7 Days-27.02.2012

7DAYS
WWW.7DAYS.AE MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012
TECH TALK:
From vinyl to cloud - gadgets put a new spin on DJ-ing
page 14
UAE
NEWS:
Robbers have feathers ruffled over dove theft
page 7
BPA Audited
SPORT:
Fed Express keen to show hes not finished
page 21
WEB CHAT ENDS IN KNIFE ATTACK ORDEAL

Waitress claims facebook friend threatened her with stun gun
By Ali Al Shouk
However, the defendant, a 34-year-old Egyptian accountant, denies charges of kidnap and attempted rape. The Filipina said in her testimony that she befriended the man on facebook in September after they initially struck up conversation on Yahoo Messenger. She said: We started calling each other and then he invited me to a party, so I accepted and went to his apartment. A MAN is accused of luring a woman he met on facebook to his flat and then threatening to kill her if she refused to sleep with him. His alleged victim, a 26-year-old Filipina waitress, claims the man invited her to a party at his home in International City in Dubai, but when she arrived there was no one else there. She says he became violent, held a knife to her throat and also threatened her with a stun gun. Her ordeal only ended, she told Dubai Court of First Instance yesterday, when she grabbed the knife and defended herself.
Gunners rock Spurs with five-star show

FULL STORY PAGE 23
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
7DAYS
NEWS
MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012
Wind whips up, but experts say there will be no cyclone

WEATHER ofcials warned drivers to take extra care on the roads today as more sandstorms are due to hammer the Emirates. However, they quelled rumours that a cyclone is heading for the UAE because southerly winds coming in from the desert are being met by a north westerly wind. I am hearing all these rumours that we are going to be hit by this cyclone but that chance has really gone down now, said Adbul Azia, a senior forecaster at the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology. However, he warned that driving conditions would remain treacherous this morning as the strong north westerly wind remain and would
Storm batters UAE

By Sean ODriscoll
push dust and sand across the country. There has been a lot of sand and dust, so motorists should be cautious, he said, adding that winds of 84kph were registered in Al Ain on Saturday. Some schools across Dubai and Sharjah were forced to close yesterday and others had to keep all their activities indoors. Tanker movement was halted at the Jebel Ali Port after warnings that waves might reach heights of 3m. Port ofcials said it was likely but not certain normal business would resume today. The bad weather is expected to lift late this afternoon. sean@7days.ae
Ex is accused of kidnapping terror

A 23-YEAR-OLD Emirati woman told Dubai Court of First Instance that she was put through a terrifying ordeal by her former boyfriend after refusing his marriage proposal and ending their nine-year relationship. She said he grabbed her as she left work one day and pushed her into a car, locking her in and then driving off, hitting a number of cars. I tried to escape but he punched me and bit my hand, she said. He ripped off my abaya, threatening to strip me naked and throw me onto the street. One of the front tyres on his car exploded, so the man agged down a taxi and dragged her inside screaming, claiming she was his wife, she said. The victim said the taxi driver stopped in front of a police ofcer. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping.
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BlackBerry offer gave waitress a way to escape

... continued from cover She added: Suddenly he attacked me with a knife. I was thrown to a sofa and he tied my feet with chains. He even threatened me with a stun gun and said he would kill me if I didnt have sex with him. She said she offered to give him her BlackBerry if he let her go. She then grabbed his knife as he reached for the phone. The woman then made a break for it. She said: I ran towards the window of the rst-oor apartment and jumped out, calling for help. The trial has been adjourned and the defendant has been remanded in custody ali.shouk@7days.ae
7DAYS
7DAYS
NEWS
Firms told to leave capital

MUNICIPALITY bosses have vowed to move the last 270 garages and workshops out of Abu Dhabi city by the end of April. More than 930 workshops, shops and other outdoor businesses have already been relocated to Musaffah Industrial area, about 20km from the city, as part of a plan to tidy up the capital. The authority told the rms they had to move in 2010, and it has already extended the deadline from May 2011 to this April to give them more time. The rule affects garages, building materials shops, carpenters, equipment maintenance and repair services, glass and aluminium manufacturing and other similar workshops.
Working to make city clean

By Ismail Sebugwaawo
This is part of an overall plan to improve the image of Abu Dhabi city, ensure a healthy environment, ease bottlenecks and upgrade services of those workshops, said a senior ofcial in a statement issued by the Public Health Department. According to the municipality, all workshops were ordered to move to Musaffah Industrial area while garages and auto spare parts shops have been told to shift to places located on the outskirts of the city. The decision also includes car servicing and washing facilities. Those who do not move will be ned. ismail@7days.ae
Celinas double delight
NEWS IN BRIEF Painkillers prove a real headache

ABU DHABI: A passenger who was detained at the airport accused of smuggling Tramadol pills told a court that he has prescription for them from a doctor. The Egyptian denied smuggling at Abu Dhabi Criminal Court yesterday. When asked by presiding judge Sayed Abdul Baseer why security ofcers found the drugs hidden inside his shoes when they searched him, the defendant said airport ofcials in Cairo had told him not to put them in his bags. The case was adjourned to March 6.
Police look for missing youth

DUBAI: Cops are searching for a young Emirati man who has been missing for more than a week. Yousuf Al Otoubi, 22, was last seen at the American University in Dubai on Sunday, February 19. His father Hassan Musabih Al Otoubi said: He left home and I have not seen him since. We contacted all relatives and known friends to try and nd out if they had any clues. The whole family is worried. An ofcial in CID said: He appears to have left his phones at home and took his car. We are searching for him.
BOLLYWOOD actress Celina Jaitley is expecting twins next month, it has been revealed. The actress is visiting Dubai and has been spotted with her UAE-based husband, hotelier Peter Haag. Jaitley made the revelations about her pregnancy on her Twitter account and said she is due to give birth early because she is carrying twins.
NEWS
By Abdu Baasit
PEOPLE hoping to beat the queues by visiting a new Emirates ID registration centre were turned away yesterday after it was hit by a power outage on its opening day. Residents started gathering at the building in Al Baraha, Dubai, from 7.30am to apply for their national ID card or renew an existing one. However, to their dismay, they were advised to go to another centre or come back later in the week. I have been waiting here since morning and they kept telling us that they would start attending to us shortly, said applicant Munir Rashid. The centre, in a villa on Al Baraha
7DAYS
ID crisis as power is cut

Opening hiccup for registration centre
Street, was ofcially opened yesterday morning and is expected to receive more than 1,000 clients a day. A spokesperson from the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) said: There was a disconnection from DEWA and we are trying to sort it out. One applicant said he had been advised to return next week since all equipment necessary for the registration process was not ready because of the power problem. The centre, which EIDA hopes will reduce delays caused by long queues at the existing Dubai registration centres, will be moved to a permanent home at Al Baraha Hospital in June. The deadline for most expats in Dubai to get an ID card is June 1. abdu.baasit@7days.ae
Ray of light for Madge fans as tickets go live

MADONNA fans can book their spot at the stars Yas Arena concert in Abu Dhabi on June 3 when tickets go on sale at 12pm today at www.thinkash.ae. Some tickets will also be sold at Virgin Megastores in Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Abu Dhabi Mall. Tickets range from Dhs250 to Dhs1,095. VIP hospitality packages are Dhs2,295.
School fees claried

IN THE special education supplement The Right Choice published on Sunday, February 26, the fees printed for Safa School, Dubai, were incorrect. The fees actually range from Dhs20,982 to Dhs30,912. Apologies to our friends at Safa School for the error.
7DAYS
SPECIAL REPORT
Fight is on to stamp out forged passports

Gangs are using all the tricks of the trade, but theyre no match for Dubais cops, writes Abdu Baasit
olice say they are winning the war on forged passports in Dubai despite fraudsters using increasingly sophisticated methods to produce counterfeits. Easy access to high-quality printers and software is making it possible for individuals to forge documents from their homes, Aqil Al Najjar, head of the questioned documents section, told 7DAYS. Al Najjar said his department dealt with 1,700 forged documents, including 800 fake passports, last year down from 2,048 bogus documents in 2010. He said: While cases of forgery have registered a significant decline due to the police crackdown, criminals are taking advantage of new technologies at their disposal. One would think the criminals would relent, but every other day they invent new ideas. The most forged passports were those puporting to be from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iraq and Afghanistan. Al Najjar said many of the dodgy passports are produced by organised criminals in the UAE and that there were gangs in Rolla, Sharjah notorious for forging Indian and Pakistan passports. They are very organised and this is their permanent job. They sell fake passports to people by convincing them they are as good as the original ones, he said. Al Najjar stressed that no matter how many new forgery methods criminals devise, there will always be a clear distinction between a genuine and counterfeit document. He explained that there are two types of forged passports - fully forged and partially forged. The partially forged passports are ones issued legally by the authorities of the country, but then doctored by crooks with different details. Most of the cases in Dubai are to do with partially forged passports. These are genuine passport books but with forged features such as forged stamps, a visa, signature, altered personal data such as date of birth and changed photos, said Al Najjar. He said all genuine passports are protected by security features and these distinguish them from forged ones. However, he said that some countries do not have as many of these features, such as water marks, macro printings and holograms - as others,
which makes them easier to forge. Al Najjar said police forward passports to his department to be checked on a regular basis - after random raids on premises where it is suspected forgery services are offered or after making arrests at airports and border points where forged documents are likely to be used. He said residents staying illegally in the country, such as housemaids who have absconded from their employers without their passports, will often turn to criminals for help to secure a passport when they need to go back home. As well as passports, Al Najjars department also checks the authenticity of banknotes, licences, contracts, cheques, entry permits, vehicle ownership documents, shipping documents, employment visas and academic certificates. abdu.baasit@7days.ae
CRIME LAB FACTS AND STATS

turn out to be counterfeit >> 1,700 documents were deemed counterfeit last year >> More than 2,000 fakes were uncovered in 2010 >> 800 fake passports were detected last year >> It usually takes between five seconds and a minute to tell whether a passport is genuine or a forgery
>> From all the documents examined each day, about six
COPYCATS: Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Iraq passports are the most often faked
NEWS
7DAYS
Trio admit stealing and selling precious birds

THREE men have been convicted of breaking into a house in Abu Dhabi, stealing 250 decorative doves and selling them on. Abu Dhabi Criminal Court was told the trio - a Palestinian, an Omani and an Emirati - entered the home while the owner was away and took the birds, worth about Dhs190,000. The birds were being kept in cages inside the home, which belonged to an Emirati man. The man discovered the birds were missing when he returned home that night. He called police, who launched an investigation and arrested the thieves. The men admitted stealing the doves and told police they had already sold off dozens of the precious birds to different people.
Dove thieves fly into trouble

By Ismail Sebugwaawo
The defendants also handed over the Dhs85,000 they got for selling the stolen doves. The owner withdrew his complaint after receiving the birds and money, however Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution still charged the trio with theft and referred them to court. The defendants pleaded guilty to the charges and told the court they had returned the stolen birds. Chief Justice Sayed Abdul Baseer yesterday sentenced the three men to a three-month suspended jail term. The trio had already spent two months in detention. ismail@7days.ae
FEATHERS RUFFLED: The men made Dhs85,000 for selling prize doves like these
Hide-and-seek girl claims sex attack

A WATCHMAN has been accused of molesting a young girl while she hid under his desk during a game of hide and seek. The 10-year-old Indian girl and her friend were playing the game at her building in Refaa, Dubai, and she hid under the reception desk, Dubai Court of First Instance was told. The watchman, 32, also Indian, denies sexual assault. The incident happened in January, the friend of the alleged victim said she saw the man touch the girl inappropriately after she cheated and opened one of her eyes while counting. I saw him pulling her on to his lap and touching her, the friend said. The victim yelled and jumped away, the court was told. The girl then told her mother, who called police. An ofcer attending the scene said: The defendant denied the allegations. He claimed he only held the girls hand to lead her to the lift and asked her to return to her apartment. The case was adjourned.
Women start Arctic epic

JOURNEY: The Arctic Womens Challenge team head to Norway to raise cancer awareness
Photo by Wouter Kingma
A TEAM of 12 women from the UAE, Oman and Hong Kong will head to Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic Circle this week for the ultimate Arctic adventure aimed at raising cash and awareness for a breast cancer charity. The group from the Emirates, known as the Arctic Womens Challenge Team, have been training for the expedition at Ski Dubai. The women will complete a
three-day dog-sledding expedition to the Nooderlicht Polar ice ship, a two-day Snowmobile safari to Isfjord Radio station and a day of ice-caving in the Scott Turner Glacier, to search for natural wonder the Northern Lights. The expedition will be lmed and photographed and a post-expedition book and lm will be produced to encourage more women to take charge of their health.
7DAYS
Celebrity FIX
George not getting married this year
Clooney is GGeorgepeople trying sick of to marry [him] off. The star, who is one of Hollywoods most eligible bachelors, has laughed off reports that he is going to marry current girlfriend Stacy Keibler. Talking about the rumours, he said: Its always that way! People have been trying to marry me off ever since I was 30! No comment.
Dont pretend you dont love a bit of showbiz you know you do...
Actor sets new record for worst films

ADAM SANDLER may not be in the running for an Oscar this year, but yesterday he set a new record for another award - the most Razzie nominations for the worst films and performances of 2011. The producer, actor and writer received 11 Razzie nods, including worst actor, actress, screenplay and film, in a contest created as an antidote to the love-fest that engulfs Hollywood during Oscar season. Sandlers cross-dressing comedy Jack & Jill, in which he played both the male and female roles, led the pack of poor movies with 12 nods. His romantic comedy Just Go
Adam has no razzle dazzle

With It got five, and Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star, for which Sandler wrote the screenplay, notched up six nominations. But Sandler, who ironically was voted Peoples Choice best movie comedy actor in January, was in excellent company. Legendary actor Al Pacino got a dishonourable mention for his cameo in Jack & Jill. And Nicole Kidman got a nod for her supporting role in Just Go With It, while Nicolas Cage was nominated for Trespass, Season of the Witch and Drive PANNED: Sandler in Angry 3D. Just Go With It with The results will be Brooklyn Decker revealed on April 1.
Taylor has a big date

TAYLOR SWIFT has invited a leukaemia patient to be her date at the Academy of Country Music Awards. Kevin McGuire, 18, a New Jersey football player, received nearly 100,000 likes on facebook for Swift to be his prom date, sparking her to invite the sick teen to the awards bash on April 1.
Jennifer the shrink?

Aniston admitted that GJenniferandwantedhasto be therapist.she never to be an actress planned Jennifer, who considered a career in therapy before she was famous, said: There was the period where I wanted to be a therapist, if the acting didnt work. I was always the girl people would talk to about their problems, and I still am. But, I had a good feeling about acting.
NEWS
Policeman suspect in US killings

Soldiers shot in back of their heads
AFGHAN authorities said they believe a police intelligence ofcer may have been involved in the shooting of two US ofcers inside the interior ministry. The man is believed to be linked to the Taliban, who have claimed responsibility following the incident. Abdul Saboor, 25, is the main suspect in the killing, which took place at close range inside the heavily fortied ministry on Saturday in the centre of the capital, Kabul. Abdul Saboor is at large right now, a source said, adding that CCTV footage shows Saboor had access to the Command and Control Centre where the dead Americans were found. The killing of the American ofcers took place as rage gripped the country for a fth day over the burning of the Quran at a NATO base. Seven US military trainers were also wounded yesterday when a grenade was thrown at their base in northern Afghanistan, police said. Dozens of people have died in the protests with 200 wounded. US President Barack Obama apologised for the Quran incident but it has done nothing to quell outrage. If the shootings at the ministry are found to be linked to Afghan forces, new questions will arise about Taliban inltration as well as their ability to secure Afghanistan once NATO combat forces withdraw in 2014. Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday repeated his plea for calm and restraint. I hope people will be calm and be assured we are seriously pursuing this matter, he said of the Quran burning. Karzai put the protest death toll at 29, while a top US diplomat in Kabul said the US isn't rethinking its commitment to Afghanistan despite the violent protests.
Protests balloon amid fears over nuclear plant
7DAYS 9 MIDDLE EAST ROUND-UP

SYRIA
VOTING started yesterday in the referendum on a new constitution. President Bashar Al Assad has said the vote will lead to a multi-party parliamentary election in three months, but opponents see no end to the almost year-long uprising against four decades of Assad family rule. No one is going to vote, said activist Omar in the rebel-held Baba Amro district of Homs, which Assads forces have bombarded for more than three weeks. This was a constitution made to Bashars tastes and meanwhile were getting shelled and killed. Assads forces killed at least 100 people, including six women and 10 children, across Syria on Saturday, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said. Explosions shook several cities yesterday before polls opened as well.
QATAR
THE countrys ruler says the Arab identity in Jerusalem is under threat by Israeli expansion around the city. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani called for a UN-backed investigation into the Israeli settlements in predominantly Arab districts in Jerusalem and surrounding areas. His remarks came at the opening of a conference in Doha on Jerusalem. The conference comes after clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian groups in a West Bank district adjacent to Jerusalem. THOUSANDS of Malaysians released balloons during a protest yesterday against a $230 million rare earth renery being built by Australian mining rm Lynas in Pahang state, eastern Malaysia. The plant will rene radioactive ore from Australia and Malaysians are worried about the health and environmental risks posed by potential leaks of radioactive waste. Lynas plans to open the plant in June.
Mandela out of hospital after keyhole operation

FORMER South African President Nelson Mandela (left) was discharged from hospital yesterday. The 93-year-old went home after an abdominal examination showed there was nothing seriously wrong with him, the government said in a statement. The doctors have decided to send him home as the diagnostic procedure he underwent did not indicate anything seriously wrong with him, President Jacob Zuma's ofce said. His departure from hospital marked the end of an anxious 24-hour wait for South Africa, after Mandela was admitted on Saturday morning with long-standing abdominal pain. Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said Mandela had investigative laparoscopy - a tiny camera inserted into the abdomen.
YEMEN
A SECURITY official says government shelling has killed five Al Qaedalinked militants in a southern town, while a soldier died in a landmine explosion in the same area. The official says the bombardment in Zinjibar started on Saturday night and continued through early yesterday. He says a Yemeni soldier died yesterday when he stepped on a mine east of Zinjibar. During the past year of turmoil in Yemen, Al Qaedalinked militants seized control of parts of the south, including Zinjibar. The government has failed to oust them. On Saturday, at least 25 people were killed when a car bomb exploded in the south, hours after the countrys new president was formally inaugurated.
Bin Laden den torn down

PAKISTAN is demolishing the three-storey compound where Osama bin Laden was killed by US commandos last May. Rings of police kept spectators away from the compound as the government began tearing it down on Saturday night. Work halted about midday yesterday to allow rubble to be taken away. Residents of the normally sleepy town of Abbottabad were divided on what the government should do with the compound. Some thought it should be destroyed but others believed it should be turned into a tourist attraction to help the town earn money. However, there was a fear it could also draw Al Qaeda supporters.
10
7DAYS
NEWS
Bone marrow doner lands $2.9m prize

A US soldier is celebrating after winning a slot-machine jackpot in Las Vegas, but claims his victory is all down to karma. Alexander Degenhardt was accepted as a bone marrow donor to an anonymous patient only a couple of days before hitting the $2.9 million jackpot at the Bellagio Hotel, he told the Las Vegas Sun newspaper. They asked me if I was sure I wanted to go through with it because its kind of painful, but whats a little pain if it will save someones life? Degenhardt said. He added: I look at this jackpot as kind of good karma for that. Degenhardt, 26, said he plans to continue his career with the US Marines and go through with the bone marrow donation, which is expected to occur in the next six months. He and several fellow marines had own to Las Vegas from Washington, DC, where hes stationed, for a week of training at Nellis Air Force Base. Degenhardt said he decided to kill a couple of hours before the return ight by playing the penny slot, which takes bets from 40 cents to $2, at the Bellagio. He landed the jackpot about 10 minutes later. I gured Id just go lose $100 real quick, he said. I was overwhelmed and in shock. Its something you always want to happen, but when it does happen you dont believe it. Degenhardt, who will receive about $100,000 a year over 20 years, said he plans to rst help his pregnant sister and his mother catch up on paying the bills. He has also splashed out on some clothes at a thrift store, where he buys all of his clothes. But he said he wont part with his car, which has wracked up about 400,000km. I plan to keep driving it until I cant any more, he told the Sun. No sense in wasting money. Im really pretty thrifty. The Bally Technologies Money Vault slot machine at the Bellagio is linked with casinos across Nevada. It was the second-biggest jackpot ever for Bally, which makes the machines and pays out the jackpots.
Marine win was karma
Top rugby coach sees red over speech

RUGBY World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Graham Henry may take legal action after lighthearted comments he made at a fundraising dinner were reported by New Zealand media. Henry said he had consulted his lawyers after the comments, made at a dinner for the Hawkes Bay Rugby Union, were reported by a provincial newspaper and picked up by other news organisations. He said he had been assured by event organisers he would not be reported. Henry told guests at the $120-ahead function that if New Zealand had failed to win the World Cup he would have been in the south of France smoking marijuana and drinking red wine. New Zealand beat France in the World Cup nal but Henry said they would have romped to victory if star y-half Dan Carter had not been injured. Carter missed the nal with a groin injury. He also said it had been easy to motivate his players for the semi-nal against Australia because of the behaviour of Australia y-half Quade Cooper. Henry said yesterday he was angry his comments had been published as they were said in jest and in fun. I said at the time it wasnt for publication and I dont know how it got into the papers. I asked the people running it that there be no reporters. Ive now put it in the hands of my solicitor, he said. Henry retired after the Rugby World Cup nal, ending an eightyear coaching tenure with the All Blacks during which he won 83 of his 105 test matches. He now works for the New Zealand Rugby Union as a mentor to high-performance coaches.
Wheelchair user crowned top beauty in Hungarys rst pageant
MANY beauty queens may wish for world peace, but the latest pageant princess has a more achievable goal in mind. In an event unusual for Eastern Europe, the winner of Hungarys rst such beauty pageant for wheelchair users said she will be an advocate for improving access conditions for the disabled across the country. Katalin Eszter Varga was chosen from eight nalists who wheeled on stage in choreographed moves set to music by Maroon 5 and Rihanna. Varga, a 26-year-old perfume saleswoman who has been in a wheelchair for four years, said: Its hard to access many buildings. There are few hotels offering wheelchair access. I have many hopes this will change.
Man is worlds shortest

HE HAS never worked outside the home or seen a doctor, and until last week, he had never left his remote mountain village in western Nepal. But, 72-year-old Chandra Bahadur Dangi has now been crowned the worlds shortest man. Dangi measures 54.6cm tall - about the size of a toddler - and he is 5.3cm shorter than Filipino Junrey Balawing, the previous holder of the title. Yesterday he was measured by Craig Glenday, the Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records, and Dr Rashila Pradhan in Nepals capital Kathmandu. The pair conrmed the new record. Dangi took his rst trip outside his village and his rst trip on a plane to reach Katmandu on Wednesday. I am very happy to be in Kathmandu for the rst time. I am here so I can take the Guinness title, he said. Dangi, who has never been married, lives with his eldest brother and his family in Rhimkholi village, 400km west of Kathmandu. His ve brothers are of average size.
Mine production stopped after strike leads to brawl

OPERATIONS at a gold and copper mine in Indonesia have been suspended following ghting among employees, the company and union ofcials said. Production was stopped because some workers who took part in a strike were committing acts of violence and intimidation against workers who didnt strike, spokesman Ramdani Sirait said. About 8,000 employees walked off their jobs for four months last year demanding pay hikes. They ended their strike in December after receiving a 37 per cent raise. We are experiencing work interruptions in connection with our efforts to resume normal operation at our mine, the company said. Sirait added the company is working with local authorities and union ofcials to resolve the issue. Both sides were to blame for the violence, in which several workers were injured.
NEW RECORD: Dangi is the worlds shortest man, measuring just 54.6cm tall
NEWS
7DAYS
11
War hero is ignored by passers-by

CCTV footage reveals robbery
A WORLD WAR II veteran had to crawl across a petrol station forecourt with a broken leg after being robbed because no one came to his aid. Surveillance camera footage at the Detroit petrol station shows 86-year-old Aaron Brantley struggling to get from the fuel pump to the stations door as people walked and drove by him after he was carjacked in broad daylight. Brantley said several people passed by him as he crawled, unable to walk because his leg was broken after the carjacker knocked him down, took his keys and drove off in his car. I was trying to go in... and see if somebody could call the police and an ambulance because I couldnt stand, he said. I had to crawl - I tried two or three times to get up. He was on his way home from bible study when he stopped to put petrol in his 2010 Chrysler 200, which he recently bought to replace another car that had been stolen. People were passing me just like I wasnt there... I was crawling and they just walked by, he said. Brantley said as he approached the building, he asked a woman to open the door for him. He said at rst it appeared she wasnt going to but she did and then kept walking. Detroit Police said there have been no arrests yet, but the car was later found with the wheels and radio missing.
NEWS IN BRIEF Child is killed by bird u virus

INDONESIA: A 12-year-old boy has died on the resort island of Bali after contracting bird u, bringing the human death toll in the country worst hit by the illness to 154 since 2005, a health ofcial said. The boy died after suffering high fever and breathing difculties. Tests showed he was infected with the H5N1 virus. It is thought he had indirect contact with poultry. He is the fourth person to die of bird u in Indonesia this year. Statistics show, though, the number of cases is on the decline.
Minor damage as quake hits

TAIWAN: A strong earthquake struck yesterday, causing minor damage in the southern part of the island. There were no immediate reports of casualties and no tsunami warning was issued. Taiwans Central Weather Bureau said the quake struck at 10.35am in a mountainous area just inland from the coastal city of Pingtung, with a magnitude of 6.1. Taiwan television showed pictures of minor damage in the Pingtung area and said a high-speed rail service had been suspended.
ALL ALONE: Aaron Brantly recuperates at home after his ordeal
Bittersweet victory for Gillard

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Julia Gillard is poised to win a leadership vote against rival Kevin Rudd today. The move comes despite polls showing a government under her leadership would be decimated at the next elections due by late 2013. Gillard said she was condent she would win the prime ministerial showdown against Rudd and hoped the result would end months of bitter leadership inghting within the Labour Party. Rudd supporters also acknowledged Gillard (right) was likely to win the leadership vote despite polls showing Labour had a better chance of an election victory under Rudd. Public indications suggest that Julia Gillard will win, key Rudd backer Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said yesterday, warning the government faced an election rout and could lose up to 25 of its 72 lower house seats under Gillard. Rudd, who ignited the leadership crisis when he resigned as foreign minister on Wednesday, was dumped as prime minister in June 2010 after Gillard led an internal party coup.
Two killed in Antarctica station blaze

A FIRE broke out at Brazils research centre in Antarctica on Saturday, killing two navy personnel and forcing the evacuation of about 40 other people, the government said . A third navy member was injured but stable after the re, which broke out in a building that housed the power generators at the Comandante Ferraz base, the navy said. The two victims were Carlos Alberto Vieira Figueiredo and First Sergeant Roberto Lopes dos Santos. Several South American countries have bases in Antarctica where they carry out scientic research, despite concerns among environmentalists over the risks of human activity on the planets least populated and most pristine continent. The navy also conrmed that a barge shuttling diesel to the base sank in a storm and that a ship was being sent to recover the apparently intact vessel and the fuel. The navy said the 10,000 litres of fuel had not leaked.
Obamas a big hit in China

PEOPLE in China have ooded US President Barack Obamas re-election campaign page on Google with comments after China seemingly lifted censorship on it. The comments on the Obama campaigns veried account reached a torrent in the past few days. Most seemed to be for fun, some asked for green cards, but many were overtly political, calling for the end of Communist Party rule and the freeing of a blind legal advocate, Chen Guangcheng, held captive in his home.
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EDUCATION
CRYSTAL VALLEY NURSERY >Upon receipt of full payment of registration & term fees, receive a beautifully framed and professionally shot Nursery Day Memories photograph of your child. EMDI INSTITUTE > 15% discount on the DJ courses. EMERALD CITY NURSERY > Upon receipt of full payment of registration & term fees, receive a beautifully framed and professionally shot Nursery Day Memories photograph of your child. INDIGO VALLEY NURSERY > Upon receipt of full payment of registration & term fees, receive a beautifully framed and professionally shot Nursery Day Memories photograph of your child. KNIGHT SHOT > Up to 75% discount on in store billiard items. CHANNELS (MEDIA ROTANA) > Channels (Media Rotana) > 20% off theme nights (food only). Sunday Wednesday. C.MONDO (CENTRO BARSHA) >20% off your total bill. T&Cs apply. PAX (DUSIT THANI DUBAI) > 25% off your food bill.
of F fro fers ant m ev as Ad er tic 7a y w nt ee ag k e
HEALTH & BEAUTY

BODYLINES LESIURE & FITNESS CLUB (MEDIA ROTANA) > 25% off full body massages. BODY TALK SPA & FITNESS CENTER (MVENPICK HOTEL JUMEIRAH BEACH) > 20% off all treatments excluding the facial treatments. GOLDEN EAGLE MARTIAL ARTS > 10% discount on all Kung Fu and Tai Chi classes for parents and children by Golden Eagle Martial Arts. HOLLYWOOD SMILE CLINIC > 60% off consultation & maintenance.
FASHION
DOCKERS > 30% discount on full priced products at Dockers. T&Cs apply. HANG TEN > 20% discount on non-discounted items T&Cs apply. LEVIS > 30% discount on full priced products at Levi's. T&Cs apply.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE DUBAI >Dhs500 off part-time Cambridge Teacher Training qualification starting in January, 2012. The course is from January 28, 2012 April 21, 2012. SAE INSTITUTE > Dhs500 off all short term courses. Valid on presenting the SMS prior to the registration only. YELLOW BRICK ROAD NURSERY > Upon receipt of full payment of registration & term fees, receive a beautifully framed and professionally shot Nursery Day Memories photograph of your child.
FOOD& DRINK
ASHAS (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill ATRIUM (AMWAJ ROTANA) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply.
ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE

ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB > Dhs277 for an 18-Hole Championship Golf Round on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. Rates are inclusive of range balls and cart. DREAMLAND AQUA PARK > Dhs50 off general admission fees. Valid until February 29, 2012. BELLUCCI (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill BENIHANA (AMWAJ ROTANA) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. BENJARONG (DUSIT THANI DUBAI) > 25% discount on your food bill for lunch / 30% discount on your food bill for Friday brunch. BIELLA (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. BIRDIES (ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB)>20% off your total bill. CARTERS (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. CHARLEYS GRILLED SUBS > Buy any regular sub combo, get another at half price.
C.TASTE (CENTRO BARSHA) > 20% off your total bill. T&Cs apply. DUSIT DELICATTESSEN (DUSIT THANI DUBAI)> 20% off your total bill. FALLS LOBBY LOUNGE (MVENPICK HOTEL JUMEIRAH BEACH) > 20% off your total bill except for pre-ordered cakes. FAREAST SEAFOOD MARKET (REGENT PALACE HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. FLAVOURS ON TWO (TOWERS ROTANA) > 25% off brunch / 25% off theme nights from Saturday-Wednesday. T&Cs apply. GOOD FELLAS (RAMEE ROSE HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. HORIZON (AMWAJ ROTANA) > 20% off your food bill . T&Cs apply. IT'S INDI (RAMEE ROYAL HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. IT'S MIRCHI (RAMEE ROYAL HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. LONGS BAR (TOWERS ROTANA) > 25% off the total brunch bill at Long's Bar. T&Cs apply. MEDZO (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. MYBAR (DUSIT THANI DUBAI) > 20% off your total bill. NELSONS (MEDIA ROTANA) > 20% discount on Friday Brunch food bill. NOODLE FACTORY (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. noodle house, the (ALL DUBAI OUTLETS) > Buy one main course and get one free at the noodle house.
OPTIONS BY SANJEEV KAPOOR (CONVENTION TOWER-DWTC) > 20% discount on your food bill from a la carte menu. The offer is valid for lunch and dinner. T&Cs apply.
PLANET HOLLYWOOD (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. PULSE DUBAI (MOVENPICK HOTEL BUR DUBAI) > Free entry to Pulse Dubai before 10pm along with 20% discount on full bottle beverage. T&Cs apply. RAIN (RAMEE ROYAL HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. RANCHES RESTAURANT (ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB) > 10% on Friday Family Brunch. Valid until April 30. ROCK BOTTOM CAF TECOM (RAMEE ROSE HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. ROCK BOTTOM CAF BUR DUBAI (REGENT PALACE HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. ROCKY'S CAF BUR DUBAI (REGENT PALACE HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. ROCKY'S CAF 3 TECOM (RAMEE ROSE HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. ROSSO (AMWAJ ROTANA) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. SEVILLES (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. SUNDECK (AMWAJ ROTANA) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. SWITCH RESTAURANT & LOUNGE (DUBAI MALL) > 20% discount on your total bill from Sunday-Wednesday. TALK RESTAURANT & LOUNGE (MVENPICK HOTEL JUMEIRAH BEACH) >20% off theme nights THE CALIFORNIAN (DUSIT THANI DUBAI) > New offer coming soon THE SQUARE (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. THE TERRACE (MEDIA ROTANA) > 20% discount on food only. THAI CHI (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. TIME CAF (RAMEE ROYAL HOTEL) > 20% off your food bill. T&Cs apply. VINTAGE (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. W GRILL & COCKTAIL TERRACE (WAFI) > 20% off your food bill. WEST BEACH BISTRO & SPORTS LOUNGE (MVENPICK HOTEL JUMEIRAH BEACH) > 20% off your food bill. WHITTARD OF CHELSEA > Buy any regular hot beverage, get another at half price. WRAPS (TOWERS ROTANA) > 25% off your total bill. T&Cs apply.
REBORN SPA & SALON (RAMEE ROSE HOTEL) > 15% discount on all products & services. T&Cs apply.
SPADUNYA COLOUR EXPERIENCE (SHAMS 1 JBR) > 25% discount on any 90 minute treatment. Not valid in conjunction with any other promotions/discounts.
HOMES & GARDENS

ARABIAN RANCHES GOLF CLUB > Daily room rate is Dhs475++ for Ad7antage members. DUBAI GARDEN CENTRE > 20% discount on fountains.
INSURANCE
METHAQ MOTOR INSURANCE > 10% discount on your motor insurance. METHAQ TRAVEL CARE INSURANCE > 10% discount on your travel insurance. METHAQ TAKAFUL INSURANCE COMPANY > 10% discount on Methaq Home Insurance premium from Methaq Takaful. METHAQ PLEASURE CRAFT INSURANCE >5% discount on Methaq Pleasure Craft Insurance premium.
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13
CANDIDATES SHOULD BE BASED ON MERIT AND NOT ON NATIONALITY

- Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega disagrees with the tradition that an American automatically heads the World Bank
BUSINESS 7DAYS
EU waiting for Athens action
UAE: Dubai megadeveloper Nakheel yesterday announced the release of Dhs202.2 million of profit and interest payments to its lenders. The developer of Dubais iconic Palm Jumeirah, which received a bailout from the government back in 2009, said the payments were due at the end of this month in accordance with the restructuring commitments. The payment of the obligations is on schedule, the firm said in a statement, which cements the companys commitments towards successfully implementing the agreed operating plan following the completion of one of the largest and most complex restructurings in the Middle East in August 2011. Last week, Nakheel announced it will soon start selling townhouses on the Palm, in its first residential project on the island since before the global financial crisis impacted on Dubai.
Emirate relies on gas for power, but crude prices are a concern
By Duncan Hare
ONE of Dubais top energy supremos has insisted the emirate has no energy supply worries as the international stand-off over Irans nuclear programme intensifies. However, while Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) secretary general and CEO Nejib Zaafrani says he isnt worried about keeping the lights on in Dubai, he admits escalating oil prices are a major concern. Crude has surged to more than $125 a barrel due to rising tensions over Irans disputed nuclear weapons programme - and Zaafrani told 7DAYS: Its a worry for everybody. At the end of the day, higher energy prices in Dubai are a worry but theres a strategy to manage that by creating a diverse mix in the supply - which is under our control. The announcement of American and EU sanctions on Iran, and threats by Tehran to close the critical Strait of Hormuz, have seen prices shoot up 11 per cent this year. Asked what would happen if tensions surrounding Iran continue to grow and oil prices hurtle ever higher, Tunisian-born energy boss Zaafrani moved to alleviate fears Dubai could face disruptions. Dubai is 99 per cent gas, one per cent fuel, so in terms of power generation its different to other
Dubai energy supply safe from Iran tension

LIGHT FANTASTIC: Dubais energy chiefs say they have secured gas supplies that will avoid disruption to power in the emirate
countries who burn oil [in their power stations]. DSCE vice chairman Saeed Al Tayer added: I dont think there will be any gas shortages this year because we already have a contract and we are relying on gas that is already committed to us there will be no shortage of fuel. Besides its own domestic supplies, the UAE gets most of its gas through a pipeline from Qatar. The pair were speaking on the sidelines of an
event to publicise joint efforts between the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence to develop a strategy to reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions in the emirate. They also said work was underway for a groundbreaking carbon trading scheme seen as a crucial part of the emirates high-profile Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030.
DIFC lays down letter of the law

UAE: Dubai International Financial Centre Courts is to set up a new professional Code of Conduct to help ensure all those who practice under the financial hubs English-language legal system know that theyre not above the law. The code will act as a guide to professional behaviour for lawyers using the Courts and those working within the DIFC. The Code should set the standard for professional conduct of all lawyers who operate within the DIFC, whether they are licensed to conduct business in the DIFC or authorised to appear as an advocate before the DIFC Courts, said DIFC Courts Chief Justice Michael Hwang. A public consultation period for Code which is open to suggestions from court users will be open until 4pm on March 13. Further details are available at www.difccourts.ae.
Billionaire Buffett is bullish, but should we care?

WARREN BUFFETT, probably the worlds most famous investor, says things are looking up for the United States economy. Though housing-related businesses remain in the emergency room, most other businesses have left the hospital with their health fully restored, Buffett said in his closely watched annual letter to the shareholders of his firm. At a delicate stage in the US economic recovery, his words carry weight, partly because of his successes over the years and partly from the sheer size and scope of his Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate, which employees more than 270,000 people in nearly 80 businesses. However, pick through Buffetts previous annual letters and its clear even the man nicknamed the Oracle gets it wrong. Of course, Buffetts shareholder letters are filled with a lot more good decisions than bad ones. His $44 billion fortune attests to that. But his blunders at least remind us that hes human. In 2008, Buffett more than quadrupled Berkshires stake in ConocoPhillips when oil and gas prices were near their peak. It cost the company several billion dollars. Buffett also predicted in last years letter that the US housing recovery would begin within the next year and help fuel economic growth. He now acknowledges he was dead wrong.
THE MARKETS
Another week, another sterling performance by the Dubai Financial Market - and whod have thought wed be saying that towards the end of 2011? The bourses general index yesterday continued its steady run of gains - adding 2.71 per cent to finish on 1,676.49 points. Every traded sector ended higher, led by services which posted an 11.34 per cent rise. Business was brisk, with an impressive 7,831 trades logged by the time the closing bell rang. Shares in 29 firms changed hands, with 22 advancing. Top of the pops was Dubai Islamic Insurance and Reinsurance Co, up by a hefty 14.96 per cent to 73 fils a share. But leading the days losers was Shuaa Capital, shedding 8.75 per cent for a price of 83 fils.
FINANCIAL INDICES:
INDEX
DUBAI ABU DHABI KSA KUWAIT BAHRAIN DOHA SM MUSCAT SM SENSEX FTSE* DJIA* NIKKEI
Beijing to be Dubais air rival

DUBAI faces a fight for the honour of hosting the worlds busiest airport, after Beijing said it will begin construction this year of a hub that will allow it to claim the title. Local media in Chinas capital said authorities will spend $4.8 billion on a new airport with nine runways to be completed in October 2017. The new airport will handle more than 130 million passengers and 5.5 million tonnes of cargo a year, reports said. Those numbers put the new facility in direct competition with Dubais Al Maktoum International Airport, which, although currently only being used for cargo operations, will carry 120 million flyers when complete. Plans for the Dubai airport call for six runways, which would be three less than the new Beijing airport which is yet to be named. The Chinese capitals two existing airports have reached their maximum handling capacities.
THE NUMBERS
CURRENCIES: VS DIRHAM
CURRENCY
US $ GBP EURO YEN INDIAN RUPEE PAKISTANI RUPEE PHILIPPINE PESO S A RAND CANADIAN $ AUS $ NZ$
RATE
3.673 5.806 4.917 0.0456 0.0749 0.0404 0.0859 0.483 3.683 3.941 3.081
PRICE
VALUE
1,676.49 2,571.58 7,088.48 6,091.80 1,143.64 8,776.82 5,716.28 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED
%CHANGE
+ 1.28 + 1.28 + 0.18 + 0.05 - 0.91 + 0.50 + 0.35 CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED
COMMODITIES: OIL* GMT: 14:44

NYMEX CRUDE DME
CLOSED CLOSED
CLOSE
GOLD*
PACKED: Beijings airports
LONDON DGCX FUTURE
CLOSED CLOSED
PAGE
14
7DAYS TECH TALK
GEEKS, GAMERS AND GADGET FANS - THIS IS THE PAGE FOR YOU...
Handy help for spin stars

From vinyl to the cloud - DJs in the groove with tech
By Megha Merani
Battery Alerts
How often have you grabbed your trusty handset to phone that taxi or reschedule that business meeting only for your phone to emit a sickly beep and die in your palm? Well, this app could make such frustrations a thing of the past. When your BlackBerry needs charged, it will simply tell you informing you with a voice alert.
hile the live music market may be struggling, one sector is seeing explosive growth - in-demand DJs are the new rock stars. But just so you know, the leaders of this revolution in electronic music arent just about pushing buttons, or trying to look cool behind the decks. Really, being a good DJ is hard work. Theres a lot of practice involved - and a lot of technology. Ever wonder whats in the DJs toolbox? What creates HARD DISK the magic that has the JOCKEY: Big power to send groups of names like David complete strangers wild? Guetta (top) and The old school guys [still] Sam Ronson are rock up to the venue with turning on to tech a bag full of 12-inch records, reveals Abdulla Nasrawi, audio production instructor at SAE Institute Dubai. Today though, most DJs show up with CDs, their laptop, or even just a USB stick. MisterAsh, resident DJ at popular Dubai
nightclub Zinc, tells 7DAYS that using CDs was the in thing when he first started out. About six years ago, New Zealand firm Seratos integrated software and hardware system, took the hassle out of bulky setups by making it possible to mix and scratch files from a computer hard drive or even an external USB. You could carry your entire CD library on your computer or flash drive, he says. And since this plugand-play solution came about, MisterAshs toolbox simply holds a pair of DJ headphones, and his laptop. While relative newbies and veterans alike admit that technology has taken the DJ business to exciting new places, some see it as a mixed blessing.
There are DJs who use technology to further their sound, says Mo Tiger, one of Nasrawis instructor colleagues. But on the flipside, theres the guys that play a stagnant sound and never seem to progress because they use their computer for the ease rather than showmanship or art form. The local market may be part of the problem. Its a challenge to promote new music in Dubai, says MisterAsh. The music played on the radio - the kind that people seem to want to hear - is too commercial, making it hard to introduce anything different. However, the hip-hop specialist says things are improving - thanks to social networks. We are now able to promote, market, and develop online personas that can literally make or break a career, says MisterAsh. Tweets, facebook fan pages and SoundCloud links can go a long way in building a following. Most DJs these days make sure to include their SoundCloud link on their business cards so that people can download their mixes, he adds. In fact, the industrys future could very well be in the Cloud. Now you can wirelessly sync your iTunes devices, many already have their music in Apples storage facility. The logical next step could be Cloud DJ-ing, enabling electronic maestros to show up to gigs and simply login to their playlist. No records, no wires, no problem.
THIS WEEK on 7days.ae

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Paddy Smith ... our gizmo guru keeping you up to speed

Buzzwords are all the rage in Gadgetland. And most of them are designed to cover a lie. Because the world of technology is plagued by paradox. Just as management meetings are full of ridiculous language designed to make the utterer sound more business-like (that actually just take longer to say), technology staggers on in much the same way as any other industry no matter how many slick names you throw at it. A game changer doesnt change anything, least of all a game. Its merely the term used when a company wants you to think its done something special. Even gadgets that can justifiably claim to have influenced a wide section of the industry dont fit the term as its meant. The iPad (pictured) created a market for tablets that previously wasnt known to exist. But really its just a laptop without a keyboard. Oh, and it looks pretty. There are also people banging on about the cloud, which usually means their products have insufficient built-in memory to be genuinely useful without remote storage provided (at cost) by a third party. Yes, there are many benefits to having your files stored in a central location, accessible from any web-connected device. But those files are useless when you dont have a connection. Worst of all is the phrase future proof - not only the sort of lie that would have made Pinocchios nose jab someone in Japan from his Italian home, but so chronically misleading as to border on irresponsible. There just isnt such a thing as a gadget that will somehow (its never explained in detail) ride out the full wave of technological progress. Why? Because, as Ive already mentioned, technology is plagued by paradox. People who buy iPads often then rush out and buy a keyboard for it. Others who saw their digital file storage space was getting a bit tight rushed out and bought improbably large hard drives for their computers. Now theyre faced with an agonising wait to boot their PCs. Since the majority of us keep our pictures on facebook, whats the point of that giant file repository? So dont believe the salesmen when they say the gadget youre considering is a cloudoptimised, future-proof game changer. Its not. Its a lovely thing that will be replaced by something more lovely almost before youre out of the shop. Choose wisely, and dont believe the buzzwords.
PAGE 15
7DAYS
MetroLife
Food, fashion, movies and more...
In 1827, New Orleans, the US home city of jazz music, held its first Mardi Gras celebration.
February 27
Dont think, H improvise
No script, no time. Improv is no joke. Or is it? Julian Pletts nd out

aving a go at stand-up comedy would have most people quaking in their boots. Imagine though, not even having the chance to even scribble a few jokes down beforehand. Youve probably had nightmares that are more pleasant. Improvisation comedy is made up on the spot. Its no laughing matter, well it is, but you know what I mean. On Wednesday, Dubomedy Arts, the Dubai-based comedy and urban arts hub is putting on Improv Revolution - A Play On Words, the UAEs first show by a professional improv troupe. I was given a sneak peak at their penultimate rehearsal and was invited to give improv a go. On my way to meet the troupe, all I could think about was looking like a mumbling moron in front of a room full of razor-sharp comedians who would then take great pleasure in using me as stand-up material for years to come. I was relieved when I got a friendly welcome from the Mina Liccione, the lively and flamboyant co-founder of Dubomedy Arts. Improv happens only once and can never again be re-created, she says, explaining her love of the art. It forces you to focus and let go of everything else - all the other thoughts in your head - and just be. It turns out improv is more than just a good giggle, it can help you sharpen the skills vital to succeed in life. Improv builds confidence because it forces you to be brave and silly in front of others, says Mina. If you train yourself to be able to react in the moment rather than panic, say yes rather than always saying no, and listen rather than always being the one who speaks, it will help you in all that you do. Mina is director of Wednesdays show. There are five players in the troupe, including Dubai-based stand-up comedians Brent Jenkins and Ali Al Sayed. Also ready to step into the breach are back-up members who are comedy civilians - IT managers and industrialists by day. For them, improv is a bizarre, but exciting, antidote to the daily grind. Our warm-ups begin and we sound like crazed foodies as we act out what we had for lunch that day. Mine? A boring salad. After a few scenes practicing, the most fun is had with the Freeze! game. Two people start a scene and after a minute or so another member of the team yells freeze and jumps in to take the exact position of one of the players. When the first freeze was yelled, I was face down, on the floor, with my legs pulled up behind me. Nothing too rude - we were acting out an arrest. Thankfully, comic Brent Jenkins boldly, or perhaps stupidly, rescues me. He now has to come up with a new character to fit the position I left him in. Quick as a flash, hes now a rocking horse being rocked about the floor by his improv partner. The group is merciless with Brent, each time freeze is shouted they leave him in his new uncomfortable position and take over from his comedy partner. By the time he wriggles out of his imaginary straight jacket hes been ridden as a sleigh, spun like a merry-go-round and dragged like a bag of potatoes across the dusty floor. Talk about being committed to comedy! Concentrating on the moves, and staying balanced, definitely takes focus off the self and by the end of rehearsals, you will have forgotten all about any concerns of being a shrinking violet. Fancy giving improv a go? Dubomedy will be running Wednesday night classes starting in April. Improv Revolutions show is on Wednesday at Ductac. Tickets are Dhs100 and doors open 7.30pm. For more info, email LOL@ vivadubai.com or call 050 927 3621
SHOW TIME!
What can people expect from Improv Revolution - A Play on Words? We put Improv Revolutions director Mina Liccione on the spot. It will consist of a series of high-energy improv games that will rely on the audiences suggestions. We will then create impromptu scenes. We will also have some hilarious comedy sketches as transitions that will crack everyone up and even a dream ballet somewhere during the night. The show will be full of surprises and since its improv, even those of us performing will be surprised! Our troupe is very physical and not afraid to jump right in! The audience will never know whats going to happen next. It can be quite competitive.
PILES OF FUN: Could you make a theatre full of people laugh? These guys plan to do just that - and unscripted too. Inset: Comic Brent Jenkins bends over backwards to get some giggles as Mina Liccione takes a sleigh ride.
PAGE
16
7DAYS
MetroDiary
...your essential guide to whats on
Golden ticket to a new life

Win with 7DAYS
THE search for the Ultimate UAE Explorer - where one lucky winner will walk away with a new life worth Dhs500,000 - began in January. Of the 100 round-one winners originally selected, just 20 wannabe explorers will get to battle it out in the quarter-final video round. However, 7DAYS readers can still get in on the act by checking their favourite newspaper tomorrow where 50 Golden Tickets will be up for grabs. The first two readers to find a ticket and make their way to the Explorer Publishing office will win the coveted Golden Ticket slots and head straight to the quarterfinals, plus pick up a Fuji Film camera to record their message explaining why they should be crowned the Ultimate UAE Explorer. Runners-up will receive an Explorer goody bag worth more than Dhs500. For information on the search and a chance to win one of the other Golden Tickets, check out www.uaeforfree.com
Spice it up
SPICE up your life and tantalise your tastebuds with the aromatic flavours of India. Mouth-watering Chaat street food is available at Flavours on Two restaurant at Towers Rotana, Dubai tonight, as part of the popular Flavours of India buffet. From bread to biriyani and curry to chaat, experience a small part of India, with live cooking stations also adding to the atmosphere. The Chaat experience costs Dhs179 and includes selected beverages. For bookings or more info, call 04 343 8000.
TV time
THE high-rollers of Entourage enter their last season in the fast lane tonight. Vince, Eric, Drama and Turtle have been through a lot over the years, chasing dreams, women and good times as if the party would never end. In the final season of this Golden Globe series, find out if each of the guys can compete on his own in the fast lane of
ULTIMATE ADVENTURE: Alec Harden cage diving during his time as the Ultimate UAE Explorer last year
high-stakes Hollywood. Catch the action tonight at 11pm - on OSN Comedy.
Top snaps
PHOTOGRAPHER Gilles Delmotte goes to extraordinary lengths to capture breathtaking images of Dubai. He has hung from the side of a helicopter and leant over the balcony of an 85th-floor
apartment to get a new angle on the emirate. His Light and Day exhibition opens today at the Mercato Mall on Jumeirah Beach Road and focuses on the Dubai skyline and the local architecture. The exhibition is open 10am-10pm until March 12. For more info, call 04 3444161.
Funny man
MARK your calenders, as tickets for Russell Peters Notorious World Tour go on sale at 12pm on Wednesday. For his 2007 Dubai performance, the comedian sold one ticket every two seconds, crashing the ticket sales system, so expect competition to be high. Peters will play Dubai World Trade Centre on March 20 and Abu Dhabis FLASH Forum on March 22. For Dubai tickets, go to www.timeouttickets.com or www.ticketingco.com. For Abu Dhabi tickets, go to www.thinkflash.ae
Hot date
THE Gluten Free UAE group is holding a casual get-together at the Social Hub Cafe in Abu Dhabi from 10am to 12pm today. No speakers, no special guest, just a bunch of gluten-free people enjoying a coffee or tea. Its open to all, so feel free to invite gluten-free friends along. For more info, go to www.facebook.com/ events/299179946806395
7DAYS
PAGE
17
MetroShopping
Power of the pencil

Sharpen up your wardrobe for spring
IN THE BAG
Double bubble
WITH hundreds of bubble tea combinations, including Assam milk tea with tapioca pearls, the UAEs first dedicated bubble tea concept store sure has something new to offer. Bubbles & Boba, is now open in Dubai Mall and offers drinks you can eat - they contain small fruity balls and brings an exciting new dimension to the UAEs drinks scene. All drinks can be ordered with popping pearls as well! Visit www.bubblesandboba.com for details
Songs in store
THINK you have what it takes to rival Tinie Tempah on the microphone? Test your vocal chords with a session on the new Nintendo Wii game Now Thats What I Call Music Dance and Sing. Sing along with the likes of Tinie, Alexis Jordan, Kesha and Ne-Yo and practice your dance moves with Calvin Harris and Dizzee Rascal on the interactive game. Unique features include a two-player crew based Hip Hop dance off and a Hip Hop tutorial, youre bound to find your rhythm somewhere along the line. Find the game at Virgin Megastores and Geekay Games stores across the UAE.
rep your legs for spring girls, pencil skirts are having a moment. After undergoing a reinvention, the pencil or tube skirt is no longer simply a wardrobe staple for the office worker. This sexy separate encompasses all kinds of trends florals, metallics, prints and pastels - and is deemed the ultimate figure flatterer. The pencil flaunts curves like no other skirt and lengthens the lower body, making it a wardrobe essential.
PRETTY IN PASTELS
Transform your wardrobe into a mouth-watering medley of sorbet shades this spring. Mix a delicious mint or lemon hue with this fabulous rose pink midi pencil skirt from New Look.
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
If you have some cash to splash on pencil perfection, check out the new collection at Emilio Pucci. The collection, which celebrates Brigitte Bardot, is bursting with rich colours.
A new age for fashion shows

IF YOU are a larger lady struggling for inspiration in the shops, the upcoming Fashion For All catwalk show could be just the thing for you. Likewise, older ladies struggling to make the transition into what some would describe as a more mature wardrobe, should also make a note in their diaries for the March 10 show. Featuring models of all ages, sizes and ethnicities, the fashion event has been
organised by the Woman2Woman group. Designed to showcase the creations of upcoming designers in the region, and those who design clothes for women who dont fit the size zero mould, the show will take place on March 10 at the Westin Hotel, Dubai. Business networking takes place from 5.30pm and the fashion show begins at 7pm. For more details or to book your seat, email info@woman2woman.biz
PAGE
18
7DAYS
MetroPuzzles
YESTERDAYS SOLUTION
YESTERDAYS PUZZLE No.1814
In association with McDonalds
WHO AM I?
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS FAMOUS FACE?
TODAYS PUZZLE
LEVEL: EASY No. 1815
YESTERDAYS SOLUTION No.1814
CLUES
1. I am the youngest person to accrue six Oscar nominations. 2. I received the Best Actress Oscar for my role in The Reader. 3. I rejected a role in Shakespeare in Love to sail on the Titanic.
Yesterdays answer: R2-D2
CROSSWORD
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS 1. Great madness? (11) 9. Revolutionary use of colour (3) 10. The best astronomy student? (4,5) 11. Weight of one in a vehicle (5) 13. Oaf without help when knocked down (4,3) 14. Cockney fish going wrong (6) 16. Principal fastener (6) 18. Cuts in two like wine in parts (7) 19. One involved in rows (5) 20. Not altogether how an undergraduate works (2,1,6) 21. A number from EastEnders (3) 22. They compete with 7 down (6,5) DOWN 2. Close result (3) 3. Tessas comeback is no liability (5) 4. Theres nothing to recover, expressed in words (6) 5. Furnish with a soft tip (7) 6. I am punctual when taking a turn at being spontaneous (9) 7. Mad about sport or sports equipment (7,4) 8. The rag trade or on which its products are displayed (7,4) 12. Unusual show of temper making Penny black? (4,5)
15. Atomic rule can be broken (7) 17. Takes over to spur us in some way (6) 19. Waves grow in size (5) 21. It may float, but it overturns (3) ACROSS 1. Lust for power (11) 9. Scarlet (3) 10. Top scholar (4,5)
11. Unit of weight of gems (5) 13. Knocked unconscious, informally (4,3) 14. Making mistakes (6) 16. Metal fastener (6) 18. Halves (7) 19. Single oar (5) 20. A certain amount (2,1,6) 21. Number (3)
12,095 22. Athletic associations (6,5) DOWN 2. Conclusion (3) 3. Valuable possession (5) 4. Verbally (6) 5. Assign to a position (7) 6. Spontaneous (9) 7. Items of sports equipment (7,4) 8. Object for drying washing (7,4) 12. Unusual postage token (4,5) 15. Atomic (7) 17. Seizes (6) 19. Distend (5) 21. Bath (3)
TEST YOUR TRIVIA

1. What is the Latin word vox in English? 2. What is the worlds most southerly capital city? 3. What is coimetrophobia the fear of? Unconsiousness, Cemeteries or Caves? 4. The Ivor Novello awards are presented in what field? 5. What sport has four letters and begins with a t? 6. Which animal became extinct in Scotland in 1743 and then in Ireland in 1766? 7. Name the year: The Boeing 747 makes its maiden flight, Colonel Gaddafi overthrows King Idris in Libya, the famous photograph of The Beatles crossing Abbey Road is snapped and the New York Jets win Super Bowl III?
ANSWERS: 1. Voice 2. Wellington 3. Cemeteries 4. Music 5. Golf 6. The Wolf 7. 1969
YESTERDAYS ANSWERS Across: 1 Palm; 3 Accredit; 9 Egotist; 10 Nacre; 11 Scene-shifter; 13 Relics; 15 Presto; 17 Catastrophes; 20 Onset; 21 Amended; 22 Tone-deaf; 23 Rear. Down: 1 Pleasure; 2 Loose; 4 Catchy; 5 Runs for cover; 6 Duchess; 7 Tree; 8 Disenchanted; 12 Consider; 14 Liaison; 16 Strata; 18 Hedge; 19 Dolt.
Central Press Features
Send emails to: letters@7days.ae
Dear 7Days...
My new car is faulty - it obeys rules of the road
My car is new but it seems to have a serious fault. Whenever it comes to a queue of traffic, particularly at the large set of traffic lights at Mirdif, it always goes to the back of the queue and then waits its turn. Yet I see many other cars that seem to be programmed to avoid the queue by overtaking everyone else and pushing in at the front. Having to wait in the queue is tiresome, even if it is courteous, so can anyone tell me how I can get my car customised like those others which, although highly discourteous, are able to go to the front of the queue? Jim Mirdif How hard can it be? Recycling is something we are all encouraged to do and something I have been doing since I arrived in the UAE seven years ago. I have sort bins in the garden, the kids and maid are all encouraged to sort so that we can all do our little bit. However, Ive finally been beaten by the rubbish system in Dubai. First was glass... no recycling because they cant sort the different colours (add more sorting bins!?) so we binned that. Now the plastic and can collection bins arent getting emptied (Arabian Centre) so I have to resort to dumping them on the floor in bags, which you just know will end up in the normal rubbish since it is an eyesore! What is the point? Where is the good in driving around with you car full of rubbish looking for a recycling centre? When will Dubai wake up and start collecting recycling from houses. The rest of the world are forced to sort in their homes, why not here? Are residents and locals too lazy? Its a sad day in our house. Bubble Dubai
7DAYS
19
Have your say on the countrys most opinionated page
Done with recycling - beaten by UAEs rubbish system HOTc opi t
A best-seller or two can help our furry friends

The Feline Friends charity is having its next book sale at Festival City on Friday, March 3. We need all of your supports so would love to see you there. The sale starts at 10am and ends at 10pm. If you have any books you would like to donate we would be very grateful! Thank you on behalf of the cats. Feline Friends Dubai
School guide gives parent lots to consider

I read the education feature in 7DAYS and was concerned by some of the information from the various schools. My daughters school claims a certain student-teacher ratio but her class exceeds that number. I think 29 children in a class is too many. My daughter battles because, as with many expats, English is not her mother-tongue. With this many pupils in the class, there is no opportunity for a single teacher and assistant to help those who have elementary issues and they just fall behind further as the year moves along. I will in future definitely consider the student:teacher ratio before school proximity when choosing a school. Unfortunately these numbers are not always available during the enrolment process. Barry South Africa
Guard is better person for greeting people

Dear FBhigh (I greet residents every day but most ignore me, Letters, Feb 22), you should definitely continue your pleasant approach, and you are already a class above the ignorant people who do not acknowledge you. Keep it up and aspire always to be better, never ever stoop to the low standards of others. Please dont feel sad and moody, you would make my day, and in the building I live in our reception security do the same and we value them highly. Its actually a factor we consider in our residence location as do many residents here. Keep up the good work of making the day of the 7 per cent who do respond to you, and each day it will become more. KK Marina promenade
Agree or disagree? Let us know what you think at www.7days.ae. Follow us on facebook 7DAYSUAE or Twitter @7DAYSUAE
human welfare to those nations whore in cold-war to destruction. Mani Ram Ojha Abu Dhabi readers to slow down just before him and perhaps offer a little wave. This way he wont feel as alone and might even brighten up his day. Mr P Tank Dubai Hence, the access to the place is difficult, not only via public transport (which is shamefully non-existent) but even if you do happen to have a vehicle. The big screens inside the stadium are woefully incomplete and the announcer is well, inconsequential. Its ironic that in the headquarters of the ICC, the organisation of a cricket stadium is this appalling. On a final note - all those officials who wonder why the crowds have been poor through most of the series should be made to consider themselves lucky that at least the current number of cricket fans have braved their way into the stadium to support two top teams. Aditi Zacharia Dubai
Slow down, give lonely cameraman a wave!

I do not know this person but I feel sorry for them each day for spending so much time on their own. He is the mobile traffic speed camera operator, always parked in a white car on the hard shoulder of Sheikh Zayed Road before the Arenco building (Media City), towards Abu Dhabi. He looks so sad sat alone in his car all day. I wanted to appeal to all 7DAYS
Cricket fan hits out at event organisers

I 100 per cent agree with Mr Thorntons letter. As avid cricket fans, my father and I went to watch the fourth ODI between England and Pakistan last Tuesday. The stadium itself is situated in the middle of nowhere in a maze of (un)construction.
World powers should listen to this person

Id like to convey my thanks and to salute Sigiri (Dubai) for the unique message (Youve got power why not make peace Letters, Feb 26) of
The conversation
continues...
what the excuse will be this time, if at all?

BALOO
I was told its Dhs15 to park here. The car park was simply desert!
HARVEY
I spy - we cant
Bowled over by cricket, stumped by organisation

I tried to get to yesterdays game. First, the location is a disgrace and totally confusing. Second, when I came back the second time (already 50 minutes drive including going 10-15km past and coming back past the stadium again) I ended up at the CORRECT parking lots where I was told the crowd is busy, no space, go away and come back !
YORKSHIRE AIRWAYS
The ICC should be ashamed of themselves for allowing such a poorly organised event to take place on their doorstep. I spent an hour in the car at Motor City heading towards the ground and what a disaster it was - three lanes leading into one lane because of construction and when I finally reached the car park (towards the end of the Pakistan innings),
Would you ever consider getting plastic surgery?

Allah has created me in the best way He wanted. My brains don't work better.
UMER MUNIR VIA FACEBOOK
eyes Another day on the road - another child in danger

Ive been in Dubai long enough that very little surprises me, but I was shocked when we exited the airport tunnel to be met with the sight of a child hanging out of the top of a 4x4. Children should be strapped in at all times, especially with driving conditions as bad as they were with high winds. KM Dubai
believe our
Id rather die ugly than engage n plastic surgery.

JUMA MOHAMMAD VIA FACEBOOK
If they need someone to re-create and be their advert for Dubai then Im free :-)
FAYE HOLLANDS-MEADOWS VIA FACEBOOK
Lack of communication was blamed for the last fiasco by the authorities. I wonder
Comment online www.7days.ae
Only if I or any of my children or wife require reconstructive surgery.

RANDALL MOHAMMED VIA FACEBOOK
Have you seen anything crazy on the roads or elsewhere? Email your pictures to letters@7days.ae
20
DOOSRA
Aimless India in need of a radical rethink PAGE 22 >>
FOOTBALL
Giggs goal keeps United title tilt alive PAGE 23 >>
FOFANA FLAIR: Wesley Fofana evades Mike Blairs tackle to score Frances first try
Sport Shorts
SPORT
ATHLETICS: Kenyas Michael Kipyego tore up the script to win the Tokyo Marathon with former world record holder Haile Gebrselassie left floundering in fourth. Kipyego clocked a time of two hours, seven minutes and 37 seconds in chilly conditions in Tokyo. Ethiopias Gebrselassie broke away from last years winner Hailu Mekonnen before the 36-kilometre mark but Kipyego raced past him around two kilometres after that. The result leaves Gebrselassies Olympic hopes in doubt after three Ethiopians broke 2:05 in the Dubai Marathon last month. Japans Arata Fujiwara boosted his chances of making this years Olympic squad by finishing second in 2:07:48 after passing Ugandas Stephen Kiprotich in the final stretch. RUGBY: Danny Cipriani is hoping his performances with the Melbourne Rebels earn him a return to the international stage. Cipriani was exiled from the England team under former manager Martin Johnson after winning seven caps in 2008. He moved to Melbourne aiming for a fresh start last season. The 24-year-olds fondness for a good night out, which many considered to be a contributory factor to his continued absence from the Red Rose setup also got him into trouble in Australia, however. Having been fined for an incident in a nightclub and banned by the Rebels for a month Cipriani said he was going to be guided by the team ethic on and off the field this season. Ive got extra motivation this year to make sure I get in the England side and to really improve on my performances from last year, he said.
Same old story for Scots as Les Bleus snatch win

SCOTLANDS sorry Six Nations campaign continued as they slumped to their third consecutive defeat against France to remain winless in the championship. Andy Robsinsons side entered the Murrayfield clash confident of reviving their hopes after two spirited defeats to England and Wales. However, it was the same old story for the Scots, who more than matched Les Bleus for the majority of the 80 minutes only to again finish on the wrong end of the score. And back-row forward Ross Rennie struggled to hide his frustration at his sides luckless run. We put in another massive effort and to come away with nothing, everyone is pretty down, he said. We made some good breaks and scored some good tries, but on turnover attack the French were awesome and we let them be. The hosts began with a bang when teenage fullback Stuart Hogg touched down inside 10 minutes in his first start, but France recovered to
Scotland
TRIES: Hogg, Jones; CONS: Laidlaw, Weir ; PENS: Laidlaw;
France
TRIES: Fofana, Medard; CONS: Parra 2; PENS: Parra 2; DG: Beauxis
17 23
go in level at 10-10 at the break after centre Wesley Fofana bulldozed over. A second try from wing Lee Jones gave the Scots hope of a first win over France since 2006, but those aspirations quickly faded when Maxime Medard replied within seconds before Lionel Beauxis nailed a drop goal to close out the game. Meanwhile, David Strettle feels England were robbed of a chance of a dramatic draw against
Wales at Twickenham on Saturday. The Red Rose winger claims he touched the ball down in the final play of the match and should have been awarded a try. That would have left Toby Flood the chance to level the clash at 19-19 with a successful conversion. Television official Iain Ramage was asked to adjudicate and he ruled no try because the footage was inconclusive, gifting the Welsh a seven-point victory. I felt the ball touch the floor, Strettle said. If it is inconclusive you have to go with the attacking team. When they showed it on the big screen it looked like it went down as well. Once the decision went against England, Strettle suggested that referee Steve Walsh should have brought back play for a penalty because he was playing an advantage. I cant understand why we have not gone back for that penalty, he added. There were a few decisions [that went against England].
TIMEOUT
FIVE TO TACKLE
1. The first Open Era Wimbledon mens singles final to be played on a Monday was contested between which two players? 2. Tiger Woods has won three of his 14 Majors via play-offs - who did he beat? 3. Complete this football sequence: Carling Cup, Worthington Cup, Coca-Cola Cup and? 4. Which Formula One circuit is known as the Temple of Speed? 5. Four Irishman sit in the top four places for appearances in the Five/Six Nations matches. Who are they?
ANSWERS: 1. Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Rafter (2001), 2. Bob May (2000 PGA Championship), Chris DiMarco (2005 Masters) and Rocco Mediate (2008 US Open), 3. Rumbelows Cup (past four names of the English League Cup), 4. Monza, 5. Ronan OGara, Mike Gibson, Brian ODriscoll and John Hayes
QUOTE OF THE DAY
WHO AM I?
MAYBE HE JUST DOESNT LIKE ME

ANSWER: Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel FULHAM BOSS MARTIN JOL TRIES TO WORK OUT THE REASON FOR THE POST-MATCH CLASH BETWEEN QPRS BOSS MARK HUGHES AND HIM AFTER THE TWO SIDES MATCH ON SATURDAY...
SPORT
7DAYS
21
DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Serb keen to shine again

Djokovic ready to get back to winning ways
WORLD NO.1 Novak Djokovic insists hes very much the man to beat this week as the Serb sensation looks to land a fourth consecutive Dubai title. It should be no surprise the defending champion oozes confidence at the moment, arriving in the emirate still fresh from the Australian Open where he spectacularly sealed a third Grand Slam crown in a row. The manner in which he lifted the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup suggested the Djokovic juggernaut will take some stopping again this year, the 24-year-old coming through a crippling five-set semi-final with Andy Murray to then defeat Rafael Nadal in almost six hours - the longest final in Slam history. And, after recharging the batteries on a skiing trip with friends, Nole slipped back into game-face mode for this weeks tough test at the Aviation Club. Every tournament is different and every year is different, Djokovic said. But Ive always played my best tennis in Dubai and have had a lot of success in the past couple of years, so I have reason to believe I can perform equally as well this week. Any tournament I play now Im aiming to win. Ive been experiencing the best times of my career and have been at the peak of my form, so I believe I can win most of my matches. I always go with that positive attitude and Ill keep on doing the good work. Im always
by JOHN MCAULEY
searching to be the best. Djokovic faces a stiff examination of his credentials in Dubai, though, with eight of the worlds top 10 competing for the winners cheque and he starts his defence tonight against little known German Cedrik-Marcel Stebe - someone hes not taking lightly. I watched him play against [Lleyton] Hewitt in Australia and he was impressive, Djokovic said. Hes a youngster whose attitude is great on the court; he doesnt seem to fear his opponent. So its going to be tricky. Djokovic is on course for a semi-final showdown with close friend Andy Murray, who takes to the court competitively for the first time since that agonising last-four loss in Australia. However, the world No.4 claims he actually grew a lot in confidence from his performance in Melbourne, saying: Youve always got to look for positives and it was a good tournament. I played a lot of good tennis and was points away from winning in the semis, so you cant be disappointed when it comes down to small details. I did everything very, very well. I wouldve liked a better start to the fourth set but apart from that I wouldnt have done anything differently. Well see this week whether its taken me a long time [to get over it mentally]. The past few years it took me a while, but I feel great.
BACK IN ACTION: Novak Djokovic hasnt played since his Australian Open triumph
RIGHT AT HOME: Roger Federer
Federer to serve reminder to rivals

ROGER FEDERER is out to prove theres life in the old dog yet as he aims to make up for last years final defeat to Novak Djokovic and triumph for a record fifth time at the Aviation Club. The 30-year-old is now considered one of the elder statesmen of the game, yet his experience hasnt transferred to Grand Slam victories of late, the 16-time major champion without a big one in two years. However, Federer is back in his second home this week, and against a field boasting eight of the worlds top 10, is intent on serving a warning to his rivals. Ive won it four times so you draw on that and hope I can do it again, the Swiss ace said. Five would be amazing. The competitions really hard, but thats why Im here: to face off with them. Obviously the majors are a big priority but theyre not everything, otherwise I wouldnt be playing at tournaments like Dubai. I have to keep reminding people that I play 20 a year, not just four. If a Slam comes my way Ill be very happy to take it. Ive been extremely close but Im working hard and hopefully down the road Ill pick up a few more. Federer, who insists he can play until the 2016 Olympics, added the rise of world No.1 Djokovic and Rafael Nadals continued progress arent the only reasons he hasnt tasted Slam success since 2010. Im playing just as good, he said. Maybe I missed some big opportunities. At times I definitely feel like I was playing better, but Ive had some tough losses over the past couple of years which have denied me a few Slams.
22
7DAYS
Cricket
WITH MIKE NORRISH
SPORT
To be joining such a small company is something Im very proud of - Legendary leggie Shane Warne receives yet another honour after joining fellow greats such as Donald Bradman, Dennis Lillee and Ian Chappell in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
WAIT GOES ON: Sachin Tendulkar was controversially run out in Sydney
The
A
Doosra
Back to the drawing board for blundering world-beaters

imless. Thats the word that best describes Indias cricket at the fag end of this horrid Australian tour. They are drifting, without purpose or direction, from one generic game to the next. The personnel rotates but the performances dont change. Stagnation has set in. Resignation reigns. Yesterdays loss, in case youve switched off, came against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. None of their batsmen passed 25. Barring a miracle, Sri Lanka will soon eliminate India from this most trying of Tri Series. The Sri Lankans have found some form and will challenge Australia in the final. All India have found is new foes to fight with. Its all the medias fault, now, apparently. How desperate can you get? But a year ago today, the picture could scarcely have been more different. On February 27 2011, Sachin Tendulkar was blasting 120 as India blitzed England with the bat in Bangalore, making 338 runs in their first World Cup game on home soil. The Chinnaswamy is still shaking from the noise. Six weeks later, an even greater roar of energy erupted in Mumbai as Tendulkar, grasping the World Cup trophy in his sweat-soaked palms, was carried around the outfield on the shoulders of his victorious team-mates. Its understandable, after such a triumph, that a side would stumble. After the party comes the hangover. But we are now talking about an Indian hangover that has lasted for almost a year. It has included eight straight away defeats in Test cricket, their worst run since the 1960s, and a one-day slump so serious that the reigning world champions are about to finish third in a three-horse race. The squabbles, the splits, and the lack of leadership from senior players, all are worse now than at any time since Mahendra Singh Dhoni (below) took charge. Indeed, hangover no longer does justice to Indias malaise. Crisis would be a better word. I cant pinpoint one particular reason for the defeats, said Dhoni yesterday. No one can. This is a situation which cant be solved with a tweak or a tactic. The rot runs too deep. So when India finally return home, hard questions need to be addressed. What is this sides goal now? What is its aim? Is it just to tread water? If so, all aboard will sink, just as they did in England, and just as they have done in Australia. If a side is not moving forward it is going backwards and Indias cricket has lacked any forward momentum since Mumbai. And if India cricket is to enjoy any more nights like that, it must modernise. India need new energy, new ideas and new faces. And they need them now.
Skipper fronts up to slump

well. Unfortunately we lost all the tosses and kept batting in tougher conditions. Watson, who had been sidelined since November, was thrust straight back into the hot seat as captain after Michael Clarke was ruled out with a back problem. And while the all-rounder scored just one with the bat, he took two for nine off five overs as the Indians were dismissed for 165 in reply to Australias 252 for nine. David Warner (68) top-scored for the Aussies but it was David Husseys knock of 54 that was the biggest talking point after he was given not out for handling the ball, a decision that left Dhoni fuming. Hussey used his right hand to deflect a Suresh Raina throw at the stumps, prompting the Indians to appeal via the obstructing the field law. However, after lengthy consultation the
Dhoni dishes out home truths to misfiring India

umpires turned it down, ruling that he was protecting himself from injury. There was yet more controversy in Indias innings when living legend Sachin Tendulkar once again fell way short of his 100th international century. The Little Master, who hasnt hit a ton in almost a year, had made just 14 when he was run out, although he was convinced Brett Lee had blocked his path to the crease. Tendulkars misfortune, however, couldnt mask what was another abysmal batting effort from the visitors, the top order collapsing to 89 for five to allow the Aussies to cruise to victory.
>> Australia 252-9 (D Warner 68, M Wade 56, V Sehwag 3-43); India 165 (R Ashwin 26, G Gambhir 23, S Watson 2-9)
MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI has conceded India have failed miserably in the one-day Tri Series in Australia after slumping to their third straight defeat. The world champions are on the brink of elimination after Shane Watson returned from injury to lead the hosts to a comprehensive 87-run victory in Sydney and book a place in the finals. India must now claim a bonus point win over Sri Lanka in Hobart tomorrow and hope their rivals lose to the Aussies in Melbourne on Friday, to have any hope of making the three-match finale. But Dhoni admitted that on current form, they deserve to be heading home early. We have not performed to our potential, the skipper said. It was an ideal opportunity for the youngsters. I am sure they have learned a lot. We need to bat
England hit spin troubles for six

ANDY FLOWER believes Englands limited overs success against Pakistan is proof they can handle the turning ball. England were exposed by spin twins Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman as they suffered 3-0 whitewash in the Tests. However, theyve since bounced back to sweep the one-day series 4-0 and have a chance to clinch the Twenty20 face-off in Abu Dhabi today after squaring the series at 1-1 on Saturday. And Flower said: Playing spin in the limited-overs games is slightly different to playing it in the Tests, but I still think the lessons we learnt there have served us well through this limited-overs leg.
CRICKET NEWS
PAKISTAN officials intend to grill disgraced paceman Mohammad Amir following his return home from Britain after serving jail time for corruption. Amir was released from prison earlier this month after serving a three-month sentence for his role in the spot-fixing scandal against England in 2010. Initially he was not very honest with us so we need to ask him questions. We also want to discuss his rehabilitation with him, Pakistan chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad said.
LESSONS LEARNT: Andy Flower
SPORT
7DAYS
23
Football
I didnt realise it had gone over the line, and even if I did I wouldnt have lent a hand to the referee - Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on the AC Milan goal that wasnt given in Sundays 1-1 draw at the San Siro. At least hes honest...
Gunners gear up to shoot down Spurs

Five-star show has Arsenal dreaming of third spot
HAVING helped Arsenal to a shock comeback win over Tottenham, Robin van Persie then warned the Gunners arch-rivals theyre going to steal their third spot in the table before the seasons over. The Dutch dynamo was speaking after a thrilling encounter at the Emirates which saw Spurs take a 2-0 lead thanks to a Louis Saha strike and an Emmanuel Adebayor penalty. At that stage Arsenals poor run of form of the past few weeks, which has seen them dumped out of the FA Cup and humbled 4-0 at AC Milan in Europe, looked destined to get much, much worse. However, first-half goals from Bacary Sagna and Van Persie evened up the match. That set up a super second period with a Tomas Rosicky, architect of everything the hosts did well, strike and a brace from Theo Walcott gifting the Gunners a thoroughly deserved victory to lift them up to fourth in the table. And having proved Arsenal still have what it takes to battle with the big boys, Van Persie told Spurs his side will now hunt them down in a bid to take the third automatic Champions League place. Why not, the 28-year-old replied when asked if the victors could ultimately topple Tottenham from third spot. They are only seven points ahead now and have some difficult fixtures to come, facing Manchester United and Chelsea.
Arsenal
Sagna 40, van Persie 43, Rosicky 51, Walcott 65, 68
Tottenham
Saha 4, Adebayor (pen) 34
5 2
ON THE UP: Robin van Persie claims Arsenal have what it takes to steal third place from Spurs
GIGGS STARS IN FAIRYTALE FINISH

RYAN GIGGS couldnt have scripted it better if he tried. With Manchester Uniteds title defence on the rocks, the wonder winger marked his 900th appearance for the club with a dramatic late winner against Norwich to close the gap on leaders Manchester City to two points. Such a thrilling finish at Carrow Road never looked likely when fellow veteran Paul Scholes headed home Nanis cross to give the visitors an early lead. But after dominating the first half, the Reds were guilty of taking their foot off the gas in the second and it appeared to cost them when Grant Holt squirmed between two defenders before finding the net seven minutes from time. However, Giggs wasnt to be denied on his
About the victory he added: If you come from 2-0 down to win 5-2 - and it could have been more - its fantastic, especially for the fans who have suffered in the last few weeks. It was a classic comeback. We scored a quick third goal and after that we were cruising. For the visitors the loss was hard to take. They went into the fixture as favourites and were well and truly taught a lesson. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp admitted he was shocked at the result and blamed poor defending. We didnt defend at all well, he said. But weve got to keep on going, we want that third spot but it wont be easy. But its still our best chances in years to finish above Arsenal and Chelsea.
>> For a match report and reaction to last nights Carling Cup final between Liverpool and Cardiff at Wembley please go to www.7days.ae
Norwich
Holt 83
Man United
Scholes 7, Giggs 90
1 2
landmark day, the 38-year-old stabbing home Ashley Youngs cross at the death to leave manager Sir Alex Ferguson in awe. Fergie said: For a player to play for one club for 900 games is exceptional and it wont be done again. An amazing career and an amazing man.
Lamps sheds light on boss row

CHELSEA star Frank Lampard has finally spoken publicly about his feud with manager Andre Villas-Boas. The Blues boss has repeatedly left the midfield legend (pictured left) out of his starting line-up as he looks to usher in a new era at Stamford Bridge. But after scoring as stand-in captain against Bolton on Saturday, Lampard said: From the outside, you can see that
FOOTBALL NEWS
its not been ideal but the important thing is not to focus on individual relationships too much. It can only be negative and people do like to play on negatives. PARIS ST GERMAIN are still holding out hope of luring David Beckham to France,
sporting director Leonardo revealed. The cashed-up Ligue 1 giants missed out on the former England captain when Becks decided to extend his stay with LA Galaxy last month. But Leonardo said: David Beckham coming to Paris is something that everyone dreamt about. Family considerations weighed in his decision. We tried everything we could. But the door is still open.

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7DAYS

WWW.7DAYS.AE MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

WEB CHAT ENDS IN KNIFE ATTACK ORDEAL

Gunners rock Spurs with five-star show

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Wind whips up, but experts say there will be no cyclone

Storm batters UAE

Ex is accused of kidnapping terror

BlackBerry offer gave waitress a way to escape

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Firms told to leave capital

Working to make city clean

Celinas double delight

NEWS IN BRIEF Painkillers prove a real headache

Police look for missing youth

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

ID crisis as power is cut

Ray of light for Madge fans as tickets go live

School fees claried

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Fight is on to stamp out forged passports

CRIME LAB FACTS AND STATS

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Trio admit stealing and selling precious birds

Dove thieves fly into trouble

Hide-and-seek girl claims sex attack

Women start Arctic epic

Photo by Wouter Kingma

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Actor sets new record for worst films

Adam has no razzle dazzle

Taylor has a big date

Jennifer the shrink?

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Policeman suspect in US killings

Protests balloon amid fears over nuclear plant

7DAYS 9 MIDDLE EAST ROUND-UP

Mandela out of hospital after keyhole operation

Bin Laden den torn down

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Bone marrow doner lands $2.9m prize

Marine win was karma

Top rugby coach sees red over speech

Wheelchair user crowned top beauty in Hungarys rst pageant

Man is worlds shortest

Mine production stopped after strike leads to brawl

MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

War hero is ignored by passers-by

NEWS IN BRIEF Child is killed by bird u virus

Minor damage as quake hits

ALL ALONE: Aaron Brantly recuperates at home after his ordeal

Bittersweet victory for Gillard

Two killed in Antarctica station blaze

Obamas a big hit in China

of F fro fers ant m ev as Ad er tic 7a y w nt ee ag k e

HEALTH & BEAUTY

ENTERTAINMENT & LEISURE

HOMES & GARDENS

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MONDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2012

CANDIDATES SHOULD BE BASED ON MERIT AND NOT ON NATIONALITY

Dubai energy supply safe from Iran tension