of the latest and greatest
from the world of action-heroes and animation,
the vibrant collection is designed for style, safety
and functionality. The young ones can now
own school bags, water bottles, stationary
pouches and lunch boxes that sport their
favorite cartoon characters. The stylish light-
Adidas on technical performance pieces,
footwear and accessories. Giorgio Armani is
dressing Italian athletes. And Puma enlisted
Cedella Marley, a designer (and
daughter of reggae icon Bob) to create
uniforms, podium and ceremony
wear for the Jamaican Olympic
team. “Puma got that right ... hooking up
with a legendary
Jamaican,” said team
member (and world’s fastest man) Usain
Bolt.
Some gear (or replicas) are available to
spectators, too, along with merch from other
brands. What are you waiting for? On
your mark, get ready, shop!
Ralph Lauren turn
Olympic jeers to cheers
Ralph Lauren caught flack from politicians
earlier this month when they learned
his Team USA gear was made in China. In
response, Lauren pledged to make his 2014
Olympics outfits in America, and “lead the
conversation” to increase manufacturing in
this country.
But you can’t question his desire to cheer
the athletes on. He’d already created Ralph
weight bottles are available in pleasant colors,
have pop-up and screw-on lids as well as
enhanced rubber-grip options for easy handling.
For the young super-hero buffs, Junior’s
offers a complete collection of school-related
products branded with popular characters such
as Spiderman, Batman, Ben 10, Hot Wheels,
Power Rangers and Avengers. Sports enthusiasts
can avail the BTS series featuring Soccer
favorites FC Barcelona, Manchester United and
not to mention the top-gear F1 specialists
Ferrari. The line-up for girls is colorful and trendy
featuring fantastic products with the latest animation
blockbuster Brave, as well as the popular
Barbie, Dora, Hello Kitty, Lulu Caty, Princess and
Minnie Mouse.
To add value to the learning experience,
Junior’s has in store educational toys for preschoolers
to the primary level which includes
alphabet and number grid mats, analytical
learning centres, toy laptops and white boards.
Also available are microscopes, telescopes
and other material to
enhance the school-going experience.
Centrepoint is also stocking up
formal and sports uniforms along
with formal school shoes from the
Bare Feet, Dash & Pablosky
Collection. The formal uniform
range for boys includes white shirts
and long pants whereas for girls the range
includes pinafore dress and blouses. The sportswear
range for boys comprises of track pants,
white T-shirts, hooded vests and shorts and for
girls the range includes blouses, hooded t-shirt,
leggings and jog pants available in colors such
as white, black, navy blue and grey.
Splash adds a touch of fashion to the simplest
looks goes chic this summer with a color
burst. The Summer Collection promises to bring
a dramatic makeover to your wardrobe. It recre-
lifestyle
Lauren Rally, an interactive cheering center
where you can upload a message to athletes
to be aired as they arrive in London.
For each message submitted, he’ll donate
$1 (up to $25,000) to the U.S. Olympic
Committee; at ralphlaurenrally.com. —MCT
Centrepoint unveils ‘Back to School’ surprises
Batman bags
ates the magic of lazy days and dreamy nights in
extremely wearable pieces, filled with an ecstatic
range of colors and styles, the collection is
breathtaking with its versatile and trendy feel.
The exciting Back to School collection from
Lifestyle features an array of bright and stylish
yet durable and essential bags and accessories
for children aged 5 to 18 years old. There are
also colorful ranges suiting all budgets. The
“Value Pack” range is a five-piece set featuring a
rucksack, lunchbox, flask, pencil case and kit
bag; all at an affordable prices of KD 8.900.
Available in two different styles; there is something
for him and for her. The lunch bag range
features a mixture of bold designs and minimalist
prints perfect for making a style statement in
the school canteen- price start from KD 2.500.
Additional ranges include Crush on Wheel
which is perfect for aspiring boy racers, Kimmi
Junior, Happy House, Minmie and Nici, which all
include beautiful bags, quality lunch boxes and
a pretty yet functional array of stationery to get
kids organised for the term ahead. The themes
focus on the loveable hero superman, cars and
pirates - cool favourites for the boys. Ranges for
the older ones include Espirit, Jansport, I Love
NY, as well as exclusive rucksacks from the Polo
Club.
Lifestyle’s Back to School collection is bright
and fun as well as being practical and reliable.
Kids can fill them up, hang them from their peg
and cart them around school and they will still
endure the journey home each day without so
much as a zipper out of place.
Shoe Mart the region’s leading retail haven
for shoes & bag’s have launched a unique ‘Back
to School’ Campaign this season for every little
boy and girl.
The great selection of school bags features a
colorful and vibrant range of backpacks as well
as rolling bags available in different sizes to fit
your child’s needs. To kick off the school year in
style, girls can choose from the simple yet elegant
selection of Mary Jane and pumps, while
boys can choose from a number of comfortable
casual shoes, slip-ons and moccasins adorned
with buckles or straps.
There is also a wide selection of sports shoes
for boys and girls. A vivid range of colors and
cartoon characters are seen on various school
bags in the range. We are sure that the ‘Back to
School’ range will have every little customer of
ours happy and the Shoe Mart giveaway would
be an ideal keepsake.
For the latest in the ‘Back to School’ and
‘Summer Collection’, walk into Juniors, Splash,
Shoe Mart & Lifestyle located in Centrepoint
showrooms at Al Rai, Fahaheel, Kuwait City,
Salmiya, Hawally, Fintas and Jahra and discover
a whole new range of school essentials for your
little ones this season.
MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Fashion designers catch the
Olympic spirit
Jimmy Choo’s Van in Union Jack
printed denim; look for the Union Jack
line at select Jimmy Choo
boutiques and jimmychoo.com.
Sprinter Usain Bolt models one of the Jamaican Olympic team’s opening ceremony
uniforms, designed by Cedella Marley for Puma. The Cedella Marley for Puma collection
l send the men on Jamaica’s Olympic team into the 2102 London Olympics opening
ceremony clad in a lightweight, short-sleeve button-front shirts in army green
with black accents at the shoulders, a black skinny tie and an embroidered Jamaican
flag patch on the right breast. — MCT photos
U.S. Paralympics team member Jessica
Long chills in Ralph Lauren Blue Label’s
Team USA jersey tank, and fleece jacket
and Polo Ralph Lauren’s Team USA silk
belt, $85; at select Ralph Lauren stores
and ralphlauren.com.
Jamaican track superstar Usain Bolt, right, and hurdler Shevon Stoddart will compete
in Cedella Marley’s race gear. Consumers can buy her black/yellow medal podium
track jackets and stylized pants at select Puma stores and shop.puma.com.
Swimmer Ryan Lochte stands with a Polo
Ralph Lauren beach towel, and Team USA
polo,; at select Ralph Lauren stores and
ralphlauren.com.
Ralph Lauren
outfits today’s
Olympians and
tomorrow’s, with
this Toddler Girls’
Team USA Olympic
Ruffle Dress, sizes
2T to 4T at
Bloomingdale’s
stores and
Bloomingdales.com
British athletes will compete and march
in gear from Adidas by Stella McCartney,
plus for consumers, she’s got a line of
‘Celebrate GB’ pieces, including this
waterproof Cape; at select Nordstrom
stores, Adidas Sports Performance stores
and adidas.com.

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2012
Olympic opener
showed
music
37
is best of
British
Iranian Shiite Muslim worshipers attend Friday prayers, during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan, at the Tehran University campus. Muslims fasting in the month of Ramadan must abstain from food, drink
and sex from dawn until sunset, when they break the fast with the meal known as Iftar.— AFP
With fewer wedding bells ringing, marriage in America has evolved
She wore a brown floral dress for the ceremony. He
wore his U.S. Army uniform, and after all this time, he
still worries that it looked too rumpled to pass
muster. When Flo Swanson married Herm Dorion at Fort
Lewis, Wash., in July 1942, the future of the world was
uncertain _ but they were convinced their future meant
building a life together. Seven decades later, it turns out
they were right. “We’ve had a wonderful life,” said Herm
Dorion, 94, who like his wife is a musician and retired educator.
The couple lives at the Atria El Camino Gardens senior
community in Carmichael, Calif.
“I wouldn’t have had another person,” said Flo Dorion,
92. “We’ve had ups and downs, but we’ve been in love the
whole time.” While the Dorions have had an extraordinarily
long marriage, it’s not unusual these days for older couples
to celebrate 40, 50 or 60 years together. But in the future,
marriages of similar duration will likely be rare. These days,
wedding bells are not ringing _ at least, not as often as
they used to. As a result, marriage in America has evolved.
But into what?
For the Dorions’ generation, marriage was a bedrock of
stability, the foundation of family life. “That was the most
unusual generation of the 20th century,” said Andrew
Cherlin, a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University.
“They grew up in the Depression and the war. Afterward,
the American economy was very strong. People were ready
to turn toward home and family. “The effect of growing up
in hard times made them more likely to want a stable family
life. That’s one reason we see so many long anniversaries
now.”
In contrast, the demographic portrait of marriage today
shows the upending of tradition. Only half of American
adults are now married, a record low, compared with 78
percent in 1950. While the divorce rate has leveled off, the
marriage rate continues to drop: In 2010, 6.8 people per
1,000 entered new marriages, U.S. Census data show, compared
with 16.4 per 1,000 in 1946, at war’s end.
And couples today are waiting longer to marry. The
national average age of people marrying for the first time
is 26.5 for brides and 28.7 for grooms. Researchers suggest
the average ages are even higher in urban areas.
Statistically speaking, marriage has become the province of
the high-achieving: Two-thirds of adults with college
degrees get married, compared with less than half of people
with only high school diplomas, the Pew Research
Center reported. And people without college degrees are
Herm and Flo Dorion, eat lunch at the senior community
where they live, Atria El Camino Gardens in Carmichael,
California, July 19, 2012. The couple just celebrated their
70th wedding anniversary on July 11. — MCT
more likely to divorce. “The people who can get good jobs
are marrying and staying together,” Cherlin said. “Those are
the college-educated people. Marriage is reflecting the
socioeconomic polarization in society.”
A pair of boys run across a hospital rooftop adjacent to
an artist’s rendition of an Olympic mascot.
Flavio LaGioia cleans an Olympic mascot statue painted
like a tourist located along the River Thames.
Take Julia Spiess and Toby Lewis. She’s 34, a vice president
at Perry Communications, and he’s the 39-year-old
editor of Valley Community Newspapers. Neither has been
married before. Their wedding date is Sept. 22. “I wanted to
wait for the right person,” said Lewis, who lives with Spiess
in Land Park. “I know that sounds like a cliche answer, but I
only want to get married once. I’m a traditional guy. I
believe a marriage should be a lifetime commitment.”
So has marriage become an economic luxury, the institutional
version of a mansion in a gated neighborhood?
More than 60 percent of couples today live together before
marriage _ or instead of marriage, as they churn from one
partner to the next through the years _ and 41 percent of
children are born to single parents.
“More people don’t feel able to afford being married,
both financially and socially,” said Todd Migliaccio, a
Sacramento State associate sociology professor. “They see
marriage as something to do when they’re more stable.
“They don’t want to fail at it. They don’t want to become a
statistic.” Economic forces have always driven marriage
trends. During the early Depression years, the marriage
rate languished at 7.9 per 1000 _ but after World War II,
when jobs were plentiful, marriage boomed. —MCT
An Olympic mascot, painted in the likeness of Big Ben, is displayed
across the River Thames from the actual Big Ben.