6th Nov

CR IP TI ON BS SU

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

Authorities seize 5,000 liquor bottles

Car bomb kills 50 in Syria as air strikes pound rebels

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THUL HIJJAH 21, 1433 AH

Netanyahu ordered Iran strike in 2010: TV

Lakers finally show All Star class in Detroit win

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Amir stands by decree, slams ‘illegal’ protests Candidates reach 94 • Opposition plans new demo

Max 34º Min 19º High Tide 02:53 & 17:36 Low Tide 10:13 & 21:59

By B Izzak

$100bn in oil spending seen over 5 years KUWAIT: Kuwait plans to spend some $100 billion on oil projects inside and outside the state over the next five years, a top oil executive said yesterday.

“Around $100 billion has been earmarked for oil projects ... 60 percent of it on upstream projects inside and outside Kuwait,” CEO of national oil conglomerate Kuwait Petroleum Corp. Farouq Al-Zanki told reporters.

The expenditure is part of the state’s long-term strategy to raise output capacity to 4.0 million barrels Farouq Al-Zanki per day from the current 3.0 million, Zanki said on the sidelines of the Kuwait Energy Projects conference organised by the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED). Construction of a new 615,000 bpd refinery and the clean fuel Continued on Page 15

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah meets citizens during a reception at Bayan Palace yesterday. — KUNA

Qaeda archenemy named new Saudi interior minister

ABU DHABI: British Prime Minister David Cameron talks during a meeting with Emirati students at the Zayed University yesterday. — AFP

Cameron visits Gulf to sell jets, talk security British PM hails Arab Spring ABU DHABI: British Prime Minister David Cameron held talks with United Arab Emirates leaders yesterday as he kicked off a three-day Gulf visit aimed at boosting ties and selling jet fighters.

Cameron’s visit, which took him to both Dubai and UAE capital Abu Dhabi ahead of talks in Saudi Arabia today, came amid growing concern in the Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab states about Shiite Iran’s nuclear ambitions. In Dubai, Cameron held talks

with Dubai ruler and UAE vice president Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid AlMaktoum and Abu Dhabi crown prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed AlNahayan.

They discussed “ways to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation between the two friendly countries” as well as the regional political and security situation, the official WAM news agency said.

Continued on Page 15

RIYADH: Saudi King Abdullah yesterday appointed as interior minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who has led a crackdown on Al-Qaeda and survived a suicide bomb attack claimed by the jihadists. The monarch removed his half-brother Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz from the position “upon his request”, according to a royal decree published on SPA state news agency, adding that he replaced him with Prince Mohammed. Prince Mohammed is the son of Prince Nayef, who served as the kingdom’s interior minister for 37 years until he died in June, and was replaced by Prince Ahmed, who was his deputy.

The move lifts Prince Mohammed into a critical role for the ruling Al-Saud family and one that has until now only been held by Prince Mohammed the current ruling generation. The interior ministry employs more than half a million Saudi Arabians and runs the police, civil defence, domestic intelligence, prisons, the border services and the kingdom’s sophisticated security forces. King Abdullah, the late prince Nayef, Crown Prince Salman and Prince Ahmed are all sons of Saudi Arabia’s founder King Abdulaziz who was known as Ibn Saud.

“I would assume he’s from the second generation of princes who are more receptive to ideas of reform. But he is good at making everybody think he is in their camp.

Continued on Page 15

Obama, Romney make final pitches MADISON, Wisconsin: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney made last-ditch appeals to American voters yesterday as campaigning drew to a close with the president holding a slender advantage going into election day.

On the eve of today’s vote, after a see-sawing 18-month battle, Romney was tied with Obama in national polls but the Democrat held narrow leads in ten of the 12 key swing states that will decide who wins the White House. Both candidates had engaged in a weekend campaign marathon, going deep into the night Sunday in a frenetic 11th-hour search for votes before getting a few hours sleep and starting all over again.

Then Romney was first out of the gate yesterday morning, addressing a rally in the biggest swing state of all, Florida, barely 10 hours after wrapping up an event the night before in Virginia. “We need every single vote in Florida,” Romney told a modest crowd at an airport hangar in Sanford outside Orlando, part of Florida’s critically important “I-4 corridor,” a string of communities cutting across MADISON, Wisconsin: US President Barack the state.

ORLANDO, Florida: Republican candidate Obama addresses a rally yesterday. — AFP Continued on Page 15 Mitt Romney waves after a rally. — AFP

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad AlSabah yesterday insisted that he will not withdraw a decree that amended the electoral constituency law leading to opposition protests, saying that introducing the amendment was within his powers in the constitution. In a speech carried by Kuwait Television and all private satellite channels in the country, the Amir said he and citizens have become very concerned over violence and chaos and insisted that threats and challenges will not achieve the desired objects, adding that dialogue is the best way to resolve the crisis.

Riot police on Sunday used tear gas and stun grenades against thousands of demonstrators who were protesting against the amendment of the electoral law as the opposition claims that changing the law would result in electing a toothless National Assembly in the Dec 1 election. The Amir said that he and Kuwaitis have been stunned by feelings of pain, sorrow and concern because of the “regrettable developments”, and the “practices of violence and chaos” during the protests.

These developments have caused the Kuwaiti people to be afraid and anxious about their country, he said.

The Amir described the opposition demonstrations as illegal and said if they had properly implemented the law, they would have been given permits to stage “civilized” protests like in all democratic countries. The Amir specifically blasted the attacks on policemen, especially a hit-and-run incident during a protest last Continued on Page 15

Two Asians killed in Bahrain blasts DUBAI: Five bombs exploded in the heart of the Bahraini capital Manama yesterday, killing two Asian street cleaners, officials said, and prompting mutual accusations from activists and a government trying to put down a mostly Shiite pro-democracy uprising. The Interior Ministry said the bombs were homemade and described the blasts as “terrorist acts” - its term for violence by opposition activists. But an opposition politician and a rights activist said the attacks, which came days after the government

said it had banned all rallies and opposition gatherings to ensure public safety, could have been the work of government forces trying to justify the ban or a further crackdown.

Injuries to protesters or police are relatively common in the 21-month-old uprising, but attacks on the public have been rare on the Gulf island, where the Sunni Muslim Al-Khalifa dynasty rules over a majority Shiite population. The explosions took place between 4:30 and Continued on Page 15

MANAMA: Bahraini police inspect the site of an explosion in the capital yesterday. — AFP

Ethiopia, Qatar mend ties after 4-year row ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia and Qatar have resumed diplomatic and economic ties, the prime ministers of both countries said yesterday, ending a four-year row over claims that the Gulf state was backing armed opposition groups in the Horn of Africa. “We are in a time where we can flourish and strengthen our relationship and our relationship is based on mutual trust as well as a good heart,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn told reporters after meeting his Qatari counterpart in Addis Ababa. “Now we want to continue with this relationship for the future,” he added.

The two countries fell out in 2008, when Ethiopia’s late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi accused the Gulf Arab state of destabilizing the Continued on Page 15

ADDIS ABABA: Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani (left) talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Hailemariam Desalegn yesterday. — AFP

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

LOCAL

Amiri actions fall within his jurisdictions Judicial figures meet Amir KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah yesterday continued hosting national eminent and influential figures, including legal and judicial figures, who affirmed allegiance to His Highness’ rule and praised his sagacious leadership of the country. Justice Abdullah Ali Omar Al-Issa, the former chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, stated as he emerged from the gathering with His Highness, that Sheikh Sabah affirmed that “what he has been doing falls within his jurisdictions and in harmony with the law and the constitution, and that his actions can only be reviewed by the Constitutional Court.”

Faisal Abdul Aziz Al-Zamel, member of the Higher Consultative Commission, said HH the Amir noted during the meeting that disagreements “must not be tackled publicly”.

“Corruption has always existed in the country.

However this must not be taken as an excuse to carry on with evil deeds,” he said, citing His Highness. “I maintain same distance with supporters and opponents, I am not biased in favor of any one,” he added, quoting HH the Amir.

His Highness renewed his keenness on maintaining national security, for “stability of the state is top priority and if it disappears, there will be no chance for anyone to demand anything.”

Abdullah Mohammed Al-Dihan, member of the consultative commission, indicated that he examined with His Highness a proposed program to educate the new generation about patriotic faithfulness.

Abdul Mohsen Al-Kharafi, the Secretary General of

Awqaf, said “Kuwait cannot tolerate seditions, it is envied .. we bear the responsibility of passing this crisis but this does not mean abstention from correcting the mistakes.” His Highness, he added, expressed full readiness for cooperation to boost patriotism and “contain sectarianism.”

His fellow member of the body, Dr. Issam Al-Fulaij, said His Highness talked in a transparent manner during the session, noting that he expressed condemnation of the rhetoric that was aimed against His Highness and his status as the Amir of the country.

Khaled Al-Mathkour, the head of the higher committee for implementation of the shariaa, called for collective national efforts against seditions and adoption of “calm dialogue that averts confrontation,” voicing regret that citizens and security personnel often suffer injuries in demonstrations. He hoped that the current crisis “would prove to be a passing cloud, so that calm and coherence would soon be restored to the country.”

Rashed Abdul Mohsen Al-Hamad, a former minister and member of the commission, expressed wishes to HH the Amir so he may succeed in resolving the crisis “so that the rule of law and legislations prevail.

“We are all brothers in this country and we are all responsible to maintain the higher interests of the homeland.”

Other eminent attendees were Dr. Naif Al-Ajmi, who expressed good wishes to HH the Amir, and the former MP, Ali Al-Rashed who voiced support for HH the Amir’s guidelines to enforce the law equally on all citizens.

Awqaf Undersecretary Adel Al-Falah noted that the

KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah hosting influential figures, including legal and judicial figures yesterday.

Kuwaiti people have long been known for their moderation, tolerance, cooperation and solidarity. “We must maintain these traits and we must work to preserve this Kuwaiti personality.”

Sheikh Nabil Al-Awadhi, an eminent scholar, said the meeting with His Highness “was quite assuring.

Cabinet lauds outcome of Amir’s trips to Oman, UAE KUWAIT: During its weekly meeting at Seif Palace here yesterday, the cabinet welcomed the results of the short visits paid

by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah to the Sultanate of Oman on Oct 26 and the United Arab Emirates on Nov 3.

The meeting, presided over by HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah, was briefed on the talks HH the Amir held with Omani and UAE leaders on the close bilateral ties and regional issues including the Gulf joint action.

The press remarks were made

by Minister of Information and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah after the meeting.

The cabinet members were also briefed on the letters sent to HH the Amir by King Mohammad VI of Morocco, Albanian President Bujar Nishani, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, Afghan Hamid Karzai, President Mohammed Zillur-Rahman - of Bangladesh, President Mahinda Percy Rajapakse - of Sri Lanka, and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah - of Brunei.

In their messages, the Asian leaders thanked HH the Amir for the hospitality they received during the first Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit hosted

by Kuwait in mid October.

KUWAIT: The cabinet meeting in progress.

They also voiced hope that the results of the summit will give momentum to the friendly ties between their countries and Kuwait and among the Asian countries in general.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah briefed the cabinet on the outcome of the third session of the Higher Joint Kuwaiti-Jordanian Commission which came to a close here yesterday.

The governments of the two countries signed eight pacts and memorandums of understanding on cooperation in the fields of education, vocational training, culture, health, industry, customs, diplomatic training and security.

Sheikh Sabah elaborated on his talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on economic cooperation.

The meeting reviewed the draft laws, adopted by the cabinet recently including act founding public anti-graft authority, and the act on financial statement disclosure.

The new laws aim to reverse the failures in some state departments and put an end to all manifestations of corruption at a time when the country braces for legislative elections.

The cabinet also mulled a draft bill to amend Act No. 42 for 1979 on the sports institutions and Act No. 5 for 2007 on the regulations of the national Olympic commit-

tee, and the sports unions and clubs.

The new law aims to reform the sports regulations and avoid any future decisions by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its affiliate federations, to suspend sports activities in Kuwait; such suspensions harm the interests of sportspeople and mar the image of the country.

The cabinet approved the bills and referred them to HH the Amir for final endorsement.

Reviewing a number of regional issues, the cabinet expressed condolences to Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz over the victims of the massive explosion of a fuel truck in Riyadh four days ago. —KUNA

CB governor holds ‘productive meeting’ with local banks KUWAIT: The Central Bank governor, Dr. Mohammad AlHashel, held a “productive meeting” with chairmen of local banks on Sunday, considered to be the first since his appointment, a local newspaper reported yesterday quoting sources with knowledge of the subject.

The meeting focused on the CB’s support to local banks “financially as well as morally,” according to the sources who spoke to Al-Rai on the condition of anonymity.

“The governor expressed commitment to improve banks’ liquidity levels as well as providing necessary support to the money market if necessary,” the sources said, adding at the same time that Al-Hashel pointed out “his constant coordination with the government to boost developmental projects to improve the national economy.” Meanwhile, the bankers discussed “difficulties in the operational environment” facing the banking sector, to which Al-Hashel responded by reiterating the CB’s commitment to keep up with precautionary allocations.

Other topics discussed included ‘regulations of governance’ that the government announced last June and which are to be complied by middle of next year, a time frame found ‘challenging’ by local banks.

24 candidates submit papers on 6th nomination day KUWAIT: Up to 24 candidates for the upcoming National Assembly elections submitted their nomination papers at the electoral affairs department of the Ministry of Interior yesterday, the sixth day of registration for the polls due on Dec 1. Total number of the nominees who have submitted their registration papers reached 94, including three women nominees. Five have opted to withdraw from the electoral process. Today’s nominees were as following, per district: First constituency: Salah Al-Jimaz, Abdul Hamid Dashti, Issa Moussa, Nasser Al-Nasrallah and Hashem Hashem. Second: Jamal Idriss, Hamad Al-Hershani, Mahmoud Dashti, Nayef Al-Fadhli and Walid Al-Wazzan. Third: Saud Al-Samaka, Tareq Al-Homoud, Abdul-Aziz Al-Hamdan, Abdullah Saleh, Fadhel Al-Dabbous, Mohammed Al-Rish and Mohammed Al-Juwaihel. Fourth: Bader Al-Muwaizri, Bader AlDiweesh and Bader Al-Bidan. Fifth: Jassem Al-Gallaf, Khaled Farhan, Saad Al-Bos and Faisal Al-Hajeri. —KUNA

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah receiving yesterday at Al-Seif Palace members of the Iraqi media delegation.

“It was a fatherly session and it was not a formal one.

His Highness assured us that things will be corrected and we share him his optimism.

“We also conveyed to His Highness the youth agreement regarding the faithfulness for the homeland, the family and the system.” — KUNA

Political reforms a daunting task KUWAIT: The Arab world was taken by surprise when 150,000 or so Kuwaitis took to the small country’s streets in protest on Oct 21. The protest was mobilised against a new electoral law designed to reduce opposition, which was passed by His Highness the Amir without parliamentary approval (as parliament was dissolved).

The Kuwaiti political experience is regionally exceptional as no bloodshed or violence was used in its formation; rather its first Amir was more or less chosen by popular consent. Kuwaitis take much pride in this. Since its independence Kuwait has had free elections, though interrupted by various crises, and the general expectation remained that free and fair elections and political participation cannot be substituted with any alternative.

At least, this is the perceived narrative. If one looks at the history of Kuwait and its root political problems, one realises why many Kuwaitis are calling for fundamental and structural changes in the political system, which has manifested in calls for amending the constitution and governing laws.

Kuwait has always experienced political problems, almost in a cyclical manner. Even the first parliament (1963) after independence had its drawbacks. The first parliament accused the government of corruption and various ministers of mixing personal business activities with governmental ones. In 1964, even after amending the government, 26 of 50 parliamentarians boycotted the parliament.

Since 2006 the parliament has been dissolved five times. It has become so frequent that some observers are no longer surprised. The political turmoil in Kuwait certainly has its roots in times before the Arab spring hit Tunis. The political cycles of rising and diminishing freedoms have been speed up by features of globalisation.

Corruption is perhaps the main motive behind increased political opposition. In the past there were no alternative media outlets to challenge the pervasive regime story of political problems and there were no international organisations to condemn any freedom-limiting acts. Thus from 1976, when the parliament was first dissolved, it was not until 1981 that the next parliament was formed. In 1986 again it was dissolved and was only reformed following the liberation after the Iraqi invasion.

At the beginning of the millennium, blogging becoming popular in Kuwait and many blogs started becoming much more politically oriented, offering a completely alternative political

narrative with the luxury of being anonymous. Online political clashes become almost a daily occurrence, especially between liberals and Islamists, where both tended to blame each other for the shortcomings of Kuwait’s political and governing life.

Some segments of social media started turning towards governmental corruption as the root cause and even challenged the prime minister who is a member of the royal family, demanding he step down.

While the Arab Spring certainly did not initiate Kuwaiti political strife, it certainly catalysed it. In November 2011, about 50,000 protested in Sahat alIrada (the Square of Determination), demanding the prime minister step down over allegations of corruption.

Around the same time, the parliament was stormed at night by protesters with oppositional members of parliament making the same demand.

Indeed the minister had no choice but to step down, marking the first such incident of its kind in Kuwait.

Before the Arab Spring Kuwait had a comparative advantage in terms of political freedoms and its political system, outmatching by far the regimes of Ben Ali and Mubarak, and many in the Arab world associated Kuwait with a positive political experience.

After the Arab Spring this is no longer the case and Kuwait politicians who took pride in its freedoms have become overshadowed by much more illuminating experiences in the region.

This has made Kuwaitis much more daring. In the past asking a prime minister to step down was taboo, especially when the prime minister is appointed by the Amir which is deeply respected in Kuwaiti society and inviolable in the Kuwaiti constitution.

Musallam Al-Barak, a parliamentarian and hardcore activist, previously said the regime will regret not fulfilling previous demands. Musallam later on was the one who coined the slogan “we will not allow you” that shook the streets of Kuwait in protest. Now there are rising demands for a constitutional monarchy where the government is not appointed by the Amir but rather established through a popular vote to elect the prime minister. The regime and opposition are not compromising so far and thus marches in the streets of Kuwait are likely to continue. It is highly unlikely that brute force like that in Tunis and Egypt will be used, though the regional implications make reform a much more daunting task, as even if the regime responds positively to calls for reform it will be met with regional opposition. —Daily News Egypt

Boycott proves Kuwaitis hungry for dignity: Al-Khateeb KUWAIT: A top liberal figure in Kuwait explained that he joined the religious-tribal dominated opposition in boycotting the elections in order to prove that Kuwaitis were “hungry for dignity, not wealth.”

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khateeb, member of the Gulf state’s inaugural parliament and cofounder of the Kuwait Democratic Forum, one of the oldest liberal groups in Kuwait, hosted former Islamist MPs at his dewaniya in a development that has triggered a controversy about him striking an alliance with those who at one time were his movement’s archrivals. “Calling my position contradictory could be true if the upcoming elections were held under normal circumstances,” Al-Khateeb said, further explaining in a statement made available Sunday to the press that “the world was carefully

watching to know whether Kuwaitis were mature enough to understand the reasons behind their underdevelopment.”

Al-Khateeb indicated that objecting to the emergency decree that reduced the number of votes per voter was part of the efforts to stop a governmental policy of messing with the electoral system since the 1960s, a period most recognized by the fraudulent 1967 elections. He also cited the examples of a decree in 1980 that redistributed the electoral constituencies for the first time, as well as an alliance that liberals believe took place between the government and religious and tribal groups to restrict the national movement.

“What is the level of Kuwaitis’ awareness? Is there a large percentage of people who believe that the current situation is

unconstitutional, or are the majority in favor of the present conditions? Is there hunger for dignity in the region or is wealth the only thing that matters to Kuwaitis?” he questioned.

Al-Khateeb also said that the current public movement that “we have missed for a long time” emitted signs for optimism since it features involvement of “all sectors of society”. “Differences help shape correct opinions as opposed to theories sanctified by their believers which breed human groups lacking willpower,” he said.

In his lengthy statement, Al-Khateeb reiterated commitment to the constitution which he said has been targeted both from inside and outside Kuwait since its inception fifty years ago. “Kuwaitis’ unity which has always been the shield that protected

Kuwait from all these attempts is what we need the most today,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Forum and the National Democratic Alliance, the second leading liberal group in Kuwait, reiterated their position of boycotting the elections through separate statements released simultaneously on Sunday.

“Boycott of elections is important to send a message of protest against changing the electoral law outside the parliament,” NDA Secretary General Khalid AlKhalid said. The Democratic Forum said that “action in accordance with the [group’s] regulations will be taken” against any member who went against the group’s decision, which suggested that any candidate who registered for elections will be expelled.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

LOCAL

Youth with disabilities to showcase abilities Three-day convention in December

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Training Gate International (TGI) will be holding a three-day entertainment and information event for Persons with Disabilities next month. Many international personalities and organizations will be participating in the event scheduled to be held from Dec 3 to 5. This was announced during the press conference held yesterday to inform the institutions about this activity and encourage them to sponsor this event.

The upcoming Convention and Celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities will be held under the auspices of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The 2012 IDPD theme is ‘Removing Barriers to Create an Inclusive and Accessible Society for All.’ This is the third consecutive year for this event to be held. “This year’s convention and celebrations will be unique as youth with disabilities will be the main speakers and will be participating in organizing the event. One of the main objectives of this event is giving youth with disabilities an opportunity to share their vision for the improvement of education and employment, and to showcase their abilities, ambitions and achievements,” said Kifayah Al-Alban, Founder and General Manager of Training Gate International (TGI).

On her part, Noora Al-Othman, Co-Founder and DGM of TGI, noted that Training Gate International held a meeting to decide plans meeting on October 21st with all schools and organizations serving people with disabilities in public and private sectors, in order to involve them in the planning process and cooperate to highlight Kuwait’s role in providing programs

Diabetes affects 20 percent of Kuwait population

By Abdellatif Sharaa

KUWAIT: Noora Al-Othman, Kifayah Al-Alban and Carol Marshall during the press conference held yesterday.— Photo by Joseph Shagra and services to improve the lives of people with disabilities.

“TGI is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families, and including them in all aspects of society and life. So we always welcome any support, especially from the private or public sector, in sponsoring our event,” she added.

Carol Marshall, TGI Special Education Consultant, stated that Training Gate International will invite expert leaders from USA, representing TGI partnerships with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the only organization that

sets the professional standards in special education, and Virginia Commonwealth University ’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (VCU-RRTC), one of the largest Research and Training Centers dedicated to improving employment success for people with disabilities.

Al-Othman added that this year’s convention will also include the participation of Mobility International USA (MIUSA) through the support of the US Embassy in Kuwait. “The Embassy will be an official partner in this year ’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities Convention and

Celebration for the first time. The Embassy and MIUSA are pleased to participate in the event and look forward to exchanging best practices with local organizations to enable young people with disabilities to achieve their goals,” she pointed out.

Al-Alban also announced that the Ministry of Information (MOI) will be an official partner in this event. She also extended an invitation to all private sector organizations and business owners to participate in supporting this important event as part of their corporate social responsibility and humanitarian support.

Moves to turn Lawyers Society into union KUWAIT: The procedure for turning the Lawyers Society into a union faces strong opposition from some lawyers and may lead to submission of an objection against the decision, which its opponents say was full of legal infirmities.

Sources at the Social Affairs and Labor Ministry said the applications to effect the said change was presented to the ministry and approved by minister Salem Al-Athaina but it may create problems because it clashes with pri-

vate sector labor law especially since it was submitted in 2009. They warned that this may constitute a precedent for many societies to now plead to become unions.

Sources said the delay in approving the change of the society into a union was because the legal affairs department refused to approve the move in the absence of any law that allows such a change, especially since the procedure employed can be considered as amounting to a

dissolution of the society to create a union, and this may raise financial questions.

The sources said that there is a decision that bans supporting NGOs and unions with money, and this is the core of the problem about change of status from society to union, especially since the particular society was receiving KD 120,000 in government support and if it is changed into a union, that support will be in contradiction of the private sector Labor Law No. 6/2010.

KUWAIT: Nov 14 marks the World Diabetes Day, and many international and local organizations are focussing on raising awareness about diabetes and educating people about the means to deal with this group of metabolic diseases collectively called diabetes.

Diabetes is spreading at an alarming rate around the world as 347 million people worldwide are now afflicted by it, while in 2004, an estimated 3.4 million people died from complications involving high blood sugar levels.

The World Health Organization projects that deaths due to diabetes will increase by about 65 percent between 2008 and 2030.

It is also alarming to find out that Type 2 diabetes is increasing among children and adolescents due to inactivity, unregulated diet and lifestyle, and government and health authorities must exert more efforts to get people to follow certain simple lifestyle measures as an effective way to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes. These include attaining a healthy body weight, exercising regularly for 30 minutes on a daily basis and eating healthy food sensibly.

• Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. 50 percent of the people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke).

• Combined with reduced blood flow, neuropathy in the feet increases the chance of foot ulcers and eventual limb amputation.

• Diabetic retinopathy is an important cause of blindness, and occurs as a result of long term accumulated damage to the small blood vessels in the retina.

After 15 years of diabetes, approximately 2 percent of people become blind, and about 10 percent develop severe visual impairment.

• Diabetes is among the leading causes of kidney failure. 10-20 percent of people with diabetes die of kidney failure.

• Diabetic neuropathy is damage to the nerves as a result of diabetes, and affects up to 50 percent of the people with diabetes. Although various prob-

lems can occur as a result of diabetic neuropathy, common symptoms are tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in the feet and hands.

• The overall risk of dying among people with diabetes is at least double the risk of their peers without diabetes.

Dr Ahmad Al-Sayyed from MSD in Kuwait said awareness campaigns are very important. He said although the health ministry organizes several campaigns, it is still necessary for the private sector to cooperate with health authorities in Kuwait to come up with ideas that can lead to increased awareness, because diabetes is now widespread and now affects 20 percent in Kuwait.

He said Kuwait is third as far as the spread of diabetes is concerned, so confronting diabetes is no longer an option, rather it is a necessity.

He said awareness should be about the disease itself and its complications.

Dr. Sayyed said that 65 percent of diabetic patients in the developed countries die because of cardiovascular complications. He said the cost incurred because of the blood vessels related diseases brings an additional burden on the Kuwaiti government which exceeds the cost incurred by diabetes itself.

He said early intervention in dealing with the disease helps in controlling it better, and this comes from education and awareness. There is need for continuous education for doctors and initiatives from the private sectors.

He said MSD conducted two campaigns to discover diabetes and cholesterol levels in cooperation with doctors in both public and private sectors, and this encouraged patients to carry out the required tests. He said there was another campaign to study diabetes during Ramadan to find out how best can people deal with the disease and its complications during fasting.

Dr Sayyed said that they are distributing cookery books through diabetes clinics that contain dishes for diabetics and at the same time also factor in what Kuwaiti people like. He said despite all such activities, there is still room for much more since the numbers involved were really alarming.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

local

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

LOCAL

Soldiers become expert infantrymen in Kuwait Test of mind and body CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait: Being an infantryman is pushing yourself to limit, then turning around and pushing yourself more, according to Maj. Brian Murphy, an expert infantryman and chaplain of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard. That’s an apt description of Cpl. James Goff of Gainesville, Fla. as he struggled to finish a 12-mile march to complete the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB) course, held here from Sept. 17 to 21.

“I had to dig deep inside myself to pass,” said Goff, of 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, South Carolina Army National Guard. Dizzy and dehydrated, Goff passed the finish line then promptly passed out, becoming the last of 11 Soldiers to complete the course and earn the right to wear the shining, infantry-blue badge with a silver musket emblazoned on it.

While it had been a test of brawn and brain for the winners and 162 other soldiers who competed, it had been a long, painstaking chore for the nearly troops - most expert infantrymen themselves - who established and graded the course events here and at the nearby Udairi Range. The course is also a training enhancer which encourages excellence, said 1st Lt. Jordan Hatfield, one of the course planners and evaluators from 4th Battalion.

“It’s not all about the end result,” said Hatfield, an expert infantrymen from Charleston, S.C. “It’s about training.” The 4th Battalion began establishing the course about a month after assuming security-force and camp operations missions in Northern Kuwait around mid-April. Course board members and evaluators were selected from the 4th Battalion, the New York Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry and the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry of the 3rd Infantry Division. Two dozen of the evaluators had earned the EIB themselves, surpassing the required ratio of course board members and evaluators to EIB candidates. Course participation is voluntary, but Soldiers must meet weight standards, qualify as experts with the M4 carbine, hold an infantry or special forces military occupational skill (MOS) or be commissioned officers in those areas, and be recommended by their commanders before becoming EIB candidates. To earn the EIB, candidates must score 75 or more in each Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) event, identify three out of four points on day and night land navigation tests and correctly perform 80 percent of 30 Soldier tasks on three tactical decision lanes.

Free to select half of the tasks, board members chose ones 4th Battalion Soldiers needed training in, and developed tactical scenarios on the decision lanes to fit those tasks into. The board based one lane on a traffic-control point (TCP), another in an urban environment, and the third - known

as the patrol lane - on strictly desert terrain.

Though the Udairi range has mock villages readymade for the TCP and urban lanes, the board and evaluators had to create two patrol lanes from scratch. Not far from the villages, Hatfield found two canyons, bordered by steep, knife-edged ridges - the remnants of borax strip-mining operations.

The canyons resembled two bowling alleys, Hatfield said, but they contained a variety of terrain features, high ground and cover and concealment to test candidates on tasks such as individual movement techniques, using hand grenades and calling for and adjusting indirect fire. They designed the lane so the tasks would follow in a logical order, culminating at fighting position where candidates were tested on recovering a claymore mine, marking unexploded ordnance (UXO) and calling in a UXO report, said patrol lane non-commissioned officer-in-charge Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Gadsden, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion.

Though they were able to utilize some natural hillocks in the canyons in their lane design, they had to build fighting positions, obstacles and targets with sandbags and other materials, said Gadsden, of Charleston, S.C. Built into crests of the knife-edge ridges, the final fighting positions overlooked buildings some distance away - targets candidates would call for and adjust fire on.

It took about a dozen soldiers to design and build the patrol lanes, Gadsden said. Graders and EIB board members also set up stations in a Camp Buehring area so candidates could practice the tasks, Hatfield and Gadsden said. These stations and trainers were available to the candidates for three days prior to the EIB testing, and they seemed to help, and even inspire them, he added.

“Guys were out there until 5 a.m., when the sun came up,” Hatfield recalled.

Goff and 1st Lt. Joshua Nance, a platoon leader in 4th Battalion, were grateful to the trainers. They did a good job helping them prepare, said Nance, an Iraq veteran who is from Charlotte, N.C. “They told us everything we needed to know,” Nance said. Sgt. Joseph Rabon, a 4th Battalion team leader from Aynor, S.C., said he used the training time to concentrate on what he considered simpler tasks, like functions checks on weapons. Soldiers sometimes develop their own habits with weapon systems, and forget safety measures which are part of the standard, he added. “I felt if I could perfect those (simpler tasks), I’d have room for error on the bigger things,” Rabon said. “You have to go back to the book way of doing things, the right way.”

All Soldiers need to know the tasks, but the challenge of the EIB course is to do them in a stressful situation, while paying close attention to

detail, Nance said. While the tasks themselves aren’t difficult, doing them for time in a tactical scenario is, he added.

“You’re being graded by the manual,” he stressed. While he studied all the tasks well, he focused on weapon systems, particularly loading and unloading procedures and setting the head space and timing on the .50 caliber machine gun.

The training gave candidates the ability to time themselves, which would pay dividends out on the lanes, Gadsden said.

Immediately following the three-day train-up, the EIB course began with the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and land navigation courses, which significantly reduced the field of candidates.Conducted in a desert area without roads or terrain features, candidates could only use their compasses and pace counts - directions and distances - to pass the land navigation courses, Hatfield said. The night land navigation course was conducted during a new moon with almost no ambient light, and only 45 percent of the candidates passed the courses, he added.

“That’s where we lost a lot of people, night land navigation and (APFT),” he recalled.

Though he was physically prepared for the course, the lanes called for attentiveness to detail, and abiding by the old adage, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast,” Nance said.

“You knew what you had to do,” he said. “You had to plan out how to execute the lane.”

Staying calm, keeping his mind clear and not concentrating too hard helped him during the lanes, Rabon said. He felt some stress because he didn’t know what to expect on the lanes, Goff said. But then his knowledge kicked in and he saw what he need to do and did it, he recalled.

“Once I got on the lane I calmed down,” Goff said. Not knowing what to expect was part of the lanes’ challenge, and he felt some “jitters of doing something new for the first time,” Nance said. “Of course, I was extremely nervous, as everyone was,” he said. While his combat experiences had taught him some grace under pressure, he took some deep breaths, willed himself to be calm and called on his confidence - the belief that he would succeed - and drove on, Nance said. Decisions tested on the patrol lanes - like eliminating an enemy threat before treating a casualty - reminded him of real-life situations he’d encountered in Iraq, Rabon said. But like his earlier EIB attempt, he missed with the grenades, he recalled.

Another realistic decision scenario involved engaging mock insurgents from a Humvee.

There was a mock casualty between the Humvee and the enemy, and according to the scenario, candidates had to order the driver to close this gap so as not to endanger the casualty with friendly fire. www.army.mil

5,000 bottles of liquor confiscated

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Drug enforcement agents in coordination with customs authorities intercepted two containers carrying 5,000 bottles of imported liquor.

Acting on the basis of prior information received about this shipment that bottles of liquor would be found hidden in sugar bags coming from a GCC state by sea, the officials gathered the required inputs and tracked down the containers, where they found liquor hidden in places hard to detect.

Authorities are coordinating with the GCC state to identify who shipped the two containers. The detained shipment has been sent to the public prosecutor.

Hearing in Barrak’s case on Nov 12 KUWAIT: The Criminal Court set Nov 12 as the next hearing for the state security case in which former MP Musallam Barrak is accused of undermining the status of HH the Amir. The date was set during a hearing on Sunday.

The Public Prosecution charged Barrak, who was released on a KD10,000 bail on Thursday, with offending the Amir, undermining the status of the Amir and challenging the Amir’s authority.

Meanwhile, the court also set Nov 25 as the date for the hearing to pronounce the sentence in the case pertaining to illegal

primary elections organized by the Mutair tribe at the fourth constituency. Seventeen citizens, including former MPs Mohammad Hayef and Mubarak Al-Wa’lan, are accused in the case.

In the meantime, the Appeals Court adjourned the Public Prosecution’s appeal in a Court of First Instance ruling that found former MP Obaid Al-Wasmi not guilty of charges pressed by the State Security Service about violence that erupted outside former MP Jamaan Al-Harbash’s dewaniya on December 2010. The court set the next hearing on Nov 17.

6

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

LOCAL in my view

in my view

Brothers.... you perplex us

An open house for all people

By Ambassador Faisal Rashed Al-Ghais s result of the strong reaction against them by a broad section of the Kuwaiti population and also as a result of the firm policy adopted

by HH the Amir recently, the Muslim Brothers - their Kuwait branch - have resorted to a policy of acting docile, evasiveness and hiding their true aims. They have no problem doing so. They have also begun to pretend that they are independent of the mother party and the guard Murshid (leader) or the group’s amir, as they call him.

The BBC radio’s Arabic service interviewed the three concerned persons a fortnight ago to seek their opinions about the call by the UAE foreign minister to the GCC countries to coordinate their efforts in the face of the threat posed by the Muslim Brothers.

One of the three interviewed was the official spokesman of Hadas, the pseudonym employed by Muslim Brothers’ leader in Kuwait, Mubarak Al Duwailah. The interviewer, Fida Baseel, asked him about their goals in Kuwait. He answered that they were a peaceful group seeking political reform, transparency and fighting corruption, no more.

I was left perplexed listening to Al-Duwailah. He failed to mention their goal of amending Article 2 of the constitution - which was often affirmed as a major goal by the two movements of political Islam, Hadas and the Salaf, although they later declared they were keeping this goal on the backburner because the present situation is not propitious. AlDuwailah dropped all mention of this goal, knowing very well that changing Article 2 the way they wish was tantamount to not just subverting the ruling regime but would also mean the end of the civil society - or the few elements that exist thereof. Al Duwailah failed, on purpose, to mention his party’s goal of re-establishing the Muslim caliphate according to the Sunni doctrine. Al-Duwailah did not mention that his party derides our Shia and Christian sisters and brothers as infidels. Neither did he mention the intention, voiced by their MPs in the last (2012) parliament, to demolish churches and Hussainias (i.e. Shia mosques) and to prevent building any more.

I certainly had not wished to get involved in this issue, except that these Islamist groups have started to push Kuwait towards an abyss and to jeopardize our country and the future of our generations, for the sake of whom we fear what still lies ahead. We feel great sorrow when we look at our grand children and feel that we owe them an apology for the mistakes which some of our generation are now committing against the future generations, some who feel that they, and they alone, are infallible and that they are 100 percent right and the others are 100 percent wrong, some who, in their fanaticism, are biting the hand that fed them and are now defying the very ruling regime which nurtured and pampered them and gave them all the support, often at the cost of other groups in the society.

Kuwait is a Muslim country and has a pious society by its nature, but the Kuwaitis will not allow any group to exploit religion as a weapon to fight others and to dismantle our country and society.

Kuwaitis have no fear of the game of the Islamist parties who smear anyone who holds a different opinion from theirs as a traitor and an infidel. It is high time for the silent majority to speak out loudly in the face of anyone who tries to divide our society into conflicting groups and factions.

A

kuwait digest

Try to avoid more crises

By Ahmad Al-Mulaifi here are no two people who do not agree that there are problems in many fields and shortages in services provided by the state. Yes, there are weaknesses in education delivery, delays in housing issues and lacunae in health services. The infra-structure development has come to a grinding halt and there is widespread bribery, influence, a culture of wasta and bureaucratic red tape in the systems that makes it almost impossible to avail of any facility provided by the state without resorting to wasta or bribe.

It is also true that there are no two people who will disagree that the degeneration in the democratic practice that we now encounter and the foul language that is used to spread hatred, apart from sectarian and tribal discrimination, have all led to the society’s fabric being torn asunder. We have been reduced to small isolated islands, groups of people fighting among themselves where each looks at the other with suspicion and fear.

There is no disagreement over the fact that the government bears responsibility to a large extent for the problems since it either created these or was slack in dealing with them until things went out of hand.

Meanwhile, and for the sake of fairness, we must admit that we as a country and its citizens live in a better climate as far as democracy, economic and social freedom, and security was concerned, in some cases even better than many of the advanced countries globally.

We cannot preserve the blessings we have or develop them further or fight all forms of corruption and regression, by indulging in chaos and compromising security, which is a priority without which no element of development can succeed. We can deal with our mistakes and improve our lives by agreeing to work within the framework of the constitution and law. We have to remain within the framework of the political game so that it does not lead to more crises.

We cannot preserve the framework by demolishing the temple that stands on it, otherwise the thread by which our destiny hangs will be severed. —Annahar

T

By Labeed Abdal

labeed@kuwaittimes.net pring had started rather well in Tunisia where a street vendor committed self-immolation as a protest against the police who were putting undue restrictions on the man who was suffering from acute poverty and destitution. The Tunisians were able to light a spark for similar springs in Egypt, Libya and many other Arab countries.

The Jasmine revolution of Tunisia gave some hope to the people to smile, breathe and dream of democracy and freedom.

The social media turned out to be a tool to freely express the people’s opposition, rejection and anger which, in turn, resulted in the streets coming alive with the roar of surging crowds and cries to retrieve the country from the hands of the dictators who had been mooching off wealth and future of the people.

But having that magic effect in countries like the ones mentioned above was like a few drops of rain in a parched desert.

Given the state of poverty that saw per capita incomes plunging to less than two dollars a day in Egypt, the regime there was potentially leading a huge population of over 80 million by keeping the people hungry, jobless and in a state of destitution.

Moreover, and even worse, by 2012, those observing the scene can see that after the religious groups came to wield power in Tunisia and Egypt, the young protesters are feeling that their spring has turned into a frozen winter.

As every shout they hollered and every step they took stands virtually negated and there is little hope left for a chance to breathe freely, there are new sets of restrictions in place and fake promises of democracy and more openness are being peddled.

The recent events in Kuwait really require us to sound a wake up call to those who are being blindly deceived by some of our ex-MPs who are misleading them to nowhere.

It is almost impossible to make a comparison between the Egyptians or the Tunisians on one hand, and Kuwait on the other, given that our country by its very nature and history is against radicalism and has always remained an open house for Kuwaitis, expats, people of all religions and sects, to a high degree of satisfaction.

We all must be united and prevent the deception being practiced by some irresponsible opposition or/and religious groups, which are trying to seek only power with the help of those in foreign countries.

They are trying to plug for their own projects that neither match our people nor are fit for our country, its interests, people or allies.

S

kuwait digest

Time to rectify our errors

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij or some reason, my endorsement of the single- ence who reach their positions by messing with the vote system that I made in my most recent col- elections system would normally wish to retain the staumn came as a shock for many readers who did tus quo.

Therefore, it is not completely possible for the modnot expect me to support the emergency decree.

Meanwhile, the current opposition found my decision ification to be made normally because these same groups are controlling the parliament, and would nora ‘proof’ that I am a supporter of the government.

As a matter of fact, I rooted for an emergency mally reject any legislation that limits their own decree to reduce the number of votes per voter even authority or rectifies the present situation, so to speak. before it was released, and repeatedly explained the That is why we find that the groups which shunned reasons for it through my writings. Moreover, I have democracy during the 1960s and 70s are now in the also made it clear over the years that I believe that the forefront, talking about defending the constitution and the democratic system parliament and the election only because they had moldprocess are controlled by an ed it first to bring it in line alliance between the governIt is not completely possible with their own principles and ment and the religious and for the modification to be made traditions instead of adapting tribal groups. normally because these same to it. This is why I for long This is why I have advocathave believed that getting ed on multiple occasions for groups are controlling the parout of this dark tunnel the suspension of article 107 liament, and would normally requires extraordinary measof the constitution, or in othreject any legislation that limits ures similar to the extraordier words for an unconstitunary measures that led us to tional dissolution of the partheir own authority or rectifies reach this stage. I made this liament. The reason for that is the present situation, so to clear in a widely misinterpretbecause I am convinced that speak. That is why we find that ed ar ticle published four the continuous tampering years ago in which I had with the parliamentary systhe groups which shunned called for a return back to the tem which has been going on democracy during the 1960s original system adopted folsince the fraudulent 1967 and 70s are now in the forelowing the enforcement of elections until ailment prethe constitution in 1962, and vented the late Sheikh Saad front, talking about defending before direct and indirect forAl-Abdullah from assuming the constitution and the demogery of elections took place. his authority, has led to the cratic system only because they The governing authority election process becoming a who led us to this stage is the hostage in the hands of the had molded it first to bring it in only one capable of carrying tribal and religious groups. line with their own principles. out some exceptional proceAs a result, the results of dures to rectify the situation. elections will always be under the control of the anti-democratic factions. A parliament controlled by the products of years of There is no difference between a pro-government or tampering with the electoral system cannot achieve anti-government majority when both are clearly this objective. And I am not talking here only about opposing the principles of the constitution and the current opposition, but most products of elections democracy. I am also convinced that this tough dilem- happened after the fraudulent 1967 election, and the ma cannot be rectified through normal or ‘legitimate’ redistribution of constituencies in 1980 through a means, because political forces and people with influ- decision made solely by the government.— Al-Qabas

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kuwait digest

Convincing speech

By Dr Mohammad Al-Moqatei espite the deep crisis that we are passing through since the emergency decree reducing the number of candidates a voter can vote for to one was passed, escalated tensions have come to define the political scene. Till this point, neither party has come up with at least arguments by which they attempt to convince the other about their point of view through political or legal argument. Lack of any convincing address is in my opinion the reason behind the increasing divisiveness seen today on this issue.

To argue that the right to release emergency decrees in the absence of the parliament was a normal and freely usable right would be something illogical from a legal standpoint. While releasing emergency decrees is an undeniable right, it is qualified by the grounds of necessity for which the decree is promulgated. On the other hand, arguing that releasing emergency decrees violates the constitution is obviously misleading since it is released by exercising a constitutional right.

Assessing the need for releasing an emergency decree is left to the executive authority to decide as the constitution does not require prior agreement of any other party before taking the step. At the same time, the constitution allows the judicial and legislative authorities to reassess the necessity afterwards and determine whether the decree should still remain on the statute or be scrapped.

An emergency decree is not a usual procedure, therefore it requires explanation about why it was necessary for it to be released so that the public can be convinced and the judiciary can verify the assessment for necessity.

Changing the electoral system is hamstrung by two dimensions. First, there are concerns about the impartiality of a parliament that settles the contro-

D

versy over a decree which determines its very existence. This is similar to the controversy raised when a parliament legislated in an electoral system or distribution of constituencies. This is the reason why such practices are banned in some countries and instead there is a supreme election commission. The second dimension is the fact that the Constitutional Court in Kuwait found no reason why it should stop efforts to change the system, according to a verdict released in 2008.

Expressing a political point of view, whether in support of or opposition to the emergency decree, is a right of every citizen. Expressing objection through peaceful means including demonstrations and authorized marches is not considered ‘disobedience’ of the Amir’s orders. In the meantime, releasing the emergency decree is not considered an autocratic step because it is done as per article 71 of the constitution which clearly states that this right is exclusive to the executive authority.

Using violence to stop expression of opinion through peaceful gatherings exposes the government’s lack of political and legal convincing ability, which is similar to the opposition’s approach in using instigation, threats and accusations of betrayal instead of supporting their argument by political and legal arguments.

There are signs of a potential solution being reached through political agreement similar to the one that ended the 1981 emergency decrees (to change the distribution of constituencies) crisis, or the one reached in 1991 after the Liberation or the one that ended the Amirship dilemma in 2006. But when both sides lack the ability to convince the public or each other about their argument, can a similar agreement be reached to end the crisis we face today? — Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

Empty slogans and ‘dignity’

By Arwa Al-Waqian E” is an employee who got appointed on the basis of wasta from an MP known for providing ‘services’ in lieu of votes. He worked in a government establishment enjoying all incentives without even having to show up for work or putting in any labour. His continued absence did not prevent him from availing the promotions that he got so easily thanks to his wasta link that helped him conquer all obstacles and supersede many hardworking citizens.

“SHE” is employed in a ministry and she is obsessed with Twitter, Instagram and selling fake handbags through various websites. She shows up at work once a week to check how things are going, say hi to the girls at the office, sell some of her merchandise and say goodbye to the girls after having some tea and pies, promising to see them the following week on her next weekly visit.

“HE” is also a government employee whom no one ever saw at the office except the personnel clerk. Rumor has it a cleaner once spotted him in one of the corridors, receiving a check with allowances for his year-long ‘missions abroad’ simply because the manager is a kin of his.

So he never bothers to show up except to receive the allowances.

To check cases exactly like these, the Civil Services Commission forced the government employees to use fingerprints at the entry-exit regulating systems which, in fact, only made things harder for more committed and dedicated employees whereas the “HEs” and “SHEs” continued to follow the same patterns which were protected by their wasta links. This means that the state did try to fight this administrative corruption but those used to luxury insist on practicing corruption by using wasta.

The funny thing is that all these examples shared one common link - they all took part in the recent ‘A Nation’s Dignity’ demonstrations shouting their hearts out, raising slogans against violations of law. They even called for more awareness, more consciousness. I hope they apply all such nice homilies on themselves first.

Those getting undeserved payments actually need such demonstrations ‘within’ their souls and conscience.

Their conscientiousness has been allowing certain things and prohibiting certain others as it fancies. Maybe, their conscience is just another political issue meant to gain more popularity before it slips back into a deep slumber.

On a concluding note, and as a reminder, the assistant Civil Services Commission undersecretary for data systems, Ahmed Al-Abdel Jaleel disclosed that government employees have filed 50,174 sick leave applications during the Oct 21-24 period, just preceding Eid. I rest my case.—Al-Jarida

“H

7

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

LOCAL

Drug addict injured in failed runaway bid Kuwaiti woman freed from family KUWAIT: A drug addict, who tried to escape in the police patrol’s vehicle in Kabd on Sunday with his accomplice in an SUV firing shots to distract the officers and creating an opportunity for him to escape, could barely drive for a short distance when his vehicle overturned at a roundabout. Police officers had arrested the man for possessing drugs and alcohol besides driving under the influence of drugs but suddenly an SUV appeared on the scene with its driver firing gunshots, forcing the officers to take cover. The arrested man, taking advantage of the fact that his hands were cuffed in front, jumped into the patrol vehicle, commandeering it and drove away. However, after driving for a short distance, the vehicle turned turtle at a roundabout. A man was taken to the hospital while police filed a case for investigations.

Kidnap foiled Patrol officers happened to be at the right place at the right time to save a Filipina woman from kidnappers who tried to force her inside their car in Khaitan recently.

The victim was reportedly coming out of a beauty salon when three suspects pulled over and attempted to kidnap her. As her cries for help attracted the attention of patrol officers passing nearby, the kidnappers let her go and drove away. Police searched the area for the suspects but to no avail, following which they escorted the woman to the area’s police station to file a case.

asking for help. Security officers headed to the house located in AlQsour based on an emergency call in which a woman reported receiving a text message from her friend asking for help to escape her forced confinement. The family members let the officers inside based on their request after insisting that the woman had locked herself in her room and refuses to open the door. The woman, a Kuwaiti in her twenties, opened the door for police and said that she was subjected to severe beating by her family which locked her inside the house. She was helped to the area’s police station afterwards where charges of domestic abuse were filed.

Woman freed Police freed a woman locked inside her family’s home after she sent a text message to her friend

Search for shooter Investigations are on to identify and arrest a male driver who was seen firing gunshots near the sta-

Search was on for his accomplice.

bles’ area in Abdullah Port. Police reached the site owned by the equestrian club following an emergency call and found empty bullet shells at the scene. The suspect, who was driving a green Japanese-made car according to eyewitnesses, escaped before the police arrived. A case was filed at the Abdullah Port police station.

Airport row A passenger missed his flight after engaging in a heated exchange with an officer at the Kuwait International Airport that led to his arrest. The Egyptian man was held based on a case filed by the officer who accused him of verbal abuse. The man argued in the meantime that the officer treated him inappropriately. A case was filed at the Jleeb AlShuyoukh police station for investigations.

Positive expectations in Kuwait for next year

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education inaugurated yesterday the 8th Kuwaiti Franco Exhibition for Science in an event attended by Assistant Undersecretary for Students Activities Radhi Al-Oyaied, as well as the French Ambassador to Kuwait Nada Yafi. The event titled ‘Launch to Space’ gives the opportunity for students to learn about gravity and the mechanism used during rocket launch.

Kuwait, Hungary discuss bilateral relations KUWAIT: Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khalid Sulaiman Al-Jarallah received yesterday Hungary’s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations Peter Szijjarto. During the meeting, the Hungarian official presented a letter to HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad AlSabah.

The two sides discussed bilateral relations and latest regional and interna-

tional developments.

The meeting was attended by the Director of Europe Department at the M inistr y of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Waleed Al Khubaizi, and the Director of the Undersecretar y Bureau, Ayham Abdullatif Al-Omar. It was also attended by the Hungarian ambassador to Kuwait, in addition to the delegation accompanying the Hungarian official. —KUNA

Al-Babtain opens Arab-European dialogue institute in Rome KUWAIT: The Chairman of the Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity is to inaugurate the “Arab-European cultural dialogue institute” in Rome on Friday, with the aim of promoting the value and ethics of dialogue in the two concerned communities.

A statement by the foundation, yesterday, said Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain is to be president of the new institute, co-founded by his foundation and an Italian center and a Belgian institute.

The aim of the new institute is to stress dialogue as a way of life and policy of choice, whether in interaction between Arab and European communities or between other groups of different cultural and religious backgrounds.

The activities of the institute would be in two areas; it would prepare and execute scientific courses and programs in the Arab World and Europe and offer courses in the main languages used in both. It would also offer classes on social norms and preferable means of communication with the communities concerned.

The second area involves organizing seminars, conferences, and forums with participation of leading figures, specialists, and men of letters from both sides. This is along with holding one forum at least every year with a series of lectures by specialists on select topics.

The founding of this new cultural institution is part of the efforts of the Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud AlBabtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity to help promote the culture of peaceful and constructive interaction around the world, the statement said. It comes to consolidate work which started in 1974 with offer of the Babtain Higher Studies Scholarship, the establishment of the foundation in 1989, the setting up of the Babtain Center for Translation in 2004, as well as the founding of the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Center for Inter-Civilization Dialogue in 2005. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The latest Middle East and North Africa Consumer Confidence Index Survey, conducted by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s number one job site, and YouGov, a research and consulting organisation, shows that the current situation for residents across the region is little improved, compared to last year. However, in Kuwait as well as around MENA, respondents are optimistic for the year to come.

Sentiment across the region in regards to the current situation is generally negative.

Only 26% of respondents claim that their personal financial situations have improved in the past 12 months, while 32% state that things have become worse. Along the same lines, 34% believe that their country’s economy has declined within the same time period, which leads to this being considered to be a ‘bad time to buy’ consumer durables, according to four out of ten (43%).

Similarly, a third of respondents (34%) believe that business conditions are bad, and, linked to this, employment conditions are poor, with half of those responding (49%) saying there are ‘very few jobs available’. The majority of employees (32%) state that they now have fewer colleagues than they did last year, and, compared to the same time 12 months ago, salary has not kept pace with the cost of living for 69% respondents.

Respondents are generally dissatisfied with their working life. The majority (40%) believe that their current job, career prospects and opportunities for growth are low, while 50% are unhappy with their current compensation, and 68% say that their job security is neutral to low.

Employees have a neutral outlook for the future of their organisation: 35% do not believe there will be any change in the number of employees in their current company, and 37% believe there will be no difference in keeping up with staffing requirements.

“The present sentiment across the region seems to be somewhat conser vative.

However, our respondents demonstrated positive sentiment for the future. This level of optimism demonstrates that the lingering

effects of the recent economic slump are nearly gone, as people look forward to a financially better 2012,” said Suhail Masri, Vice President of Sales, Bayt.com. “Our surveys allow us to assess the sentiment of the region as it happens. This gives us up-to-date information on the latest trends in recruitment, while providing employers and job seekers alike with the information they need.”

According to survey respondents, 2013 will be a better year all round. Personal financial situations are expected to improve (as stated by 49%); business conditions will get better (according to 50%), and there will be more jobs available as a result (according to 34%). While 44% believe that their country’s economy will improve, 22% believe the opposite to be true.

Despite this hope, there is still negative sentiment; 39% state that inflation and the cost of living will increase, and a further 36% believe that the cost of real estate will go up.

In the next 12 months, only 27% of respondents will consider purchasing a new vehicle, of which 51% will buy new. Within the same time frame, 20% will consider purchasing property; of these, 65% will also be looking to buy new.

The three most popular consumer purchases for the next six months will be desktop or laptop computers (25%); furniture (19%) and LCD or plasma televisions (17%).

“It is evident that events taking place in some of the MENA countries are clearly having a repercussion on the region as a whole.

People expect things to stabilize in the coming year and hence have a positive outlook,” said Sundip Chahal, CEO, YouGov. In Kuwait, sentiments are slightly better than those felt elsewhere in the MENA region. Seven out of ten (66%) respondents say that their current financial situation either hasn’t changed or has improved in the past year, and 38% state that Kuwait’s economy has stayed the same. The majorityof respondents (82%) claim that this is a neutral or bad time to buy, while 45% state that business conditions are neutral. In terms of employment conditions, 81% claim that there are

currently ‘not many’ or ‘very few’ jobs available.

The majority of respondents (63%) state that there are now either the same or fewer employees in their current company, and 71% claim that their salary did not keep pace with the cost of living in Kuwait.

This is likely affecting levels of career satisfaction; 83% say their prospects in their current job are neutral to low, while 79% state the same for their potential for career growth.

Three quarters (72%) of respondents say their level of job security is neutral to low, and 49% are dissatisfied with their level of compensation.

In line with the feelings around the rest of the region, the majority of sentiment towards company growth and meeting staffing requirements in the next three months is neutral.

Kuwait respondents believe that the cost of living willincrease in the coming 12 months (according to 40%), and that the cost of real estate will also go up (41%).

Many are looking forward to a more positive year, however. Six out of ten (56%) believe that their personal financial situation will improve, and 43% believe Kuwait’s economy will improve. The majority believe that business (47%) and employment (31%) conditions will follow suit.

In the next 12 months, 28% of Kuwait respondents will consider buying a vehicle, of which 33% will buy new. A fifth (21%) will consider buying property - they will mostly prefer to buy new(77%).

The most popular consumer purchases for the next six months will be desktop or laptop computers (24%); furniture (21%), and LCD or plasma televisions (16%).

Data for the quarterly Bayt.com Consumer Confidence Index survey (October 2012) was collected online from Sept 30 to Oct 14, with 10,094 respondents aged over 18 years, covering GCC Arab, North African, Levant, Western Expatriate and Asian nationalities. Countries who participated are UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Pakistan.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

Arafat’s remains to be exhumed Page 9

New York kids back in school, chaos continues Page 10

DAMASCUS: A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrians inspecting the site of an explosion in the Mazzeh district of the capital Damascus yesterday. At least four people were killed and dozens wounded in the attack, Syrian state television reported. — AFP

Car bomb kills 50 Syrian security men Air strike kills 20 rebels in Idlib

BEIRUT: An Islamist suicide car bomber killed at least 50 Syrian security men in Hama province yesterday, an opposition group said, in what would be one of the bloodiest single attacks on President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in the 20-month- old uprising.

Another day of relentless violence in Syria coincided with more unity talks in Qatar among opposition factions.

Syrian state media reported that a “terrorist” suicide bomber had targeted a rural development centre in Sahl al-Ghab in Hama province, putting the death toll at two.

Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Syrian Obser vator y for Human Rights, said the centre was used by security forces and pro-Assad militia as one of their biggest bases in the area.

“A fighter from the Nusra Front drove his car to the centre and then blew himself up,” he said. “A series of explosions followed. At least 50 were killed.”

The Nusra Front, an al Qaeda-inspired group of ultraorthodox Salafi Muslims, has claimed responsibility for several suicide bombings in Damascus and elsewhere in the past. It operates mostly independently of other rebel factions, some of which have criticised it for indiscriminate tactics.

Syrian officials often blame foreign-backed Islamist militants for the anti-Assad revolt, in which about 32,000 people have been killed since it began in March 2011.

In Damascus, a car bomb exploded in the mostly Alawite western district of Mezzeh 86, killing 11 people and wounding dozens more, including children, state media and the Syrian Observatory reported.

An Islamist group calling itself Seif al-Sham claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said targeted a meeting point for the army, police and pro-Assad militia.

Warplanes, tanks and

artillery battered rebel-held parts of southern Damascus in what one Western diplomat said was an escalation in the government campaign to crush the insurgency. Opposition activists said at least 10 people were killed there.

An air strike on Haram, a town in the nor thwestern province of Idlib near the Turkish border, killed at least 20 rebels of the Idlib Mar tyrs’ Brigade, probably including their commander, Basil Eissa, the Syrian Observatory said.

Much of Idlib province is in the hands of insurgents, but remains vulnerable to air power, used increasingly by Assad’s forces to contain his mostly Sunni Muslim opponents.

In Qatar, divided Syrian opposition groups were meeting to try to forge a cohesive leadership that would then make common cause with rebel factions fighting on the ground, in an effor t to gain wider international recognition and arms supplies.

The Syrian National Council (SNC), the largest overseasbased opposition group, was expected to expand its membership to 400 from 300 and to elect a new leader and executive committee before talks with other anti-Assad factions in Doha this week.

Discussions focused on a proposal by influential opposition figure Riad Seif for a new structure combining the rebel Free Syrian Army, regional military councils and other insurgent units with local civilian bodies and prominent individuals. The Syria conflict has also divided big powers, with Russia and China opposing Western calls for Assad’s removal and critical of patchy outside efforts to arm his opponents.

Rebels have few weapons to counter warplanes and artillery, but Western nations have been wary of supplying anti-tank or anti-aircraft missiles without a credible opposition leadership.

That has given the Syrian military a free hand, with densely

populated Damascus suburbs hit by air and ground bombardments that have killed hundreds of people in the last three weeks.

Witnesses said ar tiller y deployed on Qasioun, a mountain that overlooks Damascus, was pounding southern neighbourhoods and warplanes were firing rockets. Tanks were also in action.

Activist Rami al-Sayyed, speak ing from southern Damascus, said rebels had made hit-and-run attacks on pro-Assad militiamen in the city overnight before retreating to nearby farmland.

In one attack, rebels fought pro-Assad militiamen in Nisreen, a southern district mainly populated by members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. They also hit positions of the Popular Front For the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), a Syriansponsored faction, in the nearby Yarmouk refugee camp, where 20 people were reported k illed by army shelling on Sunday. At least seven PFLP-GC members were killed in the latest fighting.

The Syrian conflict has aggravated divisions in the Islamic world, with Shi’ite Iran suppor ting Assad and U.S.allied Sunni nations such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar back ing his foes. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Egypt’s al-Ahram daily that Moscow, Syria’s main arms supplier, was sending weapons under Soviet-era commitments for defence against external threats, not to support Assad. “ We do not side with any faction in Syria’s internal battle,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.

Russia and China, both permanent Security Council members, have vetoed three Western-backed UN draft resolutions condemning Assad’s government for its handling of an uprising that turned from peaceful protests into a civil war. — Reuters

Iran not cooperating on nuclear weapons probe UNITED NATIONS: The UN nuclear chief said yesterday that Iran is not cooperating with an investigation into suspected secret work on nuclear weapons.

Yukio Amano told the UN General Assembly that talks between the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran have intensified this year after an IAEA report in November 2011 said it had “credible information that Iran had carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device,” he said.

“However, no concrete results have been achieved so far,” Amano said. While the IAEA continues to verify that Iran’s declared nuclear material is not being diverted from peaceful purposes, “Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation to enable us to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities,” Amano said.

“Therefore, we cannot conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities,” he said. Iran has repeatedly denied any interest in possessing nuclear arms, but the international com-

munity fears that Tehran may turn its peaceful uranium enrichment program toward weapons making - a concern that is growing as the government expands the number of machines it uses to enrich its stockpile of enriched uranium. As those fears grow, so does concern that Israel could carr y out its threats to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities before that nation reaches the bombmaking threshold.

In his annual report to the world body, Amano said he also remains “seriously concerned” about North Korea’s nuclear program, calling its statements about uranium enrichment activities and the construction of a light water reactor “deeply troubling.”

In late 2010, Pyongyang unveiled a uranium enrichment facility that could give North Korea a second route to manufacture nuclear weapons in addition to its plutonium-based program.

Earlier this year, satellite images showed that North Korea has made progress in building a light-water reactor to expand its nuclear program.

North Korea is under tough UN sanc-

tions, and Amano called on Pyongyang to comply with its obligations under Security Council resolutions and the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and “to cooperate promptly and fully” with the IAEA. IAEA inspectors were most recently expelled three years ago after the North quit talks with five key nations, including the United States, on halting its nuclear weapons program. North Korea restarted its nuclear facilities and less than a month later. In May 2009, it conducted its second nuclear weapons test.

Amano also urged the Syrian government to respond to questions about a building destroyed by Israeli warplanes at the Dair Alzour site in the Syrian desert in 2007. The IAEA has said the building was “very likely” the covert site of a nuclear reactor. The United States asserted more than four years ago that the bombed target was a nuclear reactor, but Syria has repeatedly denied allegations of any covert nuclear activity or interest in developing nuclear arms, saying the building was a non-nuclear military site. —AP

TEL AVIV: Israeli left-wing activists hold banners as they take part in a demonstration in front of the Likud building in the Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv yesterday, in support of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and the remarks he made in an interview with Israel’s Channel 2 television on November 2, in which he appeared to renege on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to homes they either fled from or were forced out of during the 1948 war which attended Israel’s creation. —AFP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

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Israel security heads halted Iran attack alert JERUSALEM: Israel’s prime minister and defense minister ordered the military to go on alert to prepare to attack Iran’s nuclear program two years ago, but backed off following opposition from top security officials, an Israeli news show claims in a report to be aired last night. A pre-broadcast news release from Channel 2’s Uvda (Fact) show did not say whether a final decision to attack was made. However, it says the alert

order quickly met opposition from thenmilitary chief Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, who warned that Israel’s enemies would notice the measure and that in itself might touch off a war.

“This accordion produces music when you play it,” the statement quotes him as saying. “This is not something you do if you are not sure you want to end up with a military operation.” The statement also said Meir Dagan, then heading the

Mossad spy agency, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak of acting illegally by not seeking formal approval from the Cabinet of ministers.

Netanyahu and Barak “simply tried to steal a decision to go to war,” Uvda quotes him as saying. Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev said the government wouldn’t comment until the full show airs. An excerpt broadcast Sunday

night showed Barak saying Ashkenazi told him the military wasn’t able to carry out the attack.

Ashkenazi denies that, saying he instead told Barak that an attack at that time “would be a strategic mistake,” the statement said. The two former security officials could not be reached for comment. Israel does not believe Tehran’s claims that its nuclear program is peaceful and designed to produce energy and

medical isotopes. It considers a nucleararmed Iran to be a threat to its survival because of its nuclear program, arsenal of weapons capable of striking the Jewish state, support for anti-Israel militants groups and frequent calls for Israel’s destruction. Netanyahu has repeatedly said the threat of force must be seriously considered, recently warning that the world has until next summer at the latest to keep Iran from building a bomb. —AP

Islamist militants kill 2 Saudi border guards RIYADH: Al Qaeda-associated militants who had been released from Saudi prisons killed two Saudi border guards while trying to cross into Yemen early yesterday before being captured, the kingdom’s interior ministry said.

The militant movement’s Yemeni branch, known as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), has several Saudis in leadership roles and has sworn to bring down the kingdom’s ruling family.

Saudi Arabia has played an important role in foiling attacks planned by AQAP against international airliners, Western countries have said.

Saudi authorities have arrested thousands of suspected militants over the past decade, crushing an al Qaeda bombing campaign inside

the country from 2003-06, and putting hundreds of them through a rehabilitation programme.

But several graduates of the rehabilitation programme have since emerged as leaders of AQAP in Yemen. A ministry statement said a group of 10 Saudis and one Yemeni ambushed a Saudi border patrol just before dawn in the Sharoura sector of Najran Province, killing the two guards.

Four of the group were seriously wounded in the ambush, according to the statement issued by the Interior Ministr y security spokesman and carried by the Saudi Press Agency. It said identity papers belonging to the Saudi nationals showed they had all been previously imprisoned for crimes relating to “crimes and activities of the deviant

group”, as al Qaeda is officially described. It added that they had trying to cross into Yemen, where widespread lawlessness has allowed AQAP to establish a foothold. Earlier this year Saudi Arabia announced it had detained two al Qaeda cells in Riyadh and Jeddah that had planned bomb attacks in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia fought a brief war on its southern border with Yemen in 2009 against the country’s Houthi rebel movement, which proclaims the rights of the Shi’ite Muslim Zaydi sect there. That conflict began when Houthis ambushed a Saudi patrol, killing two soldiers.

Saudi border guards have in the past also clashed with smugglers along the long, porous desert frontier.— Reuters

Israel’s Peres pushed to seek premiership JERUSALEM: The dim prospects for Israel’s dovish opposition in upcoming elections are raising speculation that 89-year-old President Shimon Peres may make one last run to be prime minister. Peres is under pressure from political allies to seek the premiership, according to officials in his office. For now, they say, he has no plans of stepping down from his largely low-key, ceremonial post. The overtures to Peres reflect the Nobel laureate’s late-career star power and the dearth of viable challengers in Israel’s fragmented opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hopes for a Peres candidacy are “an act of desperation,” said political scientist Avraham Diskin. “It shows that there is a large vacuum in the center.

They’re unable to join ranks, so they’re looking for miracles.”

Netanyahu, already riding high in the polls, recently tried to solidify his bid for re-election by joining forces with his foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman. Running on a joint list, Netanyahu’s Likud Party and Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu are expected to win more than 40 parliamentary seats. That reflects their separate strength in the polls, not more, but together they would form by far the largest faction in the 120-seat parliament and put Netanyahu in a strong position for another term as prime minister.

The partnership has fueled calls for centrist parties to band together. Polls show a unified bloc of the Labor, Kadima, Yesh Atid and Independence parties could rival Netanyahu’s hardline bloc. A poll in the Yediot Ahronot daily Friday found that a center-left bloc plus parties representing Israel’s Arabs could win 59 seats, almost enough to block Netanyahu. The poll by the Dahaf agency questioned 500 people and had a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.

While the centrist parties share similar ideologies, particularly a softer line toward peacemaking with the Palestinians, their leaders have shown little interest in unifying. Peres could be one of the few figures capable of

rallying these parties behind him. He also may be best positioned to do so.

Ex-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, another potential heavyweight candidate, is in the midst of a bribery trial and has not decided whether to seek office again. Peres brings to the table a resume that is unmatched. After more than six decades in politics, he is the ultimate political survivor with the gravitas to take on Netanyahu.

Winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize, he mingles among the world’s rich and famous, receiving rock star welcomes at conferences and ceremonies around the globe. He has a good relationship with both the Palestinians and the White House.

As president, he has cultivated an image as a sage, grandfatherly figure, calming the nation in his deep, monotone Polish-accented voice during times of trouble. He has also courted younger Israelis, embracing social media and backing high-tech industries. An official in Peres’ office said that over the few weeks, a number of operatives with ties to centrist parties, as well as retired military officials, approached him about leading a unified bloc. The official declined to identify the people who had spoken to Peres and spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.

While describing the pressure as “heavy,” the official said Peres had no intention of leaving the presidency, saying he was committed to finishing the remaining two years of his term.

Messages to Labor and Kadima were not returned, while officials with Yesh Atid and Independence said they were not trying to enlist Peres. Eyal Megged, a columnist at the liberal Haaretz daily, implored the country’s opposition politicians to line up behind Peres.

“Peres is the only man capable of slightly deflating the pumped-up egos leading the political camps to the left of the religious-right bloc. He is the only one whom none of those egos would presumably feel insulted to stand behind,” he wrote. If Peres returns to party politics, that image he

has built as president could quickly crumble.

For years, Peres had a reputation as a nasty but losing political operator, due to his inability to win an election.

Of his three previous stints as prime minister, two were in a caretaker capacity and a third was in a powersharing arrangement after elections ended in stalemate.

Only late in life, at 83, was he elected president in a parliamentary vote.

He even lost an earlier run for the ceremonial post in a stunning upset.

While Peres is said to be in excellent health, his age would certainly become a factor.

The apparent yearning for Peres stems partly from the dire state of peace efforts with the Palestinians, and a sense that time is running out to reach an agreement. The Palestinians seek an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.

Israel’s centrist and dovish parties support broad withdrawal from the West Bank, and perhaps part of east Jerusalem, to make way for a Palestinian state. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Netanyahu, while endorsing the concept of a Palestinian state, opposes the broad territorial concessions that most believe would be required for peace.

The opposition parties have largely avoided the Palestinian issue in the campaign so far. Instead, they have focused on domestic economic issues, while paying lip service to reviving the deadlocked peace talks. Peres, who has a good relationship with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, would likely move quickly to get peace efforts on track. He has been one of the few voices during Netanyahu’s tenure to speak of the importance of pursuing peace with the Palestinians. “One thing is for sure: If Peres returns to political activity, no one is going to be able to ignore the most important issue to the future of Israeli society anymore,” columnist Emmanuel Rosen wrote in Yediot Ahronot. — AP

JENIN: Zohur Saadi, 19, and her brother Yehya, 16, hold a poster bearing pictures of their father and mother, as well as their two brothers who were killed by Israeli forces, at their family home in Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank yesterday. — AFP

WEST BANK: In this Nov 10, 2008 file photo, members of the Palestinian Presidential Guard stand at the grave of the late leader Yasser Arafat in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Arafat’s remains will be exhumed Nov 26, a Western diplomat said yesterday, as investigators began determining how best to dig up the grave and extract samples. The new probes into Arafat’s death come after a Swiss lab recently discovered traces of polonium-210, a deadly radioactive isotope, on clothes said to be his, which sparked new accusations that he was poisoned. — AP

Arafat’s remains to be exhumed RAMALLAH: The remains of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat will be exhumed Nov. 26, a Western diplomat said yesterday, as investigators began determining how best to dig up the grave and extract samples.

A Swiss team, one of two groups set to conduct parallel probes into Arafat’s 2004 death, arrived in the West Bank and spent an hour inspecting the grave, located in a mausoleum outside Palestinian government headquarters in Ramallah. The Western diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

Tawfik Tirawi, the head of the Palestinian committee investigating the death, said yesterday’s visit was meant “to check the place” ahead of the exhumation. The Swiss team is

expected to return to the grave at the end of the month with the French investigators to exhume the body, and will be allowed only one chance to withdraw samples from the remains. The two teams are acting separately on behalf of Arafat’s widow Suha Arafat and the Palestinian Authority, who each had misgivings about the other’s investigation. Suha Arafat and the Palestinian Authority have a history of rocky relations, and Palestinian officials have complained that they felt Suha Arafat was forcing an investigation on them.

The new probes into Arafat’s death come after a Swiss lab recently discovered traces of polonium-210, a deadly radioactive isotope, on clothes said to be his, which sparked new accusations that he was poisoned.

Arafat’s death in a French hospital in November 2004 has remained a mystery for many. While the immediate cause of death was a stroke, the underlying source of an illness he suffered in his final weeks has never been clear, leading to persistent, unproven conspiracy theories that he had cancer, AIDS or was poisoned.

Many in the Arab world believe Arafat, the face of the Palestinian independence struggle for four decades, was killed by Israel. Israel, which saw Arafat as an obstacle to peace, vehemently denies the charge.

It is not clear whether the exhumation will solve the mystery. Polonium210 is known to rapidly decompose, and experts are divided over whether any remaining samples will be sufficient for testing.—AP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Prosecutors allege 5 women in general’s sex crimes FORT BRAGG: US Army prosecutors offered the first details of a rare criminal case against a general, alleging in a military hearing yesterday he committed sex crimes against five women including four subordinates and a civilian.

A so-called Article 32 hearing on evidence in the case against Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair began Monday at Fort Bragg, a sprawling post that is home to the 82nd Airborne Division. Officials said it was expected to last at least two days.

Sinclair faces possible courts martial on charges including forcible sodomy, wrongful sexual conduct, vio-

lating orders, engaging in inappropriate relationships, misusing a government travel charge card, and possessing pornography and alcohol while deployed. He served as deputy commander in charge of logistics and support for the division’s troops in Afghanistan from July 2010 until he was sent home in May because of the allegations.

The Army had kept details secret until now in the rare criminal case against a high-ranking officer. That is different from other high-profile case where Army prosecutors were quick to release charging documents.

In March, the Army quickly released

charge sheets laying out evidence against Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the soldier accused of gunning down 17 Afghan civilians during a massacre in southern Afghanistan.

The first Article 32 hearing in Bale’s case also began yesterday across the country in Washington at Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Seattle. There have been only two other court-martial cases against Army generals in recent years.

Prosecutors in Sinclair ’s case alleged at Monday’s hearing that the crimes happened between 2007 and 2012 in places including Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany, as well as

Fort Bragg and Fort Hood in Texas.

In one case, prosecutors also said that Sinclair threatened one woman’s career, as well as her life and the lives of her relatives, if she told anyone about his actions. Sinclair’s attorney asked for the charges to be thrown out, arguing that prosecutors had read confidential emails between the general and his defense. Defense attorney Lt. Col. Jackie Thompson said this violated his client’s rights and asked that new prosecutors be brought in to try the case. The hearing officer called a recess until early yesterday afternoon to give a legal adviser time to review the documents. — AP

Brig Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair

New York kids back in school, chaos continues Public transport still limited

BRASILIA: Brazil’s Defense Minister Celso Amorim, right, talks with France’s Defense Minister Jean-Ives Le Drian during a welcome ceremony at Brazil’s Defense Ministry in Brasilia, Brazil, yesterday. Le Drian is on a two-day official visit to Brazil. — AP

Farmers killed in restive Honduran rural area TEGUCIGALPA: Three farmers were shot dead in a restive area of Honduras plagued by tensions between large landowners switching to higher-earning crops, and landless farm workers, a farmers group reported yesterday.

“Three farm workers were gunned down by heavily armed gunmen (on Sunday) as the farmers waited for a ride alongside a highway” near Tocoa, said a report from the Aguan United Farmers Movement.

More than 80 people have been killed in the past three years in the Aguan Valley.

In 2009, farm workers began squatting illegally on land owned by large landholders which was being switched over to growing African palm. Land owners have hired guards to protect the holdings.

But the farm workers say the land should be theirs because the government gave it to them in a 1980 land reform. Things were further complicated in 1992 by legal changes that enabled the farmers to sell their plots, which some apparently did to larger landholders.

Large landowners have turned extensive acreage to African palm cultivation as prices for palm oil have risen in international markets. Those increases have been driven by global demand from the cosmetics and processed foods industries and more recently for its use as a biofuel.

Palm oil currently sells for about $950 a ton, double what a farmer can make from corn in the local markets. A farmer can make up to $4,000 a hectare (2.5 acres) raising African palms, which are easy to grow and require relatively little labor.

Honduras exported $200 million worth of palm oil, making it the nation’s fourth export behind coffee, bananas and farmed shrimp. But in the Aguan valley, the spread of large-scale African palm cultivation has also led to land grabs, less employment for farm workers, and disruption to local supplies of staples such as corn and beans. Amid high tensions and murders, the legislature has passed a law making it illegal to carry weapons in the northeastern department of Colon, where the Aguan valley is located. — AFP

Mali group under pressure to cut ties with Al-Qaeda OUAGADOUGOU: Burkina Faso led efforts Sunday to persuade one of the armed Islamist groups controlling northern Mali to cut ties with Al-Qaeda as a west African military intervention looms to end the crisis.

Ansar Dine (Defender of Faith in Arabic) has joined with jihadist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to take over the north of Mali in the wake of a March coup attempt in Bamako.

An Ansar Dine delegation which arrived in Ouagadougou on Friday meet late Sunday for about 45 minutes with Tieman Coulibaly, the foreign minister of Burkina’s President Blaise Compaore.

“Things went well,” said head delegate Algabass Ag Intalla after the talks. A meeting yesterday between Intalla and Compaore, who has been the chief mediator in the Mali crisis for the regional bloc ECOWAS, was not being ruled out.

The Ansar Dine envoys “renewed their availability and their commitment to find a negotiated solution to the crisis”, said a source close to the mediation. The delegation was “very available, very open”, the source added.

As far as their “ties with the terrorist groups (are concerned), they insisted that they are independent” and had not committed “any act of terrorism”, said the source, but added that Burkina Faso expected “concrete commitments”.

Head delegate Intalla told AFP he had met late Saturday with the foreign minister in Mali’s transitional government, in Ouagadougou, but declined to comment on their discussions.

The 16-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has demanded that Ansar Dine end “terror and organised crime” in the region, breaking with the Al-Qaeda and other Islamist factions and enter into a political dialogue to re-establish the unity of the Mali nation.

While not immediately acceding to these demands, the group sent out a signal, saying that “Ansar Dine is independent of any other group”, Intalla told AFP.

He added that his movement “is ready to negotiate so that there will be peace”.

Countries in the region-as well as the international community-fear that north Mali could become a new breeding ground for “terrorists”.

On Friday Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said ECOWAS “must take action to root out Al-Qaeda, drug traffickers, kidnappers and other criminal elements who are turning northern Mali into a home for terrorists”.

Terrorism fears have also led Algeria to hold talks with Ansar Dine representatives, the Algerian daily El Watan reported, citing a source close to the matter while the government has made no comment.

Algeria is seen as a key player in dealing with Islamic extremism, and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the regional heavyweight this past week to press for support in the Mali crisis.

Algeria has been hesitant to get involved in any military intervention, however Washington feels that with its powerful army, counter-terrorism experience and intelligence services, it could play a central role. Like Burkina Faso, Algeria would like to see a negotiated solution to the Malian crisis, while not ruling out a military intervention. Meanwhile in Bamako, international experts were expected to finish their work on plans for a military force to enter Mali’s desert north. On October 12, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution preparing for the deployment of such a force for Mali, giving ECOWAS 45 days to firm up its plans.

The Mali coup attempt in March was triggered by soldiers angry at the government’s handling of the Tuareg rebellion in the north and ousted the regime in Bamako. That however allowed the north to fall into the hands of the Tuareg rebels fighting alongside Islamic extremists.

The hardline Islamists quickly sidelined the secular Tuareg, eclipsing the desert nomads’ plans for independence for an area they consider their homeland.—AFP

NEW YORK: Children flocked to reopened schools across New York yesterday for the first time since superstorm Sandy, but colder weather piled on the misery for hundreds of thousands of people still lacking power.

The sight of yellow school buses crisscrossing the Big Apple marked a major step back to normality for a city that suffered unprecedented damage from the hurricane-strength storm, which struck a week ago.

About one million children were back at their desks, with only 101 schools out of 1,700 still shut due to storm damage or because they were being used as emergency shelters. Many of those were to open in new locations on Wednesday.

Yesterday’s commute tested the recovering transit system to the maximum, with some passengers crammed into buses and trains, or walking down Manhattan sidewalks punctuated with growing piles of uncollected garbage.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority, which runs the buses and subway trains in New York, said the system was up to 80 percent capacity. Buses in neighboring New Jersey were up to 90 percent, but the major commuter rail link across the Hudson River to Manhattan remained shut.

With public transport still limited, more people than usual relied on cars if they could find fuel. Despite improvements in restoring supplies, filling the tank remained a nightmare, with huge lines and rationing in New Jersey.

“I waited eight hours at the station to finally get 30 dollars of gas, which was the limit,” yellow cab driver Sherif Roby said in New York. “Many of my friends have been unable to work because they can’t find gas.”

Restoration of electricity continued apace, but that was little

NEW YORK: Children go back to school after having a week off due to Hurricane Sandy at P.S. 6, the Lillie Devereaux Blake School yesterday in New York. Nearly all New York schools were set to reopen in another sign of things getting back to normal in the wake of superstorm Sandy, but authorities faced a new challenge posed by frigid weather. — AFP comfort to the remaining 1.4 mil- listed as closed, and voters were people are in homes that are lion people who have already instructed to go to alternative uninhabitable,” New York state spent a week without light, and sites, while in New Jersey, author- Governor Andrew Cuomo said. often heat, and still likely to faced ities were allowing limited num- “We are going to have tens of thousands of people who need bers to cast votes by email or fax. at least several days more.

“Up to the minute changes are housing solutions right away.”

The US Department of Energy “This is going to be a massive, said that 779,779 homes and happening across the city,” J. C. businesses in New Jersey were in Polanco, president of the New massive housing problem,” the the dark, a fifth of all customers, York City Board of Elections, said governor said. Sandy, which began as a deadly hurricane in while New York state had another on NY1 television.

The bigger problem looming the Caribbean, pummeled 15 US 487,952 outages, six percent of for people left homeless, or with states and prompted a huge tidal the total.

Con Edison, the main power damaged homes, was the surge that killed at least 109 peocompany for New York City, said impending winter and, more ple in the United States and 80 percent of its customers had immediately, a strong gale fore- Canada and caused tens of biltheir electricity restored, while casted for tomorow. Nighttime lions of dollars worth of damage.

A high-level government deleNew Jersey’s PSEG utility said it temperatures were close to freezexpected that its last repairs ing this week and New York gation, including Homeland Secretar y Janet Mayor Michael Bloomberg esti- Security would be complete by Friday.

Another immediate challenge mated that 30,000 to 40,000 Napolitano, Secretary of Labor was today’s presidential election. homes in the city alone had been Hilda Solis and Secretary of In the worst-hit neighborhoods left unusable by the October 29 Energy Steven Chu, was due to 59 New York polling stations were storm. “It is starting to get cold, tour the region yesterday. —AFP

Child mauled at Pittsburgh zoo PITTSBURGH: A 2-year-old boy visiting the Pittsburgh zoo was killed Sunday morning when he fell off a railing that his mother had put him on top of to view a pack of African painted dogs, who pounced on the child and mauled him, police said.

It was not clear whether the boy died from the fall into the wild dog exhibit area or from the attack, said Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

“It was very horrific,” said Lt. Kevin Kraus of the Pittsburgh police, who added that the dogs attacked “immediately” after the boy fell at about 11:45 am. Zoo officials at first estimated the boy fell 14 feet, but police said it was 11. It was not clear which is correct.

When the boy fell, other visitors immediately told staff members, who responded along with Pittsburgh police. Zookeepers called off some of the dogs, and seven of them immediately went to a back building.

Three more eventually were drawn away from the child, but the last dog was aggressive and police had to shoot the animal, officials say.

The zoo was immediately closed; it was not clear when it would be reopened, authorities said. Authorities didn’t immediately release the name of the boy or his mother, but say she is 34 years old and lives in Pleasant Hills, just outside Pittsburgh. The boy’s father arrived on the scene soon after the accident, police said.

The dogs are about as big as medium-sized domestic dogs, 2 to 21/2 feet high and 37 to 80 pounds, according to the zoo. African wild dogs are also known as cape hunting dogs, spotted dogs, and painted wolves. They have large, rounded ears and dark brown circles around their eyes and are considered endangered.

The dogs hunt in packs in the wild, and Baker said that they “were in pack mentality” during the attack.

The dogs normally live in a 1.5 acre exhibit called the Painted Dog Bush Camp that’s part

PITTSBURGH: A security guard closes the gate at the Pittsburgh Zoo, where zoo officials say a young boy was killed after he fell into the exhibit that was home to a pack of African painted dogs, who pounced on the boy and mauled him, Sunday. — AP of a larger open area called the African September, which means it meets or exceeds Savanna, where elephants, lions and other all safety standards. In May, some of the dogs animals can be seen. Visitors walk onto a deck crawled under a fence and escaped into a part that is glassed on the sides, but open in front of the exhibit that’s usually closed. The zoo was on lockdown for about an hour as a prewhere the railing is located.

Visitors can look out at the dogs below. caution. Past fatal attacks at zoos have Zoo officials said there is also a mesh barrier prompted zoos around the nation to review beyond the railing, but Kraus said it was safety features of their exhibits. In 2007, a designed to catch small objects such as cam- tiger jumped over a wall at the San Francisco zoo, killing one visitor and wounding two otheras, and not humans.

Steve Feldman, a spokesman for the ers. In September a man jumped off an elevatAmerican Zoo Association, said no one he’s ed viewing train at the Bronx Zoo in New York spoken to can recall any deaths of children at and was severely mauled by tigers. Baker said an accredited zoo over the last 40 years or the Pittsburgh Zoo has never had a visitor more. Feldman said the Pittsburgh Zoo suc- death. She said no decision has been made cessfully completed its five-year review in yet on the future of the exhibit. — AP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Trial begins for pope butler ‘accomplice’ VATICAN CITY: A Vatican computer technician accused of helping the pope’s former butler leak secret memos went on trial yesterday, in a case which could expose other whistleblowers within the Holy See. Claudio Sciarpelletti was being tried in the tiny state’s 19th-century courtroom in what is expected to be a lightning trial as the Vatican rushes to wind up the embarrassing and damaging monthslong scandal. The 48-year-old is accused of aiding and abetting ex-butler Paolo Gabriele, who was sentenced to 18 months in jail last month after he admitted leaking papers alleging corruption and Machiavellian politics in

the Vatican. Cameramen and photographers have not been allowed into the courtroom for the trial and only a small group of journalists have been authorised to attend.

Vatican spokesman Ciro Benedettini told AFP the hearing had begun. The technician was arrested on May 25 as the investigation into the leaks unfolded but only spent one night in a Vatican cell before being released. A search by Vatican police unearthed a suspicious envelope addressed to Gabriele in Sciarpelletti’s desk.

In it, they found photocopies of memos published by Italian investigative journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi in his

book “His Holiness”, which collected letters depicting intrigue and infighting inside the Vatican. The book touched on everything from fraud allegations to sex abuse scandals.

Called to account, Sciarpelletti’s testimony was confused and contradictory. He said Gabriele had given him the envelope because he wanted his opinion on the contents, but that he had never opened it and had forgotten it was there. He later said it was someone else entirely that had given him the envelope a person identified in court documents only by the letter “W”. He also talked about a second envelope, given to him by a certain “X”.

The trial will likely delve into the relationship between the butler and the technician. Gabriele-now serving time in a holding cell within the Vatican-is expected to take the stand to testify to their close friendship.

Sciarpelletti has insisted they were no more than acquaintances-though he also talked to investigators about Gabriele’s difficult childhood. He was initially accused of giving false testimony, conspiracy to commit aggravated theft, aiding a thief and violating office secrets. But the Vatican later reduced the charges, saying his alleged role in the leaks is “marginal” and that he faces only a light sentence

if convicted after a trial likely to be shorter than Gabriele’s, which lasted a week. Other witnesses expected to be called include William Kloter, deputy commander of the Swiss Guard and Sciarpelletti’s superior, Carlo Maria Polvani. Monsignor Polvani is the nephew of Carlo Maria Vigano, formerly the Vatican’s top administrator, who had written letters to the pope which were later leaked alleging corruption in the Holy See. Religious watchers hope Sciarpelletti’s turn in the dock will shed light on issues left hanging by the butler’s trial-one of the most pressing being whether Gabriele really did act alone, as he claims.— AFP

Hundreds of Ukrainians protest election fraud

There will be no victory without a fight: Klitschko

PARALIMNI: Two of the three suspects arrested following the stabbing of a British soldier cover their faces outside a court in the Cypriot southeastern town of Paralimni yesterday. Three British tourists have been arrested after a teenage British soldier was stabbed to death during a night club confrontation with a group of British tourists in the holiday resort of Ayia Napa, Cyprus police said. — AFP

Deputy president urged to challenge Zuma JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s deputy president is being urged to challenge President Jacob Zuma for the leadership of the ruling African National Congress - a position that would all but guarantee him the presidency of the nation.

Kgalema Motlanthe, who fought against white rule and was imprisoned on notorious Robben Island, is not a name that’s immediately recognized around the world, even though he once served as president of South Africa for eight months. But in December, Motlanthe will have a chance to run for the top spot in the ANC when the party holds its leadership conference.

The ANC leader will be the party’s candidate for president in the 2014 national election. Such is the strength of Nelson Mandela’s party that the ANC candidate is virtually assured victory. Dubbed Zuma’s “silent opponent” in the South African press, Motlanthe has not announced his candidacy for the ANC’s top spot but some have been pushing the self-effacing politician to make a stand and challenge Zuma.

“We have to restore the dignity of the ANC. You can’t fight the struggle in a white suit ... Get out of the white suit and into overalls and get your hands dirty,” ANC Youth League Deputy President Ronald Lamola said at a rally Motlanthe attended Saturday, according to The Sunday Independent, a local newspaper.

Motlanthe has not publicly hinted at his plans, even as Zuma faces persistent criticism of his leadership of the ANC. But a new authorized biography of Motlanthe has sparked conjecture that he may challenge Zuma next month. “Kgalema Motlanthe” by Ebrahim Harvey appeared barely two months before ANC members gather for the crucial

conference and as some ANC branches openly declared their support for Motlanthe as ANC president.

“The timing would suggest that he meant to try and say, ‘Here I am,’” said Shadrack Gutto, a professor of African renaissance studies at the University of South Africa. Gutto said Motlanthe would offer a “totally different type of leadership” and that “he would be a credible leader” in a way Zuma is not.

The biography portrays Motlanthe as someone who could rescue the ANC’s credibility in the eyes of those who are disappointed with the party’s failure to stem social and economic inequality. But the book also suggests that he may lack the aggressive political drive needed to battle the 70-year-old Zuma.

Still, some analysts believe Motlanthe, 63, has a fair chance following what many see as Zuma’s poor handling of labor unrest in South Africa’s crucial mining sector and criticism for spending a purported $23 million and more in government funds on improving his rural private residence.

Harvey writes that Kgalema is “acutely aware of the ills in the ANC and that, unless they are dealt with sooner rather than later, the future for the ruling party will be bleak.”

Motlanthe himself is being cagey. One of his spokesmen, Thabo Masebe, said Motlanthe “doesn’t want to think about a particular position.”

“It is up to the will of the (ANC) branches,” Motlanthe is quoted as saying in the biography. “My position is that nobody must try to canvass for themselves in the run-up to elections ... But if I am nominated for such a position when the electoral commission approaches me and says I have been nominated for such a position, I will then either accept or decline.” — AP

Boko Haram boosting ties with outside groups ABUJA: Nigeria’s national security adviser warned yesterday that the country’s Boko Haram Islamists were increasing ties with other African extremist groups.

“Of immediate concern to us today is the increasing cooperation between the Boko Haram group in Nigeria and established terror groups operating in the Sahel,” the east-west band across northern Africa, Sambo Dasuki told a conference on regional security.

Boko Haram has said it wants to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria, and members are believed to have sought training with Al-Qaeda’s north Africa affiliate in northern Mali. It has however not been known to have operational links with outside groups. Dasuki did not go into specifics on the hotly debated question of Boko Haram’s ties to other extremist movements.

The United States has labelled three Nigerian Islamists, including Boko Haram’s presumed leader Abubakar Shekau, as global terrorists, but has withheld that designation for the group as a whole on grounds that its primary focus is domestic, among other reasons. Some Nigerian authorities have in the past sought to portray Boko Haram as being linked to outside forces, though many analysts stress that it has been born and bred in Nigeria.

Deep corruption and poverty in the north of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous

nation and largest oil producer, have helped feed the violence linked to Boko Haram, some analysts say. Dasuki said cooperation was needed in the fight against extremists.

“Since terrorist activities in one part of the region or world are capable of affecting the other part, we have come to the realisation that the fight against terrorism is not a one-man, one-agency, onenation or one-region fight,” he said.

He said that Nigeria was seeking “an all-encompassing counter-terrorism strategy tailored to suit our peculiar situation” and was collaborating with international partners. In Mali, domestic groups joined with fighters from AlQaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in an offensive that captured the country’s entire north in March. Mali’s neighbours and the West are concerned that the desert area the size of France could become a safe haven for Al-Qaeda-linked groups, although there is evidence of the Islamists’ alliance fracturing.

Boko Haram is believed to include a number of factions with varying aims, in addition to imitators and criminal groups who carry out violence under the guise of the group. Violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency is believed to have left more than 2,800 people dead in the north and centre of the country since 2009, including killings by the security forces.— AFP

KIEV: Hundreds of Ukrainians yesterday protested alleged fraud in last month’s parliamentary election and the opposition threatened to boycott the new parliament and call for a re-vote.

Western observers deemed the Oct. 28 parliamentary election unfair, saying the imprisonment of President Viktor Yanukovych’s arch-foe, Yulia Tymoshenko, and non-transparent vote tallying were a step back for democracy.

Three pro-Western opposition parties made a strong showing in the proportional voting that chooses half of parliament’s 450 seats, but they accuse authorities of rigging results in a number of individual races in an attempt to secure Yanukovych’s allies a majority.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a leader of Tymoshenko’s Fatherland party told a crowd of some 2,000 people outside the Central Election Commission office in Kiev that the opposition is demanding the votes in disputed districts be recounted. Earlier in the day, his party threatened to declare the new parliament as illegitimate.

World boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, leader of the opposition Udar party that got 14 percent in the proportional vote and a total of about one-tenth of parliament seats, called for new elections based solely on the proportional system.

“There will be no victory without a fight,” Klitschko roared from the rally stage. The demonstration was far smaller than the hundreds of thousands who turned out in 2004 to protest the fraudtainted presidential election that Yanukovych purportedly won.

Those rallies, which came to be

KIEV: Supporters of Ukrainian opposition parties take part in a rally outside the Central Elections Commission building in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. — AP known as the Orange Revolution, forced a rerun that Yanukovych lost, though he won the next election in 2010.

“They stole the opposition’s votes, it wasn’t fair, it wasn’t honest, it wasn’t pretty,” said Roman Vorobei, 18, a university student in Kiev, who came to the protest.

Western election observers said last week that although the vote itself was satisfactory, the count prompted concern. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Monday urged Ukrainian authorities to quickly produce final results “which should reflect the genuine will of the Ukrainian voters.”

Complaints should also be dealt with swiftly and effectively, she said.

While the proportional share of the vote was tallied relatively quickly, the count of votes in individual races took days, prompting brawls between government and opposition supporters, the use of tear gas and even the storming of one election commission by riot police.

The opposition accuses election officials of inflating the count in favor of government loyalists, annulling votes for opposition candidates and even outright falsifying of results. The government insists that violations were few

and isolated.

The stakes were high for many government-backed candidates vying for the perks and immunity from prosecution enjoyed by Ukrainian lawmakers as well as for Yanukovych’s Party of Regions as a whole, which will have to search for allies in the new parliament to get a majority.

“Things seem to be getting tense as every seat in parliament seems to count now for the party of power,” said Timothy Ash, head of emerging markets research at Standard Bank in London. “They did not do as well as first thought, and might now struggle to secure a parliamentary majority.”— AP

NATO stands by ICG think tank in Afghanistan

THE HAGUE: Queen Beatrix poses with the new Dutch cabinet on the steps of the official residence of the Royal Family, Huis ten Bosch, in The Hague yesterday. — AFP

Dutch queen swears in new government THE HAGUE: Queen Beatrix swore in a new centrist Dutch government under Prime Minister Mark Rutte yesterday, even as the conservative leader faced harsh criticism from members of his own party over a plan to hike health care premiums.

Eight of the 13 Cabinet ministers swore an oath of office to the monarch in the ornately painted Orange Hall of the 17th Century Huis ten Bosch palace in a forest outside The Hague. The remaining five, including Rutte, had already taken the oath before taking office in Rutte’s first administration.

The brief ceremony - lasting less than three minutes - was broadcast live on Dutch television and online for the first time.

However the historic broadcast did not go entirely according to plan. The swearing-in had to be carried out twice because it happened too early for national broadcaster NOS. Members of Rutte’s conservative party are fiercely opposed to what is a key element of the governing pact painstakingly negotiated with the center-left Labor Party.At issue is Rutte’s plan to tie health care premiums to people’s income - meaning the wealthy will pay more for their health insurance.

Conservatives say the idea is fundamentally against their principles. Rutte has respond-

ed by saying that projections circulating in Dutch media of how much people will have to pay are wildly inaccurate.Halbe Zijlstra, leader of Rutte’s party in the Dutch parliament attempted to ease the concerns Monday morning. “There are calculations and stories flying around about people’s spending power dropping by 23-30 percent. I can say that is definitely not going to happen,” he told NOS radio. The row over health care costs overshadowed the first day in office of Rutte’s second coalition government. His VVD party emerged victorious from elections Sept. 12. It agreed after some five weeks of talks - speedy negotiations by Dutch standards - to form a coalition with Labor, which is the second largest party in the 150-seat House of Representatives.The two parties, have already hammered out a policy blueprint full of austerity measures that aims at slashing government spending by ?16 billion ($20.5 billion) by 2017. That savings package is a clear indication that the Netherlands will continue to follow the lead of fiscally conservative German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the European Union - insisting that nations like Greece and Spain get their government finances in order if they want bailout funds from the EU. —AP

BRUSSELS: NATO, whose troops are fighting the Taleban in Afghanistan, said yesterday that Kabul should not interfere with the work of the ICG think tank after a critical report by the analysts sparked government anger.

NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the Brusselsbased International Crisis Group has “the right to express its views,” adding democracy benefits from open debate.

An analysis by the ICG last month said the Afghan government could collapse after the withdrawal of NATO troops in 2014, particularly if presidential elections that year proved fraudulent.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s senior spokesman Aimal Faizi charged Monday that the ICG’s “reports and activities have been politically motivated. The government is now in the process of assessing the ICG’s operations in the country.

“It is detrimental to Afghanistan’s national interests and no country will allow such activities by a foreign organisation,” he said. Foreign ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai added that Kabul “will take an appropriate decision about its future work based on this assessment.”

Asked about the comments, Rasmussen said he had discussed the issue with Karzai during a recent visit, being assured that Kabul would do everything possible to promote good governance and fight corruption.

Rasmussen said he did not share the views in the ICG report as the respected think-tank had not considered the help a post-2014 Afghan government would get but he was also “a strong supporter of freedom of expression.”

It was important that the “ICG has the right to express its views ... any democracy profits from an open, transparent and critical debate on how we could possibly make governance better,” he said.

The ICG said that it had seen reports about the remarks but had not been contacted by the Afghan government and accordingly could make no comment.

President Karzai’s re-election in 2009 was marred by allegations of widespread voting irregularities, while parliamentary polls a year later were also mired in controversy over fraud and vote rigging.

The ICG analysis characterised Karzai as apparently motivated by his desire to cling to power rather than to work for his country’s interests.

Afghanistan holds its next presidential vote in April 2014 but Karzai cannot stand as he will have served two terms by then. The author of the report, the ICG’s senior Afghanistan analyst, Candace Rondeaux, could not immediately be contacted for comment. — AFP

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

California GMO measure may fail after food industry fights back CALIFORNIA: Major food and seed companies appear to be on the verge of defeating a California ballot initiative that, if passed today, would create the first labeling requirement for genetically modified foods in the United States.

In a campaign reminiscent of this summer’s successful fight against a proposed tobacco tax in California, opposition funded by Monsanto Co, DuPont, PepsiCo Inc and others unleashed waves of TV and radio advertisements against Proposition 37 and managed to turn the tide of public opinion.

Four weeks ago, the labeling initiative was supported by more than two-thirds of Californians who said they intended to vote on Nov. 6, according to a poll from the California Business Roundtable and Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy. On Tuesday, their latest poll showed support had plummeted to 39 percent, while opposition had surged to almost 51 percent.

The swing in sentiment in the final weeks was predicted by pollsters, based on the power of a $46 million “No on 37” campaign, one of the best-funded for a California ballot measure fight. The ads claim the “badly written” initiative would increase the average fami-

ly’s grocery bills by $400 annually and hobble California farmers. Opponents also take aim at what they call “special interest exemptions” for restaurant food and products from animals fed with grain containing genetically modified organisms, popularly known as GMOs. Backers of the labeling initiative say consumers have the right to know what is in the food they eat.

They dispute opponents’ cost projections and say labeling would not be burdensome to families or businesses.

They could still prevail today if the polling turns out to be wrong, or if a last minute push by grassroots supporters takes root.

Many processed foods sold in the United States are made at least in part with corn, soybeans or other crops that have been genetically modified - crossed with DNA from other species to do things like make them resistant to insects or weed killer.

Each side accuses the other of resorting to desperate measures to mislead voters and using science that falls short of rigorous standards.

Such polarized debate is common in California, where ballot measures play a big role in governing.

But labeling proponents say it also speaks to the research gap around GMOs, specifically a lack of mandated government studies that would show whether long-term consumption of GMOs causes health problems.

The US Food and Drug Administration has determined labels are not needed for GM crops that are “substantially equivalent” to non-GM crops. The United States does not require labeling or mandatory independent pre-market safety testing for GMOs. At least three dozen countries require labeling and mandatory pre-market safety testing, said Michael Hansen, senior scientist from watchdog group Consumer Reports.

Some food and agriculture experts predict food companies would remove genetically modified ingredients rather than label them just for California - a move that would hit the multi-billion genetically modified seed business, where Monsanto and DuPont are market leaders.

Monsanto, the largest backer of the campaign with more than $8 million in funding, and DuPont say Proposition 37 would mislead consumers. PepsiCo referred reporters to the “No on 37” campaign.

Consumer advocates say the “No on 37” campaign has employed many of the same tactics the tobacco industry used this summer in California in a $47 million campaign that defeated Proposition 29, which would have raised cigarette taxes by $1 per pack to fund cancer research and other health efforts.

Opponents of the tobacco tax overcame early support approaching 70 percent by flooding airwaves with ads, including one featuring a doctor in a white coat warning that tobacco tax proceeds would not be spent on cancer treatment and could be shipped out of state. Outgunned supporters said those claims were false.

The food and tobacco industry campaigns both employed messages that weren’t “arguing with the premise of the initiatives, but rather making picky criticisms of the details of the initiatives,” said anti-smoking activist Stanton Glantz, a professor and researcher at the University of California-San Francisco.

“No on 37” spokeswoman Kathy Fairbanks rejects the notion of copycat tactics and said the similarities between the two campaigns are limited to pointing out flaws in the initiatives and spending significant money on ads. — Reuters

14

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

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Issues

Women challenge banking men’s club

By Eva Kuehnen hen the European Parliament turned Yves Mersch down for a top central banking post, it wasn’t because he lacked the expertise or experience; they rejected him because he is a man. Mersch, a Luxembourger who is highly regarded by his peers, had been expected to get the job on the European Central Bank’s all-male board anyway. Last month’s parliamentary vote was non-binding on EU governments, which have the final say, although Spain raised last-minute objections on Monday. The vacancy highlighted an uncomfortable fact: not one of the 23 monetary policymakers making vital decisions for the euro zone is a woman. Other central banks are also dominated by men.

Those who sympathise with the ECB say the pool of women qualified as policymakers is small and warn against making “token” female appointments while Europe is in crisis. But critics say the ECB and other maledominated central banks need to look harder for strong female candidates, and stop relying on policy committees of dark-suited “clones”. The US Federal Reserve, by contrast, has strong female representation. At the European Parliament, deputies complained that not enough effort had been made to find suitable women candidates for the post on the ECB’s six-member Executive Board. One lawmaker said the ECB, which regularly lectures governments on the need for change, should take a closer look at itself.

“The ECB is asking all our societies to modernise. Fine.

They are asking for structural reforms. Fine. They are asking for more women at work. Fine. And when it comes to themselves, they do not modernise, they do not include women,” said Sylvie Goulard, a French liberal. The ECB has had female policymakers as recently as last year when Austrian Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell completed her term on the board. But currently all the board members are male, as are the national central bank chiefs from the 17 euro zone states who join them on the Governing Council for policy decisions. The next vacancy on the board is not due until 2018.

It is not alone. Generally, few women have made it onto the boards of top central banks and often their responsibilities are relatively minor. Their representation is still lower than in the private sector. Of the world’s central bank heads, just 12 or about six percent are women, according to this year’s Central Bank Directory. Most are in emerging markets, such as South Africa’s Gill Marcus and Mercedes Marco del Pont of Argentina. One way to tackle the imbalance would be a quota system, similar to stalled plans for the private sector proposed by EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, who wants companies to allot 40 percent of their board seats to women by 2020.

In central banking, appointments are usually made by national governments. Those not necessarily based on qualifications may be risky considering the responsibility that comes with such jobs - making decisions that affect not one company but one country, or an entire currency union. Few doubt Mersch’s qualifications. He has sat on the Governing Council since 1998 as Luxembourg’s central bank chief. A hardliner on curbing inflation, he holds postgraduate degrees in international public law and political science, and spent the early years of his career in public sector finance institutions.

Rebecca Harding was the only woman in a group of economists, former central bankers and journalists to sign a letter to the Financial Times urging the European Parliament to withdraw its objections to Mersch. Harding, who is chief executive at Delta Economics, opposes quotas, which she said would undermine women who have already reached senior positions on merit. “The pool of women of the right age, experience and track record at the moment is relatively small and it is too important at the moment to appoint on the grounds of tokenism compared to grounds of merit,” she said.

DeAnne Julius, a former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, disputes such suggestions. She believes that where there’s a will, there’s a way. “There are plenty of qualified women who have the ability and the appetite to take on those roles, but you have to look harder for them,” said Julius, who was an external member of the MPC. She suggested getting external recruitment companies involved and broadening the search to include commercial banking, corporations and civil services, which might require structural changes in some central banks.

Julius worked in the private sector as chief economist at British Airways and Shell before joining the MPC when it was created in 1997. —Reuters

W

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Pressure on neutral Switzerland over Iran

By Emma Farge witzerland’s neutrality is being tested as Brussels and Washington raise pressure over gaps in sanctions against Iran, in particular measures against its oil industry. While Switzerland has replicated the western line on Libyan and Syrian economic sanctions, it has reasserted its traditional neutrality over Iran and opted out of some of the measures passed

by Europe and the United States. Washington and Brussels have severely tightened sanctions on Iran this year over accusations that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

The EU imposed a ban on Iranian oil imports that took effect in July. Both the United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Iran’s central bank. New US sanctions allow the White House to cut off access to the US financial system by third countries that trade with Iran. Switzerland says some of the measures simply go too far. “We are not putting in place, or are applying differently, sanctions that seem to us to go too far and tend towards ‘regime change’. In particular, that is the issue with the central bank, financial restrictions and the oil embargo,” Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter told Reuters.

Since the main US and EU sanctions took effect in July, Iran’s rial currency has tumbled and its oil exports have fallen, which Washington and Brussels say shows that sanctions are now having a real effect. The Swiss government chose not to join the European Union’s embargo on Iranian oil in July and did not add Iran’s central bank to a sanctions list. The gulf widened further in October, when the EU voted to tighten sanctions again. Burkhalter declined to comment on whether Switzerland plans to extend its sanctions this month.

Switzerland’s prominence as a commodities trading hub means that its decision to stay neutral on the EU oil embargo could be more than symbolic. Geneva alone is responsible for over a third of global traded crude oil volumes and is home to top trading houses Vitol, Trafigura and Mercuria. These firms say they have stopped trading Iranian oil. Still, some Western diplomats are concerned that Swiss neutrality could lead to a

S

repeat of events during South African apartheid when oil traders used Switzerland as a base for bypassing sanctions.

Switzerland is also home to two Iranian oil firms - Naftiran Intertrade Company (NICO) and Petro Suisse Intertrade Company - which both feature on US sanctions lists. NICO, an oil trading firm owned by the Iranian government, was added to the EU blacklist in October. “It’s not a secret to say that the United States and the EU have a problem with Swiss non-alignment. I think it’s important for economic and for symbolic reasons for countries to stand shoulder to shoulder,” said a western diplomatic source.

An EU diplomatic source said that the bloc had “tightened up the message” to Switzerland and was now “urging” the country to align with the last set of EU measures. “Some daylight has emerged between the two systems and that has raised doubts among some member states,” said the source who requested anonymity. Switzerland is not a member of the EU, but Brussels can influence Berne policy because of the EU’s importance as a trading partner.

The Alpine country’s decision to stay neutral on the EU oil embargo and the presence of NICO were raised at a meeting in London in October between Swiss officials responsible for sanctions policy and British Foreign Office representatives, according to a third western diplomatic source. And this summer, the US ambassador in Berne, Donald S Beyer, said there was “disappointment” in the US camp that Switzerland had not matched EU measures on Iran.

Switzerland’s neutrality has been useful to Washington: the Swiss embassy in Tehran has represented US interests in Iran since 1980, following the Islamic revolution in 1979. Asked how Switzerland could be expected to both represent US interests in Tehran and toughen sanctions, one of the diplomats familiar with the US position said: “Priorities have to be made. The US priority is getting sanctions right.” Interviews with Swiss government officials point to ambivalence over sanctions. The Swiss cabinet did vote to tighten some sanctions against Iran in Jan 2011. It held a secret vote on the EU’s Iran sanctions shortly before this year’s July embargo deadline, but that vote was split, resulting in only partial adoption of the EU package,

said a source familiar with Swiss foreign policy. According to the source, Burkhalter has privately lamented that mediation between Washington and Tehran had become more difficult since the Swiss decision to tighten sanctions in Jan 2011.

Jacques Neirynck, a member of the Swiss parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said ceding to US pressure on Iran would be unpopular with voters. “If the population thinks that we are selling off our neutrality because of US pressure, that would be a huge scandal. Neutrality is absolutely fundamental and we can’t stray from that,” he told Reuters.

Western powers have already pointed the finger at Switzerland over its Iran policy in the recent past. In a 2007 official visit to Iran, Micheline Calmy-Rey, who then held the two posts of Swiss foreign minister and president, helped broker a 25-year gas contract for Swiss energy company EGL. A diplomatic cable published on anti-secrecy website Wikileaks revealed that a US diplomat in Berne raised “objections” to the deal in a secret meeting with Calmy-Rey. The US diplomat noted that a failure to end the deal “would have a severe negative effect on the international community’s efforts to keep the pressure on Tehran to achieve a diplomatic solution” to the nuclear standoff. EGL, which has been acquired by Axpo International, has since suspended the contract.

It remains unclear what portion of Iran’s oil trade, if any, is now handled out of Switzerland. Since July, the Swiss government has required all transactions with Iran in the oil and petrochemical sectors to be reported to the authorities. Erwin Bollinger, head of export controls and sanctions at the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), said Switzerland had the authority to open up the books of a trading house suspected of concealing Iran transactions and could bring charges against it. SECO rejected a Reuters request for a copy of the list in September under Switzerland’s transparency law.

The body cited commercial secrecy, risks to foreign policy and other factors. Reuters is appealing the decision. Industry sources said most Swiss trading houses have stopped doing business with Iran because of fears of falling foul of other western sanctions measures and because of difficulties financing the deals. — Reuters

Mission impossible: Hu’s military handover

By Benjamin Kang Lim utgoing Chinese president Hu Jintao is keeping the nation and the rest of the world guessing over whether he will seek to hang on as armed forces chief, sources said, highlighting a potentially serious weakness in Beijing’s succession planning. The question of when Hu will hand over the reins as chairman of the Central Military Commission, the supreme decision-making body for the armed forces, is one of the biggest uncertainties surrounding China’s current transition to a new administration. Hu currently heads the Communist Party, the government and the military and is due to hand over all three positions to Xi, his current vice president, though not at the same time.

He hands over the party job this month, the presidency next March and there is no clear timing for when the military post changes hands.

With the new political leadership just days away from being officially unveiled at a party congress, this underlines how the process of handing over all the instruments of power is still evolving in China, which has nuclear arms and boasts a 2.3 million-strong military.

Currently the world’s second-biggest economy, it has managed a bloodless leadership transition only once before - when Jiang Zemin handed power to Hu in the early 2000’s. Even sources with ties to the leadership and military are divided over whether, or for how long, Hu will linger as their boss, though they said that top generals had asked him recently to stay on at least until early 2013.

“The PLA wants Hu to stay on to ensure continuity during this difficult period,” one source said, requesting anonymity to avoid repercussions for discussing sensitive leadership issues. The top brass made the request to Hu a few months ago, hopeful perhaps that his continued leadership of the armed forces would help preserve their own influence during a tricky transition period, the sources said.

O

“Hu’s final decision is unknown...,” a second source said.

Hu has three options for handing over the military job: Pass it to Xi this month along with the party post, relinquish it early next year along with the presidency, or follow the example of Jiang, who kept the military post for two years after stepping down as president. Jiang’s move caused internal rancour at the time, and China experts say the prospect of Hu doing something similar would have the potential to raise tensions again, pointing out that Xi, the new leader, would end up serving beneath Hu on the Central Military Commission for a prolonged period. In addition, Hu would preside over the military commission without being part of the party’s Politburo Standing Committee, the apex of power in China.

Cheng Li, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, believes Hu and Xi would rub along in this scenario, given they have worked together closely for five y e ars already, and that Beijing’s consensus-style politics is designed to avoid destabilising personal conflicts or power plays. But uncertainty over this aspect of leadership succession reveals a governance problem which has potential to cause friction, depending on the personalities involved, he said. “Potentially it could be a very serious problem,” Cheng said, adding that Beijing should make its decisionmaking more transparent, and drawing a contrast with Western democracies where “we know who is the boss and decision-maker”.

“Now of course China should improve its decision-making mechanism, and at least define who should do what, and who has autonomy, the power, the authority to make the decision, but at the same time to define the limitations (of power).”

With no clearly established pattern for when to hand over the role of armed forces chief in China, a debate has sprung up within the party and the military over whether Hu should stay on for a while in the interests of continuity or should go in the interests of a

clean transition to the new leader, Xi. As for Hu himself, sources have said he wants to avoid repeating Jiang’s unpopular move, but a problem arises if he gives up the military post at the same time as he steps down as party chief. He is due to relinquish the latter post at the party’s 18th congress, which convenes on Thursday.

The problem springs from the fact that there are in theory two identical and parallel versions of the Central Military Commission one to be chosen by the party this month and the other by parliament next March. In effect, the party’s choice is simply rubber-stamped by parliament, but with a lag. That means that even if Hu surrenders the military post at the congress, he would technically remain head of the commission in the eyes of parliament and the executive branch of government for another four months - and the military would briefly have two chiefs: Xi as chosen by the party, and Hu as the government’s lame-duck version. The sources said Hu could instead choose to remain as commission chairman until February, when the party’s elite 200odd-member Central Committee is due to meet just days before parliament assembles for its full annual session in March. Under that scenario, the Central Committee could install Xi as the new chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), with parliament then quickly rubber-stamping it. “If this happens, Hu’s legacy will be institutionalising the term of office of party and state CMC and harmonising this and future transitions,” the second source said.

This scenario would also suit other incumbent members of the military commission who - with the exception of Hu and Xi - are mostly senior military leaders and are due to be replaced at this month’s congress, the sources said. With Hu staying on - even if only for another four months - these outgoing members, who have served with Hu for years on the commission, could continue to have the ear of their armed forces chief for a crucial period in which the new administration

would be expected to review its priorities.

“The incumbent CMC will step down at the 18th congress but they (outgoing members) hope to retain influence if Hu stays on,” a third source said.

With Hu’s intentions unknown, it is still possible he could decide to stay on for a few more years, as Jiang did. Former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa told CNN in September that based on past practice Hu would most likely remain as military chief “for some time”. He did not elaborate and stressed that he was not privy to such information.

Those among the top brass who would lose influence with Hu’s departure can see plenty of reasons for him to continue. Hu has generally toed a moderate military line on issues such as Taiwan and territorial disputes in the South China Sea and East China Sea, but he has also overseen an ambitious military buildup, including the launch of China’s first aircraft carrier and the development of stealth fighters.

America’s renewed security focus on the Asia Pacific has also unnerved the People’s Liberation Army. The jockeying among senior military ranks is well underway, with Xu Qiliang, who stepped down last month as air force commander, and Fan Changlong, currently commander of Nanjing Military Region, announced at the weekend as the two noncivilian vice chairmen of the military commission. General Chang Wanquan is tipped to become defence minister, the sources said.

In August, three sources with ties to the top leadership said Hu hoped to leave all three major posts by early 2013, on the understanding that his protege, Vice Premier Li Keqiang, was also made a vice chairman of the military commission. Xi’s own position, according to the sources, is that he is content for Hu to stay on - though experts say this would only extend until March, the end of the formal transition period. Some China experts believe this could free up Xi for a few critical months to focus on shaping his political agenda.— Reuters

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

NEWS

An Afghan child sits next to a puppy at a brick factory on the outskirts of Herat yesterday. Over a third of Afghans are living in abject poverty, as those in power are more concerned about addressing their vested interests rather than the basic needs of the population, a UN report said. — AFP

Cameron visits Gulf to sell jets, talk...

Obama, Romney make final pitches

Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

Cameron’s office said the talks would address collaboration over next-generation aerospace equipment.

Cameron wants to push Britain’s defence industry and “specifically promote the Typhoon fast jet to Gulf leaders”, it said. Cameron later accompanied senior UAE officials on an inspection of RAF Typhoons stationed at a UAE airbase as part of a training exercise.

The UAE has shown an interest in ordering up to 60 Typhoon Eurofighters to replace its ageing French Mirages, his office said. Saudi Arabia is interested in a second “substantial” order on top of the 72 Typhoons it already has, and neighbouring Oman is in negotiations for 12 of the jets, it added. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a project which involves British defence giant BAE Systems and companies from Germany, Italy and Spain. Trade between Britain and the UAE is worth £9.6 billion ($15.3 billion), according to a Dubai government statement.

Cameron told the BBC that his visit was not only focused on trade and investment. “We’re also partners in defence and security. We worked together in Libya, we worked together in Afghanistan and we’ll be discussing all the key regional and global issues,” he said. Britain, the UAE and Saudi Arabia had a “shared commitment to security and stability and defeating the threats we face in the wider Middle East region,” his office said. The British premier said it was vital that Iran allay suspicions that its nuclear program is cover for a drive for a weapons capability. The international community must “keep up the pressure, keep up sanctions and keep up the work to persuade Iran to take a different path,” he said.

At meeting with students at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed University, Cameron criticised the failure of the United Nations to take stronger action against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in the face of repeated vetoes by Russia and China. “I think in the case of Syria, the United Nations has let the world down,” he said.

“Like-minded countries like our two countries should go on working together to try to see what more can we do to help the Syrian people to throw off this brutal dictator who’s murdering so many. “You know that Bashar AlAssad cannot possibly stay running his country... He has to go.”

Cameron said he believed the British and UAE governments could have a dialogue about human rights issues. “We must be respectful of the different traditions, different cultures,” he said. “But I do think that standing up for human rights, standing up for the right of people to have a voice... is important. I think this is a discussion that our countries can have. I’m a supporter of the Arab Spring, the opportunity of moving towards more open societies, more open democracies, I think is good for the Middle East, for North Africa.” Later in Dubai, he said of his visit to Saudi Arabia: “On human rights, there are no no-go areas in this relationship. We discuss all of these things but we also show respect and friendship to a very old ally and partner.”

The UAE had reacted angrily last month to a European Union resolution criticising its human rights record following the arrest of more than 60 Islamists in recent months. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash, who was with Cameron as he showed off the Typhoon at an airfield, said commercial links had not been impacted by politics. Asked about the prospects of Britain winning the possible order for the aircraft, he said: “I think these things are complicated, they take time of course.” Gargash also said the West should be wary of supporting opposition groups born out of the Arab Spring protests. “Many people are still caught in the euphoria of the Arab Spring, but in reality what we’re seeing currently in the Arab Spring is basically an entrenchment of conservative religious parties.

They’re taking control,” Gargash said. Gargash said criticism of the UAE was often exaggerated and inaccurate, and while not perfect, the Emirates has a “forward looking, secular, and open” agenda. — Agencies

Qaeda archenemy named new Saudi...

Continued from Page 1 That’s what makes a successful politician,” Saudi commentator Jamal Khashoggi said. “He is perceived as progressive, efficient and result-oriented,” said Saudi columnist Hossein Shobokshi.

Prince Mohammed, who had served as assistant minister for security affairs since 1999, has effectively led the kingdom’s crackdown on Al-Qaeda, following a wave of deadly attacks between 2003 and 2006. He survived a suicide attack in Aug 2009 when a bomber managed to infiltrate the prince’s security and detonated his implanted

explosives next to him. Prince Mohammed suffered only superficial injuries, but apart from the bomber, who was killed, no other serious casualties were reported.

The Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack. It was the first highprofile Al-Qaeda attack on the government since militants rammed a car bomb into the fortified interior ministry in Riyadh in 2004. It was also the first strike on a member of the royal family since Al-Qaeda launched a wave of attacks in the kingdom in 2003, targeting Western establishments and oil facilities and leaving more than 150 Saudis and foreigners dead. — Agencies

Amir stands by decree, slams ‘illegal’...

Continued from Page 1 Wednesday, and questioned the real motives behind the protesters. The Amir said that no one has the right to violate the law and warned that he will not tolerate against any measure that may undermine the security of the country. He said leaders of Gulf states had called and offered to provide all the support to preserve Kuwait’s security and stability.

In another development, former Islamist opposition MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei said that the opposition plans to organize the biggest rally so far but he did not provide any details nor the date of the new protest.

Medical sources meanwhile said that 26 men, including 8 policemen, were slightly wounded during Sunday’s protest but most of them were treated on the spot due to inhaling teargas. Lawyers said that up to 70 protesters were arrested but most of them were released late Sunday night without bail. In the meantime, 24 new candidates registered for the election yesterday, raising the number of candidates after six days to 94 compared to 255 candidates in the previous election, 225 in the 2009 polls and as many as 277 in the 2008 election.

The Amir made the comments at a reception ceremony attended by a large gathering of Kuwaitis at Bayan Palace. “God has bestowed upon us many blessings we should be thankful for. We live in a safe and gracious environment, where people live in security, stability and luxury, grouped together by the spirit of a united family and a common destiny,” he said. Sheikh Sabah expressed his disenchantment over the motives of the protestors, which he said were unknown, blaming them for leading a campaign aimed at “extremism, causing

internal rifts and breaking the law and constitutional and religious principles”.

“We live in a true democratic climate, that offers the right of expression to all - to say what they want to whoever they want. Newspaper pages and television stations are filled every day with various viewpoints and directions. Where is the authoritarianism? Where is the oppression? Security men are attacked while they are on duty and carrying out their national responsibility. I explained in my last speech a few days ago the justifications for taking the decision to amend the voting mechanism of the electoral process, which stipulated limiting one vote per voter instead of four. This decision aimed at preserving national unity and buttressing democratic practices, as well as achieving the principle of equal opportunities and overall society representation,” he said, adding that he took the decision out of “my national, constitutional and historic responsibility before Allah and the Kuwaiti people and in clear activation of the Amir’s authorities which are defined by the constitution and substantiated by the Constitutional Court”. “I have left for the next National Assembly to review the amendment and tackle all its downsides in order to achieve higher national unity,” the Amir pointed out.

On the relation between the ruler and people, Sheikh Sabah termed such relationship as “deeper and bigger to be affected by twisted machination. This relationship had been established long centuries ago; deep-rooted by national customs and sustained by constitutional practice.” Addressing the female audience, he said, “I reiterate my pride of the Kuwaiti woman and her honorable role throughout the nation’s history and her prominent sacrifices during the Iraqi invasion.”

“We ask you to stay at it all the way to victory on Tuesday night,” the Republican challenger said, calling on supporters to make last-ditch phone calls and door knocks as they chanted back: “One more day! One more day!”

Obama beginning his final day of campaigning in Madison, Wisconsin, told the crowd that Romney was nothing but a “good salesman” and that he, the president, was the only candidate who would bring real change. “You have seen the scars on me to prove it. You’ve seen the gray hair on my head to show you what it means for fight for change, and you have been there with me,” he said. Rock legend Bruce Springsteen took the stage before the president and gave a rousing speech dotted with acoustic guitar riffs. “This election, it’s sealed because of this song, right here. Swing states, this is the tipping point,” he said.

After the performance, which included hits like “The Promised Land” and “Land of Hope and Dreams,” Obama came on stage and the two men bear-hugged. “I cannot imagine not being fired up after listening to Bruce Springsteen,” Obama said to loud applause. “And I can’t thank him enough for everything that he’s done for this campaign.

“He is an American treasure. And I get to fly around with him on the last day that I will ever campaign. So that’s not a bad way to end things.”

After taking Springsteen with him to rallies in Ohio and Iowa, Obama returns to his hometown Chicago, where he hopes to celebrate tonight becoming only the second Democrat since World War II to win a second term. As the

clock ticked down to today’s vote, Romney’s efforts included a surprise foray yesterday night into Pennsylvania, a Democratic-leaning state that Republican strategists say is breaking his way. “We’re taking back the White House because we’re going to win Pennsylvania,” Romney told a crowd of up to 30,000, according to US Secret Service estimates quoted by the campaign, who had gathered on a farm in frigid weather.

Obama advisers dismissed the trip as a sign of desperation from the challenger less than 48 hours from election day.

And yet a valuable character witness, former president Bill Clinton - the only other two-term Democrat - was to headline four rallies for Obama yesterday in Pennsylvania, to counter Romney’s late push there. Democrats said they were confident of Obama’s small but steady lead in key swing states, but acknowledged that everything now depends on getting out the vote. After Florida, Romney held the first of two Virginia rallies before heading to potential kingmaker Ohio. He then returns to where he launched his campaign 18 months ago: New Hampshire.

US media reported that Romney was considering an unexpected campaign trip to Ohio on polling day itself and the candidate’s did nothing to knock back the reports. “We’ll advise a schedule and until then we don’t have anything,” senior aide Kevin Madden said. Obama aides have pointed at early voting advantages in Ohio and Florida as evidence that the president is close to sealing the deal but the race is still extremely tight and Romney’s camp also appeared confident of victory. Three separate national polls of likely voters showed the race tied. Only one Pew poll found the president ahead, 48 percent to 45 percent. — AFP

Ethiopia, Qatar mend ties after 4-year row Continued from Page 1 Horn of Africa by supporting armed opposition groups in the region, including in Ethiopia’s arch-foe Eritrea.

Hailemariam said the two countries would work together to boost economic ties, including allowing Qatari investors into Ethiopia, and would “work very closely” with Qatar to promote peace and security in the region.

Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem AlThani said security was a priority for development in the Horn of Africa. “We believe peace brings development, and these countries in this part of the world need a lot of development,” he said, adding that the high-level meeting between both countries was agreed when he met with Meles in February.

The Ministers of Finance and Foreign Affairs from

both countries signed a series of bilateral agreements after the two leaders met. Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Dina Mufti said ties had been rekindled between the countries because they felt “we would have mutual benefit if we restore out relations”. “We have sorted out our differences ...It’s water under the bridge, it is something that we have sorted out, we are looking forward now,” he told AFP. Eritrea broke away from Ethiopia and won independence in 1993 after a 30-year struggle. The two countries fought a border war in 1998-2000, which left at least 70,000 people dead. With an official growth rate of 11 percent, Ethiopia has one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and is luring foreign investors to boost its economy further, with the aim of achieving middle income status by 2025.— AFP

Two Asians killed in Bahrain blasts Continued from Page 1 9:30 am (0130-0630 GMT) in the Qudaibiya and Adliya districts of Manama, the BNA agency said, citing a police official. It described the explosives as “locally made bombs”. The dead were a 29-year-old Indian and a 33year-old citizen of Bangladesh, officials said. A 33-yearold Indian was wounded. Like all Gulf Arab countries, Bahrain has a large South Asian community of expatriate workers.

One of the attacks took place outside a cinema, where one of the street cleaners died when he kicked a package that blew up. A witness said that blast caused little material damage, suggesting it had not been large. Officials suggested there could be crackdowns against Shiite religious leaders, and that could sharply intensify the clashes. Government spokeswoman Sameera Rajab blamed the attacks on statements by some Shiite “religious figures who haven’t ceased inciting violence against civilians and police”. She said authorities would show “zero tolerance” in its efforts to stamp out unrest.

Police say they have been the target of numerous attacks with homemade bombs since April, including one that killed a policeman last month, as the government has stepped up efforts to quell an uprising that has

crippled the economy. Britain condemned the attack and called for all sides to enter into a dialogue without any pre-conditions to resolve the tension, the Bahrain News Agency reported. “There is no place in Bahraini society for such acts of violence,” Alistair Burt, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, was quoted by BNA as saying.

Opposition politician Matar Matar of the Shiite party Wefaq said he doubted that opposition activists were behind yesterday’s attacks, noting that leading Shiite clerics had called on followers to avoid escalating the conflict with the government. He suggested the police or military might have been responsible, or a rogue unit.

“This incident is strange - why would anyone target workers?” he said. “I’m worried that police and military are losing control of their units or it is (preparation) before declaring martial law.”

Maryam Al-Khawaja, acting head of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, said: “As always, we condemn violence but, given the Bahraini authorities’ background in spreading disinformation, we call for an independent investigation into the deaths of the two migrant workers.”

Khawaja, who is based in Denmark, said the attacks were “not grounds to start a campaign of collective punishment, arbitrary arrests, and torture, as we’ve see happen before”. — Agencies

$100bn in oil spending seen over 5 years Continued from Page 1 project to modernise two of the country’s three refineries, both costing $30 billion, are part of the spending plan, Zanki said.

National refiner Kuwait National Petroleum Co. (KNPC) last month appointed Foster Wheeler and Amec companies as consultants for the two projects slated to be completed by 2018. Zanki said that KNPC, a subsidiary of KPC, expects to tender the two projects by the start of next year after they had been repeatedly delayed due to political bickering. The two projects are projected to raise Kuwait’s refining capacity to 1.4 mil-

lion bpd from the current 930,000 bpd. When the two projects are complete, Kuwait plans to shut the Shuaiba refinery.

Kuwait is engaged in advanced talks with China and Vietnam for multi-billion-dollar joint ventures to build two oil refinery and petrochemical complexes. The state also has oil production operations in several countries through its state-owned Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co (KUFPEC). Kuwait Petroleum International runs refineries and petrol stations in Europe as well. Kuwait, OPEC’s third largest producer, says it sits on 10 percent of the world’s proven crude reserves and is pumping 3.0 million bpd. — AFP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

sp orts Klitschko remembers late coach ahead of Wach fight HAMBURG: World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko remembered his late coach Emanuel Steward yesterday, saying victory over Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Hamburg at the weekend would also be for his long-time mentor.

The 68-year-old Steward, who worked with several world champions at his fabled Kronk Gym in Detroit and joined forces with Klitschko in 2004, died on Oct. 25 after developing complications following surgery for diverticulitis. “It is a big blow to everyone,” said the Ukrainian, wearing his trademark red tracksuit at a news conference. “It felt strange in preparation ... but we know what he would do and what he would want us to do. “It is a fight without Emanuel Steward but I will be going into the ring on Saturday with his presence to defend those titles we gathered together.”—Reuters

Ferrer to lead Spain in Davis Cup final MADRID: World number five David Ferrer will lead Spain’s bid to claim their fourth Davis Cup title in five years when the holders take on the Czech Republic in this month’s final in Prague.

Fourth-ranked Rafa Nadal is still sidelined with a knee injury so Ferrer, winner of Sunday’s Paris Masters, will spearhead a team that includes Nicolas Almagro, Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez.

“Ferrer’s leadership has been important in Nadal’s absence despite him saying at the start of the year he was not planning to play,” captain

Alex Corretja told a news conference yesterday.

“He has accepted the challenge and now we are in the final.” Ferrer, 30, won his first Masters tournament on Sunday as he took his haul of titles this season to a personal best of seven. He is about to make his fourth appearance in a Davis Cup final.

Nadal has not played since his shock second-round defeat by Czech Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June.

The Spanish team have managed well without the 26-year-old, beating Kazakhstan, Austria and the United States. —Reuters

Yuvraj back for England tests MUMBAI: India have named Yuvraj Singh in their squad for the first two tests against England, marking the all-rounder’s return to the five-day game following treatment for cancer.

Yuvraj, who will turn 31 next month, underwent chemotherapy in the United States for a rare form of lung cancer earlier this year.

He returned to international cricket in September in a Twenty20 match against New Zealand before playing in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

The swashbuckling left-hander smashed a double hundred in his return to first-class cricket last month, and then took five wickets to add to a half-century against England in a warm-up game last week. Yuvraj, who played the last of his 37 tests in November 2011, will be the favorite to seal the number six slot in the Indian batting order when the first of four tests against England begins in Ahmedabad on Nov. 15.—Reuters

Organiser defends proposed Greek F1 track ATHENS: The man leading controversial plans to construct a potential Formula One racetrack in debt-stricken Greece has defended the bold project and says “my life’s work” will benefit rather than burden the country.

Last month, Greece’s Ministry of Development confirmed it had unblocked a European funding subsidy of 29.46 million euros ($37.84 million) for the construction of an international-standard racetrack that could be used for staging Formula One - the top class of world motor car racing.

Of that subsidy, 15 percent will be covered by the Greek government and parliament will vote on whether to approve the move on Nov. 15.

The track will be built in Chalandritsa near the western port city of Patras and the ministry has set a total estimated cost of 94.6 million euros, 70 percent of which is to be funded by private investment company Racetrack Patras. “Critics in the foreign media believe that the state will subsidise the circuit running cost, this is a false idea,” Evangelos Floratos, who heads Racetrack Patras, told Reuters.

Floratos will oversee the project to build the track, which he hopes can act as a testing centre for F1 teams while Greece waits with a multitude of other nations to try to secure a lucrative annual F1 race. “This project belongs to the private sector, it does not expect state funding for its operational costs. It is also wrongly assumed that we are aiming at organising a Formula 1 race, which is an event often subsidised by the national government.

This is not our primary goal,” he said.

“Let’s be clear about this, we are not prepared to pay to be added to the calendar at this point. It is something we will think about at a later date if and when someone — in government or the private sector — wishes to subsidise it.”

The circuit will be designed to host other events as well including world championship motorbike grands prix and go-kart racing.

“Our chief aim is to operate the track 365

days per year, offer a high quality service to motor sport professionals and thus develop business and employment for the local community,” Floratos added.

“We will be able to attract teams and companies preparing for Formula 1 and generate income by renting the track for tyre testing and team preparation.”

Floratos, a former mayor of Patras, has been involved in the project since the inception of the idea in 1979 when the director of the Monza circuit in Italy indicated the huge area of land was ideal for a racetrack. “This is a project dear to me as I’ve been involved from the very start in the 1970s. You could say it’s my life’s work,” he said.

“We have a strategic advantage in attracting F1 teams for testing and preparation due to the excellent weather conditions in Greece, our easy access from Italy (Ferrari) and our competitive prices in comparison with other European tracks.”

Testing is currently extremely limited during the F1 season and teams, mostly Britishbased, have tended to test cars at the more easily accessible circuits in Spain where there is plenty of choice.

The Greek track, along with two other subsidised projects — a glass pane making factory in the north and modernisation of the luxury Elounda Bay Palace hotel in Crete — is expected to generate over 800 new jobs, the ministry has stated. In addition, Floratos said his company plans to build an Automobile Museum to establish a regular visitor flow to the track. “ The local region with all its human resources will have a motivation to specialise in the products and services connected with motor sports and create income for the community,” he said. “Also, this project will have a significant impact on tourism since the region selected is at a close driving distance from some major tourist destinations in Greece such as Ancient Olympia, Delphi, Epidaurus and Kalavryta. —Reuters

PARIS: France’s rugby union national team lock Jocelino Suta poses after a press conference in Marcoussis, south of Paris, as part of the preparation for the upcoming test match against Australia on Nov 10.—AFP

Foreign ‘raiders’ primed to retain Melbourne Cup MELBOURNE: Australia’s trainers will be hardpressed to stop the A$6.2 million ($6.43 million) Melbourne Cup, the world’s richest two-mile trophy, being ridden off to foreign lands for a third consecutive year today.

Foreign-prepared horses in the field of 24 have dominated betting, with 2010 winner Americain, trained by Frenchman Alain de Royer-Dupre, rated a 6-1 favorite by most agencies on the eve of the “race that stops the nation.”

Last year’s winner Dunaden, another French horse, vies for second favorite status with British stayer Mount Athos, relegating Maluckyday, the best of the field’s locally trained hopes, to 11-1 for the gruelling handicap.

Once an impenetrable fortress for entrants outside Australia and New Zealand, Flemington Racecourse has become a happy hunting ground for the tourists, who have snatched the Cup four times over the past decade. Their recent domination has been lamented by some local racing identities who claim the ‘raiders’ are afforded an easier passage to entry.

“We’re just losing the plot,” Maluckyday owner and former Melbourne Cup winner Nick Moraitis told local media. “It’s not a Melbourne Cup any more. It’s a European Cup or something like that.” Once a provincial race of middling quality, the Cup’s soaring prize money has prompted the world’s top stables to spend small fortunes to fly more of their horses Down Under to run in front of heaving crowds of more than 100,000.

Local racing enthusiasts had better get used to it, according to Mount Athos trainer Luca Cumani. “I think it is a (worldwide race) and if you want to take racing to the next stage then you’ve got to make it international,” said

Newmarket-based Cumani, who has also entered My Quest for Peace.

Punters splurged more than A$100 million on the race last year and much of this year’s money has rushed toward Dunaden since the seven-year-old stallion won the 2,400 metre Caulfield Cup in the lead-up, a rich local meeting widely regarded a form guide.

The victory saw the Mikel Delzangles-trained Dunaden saddled with a top weight of 59 kilogrammes, 4.5 kg more than he carried to a photo-finish victory over Britain’s Red Cadeaux last year. The weight of history is also against Dunaden, with only five horses winning the race more than once since it was first held in 1861.

A win would hand globe-trotting Frenchman Delzangles another big pay-day and a reward for his long-haul flights to and from the United States, where his horse Flotilla won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last week.

It would also be a fairytale finish for local jockey Craig Williams, who was to take Dunaden’s reins last year but lost his ride to Frenchman Christophe Lemaire after being suspended by racing authorities in the leadup. “(Dunaden’s) form is excellent,” Williams said last week. “I believe he is a four-lengths better horse than last year. Only luck will stop him.”

Red Cadeaux returns after last year’s heartbreak, with Ed Dunlop making another bid to become the first British trainer to secure Australia’s most prestigious trophy.

Dunlop lamented last year’s finish as a “pixel” off his greatest moment in racing, but is confident of going one better this year, with his horse carrying 3.5 kg less than Dunaden. “You can say my horse’s form has been better in Europe than Dunaden’s,” he said. “Why can’t we?”—Reuters

TEXAS: Jimmie Johnson ( left) and Brad Keselowski bump as they compete for the lead ahead of Kyle Busch during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race.—AP

Johnson holds off Keselowski for Texas victory and lead FORT WORTH: Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski were nearing the start-finish line after a late restart at Texas when their cars suddenly slammed together.

Somehow, they managed to maintain control and prolong their battle for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. “Fortunately, we both stayed 1-2 and didn’t crash, didn’t lose a spot on the racetrack,” Johnson said. “But I knew he was serious about the race lead prior to that and that took it to a new level. “ Johnson still has the advantage, holding a seven-point lead with two races left after winning Sunday. But the five-time champion knows he’s got a fight on his hands from the young challenger who is trying to get Roger Penske his first Sprint Cup title.

“The gloves are off and it’s bareknuckle fighting,” Johnson said.

Before their big bang inside the final 10 laps, Keselowski was coming up the track with Johnson on the outside. After the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet got loose, Johnson seemed to be charging ahead before they ricocheted off each other heading toward the frontstretch. They stayed side-by-side into the next lap, and appeared to scrape each other again - and still had to get through another restart.

“I raced hard, and I’m sure

someone would say dirty,” said Keselowski, who overcame an early pit problem and got back up front by taking only two tires on one of the last stops. “Anytime you run close to certain guys you’re racing them dirty according to some people. But I raced hard, and we both came back around, so there’s something to be said for that.”

When there was a third restart in the last 20 laps, for a greenwhite-checkered finish, Johnson regained the lead for the seventh and last time to win from the pole for the second week in a row. He charged on the outside after some more bumping, clearing Keselowski on the backstretch with 11/2 laps left.

But only after a little fingerpointing at Keselowski, who after his runner-up finish went to Victory Lane to shake the winner’s hand.

“Just wanted him to use his head. There is no sense in taking us both out in the process,” Johnson said. “ That ’s the first time that we’ve really engaged at that level and raced each other that hard. To his credit, he did a nice job of getting right to the edge, and we brought home race cars. We weren’t wadded up to look like a bunch of fools.”

They go to Phoenix next week, where Johnson has won four times and finished fourth eight months

ago in the second race of the season. Keselowski finished fifth then and has never won there.

The season finale is at Homestead. Johnson led 168 of the 335 laps at the 11/2-mile highbanked track for his 60th career victory and the 700th in Sprint Cup for Chevrolet.

It also means a sizable donation for disaster relief on the East Coast in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Lowe’s, Johnson’s primary sponsor, had pledged to match what he earned at Texas - $492,086.

Keselowski had never finished better than 14th at Texas before leading five times for 75 laps.

He fell from first to ninth during a stop when he slid too deep into his stall and got caught in a jam of cars on pit road after his team had to push him backward. On the next stop, after working his way back to fourth, Keselowski opted for only left-side tires on his No. 2 Dodge when everybody else took four tires. After restarting the final 20 laps in first again, the strategy almost worked. Until the last restart.

Kyle Busch, who led four times for 80 laps, finished third with a close -up view of Johnson and Keselowski. “Those guys got side by side and they were running hard. It seemed like Brad was moving up the racetrack to force

Jimmie into the dirty racetrack. ...

He’s no dummy. He’s smart,” Busch said. “Last restart though, Jimmie got an excellent restart.”

There were nine cautions for 49 laps, including that late flurry that changed the race. It sure didn’t start that way, before some yellow flags in bunches.

After the April race at Texas ended with a track-record 234 consecutive green-flag laps, the first 100 laps Sunday were without a caution. Those 334 laps were the equivalent of 501 miles, or a full Sprint Cup race at Texas.

Before all the cautions, Johnson set the pace and quickly was back in front of the field after the first two green-flag stops. Then there were three cautions in a 20-lap span.

Tony Stewart finished fifth, followed by Clint Bowyer, who is 36 points back in third in the series standings. Keselowski feels like he controls his own destiny. But Johnson is in the lead.

“It’s a small amount of control, but we’re definitely in control. We don’t have to catch any or make up any points,” Johnson said. “Seven points is nothing to feel comfortable about and to relax on. We’re still going to go into Phoenix and act as if we’re behind and go in there to try to sit on the pole and win the race again.”—AP

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Offered in two unique color ways for women, the Supernova Sequence 5 is available at Adidas Sport Performance Stores and selected retailers across Kuwait.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

sp orts

National sports networks scrum for dollars, viewers LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK: Media companies from NBC and Fox to AlJazeera are digging deep into their wallets to build new national sports networks and grab a slice of the lucrative market dominated by Walt Disney Co’s sports juggernaut ESPN. The networks are chasing the big advertising dollars that flow into live sports programming, plus monthly subscription fees paid by cable operators that are far higher than those for other channels.

Just this week, NBC Sports Network outbid Fox for the rights to air England’s Premier League soccer. The reported $250 million NBC will pay is more than three times what Fox had been paying.

NBC Sports Network is expected to be joined by Fox, which plans to convert its car-racing channel Speed to the wide-ranging Fox Sports in the third quarter of next year, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. CBS entered the competition in April 2011 when it launched the CBS Sports Network with programming including qualifying matches of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, college basketball games and a Monday night football show anchored by former NFL quarterbacks who provide color commentary. With more than $8 billion a

year in fees and ad sales, according to SNL Kagan, ESPN remains the giant in the marketplace. The network has cable rights for many major sports events locked up for years. But consumers’ seemingly bottomless appetite for sports programming and advertisers eager for more live events is fueling the challengers, said Ed Desser, president of sports consulting firm Desser Sports Media. “It sets up some very meaningful competition for second place” behind ESPN, Desser said.

The England’s Premier League deal is intended to bring more viewers to the NBC Sports Network, a fledgling cable sports channel that will carry most of the English language matches.

Formerly known as Versus and the Outdoor Life Network, the network owned by cable giant Comcast Corp drew its biggest audiences this summer by airing Olympic events such as women’s soccer but is grappling with a work stoppage in the National Hockey League that leaves it without a marquee sport.

NBC Sports Network is available in 80 million homes, and receives an average monthly fee of 31 cents per subscriber from cable operators. ESPN commands $5 per month and another 68 cents a month for its ESPN 2, according to SNL Kagan.

CBS began plotting its entry into the national sports derby when it paid $325 million in 2005 for the cable channel College Sports Television. Last year, it renamed the channel CBS Sports Network with the intention of creating a national sports cable channel.

The network is now in 50 million homes, up from 13 million subscribers, when CBS first bought the college sports channel.

David Berson, president of CBS Sports Network, says the channel intends to aggressively go after sports rights that become available. Getting more prize sports will allow CBS to charge more for the channel and expand to more homes, he said.

“Sports fans have a greater appetite for sports content and we intend to try to fill it,” he says. “If something comes up we intend to aggressively bid on it, within the confines of what makes business sense for CBS.” Even Al-Jazeera, the top news network in the Arab world, is getting into the game stateside. Its 24-hour U.S. sports network “beIN SPORT” launched over the summer and has bought broadcast TV rights for soccer leagues in France and Spain. On Nov. 2, Time Warner Cable announced it will carry the channel, while Dish Network and

DirecTV already have deals with it.

Even before the rush of new 24hour national sports channels, ESPN executives say they faced strong competition from broadcast and regional cable channels when bidding for rights. The network, seen in 98 million homes, has its major rights secured through multi-year deals with the NFL, Major League Baseball, Wimbledon and the big college football conferences. “We like our position,” said ESPN spokesman Chris LaPlaca. The entrance of new players suggests more people “recognize what we have long known: the power of live sports, especially in light of technological advances, is substantial and brings tremendous value in today’s entertainment landscape,” he said.

To preserve their deals, ESPN and others are fending off competition by locking up rights early. ESPN last summer signed a deal to air college football’s Rose Bowl until 2026.

The glut of sports channels seeking higher subscriber fees are certain to inflame tensions with cable operators who complain about the already high payments they are required to charge customers who don’t watch sports.

Time Warner Cable and Cablevision held out for 10 years before they signed a carriage deal with the NFL

Network. Customers of DirecTV and Dish were unable to see the Los Angeles’ Lakers early season games because the satellite operators refused to pay the monthly $3.95 fee charged for two Time Warner Cable sports channels.

Major advertisers like General Motors, whose brands Buick and Chevrolet sponsor Major League Baseball, the NFL and NCAA basketball, are rooting for the rookie sports channels.

“It gives us more options to get in front of consumers,” GM spokesman Tom Henderson said. “That creates a challenge for you because you have to then prioritize and make sure you’re in the right place at the right time.”

Advertisers see a potential home run if the proliferation of sports networks lower advertising rates as ad inventory starts to outstrip demand, said Sam Sussman, sports activation director at media-buying firm Starcom USA. Having more games on TV means more viewers tune in to sports overall, but that average ratings per sports telecast could fall as audiences are split among competing events, he said. “While choice is good from a buyer’s perspective,” he said, “I do worry about fragmentation and saturation.” —Reuters

Tired Djokovic primed for one final challenge

ROSEAU: In a file picture taken April 26, 2012, Australian bowler Shane Watson celebrates after taking the wicket of West Indies batsman Darren Bravo. —AFP

Watson ruled out of first South Africa Test MELBOURNE: Allrounder Shane Watson has been ruled out of the first Test against South Africa with a calf strain in a huge blow for Australia’s hopes of upsetting the top-ranked visitors.

Vice captain Watson injured his left calf playing for New South Wales against Queensland on Saturday and had been a doubt for the test which begins on Friday at the Gabba in Brisbane.

“We’re ruling him out now because we think he won’t be fit enough come Friday,” Australia coach Mickey Arthur told reporters in Brisbane, where he confirmed Rob Quiney would make his Test debut in the 31-year-old’s absence.

“We wanted to make a decisive decision pretty early so we could give some real clarity to the team, so unfortunately Shane misses out and Quiney plays.”

Governing body Cricket Australia earlier reported Watson’s omission as being due to a hamstring injury, but later changed the diagnosis in an updated statement.

Watson’s injury is certain to re-ignite fierce debate Down Under about the player’s long-term management. Watson has been blighted by back and leg injuries throughout his career and missed all of Australia’s victorious home test series against India last year.

Some pundits and former players have called on him to shelve either his batting or his bowling, or scale down his

participation in one-day and Twenty20 cricket.

Arthur poured cold water on Watson varying his playing regime. “That hasn’t been a topic of conversation at all just yet,” the South African said.”In an ideal world you want Shane Watson batting at three and bowling for you.

“The fact is we won 4-0 against India last year without Shane, so we’re comfortable that we have the players, we have the cover.” Left-handed batsman Quiney, named as cover for Watson on Sunday, would slot into the side at number three, Arthur said.

Quiney makes his debut as a 30-yearold with a batting average of 37 from 53 first-class matches, coming into the three-test series in good form after scoring 85 for Australia A against South Africa last week. “I think he deserves his opportunity. Over the last couple of seasons he’s been prolific, he’s probably been the stand-out domestic player,” Arthur said.

“I certainly think that players performing need to get picked, guys that have done the hard yards. Rob has certainly done that.” Former captain Ricky Ponting has also been under a cloud in the leadup to the first test after he withdrew from Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield match with hamstring soreness, but Arthur said he was “very confident” he would be fit to play in Brisbane. —Reuters

LONDON: A tired sounding Novak Djokovic says he will need to draw on all his mental and physical strength if he is to crown another stellar season with the ATP World Tour Finals title.

The Serb heads into his opening match with Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday safe in the knowledge that he will end the year as the world number one for the second consecutive year.

Whether he can add a sixth title to his 2012 resume, which includes the Australian Open, will depend on how his body has recovered since he was knocked out of the Paris Masters

by American Sam Querrey on Wednesday.

He admitted after the match he began to struggle physically during the second set, having won the first. “I want to give my best and at this moment I’m trying to be as optimistic as possible,” Djokovic, winner of the season-ending showpiece when it was staged in Shanghai in 2008, told a Sunday news conference at London’s 02 Arena which is hosting the event for the fourth year running.

“It’s expected to not always on your top form and especially at this time of year the effects of the long season can influence you physically and mentally also, but as I said, this is a very important tournament. “I definitely want to do well, find the mental and physical strength to perform my best and we’ll see if that best will be good enough.”

As well as a weary body, reports from Serbia have said the 25-year-old’s father was ill, an issue Djokovic was not keen to elaborate on.

“It’s not the right moment for me to be talking about these things right, I just want to talk about the tennis tournament.”

Regardless of his result in London’s docklands, where he has also been drawn to face great rival Andy Murray and Czech Tomas Berdych, he will finish the season as top dog in men’s tennis.

He lost the tag to Swiss Roger Federer in July, but will take it back this week in a season that has seen him pocket more than $8 million in prize money. “It means a lot, for all of us from our team, we are very proud of what we’ve

Novak Djokovic achieved in 2012,” he said of reclaiming top spot. “It’s definitely not easy ending the year as number one considering the competition that we had this year, and I’m very happy and very proud and this can only serve as a great confidence boost for me for upcoming years.”

While much has been made of his fierce battles with London-based Scot Murray, which has seen Djokovic prevail in the Australian Open semi-finals in a match lasting close to five hours before Murray took revenge at the same stage of the London Olympics and then in the remarkable five-set U.S Open final, he preferred to dwell on season where four different players — himself, Murray, Federer and injured Rafael Nadal — won a major.

“For me, it’s great to be part of that rivalry, to be part of this era between four of us really

good players, and we are trying to bring the sport to another level, and it’s really nice to see these rivalries are evolving, these rivalries are getting stronger, and more competitive,” he said.

Djokovic said the round-robin format of the tournament was a nice change from the usual knockout tennis players encountered, as you could still make the semi-finals having lost a match.

He hopes to get off to a good start against world number seven Tsonga however, who he beat in the final of the China Open last month.

“We always have good battles, tough battles, he is a big server and he is the kind of player that feeds off the energy of the crowd,” he said.

“He played finals here last year, it’s going to be very difficult for both of us.” —Reuters

Jayawardene says new rule unfair to bowlers PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said the new one-day international rule on field restrictions is disadvantageous to bowlers and could even diminish the role of spinners in the future.

Jayawardene said the International Cricket Council rule to restrict the number of outfielders to four, even outside of powerplay overs, heavily favors batsmen.

Even though he is a batsman, Jayawardene thinks the move is not in the best interests of the sport and that spinners will be especially affected.

“I am not comfortable with these changes. It’s not the way to go forward,” Jayawardene said yesterday, a day after playing the first one-day international under the new rule. “I have this funny feeling that spinners will not have a role to play in the future.”

Under the new rule there will be two set of powerplay overs and the first 10 will allow only two fielders in the outfield. The five-over batting powerplay allows three fielders in the outfield and only four fielders are allowed for the remaining overs.

The new rule came into effect in the ongoing ODI series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Another new rule is the use of new balls at either end, which hinders spinners’ grip to extract turn. Jayawardene said limited-overs cricket is becoming too

generous for batsmen, citing the rule of a free hit after a bowler bowls a no-ball. Sri Lanka has historically relied on spin bowling to win matches. —AP

BEC T-10 cricket tourney launched

Mahela Jayawardene (left) speaks with bowler Rangana Herath in this file photo.

KUWAIT: The fifth Annual BEC T-10 Cricket tournament organised by the Red ‘N’Black Cricket Team was launched last Friday.

The tournament has in the last five years been recognized as the most prestigious soft ball cricket tournament in Kuwait. The participation this year has been limited to 32 teams only. There are teams playing from all parts of Kuwait. Last year ‘s Champions were United XI and the runner-up Goan Boys are definitely the favorites. However this year strong teams representing Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are also in the running for the top spot.

ED Titus, Director & GM of BEC Exchange, inaugurated the tournament. Jimmy Scaria, President of Red ‘N’Black Team was the coordinator and Midhun from Radio FM 98.4 was the Guest of Honor. Jose Thomas, BEC Marketing Manager, and Jimmy Joseph, Secretary Red ‘N’Black Team also graced the occasion.

The inauguration was done at Abu Halifa grounds with the ceremonial toss between Red ‘N’Black and the BEC Exchange Cricket Team. An exhibition match of three overs was

then played to herald the beginning of the Tournament. Immediately thereafter the contest began . In the initial knockout stage , seven matches were played.

18

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

S P ORT S

Masked-man hoping to play in Real clash MADRID: Medical staff are trying to construct a mask that will allow Borussia Dortmund captain Sebastian Kehl to play in today’s Champions League Group D match at Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old midfielder had his nose broken in Saturday’s 0-0 draw against VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga and Dortmund

tured facial bones in an aerial clash with Stuttgart’s Raphael Holzhauser. “It seems only the nose is broken,” said Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp.

The club explained on their website (www.bvb.de) that it would take six hours to build a special mask to protect Kehl’s nose.

Dortmund beat Real 2-1 on home soil two

MADRID: Real Madrid’s Mesut Ozil from Germany (left) exercises with Sergio Ramos during training session at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Real Madrid will play Borussia Dortmund today in a Group D Champions League soccer match. —AP will need his experience to help them improve a poor away record in Europe’s elite club competition.

It was initially feared Kehl may have frac-

weeks ago and an unlikely victory for the Germans in Madrid would put them four points ahead of the Spaniards at the top of the group.

Klopp’s team have seven points from three matches, with Real on six, Ajax Amsterdam on three and Manchester City on one.

Dortmund were beaten in all three of their Champions League games on the road last season. The team’s last away win in the competition was at AC Milan in 2003.

The Germans have only won one European game in Spain in eight attempts, a 1-0 Champions League group stage triumph at Atletico Madrid in the 1996-97 season when they went on to lift the trophy. Real seek an eighth straight home win since losing 2-0 to Barcelona in the 2010-11 semi-finals. They have scored 27 goals in compiling seven consecutive victories at their giant Bernabeu stadium.

Jose Mourinho’s side warmed up for today’s game with a 4-0 La Liga win at home to Real Zaragoza but were not at their best despite the lopsided scoreline on Saturday.

In the absence of the suspended Xabi Alonso and the injured Sami Khedira, Mourinho deployed new signings Michael Essien and Luka Modric in the central midfield holding roles and the pair were considerably less effective.

Mourinho has Alonso available again for Tuesday while Khedira, forced out of the tie in Dortmund after aggravating a leg strain, is a doubt.

“I didn’t like the game much. We can and we should play better,” said Mourinho after the Zaragoza game. “The important thing is to win and do so comfortably but we must play better than we did,” added the Por tuguese who is bidding to win the Champions League with a third club after triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010.—Reuters

Schalke looking to pile on misery for Arsenal LONDON: Already well off the pace in the Premier League, Arsenal could also find itself in trouble in the Champions League if Schalke beats the English team for the second time in two weeks today.

Arsenal’s miserable recent run of form included a 2-0 loss to Schalke at Emirates Stadium, leaving the German side top of Group B after three games.

If Arsene Wenger’s men lose again at the Veltins-Arena, they could be level on six points with Olympiakos and facing a battle to secure the second qualification spot and a place in the knockout stage for the 13th straight year.

“We have to bounce back. I think we have to show how much we want to win it and go there and show big attitude,” said Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta. “I have no doubt about the attitude that we have in the dressing room, and the desire.”

The lackluster 2-1 loss at Manchester United on Saturday, in which the score barely did justice to the hosts’ dominance at Old Trafford, has hardly improved the mood among Arsenal fans, who vented their anger at the club’s hier-

archy throughout the match. The result left Arsenal nine points off new leader United.

Olympiakos hosts Montpellier,

Wenger’s side two weeks ago. KlaasJan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay, the scorers that night, will be licking their lips after seeing Arsenal’s

LONDON: Arsenal footballers warm up during a team training session ahead of their Champions League match against Schalke 04. —AFP which is bottom of the group on one point, as the Greek team looks to close the gap on the frontrunners.

Schalke ended Arsenal’s 45game unbeaten home run against foreign visitors by outplaying

PSG looking to bounce back PARIS: After slipping to its first loss of the French league season, Paris Saint-Germain has the ideal opportunity to bounce back today against a Dinamo Zagreb team that has lost its past nine Champions League games.

Porto is unbeaten this season and needs to draw at Dynamo Kiev to qualify for the knockout stages, which it has not missed since the 2005-06 season. While PSG lost 2-1 to Saint-Etienne on Saturday, Porto thrashed Maritimo 5-0 with an attacking display coach Vitor Pereira hailed as near perfect. “I can say we had an exceptional performance, like the one that allowed us to beat Paris Saint-Germain,” Pereira said of the 1-0 win on Oct. 3. “I expect better things because we haven’t won anything yet. It’s all part of a natural growth. I hope that we will have bigger things to celebrate this year.” Colombian winger James Rodriguez scored twice against Maritimo and believes Porto can keep its run going in Kiev.

“We want to keep up our high level so far,” Rodriguez said.

“We’re in good form. We’re working very well together and playing nice football, keeping a lot of possession.”

But Porto struggled to beat a resilient Dynamo side 3-2 two weeks ago, and the Kiev trip could prove one of the toughest in Group A, particularly as Pereira has injury worries. Brazilian defender Maicon (right ankle) and midfielder Fernando (right calf) are injured and could be replaced in Kiev by Rolando and Juan Iturbe.

“I still don’t know how severe the injuries are,” Pereira said. “I will see that soon and find solutions, if needed. The squad has quality.” PSG won 2-0 at Dinamo against a team without a single goal in the competition and struggling for confidence.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti is sweating on the fitness of central midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who took a heavy knock to his thigh on Saturday. Midfielder Clement Chantome and striker Kevin Gameiro are ruled out through injury, but 12-goal top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic will lead the attack against a team that conceded 22 times in last season’s group stage - a record for the competition. “After (Lionel) Messi, Ibrahimovic is sure to be the best striker in Europe,” said Dinamo defener Domagoj Vida, who will have the task of marking the imposing Swede at Parc des Princes. “He knows everything, including elbow kicks when referees are not watching.” —AP

defensive struggles continue at United.

The most-criticized member of the defense was left back Andre Santos, who has been an accident waiting to happen in recent games and was given the runaround by

winger Jefferson Farfan against Schalke. Santos, a Brazilian who seems more at home going forward than defending, was also slated for asking for former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie’s shirt at halftime but should keep his place because Kieran Gibbs is still out with a thigh injury. Midfielder Jack Wilshere is fit and available for a Champions League fixture for the first time since March 2011, and Arsenal has the forwards to worry Schalke, whose fivegame winning run across all competitions came to an end Saturday with a 3-2 loss at Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.

“It is good that we now have another game so soon, so that we don’t have long to think about this game,” Schalke defender Benedikt Howedes said. “Arsenal are a great team and we are going to have to keep our concentration high.”

Schalke, which has lost only two of its past 12 Champions League games in Gelsenkirchen, is without defender Christoph Metzelder (groin), while midfielder Marco Hoeger is struggling with a left ankle injury. —AP

CARNAGO: AC Milan’s coach Massimiliano Allegri (center) speaks to his players during a training session on the eve of their Champions League match against Malaga today. —AFP

Malaga aim to keep up 100 percent debut run MILAN: AC Milan and Malaga, who meet in the Champions League today, are making a surprisingly good recovery after spending a turbulent close season offloading their top players.

The teams began the season amid much scepticism but appear to be over the worst part of the rebuilding process.

Malaga, five points clear of Milan at the top of Group C, have been hugely impressive in their first Champions League campaign and arrive at the San Siro with a maximum of nine points and no goals conceded.

Their domestic form hardly seems to have suffered either as the squad are two points adrift of third-placed Real Madrid.

It is all a far cry from the uncertainty of the close season when media reported that Qatari owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al Thani was looking to sell up, some of the team’s best players moved on and those left behind were not paid on time.

Al Thani eventually let it be known he was not seeking an exit and the club announced it was going through a process of “internal restructuring” to make it more financially viable.

They did however suffer a setback with a 2-1 home defeat by Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. “We hope that was just one game,” coach Manuel Pelligrini told the club website (www.malagacf.com). “They are three home points which are more important than the ones we are going to play for today. “Every year you lose a game like that.”

The process has been more painful for Milan who sold Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva among others in a bid to balance the books in the off-season and the Italians reached a low point when they lost 1-0 at Malaga two weeks ago.

Since then results have started to go right for the seven-times European champions and they have taken seven points from the last three games in Serie A. A turning point may have been last week’s match at Palermo where they found themselves 2-0 down after an abject first-half performance but hit back to draw 2-2.

Twenty-year-old Stephan El Shaaraway, given a chance to lead the attack following injuries to Brazilians Alexandre Pato and Robinho, has been a revelation and is Serie A’s leading scorer with eight goals. Spaniard Bojan Krkic

has also shone in his last few outings and inspired their comeback at Palermo. His emergence has compensated for the loss in form of Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose head was on the block just two weeks ago, said after Saturday’s 5-1 win over Chievo that his team had been doing the right things for some time but were unable to convert their excellence into victories.

“We deserved the win but we are now on the right track to go on and have a good season,” he said. “After a 5-1 it is easy to say it was Milan’s best performance but the players have always given their all and I have been pleased with their approach.”

Milan still have a lot of work to do in the group with only four points from three games but importantly they won 32 last month at Zenit St Petersburg who look to be their direct rivals for second place, assuming Malaga finish top.

Their home record against Spanish opposition is poor with no wins in the last five attempts at the San Siro including two meetings last season with Barcelona. —Reuters

Matches on TV (Local Timings) UEFA Champions League Real Madrid v Dortmund Aljazeera Sport 1 HD Aljazeera Sport +4

22:45

Man City v Ajax Aljazeera Sport +6

22:45

AC Milan v Malaga Aljazeera Sport +1

22:45

Anderlecht v Zenit Aljazeera Sport +9

22:45

Olympiacos v Montpellier Aljazeera Sport +7

22:45

Schalke 04 v Arsenal Aljazeera Sport +2

22:45

PSG v Dinamo Aljazeera Sport +5 Aljazeera Sport 2 HD

22:45

Dinamo Kiev v Porto Aljazeera Sport +8

22:45

Only a win can keep City afloat LONDON: Manchester City’s millions of dollars will count for precious little if they lose to Ajax Amsterdam and crash out of the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium today.

Roberto Mancini’s expensively-assembled English champions face elimination from the group stages for the second successive season following two defeats and a draw from their opening three Group D matches.

Their latest European adventure ended in a conclusive 3-1 defeat in Amsterdam two weeks ago and that result, together with a 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid and a 1-1 home draw with Borussia Dortmund, has left their future in the competition dangling by a thread.

Dortmund lead the way with seven points followed by Real who have six and Ajax (three). City (one) will need to improve their game significantly to overtake the sides ahead of them and reach the last 16 - and that is if other results go in their favor.

City have also looked unimpressive in their last three Premier League games against West Bromwich Albion, Swansea City and West Ham United where they drew 0-0 on Saturday and although they are the only team still to lose in the top flight, they have rarely played like champions.

Mancini said after the goalless draw

at Upton Park that his team needed to recapture the attacking verve which helped them clinch last season’s league title.

“We missed so many chances against West Ham and when you miss these kinds of chances you cannot expect to win,” he explained. “We have improved our defensive play but we need to start scoring like last year and I think we need to improve our offensive play.”

Mancini, who has lost the services of injured defender Micah Richards for a month with a knee injury, has already said his side need “a miracle” to qualify from their group.

The only thing in their favor is that Ajax have stumbled in recent matches since beating City on Oct. 24.

Ajax travel to Manchester hoping that a repeat of their stunning 3-1 home win, when Siem de Jong, Niklas Moisander and Christian Eriksen scored, will put their Dutch league woes behind them.

Frank de Boer’s men have taken three points from the last three domestic fixtures and they lost for the first time this season when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Vitesse Arnhem on Saturday.

Despite that defeat, and even though they are still without injured striker Kolbeinn Sightorsson, De Boer believes Ajax can turn the tide.

“We lacked aggression in the last match and didn’t play the way we can but I am convinced that it will be different today,” said De Boer. — Reuters

LONDON: Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli trains with teammates at their Carrington training ground. Manchester City will play Ajax today in a Champions League Group D soccer match. —AP

19

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

SPORTS

Goal line technology may be a red herring BERNE: Soccer’s authorities spent years agonising over whether to introduce goal line technology, yet its use would not have solved any of the recent refereeing controversies which have blown up in Italy, England and Brazil.

Video replays, on the other hand, would instantly have cleared up any doubts, yet they have barely been discussed by football’s rule-makers and remain firmly off the agenda. The paradox has been highlighted in Brazil where the result of a match has been put under investigation because, although match officials made the right decision, there is a suspicion they used information from television replays to do so. Millions of television viewers were instantly able to see that Palmeiras striker Hernan Barcos punched the ball into the net Diego Maradona-style when he scored against Internacional in the Brazilian championship on Oct. 27.

The referee initially missed the incident but, amid outraged Internacional protests, agreed to consult the other match officials and then changed his mind. Internacional went on to win 2-1. Palmeiras , however, claimed officials made their decision after speaking to television staff who had seen

the replay and Brazil’s top disciplinary tribunal provisionally declared the result void pending an investigation.

It is not the first time officials have been accused of breaking the rules by using replays to make the right decision.

There was considerable debate after the 2006 World Cup final that Zinedine Zidane was only sent off for his head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi after the fourth official saw the incident on a TV replay.

Several minutes elapsed before referee Horacio Elizondo dealt with the matter and he did so only after Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon drew the assistant referee’s attention to what had happened.

But FIFA brushed aside the suspicions, and the possibility that the final would have to be replayed, saying the incident had been ‘directly observed’ by the fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo from his position at the side of the pitch without the use of a monitor. There was another bizarre episode at the 2010 World Cup, on the same day that Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal for England against Germany prompted FIFA to re-open the debate on goal line technology. A stadium screen replayed Carlos Tevez’s opening goal for Argentina

a goal wrongly ruled out, also for offside, in a 2-0 defeat at Fiorentina while Liverpool had what should have been a last-minute winning goal at Everton also disallowed in the English Premiership.

On Saturday, Stoke City manager Tony Pulis called for the retroactive use of video evidence to punish divers, believing that the free kick from which Norwich City beat his side 1-0 in the Premier League had been wrongly awarded.

“It should be taken out the of the referee’s hands and looked at on the Monday (after the match),” he told the BBC. “We should have a rule that people will view it on Monday from different angles. It’s very, very difficult for referees to see on the day.”

But why wait until the Monday, when all that can be done is to punish the alleged diver, when the decision could be quickly corrected on the spot by an official in the stands with a monitor?

FIFA have argued that video evidence would disrupt the flow of the game. But that has not been the case in rugby and cricket, where anticipation of the bigscreen verdict is part of the fan experience.

In any case, the inevitable arguing and protests which arise when a team believes

against Mexico 3-1 and, in doing so, clearly showed it should have been ruled offside.

Eighty thousand people knew the correct decision within seconds and the Mexican players surrounded the referee urging him to look at the screen but the official had to go by what his own eyes had told him. Other sports have embraced video umpires, notably the two codes of rugby and cricket. In rugby union, for example, a Television Match Official can rule on whether the ball has been grounded for a try while in rugby league officials can go further back to check for offside or knock-ons during the build-up to a score.

Awaiting the video verdict on a batsman’s fate has become part and parcel of cricket, as officials use a combination of TV replays and other technology, while teams are allowed a set number of challenges to umpire’s decisions.

Serie A’s Catania would certainly have benefited from a similar system last week.

The Sicilian side had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside in the first half of their match against Juventus and then were beaten 1-0 by a goal in the second half which replays showed should not have stood. On the same day, Oct. 28, Lazio had

it has been wronged also stop play and can lead to yellow and red cards which further distort the final result.

Catania lost their composure after their goal was disallowed against Juventus and had four players booked in quick succession. After years of debate and a u-turn by president Sepp Blatter in 2010, soccer’s rule-making body the International Football Association Board (IFAB) finally gave the go-ahead to the use of goal-line technology in July.

But IFAB was also adamant that the use of technology would stop there. “None of us are considering any type of technology which would interfere with the free-flowing nature of our game,” said Alex Horne, the English member of the IFAB. Yet only a fraction of footballing controversies involve decisions over whether the ball has entered the net or not, while goal line technology is expensive to install and it has required a year of painstaking tests to find two systems which FIFA considers reliable. With such few benefits, the whole debate about goal-line technology may have been little more than a red herring, distracting attention from the more wideranging benefits of video replays.—Reuters

AS Roma thrash Palermo

BANGKOK: Spain’s Miguelin (center) dribbles through Panama’s defence during their Group B match of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 at the Huamark Indoor Stadium. Spain beat Panama with a score of 8-3. —AFP

Misfiring Sevilla held 0-0 MADRID: Sevilla missed a chance to climb into the European qualification places when they squandered several late chances and were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Levante in La Liga on Sunday.

The Andalusian club, who failed to make it into Europe last season, came close to breaking the deadlock in the 84th minute at their Sanchez Pizjuan stadium. However, Jose Campana’s deflected shot bounced back off the crossbar and fellow substitute Baba sent the rebound into the stands with the goal at his mercy. As Sevilla pressed for a winner, the ball fell to midfielder Gary Medel inside the area in the final minute but his wild effort flew over the bar.

With 10 matches played, Sevilla have 15 points in seventh, two behind fifthplaced Levante, who would have climbed above Malaga into fourth with a win. Real Betis, who have 16 points in sixth, can claim fourth spot with a win at Getafe late yesterday. Struggling Athletic Bilbao held on for only their third win of the season earlier on Sunday when Aritz Aduriz scored twice in a 2-1 success at Granada. Bilbao, Europa League and King’s Cup finalists last season, have made a dreadful start to the latest campaign and Sunday’s victory leaves them

in 14th on 11 points from 10 matches.

Aduriz opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute in rainlashed Granada and doubled the visitors’ lead 15 minutes later with a low drive from just outside the area.

Youssef El Arabi pulled a goal back eight minutes after the break but the home side were unable to make some sustained pressure count and are second from bottom on eight points. “This win was necessary and will take away some of our anxiety,” Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa told a news conference. “We have to go back to being a more balanced team, with continuity and without ups and downs,” the Argentine added.

Espanyol have also made a poor start but managed a second win of the season by beating Real Sociedad 1-0 away with Diego Colotto scoring in the 77th minute. Deportivo Coruna won 1-0 at home to Real Mallorca thanks to a Bruno Gama effort after 30 minutes and Osasuna stayed rooted to the bottom on five points when they had a player sent off and lost 1-0 at home to Real Valladolid. German Patrick Ebert netted for Valladolid seven minutes from time after Osasuna had Ruben dismissed for a second yellow card in the 76th.—Reuters

Curtorcares United team

MILAN: AS Roma substitute Mattia Destro scored a goal and was sent off in 60 eventful seconds on Sunday in his erratic team’s 4-1 win over Palermo in Serie A. Roma, who have the best goals total (26) and second worst defensive tally (20) in the league, led 2-0 at halftime through Francesco Totti and Pablo Osvaldo, a scoreline that was bound to test the frayed nerves of their supporters.

Zdenek Zeman’s wildly unpredictable team, sixth in the table on 17 points, have twice squandered 2-0 leads and lost 3-2 at home this season but this time went on to add a third of their own through Erik Lamela in the 69th minute.

Destro came on in the 73rd minute. He was quickly booked, added the fourth goal six minutes later and was promptly sent off for taking his shirt off as he celebrated.

He will miss next week’s derby against Lazio. Josip Ilicic pulled one back for Palermo who are second from bottom with eight points. Elsewhere, a blunder by defender Salvatore Aronica allowed Torino to score a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1 at thirdplaced Napoli after the hosts had led for 85 minutes through Edinson Cavani’s early strike.

The Torino goal, converted by Gianluca Sansone, ended Napoli’s 100 percent home record and prevented them taking full advantage of leaders Juventus’s 3-1 home defeat

by Inter Milan on Saturday. Forward Antonio Di Natale grabbed his fifth goal in three games to give Udinese a 1-1 draw at Bologna.

Catania thrashed Lazio 4-0 helped by two goals from Alejandro Gomez while fourthplaced Fiorentina beat Cagliari 4-1.

Sampdoria slumped to a sixth consecutive defeat, losing 2-1 at home to Atalanta despite a brilliant bicycle kick goal by Enzo Maresca.

Juventus lead the way with 28 points from 11 games followed by Inter on 27, Napoli on 23 and Fiorentina on 21.

Uruguay forward Cavani returned for Napoli after missing two games through injury and made an immediate impact as he turned Marek Hamsik’s pass into the net in the sixth minute.

ITALY: Palermo defender Santiago Garcia of Argentina (left) and AS Roma defender Ivan Rodrigo Piris of Paraguay fight for the ball during a Serie A soccer match.—AP On a wet afternoon at a half-empty San Paolo, sloppy Napoli wasted chances to seal victory especially when Hamsik rounded Jean Gillet and shot into the side-netting five minutes from time.

Aronica’s lazy back pass was then intercepted by Sansone who rounded Morgan De Sanctis to equalise for Torino. Coach Walter Mazzarri missed the shambles leading up to Torino’s equaliser as he had been sent off for protesting seconds earlier.

Di Natale, Serie A’s top marksman in 2009/10, 2010/11 and joint third leading scorer last season, kept the goals flowing as his opportunist effort for Udinese wiped out Alessandro Diamanti’s close-range goal for Bologna.

The 35-year-old Di Natale joined Cavani, Lamela and Inter Milan’s Diego Milito on seven goals, one behind leading scorer Stephan

Real Betalbatim team

El Shaaraway of AC Milan.

Second-half goals from Stevan Jovetic, Luca Toni and Jose Cuadrado gave Fiorentina their convincing win over Cagliari, handing visiting coach Ivo Pulga his first defeat with the Sardinians after winning his first four games.

Gonzalo Rodriguez had given Fiorentina an early lead but Cagliari levelled just before the break in confusing circumstances as Federico Casarini’s goal was first disallowed and then awarded by match officials. Gomez, one of eight Argentines in the Catania starting line-up, got them off to a flying start when his spectacular left-foot strike squeezed into the top corner from a seemingly impossible angle against Lazio. He also scored the third and set up the fourth for Pablo Barrientos while Francesco Lodi was also on target with a penalty.—Reuters

Kuwait Goan Association team

Navelim, Chinchinim and KGA win Curtorcares and Real Betalbatim settle for draw in KIFF League KUWAIT: Navelim Youth Centre, CRC Chinchinim, and Kuwait Goan Association scored important wins while Curtorcares and Real Betalbatim played out a goalless draw in the 4th week of league matches in the ongoing KIFF League for the JP D’Mello Memorial Rolling Trophy being played at the MOH Ground in Shuwaikh, Kuwait.

The matches are being officiated by the Indian Football Referees Association (IFRA).

In the first match of the day, Navelim Youth Centre (NYC), gained their second victory in as many games by outclassing Santos United 5-2 and are now within touching distance of the quarter final slot in group B. Taking advantage of two precise corners from veteran Americo, NYC was up by three goals in the first twenty minutes with goals from the resolute Duarte Ferrao, Cruzedio and veteran Alfred. Santos

United however came back strongly in the second half with two fine goals by Jerry Vales and Camilo Lucas, but any chances of an upset were quickly killed off when Christino and Ignatius scored against the run of play for NYC to end the game 5-2 in their favor.

Simon Gaonkar was declared the Man of the Match and received his award sponsored by Integrated Logistics Company, from the hands of Carmo Santos, president of Santos United . The match was officiated by Nicholas and assisted by Sharma and Vincy.

In the second match at 8:15am, Fendre Rebello scored a brace as CRC Chinchinim came from behind to upset FC Sparks 3-2 in a match of fluctuating fortunes, FC Sparks made up of mostly youngsters played delightful soccer but it was their fin-

ishing which let them down.

Ahmed Khan and Hussain Khan scored for FC Sparks while Fendre scored two and Fredrick scored one to give their team a fighting chance in Group D after having lost their first match to Goa Maroons.

Striker Fendre Rebello of CRC chinchinim was rightly declared the man of the match and received his award from Stephen Fernandes the KIFF Registrar. The match was officiated by Sharma and assisted by Michael and Francis on the lines.

In easily the match of the day, two of the strongest teams in the league, DHL FC and Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) battled it out for a quarter final place in the group of death which also features last year’s champions Don Bosco Oratory and United Friends Club, with KGA coming out victorious 2-1. The entire match was played at a

furious pace and although DHL were marginally better in the first half, it was KGA who scored due to a defensive lapse through Anthony Rego. Jose Fernandes added a second before DHL pulled one back through John Furtado. DHL tried their best to equalize in the dying minutes, but KGA aided by good goalkeeping by Jimmy held on to secure full points and go into their final league game with a good chance to qualify. Man of the match was Agnel Martins of KGA and the award given

by Amaldo Fernandes the President of Curtorcares United. The game was officiated by Julio Cardoso assisted by Francis and Nicholas on the lines.

In the final match of the day, Real Betalbatim playing their first match this season held a youthful Curtorcares United 0-0, in a match where both teams had their

chances, and although Curtorcares played marginally better, finding the elusive goal was difficult with the Real Betalbatim defense led by captain Theodore Pinto holding well.

Man of the match was awarded to Denzil Yadev of Real Betalbatim and given

by Vijay Gonsalves the President of Real Betalbatim. The game was officiated by Michael Dias supported by Sarto Baptista and Vincy on the lines.

Coming Friday’s schedule is as follows:Don Bosco Oratory take on Kuwait Goan Association in an all important qualification match at 6:45am, followed by United Goans Centre versus Real Betalbatim FC at 8:00. Navelim Y.C will then play Kerala Challengers at 9:15am and the last match will be between AVC and FC Sparks at 10:30am.

Masked-man hoping to play in Real clash

Watson ruled out of first South Africa Test

18

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

Goal line technology may be a red herring

Page 19

LOS ANGELES: Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum (right) puts up a shot as Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard defends during the second half of their NBA basketball game.—AP

Lakers roll over Pistons, Knicks advance NBA results/standings NY Knicks 100, Philadelphia 84; Toronto 105, Minnesota 86; Orlando 115, Phoenix 94; Atlanta 104, Oklahoma City 95; LA Lakers 108, Detroit 79.

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L PCT GB NY Knicks 2 0 1.000 Brooklyn 1 0 1.000 0.5 Philadelphia 1 1 .500 1 Toronto 1 2 .333 1.5 Boston 1 2 .333 1.5 Central Division Milwaukee 2 0 1.000 Chicago 2 1 .667 0.5 Indiana 2 1 .667 0.5 Cleveland 1 2 .333 1.5 Detroit 0 3 0 2.5 Southeast Division Orlando 2 0 1.000 Miami 2 1 .667 0.5 Charlotte 1 1 .500 1 Atlanta 1 1 .500 1 Washington 0 2 0 2 Western Conference Northwest Division Portland 2 1 .667 Minnesota 1 1 .500 0.5 Oklahoma City 1 2 .333 1 Utah 1 2 .333 1 Denver 0 3 0 2 Pacific Division Golden State 2 1 .667 LA Clippers 2 1 .667 Phoenix 1 2 .333 1 LA Lakers 1 3 .250 1.5 Sacramento 0 3 0 2 Southwest Division San Antonio 3 0 1.000 Dallas 2 1 .667 1 Houston 2 1 .667 1 New Orleans 2 1 .667 1 Memphis 1 1 .500 1.5

LOS ANGELES: Dwight Howard scored 28 points, Kobe Bryant had 15 points and eight assists, and the Los Angeles Lakers finally got their first victory of the season, 108-79 over the winless Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

Metta World Peace scored 18 points and Pau Gasol added 14 for the Lakers, who went 0-8 in the preseason and started the regular season 0-3 for just the fourth time in franchise history despite adding Howard and Steve Nash over the summer. Jonas Jerebko scored 18 points for Detroit in the second stop on a difficult six-game road trip.

Knicks 100, 76ers 84 In New York, Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points, JR Smith had 20, and the Knicks rode another big 3-point shooting night to a victory over the 76ers in the opener of home-andhome series.

Jason Kidd had 12 points and six assists,

and Raymond Felton added 11 points for the Knicks (2-0), who followed their 19 3-pointers in a season-opening victory over Miami by making 11 Sunday. They have won their two games by a combined 36 points. Jrue Holiday had 27 points and seven assists for the 76ers (1-1), who will try for a split Monday at home.

Thaddeus Young scored 16 points before fouling out and Evan Turner had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Raptors 105, T’wolves 86 In Toronto, Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan each scored 22 points, Alan Anderson had 18 and the Raptors earned their first victory of the season, beating Minnesota. Andrea Bargnani scored 10 points as the Raptors extended Minnesota’s miserable record against Toronto. The Raptors have won 15 of the past 16 meetings, including nine straight at home. Minnesota has not

won in Toronto since Jan. 21, 2004. Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points and Nikola Pekovic had 15 for the Timberwolves, who were outscored 26-13 in the fourth quarter, making just four of 16 field goal attempts.

Magic 115, Suns 94 In Orlando, JJ Redick scored 24 points, Arron Afflalo and Glen Davis each had 22 points, and Nikola Vucevic added 18 points and 13 rebounds as the Magic rallied to beat Phoenix. The Magic trailed by as many as 13 points early in the second half, but used a 40point third quarter to build a lead that swelled to 21 points in the fourth.

Luis Scola led the Suns with 24 points and Michael Beasley added 22. But Phoenix’s shooting eroded overall in the second half.

Hawks 104, Thunder 95 In Oklahoma, Al Horford had 23 points

and 12 rebounds, Lou Williams added 10 of his 19 points during Atlanta’s decisive fourthquarter surge and the Hawks beat the Thunder.

Williams hit a 3-pointer, a 24-foot jumper and converted a three-point play off a driving scoop in the lane during a 12-4 push midway through the fourth quarter that put the Hawks in front to stay. Williams’ two free throws made it 91-84 with 4:44 to play, and Atlanta held off a final charge by Oklahoma City. Kevin Martin scored 28 points off the bench to lead the Thunder and Kevin Durant chipped in 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Durant was two assists shy of his first career triple-double but also wound up with six turnovers while shooting 2 for 8 in the second half. Fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook had an off night, making 5 of 18 shots while scoring 14 points and passing out nine assists.—AP

Steelers pound Giants, Colts win EAST RUTHERFORD: Isaac Redman ran for 147 yards, and scored the winning touchdown from a yard out with 4:02 remaining Sunday as the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied past the New York Giants, 24-20. The Steelers (5-3) snapped New York’s four-game winning streak by overcoming some uncharacteristic sloppiness and dominating the second half. Temporary relief from the destruction of Superstorm Sandy was what New York’s fans sought, and the Giants (6-3) provided it for a while. But they couldn’t stop Redman or touchdowns of 51 yards for Mike Wallace and 4 yards for Emmanuel Sanders on passes from Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers arrived in New Jersey hours before the game, which might have accounted for their carelessness.

They had the fewest giveaways in the NFL entering the game, but were neglectful with the ball and in pass coverage; cornerback Keenan Lewis had 87 yards on two pass interference penalties, and they wasted some great kick returns, too.

Colts 23, Dolphins 20 In Indianapolis, Andrew Luck broke the NFL’s single-game rookie record by throwing for 433 yards in leading Indianapolis.

Luck was 30 of 48 with two TDs and broke Cam Newton’s previous mark of 422 yards set last season. And it came on the day coach Chuck Pagano returned to Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time since being diagnosed with leukemia. Indy (5-3) has won three straight. Miami (4-4) got another strong performance from Ryan Tannehill, too. He went 22 of 38 for 290 yards with one TD. The rookie quarterbacks traded jabs all day, but Luck’s 36-yard TD pass to T.Y. Hilton gave Indy a 20-17 lead, and Adam Vinatieri’s 43yard field goal with 6:03 left broke a 20-20 tie.

Buccaneers 42, Raiders 32 In Oakland, rookie Doug Martin rushed for a franchise-record 251 yards and four touchdowns and Ahmad Black intercepted a Carson Palmer pass after Oakland had cut an 18-point deficit to three late in the fourth quarter. Martin, who was born in Oakland, had a memorable homecoming for the Bucs (4-4) by scoring on runs of 1, 45, 67 and 70 yards in the second half as he gashed what had been an improved run defense for the Raiders (3-5).

Martin, the 31st pick in April out of Boise State, became the first back since at least 1940 to score on three TD runs of at least 45 yards in one game, according to STATS LLC. Falcons 19, Cowboys 13 In Atlanta, Michael Turner had a tiebreaking 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, Matt Bryant kicked four field goals and the Falcons beat the Cowboys to extend their run as the NFL’s only unbeaten team. Turner had 20 carries for 102 yards and Matt Ryan had a season-high 342 yards passing for the Falcons (8-0), who took their first lead on Turner’s TD with 14:16 left in the game. Tony Romo completed 6 of 6 passes for 78 yards, including a 21-yard scoring pass to Kevin Ogletree, on the Cowboys’ touchdown drive later in the fourth.

The Falcons then worked the clock, holding the ball for 5 minutes, 4 seconds, leaving only 17 seconds left after Bryant’s 32yard field goal. Romo completed three short passes before the game ended on a pass to Felix Jones, who was tackled near the Atlanta 22.

Packers 31, Cardinals 17 In Green Bay, Tom Crabtree had a 72-yard touchdown that was Green Bay’s longest of the season, and Randall Cobb added two scoring catches. The Packers (6-3) finished with a seasonhigh 176 yards rushing on 39 carries, the first time in a month

they’ve cracked the century mark. James Jones also had a touchdown reception, and Green Bay goes into its bye week with a four-game winning streak. The break comes at a good time for the Packers, who lost Clay Matthews, Jordy Nelson and Bryan Bulaga to injuries. John Skelton was 23 of 46 for 306 yards, his most passing yardage since last December, but Arizona (4-5) lost its’ fifth straight.

Texans 21, Bills 9 In Houston, Matt Schaub threw two touchdown passes and Arian Foster ran for 111 yards against Buffalo’s NFL-worst rushing defense. Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 118 yards and Foster scored for the fifth straight game for Houston (7-1). Mario Williams had a sack and five tackles in his return to Reliant Stadium after he signed with the Bills (3-5) in the offseason. The Texans made Williams the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft and he’s still Houston’s career sacks leader (53). Schaub won for the 10th time in 11 starts. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 268 yards.

Panthers 21, Redskins 13 In Landover, Cam Newton completed 13 of 23 passes for 201 yards with a touchdown and ran eight times for 37 yards and a score as Carolina snapped a five-game losing streak.

The Panthers (2-6) were in desperate need of a win after a series of close defeats that had players questioning whether the team had any leadership. Newton responded with one of his best games of the season, including a 19-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith and an 82-yard completion that set up a score.

Robert Griffin III was 23 for 39 for 215 yards, ran 11 times for 53 yards and was sacked four times as the Redskins lost their third straight and fell to 3-6.

Bears 51, Titans 20 In Nashville, Brian Urlacher became the latest Chicago defender to return an interception for a touchdown and Jay Cutler threw three TD passes to Brandon Marshall.

Cornerback Charles Tillman forced four fumbles and Chicago created five turnovers while winning its sixth in a row. The Bears (7-1) scored a franchise-record 28 points in the first quarter. They took control by forcing three turnovers in the first 13 minutes and turning them into 14 points. Urlacher went 46 yards for his score.

The Titans (3-6) lost their second straight with Chicago fans taking over LP Field, booing any video highlights featuring the rival Green Bay Packers and frequently chanting “Let’s go, Bears.”

Tennessee’s lone highlight when Chris Johnson scored on an 80yard run in the fourth quarter.—AP

Business

Top Abu Dhabi banker UAE central bank chief Page 22 MEED conference focuses on new trends in oil, gas sector Page 23

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

KIPCO repots nine months net profit of KD 23.7m

Asia in focus as Kuwait ramps up oil output Page 24

Page 26

BARCELONA: People wait for their turn to receive food from volunteers as part of a solidarity network created to help neighbors affected by the financial crisis in Barcelona.—AP

Europe seeks Asian help on debt crisis Leaders push ‘much-needed trade’ with fast-growing economies VIENTIANE: European leaders said yesterday they were finally getting a grip on the euro-zone debt crisis and urged Asia to do more to boost global economic growth.

Top European officials at a major summit in impoverished Laos, including French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, led efforts to encourage muchneeded trade with Asia’s fast-growing economies. Europe has made a “huge effort” to tackle the euro crisis “by more coordination, by fleshing out the future of a genuine economic and monetary union”, Monti said, noting that Asia also faced slowing economic growth.

“Past events showed us that the current crisis does not stop on the edge of town but it is really knocking at all doors,” he warned. Dozens of leaders jetted into the small landlocked nation for the Asia-Europe Meeting, which provides an opportunity to strengthen trade links between two regions that together account for about half of global economic output.

There were calls for Asia to play a greater role in efforts to

revive the world economy and to renounce trade barriers, after years of rapid growth in the region on the back of rising exports to Europe and other Western markets. “Promoting trade is not only fostering domestic demand but also avoiding protectionism,” said European Union president Herman Van Rompuy, who sought to allay fears that the euro-zone might break up.

“The financial stability of the euro-zone is much stronger than a few months ago. The euro is an irreversible project and on this basis growth can pickup in the course of 2013,” he said.

For years Western outrage over Myanmar’s human rights abuses-including the longtime detention of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners-was a major cause of friction between the two regions. Unlike other participating nations, Myanmar was only allowed to send its foreign minister to previous Asia-Europe summits.

But after reforms including the release of political detainees and Suu Kyi’s election to parliament, the West has begun easing sanctions to reward President Thein Sein, who was among those

Kuwait rebounds from 8-yr low; Gulf mixed Almarai Co climbed 1.1 percent after announcing plans to issue the second tranche of a riyal-denominated Islamic bond program in the coming months to private investors. The banking sector index and petrochemical benchmark added 0.7 and 0.2 percent respectively.

Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi’s benchmark slipped 0.3 percent, its second-straight decline since Thursday’s 15-month high. Dana Gas ended 2.4 percent lower at 0.41 dirhams, having slumped as much as 7.3 percent intraday. The stock accounted for nearly half of all shares traded on the bourse. The natural gas producer failed to repay a $920 million sukuk on maturity last week, prompting a source close to holders of the bond to say they will stake claim Dana’s extensive Egyptian assets.

Dana said in a statement after trading it was unaware of any action by bondholders against the firm. “It’s no surprise that creditors will enforce the security on the sukuk. Egypt assets were the recourse on the sukuk in case of default,” said Anastasios Dalgiannakis, institutional trading manager at Mubasher. “Assuming they don’t commit other assets for the security of the sukuk during negotiations, Dana’s stock is worth more than the current price.” Dubai’s benchmark shed 0.4 percent to its lowest close since Oct. 2.

Elsewhere, Qatar’s measure ended flat and Oman’s benchmark was 0.3 percent down.

Bahrain’s bourse gained 0.4 percent, its second successive advance since hitting its lowest level since June 2003 at the end of last week. — Reuters

EU in the middle of a lost decade and facing protracted recession and fiscal austerity, European political and business leaders are turning to Asia’s fast-growing economies for economic salvation,” said Rajiv Biswas, Asia-Pacific chief economist at consultancy firm IHS Global Insight.

Europe’s leaders may lobby Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to deploy some of Beijing’s trove of about $3 trillion in foreign exchange reserves-the largest in the world-to invest in EU bailout funds. At the same time Hollande criticized the inflexibility of the Chinese yuan and certain other Asian currencies, calling for “fair exchange rates”.

“Asians have gained a lot from our growth. Now it’s time for them to boost our growth with their demand,” he added. Wen told the summit that his country had “promoted a balanced growth between imports and exports”. “This shows that China is an important engine for world economic growth and has played a crucial role in driving the global economic recovery,” he said. — AFP

Overseas investors want Obama win

MIDEAST STOCK MARKETS DUBAI: Kuwait’s market made its largest oneday gain in eight months yesterday, rebounding from an eight-year low as investor confidence improved after a political protest was less violent than investors had feared, while other Gulf bourses ended mixed. Kuwaiti security forces fired tear gas to disperse an unauthorized demonstration on Sunday by thousands of opposition supporters. The country will hold parliamentary elections on Dec 1. “I doubt there will be demonstrations until the elections. That’s giving relief to small investors to put money back into the market,” said Fouad Darwish, head of brokerage at Global Investment House. The index finished 1.6 percent higher, gaining the most in a single session since Feb 19.

Market participants say the government has been buying local shares through a state-linked fund, which was set up to support the bourse during slumps. “If the government maintains buying through the national portfolio fund, it will help catapult the market,” Darwish added.

Large-caps rallied, with National Bank of Kuwait up 1 percent, telecoms operator Zain gaining 1.4 percent and logistics firm Agility rising 2.1 percent.

In Saudi Arabia, the index climbed for a fourth-straight session, up 0.4 percent. Smallcap stocks led gains as investors skirt risk ahead of today’s US elections. Retail investors targeted stocks driven by domestic demand, rather than those more affected by global sentiment.

Insurance stocks dominated trade, accounting for nearly half the market turnover of 5.4 million riyals. The sector’s index slipped 0.5 percent.

attending the two days of talks. Optimism over the sweeping changes, however, has been dampened by deadly clashes between Buddhists and stateless Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar’s western state of Rakhine.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague called on Myanmar to address “the unresolved problems of the status of the Rohingya people”. “That’s an issue of major concern for us. I’ll certainly raise that with the Burma leaders here when I have the opportunity to do so,” he told reporters. Dozens of people have been killed and more than 100,000 displaced by the unrest since June. The violence is also “an issue of concern” for Southeast Asia, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told AFP. “But the fact that we can meet here in the heart of Southeast Asia almost without having Myanmar as an issue centre-stage as it has been in the past is a reflection of how far Myanmar has travelled in terms of its democratic transition,” he added.

Europe’s diplomatic offensive is seen as a sign of the growing importance that it places on Asia’s vibrant economies. “With the

US President Barack Obama

LONDON: Overseas investors, many of whom are creditors to the highly-indebted US government, reckon a re-election of President Barack Obama would be best for world markets even if US counterparts say otherwise.

For the second month in a row, Reuters’ monthly survey of top fund managers around the world was evenly split when asked whether a win for incumbent Democrat Barack Obama or Republican hopeful Mitt Romney in the Nov 6 presidential poll would be good for global markets.

The split was clearly dependant on whether the asset manager was based in the United States or not. Domestic funds, by and large, tend to favor Romney; overseas investors Obama.

Given the outside perception of the contest in Europe at least, where surveys by pollster YouGov on Wednesday showed fewer than 10 percent of Europeans would vote for Romney if given the choice, that may not be terribly surprising. But that shouldn’t necessarily explain why supposedly hard-nosed money managers would think an Obama reelection would be better for their portfolios.

So is there a something other than regional political sensibilities behind the difference of investor views? Franco-Belgian Dexia Asset Management, for example, cited long-term uncertainty of a radical US policy shift in such febrile economic times. “(Romney’s) election could lead to more political and economic uncertainties over the longer term as he would implement an ambitious tax reform, huge spending cuts, a tax

plan favorable to the highest income based on a too-optimistic growth scenario that would produce uncertain effects on growth,” it said in response to this week’s Reuters poll.

Yet, the shorter term picture is very different.

Financial market commentary across the world seems to have converged on an loose assumption that a Romney victory would be good for stocks and an Obama reelection good for bonds.

The thinking goes along the lines that Romney would dodge the “fiscal cliff” more easily by allying with a Republican House of Representatives to retain or introduce more tax cuts on business and the wealthy while slashing government spending. By removing the fiscal uncertainty with a pro-business tilt, it is argued, corporate planning will resume with gusto and lead to a surge in pent-up capital expenditure and retail spending, a macro growth fillip and a resulting slipstream for stock prices.

Flip all that around for Obama. A deeper political divide on taxes and spending between the White House and Congress could see at least a temporary fall off the cliff, stalling growth for a period and boosting safe-haven bonds.

Monetary arguments reinforce that bond picture. A Romney team sceptical of hyperactive Federal Reserve stimuli would be unlikely to renominate Fed chief Ben Bernanke for a third term in 2014.

It would opt for more hawkish, inflationfocused chairman than a Obama-led White House.—Reuters

22

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

BUSINESS

Top Abu Dhabi banker UAE central bank chief Khalifa Mohammed Al-Kindi replaces Khalil Foulathi ABU DHABI: Top Abu Dhabi banker Khalifa Mohammed Al-Kindi is the new chairman of the United Arab Emirates’ central bank, a statement from the bank after a board meeting showed yesterday.

Sultan Nasser Al-Suweidi remains governor of the bank for now, according to the bank statement, although his term, which expired in July, has yet to be officially renewed.

The chairman, who heads board meetings and has the final say on policy decisions, is involved in strategic decision-making, while the governor steers the bank’s day-to-day operations and represents it at high-level international events. Kindi, 53, began his career at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds. He is also a former chairman of National Bank of Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s top lender by market capitalization.

“He is a seasoned banker, strong minded, who knows the banking business for a long time,” said a top Abu Dhabi-based banker, who did not want be named.

“His is a strong appointment that will be welcomed by banks that are looking for a more dynamic leadership than in the past. He

Khalifa Mohammed Al-Kindi will be able to shape and lead the direction of the central bank in these challenging times,” he said.In 2007, Kindi joined the Abu Dhabi Investment Council, an investment arm of the government of oil-rich Abu Dhabi, where he now serves as managing director and member of the executive committee.

Kindi, who has an economics degree from Eastern Michigan University in the United States, also chairs asset manager Invest AD, owned by the council, and sits on the boards of several state entities. He succeeds Khalil Foulathi, whose four-year term as chairman of the central bank also expired in July. There

Dubai Investments Q3 profit soars

Dana Gas says not aware of sukuk-holder action DUBAI: Sharjah-based Dana Gas, which failed to repay a $920 million Islamic bond, or sukuk, on maturity last week, said it is unaware of any action from bondholders against the company.

A source close to holders of the bond said creditors will stake claim to the natural gas producer’s extensive Egyptian assets, after Dana became the first firm from the United Arab Emirates not to repay a bond on maturity. “With reference to recent media reports that Dana Gas’ sukukholders will pursue enforcement action against the company, Dana Gas confirms that it has no knowledge

of such action and that discussions with the adhoc committee of sukukholders continue to progress constructively,” Dana said in a statement. Dana, a leading Middle East natural gas company, said last week it was in talks with bondholders to amend and extend the terms of the bond, or sukuk. A major chunk of the bond is said to be held by large investment firms like BlackRock Inc and Ashmore. Shares in Dana ended 2.4 percent lower yesterday, after falling as much as 7.3 percent intraday, and accounted for nearly half of all shares traded on the Abu Dhabi bourse. — Reuters

BAPCO kicks off 2013 middle distillate term talks SINGAPORE: State-run Bahrain Petroleum Co (Bapco) has started negotiations for its 2013 term contract for gasoil and jet fuel, with price levels for gasoil much higher than this year, industry sources said yesterday. Bapco’s term contract for the oil products is significant as it is the first from a Gulf producer and is likely to set the tone for other term contracts in the region.

It is also the first time the contracts will be priced off a new benchmark gasoil grade, which will provide a direction for pricing of contracts for the new benchmark next year, traders said. Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) is expected to start negotiations for its gasoil and jet fuel term contracts later this week. Bapco is asking for a premium

was no official announcement about the change but the statement on the outcome of a board meeting held on Sunday showed Kindi was the monetary watchdog’s new chairman. A central bank source, who declined to be named on briefing rules, confirmed Kindi was the new chairman, adding an official announcement is yet to be made.

The UAE, the world’s No 3 oil exporter, tracks US monetary policy because it pegs its dirham currency to the dollar. Yesterday’s central bank statement also said that UAE banks were in a good position, and insulated from the current turmoil in financial markets, adding that banking indicators were positive.

The International Monetary Fund said last month further deleveraging and retrenchment by European banks, which have been hit by the sovereign debt crisis in their region, could lead to liquidity pressures in Gulf Arab countries. The UAE, whose banks still face provisioning issues stemming from Dubai’s 20092010 debt crisis, saw a drop of 23 percent in lending by euro area banks, the IMF also said.

Despite high liquidity, UAE bank lending growth remains slow, at around 3 percent on an annual basis. — Reuters

of about $3.25 a barrel above the new benchmark, gasoil with 500 parts per million (ppm), for its gasoil cargoes and about $2.30 a barrel above Singapore jet fuel quotes for its jet fuel cargoes, traders said.

But buyers are standing firm, with premiums of about $2.00 to $2.50 a barrel for the gasoil cargoes and lower levels for the jet fuel cargoes, they said. The term contracts are expected to be awarded later this week, they added. Buyers were surprised at the higher than expected gasoil premium offered by Bapco, given that more supply is expected in the Gulf when the new 400,000 barrels-per-day( bpd) Saudi Aramco Total Refinery and Petrochemicals Co starts operation next year. — Reuters

DUBAI: Conglomerate Dubai Investments , which has been eyeing opportunities to divest some of its businesses, said its thirdquarter net profit more than doubled as it booked gains in the value of its investment properties.

The company, in which sovereign fund Investment Corp of Dubai (ICD) owns 11.5 percent stake, posted third-quarter net profit of 81.4 million dirhams ($22.16 million), compared with a profit of 24.9 million dirhams for the year-ago period, it said in a bourse statement yesterday.

Quarterly profit was mainly boosted by a 60 million dirhams gain on fair value of investment properties. It had booked a fair value gain of 8 million dirhams for the same period last year. Revenue for the quarter rose to 669.1 million dirhams from 580.7 million dirhams a year-ago, the company said.

Dubai Investments, whose manufacturing business was hit by political unrest in the Gulf Arab region, said earlier this year that it was eyeing an exit from some of its businesses and was reviewing such opportunities.

The company, which has interests in several sectors including property and manufacturing, had total assets worth 13.7 billion dirhams at the end of the third quarter, yesterday’s statement showed.

The conglomerate has said it wants to raise up to 1 billion dirhams this year through the issue of sukuk, or Islamic bonds, to finance expansion of some manufacturing units and repay debt. Dubai Investments shares have risen 45.6 percent year-to-date. They were yet to trade on the Dubai bourse yesterday. —Reuters

MADRID: Uncollected rubbish is seen in a street of Jerez de la Frontera yesterday on the third day of a strike due to government’s cuts. Spain’s economy is deep in recession and struggling with a 25-percent unemployment rate as the government pursues an austerity program to bring down a bloated public deficit. — AFP

Saudi CB hopes inflation pressure to ease in Q4 JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s central bank expects inflationary pressures in the biggest Arab economy to continue decreasing in the fourth quarter of this year, it said in a report yesterday.

Spending usually increases during the annual Haj pilgrimage season, which ended last week, as nearly 3 million pilgrims flock to holy Makkah and holy Madina. But Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate has been slowing gradually since peaking at 5.4 percent in February and March.

“The available data indicates...the expectation of a continuing slowdown in inflation levels during the fourth quarter of 2012,” the report said.

Annual inflation for September slowed to 3.6 percent from 3.8 percent in August.

“Local prices for products and services have witnessed a large decline in growth rates for the third quarter. There was also a decline in inflation in the renovation, rents, fuel and water category, and the transport and communications category, which is expected to continue through the fourth quarter of 2012,” the report said.

Last year, the government promised to build half a million new homes to ease a housing shortage which has been responsible for pushing up costs in that sector. —Reuters

Iraq signs final gas deal with Pakistan Petroleum BAGHDAD: Iraq signed a final gas exploration contract with Pakistan Petroleum yesterday as part of its drive to attract investment in its energy sector following years of neglect. The contract gives the Pakistani company the right to explore gas block 8, covering an area of 6,000 square km in Diyala and Wasit provinces in eastern Iraq.

Iraq has the world’s 10th-largest gas reserves and has said its priority will be to use it on the domestic market, mainly for power generation. But it has left open the possibility of allowing gas exports once domestic needs are met.

“Developing exploration block 8 could be very promising as a source of gas to feed the country’s power plants in future and open the way for Iraq to be a major exporter,” said Ahmed Al-Shamma, Iraq’s deputy oil minister, during a signing ceremony. OPEC member Iraq has already

signed scores of contracts with foreign companies to develop its oil industry as it seeks to rebuild after years of war and economic sanctions.

The major issue with rehabilitating Iraq’s energy sector though has been its failure to lure enough foreign investment. Tough contracts and logistical redtape in Iraq have held back much foreign investment. A handful of international companies, including Pakistan Petroleum, Kuwait Energy and Lukoil, won bids in May at Iraq’s fourth energy auction, which had a poor showing because of tough contract terms drawn up by Baghdad.

“We are planning to spend a minimum of $100 million to start exploration activities and we might need additional $400 million as investments,” Pakistan Petroleum chief executive Asim Khan told reporters in Baghdad. — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Egyptian pounds

.2740000 .4480000 .3580000 .2970000 .2810000 .2890000 .0040000 .0020000 .0766250 .7436110 .3870000 .0720000 .7289780 .0430000

.2845000 .4600000 .3680000 .3080000 .2910000 .2980000 .0067500 .0035000 .0770920 .7510840 .4060000 .0770000 .7363040 .0510000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2811500 .2832500 GB Pound/KD .4506830 .4540500 Euro .3606030 .3632960 Swiss francs .2988100 .3010420 Canadian dollars .2826340 .2847450 Danish Kroner .0483430 .0487040 Swedish Kroner .0419180 .0422310 Australian dlr .2913980 .2935740 Hong Kong dlr .0362760 .0365470 Singapore dlr .2296790 .2313940 Japanese yen .0034960 .0035220 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0052650 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0021810 Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0029650 Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0034930 UAE dirhams .0765760 .0771480 Bahraini dinars .7460530 .7516250 Jordanian dinar .0000000 .4006360 Saudi Riyal/KD .0749930 .0755530 Omani riyals .7305440 .7360010 Philippine Peso .0000000 .0069170

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - transfer Irani Riyal - cash

3.513 5.200 2.939 2.163 3.268 231.370 36.459 3.448 6.847 9.176 0.271 273

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 75.377 77.666 734.180 750.760 76.968

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 48.200 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.213 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.319 Tunisian Dinar 179.060 Jordanian Dinar 398.720 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.896 Syrian Lier 3.865 Morocco Dirham 33.320 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 282.550 Euro 362.790 Sterling Pound 453.490 Canadian dollar 284.830 Turkish lire 157.500 Swiss Franc 301.230 Australian dollar 293.710 US Dollar Buying 281.350 GOLD 332.000 167.000 86.500

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria

SELL CASH

295.900 751.010 3.710 287.500 554.600 46.000 49.500 167.800 48.520 366.700 37.130 5.500 0.032 0.161 0.248 3.610 400.190 0.191 95.300 45.400 4.340 236.600 1.829

50.400 733.540 3.080 7.060 78.110 75.400 232.240 36.460 2.690 457.100 43.100 304.000 4.200 9.560 198.263 77.000 282.800 1.360

10 Tola

GOLD 1,799.480

Sterling Pound US Dollar

733.360 2.958 6.853 77.680 75.400 232.240 36.460 2.165 455.100 302.500 4.200 9.380 76.900 282.400

COUNTRY

SELL DRAFT

294.400 751.010 3.455 286.000

232.200 46.244 365.200 36.980 5.220 0.031

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 455.100 282.400

SELL DRAFT

SELL CASH

296.60 287.73 304.24 364.63 281.95 454.92 3.59 3.470 5.189 2.167 3.272 2.949 76.83 750.74 46.21 401.68 733.80 77.86 75.40

297.000 285.000 306.000 370.000 282.350 458.000 3.690 3.600 5.550 2.320 3.750 3.150 77.350 749.600 48.200 399.000 740.000 77.850 75.750

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 400.180 0.190 95.300 3.280 235.100

Rate for Transfer

Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro

282.300 284.645 453.370 363.115

Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

300.535 747.385 76.835 77.490 75.245 397.945 46.239 2.163 5.221 2.940 3.454 6.839 692.485 4.505 9.255 4.380 3.360 92.045

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

282.300 2.947 5.225 2.175 3.470 6.880 76.880 75.440 750.500 46.245 458.000 2.990 1.550 367.800 289.700 3.345

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

281.850 365.050 455.050 285.600 3.535 5.258 46.220 2.162 3.450 6.832 2.938 751.000 76.800 75.300

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

BUSINESS Commodity weekly update

After Sandy, focus shifts to elections

By Ole Hansen

F

inancial and commodity markets will be presented with a multitude of event risks over the coming weeks which could help set the tone for the remainder of 2012. With many traders and funds preparing to shut down early after what has been a very difficult year in terms of generating performance these event risks will be watched very closely.

The week just gone presented us with two such events, first of all hurricane Sandy which slammed into the US eastern seaboard and left a trail of destruction. The immediate impact on commodity markets was on gasoline prices which rose as focus returned to the already existing low levels of supplies around the New York area. The rally however proved short-lived as demand dropped and refineries came through the storm relatively unscathed and ready to restart production.

The week ended on a more positive note in the US after the second event - the jobs report for October. The number of jobs created in October exceeded expectations and sent stocks and the dollar higher but sent gold lower. The focus in commodity markets now switches towards the US election on November 6 with the outcome still quite difficult to predict.

President Obama’s handling of Sandy and the improved jobs repor t may have given him the edge over his opponent Romney but once the election is over the immediate focus of markets will move to concerns about the fiscal cliff which looms large in Januar y and which, unless addressed, could slice a large chunk of US growth and leave it and the rest of world vulnerable to a slowdown. Against this backdrop, commodity markets experienced mixed fortunes during the week with the DJ UBS commodity index showing a loss for the second week in a row resulting in a flat return during 2012. This is despite the fact that markets should take some comfort from emerging optimism that China and USA, the world’s two biggest economies, according to recent data are showing signs of improving. However uncertainty about the outcome of the US election, the leadership transition in China and renewed worries about Greece’s bailout, together with a stronger US jobs report sent the Euro lower and have so far off-set any good macro-economic data.

Hedge funds As seen above the performances of the individual commodity sectors so far have been ver y uneven making it a very difficult year for investors to navigate. Hedge funds are generally having another “annus horribilis” and with December fast approaching many may be inclined to be defensive and protect potential profits rather than trying to go for glory during the remaining active trading weeks of the year. Unless clear investment opportunities arise either from a change in macro-economic data or some geo-political event we suspect that the industrial metal and energy sectors will struggle to perform during the remainder of the year, considering the existence of elevated net-long positioning, especially in Crude oil.

While this risk-off continues we could see some additional weakness across the grain sector which has been the star performer this year but the fact remains that low levels of global stocks of key products, such as soybeans and corn, together with supply disruptions from key wheat exporting nations should ensure elevated prices during the winter months.

Gold in corrective mode The precious metals sector continues to look for support as the improved economic outlook for the US and Chinese economies has rattled speculators and triggered a much overdue spate of long liquidation. The better than expected US jobs report triggered additional selling with gold falling to a seven week low below $1700 after resistance at 1730 was rejected earlier in the week. Although the outlook for the US economy continues to improve the speed at which new jobs are being created it is probably not enough at this stage to trigger a turnaround in the US Federal Reserve’s approach concerning the provision of indefinite stimulus.

The technical levels to look out for remain the same with critical support located in the $1660 to 1665 area as two important technical indicators meet in this area. Resistance can be found at 1730, above which level we need to move before we can call this latest sell-off nothing more than a correction in a continued bullish environment.

Mazen Al -Sardi, Deputy Managing Director (Technical Services), Kuwait Oil Company (right) and Edmund O’Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events during the event.

A general view of the MEED event.

MEED conference focuses on new trends in oil, gas sector $55bn Kuwait projects offer opportunities, challenges

Edmund O’Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s fast and expanding energy and infrastructure project sectors took centre stage at the 7th Annual Kuwait Energy and Infrastructure Projects Conference 2012 held at Marriott Courtyard. The conference attracted the participation of 30+ high profile speakers and over 200 local and international industry professionals.

In addition to highlighting opportunities in the $55bn projects that are in the country’s oil and gas, and power and water sectors, delegates were updated on the latest trends, challenges, strategies and technologies available. The four-day conference includes indepth case studies, keynote presentations, panel discussions, one-to-one networking opportunities, and interactive workshops to find practical solutions to the most critical issues faced by the industry.

With an array of industry leaders and government officials, the event promised unrivalled opportunities for developing new business partnerships and investments.

The opening day focused on opportunities and progress developments in exploiting the hydrocarbons sector to optimize Kuwait’s energy resource. Day two was dedicated to mega infrastructure projects, with a high profile panel of speakers discussing the challenges faced in the market. The third day was set aside for discussing the progress of Kuwait’s extensive planned Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) program.

Edmund O’Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events said: “This conference proved to be an invaluable opportunity for those at the cutting edge of Kuwait’s future to discuss its development. Away from the formality of the

Greece makes austerity push, workers gear for strike ATHENS: Greece’s government presents a new austerity package to parliament yesterday, facing a week of strikes and protests over proposals which must win lawmakers’ approval if the country is to secure more aid and stave off bankruptcy. Parliament is expected to vote on Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s package of 13.5 billion euros ($17 billion) in cost cuts and tax hikes on Wednesday along with measures making it easier for firms to hire and fire workers. Despite public exasperation at four years of belt-tightening that has helped wipe out a fifth of the economy and leave a quarter of Greeks jobless, the package and a tough budget slated for a vote on Sunday are expected to scrape through parliament.

Greece’s powerful main public and private sector unions will launch a 48 hour strike against the legislation today and plan marches in Athens’ city centre.

Journalists, doctors, transport workers and shopkeepers are also planning stoppages. Approval of the reforms and the passage of the 2013 budget are crucial to unlocking 31.5 billion euros in aid from an International Monetary Fund and European Union bailout that has been on hold since the summer.

“These will be the last cuts in wages and pensions,” Samaras said in a speech aimed at galvanizing the members of his centre-right New Democracy party.

ATHENS: Journalists march during a demonstration as part of a 24-hour media blackout of print, broadcast and electronic media yesterday in Athens, as a banner calling for a 48-hour general strike today and tomorrow is seen at left. — AFP

“We promised to avert the country’s exit from the euro and this is what we are doing. We have given absolute priority to this because if we do not achieve this everything else will be meaningless.”

Without the aid, Greece will not be able to redeem a 5-billion euro treasury bill falling due on Nov. 16. The bulk of the new aid tranche, some 25 billion euros, is earmarked to recapitalise Greece’s struggling banks and kick-start moribund lending, a prerequisite to climbing out of recession.

But union leaders say the measures will simply deepen an economic contraction expected to run into next year.

“Our labor action next week will be part of efforts to avert policies that will sink the country deeper into recession and destroy the fabric of society,” Yannis Panagopoulos, head of the GSEE private sector umbrella union, told Reuters.

Athens’ 14,000 taxi drivers are on strike and office workers complained of long commutes due to a stoppage on the city’s metro, tram and city trains, which serve 500,000 people a day.

Protests will intensify today, ratcheting up pressure on coalition deputies whose parties have slid in polls since a June election in the Mediterranean country of 10 million.

On Friday, a poll showed New Democracy’s support had fallen to 22 percent, from 30 percent in the June election. Its Socialist PASOK partner had fallen to 7 percent, down from 12.3 percent according to the PULSE survey.

“Everything is black and it will only get worse. They have exterminated us.

They have turned us into prisoners,” said Eleni Tatsou, 38, who works in a kebab shop in central Athens. “I haven’t been paid for eight months, but I know nothing will change if I quit, so I’m waiting. Maybe I’ll get paid one day. Maybe a miracle will happen.”

The smallest ruling party, the Democratic Left, has pledged to stay in the government but rejects the plans to cut wages and severance payments and scrap automatic wage hikes, saying they will devastate workers who have borne the brunt of the crisis.

PASOK is struggling to shore up support for the measures after one of its deputies quit on Thursday in the wake of a narrow victory in pushing through a privatization bill also demanded by the lenders, cutting PASOK’s numbers to 32 seats. At least five of those members have said they may not back the reforms.—Reuters

conference rooms, networking was another key benefit of the event allowing contacts to be made with CEOs, VPs and Chairmen from the key growth industries and Government departments.”

“Building on last year’s event, Kuwait Projects 2012 has been expanded to include more client-led presentations and case study analysis, providing an in-depth look at the opportunities available. Increased focus on market research data with detailed sector profiles and forecasts providing invaluable future project information will add a new dimension to the debate with three days of interactive discussion.”

Meed Insight data revealed that KNPC and the PTB will become the top two future clients by value of work under execution.

Major topics up for discussion include Kuwait Oil Company’s upcoming capital projects program and an update on the major roads and bridge initiatives being implemented by the Ministry of Public Works Keynote speakers included Farouk AlZanki, Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation; Eng. Abdulaziz AlKulaib, Undersecretary, Ministry of Public Works, Kuwait; and Adel Al-Roumi, Director General, Partnership Technical Bureau.

Kuwait Energy and Infrastructure Projects Conference 2012 is part of MEED’s comprehensive portfolio of large-scale summits and conferences that offer businesses unique one-to-one networking opportunities and facilitate the showcasing of solutions to key target groups and niche professionals.

Farouk Al-Zanki, Chief Executive Officer, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC).

Chinese firms continue to take advantage in Mideast

By Simon Vaughan Johnson CEO HSBC Kuwait KUWAIT: The Middle East represents a significant opportunity for Chinese companies, one that many are clearly grasping, given the growing number of large and small Chinese firms setting up in the region. In Kuwait for example, in addition to the large state owned construction companies who have had a presence in the country for many years, we are now seeing an increase in companies providing FMCG as well as hardware and electronic goods.

According to HSBC research forecasts, GDP in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will reach between $2.6 trillion and $2.7 trillion this year. That means MENA’s GDP, as a region, will equal the UK, and exceed that of France. The six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will account for more than half that economic output - a record high that will see GDP per capita 20% to 30% higher than much of the OECD. To put this in perspective, GCC economies will have quadrupled over the last decade.

Tapping into this market is not easy for foreign companies, including Chinese companies. With HSBC’s experience in working with Chinese companies all over the world, there are particular features of this region that present special challenges as they expand their presence here.

Firstly, there is no other region in the world exposing such an extent of diversity in terms of growth rates. Core markets and economies such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for instance, are currently extremely buoyant. Kuwait offers a strong and stable economic outlook with promising prospects in the Oil sector. In addition, with the implementation of the National Development Plan, Kuwait offers the opportunity for high profile entry into the market for construction companies.

Secondly, margins in this part of the world are quite challenging. Typically, plain vanilla projects are being undertaken at margins of approximately 6% or 7%.If a project is delayed, this impacts heavily on profitability, even in buoyant economies.

Furthermore, this region has long been a focus for international companies, attracting world class competitors from Britain, the US and China. However, margins are under greater pressure, and companies need help

and experience to navigate the region and its varying business cultures successfully.

Human resources also present a challenge. A number of Chinese companies have talked about the language barrier and the challenge of understanding local cultural nuances. That said, if you look at the scale of growth that Chinese companies have achieved in this region in recent years, it’s clearly not an insurmountable barrier.

At present China displays interest in specific sectors such as telecommunications, construction, infrastructure and power supply and some Chinese companies have already built a track record of success in MENA. However, there are other areas where Chinese influence is less visible, for example in the marketing of Chinese retail brands.

The situation can change dramatically should Chinese companies heed the message from their Middle East peers’ experience that success in MENA is as much about managing risk as it is about managing business growth.

With regional diversity a core strategy for many GCC countries, suppor t from business partners and advisors with cross border capabilities is a very important factor for achieving long term success.

Renminbi (RMB) settlement is one example of how businesses can seek to sustain this success. HSBC was the first bank to offer RMB transactions in Kuwait, and the region as a whole, addressing a need in the market for companies sourcing goods and paying in the Chinese currency. Renminbi settlement eliminates foreign exchange concerns of exporters, enabling firms to maintain enhanced and often more costefficient relationships with suppliers in China. HSBC RMB services in the region now span across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and globally in over 50 countries across the Bank ’s net work . The currenc y has developed into the third most prevalent trade currency in the world and we expect a significant increase in RMB transactions in the years ahead.

Trade corridors between China and the MENA region carry huge economic growth potential for businesses. Bilateral relations between China and Kuwait specifically, date back over a several decades and have been increasingly positive. Both sides continue to work steadily to broaden and deepen cooperation in the economic field with the support of both political and social sectors.

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business

Asia in focus as Kuwait ramps up oil output OXFORD BUSINESS GROUP KUWAIT: As Kuwait moves to ramp up oil production, it is preparing to take advantage of rising demand in Asian markets and stable oil prices.

However, there are concerns that the country could be draining off its hydrocarbons reserves quickly and spending too much on subsidies and social support schemes and not enough on investments.

On October 11, Hani Abdulaziz Hussein, the minister of oil, announced that production from Kuwait’s fields, which has recently been increased to 3m barrels per day (bpd), would be further bumped up to 3.2m bpd by 2015.

“The current daily average production is 3m barrels, but Kuwait can produce more,” he told reporters.

The staged rise is part of a longer-term program that envisions production being pushed up by one-third of current rates, to 4m bpd by 2020, plans that Farouq AlZanki, the CEO of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, said in late September were on track.

There are some concerns that Kuwait’s plans to boost production will exhaust reserves within a few generations, rather than the almost 110 years currently estimated for the oil fields at an output level of

around 2.75m bpd. As of late October, Kuwaiti crude was trading at just over $106 per barrel, which is expected to continue through the medium term. Government officials see $100 as a fair and equitable price.

On October 15, Hussein said that he expected oil prices to remain stable, or at worst, ease only slightly, over the next five years. Any reduction in consumption by Europe would be offset by a rise in demand from Asian markets, he said at the Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit.

There are signs that this rise in demand from the East has begun, with South Korea sharply increasing its imports of Kuwaiti oil. Data issued by the Korea National Oil Corporation on October 22 showed imports of Kuwaiti crude jumped 6.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) in September, hitting just under 11.3m barrels, representing 14.4% of oil imports, up from the 13.1% for the same month in 2011. For the first nine months of 2012, the increase was even more marked, with shipments up 35% y-o-y to total 100.87m barrels, the equivalent of 368,000 bpd.

In part, this increased call on Kuwaiti oil is due to the tightening

of the embargo on sales from Iran, with many countries boycotting Iranian oil in response to US-led sanctions. South Korea is a case in point, having halted its imports of Iranian oil, which had averaged 295,000 bpd as of the end of July.

While demand is still high, and in some markets rising, many analysts are predicting a falling off in oil requirements for the remainder of the year and into 2013 due to the slowing of the world economy.

Another factor to be taken into account is the increasing output from Libya and Iraq, both of which have entered a period of recovery.

Even with Iran’s contribution to global oil sales restricted, international production is likely to increase in 2013.

That said, even during and after the 2008 global recession, demand for Kuwaiti crude remained constant. This is one reason why oil still underpins the national budget, accounting for 91.6% of state revenues. In the 2012/13 financial year, oil earnings represented KD12.77m ($45.4bn) of an estimated total revenue of KD13.93m, according to KUNA. The present budget, according to bills passed by the Cabinet of

Ministers on October 21, foresees expenditure of KD21.24bn ($75.5bn), a rate of spending that will leave a shortfall of KD7.3bn ($26bn). However, Kuwait has projected a budget deficit every year for the past 10, and has always ended up posting a surplus. This is because the price of oil in the 2012/13 budget is calculated at $65 per barrel, according to former finance minister Mustafa AlShamali. Despite the impending

surplus, the IMF has suggested the future economy would be better served if the government reduced overall spending, particularly on public sector wages, subsidies and social support schemes.

In May the IMF warned that Kuwait would have to dedicate all of its oil revenue and savings to servicing its recurrent spending program if it did not trim outlays. In early October, Mohammad Al-Hashel, the governor of the central bank, warned that the

state needed to cut spending on wages and other costs and direct more funding to capital expenditure and investments. In the short term, however, Kuwait’s efforts to increase oil production should bode well for the state’s bottom line.

With a global recovery expected to kick in next year and beyond, it is probable that the international market will soak up most - if not all - of the country’s planned increased output. —Oxford Business Group

LONDON: People walking past an HSBC bank branch in central London. HSBC said yesterday that third-quarter profits slumped after taking $1.15 billion (898 million euros) in extra charges for a money-laundering scandal in the US and insurance mis-selling claims in Britain. — AFP

HSBC profits fall on vast charges in Q3 LONDON: HSBC said yesterday that third-quarter profits slumped after taking $1.15 billion (898 million euros) in extra charges for a moneylaundering scandal in the US and insurance mis-selling claims in Britain.

Net profits tumbled by more than half to $2.498 billion in the third quarter or three months to September, compared with $5.222 billion a year earlier, HSBC said in a results statement.

Britain’s biggest bank revealed that it has set aside another $800 million to cover fines from US authorities for failing to apply antimoney laundering rules, taking its total bill to $1.5 billion.

The lender also took another charge of $353 million to compensate clients who were mis-sold payment protection insurance, in a scandal which has blighted British banks. “The third quarter results

include an additional provision of $800 million in relation to the ongoing US anti-money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act and Office of Foreign Assets Control investigations,” said HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver.

“We are actively engaged in discussions with US authorities to try to reach a resolution, but there is not yet an agreement. The US authorities have substantial discretion in deciding exactly how to resolve this matter.

“Indeed, the final amount of the financial penalties could be higher, possibly significantly higher, than the amount accrued. “We have also made UK customer redress provisions of $353 million, mainly in respect of Payment Protection Insurance.” HSBC was thrown into crisis earlier this year when a US Senate report found that it had allowed affiliates in countries such as Mexico, Saudi Arabia and

Bangladesh to move billions of dollars in suspect funds into the United States without adequate controls.

Lawmakers said money laundered through HSBC-linked accounts benefited Mexican drug lords and terrorist networks, and skirted US sanctions on Iran. The Asia-focused lender added on Monday that pre -tax earnings slumped 51 percent to $3.5 billion, as the group’s performance was also hit by a large fluctuation in the value of its own debt.

However, after stripping out exceptional items, underlying pretax profits more than doubled to $5.0 billion in the third quarter, aided by a strong performance at its investment banking division, and easing euro-zone market conditions.

Total revenues meanwhile soared by 20 percent to $16.13 billion in the reporting period. — AFP

Oil down near $105 on Sandy, dollar strength LONDON: Oil prices slipped to around $105 a barrel yesterday, weighed down by a strong dollar and demand destruction after Superstorm Sandy, while investors remained cautious ahead of the US presidential election. Front-month Brent futures were down 65 cents at $105.03 a barrel at 0946 GMT, while US crude was down 34 cents to $84.52 a barrel.

Analysts said oil markets were following a general downwards trend for risk assets, with Asian equities, base metals and European equities also sliding in early trading.

The dollar was up 0.16 percent at 0947 GMT against a basket of currencies, helped by better-thanexpected US non-farm payroll figures on Friday. A stronger dollar makes commodities priced in dollars more expensive for buyers using other currencies.

Investors were also said to be cautious ahead of the US presidential election, preferring perceived safe-haven assets. “As the two candidates are still neck-and-neck, oil traders are likely to stay on the sidelines until the outcome becomes clearer,” said Michael Poulsen, an analyst at Global Risk Management.

President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are locked in a close race as voters head to the polls today.

Markets are also worried about the outcome of Congressional talks over the ‘fiscal cliff’, a package of tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect in January if there is no long-term pact to cut the US budget deficit. Failure to find a speedy solution to the fiscal cliff could push the world’s biggest economy into a deep recession and cut energy demand far more than expected.

“After the election, more confidence should come into the markets,” said Eugen Weinberg, an energy analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt. He added that investors were also awaiting the outcome of the Chinese 18th Party Congress this week.

Disruption to oil supply infrastructure in the United States by Superstorm Sandy has prevented motorists from filling their fuel tanks. US gasoline prices have posted their biggest fall sine 2008 over the past two weeks. “For several days last week, it was still an open question as to how Sandy would

impact the oil market but now it’s clear you have reduced demand because people cannot consume, and that is bearish for oil markets,” said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodity analyst at SEB. He added that OPEC was still maintaining solid production, so the market had ample supplies of oil.

Meanwhile, the structural tightness in distillates, which has persisted through Europe’s seasonal refinery maintenance, is fading as refineries ramp up runs, he said.

Sandy triggered widespread liquidation of both long gasoil and crude oil positions last week, with the CFTC reporting lower speculative open interest on Friday.

A Jones Act waiver by the US government to allow foreign tankers to take fuel from the US Gulf Coast to the East Coast to ease the supply crunch helped cement the sell-off. Meanwhile, the North Sea’s Buzzard oilfield was expected to return to production on Saturday after numerous delays. The UK’s largest oilfield has been offline for maintenance since Sept 4, tightening the supply of Forties crude which helps set the price for the Brent crude benchmark. — Reuters

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business

Asian markets fall ahead of US election HONG KONG: Asian markets were mostly down yesterday as better-thanexpected US jobs figures were offset by caution ahead of this week’s US presidential election and the start of China’s leadership transition.

The dollar remained elevated against the yen and euro after Friday’s employment numbers, but that was unable to support Japan’s Nikkei, which also saw profit-taking after last week’s healthy gains. Tokyo fell 0.48 percent, or 43.78 points, to 9,007.44, Seoul closed 0.55 percent, or 10.5 points, lower at 1,908.22 but Sydney finished up 0.31 percent, or 14.0 points, at 4,474.1.

Hong Kong fell 0.47 percent, or 104.93 points, to 22,006.40 and Shanghai was ended 0.14 percent, or 3.02 points, lower at 2,114.03.

Traders were given a bright lead after the US Labor Department said on Friday that the economy created 171,000 jobs in October, far more than the expected 125,000.

And while the jobless rate rose to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent, that was blamed on more people entering the market. The encouraging report provided a final snapshot of a slowly improving economy as President Barack Obama battles for re-election today in a tight race against

Republican challenger Mitt Romney, the Wall Street favorite.

US stocks jumped in early trade but ended in the red by the end of trade Friday. The Dow finished down 1.05 percent, the S&P 500 fell 0.94 percent and the Nasdaq lost 1.26 percent. The jobs data also lifted the dollar, sending it to a six-month high of 80.68 yen in New York, before easing to end Friday at 80.47 yen.

In afternoon Asian trade the greenback bought 80.30 yen. The euro bought $1.2790 and 102.70 yen, down from $1.2835 and 103.30 yen. Eyes are on the world’s two biggest economies this week, with the US presidential

election too close to call, while Beijing is expected to anoint its successor to President Hu Jintao.

“The US data (released Friday) were generally positive, but markets are apprehensive ahead of the hotly contested US presidential vote” today, said Hiroichi Nishi, general manager of equities at SMBC Nikko Securities. Oil prices were higher.

New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, gained one cent to $84.87 a barrel in the afternoon and Brent North Sea crude for December delivery fell four cents to $105.64.

Gold was at $1,676.90 at 0645 GMT

compared with $1,708.90 late Friday.

In other markets: l Taipei fell 0.35 percent, or 25.11 points, to close at 7,185.36.

Leading smartphone maker HTC dropped 1.52 percent to Tw$194.0 while Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co was 0.44 percent higher at Tw$90.3. l Manila rose 0.61 percent, or 33.31 points, to 5,457.82. l Wellington lost 0.15 percent, or 5.81 points, to end at 3,908.27.

Telecom fell 1.0 percent to NZ$2.40, while Fletcher Building added 0.1 percent to NZ$7.00 and The Warehouse rose 0.6 percent to NZ$3.14. — AFP

French report seeks huge ‘shock’ cut in labor costs Paper highlights urgent dilemma over competitiveness

KIEV: A woman checks meat at a street market in Kiev yesterday. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development downgraded Ukraine’s GDP growth forecast for 2012 from 2.5% to 1%. —AP

French refinery fate in balance as strikes loom PARIS: The fate of France’s oldest refinery will be decided yesterday, marked by a one-day strike that the government and the oil industry will be anxious to prevent from escalating into a disruptive movement similar to one in 2010.

Last month, the commercial court in Rouen, northern France, rejected two bids to take over the Petit-Couronne refiner y of insolvent Swiss firm Petroplus, sending it into liquidation unless a new offer is approved by Nov 5.

Industr y M inister Arnaud Montebourg said on Monday the government opposed the liquidation of the refinery and asked the court to delay its decision because it had received a nonbinding letter of interest from Libya’s sovereign wealth fund.

“We don’t want the liquidation of this refiner y,” Montebourg told RTL radio. “I’m going to ask the commercial court today to delay its judgment, to take the time necessary to allow our Libyan friends to invest in this refinery.”

The plant’s 500 workers and their trade unions have invested much hope in Dubai-based NetOil, which had to submit a new offer after its first failed to convince judges of its financial and technical strengths.

A new rejection would be hard to swallow for the unions, who had secured a temporary reprocessing deal with former owner Shell and returned the plant to profit.

“So far, the unions had not made a ‘casus belli’ out of the Petroplus case because they were fully engaged in the process of finding a buyer, restarting and maintaining the plant,” Francis Perrin, head of the Energy Policies and Strategy group of publications, said.

“People often say French unions are protest-prone, but here they put so much effor ts into making this case work, it would be a crushing blow if the end result was nothing and the reaction could be even stronger,” Perrin said.

Preparing for the worst, and raising pressure on the French government, unions have called for a 24-hour strike on Monday, while France’s most powerful union the CGT has called for workers at Total’s refineries to join the protest.

The French oil major still owns five refineries in France, and whether its workers heed the call for solidarity or decide to pass in fear of losing their jobs will be scrutinized by the industry and beyond.

The closure of Total’s Dunkirk refinery in early 2010, where images of emotional workers had been broadcast on national news bulletins, helped trigger a two-week strike at all of the group’s French refineries.

Fuel supplies were also disrupted in the second half of 2010 when a fiveweek strike in the port and refining sector halted output at French refineries and caused alarm among neighboring European countries worried of price spikes.

However, obser vers say the poor state of the French economy compared with two years ago is likely to discourage workers from halting an industry which has already lost 2 billion euros ($2.6 billion) in the last three years.

“There are two forces at play: a force of solidarity, which is very strong, and on the other hand a real fear (about the economy),” Jean-Louis Schilansky, head of the UFIP oil industry lobby, said. “The situation is very tense, very difficult, the risk on jobs is strong.” —Reuters

Indonesian growth slows to 6.2% in Q3 JAKARTA: Indonesia said yesterday that its economy grew 6.2 percent in the third quarter from a year ago, its slowest pace for two years due to a slowdown in major trade partner China.

Growth slipped from 6.4 percent in the second quarter, but it met expectations and strong investment and domestic spending meant Southeast Asia’s biggest economy remains one of the best performers in Asia. Exports, which account for roughly a quarter of GDP, were down 2.8 percent in the quarter which runs to the end of September as demand slowed from China which is a major importer of Indonesian goods such as palm oil and coal.

“China’s economic growth will have an impact because exports and imports to and from China are down,” said head of the statistics agency Suryamin, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.

Juniman, chief economist at Bank Internasional Indonesia, said it was the slowest rate of growth since the third quarter of 2010. Investment climbed 10 percent and private consumption rose 5.68 percent on year, the figures showed.

Experts say domestic demand has made the nation of 240 million people with a growing middle class broadly resilient to the global economic slump and euro-zone debt crisis that have hit other Asian nations. — AFP

PARIS: The French government received yesterday a 22-point report on why the economy was unable to compete globally with a key recommendation for a 30-billion-euro ($38 billion) “shock” reduction in labor costs. The document, which highlights an urgent dilemma over how to boost competitiveness, was presented by its author Louis Gallois, former head of the French SNCF railways and of the EADS aerospace group which controls Airbus, to Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Gallois said the need of the hour was a “sort of social pact between all the partners,” adding that a “shock” reduction in labor costs was needed to kickstart the economy.

He proposed reducing cutting employer payroll levies by 20 billion euros and those paid by employees by 10 billion euros over two or three years. This would mean shifting part of the tax burden on to workers by increasing the so-called CSG levy which helps fund the social security system, or increasing the VAT sales tax.

The review, commissioned by the Socialist President Francois Hollande and the latest in a line of such reports on what is wrong with the French economy, has been described by the right-wing opposition as a last chance to change direction. Hollande, currently attending an EU-Asia summit in Laos, said his government would “draw all conclusions” from the report. It is known that the analysis by Gallois will focus notably on ways to slash high production costs and boost research and innovation. France’s hourly manufacturing costs are 20 percent higher than the eurozone average, according to the EU’s Eurostat agency. But ministers have already rejected a suggestion Gallois made in July that what the country needs is a big and sudden “shock” to boost efficiency, saying instead that measures will be spread out over five years.

The spotlight is on deep structural reforms which run counter to French habits. But similar reports for the government in the past have tended to be short-lived time bombs which are quietly locked away where they cannot upset the voters. This time the government-facing a dilemma of dangerously over-

stretched public finances, anemic growth and a huge trade deficit-says the analysis will not be buried. The share of French industry in global trade has shrunk from 6.3 percent in 1990 to 3.3 percent in 2011 as production costs have risen relative to those in other countries, in particular to euro-zone neighbor Germany.

The government has set a target of eliminating during its five-year term the country’s 25-billion-euro ($31-billion) trade deficit

who has been outspoken in blaming globalization for destroying French jobs and recently launched a “buy French” campaign, said on Monday the government would “study, analyze and respect” the recommendations of the report. “We are in a state of economic emergency and have to take decisions,” he told RTL radio, stressing the need for a “national consensus to ensure that production is encouraged in our country and that industry survives rather than declines.” Gallois has already

PARIS: French general commissioner for Investment Louis Gallois (left) listens to French Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault yesterday at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, as he is handing over his report on French competitiveness. — AFP excluding energy. The competitiveness pact is shaping up to be a key initiative to rejuvenate the economy as the government is being forced to apply 37 billion euros ($47 billion) in austerity next year to meet the country’s EU fiscal targets. With the unemployment rate rising back to 10.0 percent, pressure has been building on the government to act.

Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg,

Sri Lanka to restart refinery with oil cargo from Dubai COLOMBO: Ceylon Petroleum Corp (Ceypetco) will resume operation of Sri Lanka’s sole refinery, a 50,000 barrels-per-day facility, after a 10-day closure, because it has received a cargo of 75,000 tons of crude from Dubai, officials said.

Sri Lanka’s decades-old refinery is configured to run on Iranian crude and has been scrambling to fill a shortfall after Western sanctions prevented it from bringing in the crude from Iran. The sanctions have hurt its economy by forcing it to spend more to import oil and oil products. The refinery was shut on Oct. 26 after exhausting its supply of mainly Iranian crude oil, and its general manager, Susantha Silva, said it would be shut until the island nation received the Dubai cargo.

“We have received a 75,000-metric-tonne crude cargo and everything is arranged to unload,” Silva said in an interview yesterday. “If all goes well, we’ll be able to resume operations from tomorrow.”

Silva declined to comment on the origin of the cargo, but an oil ministry official said it came from Dubai. “The cargo came from Dubai the day before yesterday and everything is now ready to unload,” the official said, on condition of anonymity.

He said the island nation would receive an 80,000 ton crude cargo from Oman on Thursday, a 135,000 ton cargo from Saudi Aramco Nov 13-15 and another 135,000 ton shipment in December.

Silva last week said the December shipment was from Abu Dhabi. Exports from Iran, which is grappling with tough Western sanctions against its energy and petrochemical sectors, have fallen sharply as buyers struggle to pay for the oil and secure insurance cover for tankers to ship it.

Ceypetco has been having problems running the refinery at full capacity because alternative crudes such as Arabian light do not provide the proper yield, Silva said earlier. The sanctions have so far compelled Sri Lanka’s $59 billion economy to spend an extra $1.2 billion on oil imports, Oil Minister Susil Premajayantha told parliament last month. Sri Lanka has reduced imports of Iranian crude by a fifth this year but disagrees with Western sanctions that are punishing countries that depend on the oil, Foreign Minister GL Peiris has said. The country is now in talks with Iran to find a suitable payment method, because banks dealing with Iran have also been targeted by Western sanctions. Iran has not offered any discounts on its crude, Peiris said. — Reuters

enraged unions by suggesting taking the labor cost issue by the horns and cutting payroll levies paid by employers.

Business leaders have piled pressure on the government, with the heads of 98 of the biggest French groups calling for a 30-billioneuro cut in welfare charges paid by employers over two years, along with massive cuts in public spending. — AFP

Weak UK services suggest bumpy economic recovery LONDON: Business in Britain’s dominant service sector grew at the slowest pace in almost two years in October and optimism about the outlook waned, raising the risk that fragile recovery will falter.

Combined with a deeper contraction in manufacturing, yesterday’s data raises the chances that the economy could shrink again between October and December after surprisingly strong expansion in the third quarter.

In turn, this may prompt the Bank of England to announce more stimulus, although probably not on Thursday.

The main Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the service sector, measuring the change in business activity including income and chargeable hours worked, eased to 50.6 last month from 52.2 in September, holding just above the 50 line that separates

growth from contraction.

It was the lowest reading since December 2010 and fell short of analysts’ forecasts for a smaller dip to 52.0. “A return to contraction for the UK is on the cards in Q4,” said Rob Wood, economist at Berenberg Bank who worked at the central bank until recently.

He said the BoE was still unlikely to launch a new round of quantitative easing asset purchases this week, as its Monetary Policy Committee had expected a weak fourth quarter anyway.

“I think they will either do more asset purchases or an alternative stimulus, along the lines of the Funding for Lending Scheme, sometime next year,” he added, referring to the scheme that provides cheap funding to banks if they keep up lending to households and businesses. — Reuters

RAWALPINDI: A Pakistani youth rides a donkey as it hauls a load at a market in Rawalpindi yesterday. The government is currently executing 82 development schemes with allocation of 16.9 billion rupees ($177 million) for year 2010-11 in health sector to ensure good quality of life, and access to good health as basic human need fundamental human right, said a survey report. — AFP

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

BUSINESS

KIPCO reports nine months net profit KD 23.7 million ‘Underlying trends continue,’ says CEO Investment KUWAIT: KIPCO - the Kuwait Projects Company - has announced a net profit of KD 23.7 million ($84.3 million), or 18.27 fils ($6.5 cents) per share for the first nine months of 2012 - an increase of 0.4 per cent on the KD 23.6 million ($85.7 million) profit, or 19.02 fils ($6.9 cents) per share, reported in the same period last year.

KIPCO’s third quarter profit (for the three months ended September 30, 2012) of KD 6.6 million ($23.5 million) was a decrease of 7 per cent on the KD 7.1 million ($25.8 million) profit achieved in the third quarter of 2011.

KIPCO’s total revenues for the first nine months of 2012 increased by 22 per cent to KD 323 million ($1.15 billion) compared to the KD 265 million ($ 962 million) reported for the first nine months of last year.

Tariq Abdulsalam

The company also saw a rise in operating profit to KD 66 million ($235 million) for the first nine months of 2012 - an increase of 12 per cent from the KD 59.1 million ($215 million) reported in the first nine months of 2011.

KIPCO’s consolidated assets increased in the first nine months of 2012, to KD 6.4 billion ($23 billion) from KD 5.9 billion ($21.2 billion) for the year-end 2011.

Tariq Abdulsalam, KIPCO’s Chief Executive Officer - Investment, said KIPCO’s third quarter results were consistent with the company’s expectations: “As expected, the underlying trends within our first quarter and half year results have continued into the third quarter, with our financial services, media and real estate companies showing consistent levels of growth in both revenue

and profitability. Although our profits show only a slight year-on-year increase, our companies are demonstrating a high degree of resilience to difficult market conditions. If these trends continue until year-end, then we can expect to meet the financial targets we set for this year.”

The KIPCO Group is one of the biggest diversified holding companies in the Middle East and North Africa, with consolidated assets of $ 23 billion as at 30 September, 2012. The Group has significant ownership interests in over 60 companies operating across 26 countries. The group’s main business sectors are financial services, media, real estate and industry. Through its core companies, subsidiaries and affiliates, KIPCO also has interests in the education and medical sectors.

Kuwait Energy, Ukraine gas firm restore joint activity in 2 fields KUWAIT: Kuwait Energy, one of the fastest growing independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the Middle East, yesterday announced that its joint activity agreement (JAA 429) with “Ukrgasproduction”, a subsidiary of the state-owned Naftogaz, has been restored, enabling continued development of the Bilske and Kulychykhynske gas-condensate fields located in the Poltava region in Ukraine.

The Ukraine Supreme Commercial Court made a final ruling to resume operations under the JAA 429 agreement, following over a year of court proceedings that put Kuwait Energy’s interest from the gas fields on hold during that period.

Kuwait Energy owns a 25% working

interest in the fields,Ukragasprodution owns a 50% interest, and the remaining 25% is owned by the operator Favorit System LLC. Resuming operations as per JAA 429 is estimated to add 460 barrels of oil equivalent per day to Kuwait Energy’s working interest production, which represents the Company’s share from the restored total production from the gas fields.

Kuwait Energy ’s Chief Executive Officer, Sara Akbar, said, “The Supreme Commercial Court of Ukraine’s ruling was just and fair. We now look forward to continue investing in the workovers of these fields to increase their hydrocarbons production to enhance Ukraine’s energy supply. “

Kuwait Energy has owned working interest in the Bilske and Kulychykhynske gas-condensate fields since 2007. The Company is the operator and holds full working interests in two other fields, Bilousivska Chornukhynska (BC) which is currently producing, and North Yablunivska (NY) which is awaiting development and has exploration potential.

Kuwait Energy operates in eight countries, namely Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, Oman, Ukraine, Latvia, Russia and Pakistan. Its working interest proven and probable reserves at year end 2011 stood at 235.3 million barrels of oil equivalent and its current production has reached approximately 17,750 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

KUWAIT: EQUATE Petrochemical Company announced that it has restarted the 550,000 metric tons annually (MTA) Ethylene Glycol (EG) unit.

An EQUATE official said, “The unit was successfully restarted after being shutdown last July following a fire incident.”

The official added, “Through the cooperation of its world-class workforce, EQUATE successfully restarted the unit at an earlier date than the previously announced midNovember target.”

The official noted, “EQUATE is the only entity authorized to issue statements regarding this matter and all other issues relevant to its operations.”

Established in 1995, EQUATE is an international joint venture between Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), The Dow Chemical Company (Dow), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC).

Commencing production in 1997, EQUATE is the single operator of a fully integrated world-scale manufacturing facility producing over 5 million tons annually of high-quality petrochemical products which are marketed throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.

ABK announces third draw winners

Kuwait Energy CEO Sara Akbar

Canon ME ranks among top CSR practitioners in region KUWAIT: Canon Middle East, a leader in imaging solutions, has recently been selected as the first runner up in the MediumSize Enterprise Category of the Arabia Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2012, achieving remarkable progress from last year’s ranking.

Canon is involved in several CSR initiatives across the Middle East ranging from working with the Dubai Autism Centre and the Emirates Environmental Group, to promoting ICT skills amongst the region’s youth and encouraging budding filmmakers through its support of local film clubs such as the BLOOM! Cine Startups initiative - a platform that helps budding filmmakers make their first film using Canon DSLR cameras.

In the past five Awards cycles, the Arabia CSR Network has received almost 400 applications from hundreds of organizations across the Arab region. This year, the Awards were organized under the patronage of Sheikh

EQUATE restarts 550,000 metric tons EG unit

Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, and Chairman of Dubai Airports.

the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East, said: “In today’s economy, a key

term growth rather than shortterm gain, thus planning for a sustainable future. With this in mind, we at Canon aim to grow our business responsibly, sup-

The winners were announced at the Awards Ceremony that took place on 24th October at

way to survive and thrive is to put sustainability at the heart of your business and focus on long

porting the natural environment and respecting the communities in which we live and work, in

line with our Kyosei philosophy.”

Habiba Al-Marashi, President Arabia CSR Network, said: “In order to succeed we need leaders to guide us by example. The record number and exceptional quality of entries this year reflect the on-going commitment of companies towards corporate social responsibility. All of the winners are to be commended and we would like to congratulate Canon for moving up from last year to become the first runner up of the Arabia CSR Awards 2012.”

The Awards launched in 2008, honor companies across the Arab world that demonstrate ethical and responsible practices in business. The judges look for evidence of a clearly articulated and widely communicated Corporate Responsibility and sustainability strategy embedded in the business strategy, together with examples of policies or projects that positively impact on society, the environment and the economy.

KUWAIT: Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait announced the third draw winners of its “Update your Info Campaign”. The campaign is related to customers being rewarded for updating their personal profile in the Bank. The lucky winners were Riyadh Ibraheem Alhamadi from Mansouriya branch who won KD 500, Samir Mohd saleh Alkotob from Sabah Hospital branch who won KD 500, Ajeem Sharif Nadhkar from Sharq branch who won Samsung Galaxy S lll and Radhi Mraizeej Alazmi from Sabah Hospital branch who won iPad 3.

Customers that update their personal information at any ABK branch located across Kuwait will automatically be entered into a draw for a weekly chance to win an iPad 3 or a Samsung Galaxy S III and a monthly draw to aim to win cash prizes.

Lockie said, “By updating our customers’ information we get a better understanding of their needs and lifestyle which Lockie helps us upgrade the safety of their cards and banking procedures. We guarantee all the information provided is treated with utmost confidence and will only be used in accordance with banking requirements and for the benefit of our customers.”

Lockie added, “We are excited about the third draw winners of this Update Your Info Campaign with ABK. There are more weekly and monthly draws coming up, so I would suggest for everyone to update their info as soon as possible, so as to get a chance to win any of these valuable prizes.”

For more information regarding updating your information or to learn about any of our other services, please visit www.eahli.com to talk directly with one of our Account Managers through Al Ahli Chat Service or call Ahlan Ahli on 1899899.

Banks struggle to adapt or survive in commodities LONDON: Stick, twist or fold? Like card players, the top five banks in global commodities trade have reached at the point where they must decide to hold strategy, adapt, or give up and get out.

The boom in resource markets that started 10 years ago attracted many big banks to trade oil, metals and agriculture, but the 2008 financial crisis forced a painful retreat and tighter regulation now means some banks may throw in the towel.

Decisions rest on whether the banks believe their business models can be

changed to keep them sufficiently profitable under the rising oversight of regulators, after four years when their revenue from commodities was halved.

“The total wallet back at the peak was about $14 billion for the banking sector in commodities trading. I’d imagine this year it’ll be about $7 billion.

There were 10-14 banks when it was at $14 billion, now there are really five relevant ones,” said David Silbert, who leads commodities trading at Deutsche Bank.

Deutsche, together with Barclays and J.P. Morgan , broke into the commodi-

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s pioneers in remittance and money exchange Al Muzaini Exchange Co will now have its main branch at Head Office Mubarakiya open for customer transactions on Fridays. The main branch will be available for customer transaction from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm every Friday. Location address: Mubarakiya-Saud Bin Abdul Aziz St Opposite Public Library, near Central Bank of Kuwait.

ties arena in the last decade with acquisitions or aggressive growth to challenge established veterans Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

J P Morgan’s entry charge to the club was the $1.7 billion it paid to buy trading house Sempra and its infrastructure to store and ship oil and metals. Today, the five banks control 70 percent of the commodities trading pot with the rest split between mid-sized players such as Credit Suisse and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch , the latter having fallen out of the top division since the financial crisis.

The halving of revenue is largely due to a regulatory crackdown on proprietary trading, when deals are done by banks for themselves rather than on behalf of clients. Regulators say banks should focus on serving the clients and helping the economy with credit.

Also taking a toll is the reduction of risk appetite for capital intensive businesses such as commodities because of stricter capital rules. As a result, commodities business at banks is increasingly dominated by hedging of producers and consumers from sharp volatility, as well as sales of commodity-related indices to investors. The proportion of physical trading is shrinking - especially dealing for the bank’s own books which irks regulators. That is estimated to constitute one fifth of total flows today as opposed to four fifths five years ago, say traders.

A further drop would be hard for banks to swallow. They say they need the scale and depth in the fray of daily

business to know markets and serve clients properly. “In today’s volatile markets, knowledge and understanding of both the financial flows and the physical market fundamentals are vital,” Credit Suisse says about its commodities team.

Understanding physical markets without trading them is close to impossible, said Silbert, a US gas trader in the 1990s, who joined Deutsche from Merrill Lynch in 2007. “In commodities you don’t have a client business if you can’t allocate risk capital. As soon as we stop taking a point of view and stop participating in the market in that way, then we restrict the ability to help our clients,” he said.

Banks argue they benefit commodities markets by improving transparency and helping producers and consumers to lower risk. “In the 1980s, banks were barely present in commodities markets activities and it was a pretty shadowy place dominated by physical merchants and cartels,” says Henrik Wareborn, head of commodities trading at Natixis, who also worked for Goldman Sachs and BP. “To a large extent those markets were opened up and transformed thanks to the entry of regulated European universal banks and US investment banks,” said Wareborn, who built a sizeable commodities desk at Lehman Brothers before the bank collapsed in 2008.

Critics accuse banks of adding to speculative froth in markets and regulators say they want to fix this. Under the Basel 2.5 banking regulations, requirements to set aside capital for trading nearly tripled this year.

In the United States, in addition to the limits on proprietary trading - the Volcker rule - banks face the DoddFrank regulation, which limits positions they can take in derivatives.

The US Federal Reserve is also locked in a battle with banks over whether to allow them to continue holding physical assets. If the banks lose that verdict they could be forced to sell assets such as oil storage and metals warehouses. Bankers bridle at the thought. “The desire to vilify commodities markets activities at big banks is misplaced. With rare exceptions, commodities markets have worked impeccably in the past decade,” adds Wareborn. The banks won a small battle when a US judge ruled last month to send the position limits rule back to the Commodity Futures Exchange Commission (CFTC) two weeks before it was to take effect, saying the regulator had to prove it was necessary. The rule, already partly applied by the exchanges, would have drastically cut the trade of derivatives.

Sources at one large bank said it was forced to cut sales of commoditieslinked indices after exceeding proposed limits on positions in the grains market.

In Europe, however, regulators are pressing ahead with position limits rules. Leading players say that Europe could end up with tougher regulations than the United States, potentially opening up a regulation arbitrage. “The US banks are coming to Europe to take bigger market share. They are better

capitalized and actually less regulated than the European banks are likely to be,” one said.

In Europe, regulations cannot be overthrown by a court ruling as in the United States. Much will also depend on the outcome of the US presidential election and whether CFTC’s current chairman Gary Gensler is replaced with a figure who might push for less regulations, bankers say.

Regulation will squeeze banks’ commodity trading units along with other capital market businesses, according to McKinsey & Company, which predicts return on equity (ROE) in commodity units shrinking to 8 percent from 20 percent. “Some of the worst-hit businesses with ROEs below the cost of capital may have to be disposed of, especially at banks with weak franchises,” McKinsey said. Insiders say the current ROE in commodities is about 12-16 percent, still far better than overall average banking returns.

Over the past year, banks have lost an army of commodities traders to better-paying merchants and hedge funds, with even heavyweights like Goldman losing out. Banks argue that today their risk levels come nowhere near those of trading houses. “Our commodities business is not about betting on commodity prices... Our business is a client-driven business where we execute on behalf of clients to achieve their financial and risk management objectives,” JP Morgan’s commodities chief Blythe Masters told CNBC earlier this year. —Reuters

27

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

HP Unveils Cloud-based service desk solution DUBAI: HP yesterday announced HP Service Anywhere, a Software-as-aService (SaaS) solution that ensures availability of IT systems, enabling enterprises to enhance workforce productivity and align IT with changing business demands. To prevent service downtime and maximize employee productivity, organizations need simple, agile IT service desk solutions that help them resolve incidents rapidly while adapting easily to changing enterprise requirements.

Organizations also want to reduce the costs and complexity of deploying and upgrading mission-critical service desk solutions and avoid disrupting the delivery and quality of internal services.

HP Service Anywhere, an IT service management (ITSM) software solution delivered as a service or via the cloud, helps organizations address these needs by quickly resolving IT incidents and ensuring availability of critical services that drive innovation. The new solution features an intuitive user interface and is simple to deploy, manage and upgrade.

“Customers of all sizes are looking for cloud-based IT service desk solutions that are easy to implement and

configure,” said George Flansburg, operations management practice lead, ResultsPositive, an HP partner. “HP Service Anywhere is a simple-to-implement service desk SaaS offering that allows both midsize and large customers to be up and running within weeks, rather than the months required for on-premises solutions.”

HP Service Anywhere provides comprehensive service desk capabilities, including handling of inbound requests and IT service configuration as well as incident, problem and change management. HP Service Anywhere features social collaboration for sharing and recording advice and communications.

Social collaboration can improve first call resolution (FCR) rates, shorten handling times and reduce escalations by immediately alerting and engaging the right people to resolve issues.

“Our customers expect IT service desk solutions that are simple to use, can scale and will reduce overall costs,” said Sean Caron, principal solution architect, Linium, an HP partner. “With HP Service Anywhere, we can now offer advanced service desk capabilities, such as Incident and Change Management, through a highly scala-

ble solution that is delivered asaservice.” HP Service Anywhere enables clients to: Enhance employee productivity by limiting IT service downtime with quicker responses to service incidents. These incidents are then captured and shared among stakeholders via HP Enterprise Collaboration social collaboration software.

Ensure availability of IT processes through greater visibility into services, applications and hardware across the IT environment via integration with HP Universal Configuration Management Database (UCMDB) software. HP UCMDB manages services, applications and hardware relationships across the IT environment. Plus, it is populated and maintained with HP Universal Discovery software, which automates discovery and dependency mapping of relevant IT elements.

Improve timetovalue with rapid deployment through intuitive, graphical, codeless tools that simplify the historically complex and time-consuming tasks of configuring and customizing a service desk. HP’s approach separates client changes to facilitate seamless and automated upgrades. Speed deployment by leveraging integrated Information Technology Infrastructure

tion, HP Service Anywhere offers clients a feature-rich solution that is quick and easy to deploy, maintain and upgrade.”

Another new addition to the HP Software Professional Services portfolio is HP Service Anywhere Foundation Service, a quick-start service to assist clients with deploying and adopting their solutions.

Tayfun Topkoc, Regional Director for HP Software, Middle East.

Library (ITIL)-standards-based best practices for software implementations and upgrades.

“IT service desk solutions need to easily adapt to changing enterprise environments to ensure the best support experience to users,” said Tayfun Topkoc, HP Software Director, HP Middle East. “As a native SaaS applica-

Pricing and availability HP Service Anywhere is available worldwide directly from HP or via its ecosystem of channel partners. Named and floating license pricing will vary according to terms, quantity and location. Entry-level pricing is expected to start at $89 per user per month.

HP Service Anywhere is a key component of the HP IT Performance Suite, the next-generation enterprise performance software platform that enables IT management to improve performance with operational intelligence. Additional information about HP Service Anywhere is available at www.hpserviceanywhere.com.

HP’s premier Europe, Middle East and Africa client event, HP Discover, takes place Dec 4-6 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Samsung Galaxy S III sales pass 30 million NEW YORK: File photo shows people shop at an Apple store inside a mall in Cheektowaga. —AP

Apple paid only 2% tax on earnings outside US NEW YORK: Apple Inc paid an income tax rate of only 1.9 percent on its earnings outside the US in its latest fiscal year, a regulatory filing by the company shows. The world’s most valuable company paid $713 million in tax on foreign earnings of $36.8 billion in the fiscal year ended Sept 29, according to the financial statement filed on Oct 31.

The foreign earnings were up 53 percent from fiscal 2011, when Apple earned $24 billion outside the US and paid income tax of 2.5 percent on it. The tech giant’s foreign tax rate compares with the general US corporate tax rate of 35 percent.

Apple may pay some income taxes on its profit to the country in which it sells its products, but it minimizes them by using various accounting moves to shift profits to countries with low tax rates.

For example the strategy known as “Double Irish With a Dutch Sandwich,” routes profits through Irish and Dutch subsidiaries and then to the Caribbean.

Other multinational corporations also use such tax techniques, which are legal.

Like other big companies, Apple leaves cash overseas. If it brought it home to the US, it would have to pay US corporate taxes on the money. The cash that Apple has left overseas as of Sept 29 has mounted to a stunning $82.6 billion, up from $74 billion as of June 30.

Where Apple does differ from other companies is that it sets aside a portion of the foreign profits, marking them as subject to US taxes sometime in the future. Where Apple does differ from other companies is that it sets aside a portion of these overseas profits, marking them as subject to US taxes sometime in the future. When Apple reports quarterly results, it records that portion of the taxes as a liability, which is subtracted from its profits even though it hasn’t actually paid the taxes.

Tax experts say the company could easily eliminate these “phantom” tax obligations. That would boost Apple’s profits for the past three years by as much $10.5 billion, according to calculations by The Associated Press reported in July. — AP

Apple sells 3 million iPads in new launch SAN FRANCISCO: Apple said yesterday it sold three million iPads in the first three days of its launch of the iPad mini and fourth-generation model of its original format iPad. The tech giant said demand for iPad mini “exceeded the initial supply,” meaning some orders will be delayed until later this month. Apple did not break down precise sales of the minithe 7.9-inch (20 centimeter) tablet which joins several other small-format tabletsand the new iPad, which has a 10-inch (25 centimeter) screen.

“Customers around the world love the new iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, in a statement. “We set a new launch weekend record and practically sold out of iPad minis. We’re working hard to build more quickly to meet the incredible demand.” Both iPad mini and

the new fourth generation iPad were launched Friday in 34 countries.

The iPad mini weighs 0.68 pounds, 53 percent lighter than Apple’s third generation iPad. It is 7.2 millimeters (0.28 inches) thick, 23 percent thinner than the original iPad and thinner than a pencil The iPad mini with Wi-Fi connectivity and 16 gigabytes of memory costs $329, the 32GB model sells for $429 and the 64GB version for $529. It is more expensive than rivals from Google, Amazon and other makers.

Apple’s senior vice president for marketing Phil Schiller helped unveil the iPad mini, insisting that it was an entirely new design and not “just a shrunken down iPad”. Like later versions of the original iPad, the new Apple tablet features rear- and front-facing cameras, and also has stereo speakers.—AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: The Apple logo is seen in this September 11, 2012 file photo at the Yerba Buena Center for Arts. —AFP

SEOUL: Samsung said yesterday it has sold more than 30 million flagship Galaxy S III smartphones in about five months, making it one of the fastest selling smartphones in the world.

Samsung Electronics Co, the world’s biggest mobile phone maker, launched the smartphone at the end of May, months before competitors began shipping the latest versions of their top phones. When Apple Inc unveiled the iPhone 5 in September, Samsung launched an advertising campaign poking fun at the new iPhone.

The South Korean firm said the S III is selling at a much faster rate than its predecessor announced a year ago, the Galaxy S II. The S II took 14 months to hit 30 million sales. Sales of the Galaxy Note II, which fills a market niche between smartphones and tablets, surpassed 3 million in 37 days, Samsung said last week. The runaway demand for high-end smartphones fueled record profits at Samsung in recent quarters while other consumer electronics firms were hit by the global economic downturn that dented demand for TVs and personal computers.

Samsung, which also makes TVs, home appliances, semiconductors and display panels, got almost 70 percent of its third-quarter operating profit from the division that makes mobile devices, cameras and computers. Nomura Financial Investment in Seoul forecasts that Samsung will sell 67 million smartphones in the October-December quarter. That would be about 10 million units more than Samsung’s smartphone sales in the previous quarter.

Samsung does not disclose its quarterly smartphone sales figures, but analysts and research firms say the company sold a record 56-58 million smartphones in July-September. Nomura, which is more optimistic about Samsung’s prospects than other forecasters, says Samsung’s mobile communications business will post 5 percent growth in fourth quarter profit from the third quarter, thanks to the high-end phones - the S III and the Note II. Research firm IDC ranks the South Korean firm as the world’s top smartphone seller in the last three quarters. In the latest July-September period, Samsung sold 56.3 million smartphones versus Apple’s 26.9 million, IDC said. —AP

SEOUL: A South Korean man passes advertising for Samsung Electronics Galaxy S III. —AFP

The app’s the thing as Shakespeare goes digital TORONTO: William Shakespeare’s plays are getting a 21st century-style makeover in the form of new apps for tablets and smart phones nearly 500 years after the Bard took pen to parchment. Plays such as “Romeo and Juliet” and “Macbeth” spring to life in iPad apps released by Cambridge University Press, which pairs the texts with audio performances, commentary and other interactive content, transforming the classic plays for the digital age. The apps are part of a new series called Explore Shakespeare that was introduced by the British publishing house to expand the playwright’s reach to casual readers.

“A lot of people have a copy of Shakespeare on their bookshelf that they never got around to reading because they have this idea that Shakespeare is hard or has to be studied to be appreciated,” said John Pettigrew, executive producer of the Explore Shakespeare series. Pettigrew believes the plays are meant to be enjoyed and are accessible provided readers are given context to overcome outdated or poetic language.

While the core focus of the app is on the actual text, readers can consult glossaries, notes, photos and synopses at any point in the script. “Everything there is designed to keep you in the play and to put you in the mind of the actor, director or writer,” he explained. To understand less

common language, readers can tap on words and phrases to delve into their meaning.

“A classic one is in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ which is ‘wherefore art thou Romeo?’ It’s not ‘where are

you Romeo?’ It’s ‘why are you Romeo? ‘ So that kind of phrase gets a glossary to explain what is meant,” said Pettigrew. The apps also include full audio performances from stars such as Kate

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple’s newly introduced iPad Mini is seen during Apple’s special event at the California Theatre in San Jose California. —AFP

Beckinsale and Martin Sheen.

Other features help readers to visualize relations between actors in a scene, understand how Shakespeare interweaves themes throughout the play, and to analyze the text more thoroughly.

“You can delve into the language or themes or interpretation, but our first task is to show that it’s just a good story,” Pettigrew said.

Although the app was designed with consumers in mind, Pettigrew believes it could also play a role in education, with students embracing the app over its print counterpart. “For a 13year old, Shakespearean language can be a barrier and to have something right there on the page is really helpful,” he said.

According to Pettigrew, the publishing house chose to develop it for the iPad because it is the dominant tablet platform in schools, but he said they are considering Android and Windows 8 apps in the future. Four more apps including “Twelfth Night,” “A Midsummer’s Night Dream,” “Hamlet” and “Othello” are due to be released in coming months.

They are available worldwide for $13.99 each.

Pettigrew said the app is vetted for accuracy by experts and includes ancillary material, which is designed to augment the original text. “To borrow a Shakespeare phrase, ‘the play’s the thing.’” —Reuters

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Man with bionic leg climbs skyscraper Robotic leg responds to muscular electrical impulses

PENNSYLVANIA: Falcone siblings (from left) Nathan, 7 Libby, 9, and Bennett, 3, pose for a portrait outside their Erdenheim home. — MCT

Parents race with time as sons age prematurely PHILADELPHIA: Nathan Falcone is 7, a sweetheart of a boy with a shy smile and a crush on Taylor Swift. He also has age spots and trouble navigating steps. He takes drugs designed to manage osteoporosis and ward off heart attack and stroke. Climbing the stairs of the yellow bus that takes him to first grade at Enfield Elementary, Nathan moves with the hesitance of a much older person. Nathan and his 3-year-old brother, Bennett, are tiny for their ages. Their hair is thinning, their veins prominent, their fingers clubbed.

Nathan weighs 31 pounds. Bennett has six baby teeth. While many other boys his age are playing T-ball and bounding around with the energy of puppies, Nathan struggles to get up from a low chair, his skinny legs stiff, his arms struggling to bear the weight of his tiny body. He’s hesitant to climb steep steps.

The brothers, who live with their family in Springfield Township, Pa, have mandibuloacral dysplasia (MAD), a genetic disease so rare that they are the only people in the United States -and just the sixth and seventh people in the world- to be diagnosed. MAD is a form of progeria, the fatal premature-aging disease. For children with classic progeria, the average life span is 13, but because the Falcone boys’ condition is so rare, no one can say how long they might live. Although their disease is incredibly uncommon, studying it has wider implications, informing us about how normal aging and cardiovascular disease work.

Progeria research is advancing quickly.

Fourteen years ago, the medical community knew almost nothing about the disease; last month, scientists announced that the first experimental drug to treat progeria has shown promising results, and another trial is under way. But Phyllis and Mark Falcone feel as if they’re racing against the clock as their sons’ hair falls out and their bodies become less flexible. “We just want them to get big, to gain weight, to get strong,” said Phyllis Falcone. “But they’re not getting better.” Her voice trembles. “How can you accept something this hard when the worst is still to come?”

Francis Collins grew interested in progeria 30 years ago, when the young Yale postdoctoral fellow met a young woman with MAD. “It was frustrating because -while you could see that, in this disorder, the body was aging at an increased rate, with lots of challenges in terms of what it was doing to the bones, to the cardiovascular system- we knew almost nothing about it,” said Collins, now the director of the National Institutes of Health. “The disease was so rare that almost nobody had done much research on the conditions that fit under this genome description at all.” At the time, Collins remembers thinking: “Wow, somebody ought to work on this.” Two decades later, he met Scott Berns and Leslie Gordon, physician-scientists and a married couple whose son, Sam, was diagnosed with progeria in 1998. They were told to take Sam home and enjoy him and that nothing could be done.

Berns and Gordon refused to accept that answer. They knew their son’s condition was fatal, but what if they could slow it? Even cure it? So Berns and Gordon established the Progeria Research Foundation. They began a cell and tissue bank. They raised money, awarded research grants. They held scientific meetings. In 2003, the foundation and the National Institutes of Health made public the cause of progeria - a mutation in the LMNA gene. That single genetic misspelling causes those with progeria to produce significant amounts of progerin, a protein that is toxic to their own cells. Everyone makes progerin, especially as cells age, but healthy cells can wipe it out. Many labs, including Collins’ own, are now examining progerin’s role in normal aging, and recent research hints that aging isn’t what people long assumed. “It’s not just a running down of the system,” Collins said in an interview. “There’s actually an active program to tell cells, ‘Hey, it’s time to head for the exits.’” Using that information to help people achieve healthy aging is still a task for the future, Collins said, but for now, progeria has provided “a new view of the aging process.”

Last month, Gordon, who serves as medical director of the Progeria Research Foundation, announced the results of the first clinical trial for children with progeria. It showed that lonafarnib, a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) designed to treat cancer, can slow the disease’s progress.

Over 2 years, 28 children -75 percent of all known progeria cases worldwide when the study began- showed improvement on the drug in weight, bone structure, and cardiovascular health. “This tells us something huge, that you can actually reverse some aspect of the disease,” Gordon said. “It gives us the inspiration to go forward, to find more treatments, to step closer and closer to a cure.” A second clinical trial is taking place at Boston Children’s Hospital; Nathan and Bennett are

among the children taking a three-drug cocktail to measure its effectiveness. Twice a day, the boys take drugs designed to help with bone density, cholesterol, and cancer, repurposed to attempt to halt their progeria symptoms.

Another possible treatment is the antibiotic rapamycin. Last year, Collins’ group reported that cells from progeria patients responded to the drug. Now, Collins said, his lab is testing a related drug in a mouse model of progeria. If that drug shows promise, it could be used in combination with the drugs already being tested. A third clinical trial is a possibility; Gordon said scientists were getting closer to using genetic therapy to treat progeria, too. Discussing the science, Gordon speaks in the polished, professional language of a researcher.

But ask her about her son, and Gordon switches from scientist to parent - proud, quick to point out how well the high school sophomore is doing. Sam is a strong student who plays drums in the marching band in his public school and is close to becoming an Eagle Scout. He has good friends. “He’s just a joy,” Gordon said. “He’s just growing into a wonderful young man. I think he has the same kind of happiness in his life that other kids his age have.” But, she acknowledges, every second matters.

“Long term to me,” she said, “is not the same as long term to most people.” Phyllis and Mark Falcone thought their dreams were modest - healthy children, soccer games, school plays. But the couple had trouble conceiving children and eventually adopted daughter Libby, now 9. Having Nathan naturally in August 2005 was a happy surprise. But when he was still a baby, it became clear that something was wrong. He wasn’t gaining weight. His skin was shiny. His muscles were tight. Doctors first warned that he might have progeria, then said he did not. They suspected he had a connective-tissue disorder and said Nathan’s parents were not carriers, that the problem was spontaneous gene change.

Then Bennett was born and started showing similar symptoms. The MAD diagnosis came when he was an infant and Nathan was 3.

Both Phyllis and Mark carry the recessive gene that causes the disease, though the chances of both their biological children having MAD were small.

“When I looked at the symptoms, such as joint contractures, decreased mobility, being stooped over, diabetes, and renal failure, I felt like I couldn’t breathe,” Phyllis wrote in her journal in April 2009, the day the boys were diagnosed. “How fast will it happen? Looking at Nathan, I can’t imagine that happening to him. But look at how much he changed in three years. He already complains about his knees hurting. What is it going to be like in 10 years? I still cannot believe that Bennett will change in the same way.”

Not knowing much about the boys’ life span is tough. Two MAD patients lived to adulthood, the Falcones were told - one to 27 and one to 37, eventually dying of kidney problems. One died at age 2 from an upper airway obstruction that may have been related to the disorder. Besides Nathan and Bennett, the other two known MAD patients are 6- and 10-year-old sisters who live in Japan. Like their lively big sister, the Falcone boys are smart and happy.

Nathan is slower to warm up to strangers, but Bennett is all giant grin and big personality, sneaking a cracker from the pantry and laughing uproariously when he’s discovered.

“I did it!” Bennett exclaimed. On a recent day, Nathan shyly showed a visitor his new lunch bag, climbing up a step stool to the freezer to get it out. “Mom, can you help me down?” he asked in his high, little-boy voice. “No, you can do it,” Phyllis said.

Slowly, cautiously, he did, with his mom watching closely. Balancing the disease with a desire to have Nathan and Bennett lead normal lives can be tough, Phyllis and Mark say.

Inside their pretty Colonial on a wide suburban street, the Falcones have a busy life, with Mark running Libby to gymnastics and Phyllis taking Nathan to Boy Scouts. Woven into the routine are physical and occupational therapy for the boys and breaks for their medications - multiple pills each, twice a day. They eat nutritional shakes to help keep weight on, and they have many more doctor’s appointments than other kids their age.

Twice a year, the Bennett boys travel to Boston Children’s Hospital for extensive workups for the clinical trial they’re enrolled in. Nathan is in a regular first-grade class, with an aide to help with his physical challenges motor skills and strength. The juxtaposition is stark between the little boy - he loves math, he got a remote-control helicopter and a Spider-Man web shooter for his birthday, did you know Libby can do a cartwheel? - and his aging body. Other kids his age jump out of a car with ease; Nathan only recently stopped being lifted in and out. —MCT

CHICAGO: The metal on Zac Vawter bionic leg gleamed as he climbed 103 floors of Chicago’s iconic Willis Tower, becoming the first person ever to complete the task wearing a mind-controlled prosthetic limb. Vawter, who lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident, put the smart limb on public display for the first time during an annual stair-climbing charity event called “SkyRise Chicago” hosted by the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, where he is receiving treatment. “Everything went great,” said Vawter at the event’s end. “The prosthetic leg did its part, and I did my part.”

The robotic leg is designed to respond to electrical impulses from muscles in his hamstring. When Vawter thought about climbing the stairs, the motors, belts and chains in his leg synchronized the movements of its ankle and knee. The computerized prosthetic limb, like something one might see in a sci-fi film, weighs about 10 pounds and holds two motors.

Bionic - or thought-controlled prosthetic arms have been available for a few years, thanks to pioneering work done at the Rehabilitation Institute. Knowing leg amputees outnumbering people who’ve lost arms and hands, the Chicago researchers are focusing more on lower limbs. If a bionic hand fails, a person drops a glass of water. If a bionic leg fails, a person falls down stairs. This event was a research project for us, said Joanne Smith, the Rehabilitation Institute’s CEO. “We were testing the leg under extreme conditions. Very few

patients who will use the leg in the future will be using it for this purpose. From that perspective, its performance was beyond measure,” Smith added. To prepare for his pioneering climb, Vawter said, he practiced on a small escalator at a gym, while researchers spent months adjusting the technical aspects of the leg to ensure that it would respond to his thoughts.

When Vawter goes home to Yelm, Wash, where he lives with his wife and two children, the experimental leg will stay behind in Chicago. Researchers will continue to refine its steering. Taking it to the market is still years away. “We’ve come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” said lead researcher Levi Hargrove of the institute’s Center for Bionic Medicine. “We need to make rock solid devices, more than a research prototype.”

The $8 million project is funded by the US Department of Defense and involves Vanderbilt University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Rhode Island and the University of New Brunswick. “A lot of people say that losing a leg is like losing a loved one,” said Vawter. “You go through a grieving process. You and establish a new normal in your life and move on. Today was a big event. It’s just neat to be a part of the research and be a part of RIC.” Nearly, 3,000 climbers participated in the annual charity event.

Participants climbed about 2,100 steps to the Willis Tower’s SkyDeck level to raise money for the institute’s rehabilitation care and research. —AP

CHICAGO: Zac Vawter stands on “The Ledge” of the Willis Tower in Chicago after walking up the stairs of the building to become the first person to climb the 103 floors of one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers with a bionic leg. — AP

Scientists enlist dogs to battle human cancers PHILADELPHIA: Sasha is still spunky at 12 - a white dog with a smattering of black, floppy ears and a sweet face.

Even after she lost her right foreleg to bone cancer, her owners said, she could jump and catch a Frisbee.

Unfortunately, in nearly all cases like Sasha’s, the surgery offers just a short respite before the cancer comes roaring back. Her only hope now lies with an experimental treatment being developed at the University of Pennsylvania. Doctors at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine recently pumped a modified listeria bacteria into her bloodstream, hoping to push her immune system to kill remaining cancer cells. If the treatment works, it is likely to be tested next on humans with this type of bone cancer, called osteosarcoma.

Veterinary scientists say such cross-species research is on the rise.

While animal research has long played an important role in human medicine, an increasing number of clinical trials for dogs are being designed to help both species. Right now, the vast majority of cancer treatments that work in mice fail in people, said immunologist Carl June, director of translational research at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center. By testing the treatments in dogs, he said, veterinarians are helping sort out the potential winners.

Osteosarcoma is also easier to study in dogs because it’s relatively common, especially in larger breeds.

In humans, it’s an orphan disease, but it takes a vicious toll. It strikes young people, most of them between the ages of 13 and 25. Often their only hope for survival is a radical amputation. Liliana Ruano said she and her husband, Carlos, wanted a dog that could accompany the North Carolina couple on hiking and camping adventures, and Sasha turned out to be just perfect. They often visit Carlos’s family in Pennsylvania and hike with Sasha in French Creek State Park. The first sign of trouble came earlier this year, when Sasha started limping. The local veterinarian thought it was an injury; it seemed to get better for awhile, but then it got much worse. An X-ray revealed bone cancer, and the doctor offered grim choices. They could do nothing and

their faithful hiking buddy would die in agony, or they could amputate the leg, which would give her a few months of pain-free life before the cancer returned, usually as a fatal chest tumor. Mild chemotherapy would extend her life slightly. They opted for the surgery and chemotherapy, and Sasha came through very well. She’s running around and playing Frisbee - for now, anyway.

Concerned that Sasha’s cancer would come back, Liliana found information about the Penn trial on a Facebook page about dogs and cancer. She called to find out more and connected with Nicola Mason, who explained the treatment, its risks and benefits. Mason told them the tumor would have to be of a certain type for Sasha to qualify - expressing a marker called her2/neu. Sasha’s tumor tested positive. Mason, who has both a veterinary degree and a doctorate in immunology, said osteosarcoma tumors that strike dogs are very similar to those that strike humans. Dog and human lymphomas are also similar, and she is also involved in a trial to treat dog lymphoma. Treatment with listeria bacteria might sound scary because it’s associated with food poisoning, but it is disabled, Mason said. “It’s modified so it does not cause disease and is rapidly cleared.” But it should still prompt an immune response in Sasha. Modified listeria has been tested in mice and used in some trials connected with human cervical cancer, she said. For this treatment, the listeria was also genetically modified - a gene was added to allow the bacteria to make a protein called her2/neu - the same one they tested for and was expressed in Sasha’s tumor.

The idea is to train the patient’s immune system with the her2/neu protein the way you might train a bloodhound with a piece of someone’s clothing. The immune cells are geared to attack listeria, but they will also be trained to recognize and attack cancer cells that express the her2/neu. This protein is one of the few marks that distinguishes the cancer cells from healthy ones, so the immune system should go after the cancer. —MCT

PHILADELPHIA: Penn veterinarian Nicola Mason (left) meets with Sasha and the dog’s owners, Carlos and Liliana Ruano.— MCT

Doctors debate value of ‘fringe’ heart treatment LOS ANGELES: A heart disease treatment that many doctors consider to be fringe medicine unexpectedly showed some promise in a federal study clouded by ethical and scientific controversy, causing debate about the results. The study took 10 years, cost taxpayers $30 million, involved several doctors convicted of felonies and spurred a federal probe into patient safety. Even the lead researchers say the treatment cannot be recommended without further research. The study tested chelation (pronounced “kee-LAY’shun”) periodic intravenous infusions that proponents say may help remove calcium from hardened arteries around the heart. Chelation has long been used to treat lead poisoning but its safety and value for heart disease are unproven. The heart disease version involves a different drug that does not have government approval for any use in the United States. However, alternative medicine practitioners have been ordering it custom-mixed from compounding pharmacies - businesses like the Massachusetts one involved in the current meningitis outbreak - and treating people with it.

More than 100,000 Americans use chelation, often out of distrust of conventional medicine and sometimes in place of established treatments such as cholesterol-lowering medicines and stents to open clogged arteries. Treatments cost $90 to $150 apiece, usually are done weekly for 30 weeks and then less often, and are not covered by insurance. On Sunday at an American Heart Association conference in Los Angeles, researchers said that a chelation mixture they tested in a study of 1,708 heart attack survivors led to fewer complications - repeat heart attacks, strokes, deaths, hospitalization for chest pain or need for an artery-opening procedure. Four years after treatment, 26.5 percent of the chelation group had one of these problems versus 30 percent of those given dummy infusions.

However, 17 percent of participants dropped out before the study ended, and only 65 percent had all 40 infusions they were supposed to get. The missing and incomplete results make it unclear whether the benefit credited to chelation could have occurred by chance alone. The results have not been published in a medical journal or vetted by independent scientists, another reason doctors are leery. “The study in my view is inconclusive,” said Dr Steven Nissen, the Cleveland Clinic’s cardiovascular chief who had no role Dr Gervasio Lamas in the research. “Chelation has been practiced by physicians on the extreme fringes of medicine” and many involved in this study offer “a variety of other quack therapies,” Nissen said. “I’m really worried about harm coming to the public. Patients should not seek this therapy on the basis of this trial.” Others including the Heart Association praised the government for doing the study. “Patients are doing this with or without our permission” so it’s important to test, said Dr John G Harold, president-elect of the American College of Cardiology and a doctor at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles. He said at least two of his patients had suffered heart failure after getting chelation in Mexico.

Dr Gary Gibbons, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, which funded the study with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, called it “a first step” and urged caution about results that suggest “a marginal benefit.” This chelation seemed safe in this study, where steps were taken to minimize complications and exclude people likely to suffer them, he said. “Further research needs to be done before this can join the mainstream of cardiovascular care.” Other experts questioned the results, especially because 60 more people in the group getting dummy infusions withdrew from the study than in the group getting chelation. Usually, more people in a treatment group drop out because of side effects, said Dr Christie Ballantyne, a Baylor College of Medicine heart specialist. To find the opposite is “a red flag” that suggests those who got dummy treatments found that out and decided to drop out. “There’s something funky going on here,” Ballantyne said. “It raises questions about study conduct,” especially since a difference of one or two people or complications could have nullified the small overall benefit researchers reported.

Dr Clyde Yancy, a Northwestern University cardiologist and a former Heart Association president, agreed. “It’s funny business,” he said. “I’ve never seen a study in which one in five people withdrew consent.” The study’s leader, Dr Gervasio Lamas of Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, said: “The trial needs to be taken for what it is - a step towards future investigation.” — AP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Young doctors: Fewer hours means they’re less tired BOSTON: Orthopedic surgeons-in-training said they were tired less often after rules regulating how much they could work went into place, according to a US survey. But the results published in the Annals of Surgery found the trainee doctors didn’t actually get any more sleep under the limited work hours policy, and also said they felt less prepared as doctors and were less satisfied with their education.

In July 2003, the US Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education implemented new policy limiting the on-duty hours of notoriously sleepdeprived residents to 80 per week, with a minimum of ten hours off between

shifts. Those changes were further updated in 2011. The main goal was to ease young doctors’ fatigue and fatiguerelated medical errors.

The work limits seem to have been somewhat successful, but they also come at a cost, according to Debra Weinstein from Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, who worked on the study. “The extent to which we restrict residents’ time in the hospital does risk (affecting) their skill and sense of preparedness,” she said.

“Continuing to further limit duty hours may not be the best way to address the goals of patient safety, resi-

dent well-being and excellent medical education.” Some past studies have suggested that work limits improve quality of life for residents, but have a negative impact on their education. One survey published last year found that the majority of surgery residents worked more hours than the current regulations allowed.

In the new study, researchers analyzed surveys completed by a total of 216 residents at the Harvard Orthopedic Combined Residency Program between 2003 and 2009. Compared to pre-2003 residents, orthopedic trainees in 2009 reported working fewer hours per week, about 66 hours versus 75. But they

didn’t get any more sleep. Throughout the study period, they reported sleeping for about five hours every night, on average.

Residents rated their own preparedness to make clinical decisions under stress and their ability to perform the range of skills expected of them slightly lower in later years, the researchers said.

After the work-hour policies went into place, residents did say they spent fewer days feeling very tired, and a smaller proportion of them said their fatigue had a negative impact on patient care and safety.

Forty-six percent of residents said their fatigue affected the quality of care

they provided in 2003, compared to 26 percent on the 2004 through 2009 surveys. “There’s a general assumption that reducing work hours will result in more sleep for tired residents, and clearly out findings challenge that,” Weinstein said.

However, it’s possible that having more time to decompress and relieve psychological stress may improve residents’ sense of well-being, even if they’re not getting more sleep, she added.

Weinstein and her colleagues noted that their study didn’t include objective measures of residents’ performance, so they couldn’t tell whether they actually did better or worse on exams, or made more or fewer errors.— Reuters

Help for post-traumatic stress BERLIN: It can happen to anyone at any time: witnessing a serious traffic accident and suddenly having to render assistance to the victims. Severe injuries, people trapped in wrecked vehicles, perhaps even fatalities. First responders at traumatic events often experience a feeling of helplessness and shock.

“Most people who experience terrible events cope relatively well,” said Pastor Hanjo von Wietersheim, who is in charge of emergency pastoral care for the Lutheran Church in Bavaria. He said it was normal to have flashbacks and nightmares for up to two months after seeing a bad accident because mind and soul needed time to sort out the ordeal. As many as four percent of the witnesses need psychological help, von Wietersheim estimates.

Wilfried Echterhoff, head of the Cologne -based Institute for PostAccident Psychological Care (known by its German abbreviation ipu), puts the number at 30 per cent, however.

“Lifelong damage can occur: massive anxiety, permanent inability to work,

depression and feelings of helplessness,” Echterhoff said. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress include nightmares, insomnia, intrusive memories of the event as well as increased use of tobacco products, alcohol or medications. Job performance can decline, too.

“It’s impossible to clearly assess on the spot whether an eyewitness will later need professional help or not,” von Wietersheim said. “Eyewitnesses of serious accidents normally want to leave the scene as quickly as possible,” noted Michael Steil, national coordinator for the Psychosocial Emergency Care department of the German Red Cross. “I’ve often heard of people who drove off and then had to stop, trembling, 20 minutes later. What they had gone through finally hit them.”

Often witnesses of accidents can only give the injured words of comfort until emergency medical personnel arrive, or look on helplessly as people die. This, according to Steil, can result in lasting feelings of guilt. “People who have helped to save a life or assist an

injured person generally have less trouble getting over the event,” he said.

Steil advises people who have witnessed an accident to make a conscious effort to take their mind off it in the days and weeks afterwards. “It’s important to do something nice for yourself when you feel the need for it,” he said, adding that physical activity could also help. “Someone having trouble sleeping should get plenty of exercise since it’s easier to fall asleep if you’re physically exhausted.”

If none of this helps, therapy is in order. How well, and how quickly, a person gets over an accident also depends on the people around him or her, according to Steil. “Fewer and fewer people are capable of handling such situations by themselves,” he said. “For a lot of people, life consists solely of fun and career. They’ve never concerned themselves with death. And social networks aren’t as close-knit as they used to be.” Consequently, oppressive memories of accident casualties can persist, causing post-traumatic stress. — dpa

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WHAT’S ON

Landmark Group urges participation in walkathon SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! This summer, let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

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Greetings

andmark Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, readies to host the third edition of its annual ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon in Kuwait. Registrations are now open and can be done across all Centrepoint, Max, Home Centre and New Look outlets. The walkathon is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 17, 2012 and will flag off from the Yacht Club and end at Green Island. It is held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Dasman Diabetes Institute.

The Group will also conduct walkathons across other countries including UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and India, during November which is the International Diabetes Awareness Month. On Saturday, 17 November 2012, approximately 6,000 people are expected to take part in this cause to highlight the simple fact that diabetes can be managed and prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Open to all age groups, participation in the walkathon is free of charge and all walkers are given complimentary t-shirts, caps and wristbands. Free blood glucose test will be conducted from November 13 across all Centrepoint stores in Kuwait

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and on the day of the walk. The Group will also be distributing awareness pamphlets to educate the public about the condition.

Saibal Basu, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group Kuwait, said “We are

not save any effort to promote and shed light on the awareness of diabetes and general health amongst the public. The involvement of the Institute in the ‘Beat Diabetes Walkathon’ stems from our mission to improve the lifestyle of the popu-

pleased to host the walkathon for the third year in a row. The Beat Diabetes initiative aims to create awareness about the causes, effects and dangers of this condition in the countries the Landmark Group has a presence. Over the last three years we have received tremendous response from the Kuwait community and we are sure that this support will continue”.

Dr Kazem Behbehani, DirectorGeneral of Dasman Diabetes Institute added, “Dasman Diabetes Institute does

lation of Kuwait. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular exercise and physical activity such as the upcoming walkathon, is essential in living well with diabetes.”

In 2011, the Landmark Group’s ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathons in six countries attracted over 35,000 people and over 40,000 people were administered free blood glucose test. In Kuwait alone over 5,000 people participated in the walk and the number is expected to grow over 6,000 this year.

All Centrepoint stores had free diabetes testing from November 1-3.

Landmark Group - ‘Beat Diabetes’ initiative Diabetes is growing at an alarming rate and currently affects over 366 million people worldwide.

Landmark Group adopted the ‘Beat Diabetes’ initiative with a focused view to spread awareness on the causes, effects and dangers of the condition.

Launched in 2009, the initiative today encompasses seven countries - UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, KSA and India.

As part of the initiative Landmark Group conducts year round activities and these cumulate with the Beat Diabetes Walk organized in November - World Diabetes Month. Last year the Group organized a series of walkathons in 6 countries, which drew the participation of over 35,000 people, and a huge drive to provide free blood glucose tests. The Group has also partnered with several organizations, including the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and local institutions in every country, to spread awareness about diabetes.

appy birthday to Rachel studying at Don Bosco School in Salmiya on her 15th birthday. Best wishes from brothers, Dr Immanuel and Joshua, sister Lyda, dad David, mom Anna and continued blessings from the all National Evangelical Church, Kuwait family.

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Bazaar Exhibition mbassy of the Republic of Armenia in Kuwait and the Armenian community has the pleasure to invite you to attend our Exhibition-Bazaar ‘The Journey of Existence in our Praised Heritage’ on Saturday and Sunday, November 10 and 11, 2012 at Costa Del Sol - Shaab Al-Babri hotel Casa Hall - 2nd floor. The opening ceremony will be on November 10, at 11:00 am.

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Palakkadan Mela 2012

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Indian Embassy Announcements Indian Embassy passport and visa Passports and visa applications can be deposited at the two outsourced centers of M/S BLS Ltd at Sharq and Fahaheel. Details are available at www.blsinternational.com and www.indembkwt.org.

Consular Open House Consular Wing is providing daily service of Open House to Indian citizens on all workings days from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs and from 1430 hrs to 1530 hrs by the Consular Officer in the Meeting Room of the Consular Hall at the Embassy. For any unaddressed issues, Second Secretary (Consular) can be contacted. Furthermore, the head of the Consular Wing is also available to redress grievances.

Indian workers helpline/helpdesk Indian workers helpline is accessible by toll free telephone number 25674163 from all over Kuwait. It provides information and advice to Indian workers as regards their grievances, immigration and other matters.

The help desk at the Embassy (Open from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 4:30PM, Sunday to Thursday) provides guidance to Indian nationals on routine immigration, employment, legal and other issues. It also provides workers assistance in filling up labour complaint forms.

For any unaddressed issues, the concerned attachÈ in the Labour section and the head of the Labour Wing can be contacted.

Colours galore at ICSK Junior here was a burst of colours at the ground floor of ICSK Junior branch on October 21, 2012.

The Kindergarten Section celebrated Colours of the World and the classes and the corridors were bright and cheerful with bright and colour. Not only was the outside of the class colourful, the inside of the classes were equally full of colours.

One could not help but be happy and full of cheer.

Each section of the kindergarten had taken up a colour to decorate

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upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

FOKE ‘Kannur Maholtsavam’

IKEA Family cardholders guaranteed exciting meal offers wing to the benefit of the IKEA Family cardholders, IKEA Kuwait Restaurant recently introduced a new and special offer designed solely to complement the IKEA Kuwait Loyalty program. As a means to accommodate its customer’s most popular tastes, the meal prices have been subsidized to less than the usual rates for the whole family to enjoy.

IKEA Family Card shoppers can now exclusively look forward to a delicious family meal, consisting of Swedish meatballs, penne pasta with grilled chicken breast, and kid’s meal chicken nuggets with fries and kid’s meal chicken sausages with mashed potato for the children; all of it for only KD 4.500 instead of its original price of KD 5.950.

IKEA Family Card grants its customers in-store and out-of-store benefits, member privileges, added savings and convenience as well as improve their overall customer shopping experience. Cardholders could get instant discounts throughout the year on the exclusive IKEA Family product range in the IKEA Family Shop.

Families can also look forward to receiving 10 percent discounts on a selected range at the Swedish Food Market. Moreover, individuals seeking a healthy diet can enjoy their meal with a 15 percent discount on the entire ‘Healthy Range’ in the restaurant. For more information on the family card offers, IKEA cardholders are urged to visit the IKEA Kuwait store or log on to our website or call us.

O Indian concert haheer Kochi performs his mehfil, a concert of Indian classical songs, ghazals, Hindi melodies and selfcomposed ghazals of Vayalar poems in a program organized by Kerala Association.

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but Colours Day saw “Waa Waa White Sheep”. The little children saw more things in different colours than what they had seen in their books. At the same time older children visiting the corridor took in the interesting phrases and write ups on different colours. At ICSK Junior branch, the horizon of knowledge is always extended a little bit more with such events and celebrations.

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their class and display boards in the corridor. There was excitement and bubbling energy while the teachers worked with the children on ideas and selecting different objects for their colours.

The little ones in the classes surprised the teachers with their intelligent ideas. Then out came green caterpillars, blue butterflies, yellow lemons, Santa in red, pumpkins with oranges and also white fluffy sheep.

The tiny tots of kindergarten are familiar with “Baa Baa Black Sheep”

riends of Kannur expatriates association (FOKE) 7th anniversary celebrations will be held on Friday, November 9, 2012 at Salmiya Indian Models School. The day long mega festival titled “Kannur Maholtsavam” will begin at 10:00 am. Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Satish C Mehta will be the Chief Guest. Famous percussionist artist Mattanur Sankarankutty will receive the 5th Golden FOKE award during the day.

Variety of cultural programs by the FOKE family including on stage Theyyam, orchestra, comedy skits, dances, etc will entertain the crowd. Mazhamil Manorama fame famous comedy team ‘Marimayam’ will be an added attraction to the event. Orchestra lead

by Idea star singer fame Preethi Warior and Kannur Sherif will also be held during the Kannur Maholtsavam.

GWS drawing competition s a part of the Goa Day 2012, organized by the Goan Welfare Society (GWS), in association with other Goan clubs and groups, a drawing competition and a collage competition, for children, will be held prior to the main event, as detailed here: date of competitions: November 14, (children’s day). Venue: Salmiya Indian Model School(SIMS), Salmiya, Kuwait. Time: 6 pm to 8 pm.

The competitions are open to students, enrolled in Indian schools, from ages 4 - 17 years, who will be grouped as follows: Drawing and coloring competitions: Group A ages 4 - 6 years, Group B ages 7 - 9 years, Group C ages 10 - 12 years. Collage competition: Group D ages 13 - 15 years, Group E ages 16 - 17 years.

The theme for drawing and collage competitions will pertain to the State of Goa and will be announced on the spot for each Group, separately.

The winners will be announced and prize distributions will be held on Friday, November 30, at the Goa Day 2012 function, to be held at the same venue, Salmiya Indian Model School (SIMS), Salmiya, Kuwait, between 12:00 noon to 8 pm.

Online Entries, if desired, may be emailed to GWS email before November 7, with details of participant, as follows: participant’s name, date of birth, school, Std or Class, name of parent or guardian, Tel contact, mobile and email. Please note that entries will not be accepted after November 7.

alakkad Pravasi Association of Kuwait (PALPAK) will present a mega carnival ‘Palakkadan Mela 2012’ to mark the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the association on Friday, Nov 9, 2012 at the Indian Central School auditorium, Abbassiya from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.

Prominent Malayalam film-maker Lal Jose will inaugurate the function as Chief Guest.

A team of talented professional artists led by popular Malayalam playback singers Vidhu Pratap and Cicely from Kerala along with local singers will present a musical orchestra on the occasion. The traditional Kerala art form ‘Chakyarkoothu’ by Kalamandalam Kanakakumar and a special doll dance by Kovai Alphonse are other highlights of the event, informed PALPAK president P N Kumar.

PALPAK members and children will present several entertainment programs such as Dandia dance, Oppana, Rangavandanam, mappila dances, group dances, cinematic dances, medley numbers, PALPAK theme dance etc, during the celebration, according to Aravindakshan, general secretary of the association. Program convener Suresh Pulikkal said some of the cultural programs to be presented by the members will highlight Palakkad’s distinct socio-cultural heritage.

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WHAT’S ON

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department.

All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office).

In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm.

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Najla Al-Naqqi welcomes the guests.

Najla Al-Naqqi Forum hosts Uqail Al-Lawati he Najla Al-Naqqi Forum hosted Omani poet Uqail Al-Lawati in an event that also saw contribution from Kuwaiti poets Mohammad Abdurrasoul and Natheerah Al-Awadhi. Authors, artists, poets and media personalities were present at the event.

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EMBASSY OF CANADA The Canadian Embassy in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakei St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah. Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 7:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed for lunch from 12:30 to 13:00. Consular services for Canadian citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00, Sunday through Wednesday.

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Actor Abdulmuhsin Al-Saffar

Author Antoine Bara

Mubarak Al-Qufaidi with Beshop Bigol Bishoi

Historian Farhan Al-Farhan

Natheerah Al-Awadhi reads out a poem.

Mohammad Abdurrasoul reads his poem.

Omani poet Uqail Al-Lawati

EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on short-stay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital photos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Biometric data, along with the data provided in the Schengen visa application form, will be recorded in the VIS central database. Therefore, as from 2nd October 2012, first-time applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on the following days during the month of November 2012: Nov 13, 2012 - Tuesday - Deepawali Nov 25, 2012 - Sunday - Muharram

The guests seen at the beginning of the evening.

Sheraton Kuwait opens four new restaurants heraton Kuwait, a Luxury Collection Hotel is pleased to announce that is planning to open new branches of its specialized restaurants at the Grand Avenue, The Avenues which is scheduled to open soon. The new restaurants include Le Tarbouche which is famous for its Lebanese mezzas and grills with the finest spices and ingredients, originating from the land of the cedars; Shahrayar restaurant that is distinguished with its quintessentially Iranian Kebabs as well as its famous and delicious meals; the renowned restaurant Bukhara, inspired by the magnificent Palace of Jaipur which captures the romance of ancient India down to the last detail and brings to life an array of traditionally prepared authentic Indian dishes, including the world famous flavors of Tandoori style cuisine; and finally, Al-Hambra, with its rich and various buffets featuring a mix of international cuisine with mouthwatering dishes from the four corners of the world throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The debut of Al-Hambra restaurant at

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The Avenues marks the first in a series of buffet restaurants that have opened in a mall.

The opening of these new branches

creates a qualitative step ahead for Sheraton’s restaurants, considering that The Avenues is one of the largest shopping centers in the region. Its guests will have an amazing and renewed experience provided by the

variety of food and place coupled with the same exquisite service that Sheraton Kuwait is known for since its inauguration in 1966 until now.

These new restaurants, with their distinguished location at the Grand Avenue, The Avenues along with their breathtaking designs and varied delicacies will be an exceptional destination for all food lovers, to enjoy a spe-

cial dining experience. After the opening of the four new restaurant branches, The Avenues will integrate five Sheraton restaurants with the famous English Tea Lounge which is already a popular spot since its opening in 2009 at the 2nd Avenue, The Avenues, marking a significant event in the history of Sheraton Kuwait. After years of relishing the hotel for a unique food experience, Sheraton guests and visitors can now have the same elegant experience at a different and splendid location.

“We look forward to the opening of our new restaurants at The Avenues as part of the hotel’s plan to expand its facilities in 2012. Thanks to these developments, Sheraton Kuwait will reach new horizons of hospitality in Kuwait, aiming to give the best services for its esteemed guests”, expressed Fahed Abushaar, Area Director and General Manager of Sheraton Kuwait.

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF PERU The Embassy of Peru is located in Sharq, Ahmed Al Jaber Street, Al Arabiya Tower, 6th Floor. Working days / hours: SundayThursday /9 am - 4 pm. Residents in Kuwait interested in getting a visa to travel to Peru and companies attracted to invest in Peru are invited to visit the permanent exposition room located in the Embassy. For more information, please contact: (+965) 22267250/1.

■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF UKRAINE

The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait would like to remind that the external polling station No 90046 was created in the Embassy’s premises at the following address: Hawalli, Jabriya, bl.10, str. 6, build. 5. The working hours of the polling station: Sunday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Monday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Tuesday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Wednesday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Thursday from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Friday from 10.00 to 13.00 pm; Saturday from 10.00 to 13.00 pm On October 28, 2012 the working hours of the polling station from 8.00 am to 20.00 pm. Please be advised to refer to the Embassy to check your data in the Electoral Register as well as to pick up your personal invitation from the polling station if you did not receive this document by post.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

TV PROGRAMS

00:50 Animal Cops Phoenix 01:45 Your Worst Animal Nightmares 02:35 I’m Alive 03:25 Baboons With Bill Bailey 03:50 Baboons With Bill Bailey 04:15 Bad Dog 05:05 Wildest Africa 05:55 Predator’s Prey 06:20 Orangutan Island 06:45 Safari Vet School 07:10 Safari Vet School 07:35 Wildlife SOS 08:00 Monkey Life 08:25 Baby Planet 09:15 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 10:10 Must Love Cats 11:05 Wildest Africa 12:00 World Wild Vet 12:55 Clinically Wild: Alaska 13:20 Clinically Wild: Alaska 13:50 Wildlife SOS 14:15 Shamwari: A Wild Life 14:45 Animal Cops Phoenix 15:40 Wildest Africa 16:35 Orangutan Island 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Bad Dog 18:25 Natural Born Hunters 18:50 Natural Born Hunters 19:20 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 20:15 Monkey Life 20:40 Shamwari: A Wild Life 21:10 Wild Britain With Ray Mears 21:35 Orangutan Island 22:05 Wildest Africa 23:00 Gator Boys 23:55 Safari Vet School 23:50 Animal Cops Houston 00:00 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 00:45 Come Dine With Me 01:35 Antiques Roadshow 02:25 Gok’s Fashion Fix 03:15 Gok’s Fashion Fix 04:05 Living In The Sun 05:00 House Swap 05:50 Saturday Kitchen 2008/09 06:20 Living In The Sun 07:15 House Swap 08:00 MasterChef Australia 08:45 MasterChef Australia 09:35 Gok’s Fashion Fix 10:25 Gok’s Fashion Fix 11:10 Bargain Hunt 11:55 Antiques Roadshow 12:45 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 13:30 Come Dine With Me 14:20 Holmes On Homes 15:05 Holmes On Homes 15:55 Bargain Hunt 16:40 Antiques Roadshow 17:30 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 18:10 Come Dine With Me 19:00 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 19:25 Baking Mad With Eric Lanlard 19:55 Out Of The Frying Pan 20:45 Come Dine With Me 21:35 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 22:20 Antiques Roadshow 23:15 Bargain Hunt EditionEdition 00:15 01:10 02:05 03:00 03:55 04:20 04:50 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:50 08:45 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 14:35 15:05 15:30 16:25 17:20 18:15 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Around The World In 80 Ways Deadliest Catch An Idiot Abroad Mythbusters Border Security Dirty Money Auction Kings How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Extreme Fishing Street Customs Mythbusters Ultimate Survival Border Security Dirty Money How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Around The World In 80 Ways Deadliest Catch River Monsters Border Security Dirty Money Auction Kings Ultimate Survival Street Customs Extreme Fishing Mythbusters How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Border Security Dirty Money Auction Kings You Have Been Warned Body Invaders Ultimate Survival

23:20 Surviving Disaster 00:40 Gadget Show - World Tour 01:05 How Tech Works 01:35 The Colony 02:25 Things That Move 02:50 Things That Move 03:15 Nyc: Inside Out 04:05 Weird Connections 04:35 The Colony 05:25 Da Vinci’s Machines 06:15 Gadget Show - World Tour 06:40 How Tech Works 07:05 Meteorite Men 08:00 Things That Move 08:25 Things That Move 08:50 How Do They Do It? 09:15 How Do They Do It? 09:40 Head Rush 09:43 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 10:10 How Stuff’s Made 10:40 Meteorite Men 11:30 Gadget Show - World Tour 11:55 How Tech Works 12:20 Nyc: Inside Out 13:10 Da Vinci’s Machines 14:00 Things That Move 14:25 Things That Move 14:50 Sport Science 15:45 How Do They Do It? 16:10 How Do They Do It? 16:35 Weird Connections 17:00 Head Rush 17:03 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger 17:30 How Stuff’s Made 18:00 Gadget Show - World Tour 18:25 How Tech Works 18:50 Nyc: Inside Out 19:40 Meteorite Men 20:30 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 21:20 Da Vinci’s Machines 22:10 Gadget Show - World Tour 22:35 How Tech Works 23:00 Build It Bigger: Rebuilding Greensburg 23:50 Meteorite Men 20:20 Bang Goes The Theory

00:20 Little Einsteins 00:50 Special Agent Oso 01:15 Lazytown 01:40 Jungle Junction 01:55 Jungle Junction 02:10 Handy Manny 02:30 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 02:55 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 03:00 Lazytown 03:25 Special Agent Oso 03:50 Imagination Movers 04:20 Handy Manny 04:40 Special Agent Oso 05:00 Timmy Time 05:10 Lazytown 05:35 Little Einsteins 06:00 Jungle Junction 06:15 Jungle Junction 06:30 Little Einsteins 06:50 Special Agent Oso 07:00 Special Agent Oso 07:15 Jungle Junction 07:30 Jungle Junction 07:45 Handy Manny 08:00 Special Agent Oso 08:15 Little Einsteins 08:45 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 09:10 The Hive 09:20 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:35 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 09:50 Handy Manny 10:05 The Hive 10:15 Animated Stories 10:20 Mouk 10:30 Mouk 10:45 The Hive 10:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 11:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 11:45 Art Attack 12:10 Imagination Movers 12:35 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 13:00 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 13:10 Handy Manny 13:25 Jungle Junction 13:40 Imagination Movers 14:05 The Hive 14:15 Special Agent Oso 14:30 Lazytown 14:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 15:20 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 15:45 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 16:00 Mouk 16:15 The Hive 16:25 Art Attack 16:50 Doc McStuffins 17:05 Art Attack 17:30 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 17:45 Art Attack 18:10 Mouk 18:25 Mouk 18:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 18:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 19:10 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 19:35 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 20:00 Animated Stories 20:05 Timmy Time 20:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 20:25 Doc McStuffins 20:40 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 20:55 Jake & The Neverland Pirates 21:10 The Hive 21:20 Timmy Time 21:30 Mouk 21:45 Handy Manny 22:00 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 22:25 The Hive 22:35 New Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh 23:00 Timmy Time 23:10 Animated Stories 23:15 A Poem Is...

23:20 Winnie The Pooh: Tales Of Friendship 23:30 Jungle Junction 23:45 Handy Manny 23:55 Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ecial Agent Oso 23:50 Lazytown 00:30 01:25 01:50 02:20 03:15 04:10 05:05 05:30 06:00 06:55 08:00 08:25 08:55 09:20 09:50 10:15 10:45 11:40 12:05 12:35 13:30 14:25 15:20 16:15 16:40 17:10 17:35 18:05 18:30 19:00 19:55 20:50 21:45 22:40 23:05 23:35

M1 Challenge Aiya TV Aiya TV Pro Bull Riders 2011 World Combat League Enfusion Dragrace High Dragrace High M1 Challenge Pro Bull Riders 2011 Ride Guide Snow 2009 Ride Guide Snow 2009 Tread BMX Tread BMX The Alli Show The Alli Show Winter Dew Tour 10/11 Fantasy Factory Fantasy Factory Pro Bull Riders 2011 Mantracker I’ll Do Anything World Combat League Fantasy Factory Fantasy Factory Tread BMX Tread BMX The Alli Show The Alli Show Mantracker Pro Bull Riders 2011 I’ll Do Anything World Combat League Dragrace High Dragrace High Enfusion

00:15 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 00:40 Guy’s Big Bite 01:05 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 01:30 Heat Seekers 01:55 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 02:20 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 02:45 Andy Bates Street Feasts 03:10 Andy Bates Street Feasts 03:35 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 04:00 Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam 04:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 04:50 Heat Seekers 05:15 Guy’s Big Bite 05:40 Grill It! With Bobby Flay 06:05 Unwrapped 06:30 The Next Iron Chef 07:10 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 07:35 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 08:00 Food Network Challenge 08:50 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:15 Barefoot Contessa - Back To Basics 09:40 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 10:05 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 10:30 Kelsey’s Essentials 10:55 Cooking For Real

11:20 11:45 12:10 12:35 13:00 13:50 14:15 14:40 Basics 15:05 Basics 15:30 15:55 16:20 16:45 17:35 Basics 18:00 Basics 18:25 18:50 19:15 19:40 20:05 20:30 21:20 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:25 23:50

Cooking For Real Food Crafters Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Heat Seekers The Next Iron Chef Guy’s Big Bite Cooking For Real Barefoot Contessa - Back To Barefoot Contessa - Back To Food Crafters Charly’s Cake Angels Unique Eats Chopped Barefoot Contessa - Back To Barefoot Contessa - Back To Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Heat Seekers Guy’s Big Bite Unique Eats Unique Eats Chopped The Next Iron Chef Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Guy’s Big Bite Guy’s Big Bite Grill It! With Bobby Flay

00:15 One Man & His Campervan 00:45 Roam 01:10 Travel Madness 01:40 Dive Detectives 02:35 Hugh’s Three Hungry Boys 03:30 Banged Up Abroad 04:25 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 05:20 Bondi Rescue 05:45 Bondi Rescue 06:15 Food School 06:40 David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway 07:10 One Man & His Campervan 07:35 One Man & His Campervan 08:05 Roam 08:30 Travel Madness 09:00 Dive Detectives 09:55 Hugh’s Three Hungry Boys 10:50 Banged Up Abroad 11:45 Extreme Tourist Afghanistan 12:40 Bondi Rescue 13:05 Bondi Rescue 13:35 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 14:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 14:30 Street Food Around The World 14:55 Market Values 15:25 Roam 15:50 Young Global Hotshots 16:20 Dive Detectives 17:15 Hugh’s Three Hungry Boys 18:10 Banged Up Abroad 19:05 Don’t Tell My Mother 20:00 Street Food Around The World 20:30 Market Values 21:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 21:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 22:00 Bondi Rescue 22:25 Bondi Rescue 22:55 David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway 23:20 David Rocco’s Amalfi Getaway 23:50 My Sri Lanka With Peter Kuruvita 23:00 Naked Science 00:00 Ultimate Predator 01:00 Monster Fish 01:55 Africa’s Lost Eden 02:50 Animal Underworld 03:45 Big Baboon House 04:40 Triumph of Life 05:35 Chimps: Nearly Human 06:30 Africa’s Lost Eden 07:25 Animal Underworld 08:20 Big Baboon House 09:15 Zoo Confidential 10:10 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr 11:05 Rescue Ink 12:00 Bear Nomad 13:00 Nordic Wild 14:00 World’s Wildest Encounters 15:00 Cliffhangers 16:00 Shark Men 17:00 Python Hunters 18:00 Rescue Ink 19:00 Africa’s Lost Eden 20:00 Animal Underworld 21:00 Big Baboon House 22:00 Zoo Confidential 23:00 Dangerous Encounters With Brady Barr Zoo Confidential 23:00 Dangerous Encounters 00:00 Burning Bright-18 02:00 Gridlock’d-18 04:00 Saw VII: The Final Chapter-R 06:00 Go Fast-PG15 08:00 Ticking Clock-PG15 10:00 The Warlords-PG15 12:00 The Reunion-PG15 14:00 Ticking Clock-PG15 16:00 The Craigslist Killer-PG15 18:00 The Reunion-PG15 20:00 Rage Of The Yeti-PG15 22:00 Wrong Side Of Town-1822:00 The Rite-18hting-PG15 22:00 Homecoming-18 00:00 Melissa & Joey 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 01:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 01:30 How To Make It In America 02:00 How To Make It In America 02:30 Louie 03:00 Happy Endings 03:30 Hot In Cleveland 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Seinfeld 06:00 Seinfeld 06:30 Friends 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Happy Endings 09:00 Seinfeld 09:30 Seinfeld 10:00 Modern Family 10:30 New Girl 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Friends 12:30 Two And A Half Men 13:00 Seinfeld 13:30 Seinfeld 14:00 Hot In Cleveland 14:30 New Girl 15:00 Modern Family 15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 16:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 16:30 Friends 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 18:30 Last Man Standing 19:00 Modern Family 19:30 Community 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00 23:30 Fall on

The Colbert Report American Dad The Ricky Gervais Show Louie Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 Parenthood 01:00 Boardwalk Empire 02:00 The Newsroom 03:00 Luck 04:00 Bones 05:00 Revenge 06:00 Parenthood 07:00 Emmerdale 07:30 Coronation Street 08:00 Royal Pains 09:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 10:00 Revenge 11:00 Bones 12:00 Emmerdale 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 14:00 Royal Pains 15:00 Parenthood 16:00 Emmerdale 16:30 Coronation Street 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 Royal Pains 19:00 Grey’s Anatomy 20:00 Private Practice 21:00 Homeland 22:00 Breaking Bad 23:00 Downton Abbey Grimm23:00Grimm 01:00 03:00 05:00 07:00 PG15 09:00 PG15 11:00 13:00 PG15 15:00 PG15 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Double Impact-18 Army Of Darkness-18 Ip Man-PG15 Jackie Chan’s Who Am I?True Justice: Deadly CrossingIp Man-PG15 Snake In The Eagle’s ShadowTrue Justice: Deadly CrossingThe Recruit-PG15 Fade To Black-18 Wrong Side Of Town-18 The Rig-18

00:00 28 Days-PG15 02:00 Analyze This-PG15 04:00 Letters To Juliet-PG15 06:00 Joe Dirt-PG15 08:00 Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son-PG15 10:00 Just Go With It-PG15 12:00 Say Anything-PG15 14:00 The American President-PG15 16:00 Just Go With It-PG15 18:00 Big Fat Important MoviePG15 20:00 The Breakfast Club-PG15 22:00 A Little Help-18 22:00 Frenemy-18 01:15 04:00 06:15 PG15 08:00 09:30 11:15 13:00 15:30 17:15 PG15 19:00 PG15 21:00

01:00 03:30 05:00 06:45 09:00 11:00 PG15 13:00 14:45 17:15 18:45 20:45 22:45

The Insider-PG15 The Alamo-PG15 The Deep End Of The OceanGreener Mountains-PG The Moveon.Org Story-PG15 Relative Stranger-PG15 The Alamo-PG15 The Moveon.Org Story-PG15 Ike: Countdown To D-DayMoonlight And ValentinoNixon-18 Square Grouper-18 The Alamo-PG15 Quest For Zhu-PG Oranges And Sunshine-PG15 Henry’s Crime-PG15 Every Jack Has A Jill-PG15 My Best Friend’s WeddingSpooky Buddies-PG Courageous-PG15 Every Jack Has A Jill-PG15 Water For Elephants-PG15 Scream 4-18 Cedar Rapids-18

01:00 Emilie Jolie-PG 02:45 A Venetian Rascal Goes To America-FAM 04:30 The Fantastic Adventure Of The Ugly Duckling-FAM 06:00 Adventures Of Sharkboy And Lavagirl-PG 08:15 The Ugly Duckling Goes On Holiday-FAM 10:00 The Smurfs-PG 11:45 Emilie Jolie-PG 13:15 Tom Tom & Nana-FAM 14:30 Scooby-Doo! Curse Of The Lake Monster-PG 16:15 Cats Don’t Dance-FAM 18:00 The Smurfs-PG 20:00 Turandot-PG 22:00 Tom Tom & Nana-FAM 23:30 The Ugly Duckling Goes On Holiday-FAM 22:15 Resident Evil 4: Afterlife-18 00:00 ICC Cricket 360 00:30 Trans World Sport 01:30 PGA European Tour 07:00 Top 14 09:00 Futbol Mundial 09:30 Extreme Sailing Series 10:00 Trans World Sport 11:00 PGA European Tour Highlights 12:00 The Ryder Cup Official Film 13:30 Challenge Series Golf Highlights 14:00 ICC Cricket 360 14:30 Top 14 16:30 Top 14 18:30 Premier League Snooker 22:00 Futbol Mundial 22:30 Trans World Sport 23:30 ITM CUP

00:30 Futbol Mundial 01:00 Prizefighter 04:00 International Rugby League 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 Prizefighter 10:00 Rugby Union Currie Cup 12:00 Premier League Snooker 15:30 PGA European Tour Highlights 16:30 International Rugby League 18:30 Trans World Sport 19:30 ICC Cricket 360 20:00 The Ryder Cup Official Film 21:30 WWE This Week 22:00 WWE SmackDown

KUWAIT

KNCC PROGRAM FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (1/11/2012 TO 7/11/2012) SHARQIA-1 HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

SHARQIA-2 WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

SHARQIA-3 MISS MOMMY (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D MISS MOMMY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

MUHALAB-1 HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

MUHALAB-2 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-3 WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-1 LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-2 WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-3 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) AJAB GAZABB LOVE(DIG) (Hindi) THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-4 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-5 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA HERE COMES THE BOOM HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA HERE COMES THE BOOM HERE COMES THE BOOM HERE COMES THE BOOM NO SUN+TUE+WED MARINA-1 HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED MARINA-2 WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

AVENUES-4 HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-1 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-2 LOOPER (DIG) TWILIGHT (Re-Release) LOOPER (DIG) TWILIGHT (Re-Release) LOOPER (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

12:45 PM

360 º- 9(VIP-1) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

360 º-10(VIP-2) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360 º- 11 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360 º- 12 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

AVENUES-7 CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:30 PM 5:00 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 13 THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN THE DARK KNIGHT RISES RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 4:00 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-8 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

AVENUES-9 WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

1:00 AM

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-11 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

AVENUES-6 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

AVENUES-10 THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG)

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AVENUES-5 MISS MOMMY (DIG) 1:45 PM NO SAT (03.11.2012) MISS MOMMY (DIG) 4:00 PM NO SAT (03.11.2012) Live Broadcast of Football Match “ Arsinal & Manchester United” 3:30 PM SAT (03.11.2012) MISS MOMMY (DIG) 6:15 PM MISS MOMMY (DIG) 8:30 PM MISS MOMMY (DIG) 10:45 PM MISS MOMMY (DIG) 1:00 AM NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

MARINA-3 MISS MOMMY (DIG) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

AVENUES-3 HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG)

HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

1:15 PM 3:45 PM 6:15 PM 8:45 PM 11:15 PM 12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360 º- 14 CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG)

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:30 PM 11:00 PM

360 º- 15 LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.1 WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.2 CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) CHASING MAVERICKS (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

AL-KOUT.3 THE SWEENEY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) LOOPER (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360 º- 1 THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:45 PM 7:15 PM 9:45 PM 12:15 AM

360 º- 2 PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.4 HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360 º- 3 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

BAIRAQ-1 WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA(DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 12:05 AM

360 º- 4 SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) SAMMY 2 (DIG-3D) TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

BAIRAQ-2 MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360 º- 5 THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) 1:15 PM FRI+SAT TWILIGHT: NEW MOON (Re-Release) 3:45 PM THE RAID: REDEMPTION(DIG) 6:15 PM TWILIGHT: NEW MOON (Re-Release) 8:45 PM TWILIGHT: NEW MOON (Re-Release) 11:15 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED

BAIRAQ-3 HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 6 WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) WRECK-IT RALPH (DIG-3D) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) NO SUN+TUE+WED

PLAZA MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG)

4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM

LAILA MISS MOMMY (DIG) THE SWEENEY (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) MISS MOMMY (DIG)

4:00 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM

AJIAL.1 THE SWEENEY (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 THE SWEENEY (DIG) PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4

4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM

AJIAL.2 CHAKRAVYUH (DIG)(Hindi) RUSH (DIG)(Hindi) AJAB GAZABB LOVE(DIG) (Hindi)

4:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:45 PM

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

360 º- 7 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

360 º- 8 HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG) HERE COMES THE BOOM (DIG)

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM

Classifieds TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines KLM JAI THY JZR QTR ETH GFA PIA UAE ETD OMA FDB MSR RJA RBG QTR DHX THY JZR JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE GFA KAC ABY QTR FDB ETD IRA GFA FDB JZR MEA UAE SYR MSR GFA KAC FDB KNE KAC KAC SVA QTR JZR KAC QTR UAE ETD BBC RJA GFA KAC SVA QTR ABY UAL KAC JZR KAC FDB JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC OMA FDB JAI AXB MSR KAC IRA ABY QTR ALK MEA QTR GFA ETD UAE DHX FDB KLM AIC JZR GFA PIA JZR UAL BBC DLH

Flt 411 574 772 539 148 620 211 239 853 305 643 67 612 642 3553 138 170 770 503 555 416 157 412 206 53 302 352 332 855 223 284 121 132 55 301 605 213 69 165 404 871 341 610 219 514 57 472 362 546 500 140 561 562 134 857 303 5023 640 215 5108 510 144 127 982 542 177 786 63 787 166 618 74 104 674 774 647 61 572 393 618 678 619 129 146 229 402 136 221 307 859 372 59 415 981 239 217 205 185 981 43 636

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 6/11/2012 Route Time AMSTERDAM/DAMMAM 0:30 MUMBAI 0:30 ISTANBUL 0:35 CAIRO 0:50 DOHA 1:00 ADDIS ABABA 1:45 BAHRAIN 1:50 SIALKOT 1:55 DUBAI 2:35 ABU DHABI 2:45 MUSCAT 2:50 DUBAI 3:05 CAIRO 3:10 AMMAN 3:15 ALEXANDRIA 3:25 DOHA 3:45 BAHRAIN 5:15 ISTANBUL 5:30 LUXOR 5:55 ALEXANDRIA 6:00 JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR 6:25 LONDON 6:40 MANILA/BANGKOK 6:45 ISLAMABAD 7:40 DUBAI 7:45 MUMBAI 7:55 COCHIN 8:05 TRIVANDRUM 8:15 DUBAI 8:40 BAHRAIN 8:45 DHAKA 8:45 SHARJAH 9:05 DOHA 9:10 DUBAI 9:15 ABU DHABI 9:20 ISFAHAN 9:45 BAHRAIN 9:55 DUBAI 10:45 DUBAI 11:20 BEIRUT 11:55 DUBAI 12:50 DAMASCUS 12:55 CAIRO 13:05 BAHRAIN 13:35 TEHRAN 13:45 DUBAI 13:50 JEDDAH 14:10 COLOMBO/MUSCAT 14:20 ALEXANDRIA 14:30 JEDDAH 14:30 DOHA 14:35 SOHAG 14:50 AMMAN 14:55 DOHA 15:30 DUBAI 16:40 ABU DHABI 16:50 DHAKA 16:50 AMMAN 16:55 BAHRAIN 17:15 LONDON 17:15 RIYADH 17:20 DOHA 17:50 SHARJAH 17:55 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 17:55 CAIRO 18:05 DUBAI 18:15 JEDDAH 18:30 DUBAI 18:45 RIYADH 19:05 PARIS/ROME 19:10 DOHA 19:20 DAMMAM 19:30 LONDON 19:35 DUBAI 19:35 RIYADH 19:50 MUSCAT 19:55 DUBAI 20:00 MUMBAI 20:10 KOZHIKODE 20:15 ALEXANDRIA 20:25 ABU DHABI 20:30 LAR 20:35 SHARJAH 20:35 DOHA 20:45 COLOMBO 20:55 BEIRUT 21:20 DOHA 21:25 BAHRAIN 21:30 ABU DHABI 21:35 DUBAI 21:40 BAHRAIN 22:00 DUBAI 22:00 AMSTERDAM 22:05 CHENNAI/HYDERABAD/AHMEDABAD 22:30 AMMAN 22:45 BAHRAIN 22:50 LAHORE/PESHAWER 23:00 DUBAI 23:05 BAHRAIN 23:25 DHAKA 23:45 FRANKFURT 23:55

Airlines AIC AXB BBC UAL DLH JAI KLM ETH THY PIA FDB UAE OMA ETD RBG MSR QTR QTR JZR GFA RJA THY KAC JZR FDB BAW KAC KAC GFA ABY KAC UAE FDB ETD QTR GFA IRA FDB KAC KAC MEA KAC JZR SYR MSR UAE GFA FDB KAC KNE SVA KAC JZR KAC QTR KAC KAC JZR ETD JZR QTR UAE BBC RJA GFA JZR SVA ABY JZR QTR UAL FDB KAC FDB OMA JAI KAC AXB ABY MSR IRA KAC DHX ALK MEA ETD QTR GFA KAC KAC FDB JZR UAE DHX KAC KLM QTR GFA JZR KAC

Depature Flights on Tuesday 6/11/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 390 MANGALORE 44 DHAKA 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 573 MUMBAI 411 AMSTERDAM 621 ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 240 SIALKOT/ISLAMABAD 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 644 MUSCAT 306 ABU DHABI 3554 ALEXANDRIA 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 643 AMMAN 771 ISTANBUL 545 ALEXANDRIA 560 SOHAG 54 DUBAI 156 LONDON 513 TEHRAN 561 AMMAN 224 BAHRAIN 122 SHARJAH 101 LONDON/NEW YORK 856 DUBAI 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 133 DOHA 214 BAHRAIN 604 ISFAHAN 70 DUBAI 541 CAIRO 165 ROME/PARIS 405 BEIRUT 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 342 DAMASCUS 611 CAIRO 872 DUBAI 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 673 DUBAI 473 JEDDAH 501 JEDDAH 617 DOHA 786 RIYADH 677 ABU DHABI 141 DOHA 773 RIYADH 741 DAMMAM 238 AMMAN 304 ABU DHABI 538 CAIRO 135 DOHA 858 DUBAI 5024 JEDDAH/DHAKA 641 AMMAN 216 BAHRAIN 184 DUBAI 511 RIYADH 128 SHARJAH 266 BEIRUT 145 DOHA 982 BAHRAIN 64 DUBAI 283 DHAKA 62 DUBAI 648 MUSCAT 571 MUMBAI 351 COCHIN 394 KOZHIKODE 120 SHARJAH 607 LUXOR 618 LAR 343 CHENNAI 171 BAHRAIN 230 COLOMBO 403 BEIRUT 308 ABU DHABI 137 DOHA 222 BAHRAIN 301 MUMBAI 381 DELHI 60 DUBAI 554 ALEXANDRIA 860 DUBAI 373 BAHRAIN 205 ISLAMABAD 415 DAMMAM/AMSTERDAM 147 DOHA 218 BAHRAIN 528 ASSIUT 411 BANGKOK/MANILA

Time 0:05 0:15 1:00 1:10 1:20 1:30 1:45 2:45 2:55 3:10 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:05 4:10 4:50 6:05 6:55 7:00 7:05 7:35 7:45 8:15 8:25 8:45 9:25 9:30 9:30 9:45 9:50 9:55 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:40 10:45 11:25 11:30 11:50 12:55 13:00 13:50 13:55 14:05 14:15 14:20 14:30 15:05 15:10 15:45 15:45 15:50 16:00 16:15 16:25 16:30 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:45 17:50 17:50 17:55 18:15 18:30 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:10 19:25 20:30 20:40 20:55 21:10 21:10 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:30 21:30 21:50 21:55 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:40 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:50 23:50 23:55

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

GOVERNMENT WEB SITES Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net

The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw

Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw

Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw

Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw

Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw

Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw

Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw

Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw

Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw

Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw

Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw

Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw

Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw

Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw

Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw

Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for couple/ decent working ladies with Keralite family in a 2 BHK, 2 bathroom, C-AC building in Sharq near Amiri Hospital from 1st December onwards.

Contact: 99854670. (C 4193) 1-11-2012 FOR SALE Daihatsu Sirion 2012, 20 km, automatic, 5 door, KD 2100. Contact: 60976100.

(C 4202) 6-11-2012 Lancer 2009 outlander 2009. Ph: 99481300. Lancer Ex GLS 2011 model, silver color, km 21,000 only, original paint, under warranty, KD 3,900. Ph: 66052331.

(C 4197) Toyota Corolla 2008, dark grey color (CC 1600). KD 2300. Tel: 66729295.

(C 4200) Offer for photo studios, Fuji Frontier 340 Machine for sale in a very reasonable price. For inquiries please call 55127477. (C 4198) 5-11-2012 Toyota Land Cruiser, white color, 2009 model, V8, full option, excellent condition, 86,000 km only. Call 66026259, 66158602.

(C4199) 4-11-2012 Mitsubishi Galant, 2006 model, silver color, beige interior, 1,25,000 km, serviced by dealership, owned

by American lady, price KD 1,500, o.n.o. 99405067.

(C 4196) 3-11-2012 SITUATION VACANT Required Indian or Sri Lankan driver for a Kuwaiti family, light work and good salary. Contact: 99709076.

(C 4204) Required camp keeper, Indian or Sri Lankan, with good salary. Contact: 99709076. (C 4205) Required English speaking nanny/ maid. Please call

99824597. (C 4201) 6-11-2012 House driver, 20-30 years old, 3-5 years experience driving in Kuwait, speak and read English, transferable residency.

Call 99747679. (C 4194) 1-11-2012 SITUATION WANTED Australian now in Kuwait looking for a traveling partner to Canada and USA male or female, share cost. Email: gulfinportexport@hotmail.com (C 4203) 6-11-2012 Western educated “Project Manager” with 2 EngineeringDegrees (Civil/Elec.), 4-Master Degrees (Project Mgmt/ Engineering/ Education & Training/ MBA), plus 17-years experience in Middle East/ Australia, seeking Executive Position. Contact: 65695468 email: rav@engineer.com (C 4195) 4-11-2012

LOST Mohammed Aslam, Indian Passport No 2021183, issued in Kuwait on May, 30, 2010 is lost. If anyone finds please contact: 97427077, 97915756 6-11-2012

No:

15619

Prayer timings Fajr:

04:44

Duhr:

11:32

Asr:

14:36

Maghrib:

16:59

Isha:

18:17

112

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Kaizen center

25716707

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

PHONE

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

ST TATE T OF K KUW WA AIT

Tel.: e 161

DIRECTORA ATE T GEN GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIA V AT TION METEOROLOGICAL DEP PARTMENT A DA AY: Y Monday

Issue Time

BY Y NIGHT:

Fair with light to moderate south easterly changing to north westerly later on wind, with speed of 08 - 28 km/h and some scattered clouds will appear

BY Y DA AY:

Sunny with light to moderate north westerly wind, with speed of 08 - 28 km/h and some scattered clouds will appear

WARNING A

No Current Warnings arnin a

KUW WAIT A CITY

35 °C

23 °C

KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

36 °C

19 °C

22456536

NUW WA AISEEB

35 °C

21 °C

Sharq

22465401

WAFRA A

36 °C

20 °C

Salmiya

25746401

SALMI

34 °C

21 °C

Jabriya

25316254

ABDAL LY

35 °C

20 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

JAL ALIY YA AH

35 °C

21 °C

FAILAKA A Bayan

25388462

35 °C

22 °C

AHMADI POR RT

31 °C

24 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

30 °C

26 °C

W.Hawally

22630786

WARBA A A - BUBY YA AN

33 °C

19 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

DA AY

DA AT TE

WEA ATHER T

West Jahra

24772608

Tuesday

06/11

Wednesday e

07/11

Thursday Friday

SFC. CHART

05/11/2012 1200 UTC

4 DA AYS Y FORECAST Temperatures Wind Speed

Wind Direction

MAX.

MIN.

sunny+scattered clouds

34 °C

19 °C

NW

08 - 28 km/h

sunny

32 °C

17 °C

NW

08 - 28 km/h

08/11

sunny

30 °C

17 °C

NW

08 - 28 km/h

09/11

sunny

33 °C

16 °C

VRB

06 - 22 km/h

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Fajr

04:43

MAX. Temp.

35 °C

24892674

Sunrise

06:04

MIN. Temp.

16 °C

Zuhr

11:32

MAX. RH

53 %

24719048

Asr

14:37

MIN. RH

13 %

N.Kheitan

24710044

Sunset

16:59

MAX. Wind

S 21 km/h

Isha

18:18

TOT TA AL L RA AINF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

Fintas

23900322

PRA AYER Y TIMES

RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

00 mm

05/11/12 15:05 UTC

V1.00

T1.06

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Mousa Khadada Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Kaizen center 25716707

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

Al-Jahra

25610011

Al-Salmiya

25616368

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

19:00

Expected Weeather for the Next 24 Hours

MIN. N. EXP P.

Al-Omariya

Al-Shohada’a

Fax: 24348714

MAX. REC.

Firdous

22418714

Ext.: 2627 26 - 2630

WWW.MET.GOV V.KW .

05/11/2012

ST TAT TION

Al-Madena

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

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Afghanistan 0093 Albania 00355 Algeria 00213 Andorra 00376 Angola 00244 Anguilla 001264 Antiga 001268 Argentina 0054 Armenia 00374 Australia 0061 Austria 0043 Bahamas 001242 Bahrain 00973 Bangladesh 00880 Barbados 001246 Belarus 00375 Belgium 0032 Belize 00501 Benin 00229 Bermuda 001441 Bhutan 00975 Bolivia 00591 Bosnia 00387 Botswana 00267 Brazil 0055 Brunei 00673 Bulgaria 00359 Burkina 00226 Burundi 00257 Cambodia 00855 Cameroon 00237 Canada 001 Cape Verde 00238 Cayman Islands 001345 Central African 00236 Chad 00235 Chile 0056 China 0086 Colombia 0057 Comoros 00269 Congo 00242 Cook Islands 00682 Costa Rica 00506 Croatia 00385 Cuba 0053 Cyprus 00357 Cyprus (Northern) 0090392 Czech Republic 00420 Denmark 0045 Diego Garcia 00246 Djibouti 00253 Dominica 001767 Dominican Republic 001809 Ecuador 00593 Egypt 0020 El Salvador 00503 England (UK) 0044 Equatorial Guinea 00240 Eritrea 00291 Estonia 00372 Ethiopia 00251 Falkland Islands 00500 Faroe Islands 00298 Fiji 00679 Finland 00358 France 0033 French Guiana 00594 French Polynesia 00689 Gabon 00241 Gambia 00220 Georgia 00995 Germany 0049 Ghana 00233 Gibraltar 00350 Greece 0030 Greenland 00299 Grenada 001473 Guadeloupe 00590 Guam 001671 Guatemala 00502 Guinea 00224 Guyana 00592 Haiti 00509 Holland (Netherlands) 0031 Honduras 00504 Hong Kong 00852 Hungary 0036 Ibiza (Spain) 0034 Iceland 00354 India 0091 Indian Ocean 00873 Indonesia 0062

Iran 0098 Iraq 00964 Ireland 00353 Italy 0039 Ivory Coast 00225 Jamaica 001876 Japan 0081 Jordan 00962 Kazakhstan 007 Kenya 00254 Kiribati 00686 Kuwait 00965 Kyrgyzstan 00996 Laos 00856 Latvia 00371 Lebanon 00961 Liberia 00231 Libya 00218 Lithuania 00370 Luxembourg 00352 Macau 00853 Macedonia 00389 Madagascar 00261 Majorca 0034 Malawi 00265 Malaysia 0060 Maldives 00960 Mali 00223 Malta 00356 Marshall Islands 00692 Martinique 00596 Mauritania 00222 Mauritius 00230 Mayotte 00269 Mexico 0052 Micronesia 00691 Moldova 00373 Monaco 00377 Mongolia 00976 Montserrat 001664 Morocco 00212 Mozambique 00258 Myanmar (Burma) 0095 Namibia 00264 Nepal 00977 Netherlands (Holland) 0031 Netherlands Antilles 00599 New Caledonia 00687 New Zealand 0064 Nicaragua 00505 Nigar 00227 Nigeria 00234 Niue 00683 Norfolk Island 00672 Northern Ireland (UK) 0044 North Korea 00850 Norway 0047 Oman 00968 Pakistan 0092 Palau 00680 Panama 00507 Papua New Guinea 00675 Paraguay 00595 Peru 0051 Philippines 0063 Poland 0048 Portugal 00351 Puerto Rico 001787 Qatar 00974 Romania 0040 Russian Federation 007 Rwanda 00250 Saint Helena 00290 Saint Kitts 001869 Saint Lucia 001758 Saint Pierre 00508 Saint Vincent 001784 Samoa US 00684 Samoa West 00685 San Marino 00378 Sao Tone 00239 Saudi Arabia 00966 Scotland (UK) 0044 Senegal 00221 Seychelles 00284 Sierra Leone 00232 Singapore 0065 Slovakia 00421 Slovenia 00386 Solomon Islands 00677

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Minaj thinks Mariah has ‘met her match’

icki Minaj thinks Mariah Carey has “met her match” in her. The ‘Starships’ singer has admitted there is more than one diva on the judging panel of ‘American Idol’ following her explosive bust-up with the star last month, during which she hurled profanities at Mariah. Speaking in her new reality show ‘My Truth’, Nicki revealed: “I think Mariah met her match this time, and I don’t think she was expecting to meet her match. “I’m super nervous and anxious for the first day on ‘American Idol’. I’m still second guessing my decision. I’m probably going to be a hundred times guessing this decision because I’m human. It’s a big job.” The outspoken rapper was true to her word and proceeded to have a meltdown because her new stylist had misjudged her taste in clothes mere hours before the first day of auditions, and she branded all her options “ugly”. Nicki raged: “I never have a look in mind. I know it when I see it. If you tell me to choose something when I’m anxious or nervous, then I’m going to find a problem with every single thing ...This is 911. Dee-saster.” The 29-year-old star still struggled to find her perfect look and rocked up late for her first day on the job to join Keith Urban, Randy Jackson and Mariah on the panel. She moaned: “Am I going to be an hour late or two hours late? Do they know literally how embarrassing this is.

That I am going to be late for my first day.”

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Gaga plays biggest show ever staged in Costa Rica

ady Gaga played the “biggest show” ever staged in Costa Rica.

The ‘You and I’ singer brought her ‘Born This Way Ball’ to the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica stadium in San Jose on Saturday night and was told it was the most attended concert in the history of the Central American country. She wrote on her twitter page: “In Costa Rica tonight for stadium show. Thank you so much to everyone for buying a ticket to the BTWBALL. I will leave my heart on the stage ... Thank you Costa Rica, they told me it was the biggest show and turnout they’ve ever had. means so much to me. luckiest girl alive. (sic)” Gaga’s stage spectacular even eclipsed a massive heavy metal concert by Metallica and the 26-year-old pop superstar is thrilled with her achievement. She added in other tweets: “the second biggest show to the BTWBALL in Costa Rica was Metallica. @LadyStarlightNy are we dreaming ... Fantastico (sic)” Despite the success she is experiencing on tour, Gaga’s thoughts and prayers are still with the residents of her hometown of New York City following the devastation caused by superstorm Sandy. The proud New Yorker posted on twitter: “East coast how are you holding up? How are you New York? Staying strong i hope, thinking of you all the time. Can’t even watch news feed ... I’ll be there as soon as i can to help my old neighborhood. I’m on tour + can’t let my fans down. I want to help with my hands with all of u (sic)”

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Ora to go back to university

ita Ora is planning on going back to university. The ‘R.I.P.’ singer is planning to one day return to higher education to fulfil a promise she made to her parents after she got signed by a record label aged 18 dropped her plans to study for a degree in the UK. In an interview on British TV show ‘Lorraine’, she said: “I got my first production credit when I was 14 and then it kind of escalated from there. I got signed at 18 so it came to the point where I could either finish university, or I could carry on and finish university later, which I promised my dad I would do, so I will do it.” Rita was born in the Balkan state of Kosovo, but grew up in London, although she recently returned there to film the video to her new single, ‘Shine Ya Light’, which she is particularly proud of.

She added: “It was definitely the experience of my life, because I was born there, and it’s a third world country and I wanted to show the world where I come from. It was my idea to do the video.” Rita, 21, also a talked about her stint as a judge on UK pop star search show ‘The X Factor’, on which she sat on the panel for some of the initial auditions this year. She said: “It was interesting, because I never understood it until I was sat there. I’d always watched it, but I don’t think anyone knows what it’s like until you sit on the panel. “So I sat there and I really thought that I could help somebody, it was a great feeling. I’ve never auditioned in front of millions of people, but I’ve auditioned for a few things. “The good thing was I could just say yes to people that I loved, then I didn’t have to do the boot camp, so wouldn’t have to [let them down later]. But it was such a fun experience.”

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Williams wanted a son

obbie Williams was initially disappointed to learn he was having a daughter. The ‘Candy’ hitmaker - whose wife Ayda Field gave birth to Theodora ‘Teddy’ Rose in September - was secretly hoping for a son because he wanted to have a little boy who would share his passion for soccer. He said: “I was gutted. Which isn’t going to endear me...

“Everybody was saying, ‘What do you want?’ And I was one of those who said, ‘As long as it’s healthy, I don’t care.’ “But we found out it was a girl and I was gutted. I knew what to do with a boy, I take him to football (soccer). I know how that works, I’ve been one.” However, the 38year-old pop star admits raising Teddy has made him change his mind and he hopes all her future siblings are girls. He is quoted by the Daily Mirror newspaper as saying: “Now, I want four more and I want them all to be girls and I couldn’t be happier.” Robbie and his family are currently living in the UK after previously being based in Los Angeles and though they are unsure how long they will stay, the Take That singer admits he is keen for his daughter not to have an American accent. He said: “I want her to have a British passport. I don’t want my kid to have an American accent.”

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Nicholson: My womanizing days are over

ack Nicholson no longer has the energy to be a “womanizer”. The 75-year-old actor doesn’t play down the fact he’s bedded countless women in his life but he feels “uncomfortable” at being branded a “sex legend”. Jack - who has had high-profile relationships with actress Anjelica Huston, who he was with for 17 years, singer Michelle Phillips and model Janice Dickinson - said: “I am an extreme person. If someone says, ‘Jack, you are a womanizer,’ I don’t deny it. But the life of a gigolo always ends badly. “That is one of the reasons I feel uncomfortable about all that ‘sex legend’ stuff. “I no longer have the energy to both work and fool around. So the last few movies I’ve done, I have hardly left the hotel at nights. It was completely different when we were making ‘The Shining’. “I was living in London, which is one of my favorite cities on Earth. The 17-week filming schedule at Pinewood Studios ended up as 47 weeks because the director, Stanley Kubrick, did so many takes for every single scene. “I thought to myself, ‘OK, I’m going to show all of these people. I am working with the toughest director in the business - and I am going to burn London to the ground every night with partying.’ “Jack also “regrets” being so angry throughout his life and admits he should have learned “long ago” how to calm down in situations. The iconic Hollywood star believes he would have been happier if he’d learn to control his rage.

He added in an interview with The Sun newspaper: “Anger has always been a problem and every once in a while I just have to let it out. I always regret it later. After a couple of hours I calm down and think, ‘What way could I have solved that problem other than blowing up?’ “I should have learned how to do that long ago and that would have made my life easier - with less apologizing.”

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Erin Heatherton

exercises to relieve stress he Victoria’s Secret model likes to work out for an hour every day as it gives her time to relax and not think about everything going on in her life. She said: “My background was always playing sports at high school. I was always an athlete - I played basketball and ran track, so staying in shape for modelling is second nature for me.

Working out gives me the opportunity to let go and listen to my music; it’s a big stress reliever. That’s my one hour of the day when I can just quiet my mind. “My life is really crazy, so to do an hour a day of the same exercise really eases my mind and reduces stress, and that has a big impact on my body. I run for half an hour and then do yoga - it’s a golden combination for me and when I travel, it’s a great way to see the city.” Erin, 23, has certain areas of her body she likes to concentrate on as she thinks they’re the ones that need the most work. She told Britain’s Hello! magazine: “I always tell me trainer to concentrate on my waist and my legs. —Bang Showbiz

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Kim Kardashian likes ‘simple’ dates he reality TV star is romancing rapper Kanye West and while he recently whisked her away to Italy to celebrate her 32nd birthday, Kim insist she’s not impressed by over-the-top gestures.

She said: “I don’t think romance is about one big thing, but about the way that someone treats you every day, and Kanye is very kind and thoughtful. “I really like a guy who is confident, so I like a guy who has a plan for a date. There is nothing worse than a guy who shows up and just asks what I want to do. “A really simple date of good food, and really good conversation with someone who I really have a spark with is perfect.” Kim also revealed how bullies target her and her sisters, Khloe and Kourtney, on social networking sites but they cope with the abuse by doing their best to ignore them. In an interview with The Sun newspaper, she said: “I am confident enough in myself that I just ignore it. But what worries me is young people on social media who take these remarks to heart. “I would like to say to them that the faceless bullies that target you are people who are just too weak to make a stand in the real world. Be confident in yourself, hold your head high and ignore them. “If someone is really suffering, then I would say to definitely speak to a friend or a parent. “My sister Khloe was bullied a lot when she was younger, so we now actively take a stand against bullying to help put a stop to it. “It’s something we all feel very strongly about, and it’s important that our fans support us in trying to get people to be kinder to each other.”

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

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ting may be celebrating 25 years in music, but the one-time “Police” frontman hates to look back, he told AFP on the final stretch of a year-long tour that wraps up in Asia in December. “I’m not a very nostalgic person. It’s just not in my nature,” the singer said in an email interview, before arriving in France this week for the latest leg in the “Back to Bass” tour, launched in 2011. Once the tour is overthe last programmed date is in Jakarta on December 15, final stop after half a dozen Asian gigs-Sting intends to move on. “After this tour, I’m switching gears a bit and will continue work on the play I’m writing,” said the singer, born Gordon Sumner, who just turned 61.

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Based in his native city of Newcastle in northern England, and entitled “The Last Ship”, the musical work tells the story of shipyard workers who decide to build their own vessel. “We’re in the very early stages, but I’ve found myself very inspired. I’ve written a lot of new songs for the project. It’s completely uncharted territory for me and it’s quite exciting.”

These last few years, Sting had shot away from The Police’s 1980s repertoire, with the 2006 “Songs of the Labyrinth” featuring an Elizabethan lute, and the 2009 “If On A Winter’s Night” inspired by the chilly mornings of his childhood. “Throughout the process of compiling material

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for the (25 Years) box set, I was sort of forced to look back, when my instinct is always to move forward.” Even in Police classics like “Englishman in New York,” “Message in a Bottle” or “Roxanne”-”which I’ve probably sung thousands of times”-Sting said there was “always something new to be found.” “It is my job to sing these songs every night with the passion and same sense of discovery as when I wrote them.”— AFP

e’s got gadgets, girls and a great suit. James Bond turns 50, and as the superspy’s latest movie “Skyfall” opens in North America this week Toronto hosts the first global stop for the show “Designing 007 — Fifty Years of Bond Style.” The exhibit, unveiled in London earlier this year, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the 23 films that have fascinated viewers around the world for decades. “The building blocks of a Bond film include international intrigue, mysterious villains, exotic locations, amazing stunts and beautiful people,” said Jesse Wente, head of film programs for TIFF Bell Lightbox, host of the show and home of the Toronto International Film Festival.

“Bond lays out a lot of the blueprint for how you

make a modern action movie.” From evil henchman Oddjob’s lethal bowler hat, to MI6 ID cards and a number of Bond’s passports, the show highlights the themes and design elements that emerge in each of the productions. The Bond glitz is encapsulated in a room dedicated to all things gold, which include the only surviving copy of villain Scaramanga’s gun from “The Man With the Golden Gun” (1974) and a recreation of Jill Masterson’s gold-coated body in “Goldfinger” (1964).

The “Q branch” meanwhile is all about the weapons and gadgets. While some of the props will look like toys to the smartphone generation, they were fantastic high-tech items when they appeared on screen decades ago. Not to be missed is a model

of the Lotus Esprit S1, Bond’s super sports car in “The Spy Who Loved Me,” which highlights the spy’s luxurious, but practical, esthetic. Whether it’s Daniel Craig, Roger Moore or Pierce Brosnan, every Bond has had to face a villain and the exhibit shows the films’ sinister side with props including May Day’s costume from a “A View to Kill” (1985) and Jaw’s teeth from “The Spy Who Loved Me” (1977).

Other costume highlights include the many looks of various “Bond girls,” which means bikinis, ball gowns and diamonds galore. The exhibit was organized by London’s Barbican Centre in partnership with EON Productions.—AFP

No Doubt

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he Pop band No Doubt was forced to remove a new Wild West-themed music video and issue anapology after getting complaints from the Native American community, saying its intention was “never to offend, hurt or trivialize” their culture or history. The Southern California band - made up of lead singer Gwen Stefani, guitarist Tom Dumont, bassist Tony Kanal and drummer Adrian Young posted an apology on their official website on Saturday following the release of their latest video for the single “Looking Hot.” “As a multi-racial band our foundation is built upon both diversity and consideration for other cultures. Our intention with our new video was never to offend, hurt or trivialize Native American people, their culture or their history,” the band said. The video, which debuted on Friday, featured Stefani dressed in tribal garments as a Native Indian princess captured by Young and Dumont dressed as cowboys, while Kanal played a tribe chief who rescues Stefani.

Some users took to social media platforms to criticize the band’s use of tribal imagery, leading No Doubt to remove the video online, adding that “being hurtful to anyone is simply not who we are.”

“Although we consulted with Native American friends and Native American studies experts at the University of California, we realize now that we have offended people ... We sincerely apologize to the Native American community and anyone else offended by this video,” they said.

“Looking Hot” is the second single from No Doubt’s latest album “Push and Shove,” their first studio release in a decade. The band initially rose to fame in the early 1990s in the new wave ska-punk scene and crossed over into pop with hits such as “Don’t Speak” and “Just A Girl.”—Reuters

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ack McBrayer can see the end of “30 Rock” just up ahead. The Emmy-nominated actor best known as Kenneth the Page from the Emmy-winning show says the mood is getting sad on set as the final days of filming near. “Toward the end it’s going to start getting emotional,” he said, “and I’m going to start stealing stuff right and left.”

Among the items he hopes to acquire? His blue NBC page uniform: “It’s pretty much just formed to my own skin like body paint at this point.”

A star of the weekend’s top film “Wreck-It Ralph,” McBrayer said he’s eager to see what roles the future might hold. “I know how good I got it right now, so on the one hand, I’m like if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” he said. “But then you do always wonder, like, what if I would be the best serial killer in the world or something? So I’m open for anything. Like I said, old boy just wants to work.”—AP File photo shows Jack McBrayer poses with characters Wreck-It Ralph, left, and Vanellope von Schweetz at the world premiere of ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ at El Capitan Theatre, in Los Angeles. — AP

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A picture dated February 6, 2007 shows former Black Sabbath member and hard rock musician Ozzy Osbourne and his wife Sharon posing for reporters during a press conference in Los Angeles. — AFP

Stevie Wonder warms up the crowd during a campaign rally for President Barack Obama at Fifth Third Arena November 4, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Obama and his opponent, former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney are stumping from one ‘swing state’ to the next in a last-minute rush to persuade undecided voters. — AFP

haron Osbourne has had a double mastectomy after finding out she carries a gene which increases the risk of getting breast cancer, the British television personality said in an interview published yesterday. Osbourne, 60, a former judge on America’s Got Talent who is married to rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, battled colon cancer ten years ago and told Hello magazine she could not endure the ordeal again. “As soon as I found out I had the breast cancer gene, I thought: ‘ The odds are not in my favour,’” Osbourne told the magazine.

“I’ve had cancer before and I didn’t want to live under that cloud: I decided to just take everything off, and had a double mastectomy.”

Osbourne-who recently became a grandmother when her son Jack had a daughter, Pearl-underwent 13 hours of surgery to remove both breasts. “For me, it wasn’t a big decision, it was a no-brainer,” she said. “I didn’t want to live the rest

of my life with that shadow hanging over me. I want to be around for a long time and be a grandmother to Pearl.” The op comes just five months after Jack Osbourne, 26, revealed that he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Sharon Osbourne was Ozzy Osbourne’s manager in the late 1970s after he left the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and they later married. She gained television fame on the 20022005 hit MTV reality series “The Osbournes”, which followed the lives of her, Ozzy, Jack and her daughter Kelly. She went on to host British talent show The X Factor between 2004 and 2007, then America’s Got Talent between 2007 and 2012. She currently co-hosts The Talk, a chat show in the United States. — AFP

Italian actor Pietro Castellito poses with his parents, film director Sergio Castellitto and Italian writer Margaret Mazzantini during the photocall of ‘Venuto al Mondo’ yesterday at a hotel in Rome. ‘Venuto al Mondo’ is directed by Italian actor and film director Sergio Castellitto. — AFP

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

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t’s the question we’ve all been pondering from the second we heard that three more “Star Wars” movies were planned: Who will direct them? When George Lucas announced last week he was selling Lucasfilm to Disney for $4.05 billion, he also revealed that the long-rumored Episodes VI, VII and IX were in the works. Instantly, fans began tossing around names of directors who’d be a good fit for this revered material. So let’s call this a wish list, a wouldn’t-it-be-cool list.

Because a lot of the people here are tied up with franchises of their own - who knows if they’d be available to take over the first of these films, due out in 2015? Others are just people whose work I admire and I’d be curious to see how they’d apply their styles within this universe.

Then there’s also the theory that Disney executives and Kathleen Kennedy, the current cochairman of Lucasfilm who will become the division’s Brad Bird president, won’t want an auteur, someone who would put his or her own aesthetic stamp on the franchise. There goes your dream of seeing Chewbacca and R2-D2 through the eyes of David Lynch. Whoever is chosen, whether it’s a new director for each film or the same person taking over the trilogy, I think I speak for all of us when I say: Please, no Ewoks: J.J. Abrams: The most obvious choice, really. His sci-fi bona fides were already beyond reproach, and he solidified them with his reimagining of the “Star Trek” franchise in 2009. His sequel “Star Trek Into Darkness” is due out next year. This just makes sense all around.

Joss Whedon: Another pretty obvious choice. Like Abrams, he has cultivated a well-deserved and loyal following among sci-fi fans between “Firefly” and “Serenity,” but he catapulted himself into a whole ‘nother stratosphere with this summer’s enormous hit “The Avengers.” Thing is, he may be just a tad busy with “The Avengers 2” - which is also due out in 2015.

Brad Bird: He directed the most recent and best in film in the “Mission: Impossible” series, last year’s “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.” It gave Bird the opportunity to use his animation expertise from the beloved Pixar films “The Incredibles” and “Ratatouille” to make a live-action movie that was lively and thrillingly staged.

This would be an excellent fit.

Jon Favreau: He’s a massive “Star wars” fan and is extremely knowledgeable about Lucas and his life. He’s also shown he can manipulate the kind of massive machinery it takes to make a blockbuster with the hugely successful “Iron Man” movies. This would also be a no-brainer. Christopher Nolan: Dark Knight. ‘Nuff said.

Peter Jackson: Sure, it makes sense. He’s gotten his arms around gigantic franchises with rabid fan bases, to universal acclaim and awards, with the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. But the last of his three “Hobbit” movies comes out in 2014.

He might already be kinda wiped out at this point.

David Fincher: A hugely confident, virtuoso filmmaker mostly known for drama, but his remake of the Swedish hit “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” was epic and just heart-poundingly thrilling, and “The Social Network” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” showcased his mastery of speKathryn Bigelow cial-effects trickery.

Sam Mendes: This might seem like an odd choice until you see “Skyfall”.

And you really should see “Skyfall” this weekend. But the “American Beauty” director said the whole experience of making a James Bond movie left him “knackered,” to quote him, so who knows whether he’d be up for such a massive undertaking so soon.

Matt Reeves: A longtime friend and collaborator of Abrams, he directed “Cloverfield” which showed he has an eye for visceral sci-fi action. But “Let Me In,” his English-language version of the Swedish vampire thriller “Let the Right One In,” revealed his ability to create a chilly, tense mood. Matthew Vaughn: His “Kick-Ass” was exactly that, a lively, funny tale of wannabe superheroes, while his “X-Men: First Class” was one of the better-reviewed films in the series.

Before that, his debut film “Layer Cake” (starring a preBond Daniel Craig) showed an instinctive ability to create tension and mood.

Mark Romanek: He’s just such an amazing visual stylist, I’d love to see what he’d do with this kind of well-established material. He made his name as a music video director, including the super-expensive space-age video for Michael Jackson’s “Scream.” But the couple of features he’s made - “One Hour Photo” and “Never Let Me Go” - were so gorgeous and had such a signature look, I’d be curious to see what he could do with a bigger toy box Kathryn Bigelow: She’s just a bad-ass, a pioneering female action director. She proved she had a way with big, splashy set pieces two decades ago with “Point Break” and became the first woman to win the best-director Oscar for “The Hurt Locker.” I’d love to see this male-centric universe from a female perspective.

Guillermo del Toro: This is my dream “Star Wars” director. Of course, it will never happen. The ingenious maker of “Pan’s Labyrinth” and the “Hellboy” movies has a visual style that’s so wonderfully weird and inspired, it would never be allowed in such a structured setting. But it would be wondrous to watch.

Ben Affleck: Probably not the first name you would have thought of a month ago. But “Argo” proved that Affleck is a major filmmaker, and showed he could step deftly from the intimate drama of “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town” into much a larger and more complicated project. Plus it would allow him to redeem himself with fanboys following the debacle of “Daredevil.” — AP

Sharon Osbourne has double mastectomy

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2012

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Models present creations by designer Tom Abang Saufi from Malaysia during the Islamic Fashion Festival in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday. —AP photos

Uzbek museum unearths forgotten Picasso ceramics orkers at a state art museum in exSoviet Uzbekistan have discovered a long-forgotten collection of Picasso ceramics in the archives and put them on display, more than four decades after the pieces were donated. The collection includes decorative and dessert plates and several jugs featuring favorite Picasso motifs including a dove, a woman’s face and a bull’s head. Art expert Gulchehra Akhunova, who helped put the exhibition together, said researchers found the works by chance. “We were looking for Russian

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A woman looks on October 31, 2012 at Picasso ceramics at the state art museum in Tashkent. —AFP photos porcelain items in the archives to fill up the museum’s Russian avant-garde department last year. Then suddenly we came across the ceramic works by Picasso,” she told AFP. Pablo Picasso branched out into ceramics in the 1940s and went on to create hundreds of works at a French pottery called Madoura. In June, Christie’s auction house sold a collection of his ceramics and other items from the workshop for $12.6 million (9.8 million euros). His ceramics ended up in Uzbekistan after being donated to the Soviet Union by the widow of a friend of Picasso’s, who sympathized with socialist causes. The 12 ceramic works were sent to the Tashkent museum after being donated on behalf of the French Communist party around four decades ago, the museum’s

chief curator, Mirfayz Usmonov, told AFP. Museum documents name the ceramics as “a donation from Nadia Leger of France, on behalf of the Institut Maurice Thorez of the French Communist Party.” “The first seven items were received in 1968, then in 1971 the museum received four more ceramic dessert plates from the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow,” Usmonov said. The museum has not yet accounted for how the final item in the collection arrived in Uzbekistan, he added. “We have to dig out archive documents to find out the origin of the one other Picasso masterpiece we have got here.”

Nadia Leger was the Russian-born widow of the French painter Fernand Leger, a close friend of Picasso. Both Picasso and Leger had felt sympathy towards Soviet socialism and were friends of the longtime French Communist party leader Thorez, who spent many of his years in the Soviet Union. All items were made in the Madoura pottery workshop in southeastern France, according to their documents. The museum staff and experts said the Picasso collection had been put on display at some point before falling into obscurity in the archives.

“While preparing the exhibition, I found archive documents that said the Picasso collection was displayed alongside other ceramic and porcelain works in the past.

But I don’t remember the exact years,” art expert Akhunova said. Picasso’s works remained on the museum’s records but were neglected because they came from the West, said Dinara Turaeva, a young art expert at the museum. “I heard that there just was not much interest in Western art when Picasso works were first displayed many years ago,” she said. State-owned museums throughout the ex-Soviet Union went through a period of turmoil after the end of the Soviet era, when many struggled to survive, let alone properly catalogue their archives. The exhibition runs to January 10, 2013. —AFP

A handout picture obtained in London yesterday from the Royal dressmakers matching hats to outfits for Queen Royal Collection Trust shows a Royal dressmaker creating an Elizabeth II. outfit for Queen Elizabeth II. —AFP Photos

Queen’s wardrobe secrets revealed in new book A gust of wind in her skirts worked for Marilyn Monroe, but aides to Queen Elizabeth II take care to avoid any such incident for the monarch by sewing weights into her dresses, one of her aides revealed yesterday. “The queen undertakes a wide range of engagements, many of which take place in the open air, where a sudden breeze could cause embarrassment,” writes Angela Kelly, the queen’s personal assistant, adviser and curator, in a new book.

“If we think this is a possibility, we will very occasionally use weights, discreetly sewn into the seams of day dresses.” The glossy hardback opens the door on the work involved in creating the 86-year-old monarch’s famously immaculate style, which saw her voted one of the world’s most glamorous women

by British Vogue magazine in 2007. It reveals the two years of preparations for the Diamond Jubilee in June,

A dressmaker matching a sample to a hat for Queen Elizabeth II.

Angela Kelly, personal assistant, adviser and curator to Queen Elizabeth II, working on an outfit for the monarch.

including how the queen’s white outfit worn to the river pageant was inspired by Elizabeth I and designed

to stand out against the deep reds of the royal barge.

Kelly also describes how palace

dressmakers were asked to make two identical versions of the crystal and lace peach cocktail dress the queen wore to the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games in July, without knowing why. One was worn by the monarch and the other by the stunt double who jumped out of a plane alongside James Bond, in one of the highlights of the night. “Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe”, which features lavish photographs and design sketches, also reveals how the queen uses her clothes to make a diplomatic point. This included wearing Irish green on her historic visit to the republic in May 2011, and having one of her outfits on a tour to Canada in 2010 embellished with beads by women from the Mi’kmaq indigenous community. —AFP