2 Dec 2011

Chef Boutique brings people and chefs together

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KUWAIT: Activists who had been held for storming Parliament are seen celebrating their release yesterday. (Inset) MP Mussalam Al-Barrak (centre) joined the celebration greeting the activists.

— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

activists freed on bail

SEE PAGE 9

Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Conspiracy Theories

Local Spotlight

People reign at last

Diversity is wonderful

By Muna Al-Fuzai

By Badrya Darwish muna@kuwaittimes.net

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

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addafi is gone but his mistakes and madness are something the Libyan people have to live with. It is a heavy burden on them. Yesterday I was reading that schools started the new academic year late because they face a problem with the books and curriculum. Of course Gaddafi reigned for 40 years and he changed everything for this poor nation. He invented his own books and rewrote history. The curriculum had to be written the way he himself used to think. He even fiddled with religious books. There was no ministry of education in Libya because there were no ministries during his time. He did not believe in ministries. Gaddafi always told the nation that the people ruled themselves and there was no need for ministries.

Today, the whole nation needs to start from scratch.

There were interviews on TV of nine- and 10-year-old kids who were saying: “We don’t want anything in the curriculum to remind us of this crazy man.” Whatever the subject was, the books had sentences and notes from him. He was Mr Know-all. Of course, the main thing which has to be scrapped is the famous green book which was forced on students from kindergarten till they graduated from university. Imagine what a heavy toll he left for the nation. Billions of books have to be burnt now and new ones printed from A to Z. Today, the Libyan people are proud that one school managed to open. What else could they do? Even the class environment had to be changed. Pictures of the great leader had to be taken down as they were reminders of his oppression. I think that by now all Libyans hate the green color which is naturally a great color. I don’t think they can tolerate this color anymore and I don’t blame them.

One of his most extreme madness was playing with the mind of the people and rewriting geography. He did not want them to be united so he artificially created a gulf between them on the maps in the geography textbooks. In this way, some say, people would feel separate from each other and would not unite to revolt against him. Such kind of paranoia is unprecedented in history.

No other dictator or oppressive regime has ever been as conniving as him.

It doesn’t matter whether he reigned for 40 years or changed the curriculum. The truth prevailed at last. The Libyans are a free and united nation and now they can write their own history and geography books the way they should be written.

Now the people reign.

KUWAIT: The change of weather has forced birds to seek warmer nests. A bird is seen taking refuge on a traffic light in Kuwait City yesterday.—Photo by Joseph Shagra

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have heard people say that they find it difficult to break the ice with those from different cultural backgrounds. They prefer mingling with their own kind or those from similar religious affiliations. I feel annoyed because people are unaware of the changes taking place in the world. These kind of visionaries are no longer wanted here! How will you deal with such people? Will you be upset to hear about someone living abroad who is forced to deal with people from other cultures?

I’m glad to cover this topic today for two main reasons - first, the fact that I have grown up in a multicultural environment all my life. They helped me develop my character, personality, view about life. The more you deal with people from poor countries, you realize how lucky you are not to be leading a privileged life. These are people from countries whose ruling systems have oppressed them. You feel a lot of relief because you are not under pressure all your life. This is unless you leave your own country and start all over. The more you see how others live, sometimes below poverty line, we are thankful for all the things we enjoy.

Also, It is easier to deal with people from different culture because it reduces pressure to confirm with the expectations of your homogenous group. When you share something with someone you have always known, the excitement vanishes and you no longer enjoy the adventure. Another reason is that the more you interact with people from another culture, the greater the level of self-discovery. Life is not about what is available or sustainable but it is about potentials, possibilities, opportunities and luck. You cannot learn this without being exposed to other cultures.

I also feel uncomfortable being surrounded by individuals of my own ilk because there is nothing new to explore. There are chances that you may be criticized for being different and being treated as aliens. Be local but think global. I personally believe in this motto. It is better to start a conservation about life in order to view how life is seen.

Life could be so boring if we all were the same.

Diversity is wonderful.

Off the record

Man and the crisis of trust

By Sajeev K Peter

sajeev@kuwaittimes.net

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hose high-ranking security officials who guard world leaders during their state visits have always fascinated me. The way those machine gun-toting guys conduct themselves in their intriguing army fatigues with those cool, nonchalant looks has many a time impressed me. That’s why I frowned when I read a report that said security personnel guarding VVIPs are prone to hypertension-linked cardiac arrests.

‘Impossible,’ I thought until my impressions about them changed dramatically.

Today I can vouch that they are engaged in the most thankless job ever on earth. Tension writ large on their tortured faces, they are always on their toes during VVIPs’ visits, no matter whether it is a humid and sultry day or a blood-curdling chilly night.

I had an opportunity to closely observe their plight when I attended the ASEAN summit 2011 in Nusa Dua, Bali recently. Though there were many world leaders attending the summit, the spotlight was undoubtedly on President Barack Obama. The organizers split the delegates and a few of them were classified as the first among the equals who could attend the president’s press conference. Though less fortunate, I was among the second pool of delegates who could see the president from a specified distance.

I curiously watched security personnel erect and remove cordons as and when delegates from different countries marched in and out. For instance, they moved in sync to block one way and to clear the other as the Korean delegation zoomed in and out. They ran in tan-

dem as the Japanese delegation walked in and out. It resembled the game of rugby though I know it was something more than a game for those hapless guys.

People say things have changed since 9/11. May be.

Because, security officers have the world over taken over the burden of protecting ‘the powers that be’ while men on the streets remain largely vulnerable to the emerging security risks. It seems the humanity faces a crisis of trust today. The situation has come to such a pass that man does not trust man anymore. In many places, he deploys dogs to check on his brother.

My train of thought was broken by a commotion of the people around me who were waiting with bated breath to have a glimpse of the president. An Indonesian trainee journalist, who stood near me, was trying to train her iPhone on the VVIP when he appeared. Ostensibly irritated, she lugged at the uniform of a security man who stood in front of her blocking her view. And the glorious moment came as President Obama entered the hall with a few of his officers, waved at the gatherings and walked towards the conference hall. All including me were busy clicking pictures. “I got him, I got him,” the girl who stood close to me exclaimed jubilantly as if she conquered the Peak of Puncak Jaya. As I turned towards her, she showed me her catch. I looked at her phone. Yes she had got him. I could clearly see the back side of the president’s head and his partially covered shoulder on her iPhone!

Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

From the editor’s desk

Different degrees of democracy

By Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan

myopinion@kuwaittimes.net

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uwait’s political and democratic life was questioned on a program called Point of Discussion which was aired last night on BBC Arabic. The program ran several polls across the Arab world on whether Kuwait had a true democracy or if it is all a show. The host of the show kept repeating the following statements: “So, democracy in Kuwait is proportional; or don’t you think that democracy in Kuwait is proportional?” Then she took online comments about the subject from non-Kuwaiti Arabs who are not even living in Kuwait.

In my experience during my traveling around the Arab world, I have met many Arabs who believe that all Arab governments are corrupt and there is always a conspiracy when it comes to internal affairs. When it comes to international affairs, they also believe that their governments are corrupt and that there is a conspiracy that involves the US, Europe and Israel. So I heard many Arabs who underestimate the role of the democratic process in Kuwait, as they know nothing about it and their judgment carries a grudge against Gulf countries or is based on a general stereotype of Arab governments. It was no surprise then to hear that some Arabs who joined the discussion online thought that Kuwait’s democracy is simply fake.

Democracy does not come overnight and Kuwait has gradually moved towards it over the years. What makes Kuwait special in comparison to the rest of the world is that our system and the ruling family did not come as a result of a revolution or war like the majority of international democracies. This royal family was chosen by Kuwaiti families at the time to run the affairs of the state and protect their homes when they traveled for months in an attempt to secure a living for their kids, relatives and neighbors.

Of course democracy in Kuwait is proportional but then again name one country in the world that is a 100 percent democratic system when it comes to power. If you are going to say, the Western world, then I can easily say that all democracies have a handful of business owners who have a bigger say and influence on governments locally. Sometimes they can even start a war externally depending on their interests. In many Western countries, there is proportional democracy as multibillion-dollar corporations can change governments and prime ministers to their advantage.

The Arab world was hit by a spring of revolutions that demanded civil rights that did not exist in many countries in the region. That will hopefully be a step for the Arab world towards greater democracy and the future generations will push for better and better conditions until the percentage of democratization is closer to that in the West.

In the meantime, even in the democratic West, people are pushing for a better percentage of democracy. Just ask the millions of people who are rallying in the West under the flag of Occupy Wall Street and they will tell you that their democracies are proportional and give unfair power to the owners of multibillion-dollar corporations. Bottom line is there is no ideal democracy in this world and there is always room for reforms in any democratic country be it Kuwait, USA, UK or Timbuktu. The Arab Spring demands better civil rights while the Western world demands better economic rights and every country is on a different proportion of democracy.

KUWAIT: Children fly kites by the beach in this file photo.

– Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Students gather around the chef for a small explanation and demonstration before they begin cooking.

— Photos by Joseph Shagra

Grooming gourmands

By Sawsan Kazak

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on’t you wish we lived in a world where you could cook gourmet meals taught by professional chefs without having to worry about the shopping, organizing or cleaning up? Foodies in Kuwait can now rejoice as Chef Boutique has changed the world we live in. Chef Boutique is a cooking school unlike any other. Located in Surra, it offers professional cooking location in a home-style setting.

“The kitchen brings people together,” says Olga Degtyreva, Owner and General Manager of Chef Boutique. Olga, along with her very supportive husband Victor run the original cooking school. “We are about bringing the people and the chefs together. We are not about catering and we are not a restaurant. We just want people to come here, be in an environment where they can relax, learn, cook and enjoy themselves,” explains Olga.

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The start Like so many foodies, Olga’s love of the kitchen started at a young age. “Since I was a small child, I was always in the kitchen with my sisters helping my mom; who is an excellent cook in her own right,” says Olga.

Originally from Russia, Olga spent some time in Asia as well as Dubai, and has been in Kuwait for a couple of years now. Her travels have exposed her to different styles of cooking and cuisines, and she wanted to create a whole new cooking experience here in Kuwait.

Olga did her research and found that there was no such cooking setting in the whole country. “We were looking in the market and this kind of learning was unavailable here, we found that there was a need for it,” says Olga.

Olga and her husband have found that Kuwait is a country that is passionate about food. “Everywhere you go in Kuwait, you hear people talking about food; swapping recipes or speaking about the new restaurants that have opened up,” says Olga. “Also, my husband and I always speak to chefs and most would complain about being stuck in the back, and not being able to communicate and share with the people enjoying the food. On the other hand, people were interested about what was going on in the back, so we bring these two parties together,” explains Olga of her inspiration to open such a business.

er cooking schools,” explains Olga about what differentiates Chef Boutique from other schools. “Usually people go watch a demonstration and then eat the food. We let people get their hands dirty and make mistakes and learn from them on the spot,” she chipped in.

Fun in the kitchen The school was not created to simply teach new recipes, but to change people’s views on food and cooking. “We want people to be inspired in the kitchen and to develop a love for cooking. We want them to create good memories in our kitchen and take them back to their kitchens. We also want people to learn cooking techniques that can help them in their everyday cooking,” says Olga. She went on to say, “cooking is fun, not a chore and not something to be afraid of. It’s not something that has to be done alone, but can be enjoyed with others and used as a pastime.”

The difference “The setting of the school is unconventional as it offers people interaction with different chefs. It’s not just one person teaching the people the recipes they know but rather a variety of chefs from different parts of the world, resulting in an exposure to different cuisines and cooking techniques,” says Olga. Adding, “the students really get to interact with the chef and get their hands dirty and try the recipe out themselves. They can make mistakes and learn from them.

The students can come alone, in groups, or even host private functions. They can be part of a team building event; these are all options that are not offered in othDecorations made with vegetables during the Japanese cooking class.

Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

The students are back at their individual station to start cooking.

The menus Olga decides on the menus that are going to be taught with a combination of requests by the students and the recommendations of the chef. “If we have a group that is booking, we ask them if they have any preferences or requests and we take that into consideration. Sometimes they prefer our suggestions, at which point, we speak with the chef and we build a menu based on that,” says Olga. There is some attention paid to the quality of recipes taught. “Our main focus is to have healthy dishes, and use the least amount of oil possible and only if it’s necessary such as Japanese tempura. On the whole, we try to minimize the amount of oil used,” explains Olga.

When planning a menu, the question of authenticity also plays a role. “In Kuwait, a lot of the cuisines are ‘bastardized’. Many of the dishes are not authentic, they have been amended. What we try to do is teach people authentic recipes, unless it’s specifically labeled as fusion. But if you are coming to a Japanese, Thai or Chinese class, it’s not going to be the kind of food you get here, but rather the authentic recipes you would find in those countries. “The recipes demonstrated here are really not available anywhere else, such as online. They are original and authentic recipes,” says Olga.

Having spent some time in Asia, Olga and Victor have developed a passion for Asian cuisine and they find that this type of cuisine is really not yet available in its authentic form in Kuwait. It is for this reason that most of the course leans towards Asian cuisine. We try to introduce authentic Asian food to Kuwait if people

The students sit down together to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

are interested, otherwise we follow the demand. “The least demand is for Arabic food. But we get requests for Italian, Mexican, Spanish so we are involving different chefs into our schedule,” she says.

The Process The learning process has never been easier, as students show up to pre-portioned recipes and most of the prep work is already done. “The students will start off by gathering around the chef who explains a little about the dish and the ingredients that are going to be used. The chef will cut the recipe into a few steps, and will demonstrate the first step. The students will go back to their stations and complete the first step under the supervision of the chef. They will go through the steps together until the recipe is completed, “Olga explains.

She elaborates that the chef not only supervises the steps of the recipe, but also teaches techniques such as how to hold a knife and other cooking techniques. From beginners to semi-pros, everyone feels comfortable in these classes. “After the cooking is done, the students are welcome to sit down at the dinner table and enjoy the fruits of their labor, or they can just take it home and show-off. The process takes over two hours as students are usually preparing three dishes and sit down and taste their work,” says Olga.

Ingredients Ingredients in Kuwait are available for the most part, but Olga has faced some difficulties. “If it’s not available in Kuwait, we don’t make the dish.” Due to the recent natural disasters in Asia such as the tsunami in Japan and flooding in Thailand, Olga has had some difficulty in finding all the ingredients she needs to prepare her authentic Asian dishes. “Ingredients like wasabi, lemon grass, kaffir lime leafs, sweet basil, galangal all temporarily disappeared from the market. But they are now slowly coming back,” says Olga.

Future For now, they only offer evening classes, but wish to offer morning classes as well.

There are also plans for special classes for home chefs; the people who are actually employed to work in the homes as cooks. Such classes would be held in the morning, and in the evening other events would be held. When

asked where they see the business going in the future, Olga and her husband really stress on the importance of always moving forward.

“You have to keep evolving but not bite off more t h a n y o u c a n chew.

For us it is a b o u t giving the core and never sacrificing quality. Make sure the variety is available, start getting children involved and see where it takes us,” the couple explains.

Even though Chef Boutique has only been open for a few weeks now, Olga has found that the feedback has been rewarding. sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

Shrimp tempura prepared during the cooking class.

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Gulf for Good 2012 challenges THE DEAD CITIES OF SYRIA April 2012: SYRIA This six-day trek through the deserted ancient cities of northern Syria will explore ruins dating back more than 1,000 years including tombs, churches, mosques, citadels and Roman remains. But don’t be fooled! Each day’s hike will have a five to eight hours in duration and will require stamina to complete, passing through remote and seldom visited areas and camping most nights.

THE WILD WALL CHALLENGE May 2012: CHINA Three days of hiking and three days of biking along the most spectacular sections of the Great Wall of China. Passing through farmland, valleys, mountains, ancient tombs and quiet villages, the route will involve gently undulating sections, but also some steep and rocky terrain, requiring scrambling to reach the most impressive parts of the wild wall.

We’ll stay in small local hotels, as well as home-stays.

Karen Reynolds posing with some of the recipients of the chosen orphanage in Nepal.

Scaling new heights to help needy children Gulf for Good raises millions of dinars for philanthropic purposes

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: Giving children around the world a chance is a battle the group Gulf for Good wants to win. The battle of the group, however, is through sports. Based in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Gulf for Good is a charitable trust that has raised millions of dinars for philanthropic purposes. It challenges participants with activities such as trekking, kayaking, cycling and rafting.

There is no requirement for anyone to be an athlete to participate in activities.

An enthusiast from Britain who currently resides in Kuwait, Karen Reynolds, attended one of the group’s events. She was able to raise money which subsequently qualified her to be able to climb one of the world’s mightiest mountain peak, Mount Everest. She reached the base camp located at 5,360m above sea level just before the end of October this year. She was able to deliver the amount raised to an orphanage in Nepal through this adventurous initiative. “It was indeed a very self-fulfilling, rewarding experience and I will be part of such activities again and again,” said Reynolds. She said that children belonging to race or nationality have a right, not just to live but to be happy and enjoy their fundamental rights.”

“Through the Gulf for Good event, we were able to fulfill at least one of their needs, something very dear not only to me, but to many people around the world,” she said. Reynolds admits that although trekking the Himalayas mountain was a daunting task, the hardship and suffering was worth it. “It was an adventure that I will never forget. We scaled the Everest Base Camp for ten days,” Reynolds recalled.

There were 26 who began the climb alongside Reynolds.

Unfortunately, a fellow trekker abandoned the attempt because the (mountain’s) height scared her. “Every day, she got worse as we scaled the mighty mountain and she abandoned her attempt.

She tried really hard, and walked and climbed the hard path descending the mountain. I saw her fight against all odds, but she couldn’t,” Reynolds recalled. She helped raise money. She was sad because she was not able to finish her race. We went to the orphanage together and delivered the donations to them,” she recalled.

Raising funds through adventure Over the last decade, Gulf for Good has raised almost KD 500,000 in 23 different countries by organizing 35 trips overseas.

This involved more than 730 participants from 40 different nationalities, including Kuwaitis. Participants are taught how to raise funds, from soliciting sponsorship from companies to individual donors. The participants have a target amount that they need to raise. Gulf for Good helps with physical training before the trip, as well as guides, accommodation and food. All the money raised goes towards children’s projects in the country of the challenge, and volunteers get a chance to visit the projects they fund.

Funds raised from previous competitions have already been used to build a community hospital in Nepal, classrooms in Tanzania, deliver four ambulances to Kenya, equip schools in Jordan and Oman, provide medical equipment in Palestine and China, build a training centre for disabled children in Sri Lanka, supply equipment to blind students in Oman, build a teaching centre in Borneo, refurbish orphanages in Thailand, Cambodia and Egypt and supply two mobile hospitals to Delhi slums. “We were able to meet and greet the children from the orphanage we sponsored. It really was a very self gratifying event. You can see how happy they are by receiving gifts that are full of love, the fruits of our hard labor,” she noted.

Thanks to Reynolds’ achievement, she was appointed as the Gulf for Good’s goodwill ambassador. She now plans to join the six-day ‘Cycle the Seven Emirates’ event set to be held on Nov 27.

Since she agreed with her husband to be involved in the activities of ‘Gulf for Good’ once a year, she would rather wait for the next challenge. “I am going to trek mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and it will happen on July 2012. I am equally excited about this trip and the hope of biking along the great wall of China. Anybody, can join this adventure, with or without money. If you register with the Gulf for Good, they’ll help you raise money for your expenses. I swear you’ll love the experience and you will be fulfilled as well,” she noted. For more information on the ‘Cycle the Seven Emirates’ challenge, contact +9656 6123286 / +971 4368 0222 or visit www.gulf4good.org

TREK TO THE ROOF OF AFRICA, KILIMANJARO July 2012: TANZANIA Taking the Marangu route on the eastern side of the mountain, we’ll trek through dramatically varying terrains, including rainforests, meadows, moorlands and ‘The Saddle’ - a high-altitude, five kilometer-wide desert. The journey will steadily take us up, via mountain huts, from 1,700 m to 4,724m before the final push to the renowned Gilman’s Point (5,681m) and on to the glaciated summit at Uhuru Peak (5,895m).

TRANSYLVANIAN TREK August 2012: ROMANIA A five-day, low altitude, but challenging hike through the Carpathian Mountains, exploring medieval Transylvania.

Crossing high plateaus, deep gorges, forests, secluded valleys and mountain villages, the route will take us to Bran Castle (infamous as Dracula’s castle!), the medieval town of Brasov and a walking tour of Bucharest. We’ll stay in a mix of small, local hotels, family-run guest houses and mountain huts.

ROAD TO MANDALAY October 2012: MYANMAR (BURMA) Two days of hiking and three days of cycling will test your physical fitness, while staying in small guest houses and visits to pagodas, temples and deserted royal cities, revealing the hidden secrets of Myanmar. It suffers incredible history and diverse cultures. We’ll hike the Chin hills, including Mt Victoria (3,053m) and cycle through the Irawaddy river valley until we reach Mandalay, the historic royal capital of Myanmar.

Reynolds at the Mount Everest Base Camp

C a r : K D 2 0 ,000 Phon e : K D 199

fe: Your Li

Drive Now. Talk Later.

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Netball’s popularity on the rise Sport mostly played by expats during academic year

By Nawara Fattahova etball fans congregate on Tuesday evenings at The English School (TES) in Salmiya to join their follow sportsmen and members of the Kuwait Netball Association (KNA). Women’s teams play from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm and men play from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. “We rent the place at the TES using funds obtained through registration fees that members pay,” says Rachel Forbes, a committee member.

A non-profit organization, the Kuwait Netball Association, has been active for over 10 years, providing the opportunity to play competitive weekly games.

The top players represent Kuwait at the Inter-Gulf Championships, KNA has about 150 members of all ages, nationalities, professions and their friends and families. In her words, the KNA members are volunteers.

The Club has two leagues or categories. There is the A league, where skilled netball players play, and the B league, for who just learnt how to play the game or haven’t played for a long time. “For example, I’m playing in the B league as I only joined the club last year, and I haven’t played since I was a child. It’s entirely open to beginners and professionals,” added Forbes.

Forbes is a volunteer with Alanah Berjess as the committee members responsible for contacting the teams and informing them about events and tournaments. “Each team consists of seven players. At least 14 players will play the game. The club runs three seasons every year, and every season consists of 10 weeks. If the

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members don’t have a team, we are happy to step in,” she pointed out.

Netball is a sport played at some British schools in Kuwait. “It combines basketball; it’s all about passing. It was not played in schools earlier. We are doing it for fun and to exercise at the same time. There aren’t enough activities for adults in Kuwait other than the gym. While there are many activities for children, we don’t have matches for kids at present,” stressed Forbes.

Netball is still a sport that is picking up. “We struggle to maintain the number of players to keep the club running. The members are from mixed nationalities.

There are two Kuwaiti men and two women. The season will last for a year. We don’t play during the summer vacation, as most are expatriates, and only play during the academic year,” she explained. Netball, an outdoor activity is weather-dependent. “If it rains, we cancel the activity and inform members. We are trying to do the best but we can’t predict the weather,” she said. “We bring the balls and tools from the UK,” noted Forbes.

Netball continues to grow throughout the region.

This years’ inter-Gulf competition will be held in Al-Ain (near Dubai) and promises to be an entertaining weekend of netball. Last year, three teams from Kuwait participated. It comprised a ladies A and B league team and a men’s team. This year a men’s team and a women’s team will take part.

For more information visit the website: www.kuwaitnetball.com.

Portrait of an educator George Savage bridges cultural gaps

By Sunil Cherian n Brittany, Northern France, back in the 90s, he, an Englishman had a cider school which hosted students from all over the world for a cultural exchange or the French Exposition, as its educator-owner liked to call it. The school had a philosophy: to bridge the world by embracing cultures. The small residential school ran successfully for three years. Then it withered before meeting its natural death. Now, the veteran George Savage is an International School Consultant, traveling across the world not to spread his educational philosophy, but to sell educational books. I met him when he was meeting with teachers at Kuwait Bilingual School, Jahra.

The cider farm school, Savage called it Leperron, is a doomed chapter in Savage’s life not because the vision did not sell but because of some close-to-heart reason. After working as a primary school teacher in Jeddah and a headmaster in Qatar for 16 years, and then 13 years in Doha and Ecuador, Savage had settled down with his family in Brittany, materializing his educational thought. There were dormitories for 12 boys and

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girls and small cottages for 6 accompanying teachers. The selftaught community members had to survive by what is cultivated in the school compound. His own four children were the first disciples of the school while the Savages were the teacher-felicitators. Schools across Europe, largely from the UK, contacted Savage for culture-swap studies. They did send selected students to the cider farm school for the Savage taste. In the 3rd year of the school visitors were less and the school had to be closed down after his wife’s untimely death, creating an abyss in Savage’s life.

Savage had to embrace a new role, a new life. As an educational consultant, he did not turn out to be a mere book salesman. He associated with a British publishing company (Hodder Education) that caters to the needs of the new changes in the educational field. Some packs of books for the Primary Years Program, prepared by a group of experts, explore trans-disciplinary themes designed for International Baccalaureate program like: Who we are? Where we are in the planet? How we express ourselves? How the world works? How we organize ourselves? and Sharing the planet. Savage was in Kuwait

George Savage poses for a photo with his set of books. recently as part of his marketing tour. He did not speak like a typical salesman. No persuasion whatsoever. He talked about his life, his most loved objects, books, book markets, and how photocopying of books by some organizations could damage the publishing industry, like pirated DVDs, and the time that is changing like a ‘constant flux’. He does not want to remember his cider farm days but to move and enjoy visiting international schools, he told me. That’s what’s most memorable about you, I said, against his gentle petite smile.

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Prosecutor frees detained activists

Central Bank confirms millions in MP accounts KUWAIT: Millions of dinars have been deposited suspiciously into the bank accounts of 15 Kuwaiti MPs suspected of money laundering, reports citing informed sources said yesterday.

The Central Bank had told prosecutors that bank accounts held by the 15 lawmakers “have received suspicious deposits and the anti-money laundering law applies to them”, Al-Jarida newspaper reported.

In September, the public prosecutor launched an unprecedented probe into the bank accounts of the 15 lawmakers after three banks informed him that large deposits were added to the accounts from unknown sources.

The case was one of several issues that forced former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to resign this week. Al-Jarida said the prosecutor planned to ask parliament to lift the immunity of the suspected MPs in order to question them in order to determine the source of the money.

The opposition has alleged that the funds, estimated at KD 100 million, were paid by the government to secure votes on crucial issues, including motions of no-confidence against the premier and his ministers. The government has denied the allegations.

Al-Jarida said the largest deposit for one MP was $7.3 million and $18.2 million in his wife’s account. No names were published in the report but media had published some names in September.

Central Bank governor Sheikh Salem Abdulaziz Al-Sabah said on Tuesday that the bank has written back to the prosecutor about the suspicious deposits without revealing details. — AFP

Consultations for new Cabinet start

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The public prosecutor yesterday ordered the release of 24 opposition activists who have been in detention for the past nine days on charges of storming the National Assembly on bail of KD 1,000 each. But central jail authorities released only 22 activists because the remaining two had other issues.

One of the two is a soldier in the army and accordingly must be referred to the army intelligence while the other was kept in jail on another case.

But MP Mubarak Al-Waalan said that the office of new Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah informed him that the first prisoner will not be referred to the military intelligence and will be freed.

Thirty-three people have so far been questioned by the prosecution on charges of storming the Assembly building. Nine were immediately freed on KD 1,000 bail while the rest were detained for 21 days pending trial.

A visit by a prosecutor to the detained activists yesterday accelerated the decision to free the activists who have been on hunger strike since last Friday. Several of them were taken to hospital for treatment but none of them accepted to stop the strike. Thousands of supporters have been campaigning every night outside the Palace of Justice in Kuwait City since Wednesday night to press for the release of their colleagues, braving almost freezing temperatures that touched two degrees Celsius Wednesday night.

The new prime minister meanwhile began consultations yesterday to form the new Cabinet which is expected to be announced early next week to be followed by dissolving the National Assembly and holding fresh

elections. Islamist opposition MP Waleed AlTabatabei announced yesterday that leading opposition veteran MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun who met with HH the Amir on Wednesday as a former Assembly speaker informed the opposition that the Assembly will be dissolved within the coming few days, without giving a definite date.

long way for Sheikh Jaber to prove that he can perform well if he tackles the issue of the corruption scandal involving about 16 MPs and clamps down on what he called “corrupt” media that has created seeds of divisions in the society. He said that the new premier is going to handle the highly sensitive issue of the parliamentary elections and he has to

KUWAIT: Veteran opposition MP Ahmad Al-Saadoun is seen along with other MPs and activists at the protest camp outside the Palace of Justice yesterday after 22 protesters who stormed the National Assembly were freed.

— Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat Opposition MPs Dhaifallah Buramia and Faisal Al-Mislem said they don’t believe that the new prime minister will succeed, since he was a key figure in the cabinets of former prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah, who stepped down on Monday. Buramia however said there is a

ensure fair elections and prevent political money from being used to influence the outcome. MP Al-Mislem said he does not think Sheikh Jaber will succeed because he was a key partner of the former prime minister, adding that success requires a change in policies and not only in personalities.

Fire engulfs Sabahiya home

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A massive fire broke out on Wednesday at the second floor of a Sabahiya home, said a security source. At least 10 children, an elderly woman and a fireman were injured. According to officials, firemen rushed to the scene and learnt that family members were trapped. They were evacuated, though some sustained serious burns and injuries and were referred to the hospital. Others were treated for smoke inhalation.

In another fire incident, flames devoured the rear of a car while refueling at a gas station near the Sawaber Residential complex in Kuwait City.

The station supervisor and workers managed to snuff out the fire immediately using fire extinguishers, thereby preventing a disaster. No casualties were reported.

Four-member drug gang busted A four-member gang was arrested with the possession of 140 kg of hashish and opium. The four suspects were a citizen, a bedoon and two Iranians. Case papers indicate that secret police had been monitoring the bedoon’s activities for smuggling drugs to Kuwait. Upon raiding and inspecting his vehicle at the yacht marina in Salmiya, policemen found 140 kg of hashish and opium. The suspect confessed to obtaining drugs from two Iranian sailors. They were arrest-

KUWAIT: The burnt home is seen in Sabahiya. ed later and their boat was confiscated. The three suspects confessed to selling the drugs on behalf of a citizen who was already imprisoned in Central Prison in connection with drug trafficking. A case was filed and the suspects were referred to relevant authorities.

Drug peddlers nabbed An Asian expatriate was arrested with posses-

sion of trading in opium. Case papers indicate that narcotics detectives were tipped off on the suspect’s activities. After issuing a search warrant, detectives raided the suspect’s home and found a plastic bag containing two kilos of opium, in addition to a weighing scale. The suspect confessed to possessing the drug for personal use and sale. A case was filed and the suspect was referred to higher authorities.

The drug peddlers are seen after their arrest.

Local FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Ambassador’s message on the occasion of UAE’s National Day KUWAIT: On the eve of his country’s 40th national anniversary, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Kuwait, Hassan Salem AlKhayyal stressed that progress was achieved in his country as a result of determination and cooperation displayed between the government and the people. “This cooperation makes this an occasion to celebrate the country’s achievements instead of merely commemorating a Hassan Salem Al-Khayyal national anniversary,” he said. In a press statement released to mark the occasion, Al-Khayyal stated, “Our country has been witnessing remarkable, successful experiments and substantial initiatives are being taken while celebrating one national anniversary followed by the other,” he said, while reminiscing the creation of UAE on December 2nd, 1971. It was the country’s founder Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan AlNahyan’s dream to unite the emirates into a federation, setting a role model to be followed in terms of patriotism, devotion and ruler-subject integration for the state’s prosperity.

“Having departed this earthly world, Sheikh Zayed (May Allah bless his soul) is still amongst us in our memories and will be proudly remembered along with his fellow-founders,” added Al-Khayyal. He noted that the incumbent UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed AlNahyan and his deputy Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum still followed Sheikh Zayed’s footsteps.

“UAE has taken huge leaps and has come a long way in just a few years when compared to other nations, giving it a prestigious political, economical, cultural, human and social status in the world by holding on to its Arab, Islamic identity, and at the same time adopting a well-balanced foreign policy that opened newer strategic partnerships and diplomatic relations with 182 countries,” added ambassador Al-Khayyal.

Furthermore, Al-Khayyal underlined that UAE was also able to play a major role in international economic world and business despite international financial downturn and problems. “This gave UAE’s GDP a boost from AED 6.5 billion in 1971 to AED 914.3 in 2009, making its presence felt in the G20 meetings. This reflects the international community’s strong belief in the state’s sovereign funds in supporting international financial balance,” he explained adding that UAE has also managed to attract what’s worth AED 220 billion foreign investments.

“In the Gulf region, UAE has worked toward enhancing deep-rooted relations with all GCC states by contributing to building GCC politics, economics, security and social integration. At the same time, UAE boosted its image in various UN organizations by signing cooperation treaties with over 28 international organizations. In addition, the UAE has given what’s worth AED 2.8 billion of loans and grants to humanitarian and charity development programs that were utilized in more than 125 countries,” AlKhayyal reiterated. He noted that Emirati citizens are very proud of their country’s remarkable advancements made with the help of unrivalled determination and awareness of traditions and principles.

“While celebrating this precious occasion, on behalf of myself and on behalf of the staff of UAE’s embassy to Kuwait, it gives me great honor to extend my heartiest congratulations to UAE leadership under President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, his deputy Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, members of the supreme rulers council, and rulers of the emirates and to the Emirati people,” concluded Al-Khayyal. He underscored that UAE’s relations with Kuwait served as an example of outstanding brotherly relations built on mutual love and true friendship between both peoples and leaderships.

Kuwait still at bottom of Gulf graft ranking Global corruption index reflects Arab Spring KUWAIT: Kuwait has sustained its ranking at the bottom of the Gulf countries at a global assessment of corruption.

According to Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) which was released yesterday, Kuwait occupied 54th place in the global assessment of corruption, a place it took in the last year’s assessment. Kuwait’s ranking comes after Qatar (22), United Arab Emirates (28), Bahrain (46) and Oman (50). The Berlin-based watchdog says that awareness of corruption has risen in some Arab countries in the wake of their uprisings earlier this year.

Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, fell to 73rd place from 59th last year in the 183-nation index, which is based on independent surveys on corruption. Most Arab Spring countries ranked in the lower half of the index, scoring below 4. Transparency International said it had warned before the revolutions in the region that “nepotism, bribery and patronage were so deeply ingrained in daily life that even existing anti-corruption laws had little effect.”

The revolution had a ripple effect and similar uprisings in Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen which have completely reshaped the political landscape of the Middle East. Egypt fell to 112th from 98th, with a CPI of 2.9, and Syria slipped to 129th from 127th. Yemen and Libya

shared 146th place last year and dropped to 164th and 168th this year respectively. Iraq climbed a few places up the list but was still close to the bottom at 175th and Afghanistan remained rooted at 180th despite efforts to curb bribery and corruption there. Libya was 168th.

North Korea and war-torn Somalia were crowned as the most corrupted countries in the annual index. Heading the index was New Zealand followed by the Scandinavian countries Denmark , Finland, Sweden and Norway. The United States ranking 24th, two places lower than last year. The index identified Russia, Iran, France, the United Arab Emirates, Poland and Cuba as states where improvement had been made over the past year. By contrast, it highlighted Haiti, Zimbabwe, India, Saudi Arabia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Qatar and Costa Rica as nations where perceptions had deteriorated.

The report shows some governments failing to protect citizens from corruption, be it abuse of public resources, bribery or secretive decision-making.

Transparency International warned that protests around the world, often fuelled by corruption and economic instability, clearly show citizens feel their leaders and public institutions are neither transparent nor accountable enough.”This year we have seen corruption on protestors’ banners be they rich or poor.

Whether in a Europe hit by debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” Huguette Labelle, Chair of Transparency International was quoted as saying in a press release.

Transparency International Managing Director, Cobus de Swardt was quoted saying, “2011 saw the movement for greater transparency take on irresistible momentum, as citizens around the world demand accountability from their governments. High-scoring countries show that over time efforts to improve transparency can, if sustained, be successful and benefit their people”.

The CPI is a measure of perceptions of public sector corruption. It is a survey of surveys undertaken by international institutions ranking various countries based on the perceptions held by senior resident business leaders and non- resident analysts. It should be noted that the CPI is a perceptions test and does not aim to capture the reality of corruption on the ground.

However, it is known that perceptions play a role in shaping and representing what may be in reality. The CPI uses a simple form of indexing to arrive at a score ranging between 0, perceived to be the most corrupt, and 10, perceived to be the least corrupt. The surveys used to prepare the 2011 ranking covered the period from Dec 2009 to Sept 2011.—Agencies

Kuwaitis urged to leave Syria

KUWAIT: Assistant undersecretary at the Interior Ministry for correctional facilities’ affairs Maj Gen Khalil Al-Shemali opens the 4th Prisoners Expo under the motto of “We Made Them By Hand”.

The expo, held at Fanar Shopping Mall and Souk Sharq, will last for three days during which artifacts and products made by inmates in various prisons will be on display. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Kuwait yesterday appealed to its nationals to leave Syria and refrain from travelling there because of safety concerns amid a deadly eight-month crackdown on democracy protests.

“The foreign ministry calls on citizens currently present in Syria to leave for their own safety,” it said in a statement quoted by the state-run KUNA news agency. It also called on Kuwaitis to abandon any plans to travel to the Arab state “due to the unstable security situation”.

Similar travel alerts have already been issued

by Kuwait’s neighbours Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The warnings follow attacks on the Damascus embassies of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the wake of the Arab League’s decision to suspend Syria’s membership and slap unprecedented sanctions on its regime. In addition, Saudi Arabia said one of its citizens was killed on Nov 21 while visiting relatives in the restive city of Homs in central Syria.

Arab states in the Gulf have been at the forefront of calls to sanction Syria over violence the United Nations said has killed more than 3,500 people, according to its latest toll given in early November. The brother of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, several ministers and telecom magnate Rami Makhluf are on a list of 17 senior figures to be targeted by Arab League sanctions, officials said yesterday. Under the economic measures agreed this week by the 22-member organisation, they would be banned from travelling in the region and have any assets in Arab countries frozen, if the list is confirmed at a meeting tomorrow. — AFP

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Yemen to get unity cabinet

by Sunday, says opposition

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CAIRO: An Egyptian protestor covers his face with a national flag near Tahrir Square yesterday. Partial results Wednesday showed the Muslim Brotherhood emerging as the biggest winner in Egypt’s landmark parliamentary elections, and leaders of the once-banned Islamic group demanded to form the next government, setting the stage for a possible confrontation with the ruling military. — AP

Hardliners popular in Egypt polls Liberals fearful about civil liberties CAIRO: Egypt awaited results yesterday from its first election since its February revolution which are set to confirm moderate Islamists as the dominant force, but with a strong showing from hardliners.

The Muslim Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist movement banned for decades by Hosni Mubarak, has emerged from the shadows since the autocrat’s fall and has forecast its party will take at least 40 percent of the vote. The battle for second place had been seen as between secular liberals and hard-line Islamists who follow the strict Salafi brand of Islam, but local media indicated the latter were poised to prevail in the parliamentary vote. “Al-Nur, the surprise of the moment,” headlined the independent Al-Shorouq daily yesterday, referring to the main party of the Salafists, whose members follow a strict form of Islam dominant in Saudi Arabia.

Estimates in the press indicated they would win more than 20 percent when results are published later yesterday at 7:00 pm (1700 GMT) for the areas that voted on Monday and Tuesday-about a third of all constituencies. Millions of Egyptians embraced their new democratic freedoms in the capital Cairo

and second-city Alexandria earlier this week in an orderly and peaceful first phase of multi-stage parliamentary elections. Analysts warn against reading too much into only the first part of a parliamentary election that will last until March, but the results will reveal the political trends in a country that has not had a free vote in 60 years. The prospect of an Islamist-dominated parliament raises fears among liberals about civil liberties, religious freedom in a country with the Middle East’s largest Christian minority, and tolerance of multi-party democracy.

Osama Mohammed, a liberal 31-year-old with a job at a multinational company, took part in the demonstrations in iconic Tahrir Square that led to the toppling of Mubarak’s regime in February. “It’s shocking,” he told AFP. “We always knew and expected the Muslim Brotherhood to win because they have been working on the ground with the people for years. But the Salafis were practically unknown to most of the public.” The Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party says it strives for a “civil state, defined as a non-military non-religious state... that respects human rights” according to its political

program. Leaders have repeatedly stressed their commitment to multi-party democracy and inclusiveness, and pledged to ensure freedoms. The group has been officially banned since the 1950s, but it counts hundreds of thousands of members and is known for its vast network of social and religious outreach programs, as well as its stand against corruption. “The Brotherhood beats the drums of victory,” headlined the independent daily AlShorouk yesterday.

The hard-line Al-Nur was initially part of the Democratic Alliance coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood, but they split to form their Islamic Alliance, which calls for a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Pictures of their candidates, clearly identifiable by their long beards, were highly visible around polling stations this week and they actively campaigned in conservative rural areas outside the capital. Hassan Nafaa, a professor of political science at the University of Cairo, was quoted by Al-Shorouq as saying that an Islamist-dominated parliament was a danger. “We don’t want to replace Mubarak with a theocratic and authoritarian regime,” he said. US

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday urged Egypt to continue its transition to democracy “in a just, transparent and inclusive manner.” Last week, 43 people were killed and more than 3,000 injured in violent protests against the interim military regime that took power after the fall of Mubarak.

Pro-democracy activists accuse it of trying to consolidate its influence and many fear the military will prove unwilling to fully hand over power to the new civilian leaders. The vote on Monday and Tuesday in Cairo and Alexandria and other areas was the first of three stages of an election for a new lower house of parliament. The rest of the country follows next month and in January. After each round, there will be a run-off vote between individual candidates, and then a further three rounds of voting for the upper house of parliament from January. It remains unclear how the new parliament will function and how much power it will be given by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces headed by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, Mubarak’s long-time defense minister.—AFP

International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Amnesty accuses Saudi of repression DUBAI: Amnesty International has accused Saudi Arabia of conducting a campaign of repression against protesters and reformists since the Arab Spring erupted, in a newly published report. “The last nine months has seen a new wave of repression in Saudi Arabia as authorities have cracked down on protesters and reformists on security grounds,” the rights watchdog said in a statement issued late Wednesday. Philip Luther, Amnesty’s director for the Middle East and North Africa, said peaceful protesters had been targeted in a bid to “stamp out the kinds of call for reform that have echoed across the region.”

“While the arguments used to justify this wide-ranging crackdown may be different, the abusive practices being employed by the Saudi Arabian government are worryingly similar to

those which they have long used against people accused of terrorist offences,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has been spared much of the unrest that has swept the Arab world this year and toppled autocratic leaders in three countriesTunisia, Egypt and Libya. And Amnesty accused the authorities in the conservative Sunni kingdom of detaining “thousands of people, many of them without charge or trial, on terrorism-related grounds.”

“Torture and other ill-treatment in detention remains rife,” said the London-based rights group. In April, a judicial source said, 5,080 “terrorist” suspects either faced trial or had already been tried before a special Saudi security court which has come in for criticism from lawyers. Saudi Arabia witnessed a wave of deadly Al-

Qaeda attacks between 2003 and 2006, prompting authorities to launch a security crackdown on the local branch of the jihadist network.

Amnesty also accused the Gulf state of having “carried out a crackdown that included the arrest of hundreds of mostly Shiite Muslims in the restive Eastern Province.”

Shiites in the oil-rich region have rallied since March in support of their fellow believers in Bahrain, where democracy protests were crushed in March with backing by troops from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

Last month, four Shiites were shot dead during clashes between protesters and security forces in the same region. The interior ministry said two policemen were wounded. Amnesty said 300 people who took part in the protests were detained. “Most have

been released, often after pledging not to protest again,” said the watchdog, adding that “many face travel bans.”

“Elsewhere in the country, protests have been stifled by warnings by the Interior Ministry that the authorities would ‘take all necessary measures’ against those who tried to ‘disrupt order’.”

Amnesty described as “grossly unfair” the trial of 16 men including nine prominent reformists who were sentenced to jail for up to 30 years after being found guilty on November 22 of charges including attempting to seize power. The rights group alleged Saudi authorities had drafted a secret law that would allow them to “prosecute peaceful dissent as a terrorist crime and permit extended detention without charge or trial.” — AFP

EU blacklists 180 Iranians, firms over nuclear program Cash-strapped Greece opposes oil embargo

BAGHDAD: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, left, speaks as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, right, and US Vice President Joe Biden, Second from right, and US Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey, third from right, and US soldiers attend a special ceremony at Camp Victory yesterday. — AP

18 die in attacks in Iraq’s Diyala BAQUBA: Attacks in Iraq’s confessionally mixed Diyala province, north of Baghdad, killed 18 people yesterday, 10 of them in a market bombing in the town of Khalis, medical and security officials said. The bloodshed came as US Vice President Joe Biden was in Iraq to usher in a new phase in relations between Washington and Baghdad nearly nine years after the US-led invasion. “We counted 10 bodies and at least 20 wounded in the explosion of a car bomb parked near a vegetable market in Khalis,” an Iraqi army colonel said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The casualty toll was confirmed by a medic at the main hospital in the Diyala provincial capital, Baquba. “We received 10 bodies and admitted 25 wounded. Two policemen were among them,” said Dr Firaz al-Dulaimi.

In a separate attack, gunmen using silencers raided three homes in the Diyala village of Jil al-Said, south of Baquba, killing eight people, among them two commanders of an anti-Qaeda militia and members of their families, the army colonel said. They killed five people in one house, three in a second and wounded five in the third, the officer said. The Sahwa militia are made up of Sunni Arab tribesmen and former insurgents who joined forces with the US military against Al-Qaeda from late 2006, helping turn the tide against the jihadists. Amir al-Khuzai, adviser to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for reconciliation affairs, said late last month that the Sahwa once numbered about 87,000, but that more than 40,000 of them are still awaiting promised public sector jobs.

In the capital, a roadside bomb in the mainly Sunni Arab neighborhood of Adhamiyah wounded five people, an interior ministry official said. And in Taji, 25 kilometres (15 miles) north of Baghdad, a bomb targeting a police patrol wounded four peopletwo police and two civilians-the official added. A suicide bombing killed 12 people in the same town on Monday. — AFP

BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers piled pressure on Iran over its contested nuclear program yesterday, slapping sanctions on an extra 180 firms and individuals and threatening to hit out at its vital oil sector.

Expressing “deepening concerns” on the nature of the nuclear program, the 27 European Union foreign ministers urged the bloc to “extend the scope” of current sanctions in order to strike at Tehran’s financial heart.

A statement said the ministers agreed to examine measures in particular affecting the financial system in the transport and energy sector. Outraged by Tuesday’s storming of the British embassy in Tehran, the ministers also said they considered “these actions against the UK as actions against the European Union as a whole”.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on joining the talks that he would urge his counterparts to squeeze Iran for both its nuclear activities and mounting human rights violations. “I hope we will agree today additional measures that will be an intensification of the economic pressure on Iran, peaceful legitimate economic pressure particularly to increase the isolation of the Iranian financial sector,” he saod.

Though German counterpart Guido Westerwelle too favored moves “to dry up Iran’s financial sources”, the crisis-hit EU is deeply split over slapping an oil embargo on Iran as well as over calls by some, including Britain, to agree an assets freeze on Iran’s central bank. The new sanctions follow the publication last month of a new report on Iran’s contested nuclear activity by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The punitive measures target both firms and individuals involved in the nuclear program and those linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Much of the international community fears Iran’s nuclear program masks a drive for a weapons capability, though Tehran says it serves peaceful civilian energy and medical purposes only.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who leads global talks with Iran on the sensitive nuclear issue, reiterated a plea to Tehran to resume dialogue.

“We have put proposals on the table,” she said. “It is for the Iranians to come back and if they don’t come back and answer or at least put forward their own proposals, we have to draw conclusions.”

Urging the EU “to ratchet up sanctions” in the light of the attacks on the British embassy, Ashton said it was time “to make it clear to Iran that we are very serious”.

But that is easier said than done.

Britain, France, Germany and Sweden favor a bar on buying oil from Iran.

However, others led by economically-troubled Spain, Greece and Italy are significantly dependent on Iranian crude. Oil from Iran in 2010 amounted to 5.8 percent

of total EU imports, making Tehran the bloc’s fifth-largest supplier after Russia, Norway, Libya and Saudi Arabia. Of that total, Spain accounted for 14.6 percent, Greece for 14.0 and Italy for 13.1 percent.

Cash-strapped Greece led opposition to an oil embargo, with an EU diplomat saying: “Iran sells them on credit which is a considerable advantage these days.”

The EU has already frozen the assets of hundreds of Iranian firms and in July last year adopted measures aimed at preventing new investment, technical assistance and technology transfers, particularly those pertaining to producing and refining gas.

Hague reiterated Britain’s angry condemnation of the embassy attack and welcomed moves by France, Germany and the Netherlands to recall their ambassadors from Iran. — AFP

BRUSSELS: Iranian dissidents hold a banner and wave flags during a demonstration yesterday. People’s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran (PMOI) exiles in Europe, staged a demonstration outside EU offices and enlisted the support of around 100 European parliamentarians who have warned of the impending “slaughter” of the dissidents failing the presence of UN or US forces to protect them. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called for a “satisfactory outcome” in the complex relocation of 3,400 Iranian dissidents due to be expelled from a camp in Iraq. — AFP

International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Syria’s civilian opposition, rebels to coordinate: Official ISTANBUL: Syria’s civilian opposition and army rebels have agreed to coordinate their struggle against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, an official said yesterday. The first meeting between the Syrian National Council and the Free Syrian Army earlier this week in Turkey appeared to mark a change of tack from the SNC’s previous reluctance to back the armed struggle. “It is agreed that it would be a coordinated movement, there would be coordination,” the SNC’s Khaled Khoja told AFP. He said the meeting in the southern Turkish province of Hatay on November 28 was attended by SNC head Burhan Ghaliun and FSA chief Riyadh al-Asaad, whose forces comprise deserters from the Syrian military. “The council recognized the Free Syrian Army as a reality, while the army recognized the council as the political representative” of the opposition, Khoja said. He did not specify how organic the links between the two movements would be but the meeting marked a new step in efforts to unite opposition to Assad, who is under growing pressure to step down.

A Turkish foreign ministry official said Ankara was aware of the meeting between the two groups but had no information about its content. Four highranking army defectors and four high-ranking SNC members agreed to form an eight-member commission to create a “joint action plan,” Ahmad Ramadan, one of the SNC members, told Hurriyet Daily News.

Ramadan was one of the participants in the meeting, held in one of the tent cities in Hatay, in which thousands of Syrian refugees have taken shelter, the daily reported. President Assad’s repression of pro-democracy protests in recent months has earned Damascus a barrage of international condemnation and intensifying economic sanctions that are slowly crippling the country’s economy. “We agreed that the duty of the Free Syrian Army is to protect people, but not to attack,” said Khoja, a member of the SNC’s foreign relations committee.

“Protecting minorities, preventing possible conflicts among the factions by sending its troops to conflict areas,” Khoja added, enumerating some of the FSA’s duties.

He quoted rebel leader Asaad as vowing to follow the political line set by the SNC, which has been touring Western and other capitals to muster support for its bid to unseat Bashar al-Assad. The meeting between the council and the rebel army came after the head of the SNC last week urged the FSA to refrain from launching attacks against Assad’s forces and save the country from civil conflict. “We would like this army to carry out defensive actions to protect those who have left the (regime’s) army and peaceful demonstrations, but not take on offensive actions against the army,” Ghaliun of the council had said.

Colonel Asaad on the other hand in a telephone interview with AFP had called for foreign air strikes on “strategic targets” in Syria to speed up the fall of the regime. He said the Free Syrian Army, which now claims 20,000 men in its ranks, wanted the international community to provide it with logistical support. Limited foreign intervention would allow the FSA “to triumph in a relatively short time” Asaad had said. The United Nations says more than 3,500 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the protests first broke out in mid-March, while thousands of people have been detained. The FSA has stepped up attacks in recent weeks and openly claimed responsibility for deadly operations against the army and pro-regime militiamen. Last week the FSA claimed an attack on a bus in the centre of Syria that killed seven senior military pilots. — AFP

Thousands gather in Tunisia to protest against extremists ‘Neither mini-skirts nor niqabs’ reads placard TUNIS: Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside Tunisia’s constituent assembly yesterday to protest against corruption, unemployment and religious fundamentalists. According to AFP estimates, between 2,000 and 3,000 students, teachers, miners and others assembled outside the Bardo Palace, where Tunisian lawmakers are gathering to draft a new constitution. The protest comes partly in response to ongoing demonstrations at a university outside the capital Tunis, where Islamists have been calling for women students to wear head scarves and gender segregation in classes. University professors at the protest chanted “No to extremism” and “Hands off the teachers”, among other slogans.

Students held placards protesting headscarves, known locally as niqabs.”Neither mini-skirts nor niqabs” and “If you want to wear the niqab, do it at home” were among the messages spotted.

Islamism is a political movement incorporating religious beliefs into governance.

Leaders from moderate Islamist parties have been winning large blocs of votes in elections after the fall of dictators in the Arab Spring revolts.

In Tunisia, the Islamist Ennaahda Party won the most votes in the October 23 elections, the country’s first since the revolution that ousted a staunchly secular regime

TUNIS: Tunisian students pose with a poster labelled “wearing of the burqua is an infringement on the rights of Tunisian women” outside the Constituent Assembly yesterday. — AFP along with president Zine el Abidine Ben say were rigged hiring practices at a mining recruitment firm. “We didn’t make a Ali in January.

Hardline Islamists, known as Salafists, revolution for that,” communist leader have become more assertive in recent Hama Hammami said. “People are hunweeks. Also at yesterday’s demonstration gry and corruption is rampant.” Other were miners who pitched tents and said demonstrators yelled at the palace, saythey would stay until their demands are ing politics should not be held behind met. They are angered over what they closed doors. — AFP

Yemen to get unity cabinet

by Sunday, says opposition More than 13 killed in Taez clashes SANAA: A government of unity will be announced in Yemen before Sunday, the opposition said, in line with a peace deal that is to see President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down from power. “There is a deal with the ruling party on the distribution of posts. Forming a cabinet will be very easy,” Mohammed Qahtan, spokesman for the parliamentary opposition coalition, told AFP. The government will be announced today or tomorrow, he added. Opposition chief Mohammed Basindawa was charged on Sunday with forming a government tasked with overseeing a 90-day interim period until Saleh’s agreed departure in February. The peace deal, agreed under the auspices of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh last week, is meant to end 10 months of crisis that has led to violent protests and intense street fighting across Yemen. In it, the opposition is to evenly share cabinet portfolios with Saleh’s ruling party.

According to Qahtan, the posts to fill were handed out by lottery with the opposition ending up with the ministries of interior, finance, cooperation, information and human rights. Saleh’s ruling party is to keep the ministries of defence, foreign affairs, oil, telecommunications and civil services. “The forming of a cabinet will be very easy” as the Gulf deal stipulates that each party accept the nominations of the other, Qahtan

said. Another opposition source told AFP the two groups would meet tomorrow to reveal their choices to fill the ministry posts. The new government will enter office swearing-in to Vice President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, to whom Saleh transferred effective power in accordance with the Gulf-brokered deal. Saleh, 69, has ruled Yemen for 33

years and signed a deal mediated by Gulf Cooperation Council states in which he agreed to step down in return for immunity from prosecution for himself and his family. Yesterday, more than 13 people were killed in clashes between forces loyal to Saleh and dissident tribesmen in the country’s secondlargest city Taez. — AFP

TAIZ: Yemeni opposition tribesmen stand guard in a street in the second largest city of Taiz yesterday as clashes between forces loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and dissident tribesmen killed 13 people, five of them civilians. — AFP

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International

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Somali pirates jailed for French kidnapping PARIS: A French court on Wednesday jailed five Somali men for between four and eight years and acquitted a sixth in the hostage taking of a French couple on their yacht in the Gulf of Aden. In France’s first prosecution of suspected Somali pirates, prosecutors had asked the men, aged between 21 and 36, be sent to prison for between six and 16 years on charges of hijacking, kidnapping and armed robbery. The six were accused of seizing the yacht and its crew, Jean-Yves Delanne and his wife Bernadette, both aged 60, off the coast of Somalia in 2008 and demanding a $2million (1.3-million euro) ransom. The ransom was never paid and the men

were captured and flown to France after French special forces stormed the yacht, the Carre d’As IV, and rescued the couple. A seventh suspect was killed in the raid.

The defendants apologized at the end of their trial Wednesday. “I ask Mr. and Mrs. Delanne to forgive me for the harm I caused them,” one of the Somalis, Sheikh Nur Jama Mohamed, said as the men were given a final chance to speak. “I wish them a good and long life,” said another, Mohamed Hassan Yacub, adding he hoped his sentence will be “as lenient as possible”.

Since the start of the trial, the couple seemed forgiving of their former captors

and said they were not mistreated during the ordeal. Four of the accused admitted to carrying out the hostagetaking, saying they were desperately poor and needed money. Defense lawyers urged the court for leniency, saying sentences of up to 16 years were disproportionate to the crime, as the Somalis did not have “blood on their hands”. “This is the first time since the 18th century that this country has judged a case of piracy,” defense lawyer Cedric Alepee said, noting that the accused did not have “wooden legs, parrots on their shoulders or eye patches.”

Jurors heard that Somalia, a country torn by civil war for two decades, has no func-

tioning government and is mired in poverty. The youngest of the accused, Yusuf, who was a minor at the time of the hijacking, said he hoped to eventually “rebuild my life in France”. After the hearing, the two victims approached the Somalis and greeted them. “Good luck,” Bernadette Delanne said. Jean-Yves Delanne, who lives with his wife in Polynesia and is known by his nickname Captain Haddock for his salty sea-dog appearance, said he thought justice had been done. “I hope piracy is stamped out,” he said, “but this isn’t going to change the way things are. The West should do more to help” poor countries like Somalia. — AFP

Book purports to tell DSK’s version of hotel rape charges Author claims maid attempted to seduce DSK

TSKHINVALI: A man argues with a security forces officers, right, as they disperse, on Wednesday, supporters of South Ossetia’s presidential candidate Alla Dzhioyeva in Tskhinvali, the capital of Georgia’s rebel region. — AFP

South Ossetians protest as Russia tries to defuse crisis TSKHINVALI: Street protests shook Georgia’s rebel region of South Ossetia for the second day yesterday as Russia tried to defuse a political crisis sparked by the invalidation of leadership polls. Opposition leader Alla Dzhioyeva, who proclaimed herself president despite a supreme court decision to cancel poll results, said she sent a written ultimatum to the outgoing leader of the Moscow-backed province, and hundreds of her supporters protested for a second day. Dzhioyeva called on outgoing president Eduard Kokoity to reverse the annulment of results by 1800 local time (1400 GMT) and recognise her unexpected weekend victory over a candidate backed by South Ossetia’s patron Moscow.

“In the event that these demands are not fulfilled, all responsibility for further developments in the situation will lie wholly with the leadership of the republic,” she said in the letter, Interfax news agency reported. Hundreds of Dzhioyeva’s supporters stood in protest outside the government building in the capital of the impoverished province until the early hours yesterday despite heavy snowfall, with some burning fires to keep warm. Russian presidential administration official Sergei Vinokurov flew in from Moscow to discuss the situation with Dzhioyeva in the early hours, in what she called “constructive dialogue”, without giving further details. Security forces fired warning shots on Wednesday to prevent her supporters from breaking into a government building, but the local security service, which still goes by its Soviet-era name KGB, has said it will not suppress peaceful protests. Dzhioyeva however expressed fears of a possible crackdown by the authorities. “Nothing can be ruled out. These people are capable of anything,” she said, according to Interfax. She also appealed to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev for support, warning that the region was on the brink of “civil war”. Moscow recognised the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia, shortly after the 2008 conflict with Tbilisi despite other world powers insisting both territories remain an integral part of Georgia. The supreme court of South Ossetia has scheduled a new election for March 25. —AFP

PARIS: A new book purports to give Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s version of events of what happened in that New York hotel suite. In “DSK Affairs: The Second Inquiry,” Strauss-Kahn’s biographer says when a hotel maid locked eyes with the then head of the International Monetary Fund after he emerged from the shower, he interpreted her allegedly seductive body language as a proposition. The onetime French presidential contender has not spoken out on the May 14 encounter, which led US authorities to charge him with attempted rape, and the book is being marketed as his much-anticipated side of the story.

Lawyers for the maid, Nafissatou Diallo immediately dismissed the book - by Michel Taubmann - as “complete fantasy.”

In key excerpts published in Paris Match magazine yesterday - ahead of the book’s scheduled Dec. 8 release Taubmann alleges Diallo acted seductively upon bursting in on StraussKahn. Upon seeing the then IMF leader, she “started walking toward the exit. But she wasn’t in any hurry,” the excerpt reads. “She stares him in the eyes.” The excerpt continues: “The flesh is weak. Dominique Strauss-Kahn saw a proposition. The situation amuses him. Rarely in his life has he refused a moment of pleasure. He does not resist temptation.” Diallo’s version of event differs wildly from those described in the book.

She has alleged that Strauss-Kahn violently attacked her when she arrived to clean his suite, forcing himself on her before she quickly left the hotel. Investigators found physical evidence, but the criminal case against Strauss-Kahn was dismissed when prosecutors said they had lost faith in Diallo’s credibility.

The excerpts also suggest that Diallo might be behind the alleged theft of Strauss-Kahn’s work Blackberry. Taubmann says phone records show Strauss-Kahn last used the IMF Blackberry around the time the incident took place and suggests Diallo was one of a handful of people

WASHINGTON: In this file April 22, 2011 file photo, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn is shown at IMF headquarters. — AP

who could have taken it. The possible robbery of the cell phone, Taubmann suggests, might have been part of a political plot to bring down StraussKahn - a Socialist who was then widely seen as the top contender in France’s upcoming presidential race in April and May. The book’s excerpts do not contain any direct quotes from Strauss-Kahn, though author Taubmann said in an interview with Paris Match that he has met with the politician at least six times since the May 14 incident, and also had extensive email and phone contact with him. Taubmann, who has written a previous biography of Strauss-Kahn, said he also studied phone records and surveillance tapes from the hotel. Strauss-Kahn’s Paris lawyer did not immediately respond to calls seeking confirmation that the politician did indeed collaborate with Taubmann on the book. Diallo’s lawyers Kenneth Thompson and Douglas Wigdor said late Wednesday that the allegations in the book were absurd. “Strauss Kahn’s absurd claim that Ms Diallo was told to steal his

Blackberry and (she) somehow looked at him seductively and consented to his violent and abusive acts is complete fantasy,” the lawyers said in a brief statement.

“We look forward to questioning him at trial about the sick and deranged acts he committed against Ms. Diallo” as part of her pending civil case. After the criminal charges against him were dropped, StraussKahn returned to France in September.

In his single public appearance since his return - a live interview on TF1 television channel Strauss-Kahn acknowledged “moral failings” but didn’t provide any details about what exactly happened behind the closed doors of the hotel suite. Since his return, he has been plagued by other scandals, including allegations by a French writer that he sexually assaulted her during a 2003 interview and claims he was linked to a suspected hotel prostitution ring. The Associated Press does not name people who report being sexually assaulted unless they agree to be identified or come forward publicly, as Diallo has done. —AP

International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Iran releases students who stormed British Embassy EU countries recall ambassadors in solidarity

KARLSRUHE: A combo of handout photos released by German federal criminal police office o, 2011 in Karlsruhe shows Uwe Boehnhardt, upper left and center, Uwe Mundlos, upper right and bottom left, and Beate Zschaepe, bottom center and right, alleged members of the farright terror cell National Socialist Underground (NSU). — AFP

Call for public help in German neo-Nazi serial murder case BERLIN: German authorities called yesterday for help from the public as they investigated a neo-Nazi cell believed to have murdered 10 people, mainly foreign shopkeepers, in a case that has shocked the country.

Describing the case as “extremely complicated and wideranging,” the head of the federal prosecutors’ office, Harald Range, said they had taken the decision to throw open the investigation to the public. “We are hoping for evidence from the general public, clues that would otherwise maybe have remained hidden from us,” Range told reporters. The head of the federal criminal police office, Joerg Ziercke, said authorities were “intensively looking into whether other, until now undiscovered, crimes could be attributed” to the extremist group. The group, which called itself the “National Socialist Underground” (NSU), also carried out “at least 14 armed robberies” to finance their activities, added Ziercke. “This terror cell did not leave anything to chance,” he said, showing a huge cache of weapons discovered at one of their bases.

He said he had 420 officers currently working on the investigation and was expecting to assign more to the case. Two NSU members were found dead last month in an apparent suicide and the other, a 36-year-old woman identified as Beate Z, has turned herself in but refused to speak to police. Officials declined to tell reporters whether she had since provided any evidence. Since then, authorities arrested on November 24 a man identified as Andre E., who stands accused of making a chilling video in 2007 - discovered only last month - in which the militants claimed responsibility for the murders.

Another man, 37, has been detained on charges of aiding and abetting the group as police search for further accomplices. A third suspected accomplice, Ralf Wohlleben, had “clear connections” to the far-right NPD political party, Ziercke said, although it had not yet been established whether the cell used party infrastructure to plan the murders.

“We are not investigating the NPD but the group that called itself the NSU, he said. The case has revived calls by political leaders including Chancellor Angela Merkel to examine a potential ban of the neo-Nazi National Democratic Party, after an attempt that was struck down by the constitutional court in 2003. — AFP

TEHRAN: Iran has released 11 hard-line protesters detained for storming the British Embassy and diplomatic compounds in Tehran this week, the semiofficial Fars news agency said yesterday.

Fars said 11 people, described as students, were set free late on Wednesday, a day after they were arrested for storming and ransacking the embassy and British diplomatic compounds in Tehran. There was no immediate explanation for the release. Under Iranian law, damaging property carries a prison term of up to three years. It could, however, indicate the 11 have high-level protection from circles within the Iranian establishment.

The storming of the compounds was preceded by an apparently stateapproved rally outside the British Embassy to denounce Britain’s support for the latest round of US sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear program. The incident has deepened Iran’s isolation and significantly escalated tensions with the West. It prompted Britain to pull its diplomats out of Iran, shutter the ransacked embassy and order all Iranian diplomats out of the UK within 48 hours. Germany, France and the Netherlands have recalled their ambassadors in solidarity.

Tuesday’s rampage went on for hours, with the mob hauling down Union Jack flags, torching a vehicle and tossing looted documents through windows. Protesters replaced the British flag with a banner in the name of a 7thcentury Shiite saint, Imam Hussein, and one looter showed off a picture of Queen Elizabeth II apparently taken off a wall. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has remained silent on the incident but Iran’s foreign ministry expressed regret and called the embassy assault “unacceptable.” However, hard-liners have spoken out in support of the protesters.

Mohammad Mohammadian, a representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, praised the attackers, saying they had targeted the “epicenter of sedition.” And Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the

TEHRAN: A shattered window of an office of the British Embassy is seen, after hard-line students stormed in. — AP “wrath of (the protesters) resulted from several decades of domination-seeking behavior of Britain.” The storming of the embassy came two days after Iran’s parliament voted to reduce ties with Britain following London’s support for the recently upgraded US sanctions on Tehran. British Foreign Minister William Hague claimed those involved in Tuesday’s attack were members of a student group allied with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s paramilitary Basij organization, which recruits heavily on university campuses. Hague told Parliament the private quarters of staff and Britain’s ambassador were trashed in the attack and that diplomats’ personal possessions were stolen. “This is a breach of international responsibilities of which any nation should be ashamed,” Hague said Wednesday.

Tehran’s relations with Britain have become increasingly strained over the past few months, largely driven by increasing tensions over Tehran’s refusal to halt uranium enrichment - a process that can lead to nuclear arms. The West says Iran is developing atomic weapons; Tehran denies the claims.

Meanwhile, Italy has summoned Iran’s envoy to the foreign ministry to express its “firm condemnation” of the storming of the British embassy in Tehran and to warn that Italy may take other steps. The foreign ministry said yesterday that Italy also demanded security guarantees for diplomats during the meeting with the envoy, Mehdi Akouchekian. Germany, France and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors in solidarity with Britain. Italy long had strong economic ties with Iran but reduced trade substantially in recent years. Spain also summoned Iran’s ambassador to condemn the storming of the British Embassy in Tehran. The foreign ministry said in a statement that in yesterday’s meeting it asked Iran to investigate Tuesday’s violence at the embassy and diplomatic compounds, compensate Britain for the damage and take measures against the perpetrators.

A Spanish official speaking on condition of anonymity in line with ministry rules declined to say if Spain was considering joining other EU countries in withdrawing their ambassadors from Iran out of solidarity with Britain. — AP

Zimbabwe’s PM ends love affair HARARE: Zimbabwe’s prime minister said yesterday that he has ended a relationship with a woman who claims they married in a traditional ceremony after she became pregnant, saying their affair turned out to be choreographed political sting. Locadia Karimatsenga, a 39-yearold commodity broker, said she was pregnant with Morgan Tsvangirai’s child, or possibly twins, according to media reports. The 59-year-old former opposition leader had lost his wife of three decades in a 2009 car wreck. The state daily Herald newspaper reported Nov. 22 that Tsvangirai paid $36,000 and five cattle in traditional “bride price” at a ceremony last month at her family’s homestead north of Harare. A church wedding apparently was to take place at a later date. But Tsvangirai said he became concerned about the motives of the

woman’s family and whether him marrying her will “reflect marriage as the noble and respectable institution it is.”

“My genuine intention has been betrayed, and hearts have had to search long and hard for the true meaning of this well-choreographed drama that has now been hijacked to cause political damage to my person and character,” he said in yesterday’s statement. Karimatsenga is the sister of a lawmaker belonging to longtime President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party. Mugabe and Tsvangirai were political adversaries for years until they joined into a troubled power-sharing agreement in 2009. That same year, Tsvangirai’s wife, Susan, died in a car wreck after 31 years of marriage. The couple had six children together. For two weeks, Tsvangirai’s office repeatedly had denied that he paid bride price or com-

pensation for any pregnancy, saying the only marriage he was concerned with was the uneasy one between his party and Mugabe’s.

Zimbabwe’s independent media sharply criticized Tsvangirai for not speaking out earlier, and questioned his judgment over his handling of the negative publicity it created. Tsvangirai said details of the affair that were reported by pro-Mugabe journalists had been “deliberately planted” to besmirch his name. “I want to admit that the last two weeks have been particularly bad for me, my children, my family and even ordinary Zimbabweans who have sought to find meaning in this sordid saga,” he said. “In hindsight, I could have done things differently ... I apologize to every single Zimbabwean for any discomfort caused by any of my actions,” he added. — AP

International FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Guatemala village ‘hell’ for US-bound migrants TECUN UMAN: As dusk falls on the dusty Guatemalan village of Tecun Uman, Javier Castillo prepares to sneak across the Mexican border to continue his perilous journey to the United States.”Several of my family members live in the United States. They helped me pay for the trip.

Now, seeing how things have turned out, it might be a challenge to get there,” the 17-year-old from El Salvador told AFP, clear-sighted in acknowledging the perils that lie ahead. On the shores of the wide Suchiate River, which marks the border between Guatemala and Mexico, local smugglers charge 10 quetzals (about $1.30) per crossing on rowboats built from tree trunks and tires. The “captains” of the rafts often let a crowd onboard in order to limit the trips they make and boost their profits.

But the practice also means they risk capsizing and make smugglers and migrants alike easy prey for the unscrupulous and greedy Mexican customs officers on the other river bank at Ciudad Hidalgo. Yet the crossing only foreshadows the many dangers to come for about 140,000 illegal migrants who try to reach the USMexican border each year, according to Mexican esti-

mates. One out of seven of these risk-takers falls into the hands of organized crime, according to Mexico’s national human rights commission. Mexican gangs used to simply rob the travelers. Now, drug cartels have found ways to obtain ransoms of several thousand dollars from the migrants’ families living in the United States, or to transform their victims into drug mules. Some even less lucky ones are sold into slave labor. Women are often forced into prostitution, while men are made to work in the fields. Some groups, like the Zetas drug cartel, even execute those who refuse to join their ranks.

If Castillo manages to escape their grasp, corrupt local landowners or police officers could rob him before delivering him-if he is lucky-to authorities who will promptly deport him. Before launching this long journey across Mexico, many of the migrants catch their breath in Tecun Uman, a hot and humid village that bears the name of a Maya national hero killed by the Spaniards in the 16th century. But despite its calm appearance, the northwestern village poses plenty of risks, as locals disapprove of the migrants and are themselves targeted by

Mexican organized crime, whose reach extends across Central America. “Tecun Uman is a small village. But it’s also hell. Here, undocumented migrants suffer humiliation, attacks, mistreatment and violence,” said Father Ademar Barilli, who heads a shelter that has already housed tens of thousands of migrants since 1994, most of them from El Salvador and Honduras. “Fundamental human rights are flouted like never before and not a single official takes this seriously. Great permissiveness reigns everywhere. It’s deplorable!”

Barilli has already received several threats from groups that exploit migrants. His shelter is a peace sanctuary of sorts for Edmundo Lopez, a Honduran on his third attempt to reach the United States and have a shot at the American dream-at the age of 65. “I travel to reach the United States because I have to,” said Lopez, pointing to widespread poverty and unemployment in Honduras. “There are risks everywhere, and I’m not afraid of anything serious happening to me in Mexico,” added Lopez, whose country has the worst homicide rate in the world. After nightfall, Castillo and Lopez will try their luck. — AFP

Cain decision on campaign awaits meeting with wife Candidate’s support dwindles as accusations mount

WASHINGTON: A red ribbon is displayed on the North Portico of the White House in honor of World Aids Day. Obama announced a boost in spending on Aids treatment in the US by $50 million dollars yesterday. — AP

Obama to announce new steps to combat AIDS WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama is renewing the US commitment to ending AIDS yesterday, setting new goals for getting more people access to life-saving drugs and boosting spending on treatment in the US by $50 million dollars. Obama planned to announce the new initiatives at an event in Washington marking World AIDS Day. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton also were speaking at the event via satellite. Senior Obama administration officials said the president will set a goal of getting antiretroviral drugs to 2 million more people around the world by the end of 2013. In addition, the US will aim to get the drugs to 1.5 million HIV-positive pregnant women to prevent them from passing the virus to their children.

The new global goals build on the work of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which focuses on prevention, treatment and support programs in 15 countries hard-hit by the AIDS pandemic, 12 of them in Africa. Bush launched the $15 billion plan in 2003, and in 2008, Congress tripled the budget to $48 billion over five years. Despite Obama’s more ambitious goals, the relief program’s budget is not expected to increase. Instead officials said the expanded targets would be funded through savings achieved by making the program more efficient and cutting the costs of treatment. Obama is also announcing new initiatives to combat HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, in the US Officials said he would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to increase funding for domestic treatment by $50 million. The White House said there are 1.2 million Americans living with HIV, and 50,000 new infections each year.—AP

WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, his campaign brought low by allegations of sexual misconduct, says he won’t decide about continuing his fight for the nomination until he has a face-to-face talk with his wife, possibly as early as today. In the meantime, Cain says he is planning an aggressive campaign schedule across several US states in an attempt to reinvigorate a candidacy that had moved him briefly into a neck-and-neck contest with Mitt Romney, the favorite of the Republican establishment as the party’s candidate to challenge President Barack Obama next year.

Despite repeated denials of any wrongdoing, Cain has seen his support and donations dwindle under the weight of allegations of sexual harassment and, early this week, a claim by 46-year old Ginger White’s that she had a 13-year extramarital affair with the candidate. As polls show Obama’s approval at record lows, Republicans should be in a strong position to block his re-election and retake the White House. Obama has been hurt by the economy’s lackluster performance, high unemployment and the perception of many of his Democratic supporters that he hasn’t delivered on political promises.

But the Republican primary contest remains in turmoil. Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and venture capitalist, has held front-runner status through most of the early going, but - with about a month left before the states begin making their choice of candidate in caucuses and primary elections - the contest appears to be a toss-up. Romney has been unable to entice the support of conservative Republicans and members of its tea party wing. He is viewed as too moderate on issues that determine conservative ideological purity. That has left him vulnerable to a series of challenges, first from Rep. Michele Bachmann, then Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Cain. They have all risen quickly into contention and just as rapidly fallen back as their flaws became evident.

Now, Newt Gingrich, former speaker of

MANCHESTER: Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain reacts to supporters at his campaign headquarters on Wednesday. — AP the House of Representatives, has rocketed past Romney in many polls as Cain struggles with the allegations of sexual misconduct and serious stumbles on important policy questions. Cain is now saying he is reassessing and waiting until he talks in person with his wife before deciding whether to continue his campaign. “I am not going to make a decision until after we talk face to face,” which could happen as soon as today, Cain told reporters gathered at his New Hampshire campaign headquar-

ters Wednesday night. Cain said he had spoken to his wife only by phone since Monday, the day White went on an Atlanta, Georgia, television station to make her allegations of the long affair. Since then, aides have crafted a packed campaign schedule with stops in several states and prepared to launch a fresh round of TV ads in Iowa, which holds the first nomination contest on Jan. 3. But many Republican operatives believe Cain’s bid is over whether he quits or not. —AP

Gunman, 2 boys die in Texas shootings BAY CITY: Investigators say two of four children shot in an attack at a mobile home in Southeast Texas have died. Bay City police have not released the names of the victims or their relationship to the gunman, who they say killed himself with a shot to the head in the attack Wednesday afternoon.

The conditions of the surviving two children and a woman also wounded

in the attack were not available early yesterday. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences says the two boys died Wednesday night at a Houston hospital. Police in Bay City did not respond to messages left by The Associated Press early yesterday. Bay City is the Matagorda County seat of about 18,000 residents, 65 miles southwest of Houston. — AP

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International

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Slain Pakistani soldiers’ loved ones want justice Mourning relatives call for revenge

KUNDUZ: An Afghan doctor looks at 17-year-old Afghan girl Mumtaz as she lies in a bed at Kunduz Hospital yesterday after her family were attacked with acid. — AFP

Brutal acid attack on Afghan girl and family KUNDUZ: A 17-year-old Afghan girl and her family have been sprayed with acid, apparently after rejecting a marriage proposal, officials and the victims said yesterday. The girl, Mumtaz, was seriously injured when acid was sprayed on her face by several masked gunmen who broke into her home in the northern city of Kunduz late Sunday, her father Sultan Mohammad told AFP. Her mother and four sisters also suffered slight burns in the attack after they were splashed with the acid aimed at Mumtaz, Mohammad added. The attack is the latest to highlight the dangers still faced by many women in Afghanistan 10 years after a US-led invasion ousted the Taleban, notorious for their oppressive policies against women.

“It was midnight,” Mohammad told AFP from his hospital bed. “They entered my home by force, they started beating me and put me in a big bag. They moved in and started beating my wife and daughters and before leaving, they sprayed acid on my daughter’s face.” Mumtaz, who is hardly able to speak and is also still in hospital, added: “First they beat me, they beat my mother and sisters and then they threw acid on my face.” Mohammad blamed a former militia commander who had proposed marriage to Mumtaz but was rejected by the family. “A man asked for her hand. We rejected (him) and our daughter was engaged to someone else. I suspect that man might be behind this,” he told AFP. The attackers fled the scene before the police arrived. —AP

Delhi’s 100th birthday stirs a debate on colonial era NEW DELHI: New Delhi reaches 100 this month, not knowing whether to mark the birthday with celebrations of its runaway success or to ignore a date that revives memories of British colonial rule. On December 12, 1911, King George V called all Indian princes and rulers to a “durbar” pageant on a flat piece of land north of the old city of Delhi and declared the national capital would move there from Calcutta.

The decision, which came as a surprise even to senior British officers, was based on worsening unrest in the Calcutta region and Delhi’s more strategic position in the centre of the subcontinent. One hundred years on, Delhi is a vast mega-city at the heart of India’s booming economy with up to 18 million inhabitants living in sprawling low-rise suburbs that stretch across the Yamuna floodplain. “Yes, there is ambivalence on what to celebrate and how to celebrate,” Delhi’s chief minister Sheila Dikshit admitted in November, as questions grow over whether any major events are planned for the city’s centenary. “(The) ministry of culture has to draw up a plan... I feel they don’t have a clear direction yet,” she added. The site of the lavish 1911 durbar did not actually become “New Delhi” as ground to the south of the old city was preferred, and the spot instead became a graveyard for British imperial statues discarded after independence in 1947.

Derelict and forgotten for decades, “Coronation Park” is now undergoing a slow renovation process, but it will not be ready for any celebrations on December 12. For A.G. Krishna Menon, the Delhi head of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), glossing over the events of 100 years ago is to try to re-write the past. “This is a chance to increase awareness about the city around us,” he said. “There is a debate on whether we should be celebrating or not but, as conservationists, we say it is part of history that must be recognized. —AFP

SAHIWAL: Azra Bashir spoke by phone to her son Usman, holed up in a freezing border outpost on the dangerous Afghanistan-Pakistan border, only hours before NATO airstrikes killed him and 23 other Pakistani soldiers. The 23 year-old captain told his mother not to worry about him, and reminded her to watch her health. As Pakistan and the United States argue about the sequence of events that led to the attacks, Bashir is struggling with the pain of losing a child. Her anger, and that of other relatives mourning loved ones killed by a nominal ally, helps explain the uncompromising stance Islamabad has struck toward Washington since the incident.”I want to tell our soldiers that they should avenge the killing of Usman and other soldiers like him,” Bashir said in an interview in her home in Punjab province. As she spoke, she kissed a framed photo of her son, who also left behind a wife and 2-month-old daughter.

Bashir’s call for revenge has been echoed in daily protests held in Pakistan’s major cities, many of them organized by Islamist and right-wing parties who have long said that America and NATO - not the Taliban are the prime enemies of Pakistan. The border incident has greatly strengthened that narrative, reducing the political space for those who argue that cooperation with Washington is in the country’s interest. The army, which has received billions of dollars in US aid since 2001 in exchange for its cooperation, however limited, against militants, has fueled the hard line by accusing NATO of a “deliberate act of aggression.”

The 24 deaths by apparent American friendly fire come on top of the 3,000 Pakistani security force members who have been killed over the last 10 years fighting insurgents, mainly in the northwest close to the Afghan border. Many in the country, including leading politicians, say the war has been foisted upon them by America.

They say the violence would end if Islamabad severed its ties with Washington. “How long will we sacrifice our youths, our soldiers for others?” said Capt. Usman Bashir’s father, Bashir Ahmed. “This is not our war. This is their war.” American and NATO officials have expressed sympathy over the deaths, saying the incident was a mistake and is being investigated. The border area is infested with militants, whom NATO has long complained receive safe haven on the Pakistan side to launch attacks in Afghanistan. “What kind of mistake is this that kills innocent poor people?” asked Asfandyar Khan, who lost his 22-year-old son in the attacks. “We don’t want your investigation and inquires. I want justice. I want real action against those responsible.”

He fought back tears as he spoke, sitting feet away from the freshly dug grave holding his son, Najibullah Khan.

The grave in the family’s village of

SAHIWAL: In this photo taken on Nov. 30, 2011, Azra Bashir holds a picture of her son Captain Usman Bashir who was killed by NATO strikes, in Sahiwal, Pakistan. —AP Kabuli Kili in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was covered in wreaths of flowers donated by military officials.

A green and white Pakistani flag flew from a bamboo pole nearby. “You are calling us friends,” Khan said of the United States. “Is this the way you people treat friends? If this is friendship, we have had enough, and don’t want such friendship.” In a video message released by the US Embassy in Pakistan, Ambassador Cameron Munter expressed his condolences, saying “my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the men who died.” In Urdu, the local language, he then said “we are extremely regretful.” Pakistan has retaliated for the incident by closing its Afghan border crossings to NATO supplies, by demanding the US vacate an air base used by American drones attacking militants along the frontier, and by boycotting an international conference in Germany aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan.

Washington is keen to repair damage done to the relationship. It wants to get the supplies moving again, and also sees Islamabad’s links with Afghan insurgent leaders on its soil as a key asset in negotiating a peace deal in Afghanistan which will allow the US to withdraw its combat troops by the scheduled 2014 deadline.

Pakistan relies heavily on American aid, and it too wants to avoid a rupture in ties. The US and Pakistan have long had a troubled relationship, thanks to

Pakistan’s reluctance to target Afghan Taliban fighters and their allies using Pakistani territory to attack American troops in Afghanistan. Islamabad is believed to see those insurgents as useful proxies in Afghanistan, once the US withdraws. The NATO attack was the latest in a series of crises to beset the relationship this year.

In January, an American CIA contractor shot two Pakistani men who he said tried to rob him, sparking outrage. The May 2 unilateral raid that killed Osama bin Laden was also portrayed as a gross violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, largely drowning out questions over how the al-Qaida chief was living undetected in an army town for five years.

Most experts believe the two countries will patch things up this time, and that the border closure will be temporary, chiefly because Washington and Islamabad still need each other. But the Pakistani reaction since the strikes has betrayed the lack of trust at the heart of the relationship, and bodes ill for meaningful Western cooperation with Pakistan over ending the Afghan war.

“The time has come for 180 million Pakistanis to choose between a life of respect or ignominy,” said Shahbaz Sharif, the head of the ruling party in Punjab after visiting Bashir’s family this week. “American foreign aid is drenched in the blood of martyrs and we will have to give it up and get back up on our own feet,” he was quoted by local media reports as saying. — AP

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What’s in a name? In Myanmar (Burma), a lot Clinton avoids mentioning nation’s name in speeches

HONG KONG: A woman who claims to have lost a daughter in a fire at a residential tower cries at the scene in Hong Kong on Wednesday. — AFP

Hong Kong police probe fatal market blaze, suspect arson HONG KONG: Hong Kong police said yesterday that they are investigating a suspected arson attack on a popular tourist market that left nine people dead, dozens injured and hundreds in need of emergency assistance. Officials said more than 400 people had registered for government aid after the blaze in the early hours of Wednesday destroyed a large section of the Ladies’ Market and dozens of apartments in Kowloon’s crowded Mong Kok district. Around 40 survivors took shelter in a community centre overnight Wednesday as police continued to scour the scene for evidence, amid reports that residents heard an argument in the narrow street before the fire broke out.

“The Fire Services Department initially believed that there were suspicious circumstances and has set up a team to investigate the cause of the fire and the reason for it causing heavy casualties,” Security Secretary Ambrose S.K. Lee’s office said in a statement.

A police spokesman appealed to the public for information but refused to comment further on the incident, the second of its kind in a year in Mong Kok’s Fa Yuen Street. “After the fire was put out, it was believed that the fire was of suspicious origin,” he said. Firefighters at the scene said the blaze broke out simultaneously among hawker stalls at either end of the market shortly before dawn. The Ladies’ Market is popular with shoppers seeking cheap clothes, toys and accessories. Fuelled by fabrics and plastic goods stored in the market and in stairwells, the inferno quickly spread to the crowded apartments above, where residents were sleeping. Many of the victims died of suspected smoke inhalation in a single stairwell that appeared to have been blocked. Several survivors said they ran to the roof because escape exits were blocked or already full of smoke. Officials have pointed the finger at market traders for ignoring fire regulations put in place after a blaze on the same street last year-in another case of suspected arsondestroyed dozens of stalls and injured several people.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang said that enforcement of fire regulations was insufficient, and set up a task force to examine the fire danger. But Food and Health Secretary Dr. York Chow said “all the warnings and regulations are actually in place”.

“In case this is still relating to the (noncompliance) of operators, we have to see what type of more stringent regulation needs to be considered,” he told reporters. Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Clement Leung said the government would look at introducing stiffer penalties for non-compliance with fire regulations. “We are all shocked by the tragedy,” he said. Mong Kok is one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods on earth, and some of the apartments that caught fire were subdivided into tiny living spaces known as cubicles. Cubicle residents who rent rooms the size of prison cells complain that the government has done too little to address skyrocketing housing costs in the southern Chinese city of seven million people. — AFP

NAYPYIDAW: Some call the country Myanmar, others call it Burma, but for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on a landmark visit, there was a better solution-call it nothing. Paying the first visit by a top US official in more than 50 years in a bid to push reform, Clinton faced a variety of obstacles but none required as much linguistic jujitsu as not mentioning the nation’s name. In public remarks in the showcase capital Naypyidaw, Clinton only employed the term Burma but said it sparingly, generally saying simply, “this country.” “The most consequential question facing this country is not its relationship with America or any other nation,” Clinton said at a press conference. “It is whether leaders will let their people live up to their Godgiven potential and claim their place at the heart of a Pacific century. Or will this country, once again, be left behind?” Clinton said.

The military leaders of “this country” changed the official name two decades ago to Myanmar, saying that the old term Burma was a sorry legacy of British colonialism and implied that the ethnically torn land belonged only to the Burman majority. The opposition and exiles fiercely opposed the change, seeing it as a symbolic step to create an entirely new country, and the United States has stood in solidarity by officially calling the nation Burma. Aides to Clinton acknowl-

edged that she faced an unhappy choice-offending her hosts by using a name they reject or angering US lawmakers and exiles who consistently call the country Burma. State Department spokesman Mark Toner,

“any change of the name of a country should be a decision” for its people, Toner said. For which people? “The Burmese people.” The US delegation had no way of finding a balance on another issue-the country’s flag.

NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar President Thein Sein, right, meets with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during a meeting at the President’s Office in Naypyidaw, Myanmar yesterday. — AP asked about the issue ahead of her trip, said that Clinton was “mindful of all the sensitivities” but that the policy of the United States had not changed.

The United States believes that

Official cars and badges for the trip featured the yellow, green and red flag adopted under a controversial new constitution, not the classic blueand-red. — AFP

Taiwanese youth losing appetite for fighting China

TAIPEI: In this file image taken on April 1972, students participate in a weekly military drill for students of the Ming Chuan College of Commerce for Girls. — AP

TAIPEI: Signs that Taiwan was preparing for possible war with China were once everywhere: huge posters calling for liberating the Chinese mainland and lengthy school yard drills training students to fight the communist enemy. That culture has changed so much since a detente process began in the 1990s that many young Taiwanese are now unwilling to take up arms to protect the island’s selfrule. A survey published this week by Taiwan’s Commonwealth Magazine appears to confirm that Taiwan’s process of demilitarization is rapidly gaining steam. Based on a sample of students aged 12 to 17, it found only 38.7 percent would be ready to see either themselves or a family member fight if a new war broke out, while 44.3 percent would not. The remainder had no opinion. “It goes without saying that the number of Taiwanese willing to fight has come down significantly in recent years,” said former Deputy Defense Minister Lin Chongpin. “I’m even surprised that the number of pro-defense people cited by the magazine is so high.” The Defense Ministry declined to comment on the survey, saying it had no information on the way it was conducted.

Commonwealth said it was carried out by mail between Oct 17 and Nov 4 and that the 3,715 responses represented a 74 percent return on the 5,054 questionnaires it sent.

Aside from shining a light on the huge changes taking place in Taiwanese society, the Commonwealth findings offer a big challenge for Taiwan’s military, which is already struggling with a constricted defense budget and US reluctance to supply it with the weapons it says it needs to cope with China’s ambitious military modernization. While Taiwan plans to end its current system of 11month mandatory male conscription in favor of an all-volunteer force by 2014, a lack of funds and difficulty in attracting recruits are almost certain to push back that date by several years. That will leave the military dependent on large numbers of apparently unmotivated draftees.

Tamkang University military specialist Alexander Huang says the negative trends in volunteer force recruiting are especially worrying. “I have been asking university students for several years now whether they would be willing to join an all-volunteer military,” he said. — AP

Business FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Kuwait traders wary despite market gains

Export orders slump across Asia, Europe

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FRANKFURT: Two ferrets look out of the jacket of an activist of the Frankfurt Occupy movement at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Germany. — AP

EU on brink of rebirth or breakup Europe eyes federal-style changes to save eurozone PARIS: The European Union began a nine-day sprint yesterday towards expected historic federal-style changes to save the eurozone, with France presenting its policy towards common budget control. The European Central Bank was quick to draw a hard line after concerted bank action to avert global system breakdown, insisting yesterday it will not yield to pressure to rescue eurozone governments with huge purchases of debt bonds.

The new ECB president Mario Draghi told the European Parliament that the central bank will not act beyond rules laid down by EU treaties and that its current program of buying devalued government bonds is “temporary and limited.” Germany strongly backs the ECB line, arguing that the first condition of a solution to the crisis is cast-iron federal-type corsets controlling national budgets and economic reforms to release growth. Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to lay down her vision of how the EU should work, and her conditions, in a speech to

the Bundestag lower house of parliament today.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to lay out later how far France will go in pooling sovereignty, possibly with a change to treaties, a day after world central banks acted in what was widely seen as a first salvo in a new strategy to shore up the eurozone and global system. The central bank action to ease distress in parts of the banking system sparked a surge on stock markets around the world, and European markets opened on a steady note yesterday shortly before the new Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti was to explain his crisis strategy in Brussels.

But tension remains acute on the critically important eurozone debt market where German bonds have risen after a shock setback last week. France, under pressure recently, raised funds at reduced rates yesterday but Spain had to offer increased high rates. Italy, with a huge amount of debt to redeem next

year, ran into serious problems on Monday when an auction generated record high rates and an inverted yield curve-a sign that investors see a high risk of default.

Germany and France have warned that if Italy’s finances become unsustainable the eurozone will break up. In Greece, workers were staging a new general strike against deep reforms tied to the latest rescue money, approved on Tuesday, which are also linked to loss of about 50.0 percent for banks on their Greek bonds. Eurozone finance ministers are now looking towards the International Monetary Fund to play a central role in providing bailout guarantees to the eurozone, admitting that their own EFSF lifeboat fund will be too weak to do the job even with a boost agreed on Tuesday.

But this would imply a big change of attitude by the European Central Bank, in providing funds to the IMF and in providing direct help to eurozone countries. In London, analysts

at Moneycorp commented that market reaction to the central banks’ move had been “ecstatic” in the belief that it must be “a component of new and decisive action to quell the Euroland debt crisis.” But Moneycorp questioned this view, saying: “There is every chance that this latest breakthrough will turn out to be yet another nine-minute wonder.”

The measures of making dollars available and facilitating funding for banks in other ways, “is aimed at the symptoms not the disease.”

Moneycorp said: “EU leaders have until their summit meeting next weekend to come up with something investors can believe in. Until then the euro is on parole.” The catastrophic risks and importance of an EU summit deadline on December 9 were highlighted by the EU’s Euro Commissioner Olli Rehn who declared that monetary union “will either have to be completed through much deeper integration or we will have to accept a gradual disintegration of over half a century of European integration.”—AFP

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US private hiring boosts hopes WASHINGTON: A surge in private sector payroll data raised hopes of a pleasant surprise when the US Labor Department publishes its November job creation and unemployment numbers today. But with 13.9 million Americans still jobless more than two years after the end of the recession, even the most optimistic forecasts do not foresee a big enough hiring surge to substantially reduce the 9.0 percent unemployment rate.

On Wednesday payrolls firm ADP reported Wednesday that businesses boosted hiring in the past month to their highest level in nearly a year, adding a net 206,000 jobs, much better than anticipated. That was twice the average monthly gain since May, and coupled with an 18 percent upward revision of October’s figure to 130,000, painted a picture of a jobs market signif-

icantly better than feared. Small companies, those with less than 49 workers, contributed the lion’s share of new jobs, mainly in services, but the gains were across the board, according to ADP. The news added to the brio on Wall Street, where markets shot up more than four percent in the day driven by news that central banks would work together to ensure dollar liquidity to Europe’s threatened commercial banks.

“If sustained, this would put the recovery on firmer ground and push the risk of another recession lower,” said Ryan Sweet at Moody’s Analytics of the ADP numbers. But, with the jobless rate the focal issue in the US presidential election battle just revving up, other analysts cautioned that there was not enough evidence, even in the ADP report, and even in buoyant consumer spending figures, that the economy had

caught fire. Most analysts expect the Friday data will show that the economy generated a net 123,000 jobs in November: 141,000 from the private sector offset by a net 18,000 layoffs in the public sector. That would still be better than October, when the economy created 80,000 jobs in October. But it is barely enough to meet the constant increase in the working-age population, much less erode the overall jobless rate.

The Federal Reserve Wednesday had a less positive view of the jobs market in recent weeks. In its Beige Book survey of regional economies, the central bank improved its outlook of economic growth-growth in recent weeks was at a “slow to moderate pace”, it said-a slightly better description that in the midOctober report.

But, across the Fed’s 12 regions, “hiring was generally subdued, although

‘Massive blow’ to economy if US tax cuts lapse: Obama Lawmakers deeply at odds over how to pay for it SCRANTON: President Barack Obama has warned that the US economy would suffer a “massive blow” if Congress fails to extend expiring payroll tax cuts, saying the country was not fully recovered from the recession. Obama sought to turn up the heat on congressional Republicans at a campaign-style rally at a high school in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a battleground state in the 2012 presidential election in which he is seeking a second term.

Republicans, who had been lukewarm to a proposed one-year payroll tax break extension that Obama wants to help bolster the economy, threw their support behind the idea on Tuesday.

But the two sides are at odds over how to pay for it, signaling tough negotiations ahead. Obama made clear that he and fellow Democrats still want to finance the payroll tax proposal by raising taxes on wealthier Americans, and challenged Republicans to make a choice in a congressional vote he said could come as early as today. “Are you going to cut taxes for middle class and those who are trying to get into the middle class or are you going to protect massive tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires?” he asked, striking a populist tone on a visit to a blue-collar town in a state considered crucial to his re-election chances.

Republicans, who are seeking to blunt Democrats’ charges of favoring the rich over the middle class before next year’s vote, rolled out their own plan to cover the cost of extending the payroll tax cuts. Under the Republican plan unveiled on Wednesday, the tax cut extension would be funded mainly by reducing the number of federal workers and extending a pay freeze for them for three more years.

The plan would achieve smaller savings by tightening some eligibility requirements on unemployment and food stamp benefits. A summary of the Republican plan said millionaires and billionaires would be forced to pay higher premiums for the government-backed Medicare insurance program for the eld-

erly. Obama said if Congress doesn’t extend the payroll tax cuts, middle-class taxes will go up “at the worst possible time.” “It would be tough for you,” he said. “It would also be a massive blow to the economy because we’re not fully out of the recession yet.” His re-election is

for a bill that would cut the payroll tax even further, to 3.1 percent and also drop it to that level for employers. It would make up for the lost revenue with a new 3.25 percent tax on income over $1 million a year, an idea Republicans strongly oppose.

AVOCA: US President Barack Obama greets well-wishers upon his arrival at Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca, Pennsylvania. Obama is headed to Scranton, Pennsylvania to speak on payroll tax cuts and on to NYC for campaign fundraisers. — AFP expected to hinge on whether he can spur the economy and curb 9 percent unemployment. Without congressional action by Dec 31, the payroll tax that workers pay would revert to 6.2 percent, up from the current, temporary 4.2 percent tax. On average, it would cost American families about $1,000.

Some economists have estimated that allowing the payroll tax cut to die would shave anywhere from 0.75 percentage point to 1.5 percentage points from economic growth.

Congressional approval could help avert an end-of-year battle following months of bitter partisan disputes that have fed public perceptions of political dysfunction in Washington. Senate Democrats will press as early as this week

Republicans previously opposed continuing the payroll tax cut because they said it was unclear it had actually stimulated job creation. Obama said Republicans would have a chance to “redeem themselves” in the coming vote on the payroll tax cut extension after having blocked his overall $447 billion jobs package in September, calling it filled with wasteful spending.

He chose Pennsylvania, a swing state he won handily in the 2008 election, to make his case. But he faces an uphill fight to keep Pennsylvania in his column in 2012. Recent polls have shown Obama neck and neck in a hypothetical race against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a leading Republican presidential contender. — Reuters

some firms with open positions reported difficulty finding qualified applicants,” it said. Ian Shepherdson at High Frequency Economics cautioned that a seasonal anomaly skews the November ADP data.

“This looks great but there is a catch: A seasonal adjustment quirk typicallysix of the past seven years-generates November ADP readings well above the underlying trend,” he said. In 2010 and 2011, he said, the ADP jobs figure ran an average of 64,000 above the prior threemonth average. “So applying the same margin today suggests the ‘real’ November ADP number was 140,000.”

“The danger now is that the big headline ramps up expectations for Friday and disappointment ensues,” Shepherdson said. High Frequency Economics is forecasting net November jobs growth of 125,000. — AFP

Brazil cuts rate for third time as euro crisis rages BRASILIA: Brazil cut interest rates by 50 basis points for a third straight time on Wednesday, betting that Europe’s debt crisis and a feeble world economy will brake inflation in Latin America’s largest country. The widely expected cut in Brazil’s benchmark rate to 11 percent, in a unanimous decision, came on a frenetic day in financial markets with major central banks acting jointly to throw the global economy a lifeline as European banks faced a credit crunch reminiscent of the 2008 crisis. Brazilian policymakers have been walking a fine line since August, when the central bank surprised markets by starting to cut the benchmark Selic rate despite annual inflation running above the government’s 6.5 percent target ceiling.

But central bank Chief Alexandre Tombini now looks prescient. A worsening debt crisis in Europe is clouding the global economy, inflation has begun to ease in Brazil, and recent indicators show the country’s economy may have contracted in the third quarter. The bank’s statement on Wednesday repeated exactly the language used in its last rate decision, saying that “a moderate adjustment” in rates was consistent with bringing inflation down to the government’s target in 2012. That was seen by many analysts as a signal the bank had no plans to change the pace of rate cuts. Some analysts predict the Selic rate will fall to 9 percent next year.

“We believe the central bank has confirmed that 50 bps is the ‘moderate’ pace of cut they feel comfortable with,” Nomura Securities said in a note to clients after the rate decision. “Should external conditions deteriorate, the bank would be ready to cut rates by 75 bps or even 100 bps.” All 32 analysts in a Reuters poll had predicted a 50-basis-point cut. “At least another two cuts seem to be priced in right now,” said Win Thin, global currency analyst at Brown Brothers Harriman. “There’s talk of other stimulus measures, so there’s other stuff in the pipeline.” The government plans to announce fresh steps in the next days to relax credit conditions to keep consumption from flagging, a senior official said on Wednesday. Wednesday’s rate cut follows a surprise move by the US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and the central banks of Britain, Canada and Switzerland to provide additional liquidity to support the global financial system.

World financial markets rallied on the move, which came after euro zone finance ministers agreed to bulk up their bailout fund but acknowledged they may have to turn to the International Monetary Fund for more help. China also slashed reserve requirements for banks on Wednesday for the first time in nearly three years to ease credit curbs and shore up its economy. Brazil’s central bank had lopped 100 basis points off the Selic rate before Wednesday’s decision to try to shield its economy from global turmoil. But the crisis is reaching closer to home, with third-quarter gross domestic product numbers due next Tuesday expected to show a slight contraction. — Reuters

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Corruption making euro debt crisis worse: NGO BERLIN: Corruption is hampering efforts to tackle the eurozone debt crisis, a top anti-graft watchdog said yesterday, as Greece and Italy scored badly in a list of nations seen to be the most sleaze-ridden. The economic dramas in the euro area developed “partly because of public authorities’ failure to tackle the bribery and tax evasion that are key drivers of the debt crisis,” said the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI).

On a scale of zero (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (thought to have little corruption), Italy scored 3.9 and Greece 3.4, ranking 69 and 80 respectively in the list of 182 countries. Robin Hodess, TI’s research director, said the eurozone crisis “reflects poor financial management, lack of transparency and mismanagement of public funds.” “There is a strong link between poor performance

in terms of perceptions of corruption and broader issues around economic governance,” added Hodess in an interview with AFP. When graft is widespread, “people feel the pinch at all levels,” she said, calling on Rome and Athens to do “much more” in fighting corruption.

The governments “need to focus on how public funds are managed in the countries,” added Hodess, saying that both large-scale and small-time corruption needed to be battled. Globally, war-torn Somalia and North Korea were joint bottom of the list, perceived to be the world’s most corrupt countries with a score of 1.0. Iraq climbed a few places up the list but was still close to the bottom at 175th and Afghanistan remained rooted at 180th despite efforts to curb bribery and corruption there. Libya was 168th. Most Arab Spring countries

ranked in the lower half of the index, scoring below 4.

TI said it had warned before the revolutions in the region that “nepotism, bribery and patronage were so deeply ingrained in daily life that even existing anti-corruption laws had little effect.” At the other, more virtuous, end of the scale, New Zealand topped the ranking with 9.5 points, coming just ahead of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Singapore. Nearly two-thirds of the countries listed scored less than five, indicating, according to TI, that much work remains to be done in battling graft.

“This year, we have seen corruption on protesters’ banners be they rich or poor,” said TI chief Huguette Labelle.

“Whether in a Europe hit by a debt crisis or an Arab world starting a new political era, leaders must heed the demands for better government,” she added.—AFP

IMF’s Lagarde denies talks with Spain, Italy MEXICO CITY: IMF head Christine Lagarde has denied rumors that the lending body was in negotiations with Italy and Spain over the eurozone crisis, but said it was standing ready for requests for aid. “We have had no discussions whatsoever with Italy and Spain to negotiate any kind of problem. I hear some wonderful rumors... I can tell you that there is no such plan underway,” the head of the International Monetary Fund told a news conference in Mexico City. “We stand ready to help, not just countries of the eurozone but also those that we call the crisis bystanders,” said the IMF chief during a two-day visit to Mexico. Lagarde lauded the announcement by the world’s biggest central banks Wednesday to provide banks with funds and prop up the global financial system in the face of the eurozone crisis.

“The IMF can only welcome such concerted actions. When central bankers take decisive, concerted actions it’s usually extremely efficient, well received by the markets and produces immediate effects and this is what we’re seeing,” Lagarde said at a conference also attended by Mexican central bank chief Agustin Carstens and Finance Minister Jose Antonio Meade. Stocks around the world spiked sharply in response to the central banks’ announcement, clearly aimed at easing the strain on European banks which have struggled to raise dollars on the markets for months over concerns about the eurozone debt crisis.

“I’m sure that European leaders as well as other leaders ... will also understand that timing is of the essence and that there has to be an urgent resolution of the current crisis,” Lagarde said.

European Union finance ministers earlier admitted that EU governments could not save the eurozone on their own after they failed to ramp up their own bailout fund to one trillion euros. A critical December 8-9 EU summit was set to focus on tightening budgetary and debt discipline, including a possible change in the EU’s treaties or pacts that could trigger a split within the 17nation eurozone.

The talks were also expected to look at securing help from the IMF, which has limited resources, and the potentially unlimited firepower of the European Central Bank (ECB). Mexican central bank chief Carstens said Wednesday that Mexico would use its leadership of the Group of 20 most powerful nations, which it assumed yesterday, to help boost the IMF’s clout for the future. “It will certainly be one of the major tasks for the Mexican presidency,” said Carstens, who lost out to Lagarde for the top IMF job this year.

Lagarde discussed Mexico’s “ambitious G20 agenda” with President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday and was due to visit Brazil. — AFP

MILAN: A man walks past stock indexes on a monitor of a bank in Milan, Italy. Italy’s borrowing rates skyrocketed in a big auction of bonds as Premier Mario Monti put the finishing touches on his new lean government of technocrats that is tasked with getting the country’s enormous debt under control to avoid a catastrophic default. — AP

Central banks offer aid as European crisis intensifies Global central banks in coordinated liquidity move WASHINGTON: Top central banks around the world have announced steps to prevent a credit crunch among banks in Europe that are struggling with the region’s debt crisis, boosting global share prices and the euro. The US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the central banks of Canada, Britain, Japan and Switzerland said in a surprise joint announcement they had agreed to lower the cost of existing dollar swap lines among other measures. The swap lines are intended to ensure banks outside the United States have easy access to dollars, which have become more difficult for banks in Europe to obtain in the market as investor concerns about the euro zone debt crisis have grown.

The cost of the lines will be reduced by 50 basis points from Dec 5, the statement said.

Other new measures included setting up bilateral swap arrangements between the central banks so that any of them could provide liquidity in any of their currencies. The swap arrangements are good through Feb 1, 2013.

“The purpose of these actions is to ease strains in financial markets and thereby mitigate the effects of such strains on the supply of credit to households and businesses and so help fos-

ter economic activity,” the central banks said.

But analysts said the measures were merely palliative, buying time for Europe to come up with more concrete measures to quell the crisis. If anything, the market’s positive reaction was due in part to the expectation that this would be the first of other corrective steps taken by the ECB. “This will not solve all deepbased funding problems which are due to the sovereign debt crisis,” said Silvio Peruzzo, economist at RBS in London. “But there is an issue with dollar liquidity, especially with foreign currency and this measure addresses that.

This helps at the margin and also shows that central banks remain at unease with what certainly is very significant distress.”

The actions on Wednesday, which included a decision by the ECB to lower the margin it requires European banks to put up for dollar loans, stole a page from coordinated efforts to battle the 2007-2009 financial crisis. During that episode, the Fed set up dollar swaps with the ECB and the Swiss National Bank in December 2007. It increased those lines when Lehman Brothers collapsed in September 2008 and opened swaps with Japan, Canada and England in an effort to battle the most virulent

stage of the crisis.

The facilities for the ECB, Japan, Britain and Switzerland are unlimited; swaps with Canada are capped at $30 billion. Other key money market measures for funding also showed a lessening in strains for banks to obtain dollars.

However, doubts persist whether the effort will do anything to stem the broader problem in Europe of a monetary union that lacks a coordinated fiscal authority that can transfer funds to where they are most needed. “The liquidity facilities should ease the problem, but it’s not going to make a money market fund any happier to buy French bank debt,” said Lou Brien, market strategist with DRW Trading in Chicago.

In an interview with Fox Business Network, one top Fed official said the action was taken not to bail out Europe, but to ensure there were ample dollars available for those who wanted to buy US goods. “They need to pull their socks up just like our Congress needs to do and get their act together and solve the underpinning uncertainty,” Dallas Federal Reserve Bank President Richard Fisher said.

Fisher told the news channel that there was no specific triggering event. — Reuters

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Relief at Spain debt sale, yields still high Auction brings relief to euro, European shares

ATHENS: A protester holds a banner in front of the parliament reading ‘ Punishment is waiting for you at the elections ‘ during a 24-hour strike in Athens yesterday. — AFP

Greek unions want change as govt insists on reforms ATHENS: Greek unions took to the streets yesterday to urge the new government to change tack on its austerity policies as new Prime Minister Lucas Papademos insisted he would press ahead with more spending cuts.

Papademos, in power since only November 11, told the EU and International Monetary Fund his government would implement the tough measures agreed last month in a second bailout for debt stricken Greece after a May 2010 rescue. “The government will take all measures necessary in order to implement the (October accord) ... and achieve the objectives of the economic program, which is crucial for improving the long-term welfare of the Greek people,” he said.

Demonstrators were gathering for marches in Athens and other main cities as the sixth general strike this year shut down public services and crippled train and ferry services.

Flights, however, were not affected and the Athens stock exchange was open, as was most of the capital’s metro system. There was extra security in central Athens, with riot police coaches parked near the parliament building while union posters of “No Austerity Budget!” hung from lamposts. The protests, likely to see a set-piece stand-off around parliament between riot police and demonstrators, follow similar strikes across Europe as opposition grows to spending cuts and tax increases introduced by governments fearful of getting sucked into the eurozone debt quagmire.

The two top unions, private-sector GSEE and the civil service ADEDY, say they are fighting to avoid more of the same. “There must be no illusions, austerity will continue in 2012 and so will our mobilisation because insecurity and the threat of unemployment persist,” GSEE chairman Yiannis Panagopoulos told AFP Wednesday.

Yesterday’s protest “was an expression of anger and exasperation directed both inside and outside the country,” Panagopoulos said yesterday on Flash Radio, referring to resentment at perceived EU interference in the country’s affairs.

Successive austerity packages have

become tougher over the past two years as Athens has cut spending and hiked taxes in an effort to balance the public accounts, inflicting pain on many. Passoula Vertzizoglou, 46, a university worker for 23 years, said she was protesting against shorttime work and cuts in administrative staff, with her monthly salary now 700 euros ($935), down from 1,150 euros last year. She said she now feared further staff cuts of up to 30 percent. Other union members called for the government to concentrate on growththe Greek economy is mired in a deep recession-rather than more austerity. During two days of protests last month, Athens saw violent clashes between the police and demonstrators and then between communist and other union protestors in and around parliament in Syntagma Square.

Police said 70,000 took part in that demonstration while unions claimed 200,000 but yesterday the protests are expected to be smaller, with people knowing that elections are due to be held early next year.

Papademos, a former European Central Bank vice president, heads a government which includes members of the opposition conservative and far-right nationalist parties who previously attacked the reforms agreed with the EU and IMF. They have pledged, however, to support the measures which go to a voteand expected passage-in parliament just before another eurozone debt crisis summit in Brussels on December 8-9.

GSEE and ADEDY, officially with a million members, have held over a dozen general strikes against austerity plans in the past two years as Greece, saddled with a 350-billioneuro debt mountain, struggles to keep its head above water. “Greece is the guinea pig and Europe’s legal and political culture is being put to the test,” ADEDY chairman Costas Tsikrikas said, warning that the unemployed-already over 800,000 - will rise under a plan to oust 150,000 civil servants by 2013.

“This is a cursed day for the public service and state employees ... We are determined to fight to overcome these barbaric policies,” the union said. — AFP

MADRID: Spain sold the maximum amount targeted at a sale of bonds yesterday, and its cost of borrowing held well below highs reached on bond markets last week, helping ease immediate nerves over its ability to fund public finances.

The yields - ranging from around 5.19 to 5.54 percent on the 4-, 5- and 6-year paper - were the highest paid at a government sale since before the launch of the euro, but remained far below yields around 7 percent widely held as unaffordable. That reflects improvement in Spain’s position on markets over the past week, which has seen yields come down around 60 basis points to around a full percentage point below Italy’s.

The Treasury sold 1.2 billion euros of a bond maturing in 2015, 1.15 billion euros of a 2016 bond, and 1.4 billion euros of a 2017 bond at yesterday’s sale.

The stronger than expected demand saw the country’s key risk spread between its ten-year bond yield and Germany’s fall to a three-week low around 383 basis points. “As is the case so often these days, the focus probably was to just ‘get the job done’. In that respect the auction was

‘successful’-range exhausted, most supply for the longest dated bond,” said David Schnautz, strategist at Commerzbank. The bid-to-cover ratio, an indicator of investor demand was 2.7 on the 2015 bond, after 2.1 last time, it was 2.8 on the 2016 bond, and it was 2.7 on the 2017 bond after 1.8.

The decent demand, however, contrasted with yields jumping to record highs, the highest since 1997 and Schnautz said he did not expect it to have a deeper impact on sentiment.

A flat performance for European stock markets signaled that global central bank action on Wednesday to help bank currency lending had done little to ease the broader tension on euro zone markets, with attention focused on a leaders summit on Dec 9. The average yield on the 2015 bond was 5.187 percent, up from 3.639 percent when it was last sold on Oct 6. The yield on the 2016 bond was 5.276 percent. It was last sold in February. The 2017 bond had an average yield was 5.544 percent, up from 4.782 percent at auction on Oct 20. All came in slightly lower than where they were trading previously on the secondary market. — Reuters

Export orders slump across Asia, Europe Factories stalling worldwide LONDON: Manufacturing activity is contracting across Europe and most of Asia, data showed yesterday, and a Chinese official declared that the world economy faces a worse situation than in 2008 when Lehman Brothers collapsed.

Factory activity shrank even further in the euro zone, reinforcing the view that the debtstrapped region is in recession, while British manufacturing contracted at the fastest pace in two years, raising the risk the UK economy may suffer the same fate.

This has been the case for much of the developed world for several months, with the exception of pockets of better news from the United States. But the slowdown now appears to be spreading to economic powerhouses of the developing world. China’s official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed factory activity shrank in November for the first time in nearly three years, while a similar PMI showed Indian factory growth slowed close to stall speed. Both China and Brazil eased monetary policy on Wednesday. It came alongside coordinated action from the world’s biggest central banks to try to prevent another credit crunch by lowering the cost of dollar swaplines.

“The big picture here is this is an unwinding of a 20-year debt bubble,” said Peter Dixon, global financial economist at Commerzbank. “It’s going to be painful, and it’s going to be nasty.

What policymakers are aiming for is a smoothing of the path.” But those policymakers appear to be getting more worried. Zhu Guangyao, China’s advance coordinator to the Group of 20 talks and also a vice finance minister, said heavily indebted countries had limited scope to act now, which will make it harder to sustain global growth as the European debt saga drags on.

“The current crisis, to some extent, is more serious and challenging than the international financial crisis following the fall of Lehman Brothers,” Zhu said. “It’s keenly important for countries around the world to work together in the sprit of ‘co-operating in the same boat’,” he

added. After the Lehman bankruptcy, G20 countries committed trillions of dollars to boosting growth and backstopping banks, and central banks cut interest rates to record lows. But rates are still near zero in the United States, Japan and Britain, and public finances have deteriorated around the world, leaving less policy space to counter a European downdraft.

SPREADING Fast-growing emerging markets such as China, Brazil and India led the recovery in 2009, and they are still growing far more rapidly than most developed economies. But they are not immune to weak demand from Europe or the United States. China’s official purchasing managers’ index for November fell to 49, dipping below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction for the first time in nearly three years. The index of new export orders tumbled to the lowest level since February 2009, perhaps not surprisingly given that Europe is one of China’s biggest trading partners. The final euro zone manufacturing PMI was confirmed at 46.4, its weakest level in two years, with factory activity in both of its biggest economies, Germany and France, weakening.

The UK factory PMI fell to 47.6 in November, its lowest since June 2009, further evidence that Britain’s economy is in dangerous territory. “The manufacturing engine has run out of steam,” said Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit, which compiles the surveys. Similar factory data for the US are expected later, coming on the heels of a Federal Reserve report on Wednesday that said there was moderate growth in recent weeks but that hiring and housing market activity remained anemic. The weaker-than-expected China PMI reading came one day after Beijing lowered banks’ reserve requirements by 50 basis points to try to ease credit strains. “It’s time to start reflating China’s economy,” said Qu Hongbin, co-head of Asian economics research at HSBC.—Reuters

Business FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Toyota, BMW strike green-car technology pact TOKYO: Automakers Toyota and BMW yesterday struck a partnership to share eco-friendly technologies, including in the joint development of lithium-ion batteries for next-generation electric cars, the companies said. Under the deal, the German automaker will also provide diesel engines for Toyota as the Japanese auto giant looks to boost sales in Europe, where more than half of passenger cars are diesel powered.

Toyota has struggled to boost its European market share with its gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles, despite its leading position in the low-emission

technology. Meanwhile, the pair will share development costs for batteries for electric cars as part of plans to roll out battery-powered vehicles.

“Toyota Motor Europe (TME), Toyota Motor Corp’s European subsidiary, and BMW have entered into a contract under which BMW is to supply 1.6 liter and 2.0 liter diesel engines to TME starting in 2014,” they said in a statement.

“Through this agreement, Toyota plans to expand its European lineup and sales of fuel-efficient, low CO2emission diesel-powered vehicles.”

Demand for lower-emission diesel vehicles is forecast to grow, with further technological advances in the field seen as crucial due to toughening vehicle emissions standards.

“Supplying Toyota with our fuel efficient and dynamic diesel engines represents another important step in the planned expansion of our sales activities for engines and powertrain systems,” BMW Chairman Norbert Reithofer said in the statement.

Their pact comes after Toyota struck a deal in August to develop hybrid-vehicle systems with US-based

Ford, while BMW inked a deal with France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen Group to jointly develop hybrid systems for subcompacts.

Suzuki and Volkswagen agreed in 2009 to share green technology and small car knowhow, but their ill-fated alliance crumbled with Suzuki demanding its German partner sell a nearly 20 percent stake in the Japanese firm.

Volkswagen has refused to end its messy marriage with Suzuki, which last week filed a complaint at the International Court of Arbitration in a bid to end the alliance. — AFP

Olympus ex-CEO to reclaim top job Woodford calls for existing board to be replaced

NEW DELHI: Indian laborers work at a construction site near the Noida Extension on the outskirts of New Delhi.

India’s economic growth skidded to 6.9 percent for the July-September quarter, its lowest in over two years, the government said. — AP

Indian traders strike against retail reform NEW DELHI: Shopkeepers and traders in India went on a oneday strike yesterday as the main opposition party stepped up protests against plans to open the country’s retail sector to foreign chains. The right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) backed the shutdown, which closed commercial areas in the capital New Delhi and in other major cities but was only partially effective across the whole country. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government has been faced with widespread fury over its decision last week to allow supermarket giants such as WalMart to own 51-percent of large “multi-brand” stores.

The arrival of international supermarkets could transform India’s retail sector and threaten the small, family-run stores where most people do their shopping. “The government does not care about our interests. They are rolling out the red carpet for the multinationals,” said Dayal Singh, Delhi secretary of the All-India Traders Union. He said more than 10,000 traders in New Delhi joined the protest to demand the Congress-led government withdraw the reforms. Most of the markets and many shops in New Delhi and Kolkata were shut, with several parts of Mumbai also closed for business.

“We do not want foreign investment in retail. Why is WalMart coming to foreign shores to sell their goods. Where will we go?” said Kishore Kaharawal, general secretary of the Indian Small Business and Trade Owners Association. “The Indian government needs to change its policies, otherwise foreign companies will rule here.” Premier Singh has said he will not back down on the reforms as they will lower prices, reduce huge wastage of perishable goods and help farmers. Lawmakers have reduced parliament to a deadlock over the issue, with noisy protests forcing constant adjournments since the FDI (foreign direct investment) reforms were announced a week ago. Business was again abandoned in both houses yesterday, posing further problems for the government amid rising inflation, a series of graft scandals and accusations of policy drift ahead of key state elections next year. US-based Wal-Mart, British giant Tesco and France’s Carrefour all broadly welcomed the reforms, which come after years of lobbying, but any change for Indian shoppers may be years away. The sector is worth an estimated $470 billion in annual sales, with high growth potential as India’s 1.2 billion people move towards a more Western-style consumer economy. — AFP

NEW YORK: The former chief executive of disgraced Olympus Corp, Michael Woodford, launched a campaign yesterday to oust the board of directors, reclaim his old job and bring in his own team to save the Japanese firm from a big accounting scandal. Woodford, who blew the whistle on accounting tricks at Olympus after he was sacked in October, said he was putting together a team of candidates for a new board and talking to shareholders about replacing the current leadership, hopefully

by February.

But the Englishman, who was a rare foreign CEO in Japan, denied he was considering an option to lead an overseas buyout of the 92-year-old maker of cameras and medical equipment. “I’m not trying to get involved to sell Olympus to an American healthcare group or an overseas healthcare group. I don’t want to be a part of that,” he said in response to reporters’ questions. He conceded he had been approached by several parties, but declined to speak to them.

“I wouldn’t be part of that. I don’t see that being feasible or attractive ... I just want Olympus to have a board which is trusted and respected and get on with running the company. I am quite Japanese in that sense,” he said. “This won’t be aggressive or hostile in any way,” he added.

Woodford, speaking in New York where this week he met Federal Bureau of Investigations officials probing the Olympus scandal, said he had finally resigned from the Olympus board yesterday in order to openly campaign for its removal. He said he had spoken to some shareholders about options for a reconstituted board, and hoped Olympus would call a shareholders meeting to elect new directors by February, though he had yet to draw up his own team of directors.

“I think it would be very wise for the company to call a shareholder meeting quite quickly,” said Jamie Allen, secretary general of the Hong Kong-based Asian Corporate Governance Association, whose members include institutional investors that collectively manage assets of more than $10 trillion.

“Clearly, there’s a lot of tension between the management and the shareholders and I don’t think it’s healthy if this continues for another seven months until their AGM in June.” Woodford and the

board, led by Olympus President Shuichi Takayama, face a battle to see who has more shareholder support, but the Englishman may face resistance from Japanese investors making up the bulk of the company’s share register.

DOMESTIC SHAREHOLDERS, PRIVATE EQUITY Some domestic shareholders believe he could have handled the affair less openly and aggressively. “It’s possible, but I don’t think many Japanese investors would like Woodford to take over Olympus wholly,” said Nanako Imazu, an analyst at CLSA in Tokyo. A former Olympus director’s Internet campaign to drum up support from among the firm’s 40,000 staff for Woodford’s return as CEO won only 300 backers, according to its website, olympusgrassroots.com. While most postings backed the campaign’s aims, some disagreed that a Woodford comeback would help.

“What you are doing is a desecration of the devotion shown by President Shuichi Takayama and the efforts of employees, who are doing their best to end the confusion,” wrote one anonymous worker. “I can’t believe you want to bring back Michael Woodford, when you don’t know what he is really like.” Olympus has lost more than half its market value since firing Woodford on Oct 14, an event that prompted him to go public with concerns he said he had been raising internally over a string of dubious acquisition payments dating back five years.

Woodford had remained a board director, however. Olympus admitted last month to hiding investment losses from its investors for two decades and using some of $1.3 billion spent on questionable deals to aid in the cover-up. The stock rose 2.3 percent yesterday after Woodford’s comments, though the company still faces heavy writedowns and possible delisting from the Tokyo stock market, a humiliation that could put it under pressure to sell core assets. Private equity funds see Olympus as a good potential opportunity for new investment in Japan and would be interested in either buying Olympus whole or its non-medical businesses, say sources in the private equity industry.

Olympus’s main business is diagnostic

endoscopes, which are used to peer inside patients and detect cancer and other diseases. It enjoys a near-monopoly worldwide and is worth $2.6 billion in annual revenue. “I always felt a buyout led by Woodford was a possible scenario,” said Hideyuki Ishiguro, investment strategist at Okasan Securities.

ON A MISSION Authorities in Japan, Britain and the United States are still trying to get to the bottom of the complex cover-up. An investigative panel of experts, set up by Olympus after the scandal broke, is due to report its findings within days. Some of Olympus’s main shareholders have cut their stakes, joining an initial rush of selling that left Wall Street bank, Goldman Sachs, a market-maker in the stock, with a near-7 percent holding currently worth more than $200 million.

Goldman has said the holding is not strategic-which could further erode shareholder support for the existing Olympus board, which wants to preside over the initial clean-up. Nippon Life Insurance Co, previously Olympus’s biggest shareholder, has said it would continue to support Olympus, though it has cut its holding to 5.11 percent. Big foreign investors want the board to leave, and Woodford to return to lead a clean-up of the company.

Southeastern Asset Management, the biggest foreign shareholder with about 5 percent, said Olympus needed a new board with a majority of independent directors.

“The incumbent board must promptly announce an EGM and allow shareholders the opportunity to propose candidates.

Only with this new board can the reform process be credible and trusted by all stakeholders,” it said in a brief statement yesterday. Woodford himself is clearly on a mission, and says he is digging deep into his own savings to fund his campaign to return to lead a company where he spent three decades. He said in an interview in New York that his legal bills were the biggest drain on his resources. “They (his law firms) are all being reasonable. They understand I’m not a corporation,” he said. “But nevertheless, if you don’t have any income coming in, and you have school fees to pay ... it’s a heavy burden.” — Reuters

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

China manufacturing contracts World’s No 2 economy weakening faster than thought SHANGHAI: China’s leaders are reversing their two-year effort to cool the economy, seeking to counter slowdowns in manufacturing and property that are dragging growth lower and threatening to spur unrest. In the latest sign the world’s No 2 economy is weakening faster than thought, business surveys released yesterday showed manufacturing contracted last month for the first time in nearly three years.

That news came a day after Beijing moved to invigorate business activity by easing credit curbs, ending a long campaign to take some fizz out of rapidly expanding economy. China’s leaders had resisted easing lending curbs out of fear that opening the spigots might revive an outright investment boom and re-ignite inflation. High living costs are risky for China’s communist leaders because they erode the economic gains that underpin the ruling party’s claim to power. But slowing growth is another peril: already news of labor unrest at factories in the south suggests that workers are being squeezed as exporters juggle tight credit and slowing demand.

The decision by the People’s Bank of China to reduce the amount of money that China’s commercial lenders must hold in reserve by 0.5 percent of their deposits “is a clear signal that Beijing now sees the balance of risks as lying with growth rather than inflation,” said Stephen Green, an economist with Standard Chartered in Shanghai. The European debt crisis and feeble US recovery have weakened demand in China’s biggest export market, while at home efforts to curb inflation by cooling the property market are hurting a wide range of industries heavily dependent on housing and other construction.

The worsening conditions are no sur-

prise to Chen Xiaoyan, a saleswoman at the Cangnan Qianku Qingfeng Pet Supplies Craft Factory in Wenzhou, a manufacturing base that has been hit especially hard by tight credit policies, leaving many factories short of operating cash. “It was hard enough to do business last year. This year is the hardest,” said Chen. “Our profit was 30 percent lower last year and it will be down another 10 percent this year,” she said.

Materials costs have come down in recent months, but labor costs have not, said Chen.

Worries over erring on the side of too fast growth are being overshadowed by greater alarm over a deeper slump as conditions worsen overseas. “They’re stuck,” Patrick Chovanec, an associate professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management in

Beijing said of China’s policymakers. That explains a comment by Vice Premier Wang Qishan to US trade negotiators last week that “an unbalanced recovery is better than a balanced recession,” he said.

The Chinese economy is one of the few still growing at a respectable pace, and Beijing’s leaders intend to keep it that way. China’s economic growth eased to a still-robust 9.1 percent in the quarter ending in September from 9.5 the previous quarter. But indicators showing export industries and some other areas of the economy were cooling more sharply raised fears of job losses and possible unrest. In the manufacturing sector, the activity gauge of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing fell an greater-than-expected 1.4 percentage points to 49 in

JIANGSU: An investor takes a nap at a brokerage house in Nanjing in east China’s Jiangsu province yesterday. — AP

Saudi OSPs to rise on demand, eye on Iran SINGAPORE: Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia is expected to raise the price of its heavy and medium crude barrels headed to Asia for January on firm regional demand for fuel and fears of supply disruptions from Iran, industry sources said yesterday. A poll of seven refiners and traders also showed that the price of Arab Light would be lifted, while Arab Extra Light is likely to remain steady on a persistently weak Asian naphtha market.

“The spot market has been very strong, with fuel oil and gasoil cracks supporting the heavier grades,” said a trader with a North Asian refiner. “The Dubai backwardation has also stayed firm, and that’s all pointing to the Saudis raising prices.” The strength of fuel oil and gasoil, fuels commonly associated with transport and power generation, continue to give Asian refiners an incentive to buy medium and heavy sulphur rich crudes. “If you look at these crudes, the fuel oil and gasoil yields are typically about 50 and 40 percent, respectively, this gives refiners plenty of incentive to want to pull in the heavier grades,” the trader said.

The healthy cracks have supported the Middle East spot crude market this month, with January al-Shaheen crude traded at record premiums near $3.50 a barrel, while January Oman premiums also neared their record peaks at around $3.30-$3.40 a barrel. The prompt Dubai timespread, a reflection of market fundamentals and prevailing pricing interest, hit $1.46 on Wednesday, the steepest since at least early 2009. Fuel oil cracks have gained in the past month due to a shortage of on-specification supply in Asia. The residual fuel sold regionally is typically blended heavily with cutterstock that thins out the viscosity of the fuel. The severe shortage of these blending components have made it tough for fuel oil sellers to meet regional demand requirements, traders said. —Reuters

November, well below the 50-level that signifies expansion. That was the first contraction in manufacturing activity since early 2009.

Another manufacturing survey by HSBC showed an even steeper decline, with its PMI dropping to 47.7 in November from 51.0 in October. The property market also appears to have reached a turning point, at least in the biggest cities. New home sales fell 17 percent by transaction volume in China’s top 20 cities in July-September compared with a year earlier. Sharp discounts by some property developers have angered home buyers who bought when the market was at its peak, with some staging protests or storming real estate company offices.

“They promised us the price of our apartment would never go down, that it would only increase,” complained Zhu Hongxia, a property owner in Shanghai who was standing with others outside the office of China Vanke, the country’s biggest developer. “You can’t decrease the price suddenly by such a big amount,” Zhu said. While many homeowners have been angered by the drop, the government is seeking to prevent prices from surging further out of reach of most families. Leaders say property curbs will stay in place despite signs the effort to deflate the bubble is reverberating throughout an economy that already was slowing. The construction slowdown has prompted builders to cut jobs - losses that have fallen heavily on unskilled migrant laborers.

Beijing Xuanyu Construction Co. in Shunyi on the outskirts of Beijing, a subcontractor on apartment projects, has cut its workforce of construction site laborers from 100 a year ago to about 70, according to Liu Jun, a manager. —AP

Kuwait traders wary despite market gains DUBAI: Kuwait’s index made its largest gain since mid-October yesterday, but investors remained wary following the resignation of the oil exporter’s government this week, while upbeat global stocks buoy Gulf sentiment. Kuwait’s benchmark rose 0.4 percent higher, its biggest gain since Oct. 16 to trim its 2011 losses to 16.1 percent. The country’s ruler named outgoing Defense Minister Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah as new prime minister on Wednesday after the government resigned.

“All eyes are on the political situation and so investors are cautious,” said a Kuwait trader who asked not to be identified. “High-net-worth investors and institutions don’t want to play the market because there’s not enough liquidity to be able to easily enter and exit with large positions.”An average of 156 million shares have traded daily on the Kuwait index in 2011, down from 305 million in 2010. National Bank of Kuwait climbed 1.8 percent, while telecoms operator Zain and Islamic lender Kuwait Finance House each added 1.1 percent. “The market is spiraling

into its own demise, with the political arena continuing to be unstable and the economy failing to achieve significant growth outside the oil sector,” said the trader.

“The plans for the economy and the country are on hold due to the political situation and the stock market is suffering because the new regulator is not up and running properly yet. “Meanwhile, liquidity has plunged and society’s interest in the market has dropped significantly.” The Capital Markets Authority was launched in March, more than 30 years after the Kuwait Stock Exchange was established, but investors are confused over its powers.

Qatar’s index rose for a third day in four, climbing 0.8 percent as volumes hit an eight-session high.

“There’s more liquidity coming into the market today-some people are speculating on Qatar getting upgraded by MSCI,” said a Doha-based trader who asked not to be identified. “Now is also a good time to buy for those who want to take positions ahead of Q4 results.” Qatar, along with the UAE, will find out in December if

influential index compiler MSCI has upgraded them to emerging market status from frontier market, having delayed its decision from June. Oman’s index rose 1 percent, its largest gain since Aug 28. It is up in three of four trading sessions since Nov 23’s 28-month low. Oman Telecommunications Co climbed 1 percent and Renaissance Services gained 1.7 percent.

National Bank of Oman (NBO) and Bank Muscat added 0.7 and 2.3 percent respectively. “Oman followed global markets’ movement and we saw strong buying from local asset managers and Gulf institutions on Bank Muscat, Renaissance, Omantel and NBO,” said Adel Nasr, United Securities brokerage manager. “If global markets retreat over the weekend, we would expect Oman to also go down on Sunday.”

World stocks started the final month of the year on a positive note yesterday as coordinated liquidity action by the major central banks raised hopes policymakers may take more drastic action to stem the euro zone debt crisis. —Reuters

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Will bank branches wither away?

‘Human touch’ is fading in new ‘friendly environment’

T

he new Citibank branch in Washington’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood, around the corner from a Whole Foods and Roti Mediterranean Grill, looks more like an Internet cafe than a place you’d go to cash a check.

There are no brochures-this is a green building, so unnecessary paper is discouraged. Bank employees use a wall-mounted computer screen to show customers different types of checking accounts and other bank products.

Customers who need to wait for assistance can use one of the branch’s computers to review their online accounts or log onto their own computers in the

customers age 55 and older said they prefer banking online to all other methods, up from 20 percent last year.

Perry Miller, 55, of Claremont, NC, falls into that category. He closed a bank account with Wells Fargo awhile ago in favor of a credit union and brokerage accounts with Schwab, Fidelity and Vanguard.

Miller, pastor of the Bethlehem United Methodist Church, conducts nearly all of his transactions online or through an ATM. When he needs to deposit a check, he takes a photo with his smart phone and deposits it electronically into his Schwab account.

“Who needs brick-and-mortar and a

WASHINGTON, DC: The Citibank branch at Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC, is a green building and excess paper is discouraged. Instead, potential customers can review account options on a large, wall-mounted computer screen. — MCT Wi-Fi lounge. The branch, similar to Citi’s flagship branch in New York, is designed to create a “friendly environment” for tech-savvy people and increase Citi’s footprint in the Washington metro area, says Cece Stewart, president of US consumer and commercial banking.

But before Citi can demonstrate the branch’s smart technologies, it has to get customers to walk in the door.

That’s a significant challenge for Citi and other banks with branch networks, because it’s easier than ever for bank customers to conduct most, if not all, of their bank business online, on their smartphones or at an ATM. In the past year, the number of bank customers who prefer to bank online has jumped sharply, according to a survey conducted in August by the American Bankers Association. Sixtytwo percent of bank customers said they prefer banking online to all other methods, up from 36 percent in 2010.

Only 20 percent of customers said they preferred using a branch, down from 25 percent last year.

The trend isn’t limited to younger consumers. Fifty-seven percent of bank

teller?” he says. Other customers, though, still value the human touch.

Margaret King, 64, director for the Center for Cultural Studies & Analysis in Philadelphia, has an account with Wells Fargo because she likes having access to branches across the country.

“I need the ability to walk into a 3-D bank and talk directly to staff there with checks, documents or bank statements in hand to resolve any problems,” she says. “This is much harder to do in the online world.”

Bank branches aren’t in imminent danger of extinction, but there are too many branches to serve the shrinking number of customers who use them, says Bob Meara, senior banking analyst for Celent, a consulting firm. While the total number of branches has declined since 2009, there are nearly four times as many branches now as there were in 1970, when customers didn’t have access to ATMs or online banking, he says. “Help me understand why we need so many more branches now than we did then.”

In addition, a decline in traditional sources of bank revenue has made it more difficult for banks to justify the

cost of maintaining thousands of branches, Meara says. A regulation that took effect Oct. 1 slashed the fees that large banks can charge retailers when customers use debit cards to make purchases. Earlier regulations reduced banks’ income from overdraft protection fees and credit cards. Bank of America and other large banks backed off plans to charge a monthly debit card fee in response to an avalanche of criticism from angry customers. Still, banks are looking at other ways to make up for lost revenue, such as raising minimum balance requirements for free checking, and charging fees for paper statements.

Downsizing their branch networks would also save money, but there’s little sign that big banks are closing branches, and some are opening new ones.

Bank officials argue that branches are worth the cost because customers want them, even if they only use them occasionally.

While most Citibank customers use online and mobile services, only about 9 percent do all their banking online, Stewart says. “For certain types of activities, they still want to use a branch,” she says. “A physical presence still matters.”

“We see branch banking continuing to be relevant in our customers’ daily routines,” says Jonathan Velline, head of ATM and store strategy for Wells Fargo.

In addition to depositing checks, customers use branches to exchange money, deposit cash or talk to someone about bank products, he says.

Capital One, with more than 1,000 branches, announced in June that it plans to buy ING Direct, a major onlineonly bank, for $9 billion. If approved by regulators, the deal will make Capital One the nation’s largest online bank.

The deal would enable Capital One to capture ING’s 7 million customers, who tend to be younger and wealthier than its existing customer base. It would also extend the bank’s reach beyond the seven states where its branches are located. The company insists, though, that it isn’t abandoning its brick-and-mortar business. “Local branch scale is still, pound for pound, the most effective way to reach a broad base of commercial small business and consumer customers to build deep banking relationships with them,” Capital One CEO Richard Fairbank said in a recent conference call with analysts.

The proposed Capital One-ING merger also illustrates the risks of marrying a traditional financial institution and an online bank. Consumer groups have called on the Federal Reserve to reject the proposed acquisition, noting that attorneys general in several states have investigated Capital One for alleged misleading credit card practices. ING Direct customers, meanwhile, have expressed concern that the online bank’s low fees and above-average interest rates will disappear if it becomes part of Capital One. Capital One isn’t planning any changes to ING Direct’s products and

services, spokeswoman Tatiana Stead says. “Customers will still enjoy competitive rates, no fees and the same online experience they’ve come to know and love from ING Direct.”

Officials at online banks, small banks

The number of bank customers who prefer to bank online has jumped sharply, according to a survey conducted in August by the American Bankers Association.

Sixty-two percent of bank customers said they prefer banking online to all other methods, up from 36 percent in 2010. Only 20 percent of customers said they preferred using a branch, down from 25 percent last year. and credit unions counter that technology has allowed them to provide all the services offered by a large branch network.

Some of those institutions have already benefited from the backlash against big banks. The Credit Union National Association estimates that 40,000 consumers joined credit unions on Nov 5, designated Bank Transfer Day by activists to protest fees charged by big banks.

Sometimes, though, branch customers come from unexpected places.

Earlier this month, a small number of Occupy Oakland protesters vandalized a Wells Fargo branch in downtown Oakland, Calif. Days later, the group voted to deposit a $20,000 donation with Wells Fargo.

The group said in a statement that it plans to transfer the money to a credit union or community bank but needed a place to put the money-which will be used to bail protesters out of jail-until an account is established. Wells Fargo declined to comment on the specific account. Says spokeswoman Richele Messick: “Wells Fargo offers a lot of value to all of our customers.” —MCT

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Opinion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Syria, Iran and balance of power in the Mideast

By George Friedman

US

troops are in the process of completing their withdrawal from Iraq by the end-of-2011 deadline. We are now moving toward a reckoning with the consequences. The reckoning concerns the potential for a massive shift in the balance of power in the region, with Iran moving from a fairly marginal power to potentially a dominant power. As the process unfolds, the United States and Israel are making countermoves. We have discussed all of this extensively. Questions remain whether these countermoves will stabilize the region and whether or how far Iran will go in its response.

Iran has been preparing for the US withdrawal. While it is unreasonable simply to say that Iran will dominate Iraq, it is fair to say Tehran will have tremendous influence in Baghdad to the point of being able to block Iraqi initiatives Iran opposes. This influence will increase as the US withdrawal concludes and it becomes clear there will be no sudden reversal in the withdrawal policy. Iraqi politicians’ calculus must account for the nearness of Iranian power and the increasing distance and irrelevance of American power.

Resisting Iran under these conditions likely would prove ineffective and dangerous. Some, like the Kurds, believe they have guarantees from the Americans and that substantial investment in Kurdish oil by American companies means those commitments will be honored. A look at the map, however, shows how difficult it would be for the United States to do so. The Baghdad regime has arrested Sunni leaders while the Shiites, not all of whom are proIranian by any means, know the price of overenthusiastic resistance.

Syria and Iran The situation in Syria complicates all of this. The minority Alawite sect has dominated the Syrian government since 1970, when the current president’s father - who headed the Syrian air force - staged a coup. The Alawites are a heterodox Muslim sect related to a Shiite offshoot and make up about 7 percent of the country’s population, which is mostly Sunni. The new Alawite government was Nasserite in nature, meaning it was secular, socialist and built around the military. When Islam rose as a political force in the Arab world, the Syrians - alienated from the Sadat regime in Egypt - saw Iran as a bulwark. The Iranian Islamist regime gave the Syrian secular regime immunity against Shiite fundamentalists in Lebanon. The Iranians also gave Syria support in its external adventures in Lebanon, and more important, in its suppression of Syria’s Sunni majority.

Syria and Iran were particularly aligned in Lebanon. In the early 1980s, after the Khomeini revolution, the Iranians sought to increase their influence in the Islamic world by supporting radical Shiite forces. Hezbollah was one of these. Syria had invaded Lebanon in 1975 on behalf of the Christians and opposed the Palestine Liberation Organization, to give you a sense of the complexity. Syria regarded Lebanon as historically part of Syria, and sought to assert its influence over it. Via Iran, Hezbollah became an instrument of Syrian power in Lebanon.

Iran and Syria, therefore, entered a long-term if not altogether stable alliance that has lasted to this day. In the current unrest in Syria, the Saudis and Turks in addition to the Americans all have been hostile to the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad. Iran is the one country that on the whole has remained supportive of the current Syrian government.

There is good reason for this. Prior to the uprising, the precise relationship between Syria and Iran was variable. Syria was able to act autonomously in its dealings with Iran and Iran’s proxies in Lebanon. While an important backer of groups like Hezbollah, the Assad regime in many ways checked Hezbollah’s power in Lebanon, with the Syrians playing the dominant role there. The Syrian uprising has put the Assad regime on the defensive, however, making it more interested in a firm, stable relationship with Iran.

Damascus finds itself isolated in the Sunni world, with Turkey and the Arab League against it. Iran - and intriguingly, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki - have constituted Assad’s exterior support.

Thus far Assad has resisted his enemies. Though some mid- to low-ranking Sunnis have defected, his military remains largely intact; this is because the Alawites control key units. Events in Libya drove home to an embattled Syrian leadership - and even to some

of its adversaries within the military - the consequences of losing.

The military has held together, and an unarmed or poorly armed populace, no matter how large, cannot defeat an intact military force. The key for those who would see Assad fall is to divide the military. If Assad survives - and at the moment, wishful thinking by outsiders aside, he is surviving - Iran will be the big winner. If Iraq falls under substantial Iranian influence, and the Assad regime - isolated from most countries but supported by Tehran - survives in Syria, then Iran could emerge with a sphere of influence stretching from western Afghanistan to the Mediterranean (the latter via Hezbollah). Achieving this would not require deploying Iranian conventional forces - Assad’s survival alone would suffice. However, the prospect of a Syrian regime beholden to Iran would open up the possibility of the westward deployment of Iranian forces, and that possibility alone would have significant repercussions.

Consider the map were this sphere of influence to exist. The

A giant portrait of embattled Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is carried in a sea of thousands of Syrian demonstrators in the capital Damascus on Nov 28, 2011. — AFP northern borders of Saudi Arabia and Jordan would abut this sphere, as would Turkey’s southern border. It remains unclear, of course, just how well Iran could manage this sphere, eg, what type of force it could project into it. Maps alone will not provide an understanding of the problem. But they do point to the problem.

And the problem is the potential - not certain - creation of a block under Iranian influence that would cut through a huge swath of strategic territory.

It should be remembered that in addition to Iran’s covert network of militant proxies, Iran’s conventional forces are substantial.

While they could not confront US armored divisions and survive, there are no US armored divisions on the ground between Iran and Lebanon. Iran’s ability to bring sufficient force to bear in such a sphere increases the risks to the Saudis in particular. Iran’s goal is to increase the risk such that Saudi Arabia would calculate that accommodation is more prudent than resistance. Changing the map can help achieve this.

It follows that those frightened by this prospect - the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - would seek to stymie it. At present, the place to block it no longer is Iraq, where Iran already has the upper hand. Instead, it is Syria. And the key move in Syria is to do everything possible to bring about Assad’s overthrow.

In the last fortnight, the Syrian unrest appeared to take on a new dimension. Until recently, the most significant opposition activity appeared to be outside of Syria, with much of the resistance reported in the media coming from externally based opposition groups.

The degree of effective opposition was never clear. Certainly, the Sunni majority opposes and hates the Assad regime. But opposition and emotion do not bring down a regime consisting of men fighting for their lives. And it wasn’t clear that the resistance was as strong as the outside propaganda claimed.

Last fortnight, however, the Free Syrian Army - a group of Sunni defectors operating out of Turkey and Lebanon - claimed defectors carried out organized attacks on government facilities, ranging from an air force intelligence facility (a particularly sensitive point given the history of the regime) to Baath Party buildings in the greater Damascus area. These were not the first attacks claimed by the FSA, but they were heavily propagandized in the past week.

Most significant about the attacks is that, while small-scale and likely exaggerated, they revealed that at least some defectors were willing to fight instead of defecting and staying in Turkey or Lebanon. It is interesting that an apparent increase in activity from armed activists - or the introduction of new forces - occurred at the same time relations between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other were deteriorating. The deterioration began with charges that an Iranian covert operation to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States had been uncovered, followed by allegations by the Bahraini government of Iranian operatives organizing attacks in Bahrain. It proceeded to an International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran’s progress toward a nuclear device, followed by the Nov 19 explosion at an Iranian missile facility that the Israelis have not-so-quietly hinted was their work. Whether any of these are true, the psychological pressure on Iran is building and appears to be orchestrated.

Of all the players in this game, Israel’s position is the most complex. Israel has had a decent, albeit covert, working relationship with the Syrians going back to their mutual hostility toward Yasser Arafat. For Israel, Syria has been the devil they know. The idea of a Sunni government controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood on their northeastern frontier was frightening; they preferred Assad. But given the shift in the regional balance of power, the Israeli view is also changing. The Sunni Islamist threat has weakened in the past decade relative to the Iranian Shiite threat.

Playing things forward, the threat of a hostile Sunni force in Syria is less worrisome than an emboldened Iranian presence on Israel’s northern frontier. This explains why the architects of Israel’s foreign policy, such as Defense Minister Ehud Barak, have been saying that we are seeing an “acceleration toward the end of the regime”. Regardless of its preferred outcome, Israel cannot influence events inside Syria. Instead, Israel is adjusting to a reality where the threat of Iran reshaping the politics of the region has become paramount.

Iran is, of course, used to psychological campaigns. We continue to believe that while Iran might be close to a nuclear device that could explode underground under carefully controlled conditions, its ability to create a stable, robust nuclear weapon that could function outside a laboratory setting (which is what an underground test is) is a ways off. This includes being able to load a fragile experimental system on a delivery vehicle and expecting it to explode. It might. It might not. It might even be intercepted and create a casus belli for a counterstrike.

The main Iranian threat is not nuclear. It might become so, but even without nuclear weapons, Iran remains a threat. The current escalation originated in the American decision to withdraw from Iraq and was intensified by events in Syria. If Iran abandoned its nuclear program tomorrow, the situation would remain as complex. Iran has the upper hand, and the United States, Israel, Turkey and Saudi Arabia all are looking at how to turn the tables.

At this point, they appear to be following a two-pronged strategy: Increase pressure on Iran to make it recalculate its vulnerability, and bring down the Syrian government to limit the consequences of Iranian influence in Iraq.—Stratfor

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Years

www.kuwaittimes.net

Grace Potter is seen backstage at the Grammy Nominations Concert on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011 in Los Angeles. —AP

Te c h n o l o g y FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Professional wrestlers and 3D plumbers

Say hello to the new mobile games intendo’s most popular hero has finally found a space on the 3DS; Professor Layton is back; and a magician’s assistant is about to start his last adventure. It’s time for the season’s new mobile console games. Fans of Mario have had a long wait for Nintendo’s near-trademark plumber to make his way onto the 3DS handheld. And, although there have been 3D Mario adventures since the Nintendo 64, Super Mario 3D Land is the first title with a true sense of depth and space.

Otherwise, the story is largely the same. Chief baddie Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach, leaving Mario no choice but to rescue her. He has the option of putting on his raccoon suit, last seen in Super Mario Bros 3 for the NES. With it, he can use the tail to deliver some punches and to fly for short stretches. For longer flights, he needs his propeller. One new addition is a boomerang suit, which he can use to fight enemies far in the distance.

Gameplay is the same as in any other Mario game.

The plumber continues to jump from one colourful level to the next, each full of hidden shortcuts and secrets. Players can also make use of the StreetPass function on the 3DS, which let players turn encounters with other 3DS players into opportunities to unlock bonus levels. The colorful jump-n-run game is on sale for about 42 euros (57 dollars). Professor Layton hasn’t been around as long as Mario, but he’s become almost as popular. On November 25, he’ll start his

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fourth case on the Nintendo DS. Professor Layton and the Last Specter takes players back to the past, three years before the events of the first game in the series. Players see how Layton and his assistant, Luke, meet and solve their first case together. The gimmick should make it easier for people new to the series to follow events. Meanwhile, old pros will feel right at home in the game, a point-and-click adventure through a city full of puzzles and bizarre characters. Overall, the game includes 200 brainteasers, as well as a few bonus tasks. Just like old games, it includes several animated sequences.

Costing 38 euros, it should give puzzle lovers a good reason to jump into adventure.

The heroes of WWE All Stars rely more on brawn than brain. Wrestling fans have been enjoying the game on Sony’s PSP for a long time and now, on November 25, THQ will release a version for the 3DS. The wrestlers are depicted in comic book style, with broader shoulders than in reality. Players can choose from a wide range of characters, old and new, which means you can pit the deceased Andre the Giant against a modern grappler like John Cena. A variety of modes allow things like tag team matches, where four players can compete at once. The wrestling game will go for about 45 euros.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 allows players to finally end the fight with the evil Lord Voldemort. The game doesn’t stray far from the book, though it does

add some of its trademark humour to the narrative.

That’s because what the little plastic LEGO men lack in dialogue, they make up for with gestures and expressions. Still, there is very little new gameplay. From Warner Interactive, it has been released for all three mobile consoles and costs between 27 euros for the PSP version and 38 euros for the 3DS version.

Tales of the Abyss has been around since 2005, originally appearing for the Playstation 2. But this new version for the Nintendo 3DS marks the role-playing game’s first European appearance. The new version doesn’t just sport new graphics, but also updates the fighting system of the role-playing classic. More freedom of movement is designed to make the fights more dynamic. There is indeed more action as the player fights his way through an epic story which is, naturally, about saving the world. Role-players can get their hands on this game from Namco Bandai starting November 25 for 44 euros. —dpa

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Pe t s

Years

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Where there’s a will, there are pets More people are willing to make provisions for their pets - in case they die first randma’s china that you never used, the recliner that will evermore bear the imprint of your backside, your extensive collection of old Reader’s Digests. Chances are, you’re not that concerned about their fates once you’ve gone on to your reward. But could you really rest in peace not knowing what will become of your pets? Pennie von Achen of Eudora, Kan., east of Lawrence, had considered putting her dog, four cats and a tortoise in her will. What got her thinking about it was planning a trip to Africa last summer. She, husband Kurt and one of their two grown daughters would be jetting to Uganda to visit their other daughter.

What, von Achen wondered, would happen to her beloved pets if, heaven forbid, she and her loved ones perished in a plane crash? She and her husband finalized their wills before the trip, but ultimately von Achen decided to take a non-legal route with the pets. She made a deal with a friend, “a real dog person”: Each agreed to take the other’s pooch if something befell one of them.

She used another friend as a “pet broker,” writing her a letter about the dog arrangement and including a list of six “cat people,” thinking that “somewhere in those six maybe she could find someone to take a cat here and a cat there.”

She also described the animals’ personalities and health backgrounds.

Von Achen included a check in the letter. If she died, the broker was to give specified sums to the dog person and anyone who took a cat. The few hundred dollars for each animal “wouldn’t begin to compensate for a whole lifetime” of food and vet bills, von Achen says. “I thought it would at least help somewhat. I suppose if I were to do that again, I would increase the amounts.”

She and her family survived the Africa trip, of course, but von Achen decided to keep in place the plans she made for her pets. “I’m not real thrilled thinking about my own death, especially as I get older,” says von Achen, a retired biology teacher. But “one of the things that does concern me is my animals. I don’t want them to end up in a pound.

They’re used to TLC, and I want for them to continue to be cared for properly.”

Lynn Munro of Raymore, Mo., feels the same way about her two dogs and a cat. She doesn’t have close family around, but she could easily imagine one friend in particular stepping in to care for the dogs. Problem is, he thinks dogs should be kept outside. That’s not the way Munro feels: “My dogs would never survive outside.” She wrote her will and set up a trust last summer, and she made sure to include arrangements for her pets. Why? “Because they are family,” Munro says. The dogs, and money to care for them, will go to one friend - and here we quote the will - “with the stipulation that she provide or procure the necessary shelter and care for all the canine companion animals under my care at the time of my death.” Munro did not mention her current two dogs, Wiley and Roadie, by name, because she figures whenever she dies she’ll have two dogs. Otherwise, the will states, the dogs would go to the Best Friends Animal Society sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

The cat, 18 or 19 and with kidney failure, is being bequeathed to a vet tech (her veterinarian’s wife) “because nobody else would put up with this cat” and its medical needs. “I really don’t think,” says Munro, 62, “that the cat’s going to outlive me.” But you never know how long a pet might live. Or how long you will live. Or whether you’ll be incapacitated at some point.

It seems reasonable to expect that if you have a significant other or a good friend, your pets will be in good hands once you’re gone. But that might not be the case, says lawyer Patricia D. Reynolds, who practices in Liberty, Mo., and has a special interest in pets. “I have seen dogs abandoned (after someone’s death); I have seen them euthanized,” Reynolds says. “My vet told me the story of a man who came in with his wife’s parrot. The wife had just died the week before, and he couldn’t wait to bring the parrot in and have it euthanized.” The veterinarian refused, Reynolds says, and found the bird another home.

It’s not unheard of for family members arriving at the

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home of the dearly departed to put the pets outside for good, leaving them to fend for themselves. Michelle Fowler, whose business Fairy Godmothers KC provides services such as pet sitting and house sitting, tells of a man who lived in an Overland Park retirement community with his 10-year-old cat. When he died recently, a family member, citing pet allergies, decided to put the cat to sleep. But Fowler and an employee intervened and found the feline a new home.

“My dog is in my will,” Fowler says. “I lecture my elderly (clients to do the same) because this happens and I get stuck trying to find a home for them.” So far, she has always been able to “re-home” these animals. Whatever arrangements you make for your pets, and whether you decide to spell everything out in a legal document, you should make your wishes known to family and friends.

“I always tell people: Just like leaving your (minor) children to someone, don’t let leaving a pet be a surprise to

the person,” Reynolds says. Talk to the person you have in mind, and make sure they’re willing to take on the commitment. Any money you leave for the pet’s care might or might not be enough.

Yes, all this is a fair amount of fuss and bother. But pets are worth it, animal advocates say.

When we adopt a pet, “we take on the obligation to care for a creature that’s not capable of providing its own housing, food and health care,” Reynolds says. It’s sad to ponder a future for your loyal dog or cuddly cat that doesn’t include you. But making arrangements for them is “something everybody should do, even if you’re not as crazy about your animals as I am,” Pennie von Achen says.

“It’s a courtesy to your friends and family so one family member doesn’t feel all the responsibility is going to fall on them.” And if your loved ones - two-legged, fourlegged and otherwise - are resting easy, chances are you will, too. — MCT

Lynn Munro of Raymore, Missouri, made sure to include arrangements for her pets. — MCT

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Everyday cooking

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

here is something about winter that screams ‘pies’ to me. Maybe it’s the fact that they are self-contained slices of goodness; as if the filling is wrapped up in a warm ‘blanket’ of flaky crust. Whatever it is, I seem to have a fondness for pies during the cold winter months. The following recipes are some classics in the world of pies.

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Sending suggestions to: sawsank@kuwaittimes.net

Perfect Pie Crust Recipe

(All Butter Crust for Sweet and Savory Pies)

plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour, and up to 2 days.

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling 1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces) unsalted butter, very-cold, cut into 1/2 inch cubes 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 6 to 8 Tbsp ice water

3 Remove one crust disk from the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes in order to soften just enough to make rolling out a bit easier. Roll out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface to a 12-inch circle; about 1/8 of an inch thick. As you roll out the dough, check if the dough is sticking to the surface below. If necessary, add a few sprinkles of flour under the dough to keep the dough from sticking. Carefully place onto a 9-inch pie plate. Gently press the pie dough down so that it lines the bottom and sides of the pie plate.

Use a pair of kitchen scissors to trim the dough to within 1/2 inch of the edge of the pie dish.

1 Combine flour, salt, and sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Add butter and pulse 6 to 8 times, until mixture resembles coarse meal, with pea size pieces of butter. Add ice water 1 Tbsp at a time, pulsing until mixture just begins to clump together. If you pinch some of the crumbly dough and it holds together, it’s ready. If the dough doesn’t hold together, add a little more water and pulse again.

2 Remove dough from machine and place in a mound on a clean surface. Gently shape into 2 discs. Knead the dough just enough to form the discs, do not over-knead. You should be able to see little bits of butter in the dough.

These small chunks of butter are what will allow the resulting crust to be flaky. Sprinkle a little flour around the discs. Wrap each disc in

4 Add filling to the pie.

5 Roll out second disk of dough, as before.

Gently place onto the top of the filling in the pie. Pinch top and bottom of dough rounds firmly together. Trim excess dough with kitchen shears, leaving a 3/4 inch overhang. Fold the edge of the top piece of dough over and under the edge of the bottom piece of dough, pressing together. Flute edges using thumb and forefinger or press with a fork. Score the top of the pie with four 2-inch long cuts, so that steam from the cooking pie can escape.

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Fo o d FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

French Meat Pie

Chicken Pot Pie

2 tablespoons cooking oil 1 large onion, thinly sliced 2 pound ground beef 1 cup mashed potatoes 2 teaspoons ground allspice 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 Pastry for double-crust pie (9 inches) 1 egg, beaten n a skillet, heat oil over medium. Saute onion until tender. Remove and set aside. Brown beef and drain. Combine onion, meat, potatoes and seasonings. Line pie plate with pastry. Fill with meat mixture. Top with crust. Seal and flute edges. Make slits in top crust.

Brush with egg if desired. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

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Sweet Potato Pie

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed 1 cup sliced carrots 1 cup frozen green peas 1/2 cup sliced celery 1/3 cup butter 1/3 cup chopped onion 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon celery seed 1 3/4 cups chicken broth 2/3 cup milk 2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C.) In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots,

peas, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk.

Simmer over medium-low heat until thick.

Remove from heat and set aside.

Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Crustless Cranberry Pie 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes 3 tablespoons butter, melted 2 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup white sugar 3/4 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 cup light whipping cream 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup white sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups cranberries 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup butter, melted 2 eggs 1 teaspoon almond extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Combine the potatoes and melted butter in a mixing bowl. Stir the eggs, sugar, milk, nutmeg, vanilla, lemon juice, and light whipping cream into the potato mixture. Beat until well blended and smooth; pour into the pie shell.

Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm or cold.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease one 9 inch pie pan.

Combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Stir in the cranberries and the walnuts, and toss to coat. Stir in the butter, beaten eggs, and almond extract. If you are using frozen cranberries, the mixture will be very thick. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 40 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.

THEY ARE THE 99!

99 Mystical Noor Stones carry all that is left of the wisdom and knowledge of the lost civilization of Baghdad. But the Noor Stones lie scattered across the globe - now little more than a legend.

One man has made it his life’s mission to seek out what was lost. His name is Dr. Ramzi Razem and he has searched fruitlessly for the Noor Stones all his life. Now, his luck is about to change the first of the stones have been rediscovered and with them a special type of human who can unlock the gem’s mystical power. Ramzi brings these gem - bearers together to form a new force for good in the world. A force known as ... the 99!

THE STORY SO FAR : The 99 visits the opening of the brand-new amusement park ROBOT WORLD -- just in time for its robot cowboys to run amok! Noora, Jabbar, and Jami devise a plan to stop them...

The 99 ® and all related characters ® and © 2011, Teshkeel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

www.the99.org

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Travel

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Milan W

hen people think of Milan they immediately conjure up images of catwalks, skinny lattes and pizzas but the true face of Italy’s second city is actually very different. That is not to say Milan is a let-down, instead travelers are often pleasantly surprised by the huge, free-to-enter but little-known castle or the canal district of bars.

FRIDAY 7 pm - Good value hotels are hard to come by given Milan is often seen as a business city but there are several options around the city’s main train station and the area is less sleazy than it was.

The train station, Stazione Centrale, is a destination in itself because of its enormous scale and startling architecture. Influenced by Washington D.C.’s Union Station and the input of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the station is up there with the greatest in the world.

From there grab a taxi and head to the pedestrianised part of Via Brera where you can indulge in a Milanese institution- the aperitivo.

People in Milan are not big drinkers so to tempt customers bars offer free food-pasta, rice, little paninis etc. All you have to do is order a rather overpriced drink and it is all you can eat. Sitting outside, even in late autumn, also appeals.

9 pm - If you are really still hungry after that then walk round the corner down the cobbles to Via Mercato/Corso Garibaldi where there are several dining options. People in the north of Italy do not eat pizza as much as those in the south and a couple of the restaurants on this stretch offer traditional Milanese cuisine includ-

ing risotto with saffron or polenta.

If you want a late, late night then walk up Corso Garibaldi to Corso Como, a pedestrianised street full of bars and two nightclubs which is a particular hangout for the expat community. Again, prices can be steep but there is a good vibe.

SATURDAY 9 am - Head to a traditional Italian bar, never open in the evenings but instead there for you to grab a coffee and a croissant in the morning.

There are no Starbucks in Italy and real Italian coffee houses are markedly different, as is the menu. One shot of espresso is all most Italians need. From the station, walk down Via Vittor Pisani and Via Turati before reaching Piazza Cavour and head under the arch into Via Manzoni. This is the fashion district and don’t expect to see any prices on most of the clothes, you have to ask.

The beautiful Via della Spiga and Via Monte Napoleone are where most of the famous shops are while the huge Emporio Armani is next to Montenapoleone metro station. The actual fashion houses and catwalks are closed to the public and often in a different part of town.

Noon - Head a little further south, if not weighed down by too much shopping, and you hit Piazza della Scala-the home of one of the world’s most famous opera houses. You might not spot La Scala immediately, it is a rather inconspicuous building with little signage-but that is part of the charm. Don’t think you can just walk in and buy a ticket, performances sell out very quickly and it is best to book weeksin

advance via the internet.

Almost all operas are in the evening.

There are various options for lunch around here, especially in the sidestreets.

2 pm - You are now close to Piazza Duomo, Milan’s immense main square where there are almost as many pigeons as people. The Cathedral (Duomo) is so different in appearance to any other church that you are bound to be intrigued. There is free entry but keep those shoulders and knees covered. A trip on the roof also offers smoggy views of the city.

The nearby Galleria Emanuele II is a magical covered walkway but don’t sit down for food or drink here, it is extortionate. Do walk into the centre of the arcade though and perform one of Milan’s oldest traditions, turning your heel three times in the private parts of the bull mosaic in the floor for good luck.

The bull represents Turin, Milan’s rival northern city.

4 pm - Now for Milan’s hidden gem, although not for Italians of course. Walk up the enchanting Via Mercanti and Via Dante and the stunningly different Castello Sforzesco comes into view beyond the cooling fountain if it’s a hot day. It is free to head over the moat into the castle with payment only needed to access the museum. At the back end of the castle lies the charming Parco Sempione which is a good spot for some ice cream, sunbathing or a stroll.

6 pm - Take a taxi back to the hotel to freshen up and get ready for a sight you thought you would never see-canals in Milan.

9 pm - Venice is not the only Italian city with watery delights and the Naviglio area of Milan

(nearest metro Porta Genova) is teeming with bars and restaurants on both sides of two canals.

Once you have dined, go past the towering city gates of the Porta Ticinese and head up Corso di Porta Ticinese until you come across another old city-gate like structure. Here is the ancient Basilica di San Lorenzo where the young people of Milan congregate late at night, drinking beer from the nearby kiosks.

SUNDAY 9 am - Depending on if you booked months in advance on the internet as you have to guarantee a place, this would be a good time to visit the Last Supper-Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece on the wall of a refectory at a Milan church/monastery. You get 10 minutes, along with about 10 other tourists, to admire the world-famous picture.

11 am - If you do not manage to get Last Supper tickets and the weather is good, a short one-hour train trip to Como is well worth it.

The beautifully little town is nestled on the southern bank of Lake Como, where green hills plunge into the water from impossible heights.

The ice cream is also good in Como as is the architecture.

4 pm - Head back to Milan and as a goodbye to the city, indulge in a stroll down the main shopping street-Corso Buenos Aires-where goods are much more affordable than elsewhere. At the end of the street by Porta Venezia there is more good ice cream and the Giardini Pubblici, a refreshing park with a small but interesting national history museum and planetarium (rarely open on weekends).—Reuters

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Travel

Years

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Europe travel tips Make your visit to Europe a memorable one by following these tried and tested travel tips

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phone to call ahead a day or two in advance for reservations at your next destination.

raveling to Europe some day is still on the list for nearly every American - Europe remains the most popular destination for Americans traveling overseas. Here you’ll find some of the best Europe travel tips (as well as essential Europe ski information) to help make your travels to the Old Continent more enjoyable.

Money, ATMS & the euro Almost every American knows about the Euro (€). It was originally meant to be roughly 1-to-1 Euro-Dollar, but has fluctuated widely recently. Just be aware that as the Euro rises, your purchasing power decreases on an already expensive continent. Nearly all of western Europe (except Great Britain) is on the Euro, and much of eastern Europe is adopting it.

ATMs are easily found in all European cities, but may be harder to find in small towns and in the countryside. Most European establishments take Visa and MasterCard (Visa especially); fewer take American Express. We suggest carrying €100-200 (plus $50100 worth of local currency if you’re outside the Euro zone), and using your credit cards for purchases whenever possible.

Bring earplugs Europe is crowded. Europe is noisy. Unless you’re always in the countryside, bring earplugs for sleeping. (They’re also great for blocking out the screaming child in the train seat directly behind you. Just be sure you don’t miss the announcement for your stop.)

Even in hotels in small towns, it can be surprisingly noisy. If you have any problems sleeping, bring those earplugs.

Phones Europe is far ahead of the U.S. in cellular (“mobile”) coverage and technology. If you have an “unlocked” tri-band or quad-band GSM phone (ask your carrier) you can exchange the phone’s SIM chip for one for the country you’re visiting. If you’re visiting several countries, there are “international roaming” chips available. Check rates and dialing procedures of those multi-national chips carefully. If you are staying in only one or two countries, it may be cheaper to buy that country’s chip instead of an international roaming chip.

Cell phones are great for reserving lodging at your next destination (see below).

Learn 20 words and phrases Even though many people in western Europe speak some English, it’s helpful and courteous to be able to speak at least a few words in your host country’s language. Learn “thank you,” “please,” and other daily niceties, as well as “how much,” “where is,” and a few other finding-your-wayaround phrases. In eastern Europe, many people speak and understand a fair degree of German. In western Europe, French is also widely understood in many countries.

Don’t always assume that public transportation is better than a car We’ve mostly traveled by public transportation in Europe. Be aware, though, that subways/metro/city bus lines will probably operate differently in every place you’ll visit. (Hot tip: Don’t throw away your

tube/metro/tram ticket until you’re sure you won’t need it to exit the station.) Trains may be less frequent than you’d desire; or you may not like spending two hours on a bus when you could get there in 45 minutes by car.

Taxis, especially shared with a couple of traveling companions, may be a viable cost-effective alternative. In general regarding transportation, we suggest booking air or car rentals in advance, and everything else (unless you’re on a tight schedule) when you arrive (except in the busy summer

season - then, reserve everything ahead, especially train reservations).

See the small towns and the countryside It’s easy to get “museum and castle overload” in the great cities of Europe. Spend some time away from the metro areas, and you’ll see the real country you’re visiting.

People are friendlier, the pace is slower, things are quieter, the food and lodging will be cheaper, and you’ll feel like you’re really seeing the country.

Make lodging reservations in advance The internet has changed lodging forever. Gone are the days when you could arrive in almost any European city (outside the prime summer times) and find a hotel on the spot. Now, unless you enjoy walking for hours around marginal neighborhoods, make at least your first night’s lodging in advance at every location you visit. If you want to be more spontaneous than booking all your lodging in advance, use that Euro cell

Guidebooks are useful, but not infallible We generally like travel guidebooks for trip planning and getting a feel for a general area. With the advent of the internet, we’ve had much better luck finding lodging and transportation online than from any guidebook recommendation. Also take guidebook recommendations about attractions with a large grain of salt.

We’ve been disappointed with several “must see” recommendations in travel guides. Obtain and carry a good local map, especially when navigating the bigger cities.

Avoid the busy seasons Unless you enjoy sharing your private romantic spot with hundreds of strangers, avoid traveling to Europe in July and August. It seems everything is crowded or full, and the Europeans themselves are all on vacation, too. The other side of that is that some city facilities have reduced services, as employees abandon the cities for the beaches on their summer vacations (and most Europeans get a lot more vacation time than do Americans). Our favorite times to visit Europe are early spring (April - it’s now starting to get crowded even by early May) and fall (September and October). If you’re visiting in winter for a ski holiday, research (and avoid if you dislike crowds) school breaks, bank holidays, and other European winter vacation dates. (www.howtotraveleurope.com)

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Years

Books

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

How to take care of books W

hat do you do to take care of the books in your library? Some of the most avid collectors refuse to read the books in their collection; so the books remain in mint condition. Others buy two copies of a book; they read one, and leave the other untouched.

But, many readers must read their books, but they still want to protect and care for the volumes. Here are some tips to remember if you want your books to remain in good condition.

1.Avoid writing You may have been told to write in the margins of your books, or even to underline or highlight words, phrases, and paragraphs. But, if you plan to keep the book, add it to your library, or even sell it—don’t write in the book.

The ink permanently damages your book. Use a journal or notebook to take notes on pages/passages; or use pieces of paper or Post-It notes. If you are required to write in your book, use a pencil, and erase the markings.

2. Avoid food and drink Food and liquids are hazards to your books. The best practice is to avoid eating or drinking while you read. If you need to read while you eat, make sure your fingers are clean and dry as you hold the book or turn the pages.

Also, keep the book well away from the food and drink.

Check the table (or other surfaces) for moisture, crumbs, and stickiness before you put your book down.

3.Take care When you handle your book, hold it with care. When you read the book, don’t fold down the corners of the pages (use a bookmark instead). Don’t fold the cover of the book back. Don’t break the binding; and don’t place your book with the book open, face-down. Use a book cover/dust cover to keep your books in the best condition.

4.Shelve it If you want to take care of your books, keep your books on a shelf when you’re not reading them. But, also, take care that the books are shelved properly. Each book should be shelved in an upright, vertical position (don’t let the books lay on their side, nor should you stack them). Each book should have plenty of head room (space above the book), so you won’t bump the binding when you shelf the book. If you don’t have enough room on your shelves, store books in boxes—in a vertical position.

5.Avoid heat and moisture When you install your bookshelves, make sure they are in a dry place—out of direct light, and away from the heat. If you shelve your books in a moist place (basement, bathroom, or other moist areas), mold and mildew can grow on your books. Sunlight can damage the bindings of your books. Too much heat can cause the books to dry out and the pages to crumble.

6.Avoid bugs, pets, and other critters Bugs and mice can eat books. Dogs can chew books; and cats can scratch the bindings of books. You can avoid many of these issues by keeping the books in a clean area (and using dust covers). If possible, it’s always a good idea to keep the door of your library closed (to avoid accidental enticements for cats and dogs). Also, keeping food away from books also makes them less of a draw for mice and other critters (although mice sometimes chew books for nesting supplies). Avoid using spray or powders near your books.

7.Keep out-of-kid’s reach It’s important to encourage kids to read, and it’s important for children to see you reading. But, kids can also tear pages, chew on the book, and contribute to the overall destruction of some of your most prized volumes.

Depending on the ages of the children in your life, you may teach them to handle books with care. If they are of ages (or temperaments) where that’s not possible: keep the door of your library shut, shelve books out-of-easyreach, and/or purchase enclosed shelving units that lock.

Again, the idea is not to discourage reading—just to protect books.—About

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Books

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Books about books

Decorating with Books

Living With Books

By Alan Powers

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veryone has books-but most people simply put them on a shelf, neglecting more creative ways to make their treasures an integral part of the interior design. Alan Powers’ witty, elegant guide to showcasing your precious volumes will change all that. Going room to room, from kitchens to hallways, he reveals inspirational ways that books can create character in the home. Stunningly photographed images from around the world display large-scale libraries, as well as such ingenious space-saving devices as enclosed book lofts; shelves cleverly tucked into stairways; and narrow wall-mounted boarding that fits snugly behind a chair. There’s advice on caring for the volumes, technical hints on planning and building bookshelves, and practical, detailed projects. Special double-page features cover such topics as designer solutions and constructing furniture out of books.

By Marie Proeller Hueston

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pening the pages of a book can instantly carry you off to another world. But did you realize that, open or closed, books can also make your real world—your home— more fabulous? As legendary designer Billy Baldwin pointed out, they’re “the best decoration,” capable of bringing incredible warmth, color, and character to a room. From grand bookcases in home libraries to casual stacks artfully arrayed on chairs, House Beautiful presents countless eye-catching ideas for displaying and arranging your hardcovers, paperbacks, encyclopedias, and even valuable first editions. Useful tips shed light on how to organize a large collection; situate bookcases in the room for the best effect; and make the most of books’ appealing visual and tactile qualities. From traditional interpretations to contemporary visions—such as putting a book on a pedestal as an objet d’art— these concepts write a new page in design.

The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World Guillaume (photographs); Bosser, Jacques (text)

At Home with Books: How Booklovers Live with and Care for Their Libraries

By Estelle Ellis, Caroline Seebohm

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t Home with Books is a visual delight, a helpful resource, and an inspiration for every bibliophile with a growing home library. Includes professional advice on editing and categorizing your library; caring for your books; preserving, restoring, and storing rare books; finding out-of-print books; and choosing furniture, lighting, and shelving. Fullcolor photographs.

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ll of the libraries in the world-whether small or large, public or private-serve the same purpose: to preserve, cherish, or show off the riches of human knowledge. Now, for the first time, an internationally renowned photographer takes the reader on a journey to more than 20 of the most historic of these magical places, all architectural treasures.

From the dramatic, baroque Library of the Institut de France in Paris, to the splendid Vatican Library in Rome; from the majestic Royal Library in El Escorial, Spain, to the famed New York Public Library, a Beaux-Arts masterpiece-here are some of the most exquisite libraries of the Western world. Included are national, scholarly, and religious libraries from 12 countries, which have in common a distinguished heritage and an architectural setting that emphasizes art and culture. The accompanying text traces the history of libraries to the present day, and describes how they came to serve famous personalities and men of letters.

Libraries must be counted among civilization’s crowning achievements; this elegant book is a fitting tribute to that accomplishment.

Beauty FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

2011 Fall & winter makeup trends W

hen it comes to makeup lasting all day, the fall and winter offer the best months since you don’t have to worry about mascara and eyeliner melting off of your face or coming off in the pool. Fall/winter is also the time when you’ll be able to experiment more with gorgeous autumnal colors and the classic smokey eye look. As for lips, you’ll want to find the right shade of red so you can complete your seasonal look.

Moving past the general advice, the fall and winter makeup trends for 2011 are shaping up to be bold, sweet, soft and sexy. But before you can complete this year’s trends, you’ll need the basic tools of the trade like foundation, concealer, blush, eye shadows in natural shades, lipstick, lip gloss, brow pencil or powder, and of course mascara. Assuming you have all of this, keep reading the makeup trends for fall and winter 2011, and decide what will be your go-to look.

One of the trends for fall/winter 2011 is something everyone should be familiar with because it’s been popping up more and more amongst women and teenage girls. The look is nude, and it is a hot look for fall and winter, as well as timeless and traditional for those low maintenance days. To achieve a nude look, you’ll need clean and healthy skin that is nearly flawless. Fortunately, it’s easy to pull off a nude look if you have the correct concealer and foundation for your skin’s complexion.

If you plan on going to any holiday parties, try using iridescent pink, define your eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil or powder, and highlight your cheekbones. But don’t over-

power the look with heavy mascara; instead, try using brown mascara rather than black. In regards to lips, you can use a nude lip color, or opt for a light red color.

Bold Makeup Trend If you were born with big beautiful eyebrows, then this is your year to shine. Strong, thick, and perfectly defined eyebrows are going to be a major trend for fall and winter 2011, and the major designers are making sure big brows get noticed. Of course, big eyebrows don’t mean messy ungroomed brows, so you still need to shape them, and keep the stray hairs at bay by tweezing regularly. You will, however, need to fill them in with an eyebrow pencil or brow powder to frame your face. An easy way to achieve a strong eyebrow is to keep your makeup natural by matching your foundation perfectly, and not wearing mascara. Use a brow comb to work brow gel over your eyebrows, and to keep the hair in place all day.

Nature-Inspired Trend Some trends never go out of style, like golden eye shadows used in combination with the autumnal colors; so you can definitely expect to see these colors this season. Eye shadow colors for these upcoming fall and winter months will be inspired by nature like orange, brown, red, yellow and coral. Use strong pigments to create these stunning looks, and then use golden shades to accent the other colors. Keep your makeup simple by not wearing too much black eyeliner with this

look so that you’ll glow more, without the harsh color on your waterline.

Dark Makeup Trend Take your look in the opposite direction with this mysterious, dark, sexy makeup trend that will be popping up in the fall and winter.

For this look, you’ll want to use eyeliner a lot more than the aforementioned trends, while using your eye shadow less. However, you don’t need to eliminate your eye shadow because you’ll still want to create the smoky eye this season; so put shadow in the outer corner of your eyes, as well as above your crease. Choose an earth-toned shadow that is iridescent to cover the eyelid. Don’t forget to cover the black shadow with the iridescent shade as well, moving from the outer corners of your eyes in to toward your nose. On your lips, apply a nude color of lipstick or gloss; for your eyelashes, use mascara in combination with a lash brush for a spider effect.

Trends for your Lips Even though the fall and winter makeup trends draw most of the attention to your eyes, your lips will still make an impact on any look. Interestingly enough, it seems as though the designers are having a lover’s quarrel when it comes to lip makeup this year. Marc Jacobs is sticking with natural and simple makeup trends, while designers like Dolce&Gabbana go for a red lip. Whatever style you choose to try, be sure to match your eyes with your lips, and vice versa.

Wearable Makeup Trend The models on the catwalks seem to have only one style of makeup, and it’s red lips with smoky eyes (how to: smoky eyes tutorial). This look is great for holiday parties, dates, or other important occasions; however, it isn’t good for everyday wear. During the day, you should opt for a bold lip color, and use less eye shadow on your eyelids. Use a plumping lip balm to make your lips look fuller, and if you use a colored lipstick, use a translucent powder to set the lip color for long-lasting wear. You can also use a lip liner to fill in your lips, and then apply a matching lipstick on your lips. Finally, be sure to fill in your brows for nice bold eyebrows, and then complete the look with mascara and a light blush.

Now that you know what all of the latest trends are for fall and winter 2011, you can try each look to find the one that works the best for you. And remember that the main key to having a good fall and winter makeup season is to have bold lips or eyes, but never at the same time. (www.beauty-tips.net)

Style FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Taking care of combination skin C

ombination skin is usually characterized by two extreme skin types, such as oily and dry skin, occurring on the same face. While the presence of an oilier T-zone is considered normal, the extreme of a very oily T-zone and the presence of acne with larger pores along with very dry cheeks and smaller pores are considered to be combination skin.

In some cases, this could be caused by a skin disorder called seborrheic eczema, so a visit to a dermatologist may be in order, to help your skin find the right balance. Taking care of this

type of skin can be challenging, but it can be done. Here are a few tips on taking care of combination skin.

The first line of defense in combination skin is keeping the skin clean. Avoid using soaps or cleansers which are perfumed or colored, as these can irritate the skin. Also avoid using cleansers that are formulated for very oily skin, as this can irritate the parts of the skin that are dry. Use a gentle cleanser at least twice a day, and try for three times if you can.

Experts disagree today whether toner is nec-

essary in your skin routine, as most modern cleansers will help keep your skin feeling refreshed. But toner can help remove any residue from the cleanser and it does feel good on the skin. If you’re in the habit of using toner, you don’t need to stop as long as you’re not using a toner that contains alcohol, as this can severely dry the skin.

Always use a moisturizer after you wash your face. You can try a moisturizer formulated for combination skin or normal to oily.

Moisturizer can help even the oily parts of the

skin, as the cleanser has worked to remove the excess oils and the moisturizer helps keep the skin hydrated.

Finally, always remove your makeup before going to bed. Leaving the makeup on will clog the pores and help pimples and black heads to develop. No matter how tired you are or how late you get home, always get in the habit of removing your makeup at the end of the day. (www.beauty-tips.net)

How to make lipstick last longer E

ven long wearing lipsticks will not stay on as long as you might hope. By using a few simple beauty tricks and preparing your lips and working with the product you have chosen you will find more success. So, grab your favorite longwearing lip color and get ready to make it perform even better.

Prep the lips To keep lipstick on longer you need to make sure you have a healthy and smooth lip surface. To prep the lips for lipstick, first make sure the lips do not have any dried or hanging skin anywhere. To make sure any flakiness is gone use a lip scrub. The lip scrub from Fresh or the one from Korres will hydrate the lips will exfoliating away any dead skin. Once the dead skin cells are swept away if your lips need extra hydration apply a light layer of a hydrating lip balm like the Josie Maran Lip Treatment or any lip balm that has healthy oils and butters to hydrate the lips. For a light lip look, you can use lip butter with a tint to it and be done.

Create a border Lip liner is the traditional way to create a border to keep your lipstick in place, but you can also use clear lip liner pencils to do the trick. There are several on the market that work well. These pencils are mostly wax which creates a great invisible border so your lipstick has less chance of feathering or moving away from the lips when you do not want it to.

Apply color densely, but evenly The easiest way to apply lip color densely but evenly is with an appropriate lip brush. There are many good lip brushes on the market so you can choose based on your own personal preference. Retractable lip brushes are handy for when you do feel the need to touch up, though using them in general will help minimize the need for touching up throughout the day. To make sure you get a dense layer of color apply your lipstick all over making sure you get a strong and even lip line. Once this first layer is down, apply another layer but pat it in making sure it blends

together with the initial layer of color. This increases the color density of the lipstick. If you want even more color density then add one more round of color in the same way. Make sure you do not forget to keep the color even into the outside edges of your mouth and the inside portions of your lips.

Avoid too much wear on your lipstick Simple things like using a straw to drink out of and not pursing your lips throughout the day can help keep your lipstick on and even. Another lipstick beauty trick is to make sure you keep your lips together, but lightly. Pressing your lips together too hard wears the inside portion of your lip color away quickly.

Keeping lips apart all the time can lead to light breathing through your mouth, which then dries out the lipstick as the air passes over it when you breathe. Dried out lipstick looks uneven and wears quicker than normal moist lipstick. (www.skyesbeautytricks.com)

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Health

Years

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

The hidden ingredient that can sabotage your diet

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ne hundred and fifty-six pounds.

That’s how much added sugar Americans consume each year on a per capita basis, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Imagine it: 31 five-pound bags for each of us.

That’s not to say that we get most of the sugar in our diets directly from the sugar bowl. Only about 29 pounds of it comes as traditional sugar, or sucrose, according to The Sugar Association, a trade group of sugar manufacturers. The rest comes from foods.

Of course, those foods include things like candy, soda, and junk food. But plenty of sugar is hiding in places where you might not expect it.

Some types of crackers, yogurt, ketchup, and peanut butter, for instance, are loaded with sugar-often in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS. Use of this sweetener has increased 3.5% per year in the last decade, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). That’s twice the rate at which the use of refined sugar has grown.

Where is all that sugar going? In the US

diet, the major source of “added sugar”-not including naturally occurring sugars, like the fructose in fruit-is soft drinks. They account for 33% of all added sugars consumed, says Kristine Clark, PhD, RD, a spokeswoman for the Sugar Association.

Clark is also director of sports nutrition in the athletic department of Penn State University.

According to the USDA, sweetened fruit drinks account for 10% of the total added sugars we consume. Candy and cake come in at 5% each. Ready-to-eat cereal comprises 4% of the total. So do each of these categories: table sugar and honey; cookies and brownies; and syrups and toppings.

The biggest chunk, making up 26% of added sugars, comes from a variety of prepared foods like ketchup, canned vegetables and fruits, and peanut butter.

Another high-sugar category? Low-fat products, which may not be as good for your diet as you think. Some contain plenty of sugar to make up for the lack of tasty fat.

“People are often surprised that a lowfat product may not be that different in calories” than regular products, says Connie

Crawley, nutrition and health specialist in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia. “A good example is fat-free or low-fat salad dressing, which can be high in sugar.”

So what’s so bad about all this sugar?

After all, sugar can certainly be part of a healthy diet. And while it can cause cavities, there’s no firm evidence that it’s directly linked to diabetes or other serious health problem.

The problem comes when we simply take in too many calories.

“It’s really the extra calories from sugar in our diet that causes health problems like diabetes and obesity, not anything inherently unhealthy about sugar itself,” says Jule Anne Henstenberg, RD, director of the Nutrition Program at La Salle University in Philadelphia.

“Foods with a lot of sugar taste good, so we eat too much of them,” she says. “The one area where this fact stands out is in drinks. In the last 20 years, we’ve seen an explosion of sugared drinks in the marketplace: teas, sports drinks, juice-based drinks.”

In fact, between 1987 and 1997, consumption of “added sugar” in the United States grew 20%. This trend is also being seen in the developing world, according to the WHO. That’s one reason both the United Nations and the World Health Organization released guidelines in 2003 that say sugar should account for no more than 10% of daily calories. In a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, that’s just 200 calories-or eight heaping teaspoons of table sugar at 25 calories each. A single can of regular soda, with the equivalent of 10 teaspoons, would put you over. —Webmd

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Health

Years

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

No diet approach to losing weight

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y adopting sensible eating habits and practicing portion control, you can eat nutritious foods so that you take in as many calories as you need to maintain your health and well-being at your ideal weight. Often, weight loss occurs on its own simply when you start making better food choices, such as avoiding: ● processed foods, ● sugar-laden foods, ● white bread and

pasta (substitute whole-grain varieties instead), ● foods with a high percentage of calories from fat, While nothing is absolutely forbidden, when you do succumb to temptation, keep the portion size small and add a bit more exercise to your daily workout. By replacing some unwise food choices with healthy ones, you’ll be cutting back on calories. If you add some moderate physical activity, you have the perfect weight-loss plan without the need for special or inconvenient (and often expensive) diet plans.

Let’s look at an example of a successful no-diet weight loss program.

A 45-year-old woman complains that she has gradually put on 12 pounds over the past year. In the last month, she’s faced a stressful work deadline and added another 4 pounds to her frame.

This individual’s goal is to lose the 16 pounds she has gained.

Since her weight has been gradually increasing, she knows that she is consuming more calories than she is burning, especially with her sedentary job. She decides that a weight loss of 1 pound per week (equal to a deficit of about 3,500 calories, or cutting 500 calories per day) would be acceptable and would allow her to reach her goal in about four months.

She decides to make some changes that will allow her to cut back an average of 250 calories per day.

Skipping a large glass of sweetened iced tea will save about 200 calories.

Substituting mineral water for the cola she regularly drinks during meetings can save another 150 calories.

Foregoing her morning muffin snack (or eating only half a muffin) can also save 250 calories or more.

To reach her goal of a 500-calorie-per-day savings, she adds some exercise.

Getting up early for a 20-minute walk before work and adding a 10-minute walk during her lunch break add up to a half hour of walking per day, which can burn about 200 calories.

On weekends, she plans to walk for 60 minutes one day and spend one hour gardening the next day for even greater calorie burning. If walking for 60 minutes is too much, two 30-minute walks one day would burn the same number of calories.

Twice per week she plans to stop at the gym on the way home from work, even if only for a half hour of stationary cycling or swimming (each burning up to 250 calories).

By making just some of the dietary cutbacks mentioned and starting some moderate exercise, this individual can easily “save” the 3,500 calories per week needed for a 1-pound weight loss, leading to a healthy rate of weight loss without extreme denial or deprivation. Furthermore, her changes in diet and lifestyle are small and gradual, modifications that she can maintain over time.

7 tips for successful weight loss 1.The desire to lose weight must come from the individual. If you’re truly ambivalent about making changes in your lifestyle or are doing this to please someone else, you’re likely to fail. When making changes, decide what’s right for your lifestyle. Your best friend’s diet and exercise plan may be completely wrong for your habits and interests. The key is to find a system that works for you.

2.Don’t blame yourself if you aren’t perfect. If you once fail at your attempt to curtail your overeating, it doesn’t mean you are a failure at weight control and that you should just give up. Accept that you made a poor choice, but don’t let that poor

choice influence the rest of your plan. The same holds true with exercise. Skipping a few workouts doesn’t mean you can’t get back on track. Weight control does not involve making perfect choices all the time, rather it’s about attempting to make good choices more often than poor ones.

3.Avoid surroundings where you know you’re tempted to make poor food choices.

Everyone has a time when we’re most likely to overeat, whether it’s the morning coffee break or after-work gathering with friends.

Try to plan other activities or distractions for those times, or plan in advance how you’re going to handle them and stick to it.

4.Surround yourself with people who

support your efforts. Even our good friends can knowingly or unknowingly sabotage weight-loss attempts. Spend time with those people who will not pressure you to make poor food choices.

5.Decide on some nonfood rewards for yourself when you reach interim goals. For examples, at the end of the first week of healthy eating or after the first 5 pounds lost, buy yourself a new DVD or book.

6.Stock your pantry and refrigerator with healthy foods. Get rid of the high-calorie, low-nutrition snacks like chips and candy.

But don’t forget to have plenty of healthier options available as well, such as popcorn (hold the butter, try Parmesan cheese sprin-

kles), low-fat cheese and yogurt, fruit, instant cocoa without added sugar, sugarfree popsicles or puddings, or whatever appeals to you when you’re hungry for a snack.

7.Set small goals and focus on these rather than the “big picture.” Decide where you want to be in a week or in a month, rather than focusing on the total amount of weight you’d like to lose.

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Years

Education FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

WORD FIT

Can you fit all the words correctly into the grid?

Two letters have already been entered.

3 letter words JAM KEY NAP PAL

4 letter words CLUE EYES OBOE WORK

5 letter words BADGE LATER TITLE WHEEL

7 letter words ENJOYED MYSTERY PELICAN TRUMPET

TOPIC - Sports Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal or vertical.

ARCHERY, BADMINTON, BASEBALL, BASKETBALL, BOXING, CRICKET, FOOTBALL, GOLF, GYMNASTICS, HOCKEY, JUDO, NETBALL, POLO, SKIING, SQUASH, SURFING, SWIMMING, TENNIS, VOLLEYBALL, WRESTLING.

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Years

Education FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Golden cheeked warbler

Color by number 1. Yellow or gold 2. Black 3. White 4. Grayish green

MYSTERY- WORD an you enter the words correctly into the grid?

The letters in the shaded boxes will spell out the name of the mystery word.

C

4 letters BRAN CORN EGGS FISH MEAT SALT 5 letters BREAD CREAM HONEY PASTA SUGAR SYRUP

6 letters BUTTER CEREAL CHEESE PEPPER POTATO TOMATO 7 letters LETTUCE

Sudoku Answer

Comics

C R O S S W O R D

5 1 5

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

To Yester

Word Sleuth Solution

Yesterday’s Solution

ACROSS

1. A compartment in front of a motor vehicle where driver sits.

4. Having a back or backing, usually of a specified type.

10. A form of address for a married woman.

13. Title for a civil or military leader (especially in Turkey).

14. Noisy quarrel.

15. An international organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members.

16. Lace again.

18. The capital and largest city of Albania in the center of the country.

20. A tricycle (usually propelled by pedalling).

21. (electronics) Of a circuit or device having an output that is proportional to the input.

22. An implement used to propel or steer a boat.

24. Any of numerous local fertility and nature deities worshipped by ancient Semitic peoples.

27. The 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

28. The basic unit of money in Bangladesh.

32. A genus of Platalea.

36. A room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter.

37. Light informal conversation for social occasions.

40. A benevolent aspect of Devi.

41. Relating to or like or divided into areolae.

43. A shop where a variety of goods are sold.

45. A group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans.

46. Used of a single unit or thing.

47. An established custom.

51. The capital and largest city of Bangladesh.

55. The United Nations agency concerned with civil aviation.

59. A Loloish language.

60. A loud harsh or strident noise.

63. At a great distance in time or space or degree.

64. A doctor's degree in education.

65. A Chadic language spoken in Chad.

66. A period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event.

DOWN 1. The lean flesh of a fish that is often farmed.

2. American novelist (1909-1955).

3. With no effort to conceal.

4. An indehiscent fruit derived from a single ovary having one or many seeds within a fleshy wall or pericarp.

5. Regional and archaic.

6. A radioactive transuranic element.

7. A colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses.

8. Animal food for browsing or grazing.

9. In or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be.

10. The food served and eaten at one time.

11. A city in western Nevada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

12. A narcotic that is considered a hard drug.

17. Garlic mayonnaise.

19. Follower of Rastafarianism.

23. A federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reduc-

ing pollution and protecting the environment.

25. Slightly open.

26. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

29. Largest known toad species.

30. God of love and erotic desire.

31. (botany) Of or relating to the axil.

33. Metal or plastic sheath over the end of a shoelace or ribbon.

34. A United Nations agency created to assist developing nations by loans guaranteed by member governments.

35. A choice or delicious dish.

38. A river in north central Switzerland that runs northeast into the Rhine.

39. A loose sleeveless outer garment made from aba cloth.

42. A midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region.

44. A feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause).

48. Harsh or corrosive in tone.

49. An unofficial association of people or groups.

50. Open-heart surgery in which the rib cage is opened and a section of a blood vessel is grafted from the aorta to the coronary artery to bypass the blocked section of the coronary artery and improve the blood supply to the heart.

51. How long something has existed.

52. A small restaurant where drinks and snacks are sold.

53. A human female who does housework.

54. A sensation (as of a cold breeze or bright light) that precedes the onset of certain disorders such as a migraine attack or epileptic seizure.

56. The cry made by sheep.

57. The compass point that is one point north of due east.

58. A metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 10 liters.

61. A state in north central United States.

62. A hard gray lustrous metallic element that is highly corrosion-resistant.

Yesterday’s Solution

Lifestyle FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Mondrian dress snapped up ahead of YSL anniversary

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Francois Lesage and fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac posing with a liturgical stole they designed for pope Jean-Paul II for the XIIth Worldwide Youth Days in Paris.

File photo show legendary haute couture embroiderer FranÁois Lesage in his workshop in Paris.—AFP photos

Francois Lesage, master embroiderer, dies aged 82

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rancois Lesage, a master embroiderer who for decades crafted exquisite pieces for haute couture giants from Chanel to Yves Saint Laurent, has died aged 82, his workshop said yesterday. The doyen of French embroidery, a central figure in the fashion world, died in a hospital near his home in Versailles outside Paris on Wednesday night following a long illness, the Lesage workshop told AFP. Lesage took over his father’s firm aged just 20. In an interview last year, he told AFP how he met Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix-his godson-”when they were just beginners”.

In recent years Lesage could be spotted at Chanel or Lacroix shows, sharing insights with his front-row neighbours on the craftsmanship in the clothes. “Our role is to be chameleons,” Lesage explained to AFP. “With Karl, I am Karl.

With Christian, I am Christian... We receive a sketch and it is up to us to interpret. The couturier is the architect, we are the decorators.”

Last week Lesage was awarded the title of “art master” by the French culture ministry, giving him a chance to “say goodbye”, said a spokeswoman for his workshop, which was acquired by Chanel in 2002. Born to an embroiderer father

and fashion colorist mother, Lesage joked that he was “born on a mound of pearls and glitter”.

“It never occurred to me to do anything else,” he told AFP. “I still sleep in the bedroom where I was born.” Lesage’s workshop described him as a “passionate figure, full of color and humor”.

Contacted by AFP, Lagerfeld said he was “deeply saddened” at the loss of a unique artist and “bon viveur”. “He astonished us more than once,” he said. In 1992 Lesage founded an embroidery school close to his Paris workshop to pass on the craft to the next generation. His work has been exhibited from New York to Tokyo.—AFP

For 200 years miracles sought at New Mexico Church

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hey come in pain and in prayer, seeking cures and a cup of sand from a tiny adobe church called Chimayo. For two centuries, Hispanic and American Indian pilgrims have sought help from El Santuario de Chimayo, located in a mountain hamlet in northern New Mexico. They clutch pictures of sick loved ones, hobble weakly on crutches, and bring stories of hopeless conditions. They leave small slips of paper asking for mercy and miracles, promise to give up drinking and show more compassion, and they light candles in front of images of saints and La Virgen de Guadalupe, patron of the Americas.

Before they leave, they visit a room in the shrine that houses “el pocito,” which means the little well, a small pit of holy adobe-colored dirt that some say possesses the power to cure. Just one touch, say those who believe, and cancer might go into remission, an injured knee might heal, and leukemia might be held off long enough to witness a child’s birth. Along the wall hang crutches that are no longer needed, material proof from those who say they have been helped. “People discover that there is something special here when they come with an open heart and mind,” said Rev. Jim Suntum, a priest at Chimayo.

“There’s a kind of peace that’s available here that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Chimayo is a National Historic Landmark, described in the landmark citation as a “well preserved, unrestored

example of a small adobe church, notable for its original decorations, including numerous superb religious paintings.” Some 200,000 people are estimated to visit each year, and Suntum says many of those visits occur during Easter Week. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe says Chimayo has been called the “Lourdes of America.” The history of el pocito goes back 200 years, when legend holds that a friar, performing penances, saw a strange light streaming from a hillside near the Santa Cruz River. The friar began to dig to find the source of the light, and soon uncovered a crucifix. The crucifix was taken to a nearby church several times, but according to the story, it kept mysteriously returning to the place where it was found.

A chapel was built there in 1813, and followers have been returning to pray at el pocito ever since. They take so many cups of dirt to spread over foreheads, hearts and knees, that Chimayo officials must refill the pit periodically with replacement sand that’s been blessed.

Visitors can buy small containers of sand for $3 to take to a sick relative, or even order the sand from the shrine’s website.

Suntum said Chimayo officials typically refill el pocito with fresh, blessed desert dirt every day. During the crowded week of Easter when the shrine can see as many as 100,000 visitors, Suntum said officials have to refill the hole every hour. The hallway outside el pocito is

covered with photos of the sick on one side and soldiers and police officers on the other. Many pictures have notes attached, like one that asks God to protect a Marine from the Navajo Nation who is serving in Iraq. Another note asks the Guadalupe virgin to “hold off my cancer until I can see my daughter graduate from college. After that, I’m yours.”

On a recent Sunday, an elderly woman walked into the hallway staring at the photos of sick children and infant shoes left as offerings. She knelt by the image of La Virgen de Guadalupe, placed her head in her arms and wept so loudly it seemed to shake the flickering candles. Her husband quietly patted her back. Next door to the Chimayo chapel is another shrine called Santo Nino de Atocha, built in 1856. Here parents of sick children, especially infants, leave toys, clothing, photos and notes seeking miracles in curing autism and other rare conditions. One note told the story of a boy named Anthony who had meningitis. His parents were told by doctors he would not “walk, talk or go to school.”

They prayed to Santo Nino de Atocha, and the husband promised “that he would never drink alcohol again.”

“You heard our prayers and our son made a full recovery to a healthy, happy baby,” wrote the mother, who signed the note as Rosemary and included photos of her son as a baby and a few years later, wearing a baseball uniform. The sites are not just for the faithful, either; they attract tourists as well. —AP

Mondrian dress by iconic French designer Yves Saint Laurent was snapped up yesterday, star lot of a vintage sale held half a century after his fashion house was founded. Sold for 30,000 pounds (35,000 euros, 47,000 dollars) the dress was part of a capsule collection of nine Saint Laurent pieces, dating from 1962 to 1970, at a Christie’s clothing sale stretching from the 18th century to the 1980s. Patricia Frost, director of Christie’s textile department, described the dress, inspired by the work of Dutch abstract artist Piet Mondrian, as “a magic carpet piece, it takes you right back to 1966.”

The London sale came just ahead of the 50-year anniversary of the founding of Saint Laurent’s fashion house, on December 4, 1961. The couture house closed in 2002 when the designer stood down. Since his death in 2008, the mystique of Saint Laurent’s name has sent prices flying at a string of record-smashing auctions of art and belongings accumulated by the designer and his partner Pierre Berge over the decades. Christie’s intended the sale in part as a retrospective of Saint Laurent’s early career, at Dior from 1957 then striking out on his own aged 25.

“Saint Laurent lives on everywhere you look,” said Berge, now 81, who co-founded his fashion house and helped run it for 40 years. “The most important are perhaps those you notice less,” he told AFP. “Saint Laurent completely defined his era. Everyone has a Saint Laurentalthough they often don’t realize it,” said Berge, who today runs a foundation created in Saint Laurent’s memory. “He invented an entire masculine world that he fitted to women’s bodies: tuxedos, sahara jackets, the sailor’s jacket.” Berge’s foundation has also sent travelling exhibitions of his work around the world, from Paris last year, to Madrid at the moment, and Denver, Colorado a few weeks from now.

From theatre to dance and cinema, Saint Laurent cultivated close ties with the arts, creating tribute collections from Matisse to Cocteau, Van Gogh or Picasso, as well as his Mondrian and pop art dresses. Other pieces in the Christie’s sale included an Indian-inspired green brocade coat, from Saint Laurent’s first own-name catwalk show in January 1962, that was snapped on the cover of Elle magazine that year, and sold for 2,000 pounds. “Saint Laurent’s clothes happen to make people look wonderful but they also have more depth to them,” Frost said. “They should be looked at more as works of art. They are not really for wearing, they are more for museums.”—AFP

An employee poses with Yves San Laurent ‘Mondrian’ dress at Christie’s auction house in central London yesterday.—AFP

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

In this film image released by Sundance Film Festival, Gina Rodriquez is shown in a scene from ‘Filly Brown’. —AP

William H Macy, left, and John Hawkes are shown in a scene from ‘The Surrogate.’ —AP

Sundance unveils

key films for 2012 festival

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he Sundance Film festival, the top US gathering for independent cinema, on Wednesday unveiled its competitive lineup for 2012, some of which will become the most talked-about movies of the upcoming year. The 58 movies, both narrative features and documentaries, cover a range of topics, but festival organizers said at least one theme emerged among the 16 US features in competition: characters are searching for deeper meaning to their lives in an often confusing and troubling world. “(Filmmakers) seem to be questioning the idea of marriage and family, the whole notion of what family is. I found that a lot-questioning ideas of the American Dream,” festival director John Cooper told Reuters.

Overall, 4,042 features films from around the world were submitted for the festival that is backed by Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute for filmmaking and is the premiere US event for movies made outside Hollywood’s major studios. Each year, many movies that screen at Sundance will become

the darlings of critics in art houses, and some will compete for honors in Hollywood’s awards season. Big successes from previous Sundance festival’s include comedy “Little Miss Sunshine” and documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Cooper said weak economies around the world have challenged filmmakers to search wider and dig deeper for funding to make movies, and that fact has led to more creative thinking and greater focus in the stories heading to silver screens. “In times of economic crisis, art tends to thrive. I’m not sure why that is, but it seems it just happens,” he said. “A creative bar is set by each year as filmmakers see the films that are successful commercially and with critics, and filmmakers are aware they have to be a little bit better.”

Day one, and beyond The upcoming 2012 Sundance kicks off on Jan. 19 with a series of “Day One” screenings comprised of one feature and one documentary from each of the U.S. films and world cin-

ema sections-movies made outside the United States. The US first day feature is director Todd Louiso’s “Hello I Must Be Going,” which tells of a 35-year-old woman who moves back into the home of her parents. The Day One U.S. documentary is “The Queen of Versailles,” which tells of a wealthy couple building the biggest house in America — 90,000 square feet-until it is foreclosed upon. Other feature film titles in the US competition include “The End of Love,” which looks at one young father whose life unravels at the death of his wife, and “Middle of Nowhere” about a woman who struggles to maintain her marriage and sense of self after her husband lands in jail. US documentaries include “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry” about the Chinese artist and political activist and “ME at the ZOO,” which tells of video blogger Chris Crocker.

The feature films in the world cinema competition are a wide-ranging bunch that include the title “L,” a Greek movie about a man who lives in his car and is troubled by

motorcycle riders, and “The Last Elvis” (“El Ultimo Elvis”), which tells of an Elvis impersonator in Buenos Aires. Cooper said many of world cinema documentaries take on big topics, especially among documentaries where titles include “1/2 Revolution” about this year’s overthrow of the Egyptian government, and “China Heavyweight” which uses boxing to look at changing lifestyles in that fast-growing country.

They are “saying here’s solutions and telling us what we can do,” said Cooper. “I think that’s the optimistic part. There are a lot of calls to action, which is exciting.” The competition movies earn much of the attention at Sundance, but there are sections for world premieres that will include major stars, as well as ultra low-budget movies, short films and other movies whose selection will be named in coming days.

Overall, this year’s festival will feature 110 movies from 31 countries and 46 first-time filmmakers. The festival begins on Jan 19, 2012 and runs through Jan 29. —Reuters

South African debuts AIDS film on World AIDS Day A

film opening on World AIDS Day yesterday that mixes live action and animation is taking viewers inside a soccer player’s body, showing how he becomes infected with HIV and spreads the virus. The cast and characters are Kenyan, Nigerian and South African - which producers hope will help the movie travel across the continent hardest hit by the disease. The pull of soccer, which has a unique power to unite Africans, also should help. Harriet Gavshon, a producer who worked on “Inside Story: The Science of HIV/AIDS,” said the “toxic combination” of death and sex still makes it difficult for people to discuss AIDS. “You have to constantly find new ways of trying to talk about it,” she said. The 90-minute film, aimed at viewers from their mid-teens and up, is a co-production of Johannesburg’s Curious Pictures and an international development program sponsored by the US reality and educational TV company Discovery. Yesterday’s premiere at a Johannesburg multiplex will be followed by a US debut in January in Washington and one in Nigeria later next year. Aric Noboa, president of Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership, said they hope to broadcast the film and distribute DVDS, along with booklets to

help guide community leaders in conducting post-film discussions.

Films, TV and radio shows, newspaper ads and billboards can get conversations started. But experts at

A nurse speaks with a patient at the Hillcrest Aids Center Trust care center situated at Hillcrest on the outskirts of the city of Durban, South Africa, yesterday. —AP

loveLife, a group that has pioneered a range of programs to teach young South Africans about AIDS, say changing behavior requires keeping the dialogue going long enough for lifesaving messages to sink in. It appears, though, that messages are getting across in South Africa, at least to young people targeted by projects like “Inside Story.” Results released this week from a South African health ministry survey found that infections among 15- to 24-year-olds had dropped from 23.1 percent in 2001 to 21.8 percent in 2010.

But across all age groups, infections are creeping up, and this country of 50 million that has more people - at least 5.5 million - living with HIV than in any other country. The focus on prevention may be becoming even more important.

The cost of treatment is increasing as more people test and go on drugs, and efforts to find a cure or vaccine are advancing slowly and fitfully. According to a UN report released on the eve of World AIDS Day, funding for HIV programs dropped from $15.9 billion in 2009 to $15 billion in 2010, well below the estimated $22 billion to $24 billion the UN says is needed in 2015 for a comprehensive global response. —AP

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Lifestyle

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

US film star Tom Cruise is surrounded by his Japanese fans during a fan meeting to promote his latest movie ‘Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol’ in Tokyo yesterday. —AFP

Tom Cruise

on new world-saving mission impossible

T

om Cruise kicked off the rollout of the fourth installment of his “Mission Impossible” franchise with a limited fan screening in Japan yesterday ahead of its official world premiere next week. Cruise, 49, returns as super-agent Ethan Hunt saving the world yet again in “Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol,” packed with stunts and action scenes, some featuring the world’s tallest building-Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. In the latest in the series of blockbusters that has grossed nearly $1.5 billion worldwide, Impossible Mission Force (IMF) operative Hunt and fellow agents are blamed for a terrorist bombing of the Kremlin and are forced to run.

The agency is dissolved and the groupwithout any resources or backup-must find a way to clear the agency’s name, prevent another attack and avert a nuclear war. Major parts of the film were shot in Dubai, where it will officially open on Dec 7, while the action also takes Hunt to Moscow, Budapest and Mumbai. Paramount Pictures, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc, said Cruise chose to start the film’s tour in Tokyo ahead of the Dubai splash as a gesture to his Japanese fans and the nation that suffered so much from the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and the ensuing nuclear crisis. “I know this country has been through lots this year,” he said after attending a red carpet event where some 1,500 noisy fans

US film star Tom Cruise and actress Paula Patton pose for photographers during a fan meeting. braved the cold to see him. “But I also know the strength and courage of this country and I know you will get through it. And I want you to know how much we love you and the world is thinking of you, and we are here.”

Misao Otsu, a 48-year-old who runs a company trading in cosmetic products, praised Cruise for his work ethic. “I always go to see

Review:

US film star Tom Cruise waves to his fans beside director Brad Bird, actress Paula Patton and producer Bryan Burk during a fan meeting.

these (Mission Impossible) movies on opening day,” she said. “I want the series to continue. What Tom does is beyond what a human being can do.” The film will be released in Japan on Dec 16 and in the United States on Dec 21 with theatrical releases around the world staggered over several weeks. Twotime Academy Award winner Brad Bird direct-

ed the film and the cast includes Jeremy Renner, nominated for an Oscar for his role in the 2008 war film “The Hurt Locker.” Bird won the Oscars for animated films “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille.” Cruise is producing the film with J.J. Abrams who last teamed up with the actor in 2006 for “Mission Impossible III.”—Reuters

‘Sleeping Beauty’ is frustratingly vague

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Bollywood actress Vidya Balan poses during the promotional event of Hindi film ‘The Dirty Picture’ in Mumbai on November 30, 2011. Bollywood’s Vidya Balan, who stars in ‘The Dirty Picture’, has said she hopes her film will encourage a debate about attitudes to women and sexuality in conservative India, where sex is still largely taboo. — AFP

recisely staged but maddeningly obtuse, “Sleeping Beauty” is an artful exercise in pointlessness. Australian novelist Julia Leigh’s first feature as writer and director has an admittedly voyeuristic allure. Lucy (“Sucker Punch” star Emily Browning), a college student of pristine, porcelain beauty, engages in a series of increasingly odd, odd jobs to pay the bills before becoming a lingerie- clad wine-server at elite dinners and, eventually, an unconscious plaything for wealthy old men.

Yes, you read that right. Lucy answers an ad in the university newspaper and Clara (Rachael Blake), the conservative, older woman who hires her for these creepy, private soirees, finds Lucy so blankly lovely, she figures she would be the ideal candidate to serve as a “sleeping beauty” for her clients. All she has to do is take a drug that sedates her, climb naked into bed and let these men do as they wish with her - although as Clara assures her, there will be no penetration. Lucy is told: “You will go to sleep. You will wake up.

It will be as if those hours never existed.”

Leigh depicts this surreal descent matter-of-factly, through assured, long takes in which the camera quite often just holds still and takes in the kinky trappings of this rarefied world. In that regard, it’s similar to this week’s “Shame,” in which a sex-addict’s spiral is presented in mesmerizingly cool aesthetic fashion. But Michael Fassbender’s character undergoes an evolution, rather, devolution, and he is such an excellent actor that he finds both

power and subtlety within this troubled figure. Browning, meanwhile, reveals nothing: when she is awake, she is so passive that she may as well be asleep even as her character snorts coke with a strange woman in a nightclub bathroom or lets a coin toss determine which random, middle-aged man she will sleep with that night. These are merely a series of interludes leading to nothing, and in retrospect seem as if they are aiming to shock us for shock’s sake. Leigh takes the character into deeper and more dangerous psychological territory, but Lucy is such a cipher it is impossible to tell, or care, whether this journey is taking any sort of toll on her.

Ambiguity can be appealing and challenging and all, but “Sleeping Beauty” takes that approach to frustrating extremes, which ultimately proves irreparable. And it makes you wonder what Leigh was trying to say here. As a female filmmaker (with Jane Campion’s seal of approval above the title), she’s fetishizing the notion of a gorgeous, young woman as a living doll, someone whose naked body is meant to be manipulated and discarded. If she is suggesting that Lucy derives power from this arrangement because she agreed to it and she is getting paid for her services, that also ends up being a jumbled notion, since at one point Lucy unceremoniously burns some of her newly earned cash. It is all too empty to achieve the disturbing effect it seeks. “Sleeping Beauty,” an IFC Films release, is unrated but contains sexual situations, nudity, drug use and language. 104 minutes. Two stars out of four. —AP

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Kanye West, Adele, Bruno Mars lead

Grammy choices File photo shows Adele performs on stage during the Brit Awards 2011.

Singer Nicki Minaj performs with LL Cool J at the Grammy Nominations Concert in Los Angeles on November 30, 2011. — AFP

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apper Kanye West led the field of Grammy contenders on Wednesday with seven nominations, including for his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” and his joint venture with Jay-Z “Watch The Throne”. But British singer Adele-whose album “21” is the biggest-selling of 2011 — and R&B artist Bruno Mars were close behind with six apiece, including nods for the three big awards of album, song and record of the year.

Other leading contenders for the major music industry awards show include US alternative rock band Foo Fighters, also with six nominations, while rapper Lil Wayne and newcomer Skrillex had five nominations apiece.

The nominations for the top awards were announced during a televised concert in Los Angeles featuring performances by Lady Gaga, Usher and up-and-coming country singers The Band Perry. Winners in all 78 categories will be announced at the Grammy Awards ceremony and show on Feb 12.

Traditional rock bands were largely missing from the leading categories, with hip-hop artists and female singers including Lady

Gaga, Rihanna and Katy Perry grabbing the spotlight. The best new artist category produced a particularly eclectic mix of female rapper Nicki Minaj, hip-hop artist J Cole, country sensations The Band Perry, house and electropop performer Skrillex and American folk band Bon Iver.

West makes good The seven Grammy nods for West crowned a critical and commercial comeback for the controversial 34 year-old rapper who took a self-imposed hiatus from performing in 2009.

West recorded his best rap album contender “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” in Hawaii after removing himself from the mainstream US music scene following harsh criticism over his 2009 outburst involving country starlet Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.

West, already a 14 time Grammy winner, was also nominated for song of the year for “All of the Lights” and best rap performance with JayZ for “Otis”. Mars, 26, won three of his nominations on the back of his hit song “Grenade” off his debut album “Doo-Waps & Hooligans”. “It

(From left) Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars and Ari Levine are seen backstage.

Bruno Mars announces the nominees for best new artist. feels incredible right now,” Mars told reporters. “I’m so glad the album is being recognized in this way.”“This awards stuff, I’m still trying to get used to it. It’s hard for me as Adele and Kanye West are incredible, so the fact that the album was nominated in same category is amazing,” Mars said. Adele’s six nominations mark the culminations of a momentous year for the 23-year-old singer, who won a Grammy for best new artist in 2009. The sultry soul singer was recognized

both for her album “21”, which has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, as well as her two smash singles “Rolling in the Deep” and “Someone Like You.” But the London-born singer is currently recovering from surgery on her vocal cords in November after suffering repeated voice problems and cancellations during her US tour this year. It is not known whether she will have recovered in time to sing at the Grammy Awards in February. —Reuters

Jason Aldean and Ludacris perform during the Grammy Nominations.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Nominees in key categories for 54th Grammys Record Of The Year: * “Rolling In The Deep” - Adele * “Holocene” - Bon Iver * “Grenade” - Bruno Mars * “The Cave” - Mumford & Sons * “Firework” - Katy Perry Album Of The Year: * “21” - Adele * “Wasting Light” - Foo Fighters * “Born This Way” - Lady Gaga * “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” - Bruno Mars * “Loud” - Rihanna Song Of The Year: * “All Of The Lights” - Kanye West * “The Cave” - Mumford & Sons * “Grenade” - Bruno Mars * “Holocene” - Bon Iver * “Rolling In The Deep” - Adele

(From Left) Singers Common , LL Cool J , Melle Mel and Scorpio perform.

Best New Artist: * The Band Perry * Bon Iver * J Cole * Nicki Minaj * Skrillex Best Pop Solo Performance: * “Someone Like You” - Adele * “You And I” - Lady Gaga * “Grenade” - Bruno Mars * “Firework” - Katy Perry * “Fuckin’ Perfect” - Pink Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: * “Body And Soul” - Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse * “Dearest” - The Black Keys * “Paradise” - Coldplay * “Pumped Up Kicks” - Foster The People * “Moves Like Jagger” - Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera

Singer Lady Gaga performs at the Grammy Nominations Concert.

(From left) Valerie Simpson and Usher perform during a salute to Nick Ashford and Jerry Leiber.

Best Pop Vocal Album: * “21” Adele * “The Lady Killer” - Cee Lo Green * “Born This Way” - Lady Gaga * “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” - Bruno Mars * “Loud” - Rihanna — AFP

Katy Perry announces the nominations for Album of the Year.

Cee Lo Green performs at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting.

File photo shows Dave Grohl, of the Foo Fighters, performs at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles.

US singer and rapper Kanye West performs at Mawazine Festival.

Lifestyle FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

A picture shows a large Doccia porcelain figure of the “Farnese Hercules”, crafted circa 1754-1755, on display at Bonhams auction house during a pre-sale press preview in London yesterday. The large-scale porcelain sculpture is inspired by a type of classical iconography depicting Hercules and goes to auction during the Fine European Ceramics sale on December 7. The work is estimated to fetch between 300,000 and 500,000 British pounds (471,000 - 784,000 US dollars). —AFP

Superman comic soars to new $2.16m record

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pristine first edition of the inaugural Superman comic book, originally costing just 10 cents, has sold for a record-breaking $2.16 million at auction.

The 1938 copy of Action Comics, in which Superman debuted, smashed a $1.5 million record set last year when it went under the hammer late Wednesday. Auctioneers ComicConnect.com said it was “the most important comic book in the history of comics” and the “introduction of the archetype of all other heroes to come.”

The comic’s cover features the red-caped superhero lifting a green car, while bystanders run in panic. One reason for the unusually good condition of the book is that for 50 years it lay unnoticed tucked inside an old movie magazine. —AFP

In this image released by Metropolis Collectibles /ComicConnect, Corp, the cover of “Action Comics No 1” is shown. —AP

Ski trail maps use artist’s hand-painted panoramas

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f you’ve ever gone skiing at an unfamiliar resort without getting lost, chances are you have James Niehues to thank. Niehues, 65, is the man behind the trail map. His hand-painted panoramas have been reproduced into millions of pocket-sized maps handed out by ski resorts in North America, Japan, South Korea, China, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Serbia. “His trail maps are as much a part of the sport as snow,” said Greg Ditrinco, executive editor of Ski Magazine.

That’s high praise for a fellow whose formal art training consisted of a “learn to draw” mail-order course, taken in ninth grade while home sick from school. Niehues always wanted to find a job that “had a little art.” After the Army, he worked as an offset pressman, an ad layout artist and a designer before contacting Bill Brown, who painted the majority of the ski maps in the 1970s and 1980s. Niehues went to Brown looking for some encouragement, but left with a commission. Brown was moving away from maps and into video, and asked Niehues to take over painting an inset for a Winter Park, Colorado, trail map.

From his start in 1987 until today, Niehues has painted about 300 panoramas, mostly of ski resorts, but also of golf courses, hiking trails, resort property and tourist regions. His style is distinctive. He paints from an aerial perspective, distorted if necessary to bring a labyrinth of runs and mountain faces into a single plane. “That’s why I’ve lasted so long doing what I do,” explained Niehues. “Every ski slope is a puzzle to me; to turn all those slopes so you can get the best view. “ Niehues works out of a well-organized basement studio in the modest house he shares in Loveland Park, Colorado, with his wife, Dora, who

handles the business end of things.

To craft a map, Niehues researches his subject, checking satellite images on Google Earth, existing maps, blueprints and photographs. Then, whenever possible, he visits the resort, taking photographs from the air while being flown over at various altitudes. “By the time I get down from the flight I know what

watercolor, on a 30-by-40 inch prepared illustration board. This method allows him to lift the color and update sections as resorts change over the years. Small ski areas might require three days of painting, while large resorts require 10, depending on the number of trees.

Regional representations can take up to three weeks. Niehues licenses the image

James Niehues working on the Mt Hood Skibowl, Ore, trail map at his studio.—AP perspective I can get to represent the mountain,” he said. If he can’t make the flight personally, he asks the resort to supply aerial photographs. Niehues starts by providing the client with a couple of small sketches, followed by a large pencil on vellum drawing. The sketch time can take from a day to a week, depending on the size of the resort.

Once he gets the client’s approval, he begins painting in gouache, an opaque

to the client, but he maintains the copyright. His most lucrative job was $13,500 for a regional map, six years ago. “If there were two really good artists in this business, we’d both starve,” he said.

Niehues will sketch one resort while painting another, but he only paints one at a time.

“I tried doing several at a time in my early career. It was Oklahoma but they would end up looking similar and I didn’t like that,” he explained. — AP

Stars

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Aries (March 21-April 19) Things are definitely happening and your vocation or path will depend upon your own ambition and effort—which are strong now. Being in a position to use good commonsense helps you make the right moves. This is a time to get ahead by taking action. Let your intuition be your guide. You may realize just how much beauty you have in your life and in those around you. By the same token, everything could take on added value and importance. There could be much temptation to overspend or indulge in expensive pastimes just now. Just remember that you must pay to play and the bills still come due. Enjoy this time, but be realistic as well. A loved one needs your support more than ever this evening. Show your concern by listening.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) This is a super day to get things accomplished. Good hand and eye coordination and a concentrated effort make most tasks run well. You may feel like getting out of doors to enjoy the sunshine and lift your energy a little during the noon break. Walking will provide you with a good chance to think without being interrupted so much and walking will help increase stamina. This activity done regularly promises to also help increase your work productivity, if that is needed. Patience with a co-worker friend pays off this afternoon. Your effort to help another person does not go unnoticed. If you do not have the tires checked on your car or bicycle, you might get another chance to walk this evening. Keep mechanical things in good shape.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) You may find yourself feeling more reserved lately, more like sharing some time with your lover or with close friends.

Possibly this is not a time when you will feel like being very outgoing or wanting to present yourself to the world. Your feelings are more reflective than expressive just now. There is probably a lot on your mind. You may find work issues have gained your attention most of today. Overhearing conversations of co-workers, you may gain some smart ways to handle difficult projects. Close relationships are more emotionally powerful at this time. Feeling cared for and needed is a great feeling and you enjoy finding ways to make close friends and family members feel close to you. The late evening is just wonderful for romance.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) It’s not hard to see what you care about and value. Your sense of appreciation is sharpened and in high focus. You may find it easy to bring together a group of people with your words or ideas that move others. Being able to talk with superiors and describe what you see is a big plus in your favor. This is a good day for practical job-related thoughts.

Although you are full of self-confidence, it would not be a good idea to overload your schedule just now. Great feelings and a sense of support and harmony make this a positive time. You may find a kind of romantic sentimentality characterizing your approach to life. Possibly longing for a soul mate or yearning to save the world; it could mean carrying a torch, as well. Ah, sweet love.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Self-expression is at a high, you should find acceptance for your particular ideas and thoughts. You could be most convincing in your speech and communication. You are really beginning to notice the results of working on having better health. The result of this work is in the form of a good amount of energy to meet the requirements you set forth for yourself each day. It’s an important time to think about your own situation—asking where you want to invest your time in a business. Your emotions in particular, or the feelings of those around you, may be very clear. You attach a great deal of importance to friendships and taking part in group activities that center on visionary goals. This is a day of major progress in many aspects of your life.

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Because of a very strong urge to feel good about yourself and the way that you get things done, you could be looking seriously at much improvement in your physical well-being. You will find yourself establishing a sound program for yourself. New methods of getting things in order and keeping them that way may be among your first goals.

Diet and exercise could be another area that demands your attention. A good nutritional regimen as well as some daily exercise will go a long way in helping you to attain the stature that you so desire; you will certainly encourage others. Your ambition will increase. Those around you truly appreciate your ability to make commonsense decisions on their behalf. Pay attention . . . more money will be available.

Libra (September 23-October 22) A very strong need for nurturing is present in your life at this time. You may feel yourself getting wide-eyed over some pet in the pet store or a wounded bird. Use this tendency to volunteer your energy this holiday season toward helping others. Make a promise to yourself to follow through this year and really help. Mentally, you are very perceptive.

Your analytical abilities are at a high point. This afternoon could find you engaged in some in-depth discussions and exploratory conversations— especially in the workplace. Being able to communicate and get your message across to others is at a pinnacle just now. Your timing should be just about as good as it can get. You will be receiving some down-to-earth advice from a trusted friend tonight.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Being with and working with others should be quite pleasurable at this time. Someone in charge of a special task could be seeking you out to take on important responsibilities in the workplace. This should be right up your alley—your directional abilities are in high focus. It is essential to your well-being that you come to grips with some things from your past. You fully realize that it is wisdom and not always knowledge that really means the most: experience. Sympathy and understanding are emotional capabilities that take on a much greater importance in your life. You may find yourself getting in touch with mystical and spiritual things and this gives you a feeling of satisfaction and completeness. Pleasant family communications come from afar this evening.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You may find yourself in anything but an ambitious mood lately—almost unrealistic and dreamy and very much at odds with your more sensible duties. Friends and associates may have difficulty in going along with your dreamy side just now. You too may find that you are not really able to lose yourself in your imaginings. It is possible that both your personal growth and your career depend on how you handle the very sensitive material that faces you now. You will benefit from perceptive insights and getting to the heart of a matter. It pays to be thorough. Appreciating things of value could be the order of the day. Material things will be important just now. A word from you is just the thing to smooth over a stressed relationship this evening.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) To get the necessary things accomplished, you will probably have to take the lead, particularly in a group situation today.

You could realize great support from those around you, or you may find that circumstances dictate your taking action. You should feel ready to conquer most any project at this time. Reflecting on your life situation should help you realize just how much you enjoy where you find yourself in life at this time.

You may feel very compassionate toward a friend or loved one now.

Someone may pay you a very nice compliment on your judgment or on your personal apparel. Your friends may have a very special use for your talents.

This may mean you will volunteer to cook or teach others how to cook some special meals for the holiday season.

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You move forward now in your profession and in your personal life. It may be time to look for that home or ask someone to marry you. You have always depended upon your friends, ideals and social involvement to bring you emotional sustenance and a feeling of security.

Now you will be building your own firm foundation. Some changes are imminent, as a desire to break away from the things of the past that are incomplete, old fashioned or just plain worn out come to your attention. You will have space for something new, different and unique to come into your life and help you obtain a new perspective on things. You have time to spend with a friend this evening and there is much laughter and light communication to share. Life is good.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Mental practice should come easily to you, so put your mind to work and take care of any details you may have. Problems and obstacles should find some easy explanations under your keen examination. You should be feeling a close rapport with others just now and find the lines of communication wide open. All of the support that you need should be available. This is a time when you can expect some kind of support or recognition from those around you. You appreciate what is aboveboard and sincere and have a special loathing for what is secret, intense and private. This afternoon is a good time to make holiday purchases and schedule parties. You and a loved one or friend will enjoy a performance of this season’s celebration.

COUNTRY CODES Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African Republic 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands)0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062 Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686

Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland)0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK)0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677 Somalia 00252 South Africa 0027 South Korea 0082 Spain 0034 Sri Lanka 0094 Sudan 00249 Suriname 00597 Swaziland 00268 Sweden 0046 Switzerland 0041 Syria 00963 Taiwan 00886 Tanzania 00255 Thailand 0066 Toga 00228 Tonga 00676 Tokelau 00690 Trinidad 001868 Tunisia 00216 Turkey 0090 Tuvalu 00688 Uganda 00256 Ukraine 00380 United Arab Emirates00976

W h a t ’s O n FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Upcoming events Christmas Carol concert The Ahmadi Music Group will be holding a fantastic Christmas Carol Concert on December 9 and 10 at New English School (NES) from 5pm both days with an adult show at 7:30pm on both days, in which Santa will be making an appearance, and the children can get involved with singing, waving jingle bells, etc. Guaranteed Christmas fun for the whole family!

Aware Arabic courses “The AWARE Management is glad to inform you that Winter 1 Arabic language courses will begin on November 20th, 2011 until January 12th, 2012. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind.

For more information or registration, call 25335260/80 ext 105/104/0 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw.”

‘Sangeerthanam 2011’

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hyagabrahmam music troupe members from Cochin led by renowned musician T S Radhakrishnanji and playback singer Ravisankar are being received at the Kuwait

International Airport yesterday. The troupe is here to present a musical program titled ‘Sangeerthanam 2011’ today from 6 pm onwards at the Indian community School (Senior Girls), Salmiya.

Cinemagic hosts a month of movies FANTASTIC MR.FOX Saturday, December 3rd at 7:30pm An urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers’ retaliation.

12 ANGRY MEN Saturday, December 17th at 7:30pm A dissenting juror in a murder trial slowly manages to convince the others that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court.

WE LIVE IN PUBLIC Thursday, December 8th at 7:30pm A documentary focusing on the life of dot-com entrepreneur Josh Harris, and his exploits over the last decade.

THE DEVIL AND DANIEL JOHNSTON Thursday, December 22nd at 7:30pm Daniel Johnston, manic-depressive genius singer/songwriter/artist is revealed in this portrait of madness, creativity and love.

THE ICE STORM Saturday, December 10th at 7:30pm 1973, suburban Connecticut: middle class families experimenting with casual sex, drink, etc., find their lives out of control.

THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY DRINKER Thursday, December 15th at 7:30pm This is an enchanting, mesmeric fable. It tells the story of an alcoholic who strives for redemption, but is cheated out of attaining it again and again - either by drink or friends or any of the myriad pleasures life throws at us. And yet somehow miraculously - the drinker’s soul remainsintact; his final mission frustrated, temporarily foresaken but never entirely forgotten.

Open doors at the embassy of Peru

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he embassy of Peru holds every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday “Welcome Kuwait Open Doors Days” from 9 am to 1 pm. Prior appointment is not necessary to all who will come and visit the “Expo Peru Tour, Trade and Investment Room”. The Expo and Investment Room features detailed information on products and tourism sectors of Peru that offer profitable investments as well as answer questions. The Open Doors event will be held in Sharq, Ahmed Al-Jaber Street, Al-Arabiya Tower, Sixth Floor.

RARE EXPORTS: A CHRISTMAS TALE Saturday, December 24th at 7:30pm In the depths of the Korvatunturi mountains, 486 metres deep, lies the closest ever guarded secret of Christmas. The time has come to dig it up! This Christmas everyone will believe in Santa Claus.

BRAZIL Thursday, December 29th at 7:30pm A bureaucrat in a retro-future world tries to correct an administrative error and himself becomes an enemy of the state.

Cinemagic movies are screened in the old Salmiya, on the roof on top of Alghanim Electronics and LG.

La Leche to hold a meeting

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a Leche will hold a meeting on December 12th from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at the L’Ali Al-Badri Building in Salmiya (Qatar Street, across from the Boulevard construction site, about 500 metres from City Centre. Little Caesar’s Pizza is at the foot of the building).

For directions call Raj Alvis at 6991-342. La Leche League (LLL) is an international, non-profit organization that provides mother-tomother support, encouragement, information and education for women who breastfeed their children. If you are currently breastfeeding your baby or small child, or are pregnant and intend to breastfeed your baby (or are considering it but have questions) and would like to meet up with others mums who breastfeed, then LLL is for you! This meeting is for pregnant women and breastfeeding moms only.

Talent Hunt Wesal Media Team is organizing a new concept competition for little talents in Kuwait. This competition is for children ages 6-12 years who have excellent talents in singing, dancing, drawing, etc. All interested little talents are welcome to participate. To sign-up, just visit their website and register your child. The final announcements will be published in a short event at Discovery Mall with famous singers and actors in Kuwait. For more information: 97547705 Silsila Ye Chahat Ka Youth icon for the millions Shreya Ghoshal will be performing live in Kuwait on Friday, 9th Dec. 2011. ICS is now all set to present “Silsila Ye Chahat Ka” with Shreya Ghoshal at Al Jeel Al Jadeed School, Hawally. The mega evening is organised by Indian Cultural Society.

New Year Hangama The RAK Dance Academy (RDA) Kuwait, is planning to put a charity event as celebration of its New Year Hangama 2012, on 31st December, 2011, from 6 pm onwards, at Carmel School Khaitan. All participants are well known artists from Kuwait. The main purpose of this celebration is to collect donations and raise money for supporting handicapped children in India. contributions from you. Your attendance is your donation. Please join for an evening for a good cause. Call 99692266, 65925730 for details.

Indian Lawyers’ Forum picnic today Indian Lawyers’ Forum, the association of Indian Lawyers & Law Graduates in Kuwait, conducts its annual family picnic today 10.30 am to 3.30 pm at Mishref Gardens Kuwait.

Several family entertainments are planned. All Indian lawyers are invited to join with family for this picnic. For more information please contact 24346934, Mob. 97203939, 97260159 Email. advpanicker@gmail.com Aware Center Arabic lessons The AWARE Management is glad to inform you that Winter 1 Arabic language courses will begin on November 20th, 2011 until January 12th, 2012. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind. The environment is relaxed and courses are designed for those wanting to learn Arabic for travel, cultural understanding, and conducting business or simply to become more involved in the community. We cater to teachers, travelers & those working in the private business sector. Arabic classes at the AWARE Center are unique because students are provided with the chance to practice their Arabic through various social activities that aim at bringing Arabs and Westerners together.

AWARE Arabic courses highlight: • Introductory to Level 4 Arabic language basics • Better prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic • Combine language learning with cultural insights • Taught in multi-nationality group settings • Provide opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs.

For more information or registration, call 25335260/80 ext 105/104/0 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw.

W h a t ’s O n FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Sharda University - learning beyond boundaries A progressive global university in India visits Kuwait

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harda University, the only full-fledged university participating in the ongoing India Education Exhibition 2011, at United Indian School Auditorium, Abbasiya today and tomorrow, is a multi-disciplinary establishment aiming to foster global outlook amongst its students.

With an international student body of over 400 students from 23 countries and a highly competent global faculty, Sharda University offers students a lively environment where collaborative interactions and application-based learning methodologies are emphasized in order to mold professionals who can meld into the global marketplace.

The university is an internationally recognized, privately funded Uttar Pradesh State University, approved by Government of India’s University Grants Commission, and with all relevant professional accreditations from statutory councils like the Medical Council of India and the Dental Council of India. Located in Greater Noida, New Delhi, Sharda University is part of Sharda Group of Institutions (SGI), the pioneer in providing progressive professional education in North India. With over 22,000 students, 1,200 faculty members and campuses spread across167 acres of land in Mathura, Agra and Greater Noida, SGI is also the largest educational Group in North India offering world-class education since 1995.

Ashok Daryani, President Corporate and International Relations at Sharda University, who was in Kuwait to participate in the ongoing India Education Exhibition 2011, taking place at the United Indian School in Abbasiya, spoke to the media about what makes Sharda University unique among other institutions of higher learning in India. Detailing the Sharda Advantage, Daryani said, “With the aim of developing skilled professionals with competitive abilities and creating a benchmark for holistic learning in India, Sharda University trains its students to gain world-class competencies that equip them to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving knowledge-based world.”

At Sharda University a highly proficient international faculty, well-versed in modern teaching methodologies, guide students in using the latest tools and innovative technologies and to learn in a lively, stimulating and applicationsbased environment. Our 63-acre fully integrated campus in Greater Noida is one of India’s leading holistic learning centers with world-class facilities and a growing reputation for excellence in research and teaching, added Daryani.

Elaborating on the University’s ongoing academic collaborations with more than thirty universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland and China among others,

Daryani said, “With a focus on contributing and working efficiently, effectively and confidently in a highly competitive globalized world, our credit-based student exchange programs give students the option to continue their studies in Engineering, Management, Architecture, Biotechnology or other subjects at collaborating universities abroad. Also, for our Business Management programs, we make it mandatory for our students, at no additional charge, to spend a short term studying at one of our foreign partner-institutions.

Another signature aspect of our university is our strength in industry placements, continued Daryani. With a systematic process in place to meet our objective of 100 percent placement, we merge students’ career aspirations with corporate expectations. To achieve this consistently, we leverage our relationships with leading industries to develop in our students the needed creative and analytical skills as well as professional values and modern attitudes that enable them to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s world.

With the aim of nurturing and encouraging talented students the University offers 100 percent scholarship on tuition fees for selected meritorious students, with above 96 percent marks in +2, for their Engineering Graduate courses. In

addition, the University offers 10 to 20 percent tuition fee waiver scholarships in many other programs as well.

“The students in Engineering, Humanities and Management streams also receive the opportunity for international visits and training under collaborative exchange programs with overseas universities without any extra fee. The University has experienced faculties from many foreign countries thereby making learning at Sharda University truly global,” said P.S. Manoj Kumar coordinator for Middle-East Region.

Medical education at Sharda is with ample exposure to diverse type of patients and the 750bed tertiary care multi-specialty hospital is a much sought after health care institution in North India.

Coupled with strict discipline, infrastructure, global exposure, scholarship schemes and international collaborations, Sharda University is the ideal destination for aspiring students for higher studies in India for 100+ courses, including MBBS, BDS, BArch, Engineering, Law and Management streams.

Officials of the University will be available for consultations and counseling in Kuwait on December 2nd and 3rd at the India Education Exhibition Kuwait being held at the United Indian School, Abbasiya, Kuwait.

Gateway to knowledge - India Education Exhibition Kuwait opens today

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ndia Education Exhibition 2011, showcasing seven exhibitors from India representing over twenty reputed educational institutions and offering hundreds of courses, will be inaugurated today, at the United Indian School auditorium in Abbasiya by Susan Roy, Principal, United Indian School.

Renowned institutions of higher learning from Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi will be represented under one-roof at the two-day exhibition, which will be open from 11am to 8pm on both days. This comprehensive educational event will be offering over 100 professional and vocational courses, as well as individual career counseling and spot admission applications. Academic professionals from colleges participating in the show will provide all the information needed for parents and children to make informed choices on current educational opportunities available in India.

NRI parents and, more importantly, their children, are often quite unprepared for the realities of the higher education process in India. Academic counseling professionals emphasize the importance of students having a clear understanding of basic requirements before selecting a course.

Enrolling for a particular specialization just because the course is popular or in demand does not make any sense, especially if the student has no aptitude for the chosen subject. It is crucial that children undergo professional evaluation to determine their aptitude as well as to assess their abilities and capabilities so that they can be guided along the right career path.

Several institutions participating in the show have scholarships and collaborations with universities in United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand. Among the leading aca-

demic establishments taking part in the India Education Exhibition are PSNA College of Engineering, MVJ College of Medical Sciences, Sharda University and Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering and Technology.

Located among the scenic Kodai Hills, PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, has all the credentials to make it among the leading engineering institutions in the country.

With over 4,500 students and catered to by more than 600 dedicated teaching and non-teaching staff, PSNA College has to its credit the fact that some of the top industrial houses in India vie with each other to recruit students from PSNA. For instance, in 2010, out of the 450 students who passed out, 400 were immediately absorbed by national industries and the remaining 50 were not absorbed because they chose to continue higher qualifications.

On a similar note, in an attestation of the preeminence of faculty, state-of-the-art learning facilities and modern infrastructure at M.V.J. Medical College & Research Hospital, many of the leading doctors and medical professionals in Karnataka state select this college for their children who choose a medical career. Besides conferring graduates with MBBS degree, the college also offers Post-Graduate degree courses in 12 disciplines, and Post-Graduate Diploma Courses in six disciplines. A 640-bed multi-specialty research hospital caters to the clinical material necessary for effective medical training at the college. Within less than a decade of its existence, the college has spearheaded a medical revolution in the country by providing holistic medical education to tomorrow’s global medical professionals.

The only full-fledged university participating in the exhibition is Sharda University from Greater Noida in New Delhi.

Part of Sharda Group of Institutions (SGI), North India’s

largest educational Group with more than 22,000 enrolled students, Sharda University offers a multi-disciplinary academic environment with medical, engineering and business colleges within the same university campus. The university with its international faculty, cutting-edge infrastructure, application-based learning and academic collaborations with over thirty international universities is becoming the choice among students looking for a global exposure to learning.

Established in 1998 the Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering and Technology (SVCET) enjoys reputation as one of the finest engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh.

Located just 40km from Vellore in Tamilnadu, the college currently offers six undergraduate engineering programs in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science and Information Technology and nine Masters Degree programs.

A multi-cultural environment at SVCET is fostered by intake of students not only from India but also from Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, UAE, Malaysia, Tanzania and Sudan. Speaking about the college’s international student body, Dr. Mohan Babu, Dean of International Relations at SVCET said, “With the aim of developing SVCET into a globally accredited institution, we have created an international ambience in the campus that is reflected in the strictly monitored hostel life that is comfortable, safe and secure.”

Some of the other participating colleges in the exhibition are Park College of Engineering Technology, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu; Srinivasa Academy of Education, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh and KMCH Group of Nursing, Pharmacy, Engineering, Arts& Science Colleges, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, among others. The India Education Exhibition is organized by Synergy International and Li Max Events India, in association with Response Events and Exhibitions, Kuwait.

TV Listings FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

11:50 12:20 Junior 13:15 14:10 15:05 15:30 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 Junior 22:25

00:50 I Was Bitten 01:45 Animal Cops Phoenix 02:40 Life Of Mammals 03:35 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 04:30 I Was Bitten 05:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 06:20 Animal Cops Phoenix 07:10 SSPCA: On The Wildside 08:00 Monkey Life 08:25 The Really Wild Show 08:50 Baby Planet 09:40 Breed All About It 10:10 Trophy Cats 11:05 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 12:00 Animal Cops Houston 12:55 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 13:50 World Wild Vet 14:45 Animal Cops Phoenix 15:40 Life Of Mammals 16:30 Monkey Life 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Panda Adventures With Nigel Marven 18:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 19:20 Bad Dog 20:15 Monkey Life 20:40 Breed All About It 21:10 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 22:05 Life Of Mammals 23:00 Whale Wars 23:55 Untamed & Uncut

00:40 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:15 03:45 04:10 04:40 04:50 05:00 05:15 05:20 05:40 06:00 06:10 06:20 06:35 06:40 07:00 07:10 07:30 07:40 07:50 08:05 08:10 08:30 08:40 09:00 09:10 09:20 09:35 09:45 10:05 10:15 10:40 11:10 11:40 12:25 13:25 13:55 14:25 14:55 15:20 16:20 17:20 18:05 18:35 19:05 20:00 21:00 21:45 22:20 23:05

00:00 00:30 01:00 01:30 01:45 02:00 02:30 02:45 03:00 03:30 03:45 04:00 04:30

Married, Single, Other One Foot In The Grave My Family The Weakest Link Big Cat Diary Big Bear Diary One Foot In The Grave 3rd & Bird Bobinogs Boogie Beebies Poetry Pie Tweenies Fimbles 3rd & Bird Bobinogs Boogie Beebies Poetry Pie Tweenies Charlie and Lola Fimbles 3rd & Bird Bobinogs Boogie Beebies Poetry Pie Tweenies Charlie and Lola Fimbles 3rd & Bird Bobinogs Boogie Beebies Poetry Pie Tweenies Charlie and Lola Fimbles One Foot In The Grave My Family The Weakest Link Coast Doctors EastEnders Big Cat Diary Big Bear Diary My Family Coast The Weakest Link Doctors EastEnders Big Cat Diary Coast The Weakest Link Doctors Doctor Who Married, Single, Other

BBC World News America Hardtalk BBC World News World Business Report Sport Today BBC World News America Asia Business Report Sport Today BBC World News Asia Business Report Sport Today Newsday Asia Business Report

South Beach Classics American Chopper: Senior vs Ultimate Survival Dual Survival Swamp Brothers Cash Cab Us Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Overhaulin’ Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings How It’S Made How Stuff’S Made Cash Cab Us American Chopper: Senior vs Carfellas

00:40 The Gadget Show 01:05 The Tech Show 01:35 Monster Moves 02:25 Green Wheels 02:50 Bang Goes The Theory 03:40 Brainiac 04:35 The Gadget Show 05:25 How Stuff’s Made 05:50 Monster Moves 06:40 Stuntdawgs 07:10 Invisible Worlds 08:00 Scrapheap Challenge 08:50 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 09:40 The Tech Show 10:10 Weird Connections 10:35 The Gadget Show 11:25 Invisible Worlds 12:20 Sci-Fi Science 12:45 How Stuff’s Made 13:15 Bang Goes The Theory 14:05 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 14:55 Stuntdawgs 15:20 Green Wheels 15:50 Monster Moves 16:40 Weird Connections 17:05 Scrapheap Challenge 18:00 Brainiac 18:50 Sci-Fi Science 19:15 The Tech Show 19:40 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 20:30 How The Universe Works 21:20 The Future Of...

22:10 The Gadget Show

CLASH OF THE TITANS ON OSN CINEMA 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 Newsday 06:30 Asia Business Report 06:45 Sport Today 07:00 Newsday 07:30 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 World Business Report 11:45 Sport Today 12:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 BBC World News 14:30 World Business Report 14:45 Sport Today 15:00 GMT With George Alagiah 16:00 Impact 16:30 Talking Books 17:00 Impact 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 World Have Your Say 19:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 19:30 BBC World News 19:40 Weekend World 20:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 BBC World News 21:30 Middle East Business Report 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Have Your Say Extra 22:40 Weekend World 23:00 BBC World News 23:30 Talking Books

00:20 00:50 01:15 01:40 02:10 02:30 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:05 04:20 04:40 04:55 05:10 05:25 05:35 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:50 07:00 07:15 07:45 08:00 08:15 08:45 09:10 09:20 09:35 10:05 10:15 Pooh 10:30 10:45 11:35 11:45 12:10 12:30 12:45 13:10 13:25

Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’S Circus Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’S Circus Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Higglytown Heroes Higglytown Heroes Jo Jo’S Circus Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Higglytown Heroes Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Mickey Mouse Clubhouse The Hive Handy Manny Jake & The Neverland Pirates The Hive Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Jungle Junction Mickey Mouse Clubhouse The Hive Little Einsteins Imagination Movers Jake & The Neverland Pirates Lazytown Handy Manny Jungle Junction

13:40 Imagination Movers 14:05 The Hive 14:15 Special Agent Oso 14:25 Lazytown 15:15 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 16:55 Imagination Movers 17:20 Lazytown 17:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 18:35 The Hive 18:45 Handy Manny 18:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 19:25 The Little Mermaid 19:50 Special Agent Oso 20:05 Animated Stories 20:10 The Hive 20:20Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 20:40 The Hive 20:50 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:20 The Hive 21:30 Imagination Movers 21:55 Little Einsteins 22:20 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 22:35 Jungle Junction

00:15 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25

Swamp Brothers Dual Survival Overhaulin’ Dirty Jobs Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’S Made How It’S Made Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Overhaulin’ How It’S Made Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings Ultimate Biker Challenge

00:00 00:25 01:15 02:00 02:50 03:35 04:25 05:15 06:00 06:20 06:45 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:35 09:00 09:15 09:25 09:35 09:50 10:15 10:30 10:50 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:45 13:10 13:30 13:55 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:15 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:50 23:15

Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Replacements Emperor’s New School Stitch Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody Shake It Up Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction The Hive Handy Manny Imagination Movers Phineas And Ferb Emperor’s New School Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Fish Hooks Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Johnny Tsunami Emperor’s New School Fish Hooks Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:15 Samurai Jack 00:40 Megas XLR 01:05 Robotboy 01:30 Squirrel Boy 01:55 George Of The Jungle 02:20 Cramp Twins 02:45 Chop Socky Chooks 03:10 Best Ed 03:35 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 04:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:25 Generator Rex 04:50 Adventure Time 05:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 05:40 Chowder 05:55 Powerpuff Girls 06:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 06:55 I Am Weasel 07:20 Squirrel Boy 07:45 Cow & Chicken 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:25 Angelo Rules 08:50 Best Ed 09:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 09:40 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 10:05 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 10:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 10:55 Cow & Chicken 11:20 I Am Weasel 11:35 Adventure Time 12:00 Ben 10 12:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 12:50 The Secret Saturdays 13:15 Samurai Jack 13:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 14:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 14:30 Skunk Fu! 14:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 15:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 15:40 Ed, Edd n Eddy 16:05 Camp Lazlo 16:30 Chowder 16:55 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 17:25 Cow & Chicken 17:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 18:15 I Am Weasel 18:40 George Of The Jungle

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 25 Celebrity Near Death Experiences 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Dirty Soap 10:1525 Hottest Hollywood Cougar Tales 12:05 E! News 13:05 Bridalplasty 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Giuliana & Bill 15:30 E!es 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 17:55 E! News 18:55 E!es 19:55 Style Star 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Giuliana & Bill 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately

00:00 00:50 01:40 02:30 03:20 04:10 05:00 05:50 06:40 07:30 09:00 Africa 09:25 11:05 11:55 12:45 14:25 15:15 16:05 16:55 17:45 Africa

I’ll Do Anything Untracked Mantracker World Combat League Untracked I’ll Do Anything Run Up Mantracker World Combat League Ride Guide Snow 2008 Kenny Belaey’s Big Time South Alli Presents X Games Heroes X Games 17 2011 I’ll Do Anything Carpocalypse World Combat League Dr Danger Tread BMX Kenny Belaey’s Big Time South

TV Listings FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

18:10 19:50 20:40 22:20 23:10

00:40 01:30 02:15 03:05 03:50 04:40 05:25 06:15 07:10 08:00 08:50 09:40 10:25 11:10 11:35 11:55 12:40 13:25 14:15 15:00 15:25 15:50 16:35 17:20 18:10 19:00 19:45 20:10 20:55 21:20 22:10 23:00

Alli Presents X Games Heroes I’ll Do Anything X Games 17 2011 World Combat League

Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Psychic Witness Cuff Me If You Can Forensic Justice Dr G: Medical Examiner Psychic Witness Ghost Lab Mystery Diagnosis FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared Murder Shift Mystery Diagnosis Real Emergency Calls Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery Diagnosis Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Disappeared True CSI

00:15 00:40 01:05 01:30 01:55 02:45 03:35 04:25 05:40 06:05 06:30 06:50 07:35 08:00 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:30 10:55 11:20 11:45 12:10 12:35 13:25 13:50 14:15 15:05 15:55 16:20 16:45 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:55 19:15

Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam Kid In A Candy Store World Cafe Asia Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Barefoot In London Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives - Special Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam Unwrapped Chef vs Britain Paula’s Best Dishes Food Network Challenge Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics Chopped Guy’s Big Bite Everyday Italian Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives - Special Paula’s Best Dishes Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics Kid In A Candy Store Guy’s Big Bite Unwrapped Paula’s Party Everyday Italian Paula’s Best Dishes World Cafe Middle East Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives - Special Unwrapped Good Eats - Special Chopped Guy’s Big Bite Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics Kid In A Candy Store Everyday Italian Lidia’s Italy

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 09:45 12:00 14:00 15:45 17:45 20:00 22:15

The Butterfly Effect 3: Revelations Gothika-18 The Grudge 3-18 Altitude-PG15 Annihilation Earth-PG15 The Hunt For Red October-PG15 Ransom-PG15 Annihilation Earth-PG15 Bad Girls-PG15 Ransom-PG15 Windtalkers-PG15 The Descent 2-18

01:00 03:15 05:15 07:15 09:00 11:00 13:00 14:45 17:00 PG15 19:00 21:00 23:00

Of Gods And Men-18 Clash Of The Titans-PG15 Make It Happen-PG15 Fly Me To The Moon-PG Freestyle (2010)-PG15 Make It Happen-PG15 Love The Beast-PG Mammoth-PG15 Swansong: Story Of Occi ByrneDinner For Schmucks-PG15 Crazy-18 The Heavy-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 Weeds 02:00 Louie 02:30 South Park 03:00 Friends 04:00 According To Jim 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 06:00 Yes Dear 06:30 Just Shoot Me 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 According To Jim 08:30 Friends 09:00 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 09:30 Community 10:00 Wilfred 10:30 Just Shoot Me 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Yes Dear 12:30 According To Jim 13:00 Friends 13:30 The New Adventures Of Old Christine 14:00 Just Shoot Me 14:30 Wilfred 15:00 Community 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Yes Dear 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Raising Hope 18:30 The Office 19:00 Community

00:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00

The X Factor (US) Look-A-Like Rescue Me Eureka Alias Good Morning America Law & Order Emmerdale

08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:30 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00

Look-A-Like The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View The X Factor (US) Look-A-Like Alias Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Tower Prep Glee The X Factor (US) Survivor: South Pacific

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:30 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00

The Glades Rescue Me Century City The X Factor (US) Look-A-Like Eureka The Glades Tower Prep Bones Eureka The X Factor (US) Look-A-Like Tower Prep The Ellen DeGeneres Show Bones The Glades Tower Prep The Ellen DeGeneres Show White Collar Glee

01:00 Sugarhouse-18 03:00 Fighting-PG15 05:00 Dark Moon Rising-PG15 07:00 The Stepfather-PG15 09:00 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice-PG15 11:00 Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief-PG15 13:00 Stonehenge Apocalypse-PG15 15:00 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice-PG15

17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Rocky-PG15 District 13: Ultimatum-18 Jason X-18 The Morgue-PG15

19:00 Cemetery Junction-PG15 21:00 Super-18 23:00 The Hurt Locker-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Finding Lenny-PG15 Moon Over Parador-PG15 The Fighting Temptations-PG15 All About Steve-PG15 Love Happens-PG15 Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Jr.-PG Nativity!-PG Saved!-PG15 Finding Lenny-PG15 It’s Complicated-PG15 The Last Supper-PG15 The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who...-18

00:30 Columbus III: The New World-PG 02:15 The Thief Of Baghdad-PG 03:45 The Karate Kid-PG 06:15 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard-PG 08:15 Tom Tom & Nana-FAM 10:00 Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel-FAM 12:00 Garfield-PG 14:00 The Karate Kid-PG 16:30 Zorro’s Secrets-PG 18:15 Alvin And The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel-FAM 20:15 Garfield-PG

00:45 03:00 05:00 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 14:45 16:45 19:00 21:00 23:00

Coach Carter-PG15 The Last Station-PG15 Inside Job-PG15 A Simple Twist Of Fate-PG15 Teen Knight-PG15 Adam-PG15 Ed-PG Simon Birch-PG Blues Brothers 2000-PG15 Funny Bones-PG15 Romeo Is Bleeding-18 Kings And Queen-18

01:00 03:00 05:00 PG15 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00

Drag Me To Hell-18 Astro Boy-FAM Everybody Wants To Be ItalianThe A-Team-PG15 Fantastic Mr. Fox-FAM Alabama Moon-PG15 Shrek Forever After-FAM Toy Story 3-FAM Fantastic Mr. Fox-FAM

THE SORCERERʼS APPRENTICE ON OSN MOVIES ACTION

00:00 Chicago Overcoat-18 02:00 Dead Awake-18 04:00 Pina-PG15 06:00 Nanny Mcphee And The Big BangPG 08:00 Legend Of The Guardians-PG 10:00 Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World-PG15 12:15 Ways To Live Forever-PG15 14:15 Open Season 3-FAM 15:45 Celine: Through The Eyes Of The World-PG15

01:30 02:00 03:00 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:30 13:30 14:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 22:00

Powerboats F1 UFC The Ultimate Fighter Live Test Cricket Powerboats F1 Volvo Ocean Race Highlights WWE NXT Trans World Sport Powerboats F1 Live The Nedbank Golf Challenge Powerboats UIM UFC The Ultimate Fighter WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line

01:30 02:00 03:00 10:00 10:30 11:30 12:30 13:00 20:00

Asian Tour Golf Trans World Sport Live Test Cricket ICC Cricket World Volvo Ocean Race Trans World Sport ICC Cricket World Test Cricket ICC Cricket World

00:30 01:30 02:00 02:30 03:00 07:00 08:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 18:30 19:30 20:00 23:00

European Senior Tour Highlights World Hockey SPL Highlights Futbol Mundial Darts Players Championship Golfing World Live European PGA Tour Golfing World Volvo Ocean Race Highlights LiveThe Nedbank Golf Challenge Golfing World Futbol Mundial HSBC Sevens World Series Live Pro 12 Celtic League

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:15 11:15 11:45 15:00 15:30 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter UFC Unleashed WWE NXT Intercontinental Le Mans Cup UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE NXT Live HSBC Sevens World Series RWC Highlights Live HSBC Sevens World Series RWC Highlights Live HSBC Sevens World Series UFC The Ultimate Fighter WWE SmackDown WWE Bottom Line UFC The Ultimate Fighter

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:30 03:00 04:00 05:00

Departures Bondi Rescue: Bali Bondi Rescue Travel Madness Deadliest Journeys Dive Detectives On Surfari

05:30 On Surfari 06:00 Departures 07:00 Bondi Rescue: Bali 07:30 Bondi Rescue 08:30 Travel Madness 09:00 Deadliest Journeys 10:00 Dive Detectives 11:00 On Surfari 12:00 Departures 13:00 The Music Nomad 13:30 Geo Sessions 14:00 Treks In A Wild World 14:30 Travel Madness 15:00 Amazing Adventures of A Nobody USA 15:30 Amazing Adventures Of A Nobody: Europe 16:00 Around The World For Free 17:00 A World Apart 18:00 The Frankincense Trail 19:00 The Music Nomad 19:30 Geo Sessions 20:00 Treks In A Wild World 20:30 Travel Madness

00:00 Globe Trekker 01:00 Glutton For Punishment 02:00 Indian Times 03:00 Wild Camping 04:00 Luxury Train Journeys Of India 05:00 Globe Trekker 06:00 Glutton For Punishment 07:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 08:00 Globe Trekker 09:00 Intrepid Journeys 10:00 Essential 10:30 Great Scenic Railways-New Zealand 11:00 Glutton For Punishment 12:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 13:00 Globe Trekker 14:00 Sophie Grigson In The Souk 14:30 Feast India 15:00 Indian Times 16:00 Luxury Train Journeys Of India 17:00 Globe Trekker 18:00 Inside Luxury Travel-Varun Sharma 19:00 Sophie Grigson In The Souk 19:30 Feast India

00:05 Jerseylicious 02:00 Videofashion Daily 02:55 Videofashion News 03:25 How Do I Look?

04:20 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

06:10 Homes With Style 06:35 Area 07:05 Clean House 08:00 Videofashion News 09:00 Videofashion Daily 10:00 Open House 10:55 How Do I Look?

11:50 Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?

12:50 Clean House: Search For The Messiest...

13:50 Clean House 14:45 Videofashion Daily 15:45 How Do I Look?

16:40 Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane 17:35 Jerseylicious 18:30 Wicked Fit 19:25 Big Rich Texas 20:25 Open House 20:50 Open House 21:20 Clean House 22:15 Style Exposed 22:40 The Amandas 23:10 Tia And Tamera

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00

Deep Wreck Mysteries Deep Sea Salvage Decoding The Past Ax Men Swamp People Deep Wreck Mysteries Deep Sea Salvage Decoding The Past Ax Men Ax Men Swamp People Deep Wreck Mysteries Deep Sea Salvage Decoding The Past Ax Men Ax Men Swamp People Deep Wreck Mysteries Deep Sea Salvage Decoding The Past Chasing Mummies Treasure From The Dark Ages

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Information

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION In case you are not travelling, your proper cancellation of bookings will help other passengers to use seats Airlines LMU JZR PIA JZR JZR ETH THY UAE QTR DHX MSR FDB ETD RJA GFA KAC THY JZR JZR KAC BAW KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB ETD IRA GFA RBG JZR RKM MEA IYE MSR MSR JZR KAC GFA KAC FDB UAL OMA QTR RJA KAC JZR KAC QTR JZR JZR ETD UAE GFA SVA RBG ABY JZR

Flt 1109 185 205 267 539 620 772 853 138 370 612 67 305 642 211 544 770 555 529 416 157 206 53 352 302 332 284 344 855 125 132 55 301 619 213 3555 165 310 404 825 623 610 201 672 219 618 57 982 645 140 640 788 257 546 134 561 213 303 857 215 510 3557 127 125

Arrival Flights on Friday 2/12/2011 Route ALEXANDRIA DUBAI LAHORE BEIRUT CAIRO ADDIS ABABA ISTANBUL DUBAI DOHA BAHRAIN CAIRO DUBAI ABU DHABI AMMAN BAHRAIN CAIRO ISTANBUL ALEXANDRIA ASSIUT JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR LONDON ISLAMABAD DUBAI COCHIN MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DHAKA CHENNAI DUBAI SHARJAH DOHA DUBAI ABU DHABI LAR BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA DUBAI RAS ALKHAIMAH BEIRUT SANAA SOHAG CAIRO DAMASCUS DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA DUBAI WASHINGTON DC DULLES MUSCAT DOHA AMMAN JEDDAH BEIRUT ALEXANDRIA DOHA SOHAG DEIREZZOR ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH SOHAG SHARJAH BAHRAIN

Time 0:01 0:20 0:25 0:45 0:50 1:45 2:15 2:35 2:40 2:55 3:00 3:05 3:10 3:10 3:15 4:40 4:50 6:00 6:20 6:25 6:40 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:05 8:15 8:25 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:20 9:35 9:50 9:55 11:05 11:20 11:45 11:55 12:05 12:30 12:55 13:00 13:20 13:25 13:40 13:50 14:05 14:15 14:20 14:40 14:50 15:00 15:20 15:25 16:10 16:45 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:35 17:40 17:45

MLR JZR FDB KAC KAC KAC JZR KAC AIC KAC KAC KAC KAC FDB JAI KAC SVA MSR DHX VOS FCX MEA GFA QTR ALK JZR UAE SAI JZR UAL PIA DLH

403 177 63 502 542 744 787 674 975 166 102 774 562 61 572 786 506 618 372 81 304 402 217 136 227 135 859 441 239 981 215 636

Airlines UAL LMU AXB BBC AIC DLH PIA ETH THY VOS FDB UAE DHX MSR ETD QTR THY JZR GFA RJA JZR FDB KAC BAW KAC JZR KAC JZR UAE ABY KAC

Flt 981 1110 390 44 982 637 206 621 773 94 68 854 371 613 306 139 771 164 212 643 200 54 545 156 671 256 787 560 856 126 117

COLOMBO/DUBAI DUBAI DUBAI BEIRUT CAIRO DAMMAM RIYADH DUBAI CHENNAI/GOA PARIS/ROME NEW YORK/LONDON RIYADH AMMAN DUBAI MUMBAI JEDDAH JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN BAGHDAD RIYADH BEIRUT BAHRAIN DOHA COLOMBO/DUBAI BAHRAIN DUBAI LAHORE AMMAN BAHRAIN KARACHI FRANKFURT Departure Flights on Friday 2/12/2011 Route WASHINGTON DC DULLES ALEXANDRIA MANGALORE/KOZHIKODE DHAKA AHMEDABAD/HYDERABAD/CHENNAI FRANKFURT LAHORE ADDIS ABABA ISTANBUL DUBAI/KANDAHAR DUBAI DUBAI BAHRAIN CAIRO ABU DHABI DOHA ISTANBUL DUBAI BAHRAIN AMMAN DAMASCUS DUBAI ALEXANDRIA LONDON DUBAI BEIRUT JEDDAH SOHAG DUBAI SHARJAH NEW YORK

17:55 18:15 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:05 19:25 19:30 19:30 19:35 19:40 19:50 20:00 20:10 20:20 20:35 20:45 21:00 21:15 21:20 21:20 21:25 21:35 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:40 22:45 23:00 23:30 23:50

Time 0:45 0:45 0:50 1:00 1:05 1:20 1:25 2:45 3:15 3:30 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:00 4:55 5:50 6:55 7:00 7:10 7:30 8:25 8:30 8:40 9:00 9:00 9:25 9:30 9:40 9:45 10:00

FDB QTR ETD KAC KAC GFA IRA JZR RBG KAC KAC RKM MEA KAC IYE MSR JZR MSR GFA JZR FDB KAC KAC KAC OMA UAL RJA JZR KAC KAC QTR JZR ETD JZR QTR UAE GFA RBG ABY SVA MLR JZR FDB JZR KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC JAI MSR SVA DHX MEA GFA KAC QTR ALK KAC JZR KAC FCX UAE JZR SAI KAC

56 133 302 617 177 214 618 212 3558 541 103 311 405 501 825 624 176 611 220 124 58 561 673 785 646 982 641 786 743 773 141 238 304 538 135 858 216 3556 128 511 404 134 64 184 283 361 62 343 351 571 619 507 373 403 218 381 137 228 301 554 205 102 860 502 442 411

DUBAI DOHA ABU DHABI DOHA FRANKFURT/GENEVA BAHRAIN LAR DEIREZZOR SOHAG CAIRO LONDON RAS ALKHAIMAH BEIRUT BEIRUT DOHA/SANAA SOHAG DUBAI CAIRO BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DUBAI AMMAN DUBAI JEDDAH MUSCAT BAHRAIN AMMAN RIYADH DAMMAM RIYADH DOHA AMMAN ABU DHABI CAIRO DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN ALEXANDRIA SHARJAH RIYADH DUBAI/COLOMBO BAHRAIN DUBAI DUBAI DHAKA COLOMBO DUBAI CHENNAI COCHIN MUMBAI ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH BAHRAIN BEIRUT BAHRAIN DELHI DOHA DUBAI/COLOMBO MUMBAI ALEXANDRIA ISLAMABAD DUBAI DUBAI LUXOR LAHORE BANGKOK/MANILA

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

10:05 10:10 10:20 10:25 10:35 10:40 10:50 10:50 11:45 12:00 12:30 12:50 12:55 13:00 13:05 13:30 13:50 13:55 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:45 15:05 15:10 15:15 15:20 15:35 15:50 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 18:10 18:15 18:20 18:25 18:35 18:55 19:05 19:20 19:55 20:15 20:20 20:40 20:55 21:05 21:10 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:10 23:35 23:50 23:55

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FOR SALE I Ancient Romans celebrated the winter solstice and harvest with Saturnalia — a festival at which sacrifices were offered and gifts were exchanged, as later became a Christmas custom.

I The word “Kwanzaa” comes from a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits.”

“I just got one last thing, I urge all of you, all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have. To spend each day with some laughter and some thought, to get your emotions going.”

— College basketball coach and sports broadcaster Jim Valvano.

Before he died from bone cancer, Valvano created the The Jimmy V Foundation to help find a cure for cancer.

— World Almanac for Kids

PC IBM, Pentium 4, Intel 2.6, Ram 512 MB, HDD 80 GB, Windows XP, DVD-Writer, 17” LCD Monitor, excellent condition, Price KD 50. Contact: 99322585.

(C 3755) 1-12-2011 Mercedes Benz 1998 (E 200), color beige, running condition, registration till May 2012. Price KD 600. Contact: 97277135.

29-11-2011

P H OTO S B Y RYA N L A S H / T E D X YO U T H DAY. T E D. C O M

By Joey Soto/McClatchy Newspapers

TimeForKids reporter Linda Tong shares her ideas on the TEDYouth event stage.

Ideas to inspire TFK attended the first TEDYouth event cer, in June of 1992 and told he had 12 months to live. s we enter another Christmas season, let’s try to Instead of dwelling on the negative and just quitthink before we fall into the four G’s of the seating, Valvano decided to fight cancer. Valvano spent son: Give. Groan. Get. Gripe. the last 10 months of his life trying to bring attention All too often it seems we follow the trend of the to a disease that affects hundreds of thousands. (One four G’s. First, we all set out to find the gifts that we want to give our friends and relatives for the holidays. out of every four cancer patients has metastatic adenocarcinoma.)

(Perhaps a teacher, if they’ve been nice.)

In 1993 Valvano received the Arthur Ashe Courage Shortly after finding gifts for friends, which usuand Humanitarian Award at the inaugural ESPY ally takes much longer than expected, you begin to Awards hosted by ESPN. In his speech that followed, groan about the amazing amounts of money you’ve he unveiled what would become his legacy: the “V spent. Odds are you might even begin to wonder if Foundation.” Supported by ESPN, the “V Foundathey’re worth it, because odds are if they made you tion” is a primary source of cancer research funding. mad last week, it doesn’t matter how many times Valvano recognized the need to invest in young physithey’ve helped you in the past. cians and scientists as the future of cancer research.

Soon there after, you reveal the present to your lucky friend and see the joy in their eyes at being con- The V Foundation has awarded more than $90 million sidered highly enough to receive such a gift. (This to facilities nationwide for cancer research. gleam in their eyes could be fake, but it’s rather The catch phrase, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give touching of them to attempt such a feat.) up,” resonates through my head every time I want to Then you notice they have a gift for you, as well. Sure give up on anything. enough it’s not that DS you were so desperately hoping We have no excuse to complain about anything for because you knew you wouldn’t get it from your par- when someone with terminal cancer was so selfless as ents. Although you play it off as though you love your to set up a program to help others who would othernew scarf knitted with “love,” pretty soon you’ll be grip- wise succumb to his same disease. Although no cure ing about how you didn’t get what you wanted. has been found, I can’t wait for next year’s rendition Well kiddos, reality check. of the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Life could be so much worse.

Classic to pay tribute to the man Sure, you didn’t get what you who is an inspiration to many. wanted, but at least you have the The tournament, not only recoggift of reasonable health and life. nizes the efforts of Valvano to Now I’m not Mother Theresa, cure cancer, but raises millions and I’m not one to judge beof dollars for the cause. cause, truth be told, I fall into Rather than following the the same selfish category. four G’s of the season, why not It’s not until the end of Nofollow the road less traveled? vember and the beginning of Make the best of the time you December every year when have on this earth because you I’m humbled and reminded of never know when it’s your time HANDOUT how lucky I am to be living Jimmy Valvano spent the last months of to go. Valvano said it best, without cancer. his life advocating for cancer research. “There’s 86,400 seconds in a Former North Carolina State day. It’s up to you to decide University basketball coach Jimmy Valvano was a what to do with them.” major advocate of cancer awareness. Valvano was diagJoey Soto wrote this when he was a senior at Trunosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma, a terminal can- man High School in Independence, Mo.

P H OTO S C O U RT E S Y O F G O L F C L A S S I C. O R G

Celebrities like actor Alfonso Ribeiro, NFL Wide Receiver Hank Baskett, NASCAR Driver Kelly Bires, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and more, help raise money for cancer research and keep Valvano’s dream alive at the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Classic.

Hip-hop music? Cockroaches? A gecko’s sticky feet? Believe it or not, these things may be the way to spark creativity in education. At least that’s what organizers of the first-ever TEDYouth event hope. TED is a nonprofit group that is dedicated to “ideas worth spreading.” The event took place Nov. 19 in New York City.

The theme of the TEDYouth event was “play, learn, build and share.” More than 300 New York City students in grades six through 12 were selected to participate. There were 19 speakers, including world famous scientists, TV hosts, authors, poets, educators and entertainers. Author Steve Stoute spoke about how hip-hop music has influenced urban culture. Robert Full, a professor at the University of California, spoke about inventions that are inspired by nature.

“TED allows kids to see the range of possibilities of what they can become in life,” TEDx director Lara Stein told TFK. She organized the TEDYouth event. “I hope the speakers will inspire young people to try new things and to dream big.”

IDEAS THAT STICK

Cockroaches and geckos make many people cringe. But not Robert Full, the University of California professor who spoke at the event. He has a love for these creatures. He inspired his students to figure out how a gecko sticks to a surface, and that allowed them to discover brand new ways of making things stick. One student used what he learned about geckos to create a bandage that can be peeled off easily. Full is using the sticky technology to create the first search-and-rescue bot that can climb up walls.

Harry Kile, a middle school student, came up with a new type of car seat that doesn’t need a safety belt. The car seat uses gecko-inspired technology to make a kid stick to the seat. Harry earned a real gecko at the event for his innovative Harry Kile and his gecko. idea. “You don’t know what can’t be done,” Full says. “You could get even more than you could ever imagine.”

Why is the first-ever TEDYouth event so special? Kids can’t attend the adult TED conferences, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have dreams of changing the world, too. “At TEDYouth Day, kids get the same opportunity to learn and to get inspired,” 10-year-old Alexandra Frank told TFK. — Linda Tong © 2011 Time Inc. All Rights Reserved.

TIME FOR KIDS and Timeforkids.com are registered trademarks of Time Inc.

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Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Vettel, Red Bull increase F1 dominance With lockout nearing end, basketball is back in focus NEW YORK: These are the kinds of negotiations NBA fans have been waiting for. Teams began talking to agents Wednesday as the lockout inched closer to its end, and basketball moved back into focus. Dwight Howard and Chris Paul were linked to trade speculation, while free agents such as Tyson Chandler and Nene were in the news after months of attorneys getting all the ink. Now, the players are taking over and the league was set to reopen its facilities for workouts yesterday. Some may arrive out of shape, just as was the case in January 1999 after the NBA’s only other shortened season.

But they’re anxious to get back, with a little more than three weeks until they start playing games.

“The guys are going to come in and I’m sure they’re going to be in good shape. They want to play,” new Houston coach Kevin McHale told reporters. “These guys have played basketball their entire lives. They love to play basketball and they’re excited to get after it.”

The league still hopes to open training camps and free agency next Friday, leaving both sides scrambling to get business finished in time. The lawsuits have been settled, contingent upon the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement by Dec. 9. Players are in the process of collecting the signatures needed to approve the reformation of the union, which must be done before the sides can resume bargaining on the remaining issues that must be settled before each side can vote. NBA officials are working to complete a two-game exhibition schedule for each team that will lead to a 66-game regular season, starting with a five-game slate on Christmas.

“Considering that a lot of this is brand new to us, the last 24 hours has been a little bit of a scramble,” Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said. “We have a lot of things that we have to do from getting players in and just basically preparing ourselves for what’s ahead.” Philadelphia 76ers president Rod Thorn was working in the league office during the last lockout and knows how much work it will take to stay on the schedule Commissioner David Stern revealed after reaching a tentative agreement with the players early last Saturday. “I definitely remember that time and how hectic it was on the NBA side,” Thorn said. “If you think it was hectic over here, it was really hectic on that side.”

Trying to make the process smoother, the NBA agreed to allow players to re-enter the buildings yesterday. Coaches aren’t allowed, but players, who will have to sign a waiver removing teams of liability in case of injury, can meet with the teams’ training personnel and conduct unsupervised workouts. The decision was made in consultation with the union Tuesday, and league spokesman Tim Frank denied it had anything to do with the settlement of the litigation. “We agreed that it was in everyone’s interest that players have the opportunity to get back to work,” he said. The lockout began July 1, which would have been the opening of free agency. It finally arrived in a minimized form Wednesday morning, when teams were allowed to talk to agents. —AP

PHILADELPHIA: 76ers’ president Rod Thorn (left) and coach Doug Collins take questions during a news conference at the NBA basketball team’s training facility. —AP

SAO PAULO: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany drives his car during the qualifying session to make the pole position at the Interlagos race track in this file photo.—AP SAO PAULO: What was good a year ago became even better in 2011 as Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull outclassed the competition to win their second consecutive title and increase their dominance in Formula One. With a car labeled “light years” ahead of the others, Vettel easily won the drivers’ championship and Red Bull the constructors’ title in a season that was also marked by exciting racing brought on by rule changes that succeeded in encouraging passing.

By the time the season ended at the Brazilian Grand Prix last Sunday, Vettel had proved he has the potential to become one of the great drivers in F1 history and Red Bull had showed its superiority over the rest of the field was even greater than last year.

Red Bull had the fastest car by far in 2010, but mechanical failures and driver mistakes kept the championship close until the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi. This year, no one had a chance of beating Vettel and Red Bull for the title.

The 24-year-old German won 11 times and at the Brazilian GP captured his 15th pole position of the season to break Nigel Mansell’s record set 19 years ago with Williams.

“Pretty incredible,” Vettel said.

“Going into the season we thought we (had) a competitive car, but it has been phenomenal. The team has been faultless most of the time, so they’ve raised their level massively compared to the last two years.”

Vettel never started lower than third on the grid and was on the front row in all but one race. He won five of the first six races and finished on the podium in every grand prix but two.

“This will be a year that we will look back to and always be very proud of,” Vettel said. His competitors know they never stood much of a chance. “(Red Bull) has been light years ahead of everyone,” McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton said. “It’s a serious machine.” Hamilton, the 2008 F1 champion, won three races but finished only

fifth in the drivers’ standings. McLaren teammate Jenson Button also won three times in 2011, but was more consistent and ended second in the standings after a solid third-place run in Brazil on Sunday.

McLaren appeared to close the gap to Red Bull toward the end of the season, but it still wasn’t enough. Vettel teammate Mark Webber won the Brazilian GP after the German struggled with a gearbox problem, earning his only victory of the year.

“We were bombproof in many areas and that made it hard for the opposition,” Webber said. “I think I can have a stronger season than this year. Clearly I started off poorly for lots of different reasons. You’ve got to look at all different areas to get at the highest level. The bar’s high.”

Red Bull’s dominance started in the later part of the 2009 season and it has been the team to beat ever since. “If you look at the last 40 races we have won 23 of them,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said. “We have had 25 podiums this year alone, 17 poles. It has been a remarkable year, and with continuity, with stability, our target is to try and maintain the level of performance and success that we have worked so hard to achieve over the last few years.” Although Vettel dominated the season and clinched the title at the Japanese GP in October, with four races to spare, there was plenty of excitement on the track throughout the year, with a significant increase in passing in nearly all races.

A study by Mercedes released ahead of the Brazilian GP showed that overtaking maneuvers reached record levels in F1, with more than 800 taking place by the race in Abu Dhabi, the second-tolast of the season.

Nearly half of those passes came thanks to the new drag reduction system (DRS), which allowed drivers to adjust their rear wings from inside the car in certain occasions to increase their speed. There was also more excitement because of the return of the hybrid

KERS power-boost system and the introduction of Pirelli tires, which produced more pit stops and brought back in-race strategy.

Most drivers and fans loved the results, and FIA has already hinted the new rules will all be back in 2012, although there might be a few adjustments.

Also back in 2012 with be 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen, who will drive for Renault after a two-year break from the series. Renault teammate Robert Kubica will likely miss at least the start of the season, however, as he continues to recover from lifethreatening injuries sustained in a rally earlier in the year.

The return of veteran Rubens Barrichello also is uncertain. The Brazilian drove for Williams this year, but has yet to reach a deal to drive in what would be his 20th season in F1.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher will definitely be back for his third year with Mercedes following a three-year retirement.

They will all be going after Red Bull and Vettel, who has been adding up records year after year and is on pace to become one of the greatest ever in F1.

He was the youngest points scorer in 2007, and a year later also became the youngest series’ winner. He was also the youngest ever driver to win his first title, at 23, and the youngest to win his second trophy, at 24. The German said his secret for success with Red Bull is simple. “We seem to enjoy what we do. It’s nice every weekend to come into the garage, see the boys with a smile on their faces, being happy with what they do,” he said. “I think one thing about us: you walk into the garage, I think even as a guest, and you get that feeling that we really love what we do.

“We are passionate and it doesn’t matter if we have to work until late or work harder than others. We are ready to take that because we know how sweet it can taste at the end of the race, at the end of a grand prix or the end of the season.”—AP

A

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Sports

Years

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Bruins drop Leafs TORONTO: Milan Lucic scored twice and David Krejci added a goal and two assists as the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 on Wednesday for their 12th win in 13 games.

The defending Stanley Cup champions rebounded from a slow start this season and went 12-0-1 in November, marking the first time since January 1969 that the Bruins went an entire month without a regulation loss. Tim Thomas made 34 saves and earned his ninth consecutive win.

Zdeno Chara, Benoit Pouliot and Brad Marchand also scored for Boston (15-7-1), which hasn’t lost in regulation since Oct. 29 at Montreal. Mikhail Grabovski, Joffrey Lupul and Matt Frattin had goals for Toronto (14-9-2).

Red Wings 4, Lightning 2 At Detroit, Tomas Holmstrom’s powerplay goal broke a tie early in the third period, and Pavel Datsyuk and Jonathan Ericsson each had a goal and an assist in Detroit’s victory over Tampa Bay. Darren Helm also scored for Detroit, which won its sixth straight. Jimmy Howard made 33 saves, including stopping Matt Gilroy on a short-handed breakaway with 4:11 left. Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos scored for Tampa Bay, and Dwayne Roloson stopped 31 shots. Lucic scores 2 goals, Bruins top Maple Leafs 6-3 for 12th win in 13 games.

Wild 3, Oilers 2 At Edmonton, Alberta, Kyle Brodziak scored in regulation and added the winner in the sixth round of the shootout as Minnesota beat Edmonton to move into first place in the NHL standings.

Devin Setoguchi also scored in regulation for the Wild (15-7-3), who jumped past Eastern Conference-leading Pittsburgh with their seventh win in nine games.

Niklas Backstrom made 28 saves for the win. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle had goals for the Oilers (12-10-3),

who have lost three straight. Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 27 shots.

Ducks 4, Canadiens 1 At Anaheim, California, Corey Perry and

of his three-game suspension for a hit to the head of Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang. Bobby Ryan, the subject of numerous trade rumors in recent days, received an ovation when he was introduced in the

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Wednesday.

Boston 6, Toronto 3; Detroit 4, Tampa Bay 2; Colorado 6, New Jersey 1; Minnesota 3, Edmonton 2 (SO); Anaheim 4, Montreal 1.

(SO denotes shootout) American League Eastern Division

W L

TORONTO: Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak (42) crashes into Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas who makes a save during second-period NHL hockey game. —AP captain Ryan Getzlaf each had a goal and two assists and Jonas Hiller made 19 saves as Anaheim snapped a seven-game skid with a victory over Montreal.

Rookie Devante Smith-Pelly scored a power-play goal and Getzlaf snapped a personal 14-game goal drought for the Ducks, who killed seven penalties in just their third victory in 19 games since mid-October.

Niklas Hagman added an empty-net goal for Anaheim, which hadn’t won since Nov. 11. Andrei Kostitsyn scored a first-period goal and Peter Budaj stopped 23 shots for the Canadiens, who opened a three-game California road trip with their third straight loss. Montreal played without goals leader Max Pacioretty, who served the first game

Ducks’ starting lineup.

Avalanche 6, Devils 1 At Denver, Ryan O’Reilly had a goal and two assists, Semyon Varlamov made 18 saves in Colorado’s rout of New Jersey.

Milan Hejduk had a goal and an assist, and T.J. Galiardi, Jay McClement, Stefan Elliott and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche. Kyle Quincey had two assists.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored New Jersey’s only goal, and Martin Brodeur made 19 saves in the loss. The Avalanche scored three times on their first five shots. Hejduk got the Avalanche started when he beat Brodeur with a slap shot just 7:37 in for his eighth goal of the season. —AP

OTLGF GA PTS

Pittsburgh 14 7 4 80 NY Rangers 13 5 3 60 Philadelphia 13 7 3 80 New Jersey 12 10 1 58 NY Islanders 7 11 4 43 Northeast Division Boston 15 7 1 81 Toronto 14 9 2 82 Buffalo 13 10 1 68 Ottawa 12 10 2 75 Montreal 10 11 4 62 Southeast Division Florida 13 7 4 67 Washington 12 10 1 71 Tampa Bay 11 11 2 65 Winnipeg 9 11 4 70 Carolina 8 14 4 61 Western Conference Central Division Detroit 15 7 1 69 Chicago 14 8 3 80 St. Louis 14 8 2 59 Nashville 11 9 4 60 Columbus 6 15 3 55 Northwest Division Minnesota 15 7 3 60 Vancouver 14 9 1 73 Edmonton 12 10 3 67 Colorado 11 13 1 68 Calgary 10 12 1 51

63 46 68 64 69

32 29 29 25 18

50 81 63 83 64

31 30 27 26 24

60 75 76 80 86

30 25 24 22 20

51 78 50 63 79

31 31 30 26 15

55 60 63 74 60

33 29 27 23 21

Pacific Division Phoenix 13 7 3 65 57 29 Dallas 14 9 1 62 65 29 Los Angeles 12 8 4 57 55 28 San Jose 13 7 1 60 48 27 Anaheim 7 13 4 54 77 18 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L).

Packers primed for early playoff spot NEW YORK: The unbeaten Green Bay Packers can secure their place in the playoffs and take a step towards the ‘perfect season’ when they face the New York Giants on Sunday while the San Francisco 49ers could join them in the postseason with a win over St.Louis.

The schedule has not been kind to the Giants who come off Monday night’s 49-24 mauling in New Orleans and now face the 110 Super Bowl champion Packers and the league’s most feared quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

There are numerous ways that Green Bay can make sure of a playoff place with a quarter of the regular season remaining, the most obvious being a victory, but other scenarios include losses for

Chicago, Atlanta or Detroit.

But the Packers, who will already be aiming for home field advantage in the playoffs, are not going to be giving much time to calculations.

The elusive unbeaten record of the 1972 Miami Dolphins is a topic that few challengers are willing to discuss and Rodgers is no exception, insisting the motivation, even at this stage, has nothing to do with the record books.

“It is motivating to go out every week and compete better than you did the previous. We have been able to play the way we wanted to play consistently the first 11 games. We will see what happens when we get down this road a little bit,” Rodgers said

on Wednesday. “It is not something that we vocally talk about as a goal. Our goal is to win the division first, get a home game and give ourselves a chance and go from there,” he added.

Victory would move the Packers’ unbeaten streak to 18, including last season’s playoff wins, and another triumph would put them in the group of seven teams to have reached that total including, two great pre-war Chicago Bears teams - a point that won’t be lost on the Green Bay fanbase.

Only the New England Patriots, who went 21 games unbeaten between 2003 and 2004, stand above that group on 18.

The Giants don’t need much

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews reacts in this file photo reminding that unbeaten streaks schedule and will need to pull off do come to an end - they famous- a few surprises if they are to keep ly ended the Patriots’ hopes of a their hopes alive. The 49ers (9-2) perfect season with a victory in have a five game cushion in the the 2007 Super Bowl that ended NFC West and a win or a tie will be New England’s run that season at enough to secure the division for 18 games. The Giants (6-5) still Jim Harbaugh in his first season have a shout at the playoffs them- since moving from the college selves but they have a tough game. — Reuters

Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Furyk not tempted to skip Sherwood for Sun City THOUSAND OAKS: Jim Furyk found it surprisingly easy to resist the temptation to miss this week’s Chevron World Challenge for the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa where he is a twice former champion.

While the Nedbank will always hold a special place in the American’s heart, the chance to compete on home soil in a charity event hosted by Tiger Woods proved to be the trump card. “This is such a nice event and it’s here in our country for us,” Furyk, the 2009 champion, told reporters at Sherwood Country Club on Wednesday. “Years ago, I used to go play in South Africa at Sun City and I won a couple times over there. I really enjoy the people there, and I love the golf course.

“But I’ve got this event. Tiger runs it. I’ve played a lot of golf alongside of him, and he runs a really good event for a wonderful cause. It’s here in the US and it’s just so easy to come over here.” Furyk, who won the Nedbank Challenge in 2005 and 2006, is one of 18 players competing this week at Sherwood for the $1.2 million first prize. While the elite event can boast four players in the world’s top 10 and eight in the top 20, it has attracted a mainly US field with most of the leading Europeans competing this week either in the Nedbank Challenge or the Hong Kong Open. Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, who beat Woods in a playoff to claim last year’s Chevron title, is at Sun City this week along with British world number one Luke Donald, the 2005 Chevron champion. Woods, however, said on Wednesday that he was delighted with the quality of players assembled at Sherwood. “We’ve got another great field here,” the 14-times major winner told reporters on the eve of the tournament. “We’ve got a bunch of the guys who were down in Australia playing the Presidents Cup. “Gary (Woodland) and Kuch (Matt Kuchar) just won the World Cup and they’re here, coming in from China, so that’s very exciting.

“This tournament’s been fantastic over the years. This is our 13th here, so I’m very, very excited as to how it’s progressed over the years now with full (world) ranking points. This tournament’s gone up in stature.” Woods’s sole concern was the expected strong winds for Thursday’s opening round. “Overall we got the golf course in perfect shape again,” the 35-year-old American said. “Only interesting day is going to be tomorrow with the wind coming in but, other than that, the forecast is fantastic.” American world number six Steve Stricker and eighth-ranked Australian Jason Day head the Chevron field which also includes Britain’s Paul Casey, South Korea’s KJ Choi and Americans Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson and Nick Watney. Proceeds from the event go to Tiger Woods Foundation projects and local youth charities.—Reuters

McIlroy among early leaders in Hong Kong HONG KONG: Spain’s Alvaro Quiros and British pair Rory McIlroy and David Horsey each fired six-under par 64s to grab a share of the lead after the opening round of the Hong Kong Open yesterday.

Starting his round on the 10th, world number two McIlroy made good use of an early tee off and recorded four birdies in a six-hole stretch on his back nine to set the pace with a new record on the revamped suburban par-70 Fanling layout.

The U.S. Open champion was later joined by Horsey and Quiros, who birdied the 11th and eagled the 12th before chipping-in at the last, one stroke clear of the field at the $2.75 million co-sanctioned event. McIlroy has now recorded rounds of 64 on three occasions at the tournament in 15 trips around the tight, tree-lined course as well as shooting a 63 in the opening round last year on his way to a sixth-place finish behind winner Ian Poulter.

“It was a good, very good solid round of golf when I didn’t make a mistake,” the Northern Irishman told reporters. “Six birdies and no bogeys is always a nice way to start the tournament.” McIlroy arrived in Hong Kong looking to make amends for two prior runner-up finishes in the event as well as a handful of near misses in various tournaments either side of his stunning victory at Congressional in June.

“I felt this year that I’ve definitely let two or three tournaments slip away from me,” he said. “That’s something I’m trying to work on so that doesn’t happen. But as long as I get myself in these positions and start winning more regularly, I think it becomes a habit and hopefully I’ll do it more often.” The 26-year-old Horsey was one of McIlroy’s team mates in the losing Great Britain & Ireland 2007 Walker Cup side, and the 64 is his lowest score by two strokes in seven Hong Kong Open rounds.

HONG KONG: Oliver Wilson of England blasts out of a bunker of the 14th hole during the round one match of the Hong Kong Open golf tournament. —AP Horsey shot a bogey-free round as he seeks a second European Tour victory of the year after capturing the Hassan II Golf Trophy in Morocco in April but his first target is to improve his current position of 42nd in the Race to Dubai standings.

Ending the season inside the top-30 would gain automatic entry to next season’s British Open, while a higher finish would allow him to line up alongside McIlroy when he defends his U.S. Open crown. “I would love to be exempt next year into The Open and hopefully with a good result this week and next week in Dubai, I can finish top-15 and that would mean a start in the U.S. Open next year,” he told Reuters. “They are two big doors that would open automatically for me and then my next goal is to get myself inside the top-50 on the world rankings.

“I’m just outside the top-100 at present

(119) but I’d love to throw a couple of wins in and that would help immensely. “So this round is a good start in that regard and if I win this week, who knows?”

The 28-year-old Quiros teed off shortly after McIlroy had left the course and while the Spaniard made a good start to his quest for a sixth European Tour success, he was not surprised to see the Briton’s name at the top of the leaderboard.

“You have to be a little bit lucky to shoot low in these windy conditions and I don’t know if Rory and those in the morning had the same conditions but seeing (his) name up there is not a surprise,” Quiros said. “He seems to be up there every single week.” Fading light meant three men in the 138-player field will have to return to the course early on Friday morning to complete their remaining two holes.—Reuters

With Olympics looming, Phelps, coach find balance NEW YORK: Michael Phelps and coach Bob Bowman were texting back and forth a couple of weeks ago about whether he would swim a timed 5,000, a grueling workout he hadn’t done in a decade. Phelps had a blunt answer: “No.” But then he asked, “Do I need to?” When Bowman assured him it was a valuable step in his training, Phelps responded, “I’ll do it. Let’s go.” The 16time Olympic medalist told that story Wednesday to try to describe how his relationship with his longtime mentor has evolved as Phelps prepares for his last Olympics.

“The same methods that they used on me when I was 12 or 13 - I’m not the same kid,” the 26-year-old Phelps said. “When he says ‘Jump,’ I’m not going to say ‘How high?’ anymore.”

If that sounds defiant, the realization has actually relaxed the relationship between the two. While Bowman was guiding Phelps to unprecedented heights - the pinnacle his record eight gold medals in Beijing - their exchanges at practice were often tense. Bowman would bark out orders; Phelps would snap back with snarky retorts, yet still do the sets. “Before, I said the reason was ‘because I said so,’” Bowman acknowledged.

Now, he’ll explain how the workout fits into their broader goals. And that shift in tone has Phelps feeling like an adult with a plan instead of

a child being bossed around. “The days of me, like, kicking and screaming about (his) wanting me to get into the water or (my) not wanting to do this set or not wanting to do that set - I just know that those things are going to help me accomplish my goals,” Phelps said. “One of the cool things we’ve been having over the last six to eight months is that we’ve enjoyed it. It’s not like fingernails on a chalkboard.” The result is Phelps training with the intensity his coach expects. “We don’t have quite the same amount of ...”

Bowman said, then paused to try to think of the right word. “Drama” wasn’t really right. He settled on: “It doesn’t take quite so much energy to get things to happen anymore.” Much energy was expended with, at times, not much happening in the three years after the 2008 Olympics, when Phelps’ focus wasn’t exactly there.

“I always felt like within a year from London, he’d get back into it,” Bowman said, before adding, “At least I hoped.” Next summer’s Olympics are certainly starting to feel close, with Speedo unveiling its 2012 gear Wednesday.

Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Natalie Coughlin and other stars modeled suits, caps - and goggles that make them look like aliens in a sci-fi movie.

Lochte said the new style made him feel like an action figure. The wide, angular lenses allow for peripheral vision, so Phelps will no longer have

NEW YORK: Athletes from the United States swim team model highly technical swimsuits during a news conference debuting Speedo’s new Fastskin 3 swimsuit. Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps is shown, fifth from right.—AP to tilt his head to sneak a peek at his competition after each turn, which used to slow him down by a fraction of a second.

The suits are no longer the dominant story in the sport. Around this time four years ago, Speedo unveiled the LZR, which set off a virtual technological arms race that eventually led governing body FINA to restrict the kinds of materials used and how much skin they could cover. At last summer’s world championships, Lochte set the first world record since the high-tech bodysuits were banned. He also beat Phelps in both of

their matchups and won one more gold medal.

The two are good friends - they were whispering and laughing together on stage Wednesday.

Lochte insisted he found no extra motivation in trying to defeat the Olympics’ most-decorated athlete. But nor is he the least bit intimidated. “I could race Michael 20 million times - no matter what, when I step on the blocks, I feel like I can win,” Lochte said. “That’s the mentality I’m going to go into each race with, especially at the Olympics. I’m going out there to win. I’m not going for second or third.” —AP

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Afridi hands Pakistan victory SCOREBOARD Scoreboard after the first one-day international between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-eBangla stadium in Dhaka yesterday: Bangladesh: Tamim lbw b Hafeez 0 Shahriar c Malik b Afridi 7 Naeem c Misbah b Gul 5 Mushfiqur c Sarfraz b Malik 11 Shakib c Akmal b Afridi 15 Mahmudullah c Sarfraz b Afridi 1 Hossain c Sarfraz b Cheema 21 Farhad Reza lbw b Afridi 1 Razzak c Younis b Ajmal 3 Shafiul c Sarfraz b Afridi 0 Rubel Hossain not out 15 Extras: (b2, lb2, w8) 12 Total (all out, 30.3 overs) 91 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Tamim), 2-6 (Naeem), 3-29 (Mushfiqur), 4-29 (Nafees), 5-31 (Mahmudullah), 667 (Nasir), 7-71 (Shakib), 8-74 (Razzak), 9-74 (Reza), 10-91 (Shafiul) Bowling: Hafeez 5-2-7-1, Gul 5-1-19-1 (w6), Afridi 6.3-0-23-5, Malik 5-0-13-1 (w2), Ajmal 6-2-13-1, Cheema 3-1-12-1.

Pakistan: Hafeez c Nafees b Rubel 22 Farhat b Nasir 12 Younis c Rahim b Shakib 2 Sarfraz c Shakib b Rubel 2 Misbah-ul-Haq not out 16 Umar Akmal b Shakib 7 Shahid Afridi not out 24 Extras: (lb4, w4) 8 Total (for five wickets, 25.4 overs) 93 Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Farhat), 2-42 (Hafeez), 3-42 (Younis), 4-44 (Sarfraz), 5-63 (Akmal).

Bowling: Razzak 4-1-15-0 (w1), Shafiul 3-0-8-0 (w2), Shakib 9.4-3-42-2 (w1), Rubel 8-1-23-2, Nasir 1-0-1-1 Pakistan won by five wickets, leads 1-0 in threematch series.

DHAKA: Shahid Afridi grabbed five wickets for 23 runs and then kept his cool in a batting crisis as Pakistan overcame Bangladesh by five wickets in the first one-dayer in Dhaka yesterday.

The leg-spinner ripped through the Bangladesh line-up as the hosts were bundled out for 91 after electing to bat at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium-with seven batsmen failing to reach double figures.

Pakistan lost five wickets chasing the modest target which was eventually overhauled in the 26th over to give the tourists the lead in the three-match series.

Seamer Rubel Hossain and spinner Shakib Al Hasan claimed two wickets apiece to leave Pakistan struggling at 63-5, before Afridi took his team home with an unbeaten 24 off 23 balls.

As the runs dried up on the turning wicket, Afridi broke free with three successive fours off Shakib and then cut the same bowler for another boundary to win the game.

Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq made 16 not out, sharing a match-winning stand of 30 with Afridi. It was Pakistan’s 26th win in 27 onedayers against Bangladesh, the lone defeat having come during the 1999 World Cup in England.

Afridi, who was the obvious choice for the man of the match, said he wanted to do well every time he took the field.

“I want to be consistent, that’s the most important thing,” the 31-year-old said. “This time I tried to bring a lot more variations in my bowling and that worked.

“When I went out to bat, the coach told me to play my normal attacking game.” Misbah admitted he was worried when five wickets went down.”It really looked tough at one stage, but Afridi won us the game,” the relieved Pakistan skipper

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Rubel Hossain (left) congratulates Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi after they won the first one-day international cricket match in Dhaka. — AP said. “The spinners got a lot of help, the ball on 36 for the sixth wicket to ensure Bangladesh did not fall below their lowest turned and bounced.

“But I am disappointed the way some of total of 58 — against the West Indies at the our batsmen batted. They got starts, but same venue during the World Cup in did not carry on. It’s a problem we have to March.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim work on.”

Bangladesh, who lost half the side for said he was disappointed his team was 31 runs, were dismissed in 30.3 overs and bowled out for just 91. “It looked a good barely managed to surpass their lowest track to bat on, but we lost a couple of early wickets,” he said. “Credit goes to the one-day total against Pakistan of 87.

Bangladesh’s batting never recovered Pakistan bowlers, but we need to work on after losing aggressive opener Tamim Iqbal our batting at the top of the order. with the fourth ball of the innings, trapped “Hopefully it will all come together in the leg-before by off-spinner Mohammad next match.” The second one-dayer will be Hafeez. Nasir Hossain (21) and Shakib put played at the same venue tomorrow.— AFP

N Zealand fight back after Australia attack BRISBANE: Daniel Vettori helped steady New Zealand’s innings at 176-5 after Australia’s inexperienced bowling attack had earlier threatened to skittle the tourists on the rain-curtailed opening day of the first Test yesterday.

Injury-hit Australia handed debuts to pacemen

Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson as well as opening batsman David Warner and all three played integral roles as the hosts reduced New Zealand to 96-5 in the first over after lunch.

Former captain Vettori, one of test cricket’s most prolific tailend batsmen, launched a fightback

GABBA: New Zealand’s Daniel Vittori plays a shot as Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (right) looks on during the first day of the first cricket Test match. — AP

with a battling 45 in an unbeaten partnership of 80 with Dean Brownlie (32) to rescue the innings before bad weather halted play just before tea.

The Blacks Caps, who had come into the match confident they could end their 26-year wait for a test win in Australia, won the toss and elected to bat, with opener Brendon McCullum taking the game to the hosts in typically aggressive fashion.

The 30-year-old hammered 12 runs off Pattinson’s first over to give the quick a rude welcome to test cricket and drove his side to 44 without loss before his partner Martin Guptill was caught behind off the bowling of Peter Siddle for 13. Starc, who finished with 2-52, grabbed the first of his two wickets on the final ball of his fifth over to remove McCullum for 34, tempting the former wicketkeeper into an attempted cut which left Warner with an easy catch at point.

Finger spinner Nathan Lyon, playing his first match at the Gabba in his sixth test, got his reward for a fine spell 20 minutes before lunch when Kane Williamson popped the ball to close fielder Usman Khawaja for 19. Pattinson, who gave up 50 runs in his 11 overs, rounded out a good morning for Australia when Taylor swung at a full delivery and edged the ball onto his stumps for 14 just before lunch.

Six balls into the afternoon session, leftarmer Starc benefited from another loose stroke from a New Zealander to dispatch Jesse Ryder with Warner again taking the catch, this time at gully. —Reuters

SCOREBOARD Scoreboard after the final session of the opening day of the first test between Australia and New Zealand at the Gabba in Brisbane was washed out yesterday.

New Zealand first innings B. McCullum c Warner b Starc 34 M. Guptill c Haddin b Siddle 13 K. Williamson c Khawaja b Lyon 19 R. Taylor b Pattinson 14 J. Ryder c Warner b Starc 6 D. Brownlie not out 32 D. Vettori not out 45 Extras (b-9, w-3, nb-1) 13 Total (for five wickets, 51 overs)176 Fall of wickets: 1-44 2-56 3-78 4-93 596 Still to bat: R. Young, D. Bracewell, T. Southee, C. Martin.

Bowling (to date): Pattinson 11-1-50-1 (nb-1, w-2), Siddle 15-5-29-1 (w-1), Starc 13-0-52-2, Lyon 10-0-31-1, Hussey 2-0-5-0.

Australia: P. Hughes, D. Warner, U. Khawaja, R. Ponting, M. Clarke, M. Hussey, B. Haddin, P. Siddle, J. Pattinson, M. Starc, N. Lyon.

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Chelsea seek respite at grieving Newcastle MANCHESTER: Chelsea’s trip to Newcastle United offers manager Andre Villas-Boas respite from the anxious atmosphere of Stamford Bridge but a game against confident opponents grieving for a former player could hurt his December revival plan.

Having lost three of their last four home games, Chelsea travel to the north-east of England on Saturday desperate to make up ground on the Manchester front-runners but they face a side who have lost just one league game this season.

“For our Premier League to be alive we need to make the most of the December games,” said Villas-Boas, whose fifth-placed team trail leaders Manchester City by 10 points before what will be an emotionally charged game against fourth-placed Newcastle.

There will be a tribute before kickoff at St James’ Park for former Newcastle midfielder Gary Speed whose death at the age of 42 sent shockwaves through the sport after the Wales manager was found hanged at his home on Sunday.

Fans will hold up black and white cards depicting the number 11, the shirt Speed wore at the club between 1998 and 2004, while singing a Welsh hymn before a minute’s applause.

When the action gets underway on the pitch, Chelsea look poised to drop record signing Fernando Torres to the bench once again after the struggling striker started Tuesday’s home League Cup defeat by Liverpool.

“It takes time and Fernando faces a tough time. He must compete because at the moment Didier Drogba is showing good signs,” local media quoted Villas-Boas as saying.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are flying after a 1-1 draw at champions Manchester United last weekend helped them forget a first defeat of the season at Manchester City.

“We’ve set up ourselves up for Chelsea,”

LONDON: Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku reacts in this file photo. — AP manager Alan Pardew told the Newcastle Chronicle newspaper. “We have one of the big clubs coming to us and they will be fearing coming to us in front of 52,000 Geordies.”

While Chelsea seek to play catch-up, unbeaten City will hope to at least maintain the five-point lead they have on secondplaced United when they host Norwich City tomorrow.

Manager Roberto Mancini could opt to rest players against the promoted club for what looks like a straightforward game for a side who have won 11 of 13 league matches ahead of Wednesday’s key Champions League clash at home to Bayern Munich.

Neighbours United, whose second string were beaten by Crystal Palace in Wednesday’s

League Cup quarter-finals, will also have half an eye on next week’s decisive final European group game at FC Basel when they travel to Aston Villa.

By the time they kick off, United could have dropped to third if Tottenham Hotspur, two points behind them, beat Bolton Wanderers at White Hart Lane.

Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal, who unlike City, United and Chelsea have secured their Champions League last-16 place, will be looking to build on their improved league form when they travel to struggling Wigan Athletic tomorrow 1500.

Arsene Wenger’s side are seventh with 23 points, level with sixth-placed Liverpool who travel to Fulham on Monday. — Reuters

Man Utd’s slip not so surprising LONDON: While Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was left to offer abject apologies, and home fans shook their heads, a flick through soccer’s record books perhaps helped illustrate why the English giants’ loss to lower-tier Crystal Palace in the League Cup should have come as no great surprise.

Humbled 2-1 at home by secondtier Palace on Wednesday night, United’s loss simply compounded a staggering record against lowly opponents for England’s most dominant club. While at the same time maintaining a Premier League stranglehold, and filling their coffers with other silverware, United’s performances in the League Cup since the 1990/91 season have seen them lose to lower league opposition nine times- almost an average of once every other season.

Not all of those defeats led to elimination, on occasion United bounced back in a two-legged contest. But still the statistic is remark-

LONDON: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson (left) meets mascot Fred the Red before the League Cup fifth round football against Crystal Palace in this file photo. — AFP able given that over the same period United won 12 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, four League Cups, two European Champions League titles, a European Cup Winners’ Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, and an Intercontinental

Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to boot.

It would be easy to assume that in their pursuit of bigger prizes, United’s sullied record can be explained away by second-rate line-

ups as key players rest for bigger challenges.

That may have been part of the answer over the years, but as Ferguson was quick to point out, his team on Wednesday was packed with internationals.

“My apologies to the fans, because this was not a Manchester United performance,” Ferguson said.

“We never expected that.

“Any time we go on the pitch it means a lot to Manchester United.

We have our pride to protect and our history to protect. Every time we walk on the pitch it’s important.

“There were nine internationals out there, so that was a big disappointment.” A disappointment for United? Yes. But a surprise? In addition to United’s less-than stellar record against smaller teams in the competition, Palace’s recent League Cup showing may have at least hinted at the result-the south Londoners have now won their last four League Cup quarter-finals against top-flight opposition. —Reuters

Serie A leader Juve looking to extend unbeaten run MILAN: Serie A leader Juventus will look to extend its unbeaten run to 13 matches in Sunday’s match against Cesena, while AC Milan can move provisionally top today at Genoa.

Every other team other than Juventus has lost at least two matches this season.

However, Milan is only two points behind Juve in the standings and level with Udinese, which faces Inter Milan tomorrow.

Genoa defender Kakhaber Kaladze won eight trophies in nine seasons with Milan, including the Serie A and two Champions League titles.

“It will be very emotional,” Kaladze said. “I won everything with Milan and have only good memories. Milan and Juve are favorites to win the title. I’d opt for the Rossoneri because they have a better quality of options.

“It will be a difficult game. Milan is rising again to very high levels in Italy and Europe.

But in our stadium everyone suffers. We will give our all to have a great game and we’re aiming for the three points.”

Milan, which will be without goalkeeper Christian Abbiati for two weeks due to a shoulder injury, scored four first-half goals to beat Chievo 4-0 on Sunday Genoa lost 2-0 last week at struggling Cesena, which hadn’t won all season before beating Bologna two weeks ago. Juventus seemed on the verge of losing its first match when trailing 3-1 against Napoli on Tuesday.

But the team clawed its way back to snatch a point in a 3-3 draw.

Simone Pepe fired in the equalizer 10 minutes from time for his third goal in as many games. “I don’t think I’ve ever scored three goals in three games ... I don’t know if I’ve ever scored more either,” Pepe said. “The result felt like a victory to us because of how it came about. We are a very united group and we don’t ever give up. And we showed that.”

Juventus will be without Andrea Pirlo, who is suspended after picking up his fourth booking of the season at Napoli.

Napoli will attempt to get over its disappointment at letting a two-goal lead slide when it hosts bottom side Lecce tomorrow.

Also tomorrow, Inter will be looking to continue its recent resurgence against an Udinese side struggling on its travels this season.

Udinese is imperious at home, having won all six games. However, away from the Stadio Fruili it is a different story as it has picked up just six points out of a possible 18.

After a terrible start to the season, Inter has lost one of its past five league games but still trails Juventus by 12 points.

“We mustn’t think about Juve’s advantage,” Inter captain Javier Zanetti said. “We have to only think about making up lost ground and at the end of the season we’ll see where we managed to arrive.

“Now we have to focus game after game, looking to do well. There’s still a lot of games to go, it’ll be hard obviously, but we’ll try.”

Also Sunday, it’s: Catania vs. Cagliari; Bologna vs. Siena; Chievo vs. Atalanta; Fiorentina vs. Roma; and Parma vs. Palermo.

On Monday, it’s Lazio vs. Novara. — AP

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Euro 2012 teams hope to avoid Spain in draw KIEV: Spain will be the word no other team wants to hear when the Euro 2012 draw takes place at Kiev’s Palace of Arts today. Favorites to become the first team to win three successive major titles, Spain will be in pot one with World Cup runners-up Netherlands and the top seeds everyone would rather face, hosts Poland and Ukraine.

The other 12 teams have been divided into three more pots and some challenging group combinations could be drawn such as one featuring Spain, Germany, Portugal and France. Poland have already been allocated Group A and Ukraine are in Group D and there will be many sides hoping to join the teams ranked 66th and 55th in the world respectively when UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino conducts the lottery to determine the four groups at 1700 GMT. “Of course you want to avoid the best teams in Europe: Spain, Holland and Germany. But I think it’s going to be hard,” Sweden forward Ola Toivonen told uefa.com.

“But if I wish, I could take England. It would be nice to play against England, without (suspended striker Wayne) Rooney, for example in one of the first two games, or something...and then maybe Ukraine or Poland; One of those three would be good.” Russia defender Alexei Berezutsky was thinking along the same lines.

“I think it would be ideal if we happen to get Poland,” he said. “We wouldn’t really like to play in the same group as (neighbours) Ukraine, and moreover Spain or Holland.”

Poland and Ukraine should be boosted by playing in front of their own fans but are likely to struggle to reach the later stages and will be well aware that no host nation has won the European championship since France in 1984. One of the attractions of the 16-team European championship, is that unlike the World Cup, which is twice the size, it is usually an evenly contested tournament with close matches between the continent’s elite teams.

That may change when it expands to a 24-team finals

in France in 2016 but going into the draw only Switzerland among Europe’s top 14 sides in the FIFA’s rankings is missing.

Apart from the two hosts, the lowest ranked team is Czech Republic, listed at 33rd but with a proud record in the tournament having won the title in 1976 as Czechoslovakia and finishing as runners-up to Germany in 1996. Germany, whose coach Joachim Loew is developing an exciting young team tipped as possible winners, are in the second group of seeds along with Italy, England and Russia. The third pot contains Croatia, Greece, Portugal and Sweden, while the Czechs are ranked along with Denmark, France and Ireland in the fourth pot.

One team from each pot will be drawn in each group.

The finals, which run from June 9 to July 1 next year, take place in the Polish cities of Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Poznan, and the Ukrainian cities of Donetsk, Lviv, Kharkiv and Kiev, which will host the final. — Reuters

No more excuses, Bayern bosses tell players

Lionel Messi takes a shot in this file photo. Pep Guardiolaís team host fourth-placed Levante tomorrow.

Real must learn to live without Alonso in Gijon MADRID: Real Madrid’s rise to the top of La Liga has owed much to Xabi Alonso’s sparkling form but they will have to prove they can survive without the suspended midfield lynchpin when they travel to Sporting Gijon tomorrow.

The former Liverpool playmaker, a central figure in Spain’s World Cup triumph in South Africa last year, picked up his fifth yellow card last weekend, though it does clear him to return for the pivotal clash against Barcelona at the Bernabeu the following Saturday.

Jose Mourinho’s team have been in imperious form, racking up 13 consecutive victories in all competitions, and have pulled three points clear of their arch-rivals Barca, who have played a game more.

In Gijon, however, they will miss Alonso’s influence in a hostile and intimidating environment. Sporting, who are 18th, boast a noisy and colorful support who will not have forgotten last season’s barbed exchanges between their popular and pugnacious coach Manuel Preciado and

Mourinho. Alonso brings composure and experience to Real’s relatively young team and has been an important part of their resurgence.

His ability to control the tempo of games has helped them mature from an essentially counter-attacking playing style, to one that can adapt to a more patient approach when required.

They have only managed three wins in the seven games Alonso has missed since Mourinho took the helm, one of those being the last meeting between Real and Sporting in April last season, when the Asturians stunned them in a 1-0 victory at the Bernabeu.

The player brought in over the summer to help cover for his absences, Turkey’s Nuri Sahin, has only just made his debut after an injurydelayed start to his career in Spain and is still finding his feet.

“We have taken a step forward this season.

We are in a fantastic run of form and results, and we don’t want it to stop,” Alonso told reporters this week.

“I don’t know if I am in the best form of my career, we’ll wait and see how things turn out.

The season is very long and we will have many high points and the odd setback, but hopefully not too many.”

Real want all three points to keep the pressure on Barca, who are chasing their fourth consecutive league crown, and to maintain the psychological edge in the run up to next weekend’s ‘clasico’.

The champions, in second place, suffered their first defeat of the season when they were surprise 1-0 losers at Getafe last Saturday, though they recovered with a 4-0 thumping of Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday.

Pep Guardiola’s team host fourth-placed Levante, who beat Real earlier in the campaign tomorrow. While they may be struggling on the road, they have been formidable in front of their own fans and have scored 34 goals without reply in eight league clashes at the Nou Camp this season. — Reuters

BERLIN: Bayern Munich must beat northern rivals Werder Bremen on Saturday as players are quickly running out of excuses following three defeats in their last five league games, club officials warned players.

Bayern, who had a spectacular start to the season, dropped from top to third place in the Bundesliga last week following their 3-2 loss to Mainz 05, their second consecutive defeat in the league.

“It will be a tough game tomorrow but I expect the players to redeem themselves for last week’s defeat,” Bayern President Uli Hoeness said this week. “There are no more excuses.”

Hoeness said club bosses had noted a recent trend among Bayern players, who were not working as hard as earlier in the season when the team notched a six-match winning streak without conceding a goal.

“Everone is taking a step less, a little slower, a pass across more instead of going deep where it can hurt,” Hoeness said.

A slip-up against visiting Bremen could let champions Borussia Dortmund, a point ahead on 29 along with surprise package Borussia Moenchengladbach, pull further away.

“The team must accept the fact that they played a bad game against Mainz,” Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told reporters. “If some games are not easy then you sometimes have to win the rustic way with a lot of fighting and determination.”

Rummenigge rejected the argument that Bayern had been weakened by the absence of midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has been ruled out with a shoulder injury for the rest of the year.

“Obviously his absence affects the team but you can still run, fight, scratch, bite and do whatever it takes to win in the end.”

Fourth-placed Bremen, missing starting keeper Tim Wiese, could also be without top striker Claudio Pizarro, who is battling to recover from a nagging knee injury in time for the game against his former club. Bremen captain Clemens Fritz, however, has recovered from a back injury and should be fit to play.

Dortmund, who have won seven of their last eight league matches to take over top spot for the first time this season, travel to Gladbach, who in turn have won their last four games and have yet to lose at home this season. — Reuters

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011

Bruins drop Leafs in NHL action Page 59

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Afridi hands Pakistan victory Page 61

DHAKA: Pakistani bowler Umar Gul reacts after the dismissal of the unseen Bangladeshi batsman Naeem Islam during the first One Day International cricket match against Bangladesh. —AFP