10 Sep

CR IP TI ON BS SU 150 FILS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

www.kuwaittimes.net

SHAWWAL 23, 1433 AH

40 PAGES

NO: 15564

MoI warns dissenters against protest rally Opposition: No plans to sleep in Irada Square

Max 44º Min 26º High Tide 05:10 & 19:59 Low Tide 00:42 & 23:25

By A Saleh and Agencies

Iraq’s fugitive VP sentenced to hang Wave of attacks kills 58 across the country BAGHDAD: Iraq’s fugitive Vice President Tareq AlHashemi was sentenced to death for murder yesterday in a ruling likely to further stoke sectarian tensions just hours after a wave of bombings killed 58 people across the country. Hashemi, a senior Sunni Muslim politician, fled Iraq after authorities accused him of running a death squad, charges that triggered a crisis in power-sharing among Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish blocs as US troops were pulling out in December. The vice president is unlikely to return to Iraq from Turkey.

He had accused Shiite Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki of orchestrating a crackdown on Sunni opponents and refused to appear in a court he said was biased.

Hashemi and his son-in-law were both found guilty of murdering a female lawyer and security official, Abdul-Sattar Al-Birqdar, a judiciary spokesman said.

“This is a political decision. All our respect to the Iraqi judicial system, but this was political,” said lawmaker Jaber Al-Jaberi, a member of Hashemi’s Sunni-backed Iraqiya party. Hashemi’s lawyer said there would be no appeal because the trial was conducted in absentia.

Since the last US troops left, Maliki’s Shiite-led government has been in political deadlock, and insurgents continue to strike, hoping to spark the kind of sectarian tensions that drove Iraq close to civil war in 20062007.

The defence lawyers read a lengthy closing statement protesting that the trial was unfair and the court exposed to political pressure. A judge interrupted, warning the defence lawyer: “You are attacking the judicial authority and you will be held responsible if you continue.”

Continued on Page 13

Sharp rise in Kuwait oil output

Security forces inspect the scene of a car bomb attack in Basra yesterday. (Inset) Iraq’s Vice President Tariq Al-Hashemi speaks to the media as he leaves a meeting with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara yesterday. An Iraqi court found the nation’s Sunni vice president guilty yesterday of running death squads against security forces and Shiites, and sentenced him to death in absentia. — AP

Author on Sudan discovery voyage KHARTOUM: He speaks with a German accent and prefers coffee to Sudan’s favourite, tea, but three decades after last setting foot in his ancestral home Sudan, Arab author Tarek Eltayeb has returned on a voyage of discovery.

Eltayeb, 52, has published 10 books including two novels that chronicle the immigrant experience which shaped his

Tarek Eltayeb

KUWAIT: The Interior Ministry said yesterday it would act firmly against any “unlicensed” protests in the country, a day before a planned demonstration outside the National Assembly. Opposition parliamentarians and activists have called for a rally at the so-called Irada Square today to protest against possible changes to an electoral law which they say could weaken their chances at the next polls. The government has asked Kuwait’s top court to rule on a 2006 law that divides the country into five constituencies, saying the verdict is needed to protect against possible legal challenges to future parliamentary elections.

Continued on Page 13

own life. Born and raised in Egypt to a Sudanese father and Sudanese-Egyptian mother, in 1984 he ended up in Vienna where, he told AFP, writing eased the pain of a lonely life in a foreign land as he initially struggled with the German language.

Eltayeb took comfort in Arabic, he said in an interview over coffee and pastries at Khartoum’s colonial-era Grand Holiday Villa Hotel. “I had nothing except my language. I had no money, no relatives, no friends. I had only my language. So I began to use it, to invest my language in writing. And this helped also to protect me at that time, to feel I am at home,” said the bearded author with a warm smile. “I made my friends in paper, I made my family in paper. I made my old life in paper.” His “old life” was the 25 years he had spent in Cairo and the Sinai peninsula.

Eltayeb, who is spending September in Sudan hosting readings, discussions, and meeting Sudanese writers, said he Continued on Page 13

Private firms pushed to raise pay for Saudis RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will push private companies to pay Saudi workers as much as their state employed counterparts with the goal of encouraging more citizens to seek work in the private sector.

From February Saudi workers who are paid less than the public-sector minimum wage of 3,000 rials ($800) a month will not be counted fully in the mandated quota of Saudis a company must employ to avoid tough fines. The move, announced on Saturday by Labour Minister Adel Al-Fakeih and carried in natonal newspapers yesterday, is part of Saudi Arabia’s wide-ranging labour reforms in a country where nine-tenths of private-sector workers are foreign.

The government has in the past relied on quotas and visa restrictions to reduce a dependency on relatively cheap foreign labour but some 90 percent of Saudi workers are still employed by the government, and while unemployment among Saudis was only 10.5 percent according to the latest, 2009, data, economists say labour force participation is lower than 40 percent, or around half the global average.

Last year the Labour Ministry refined an old system of quotas for the number of Saudis that Continued on Page 13

DUBAI: Oil output by the big three Gulf producers saw a net increase of around 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August from July as a sharp rise in Kuwaiti output outweighed cuts by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), industry sources said.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE both cut their production by around 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August, to 9.7 million bpd and 2.7 million bpd, respectively, according to Gulf industry sources.

But top producer Saudi Arabia used 100,000 bpd from storage to offer crude supplies to the market of 9.8 million bpd, while Gulf-OPEC ally Kuwait ramped up production by around 600,000 bpd to 3 million Continued on Page 13

Can Israel surprise Iran?

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cancellation of a security cabinet session on Iran following a media leak last week laid bare a conundrum long troubling Israeli strategists: could they count on any element of surprise in a war on their arch-foe? Possibly not. Years of public speculation, much of it stoked by official statements in Israel and abroad, about the likelihood and timing of such a conflict have afforded the Iranians plenty of notice to fortify their threatened nuclear facilities and prepare retaliation.

Given the difficulties Israel’s jets would face in reaching and returning from distant Iran, as well as their limited bomb loads, losing the option of mounting sneak attacks may seem to have put paid to the very idea of an attack launched without its ally the United States. Yet experts are not rushing to rule that out. Some believe Israel is still capable of achieving a modicum of surprise, and that in any case it might hope a combination of stealth, blunt force and, perhaps, hitherto untested innovations can deliver victory - even if Iran is on high alert. Israel, whose technologically advanced military has a history of suc-

cessful derring-do, might place less importance on catching Iran completely off-guard and instead strike openly and with combined forces, causing disarray among the defenders in hope of delivering enough damage to a select number of targets. “The probability of achieving surprise is low, but I think the Israelis will count on their technical competence in defence suppression to allow them in,” said Walter Boyne, a former US air force officer and a writer on aviation history.

He predicted the Israelis would mesh air raids with a swarm of strikes by ground and naval units, a view echoed

by Lynette Nusbacher, senior lecturer in war studies at Britain’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. She suggested Israel could also incorporate cyberattacks to blind Iran as an assault began.

“There is no question that Israel can achieve tactical surprise if required,” Nusbacher said, differentiating the shortterm shock from Iran’s long readiness for an attack. “As long as the direction or timing or form of the attack is unexpected then surprise is possible.”

Israel and its Western allies believe Iran is covertly seeking means to build Continued on Page 13

in the

news

Al-Jazeera says news service hacked again

Eight Saudi Qaeda suspects surrender

Nuke-armed Iran not an option: Germany

Dubai family firm Habtoor eyes IPO

DOHA: Qatar-based Al-Jazeera news network’s mobile service was hacked yesterday, four days after a number of its Internet websites came under cyber attack, it reported on its website aljazeera.net. “The story claiming that the Prime Minister (Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem) has been the target of an assassination attempt in the royal palace is completely false and was a result of hacking of the service,” the channel said in breaking news. The main Arab satellite news channel said the claim was among three false texts sent via its mobile service “which has been hacked”. Social networks, including Twitter, quoted Al-Jazeera’s mobile service yesterday as saying that Sheikh Hamad was targeted in an attack on the palace in Doha and that the wife of the emir, Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, was lightly wounded.

RIYADH: Eight Saudis wanted for alleged links to Al-Qaeda have handed themselves in to the authorities, the state news agency SPA reported yesterday. The surrender was overseen by the families of those wanted and a centre headed by Deputy Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by SPA. The centre launched in 2006 aims to draw former Al-Qaeda militants away from radical Islamist ideology. The interior ministry urged others “to return to their senses and to stop following those who seek to use them as tools”. On Aug 26, Saudi authorities announced they had foiled a terror plot by elements suspected of links to Al-Qaeda, mostly Yemenis, and busted two extremist cells in Riyadh and the port city of Jeddah.

JERUSALEM: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said yesterday that a nuclear-armed Iran was “not an option” as he called on Tehran to hold “substantial negotiations” over its controversial atomic program. “We share the Israeli concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme,” Westerwelle said at the beginning of a meeting with Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak in Jerusalem. “A nuclear-armed Iran would not only pose a threat to Israel but to the stability of the entire region. A nuclear-armed Iran is not an option,” he said. “We will keep up sanctions and diplomatic pressure on Iran. We still see room for diplomacy,” he said. Meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later in the day, Westerwelle reiterated that Germany will “not accept” a nuclear-armed Iran.

DUBAI: The Al Habtoor Group, a family-owned Dubai conglomerate, plans to raise as much as $1.6 billion through an initial public offering on the Nasdaq Dubai bourse next year, in a move likely to boost moribund equity markets in the region.

The company, whose portfolio spans the hospitality, construction, education and automotive sectors, plans to issue new shares worth 25 percent of its capital as part of the listing, Khalaf Al-Habtoor, chairman of the group, told Reuters. The Dubaibased company is one of the UAE’s biggest family businesses and a stock market float from the group is seen adding momentum to local equity markets which have struggled to attract new companies since the global financial crisis. The family firm plans to use proceeds from the listing to expand its businesses and acquire properties globally. (See Page 22)

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

LOCAL

Opposition counters govt’s plan with escalated pressure Stage set for new demonstration

KUWAIT: Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, the Acting Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, and Al-Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim Al-Duaij AlSabah touring one of the schools.

Academic year begins with new, well-equipped schools KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education has opened the new academic year with inauguration of a number of new schools and securing all necessities including electronic facilities for students, said the acting minister yesterday.

Dr. Nayef Al-Hajraf, the Acting Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, also the Minister of Finance, made the announcement as he visited some schools in Al-Ahmadinamely the newly-built school Mama Anissa School.

The minister, who was accompanied by ministry officials and Al-Ahmadi Governor Sheikh Dr. Ibrahim Al-Duaij AlSabah, said the school was named after Mama Anissa as a gratitude to the

prominent woman who had served her country with devotion.

The ministry opened 11 new schools, he said, adding that eight schools in Jaber Al-Ahmad City were not open because the area was not fully populated yet. He affirmed keenness on pursuing construction of “e -schools,” and affirmed that Syrians would be accepted in the government schools, noting that contracts of all Syrian teachers were renewed, considering dire conditions prevailing in their country. Shedding some light on high costs of construction of new schools, he noted that building Issa Al-Holi School cost more than KD four million and Mama Anissa more than KD five million. — KUNA

Cabinet to naturalize 275 bedoons KUWAIT: The Cabinet will discuss the legality of naturalizing stateless residents through special decrees during its weekly meeting today in light of the fact that the Parliament remains unable to convene.

Sources close to the Cabinet told Al-Rai daily that naturalization performed through decrees are legal “due to the presence of a law that allows the Cabinet to grant Kuwaiti citizenship to a maximum of 2,000

individuals a year.”

The same source added that “files of 275 stateless residents who work at local oil firms or enrolled in the army.”

It will be presented at the table during today ’s Cabinet meeting. The source confirmed that the candidates should meet adequate criteria including providing documents from the 1965 census proving that their predecessors lived in Kuwait before the country’s first census was held.

KUWAIT: The opposition plans to revive public pressure that might lead to overthrowing the new Cabinet formed after the Constitutional Court makes its verdict regarding the constitutionality of the electoral law, as well as a parliament elected after the present house is dissolved, if the ruling finds the distribution of constituencies to be unconstitutional. These developments come after the Majority Bloc, a coalition of oppositionists who controlled the majority of the seats in the 2012 parliament, received information about “a governmental plan to redistribute constituencies and change the number of votes per voter in order to control the parliament before moving to put more limitations on public and media freedoms”, according to sources yesterday.

The bloc was set to hold a meeting to discuss preparations for a public demonstration to be held this evening, which is the second since the Cabinet filed a request contesting the constitutionality of the electoral law that divides Kuwait into five constituencies, while

giving each citizen the right to elect four candidates in their respective constituencies.

Meanwhile, the same sources indicated that the meeting was also expected to feature “selecting nine executive committee members to run the operations of the National Front for the Protection of the Constitution”.

“Political groups and independent political and guests will be invited to join the Front, which will be calling on the public to stage mass gatherings against unconstitutional practices”, the sources added. (Qabas) Political activist Khalid Al-Fadhalah, one of three activists assigned by the Majority Bloc to come up with the National Front’s draft goals, said he received “positive reactions from political groups, activists, and others individuals representing all sectors of society, who were contacted to review the front’s goals”. Some of the groups contacted are the liberal National Democratic Alliance and the Shiite National Islamic Alliance, according to Al-Fadhalah. Meanwhile, Al-Rai reported yesterday that the government is working on a

“counter front” to achieve an agreement for a formula based on which an emergency decree can be made to change the electoral law after the parliament is dissolved, should the Constitutional Court find the existing system unconstitutional.

This comes while Al-Anba daily quoted “informed Cabinet sources” who revealed that emergency decrees to dissolve the parliament and amend the electoral system are set to be made within a week of the court’s verdict, which is planned for September 25th, if the law is found unconstitutional. In case the court finds the law constitutional, emergency decrees will be issued within a week to dissolve the parliament and hold new elections, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

In the meantime, the sources spoke of one scenario proposed for amending the electoral law by which the five constituencies would be kept, but areas would be redistributed in a manner that maintains equality in the number of voters between constituencies.

Authorities to halt pursuing illegal residents KUWAIT: Authorities have decided to temporarily halt operations targeting illegal residents because of the fact that the jail facilities are overcrowded, pending deportation procedures.

According to Ministry of Interior insiders, the decision was made for health reasons “in order to prevent outbreak of contagious diseases among prisoners.” Sources further blamed embassies for “failing to provide adequate cooperation to deport prisoners held for long periods of time.”

“Some embassies fail to provide travel documents for prisoners arrested without valid passports, which is the reason behind many cases of inmates being held in custody for a long time,” said sources. Other inmates are reportedly held pending financial liabilities that “force authorities not to deport them until their legal issues are resolved.”

In other news, medical test results carried out on residents at a shelter operated by an African nation’s embassy returned negative for tuberculosis, revealed Dr Khalid AlSehlawi, Ac ting Undersecretar y of the Ministry of Health.

The tests were administered on nearly 500 residents - mostly domestic workers facing labor-related complications. Six cases of

infection were reported. According to AlSehlawi “They are receiving treatment at the respiratory rehabilitation center under quarantine.” The senior health official further

revealed that the MoH plans to contact the Foreign Ministry “to inform embassies about maintaining health requirements at shelters and buildings,” reported Al-Rai.

MPs hail Al-Tabtabaei ‘heroics’ during Syria trip KUWAIT: Kuwaiti MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei took part in a demonstration in Sarmada City in the Idleb Governorate in northern Syria on Friday, drawing positive reactions from several MPs in Kuwait who described his visit as “heroic” and “honorable”.

Al-Tabtabaei can be seen in videos uploaded online holding the Syrian revolutionary flag and addressing a crowed of Sarmada residents by congratulating them on their governorate’s “liberation”, and wishing the same fate for the remaining Syrian governorates. “We are here to congratulate the Syrian people on their victories”, the Islamist lawmaker said in one video, in which he called on Arab and Muslim communities to “support the Syrian people, who are still in need of relief, aid and weapons”. In Kuwait, Ahmad Al-

Saadoun said on Saturday that “Al-Tabtabaei honored Kuwait by participating in the victory celebration of the free Syrian people”, further hoping that “the entire Syrian people would soon be celebrating the fall of [Syrian President Bashar] Al-Assad’s tyrannical regime”.

Other MPs who commended Al-Tabtabaei include Dr. Faisal Al-Mislem, who called the actions “brave”, and Mohammad Hayef, who recognized Al-Tabtabaei as “the first Arab MP who joins Syrians in liberating Idlib”. MP Falah Al-Sawagh also commended the efforts of AlTabtabaei, as well as MP Jamaan Al-Harbash, who took part in relief missions to aid Syrian refugees in Jordan, according to reports, as well as pictures uploaded by Al-Tabtabaei, himself, on his Twitter account.

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

LOCAL in my view

OP-ED

Foundation for prosperity in Middle East

Economy in complete paralysis

By Fouad Al-Obaid t is safe to say that His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah and the ministers in his Cabinet are aware of the fact that Kuwait’s economy, development process and real estate investment are currently in a state of complete paralysis.

Meanwhile, the private sector has been struggling to cope with the global economic crisis since the fall of 2008, but all cries for help have fallen on deaf ears.

This subject has been raised several times in recent years, but we find it imperative to write an open letter to HH the Prime Minister about the current situation in the country, which at one point was a role model for other Gulf states, but has now became an example of an oil-rich state that has failed to keep up with the latest advancements.

HH the Prime Minister, People are increasingly drawing the conclusion that your government is incapable of dealing with the ongoing political crisis. While no miracles can be performed to improve the state of affairs in the short term, a lot can be done in the economic and developmental fields, if the government only follows the state’s development plan, which was enforced by the previous parliament. However, we find that when it comes to the execution of certain projects, little to no action is taken to follow the remedial steps proposed during meetings or those articulated in official statements.

The Cabinet is not facing any pressure from the parliament, so what is stopping it from pushing the developmental agenda forward? What is preventing ministers from finishing projects and achieving economic growth? All we hear are excuses about ‘obstacles’ and ‘political crisis complicating the execution process for several projects’. Is there no minister in the current cabinet who will display enough courage to take the next step forward? Is there no minister who is capable of taking strict action against officials guilty of delaying projects or someone who will intervene to put an end to the corruption and the bureau-

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fouad@kuwaittimes.net Twitter: @Fouadalobaid s the Middle East is currently in turmoil with ongoing uprisings and revolts, we need to start planning for the future of this region. After things calm down, a new opening will be made in the Arabian Gulf, which will position Kuwait among other countries in this geographic location to finally come to a lasting peace that would foster economic development.

It is in the vision’s of leaders that the path of the future is sown. It is up to us to adequately plan to make the best of the opportunities that will be coming our way, and to actively work towards creating opportunities that would ensure a positive outlook for the entire region.

It is during such moments and periods of grand uncertainty that wisdom emerges. The nature of conflict engulfing the region has had precedents in the past, and it is up to visionaries to remind those in power of the consequence of conflict, and its ramification on the entire populace of the region.

Ultimately, no one has benefited from the conflicts that have plagued our area of the Middle East. Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, have all suffered grave consequences due to conflict. The tragedy is that we all collectively spent billions on wars, more billions on building the original infrastructure, only to spend many more billions on re-building infrastructure, and the worst crime of all- we are still today spending billions purchasing the armament that allow for more conflict!

The demand of all humans revolve around the provision of basic necessities: necessities that could not only have been met for every man, woman and child in this region. The billions spent on conflict has altered our region’s destiny, and the purchase and use of weaponry, has pushed us to forget the collective legacy that this region enshrines.

We are located in the cradle of civilizations, home to grand past civilizations that flourished in this area.

Should we not use our wealth today to build upon our collective legacy and render the rebuilding of a new prosperous civilization in our region an unconditional priority for our respective governments?

The inhabitants of our regional neighborhood are Muslims! Should we not remind ourselves of the purpose we ought to strive to accomplish in this life, the worship of One Almighty God, and more pertinently the building of the earth! In the understanding of the latter, are we not commanded to use our power, money, health and wealth to ensure that we create the best of civilization?

And, to do so, does it not require a spirit of entrepreneurship, complete peace of both the mind and the body, along with the earnest desire to accomplish a lasting legacy?

We are at a conjuncture in history, a time where it is up to the leaders - public and private - to rise up to the challenge. We need visionaries on all sides to courageously act upon a desire to lay the foundations of lasting peace. Are we not all brothers and sisters on this earth? Do we not owe it to ourselves to ensure that we seize upon the moment and push for the creation of free, progressive, and just societies that work for the betterment of the people, not for the selfish interest of a few?

A

kuwait digest

Give the minister a chance

By Dr Jaber Hajiya wo heavyweight grilling motions recently debated in marathon sessions forced two health ministers out of their positions, along with their leading staff, leaving behind a heavy burden caused by all types of corruption and conflicts in all departments of the ministry. In these tough circumstances, a new minister from inside the ministry was appointed.

The new minister comes with a clear strategy based on his long experience in the field, through which he has become familiar with the smallest details within the ministry. He never assigns undersecretaries to different tasks, but makes sure to handle the majority of issues personally, in order to live up to the trust put in him. Moreover, he’s been very successful in avoiding favoritism and giving priority to the general good, as shown by his decision to seek retirement for the ministry’s undersecretary.

Also, the minister isn’t yielding to attacks he’s been subjected to since he made recent decisions to appoint two new senior officials. The attacks came from places closest to him, such as the ministry’s ‘Council of Undersecretaries’ and some officials, and that after decisions to reshuffle heads of departments. Yet, he refuses to yield and continues to move forward by addressing long-forgotten projects in the ministry, such as school clinics and senior citizens’ care programs.

In the meantime, the state’s overseas treatment program for Kuwaiti patients - a subject marred for years by allegations of corruption and violations- was used as a means to launch media campaigns in unjustifiable attempts to put the minister down and end his political career. “Listen, young man. You will reappoint so-and-so or else be branded as a dictator, committing career massacres at the ministry” - that’s basically the kind of threats through which some try to put pressure on the minister, who instead chooses to ignore them and continue moving forward. Do you know why? Because he comes from within the ministry and has a strong resolve when it comes to decision making.

The minister has the right to be given the opportunity to work and take his chances before his performance is assessed, while blatant campaigns against him - or against any active technocrat minister for that matter - must be ignored. —Al-Rai

T

kuwait digest

Most beautiful country by night

By Thaar Al-Rashidi don’t exaggerate when I say that Kuwait is one of to the airport cafe at night, which was opened in the the most beautiful countries in the world. But it is, first place for receiving passengers and accompanying without any doubt, the most beautiful country in persons, arrivals and departures. I can say that 50% of those cafe visitors have nothing to do with passengers, the world by night.

During the past few days I was obliged to stay they are groups of youths who found nothing in the awake and move around in Kuwait at night, I mean calm nights of Kuwait, so they went to the airport looking for a cafe to sit in it. Some stay until the early hours after 12 midnight.

I have never seen anything more beautiful, more of the morning. The general idea is that Kuwait international airport could be a calm or more organized start for “night tourism”, it is than Kuwait’s streets. I have as simple as that. Also, it is never seen beaches more The general idea is that Kuwait possible to have complete beautiful than our beaches. international airport could be a malls which are open to the The special thing about start for “night tourism”, it is as public 24 hours, and I think Kuwait by night is that you this idea will be successful. forget for a few minutes all simple as that. Also, it is possible Especially since many about our political probto have complete malls which are Kuwaitis are used to staying lems, and our “constituenopen to the public 24 hours, and I awake and it has become cies” even disappear, as if the part of our daily lives. streets have swallowed it in think this idea will be successful.

The idea of “night the midst of total calmness. tourism” is something which I don’t know if there is a I hope concerned authoriphrase called “night tourism”, as I am not an expert in tourism. But I am ties take into consideration. That tourism, which in the pretty sure if “night tours” are begun in Kuwait, they first place does not exist in our country, is something we should start discussing, since Kuwait, and as I have will be successful, at least internally.

As all necessary things for such “tourism” is there. He seen, and as I am sure of, for me is the most beautiful who does not believe this or is convinced about it, go country in the world... at night! —Al-Anbaa

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in my view

Fall of Assad inevitable

The Cabinet is not facing any pressure from the parliament, so what is stopping it from pushing the developmental agenda forward? What is preventing ministers from finishing projects and achieving economic growth? All we hear are excuses about ‘obstacles’ and ‘political crisis complicating the execution process for several projects’.

By Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed ave Iran and Hezbollah let Assad down? This is what besieged Syrian President Bashar Assad believes. It is paradoxical. How can we say Iran is supplying Assad with money, oil, weapons and fighters, and at the same time, claim Iran and its puppet Hezbollah have abandoned him in his hour of need?

Immense support from Tehran to Damascus has never stopped but Assad is far from satisfied with the performance of his allies. In fact, he must be quite angry with them. He’s been expecting more than just material support. For more than a year, he has threatened big events in the region. Nothing of the sort has happened and the fire remains confined to his own home.

Assad was expecting the Iranians to declare war against GCC countries and to exert pressure on them to stop supporting the Syrian freedom fighters. He believed Hezbollah would hasten war against Israel like in 2006, to keep the region busy and force the US, Britain and France to stop supporting the revolution which was spreading chaos across the country.

His disappointment was huge. The Iranians did not attack the GCC countries. Hezbollah did not declare war against Israel. All its members had done was organize demonstrations on the green meadows opposite the barbed wires borders with Israel.

The demonstrators sang and danced. The bearded members of the party did not fire a single bullet against Israel.

Assad is left with Ahmed Jibril, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC). He was hoping Jibril would open a front against Israel but he did not. The Palestinians inside the refugee camps in Syria joined the revolution and openly fought side-by-side with the freedom fighters.

Jibril expressed his well wishes to Assad. He said in an interview the leadership in Iran assured him they would not leave Syria alone against aggression.

He claimed that Iranian leaders said they warned the Turks not to play with fire and made it clear that any intervention in Syria was a line that should not be crossed.

The official media in Syria were forced to circulate rumors to drive his allies to clash with his enemies.

The media circulated a statement attributed to Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Iranian Shoura Council, in which he allegedly said, “The downfall of the Assad regime in Syria is the downfall of Kuwait. You may interpret this in any way you wish.” It was never

H

proved the top Iranian official made the threat. The official media also attributed similar statements to Russian officials who warned against a war that would destroy everything and that Russia would not tolerate the attitudes of countries hostile to Syria. We could not find any truth to these statements. The official media circulated a statement they allegedly attributed to former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in which he said the downfall of Assad would be beneficial to Israel, which would then occupy more Arab lands. The false interview was carried by a comic publication and was quickly marketed by Damascus.

What does Assad expect his allies to do? He thought the Iranians and the Russians would cooperate with each other to open a war front against Turkey to intimidate Erdogan’s government and compel it to kick out the Syrian opposition organizations from Turkish territories, which posed a big threat to him. The Iranians and the Russians did not do this.

He was hoping for a war in the Gulf that would cause Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to shake up their political systems under sectarian justifications, but this did not happen.

Assad was hoping to wake up one morning to find Jordan and Egypt asking for his help against an Israeli aggression because of the deliberate operations in Sinai, but this did not happen.

Many months have passed and the world is preoccupied with one event: The collapse of his regime, which is inevitable.

I once wrote that Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, was too smart to destroy his forces to salvage a falling regime. Though Nasrallah sent his men to fight alongside Assad forces and his militia, he has completely ignored Assad’s wishes to launch war in Lebanon or to start war against Israel.

Nasrallah wanted the world to note this when he disowned the kidnapping of a number of Syrians and a Turk in Lebanon. “We have no power over the Shiite kidnappers. Understand this anyway you want,” he said.

The Russians, the Iranians and Hezbollah have known for about a year now, that the Assad regime has fallen. They only want to mitigate the damage that might subsequently fall on them following the downfall of the regime. They want to have a say in the new Syria, maybe by dissecting the country into small sectarian states, or launch a civil war that would preoccupy Syrians for many years to come.

cratic red tape, which have already dealt a body blow to the innovations practiced in certain ministries?

Reports about delayed projects marring the development process have been published on a weekly basis for several years now. Is this what you want your Cabinet to be remembered for in history? Official expenditure has dominated governmental spending in recent years; especially the cost of public sector salaries. But the government should actually be working to boost investment expenditure in infrastructure, education, health and other sectors, in cooperation with the private sector, as stated in the development plan.

The private sector is not looking for a reward, but simply the chance to create new job opportunities for unemployed Kuwaitis, who’s swelling numbers are already proving to be a heavy burden on the public sector. The private sector is only seeking an opportunity for providing services and products in an economic environment that will support healthy competition and discourage the formation of monopolies. However, it has been unable to progress in this direction on account of several obstacles. The real estate sector, for example, has been mostly monopolized by the government, which controls the process of licensing new industrial, warehousing or service projects.

However, the development plan lays down articles that necessitate the establishment of shareholding companies, which will oversee the execution of development projects. But, no such company has been established yet. Even projects such as the privatization of Kuwait Airways, formation of new free trade zones or the construction of custom warehouses are yet to materialize, while the privatization and B.O.T laws has been implemented ineffectively. Meanwhile, companies hurt during the economic crisis have been struggling for four years in the absence of laws aimed at extending support to them, or regulating their bankruptcy filings.

Simply relying on the fact that Kuwait has a budget surplus owing to high oil prices spells dangerous repercussions for society on the whole, because the growing tide of employment in the public sector will kill any hope for actual productivity and creativity. The best solution is to generate diverse sources of income, which can only be achieved through cooperation with the private sector. —Al-Qabas

5

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Local

Two Kuwaiti students killed in Saudi traffic accident Man raids ex-girlfriend’s apartment

Man arrested for drug peddling

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Detectives from General Department for Drug Control(GDDC) arrested a GCC citizen in connection with trading in drugs. They were tipped off about his illegal activities earlier.

Once police verified the information, an arrest warrant was obtained to arrest him. Police stormed his place of residence and found seven kilograms of hashish in his possession and a sum of KD 900.

He confessed to peddling in drugs and had experience in handling such activities. He was referred to concerned authorities.

One dead in Doha chalet accident The Shuwaikh Center for Marine Rescue dealt with two different accidents. The first accident was reported at 5 am, when a yacht collided into rock barriers along the beach opposite Souq Sharq. When rescue workers arrived, they used air bag equipment to inflate the yacht once again and tow it to the beach. The yacht is 52 feet long, and no casualties were reported.

The second accident took place at 7:30 am, when police received a report about finding a dead body near Doha chalet, a muddy area where rescue boats have no access to.

Rescue workers had to use an equipment from center to reach the body. Circumstances that caused the death has not been determined. The body was referred to Criminal Investigation Department.

Husband threat A female citizen filed a complaint with Sulaibikhat police against her husband accusing him of threatening to kill her and their daughter following a family dispute. The husband allegedly threatened to kill the seven- year-old daughter at knife point. He then went on to attack his wife and and threatened to kill her as well. The man then reportedly kidnapped the daughter and his housemaid, who witnessed the incident. A case was filed, supported by a medical report submitted by the woman.

Oil firm to excavate wells in Kurdistan

By A Saleh KUWAIT: The Gulf Petroleum Investment (GPI) announced an agreement to establish a limited company in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to carry out oil excavation and drilling, in addition to research, investment and other oilrelated services. According to sources, the GPI controls 80 percent of the KDC Petroleum Company’s shares as per the preliminary agreement. The final agreement will be announced on a date to be determined later, sources added.

RIHS mourns scholar The Revival of Islamic Heritage Society(RIHS) mourned the death of Salafist activist Sheikh Abdullah Al-Sabt. He passed away on Friday in the United Arab Emirates. “The Muslim nation lost a scholar and a fighter who spent his life defending religion, and removing ambiguities and misconceptions about the Sunni faith,” read a statement released by the RIHS yesterday.

The statement also acknowledges the contributions made “throughout forty years of Salafist activity in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region,” crediting him for being “among the few true founders of modern Salafism in Kuwait,” as well as establishing a library “focusing on publishing research documents that conserve true Salafist approach.”

Awareness campaign on autism launched KUWAIT: A group of students from the National Union of Kuwaiti Students, (United Kingdom and Ireland branches) has launched an awareness campaign about autism in Kuwait which received a successful and a large turnout from the public.

Sarah Al-Tamimi, Deputy Head of the Office of female students in the Union told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) yesterday that the Union usually organizes recreational activities but decided this year to carry out charity work that serves the community.

She said that Union has conducted such campaign on autism in collaboration with the Center for Autism. AlTamimi added that Union members have visited the Autism Center to learn more about the disease and then they initiated a campaign called (Let’s make a difference) to raise awareness about the disease.

She noted that people’s information about the disease is almost non-existent except for those who have a family member who has it. She said the team had campaigned for a week from 10 o’clock in the morning until 10 pm at 360 Complex where information on autism was offered, in addition to running the campaign on (Instagram) and (Twitter), saying such campaign has received significant interaction. —KUNA

KUWAIT: Three Kuwaiti college students were involved in a traffic accident as they drove through Saudi Arabia towards the United Arab Emirates, which left two of them dead and the third critically injured. The accident was reported on Saturday on the Eastern Province Road where the victims’ vehicle apparently rolled over several times. Paramedics pronounced two of the victims dead on the scene, while the third student was rushed to a local hospital where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. An investigation was opened.

In another incident, a student at the Police Academy was killed in an accident early Saturday morning while he was driving home from Al-Wafra. The victim was pronounced dead inside his wrecked vehicle, which reportedly collided with a truck. Officials said the man had been on his way to take his brother to a doctor ’s appointment when the accident occurred. An investigation is continuing to determine the circumstances behind the accident.

late Friday night stemming from a dispute between the man and his father, which saw the man become enraged, damaging items around the house before striking his father. Other family members called police when the son threatened his father with a knife.

Security officers were soon present at the scene and placed the son under arrest. He remains in custody pending legal procedures.

Ingrate son Hawally police arrested a 20-yearold man who physically assaulted his father, attempting to attack him with a kitchen knife. The incident took place

Home thief held Farwaniya police arrested a thief responsible for multiple home robberies in the area, which recently took place. The arrest happened after the

Drug possession A male driver was arrested for possession of drugs during a patrol operation carried out by Jahra police recently.

The Kuwaiti man attempted to escape when a patrol vehicle approached him in a parking lot where he had stopped his car. The officers were able to block his way, and advanced to search his car after noticing that he was very nervous.

The suspect was placed under arrest after police found heroin and hashish inside the car. He was transferred to the Drug Control General Department to face legal action.

suspect was apprehended outside his house in Al-Rehab, as detectives were able to identify and locate him through investigations of several cases filed at police stations in the Farwaniya governorate. Investigations had revealed that the thief targeted houses that were left vacant by its residents, who were on vacation. During investigations, the man admitted responsibility for only three reported thefts. He remains in Farwaniya police’s custody pending further investigations.

Angry boyfriend A man was arrested in Bnaid Al-Gar after he forced his way into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment to talk her out of her decision to end their five-year relationship. The man was later set free the same night when the woman approached police to drop the charge she pressed against him. Police had reported to the scene after the woman made an emergency call while her exboyfriend was pounding on the front door and demanding that she let him inside. He was found cornering the woman inside her living room when police arrived. The man insisted that he never intended to cause harm to the woman, and later explained during the investigation at the Da’iya police

station that he lost his temper as he desperately tried to talk to his ex-girlfriend about her decision to end their long-term relationship. The woman explained, in the meantime, that she ended her relationship with him after becoming convinced that he was not serious about getting married; whereas he pled that he was waiting for the right moment to propose.

Eventually, the woman returned to the police station about an hour after the arrest and asked police to drop a charge of entering a residence with malicious intent, which she pressed earlier, prompting police to release her ex-boyfriend after he signed a paper pledging not to approach her with the intent to harm her in the future.

Beggars arrested Nine women of Arab and Asian nationalities were arrested during a recent operation carried out by migration authorities against beggars at the Fahaheel markets. The beggars were reportedly detained after they were caught begging. It was later revealed that three of the women have valid dependenc y visas. The detainees remain in custody pending deportation procedures. —Al-Watan, Al-Rai

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

LOCAL

Private sector to create more jobs in coming three months New Job Index survey KUWAIT: The latest Job Index survey conducted by Bayt.com, the Middle East’s number one jobsite, and YouGov, a research and consulting organization, has shown that more than half of the region’s employers (53 percent) are either ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ hiring in the next three months. The same holds true for employers in Kuwait; 56 percent will ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ hire in the next three months, while 39 percent will ‘definitely’ hire within a year.

The majority of jobs across the region, both in the next three months and in a year’s time, will come from multinationals or large local companies.

“It is interesting to note that there is a healthy expectancy for the number of available jobs to increase in the coming quarter and in the next 12 months. That most of these will come from multinational companies - 34 percent of which are looking to hire in the next three months, and 35 percent in a year’s time is proof that such establishments provide a significant source of employment in the region. This suggests that making conditions more favorable for such companies will prove even more beneficial to the Middle East’s economic and employment situation,” said Suhail Masri, VP of Sales at Bayt.com. “Bayt.com conducts in-depth surveys to establish the factors that affect

employers and job seekers across the region. Based on this information, we develop unique applications on our job site to provide the best possible recruitment environment for all involved.”

Of those companies in the Middle East looking to hire in the next three months, most (45 percent) will have less than five positions available. Roughly a quarter (24 percent) will have up to 10 jobs available.

The most sought-after employees will be those at a junior executive level (36 percent), followed by executives (30 percent), coordinators (26 percent) and senior executives (25 percent). In Kuwait, 44 percent of companies will be hiring for less than five jobs, and 24 percent will have up to 10 positions available.

The region’s most desirable graduate/post graduate qualification is in Business Management, according to 25 percent of the survey’s respondents. This is closely followed by Engineering (24 percent), Commerce (22 percent) and Computer Science (21 percent).

Job seekers in Kuwait will have the best chance of being hired with qualifications in Business Management (28 percent), Administration (22 percent) or Commerce (20 percent).

About 50 percent of employers across the Middle East are looking for candidates who are cooperative, helpful and

flexible team players, and who have good communication skills in English and Arabic (50 percent). The most desirable experience is managerial, with the ability to manage a team (37 percent), followed by computer skills (32 percent).

Kuwait-based employers also value the same skills (48percent look for team player qualities; 63 percent want good communicators). Additionally, the ability to work under pressure (47 percent) and efficiency/productivity (47percent) is important in Kuwait. They also search for candidates with managerial experience (38percent), and computer skills (32 percent). Across the region, respondents are almost equally split in their opinion on the attractiveness of their current country of residence in comparison to other Middle Eastern countries. Four in ten (39 percent) find their current country of residence to be ‘slightly less’ or ‘much less’ attractive, while three in ten (32 percent) claim that where they live is ‘much more’ or ‘slightly more’ attractive than the alternatives.

Residents in the UAE are most happy, with 43 percent finding it much more attractive than other countries in the region, followed by residents in Saudi Arabia and Qatar (each with 40 percent believing the same).

In terms of industry, the majority of

respondents (41 percent) are content with their current sector, while 25 percent state that it is equally attractive to others.

The belief is that the industries that attract and retain the top talent in the region are Banking and Finance (34 percent), Telecommunications (33 percent) and Construction (31 percent).

The three most attractive industries in Kuwait are Banking and Finance (34 percent), Construction (28 percent) and Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals (26 percent).

“Though there seems to be a general level of contentment with current countries of residence and industries, it would appear that there is the potential for more people than ever to consider their options elsewhere in the region,” said Sundip Chahal, CEO at YouGov. “Job seekers and students would do well to look at those industries and skills that are held in most high regard, as becoming qualified within those areas will increase their possibilities for employment within the Middle East.”

Data for the Bayt.com Job Index August 2012 HR survey was collected online from July 26 to August 26, 2012.

Results are reported on a base of 5,999 respondents. Countries that participated are UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Pakistan.

Fire fighting exercise in Surra

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: Meshref fire center carried out an exercise for fire and rescue personnel in a building under construction which belongs to a government organization south of Al-Surra. The exercise is a part of a management plan to protect work places at government construction sites, as well as private locations, and to ensure the ability of fire centers to operate under emergency conditions that might happen with buildings under construc-

tion. The firemen inspected the site and met with the engineers in charge of the project, in addition to the director of safety and the security manager. They issued their instructions and their advice concerning safety, in addition to reaching agreement on how to prevent accidents and fires at such sites. They acted based upon an assumption about a staged fire at the site and made sure of the readiness of the warning systems, in addition to the locations containing fire fighting equipment.

Also, the project management visited all facilities to

ensure the success of the drill.

Thereafter, firemen toured the project and conducted a drill for fighting a fire on the 5th floor. Firemen formed two teams, one for rescue and the other for fire fighting, and water was brought to the 5th floor in a very short time. Fire department officials called upon all owners of construction projects to coordinate with the fire department and assist firemen from the closest center in visiting the projects and conduct field trainings at the project to ensure the safety of property and lives.

VIVA announces lucky winners of BMW 320i, Ford Mustang

Main ice skating hall reopens KUWAIT: The main skating hall at the Ice Skating Rink will reopen on Sept 13 after undergoing complete maintenance work, the Touristic Enterprises Company announced yesterday.

A special program featuring different activities gets underway with the facility’s reopening, said Omar Al-Sameraei, TEC’s Supervisor for the Ice Skating Rink and Fountain Park.

The Ice Skating Omar Al-Sameraei Rink welcomes visitors during usual operating hours every day from 8:30 am to 10 pm during seven separate periods. The period between 6:30 pm and 10 pm every Tuesday has been exclusively reserved for female visitors.

Entrance tickets are sold for KD 3 per period, with a special discounted rate of KD 2 for women-only period.

The facility also offers training courses for people of all ages.

KUWAIT: VIVA, Kuwait’s newest and most advanced mobile telecommunications service provider, celebrates the first year anniversary of its exciting and successful “Win a car every week” by drawing two cars and choosing two winners every week rather than one. The latest lucky winners were Meshaal Rumaith Manahi who won the BMW 320i and Basel Abdulrazzag Almojalhem who won the Ford Mustang Coupe.

VIVA congratulated each of the lucky winners and invited its customers to participate in the longest on-going campaign of its kind. The upcoming draws will take place on each of 9th, 16th and 23rd of September. This campaign is the longest ongoing campaign of its kind in Kuwait, and is available only to VIVA’s prepaid customers.

The VIVA “Win a Car Every Week” offer is available only to prepaid customers. Entering the draw can be done through two options. The first option is to subscribe with 500 Fils per day giving customers infinite minutes and SMS to any VIVA line. This option entitles the customer to one chance to enter the draw each week.

The second option is to subscribe to the BlackBerry KD3.9 service, which gives customers full and unlimited BlackBerry Services. This option provides customers with 15 automatic chances to enter the draw each week. In addition, customers who purchase a new prepaid line are given a single entry to the draw on the week they activate their new line and send the SMS “GO” to 535.

Customers can also subscribe to both options, increasing their chances each week to win a luxurious car. In the case a customer does not win, the points will be accumulated and carried on to the next draw. The upcoming draw prize will be a brand new BMW 320i and a Ford Mustang Coupe.

Lebanese president praises Amir’s support BEIRUT: Lebanese President Michelle Suleiman praised His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on his support for Lebanon.

In a speech during the opening of Amchit Sports Club Stadium in the district of Jbeil, President Suleiman expressed his sincere gratitude to the Kuwait and Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) on their major role in executing and taking follow up action on Lebanese development projects.

He stressed that “What unites Lebanon and Kuwait together is a great link embodied in Lebanon’s condemnation of the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait in 1990, which Kuwaitis have never forgotten till this day.”

Lebanese Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel praised the significant role and support provided by Kuwait to Lebanon, which affirms the deep relations between the two countries.

The representative of KFAED, Nawaf AlDabbous, said that this vital project will be launched in an area of 6,000 square meters and will cost about $1.5 million, under the grant of Kuwait that was submitted in 2006.

He confirmed KFAED’s keenness to follow up the implementation of projects to the fullest, noting that it is interested in meeting the needs of youngsters because sport is an integral part of the developmental needs and a key factor in the overall development.

In addition, Al-Dabbous noted that this project will contribute to develop and stimulate the energies of Lebanese youth as well as guiding them ‘on the right physical and social track,’ hoping to achieve continuous goals and cooperation between Amchit Club and Kuwait’s Sports Club.

KFAED has offered 19 loans to Lebanon since 1966, totaling approximately $568 million, which included ventures in the health, agricultural and transportation sectors as well as a grant of $300 million after the Israeli aggression on Lebanon in 2006 to fund infrastructural and reconstruction projects.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Information Minister Walid Al-Daouq praised the Kuwaiti media and the level of cooperation in this field between his country and the Gulf State.

Al-Daouq affirmed the importance of boosting cooperation between Kuwait and Lebanon for benefit of the two countries, expressing gratitude to Kuwait, namely His Highness the Amir, government and people for their support for Lebanon.

He stressed on the deep relations between his country and Kuwaiti institutions, specially KUNA, Ministry of information and media organizations.

The M inister also said that Kuwaiti and Lebanese media “are similar and “constitute an example to be emulated in freedom of expression and democracy.” He also hoped normal conditions would be restored in Lebanon to encourage citizens of Kuwait and other Gulf states visit the country. Lebanon and Kuwait have been bound, for many years, with intellectual and historic ties, embodied in cooperation and solidarity in various fields. —KUNA

KSC celebrates ‘Long may you live’ exhibition

KUWAIT: Fahad Al-Fahad, senior corporate communications executive, with Basel Abdulrazzag Almojalhem who won the Ford Mustang Coupe.

VIVA is the newest, most VIVA also created the ‘Flavor of the Week’, an additional means to advanced mobile telecommunicaentering the draw and increasing tions service provider in Kuwait. the customers’ chance to win a new Launched in December 2008, VIVA car every two weeks. The ‘Flavor of makes things Possible for our custhe Week’ will be a ‘special service’ tomers by transforming communifor those two weeks, to which the cation, information and entertaincustomers can subscribe. This ment experiences. The company has week’s ‘Flavor of the Week’ will last rapidly established an unrivalled until 12 September 2012, and will position in the market through our give prepaid customers six chances customer and employee centric to win the BMW 320i or a Ford approach. VIVA’s quest is to be the Mustang Coupe upon using the mobile brand of choice for Kuwait International Bundle to get 30 inter- by being transparent, engaging, national minutes for KD 3 by send- energetic and fulfilling.

VIVA continues to take a considing “1” to 242 or “3” to 535.

Prepaid customers interested in erable share of the market by offerthe full, unlimited, local KD 3.9 ing an innovative range of best valBlackBerry offer, can send an SMS ue products, services and content with the number ‘2’ to ‘535’. For the propositions; a state-of-the-art, full menu of the prepaid offers, send nationwide network and worldan SMS with the word “GO”, to num- class service. VIVA offers Internet speed up to 42.2Mbps due to the ber ‘535’.

To find out more about VIVA’s implementation of the most numerous competitive promotions, advanced third generation (3G and products and packages visit any of HSDPA) network in Kuwait resulting the 14 VIVA branches or visit our in superior coverage, performance and reliability. website at www.viva.com.kw.

KUWAIT: The Scientific Center celebrated yesterday the exhibition of interactive educational exhibition series entitled “Long may you live” under auspices of Minister of Health Dr Ali Al-Obaidi.

This exhibition deals with public health, dietary habits, impact of drugs and smoking on human body, KSC Chairman and Managing Director Mejbel AlMutawa’a said in a statement, marking the opening of the fair.

The center planned a series of interactive educational exhibits for renewal and diversification in the AL Exploratorium halls, due every six months, addressing students, teachers and the public.

The exhibition displays 34 interactive devices on ageing, impact of healthy nutrition, happiness and stress on man’s longevity.

Inauguration of the exhibition coincided with display of latest IMAX movie about the North Pole, shown on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr.

Up to 6.8 million people have visited the center since the inauguration.

Al-Mutawa’a thanks KSC for approving the expansion project with the aim of hosting dolphins, marine mammals and and a hall for diverse modern explorations. — KUNA

Kuwaiti diplomat, Mongolian FM discuss bilateral ties ULAANBAATOR, Mongolia: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Mongolia Mubarak Al-Shaijan met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, Luvsanvandan Bold, and discussed issues of mutual interest and means to bolster bilateral relations, said a statement by the Kuwaiti Embassy yesterday.

According to the statement, Ambassador Al-Shaijan presented to the Mongolian minister a written letter from Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad AlSabah.

The Mongolian minister lauded during the meeting the role of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) in his country, pointing out that such role reflected strong relations between the two friendly nations. —KUNA

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

HK votes in crucial legislative polls

Survivor of Alps shooting out of coma: Prosecutor Page 10

Page 11

TARTOUS: A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syrian loyalists gathering in the northern coastal city of Tartous yesterday to protest against cutting the transmission of Syrian state channels by NileSat and Arabsat satellite operators. — AFP

Russia, US split on Syria Peace envoy Brahimi heads to Cairo DAMASCUS: Moscow and Washington aired their differences on the Syrian conflict yesterday as peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi headed to Cairo on his first trip to the region and as violence claimed more lives across Syria.

Troops shelled several districts of the northern city of Aleppo and clashed with rebels as other parts of the country were shelled in a new day of violence that killed at least 54 people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said the overall death toll from 18 months of violence in Syria has now risen to more than 27,000. A bomb targeting a bus carrying civilians and soldiers killed four people and wounded dozens in central Syria, the Britain-based group said, as the opposition announced that a vocal anti-regime film-maker had been killed in Aleppo.

Brahimi, who has said he was “scared” of the mission awaiting him, was due in Cairo for talks today at the headquarters of the Arab League and is finalising plans for a visit to Damascus, according to his spokesman. The veteran troubleshooter, who succeeds exUN and Arab League envoy Kofi Annan who quit in frustration at UN Security Council divisions on Syria, has described the bloodshed as “staggering” and called the destruction “catastrophic.”

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday that a new Security Council resolution on Syria would be pointless if it had “no teeth,” because President Bashar al-Assad would ignore it. Speaking in Russia, Clinton said she was willing to work with Moscow on a new resolution but warned Washington would step up support to end Assad’s regime if the measure did not carry consequences.

“There is no point to passing a resolution with no teeth because we’ve seen time and time again that

Assad will ignore it and keep attacking his own people,” she said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday after talks with Clinton that he hoped to seek Security Council approval for a peace plan agreed in June in Geneva that called for a ceasefire and political transition. Clinton said she hoped for progress but was “realistic” that Washington and Moscow had differences on Syria. If those differences persist, “then we will work with likeminded states to support a Syrian opposition to hasten the day when Assad falls,” she said.

Washington has said it is providing non-lethal assistance to the opposition in Syria, whose regime which has been a Moscow ally since the Cold War. Brahimi has been seeking guarantees that he will get a proper meeting with Assad before he goes to Damascus, diplomats said.

In Tehran, meanwhile, the Mehr news agency quoted an Iranian official as saying Brahimi was also contemplating visiting the Islamic republic-Syria’s diehard ally-after Damascus.

Annan had also visited Tehran in an effort to get it involved in finding an end to the bloodshed, but Washington has accused Iran of playing a “nefarious” role in Syria.

Bomb attack on bus with civilians, troops-On the ground, troops and rebels fought pitched battles in Aleppo as each side tried to gain more territory in Syria’s battered economic hub, activists and the Observatory said. At least two people were killed when mortar rounds struck a residential building in Hanano, the Observatory said.

Fighting raged in the district, where troops on Saturday repelled an offensive by rebels seeking control of an army barracks after a 20-hour battle.

Fierce clashes also shook the outskirts of Midan, as rebels entrenched

in the nearby Bustan al-Basha stronghold tried to seize the neighbourhood controlled by regime forces.

“The bombardment of Bustan alBasha has stopped but could start up again any time,” one resident told AFP. A main water pipe was destroyed, either by air strikes or the fighting, and water shortages were reported by Aleppo residents.

In the central province of Homs, a bomb attack on a bus carrying civilians and soldiers killed at least four people and wounded dozens yesterday, reports said.

“Four people were killed and others wounded in an explosion by a bomb which was planted by a terrorist group in a bus on the route from Homs to Messyaf,” state television said. The Observatory also reported the bombing, saying there were two explosions.

“We know for sure that four people were killed but we don’t know if they were civilians or military,” Abdel Rahman told AFP. “It was a large bus and there are dozens of casualties,” he said, adding “the bombs were planted on the road.”

In Damascus, troops bombarded the southeastern district of Tadamun and nearby Al-Hajar al-Aswad with clashes also reported at the Yarmuk Palestinian camp, the Observatory said. Al-Watan newspaper said the army was “scouring” Tadamun after entering the district on Saturday in pursuit of “armed men.”

Near the capital, clashes killed three rebels in Harasta to the northeast. The opposition Syrian National Council, meanwhile, announced the death of film-maker and journalist Tamer al-Awam, 34, on the front lines of Aleppo “by the bullets of the murderous and treacherous regime.” A Syrian website, Syrian Documents, said Awam was killed on Saturday while shooting a film for the rebel Free Syrian Army. — AFP

Clinton urges feuding Asian neighbours to cool it VLADIVOSTOK: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urged Asian countries embroiled in simmering territorial disputes to work together to ease rather than raise tensions. Recent flare-ups between Japan and China, China and many of its other neighbors, and Japan and South Korea have soured ties, prompting some leaders not to schedule their usual one-on one meetings at a Pacific Rim summit that ended yesterday in the far-eastern Russian seaport of Vladivostok.

“Whether we’re talking about the South China Sea or the East China Sea, my message has been the same to everyone,” Clinton told reporters. “Now is the time for everyone to make efforts to reduce the tensions and strengthen diplomatic involvement toward resolving these tensions.”

Given the weakness of the global recovery, any confrontation that might raise doubts over stability and peace in the region would not be in anyone’s interest, said Clinton, who was attending the summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on behalf of President Barack Obama.

Clinton said she discussed the territorial issue with the leaders of Japan and South Korea, which are at odds over an islet claimed by both. “I raised these issues with both of them, urging that their interests really lie in making sure that they lower the temperature and work together in a concerted way to have a calm and restrained approach,” she said.

“There does seem to be a recognition on the part of all of the leaders that this region of the world is the economic engine in what is still a fragile global economy,” Clinton said. Clinton said she would work closely with the

VLADIVOSTOK: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers remarks during a press conference at the US consulate in Vladivostok yesterday after taking part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. — AFP various Asian countries to help ensure the disputes do not balloon into more serious problems.

“We can’t let anything happen. It’s not in the interests of any of the Asian countries and it’s certainly not in the interests of the United States or the rest of the world to raise doubts and uncertainties about the stability and peace in the region,” she said.

Territorial disputes were not on the formal agenda of APEC, whose brief is to promote economic integration and more open trade. As would be expected at a diplomatic event, despite recent acrimony over the territorial disputes, there were shows of civility.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, seated beside each other at the leaders’ “informal retreat,” were

seen shaking hands as they sat down.

Noda and Chinese President Hu Jintao likewise were seen briefly chatting between meetings. Afterward, Noda told reporters he had expressed his sympathy for the victims of an earthquake Friday in southwestern China that killed dozens of people.

“As for the Japan-China relationship, China’s growth is a chance for the world and we would like to develop it in a strategic manner,” Noda said. Noda noted that Japan also needs to work with South Korea on issues related to rival North Korea, among other things.

Many of the disputed islands are only rock outcroppings, uninhabited or rarely visited. But nationalist fervor has inflamed public sentiment across the region, provoking violent protests in China.—AP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

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

Three Gaza rockets hit Israel, house damaged JERUSALEM: A rocket fired from Gaza crashed into a house in southern Israel yesterday, causing heavy damage but not casualties, as two more landed near the city of Beersheva, an Israel police spokesman said.

Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said one rocket hit a house in Netivot and caused damage to a second, while two others landed near Beersheva, a city of

194,000 people. “There were two near Beersheva, and another in Netivot which damaged two houses,” he said.

A military spokeswoman could only confirm two rockets, saying one had landed in “an uninhabited area near Beersheva” while a second “slammed into a house in Netivot causing serious damage.”

According to a count by the army,

militants have fired 14 rockets at Israel since September 1. Following the attack, schools were closed for the day in Beersheva as well as in the southern coastal cities of Ashkelon, which has a population of 113,000 people, and Ashdod, home to 207,000 people, media reports said.

There has been a steady increase in rocket fire on southern Israel over the

last few weeks, with a number of the attacks claimed by radical Salafist groups. On Saturday, a Salafist group called Mujahedeen Shura Council said it had fired two rockets at southern Israel.

Israel routinely responds to rocket attacks with air strikes, and last week, six Palestinian were killed in two attacks within a 12-hour period. Gaza

health officials said all of them were civilians, but the Israeli military said it had targeted militants preparing attacks.

The last major flare -up in and around Gaza was in June, when militants fired more than 150 rockets at southern Israel, wounding five people, and Israel hit back with air strikes that killed 15 Palestinians. — AFP

Iran slams talk of more sanctions as ‘irresponsible’ Sanctions having ‘a serious impact’ on Tehran

BEIRUT: Lebanese soldiers stand guard behind Cuban and Lebanese protesters from leftist groups holding Cuban flags and portraits of five Cubans held in US prisons, marking the 14th anniversary of their arrest in Florida in 1998, during a sit-in near the US embassy in Aukar, east of Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. The five were convicted of spying for Cuba and sentenced to terms that ranged from 10 years to life in prison. — AP

Jordan militant warns of attacks in Syria AMMAN: A Jordanian militant leader linked to al-Qaeda warned yesterday that his extremist group will launch “deadly attacks” in neighboring Syria to topple President Bashar Assad, as Damascus lashed out at France for backing Syrian rebels.

In a speech delivered to a crowd protesting outside the prime minister’s office in Amman, Mohammad al-Shalabi, better known as Abu Sayyaf, told Assad that “our fighters are coming to get you.”

Abu Sayyaf is the head of the Salafi Jihadi group, which produced several al-Qaeda linked militants who fought US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 10 years. They are also blamed for the 2002 assassination of US aid worker Laurence Foley outside his Amman home.

The militant leader was himself convicted in 2004 of plotting attacks on Jordanian air bases hosting American trainers, but served his term and was released last year. Militants linked to AlQaeda, many from Iraq but also reportedly several from Jordan, are believed to have made inroads among Syrian rebels as the civil war their intensifies.

The warning c a m e h o u r s a f t e r Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdessi criticized France, saying its growing support for the opposition does nothing but undermine t h e m i s s i o n o f t h e n e w U N e nvoy tasked with brokering a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

France, Syria’s one-time colonial ruler, has been one of the most outspoken Western critics of the Assad regime, and announced earlier this month that it has begun sending direct aid and money to five rebel-held Syrian cities as part of its intensified efforts to weaken Assad. It was the first such move by a Western power amid mounting calls for the international community to do more to prevent bloodshed.

Makdessi said France suffers from “schizophrenia” in its approach to the country’s conflict. “On the one hand, it supports Brahimi’s mission, while at the same time it makes statements demonstrating that it supports the militarization of the crisis in Syria,” Makdessi told The Associated Press.

French officials have acknowledged providing communications and other non-lethal equipment to Syrian rebel forces, but say they won’t provide weapons without international agreement. France played a leading role in the international campaign against Libya’s dictator Moammar Gaddafi last year.

Diplomatic efforts to solve the seemingly intractable conflict have failed so far. A peace plan by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan never got off the ground and Annan quit his post as special UN envoy. He was replaced on Sept. 1 by Lakhdar Brahimi, a 78-yearold former Algerian foreign minister.

Makdessi said yesterday that Syria is “fully committed to cooperating with Brahimi,” adding that “the only way to make Brahimi’s mission a success is the cooperation of all parties to enable him to bring about calmness and then the political process.”

The Assad regime made similar public statements of cooperation when it signed on to Annan’s peace plan, only to frequently ignore or outright violate its commitments by refusing to pull its troops out of cities and cease its shelling of opposition areas.

Makdessi was implicitly referring to France and Arab countries, like Saudi

Arabia and Qatar, which Damascus accuses of supporting the rebel Free Syrian Army fighting Assad’s military onslaught.

Makdessi said the only way to end the Syrian conflict is a “cease-fire by all parties.” He said Assad’s army will pull out from the streets “once there is a political process as it is now in a state of self -defense and to protect the civilians.”

In Jordan, security officials say in private that Abu Sayyaf’s group comprises several hundred activists. The group regularly faces crackdowns and arrests, but longterm detention without the filing of criminal charges - a tactic that has been used by other Arab states to keep radical Islamists in prison indefinitely - is not regularly used against the Islamists.

Syria’s rebels enjoy widespread sympathy across Sunni Arab countries.

Western officials say there is little doubt that Islamist extremists, including fighters from other Muslim countries, have made inroads in Syria as instability has spread. Al-Qaida-style suicide bombings have become increasingly common.

Many of the foreign jihadists going to Syria are believed to come from Iraq, but in June Jordanian police said they arrested two members of Abu Sayyaf’s group near the northern border as they tried to cross into Syria.

In his speech, Abu Sayyaf condemned “crimes” committed by Assad’s ruling Alawite minority against the majority Sunni Muslims in Syria and said the situation there “prompts us to jihad.”

“Take your dirty hands, which are stained with the blood of innocent people, off Sunni Muslims in Syria, or face our deadly attacks,” he said. The crowd of about 200 responded with cries of “Allahu Akbar,” or God is great.

The rally demanded the release of 40 jailed group members convicted of crimes, like Foley’s assassination, links to al-Qaida and terror plots in Jordan, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Syrian uprising, which began in March 2011 with mostly peaceful protests calling for change, has turned into a civil war.

Activists put the death toll at 23,000.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights - a Britain-based monitoring group - said fighting raged across Syria on Sunday, with at least 28 reported killed and scores wounded. It said an air raid on a residential district in the commercial capital of Aleppo in the north killed at least four people, wounded several more and flattened a residential building. The Free Syrian Army said the strikes came hours after rebels overran army barracks in the Hananu neighborhood.

Activists also repor ted clashes between government forces and rebels in a Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, in the central city of Homs, in the northern city of Idlib and in the eastern city of Deir elZour.

The Observatory said the heaviest fighting was taking place in Homs, where two bombs exploded in a bus, killing and wounding several military officers and civilians. It did not elaborate.

The Syrian state news agency put the death toll in the explosion at four, including a woman. It said a roadside bomb struck the bus as it was traveling toward Damascus along the MussyafHoms highway. It said the explosion wounded 35 people and left a large crater in the ground. — AP

TEHRAN: Iran yesterday hit out at talk of more EU sanctions being applied against it as “irresponsible,” singling out Britain for raising the prospect it claimed went against UN nuclear watchdog regulations.

Foreign ministr y spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast issued a statement relayed by state broadcaster IRIB calling Western sanctions “ineffective” and “obsolete.” He was reacting to comments made by EU foreign ministers, meeting in Cyprus on Saturday, who said a “growing consensus” was forming to impose new punitive measures on Iran to pressure it further to make concessions on its disputed nuclear programme.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said after the meeting that existing EU sanctions were having “a serious impact” but it was “necessary to increase the pressure on Iran, to intensify sanctions.”

Britain would urge EU governments to agree a new round of sanctions-targeting the energy sector and trade-at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers in mid-October, a diplomatic source at the meeting told AFP. Hague’s German and French counterparts echoed that position, underlining EU frustration that talks this year between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group-Britain, France,

Germany, the United States, Russia and Chinahad gone nowhere. Mehmanparast homed in on Britain’s position, saying: “ The recent remarks by the British foreign secretary calling for increasing sanctions against Iran are irresponsible.” He said they “violate” International Atomic Energy Agency regulations. He also claimed Hague’s remarks sought to undermine Iran’s recent hosting of a summit on non-aligned states that supported the Islamic republic’s nuclear energy programme as long as it complied with IAEA oversight.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon, attending that summit, had urged Iran to abide by IAEA demands for broader inspections and six UN resolutions it has so far ignored demanding it suspend uranium enrichment.

The P5+1 harbours suspicions that Iran’s nuclear activities include a push to develop an atomic weapon breakout capability.

Tensions over the issue have greatly risen in recent months, since the Iran/P5+1 negotiations effectively stalled in June. Israel-the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nuclear weapons power-has threatened to possibly launch imminent air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The United States, which has repeated it could also take military action against Iran as

a last resort, is arguing with Israel that diplomacy has not yet run its course.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful and points to edicts from its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing nuclear weapons as a “great sin.”

However, the IAEA in its latest report stressed Iran has repeatedly rebuffed its requests to be given access to a military base suspected to have carried out experiments using conventional explosive to test possible nuclear warhead designs.

It also said Iran had installed more than 1,000 new uranium enrichment centrifuges in a bomb-proof nuclear bunker in Fordo, near the holy city of Qom, though had not yet switched them on.

EU and US sanctions imposed in July have severely crimped Iran’s all-important oil exports. According to OPEC, Iran’s oil production has plummeted to its lowest level in more than two decades, while the International Energy Agency says its oil exports have more than halved this year.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad admitted on Tuesday that his country had “some problems in selling oil” because of the sanctions, but he said “we are trying to manage it.” — AFP

Jewish youths arrested over attack on Palestinian JERUSALEM: Israeli police arrested five Jewish teenagers suspected of attacking a Palestinian in a Jewish neighbourhood in the Holy City, officials said.

“They have admitted carrying out the attack and say they did it because they thought he was trying to take advantage of a young Jewish girl,” police spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP. The detention of one of those arrested was extended by two days, she said, adding that all five suspects would appear in a Jerusalem court yesterday, she added. An earlier statement had spoken only of three youths arrested. The victim, Ibrahim Abu Taa, a 28-yearold hotel employee, said he was attacked and beaten on Wednesday night by a group of young Israelis while escorting a colleague in the Jewish Katamon quarter of west Jerusalem.

He said he was assaulted when young Jews realised he was an Arab. Taa, a resident of the Wadi Joz neighbourhood in Arab-majority east Jerusalem, was hospitalised with a broken leg and bruising all over his body.

The incident follows the recent beating of a 17-year-old Palestinian by a group of young Jews in the heart of Jerusalem, which was greeted with shock and outrage

by Israelis and Palestinian alike.

Nine Israelis, including eight minors, were recently charged with seriously injuring Jamal Julani, a Palestinian from east Jerusalem, on the night of August 16-17. The nine, including a female minor, face trial for incitement to racism, incitement to violence and aggravated and racially motivated assault.

The attack on Julani, described as “lynching” by the media, shocked Israel’s political establishment, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemning it as a combination of “racism and violence” the Jewish state would not tolerate.— AFP

Pope: Beirut trip is peace pilgrimage CASTEL GANDOLFO: Pope Benedict XVI yesterday characterized his trip to Beirut later this week as a pilgrimage for peace for the entire Middle East region and its anguished people.

Benedict told pilgrims at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome that while finding solutions for the Middle East’s problems seems difficult, people “shouldn’t resign themselves to violence or worsening tensions.”

He noted that during his three-day visit to the Lebanese capital, which begins Friday, he would meet with Lebanese authorities as well as Christians from Lebanon and other nearby countries. “I am not unaware of the often dramatic situation endured by the populations of this region which has been for too long torn by incessant conflict,” Benedict said. “I understand the anguish of many Middle Easterners steeped daily in sufferings of every kind, which afflict sadly, and sometimes mortally, their personal and family life.” The pope urged the international community to support efforts at dialogue and reconciliation, as he stressed “the importance for the whole world of a stable and lasting peace in the entire region.

“My apostolic voyage in Lebanon, and by extension in the Middle East in its entirety, comes under the sign of peace,” Benedict said.

In recent weeks there was concern that spillover in parts of Lebanon from the fighting in Syria might derail the trip by the 85-year-old pontiff. But the Vatican has assured the faithful that despite a climate of tensions in Lebanon the pilgrimage is going forward. Benedict’s visit is also aimed at encouraging his flock in the Middle East. Some Christian communities there have suffered for their faith, including terror attacks in Iraq. His schedule also includes his celebrating Mass in Beirut and attending a gathering with youth. —AP

JERUSALEM: Jewish teenagers suspected of attacking a Palestinian man arrive to attend a hearing in their trial at the Magistrate’s Court in Jerusalem yesterday. The victim, Ibrahim Abu Taa, a 28-year-old hotel employee, said he was attacked and beaten by a group of young Israelis while escorting a colleague in the Jewish Katamon quarter of west Jerusalem. — AFP

Israeli cabinet backs West Bank university JERUSALEM: Israel’s government yesterday approved plans to upgrade a West Bank college to a full-fledged university, in a symbolic move which still requires a ruling by the High Court and the attorney general.

In July, the “Council for Higher Education in Judaea and Samaria,” a group close to Jewish settlers, recommended that the Ariel University Centre receive the upgraded status, which would make it the first university in the West Bank.

But Israel’s Council for Higher Education, which regulates the seven universities in the Jewish state, opposed the move, branding it political and filed a petition against it to the High Court of Justice.

Yesterday, the cabinet voted on a resolution declaring the move to be of “national importance,” while ordering that all measures be taken “to approve the decision of the Council for Higher Education in Judaea and Samaria, subject to the attorney general’s stance.”

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has yet to present his opinion to the move. “It is important to have another university in Israel, it is important to have a university in

Ariel,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the vote.

“I like breaking monopolies and cartels in every field,” he said, noting that there has not been a new university in Israel in 40 years, while the population has nearly tripled. “Ariel is an inseparable part of Israel, and will stay an inseparable part of it in any future arrangement, like the other settlement blocs,” he said of the settlement which lies deep in the northern West Bank.

Education Minister Gideon Saar addressed the objection from academia to upgrading Ariel to a university, noting that “universities objected new universities in the past as well, such as Tel Aviv and Bar Ilan.”

“They were wrong then and are wrong today,” he said in a statement. Set up in 1982 as an annex to Bar Ilan University, Ariel has 12,000 students in four facultiesmedicine, engineering, natural sciences and social sciences-and also has architecture and telecommunications facilities.

Full recognition as a university entitles the Ariel facility to significant additional funding and the ability to grant advanced degrees.— AFP

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, heads the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, yesterday. — AP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

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

Tensions surround 9/11 memorial on anniversary NEW YORK: Tensions over how to pay proper respect to the dead are overshadowing New York’s memorial at Ground Zero as a gap widens between survivors and the general, more forgetful public 11 years after 9/11.

Just days before the latest annual remembrance of the cataclysm that saw hijacked airliners flown into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, the once overwhelming sense of national solidarity appears to have faded.

At the somber site, which only opened last year to mark the spot where over 2,600 people were killed on September 11, 2001 out of a total of nearly 3,000 dead, police, private security guards and volunteer guides are enforcing strict rules on decorum.

The measures are aimed at curbing what some relatives of victims see as rising disrespect, ranging from picnics under the newly planted oak trees to an incident in June when visiting high school students threw trash into one of the black pools marking the footprints of the fallen towers.

Signs insisting on good behavior are everywhere around the huge pools and bronze panels inscribed with the names of the dead. “If you see anyone scratching, sitting on or otherwise damaging the names panel, please alert memorial staff,” reads one such notice.

Nothing like serious vandalism has occurred, but even the most seemingly benign activities, such as thousands of tourists snapping photos of each other in front of the monument, are too much for relatives who refer to the site as “sacred ground.”

“People laughed and took pictures smiling, and so many people leaned on the tablets with all my friends’ names engraved in them, holding Starbucks cups, like it was a kitchen table,” complained Marianne Pizzitola, head of a fire depart-

ment retirees group, in a widely published letter to the memorial’s president Joe Daniels.

Those tensions are part of a broader shift as the raw horrors of 9/11, which also saw the hijackers crash a third plane into the Pentagon while a fourth plummeted into a Pennsylvania field, become less salient for most people.

On the anniversary, relatives will again go through the heart-rending Ground Zero ceremony where the names of all 2,753 people killed there are read out. When New York Mayor Michael

Bloomberg last year brought up the possibility of scaling down the lengthy ritual, he immediately prompted a backlash from some victims’ families.

Throw in the politicized furor over plans for a nearby Islamic cultural center and a lawsuit filed by atheists against a steel cross in the Memorial Museum and Ground Zero can sometimes seem less than the peaceful place for remembrance that it is meant to be.

And for those who want the eight-acre memorial to remain a restricted zone for ticket holders,

NEW YORK: In this Dec. 20, 2011 file photo, visitors to the National September 11 Memorial in New York walk around its twin pools. The foundation that runs the memorial estimates that once the roughly $700 million project is complete, it will cost $60 million a year to operate. — AP

things are only going to get more uncomfortable.

When the surrounding skyscrapers of the new World Trade Center are finished and leased, the memorial is designed to become fully open.

At that point, the shaded plaza around the fountains won’t just make a perfect spot for the odd tourist picnic but a likely destination for thousands of office workers on a lunch break.

Lauren Lent, who was across the street when the planes struck on 9/11 and who now volunteers at the memorial, says she dreads the potential security problems and the inevitable lowering of tone.

“I like it the way it is. I like that it’s structured and organized. I’m a little leery about the day when we will open it up. I’m very frightened,” she said, standing by the fountain at the old North Tower. “If we were to open our grounds up and have people throwing a Frisbee around, I wouldn’t want that. A lot of people died here and a lot of them were not recovered, so they’re still here. It’s sacred.” However, Julie Storer, 44, whose friend Robert Peraza was among 658 workers killed at financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald between the 101st and 105th floor of the North Tower, said she was ready to see Ground Zero enter a new era.

“I’m all for helping us move from a place where it was a gaping hole to where people live,” she said. “It will be so much better than this being a dead, dark mausoleum.” Michael Allen, who teaches history at Northwestern University, said experience with monuments around the world shows that the intense feelings of the 9/11 victims’ families won’t fade quickly.

“Peak commemorative anniversaries tend to happen at the 50- and 75-year mark, because that’s when a lot of the survivors are dying,” he said. “You can bet that the relatives of those who died will push to keep things as they have been for as long as they can.” — AFP

Obama out to renew magic Romney hits defence cuts

CLAYGATE: British police stand outside the home of a family shot dead in their car in the French Alps, in Claygate, in south-east England, yesterday. The four-year-old girl who survived the execution-style killing of her family in the French Alps was returned to Britain as police again quizzed relatives and scoured the family home. — AFP

Survivor of Alps shooting out of coma: Prosecutor ANNECY: A seven-year-old British girl who survived but was seriously wounded in a French Alps shooting came out of an ar tificial coma yesterday, while her younger sister returned to Britain, a French prosecutor said.

“The little girl has come out of the artificial coma but she is under sedation and her speech is not yet audible,” Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud told AFP. Her fouryear-old sister, another survivor in the quadruple murder, is now back in Britain, he added.

Zeena al-Hilli was returned accompanied by an aunt and uncle who travelled to France to bring her home, a source close to the investigation told AFP on condition of anonymity.

She and her seven-year- old sister Zainab were the only sur vivors of an attack that saw her father Saad al-Hilli, mother Ikbal and an elderly female relative gunne d d ow n i n th e i r ca r o n a forested Alpine road. A passing cyclist was also killed.

Her uncle Zaid al-Hilli will face a second day of questioning from investigators, the source added. Zaid presented himself to police in Britain following the murder, denying media reports that the brothers were involved in a financial dispute.

British forensics teams began a second day of searches at the family home in Claygate, a quiet, wealthy commuter village some 15 miles (25 kilometres) southwest of London. Saad al-Hilli, a 50-year-old naturalised Briton of Iraqi origin, worked as a mechanical design engineer with the Surrey Satellite Technology firm.

The attack on the family’s car took place outside the village of Chevaline on Wednesday, near the lakeside resort of Annecy in southeast France where the Hillis had been on a camping holiday.

Zeena survived the attack by hiding under her dead mother’s skirt in the backseat and remained motionless inside the vehicle with the corpses for eight hours before police found her.

Her elder sister Zainab was shot in the shoulder and beaten around the head, suffering a fractured skull. Police are treating her as a “key witness” and hope she can provide some clues. “The investigators want to speak to her as quickly as possible and with the greatest sensitivity possible,” prosecutor Eric Maillaud told reporters in Annecy.

“It is out of the question to go and interview her in any sort of rushed way.

She is extremely traumatised. Only the doctors have the ability to say (when she can be interviewed) and until I get the

green light I will do nothing,” Maillaud said.

He has ruled out getting any information from Zeena. “All that time she was hiding, terrorised behind her mother’s legs.

She saw nothing,” he said. Autopsies revealed that each of the four victims was shot twice in the head.

“All four were killed by several bullets and all four were hit twice in the head,” Maillaud said. “ The whole scene was played out in a very, very short time.”

British and French police began scouring the family home in Claygate for any clues in helping solve the murder on Saturday.

Five French investigators led by Colonel Marc de Tarle are in Britain to work on the case, though they did not all visit the house. “This is an inquiry which is turning out to be long and complex,” De Tarle said.

Maillaud said the search of the home would help to build up a profile of the family, while stressing that there should be no presumption that they were involved in any activity which might have made them targets. French authorities have expanded the area of their search around the scene while police in neighbouring Switzerland and Italy are also helping. In France meantime, investigators were again combing over the scene of the crime after an extensive search for clues by 25 officers on Saturday failed to turn up any new clues, according to Bertrand Francois, a regional police commander.

Investigators were also trying to nail down the exact movements of the Hilli family before the murder, he said. — AFP

SEMINOLE: Eager to change the subject after a dismal jobs report, President Barack Obama tried to rekindle some of the enthusiasm of his 2008 campaign with a bus tour through a mustwin swath of Florida, urging supporters not to “buy into the cynicism that somehow the change we fought for isn’t possible.”

Republican candidate Mitt Romney faulted both his own party in Congress and Obama for exposing the armed forces to huge spending cuts. Obama, speaking to a crowd of 11,000 at the Seminole campus of St. Petersburg College, gave Florida residents a populist plea not to “turn away now.”

“If you give up the idea that your voice can make a difference,” Obama said, “then other folks are going to fill the void: the lobbyists, the special interests, the people who are writing $10 million checks, the folks who are trying to keep people from voting” in the Nov. 6 election.

Campaigning in a state where the 8.8 percent jobless rate tops the US national average, the president made no mention of Friday’s government report showing a weak employment outlook for America. But he urged people to help him “finish what we started,” and he put creating more jobs at the top of his to-do list.

The president called on people to rally behind “real, achievable goals that will lead to new jobs and more opportunity.” Romney, campaigning in military-dependent Virginia, was determined to keep the spotlight on the weak jobs outlook, laid out in the latest Labor Department report on unemployment. It was the first topic he raised in an appearance before a flag-waving audience of 4,000 in a hanger at the private Military Aviation Museum, vintage aircraft on display around him. “ This is not the kind of news that the American people are hoping for and deserve,” he said. Then he projected forward to a Romney presidency to add: “I’m here to tell you that things are about to get a lot better.”

Speaking in the Navy town of Virginia Beach, where many jobs are tied to defense, Romney criticized the president both for past cuts to military spending and “unthinkable” potential reductions threatened under a series of automatic, across-the-board cuts that will take effect if Congress doesn’t reach a budget solution in the next few months. Half of the cuts are set to come from the Pentagon under a deal negotiated between Obama and Republican leaders in Congress. “I think it was a mistake for Republicans to go along with it,” Romney said in

COCOA: Cheryl Turner (2nd L), a second and third grade teacher from West Melbourne, Florida, holds up a card for her students signed by US President Barack Obama (C) as he signs a second card for teacher Candice Shreve (R), during a visit to the Ossorio Bakery and Cafe in Cocoa, Florida, yesterday. — AFP an interview taped for Sunday’s broadcast of “Meet the Press” on NBC. On the stage, he’d only blamed the president for the defense cuts.

Obama has opposed the depth of the cuts but has said congressional Republicans need to adopt a plan that includes increases in revenue.

Romney called the potential cuts “unthinkable to Virginia, to our employment needs. But it’s also unthinkable to the ability and the commitment of America to maintain our liberty. ... If I’m president, we’ll get rid of the sequestration cuts and rebuild America’s military might.”

From Virginia Beach, Romney headed for NASCAR stock-car racing territor y, prime ground for working-class white voters. He planned to attend the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

In Florida, Obama is on his third campaign bus tour since July after earlier road trips in Ohio and Iowa. The bus tours attract significant media attention in the states and allow Obama to engage with local voters in unscheduled stops in the small towns that he can’t reach by only flying on Air Force One.

At Obama’s second rally of the day, before 3,000 people in Kissimmee, he had a ready answer to Romney’s complaints about defense cuts. “As long as I’m commander in chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known,” he said. He said he would use some of the money that had been used fight wars for rebuilding schools and roads and bridges. There is actually no such leftover pot of money because the wars were fought primarily by borrowing. Romney ’s campaign announced Saturday it was showing a new Spanish-language ad in Florida that reinforces his argument that Obama is a decent man, but incapable of leading a more robust economic recovery.

“He looks like a nice guy, but that doesn’t get us jobs,” a man says. A political group suppor ting Obama released an ad criticizing Romney for policies that it says would increase the tax burden on middle-income families. The ad by Priorities USA Action, a so-called super political action committee, is showing in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin. — AP

Putin mocks opposition over ‘birdman’ criticism VLADIVOSTOK: Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday hit back at opponents who made fun of his flight with endangered Siberian cranes, comparing his critics to weak birds who could not keep up with him.

Ahead of his arrival at the APEC summit in Vladivostok, Putin donned goggles and took to the controls of a motorised hang-glider over Siberia in a billowing white costume to pretend to be a bird and guide the cranes on their winter migration path. Unsurprisingly, the stunt prompted howls of laughter amongst Russia’s increasingly confident opposition bloggers, who acidly noted that on his first flight Putin failed to persuade the cranes to follow him. “Indeed, not all the cranes flew initially.

Only the weak cranes did not fly,” Putin told his final press conference at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the Far Eastern Russian city.

“But only at the first attempt. At the second attempt everyone flew.”

Television presenter and opposition activist Ksenia Sobchak had on Twitter compared Russians to the cranes, some of whom followed Putin while

others chose to leave the country or take to the streets. Visibly relishing the comparisons, Putin went on: “There are of course little birds which do not fly in a flock at all, they prefer to build nests somewhere separately.

“Even if they are not members of our flock, they are still members of our population and one has to treat them with care —- where possible,” he said.

But Putin also admitted that he was to blame for failing to attract the birds to fly with him on the first flight, saying he had made the mistake of taking off and flying too quickly. “But I should admit and say honestly that a leader, a pilot is also to blame for the fact that not all the cranes flew at once because he was accelerating and ascending too quickly. They simply were not keeping up.”

“Simply during certain moments like bad weather and strong sidewinds a pilot is forced to ascend and accelerate quickly, otherwise the system can capsize,” he said. It was unclear whether Putin was making any allusion to what the opposition says amounts to a lightning crackdown in Russia since his March 4 election as president. — AFP

MOSCOW: Russia’s opposition supporters attend an anti-capitalism rally against government policies in central Moscow yesterday. — AFP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

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

SOUTH Koreans launch anti-North leaflets SEOUL: South Korean activists launched balloons carrying leaflets critical of the North’s ruling Kim family across their shared border yesterday to coincide with the regime’s 64th anniversary. Some 10 activists including North Korean defectors in Seoul floated the 10 giant balloons carrying 200,000 small leaflets and 300 DVDs at the Imjingak park near the heavilymilitarised border with the North.

“Rise up, our 20 million compatriots! Don’t be fooled by the deception of Kim Jong-Un!” read one

leaflet, referring to the North’s young new leader, who took over from his father Kim Jong-Il after his death last December. Jong-Il himself took over from his own father and the North’s founding president Kim Il-Sung after his death in 1994. The family has ruled the impoverished communist state with an iron fist and pervasive personality cult for more than six decades.

The balloons also contained 1,000 US one-dollar bills aimed at encouraging North Koreans to read the

leaflets despite heavy punishment by the regime when caught. “Let’s put an end to the third-generation dictatorship, and free North Koreans!” the activists chanted in unison amid heavy security involving some 100 South Korean police officers.

South Korean activists and North Korean defectors have regularly sent anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border using balloons. The isolated North, which tightly controls news from outside, has responded angrily to past leaflet launches and

threatened to fire across the heavily-fortified border to stop them. Across the border in the North, JongUn marked the anniversary by visiting the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in the capital Pyongyang, where the embalmed bodies of his predecessors are lying in state.

He paid his tributes along with top party and army cadres including his powerful uncle Jang SongThaek and the military chief Hyon Yong-Chul, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said. — AFP

Bomb explosion near Jakarta injures six President orders hunt for two suspects

HONG KONG: Supporters of Pro-Beijing Legislative Council candidate Chan Kam-lam and Lee Wai-king of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong Party deliver promotional leaflets during a campaign in Hong Kong, yesterday. Hong Kong voters cast ballots in the elections yesterday that will help determine the eventual shape of full democracy that Beijing has promised the former British colony. — AP

HK votes in crucial legislative polls HONG KONG: Hong Kong voted yesterday in legislative elections seen as a test for the pro-Beijing government, after it was forced to scrap mandatory Chinese patriotism classes in the face of escalating protests.

The government has been besieged by protests since it took office in July with support from Beijing, and a strong vote for democratic parties will be seen as a rejection of the mainland’s growing influence in the former British colony.

Tens of thousands of student-led demonstrators surrounded the executive building for a second consecutive night on Saturday, calling for the withdrawal of the unpopular plan to introduce Chinese patriotism classes into schools.

The rallies, which waxed and waned for 10 days straight and included hunger strikes and a Tiananmen Square-style democracy statue, became a rallying cry for democratic parties. Critics of the policy said it amounted to Chinese Communist Party brainwashing, citing state-funded course materials praising the benefits of one-party rule.

In an election-eve policy reversal, the city’s leader Leung Chun-ying dropped the 2016 deadline for the classes to be introduced and said they would no longer be mandatory. “The schools are given the authority to decide when and how they would like to introduce the moral and national education,” he told a press conference late Saturday, blaming the previous government for the policy.

The protests ended yesterday but analysts said anger at the government’s handling of the education row would not dissipate so quickly and could still boost turnout for the pro-democracy camp.

Voting began at 7:30 am (2330 GMT Saturday) and will continue until 10:30 pm, with results not expected until today. Around 36 percent of the 3,466,201 million strong electorate had placed their votes by 6:30 pm, 6.2 percent more than the previous legislative election, held in 2008, at the same time of day.

The new legislature could pave the way for universal suffrage as promised by Beijing in 2017 for the job of chief execu-

tive, and by 2020 for the parliament.

Forty of the 70 seats-expanded from 60 in the outgoing assembly-will be directly elected, the first time that more than half of the seats in the Asian financial centre have been decided by popular vote.

The remainder are chosen by relatively small “functional constituencies” of electors grouped along economic and professional lines, including wealthy business leaders with strong financial ties to the mainland.

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam said the expanded number of seats in the assembly “greatly enhanced” democracy, but the democracy camp and many independent analysts disagree.

“The impact will be very, very limited.

The opposition will still remain in the minority, it still has no chance in securing a majority,” City University of Hong Kong analyst Joseph Cheng told AFP. Besides the protests over education policy, tensions have been brewing over corruption, the yawning gap between rich and poor, soaring property prices and the strains of coping with an influx of millions of mainland tourists.

Surveys show dissatisfaction with mainland rule is rising, especially among the young, while satisfaction with the Communist Party’s performance in governing China is at its lowest point since the 1997 handover from Britain.

Pro-democracy campaigners are hoping to win the minimum 24 seats they need to retain a veto over constitutional amendments required for the introduction of universal suffrage. They fear Beijing will try to force through a sanitised version of universal suffrage that gives the central authorities power to screen candidates.

Beijing-backed newspaper Wen Wei Po described the pro-democracy camp as people who “throw bananas”, an apparent reference to the protests and the noisy antics of some radical lawmakers.

Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule under the principle of “One Country Two Systems”, which guarantees a degree of democracy and freedoms not tolerated on the mainland. — AFP

NARATHIWAT: Thai police officers inspect the site where two Muslim men were killed by suspected separatist militants in the Ra-ngea district of Thailand’s restive southern province of Narathiwat yesterday. A complex insurgency, without clearly stated aims, has plagued Thailand’s far south near the border with Malaysia since 2004, claiming thousands of lives, both Buddhist and Muslim, with near-daily bomb or gun attacks. — AFP

JAKARTA: A suspected militant was critically injured when a bomb apparently being prepared for a terrorist attack exploded in a house near Indonesia’s capital, police said yesterday. At least three other people living nearby were injured along with two suspects who fled.

An elite anti-terror squad was searching for the two men who escaped after the strong blast late Saturday in Depok, a town on the outskirts of Jakarta, said National Police spokesman Maj. Gen. Anang Iskandar. The explosion came just days after police raided another home in Jakarta where similar bomb-making materials were found in connection with a terrorist group that allegedly plotted to kill police and bomb the country’s Parliament. “The government strongly deplores and condemns those who caused such an explosion,” Djoko Suyanto, a top security minister, told reporters yesterray, adding that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had been informed while attending a Pacific Rim summit in Vladivostok, Russia. “The president has ordered the hunt for the two suspects who fled the blast scene, and that’s what we are doing.”

National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo said the two suspects were severely wounded in their hands, and he warned the public to be on the lookout for anyone with such injuries. Iskandar said police at the site found a badly injured man whose left hand had been cut off.

Bomb-making devices were found scattered around him. “We suspect he was making bombs when one of them detonated prematurely,” Capt.

Agus Widodo, a local police chief in Depok, told reporters at the scene. “His condition is critical.

We cannot talk to him.”

He said the man also suffered burns over up to 70 percent of his face and body. The house had been rented for the past month and was listed as an orphanage foundation office and herbal clinic, but was never opened to the public.

Police questioned five people living near the house, including two injured men and a woman with slight wounds to her head. They said they saw two men flee on a motorbike just after the blast, and that one managed to jump a fence even though he appeared wounded, Widodo said.

“It was actually a militant safe house from evidence found there,” Widodo said. Police seized six pipe bombs, three grenades, two machine guns and a Beretta pistol, Iskandar said in a text message. A bomb squad team was investigating the explosives, which were packed with nails to maximize impact.

The incident came amid a security crackdown in recent days in which two militants were killed and three others arrested. Last week, police found bomb-making materials at another home in Jakarta where suspected bomb maker Muhammad Toriq lived, but he managed to escape when police raided the house.

Iskandar said there was a resemblance between Toriq and the man in critical condition.

He said police would conduct a DNA test to determine if the identities matched, adding that

explosives found in Depok were similar to the homemade bombs discovered at Toriq’s home.

Toriq is believed to be linked to a militant group that planned to shoot police and bomb the Parliament building to wage “holy war” and establish an Islamic state.

Indonesia, a secular nation with more Muslims than any other in the world, has been battling terrorists since 2002, when militants linked to the Southeast Asian network Jemaah Islamiyah started attacking Western nightclubs, restaurants and embassies.

More than 260 people have been killed, many of them foreign tourists. Recent terror attacks in Indonesia have been carried out by individuals or small groups and have targeted local “infidels” instead of Westerners, with less deadly results. — AP

DEPOK: Curious onlookers gather near a house where a bomb went off in Depok, West Java, Indonesia, yesterday. A suspected militant was critically injured when the bomb apparently being prepared for a terrorist attack exploded near Indonesia’s capital, police said yesterday. — AP

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi sets date for US visit YANGON: Myanmar’s democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi will travel to the United States next Sunday, a spokesman for her party told AFP, in a trip that will see her awarded Washington’s highest honour.

It will be her first visit to the US since she was put under house arrest in 1990. “The lady will travel on September 16,” said Nyan Win, spokesman for the Nobel laureate’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party, without adding further details.

As part of her visit Suu Kyi, who was elected to parliament this year in a dramatic sign of Myanmar’s reforms, will travel to Washington to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.

The medal is the top honour bestowed by the US Congress, which voted to award it to Suu Kyi in May 2008 when the prospect of her leaving Myanmar looked remote.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton invited the democracy champion to Washington when she paid a landmark visit to Myanmar, also known as Burma, in December. Suu Kyi, 67, made her first forays outside Myanmar in more than two decades earlier this year, with visits to Thailand, Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, Britain and France, receiving rock star welcomes along the way and being lauded as a model of peaceful resistance to dictatorship.

The trip allowed her to finally give her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize speech in Oslo and to receive awards granted during the almost two decades she spent under house arrest.

Myanmar was for decades ruled by an iron-fisted junta, but a reformist government under exgeneral President Thein Sein has freed political prisoners and allowed Suu Kyi’s party back into mainstream politics. Thein Sein is expected to head to the United States during a UN summit, at roughly the same time as Suu Kyi. US President Barack Obama last month waived visa restrictions so that Myanmar’s leader could travel freely during the UN General Assembly.

The Obama administration, hoping to encourage further reforms, has sent a US ambassador to Myanmar for the first time in more than two decades and has eased restrictions on investment

by US companies. — AFP

Survivors of Chinese quakes await supplies BEIJING: Survivors of a series of earthquakes that killed 81 people and injured more than 800 in a mountainous area of southwestern China were desperately waiting for more aid to arrive yesterday as jolting aftershocks kept fears high and hindered rescue efforts.

The latest victim was a 2-year-old child who was hit by a falling wall as an aftershock struck Saturday night, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. The first earthquakes struck Friday in a region of small farms and mines near the border between Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, where some of China’s poorest people live.

They toppled thousands of homes and sent boulders cascading across roads, and authorities evacuated more than 200,000 villagers. The area was still being jolted by aftershocks Sunday, raising fears of more injuries and fatalities.

Footage from China Central Television showed rescuers and sniffer dogs running past steep slopes because of the risk of fistsized stones tumbling down. It also showed an ambulance stuck in stones and debris.

Almost all of the 110,000 people who live in Yiliang county’s Jiaokui town, about 3 kilo-

meters (2 miles) from the epicenter of one of the earthquakes, had evacuated, but many had no shelter and were waiting for supplies, a town official said by telephone.

“They are living in the open air now,” said the official, who gave only his surname, Xiao.

“We are in dire need of tents and quilts. We only received 2,200 tents. Many people have no quilts and are not living in tents.”

A resident of Luozehe town, close to where the quakes struck, said he and others were evacuated to a more central area of the county. “It’s quite hot here, there isn’t enough drinking water or tents,” said Wu Xuehong, who described seeing dead livestock after farm buildings collapsed.

More than 11,000 tents, 8,500 quilts, 6,000 coats and other supplies including bottled water and rice have been delivered to Yiliang and more are on the way, Xinhua said, citing the rescue headquarters.

The first magnitude-5.6 quake struck just before 11:30 a.m. Friday and was followed by an equally strong quake shortly after noon.

Though of moderate strength, the quakes were shallow. Such quakes often cause more damage than deeper ones.—AP

YILIANG: Chinese soldiers disinfect a bus yesterday which was caught in a landslide after a series of earthquakes hit Yiliang County, Yunnan Province. Rescuers searching for survivors from twin earthquakes that struck southwestern China battled blocked roads and downed communications as the death toll rose to 80. — AFP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

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

Reforms lift veil on Myanmar’s power struggles NAYPYIDAW: For the near half century that they lived under a military junta, the people of Myanmar knew nothing of the power struggles going on within the regime. But as the country slowly gets used to its new democratic institutions following a wave of political reforms over the past year, these battles are now being played out very much in public.

Gone is the junta, with power apparently concentrated in the hands of one man. Gone too is the era when in-fighting only came to light with the rise of a new strongman or the arrest of a general who had fallen out of favour.

Since March last year, when a new constitution came into force, power has rested with reform-minded former generals whose quasi-civilian regime replaced outright military rule. A twotiered parliament has given elected politicians a forum to test their new powers of oversight of the executive.

It has also become the stage for a closely-watched confrontation between President Thein Sein and the speaker of the lower house, Shwe Mann, widely considered the leading candidate for the top job after elections in 2015.

The pair, both senior figures in the previous military regime, “have inherited reflexes of the junta” in their obsession for hierarchy says one foreign diplomat, adding the two are now competing over who will be “the greatest democrat”.

Observers say the relationship between the two men has soured and say it may be traced back to the months leading up to the dissolution of the junta. Several political sources told AFP both of them were astonished when Thein Sein was appointed as the future president in early 2011 while Shwe Mann, who was more senior under the previous regime, took the lesser role.

They are still locked in competition, but with new tools at their disposal.

While they used to shun the press, the two men now hold interviews and news conferences to get their point across. And when one blocks a proposal by the other, revenge is swift. On Thursday the lower house voted to impeach nine judges of the Constitutional Court, after a six-month long dispute.

The magistrates had outraged MPs in February by denying parliamentary commissions and committees the opportunity to summon ministers for questioning. The rift has been seen as the country’s first major political crisis since military rule ended last year, pitting the government against parliament-and in particular Thein Sein against Shwe Mann.

“It’s a personal fight,” said Zaw Htet Htwe, a former journalist released from prison in January. But he would not be drawn further. Shwe Mann

“took a lot of risk” by clashing with the court, said an unnamed foreign analyst based in Yangon. “It will set many people back, not just conservatives within the regime, but also Thein Sein and the judges.”

Some obser vers fear the army, which officially remains out of daily politics in the new regime, could run out of patience if it perceives a severe threat to the executive. Others warn the spat has left the reform process vulnerable, with the pace of economic reforms still slow as the country struggles to undo half a century of military mismanagement of the economy.

But the most ardent supporters of reforms play down the personal quarrel as an inevitable teething problem in a country taking tentative steps towards democracy. The court crisis is no reason for alarm, says Aung Tun Htet, a respected Myanmar intellectual. “We are building the ship as we sail,” he said. “Everything is new for all of us,

the learning curve is very steep,” he said, adding fledgling institutions needed to understand their powers within the new political landscape.

He however also admitted the reformist former generals, who have gradually convinced the West and many of their domestic opponents of their commitment to change, have little room for mistakes and limited time to drive through changes.

They need to bring growth, demonstrably improve the lives of Myanmar’s people and make lasting peace with the nation’s patchwork of ethnic minorities. If not, they face losing credibility.

“We can’t afford any hijacking of the reform agenda,” warns Aung Tun Htet.

“The question is... how we get quick results without losing track of our ultimate goals. That’s the paradox, the challenge and the test for the leadership.” — AFP

Sri Lanka’s ruling party wins provincial election Defeat seen as a setback for TNA

NEW DELHI: Indian yoga guru Baba Ramdev gestures while addressing a press conference in New Delhi, India, yesterday. According to local news reports, Ramdev yestrday alleged that a senior Congress leader was hatching conspiracy to link him to the death of a Bharat Swabhiman Manch activist and disappearance of his Guru Shankar Dev. — AP

Indian PM defends spending millions on space exploration NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday defended spending millions of dollars on space exploration despite many people in the country living in grinding poverty. India plans to launch a probe to orbit Mars next year at an estimated cost of four to five billion rupees ($70-90 million), and hopes to send its first manned mission to space in 2016.

“Questions are sometimes asked about whether a poor country like India can afford a space programme and whether the funds spent on space exploration, albeit modest, could be better utilised elsewhere,” Singh said in a speech. “This misses the point that a nation’s state of development is finally a product of its technological prowess.”

India comes 134th among 187 countries in the United Nations’ overall development rankings, while a survey earlier

this year revealed that 42 percent of Indian children aged under five are underweight due to malnutrition.

Singh made his remarks in Andhra Pradesh state after witnessing the launch of India’s 100th space mission when a rocket carrying two foreign commercial satellites was fired into orbit.

“India is justly proud of its space scientists, who have overcome immense odds to set up world-class facilities and develop advanced technologies,” he said. In September 2009, India’s Chandrayaan-1 lunar probe discovered water on the moon, boosting the country’s credibility among more experienced space-faring nations.

But the space programme suffered a setback in December 2010 when a satellite launch vehicle blew up and fell into the Bay of Bengal after veering from its intended flight path. — AFP

Mass protest in Japan against US hybrid aircraft TOKYO: Tens of thousands of people rallied on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa yesterday against the deployment of US Osprey military aircraft after a series of accidents elsewhere involving the planes.

Protesters demanded the United States and Japan immediately scrap plans to deploy 12 MV-22 Ospreys at the Futenma US base on Okinawa and shut down the Futenma base in the crowded city of Ginowan.

The turnout at the main rally was estimated by organisers at more than 100,000.

Okinawan media put the number at “tens of thousands”. “We don’t want the Osprey, the world’s most dangerous aircraft” read a placard at the mass rally at a seaside park near the base, according to television footage. “Osprey.

No!” said another.

Similar rallies were staged on two smaller islands in the Okinawa island chain and in Tokyo several thousand people circled the Japanese parliament building. The Osprey has rotors that allow it to take off like a helicopter.

It can refuel in the air, allowing it to cover big distances in a region where concerns have mounted over the rise of China.

Ginowan mayor Atsushi Sakima told the rally the safety of the hybrid transport aircraft “has not been guaranteed”. In April, an MV-22 Osprey crashed in Morocco, killing two Marines. Another variant of the aircraft crashed in June in Florida, injuring five crew members, although US officials said the accident was not due to mechanical problems.

Concerns heightened further when an MV-22 made an emergency landing in a residential area outside a Marine base in Jacksonville, North Carolina, on Thursday.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of Japan’s concerns over the Osprey’s safety on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Russia on Saturday, according to Japanese media. A series of crimes committed by US troops over the years, including the 1995 gang rape of an Okinawan schoolgirl, have fuelled resentment among islanders against the heavy US military presence.

The United States and Japan have been bogged down for years in talks to relocate the Futenma base, which locals want to see moved away from the island chain. — AFP

GINOWAN: Protesters show signs reading “Oppose a deployment of Osprey” during a rally held at a seaside park in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, yesterday to oppose the plan to deploy 12 MV-22 Osprey aircraft on the island.

About 100,000 people took part in the rally according to organizers. — AP

BATTICALOA: Sri Lanka’s ruling party has defeated the country’s main ethnic Tamil party in a provincial election seen as a test of whether Tamils still want self-rule or are satisfied with government-led development programs in a region devastated by decades of civil war.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s United People’s Freedom Alliance won 14 seats in the Eastern Provincial Council, while the Tamil National Alliance secured 11, the Department of Elections said yesterday.

Though it did not win enough seats in Saturday’s election to form a single-party government, the UPFA may get the support of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, a centrist alliance partner that won seven seats, to muster a majority in the 37-member council.

The defeat will be seen as a setback for the TNA, which was hoping that a victory would be seen as a mandate for more power-sharing in Tamil-majority areas. The TNA has sought a form of federalism, but talks with the central government have been stalled since January.

The ethnic Sinhalese-controlled government, meanwhile, was looking to use an election

victory to show that Tamils are content with postwar development.

Voter turnout in Batticaloa, one of Eastern Province’s three districts, appeared very low, especially in Tamil villages. Official statistics were not immediately available yesterday.

Varnakulasingham Kamaladhas, an analyst and social worker in Batticaloa, said a low Tamil turnout pointed to public apathy toward politics after years of violence, as well as a shift away from a nationalistic mindset.

“The voting patterns show that the Tamils have looked for a genuine people-based leadership. In its absence they have voted for the TNA,” Kamaladhas said.

Suresh Premachandran, a TNA lawmaker, said his party performed below expectations because not enough Tamils voted. But he said the number of seats won by the TNA indicates that a majority of Tamils still support the party.

Tamil politicians have long claimed that Eastern Province is part of a Tamil homeland, along with Northern Province. However, unlike northern Sri Lanka, where Tamils are an overwhelming majority, the east has near-

equal numbers of the country’s main ethnic groups - Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. Tamils complain that successive governments since independence from Britain in 1948 have sponsored Sinhalese settlements with the aim of changing Eastern Province’s demography and weakening the Tamils’ claim to it.

Tamil Tiger rebels fought a quarter-century civil war to create an independent Tamil state in a merged north and east. The war ended in May 2009 when government forces defeated the rebels. Since then, the government has rebuilt a number of roads and bridges in Eastern Province, connecting it better with the rest of the country. It also has started a domestic airport project and promotes tourism in the province’s long stretches of beaches.

The ruling party also swept two more provinces in predominantly Sinhalese areas, winning a total of 49 out of 77 seats.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the results were a public endorsement of the government, and the eastern outcome showed there was no justification for more power sharing. —AP

Afghans poised to ‘take over’ US prison KABUL: The United States is due to hand over formal control of a controversial prison housing Taleban fighters to the Afghan government today, in a move hailed by Kabul as a victory for sovereignty.

But disagreements between both sides have led to some suggestions that the transfer is merely symbolic as NATO accelerates the withdrawal of 117,000 combat troops and hands over national security to Afghans by the end of 2014.

Major questions also hang over the immediate and longterm fate of the more than 3,000 inmates, including around 50 foreigners not covered by the agreement and another 600 who were arrested after the deal was concluded.

The Afghan government has organised the ceremony for today, ruling out any question of a delay at the Parwan Detention Facility, more frequently referred to as Bagram, the adjacent US base north of Kabul.

Its transfer was set in motion by a memorandum of understanding signed on March 9 that paved the way for a six-month handover. President Hamid Karzai made addressing longterm Afghan-US relations and possible legal immunity for US troops-the key to combat troops remaining in the country after 2014 — a condition for the transfer. On Saturday, he called it “an impor tant step towards the recognition of Afghan national sovereignty ” in talks with US commander General John Allen and US ambassador James Cunningham. But K arzai’s spokesman, Aimal Faizi, told AFP that the meeting had been “tough” and said it was a “serious problem” that more than 600 people detained since the March MoU had not yet been transferred to Afghan custody.

He said they were “in illegal detention because it is a contradiction of the MoU. Foreign troops do not have the right to detain citizens”. He admitted there were some disagreements with the Americans. “They had their views and we had our position and our expectations based on the MoU,” he said.

Jamie Graybeal, a spokesman

for NATO, told AFP that 99 percent of the detainees were under Afghan authority and that the transfer of the rest had been put on hold.

The reason he gave was concerns “regarding the intentions” of the Afghan government to fulfil the terms of the memorandum of understanding. Graybeal said the United States retained the authority to capture and detain suspects in Afghanistan, but intended to continue to transfer Afghan detainees to Afghans.

According to Afghan officials, detainees have to be handed over within 72 hours. The fate of around 50 foreigners, mostly from Pakistan and held for years, is not covered by the agreement, which advocacy group the Open Society Foundations says exposes them to the risk of indefinite detention.

“The foreigners are a separate issue and probably in the future the Afghan ministry of foreign affairs will talk in this regard, but this is yet to come. I can’t give any date,” said Faizi.

As a result, the United States is likely to continue to control at least a portion of the jail. The Open Society has also raised concerns that Afghan detention without judicial review could be subject to abuse.

Relatives of detainees currently at the prison have expressed deep concern that conditions may worsen. In Logar province, a Taleban flashpoint south of Kabul, a farmer said his elder brother was arrested by the Americans two and a half years ago and was at Bagram.

Abdul Rahman, 38, says the family regularly visit Assadullah, a local imam whom they say is held on baseless accusations for links with the Taleban. “My brother always says he is happy with the way Americans behave in the prison. They are provided good food, they have a mosque and if they get ill, there is a good health centre to treat them,” he told AFP. He had hoped that Assadullah would be freed before the transfer. “Because once you are in the Afghan prison, you either have

to pay money as a bribe to government people, prosecutors and judges, or they can easily frame charges against you and put you in huge trouble.”

In March, Afghanistan’s human rights commission detailed torture in prisons run by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) intelligence service and the police. The report also found credible evidence that some detainees transferred to Afghan authorities by international forces had been tortured.

Speak ing to AFP, NDS spokesman Shafiqullah Taheri rejected the claims, saying that rights activists regularly visit detention centres.

Abdul Waheed Wafa, analyst and director of the Afghanistan Centre at Kabul University, said today’s handover was symbolic.

“The president wants to show Afghans and the world that Afghanistan is able to take full security responsibility, but in fact, it is not true. Everybody knows the Afghan government doesn’t have the capacity to run Bagram prison,” he said. — AFP

KABUL: Afghans pray over the grave of national hero Ahmed Shah Massoud to mark the11th anniversary of his death, in Massoud’s hometown of Panjshir, 140 kilometers, (87 miles) north of Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. The charismatic Northern Alliance commander was killed on Sept. 9, 2001 when two men posing as journalists with fake passports detonated a bomb hidden in a camera as they pretended to interview him. — AP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

NEWS

North Koreans flip colored cards to form a giant North Korean flag during an Arirang mass games performance in Pyongyang yesterday. — AP

Sharp rise in Kuwait oil output Continued from Page 1 bpd in August. In July, Saudi Arabia pumped 9.8 million bpd from its oil wells but put about 100,000 bpd into storage, leaving 9.7 million bpd available for all consumers. Export figures are not available. The UAE produced 2.7 million bpd last month, down by around 100,000 bpd from July, but increased demand mainly from Asia prompted Kuwait to raise production by around 25 percent above July’s production of approxi-

mately 2.4 million bpd.

OPEC ministers agreed in mid-June they should adhere to a collective output limit of 30 million bpd, which implied Gulf oil producers would have to trim their production from levels seen in early 2012. But production by Gulf states remains high and supply from the 12-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) averaged 31.53 million bpd in August, up from 31.30 million bpd in July, according to a Reuters survey. — Reuters

Author on Sudan discovery voyage Continued from Page 1 never intended to publish his works until he spotted a call for submissions by a London-based Arabic literature magazine. He began sending his short stories to newspapers and periodicals, which accepted them and led to the publication in Cairo of the anthology, “A Camel Does Not Stop on Red”, in 1993.

Eltayeb graduated with a business degree from Cairo in 1981, the same year Hosni Mubarak took power.

Mubarak ended free post-secondary study for nonEgyptian Arabs, making it too expensive for Eltayeb to continue his education, he said. He hit the road, and spent a few months in Iraq before ending up in Austria.

There, he found he could return to university for free as a student from the developing world.

“It was very hard at the beginning,” he said, with financial problems adding to the shock of adjusting to sub-zero weather and the German language. “I didn’t have money,” he says. “So I began to work as a newspaper seller in the street.” He eventually mastered both the economics and the language - with help from his Austrian wife - earning a doctorate focused on economic philosophy, and then a professorship at the International Management Centre/University of Applied Sciences in Krems, Austria, where he specialises in Arabic language teaching.

But Eltayeb can’t stop writing, often in a Viennese cafe. His books are piled in front of him on the Khartoum restaurant table, alongside two faded photographs from Cairo university days with his Sudanese friend, Salah Edein Khider. The two have just been reunited. Khider has brought along a postcard from Arbil, Iraq, which Eltayeb sent him decades ago when he was trying to run a restaurant there. The author’s work includes the novels “The Palm House” and “Cities

Without Palms”, volume one of his autobiography, and poetry collections with his own abstract paintings on the cover. Some of his writings have been translated into English, French, German and other languages.

“I write what I would like to write,” not to provoke but to get people to think, Eltayeb says. “Some people say, ‘You are not allowed to write about this or about that.’

It’s our job to write about everything, and to criticise everything. And criticise does not mean disrespect. It’s also respect.” Eltayeb was commenting generally, without mentioning Sudan or anywhere else, but freedom of expression advocates say Khartoum has intensified a media crackdown since last year. Sudan ranks 170 out of 179 countries on an index of press freedom compiled by the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders watchdog.

Asked about his long absence from Sudan, Eltayeb, an Austrian citizen, said he received many official invitations to return but didn’t accept them, preferring instead to come privately when he had time. “I don’t need an invitation. I wanted just to come and see the country first and to visit my friends.” He finally got the chance when a Sudanese novelist friend, Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin, arranged this month-long visit through Sudan’s short story association, which collected sponsorships for the tour that brings him to eight Sudanese states. Eltayeb said Austria’s culture ministry paid for his air ticket.

The visit has generated extensive local news coverage, and Sudan’s Ministry of Information and Culture plans to offer a literary prize in Eltayeb’s name, the author said. “When I came to the airport it was a big (official) delegation,” he said. “I didn’t know them.” But his colleagues from the short story association were also there to welcome him on his return to Sudan for the first time since 1979. — AFP

MoI warns dissenters against protest rally Continued from Page 1 But some opposition figures say this is a bid to abolish the current boundaries and gerrymander victory in elections expected this year or next. The court is due to rule on the government’s petition on Sept 25. “Calls for organising a rally, gathering and sit-in in Al-Irada (Square) undermine security and threaten public order,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement, according to state news agency KUNA. The ministry “warned that it would act firmly against such unlicensed gatherings”, KUNA said.

The ministry respects citizens’ freedom of expression “provided they refrain from violating laws or carrying out acts against public security and others’ freedom of expression”, KUNA said. The ministry urged nationals to refrain from responding to calls, made through the media and various social networks, inciting them to participate in illegal gatherings and sit-ins. It reminded the prospected violators of stiff penalties stipulated by relevant laws. Article 34 of Kuwait’s penal codes No. 31 for 1970 stipulates that any assembly of five people in a public area to commit a crime or harm state security and refusal to leave after orders from relevant authority be punished by imprisonment for one year and a fine of KD 100, one or both penalties.

Decree-law No. 65 (1979) regulates the holding of demonstrations, escorts and gatherings and mentions penalties against violators, such as imprisonment for two years and a KD 1,000 fine - one or both penalties namely against organizers who do not obtain a license.

The law also stipulates a year in prison and KD 500 fine, one or both penalties, against a person who calls for such actions without a license. A participant in such unlicensed activities is to be imprisoned for three months, and/or compelled to pay KD 200. The ministry urged the citizens to abide by instructions of the security personnel and cooperate with them for their safety’s sake.

Meanwhile, members of the opposition “majority” bloc and its youth movement yesterday said they will not sleep in Irada Square, rather they will stay there until

dawn before going home as they did previously in front of the palace of justice when those who stormed the Assembly were being questioned. Sources close to the bloc said they will bring mattresses, tea and coffee and hold a diwaniya until dawn, pray and then leave. They said this does not violate an Interior Ministry decision that bans sleeping in the square.

But informed sources said members of the majority bloc have told youth movements to hold demonstrations following the sit-in, although they previously rejected such actions. They said that the bloc discussed the matter and decided that if the government ignores the bloc and its sit-ins, “it is better to force the government to face them, as this may make the government commit mistakes that bloc members can use as material to address citizens”. Sources said the bloc members hope for a clash with police and be treated harshly “so they can tell the people that they are practicing a constitutional right and the authorities are attacking them”.

While Kuwait has not experienced the kind of mass popular uprisings that have rocked the Arab region since last year, political tensions have grown. With its elected legislature, lively political debate and media, Kuwait differs from most of its neighbours in a region mostly governed by autocrats who quash dissent. But Kuwait’s ruling family retains its grip on state affairs. HH the Amir picks the prime minister who in turn forms a Cabinet, with the most important posts held by members of the royal family. Some opposition figures have called for an elected government instead.

Around 3,000 Kuwaitis protested over the electoral law on Aug 27 at a peaceful rally at Irada with light police presence. They also criticised a court ruling from earlier this year that effectively dissolved a parliament dominated by opposition lawmakers and reinstated the previous, more government-friendly, Assembly. At the height of frequent demonstrations last year over a political corruption scandal, tens of thousands of youth activists, opposition lawmakers and their followers took part in rallies, culminating in a brief storming of parliament in November.

Private firms pushed to raise pay for Saudis Continued from Page 1 companies must employ, introducing a more nuanced system of penalties and rewards than had existing before. Companies that miss their “nitaqat” targets, as the new system is known, face fines and hiring restrictions. One effect of the new rules might be to close a loophole in the quota system, under which companies pay Saudis a small stipend to sit on their personnel books without being expected to do any work.

However, while they encourage Saudis to consider work with the private sector by guaranteeing a decent wage, the new rules also raise costs for companies. “It’s effectively imposing a minimum wage for Saudis, but it doesn’t feel like a number that will have a major impact on the cost base of companies that’ll employ Saudis,” said Simon Williams, Middle East chief economist at HSBC in Dubai.

The world’s top oil exporter and Middle East’s largest economy has more than 6 million foreign workers, most of whom hold low paid jobs for private companies. In

January, Fakeih said the kingdom needed to create 3 million jobs for Saudi nationals, some of which could be achieved through replacing expatriate workers.

Economists say the low cost of foreign workers has not only made it uneconomical for companies to employ Saudis, but has encouraged inefficiency.

“The private sector in Saudi Arabia is overstaffed.

Most of the private sector don’t need to be more efficient and to hire the best people and to pay a competitive wage. But because non-Saudis are cheap they hire a lot of people who aren’t needed for the economy, or for their own company,” said Abdulwahab Abu Dahesh, a prominent local economist.

The kingdom is also planning to enforce a two-day weekend for private companies, the ministry said recently. Among other new rules announced by Fakeih on Saturday and scheduled to come into operation in February, part-time Saudi workers will be treated as half workers for the purposes of nitaqat quotas, while disabled people will count for four ablebodied workers. — Reuters

Can Israel surprise Iran?

Continued from Page 1 nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists it wants only to generate electricity and medical isotopes. US President Barack Obama says he hopes sanctions and diplomacy will deflect Iranian policy. But Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have made clear they might soon resort to force.

Nusbacher indicated that pinpoint intelligence and planning might also help Israel overcome Iran’s anticipation and counter-measures, making up for limitations on the element of surprise: “Remember that while the Iranian nuclear facilities are each more or less defended, their locations are known to the metre,” she said. “Precision can’t entirely make up for surprise. But surprise isn’t everything.”

Israeli military planners chafe at their civilian compatriots’ freewheeling and jittery discourse about a possible confrontation, worried that the Iranians could glean key warnings simply from monitoring Israeli news and social media. If they do indeed contemplate a solo surprise attack, they may also be concerned that the United States, loath to see a war on the eve of a presidential election and while it still favours a diplomatic solution, could also be tipped off about a strike early enough to insist its Israeli ally stand down.

There were no such problems in 1981, when a squadron of Israeli fighter-bombers took off from the then-occupied Sinai desert to destroy Iraq’s atomic reactor, nor in 2007, when Israel launched a similar sortie against Syria out of the blue. By contrast, experts think Israel would need to dispatch many scores of jets and support aircraft against Iran, and possibly fire ballistic missiles, all difficult to hide from the public in a small country. Though a media blackout would be allowed under Israeli emergency laws, such sudden and sweeping censorship would be so unprecedented as to telegraph what was meant to go unpublished - and in any event may prove impracticable in today’s wired world.

Nonetheless, some other measures could limit exposure, such as choice of timing. The war on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip was launched on Dec. 27, 2008, deep in the Western holiday season and on a Saturday morning,

the Jewish Sabbath, when Israel’s own media pare coverage to a minimum and newsrooms are barely staffed.

Israel is also trying to restrict the circle of those in the know. The number of those privy to the details of Iran planning in the military and government has been kept very small, a depth of secrecy akin to that surrounding Israel’s own nuclear programme, which is assumed to include the region’s only atomic weapons.

Netanyahu would be legally required to gain security cabinet approval for an attack on Iran. But after a newspaper reported on Wednesday that ministers on the panel had been presented with conflicting intelligence assessments about Iran, a leak that angered Netanyahu, at least one senior leader, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, called for the 14-member security cabinet to be shrunk in order to ensure more discretion.

For similar ends, Israel may go so far as to temporarily misdirect its own populace, away from talk of imminent attack. Days before the Gaza blitz, Ehud Barak - defence minister then, as now - made an unusual and unannounced live appearance on a top-rated TV satire show, where he took a roasting with good humour and made sure to give every impression that starting a war could not be further from his mind. In another deliberate feint intended to wrong-foot the gossips, Israeli generals summoned officers from garrisons around Gaza to a weekend retreat, with their families, at a countryside spa. All but the most senior of those invited commanders were then surprised to be woken up, that Saturday morning, and dispatched back to base for combat within hours.

Asked about such ruses, a senior Israeli official shrugged and told Reuters they were a legitimate tactic for military planners dealing with a democratic society: “Such things are kosher,” he said, “when you have a free press and free speech.” And while certainly not advocating the kind of extensive public discussion seen lately in Israel on the prospects for a conflict, the same official saw a counter-intuitive benefit in that such perpetual talk might erode Iran’s level of alertness: “The more you brace to defend yourself, the more tired you get - or you make the mistake of writing off the threat as a bluff,” he said.

“Perhaps that’s the case with Iran.” — Reuters

Iraq’s fugitive VP sentenced to hang Continued from Page 1 The sentence was issued after about 30 minutes of deliberation by the three judges. Hashemi himself met in the Turkish capital with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday, in a meeting that was scheduled in advance but coincided with the sentencing, a senior diplomat in Ankara told AFP. Hours before the sentencing was announced, a wave of bombings and shootings killed at least 58 people across the country from the northern city of Kirkuk to southern Nassiriya where a car bomb hit a French consular office.

The most serious of the bombings happened near the city of Amara, 300 km south of Baghdad, when two car bombs exploded outside a Shiite shrine and a market place, killing at least 16 people, officials said. With its main hospital overflowing with the injured, mosques in Amara used prayer loudspeakers to call for blood donations.

Overnight in Dujail, 50 km north of Baghdad, gunmen and a suicide bomber driving a car attacked a military base, killing 11 soldiers and injuring seven, police said.

Later yesterday, a car bomb killed eight people queuing for jobs as police guards for the Iraqi North Oil Company in the flashpoint city of Kirkuk, 250 km north of Baghdad, police said. More were killed in bombings in the towns of Kirkuk, Baquba, Samarra, Basra and Tuz Khurmato. The car

bomb outside the building housing the French consular office in Nassiriya, 300 km south of Baghdad, killed a police guard and wounded four, authorities said. The consul, an Iraqi citizen, was not at the office.

After the fall of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and the rise of Iraq’s Shiite majority to power, many Iraqi Sunnis feel they have been sidelined. Sunni politicians say Maliki is failing to live up to agreements to share government power among the parties, a charge his backers dismiss by pointing to Sunnis in key posts. When the Hashemi charges were announced at the end of last year, his Iraqiya party called for a boycott of parliament and the cabinet. But the party has since splintered further.

Violence in Iraq has eased since the darker days of sectarian slaughter after the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam. But insurgents are still carrying out at least one major coordinated attack a month. Infighting in the cross-sectarian government, and a resurgence of a local al Qaeda wing, are raising fears of a return to broader violence, especially as Iraq struggles to contain spillover from Syria’s crisis over the border. Iraq’s local Al-Qaeda affiliate, Islamic State of Iraq, has claimed responsibility for major attacks on security forces and Shiite neighbourhoods. Former members of Saddam’s outlawed Baathist party and other Sunni Islamist groups are also fighting the government. — Agencies

14

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

ANALYSIS

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Issues

US foreign policy: The election barely matters

By Gwynne Dyer here was never going to be a big debate on US foreign policy at the Democratic National Convention. It will be whatever Barack Obama say it should be, and besides, the delegates in Charlotte weren’t interested. It’s the economy, stupid, and two months before the election nobody wants to get sidetracked into discussing a peripheral issue like American foreign policy. The only people who really care about that at the moment are foreigners and the US military - and even they are not following the election with bated breath, because few of them believe that a change of president could fundamentally change the way the US relates to the rest of the world.

Although the Republicans do their best to paint Obama as a wild-eyed radical who is dismantling America’s defences, he has actually been painfully orthodox in his foreign policy. He loves Israel to bits, he did not shut down the Afghan war (or Guantanamo), he uses drones to kill US enemies (and sometimes, anybody else who is nearby), and he tamely signs off on a $700 billion defence budget.

How can Mitt Romney top that? He could say he loves Israel even more. In fact, he does say that, promising to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

But that is purely gesture politics, since almost no other countries do, and in practice Obama gives Israel almost everything it wants already. He could pledge to spend even more on “defence” than Obama, but the United States is already pouring 4.7 percent of its Gross Domestic Product down that rathole. Obama has planned cuts over the next several years that would bring it down to about 4 percent and Romney has promised not to let it fall below 4 percent. Not a huge difference there.

The Republican candidate faces a constraint none of his recent predecessors had: a party that really cares about the deficit. In the past three decades, it has been Republican presidents who ran up the bills - Ronald Reagan never balanced a budget, and the Bush-Cheney team declared that “deficits don’t matter” - while the subsequent Democratic administrations tried to curb out-of-control spending.

Romney doesn’t have that option: the Tea Party wing of his party actually means what it says about both taxes and deficits. So what’s left for him? Well, he could promise to kill even more of America’s enemies than Obama, but he can’t get around the fact that it’s Obama who nailed Osama bin Laden, and Obama who is playing fast and loose with international law by using drones to carry out remote-control assassinations of hostile foreigners.

So Romney says very little about foreign policy because there is little he can say. The closest he has come to specific policy changes was an “action plan” he laid out during the Republican primaries last year, to be accomplished within a hundred days of taking office. It was an entirely credible promise, because none of it really involves a policy change at all. He promised to “re-assure traditional allies that America will fulfill its global commitments.” A couple of phone calls, and that’s done.

He declared that he would move more military forces to the Gulf “to send a message to Iran,” but he didn’t threaten to attack Iran, or endorse an Israeli attack on Iran. And he can always move them back again if he gets bored. He said he would appoint a Middle East czar to oversee US support for the evolving Arab transitions. That’s one more government job, but Romney has even less idea than Obama about where he wants those transitions to end up.

Besides, the United States has almost no leverage on this issue.

He will review the Obama administration’s planned withdrawal from Afghanistan. Not necessarily change it; just review it. He will also review Obama’s global missile defence strategy. He might like to change that - Republicans have loved the concept ever since Ronald Reagan’s “Star Wars” dreams - but he hasn’t got the kind of money he would need for a more ambitious policy. It’s not surprising that the rest of the world doesn’t care much about the US election. Most foreigners, on both the right and the left, are more comfortable with Obama than Romney, but US foreign policy will stay the same whoever wins. They might not like all of it, but they’re used to it.

NOTE: Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist

T

All articles appearing on these pages are the personal opinion of the writers. Kuwait Times takes no responsibility for views expressed therein. Kuwait Times invites readers to voice their opinions. Please send submissions via email to: opinion@kuwaittimes.net or via snail mail to PO Box 1301 Safat, Kuwait.

The editor reserves the right to edit any submission as necessary.

Returning US Congress likely to do little

By Thomas Ferraro ne of the most unpopular and unproductive US Congresses in modern history returns today from a five-week recess, facing a crush of big tasks, few of which will likely get done. Lawmakers are expected to be in Washington for only about two weeks between now and the Nov 6 election, making their return to the capital little more than a pit stop. “Everyone wants to get out of town - fast,” said a top Senate aide, voicing the sentiment on both sides of the political aisle. Quickie sessions are the rule rather than the exception in election years, and lawmakers may be around just long enough to approve a must-pass spending bill to keep the government running before racing home to campaign for their seats.

This year they do will so as voters seem more frustrated than ever with their partisan gridlock. Unfinished business on Capitol Hill includes bills to overhaul the massive farm law, improve cyber security for the nation’s critical infrastructure, downsize the ailing postal service, and normalize trade with Russia. The most urgent item - making sure Congress does not trigger a recession early next year - is by all accounts on hold until after the election, when lawmakers will attempt to head off trouble of their own making: tax increases and automatic spending cuts that threaten to send the United States over what’s been called “a fiscal cliff.”

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Corporate leaders say the uncertainty surrounding this single issue is already weighing on business decisions, particularly in the defense industry. A preventable recession, induced by a forewarned Congress, would be a first. Most still believe lawmakers will avoid going over the cliff, somehow, some way. “My faith in Congress is pretty minimal,” said Dan Ripp of Bradley Woods, a New York-based public policy research firm. “But members of Congress are excellent at selfpreservation and that is why I think they will do something to avoid ‘the cliff’ and voter backlash,” Ripp said.

Nevertheless, any progress may depend on how party leaders analyze the results of the election contest between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

Lawmakers will calculate whether they have something to gain - or lose - by waiting until the convening of a new Congress in January to deal with tax and spending issues.

Thus a pre-election paralysis has taken hold on top of the gridlock that has afflicted Washington since the 2010 election, when Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives and government became officially divided along party lines. Just 61 bills have become law in 2012, the fewest in a year in more than 60 years, according to records compiled by the House clerk’s office. In 2011, 90 bills became law, down from 258 the year before, when Democrats controlled

both chambers and the White House. “ The metaphor for congressional ineptitude is its inability to even reform the postal service,” said Greg Valliere of the Potomac Research Group, a private firm that tracks Washington for institutional investors. “Members in both parties talk tough about reducing deficits, but they are scared to close a local post office because they will get angry letters from constituents,” Valliere said. “If you can’t reform the post office, how are you ever going to reform entitlements” like the Social Security retirement program and Medicare health program, he said.

Amid budget battles last year, Congress pushed the government to the brink of a shutdown and an unprecedented default, generating plenty of public disgust, anger and fear. During the past year or so, Congress’s approval ratings have been in or at single digits, the lowest numbers ever. Even so, most lawmakers seem certain to win another term, largely because of the advantages of incumbency, such as name recognition and the ability to raise money. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics said voters were puzzled as to why lawmakers cannot be more productive. “Most people just don’t understand why Democrats and Republicans can’t get together and split at least some of their differences,” Sabato said.

Members of Congress certainly have plenty of time to clear their heads,

stretch their legs and literally find common ground outside of Washington.

While the average American worker has a median household income of about $50,000 and gets 13 days of annual paid vacation, lawmakers command salaries of $174,000 and will have recesses this year totaling more than four months.

Lawmakers do not call their recesses vacation. Instead, they refer to many of them as “district work periods” used to meet with constituents.

Democrats and Republicans spent some of their recent recess at their political parties’ respective national conventions. However, with Congress in such low esteem, lawmakers maintained low profiles at the nationally broadcast events, which featured prime-time speeches by Obama and Romney. On a recent rainy day, out-of-town visitors to the US Capitol voiced frustrations. “I want to have faith in them, I really do, but it is hard,” said Ronda Rieves, a Florida pastor, accompanied by her husband, Franklin, a construction worker. “The only time we hear from them is every two years, on a recording that says, ‘Vote for me,’” she said.

Edward Harrison, a Colorado chemist, said: “We have the government we deserve. They represent who we are - partisan and unwilling to compromise for personal or ideological reasons.” Despite this, Harrison said he remained “pragmatically optimistic”. “Congress made it through the Civil War,” he said. “They can make it through this.” —Reuters

The politics of believing in America

By Ben Feller fter all this time running to lead America, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are still trying to show they really believe in America. Both men have made the election not just about the economy or even the American Dream, but about America itself. They see a pessimistic nation nervous about its future, hardly the American way.

They see political opportunity if they can come across as the one who gets what it means to be American, the guy who restores the glory.

What’s more, for reasons quietly tied to religion or race or family roots, Romney and Obama can never do enough to shore up their own American bona fides in voters’ minds. This despite the fact that one of them will be the president next year, and one already is the president. In the midst of their patriotic push, Obama and Romney have never overtly accused the other of being un-American.

But they spend no small amount of time raising doubts about the other’s belief in America’s promise, its workers, its resilience, its basic compact with its people. Both talk about the goodness of Americans and the exceptional nature of America itself. They rarely concede that the other candidate shares that view. Obama and Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, have vastly different visions on how to create jobs and opportunity, and that contrast in governing philosophy is a defining choice for voters in November.

They often make it sound per-

A

sonal, too. “I think this election will decide the soul of America,” Romney said while campaigning for the Republican nomination April.

“And I have a very different view of the soul of America.” When Romney stood up at the GOP convention to accept the nomination, the theme of the night was on the giant screen behind him: “We Believe In America”.

The sentiment is on the side of his campaign plane, too.

visions. His was the one that would “restore the values” of America. The other vision he offered was of a Romney presidency that dismisses the role of citizenship; the one in which, for example, it would be OK for children to breathe toxic pollution in the name of corporate progress, he said. “You know what?

That’s not who we are,” Obama said.

“That’s not what this country is about.”

In this Aug 30, 2012, file photo Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. —AP The suggestion is that the other party, led by Obama, does not believe in America, and that it’s chiefly Obama. He flies on an airplane, Air Force One, with “United States of America” on its side. The believe part is implied. In Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic convention, he framed the election as a choice of two

There is something to this nagging sense that America has lost its way. AP polling has not found a majority saying the nation is moving in the right direction since 2003.

The richest nation on earth is divided over whether today’s children will have a better standard of living than their parents do. When the national debt surpassed $16 trillion

just days ago, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan held it up as indictment of Obama’s leadership. “That’s a country in decline,” Ryan said.

Vice President Joe Biden quickly turned those words back on him, working in a don’t-you-doubtAmerica riff to his convention speech, and hitting that theme in campaign stops since. “America is not in decline,” Biden boomed. “I’ve got news for Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan. It’s never been a good bet to bet against the American people. Never.” Obama, campaigning in Florida on Saturday, called the US “a young nation with the greatest diversity of talent and ingenuity from every corner of the globe, so no matter what the naysayers may say for political reasons, no matter how dark they try to make everything look, there’s not a country on Earth that wouldn’t gladly trade places with the United States of America.”

While the values of policies and budgets they envision are part of the debate, Romney and Ryan have never actually bet against the American people. They are running to represent them. Romney has even gone so far as to sing “America the Beautiful” at events.

The Obama campaign used it against him in a mocking ad about Romney’s record on jobs and his taxes. On Saturday in Virginia Beach, Va., Romney recited the Pledge of Allegiance at a rally, going through it phrase by phrase to suggest Obama has fallen short of its promise.

The candidates know the nation is divided politically, but not patri-

otically. Almost 90 percent of people called themselves “very patriotic” in a Pew Research Center poll in April. “Patriotism is very emotional.

When people are scared - and essentially they’re scared about where our country is going - they are prone to relate to that argument,” said Barbara Perry, a senior fellow who studies the presidency at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center. “Most Americans, whether liberal or conservative, fall into the patriotic category,” she said, “because we all created this experiment of a country together.”

Romney and Obama have their personal reasons, too. The challenger is the first major party nominee to be a follower of the Mormon religion, which means he is subject to voter bias that hasn’t budged much in decades in the United States. Nearly 20 percent of Americans say they would not vote for a well-qualified presidential candidate who happens to be a Mormon, a Gallup poll in June found. Many voters still aren’t sure about Obama’s faith, either. Just under half of registered voters in a Pew poll in June correctly identified him as Christian.

Obama, of course, is the first president in US history to dig up a long-form birth certificate just to prove he was born in America, and this was long after he had already been on the job. The notion that Obama was born anywhere other than in Hawaii has long been discredited, although Romney stirred it up again last month when he said “no one’s ever asked to see my birth certificate”. He later said he was joking. —AP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

sp orts Kubica eyes F1 return

Broad ponders net practice

Griffin wins in S Korea

MONZA: Poland’s Robert Kubica is still hoping to return to Formula One, a year and a half on from a near-fatal rally accident, after getting back behind the wheel of a rally car in Italy. The former Renault driver, now out of contract after missing all of last season following his crash in February last year and enduring repeated surgery, told Sky Italia that he had unfinished business. “Being here is already a good step, but I would have preferred to be somewhere else,” the 27-year-old said of his participation in a Subaru in the Rally Ronde Gomitolo di Lana event on the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix. “I have still got a long road to travel and will probably never be at the same physical level as before,” added the Pole. “But I don’t intend to give up.

“The aim remains to return to Formula One and the next few months will tell me whether I can do it next year already or will have to wait until 2014.”Kubica, who suffered severe arm and leg injuries in the 2011 accident, was a race winner with BMW-Sauber and Renault’s lead driver. He had been linked to Ferrari before the crash as a possible replacement for Brazilian Felipe Massa.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari’s championship leader, is one of his best friends in the Formula One paddock. Renault team boss Eric Boullier said this week that his team now had little contact with the Pole. “I did read in the press, like you, that he was doing some rallying and actually he’s supposed to do a rally next weekend or something like this, but we don’t have much contact,” said the Frenchman. —Reuters

MANCHESTER: England captain Stuart Broad admits there is no point in demanding his players take part in extra practice sessions after their crushing Twenty20 defeat against South Africa.

Broad’s side were beaten by seven wickets in Durham on Saturday and have litle time to recover before facing the South Africans again in the second game of the three-match T20 series in Manchester today. With the end of a long, gruelling international campaign in sight, Broad doesn’t believes there is any extra value to be gained from putting his players through their paces in compulsory net sessions before the Old Trafford clash.

Instead, he believes it could be just as valuable to have time to recharge mentally and physically, especially since England will head off for the defence of their World Twenty20 crown less than 24 hours after Wednesday’s final T20 showdown with the Proteas in Birmingham.

“It’s a tricky time of year,” Broad said. “You don’t want to be netting all the time, because we’ve had quite a long cricket season; you’ve got to actually manage your time well.

“Whether going to the nets and doing certain things is the best thing to do, we’ll have a discussion about; or whether getting away and actually having a think about what we do (is better).”

Broad knows England’s poor batting in their last two limited-overs matches, which both ended in defeat against South Africa, must improve.

Ravi Bopara’s struggles have been most notable, but a succession of his team-mates got out to poor shots, or poor judgement. Yet Board will leave it to individuals how best to turn things round. —AFP

SEOUL: Australia’s Matthew Griffin scored the biggest win of his professional career with a single stroke victory at the Charity High1 Resort Open in South Korea yesterday. The 29-year-old led by two overnight but held his nerve in a topsy-turvy final round for an even-par 72 to give him a nine-under total of 278 and the winner’s cheque of around $178,000.

Kang Kyung-nam, who shot 68, and Park Sang-Hyun, on 71, both from South Korea, pushed Griffin all the way, to finish joint second on 279.

Kim Bi-o, winner of two events on the OneAsia circuit already this year, was a shot further back. His hopes of an unprecedented third OneAsia title on home soil came unstuck with two wayward shots on the par five 13th, although he salvaged a bogey with a breathtaking 60-foot putt.

“I am really, really thrilled,” Griffin said after his victory. “This is what I have worked for all my life, so it is absolutely amazing to finally get there.

“This is immense. It gives me a lot of security and it also repays the faith that my supporters and sponsors have shown in me over the years.”

Griffin, once ranked the third-best amateur in the world, was a relative latecomer to the professional ranks and only scored his first four-round victory at the South Pacific Open in New Caledonia last year. —AFP

Dodgers and Nationals advance SAN FRANCISCO: Hanley Ramirez hit a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the ninth inning as Los Angeles trimmed a game off their division deficit with a 3-2 win over National League West-leading San Francisco on Saturday.

Adrian Gonzalez led off the ninth with a triple against Jeremy Affeldt (1-2), then Ramirez came through with a double to the gap in right-center.

That was the Dodgers’ first hit in 15 tries this series with runners in scoring position.

Ronald Belisario (5-1) pitched out of trouble in the eighth for the victory, helping Los Angeles snap a four-game losing streak to San Francisco.

Buster Posey hit an RBI single in the first and Brandon Belt added a go-ahead RBI with a groundout in the eighth for the Giants, who lead the Dodgers by 41/2 games. Brandon League pitched the ninth to earn his 11th save.

NEW YORK: Baltimore Orioles’ Mark Reynolds hits a three-run home run off of New York Yankees starting pitcher Phil Hughes in the sixth inning of a baseball game. —AP

Orioles see off Yankees BALTIMORE: The Orioles continued their long-ball onslaught against the Yankees, hitting three home runs off CC Sabathia in a 5-4 victory Saturday night that moved Baltimore back into a tie atop the AL East with New York. Mark Reynolds, Lew Ford and J.J. Hardy homered for the Orioles, who have won 11 of 15 overall and nine of the last 13 against the Yankees. With a victory Sunday, Baltimore will win the season series (10-8) for the first time since 1997. Trying to secure a victory for Joe Saunders (2-1), Baltimore closer Jim Johnson entered with a 5-3 lead in the ninth. He promptly gave up three straight singles, the last a bunt by Derek Jeter, to load the bases with no outs. Nick Swisher drove in a run with a forceout before Mark Teixeira hit into a game-ending double play.

Twins 3, Indians 0 In Minneapolis, Cole DeVries pitched six scoreless innings to win his third straight start to lead Minnesota. Joe Mauer had an RBI single and Josh Willingham added a sacrifice fly in a two-run third inning for the Twins, who had lost four of its past five games. DeVries (5-5) gave up four hits and walked one. A trio of relievers combined for three hitless innings, with Glen Perkins working the ninth for his 11th save in 14 chances. Indians starter Zach McAllister (5-7) made it through only three innings in losing his third straight decision.

He allowed two runs on two hits and three walks.

Rangers 4, Rays 2 In St. Petersburg, Rookie Jurickson Profar hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the 10th inning to lift Texas past Tampa Bay. Geovany Soto had a twoout double to deep center off Kyle Farnsworth (14). Profar then made it 3-2 when he drove in pinch-runner Leonys Martin on his hit past a diving Carlos Pena down the first-base line. Texas took a 4-2 lead when Josh Hamilton, who earlier hit his 40th homer this season, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Mike Adams (5-3) threw a scoreless inning for the win before Joe Nathan pitched the 10th for his 31st save. Pena was called out looking to end the game with a runner on second and was ejected for arguing the call by plate umpire Mike Estabrook.

White Sox 5, Royals 4 In Chicago, Dayan Viciedo, Tyler Flowers and Paul Konerko each homered to back Chris Sale’s six solid innings and lead the Chicago White Sox past Kansas City. Sale (16-6) scattered five hits and struck out six over six innings. He allowed six baserunners in the first three innings before settling down to retire the last 10 batters he faced.

Addison Reed finished up, extending his White Sox rookie record with his 26th save. Viciedo hit a solo homer in the first for the game’s first run.

Flowers connected with a two-run shot in the fourth and Konerko had a solo blast in the sixth. All three homers came off Bruce Chen (10-12), who had won his last four starts in Chicago.

Angels 6, Tigers 1 In Anaheim, CJ Wilson won his third straight start, Mike Trout hit a leadoff homer in the first inning and Los Angeles roughed up Detroit’s Justin Verlander. Trout ended the game by robbing Prince Fielder of a home run to center field on a 3-2 pitch from Garrett Richards. Wilson (12-9) allowed an unearned run and four hits in 7 2-3 innings, struck out six and walked two. It was the first time the All-Star left-hander pitched at least seven innings in 11 starts since July 13. His first three-game winning streak since last September began after a stretch of 11 consecutive outings in which he was 0-5. The Angels have won 10 of 11 since losing consecutive games at Detroit.

Verlander (13-8) gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings.

Blue Jays 9, Red Sox 2 In Boston, Anthony Gose hit his first major league homer and drove in five runs, and the Toronto moved out of the AL East’s basement by beating free-falling Boston in a game twice delayed by rain totaling 2 hours, 3 minutes.

Yunel Escobar added a solo homer to spark a five-run second inning for Toronto, which has won five straight in Fenway Park - its longest streak since winning all six meetings in 1989. It was the first time since July 29 that the Blue Jays haven’t been in last place after they won their third straight to climb over the Red Sox. Scott Podsednik and Ciriaco had RBI singles for Boston, which lost for the 10th time in 11 games. Brad Lincoln (1-0) worked 2 1-3 scoreless innings for the victory, his first with the Blue Jays since being acquired from Pittsburgh in July. Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-5) lasted four outs and allowed five runs and five hits.

David DeJesus singled in Welington Castillo with two outs in the eighth for the go-ahead run after Pittsburgh had tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the seventh.

Samardzija (9-13) overcame a rocky first inning to allow two hits over his final 8 2-3 innings. With the 27-year-old in his first full season as a major league starter, the Cubs announced Friday their intention to shut him down for the season.

Batting in the No. 9 spot in the order, Chicago’s Tony Campana had two hits and scored two runs. Alfonso Soriano hit his 27th home run for the Cubs, who arrived in Pittsburgh having lost 17 of their previous 18 road games but won for the second consecutive night.

Nationals 7, Marlins 6 In Washington, pinch-hitter Corey Brown singled to drive in Ian Desmond with Washington’s winning run in the bottom of the 10th.

After Adam LaRoche singled off Chad Guadin (3-2) to open the inning, Desmond singled him to third and Danny Espinosa was intentionally walked to load the bases. After a forceout at home, Brown blooped a single to right.

Drew Storen (2-1) pitched a scoreless 10th inning for the win. After a 2:33 rain delay, Jayson Werth led off the bottom of the ninth with home run off Heath Bell to tie it at 6-all.

Ryan Zimmerman’s 20th homer of the season, a two-run shot with no outs in the eighth, cut Miami’s lead to 6-5. Miami starter Mark Buehrle allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings and struck out five. Nationals starter Ross Detwiler gave up five runs, three earned, in five innings.

Braves 11, Mets 3 In New York, Kris Medlen extended Atlanta’s scoreless streak to 31 innings - its best string in more than 20 years - and slumping Brian McCann drove in four runs with four hits.

A tornado touched down in Queens about 15 miles away several hours before the game. Dark, ominous clouds swept in later, causing a 75minute rain delay after the sixth inning.

The NL wild card leaders won their fourth straight, the previous three all shutouts. McCann homered, doubled and tied a career high for hits and Dan Uggla had three hits and two walks, scoring three times. Medlen (8-1) allowed four hits, left with an 8-2 lead after the rain and contributed a long RBI double. He went 40 1-3 innings without allowing an earned run.

Atlanta has won the last 19 games Medlen has started, dating to 2010. He improved to 13-0 in his last 24 starts overall.

Cubs 4, Pirates 3 In Pittsburgh, Jeff Samardzija pitched the Cubs’ first complete game in his final start of the season.

SAN FRANCISCO: Hunter Pence No. 8 of the San Francisco Giants puts down a sacrifice bunt and runs to first base as Chris Capuano No. 35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers fields it in the bottom of the seventh inning. —AFP Reds 5, Astros 1 In Cincinnati, Bronson Arroyo extended his personal winning streak to five games and Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips hit solo home runs for Cincinnati.

Phillips and Joey Votto both had two hits to help Arroyo improve to 8-1 over his last nine starts and 92 since July 6. Arroyo (12-7) had at least one baserunner in every inning except the seventh - his last - but allowed just a first-inning run. The Astros had seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Sean Marshall allowed a walk in the eighth and Jonathan Broxton gave up two hits while finishing the game in the ninth.

Houston starter Bud Norris (5-12) saw his careerlong losing streak stretch to 11 games, dating to May 31. He allowed six hits and five runs with two walks and three strikeouts in 5 1-3 innings.

Athletics 6, Mariners 1 In Seattle, George Kottaras homered for the second straight game, Brett Anderson won his fourth straight start since recovering from Tommy John surgery and Oakland beat Seattle. Anderson (4-0), who had surgery on his left elbow 14 months ago, allowed one unearned run and six hits while striking out four in six innings. He lowered his ERA to 0.69. —AP

Washington 7, Miami 6 (10 Innings); Atlanta 11, NY Mets 3; Chicago White Sox 5, Kansas City 4; La Dodgers 3, San Francisco 2; Baltimore 5, NY Yankees 4; Chicago Cubs 4, Pittsburgh 3; Toronto 9, Boston 2; Texas 4, Tampa Bay 2 (10 innings); Cincinnati 5, Houston 1; Minnesota 3, Cleveland 0; Milwaukee 6, St. Louis 3; Arizona 8, San Diego 5; LA Angels 6, Detroit 1; Oakland 6, Seattle 1.

Central Division Chicago White Sox 75 63 Detroit 73 65 Kansas City 62 77 Cleveland 59 80 Minnesota 57 82

Texas Oakland LA Angels Seattle

Western Division 83 56 78 60 76 63 67 73

PCT GB .561 .561 .547 2 .457 14.5 .450 15.5

.543 .529 2 .446 13.5 .424 16.5 .410 18.5

.597 .565 4.5 .547 7 .479 16.5

National League Eastern Division Washington 86 53 Atlanta 80 60 Philadelphia 67 71 NY Mets 65 74 Miami 62 78

.619 .571 6.5 .486 18.5 .468 21 .443 24.5

Central Division 84 56 74 65 72 66 69 70 53 86 43 96

.600 .532 9.5 .522 11 .496 14.5 .381 30.5 .309 40.5

Western Division San Francisco 78 61 LA Dodgers 74 66 Arizona 69 71 San Diego 65 75 Colorado 56 81

.561 .529 4.5 .493 9.5 .464 13.5 .409 21

Cincinnati St. Louis Pittsburgh Milwaukee Chicago Cubs Houston

Diamondbacks 8, Padres 5 In San Diego, Jason Kubel hit two of Arizona’s four home runs as the Diamondbacks snapped a sevengame losing streak to San Diego. Aaron Hill and Justin Upton hit solo homers as Arizona finished with 15 hits.

Upton had a season-high four hits and Jake Elmore added two RBIs. Kubel hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Hill led off the third with his 22nd homer before Kubel followed two pitches later for his career-high 29th home run. Upton connected off Miles Mikolas in the fifth on a line drive that carried 443 yards to straightaway center field for a 7-4 lead. Rookie Wade Miley (15-9) won despite giving up five runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings. The left-hander struck out six and had three walks to snap his streak of 24 consecutive starts without issuing more than two walks. JJ Putz struck out the side in the ninth for his 29th save in 34 chances. —AP

Paula surges ahead at Kingsmill

MLB results/standings

American League Eastern Division W L NY Yankees 78 61 Baltimore 78 61 Tampa Bay 76 63 Toronto 63 75 Boston 63 77

Brewers 6, Cardinals 3 In St. Louis, Aramis Ramirez had three hits, including his 22nd home run, to lead Milwaukee. Ricky Weeks added a solo home run and Ryan Braun went 3 for 5 with a run scored for Milwaukee. Carlos Gomez went 2 for 4 and drove in two runs.

Ramirez, who walked twice, reached base all five times he batted and scored twice. After a slow start, he has raised his average over the past 89 games from .218 to an even .300.

Mike Fiers (9-7) allowed one run and five hits in five innings and also got his first career RBI with a single in the second inning. He walked three and struck out five. John Axford pitched a scoreless ninth for his 27th save.

WILLIAMSBURG: Paula Creamer watches her tee shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the Kingsmill Championship LPGA Tour golf tournament. —AP

WILLIAMSBURG: Paula Creamer moved into position to end a two-year victory drought, shooting a 6-under 65 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Kingsmill Championship.

The nine-time LPGA Tour winner chipped in for birdie on the par-4 13th in her bogey-free round on Kingsmill’s River Course. She had a 16-under 197 total, the lowest 54-hole score in the history of the event. “I haven’t won in two years. That feels like forever, but it also feels like yesterday when I did just win, so it’s kind of a give or take,” Creamer said. “I’ve been in contention a lot, so it’s not that I’m not used to this, that’s for sure.

“No matter what happens tomorrow, I’m just going out there and continue what I’ve been doing this whole year and it’s just starting to come together and one round isn’t going to make or break it, that’s for sure.” Second-round leader Jiyai Shin was second after a 69. Shin also is winless since 2010.

“Well, I think when I following the leader, it makes me feel better because I knew the target,” Shin said. “When I started on the leader, when I miss the shot, it make more pressure. So I really very comfortable with my position at the moment.”

Dewi Claire Schreefel and Danielle Kang were 12 under. Schreefel had a 69, and Kang shot 70.

Second-ranked Staci Lewis was 11 under along with Ai Miyazato and Azahara Munoz. Lewis shot a 68, Miyazato had a 67, and Munoz a 69. Lewis and Miyazato each

have two victories this year, and Munoz also won this season.

Two strokes behind Shin entering the round, Creamer birdied Nos. 3-5, added a birdie on the par-4 11th, chipped in on 13 and made her sixth birdie of the round on the par-5 15th.

“I hit the ball really well.” Creamer said.

“I gave myself tons of opportunities, and when I did get into a little bit of trouble I just kind of took my medicine and scrambled out some pars. Just hitting it really solid, so I’m able to go at a lot of these flagsticks and giving myself within 10 feet on a lot of holes. You’re not going to make all of them, but you’ll make most, especially with the confidence that I have right now in my putting.”

Shin bogeyed the par-3 second hole and par-4 fourth, then rallied with birdies on Nos. 8-9 and 11-12. “It was a long tough day,” Shin said. “The wind made it really tough to play the course.”

This is the eighth LPGA tournament at Kingsmill. All six winners - Cristie Kerr won twice - from 2003 to 2009 have at least one major championship on their resumes.

Creamer and Shin also are major champions. “I think you have to be a great ballstriker around here. You have to be really good with controlling your shots,” Creamer said. “It’s just one of those golf courses that you’ve got to be on your game. I’m sure it’s going to be pretty exciting. Some great players are all kind of bunched in there, and I’m going to have to take care of my own game.” —AP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

sp orts

Bowyer wins Chase race RICHMOND: Clint Bowyer won the rain-delayed NASCAR race at Richmond, and Jeff Gordon drove his way into the title picture by grabbing the last wild-card berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Bowyer came back from a mid-race spin to pick up his second win of the season. The Saturday night victory gave the Michael Waltrip Racing driver another three bonus points to take into the Chase.

But the night belonged to Gordon, who struggled most of the race but pulled off a big-time rally to beat Kyle Busch by three points for the final spot in the 12-driver Chase field.

The 41-year-old Gordon battled an ill-handling car early Saturday night, took off at the end to finish second to race Bowyer. “How ‘bout Gordon!” yelled winner Bowyer, “he was terrible all night!” Not when it mattered.

The four-time NASCAR champion got major adjustments to his Chevrolet through the race, fell a lap down, then nearly drove the wheels off in his

bid to pick up as many positions as possible. He trailed Busch by 12 points at the start of the race, and beat him by three to claim the final spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field.

“I felt like we won the race,” Gordon said. “What that was over, they told me I was in the Chase, we made it - I was ecstatic. I was going nuts.

“To me, after you have that kind of effort, fall back, then come up there and finish second, almost win the race.” Busch finished 16th, fading after poor pit strategy and a slow final stop to miss the Chase for the second time in his career. Team owner Joe Gibbs met Busch on pit road and leaned into the car window to console the angry driver.

“We missed. That’s it. Plain and simple,” said Busch, adding Gibbs told him, “‘Handle it the right way.’ There’s no right way to handle this situation.”

It was opposite emotions on pit road, as Gordon’s team celebrated. He qualified second, but was terrible early in a race that was marred by three different rain showers. The start was delayed almost

ATLANTA: Clint Bowyer laughs as he waits in his car during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race. —AP

Contador bags Tour of Spain MADRID: Spain’s Alberto Contador, racing his first Grand Tour since returning from a twoyear doping ban last month, won his second Tour of Spain crown yesterday.

The Saxo-Bank rider, also a two-time Tour de France winner who lost his 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro titles after testing positive for clenbuterol in 2010, safely negotiated the 21st and final 115km largely flat stage from Cercedilla to Madrid to claim victory.

“This is the culmination of many months of work and sacrifices and not sparing any effort,” said Contador. “People sometimes think it is easy but it is not. I dedicate this victory to those who stuck by me in the good and bad moments. It is because of them that I sacrificed myself.”

Contador added: “You feel like laughing, crying, it is a series of emotions that you can’t express with words. It is incredible.

“It has been hard from the beginning, but the more things cost you the better they taste.

Given the background that I arrived here with, this victory is very special for me. I had not competed for a long time and things were complicated.”

Germany’s John Degenkolb of the ArgosShimano team won the final stage in 2hr 44min 57sec, Contador coming through buried in the main lead peloton in 54th spot.

The 29-year-old Contador clocked 84hr 59min 49sec for the race that covered a total distance of 3,300 kilometres, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) completing an all-Spanish podium.

Valverde was 1min 16sec off Contador’s

pace, with long-time leader Rodriguez a further 21sec adrift. “I am super happy, in the end we won points. It was a good Vuelta for the team, I want to thank them for fighting for me,” said Valverde.

“Purito” Rodriguez vowed to carry on battling after the disappointment of losing out to his Spanish compatriots. “We did everything we could,” Rodriguez said. “Sometimes things do not turn out like one wants, but I am not going to stop fighting and trying to win a major tour.

“Where and when I don’t know, but I will try again.” Contador had only words of praise for Rodriguez, saying: “Purito was very strong, he endured the climbs very well. “It was very hard to win this race but I enjoyed it very much because it was a spectacular Vuelta.”

Contador had taken control of the Vuelta on Wednesday’s Fuente De stage 17, producing a long-distance attack a day after having failed to shake off Rodriguez on the climb of the Cuitu Negru on stage 16.

His precious lead of 1:35 came under attack on Saturday in the gruelling climb of the Bola del Mundo, with both Rodriguez and Valverde attacking the Pinto-born Contador.

But the champion showed all his experience to hold his nerve for a remarkable victory, the Spanish heavyweight trio having called a truce as the sprinters battled for the stage win on Sunday.

A breakaway of six riders were hauled back with one lap of the final 5.7km circuit left, and the Argos-Shimano team managed to get Degenkolb into position for his record-break-

two hours, and a second shower caused a stoppage that lasted just under 52 minutes.

Gordon was livid when he exited his car on pit road during the red flag. “I was pretty ticked off that we got that far behind,” Gordon said. “When you have that kind of a start to a race, you don’t have a lot of hope that you’re going to get it turned around.” But his Hendrick Motorsports team got it figured out during the third and final rain shower.

NASCAR called a caution for rain, and Gordon was one of eight top drivers to head to pit road.

Denny Hamlin, the leader, stayed out apparently in a strategy that relied on the race being stopped once and for all for rain.

Instead, NASCAR went back to green and Hamlin led a group of drivers down pit road in a desperate late pit stop. Busch was part of a group that had pitted shortly before the rain so he stayed out and was fourth on the restart. But everyone who had pitted at the start of the caution was on fresh tires Gordon included - and they quickly drove through the field. It put Busch back in traffic, and when he finally did go to pit road, a slow stop further hurt his chances.

He never had another chance as Gordon, a fourtime champion, picked his way through the field to his second-place finish. It came a week after he failed to move Hamlin out of the way on the final restart at Atlanta, a decision that cost him the win and ate away at him all week.

“I went from last week being the most disappointed I’ve ever been to finish second this week, being the most excited I’ve ever been to finish second,” Gordon said. Hamlin, who went into his home track as winner of the last two races, led a race-high 202 laps but faded to 18th. He still goes into next week’s Chase opener as the top seed based on his series-best four “regular season” victories.

Hamlin goes into Chicago up three points over five-time champion Jimmie Johnson, defending champion Tony Stewart and Brad Keselowski, who are all tied for second.

The fifth slot in the Chase went to Greg Biffle, then Bowyer, who got three more bonus points Saturday night. The seventh spot went to Dale Earnhardt Jr., then Daytona 500 winner Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, and Martin Truex Jr., who along with Bowyer gave Michael Waltrip Racing two berths in the first Chase appearance for the organization. The wild-card slots went to Kasey Kahne and Gordon, who ensured all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers made the 12-driver field.—AP

Whatmore happy with Pakistan’s T-20 progress DUBAI: Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore yesterday said he was happy with the team’s progress in the shortest format of the game ahead of this month’s World Twenty20, saying the team was responding well. Pakistan pulled off a sensational super over win against Australia in the second Twenty20 here on Friday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the threematch series with the final match also in Dubai today.

Whatmore said it was good to have wins on the board.

“I am very much delighted,” Whatmore told reporters.

“We can’t do any more than to win two out of two, it was an exciting finish but it’s good to have the experience of the super over leading up to the World Twenty20.”

The 58-year-old former Australian batsman said his team responded well after losing the preceding one-day series 21. “We played consistent cricket and the players have responded well after the ODIs because there was just one day in between the change of the format,” said Whatmore, who took over in March this year.

“There is a very strong bond between the players, that’s very good and they support each other and are ready to play for each other and for the country,” said Whatmore, who also coached Sri Lanka to the 1996 World Cup title.

Whatmore said he was sure of the team’s combination for the World Twenty20, where Pakistan is in Group D along with Bangladesh and New Zealand.

“I am sure of the combination. We certainly need to know the conditions in Kandy where our first two matches are to pick the best combination. We don’t have easy opponents because we think all the teams are tough,” said Whatmore.

Whatmore hinted Pakistan might not risk Shahid Afridi today after the allrounder injured his left hand in the third one-day but was confident off-spinner Saeed Ajmal will recover from a shoulder problem. Australian batsman Cameron White said his team was preparing well for the World Twenty20 despite dropping in the rankings below Ireland.

“The bigger picture from the preparation point of view is that we are experiencing tough conditions and similar conditions to what we are going to experience in Sri Lanka,” said White, former Twenty20 captain.

“Obviously we have not been winning, but we have made great steps from the first game to the second and I think we are heading in the right direction. From a prepration point of view it is fantastic,” said White. — AFP

Will Genia

Genia injury sours Wallabies’ victory PERTH: Australia were quickly brought back down to earth after a morale-boosting victory over South Africa in the Rugby Championship with world class scrumhalf Will Genia ruled out for at least six months with a knee injury.

The Wallabies, and coach Robbie Deans, had been under immense pressure prior to the 2619 victory against the Springboks in Perth on Saturday after lacklustre performances against the All Blacks in their opening two games.

A poor first half in Perth was offset by a spirited fightback after the break, in which their forwards scored two tries to snatch the win, though Genia’s late injury dampened any celebrations.

The scrumhalf, who said after the match he had heard his knee ‘crack’, was ruled out after scans on Sunday revealed he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee.

“Will Genia is not there and Will Genia is a special player, there’s no doubt,” Deans told reporters in Perth. “But as we’ve seen in recent times it’s a team game and no one can do it by themselves and the group that combines effectively is more dangerous than one man.”

Genia’s injury continued the ‘captain’s curse’ for the Wallabies this season with regular captain James Horwill (hamstring) and his initial stand-in David Pocock (knee) already ruled out for the rest of the southern hemisphere competition.

“I don’t think we’ll have a formal leader any more ... every person we’ve given the title to has broken,” Deans joked. “So we might just have someone lead the group out the tunnel and we might have a meeting with a few good men on Monday morning to discuss the week.”

The Wallabies also suffered a further setback with promising

lock Sitaleki Timani sustaining a hamstring strain that could keep him out of their clash with a physical Argentina side next week on the Gold Coast. Timani appeared to be growing more comfortable with international rugby on Saturday and his ball carrying was particularly prevalent against the big South African forwards.

“I think Sitaleki Timani is doing a great job, it’s a really clear role the way he needs to play and he is doing it well,” veteran lock Nathan Sharpe said after Saturday’s match.

Genia’s absence, however, will be a major concern for Deans as they face the Pumas at Skilled Park, with the much vaunted Wallabies backline, considered one of the most dangerous in world rugby when the mood takes them, misfiring this season.

Against the All Blacks they looked directionless and lacking in ideas, and resorted to defending for much of their two matches. All three of the Wallabies’ tries in the Rugby Championship so far have been scored by their forwards.

The Wallabies pack may be the source of tries for their side, but they will need to ensure their intensity level is at boiling point when they face a bruising Pumas side next week.

Led superbly by captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, the Pumas shut down the All Blacks for all of the first half as the world champions tried to play a high tempo game in driving rain and gale-force winds in Wellington.

Their spot tackling was also effective, forcing turnovers and snuffing out try-scoring opportunities, which Deans noted.

“They challenge every side, they’re physical, they put pressure on the ball and they play a positional game,” Deans said.

“We’ll take a good look at them and look forward to getting up to the Gold Coast.”— Reuters

NZ flyhalf Carter ruled out of Springboks clash

SPAIN: Saxo Bank Team cyclist Alberto Contador celebrates at the podium as he holds Spanish vuelta cycling race trophy after riding the final stage along 115 km (71 miles) from Cerdedilla to Madrid. — AP

WELLINGTON: Flyhalf Daniel Carter will not be considered for New Zealand’s Rugby Championship clash with South Africa next week to allow him to recover completely from a calf strain, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said yesterday.

“We have made the decision he won’t be playing next week,” Hansen told reporters at the team hotel. “The type of treatment he needs, it will take the pressure right off and give the calf the opportunity to come right.

“We’re trying to, I guess, take him off his legs so he can concentrate on getting it better rather than trying to get it better to play.”

Hansen said the early decision on his availability for next week had been made to give clarity to the team, and young flyhalves Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett, as they prepare for

the Springboks in Dunedin. Carter had been struggling with the injury as the All Blacks prepared for their match against Argentina in Wellington and was named on Thursday in the starting lineup.

He was later withdrawn from the team that defeated Argentina 21-5 on Saturday. Hansen said the 30-year-old Carter, the world’s leading points scorer, would be expected to travel with the team for their final two games in the Championship against the Pumas in La Plata on Sept. 29 and against the Springboks in Soweto on Oct. 6. His omission was also about managing his fitness for the long term, Hansen added. “He is getting older and the more you play the game, the more vulnerable you are to injury and he’s got quite a few miles on the clock,” he said.

“That’s just standard for an older

player and he has to be smart and we have to be smart about how we handle it. “At the moment it’s about getting him on the park now. It’s about as much as that as it is long term.

“He’s what we call a red flag athlete.

He’s high risk of getting re-injury so we have to be smart on the wear and tear of his body and how much pressure we put him under.”

Hansen said it was “likely” Cruden would retain the flyhalf position for the Dunedin test, which should boost the player’s confidence after he failed to stamp himself on the game in the first half against the Pumas.

“He started off pretty average but the pleasing thing was he grew into the game,” Hansen said. “He’s a young fiveeighth (flyhalf) and it was really testing conditions and he will get a lot more out of that test match.”— Reuters

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

S P ORT S

Spare the players in NFL bounty scheme NEW YORK: Jonathan Vilma probably declared victory a bit too quickly, though you have to like how he went about it. Quoting a character out of the cartoon “Family Guy” seemed appropriate, if only because there is something a bit cartoonish about the whole NFL bounty scandal.

Roger Goodell was supposed to be the superhero in this adventure, swooping in with suspensions and fines to save the NFL from itself. He made players and coaches alike pay for the suggestion that, gulp, the NFL is a league that glorifies violence.

It is, of course, and nothing is going to change that.

Not the commissioner’s punishments, and certainly not the letter he sent to fans last week declaring that the league will “aggressively protect the health, safety and long-term livelihood of our players, both on the field and off.”

If you’re one of the millions tuning in Sunday for the first full day of NFL games, don’t fret. There will be enough hard hits to keep your attention, enough players helped off the field to give you time to grab another cold one from the fridge.

The NFL is, as Mike Tyson used to say about boxing, a hurt business. The object is to dominate the player up against you whatever way you can, a les-

son drilled into players since they first put on helmets in Pop Warner leagues.

For Goodell to try and suggest otherwise is a convenient way to obfuscate the real truth, necessitated perhaps by the fact the league is mired in court defending its violent culture against more than 3,000 former players. His image as a leader concerned about player safety plays well against lawsuits that claim players were left with damaged brains because the NFL ignored evidence that repeated concussions were dangerous.

That’s not to say Goodell was wrong in handing down punishment to the New Orleans Saints for a scheme to pay bounties to players based on plays that knocked players out of games. If true and the NFL insists it has more than enough evidence to prove it is true - he had little choice but to send a message that intentionally inflicting injuries on opposing players can’t be tolerated.

The problem is, he ended up punishing some of the wrong people. Blame renegade former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams - he of the infamous “kill the head” statement - and make sure he never returns to the league. Leave intact the suspensions of coach Sean Payton, assistant

Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis for allowing the scheme to continue. But leave the players out of it. Most of what they were doing was what any player would do when their job is on the line every time they take the field.

Yes, some of them may have contributed to the bounty pot, and some of them may have collected from it. But mostly they were delivering big hits because - like all players - if they don’t deliver big hits the team stops delivering them a big paycheck.

And really, is there any difference between rewarding a defensive player with a fat new contract for having the most sacks on the team than giving him, say, a $10,000 bonus for putting the hurt on a hot quarterback in the playoffs?

It’s worth noting, too, that despite the evidence the NFL trotted out to support the suspensions, seven current or former Saints, along with Vitt, have testified under oath in player lawsuits that there was no pay-to-injure program. They described it as a pay-for-performance pool that provided cash bonuses for big plays that included forced fumbles and interceptions as well as quarterback sacks.

The federal judge in that case also said that Goodell’s contention that he has authority over the

situation because players were being punished for actions that occurred in meeting rooms and locker rooms and not on the field “borders on ridiculous,” citing it as one of several examples of “slicing the salami very thin.”

The decision Friday that prompted Vilma to channel cartoon character Stewie Griffin in declaring “Victory is mine!!!!” wasn’t the final say on the matter. A three-member appeals panel simply decided Goodell overstepped his authority in hearing the players’ appeals of their punishments and did not address the merits of the NFL’s bounty investigation.

Though the NFL declared Vilma and three other suspended players eligible to play following the ruling, Goodell also promised that he would “make an expedited determination of the discipline imposed” for violating the league’s bounty rule.

Goodell owes it to the players to hurry. Their careers have a limited lifespan to begin with, and any time missed is time they can’t get back on the field. They’ve already paid a heavy price by being labeled as villains in the bounty scheme. It may well cost them jobs in the future or money in new contracts. They’ve been punished enough. — AP

Wildcats dump Cowboys

SWEDEN: Swedenís national soccer team train in Malmo. Sweden will face Kazakhstan in a FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying soccer match tomorrow. — AFP

Villa back as Spain begins bid for fourth major title LONDON: Energized by the return from injur y of David Villa and a thumping recent friendly win, Spain couldn’t be in better shape as the team begins its qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup tomorrow. The Spanish will hope the road to Brazil ends with an unprecedented fourth straight major title, backing up the defense of their European Championship title this summer with the retention of their world crown.

First up for Spain in its five-team Group I is a trip to Georgia, where Villa will be available after playing in his first match in the national jersey since November with a goal in the 5-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia on Friday - taking his all-time leading tally for the world’s top-ranked side to 52.

OBIDOS: Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo controls the ball during a training session at Praya del Rey, near Obidos in preparation for a World Cup 2014 qualifying football match against Azerbaijan. — AFP

The Barcelona forward had surgery in December after fracturing his right leg, forcing him to miss Euro 2012. “I missed my teammates, living all this, the moment of arriving to training sessions with the national squad,” Villa said. “I note an improvement in how I feel with every outing. I am quicker and more explosive.”

Qualifying in the European zone began Friday, when Italy was the only top side to fail to start with a victory.

A 2-2 draw in Bulgaria in Group B was greeted with derision by the national press, with the Azzurri showing little of the form that took them to the final of Euros, where they lost 4-0 to Spain. It will be a mighty shock if the Italians didn’t put things right against Malta, ranked 139th

by FIFA. “Our performance in Sofia was unacceptable,” said Italy coach Cesare Prandelli. “It’s right that the marks in the newspapers were low. “The squad was

the most experienced that I’ve had in my two years as coach, which shows that the things you learn can be forgotten.”

The Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, England and France will all look to make it two wins from two after opening up with contrasting victories on Friday. While England thrashed Moldova 5-0 in Group H and the Dutch beat Turkey 2-0 in a potentially tricky Group D opener, Portugal was far from impressive in seeing off Luxembourg 2-1 after going behind early on. Germany was expected to beat the minnow Faeroe Islands by a bigger margin than 3-0 and France, which is in the same group as Spain, only scraped past Finland 1-0.

Tomorrow, France takes on Belarus the team that stunned Les Bleus with a surprise 1-0 win in Saint-Denis at the start of Euro 2012 qualifying - and coach Didier Deschamps wants more from his forwards, who haven’t scored in the team’s past five matches. Indeed, star striker Karim Benzema has not scored in his last 11 games for club and country.

“We need to become more dangerous,” Deschamps said yesterday. “Getting an attack to function is the hardest thing to do. (Against Finland) either we held onto the ball too long, or we didn’t give it properly, or there weren’t enough numbers up front.”

Germany travels to Austria buoyed by a seven-match winning streak over its neighbor and is looking to emulate its run in Euro 2012 qualifying, which the team finished with a perfect record.

“It’s going to be a heated encounter between neighbors in a sold-out stadium,” Germany captain Philipp Lahm said.

England will be without Chelsea defenders Ashley Cole and John Terry for the home match against Ukraine after they were ruled out because of injury over the weekend. Against Moldova, Roy Hodgson’s side strolled to the country’s biggest away win in 19 years but Ukraine will provide a sterner test and was unlucky to lose 1-0 to the English in a group game in Euro 2012.

“Uk raine are a quality team, they showed that in glimpses in the game during the European Championship,” England midfielder Frank Lampard said. “They are certainly going to come to Wembley with intentions to make it difficult for us and show what they are about, so we will have to be on top form.” There are 25 qualifiers in Europe, while in South America, Argentina is likely to maintain its lead atop the standings in matches tomorrow. Argentina defeated Paraguay 3-1 on Friday with goals from Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Gonzalo Higuain, and will be favored at Peru.

Through six matches, the Argentines lead the South American group with 13 points followed by Chile and Ecuador with 12, Uruguay with 11 and Colombia on 10. In other matches tomorrow, it’s Chile vs. Colombia, Paraguay vs.

Venezuela, Uruguay vs. Ecuador. —AP

TUCSON: Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez told his players all week that to make the program relevant again, they would have to beat ranked teams.

Frustrating the 18th-ranked team in the country while running all over them should be a good start.

Composed after falling into an early hole and a rash of personal foul penalties by their opponent, Arizona picked up a signature win by rolling over No. 18 Oklahoma State 59-38 on Saturday night.

Ka’Deem Carey scored four touchdowns, Matt Scott threw for 320 yards and two scores, and the Wildcats pulled away in the fourth quarter for the kind of win that’s sure to turn more attention toward the desert.

“Nowadays, it seems everybody knows the scores, but it seems like they put that Top 25 on that ticker and it goes on and on and on all week,” Rodriguez said. “So we’re going to be on that ticker all week and I told the guys you want to be on the right side of that ticker.” Arizona (2-0) fell into a quick 14-0 hole before scoring the next 30 points as Oklahoma State (1-1) unraveled under a shower of yellow flags. The Cowboys had 15 penalties for a school-record 167 yards before settling down enough to rally within two points late in the third quarter.The Wildcats wouldn’t let them any closer, scoring 29 points after the 3-minute mark of the third quarter to run away from the Cowboys.

Carey ran for 147 yards in his debut as the featured back last week and followed it up by scoring on two 1-yard runs, another from 25 yards and on a 13-yard screen pass. He finished with 126 yards on 26 carries. Scott also had a nice follow-up to his dazzling opener, finishing 28 of 41 and running for 55 yards with another score. “I feel like this makes us relevant,” said Scott, who had 461 total yards last week after two years of waiting behind Nick Foles.

“We beat a good team, we beat a ranked team.”

They also beat a team that beat itself, in some respects. Oklahoma State freshman Wes Lunt threw for 436 yards, fourth-most in school history and the Big 12 record for a freshman, and connected with Tracy Moore for four touchdown passes. He also had some shaky moments, tossing three interceptions, including one returned 48 yards for a touchdown by Jonathan McKnight in the fourth quarter.

Joseph Randle added 123 yards on 23 carries and the Cowboys finished with 636 total yards, but just couldn’t seem to stay out of their own way.

“Way too many mistakes,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “It was poor coaching and poor playing. That’s a bad combination.”

Everything seemed to go right for Oklahoma State in its first game without stars Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon, leading to an absurdly easy 84-0 win over Savannah State.

Arizona had a much tougher start in its first

TUCSON: Arizona wide receiver Terrence Miller (18) runs against Oklahoma State linebacker Alex Elkins (37) during the first half of an NCAA college football game. — AP game under Rodriguez, needing overtime to pull out a victory over Toledo at home. That set up a showdown in the desert between familiar foes.

Oklahoma State had beaten Arizona the previous two seasons, in the 2010 Alamo Bowl and in Stillwater last year, by getting off to a fast start, outscoring the Wildcats by a combined score of 44-7 in the first half. It looked like a repeat on the way after Lunt marched the Cowboys through Arizona’s defense the first two drives, hitting Moore on touchdown passes of 9 and 30 yards to put Oklahoma State up 14-0. The game turned quickly when the Cowboys turned ugly.

Defensive tackle Calvin Barnett was called for consecutive personal fouls on one play, setting up Scott’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Richard Morrison. A fumble by Joseph Randle on the next drive, followed by a late-hit penalty on cornerback Broderick Brown, set up a 22-yard field goal by John Bonano.

A fourth personal foul by Oklahoma State in the half, on linebacker Shaun Lewis for hitting Scott as he slid, led to a third field goal by Bonano, a 24yarder. Carey added a 1-yard touchdown run - with a little help from teammates - late in the quarter to put Arizona up 23-14 at halftime.

Oklahoma State had nine penalties for 110 yards in the half and its last drive ended when Arizona’s Jared Tevis intercepted a tipped pass by

Drogba helps Ivory Coast to comeback win CAPE TOWN: Didier Drogba and former Chelsea team mate Salomon Kalou were among the goal scorers as the Ivory Coast twice came from behind to beat Senegal 4-2 in an African Nations Cup qualifier in Abidjan on Saturday.

Gervinho and Max Gradel scored the other goals to give the Ivorians a two-goal advantage ahead of next month’s return leg in the final round of preliminaries for the 2013 finals in South Africa.

Three-time winners Cameroon, however, face an uphill struggle to avoid missing out on qualification for a second successive tournament after they lost 2-0 to the Cape Verde Islands.

Nigeria, who also missed out last time, are wellplaced after drawing 2-2 at Liberia while Sudan completed a thrilling 5-3 win over neighbours Ethiopia.

Emmanuel Adebayor marked his first competitive game for Togo this year with a late equaliser in a 1-1 away draw with 2012 co-hosts Gabon.

Defending champions Zambia, Ghana, Mali and the Central African Republic were also winners in Saturday’s final round, first leg games, with five fixtures to be played on Sunday.

Senegal stunned the home crowd by taking a 32ndminute lead through Dame Ndoye before Kalou equalised soon after halftime.

Papiss Cisse restored Senegal’s advantage on the hour mark and the possibility of an upset against Africa’s top-ranked team loomed large.

Ivory Coast, however, scored three goals in 20 minutes to turn the match around with Gervinho equalising in the 65th minute, Drogba adding a penalty soon after and Gradel scoring the fourth with five minutes to play.

Drogba also had a late effort disallowed. Cameroon were without forward Samuel Eto’o, who is refusing to play for his country in protest against the team’s management. They face a tough task in the return leg of their tie after Portuguese-based Helton and Djanini scored in Praia for Cape Verde, who are now poised to qualify for the first time. —Reuters

Lunt at the Wildcats’ 29. “It’s undisciplined,” Gundy said. “It’s on the coaches and then it trickles down to the players. It’s bad football.” The second half opened the same way: Barnett was flagged for a late hit on the opening play and Arizona scored on a 13-yard screen pass from Scott to Carey for a 3014 lead. But the score seemed to snap the Cowboys out of their funk. Lunt hit Morgan for a 9-yard touchdown pass and the Cowboys kept marching on Arizona the next drive, setting up Jeremy Smith’s 10-yard touchdown run that cut Arizona’s lead to 30-28. It turned out to be their last gasp.

The Wildcats raced down the field on their next drive, setting up Scott’s 8-yard touchdown run up the middle. Lunt, facing pressure for one of the few times all game, threw up a weak pass early in the fourth quarter and McKnight picked it off for an easy touchdown. Oklahoma State was called for pass interference on the 2-point try - naturally and Arizona converted on the second attempt to go up 45-31. Carey sealed it with a 25-yard TD run up the middle and added a 1-yarder for good measure in the closing minutes to send the Zona Zoo into a frenzy and the Wildcats to a look-at-us win. “There’s some excited guys in the locker room and I’m proud of them,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a nice win, the guys played and made the plays when they needed to.” And with it should come some extra - and wanted - attention. — AP

Greece turns to local talent ATHENS: The days of high-profile foreign players joining Greek clubs are over due to the economic crisis and a new era of relying on domestic talent is taking over which is a welcome change for Super League president Giannis Moralis.

The majority of the country’s top flight teams are facing severe hardship as the knock-on effects of the financial crisis have left them in a daily battle for survival.

Super League clubs have almost halved their spending on player contracts this season with even bigger clubs such as AEK Athens and PAOK Thessaloniki making huge cuts to stay afloat.

Champions Olympiakos Pireaus, despite being backed by the financial clout of shipping magnate Vangelis Marinakis, have reduced spending on player contracts by 21.7 percent this term.

Their outlay of 18 million euros ($23.04 million) still dwarfs the spending of other Greek clubs, however, with Panathinaikos the second biggest spenders on 8.8 million with Keykra on the tightest budget of just 600,000 euros.

The financial situation is so acute that only the combined intervention of the Super League and the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) at the last moment helped to avoid the postponement of the start of the season on Aug. 25.

Moralis has the unenviable task of helping to lead the clubs out of the toughest year the league has faced but while he knows the problems are severe he also believes there is a clear chance for homegrown players to take centre stage and thrive. “The crisis has exacerbated the problems for all clubs but I am a firm believer that it has brought us opportunities and the basic and most interesting prospect for Greek football is that we can focus on

financial stability and the development of Greek players,” Moralis told Reuters in an interview.

“Certainly this is the most difficult year in the history of the Super League, but from our side we will continue to try to find the best solutions for all 16 teams.

Greek clubs have had to give younger players a chance, with the average age of Super League squads for the 2012/13 season at an all-time low of 23.9 years.

On the first weekend of the season, 66 percent of players were Greek compared with 50 percent last season, while there has been a 27 percent reduction in foreign players overall. For the first time since 1990, a match featured teams made up entirely of Greek players as financially-embattled Panionios played Aris Thessaloniki in their opening fixture.

But although the clubs face acute financial problems, the national team continues to thrive at all levels. Greece reached the Euro 2012 quarter-finals and the under-19s’ appearance in the European Championship final, where they lost narrowly to Spain, shows the potential.

“The national team at every level is not only healthy but is absolutely competitive with other European countries,” said Moralis “For such a small country with a population of only 11 million people, and with the economic and social problems we have faced, over the past decade Greece has achieved a lot.

“The Euro 2004 win, an appearance at the 2010 World Cup and the quarter-final place at Euro 2012 shows the talent is there.” Moralis said the days of overspending on high-profile foreign players like Rivaldo, Djibril Cisse, Gilberto Silva and Eidur Gudjohnsen are over which he welcomes. —Reuters

18

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Pistorius wins final track gold of Games LONDON: South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius brought the curtain down on a summer of thrills in the Olympic Stadium when he won the final Paralympic track gold medal with a dominant display in the men’s 400 metres on Saturday.

It was a happy ending for Pistorius who finished the Paralympic Games with an individual gold after failing to successfully defend the 100 and 200 titles he won in Beijing four years ago. He also won a gold medal in the 4x100 relay. Pistorius finished nearly four seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Blake Leeper who was followed home by David Prince of the United States, while Brazil’s Alan Oliveira, who beat the South African in the 200 this week, finished fourth.

“This whole month, this whole season, I’ve had a lot of challenges and I have a lot to thank my coach for,” Pistorius, who also competed in the London Olympics last month, told Channel Four television. “I’m so proud, this summer has been a dream come true and I couldn’t hope for anything better.

It’s my 11th time on this track and I

wanted to give the crowd something special that they could take home with them.”

Pistorius was the heavy favorite with a personal best more than five

he had been unsure how Oliveira would approach the race after the Brazilian slowed down in the final 100 metres of his heat.

“I didn’t know what sort of race

LONDON: Athletes compete during the men’s marathon T12 category at the 2012 Paralympics. —AP seconds quicker than the next fastest competitor and from the moment he built a commanding lead shortly after the halfway point the result was never in doubt.

The original “Blade Runner” said

Oliveira would run. He went out very fast in his heat and then jogged the last 100,” said the 25year-old of his rival, who tired towards the end. “It was a great race for me.”

Pistorius, who races wearing carbon fibre prosthetic blades after he was born without a fibula in both legs, was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics and reached the 400 semi-finals though he was disappointed not to make the final.

Things did not go smoothly in the Paralympics either with Pistorius suffering a first loss over 200 metres in nine years last Sunday before he questioned the legitimacy of winner Oliveira’s prosthetic blades. The comments sparked controversy though Pistorius was quick to express his regret, going on to describe 100 metres champion Jonnie Peacock of Britain as a “great Paralympic sprinter”.

But Saturday belonged to Pistorius, who praised the London Games chairman and twice Olympic gold medallist Sebastian Coe and organisers for a fantastic show. “Lord Coe and LOCOG have produced the most amazing Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has been the biggest highlight of my life,” said Pistorius, who has been the face of the Paralympics. —Reuters

Founder ‘would be proud’ — daughter LONDON: The Jewish neurologist who escaped Nazi Germany and later founded the Paralympic Games would have been proud to see the celebration of elite disability sport it is today, his daughter said yesterday.

Ludwig Guttmann set up a modest wheelchair sports tournament for World War II veterans at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in southern England in 1948. The popular event, repeated every year, eventually grew into the Paralympic Games.

Six decades later, Guttmann’s daughter Eva Loeffler said attitudes towards disability had come a long way since the first Stoke Mandeville Games-where she volunteered as a teenager-but there was room for improvement.

“I think that more people will realise that disabled people are people,” said the 79-year-old, who has dedicated much of her own life to promoting disability sport and is honorary mayor of the Paralympic Athletes’ Village.

“Seeing the Games-seeing what is achieved, seeing the reactions of the medallists, hearing them talk in interviews-must make a big difference.”

But she added: “It is 64 years and there jolly well ought to be advances.” Loeffler urged more countries to send teams to the Paralympics. “There are still 40 countries for us to catch up to the Olympic Games,” she said.

“In a lot of countries disabled people are either hidden away or have no equipment.” Guttmann and his family escaped from Germany in 1939, coming to England as refugees with the help of a charity.

He found work setting up the world’s first specialised spinal injuries clinic at Stoke Mandeville, where he pioneered the use of sport in therapy for disabled people.

He died in 1980.

The current Paralympics-which close late yesterdayare the first to be held in their spiritual birthplace of Great Britain since the inaugural event in Rome in 1960, although Stoke Mandeville did jointly host the Games with New York in 1984.

“Back then (in 1960), getting teams on to planes and off planes was quite horrific,” Loeffler recalled. “They were lifted using hoists.”

She added: “Even now in this country, where things have changed so much, it is very difficult for people in wheelchairs to get off trains at Stratford (east London, where the Paralympic Games are being held). “We are not there yet. There is a way to go.” —AFP

LONDON: Final medals table at the end of the 2012 Paralympic Games yesterday: China Russia Great Britain Ukraine Australia United States Brazil Germany Poland Netherlands Iran South Korea Italy Tunisia Cuba France Spain South Africa Ireland Canada New Zealand Nigeria Mexico Japan Belarus Algeria Azerbaijan Egypt Sweden Austria Thailand Finland Switzerland Hong Kong Norway Belgium Morocco

Gold Silver Bronze Total 95 71 65 231 36 38 28 102 34 43 43 120 32 24 28 84 32 23 30 85 31 29 38 98 21 14 8 43 18 26 22 66 14 13 9 36 10 10 19 39 10 7 7 24 9 9 9 27 9 8 11 28 9 5 5 19 9 5 3 17 8 19 18 45 8 18 16 42 8 12 9 29 8 3 5 16 7 15 9 31 6 7 4 17 6 5 2 13 6 4 11 21 5 5 6 16 5 2 3 10 4 6 9 19 4 5 3 12 4 4 7 15 4 4 4 12 4 3 6 13 4 2 2 8 4 1 1 6 3 6 4 13 3 3 6 12 3 2 3 8 3 1 3 7 3 0 3 6

Hungary 2 Serbia 2 Kenya 2 Slovakia 2 Czech Republic 1 Turkey 1 Greece 1 Israel 1 UAE 1 Latvia 1 Namibia 1 Romania 1 Denmark 1 Angola 1 Bosnia-Hercegovina 1 Chile 1 Fiji 1 Iceland 1 Jamaica 1 Macedonia 1 Croatia 0 Bulgaria 0 Iraq 0 Colombia 0 Argentina 0 Portugal 0 Taiwan 0 Malaysia 0 Singapore 0 Saudi Arabia 0 Cyprus 0 Ethiopia 0 India 0 Uzbekistan 0 Slovenia 0 Venezuela 0 Indonedia 0 Sri Lanka 0

6 3 2 1 6 5 3 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0

6 0 2 3 4 4 8 5 1 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 1 0 4 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1

14 5 6 6 11 10 12 8 3 2 2 2 5 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 3 3 2 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

Games has helped shift attitudes — organisers

LONDON: US athlete Shirley Reilly (right) sprints to win the women’s Marathon T54 race at the London 2012 Paralympic Games in central London yesterday. —AFP

‘Weirwolf’ wins marathon LONDON: Britain’s David Weir won the men’s wheelchair marathon for his fourth gold of the G ames, as the London Paralympic Games entered their final lap yesterday with a valedictory tour of the city’s streets.

In a triumphant finish for the host nation, Weir-dubbed “the Weir wolf ” claimed a clean sweep of four golds out of four races, completing the gruelling 42-kilometre (26.2-mile) course in 1hr 30min 20sec.. “I t ’s a dream come true,” the 33-yearold London Marathon veteran told Britain’s Channel 4 television after beating great rivals Marcel Hug, the “Swiss silver bullet ”, into silver and Kur t Fearnley of Australia into bronze.

“Obviously I dreamt about winning all my races but it was going to be a tough order. I really had to dig deep.” Weir, who

Paralympics medals table

was born with a severed spinal cord which left him unable to use his legs, won the T54 800m,

1,500m and 5,000m titles on the track. He also won the 800m and 1,500m middle - distance

LONDON: Great Britain’s David Weir celebrates after collecting his gold medal for winning the men’s Marathon T54 race at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. —AFP

double in Beijing. Shirley Reilly of the United States took the gold in the women’s wheelchair marathon, improving on the silver she won in the T54 5,000m and her bronze in the 1,500m.

Spain’s Alberto Suarez Laso earlier smashed his own world record as he won the men’s T12 marathon for visually impaired athletes, with thousands of people out on the streets of central London.

The 45-year-old said it was “incredible” to win the race, the first of four marathons to start and finish outside Buckingham Palace.

“This means the world to me,” Suarez Laso said. “A gold medal in the Paralympics-for me to be here, and on top of that to win, it’s amazing.” Tito Sena of Brazil won the T46 marathon for athletes with one injured or amputated arm. —AFP

LONDON: The London Paralympics has helped shatter social taboos and attitudes towards people with a disability, as well as giving a new, high-profile global platform to disabled spor t, organisers said yesterday.

“I really genuinely do think that we have had a seismic effect on shifting public attitudes,” London 2012 (LOCOG) chief Sebastian Coe told a news conference at Olympic Park in east London on the last day of the Games.

The Games have “shown the way to treat people with disabilities”, the former double Olympic 1,500m champion added, as the event had “defined ability over and above disability”.

“I don’t think people will ever see sport in the same way. I don’t think they will ever see disability in the same way. We have talked about what we can do rather than what we can’t do,” he told reporters.

Organisers had billed the Paralympics, which began on August 29, as the biggest and most high-profile since the first Games were held in Rome in 1960, with a record 4,200 athletes from more than 160 countries taking part.

Some 2.7 million tickets were sold and venues were packed, while in Britain at least, the competition has been covered extensively on television, radio, online and in newspapers.

A total of 251 world records were set in 207 events going into the final day, with stand-out performances, particularly those from the host nation, creating an unprecedented interest among the public. Overseas, the Games were broadcast to more than 100 countries -

although few broadcast it live preferring brief highlights packages - with events streamed live on the video-sharing website YouTube for the first time, LOCOG said. “ We have created new stars. We have inducted them in a way to the world of sport,” Coe added. “We all have friends who have texted and rung and emailed about some of the things they have witnessed in the Paralympic Games that have been some of the most spine-tingling moments of their viewing careers. “We set a goal to raise awareness. I really thing we have done that, not just in elite sport but in helping in a way to convert some of these extraordinary talents into household names.”

Coe and the president of the International Paralympic Committee, Philip Craven, both said that the challenge now was to maintain public interest in Paralympic sport between now and the next Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Craven said London had built on the success of the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008, where “the world started to take note of the Paralympic movement on a global level”.

But he said there was still more work to do, with a gulf between top nations in elite disabled sport and less developed countries lack ing funding, resources and infrastructure for people with disabilities.

“Paralympic sport is unique. Here it’s been on a global scale for everyone to see... We have to really concentrate on getting ever y countr y doing more Paralympic sport,” he added. —AFP

19

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

LONDON: Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium.—AFP

LONDON: A general view of the closing ceremony for the 2012 Paralympics Games yesterday in London. —AP

Coldplay, Rihanna and Jay-Z star in Games finale LONDON: Global superstars Coldplay, Rihanna and Jay-Z headlined the closing ceremony of the London Paralympic Games yesterday, in a celebratory concert rich in noise, color, machines-and fire.

The British super group provided the backdrop to a three-hour extravaganza interspersed with music and dance at the Olympic Stadium in east London, belting out hits including “Clocks”, “The Scientist” and “Yellow”. “Being asked to play at the

Paralympic Closing Ceremony in our home town is a huge honour,” said lead singer Chris Martin. “We can’t actually imagine a bigger honour. This will be the biggest night of our lives,” added Martin, who is married to US actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

The band, who have sold more than 50 million records worldwide, accepted a fee of £1 ($1.60, 1.25 euros) to headline the show.

They were to be joined by US rapper-producer Jay-Z and Barbados star Rihanna for a

festival-themed show watched by 80,000 spectators in the stadium and millions worldwide on television.

“Being at the Paralympics is the biggest honour,” said Rihanna. “These athletes are gladiators and are a true inspiration to me,” the “Umbrella” singer added.

Warriors on roller-skates, a cast of 1,336 volunteers from around the world and more than 50 drummers were also among the performers in a show with themes ranging from

military sacrifice to the changing seasons.

The next Paralympic hosts, Rio de Janeiro, were also set to provide a taste of 2016 with a colourful segment featuring “dance battles” between performers of different styles.

Roberta Marquez and Thiago Soares, both Brazilian stars of the British Royal Ballet, were to perform with a group of Brazilian visuallyimpaired dancers.

Outlandish vehicles also played a central role in the show, with trucks including a giant

O’Hanlon gives thanks for disability

Paralympics come of commercial age LONDON: With top athletes competing in front of sold-out stadiums and global television audiences in the millions, the Paralympic Games are starting to look a lot like their able-bodied equivalents and big business is right behind.

Although the money for TV rights, ticket sales and athletes’ earnings is not on a par with the Olympics, the rapidly growing profile of the Paralympics has made them a commercial opportunity in their own right.

And while it took the Olympics the best part of 90 years to evolve into the business they have become, the transformation of the Paralympics is much more swift.

“The media coverage has increased exponentially over the last 12 years,” said Greg Hartung, Vice President of the International Paralympic Committee, which organises the Games. “These Games seem to be breaking all records.”

Tickets have sold out for most events at the 14th Paralympics, held in London weeks after the Olympics, and organisers hope the sale of more than 2.7 million tickets will bring in close to 45 million pounds ($55 million).

While most of the tickets were available for 10 pounds or less compared to the hundreds of pounds charged for many seats at the Olympics, tickets were often given away in the past - if seats

could be filled at all.

A cumulative total of more than 4 billion people are expected to watch the London Games on television, compared to 3.8 billion for the 2008 Beijing games and 1.9 billion for Athens in 2004, the Paralympic committee said.

US network NBC is only covering highlights, but the criticism it has faced for limiting coverage itself points to the growing importance of the event.

The higher profile can also be seen in athletes’ earnings. ‘Blade Runner’ Oscar Pistorius, the South African face of the Games, can expect $2 million a year in endorsements from sponsors including Nike and BT, according to research from IMR sports marketing & sponsorship intelligence. That’s a lot less than the $20 million or so estimated for Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, but it’s more than many able-bodied athletes will get. Businesses sponsoring both the Olympics and Paralympics see some additional benefits in sponsoring the latter — and more than just from being able to put up their logos alongside running tracks and swimming pools.

“The Paralympics can bring an additional emotional connection, even over and above the incredible emotional connection that the Olympics delivers,” Mike Sharrock, of oil giant BP’s London 2012 partnership said. “It’s not about

selling more fuel. It’s a deeper, more values-based partnership.”

That could certainly serve the objectives of BP, still trying to rebuild its image and show a softer side two years after its Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

And the interest in the Paralympics is a far cry from the past. In Atlanta in 1996, workmen began dismantling the Olympic village as the Paralympians were still competing.

Much of the demand from companies seeking to associate themselves with the Paralympics came after the success of the London Olympics, said Martin Sorrell, chief executive of the world’s largest advertising group WPP. For the first time, the Paralympics also have their own major sponsor.

British supermarket Sainsbury paid 20 million pounds for the right, local media said. It did not sponsor the Olympics.

“What we’re seeing is a significant degree of warmth towards Sainsbury’s as the Paralympic sponsor, in particular from families,” Jat Sahota, Sainsbury’s head of sponsorship, said.

It is hard to break down exactly how much sponsorship the Paralympics gets because the organising committee does not give figures. The Locog local organisers signed around 700 million pounds in sponsorship for both the Olympics or Paralympics.—Reuters

dinosaur made of 25 old BMWs, a whale built from an old helicopter and a giant grasshopper wheeling around the stadium.

The ceremony kicked off with a procession of fire jugglers, a parade of drummers carrying blazing beacons while fireworks were to explode over the stadium in the final minutes, according to programme notes. A message was to be projected onto Britain’s Houses of Parliament, reading: “Thank you London, thank you UK.”—AFP

LONDON: Gold medalist Spain’s Alberto Suarez Laso holds up his medal after being presented it in the ceremony after winning the men’s marathon T12 category at the 2012 Paralympics.—AP

LONDON: Evan O’Hanlon cannot turn door handles or pick up coins with his left hand and struggles for stability in his left ankle, yet he can hurtle around the bend of an athletics track.

The Australian clinched 200 metres gold on Saturday and, in the process, setting a scintillating new world record, despite having limited feeling in the left hand side of his body after he suffered a stroke before his mother gave birth.

The 24 year old, who has cerebral palsy which affects movement, posture and coordination, is not complaining.

“Disability is probably the best thing that ever happened to me,” he told Reuters. “Sometimes I wonder if I could cut it as an able-bodied athlete.

“But then I look back and laugh because I wouldn’t have the opportunities I have now. “It’s opened so many doors to go and meet people. It’s how I met my girlfriend,” he said of Czech Republic race walker Zuzana Schindlerova, who competed at the 2008 Beijing Games and was in London to cheer him on. O’Hanlon was also in China where he won his first Olympic golds in the T38 class 100, 200 and 4 x 100 metre relay.

In London he defended both his 100 and 200 titles in the same bracket, described by O’Hanlon as the “most mild class” where there are no prosthetic legs or wheelchairs on display.

The time differences are significant though, the multiple world champion clocking 21.82 for victory at the sunbaked Olympic Stadium on Saturday, over two and a half seconds slower than the able-bodied men’s 200 metres world record.

O’Hanlon was just happy about his exploits, wagging his tongue in approval as he turned to see his time appear on the board to the left of the finish line.

“This is definitely the pinnacle of my career so far. I’ll see if I can top it, but I don’t think I can. I’ve got to figure out if there’s anything left to prove.” He also has to finish his university degree.—Reuters

Australia takes wheelchair rugby gold LONDON: Favorites Australia yesterday beat Canada to take the gold medal in the wheelchair rugby final, as the London Paralympics came to a close.

The Aussies’ star player Ryley Batt was in supreme form, scoring 37 points to take his overall tally to 160 from five tournament starts in a match where the Canadians had an uphill battle after ending the first quarter 18-11 down.

Australia won silver in Beijing four years ago behind the United States, whom Canada beat to get into the final. The US team took bronze after beating Japan in the third-place match.

A relieved Batt, who played at the Athens Paralympics in 2004 at the age of just 15, described the win as “third time lucky”-and a much sought-after improvement on second-place last time round.

“You can only go one better than silver and that’s a gold, and I know I’ve trained so hard over the last four years and so has the team to get to this point and it’s finally paid off,” the 23-year-old told reporters.

Batt said he was unaware of his remarkable scoring tally in the final and paid tribute to his team-mates.

“It’s fantastic to score goals of course but the work of the boys out there who

were screening for me-the low-pointers out there, the mid-pointers, high-pointersthey’ve all done a fantastic job, and they allow me to look good on court when they probably do all the work for me,” he added.

Canada’s Patrice Dagenais suggested that Saturday’s game against their north American rivals may have taken it out of them.

LONDON: Patrice Dagenais, centre, of Canada lies on his side as his team play Australia during their gold medal wheelchair rugby match at the 2012 Paralympics Games.—AP

“We had a tough game yesterday against the United States and we spent a lot of energy on that game. Today we came out maybe a little bit flat, but everyone on this team worked really hard and it’s a team effort,” the 28-year-old said.

“Obviously, we wanted gold but we got silver and we’re happy. It’s a lot of work to put in and to get a medal is totally worth it.”—AFP

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

LOCAL

Engineer Yasser Budastour explaining the work process.

A ready segment that will be used at the bridge on the Jahra road development project.

Works going on producing the segments.

Jahra Road Development project in full swing Journalists visit Precast Yard in Doha

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: The Jahra Road Development project that began in September 2010 has completed the first segments (46), prompting a press tour at the project’s Precast Yard located in Doha area, which was held yesterday. The project is expected to be finished by January 2016, with a total value of KD 260 million.

Journalists toured the entire site in order to learn about the current operations taking place in the 150,000 m2 facility and observe the advanced machinery and high-tech equipment being used to build the bridge segments.

The tour included visiting the steel and segment mould factory, in addition to concrete labs and the office of the staff, as well as receiving an overview of the ongoing operations and latest updates on the achievements of this project. These segments will form the

mainline viaduct and ramps. The tour was led by the Project Engineer of the Jahra Road Development, Yasser Budastour, who explained the different stages of the production process. “The project has been carried out by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), in cooperation with the Kuwaiti Arab contractor and the Arab contractor from Egypt. We invited the Kuwaiti press to the production facilities of Kuwait’s leading infrastructural venture, and one of the largest multileveled segmented road projects worldwide, and among those is the Precast bridge segment fabrication facility that has been fully utilized with highly innovative and pioneering machines and workshops,” he said.

On the tour of the production stations and the work in the yard, Budastour explained: “We have adopted the precast segment methodology, due to site constraints, therefore we’ve managed to

establish a fully utilized precast yard on a 150,000m2 remote area located in Doha district, from which we are able to fabricate, mould, reinforce, extract, stress and cure the concrete segments in a controlled environment that ensures the production of high quality segments.

Until needed and transported on low bed trucks for usage on site, the segments are well lined up and stacked in the storage chambers of the yard,” he added.

Engineer Yasser elaborated on the characteristics of the precast yard, stating that it comprises 5 major sectors, including the concrete plant, steel factory, mold production lines and curing chambers, in addition to staff offices, with 265 workers.

“Twenty-four segments have been produced, and 22 are under construction at this point. Also, the segment framework for the mainline viaduct is being

prepared and all the gantry cranes have been imported”.

Commenting further on the advantages of employing the precast method, the project engineer reiterated that precast segmented construction provides solutions to railroad bridge challenges that exceed project requirements, as it provides speed of production, both in casting of the segments and erection, along with the ability to build in a congested environment.

Moreover, he said that with production occurring off-site in a controlled environment, the quality of the precast bridge can be assured with regard to color consistency, meeting or exceeding strength requirements, thus building a bridge that requires little maintenance.

This construction method also provides an advantage in protecting sensitive public environments from disruption during construction.

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Fire Services Department announced that three fire fighting centers controlled the fire that broke out at one of the commercial markets in AlQurain yesterday. Col Khalid Al Amir Public Relations Director at the Fire Department said that no casualties were reported.

Kuwait to ease residence permit procedures KUWAIT: Foreigners in Kuwait will be able to renew their residence permits without the need to work for a mandatory three years for their sponsors.

The new rule is part of a series of measures taken by Kuwait to cancel the highly controversial sponsorship system.

In 2009, foreigners were allowed to change their residence permits without the consent of their sponsors but needed to work for their employers for at least three years. “The social affairs and labour ministry will give any employee the right to change the residence permit without the approval of the sponsor,” Jamal Al Dossari, the assistant undersecretary for the labour sector, was quoted as saying.

“The changeover will be allowed following evidence that the sponsor has refused without valid reasons to give the permission to change the permit.” He added that the ministry will also allow changing the residence permit without the three-year clause if the company is shut down or if its licence is passed on to another person through sale or inheritance. The sponsorship system binds the work and legal residence permits of foreigners to their employers, legally known as sponsors.

An expatriate worker cannot quit or change jobs or enter or leave Kuwait

without the explicit permission of the sponsor.

The system was introduced in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to regulate the relationship between employers and foreign workers, mainly unskilled labourers from Asia needed for the booming construction sector. It was eventually used as a routine practice for all foreigners, regardless of their positions. However, the system that gives immense powers to employers has waded into controversy and it has been likened by several officials, including a Bahraini former labour minister, to a modern-day form of slavery. The system economically fulfils the needs of the employers and gives them “immense control and unchecked leverage over workers”.

Socially, the system stresses the temporary presence of the expatriates in the country, even though thousands of foreigners have lived in the Gulf where they have been lured by the prospects of lucrative employment contracts.

In recent years, the GCC states have launched a series of reforms to amend or scrap the sponsorship system and to allow higher degrees of employment mobility and greater independence for host country entry and exit procedures.

various other humanity fields. Al-Barjas said that “a volunteer from KRCS is on board the Kuwaiti Air Force plane that is transporting the ambulances,” praising the efforts of Defense Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah for providing an aircraft to transport ambulances. In addition, he said that this donation will be made within the framework of social responsibilities that KRSC is keen to abide by, not only in Kuwait, but for the rest of the world.

Furthermore, Al-Barjas concluded by saying that KRCS will not hesitate to provide future aid and support to the Yemeni people. —KUNA

KUWAIT: A local Indian school has allowed a head-covered girl to register for next year after her father threatened to pursue legal action when officials demanded that his daughter takes off her headscarf in order to be enrolled.

The father of the 9-year-old Pakistani girl reportedly complained to the Private Education Department at the Ministry of Education, following which he was notified by the school’s administration that “the school follows a Christian approach that doesn’t accept hijab or other Islamic features”, according to sources familiar with the case.

The insider, who requested anonymity, further told Al-Rai daily that the Private Education Department “worked in resolving the issue quietly and quickly, before it became a subject of public debate”.

The girl’s father provided documents to ministry officers showing that his daughter had been studying in the same school in past school years, at which time she had not yet begun wearing a hijab. “In order to avoid legal procedures taken by the Private Education Department, the school issued a statement following a visit from a department representative in which they apologized for the incident, which they described as an individual action, and allowed the girl to go back to the school”, the source explained.

Meanwhile, President of the Kuwait Society for the Basic Principles of Human Rights, Dr. Yousuf Al-Saqar, revealed to Al-Rai that the society followed up on the case “until it was resolved after the ministry’s intervention”, adding that the society planned to send a letter to the school yesterday (Sunday) morning to assert “religious freedoms protected by the constitution of Kuwait”.

‘Needs of water distillation, electricity plant will be met’ KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water confirmed its commitment to ensure the needs of operating plants to generate electric power and water distillation to ensure continued safe operation with the required efficiency of energy production units.

Iyad Al-Falah, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Operation and Maintenance of Power Plants and Water Distillation in the Ministry, said in a press statement today that the sector is preparing studies and plans for the future, as well as the emergency plan in coordination with the various sectors of the Ministry and the concerned authorities in the country.

He said that the main task carried out by the sector is updating and activating the emergency plan to cope with potential accidents at stations and deal with them to ensure the safety of workers and equipment, in addition to the preparation and follow-up of annual maintenance programs for the production of electric power units and water distillation.

He pointed out that among the sector’s responsibility is continued coordination with the oil sector to ensure the requirements of the gaseous and liquid fuel to the stations and coordination with the security apparatus of installations to ensure the security stations in addition to the continuous coordination with concerned regulatory bodies to obtain the required approval for bidding and signing of contracts.—KUNA

‘Gulf Spears’ drill gets underway

KRCS sends ambulances to Yemeni Red Crescent KUWAIT: A Kuwaiti plane, loaded with two ambulances and provided with the latest devices and equipment headed to Sanaa for the Yemeni Red Crescent from Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base testerday, said Barjas Al-Barjas, Chairman of Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS).

Al-Barjas said in a statement that “the donation of these vehicles to Yemen is part of KRCS’ activities organized for aiding the Yemeni people,” praising the efforts of Kuwaitis that donated them. He added that this donation is part of the spirit of mutual work between both societies, stressing that there is a continuous cooperation in

Hijab-wearing student allowed in Indian school

KUWAIT: The Kuwait University is preparing to welcome students to a new academic year that begins next week. Students thronged the university building to make arrangements for the main day which will fall next week.

—Photo by Fouad Al-Shaikh

KUWAIT: Opening session of the first coordination meeting of military officers and personnel involved in the GCC Gulf Spears Drill (6) was held yesterday.

The coordinating meeting, scheduled to be hosted

by Kuwait from Sept 9 to 11, is organized within framework of the Peninsula Shield Drill.

The meeting was opened by Group Captain Dakheel Bani Al-Mutairi, Commander of Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base. He emphasized that Gulf Spears (6), carried out each year in one of the GCC countries, is aimed at raising level of the combat readiness of the air forces of GCC countries.

The meeting was attended by officers of the air forces of the GCC member states, in addition to a delegation from GCC General Secretariat. —KUNA

Paula surges ahead at Kingsmill

15

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Contador bags Tour of Spain

16

Villa back as Spain begins bid for fourth major title

Page 17

OAKLAND: Andre Ward (left) punches Chad Dawson during the sixth round of a WBA/WBC super middleweight championship boxing match.—AP

Ward KOs Dawson in 10th round Klitschko stops Charr to retain WBC title OAKLAND: Andre Ward knocked out Chad Dawson with his third knockdown punch of the night in the 10th round to defend his WBC-WBA super middleweight titles Saturday night and delight his hometown crowd. Ward (26-0, 14 KOs) knocked down Dawson (31-2, 17 KOs) late in the third round and early in the fourth to take control of the fight and finished him off with a combination at 2:45 of the 10th.

Dawson, the WBC light heavyweight champion, moved down a weight class from 175 pounds to 168 to take on Ward.

Dawson was also willing to fight in Ward’s hometown of Oakland, where an enthusiastic crowd had previously cheered Ward on to four wins.

But Dawson proved to be no match for Ward, who punished the challenger repeatedly with his strong left hand. Ward, the reigning fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, ran through a strong field in the Super Six super middleweight tournament, capping it with a decision over Carl Froch in December that made him the undisputed champion of the weight class.

Ward also is the last American to win an

Olympic gold medal, doing it in Athens in 2004, and is widely considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.

He showed why against Dawson. But this may have been one of his most impressive bouts. While both fighters are supremely talented and have accomplished careers, they are not known for knockouts or showy fights. Dawson’s last knockout came in 2007, while Ward had not had one since beating Shelby Pudwill in 2009.

The fight started that way with both fighters feeling each other out rather than punching in the first round. Dawson got a cut over his right eye in the second round and then things really heated up in the third, with both fighters opening up.

In the final minute of the round, Ward floored Dawson with a hard left hand.

Dawson staggered around for the finish of the round and then got knocked down again by a left hook early in the fourth to the delight of the fans who were pleading for a knockout.

Ward was in control the rest of the way, landing 155 power punches to just 29 for Dawson, according to Compubox. He finished Dawson off with a vicious combina-

tion in the 10th round.

Dawson rebounded from his only career loss in 2010 to Jean Pascal to beat Bernard Hopkins in a unanimous decision in April to become champion once again.

After winning that, he called for a bout with Ward and was willing to go on the road and down in weight to get that chance. It didn’t pay off.

In the co-feature earlier in the night, WBC lightweight titleholder Antonio DeMarco (28-2-1, 21 KOs) of Mexico beat John Molina Jr. (24-2, 19 KOs) by technical knockout in the first round.

Among the celebrities on hand for the fight were career hit king Pete Rose, Los Angeles Dodgers star Matt Kemp, Lakers forward Metta World Peace, and boxer Shane Mosley.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Vitaly Klitschko retained his WBC world heavyweight title on Saturday when the referee stopped the contest against Manuel Charr in the fourth round after the German sustained a deep cut above his right eye.

The 41-year-old Klitschko controlled the fight in the first three rounds, keeping his previously undefeated opponent at bay

with his left jab. The 27-year-old challenger tried to fight back before suffering a gash over his right eye.

With blood pouring down Charr’s face, referee Guido Cavalleri ended the fight with less than a minute left in round four after consulting the ring’s doctor.

Charr, who had a 21-0 record with 11 knockouts coming into the fight, was furious at the decision, kicking and punching at the ropes. He challenged the Ukrainian to continue before being restrained by his trainers, with the pro-Klitschko crowd at Moscow’s Olympic indoor arena booing and whistling at the German.

Klitschko, who won a unanimous points decision against Britain’s Dereck Chisora in February, improved his record to 45-2 with 40 knockouts.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t manage to win the fight with a real knockout,” he told Russian television. “Sadly, it was the doctor’s decision. We both wanted to continue the fight.”

Klitschko has held the WBC title since 2004 with his younger brother Vladimir holding the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight belts.—Agencies

Djokovic and Murray in US Open title showdown NEW YORK: Defending champion Novak Djokovic swept into his third consecutive US Open final, setting up a title showdown with Britain’s Andy Murray, with a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win over Spain’s David Ferrer yesterday. Ferrer had led 5-2 in the first set overnight when the semi-final was sus-

pended due to violent storms which battered New York, but Djokovic thrived under clear blue skies on Sunday, allowing the Spaniard just eight more games.

The victory gave the second seed a place in his third Grand Slam final of the season, a year-leading 60th win and

NEW YORK: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns a shot to Spain’s David Ferrer during a semifinal match at the 2012 US Open tennis tournament.—AP

extended his winning run at hardcourt majors to 27 matches.

Djokovic will be aiming for a sixth major in Monday’s final while third-seed Murray, who trails the Serb 8-6 in career meetings, is bidding to become Britain’s first men’s Grand Slam champion since Fred Perry in 1936. Victory by the Serb in the championship match would mean 30 out of the last 31 majors have been won by either Djokovic, Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal.

“We were all praying for less wind today. It was brutal and he handled it better than I did yesterday but I came into today a different player,” said Djokovic.

“It’s a huge relief to get through. David is a great competitor and I have a lot of respect for him. He’s one of the fittest guys on tour.” The final will be the fifth successive year that poor weather has forced the men’s title match to be played today.

“Against Andy, there will be no clear favourite. He’s going for a first Grand Slam and will be very motivated. Hopefully we will both come up with our best tennis,” said Djokovic after making a fourth final in

New York. Ferrer, hoping to take advantage of playing at a semi-final stage at a major that wasn’t featuring either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2004, admitted the Serb was a worthy winner.

“He was better. In some games in the third and the fourth sets I lost a little bit of my focus, but I think he deserved to win the match,” said the Spaniard.

Ferrer quickly wrapped up the opening set on Sunday’s resumption before Djokovic, who hadn’t dropped a set in the tournament, made the fourth seed pay, racing into a 5-0 lead in the second, even saving three break points in the fifth game in the process.

Ferrer, playing in his second US Open semi-final and bidding to make the final at a major at the 40th attempt, saved three set points in the seventh game before the champion levelled the semi-final.

The world number two, who had been unsettled by Saturday’s storm-filled skies, broke in the opening game of the third set as the faster, hotter conditions played into his hands.—AFP

MONZA: McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Formula One GP. —AP

Hamilton wins at Monza MONZA: McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton added the Italian Grand Prix to his list of Formula One victories yesterday while Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso stretched his overall championship lead to 37 points with third place. Mexican driver Sergio Perez denied Alonso second place, overtaking the Spaniard seven laps from the finish in his Ferrari-powered Sauber in Ferrari’s backyard.

Hamilton’s third win of the season, and 20th of his career, lifted the 2008 champion to second in the overall standings with seven races remaining.

Alonso has 179 points, Hamilton 142 and Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen 141. “It’s been fantastic to win here. I’m just so happy for my team, it’s been a fantastic day,” said Hamilton, who had added the Italian flag colours to his helmet for a race at one of Formula One’s most historic and evocative circuits.

“Fernando is a two-time world champion so I’m very happy for him too,” he said of his former McLaren team mate after McLaren’s third win in a row.

Champions Red Bull had a nightmare afternoon in the sunshine with both Sebastian Vettel, the reigning champion, and Australian Mark Webber retiring late in the race while in scoring positions.

Vettel, who had been Alonso’s closest rival in the standings before the start, retired six laps from the finish and slipped to fourth overall with 140

points. The German had already taken a drive-through penalty after pushing Alonso wide on to the gravel and grass as the Spaniard tried to overtake out of the first Lesmo curve. “Okay, that’s enough now,” Alonso said over the team radio.

McLaren’s Jenson Button, winner in Belgium last weekend and runner-up in Monza for the past three years, pulled over on to the grass along the pit straight and retired on the 33rd of the 53 laps while in second place. While Hamilton celebrated his first victory at Monza, the big winner was Alonso who got the loudest cheer of the afternoon when he appeared on a podium suspended over the track and above a red sea of fans roaring their support and unfurling a giant Ferrari shield.

The Spaniard, who failed to score in Belgium after being shunted out at the first corner, had started 10th after a mechanical problem had denied him a likely pole in Saturday’s qualifying. “It was a difficult race, starting from 10th, but we knew we had maybe the quickest car this weekend,” said a beaming Alonso, who also addressed the crowd in Italian to another explosion of approval after being interviewed on the podium by former Ferrari champion Niki Lauda.

“A perfect Sunday because the win was out of reach...it’s much better than expected.” —Reuters

Egypt’s PM to put economic focus on growth, deficit cut Page 22

Putin rules out trade war with EU over Gazprom Page 25

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

Troika meets Greek leaders on austerity

The legendary G 63 AMG roars into Mercedes-Benz Kuwait Page 26

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VLADIVOSTOK: APEC leaders pose for the family photo at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Russia’s far eastern port city Vladivostok yesterday.—AFP

APEC pledges growth, fret over economy Russia, US look to Asia to kick-start growth VLADIVOSTOK: Asia-Pacific nations including China, the United States and Japan promised measures to boost growth yesterday and rejected limits on food exports to try to revive the flagging global economy. Countries on the Pacific Rim ended a two-day summit on an island off the Russian port city of Vladivostok by expressing concern about the state of the world economy, global food security and growing signs of protectionism.

The 21 members of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group agreed to slash import duties on “green technology”, take steps to bolster growth and liberalize trade to counter problems heightened by Europe’s debt crisis.

“The financial markets remain fragile, while high public deficits and debts in some advanced economies are creating strong headwinds to economic recovery globally. The events in Europe are adversely affecting growth in the region,” they said.

“In such circumstances, we are resolved to work collectively to support growth and foster financial stability, and restore confidence.” APEC, which also groups Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada and South Korea, makes decisions by consensus and its moves are not binding. But its influence is growing as Europe’s declines.

It accounts for 40 percent of the world’s

population, 54 percent of its economic output and 44 percent of its trade. In the United States, China and Japan, it has the world’s three largest economies.

Despite concern about Europe’s debt problems, APEC welcomed European leaders’ attempts to resolve the crisis.

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde, who arrived for the last day of the summit, also signalled support for a European Central Bank plan to staunch the crisis with unlimited bond purchases.

She expressed an interest in the IMF playing a role in the design and monitoring of the ECB plan, under which the central bank would stand ready to buy sovereign debt with maturities of up to three years in return for a bailout deal.

“There’s a general sense that the world economy is a little fragile ... but there’s confidence that we can get through this,” New Zealand Prime Minister John Key told reporters.

The Pacific-Rim countries agreed this must not be done through protectionism.

Despite a drought that has hit crops in the United States and Russia, which are global wheat suppliers, they ruled out limiting food exports and underlined the importance of open markets to ensure reliable food supplies.

They also endorsed a list of 54 environ-

mental goods on which import duties will be reduced to no more than 5 percent by 2015, including equipment for renewable energy, waste treatment and environmental monitoring.

Putin used the summit to grandstand four months after returning to the Kremlin and less than a month after Moscow joined the World Trade Organization ( W TO).

Underlining Russia’s growing status as a wheat supplier, he said Russia would ramp up grain production and more than double exports by 2020.

Russia and the United States are both looking to Asia, where economic growth is relatively strong, in a pivotal turn to boost their economies following the 2008-9 global financial crisis. “It is absolutely clear that the most important region for economic growth this decade - and probably the next decade - will be the Pacific,” said Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Hosting the summit on an island linked to the mainland by a spectacular new $1billion bridge, a symbol of Moscow’s decision to look east, Putin has advertised his vast country at the summit as a gateway for Asia to European markets.

Chinese President Hu Jintao promised that his country, Asia’s dominant economic force, would rebalance its economy to secure stable and robust growth after a slowdown that has hit the entire region. In

ASRY sales boost from German exhibition

Chris Potter HAMBURG: ASRY, the leading rig and ship repair yard in the Arabian Gulf, has seen sales activity increase due to its participation in the SMM Hamburg (Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Exhibition), one of the largest international marine trade fairs in the world.

Now in its 25th year, the exhibition attracted record numbers as approximately 50,000 marine professionals attended over the 4-day event.

“With nearly every major customer gathered together in one place,” commented ASRY Chief Executive Chris Potter, “SMM is an ideal opportunity to showcase the yard’s capabilities,

ASRY at SMM exhibition, Hamburg. which also translated into several confirmed bookings and new business leads. 2012 has seen demand steadily growing, and the exhibition has contributed to a strong finish to the year.”

ASRY’s $188m expansion, now in its final phase, was showcased at the event which was held at the Hamburg Congress Convention Centre. ASRY’s

stand, designed

by Venus International, sported the recently updated brand and attracted a global crowd. The event is one of the largest gatherings of the marine industry, and this year boasted 90,00sq m of hall space, filled with 2,000 exhibitors from 60 different countries and 30 national pavilions.

a sign of Russia’s intent, state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom signed an agreement with Japan to develop plans for a $7 billion liquefied natural gas plant on Russia’s Pacific coast.

For his part, Hu spelled out a plan to pump $157 billion into infrastructure investments in agriculture, energy, railways and roads in China.

Businessmen who met on Vladivostok’s Russky Island before the summit welcomed Hu’s plan. Others, such as Scott Price, CEO and president of Walmart Asia, said China still offered huge upside potential despite its slowing growth. “When a car stops going at 100 miles an hour and only goes 69, it ’s still going pretty fast. A Chinese economy growing at 7.5 percent is still a very attractive market,” he said.

Despite pledging to “build bridges, not walls” to trade and investment, China and Russia have also been challenged by Europe over trade practices it regards as limiting free competition. Europe is investigating whether Gazprom’s pricing policies are fair but Putin ruled out any talk of a trade war with Europe. Cooperation in APEC is hindered by territorial and other disputes among some members. Hu and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met briefly on the sidelines of the summit but details of the talks were not immediately available. — Reuters

Iran in ‘economic war’, sees currency plunge TEHRAN: Iran’s currency yesterday slid to a new record low against the dollar, with the central bank saying it was trying to manage the plunge amid an “economic war with the world.” Street traders were exchanging one dollar for more than 24,000 Iranian rials, according to specialized websites giving real-time rates.

That was a plunge of some five percent over Saturday’s rate and around 10 percent since last Wednesday, when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad admitted on state television that Western sanctions were causing “problems” in exporting oil and international financial transactions.

The latest street rate was nearly double the fixed, official rate of 12,260 rials that the government reserved for its agencies and a few privileged businesses.

Iran’s rial has lost around half its value this year. It plummeted in January after the European Union and United States announced draconian sanctions that came into effect in July.

Although authorities have in recent months intervened to stop the slide- even briefly at one point trying to impose a cap on the rate-the rial has returned to shedding value.

The depreciation has added to inflation, which the central bank puts at 23.5 percent but which outside observers say is much higher. Food and imported goods have become much more costly.

Market uncertainty has been exacerbated by bellicose rhetoric from Israel, the Middle East’s sole though undeclared nuclear weapons state, which has threatened air strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“The central bank cannot systematically lower the exchange rate, but we have attempted to control it,” Central Bank chief Mahmoud Bahmani told reporters, the ISNA news agency reported.— AFP

UAE markets rally as volumes surge MIDEAST STOCK MARKET DUBAI: Bourses in the United Arab Emirates rallied in heavy trade yesterday as end-of-week gains on world markets boosted local investor sentiment.

Dubai’s index rose 1 percent, breaking out of an eight-session sideways trend and closing above a resistance level at 1,570 points. Daily trading volumes were the highest since July 18.

Investor participation was expected to rise this month as investors returned from their summer holidays, while UAE markets are catching up with gains in world shares. US stocks rose on Friday as anaemic American jobs growth fuelled investor bets the Federal Reserve would launch another round of monetary stimulus for the world’s biggest economy.

The Fed starts a two-day policy meeting on Wednesday and markets will keenly await the US central bank’s statement on Thursday and a media briefing by Chairman Ben Bernanke. “We have outperformed emerging markets and I think at this point in time there are two catalysts we will react to - the global growth outlook and local quarterly results,” said Ali Adou, portfolio manager at The National Investor.

Dubai Bellwether Emaar Properties added 1.8 percent, Deyaar Development gained 3.3 percent and mortgage lender Tamweel climbed 4.1 percent. “We have seen a recovery in the UAE’s real estate market and especially in Emaar and that has impacted the market positively,” Adou added.

In Abu Dhabi, Sorouh Real Estate jumped 5.4 percent and Aldar Properties added 1.6 percent.

Banks also advanced, with First Gulf Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi rising 1.7 and 4.4 percent respectively.Abu Dhabi’s index climbed 1 percent, its biggest daily rise since March 12.

In Saudi Arabia, the index fell 0.1 percent as investors cashed in Saturday’s gains in the bank and petrochemical sectors. Al Rajhi Bank slipped 0.3 percent, Samba Financial Group dropped 1.7 percent and Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) eased 0.3 percent.

The bank sector reported strong lending and deposit growth earlier this year, but this will likely slow in the second-half of 2012.

“We’re expecting H2 to be weaker than H1 due to moderation in lending - we saw some already happened in Q2,” said Asim Bukhtiar, head of research at Riyad Capital. “What is positive for banks is the continued strength of the (stock) exchange. The higher stock turnover, commissions and bank fees should help their numbers for the second-half.”

Shares in Kingdom Holding surged 6.1 percent in heavy trade to close at their highest level since September 2008. Investors have been speculating on the stock in recent sessions.

In Qatar, the benchmark slipped 0.1 percent, trading in a sideways trend since the end of August.

Oman’s index rose 0.6 percent, closing at its highest close since July 2. Regional and foreign investor interest has picked up in Muscat’s bluechips. —Reuters

22

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

BUSINESS

Egypt’s PM to put economic focus on growth, deficit cut

By Hayder Tawfik

Govt targets 7% growth in 4 years CAIRO: Egypt’s new prime minister said yesterday he was finalizing an economic reform plan that would rein in hefty subsidies and said the economy is expected to grow in the current financial year by 3 to 4 percent or more if investment goals are achieved. Hisham Kandil told Reuters in a rare interview that the government aims to cut the budget deficit, now running at about 8 percent of gross domestic product, by 1 percentage point in two years although he said that target was “dynamic”.

Egypt has been on the ropes since foreign investors and tourists, two vital cash streams, fled after the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak last year. The revolt gave Egypt its first freely elected president, Mohamed Morsi, who appointed Kandil in July.

Once a darling of frontier market investors with growth of about 7 percent a year, the economy has sputtered along, growing just 2 percent in the financial year that ended in June.

Determined to draw in investors who want to see hefty cuts in fuel subsidies and other reforms, Kandil’s cabinet also has to sell economic restructuring to Egypt’s 83 million people, many in dire poverty and desperate to see the benefits of the revolt.

“For this year, we hope that we will get around 3 to 4 percent (growth) and after that we will jump to 4, and then 4-5, and hopefully in a few years we will come to 7 percent,” the 49-year-old said, adding Egypt could hit 7 percent in four years.

Kandil said his government was finalizing its economic reform program and the draft would be reviewed next week with President Mursi, Egypt’s first civilian president who was propelled to power by the once banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Kandil said the government wants to make fuel and other subsidies more targeted and a coupon or smart card system to ensure the poor, rather than everyone, received subsidized butane cooking gas was expected to start in October.

ernment to shore up its finances after foreign reserves plunged to about $15 billion, about half their level before the revolt. Responding to investor concerns that the Egyptian pound could be devalued, Kandil said the central bank was managing the currency in a flexible way but said investors should not delay. “So investors should not wait for the pound to devalue. This is not going to happen soon. So now is the right time to get into the market,” Kandil said, echoing comments made by the president to Reuters last month.

Meanwhile Kandil said the government needed to boost revenues as well as cut spending through more targeted subsidies, by casting the tax net wider.

“We need to look at our taxation system so it covers more people, not necessarily that we tax more. But it would be better to tax more people,” he said. “We’ll try to get them into the formal economy, and we will do that very soon.” —Reuters

There will also be cuts to gasoline subsidies in the coming months, he said, adding that these measures were part of efforts to reduce the budget deficit by 1 percentage point in the next two years, although he said targets would depend on what the population could tolerate.

“Those targets are dynamic. We have to look at what kind of support we will get and how the people will react to these measures,” he said. “I am sure many of them will react positively, but of course we might have some difficulty so it will be a flexible thing too.”

He said that after the president had reviewed the reform plans, there would be a public consultation about the program. “Hopefully by the beginning of October we will open this for discussion.

That also stands true for the IMF program,” he said.

He was referring to a request for a $4.8 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, part of a bid by the gov-

Dubai firm Al-Habtoor eyes $1.6bn in 2013 IPO DUBAI: The Al-Habtoor Group, a family-owned Dubai conglomerate, plans to raise as much as $1.6 billion through an initial public offering on the Nasdaq Dubai bourse next year, in a move likely to boost moribund equity markets in the region. The company, whose portfolio spans the hospitality, construction, education and automotive sectors, plans to issue new shares worth 25 percent of its capital as part of the listing, Khalaf Al-Habtoor, chairman of the group, told Reuters.

It has hired Grant Thornton as financial adviser for the planned IPO. The Dubai-based company is one of the UAE’s biggest family businesses and a stock market float from the group is seen adding momentum to local equity markets which have struggled to attract new companies since the global financial crisis.

Market volatility and a reluctance among retail investors, burnt by the collapse in stock prices in the crisis, have been cited as factors behind the

lack of new public offerings. The last listing on the Dubai benchmark was Drake & Scull in March 2009, while the Abu Dhabi index has only seen a couple of minor sales since 2008.

The family firm plans to use proceeds from the listing to expand its businesses and acquire properties globally. “We will use some of the funds for our plans to acquire hotels in London and Paris,” Khalaf AlHabtoor, the chairman of Al-Habtoor Group told Reuters.

“The funds would be used mainly for our expansion plans. We are also looking to enter into hospitals.” He said the listing is expected to be completed before October next year.

Al-Habtoor, which also holds a 27.5 percent stake in a joint-venture construction firm with Australia’s Leighton Group , said they would issue 25 percent additional shares that would help raise between 5 billion to 6 billion dirhams ($1.6 billion).

That would give the company a valuation of $6.4 billion. Developer

Emaar Properties, Dubai’s largest listed firm, is valued at $5.5 billion, according to Reuters data.

Its venture with Leighton will not be part of the IPO as the company is a minority shareholder in the partnership. Al-Habtoor is considering simultaneously listing in London and Saudi Arabia, the chairman said. “We are looking for investors in the region. Nasdaq Dubai needs a strong family company to be with them. We are also looking at London and maybe Saudi Arabia.”

Al-Habtoor operates in local and international markets, and employ over 40,000 people.

Earlier this year, the firm unveiled plans to develop a new $1.3 billion hotel and entertainment complex in Dubai, despite a property collapse that has seen prices plunge from a 2008 peak.

The group expects revenues to rise 15 percent this year after 10 percent growth between 2010 and 2011. —Reuters

France plots tax hikes up to $26bn: Report PARIS: French President Francois Hollande could outline 20 billion euros ($26 billion) in tax hikes and may lower the country’s growth forecast for 2013 to a maximum of 1 percent when he speaks on national television yesterday evening, a French newspaper said.

Weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche said Hollande’s government had finalized the “budgetary effort” required as France tries to hit its public deficit target of 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) next year or risk losing investors’ trust. The budget will be presented at a Sept. 28

cabinet meeting, pushed back by two days to allow for Hollande’s trip to the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York and is expected to be the most austere budget in 30 years.

Hollande said last week that by holding state spending steady next year in nominal terms, excluding debt ser vicing and pension payments, his government would save 10 billion euros in inflation-adjusted terms. However, that would amount to just one third of the more than 30 billion euros in savings which Hollande says are needed to hit next year ’s deficit target and stay on

course to balance the budget by the end of his five-year mandate.

With his government refusing to cut staffing levels, the bulk of the adjustment will have to come from t a x r i s e s. Th e i n c re a s e i n t a xe s would be “between 15 to 20 billion euros,” the paper said citing an unidentified source. It added the rises would target firms, wealthy households and savings. Hollande may also lower the 2013 growth forecast to a maximum of 1 percent if it is finalized ahead of the television interview at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), the paper said. —Reuters

Multinational firms invading emerging markets

BEIJING: A man holds Chinese currency 100 yuan note and bags of groceries as he shopped at a market along a Hutong alley in Beijing yesterday. —AP

KUWAIT: There has been a lot of talk about how and when the emerging economies will cause a shift from the rich economies to the emerging markets. This argument is hardly a new one. However, over the last few years, there has been a dramatic shift, which is taking a new shape. This is where the global multinationals have been focusing their new growth strategies. For the past decades, emerging economies lead by China have been taking the lion’s share of the world manufacturing production and exports, thanks mainly to undervalued currencies and very low labor cost.

Emerging economies already produce more than half of the world’s exports.

This volume of exports boom has lead to wealth creation for those emerging manufacturing economies.

The latest news from some of the big multinational companies indicates that there is a healthy shift in the emerging economies towards import from the west.

This is a big change since the last decade, when their import from the rich nations was hardly noticed.

These rapid growths in the emerging economies purchasing power have been boosting the profits of companies in the developed world. Over the last few years, the financial crisis has accelerated the shift in the global economic power towards the emerging economies. Fast growth in incomes and hence spending power has increased their appetite for foreign goods. Imports by emerging markets have grown much faster than those in the developed markets.

Trade between emerging markets has been faster than the developed economies. This has lead to trade in both directions which enriched further their purchasing power. The US and Germany have between them exported more than ever to the emerging economies, in particular China, Brazil and India. Multinational companies in the US and Germany have benefited the most out of this export boom. In the early years most of the emerging economies imports were advanced machinery and equipment so they could build new factories and improve their outdated infrastructure.

These patterns of imports have changed recently a lot.

Consumer spending in the emerging economies has been rising rapidly, mostly in the retail sector.

Overall, they have been contributing to the world retail spending. According to latest published figures, consumers in the emerging economies are buying half of the cars produced by multinational companies in the developed countries. Also, they account for over 25% of the world mobile phone sales. If China’s economic growth continues then it will overtake the US as the world’s biggest importer in the next few years. Looking ahead, emerging markets could produce half of the revenues of some of the multinational companies.

Consumers’ appetite for forging goods in the emerging economies will keep those multinationals, which already have set their future growth strategy on those consumers. Indeed, they will be very busy for years to come.

CBK 2011-2012 report issued KUWAIT: The Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) issued its 40th annual report, covering the year 20112012.

CBK Governor Dr Mohammad Yousef Al-Hashel said yesterday the report includes all data of the bank ’s general budget, profit, losses for the fiscal year ending in March 31, 2012 and the auditors’ report approving said data. He noted the report also includes a summarized review of the major monetar y policy changes and

developments regarding monetary and banking indices and also changes in exchange rates, credit bank ing, local interest rates, aggregate budget of local banks and that of local investment firms.

The report reviews the major CBK supervisory measures and instructions and its banking operations in 2011-2012, as well as steps and efforts to modernize its infrastructure and its technology component, as well as efforts and activities aiming to improve staff

capabilities and performance.

This is in addition to follow up on implementation of projects and steps listed as part of the medium-term development plan covering the period 2010-2014.

These projects are of a continuous nature and are linked to the overall institutional goals, the governor said.

A copy of the report is accessible through the CBK’s official website, www. cbk.gov.kw, Al-Hashel said. —KUNA

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

US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian dollars Danish Kroner Swedish Kroner Australian dlr Hong Kong dlr Singapore dlr Japanese yen Indian Rs/KD Sri Lanka rupee Pakistan rupee Bangladesh taka UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi Riyal/KD Omani riyals Philippine Peso

.2740000 .4470000 .3570000 .2950000 .2850000 .2900000 .0040000 .0020000 .0762570 .7429510 .3870000 .0720000 .7283310 .0430000

.2860000 .4540000 .3600000 .3020000 .2930000 .2980000 .0067500 .0035000 .0770240 .7504180 .4100000 .0780000 .7356510 .0510000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES .2809000 .2830000 .4497630 .4531250 .3599870 .3626790 .2073750 .2995980 .2870570 .2892030 .0483190 .0486800 .0425870 .0429050 .2917010 .2938810 .0362180 .0364880 .2272840 .2289830 .0035890 .0036160 .0000000 .0051400 .0000000 .0021440 .0000000 .0029990 .0000000 .0034750 .0765080 .0770800 .7453890 .7509620 .0000000 .4002830 .0749270 .0754870 .7298950 .7353510 .0000000 .0068660

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 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

3.710 291.900 554.100 46.000 49.500 167.800 48.480 355.400 37.060 5.360 0.032 0.161 0.235 3.700 399.840 0.191 93.430 44.600 4.340 232.900 1.828 49.700 732.890 3.080 6.950 78.040 75.330 229.520 36.430 2.687 455.500 43.600 302.000 4.300 9.420 198.263 76.930 282.500 1.360 GOLD

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar

SELL CASH 296.600 750.350

SELL DRAFT 295.100 750.350

10 Tola 1,897.890

Sterling Pound US Dollar

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 453.500 282.100

3.443 290.400

229.500 46.317 363.900 36.910 5.090 0.031

399.800 0.190 93.430 3.200 231.400

732.710 2.987 6.750 77.610 75.330 229.520 36.430 2.128 453.500 300.500 4.300 9.270 76.830 282.100

UAE Exchange Centre WLL COUNTRY 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

SELL DRAFT 297.59 292.99 303.45 364.74 281.70 454.72 3.68 3.452 5.083 2.131 3.190 2.982 76.76 750.07 46.25 401.33 733.15 77.79 75.33

SELL CASH 295.00 294.00 302.00 364.00 282.50 455.00 3.63 3.560 5.325 2.310 3.550 3.150 77.40 750.00 48.40 399.50 736.00 78.00 75.65

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro 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

Selling Rate 282.350 289.783 448.796 355.568 296.226 747.514 76.852 77.502 75.258 398.014 46.362 2.132 5.091 2.976 3.451 6.736 692.609 4.599 9.071 4.379 3.264 90.008

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency Rate per 1000 (Tran) US Dollar 282.100 Pak Rupees 2.977 Indian Rupees 5.102 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.135 Bangladesh Taka 3.445 Philippines Peso 6.770 UAE Dirhams 76.900 Saudi Riyals 75.380 Bahraini Dinars 749.900 Egyptian Pounds 46.305 Pound Sterling 457.100 Indonesian Rupiah 2.990 Yemeni Riyal 1.550 Euro 367.300 Canadian Dollars 294.200 Nepali rupee 3.200

Al Mulla Exchange Currency 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

Transfer Rate (Per 1000) 282.200 360.400 453.950 290.000 3.620 5.095 46.335 2.133 3.445 6.760 2.985 751.400 76.920 75.420

*Rates are subject to change

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

BUSINESS Commodity update

Commodities higher as bad news become good news for risk

By Ole S Hansen

ommodities were generally higher and the dollar fell following the two major risk events; first the ECB and then the monthly US unemployment report. While the ECB delivered what was expected in terms of new initiatives to keep funding markets open to troubled economies the US jobs report was weaker than expected, once again proving that bad news is good news for the market as it helps raise expectations that additional stimulus will be announced at the US Federal Open Market Committee meeting on September 13.

The broad-based DJ-UBS commodity index reached the highest level since March as gains were recorded in both metal groups and energy. The agriculture sector ran into some selling, primarily driven by coffee and sugar, which both reached the lowest levels in two years.

Copper one of the surprise performers hit the highest level since May on raised hopes that additional stimulus will help growth and demand. Gasoline was another winner as the recent hurricane Isaac helped trigger a drop in US inventories to a 33-month low as some refineries along the Gulf Coast had been forced to shut down production temporarily.

C

Crude oil looking for driver The confirmation of the ECB bond buying program and weak US jobs report helped stocks to rally but had limited impact on both WTI and Brent crude oil as they continued to be range-bound with traders reluctant to take prices much higher at this stage as the possibility of a release from Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) continues to linger. A stubbornly high price for US gasoline, which is trading close to the highest level of the year, is unnerving the US administration and it was reported that a meeting with oil experts had been held as it considers a release, potentially much larger than the one seen following the war in Libya in 2011.

Near-term price risk Brent crude has now spent one month confined in a range between 111.65 USD/barrel defined by its -day moving average and resistance at 116.60 USD/barrel.

The failure to move higher in recent weeks, despite stimulus speculation and a weaker dollar, combined with slowing momentum, leaves the near-term risk skewed to the downside, not least considering the amount of speculative buying that has been witnessed in recent weeks. A great amount of investors in recently established new speculative longs will have to reconsider their positions on a move below the 200day moving average.

The option market is also pointing towards a greater need to protect downside risk with out-themoney (OTM) put volatility being almost four percent costlier than OTM calls, after having seen a rise of five percent during the last week.

Copper jumps Sentiment in the depressed industrial metal markets has improved with copper reaching the highest level in almost four months on a combination of supporting news which could help improve demand and lower levels of available stock. Hopes that Europe will begin to recover following the newest initiative from the ECB and China’s approval of a multi-billion dollar infrastructure program drove the market higher. This was the kind of news that the depressed sector had been looking for and speculative traders have been busy reducing the gross short position which has remained elevated since May. Gold and silver higher Gold continued to build on its recent strength and rose to a six-month high above 1700 USD/oz.as additional quantitative easing in the US moved a step closer following the weak jobs report. Silver as usual jumped the most and also reached the highest level since March and its 18 percent rally during the last month makes it the best performing commodity during this period.

With positive momentum now back after several months of sideways trading we have seen hedge funds and other leveraged investors jumping back into gold and silver. In just two weeks the net long position in gold has risen by 40 percent and for now these new longs are comfortable in the money and therefore do not pose any near-term threat of long liquidation, especially as long as the 200-day moving average at 1,641 USD/barrel is not threatened. Options traders had up until the ECB meeting been paying up for call volatility, but as we head into next week’s FOMC meeting put volatility has seen most of the bidding, which indicates some near-term nervousness about a potential correction following the strong push higher.

Attention in grain markets has switched to September 12 whenthe United States Department of Agriculture will release its monthly World Agriculture Supply and Demand estimates (WASDE). During the week we saw the price of soybeans come under mild selling pressure after having made a new record high as recent rainfall over the US Midwest has improved harvest prospects.

Wheat prices initially held back following news that US exports were struggling to compete with those of Russian origin but the market remains unconvinced that Russia will be able to continue to export throughout this marketing year, following a drought this summer which has resulted in a lower grain production this year compared with 2010, when export restrictions were implemented, something Russia has said will not happen this year.

The price of corn has just like that of soybeans eased off recently but there have been no major attempts on support at 7.85 USD/bushel. The WASDE report is expected to show a further cut in 2012/13 production compared with the USDA’s August estimates and this continues to apply upside pressure on prices in order to ensure enough rationing to preserve global stock levels.— Ole S Hansen, Head of Commodity

Troika meets Greek leaders on austerity Athens to convince team to secure $39.9bn ATHENS: Greece’s international creditors were pressing the government yesterday to wrap up a new austerity plan to ensure the debt-crippled country stays afloat and in the euro-zone.

Auditors from the so-called troika of the EU, IMF and European Central Bank have been in Greece since Friday to determine whether Athens has done enough to secure the release of a vital 31.5 billion euro ($39.9 billion) loan tranche.

They are due to go through the Greek proposals with Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras at a meeting from 1300 GMT, and meet Prime Minister Antonis Samaris today. A favorable assessment from the auditors could also determine whether Athens wins extra time to make spending cuts in return for the badly needed loans.

Athens has to finalize a new austerity program within days to save 11.5 billion euros in 2013 and 2014 but is pleading for “breathing space”, arguing that cutting spending too much too fast will only further depress the economy.

A deeper than expected recession has made it even harder to meet the agreed targets and ordinary Greeks are voicing outrage at the prospect of further cuts in wages, pensions and other public expenditure. The auditors are reviewing Greece’s efforts to cut its huge deficit and adopt reforms needed to help improve its economic competitiveness as agreed as part of its 130-billion-euro bailout package.

The new measures reportedly include a

ATHENS: European Central Bank representative Klaus Masuch (left) arrives for a meeting with the Greek finance minister at the Ministry of Finance in Athens yesterday. Chief auditors of international lenders are to arrive in debt-wracked Greece Friday on a crucial mission which will decide if Athens gets extra time to implement tough austerity in exchange for desperately needed loans. — AFP 3.5-billion-euro slash to pensions, health cuts worth 1.47 billion euros and a 517-million-euro reduction to defense.

Key state staff paid under so-called “special salary schemes”-a group that includes police, firefighters, clerics, diplomats, judges and the military are also facing an

average pay cut of 12 percent, according to media reports. “The key is that the government restore its credibility... and implement the necessary structural reforms,” EU President Herman Van Rompuy was quoted as telling To Vima newspaper yesterday.

Greece’s conservative Prime Minister

Antonis Samaras is due to meet his leftwing coalition partners at 1600 GMT to discuss the austerity measures, which have caused tensions in the government. “Our priority is a positive report from the troika,” Samaris said on Saturday. “The resistance of Greeks has reached its limit, which means we need a recovery as soon as possible.” He has warned that time is pressing, with economic growth forecast to shrink by seven percent this year, and a quarter of the workforce now without jobs. Thousands of Greeks took to the streets of the northern city of Thessaloniki on Saturday in protest at the new spending cuts, with one banner bluntly declaring: “The Greek people can’t take any more.” Violence was reported in one area, where police were pelted with projectiles and responded with volleys of tear gas and stun grenades before charging the demonstrators.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of European powerhouse Germany has insisted that she wants Greece to stay in the euro despite its economic woes. “I want to say very clearly... that Greece is part of the euro-zone and I want Greece to remain part of the eurozone. This guides all our discussions,” Merkel said at a joint news conference with Samaras last month.

Der Spiegel reported in its edition due to appear today that Merkel and her advisors fear a Greek exit would trigger a domino effect akin to what followed the 2008 collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers. — AFP

Euro-zone enters dangerous week PARIS: The euro-zone enters a dangerous week, strewn with potential landmines, in a somewhat more optimistic mood after investors welcomed a European Central Bank plan to prevent a breakup of the single currency. German judges, Dutch voters, IMF inspectors and Brussels regulators could all spring surprises that make it harder to resolve a sovereign debt crisis which is almost three years old and weighing on the world economy. Wednesday is the main day to watch.

Germany’s constitutional court rules then on the legality of the euro-zone’s permanent financial rescue fund, the European Commission unveils detailed plans for a euro zone banking union, and the Netherlands holds a cliff hanger general election.

Then European finance ministers meet in Cyprus from Friday to try to thrash out differences over banking supervision and possible extra aid for Spain, the zone’s fourth biggest economy, and Greece, the problem country that first triggered the crisis. Decisions on Spain and Greece are not likely until October, but the talks may point to whether Madrid will apply for European assistance, at the risk of unpalatable conditions and supervision, and whether EU and IMF inspectors are leaning towards allowing a vital aid instalment to keep Athens afloat. Europe has been holding its breath for two months for the German court ruling, a potential show-stopper.

All 20 legal experts polled by Reuters expect the judges to let the European Stability Mechanism and a European fiscal discipline pact go ahead, but most expect them to add tough conditions for future bailouts. That could potentially tie Chancellor Angela Merkel’s hands or, at the least, make her backing for bailouts politically even more difficult given a public backlash against last week’s ECB decision to buy the bonds of vulnerable states. If the court were to rule against the ESM, it would have a devastating effect on bond and currency markets, pushing the 17nation currency zone deeper into turmoil by casting doubt on future rescues of heavilyindebted southern member states.

But if as expected it gives a green light, it may set out caveats that scare investors and complicate crisis-management.

Among strings the judges may attach are giving parliament a power of veto over each future aid disbursement or declaring a limit to German liability for other euro zone countries’ debts. “I think the Constitutional Court will let both treaties pass,” said Kai von Lewinski at Berlin’s Humboldt University, adding that it

might insist on attaching a “clarifying sentence that German liability has to be limited”.

A quarter of the public and constitutional law professors surveyed expect the court to say that European integration has reached the limits permitted by Germany’s Basic Law and any deeper union would require an unprecedented referendum on a new constitution.

For months, it looked as if the Dutch election could end in paralysis or throw up a government in thrall to hard-left or far-right euroskeptics, making any parliamentary backing for future euro-zone bailouts well nigh impossible. But latest opinion polls show the centre-right Liberals of caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the centre-left Labor party pulling ahead neck-and-neck, with support for leftist and anti-immigration populist parties fading, suggesting a pro-European coalition may emerge.

Even so, it may takes months of negotiation before this increasingly skeptical founder member of the European Union has a fully empowered government, casting doubt on its ability to agree to any early steps towards closer euro-zone integration. “Irrespective of the outcome of the Dutch election, anti-austerity sentiment and bailout-phobia in Holland is likely to become more pronounced,” said Nicholas Spiro, managing director of fixed income consultancy Spiro Sovereign Strategy.

A fierce battle has already begun over proposals for a single banking supervisor based at the ECB and a future bank resolution system which European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso will outline to the European Parliament. Germany, keen to preserve its politically sensitive regional Landesbanken and savings banks from outside control, insists the ECB should supervise only the top 25 systemic cross-border banks and leave the rest to national regulators.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has said the ECB cannot realistically oversee all 6,000 banks in the euro area something of a red herring since the real issue is the 200 banks that hold about 95 percent of banking assets, according to the Bruegel think-tank. However, crises have spread from institutions such as Britain’s Northern Rock and Spain’s Bankia which had appeared to pose little threat to the wider banking system.The Commission and the ECB therefore want the new supervisor to have ultimate authority over all lenders, even if it delegates to national watchdogs. Bankers tend to agree.—Reuters

Lagarde: IMF wants role in ECB bond-buying plan VLADIVOSTOK: The International Monetary Fund wants a role in the “design and monitoring” of a new European Central Bank sovereign bond-buying scheme, the IMF chief said yesterday.

“We are keen to help, we’re always ready to respond to members’ demands,” managing director Christine Lagarde said after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Russia’s Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok.

“Clearly when we get involved, we want to be involved in the design and monitoring of programs,” she told reporters. “We don’t particularly want to do monitoring without having participated actively in the design.” The ECB last week announced a massive sovereign bond buy-up program designed to avert a breakup of the European monetary union amid an escalating debt crisis.

ECB chief Mario Draghi said the central bank would intervene on the secondary market to buy unlimited volumes of bonds with maturities of up to three years, in an effort to pull down struggling governments’ borrowing rates. Vowing to “do whatever it takes” to keep the euro-zone together, Draghi said he would seek the IMF’s involvement in setting country-specific conditions for the program, as well as help in monitoring. — AFP

VLADIVOSTOK: International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde attends the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Russia’s far eastern port city Vladivostok yesterday. — AFP

HUAIBEI: People buy chicken at a market in Huaibei, in eastern China’s Anhui province yesterday. China’s consumer price inflation accelerated slightly in August amid higher costs for food, official data showed but producer prices continued to fall amid the country’s slowing economic growth. — AFP

China slowdown deepens as output weakens BEIJING: China’s industrial output growth weakened in August to its slowest pace in more than three years, official figures showed yesterday, confirming a deepening slowdown in the world’s second-biggest economy.

Production increased just 8.9 percent yearon-year last month, the National Bureau of Statistics announced-the lowest result since a similar rise of 8.9 percent in the depths of the global economic crisis in May 2009.

China’s economy has seen a marked easing over the past year, expanding 7.6 percent in the second quarter of 2012, the worst performance in three years and the sixth straight quarter of easing.

The latest gloomy readings come as export-reliant nations feel the pinch from collapsing demand caused by the long-running debt crisis gripping Europe and the stuttering recovery in the United States. China’s August output figure “says clearly that growth was weakened further,” Lu Ting, China economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said in a report.

Also yesterday, the statistics bureau announced that China’s inflation rate accelerated slightly in August amid higher costs for food, potentially limiting the government’s ability to enact fresh monetary stimulus measures. Consumer prices rose 2.0 percent year-on-year as food prices increased 3.4 percent. Inflation stood at 1.8 percent in July.

Chinese authorities have taken steps this year to stimulate growth by cutting interest rates twice in quick succession and slashing the amount of funds banks must keep in

reserve as ways to increase lending. Analysts have been expecting further monetary loosening to fire growth, though the slight rise in inflation makes another decrease in interest rates less of an option because of the inflationary risks they pose.

“The likelihood of a cut is now clearly smaller than last month,” IHS Global Insight economists Ren Xianfang and Alistair Thornton said in a report, emphasizing that higher consumer prices make it harder to “absorb the inflationary pressure” of monetary stimulus.

Their report said the government was more likely to favor other tools such as fiscal stimulus, to help boost the economy. State media reported Friday that China had approved a huge infrastructure package worth more than 1.0 trillion yuan ($158 billion), involving 55 infrastructure projects ranging from subway lines to highways.

China carried out a huge 4.0 trillion yuan fiscal stimulus package in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008. The statistics bureau also said yesterday that urban fixed asset investments a key measure of government spending on infrastructure-rose 20.2 percent in the first eight months of 2012 compared with the same period the year before. The figure for the first seven months until July was 20.4 percent.

Retail sales, China’s main gauge of consumer spending, were 13.2 percent higher in August year-on-year, the bureau said, marginally better than the 13.1 percent increase recorded in July. — AFP

IMF backs Draghi; says Spain, Italy have done enough VLADIVOSTOK: The International Monetary Fund yesterday strongly backed the European Central Bank’s plan to staunch the euro-zone debt crisis with unlimited bond purchases, saying it was ready to get involved in designing and monitoring its implementation.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde also said large, debt-strapped euro zone countries Spain and Italy had taken enough action to repair their finances to merit aid from the rest of the European currency union. But, amid pressure on Madrid to request a full European bailout, Lagarde left open the scale of the IMF’s possible involvement in ECB head Mario Draghi’s plan, which was approved by the central bank’s policy making council on Thursday.

Under the Draghi plan, the ECB would stand ready to buy any amounts of sovereign debt with a term of up to three years, thereby ensuring a government’s access to funding, in return for a bailout deal with tight strings attached.

“What the central bank has announced last Thursday is a clear indication of the framework in which it would be an active player in restoring the situation in the euro zone,” Lagarde told reporters in the Russian port city of Vladivostok after an Asia-Pacific summit.

“Our sense is that now the euro partners know exactly what they have to do. As far as the IMF is concerned, we shall certainly be ready to help and to assist in the design and monitoring of eventual programs.”

Economic headwinds from Europe have slowed growth in the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which accounts for over half of world economic output and whose leaders held a two-day summit.

Lagarde backed a new, $158-billion Chinese infrastructure spending offensive, saying it was important that countries running external surpluses make their contribution to supporting global growth. A possible aggravation of the euro crisis, failure by the United States to resolve the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ and the vulnerability of emerging market economies posed the three main risks to the world economy, she added. The exact scale and nature of the IMF’s involvement in the ECB’s bond-buying plan - including whether it might deploy its balance sheet - is not yet clear.

But Lagarde showed sympathy with southern Europe as it struggles to escape a debt trap, and little understanding for concerns in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, that bond buying would debase the euro and drive up inflation.—Reuters

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

business

Markets price in German ESM backing; risks likely LONDON: Financial market prices suggest investors expect Germany’s constitutional court to back the new euro-zone bailout fund this week, meaning that any glitch could unleash sharp moves in stocks, bonds and the euro. Legal experts polled by Reuters unanimously predicted the court would throw out an attempt to block the European Stability Mechanism when it rules on Wednesday, though many expected it to impose far-reaching conditions.

Rejection of the ESM, a 700 billion euro fund, would hit policymakers’ efforts to defuse the three-year-old euro zone debt crisis and ensure the survival of the common currency.

Analysts said a ruling in favor of the ESM was priced in, meaning the big risk was of a rejection.

Geoff Kendrick, a currency strategist at Nomura, gave a 95 percent likelihood of a positive outcome for the markets when the court decides on euroskeptics’ complaints.

However, he added: “If it goes badly it would be a disaster.”

Markets have been buoyed by a plan detailed last week for the European Central Bank to buy potentially unlimited amounts of bonds of struggling euro zone countries. But the ECB would step in only if a state sought help from the bloc’s rescue funds and accepted strict conditions.

German euroskeptics argue that treaties covering the ESM and a fiscal compact undermine parliament’s constitutional right to decide on budget matters and could expose the country to unlimited liabilities.

If the court accepted their arguments and the ESM were blocked, the euro-zone might lack the resources for future rescues, especially of big countries such as Spain and Italy.

Euro-zone shares traded at six-month highs on Friday, Spanish 10-year bond yields fell below 6 percent for the first time since May and the euro hit its highest level against the

dollar also since May, reflecting both the ECB’s plan and renewed expectations of more monetary stimulus from the Federal Reserve after grim US jobs data.

Significantly, implied volatilities - a measure of expected price moves - on both the euro and European shares , fell further after dropping sharply on Thursday.

Kendrick said the euro would rise modestly in response to a positive outcome but fall sharply if it were negative.

“There’s a 95 percent probability that it will go well and the euro will go up 20 points, and a 5 percent probability it goes badly and the euro will fall by five big figures,” he said.

A 20 point rise would keep the euro just above $1.28, while a five big figure fall would push it to around $1.23, a level last seen around mid August.

Fund managers, who typically adopt long-term investment strategies, were not changing their positioning or expecting any major upset from the court. “Maybe the German constitutional court will have objections but we’re expecting some sort of conditional approval,” said Michiel Van Cranenburgh, a director at Paris-based Neuflize Private Assets, which manages around 3.5 billion euros chiefly invested in European equities.

“Whatever happens on Sept. 12 can throw some sand in the wheels but it won’t necessarily stop the rally. That’s why we remain pretty much exposed right now, with long positions on the material and energy sectors, which are positioned to benefit from a higher inflation environment in the long term.” Neuflize had pared its bets on falls in the Euro STOXX 50 and S&P 500 since June to capture the ECB-fuelled equity rally, but Van Cranenburgh said the firm’s fund managers were ready to take a more defensive positioning if the macroeconomic scenario deteriorated again. —Reuters

Dollar plunges against all major counterparts NBK MONEY MARKETS REPORT KUWAIT: Major currencies witnessed a volatile week, as new plans from the European Central Bank increased risk appetite in the FX markets, causing a massive rally for the Euro. Moreover, following Ben Bernanke’s speech at Jackson Hole, markets lacked a sense of direction, as disappointing employment figures in the US triggered a huge sell off of the greenback, pushing the Fed’s quantitative easing program closer to materialization, while awaiting the European Central Bank’s plan to refute the regions continuous debt crisis.

The US dollar witnessed a rough week, as Ben Bernanke’s speech at Jackson Hole last week confirmed the Federal Reserves’ willingness to introduce more stimuli, should the economic situation in the US deteriorate further. This in turn pushed the greenback lower against its European counterpart. The Euro opened the week higher at 1.2580, falling towards the middle of the week to a low of 1.2502, as the German bund auction suffered a technical failure. The single currency then rose to 1.2650 ahead of the ECB rate decision. As the benchmark interest rate was left unchanged, ECB president Draghi thrilled the markets with his new bond-buying plan, sparking a huge rally that continued to the end of the week, supported by bad US economic data. The euro closed the week at 1.2815. The Sterling Pound followed suit, opening the week at 1.5867, gradually dropping on Wednesday to a low of 1.5826.

Cable then recouped its losses to surge to a 4-month high of 1.6034, only to close at 1.6012. Across the continent, the Japanese yen witnessed immense swings towards the end of the week. The JPY opened at 78.40, surging to a high of 79.03. The Japanese Yen then recouped its losses against the USD, after poor employment data from the US dwarfed the greenback against its major counterparts. The Australian dollar opened the week at 1.0285, and fell to a low of 1.0167. The Aussie then rallied against the US dollar, to reach a high of 1.0398, before closing at 1.0389. The Swiss franc witnessed a relatively calm week, opening at 0.9549, reaching a high of 0.9581. The Franc followed the Japanese Yens’ path, gaining against the USD to touch a low of 0.9435, finally ending the week at 0.9449.

ISM Non-Manufacturing PMI Service industry in the United States expanded last month at a faster pace than forecasted, signaling some hope for the world’s biggest economy as it lost momentum in the first half of the year. The Institute for Supply Management’s non-manufacturing index surged to a three-month high of 53.7 from July’s figure of 52.6. As the number above 50 signals expansion, the index surpassed the expected 52.5. A continuous hike in the services industries will make-up for three straight months of contraction, and will create more jobs.

Fewer Americans have filed for unemployment benefits from last weeks’ seven-month low, a sign that the labor market is taking less time to gain traction, and easing concerns that it may weaken in the second half of the year.

Applications for jobless benefits decreased last week by 12,000 claims to 365,000, against market expectations of a drop to 370,000. The decrease in claims indicates that employers are limiting firings as demand warrants holding on to current workers, helping support consumer spending, the biggest part of the US economy. Moreover, weak hiring and unemployment exceeding 8% pose a “grave concern,” Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke said last week at Jackson Hole, making a case for further monetary easing.

Unemployment rate US payrolls rose less than economists forecasted, and the unemployment rate declined, due to more Americans leaving the labor force, indicating that the US labor market is stagnating. The US economy added 96,000 jobs, failing to beat the expected 125,000, following last months’ revised number of 141,000. The disappointing figure has confirmed Chairman Bernanke’s “grave concern” over the labor market, setting the stage for the Federal Reserve to pump additional money into the slow-moving economy.

The unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 8.1% from 8.3% in July, against market expectations. However, the reduced unemployment rate is likely more about increased despair among job seekers than increased hires.

The employment picture further diminishes expectations for aggregate energy demand and gasoline, in particular, which looks to undercut the recent price rally in the very short-term.

Draghi’s gets ECB Backing The European Central Bank President, Mario Draghi, announced his plan to safeguard the single currency.

Draghi has unveiled details of a new bond-buying program aimed at easing the regions debt crisis. The President of the ECB have said that the central bank will engage in “Outright Monetary Transactions,” or “OMT’s,” to address “severe distortions” in government bond markets based on

“unfounded fears.” The ECB will engage in unlimited bond buying at the short end, if the peripheral government requests a bailout program. The OMT program will be open ended, and the liquidity created by it will be fully sterilized and will focus on buying bonds with maturities of between one and three years. Strict conditionality of the EFSF/ESM program has to be adhered, for the governing council could suspend the program for a member state in case of non-compliance. Mario Draghi is hoping that the ECB intervention in the bond markets will help reduce the borrowing costs of debt-laden countries such as Spain and Italy and lessen the likelihood of them needing to ask for a full sovereign bailout, an eventuality that could bankrupt the euro-zone and cause the collapse of the euro.

Moreover, the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, showed no rush on Thursday to seek a bailout that come with harsh conditions for the troubled country under a new European Central Bank plan to bring relief to struggling euro-zone members. Spanish bonds rallied with the 2-year yield falling by below 3% and 10-year inching towards 6% after the ECB’s press conference, the first time since May 25.

On the other hand, the head of the German Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann, has criticized the program

saying he regards such purchases as being synonymous to financing governments by printing bank notes. The Central Banker has added, “This will further undermine confidence in the political leaders’ crisis-resolution capability.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a tight-lipped reaction, reiterating that the “ECB acts within its independence and within its mandate and is responsible for the stability of the currency, the value of the currency, and to take the appropriate decisions.”

German factory orders German factory orders rose more than forecasted in July, due to a solid increase in domestic contracts. The rise in turn boosted hopes that domestic demand will prop up Europe’s biggest economy during the euro-zone crisis. The index of factory orders came out at 0.5% on the month, beating economist expectations of 0.3%, significantly higher than the previous months’ figure at -1.7%.

German industrial production unexpectedly rose in July, adding to signs that Europe’s largest economy is withstanding the regions debt crisis. Industrial Production rose 1.3%, after a 0.4% drop in June. The index surpassed economists’ expectations of an unchanged figure. This indicates that the economy is making a good start for the quarter of the year, coming in October.

Unchanged bank rate The Bank of England left its monetary policy unchanged on Thursday, as Britain is creeping out of recession and hopes are running high for a sweeping move by the European Central Bank to ease the euro-zone crisis. Since the BoE’s Monetary Policy Committee met last month, official data has shown that Britain’s economy is pulling itself out of recession after three quarters of contraction, though the road to recovery still remains an uneven one. The BoE made no change to the asset purchase program, which consists of buying 50 billion Pounds of British government bonds, which will take its total purchases to 375 billion pounds by November. The Bank of England also kept its interest rate unchanged at the record low of 0.5%, in line with economists’ expectations.

Kuwait Kuwaiti dinar at 0.28145 The USDKWD opened at 0.28145 yesterday morning.

Germany keeps up austerity drive after ECB help BERLIN: Germany’s finance minister warned yesterday that debt-laden euro-zone states must stick to promised reforms and cuts despite last week’s offer of help from the European Central Bank that calmed markets. In a wide-ranging interview with the Bild am Sonntag weekly, Wolfgang Schaeuble also expressed confidence that Germany’s top court would not shoot down the euro-zone’s proposed new rescue fund on Wednesday.

“It would be a grave mistake to interpret the ECB decision incorrectly as meaning that (reform) efforts can now be slackened. The opposite is true,” said Schaeuble. “The problems of the euro-zone can only be tackled where they are at the moment: in the member states,” he added, pointing to the need to cut public deficits and boost competitiveness. In a decision that sent markets booming, ECB President Mario Draghi announced Thursday the bank would buy unlimited amounts of the bonds of struggling countries to bring down their soaring borrowing costs. While Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted the ECB was acting within its mandate, several politicians and media in Germany slammed the decision as providing a “blank cheque” to profligate euro countries.

The head of the powerful German central bank, Jens Weidmann, put out a statement shortly after Draghi’s announcement to express his reservations, although his was the only “dissenting view.” Schaeuble also said he was not concerned by a closely watched ruling by Germany’s Constitutional Court on legal challenges to the ESM bailout fund and the EU’s fiscal pact for greater budgetary discipline.

“When we set up the ESM, we checked carefully that it did not break the Constitution,” Schaeuble said.

“And one should not forget that the Constitutional Court has never judged that the course of European integration has contravened the constitution,” added the minister. In a ruling that will be watched nervously by the financial markets, the court will on Wednesday rule on the validity of a series of legal complaints against the ESM, which has delayed the 500-billion-euro fund coming into force. — AFP

Spaniards see European rescue as inevitable: Poll MADRID: The vast majority of Spaniards believe it is inevitable the country will be rescued by the European Union as their confidence in the government continues to slide, according to a poll published yesterday. Seventy-two percent of those questioned by polling agency Metroscopia thought Spain would be rescued by the EU, up from 62 percent who believed the same a month ago.

Spain fell back into recession at the end of last year and is contemplating a European rescue package to bring its financing costs down and help it meet its budget deficit target.

Having already agreed to European aid for its banks, Madrid says it is in no hurry to seek further help, but it will discuss conditions attached to the European Central Bank’s new bond-buying program with euro-zone finance ministers this week.

Despite the economic problems, the poll showed strong support for the euro, with 70 percent saying Spain should keep the single European currency and only 21 percent saying it should return to the peseta. The poll showed a fall in support for Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy with 73 percent saying they did not think he was doing a good job.

It showed that 84 percent of people had little confidence in Rajoy, with even 59 percent of voters of his People’ Party (PP) saying the same.

However, the poll showed a slight improvement to 30.9 percent of voters who said they would vote for the PP in an election, up from 30 percent the previous month. That is down though from 44.6 percent when it won the general election last November. —Reuters

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

BUSINESS

Russia, Japan to move ahead on LNG project VLADIVOSTOK: Russia and Japan are putting energy cooperation ahead of a longstanding territorial dispute as they move ahead with a longawaited liquefied natural gas project in this far eastern seaport.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda oversaw the signing of a memorandum for the $13 billion project with Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy on Saturday, on the sidelines of a Pacific Rim summit, Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom said.

The project “will have a great meaning for developing the eastern part of the Unified Gas Supply System of Russia as well as raising Russian gas supplies to Asia-Pacific markets including Japan,” Alexei Miller, Gazprom’s chairman, said in a statement. “I would like to emphasize that the Japanese market has an advantageous size and is

considered a top priority in the Far East,” Miller said.

Japan used 83 million tons of LNG in 2011, accounting for 14 percent of its total energy use.

Almost all the natural gas Japan uses is in the form of LNG. Gazprom is the world’s largest producer of gas, but its pipeline gas business has been hard hit by sliding demand for gas while competing liquefied natural gas carried by ship has flooded European markets. Gazprom relies on pipelines and long-term pricing agreements.

Miller forecast that Gazprom’s exports of natural gas to the Asia-Pacific would soon exceed the volume sold to Europe. “Taking into account the dynamics of the growth of gas demand in the AsiaPacific region, now the decisions will be considerably accelerated,” Miller said.

Japan and Russia appear to be making at least

some headway on their tussle over islands north of Japan claimed by both sides. Deputy ministers are to meet later this fall to discuss the issue with the aim of eventually signing a peace treaty, officials said Saturday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which is holding its annual summit in Vladivostok.

The two sides agreed to ban crab poaching in the Sea of Okhotsk and signed an agreement on building a timber processing factory in Siberia.

Meanwhile, Noda and Putin agreed to arrange a visit by the Japanese leader to Russia by December, said a senior Japanese official who briefed journalists about the talks.

The two sides want to resolve their differences in a “quiet and constructive atmosphere,” the official cited Noda as saying. Gazprom and its partners have conducted a feasibility study on transmission

and marketing of natural gas and chemical products in the Asia-Pacific region.

Japan Far East Gas Co., the consortium participating in the government-backed project, includes Itochu Corp., Japan Petroleum Exploration Co, Marubeni Corp, Inpex Corp and Itochu Oil Exploration Co. Gazprom plans to extend a natural gas pipeline from Sakhalin to Vladivostok to a seaside terminal where the gas would be processed for shipment to Japan and other markets. The new project, if completed, would have a capacity of 10 million tons annually, doubling Gazprom’s capacity from its sole other plant, on Sakhalin.

As with other energy deals, the success of the project will depend on the two sides reaching an agreement on pricing. Discord over pricing has held up projects with the Chinese, delaying earlier

Putin rules out trade war with EU over Gazprom Europe gets a quarter of its gas needs from Russia

BEIJING: Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga (second from right(, Dongfeng President Kimiyasu Nakamura (right) and Dongfeng Motor Corporation Chairman Zhu Fushou (left) applaud after unveiling new Dongfeng Nissan sports hatchback Venucia R50 in Beijing. — AP

Nissan rolls out Chinese brand’s new model BEIJING: Nissan Corp has unveiled the second model from its new low-priced Chinese brand Venucia following what an executive said was a temporary dip in sales during anti-Japanese protests last month.

The compact R50 hatchback will sell for as little as 67,800 yuan ($10,760), Nissan announced Saturday. It is part of a wave of new models by Japanese, US and European automakers that are aimed at China’s growing low-priced market outside major cities.

Venucia was created by Nissan and its Chinese joint venture partner, Dongfeng Motor Co. Its first model, the D50 sedan, debuted in April. China overtook the United States as the world’s biggest auto market by vehicles sold in 2009 but sales growth has slowed and some major cities are imposing restrictions on ownership to curb traffic and smog. That has prompted global automakers to look for new ways to tap the faster-growing low end of the Chinese market in smaller cities and the countryside.

General Motors Co also has created a low-priced Chinese brand, Baojun, with a

local partner. Germany’s Daimler Benz is developing an electric car brand with Chinese automaker BYD. China is a key part of Nissan’s global strategy announced last year to focus on selling to faster-growing developing countries and reducing reliance on the sluggish US market.

The R50 is aimed at first-time Chinese buyers outside more prosperous eastern cities, said Kimiyasu Nakamura, president of Dongfeng. He said that the car goes on sale in late September and that the company expects to sell 10,000 units per month.

Nakamura said Nissan held down the cost by designing the R50 in China and using mostly Chinese-manufactured components.

Nissan suffered a temporary dip in sales when protests erupted in China last month over a dispute between Beijing and Tokyo about ownership of an uninhabited group of islands in the East China Sea, Nakamura said. He said he had no details of how sales compared with normal periods.

“We did see some slowdown, but after that we see everything go back as usual,”

Russia seeks to reverse sliding competitiveness MOSCOW: Russia slipped down the global business competitiveness ranking in the years President Vladimir Putin touted economic modernization as Kremlin chief and premier, a closely-watched survey shows.

Now his government concedes that the annual World Economic Forum poll is showing up its failures to address the baneful business climate and vows to work with more dedication to repair the shortcomings.

Russia fell one step down the ladder from the previous year’s study and four off its 2010-2011 finish to stand a middling 66th out of 144 nations listed by the Forum’s Global Competitive Index. This wedges Russia and its $2 trillion energy export-driven economy between sanctions-hit Iran and Sri Lanka-an island nation emerging from the throes of civil war.

“No matter how painful it is to admit, we agree with the WEF assessment,” Deputy Economy Minister Sergei Belyakov said in e-mailed answers to questions from AFP about this week’s closely-watched results.

“We admit all these factors and intend to do more to solve them,” he added.

Perhaps the biggest problem for Russia is that its competitiveness remains poor despite an effort to improve it that was intensified after the financial crisis hit in 2008. One in five business respondents said they suffered most in Russia from corruption that analyses show may swallow between 20 and 30 percent of gross domestic product every year. Putin this month called the problem “self-evident” but also blamed businessmen for paying the bribes to begin with.

“They are trying get a jump start on their competition,” said Putin without commenting on officials’ Soviet-era readiness to accept money under the table. The Forum also found one in 10 complaining about government bureaucracy and the same number pointing to poor access to

financing and unpredictable tax policies.

“State-run capitalism, as established in Russia, limits the opportunities for future development and thus should be further liberalized,” the World Economic Forum said in one of its most recent reports.

Belyakov said the government was fully aware of the problem’s extent. “These are the very difficulties we identified a year ago” when current premier and former Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev tasked a group of Russian and Western bankers with helping make Moscow into a global financial centre.

“Now we are adopting specific measures that have to be implemented in specific timeframes,” said the junior minister.

Belyakov spoke as Putin hosted leaders from some of Asia’s most transparent and dynamic economies at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Vladivostok.

The lack of Russia’s competitive edge shines through most at forums like theseevents at which nations such as Singapore and Australia discuss means of making the Far East into a lasting engine of growth.

Russian officials admit that their current share of Asia-Pacific trade stands at a humbling one percent. And almost all of that figure is accounted for by China.

Belyakov said the government’s big idea for the moment involves getting the business and civil communities to start evaluating their officials and presenting the findings for regular government review.

“We will be graded by the business sector and the people. They will judge us based on how we alter the way they live and conduct their business-and not by the number of laws we pass,” the minister said.

Some sectors have almost no road to follow but improvement: world investors found only four other countries in which minority shareholders’ interests were protected less. — AFP

VLADIVOSTOK: Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday dismissed any talk of a trade war with Europe over a European Commission competition investigation into state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom.

“We have very warm, constructive relations. It is not a trade war,” Putin told reporters after an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the Russian port city of Vladivostok.

The European Union’s executive Commission opened the inquiry on Tuesday into suspicions that Gazprom, which is more than 50 percent owned by the Russian state, is hindering the free flow of gas across the EU and mistreating its customers by linking the cost of gas to oil prices.

However, Putin linked the recent investigation to European debt crisis, blaming some of the European Commission officials in desire to shift internal problems to Russia.

“Primarily, it (the probe) stems from the tough economic situation in the euro zone as we are talking here mainly about Eastern

European countries. The European Union is largely subsidizing Eastern European economies,” Putin said. “It seems that now someone in the European Commission decided that we should share a part of this burden ... But this approach is not constructive.”

Europe buys around a quarter of its gas from Gazprom, Russia’s export monopoly, typically under long-term contracts whose prices are mainly tied to the price of oil and only a small element linked to cheaper ‘spot’ gas prices. Gazprom’s average Europe sale price is expected at $405-$415 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2012 - or around four times the average spot price on the U.S. natural gas market, where booming shale gas production has created a major supply glut.

Gazprom has said it was armed with legal and political reasons to respond to the investigation but, reflecting its reliance on the European market for around half of its revenues, has refrained from any action that might disrupt gas supplies. — Reuters

Berlin’s ‘sexy’ image hit by city project delays BERLIN: Berlin’s famous image as “poor but sexy” may soon be replaced by a reputation for tardiness after a string of embarrassing setbacks for major city projects, including its troubled new airport.

For the fourth time in two years, the opening of Willy Brandt Airport to replace the German capital’s two current hubs was put back Friday after a grand June 3 opening got called off just weeks before.

The airport is now scheduled to open its door on October 27, 2013, well over a year late.

The debacle has prompted German newspapers to refer jokingly to the airport as “Wowi Fluchhafen”, a play on the word for airport (Flughafen) and the word for curse (Fluch), as well as the name of Berlin’s once-popular mayor. Klaus Wowereit, head of the board of directors of the company in charge of the airport, has found himself flying through turbulence in recent months and has faced mockery, anger and criticism as the public face of the project.

A member of the centre-left Social Democrats, Wowereit, who coined the “poor but sexy” phrase about his city, has in the past figured on the shortlist of possible challengers to conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“It’s really embarrassing for the city as a whole,” Ramona Pop, who heads the Green party’s group, the biggest opposition party in the city of Berlin’s legislature, told AFP. “Klaus Wowereit, as mayor and chairman of the board of directors wholly assumes the responsibility. The airport was his big main project and now, it’s a disaster,” she said.

She said she feared Berlin’s image would be tarnished as a result. “There are constantly headlines giving a negative image of Berlin, whether it’s in the German press or the international media,” she said.

“Capital of Failure” read a recent headline in German news magazine Focus which spoke of a city which “undoubtedly has charm... is even sexy for some” but where its “officials and politicians regularly fail”.

Berlin’s troubles have also featured in the international press. The airport, also known as Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport, has turned from “an emblem of German know-how into a source of local embarrassment”, the New York Times noted this week.

Its woes however have also led to a spotlight being shone on the capital’s finances-it was 62.9 billion euros ($79.9 billion) in debt in 2011 — and its other unfinished city projects. The scheduled 2014 reopening of the city’s oldest opera house, the Staatsoper, which closed in 2010 for refurbishment, has been postponed by a year due to the project running over budget.

And plans to rebuild the city’s castle destroyed under the former communist East German regime are also in limbo. For Berlin’s city government, the delays and budget overruns are often down to “particular and totally unforeseen reasons”, its spokesman Richard Meng has insisted, also suggesting some criticism is simply motivated by jealousy.

“It’s always the reflex in Germany when there’s something that is not running smoothly in Berlin,” he said, adding people liked to knock Berlin which has enjoyed a good reputation.

And he pointed to the building of the Elbphilharmonie Hall in the northern port city of Hamburg which has been plagued by delays and a price explosion, as well as protests against a revamping of Stuttgart train station. But Berlin’s chamber of commerce and industry has sought to play down the impact of the delays. “Berlin is still and always the city of creativity, a growing city, the capital of Europe’s melting pot,” its secretary general Christian Wiesenhuetter has said.—AFP

VLADIVOSTOK: Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a question during a press conference following the closing of the APEC summit in Vladivostok yesterday. — AP

UBS ‘rogue trader’ goes on trial in London LONDON: A trader accused of a $2.3 billion fraud at Swiss bank UBS was due to go on trial yesterday in London in a case expected to once again put the supervision of bankers under the spotlight.

Ghanaian-born equities trader Kweku Adoboli denies two counts of fraud and two of false accounting between 2008 and September last year. The son of a Ghanaian former United Nations official, Adoboli worked for UBS’s global synthetic equities division in the City of London financial district.

The 32-year-old, who was privately educated in Britain and attended Nottingham University, was arrested in London on September 15 last year on suspicion of the massive fraud. He had been involved in buying and selling exchange traded funds, which track different types of stocks or commodities such as precious metals.

The bank said that the losses-initially estimated at $2 billion then quickly revised upwards to $2.3 billion (1.8 billion euros) — arose from allegedly unauthorized speculative trading in S&P500, DAX and EuroStoxx index futures. The true magnitude of the risk exposure had been hidden through “fictitious” positions allegedly taken by the trader, the bank said.

“These fictitious trades concealed the fact that the index futures trades violated UBS’s risk limits,” it said, adding that the trades-carried out over a three-month period-had been unwound and the situation brought back to normal. Adoboli was granted bail on June 8, on condition that he wore an electronic tag.

The trial will take place at London’s Southwark Crown Court, which is expected to be packed with journalists covering

the proceedings.

Reacting to the allegations, Nick Leeson, the original “rogue trader” who in 1995 brought down Barings Bank and served three years in a Singapore jail, said they could illustrate a lack of regulation and control within banks. “Rogue trading is on the increase. The latest scandals are just a sign that the culture is running riot without any checks in place,” the Briton told the Independent newspaper last month.

“The rules may be tighter but the behavior is getting worse. At the moment there is contempt and disdain for the rules.” Despite the colossal losses, UBS’s chief executive at the time, Oswald Gruebel, refused to step down.

“I am responsible for everything that happens in the bank. But if you ask me if I feel guilty, then I would say no,” Gruebel said. The bank’s honorary chairman Nikolaus Senn, however, said that adequate checks had not been implemented and criticized Gruebel for his over-reliance on the controls system to uncover problems.

Gruebel eventually left the bank in the aftermath of Adoboli’s arrest. His replacement, Sergio Ermotti, admitted in a statement to UBS staff this month that the case would be “uncomfortable” for the bank. “Amidst all the progress that we have made since this incident, we must never forget that our reputation is more important than anything else and that every one of us is a guardian of that reputation,” he added.

The case has sparked debate in Switzerland about the future of investment banking, which was also at the root of UBS’ colossal losses in the US subprime crisis. — AFP

YANGON: A Kia car is seen on display at ‘The Most Amazing Exhibition and Car Show 2012’ held at the Myanmar Convention Center in Yangon yesterday. Myanmar’s parliament on September 7 passed an eagerly awaited new law aimed at boosting foreign investment in the former pariah state, which is emerging from decades of military rule. — AFP

26

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

BUSINESS

G 63 AMG interior

G 65 AMG

The legendary G 63 AMG roars into Mercedes-Benz Kuwait More power and performance: Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG and G 65 AMG KUWAIT: A R Albisher and Z Alkazemi Co, the exclusive general distributor for Mercedes-Benz in Kuwait, is asking the public to remain calm over the next few weeks. The shaking ground is not an earthquake, but the arrival of the legendary new Mercedes-AMG G 63 AMG engine thundering into showrooms for the first time in Kuwait.

Requiring a dedicated cell to harness the new AMG SUV beast’s earth shattering new engine, state-of-the-art drive technology and expressive design, Mercedes-Benz Kuwait are inviting customers to view the new G 63 AMG now in a specially designed lounge at their showroom in Shuwaikh for a personalized consultation. The G-Class family’s flagship G 65 AMG is also expected to rattle windows in Kuwait in the near future.

Visitors will learn very quickly that the evergreen off-road classic has kept its character as it goes high-tech with a raft of future-oriented systems. With new features including spray-controlled petrol direct injection, the ECO start/stop function and generator management, the twin tailpipes on both sides at the rear roar out the hallmark AMG eight-cylinder sound that means so much to the vehicle’s many admirers.

The G 63 AMG boasts a massive 544hp AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo engine with AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission system. 760 Nm of torque

AT A GLANCE Key figures for the G 63 AMG

The new G 63 AMG accelerates the exclusive SUV icon from zero to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds, topping out at a phenomenal 210 km/h (electronically limited).

Driven by the power of 612 stampeding horses and maximum torque reaching 1000 newton metres - an unmatched record in the off-road segment - the even more exclusive G 65 AMG’s V12 6.0-litre biturbo engine races from 0-100Km/h in 5.3 seconds, and a top speed of 230km/h (electronically limited).

Speaking from the dedicated G 63 AMG display customer lounge, Michael Ruehle, General Manager, Abdul Rahman Albisher

& Zaid Alkazemi Co, said: “Our G-Class has been a force to be reckoned with for over 33 years and has a special place in the hearts of our customers. The latest incarnation evolves the G-Class a mighty step further. More power, more performance, more luxury and safety build on its unmistakable character, and galvanizes the Gelandewagen further into a class of its own.”

The interior features even more innovations in comparison with the predecessor model. Along with the facelift changes provided as standard, including the new instrument panel and state-of-the-art info-

DTCM to hold ASTA International Destination Expo 2013 in Dubai DUBAI: Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has further expanded its promotion of Dubai’s tourism assets through a partnership with the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).

The DTCM has announced Dubai as the official host of the ASTA International Destination Expo (IDE) 2013 to be held in Dubai in April of next year. The event will be promoted at a stall at this year’s ASTA Travel Retailing and Destination Expo held in Los Angeles September 7-9th, 2012. The Retailing Expo is the top North American meeting place for destinations, travel suppliers and travel retailers worldwide, attended by 1040 travel agents from across the USA. This 2013 conference was successfully brought to the emirate by Dubai Convention Bureau on behalf of the DTCM, who secured the decision in favor of Dubai and is recognized as co-sponsor of the meeting.

ASTA estimates attendance in Dubai next year will be between 500 and 700 travel agents. The DTCM staff in LA was joined at the stand by representatives of six Dubai-based tourism companies, whose products and services are included in the ASTA IDE Dubai itinerary: 24 Degrees, InterContinental and Crown Plaza Festival City, Emirates Airline, the J W Marriott Marquis and Madinat Jumeirah.

Hamad M Bin Mejren, Executive Director of Business Tourism at DTCM, said of next year’s IDE: “The prestige of hosting ASTA’s IDE next year is a great honor and recognized throughout the tourism and convention industries worldwide.”

“Cities from around the globe vie for this opportunity. We can

expect to see continued growth of North American tourism traffic in 2013 and beyond as these ASTA agents serve as new ambassadors for Dubai, spreading their enthusiasm to new clients from around the world.

This organized outreach at the Dubai stand in Los Angeles will help ensure a strong attendance in April 2013 - and as always with these events, a huge potential boon for

Hamad M Bin Mejren the Dubai economy, in the short term because of increased hospitality spending, and in the long term because of the promotion of Dubai as a first-class tourist destination. “ Dubai’s hosting of the 2013 Expo was awarded back in March, with ASTA Vice President, Cheryl Ahearn making it clear why the emirate was selected: “Dubai is an amazing, growing destination that is expected to host more than 15 million international tourists annually by 2015. We want to ensure our

global travel agent members are fully equipped to fulfill their customer’s expectations on Dubai with hands-on and on-the -ground experience.”

Attendees will attend classroom style training on Dubai in addition to taking part in an exciting line-up of pre- and post-tours that include the Dubai Gold/Spice Souks, the Burj Khalifa, the Burj Al Arab Hotel and Jumeirah Beach. Other tours take in Dubai’s premier golfing and shopping opportunities, while history and culture lovers will have the chance to explore the Dubai Museum - Al-Fahidi Fort, Dubai Jumeirah Mosque and the traditional courtyard district of Bastakiya.

This is all part of a broader theme for next year’s Expo. DTCM’s Manager of Promotions for North America, Jessica Herring, yesterday hosted a seminar entitled “Definitely Dubai”, outlining a variety of features of the emirate, from hotel choices to local tours, and activities that connect visitors with Dubai’s Arabian culture. She used this opportunity to inform agents about new tourism developments and especially the increased air service from USA to Dubai.

“Travel Agents here are delighted that Dubai is the site for their annual international meeting, IDE 2013. Agents are receiving more inquiries about Dubai and look forward to seeing first-hand this amazing city they are selling”, Herring claimed.

“With the USA now being the 4th most productive source market for travel to Dubai, the ASTA agents are eager to become better informed and share in the benefits of creating new tourism traffic for Dubai.”

G 63 AMG Displacement 5461 cc Bore x stroke 98.0 x 90.5 mm Compression ratio 10.0 : 1 Output 400 kW (544 hp) at 5500 rpm Max. torque 760 Nm at 2000-5000 rpm* Fuel consumption, NEDC combined 13.8 l/100 km CO2 emissions

322 g/km Efficiency class G Acceleration 0-100 km/h 5.4 Top speed 210 km/h* * electronically limited The key data G 65 AMG Displacement 5980 cc Bore x stroke 82.6 x 93.0 mm Compression ratio 9.0:1 Output

tainment and assist systems, the G 63 AMG has an AMG instrument cluster with color TFT screen, AMG main menu and separate gear display, plus white-lit AMG sills on all doors.

The classy E-SELECT shift lever with the distinctive AMG medallion is a familiar fea-

450 kW (612 hp) at 43005600 rpm Max. torque 1000 Nm at 2300-4300 rpm* Fuel consumption, NEDC combined 17.0 l/100 km CO2 emissions 397 g/km Efficiency class G Acceleration 0-100 km/h 5.3 Top speed 230 km/h** * electronically limited

ture from other models such as the SLS AMG. An exclusive on-board environment is created by the designo leather upholstery with ruffled leather door panelling.

Options available for an even more stylish interior comprise the AMG carbon trim and the designo Exclusive package.

Al-Tijari announces winners of Al-Najma Account draw KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the AlNajma Account draw yesterday. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry represented by Abdulaziz Ashkanani.

The winners of the Al-Najma daily draw are:Waheeda Mahdi Yaqoub Yousef-KD 7000 Wisam Kamil Ghubain Abdulmahdi-KD 7000 Aziza Al-Sayed Azab Al-Namer-KD 7000 Rashid Iqbal Enayat Allah-KD 7000 Sheikha Hussa Mohammed Khaled Al-Sabah-KD 7000 The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account. Customers of the bank can now enjoy a KD 7,000 daily prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the year

worth KD 100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha and on the 19th of June which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD 500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2 months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD 25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD 50.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

Increase your chances of becoming next Al-Danah KD 500,000 winner

Grand prize for Burgan Bank’s Youth Account: A trip for 2 to London

KUWAIT: Gulf Bank advises its new and existing AlDanah account holders to keep their money saved in their accounts to enhance their chances of becoming the next Al-Danah KD500,000 winner. Any withdrawal before the draw date of September 30th would reduce chances of winning.

Opening an Al-Danah account is easy, and Gulf Bank encourages everyone in Kuwait to either open an account or for customers to increase their deposits to maximize their chances of winning in the upcoming weekly (KD 1000 for 10 winners), and the annual draw (KD 1 million).

Al-Danah allows customers to win cash prizes and simultaneously save. The more money saved and the longer it is in the account, the more chances individuals stand to win. To qualify for the next quarterly AlDanah draw, account holders must maintain a minimum deposit of KD200 in their accounts. Customers can open an account by either visiting one of Gulf Bank ’s 56 branches, transfer online, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance. Customers can also log on to www.egulfbank.com, Gulf Bank’s website, to find all the information regarding Al-Danah or any of the Bank’s products and services.

KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced the Youth account raffle draw where one winner will receive the grand prize, which consists of a free trip to London for two with a full boarding and a cash prize of KD 1,500 to shop in major stores in London. Nine other account holders will win a KD500 voucher from Electrozan.

Youth account holders are given one chance to enter the draw for every KD20 in the account. The raffle draw will take place on December 2012.

Burgan Bank Youth Account was launched for young individuals, between the ages of 15 to 25, who seek to attain a successful future. With its new dynamic and vibrant logo, the Youth account will cater to the young people in Kuwait by empowering talented youth with creative ideas. The account is free to open with no minimum balance requirements. Account holders can benefit from the free pre-paid card which can be used for online shopping besides the special discounts granted from selected youth merchants and retailers in Kuwait.

To find out more about Burgan Bank ’s Youth Account as well as the latest promotions, customers are required to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch or contact the call center on 1804080. For more information, customers can visit the bank’s website on www.burgan.com.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

What’s in a color: Creating an emotional impact to incite action

I

n a sluggish economy, businesses of all sizes are squarely focused on two things: sales and productivity. But in the era of information overload, the burden is on the consumer to distill meaningful information from the noise, including the nearly 3,000 marketing messages the average person is exposed to every day. Employees face a similar challenge as many struggle to stay focused on priorities amidst constantly refreshing social media feeds, a 24/7 news cycle and phones that serve as a pocketsized entertainment system. For bottomline oriented businesses, the answer to both of these challenges may lie in color.

In a color survey conducted by Xerox Corporation, 69 percent of people said that they understand new ideas better when presented in color. Seventy-six percent of those surveyed say they can find informa-

tion faster if it’s presented in color. And the benefits don’t end with productivity - color can also give companies a leg up in competitive differentiation and sales.

For Bing, the right color choice was the million dollar difference - or $80 million to be exact. Microsoft’s research team found that blue engaged people the most, so they tested various shades of blue in user groups, and determined that Bing’s previous paler shade of blue lacked confidence.

As a result, Bing decided to switch to a shade of blue similar to the one used by Google. Based on user feedback, it is estimated Bing’s blue could generate $80 million to $90 million in advertising sales.

Color as a sales differentiator According to Jill Morton, color psychologist and branding expert, when color is

used correctly, businesses can draw the right attention to marketing collateral, signage and business documents. It’s tempting to select color based on personal preference, but keying in on the colors that illicit the desired emotional response can pay dividends.

By using Morton’s color symbolism and selection tips below, businesses can create documents with the appropriate emotional impact to incite reader action.

1. Understand the basic formula for all colors - dark colors are professional and trustworthy; bright colors are youthful and energizing; light colors are peaceful and delicate; and muted colors are sophisticated and calming.

2. Colors resonate differently across generations - like the color purple for example.

An older generation may look at purple as

mysterious and magical simply because it is a hue that rarely occurs in nature. A younger generation may automatically associate the color with Barney the purple dinosaur.

3. Bright colors like yellow reflect more light and are great for grabbing the reader’s attention on a flier promoting a sale or a document with an urgent task. Yellow and black combined attract more attention than any other color combination out there.

Colors like blue or gray are soothing and would be appropriate for use on customer documents that report on annual charity giving or a letter on customer appreciation.

4. Most document designs only need two to three colors to deliver a consistent look three being the best. Using more than four colors causes visual clutter for the reader, which can lead to confusion and distraction.

5. Documents should have a strong contrast between the text color and the background to ensure readability. Yellow text on a white background would be considered a bad contrast because they are both very light colors and cause strain on the reader’s eyes. A deep purple text on an off-white background would be an example of a good contrast because of the ease the reader will experience while reading dark text on a light background.

Businesses can engage their readers, create a positive first impression and help their message stand out from the marketing noise by creating color harmony in document design. A document with smart, strategic color application will ensure communications are delivered with maximum value - impacting the company’s bottom line with increased productivity and sales.

World gets ready for ‘iPhone 5’ unveiling Celebrity on stage to re-create Steve Jobs excitement?

LOS ANGELES: Singer Usher showed his dance moves for a new upcoming Kinect peripheral title, Dance Central 3 at the Microsoft Xbox 360 Media Briefing at the USC Galen Center. — MCT

Video-game consoles add more non-gaming features LOS ANGELES: When Chris and Rebecca Rider sit down to watch a romantic movie together, they don’t pop in a DVD or turn on the DVR. They fire up their video game console. Once kept in rec rooms for a family’s gamers, Microsoft Corp’s Xbox 360, Sony Corp’s PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Co’s Wii are increasingly being used by people who have no interest in helping Mario save the princess or the “Call of Duty” soldiers win the war.

The 31-year-old Chris Rider began playing video games on his family’s Atari in the early 1980s. He stood in line all night in 2005 to buy an Xbox 360 the day it went on sale. But he knew things had changed in 2009 when he sent his wife a text message at 2 am and discovered she was awake, using the Xbox to stream episodes of the Scott Bakula drama “Quantum Leap” via Netflix. Now the Los Angeles couple watches so many movies and television shows through their game console that Rider has considered canceling their DirecTV subscription. “Since I’m a gamer, I’m always going to need a console,” he said. “So why bother with anything else if I don’t have to?” As nearly 50,000 industry professionals gather in downtown Los Angeles this week for the annual E3 video game conference, players like Rider are front and center in their minds. Instead of focusing just on hot new titles like “Halo 4” and “God of War: Ascension,” companies are also showing off applications that turn their game consoles into media machines.

Video game consoles are now the most common means through which people watch content from the Internet on a television set, according to a recent study by Leichtman Research Group.

Microsoft recently reported that Xbox 360 owners spend more time online watching video and listening to music than playing games.

The potential audience is big enough to make most cable providers drool.

More than 40 million people use the Xbox Live online service - and more than half of those pay to subscribe to premium ser vices. And about 51 million PlayStation 3 consoles are connected to Sony’s free Internet offering. Less than four years ago, playing video games was the only thing to do online with either device. But now people can use the consoles to access Netflix, Hulu and HBO Go, enjoy sports on ESPN and on Major League Baseball’s MLB.tv, and stream music through Last.FM and Sony’s Music Unlimited.

“Entertainment has always been part of our strategy, but it was in the background,” said Ross Honey, general manager of Xbox Live entertainment and advertising. “Now we have the content and user experience to legitimately tell a consumer, ‘This is the platform for all of your entertainment.’ “ At Microsoft’s news conference Monday kicking off the E3 convention, the tech giant announced applications from 35 new entertainment partners coming to the Xbox 360 in the next year. Among them: Univision, Nickelodeon, the NBA and the National Hockey League. ESPN is significantly expanding its offerings on the Xbox to include live feeds of all its channels, and Microsoft is launching a music service to compete with the likes of iTunes and Spotify. Most significantly, all of Microsoft’s digital entertainment efforts are being housed under the Xbox title.

The company’s new music service will be called Xbox Music, and a group of appli-

cations that help consumers enjoy media on multiple devices simultaneously looking at a map of the mythical land of Westeros on a tablet while watching “Game of Thrones” on a T V set, for instance - will be called Xbox Smart Glass. Some in the video game industry have envisioned these developments for more than a decade. Microsoft and Sony each justified their multibillion-dollar investments in video game consoles in large part by saying the consoles could enable them to “own” the digital living room. “There was a singular focus from the beginning on building what would one day be a complete living room entertainment experience,” said Otto Berkes, a senior vice president of consumer technology at HBO who helped to launch the Xbox at Microsoft.

The turning point came in late 2008 when Netflix launched on the Xbox 360.

It was the first simple way for millions of people to stream Netflix video on a television. “When Netflix got on the Xbox, that’s what ignited their streaming service,” said Jamie McCabe, 20th Century Fox’s executive vice president of videoon-demand and digital downloads.

Netflix soon became available on the PS3 and Wii. Today, game consoles are the most popular conduit, aside from PCs, used by the company ’s 23.4 million streaming video customers in the United States. Dozens of apps have since followed. It’s now unusual to find an online video or music service that isn’t available on the PS3 or Xbox 360. (The Wii has only Netflix.) “When digital retailers launch on these consoles, we can see sales jumps of more than 100 percent,” said David Bishop, president of Sony Pictures home entertainment.

It may be a while before game companies pose a serious threat to cable giant Comcast Corp. or satellite service Dish Network. Services such as HBO Go and ESPN, in fact, require cable subscriptions to work on the consoles. And game consoles aren’t the only devices impinging on cable’s turf. Most new Blu-ray players, televisions sets and tablets come with services such as Netflix and Amazon Instant Video built in.

To compete, the game companies are trying to do with digital video what they have always done best: make it interactive. An upcoming “Sesame Street” app for the Xbox will use the console’s Kinect camera to scan a child’s clothing and have a character onscreen wear the same color. And playoff games, they say, are no longer meant to be enjoyed while simply lounging on a recliner.

“With our sports applications you can look up live stats or, during recorded games, zoom the camera around the field,” said Jack Buser, senior director of PlayStation digital platforms. “ This points to the future of how we’ll enjoy and interact with our media.” Of course, the more broadly the game consoles try to appeal, the bigger the risk of losing their earliest, most loyal audience. To keep them excited, Microsoft showed off a number of big-budget games at its news conference, including “Resident Evil 6” and “Gears of War: Judgment.”

Sony was expected to do the same at its own event Monday evening. “We have to continue to make Xbox the best platform for games,” said Yusuf Mehdi, chief marketing officer for Microsoft’s interactive entertainment division. “But even the most hard-core gamer still watches TV.” —MCT

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple becomes the focus of the technology universe Wednesday as the world awaits a new iPhone with a big, beautiful touchscreen and connectivity to blazingly fast telecom networks. Apple has been tight-lipped about what is in store at its media event in San Francisco, but hinted at a keenly anticipated “iPhone 5” in invitations that bore the cryptic message “It’s almost here.”

Leaks and rumors portray the new iPhone as having a larger touchscreen than its predecessor and say that it will be available by the end of the month. “They need to come out with a bigger screen since the market is clearly moving in that direction and they need to give the iPhone LTE 4G connectivity,” said NPD Group analyst Stephen Baker.

“Both of those are features people want and Apple is clearly ready to make them part of the iPhone.” Telecom providers have been rolling out fourth-generation, or 4G, networks boasting top speeds for Internet-linked wireless devices.

Demand for what is being referred to as “iPhone 5” is likely to be hot, with analysts convinced many people have put off purchases to wait for Apple’s latest.

Canaccord Genuity brokerage told investors to expect record iPhone sales after a new model launches, and Piper Jaffray predicted that as many as 10 million could be bought during the week after launch. “Pent-up demand for the

iPhone 5 is such that Apple will sell every one they can make” in the coming weeks, said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group.

Enderle said he expected the iPhone 5 to dominate until next year, when “fan demand” could give way to device-neutral shoppers saving money by opting for Android-powered rivals from firms like Samsung. “Samsung has gone beyond copying iPhone to improving on it,” Enderle said.

Smartphones powered by Google’s Android software continued to dominate with 52.2 percent of the US market, but Apple’s iOS was the second most popular smartphone platform with 33.4 percent, comScore reported.

Samsung mobile phones remained the most popular in the United States with 25.6 percent of the market, but third-place Apple gained ground to claim 16.3 percent as of the end of July, according to comScore. Google and Microsoft introduced new champions in the fiercely competitive smartphone arena a week ahead of the Apple event. Microsoft and Nokia boosted their smartphone arsenal with two new Lumia handsets powered by Windows 8 software. Motorola Mobility added three powerful Android smartphones to its Droid family, the first major product news from the company since it was bought by Internet giant Google a year ago in a $12.5 billion deal. While unlikely to dull iPhone 5 frenzy, challengers “set bars” for smartphone battery life, screen quality, and wireless recharging, according

to analysts. “(Microsoft and Google) platforms are really out-innovating Apple but that might not matter to consumers,” said Gartner Research vice president of mobile computing Ken Delaney. “The consumer goes into a store with a heavy bias to buy an Apple product and you have to do a lot to unseat them from that love affair.”

Apple usually uses its September media events to show off improvements to its iPod line, the stars of which are “Touch” models that are essentially iPhones without mobile phone features. A separate media event is expected in October to unveil a new, smaller version of its wildly popular iPad tablet.

It remained a mystery whether the Cupertino, California-based company would confirm reports that it is in talks to license music for an online radio service. Some analysts thought Apple might bring in a celebrity to infuse the Wednesday media event with magical energy that has been missing in the absence of company co-founder Steve Jobs, who died last year.

“You might have a celebrity on stage to re-create that old Steve Jobs excitement,” Enderle said.

“Hopefully, it won’t be Clint Eastwood talking to a chair where Steve used to sit.” Apple shares climbed to a new high on Friday, eclipsing $680 for the first time and giving it a market value of $637.5 billion, extending its lead as the world’s most valuable company. — AFP

LG offers new Steam Dishwasher KUWAIT: LG Electronics (LG) introduces its latest steam dishwasher equipped with LG’s TrueSteam technology for a powerful cleaning performance that helps eliminate the need for prewashing dishes. Backed by the efficient Inverter Direct Drive, the new dishwasher is also equipped with an array of innovative features that greatly enhance consumer convenience.

“One of the things that consumers dislike most about their current dishwashers is the frequent need to pre-wash their dishes before placing them in the dishwasher,” said DY Kim, President, LG Electronics Gulf. “However, with TrueSteam technology, LG’s TrueSteam dishwashers virtually eliminate the need for this step, delivering superior performance as well as convenience to consumers. With noise levels as low as 38dB, the new dishwasher fits into a comfortable and pleasant home environment.”

TrueSteam works in the Steam Power mode, which involves high-temperature steam particles that are discharged from carefully aimed pressure nozzles so that food particles are dispersed and dishes are left cleaner. Steam temperature and pressure are managed by the built-in steam generator, which is powerful enough to virtually eliminate even tough food residue, whether burnt or dried.

For dishes that require a softer touch, the

Steam Delicate cycle offers a more gentle steam cleaning. Because there may not be a sufficient quantity of delicate items to fill a single load, the dishwasher’s Steam Dual feature enables different water pressures to be used on the upper and lower racks so that multiple types of dishes can be washed at once to help save water, energy and time.

For greater options when it comes to organizing, the unique Smartrack system allows for various rack configurations. This design feature allows the interior of the dishwasher to be more flexible, and offers greater convenience to consumers. It also maximizes usable space and accommodates odd-shaped bowls, pans, platters and other items. All three tiers are designed to contain different types of dishes: the lower rack is suitable for dishes, bowls, pots and pans, while the upper rack is designed for cups and wineglasses. The third rack is intended for items, such as espresso cups, utensils and kitchen tools. In addition, the third rack is height adjustable, which adds flexibility by making room for oversized utensils, such as spatulas, whisks or salad tongs.

The dishwasher’s cleaning performance is enhanced by LG’s Inverter Direct Drive. This advanced motor technology optimizes the power needed for each load by directly transferring energy from the motor to the water

spray system through simplified structure. LG’s LoDecibel technology and layers of sound dampening insulation help reduce the dishwasher’s noise levels, adding convenience to everyday cleaning.

Mobile phone-charge provider expands MIAMI: Ever run out of battery life on your cellphone just when you need it most? GoCharge wants to be your goto place to get your smartphone charged - for a fee. The network of mobile device charging stations is focusing on Florida as its top market, expanding to 75 locations by July, said founder Paul King, who lives in Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. The roll-out represents the company’s second phase of expansion after placing 50 machines in clubs and bars in New York within the past four years. Those machines, sponsored by Patron Tequila and free to users, have drawn 1,000 customers per month per machine, King said.

“South Florida is big on nightlife, and it’s a great tourist destination,” said King, 27. “So we thought if we had distribution in South Florida we could reach a lot of other countries as well because of people coming in.”

“That showed us there is a need and people would likely pay for a charge,” he said. “So that is when we decided to expand, starting in Florida, statewide, and we decided to concentrate on the South Florida market.”

GoCharge offers several models, sizes and colors of stations to fit different locations. Here, the cost per charge runs about $3 per 20 minutes for machines at bars, where you hang out while your phone is charging, to $5 for about 20 minutes at machines where you can secure your phone in a locker and walk away. The machines take only credit cards.

The service is aimed at wiping away the worry of running out of battery to contact your friends or call a cab after a night at a club or bar. And the allure for the venue is that customers will stay longer and spend more money while they charge, said Marcel Katz, goCharge’s director of Florida operations. “This is making it easier for people to go out for longer

precious battery life, the need for a charge is electrifying, he said. “I have a (Samsung) Galaxy, and if I’m using it, I won’t last longer than eight hours,” Katz said. No question, smartphones are proliferating. According to the Pew Research Center, 88 percent of all adults in the United States now own a cell phone and 46 percent of all American adults now use smart-

SOUTH BEACH: Marcel Katz (left) is goCharge’s director of Florida operations, and Paul King is goCharge’s founder. —MCT periods of time and enjoy themselves and get their phone charged,” said Katz, 24.

And in this age of smartphones, where constant Facebooking, Tweeting and Instagramming use up

phones. “Everyone who has a smartphone, their phone dies unless they recharge it,” King said. “When their phone dies, they are desperate.” As soon as a machine was installed last week at Mega Perros in Doral, Fla.,

customers began using it, said the restaurant’s owner, Kevin Toro. “Most of the time you are on your phone, basically, and that consumes a lot of battery,” he said. “It’s really handy: You can go to lunch and charge your phone.”

More stations are on the way. An application for iPhones - and soon, for Android devices - will lead users to the nearest goCharge station.

GoCharge also brings machines to events, partnering with various companies, including with Red Bull at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami.

King got the idea for goCharge when he was a 21-year-old senior at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and had to drop off keys with a roommate. He couldn’t get in touch with him because his phone had died and he didn’t have a car charger. “I ended up missing my flight,” he said. “It ruined my day.”

GoCharge has so far raised $3 million in capital from a handful of investors, who are now King’s partners.

Last year, the New York-based company generated $1 million in sales and reached profitability. It is projecting $2.5 million in sales this year. “The need is definitely there,” King said. “We think if we get enough out there it will be similar to an ATM. You know anywhere you go there will be an ATM,” he said. “People won’t be worried that ‘my phone is dying.’ They will just know wherever they go after work there will be a place to charge their phone.” —MCT

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

health & science

Should autism block someone from getting heart transplant?

PHILADELPHIA: Twenty-three-year-old Paul Corby has a bad heart and a flawed mind. The question before doctors now is whether his mental problems - he has a form of autism - are severe enough to make him a bad candidate for a heart transplant. Doctors at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania have said they are, according to Paul’s mother, Karen. She disagrees and is using an online petition and the support of a network of autism advocates to make her case.

Karen Corby says she was “stunned” by Penn’s decision, then inspired by another family’s successful fight with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia over a similar decision.

“I guess they thought we would accept it and just wait for the inevitable,” said Corby, of Pottsville, Pa. She said she has not been told how long her son, who has a heart condition called left ventricular noncompaction, might live without a transplant. Paul Corby initially took the decision well, but has since grown so depressed that his mother worries about how he’d react to another rejection. “At first he was OK with it because he thought, ‘At least I don’t have to go through that surgery,’” his mother said, “and then he thought, ‘Why not? Why don’t they like me?’”

Paul Corby’s situation is a window into the complex decisions that patients and doctors face when vital organs begin to fail. Organ transplantation is one of the few areas of modern medicine with overt and unavoidable rationing. There simply are not enough donated organs to go around, so doctors must make life-and-death choices. Nationally, 331 people died while wait-

ing for heart transplants last year.

Karen Corby released a letter she received from Penn cardiologist Susan Brozena in June 2011. In it, Brozena said that she recommended against Paul Corby’s getting a transplant “given his psychiatric issues, autism, the complexity of the process, multiple procedures and the unknown and unpredictable effect of steroids on behavior.” Corby said her son - who is diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified - is high functioning and spends his days playing video games and writing the sequel to his pre-teen, self-published novel, Isaac the Runner. He carried his ever-present Princess Peach doll with him to his transplant evaluation. He takes medicine for an unspecified mood disorder, his mother said. He has shouted loudly enough that police have been called “three or four times” to the family’s home.

Citing privacy rules, the Penn health system said it could not comment on Paul Corby’s case. It released a written statement that said the transplant program reviews “all aspects” of a patient’s condition, including his health status and posttransplant prognosis, and other health problems that could affect transplant success along with the interaction of drugs he takes and those he’ll need after the transplant.

“Our criteria for listing an individual for transplant are regularly reviewed in comparison with national standards, but we always encourage patients to seek another opinion.” After Karen Corby said she was willing to give permission for Penn to discuss her son’s case, health system

spokeswoman Susan Phillips said that “the physicians involved believe that any discussion of the specifics of his case would be most unkind to him and therefore will not comment.”

Phillips said Penn’s transplant team has performed at least one other heart transplant in an individual with autism. Thirty-eight percent of patients evaluated for heart transplants during the last two years there were told no, mostly because of other medical conditions that would affect their survival or quality of life after a transplant, Phillips said.

Karen Corby decided to start a petition on the website change.org after reading in January about 3-year-old Amelia Rivera, who was denied a kidney transplant at Children’s because she was “mentally retarded.” Her family’s petition led to an outpouring of support. The hospital apologized and Rivera’s family now says she has been cleared for transplant.

Corby’s petition drew only about 4,000 signatures until Joslyn Gray, a freelance writer from Drexel Hill who has two children with Asperger’s disorder, also part of the autism spectrum, wrote about Paul on the Babble.com website last week.

The count had climbed to about 10,700 Monday.

Gray sees an issue that can only get bigger as more children with autism get older. While autism was just one of the reasons listed for denying Paul Corby a transplant, Gray said she was “extremely disturbed that autism in and of itself was listed as an exclusionary factor.”

With help from other parents, Karen Corby has now contacted the Mayo Clinic and two hospitals

in Pittsburgh about putting Paul on their lists.

Transplant patients often face a difficult recovery and are on a complex drug regimen for the rest of their lives. The experience of being rescued from death by someone else’s death is challenging emotionally even for people who go into the experience with superior social skills.

Robert Weinrieb, a psychiatrist who specializes in work ing with transplant patients at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said patients were rarely turned down for psychosocial reasons. People who are actively addicted to drugs or alcohol are excluded. In cases of serious psychiatric or cognitive problems, doctors want to know that patients have enough support from family members to manage their medications.

Doctors don’t want to have to sedate patients to perform minor procedures. To make the best use of organs, patients must be willing participants in rehabilitation.

Weinrieb, who has not met Paul Corby, said the social skills deficiencies common in autism can be a problem if patients need a long hospitalization. Steroids, which are given in high doses after transplants, greatly magnify emotions.

Weinrieb likened it to drinking 20 to 30 cups of coffee. Someone who already has trouble with anger or impulsiveness is “virtually guaranteed” to get worse on the drug, he said.

Daniel L. Coury, professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Ohio State University and medical director for the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network, said it’s hard to predict who will have a hard time with steroids. — MCT

Cyprus offers safe haven for turtles across divide Only one hatchling in a thousand makes it until adulthood

ROWLETT, Texas: Casey Jones is pictured at home. — MCT

If your child is cranky or stressed, cut texting DALLAS: Tammy Jones knew something was wrong when she found herself struggling to wake her son Casey, 17, for school and found him cranky, stressed and in a bad mood when he ultimately did get up. The Rowlett, Texas, mom, 39, got a clue to the source of the problem when he sent her a text late at night, long after he was supposed to be asleep, thinking he was texting someone else.

She quickly texted back, “Casey, this is your mother. Go to bed.”

Fifty-six percent of teens, ages 13-18, bring their cellphones into their bedrooms and use them, with texting especially popular in the hour before trying to go to sleep, according to the 2011 Sleep in America Poll from the National Sleep Foundation. The mission of the nonprofit, based in Washington DC, is to alert the public, health care providers and policymakers to the importance of adequate sleep.

The study noted a correlation between those who text in the hour before trying to go to sleep at least a few nights a week, with 51 percent less likely to report getting a good night’s sleep, 65 percent more likely to wake up feeling unrefreshed, 17 percent more likely to be categorized as sleepy during the day and 63 percent more likely to drive drowsy.

That doesn’t surprise Dr Kara Starnes, a pediatrician with Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Allen. “One of the first questions I ask parents of adolescents is: Do they have any questions about their child’s sleep or sleepiness in class? If they do, the answer I usually get

is that they’re texting all night.” A lack of sleep can have immense repercussions for children, she says. It can affect their reasoning ability, causing them to do poorly on tests and impairing their judgment in social situations. It can even affect their physical growth as the growth hormone secretes mostly and sometimes only when a child sleeps.

Plus, it’s not uncommon for a child to be assessed by schools and parents as having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and find the symptoms go away after the child is put on a sleep routine, she says. It’s important to rule out lack of sleep before settling on this diagnosis because ADHD medications are stimulants that can exacerbate sleep problems. In addition to the problem of texting when a child should be sleeping, the act of looking at screens right before bed can make sleeping more difficult, according to John Herman, Ph.D., associate director of the Sleeping Disorders Clinic at Children’s Medical Center.

The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland in the brain that begins to secrete melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep and wake cycles, two hours before the onset of sleep. That secretion can be impaired by moderate light emitted by cellphones, computers and television screens, explains Herman, also a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. In fact, the more screens in a child’s bedroom, the more sleep problems the child is likely to have, he says. —MCT

ALAGADI: On a late August evening, thousands of baby endangered sea turtles flip, flop and somersault down the sands of this protected beach in northern Cyprus as excited onlookers cheer them on. “Go on little turtle!

A couple of inches and there you go!” yells Elliott Evlyn-Bufton, a 12-year-old Briton whose family came to the holiday island to watch the green turtles and loggerheads hatching. Hundreds of sea turtles hatch each summer on the island’s beaches, both in the Turkish north and the internationally-recognised south, to the delight of environmentalists and tourists alike.

The success story is shared, but for different reasons on an island that was divided by a 1974 invasion of its northern third by Turkish mainland troops. Elliott brought baby turtles to the sea with the Society for Protection of Turtles (SPOT), a turtle conservation project on Alagadi beach near the picturesque harbour town of Kyrenia in northern Cyprus. The tiny hatchlings, once placed on the beach, frantically flap their flippers to reach the sea.

They had been rescued that afternoon from their shallow nest in the sand.

“Only one hatchling in a thousand makes it until adulthood, that’s why we try and increase their survival rate as much as possible,” said Sara Toule, an Aberdeen biology graduate who helps SPOT. Not all the babies had the same strength. Some set out energetically for the Mediterranean sea, others lay motionless until the waves snatched them away.

At night, baby turtles know their way thanks to the moon’s reflection on the sea.

When there is no moon, they are guided by the torch of a volunteer standing waist-deep in the sea. Cyprus is home to more than 30 percent of the Mediterranean’s loggerhead (caretta caretta) nests and more than 20 percent of those of green turtles (chelonia mydas), according to figures provided by environmentalists on the two sides of the island. Both species are endangered, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says, mainly due to intensive fishing.

North’s cash shortage helps turtles After a mother turtle lays its eggs, metal

KYRENIA: Sea turtle hatchlings are seen in a bucket after a nest was excavated at Alagadi Beach in Kyrenia in the Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus. — AFP grids are placed over the nests to prevent scavenging from foxes and other creatures. “If we don’t protect them, 60 percent of the eggs will get eaten,” says Chelsea Crossingham, an English university student and SPOT volunteer. “Since 2006, there has been an explosion in the number of turtles’ hatchlings in the protected areas. Only in Cyprus, in all the Mediterranean area, has there been such an increase,” said Andreas Demetropoulos, who along with Myroula Hadjichristophorou is in charge of turtle conservation in southern Cyprus.

“The number of turtles’ nests on our beaches is very high. This shows that our efforts, since the 1990s, have paid off,” said Hasibe Kuset-Oglu, their counterpart on the other side of the island. “The most difficult thing has been to persuade politicians to ban tourism construction,” she said. “Some people want to get rich fast and have pressured the politicians. Now it’s better. We are also expecting a grant from an EU project that aims to protect all the species on our coasts.”

“Paradoxically, our advantage, here in north Cyprus, is that we have less money than in the other part, so we attract fewer property developers,” explained Kuset-Oglu. On both sides of the island, environmentalists have tried to combat heavy construction and mass tourism, which pose a threat to nests and mislead new hatchlings with lights that lure them away from the sea.

“Greece, Turkey and Cyprus are massive tourism destinations for Europeans. And turtles nest mainly on these beaches,” said Robin Snape, a SPOT member and researcher from Exeter University in southwest England. In the relatively affluent south, turtles have been legally protected since 1971, Demetropoulos said, and fishing and tourism development are regulated. In the north, conservation started later and depends on research projects like SPOT. Demetropoulos underlined the importance of protecting nesting beaches. Turtles return to nest on the beaches where they were born, 20 or even 40 years later, “mainly thanks to geomagnetic forces,” he said. — AFP

Mavala Scientifique for vigorous nails like diamond

This handout image provided by NASA/JPLCaltech/University of Arizona, shows tracks from the first drives of NASA’s Curiosity rover. — AP

Curiosity tire tracks on Mars WASHINGTON: NASA’s robotic rover Curiosity is making its mark on Mars, in a way so big that it can be seen from space. In just one month, it’s driven 368 feet on the red planet, slightly more than the length of a football field. Curiosity’s slightly zigzaggy tire tracks were photographed by a NASA satellite circling Mars and also from the rover’s rear-facing cameras. The spacecraft landed on Aug 5 on a mission to look for ingredients in Martian soil and rocks that could support life.

When the images from the Martian satellite showed the rover tracks, “there was much high-fiving,” mission manager Michael Watkins said Thursday. He said engineers were thrilled by the idea that “we left tracks on Mars that we can see from orbit” because it gave them a visible sense of accomplishment.

Other rovers have left tracks on Mars, but not as deep or wide as Curiosity’s, Watkins said. Curiosity won’t be traveling any more for several days. Engineers will spend the next week checking out its crucial robotic arm. —AP

KUWAIT: Nails are an essential part in women’s elegant look, yet some women suffer from soft, fragile nails.

This common problem became an obsession to households as well as working women. It may be due to heredity aspects or the exposure to water and cleaning detergents.

Science proved that the tip of the nail is the most fragile and exposed part of the nail. Therefore, it must be strengthened. Mavala laboratories, the Swiss Company specialized in hand and foot care, studied different types of nails and concluded Mavala Scientifique, which is the key solution to nails’ problems that allows the nail to regain a healthy and long-lasting growth.

Mavala Scientifique is considered the only nourishing and nail hardener product which penetrates the nail surface, bonds the three layers of the nail together and reinforces the tip to allow it to regain a natural growth. One or two weekly applications of Mavala Scientifique allow soft, flaking or splitting nails to become healthy and strong. Once reaching the satisfying and guaranteed results,Twice or three times a month would be enough to

maintain solid and healthy nails.As additional to the regular package, MavalaScientifique comes in ìApplicator Penî that is easy to use and to carry around.

Al-Jothen Company, the exclusive distributer of Mavala Swiss products, provides Mavala Scientifique as well as full nails solutions at all Al-Jothen gallery showrooms in-addition to some salons and pharmacies. As usual, AlJothen Company continues to build a great relationship with its customers by securing the best solutions in the world of beauty and by committingto exceed its customers’ expectations with high quality and trusted products.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

H E A LT H

Threat to wildlife haven in ‘scariest place on Earth’ JEJU: An unlikely and unique cradle of biodiversity that runs the length of the world’s most heavily-militarised border is being threatened by encroaching development, conservation experts say. Once described by former US president Bill Clinton as “the scariest place on Earth”, the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that divides the Korean peninsula between North and South was created after the 1950-1953 Korean War. Four kilometres (2.5 miles) wide and 248 kilometres long, it is a depopulated no-man’s land of heavily-fortified fences and bristling with the landmines and listening posts of two nations that technically remain at war.

As a military buffer zone, it remains an area of profound Cold War hostility, but its man-made isolation has also created an accidental park recognised as one of the most well-preserved, temperate habitats on Earth. Cutting

across mountains, prairies, swamps, lakes and tidal marshes, it has become a protected home for an astonishing variety of plants and animals, including 82 endangered species such as the red-crowned crane and the Amur leopard.

Now experts attending the ongoing World Conservation Congress on South Korea’s southern Jeju island, say redevelopment of land bordering the DMZ is putting the future of the wildlife haven at risk. “The DMZ is so impressive in biodiversity in terms of its ecosystem due to its remoteness and no human impact,” Uwe Riecken, director of biotope protection at the German Federal Agency for Nature told a Congress workshop.

“But on the other hand, the DMZ is facing a lot of potential threats arising from future possible access, including development,” he warned. The immediate threat is to the large strips of

land that form a “civilian restricted zone” adjoining the DMZ on both sides. Once fertile farmland abandoned after the war, the restricted zone has, over the past 60 years, reverted back to forest and natural wetlands, providing a crucial habitat for the DMZ wildlife.

“But now this is being converted back to agricultural or ginseng farms, changing the habitat of both the wild animals and plants,” said Park Eun-Jin, an environmentalist at South Korea’s Gyeonggi Research Institute. Although relations between North and South remain volatile, recent efforts to reduce tensions have resulted in more permits being granted for land-use in the restricted zone.

“More pressure for inter-Korean economic development in the area is also going to pose a challenge in terms of maintaining a balance between development and preserva-

tion,” Park said. Aside from land conversion, Park said proposals for modern canals and roads would have an enormous impact on the amphibians, reptiles and birds that inhabit the area.

Experts at the conservation congress said the two Koreas would have to try to work together to prevent human resettlement of the area from disrupting the delicately-balanced ecosystem created over the past six decades. Jeong Hoi-Seong, president of the South Korean Institute for the Environment and Civilization, said the South should consider “economic incentives” to ensure the impoverished North’s cooperation.

“The South needs to find a way to incorporate economic benefits with environmental cooperation because the environment is not North Korea’s priority,” Jeong said. South Korea has sought international recognition of the DMZ region as a UNESCO bios-

phere reserve, but the UN body has demurred, citing territorial uncertainties among other factors.

In a presentation to the congress in Jeju, the executive director of UNESCO’s Natural Sciences Sector, Han Qunli, said this did not mean the area could not be granted special status in the future. “There is a promising long-term perspective in the DMZonce all parties are convinced-that the area could be turned from a symbol of confrontation to a bridge of connection... and a best example of biodiversity conservation,” Han said.

Ironically, an enduring peace between North and South Korea could hold the biggest threat of all to the DMZ ecosystem in the form of eventual reunification of the peninsula. If reunification were to happen before it receives the status of an internationally protected site, peace might end up destroying the very haven that war

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

WHAT’S ON

UPCOMING EVENTS SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS

Onam celebration onni Nivasi Sangamam celebrates Onam on Friday, 21st September 2012 from 10 am to 4 pm at Abbassiya United Indian School. Public meeting honored with presence of prominent dignitaries from social-cultural-political sectors, maveli, athapookalam, chendamelam, ganamela, mimicry and other cultural events will be conducted as part of the program. Ccome and enjoy! Feel the experience of traditional tastes! Have lots of fun & frenzy! rock with music!

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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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Umer Saleem

Yasmin Kamel

Abdullah Ismail

Free Arabic course PC and all its branches is opening free Arabic language course for non Arab ladies accessible in beginners and advance levels. Class will commence in September 14. Islamic and Quran courses are also presented in different languages.

Registration is on!

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Greetings

Calling all Ten-pin Bowlers he Indian Bowling League (IBL) Season 3 will be held at Cozmo Entertainment, Salmiya commencing on Friday the 28th of September at 3 pm. Kindly reserve your team in advance to avoid disappointment, on a first come first serve.

T Abdul Rahman

Javeria Saleem

Shatha Al-Refai

Good results by Fahaheel Al-Watanieh School in IGCSE examinations appy birthday to Disha Moni, who celebrated her first birthday on yesterday. We wish you good health and happiness throughout your life. Best wishes coming from father Mohd Siddek Hosen Rana, mother Kakholi Begum, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, Akas, Rewan, Keya, Isreya, Rihum, uncle Rayhan, Rajib, Mohd Islam, Parbin Manik, and relatives in Bangladesh, Kuwait.

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ahaheel Al-Watanieh Indian Pvt School (FAIPS) performed superlatively in the examination of International General Certificate of Secondary Education (0í Level) held in May / Jun 2012. Of the 21 candidates who appeared majority of them were conferred with A* and A grades. The school has kept its banners flying, keeping

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up the tradition of excellent results, second year on.

The students who brought laurels to their alma mater are: Umer Saleem, with 4A* grades and 2A grades.

Yasmin Kamel, with 3A* grade and 2A grades.

Abdullah Ismail, with one A* grade, one A grade and 2 B grades.

Abdul Rahman, with 3 A grades and a B grade.

Javeria Saleem, with one A*, 2A grades and a B grade.

Shatha Al-Refai, with one A grade and 4 B grades.

Congratulations to all the bright stars!

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Focus Kuwait 6th annual day s a part of the 6th anniversary celebrations, Forum of Cadd Users (FOCUS Kuwait), a nonpolitical, non-religious organization is set to stage a mega cultural event “Focus Fest-2012”. This mega event will be a blend of traditional and contemporary dance and musical extravaganza by renowned South Indian playback singers Jyotsna and Sudeesh. Scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, October 12, 2012, at the Al-Jeel Al-Jadeed School Auditorium, Hawally, the mega musical show, is expected to be a super-hit in Kuwait.

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Tulukoota Kuwait Tulu Parba Competition 2012

he AMIE Winter 2012 examinations will be held between Dec 01-07, 2012 as follows:

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Section A (Diploma) - December 1-4, 2012 Section A (Non-Diploma) - December 1-7, 2012 Section B - December 1-7, 2012 The last date for submission of examination application forms are given hereunder: Candidates not appeared at Summer 2012 Exam: Aug 21 - Sept 21, 2012 Candidates appeared at Summer 2012 Exam: Sept 21 - Oct 19, 2012.

Candidates who intend to appear for the Winter 2012 examination must apply directly to Kolkata by filling the prescribed application form along with requisite amount of demand draft in favour of The Institution of Engineers (India), payable at Kolkata.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

Audition for ZEE Antakshari or the first time Indian Cultural Society brings you live excitement of ZEE - International antakshari in Kuwait. Audition & first round will be held in Kuwait, there after followed by semi finals in India & Grand Finale in Dubai. Complete team of Carnival films & Zee TV will be in Kuwait for the final round of selection on Friday 5th October with Jaaved Jaaferi: Celebrity Judge, Akriti Kakkar: Female Bollywood Singer & Host of Antakshari, Manish Paul: Host for Auditions, Sarfaraz Khan: Actor, Director and Producer, Michael Amin: Producer & Director Carnival films world. Musicians, Male Singer & many more for live performances.

Final audition at 10 am & music show at 7.30 pm at AIS-Hawally.

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Winter 2012 AMIE examination

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NAFO Onam on Sept 21 ational Forum Kuwait (NAFO Kuwait) will celebrate Onam 2012 with its full spirit and fervor on Friday, September 21, 2012 at the Indian Community School Auditorium from 10.00 am onwards. Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta will be the chief guest on this happy occasion. A galaxy of eminent personalities in Kuwait is also expected to join the celebration. Starting from the floral carpet called “Athapookkalam,” NAFO family will present various cultural programs bringing back the nostalgic memories of a bygone era of prosperity, equality and righteousness under the golden reign of Mahabali. In addition, a grand sumptuous meal, the traditional ‘Onasadya’ will also be served.

appy birthday to our dear loving mom, Krishna Dhanalakshmi. May God bless you mom. We pray for your very good health and wealth. May all your dreams come true. We will always love you.

Best wishes from loving children Aritra, Atiriya and Aaravtanmay and dad.

ulu Parba Competitions are here again and Tutu Koota Kuwait is very excited to invite all the Tuluvas to join us on the event to be held on Friday, September 21, 2012, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Indian Community School Auditorium, Khaitan. Join us for an enthusiastic and entertaining day with lots of fun and creativity. Competitions for various age group planned for the day include: Dance Solo and Group, Fancy Dress Solo and Group, photography of toddlers and origami, post card writing, drawing for children; Tu Dhantina Atil and Beeda Kattunu for ladies solo; while we have Peta Kattunu and Gali Pata Malpunu for Men Solo; married couples have Adarsh Dampati and hair styling, while we also have a game planned for the senior citizens.

‘Leniency of Islam’ n unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al-Turkait.

The program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to- 97822021 and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program every Friday at 1:00 pm.

Dazzling extravaganza at IES Founder’s Day celebrations limpses of grand gala festivity and revelry commemorating yet another successful and fantabulous year of spectacular achievements in the field of education made September 6,2012 a significant day etched in the history of IES, Bhavans as it magnificently celebrated the Founder’s Day, the Platinum Jubilee and 125th birth anniversary of Dr KM Munshi with jubilation, verve and panache.

It was indeed a moment of great pride for all the members of Bhavan’s family, relishing and reminiscing the past, the days of arduous struggle and unrelenting determination to strive in pursuit of excellence which has helped the school to ingrain the name and fame of being the best in the Middle East.

The grand event unfurled with great splendour when the Master of Ceremony, Srikala Dileep, HoD, Department of Social Science commenced the programme invoking divine blessings of Almighty God with the recitation of the verses from the holy Quran followed by the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. The Chairman of Bharatiya VidyaBhavan, Middle East, N K Ramachandran Menon, Sooraj Ramachandran, Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Middle East, Krishnadas Menon, Director, Bhavans Middle Kuwait, Kalyani Mukherji, the Principal of Kuwait Indian School and Principal T Premkumar lit the lamp of knowledge.

The invocation dance left the audience in the radiance of its blissful beauty and grandeur.

Among the esteemed guests who graced this auspicious occasion were the parents, the well wishers of our school, whose immense faith has raised IES to great heights. An appealing welcome speech by Jaemi Byju,

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HOD, Department of English set the tone of the event. A video presentation beautifully depicting the success saga of Bhavans, Middle East, enthused the audience into euphoria of revere, pride and honour. Bhavans, Middle East, has reached the zenith of unsurpassed glory under the leadership of the distinguished founder, N K Ramachandran Menon who has left an indelible and appreciable mark in the field of education. His unswerving dedication, perseverance and unassuming nature, focused single mindedly on realizing his dream of starting the finest school with a difference in the Middle East, has been received with great acclaim.

Principal, T Premkumar, in his address to the gathering, stressed on the importance of Founder’s Day as the right time to take stock of the past, recognize our achievements and reinstate our faith in our capabilities.

He applauded the students on their marvellous achievements and also appreciated the competent teachers for their utmost sincerity and tenacity in upholding the ideals and values of Bhavans, a necessary ingredient to prepare a holistic child. The valuable message delivered online by Girija Baiju, the Principal of Bhavans, Abu Dhabi, was received with thunderous applause by the audience.

Dr Ameer Ahmed, a renowned doctor and a supportive parent of Bhavans family, expressed his genuine thoughts, proudly reflecting his memorable journey with Bhavans.

Sharing her views, Maitri Murthy of Grade 12 spoke volumes on her superfluous accomplishments attained as a Bhavanite, a challenging task impossible to achieve without the guidance and support of the management and the teaching fraternity.

The atmosphere was sprinkled

with flamboyant vigour and vitality as the audience was mesmerized by the dance performance ‘Navarasa’ presented by the virtuoso dancers.

Thiruvathirakali, a nostalgic performance enthralled the audience and evoked great admiration. A semi classical dance on the tunes of ‘Shivadam, Shivanamam Parvatheswara Naamam’ by young dancers of Bhavans Rhythmscapes received laudable accolades. KavadiChindu, a Bharatanatyam number, set in the style of folk dance, displayed with fine, graceful, lithe movements by the Bhavans Rhythmscapes teachers added to the resplendence of the programme.

In honour of their zealous efforts, the staffs were felicitated with mementos and certificates for completing five years of exemplary service and for regularity in attendance.

Coordinators and teachers who made the school proud by tirelessly preparing and producing toppers in Kuwait were awarded certificates of appreciation for their dynamism and sincerity.

In an exceptionally charismatic speech, Sooraj Ramachandran, the Director of Bhavans, Middle East, accentuated his firm goals and aims of establishing Bhavans as the finest group of schools all over Middle East.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Tessy Gonsalves (Department of Science). The remarkable day was nicely wrapped up with a sumptuous dinner in honour of the parents who left the premises with lasting, cherishable memories of a day spent well with Bhavans.

Tulukoota Kuwait free medical checkup ulukoota Kuwait, in coordination with Indian Doctors Forum, Kuwait Medical Association, Indian Dentist Alliance in Kuwait and Kuwait Heart Foundation is conducting a Free Medical Check up & Consultation Camp on Friday, September 14, 2012 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Abbasiya (Indian Educational School, Building No 4, Block No 241, School Street, Jleeb Al-Shyoukh) from 7 am - 1 pm. The Medical Checkup & Consultation Camp is specially taking place for all the people who do not have the opportunity or facility to undergo regular medical checkups at a regular clinic. We urge people to come ahead and fill up and submit applications well before September 9 to avoid disappointments. Kindly do not miss this opportunity and come ahead to take part in our free Medical Camp.

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Tulukoota Kuwait ‘Merit Scholarship’ pplications are now being invited for “Tulukoota Kuwait Merit Cum Means Scholarship” to be awarded during Tuluparba 2012 scheduled to be held on October 11 and 12, 2012. The objective of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance and support to deserving meritorious students, to enable them to pursue their higher studies. Applications are accepted from minimum one year valid Tulukoota Kuwait member’s children studying either in the State of Kuwait or in India and scoring high grades in Xth and XIIth standard Board Examination held for Academic year 2011-2012.

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31

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

WHAT’S ON

Movenpick Hotel Ankara opens in the heart of Turkey M

ovenpick Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce the opening of the 176-room Movenpick Hotel Ankara, a new exciting contemporary hotel based in the heart of the Turkish capital’s fast-developing Sooutozu business district. Just 30 km from the city’s international airport, the district is rapidly becoming a business base for global companies such as EON, BP and Oracle as well as home to Turkish government ministries, cutting edge medical facilities, ambitious media companies and luxurious residential developments.

The hotel is just 500 metres from the biggest convention and exhibition centre in Ankara, the newly opened 80,000 sq m Congresium, and next door to the prestigious five-storey, 155-store Armada Shopping Mall, a winner of the “Best Shopping Mall of the Year” voted by the International Council of Shopping Centres. “Ankara’s success as an international business hub is helping to shape Turkey’s reputation as a global economic powerhouse,” says Ola Ivarsson, chief operating officer for Movenpick Hotels & Resorts in Europe.

“The city is the perfect location for our third hotel in Turkey after openings in Istanbul and Izmir and a great demonstration of our confident international growth.”

“The combination of a convenient business location and the reputation for Swiss reliability, care and authentic warm welcome that Movenpick Hotels & Resorts brings to the hotel are certain to ensure it will be a great success,” said Enis Pekuysal, president of Varan Otelcilik AS, the owning company of the property.

The Movenpick Hotel Ankara is a welcome addition to the 21st century skyscraper success of Sooutozu offering a bold architectural statement its own.

The design of the hotel reflects the curved shape of Turkey’s famous Nazar Boncuou - the eye-shaped amulet traditionally worn to ward off evil - with a 12-storey central atrium and glass ceiling that floods the hotel with natural light.

Despite the confident contemporary feel there are motifs and materials that reference traditional influences from the

Executive Floors on the 11th and 12th floors offer exclusive access to an Executive Lounge, terrace, meeting room, complimentary snacks and drinks and private check in.

Based in the heart of Ankara’s exciting new business district, the hotel is ideally located for meetings, seminars or conferences. With nine meeting spaces including the

landscape. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the restaurant serves a range of Turkish culinary classics and Mediterranean favourites as well as Movenpick Swiss signature dishes. Local specialities include in-house dry-aged beef, Turkish cheeses, “sujuc” spicy sausage and a delicious variety of Turkish vintages.

With such a combination of

such as Turkish massage treatments and locally inspired cuisine. The EUR399 package includes two nights for two in a superior room, buffet breakfast; return transfers to the Anatolian Civilisation Museum and Cengelhan Rahmi M KoÁ Museum, entrance fees and a traditional Turkish lunch in Cengelhan KoÁ.

A set-menu dinner at the

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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EMBASSY OF ARGENTINE The Embassy of Argentina requests all Argentinean citizens in Kuwait to proceed to our official email ekuwa@mrecic.gov.ar in order to register or update contact information. The embassy encourages all citizens to do so, including the ones who have already registered in person at the embassy.

The registration process helps the Argentinean Government to contact and assist Argentineans living abroad in case of any emergency.

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Turkish marble swirling around the spacious floors of public areas to the enormous glittering lobby chandelier created from hundreds of handmade crystal balls, a reminder of the country’s proud glass-making heritage.

Soft greens, relaxing autumnal tones and American walnut define the relaxed ambience of the rooms, while sophisticated media hub workstations provide the space to get down to business quickly and efficiently.

Large flat-screen televisions, glass partitioned bathrooms and stunning city views are signatures of many of the superior rooms, while the dedicated

stylish 390 sq m Bern Ballroom, Movenpick Hotel Ankara offers flexible function spaces that can be customised to host between eight and 450 guests.

The hotel’s wellness and fitness centre, meanwhile, includes four massage rooms, a Turkish ‘hammam’ bath, sauna, indoor plunge pool, whirlpool and cardio fitness zone.

International spa classics as well as Turkish treatments are always available. The flagship restaurant at the hotel is Plus, a name that celebrates the internationally recognisable white on red plus symbol of the Swiss flag as well as proving a welcome ‘plus’ to the local culinary

local and international flavours, sparkling decorative crystal details by Turkish artisans at PaoabahÁe as well as a private dining area for up to 15 guests, Plus is likely to be hugely popular as a business lunch venue while affordable good quality evening meals are certain to attract local diners as well as inhouse guests.

Discover the magic of Ankara Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has launched a special package designed to unlock the secrets of Ankara. “Discover Ankara” combines landmark sightseeing with world-class shopping and traditional experiences

hotel’s plus restaurant including free Wi-Fi, a one-hour classic Turkish bath massage and free parking are also included in the price. For guests keen to enjoy the city’s highlights, the hotel is the perfect base from which to explore a wealth of unique experiences from Ankara Castle and Coppersmiths Market to the Open Bazaar and numerous fashionable new malls. The package is available until December 29, 2012.

Yokohama Tires congratulates winners of ‘Beat The Summer Heat’ promotion ohamad Naser Al-Sayer & Sons Co held a draw of its promotion campaign “Beat The Summer Heat” in Yokohama Showroom in Canada Dry at 6:00 pm, on September 3, 2012, attended by representatives from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Abdul Aziz Ishkenani, and Inderpal Singh, Manager, Tire Sales from Mohamad Naser Al-Sayer & Sons Co. The winner of the first prize a “Toyota Yaris 2012” was Mohamad Asef Mohamed Sadeq.

The Yokohama Tires promotion “Beat The Summer Heat” started from June 1 until August 31, 2012, which enabled the customers a chance to enter the draw for every KD 30 spent at any Yokohama Tires Al-Sayer or Service outlets, entitling them to a “Scratch & You May Win” coupon for many fabulous prizes- including KD 10 or KD 15 or KD 20. The main reasons behind the remarkable success of these promotions over a period of time were “Quality of Yokohama Tires”. Al-Sayer congratulates all the win-

M

ACK to hold annual orientation meeting today, tomorrow r Raghad Al-Kazemi, director of student affairs at ACK, announced that ACK will hold its annual orientation meeting for the fresh students of the first semester of academic year 2012/2013 tomorrow and Tuesday 10 - 11 September as from 9:30 am till 12:30 noon.

Dr Raghad stated that this meeting will be organized by the department of student affairs at ACK, will include an orientation summary on the applied policies and procedures at ACK. She noted a vides will be displayed in audio vides to orient different related departments of the college, as well as a detailed explanation of the tasks of the students during their academic journey. i.e. Academic advisory center, students achievements center and the student and ports activities center. The meeting will include the important academic procedures applied in the college on punctuality, sick leaves, the importance of dealing with the related departments and the communication in the campus.

Dr Raghad mentioned that the fresh students will be divided into groups so as to make an orientation tour all over ACK to know the scientific department in the engineering and administration programmers.

D

Embassy

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN Consular section at the British Embassy will be starting an online appointment booking system for our consular customers from Sunday, 01 July 2012. All information including how to make an appointment is now available on the embassy website. In addition, there is also a “Consular Appointment System” option under Quick links on the right hand side on the homepage, which should take you to the “Consular online booking appointment system” main page.

Please be aware that from 01 July 2012, we will no longer accept walk-in customers for legalisation, notarial services and certificates (birth, death and marriages). If you have problems accessing the system or need to make an appointment for non-notarial consular issues or have a consular emergency, please call 2259 4355/7/8 or email us on consularenquirieskuwait@fco.gov.uk. If you require consular assistance out of office hours (working hours: 0730-l430 hrs), please contact the Embassy on 2259 4320.

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EMBASSY OF CANADA The Embassy of Canada is located at Villa 24, Al-Mutawakel St, Block 4 in Da’aiyah.

Please visit our website at www.Kuwait.gc.ca. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. The reception is closed from 12:30 to 01:00 pm for lunch break. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday.

Individuals who are interested in visiting, working or immigrating to Canada are invited to visit the website of the Canadian Embassy to the UAE at www.UAE.gc.ca.

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EMBASSY OF FRANCE The Embassy would like to inform that starting September 2nd, 2012, visa demands for France will be handled by the outsourcing company “Capago - MENA Company”. Capago - MENA’S Call Center will be operational starting Sunday August 26 for setting appointments beginning September 2nd (+965 22270555).

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Aware presentation ou are cordially invited to our diwaniya presentation entitled, “The Quran: An Introduction to Islam’s Holy Book,” by Dr Teresa Lesher tomorrow, September 11, 2012 at 7:00 pm. The Quran is a 1,400-year old Arabic document or so believed to be God’s message to mankind. Dr Teresa will briefly explain the methods of revelation, documentation and preservation of the Quran, as well as its style and themes. She will clarify its importance to Muslims until today indicated by their approach to handling and studying it. Open discussion will follow the presentation and complimentary translations of the Quran in English will be offered to all attendees. Dr Teresa holds her PhD in Information Science from the UK and is now associate professor at the Kuwait College of Basic Education. She held the position of General Manager of the AWARE Center for three years and returns often to host presentations related to Arab and Islamic culture.

Y

AG Church Kuwait appoints new pastor

ev K P Cherian, is appointed as a new pastor in the Assemblies of God Church, Kuwait. Rev K P Cherian is a well known orator, anointed preacher and teacher. He completed his graduation in theology from Bethel Bible College, Punalur. He has completed his Master Degree in Theology (M.Div) from SABC, Bangalore. He has ministered in various Assemblies of God churches in Kerala such as Kattode, Kodupunna, Cherpunkal, Champakkara, Vanmazhy, Alacode, and in Chengannur as a section presbyter. He also worked as a faculty in various Bible colleges such as Asian Bible College, Kottayam, BSK annual Carnival Day Bethany Bible College, Vakathanam, Maranatha he British School of Kuwait, located in Salwa School of Evangelism, block 1, street 1, will be holding its annual Kumbazha, NPWM Bible Carnival Day on Saturday September 15 from 10 College, Mavelikera & BBC am to 1 pm. It will be a fun filled day with lots of activChengannur. He hails from ities for the whole family. You can also find out more Kottayam, Kerala. His wife information about the various afterschool activities Juby Cherian is also comfor children and parents open to everyone in Kuwait pleted her Masters in Theology (M.Div) from SABC at The British Academy of International Arts Bangalore and as a family they are serving in the (BAIA)such as dance, theatre, music, art and cuisine and various sports such as football, swimming, karate, Kingdom of God. Rev KP Cherian will lead the church worship services, Friday in National Evangelical Church cricket and many more offered through The British (NECK) compound, Hall of Peace at 9:45 am to 12:15 Academy of Sports (BAS). Sponsors will be on hand noon, Fasting Prayer in Ebenezer Hall, Abbassiya on to provide free gifts and add to a wonderful atmosThursdays from 07:00 pm to 09:00 pm. phere of fun and entertainment.

T

R

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to inform the Kenyan community residents throughout Kuwait and the general public that the Embassy has acquired new office telephone numbers as follows: 25353982, 25353985 - Consular’s enquiries 25353987 - Fax Our Email address: info@kenyaembkuwait.com.

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EMBASSY OF MYANMAR Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar would like to inform the general public that the Embassy has moved its office to new location at Villa 35, Road 203, Block 2, Al-Salaam Area in South Surra. The Embassy wishes to advice Myanmar citizens and travellers to Myanmar to contact Myanmar Embassy at its new location. Tel. 25240736, 25240290, Fax: 25240749, email:myankuwait11@gmai1.com.

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EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk.

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EMBASSY OF UKRAINE We’d like to inform you that in response to the increasing number of our citizens who work in the state and the need for 24-hour operational telephone in case of emergency the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait has opened “hotline telephone number” - (+ 965) 972-79-206.

Classifieds MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR JZR ETH RJA GFA UAE ETD THY FDB MSR QTR JZR KAC THY JZR DHX MSR JZR KAC BAW KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY KAC QTR RJA FDB ETD BAB KAC GFA IRC UAE MEA JZR MSR IRC MSC JZR MSR GFA KAC FDB OMA KNE JZR QTR SVA RJA KAC JZR KAC QTR SYR KAC KAC ETD KAC UAE UAL GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY IRA KAC QTR BAB KAC FDB KAC MSC MSR KAC KAC KAC JAI KAC FDB MEA QTR GFA FDB ALK TMA UAE JZR ETD BBC ABY QTR LMU JZR AIC GFA UAL JZR TAR JZR DLH MSR THY KLM PIA

Arrival Flights on Monday 10/9/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 267 BEIRUT 620 ADDIS ABABA 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 768 ISTANBUL 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 138 DOHA 503 LUXOR 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 1541 CAIRO 170 BAHRAIN 2104 CAIRO 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA 157 LONDON 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 352 COCHIN 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 284 DHAKA 132 DOHA 5522 AMMAN 55 DUBAI 301 ABU DHABI 436 BAHRAIN 344 CHENNAI 213 BAHRAIN 6521 LAMERD 871 DUBAI 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 618 ALEXANDRIA 6791 MASHAD 401 ALEXANDRIA 561 SOHAG 610 CAIRO 219 BAHRAIN 672 DUBAI 57 DUBAI 645 MUSCAT 472 JEDDAH 535 CAIRO 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 788 JEDDAH 257 BEIRUT 546 ALEXANDRIA 134 DOHA 341 DAMASCUS 118 NEW YORK 538 SHARM EL SHEIKH 303 ABU DHABI 802 CAIRO 857 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 127 SHARJAH 3407 MASHAD 542 CAIRO 144 DOHA 438 BAHRAIN 786 JEDDAH 63 DUBAI 104 LONDON 405 SOHAG 620 ASSIUT 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 742 DAMMAM 572 MUMBAI 774 RIYADH 61 DUBAI 402 BEIRUT 146 DOHA 221 BAHRAIN 59 DUBAI 229 COLOMBO 213 BEIRUT 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 307 ABU DHABI 43 DHAKA 129 SHARJAH 136 DOHA 2109 ALEXANDRIA 539 CAIRO 975 CHENNAI 217 BAHRAIN 981 BAHRAIN 529 ASSIUT 327 TUNIS 239 AMMAN 636 FRANKFURT 614 CAIRO 772 ISTANBUL 411 AMSTERDAM 239 SIALKOT

Time 0:15 0:20 0:50 1:45 2:10 2:20 2:25 2:30 2:50 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:55 4:10 4:35 4:55 5:00 5:40 6:00 6:15 6:30 7:15 7:45 7:50 8:05 8:20 8:25 8:30 8:45 9:00 9:05 9:20 9:30 9:35 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:45 10:55 11:05 11:25 11:55 12:00 12:25 13:30 13:40 13:40 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:00 15:05 15:15 15:55 16:00 16:10 16:35 16:40 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:10 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:45 19:00 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:45 20:55 21:00 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:00 22:10 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 22:55 22:55 23:10 23:35 23:40 23:40 23:45

Airlines AIC UAL DLH MSR JAI PIA THY ETH RJA THY UAE FDB ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR MSR JZR GFA THY JZR KAC KAC BAW FDB JZR ABY KAC KAC UAE RJA QTR FDB KAC ETD BAB GFA IRC KAC KAC MEA JZR UAE MSR KAC IRC MSC KAC JZR GFA FDB MSR OMA KAC JZR KNE SVA KAC RJA JZR QTR KAC KAC SYR ETD JZR QTR UAE GFA JZR ABY UAL SVA IRA QTR FDB BAB KAC MSC JZR MSR KAC JAI FDB KAC KAC MEA FDB KAC GFA JZR DHX ALK JZR ABY ETD UAE QTR KAC KAC TMA LMU JZR BBC QTR GFA KAC KAC TAR

Depature Flights on Monday 10/9/2012 Flt Route 982 AHMEDABAD 981 WASHINGTON DC 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 573 MUMBAI 206 PESHAWAR 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 643 AMMAN 769 ISTANBUL 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 2105 CAIRO 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 534 CAIRO 545 ALEXANDRIA 537 SHARM EL SHEIKH 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 256 BEIRUT 126 SHARJAH 671 DUBAI 787 JEDDAH 856 DUBAI 5523 AMMAN 133 DOHA 56 DUBAI 801 CAIRO 302 ABU DHABI 437 BAHRAIN 214 BAHRAIN 6522 LAMERD 541 CAIRO 165 ROME 405 BEIRUT 776 JEDDAH 872 DUBAI 619 ASSIUT 103 LONDON 6792 MASHHAD 406 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 646 MUSCAT 673 DUBAI 538 CAIRO 473 JEDDAH 501 JEDDAH 617 DOHA 641 AMMAN 528 ASSIUT 135 DOHA 773 RIYADH 741 DAMMAM 342 DAMASCUS 304 ABU DHABI 238 AMMAN 141 DOHA 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 982 BAHRAIN 511 RIYADH 3406 TEHRAN 145 DOHA 64 DUBAI 439 BAHRAIN 501 BEIRUT 402 ALEXANDRIA 184 DUBAI 621 ALEXANDRIA 283 DHAKA 571 MUMBAI 62 DUBAI 331 TRIVANDRUM 351 KOCHI 403 BEIRUT 60 DUBAI 543 CAIRO 222 BAHRAIN 502 LUXOR 171 BAHRAIN 230 COLOMBO 1540 CAIRO 120 SHARJAH 308 ABU DHABI 860 DUBAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 214 BEIRUT 2110 ALEXANDRIA 554 ALEXANDRIA 44 DHAKA 147 DOHA 218 BAHRAIN 411 BANGKOK 411 BANGKOK 328 DUBAI

Time 0:05 0:25 0:30 0:35 0:50 1:10 2:15 2:45 3:10 3:40 3:45 3:50 4:05 4:20 4:50 5:40 6:00 6:40 6:55 7:05 7:10 7:30 8:10 8:20 8:25 8:25 9:00 9:05 9:20 9:35 9:40 9:50 10:00 10:05 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:45 11:15 11:30 11:45 11:55 12:15 12:20 12:25 12:30 12:55 13:00 13:10 13:20 14:25 14:25 14:30 15:00 15:05 15:10 15:15 15:45 15:45 15:50 15:55 16:15 16:25 16:30 16:55 17:20 17:30 17:45 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:30 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:35 20:40 20:50 21:05 21:15 21:25 21:30 21:35 21:45 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:35 22:40 22:45 22:45 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:30 23:40 23:40 23:45

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for decent bachelor near German clinic. Call 66941892. (C 4130) 10-9-2012 Sharing accommodation, one room, is available at Amman street, Salmiya, near Al-Rashid hospital for a decent Indian working lady. For more details contact: 99307471, 99315825.

(C 4128) 9-9-2012 Sharing accommodation available in Mahboula for non-smoking Keralites.

Contact: 66725394.

(C 4127) 6-9-2012

MATRIMONIAL Inviting marriage proposal for qualified Muslim girl 26, staying with family in Kuwait from groom living in Kuwait or family from Mumbai, Maharashtra. Email: marouf@yahoo.com (C 4129)

FOR SAL Mitsubishi Outlander, 2006, KD 2075, negotiable, 94,000KM, Passing up to 18 June 2013, accident free, pearl white color, two new tire, new battery, auto lock, Engine, Gear, AC, Interior and exterior in good condition. Call 94947880. If you want to see the car image, contact: mansoorizh@gmail.com 10-9-2012

Prayer timings Fajr:

04:10

Duhr:

11:45

Asr:

15:16

Maghrib:

18:00

Isha:

19:17

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 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

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 TAT TE OF K KUW WA AIT

Tel.: e 161

DIRECTORA AT TE GENERAL GENE OF CIVIL AVIA V ATION T METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT

WWW.MET.GOV V.KW .

Hot with light to moderate north westerly to light variable wind, with speed of 10 - 32 km/h

BY Y NIGHT:

Relatively hot with variable wind changing to light to moderate north westerly wind, with speed of 08 - 30 km/h No Current Warnings arnin a

WARNING A

22459381

44 °C

32 °C

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

KUW WAIT A AIRPOR RT

44 °C

30 °C

Al-Mirqab

22456536

NUW WAISEEB A

40 °C

29 °C

WA AFRA

ST TAT TION

45 °C

28 °C

SALMI

42 °C

26 °C

ABDAL LY

45 °C

26 °C

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

JAL ALIY YA AH

44 °C

27 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

FAILAKA A

44 °C

30 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

39 °C

33 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

37 °C

33 °C

W.Hawally

22630786

WA ARBA A - BUBY YAN A

45 °C

24 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

SFC. CHART

Temperatures DA AY

DA ATE T

WEA AT THER

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

29 °C

N-NE

06 - 28 km/h

29 °C

NW-VRB

06 - 28 km/h

43 °C

30 °C

NW

12 - 35 km/h

43 °C

30 °C

NW

20 - 45 km/h

MAX.

MIN.

24575755 Monday

10/09

hot

43 °C

West Jahra

24772608

Tuesday

11/09

hot

44 °C

South Jahra

24775066

Wednesday e

12/09

hot

North Jahra

24775992

Thursday

13/09

hot + raising dust

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

09/09/2012 0000 UTC

4 DA AYS Y FORECAST

New Jahra

24892674

RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WA AIT AIRPORT

PRA RA AYER Y TIMES Fajr

04:09

MAX. Temp.

44 °C

Sunrise

05:29

MIN. Temp.

29 °C

Zuhr

11:46

MAX. RH

23 %

Asr

15:18

MIN. RH

05 %

Sunset

18:02

MAX. Wiind

N 43 km/h

Isha

19:21

TOT TAL AL RAIINF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

00 mm

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

23900322

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

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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

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22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

Dr. Salem soso 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

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

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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

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

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

BY Y DA AY:

KUW WAIT A CITY

Firdous

Al-Shohada’a

Expected Weeather for the Next 24 Hours

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24884079

22418714

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Al-Ardhiya

Ext.: 262 2627 - 2630

Al-Madena

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

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24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

lifestyle G O S S I P

Depp shares ‘ink’

Cowell suffered a breakdown

with Damien Echols

Biel

is a survival expert he man Johnny Depp helped release from Arkansas’ death row has become like a brother to him, right down to getting matching tattoos. “We have some,” Depp said Saturday as he touched a tattoo on the right side of his chest. “This one Damien designed. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and it means quite a lot to me,” Depp told The Associated Press before the premiere of the documentary, “West of Memphis,” about Damien Echols and his two co-defendants. Echols said whenever he and Depp get together, they often end up in a tattoo parlor. Depp said it’s about “celebrating the moment.”

Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin spent 18 years in prison for the 1993 murders of three 8-year old boys in West Memphis. All three were released after agreeing to an Alford plea that allowed them to maintain their innocence while pleading guilty. The three were the subjects of the “Paradise Lost” documentaries, which cap-

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tured Depp’s interest in the case. “You saw those initial documentaries, you make a choice: Am I going to watch the thing and go ‘Wow, that’s really horrible,’ and go out and get a milkshake,” Depp said. Depp, along with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks, musician Henry Rollins, and filmmaker Peter Jackson, who produced “West of Memphis,” helped pay the legal fees to free the three men. The 37-year old Echols always wears sunglasses, a product of not seeing much daylight after spending so many years in a prison cell. Echols said Depp’s support wasn’t limited to Echols’ time in prison.

“He’s been with us every single step of the way. Since we’ve gotten out, he’s become like a brother to me. And that’s one of the things we always do just as part of that bond is whenever you get tattoos like that, it’s something you carry with you through the rest of your life and it’s really meaningful.”

he ‘Total Recall’ actress - who is engaged to Justin Timberlake - was taught by her father how to deal with extreme conditions, and knows how to stop hypothermia developing. She said: “My father taught me to be a survival expert. I know how to prevent hyperthermia if you fall into a freezing cold river; you get out and immediately take off your clothes. “The best way to heat up your body is to have skin-on-skin contact with someone. So basically, you’re both naked.”Jessica credits her parents as the closest people too her in her life, mostly because of their “outdoorsy” nature. She added: “Who have I been closest to in my life? My parents. They are very cool outdoorsy people.

Growing up, we always camped as a family in Colorado, where we lived. My dad taught me all this survival stuff, like starting a fire and building a shelter out of trees and branches. We are a very close-knit family.”

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Watson wants a varied life

Senegal’s

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he 22-year-old beauty - who is set to return to Brown University in America in January to complete her degree - feels “happiest” when pursuing something creative but also wants the chance to live her own life. She said: “I’d like to be considered a good, versatile actress. I feel happiest when doing something creative - writing, painting, acting or dancing, so I think I’ll always complement the acting with something else.

If you act all the time, you’re spending your life living other people’s lives. “Really I’d quite like it if things calm down a bit and I think that will happen naturally.”

Emma - who shot to fame when she was cast as Hermione Granger in the ‘Harry Potter’ film series aged just nine - can next be seen in ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ and she fell in love with the script as soon as she read it. She told Britain’s Glamour magazine: “It’s not some wild break away from ‘Harry Potter’ because I don’t really want to get away from ‘Harry Potter’ - I’ve never seen it as a shackle. “But I knew the second I read the script that I wanted this film to be seen.”

he TV mogul suffered a collapse as the strains of managing his working life - which includes a portfolio of shows including ‘The X Factor’ in the UK and US, ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘America’s Got Talent’ became too much for him. Simon reportedly had to take a step back from auditions for this year’s ‘X Factor’ in the US after he feared his lifestyle was making him into a “weird vampire.” In an updated new chapter of his book, ‘Sweet Revenge , The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell’, Tom Bower says the TV star told his close friend and ‘X Factor’ colleague Louis Walsh: “I don’t want any more tablets and pills. I’m cutting out the lot, including cigarettes. “I desperately need peace. I’m craving normality. I’ve got to work out my demons and come out of it. “I have to get back to where I was years ago. I had to stop reading texts at three in the morning and making calls later and later. I wanted peace.” Simon, 52, later added to friends that the pressures of constantly flying between the US and the UK were getting too much for him, saying: “My life was like a night shift. I’d forgotten the sensation of the morning.” Meanwhile, Playboy model Danielle Delaney has made claims she had a seven year on-off relationship with the star. The 35-year-old actress claims she was seduced by the TV boss and once even got frisky with him in the back of his limousine as he took her to his £15 million Los Angeles mansion. A source close to Danielle said: “She had an amazing night with Simon. She described him as an amazing kisser, and said he really knew how to treat a lady.

“Danielle stayed at Simon’s home until at least 4am, then he called his driver to take her to a hotel.”

Ndour sings for floods victims

orld music icon Youssou Ndour starred in a charity concert on Saturday for flood victims in Senegal, his first performance since becoming culture minister in April. Ndour, who was disqualified for running for presi-

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dent in a March election, performed alongside three other Senegalese music stars-Ismael Lo, Thione Seck and Omar Pene. “This is a moment of national solidarity, and a very important moment for Senegalese music and culture,” he said.

Ndour said the concert raised the equivalent of around 148,000 euros for the victims of floods that have killed at least 13 people in two weeks and left thousands homeless. Organisers had said they were hoping to raise around 230,000 euros.

Price dyes her hair ‘brunette’

he 34-year-old former glamour model admits she prefers being brunette and her partner Leandro Penna loves her new look. She said: “I much prefer being darker. I can never find the right blonde.” Leandro added: “This is the first time I’ve seen Katie dark. It’s sexy. “When she was blonde, she looked too normal but this brown hair makes her stand out.” Katie - who has three children from previous relationships - also admitted she has not been wearing her pink heart-shaped, diamond engagement ring because it doesn’t fit her. She said: “I haven’t been wearing it because it’s too big. My engagement isn’t off.” The brunette beauty - who was previously married to Peter Andre and Alex Reid - recently admitted she has no plans to “rush into” walking down the aisle again. She said: “The simple truth is that Leo and I have not set a date and we have made absolutely no plans. “Leo and I are enjoying being together and being engaged. We are not rushing into a wedding.”

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Affleck becomes a better actor by directing movies

Geldof gets married T

he socialite wed musician Tom Cohen at the St Mary Magdalene and St Lawrence Church in Davington, Kent, Southern England on Saturday, the village where she was raised.

The church has special significance for Peaches’ family as it is where her mother, the late Paula Yates, and her father, Bob Geldof, had their wedding blessed after earlier marrying in Las Vegas in 1986. The church is also where Paula’s funeral was held in 2000. Peaches, 23, and Tom, 20, exchanged vows in front of a small congregation at the church, before moving on to a reception in the grounds of, Davington Priory, where Bob still lives. A female vicar was seen outside of the church ahead of the ceremony, wearing a traditional black shirt and collar teamed with a white patterned skirt. On Friday Peaches - who has a five-month old son, Astala, with Tom - expressed her excitement for the forthcoming nuptials on twitter, writing: “Very soon my engagement ring will have a wedding band under it! SO excited- my last few days of not being a wife!!!! (sic).” The marriage is a second for Peaches, after her brief marriage to American musician Max Drummey, whom she wed in Las Vegas in 2008. The couple split in February 2009 but were not officially divorced until April 2011.

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he actor-turned-director has worked both behind and in front of the camera for his films ‘The Town’ and more recently ‘Argo’ and says taking on the role of director has made him more aware of his on-screen flaws.

He said: “If anybody really wants to be an actor, a great advanced class would be to direct some stuff. Because you get some perspective.” Ben also revealed he signed up to thriller ‘Argo’, which tells the story of a covert operation to liberate six State Department employees who escaped the 1979 siege of the US Embassy in Iran, because he immediately fell in love with the script. He explained: “I just fell in love with it. It was clearly written by somebody who had similar taste to mine, which errs on the side away from telling the audience what to think and allows it to make its own determination. “It’s a movie that I would be happy to show to my friends who are Republican and my friends who are Democrats.”

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Craig

at the Olympics opening ceremony

he 86-year-old monarch made a surprise appearance in a sketch for the London spectacular, which saw her greet the actor in his guise as James Bond before supposedly parachuting from a helicopter. The director - who is at the helm for the latest installment of the Bond franchise, ‘Skyfall’ - “loved” the idea but said he was too scared to help Danny Boyle - the man who masterminded the ceremony - with the mammoth task. He said: “I loved it. Of course I knew that that was being shot. Danny [Boyle] was down on the set a couple of times and I was aware of it all going on. I said, ‘I’m staying out of it!’ I’ve got enough to worry about without four billion people watching whatever it is!’ “But I thought it was amazing. And also a good promo for the movie! It was an act of brinksmanship that went spectacularly right. When I heard about it through Danny and Daniel, I thought, ‘Okay, that’s a hell of a knife-edge to walk,’ with the real queen - who I think Danny directed with great elan.” The filmmaker admits the Olympics have made him proud to be British and he is glad to be part of such a successful franchise of films. He told Empire magazine: “It’s just one of those wonderful periods in the history of London, and Great Britain. And it feels like Bond is part of that and I’m proud to be part of that tradition. “Bond, interestingly this year, chooses to come back to England quiet a lot. It feels like Bond returning home.” —Agencies

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

lifestyle F E A T U R E S

Tissot Tradition:

Contemporary statements with vintage whispers

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Cuban singer Omara Portuondo performs in a concert during the ‘Ajazzgo Festival 2012’ at Enrique Buenaventura Municipal theatre, in Cali, Colombia on September 8, 2012. — AFP

Sleeping beauties await prince’ s kiss in Ukraine exhibition t wasn’t exactly Prince Charming but one of Ukraine’s “Sleeping Beauties” finally got a kiss on the lips as she dozed on a dais filmed by cameras-though unlike the fairy tale she never woke up. “I’m not sure I would marry precisely this girl, I just was curious whether she would open her eyes,” said the young woman who dared the embrace while male visitors shied away.

The venue was Ukraine’s National Art Museum and the stakes were-marriage.

Visitors at a wacky performance called “Sleeping Beauty” were allowed to kiss a series of volunteer Sleeping Beauties-but only if they signed an undertaking to marry the woman if she “wakes up”. Those reluctant to commit to a perfect stranger were allowed to look at the “princess” slumbering in a white dress in the dimly lit room, but not lock lips.

“I’m not ready to kiss a woman on the first date, and it’s definitely the first time I’ve ever seen her,” said Oleksandr Dankov, 43, after choosing not to steal a smooch. But “perhaps I’ll come again,” he told AFP. Yana Krasnokutska, 23, was more daring. “It’s a fairy

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Visitors look at a woman sleeping on September 5, 2012 during a performance at Ukraine’s National Art Museum in Kiev. — AFP tale, so I was just curious to try it,” she told AFP, smiling after kissing the “Beauty” lightly on the lips. The performance was created by Ukrainian-Canadian artist Taras Polataiko, who said he had been working on this project for the last two years. He was inspired by the well-loved fairytale in which a young princess is put under a curse and sleeps for hundreds of years along with her kingdom. She is finally awoken by a kiss from a prince who loves her.

The women in Kiev slept in public for two hour-long shifts each day, with a half-hour break between.

“The idea behind the project is patience,” Polataiko told AFP. “Our people can be patient for a long time. While Beauty is sleeping, the entire kingdom is also sleeping. If the kingdom is to be woken, the Beauty must be woken.”Polataiko said that he chose as his Sleeping Beauties attractive women who

were also looking for a steady partner “All the five girls I’ve chosen are gorgeous, smart and waiting for a true love,” he said, adding that he initially planned having only one Sleeping Beauty but ended giving the others a chance too. ‘It’s a fairy tale’“We have three or four visitors every day willing to awake the Sleeping Beauty, both men and women,” he told AFP. “This isn’t a marriage agency. It’s magic, it’s a fairy tale. No one knows how it will end,” said Polataiko.

Natalya Bakovskaya, 27, was the first sleeping beauty to do a three-day stint waiting for her prince after her sisters told her about the casting call on television. “When it started, I got really involved in it and felt as if I was in a fairy tale,” she told AFP. “I could hardly sleep with all the cameras and visitors on the first day, but afterwards I enjoyed the two hours of the rest in the middle of the day and even felt a kind of drowsiness,” Bakovskaya said. She said she did not open her eyes and so never did find her prince, although one of the kisses she received was “especially memorable”. Later she tried watching a video of her kisses to identify the young man who kissed her on the first day, but did not succeed.

Finally the fairy tale ended with a non-traditional twist as the fourth Sleeping Beauty opened her eyes after a kiss, to find not a prince, but a princess. “I was astonished when I opened my eyes and saw a girl,” translator Yana Gurzhiy, 24, told AFP after she decided to open her eyes when she was kissed on the forehead. Ukraine does not allow gay marriage, making it impossible for Gurzhiy to tie the knot with her pursuer, but she said she had felt a connection with the woman who kissed her, whom she named only as Katya.

“I believe it is not a coincidence we had to meet this way. She’s a very interesting person, so I hope we’ll have some kind of professional and creative partnership.” A fifth Sleeping Beauty was set to take her place in the performance, which was to end September 9. — AFP

Affleck says continued Iran tensions make ‘Argo’ topical iven current diplomatic tensions over Iran, Ben Affleck says his new spy thriller “Argo” couldn’t be more topical, even though it is set more than 30 years ago.

The film, which Affleck both directs and stars in, is based on the CIA’s role in smuggling six American diplomats out of Iran in 1979 under the unlikely guise of a fake movie production. It premiered on Friday at the Toronto film festival to thunderous applause and standing ovations and is already being hailed as a major Oscar contender.

Filmed in the grainy style of the 1970s, the movie depicts how the diplomats escaped the storming of the US Embassy in Tehran at the height of Iran’s Islamic revolution by taking refuge at the home of the Canadian ambassador. Traversing back and forth between Tehran and Washington, it borrows from the memoir of a former CIA specialist Tony Mendez, “The Master of Disguise,” which details how he devised an incredible escape plan to pose as a Canadian film crew.

More than 30 years since the embassy crisis, Affleck, who plays Mendez, says little has changed in relations between the West and Iran. Indeed, the very same day the movie premiered in Toronto, Canada suspended its diplomatic relations with Iran, closed its embassy there and called the Tehran government’s disputed nuclear program the biggest threat to global security.

The United States has not had a functioning embassy in Iran since the 1979-81 hostage crisis, when 52 Americans were held for 444 days. “While the movie is 30 years old, it really is still relevant,” Affleck told reporters in Toronto on Saturday. “Both in the sense that it’s about the unintended consequences

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of revolution and in the sense that we’re dealing with the exact same issues now that we were then.” The 40-year-old actor, who is taking a new career turn with the political thriller after directing a series of stories about Boston, including “The Town,” also linked the film’s focus on the fallout from social unrest to the wider regional conflict today in the Middle East. “There are some real parallels going on with the Arab Spring to Tunisia to Egypt to Syria - places where the unintended consequences of revolutions are playing out,” he said.

CIA, Hollywood save the day Argo begins with a short history lesson. It scans the decades before 1979, including America support for the Shah and how his prolonged stay in the United States after fleeing Iran in 1979 so enraged revolutionaries seeking justice for his rule. The drama soon switches to the storming of the embassy and the planning and execution of the rescue, with Alan Arkin and John Goodman providing some comic input as Hollywood veterans teaching Affleck’s Mendez how to make his plan seem real. “So you want to come to Hollywood and act like a big shot without actually doing anything?” Goodman asks Affleck. “You will fit right in.” Affleck said he had “no idea” if Oscar voters would be favorable towards a film that both celebrates and pokes fun at Hollywood, but added: “The Hollywood satire aspect of it ... that is the component I liked the best.”

Both he and writer Chris Terrio maintain that the broad thesis of the film is based on actual events, although traditional Hollywood dramatic license includes a climax scene

where Iranian police chase a jumbo jet down a runway. Terrio, who also drew on a 2007 Wired Magazine article called “The Great Escape,” called it “a fictionalized version of real events.” The US role in the mission was kept under wraps until it was declassified by President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s. “Sure, there are aspects of it that are dramatized,” Terrio said. “And there are aspects of it that are real, that aren’t on the record, they are classified. But you kind of get to fudge a little and stick it in as long as you call it fiction. It’s a mix.” Asked whether the big screen version

might overshadow the old hero of the story, Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor, Affleck said the film “does resurrect this idea of ‘Thank You Canada.’” Affleck said the producers had been unable to find Iranians willing to be in the movie while filming in Turkey, as they were “afraid of the repercussions-of what would happen to their families back home.” However, Iranian film director Rafi Pitts does play a visa officer and he had predicted that Iranians would still watch the movie even if it wasn’t distributed in Iran, Affleck said. — Reuters

Actress Jennifer Lawrence, actor Robert De Niro, actor Bradley Cooper and filmmaker David O. Russell attend the ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday in Toronto. — AP

he Tissot Tradition family gives ultra-modern watch making a justified hint of nostalgia, giving today’s technology a vintage-style design signature. There are Gent models with three-hand mechanisms, as well as chronographs and GMT, all confirming the brand’s tradition of innovation. A highlight is the option of sophisticated perpetual calendar functionality in pieces driven by the brand new G15.561 movement, offering excellent timekeeping and value rolled into one.

Perfect harmony High-tech operation is perfectly balanced with classical details and subtle vintage-look finishes.

These are complemented by design elements such as guilloche decoration and a gently curved case.

The Tissot Tradition promises wearers endless hours of precision with sustainable good looks.

Features * Swiss made * Quartz movement with Battery end-of-life indicator (EOL) * Domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal * 316L Stainless steel case * Water-resistant to 3 bar (30 m / 100 ft)

Liberty Ross models during the Alexander Wang Spring 2013 collection, during Fashion Week in New York, Saturday. — AP

Wife jilted in Kristen Stewart saga hits runway hile Kristen Stewart promoted a new film in Toronto, her one-time romantic rival took to the runway. Liberty Ross, the wife of “Snow White and the Huntsman” director Rupert Sanders, walked the catwalk during the Alexander Wang show on Saturday at New York Fashion Week wearing a white wind-breaker with a pencil skirt.

Stewart and Sanders issued public apologies following tabloid reports they had a brief affair while Stewart was dating her “Twilight” co-star Robert Pattinson. Ross, 33, has mostly retired from modeling and most recently appeared in “Snow White and the Huntsman” as Stewart’s mother. Stewart appeared in public for the first time since the scandal broke on Thursday for the premiere of “On the Road” at the Toronto International Film Festival. Hundreds of “Twilight” fans came out to show support for the 22year-old actress. Meanwhile, Alexander Wang’s show is one of the hottest tickets at fashion week and he’s made a splash before using models who aren’t regular runway walkers. Last season it was Gisele Bundchen, Shalom Harlow and Karolina Kurkova. On Saturday, runway graduate Erin Wasson also returned to his catwalk. —AP

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Jackson avoids talk

about ‘ The Hobbit’ F

ilmmaker Peter Jackson avoided questions on Saturday about his decision to split J.R.R. Tolkien’s 300page fantasy novel “The Hobbit” into three feature length films, amid growing fan criticism. The director of the epic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy says the decision to make three films was possible because of the extended appendices in that novel, in which Tolkien adds details of the Middle Earth fantasy world that provides the setting for “The Hobbit.”

But during a press conference in Toronto, a moderator told the public that Jackson would not take any questions unrelated to “West of Memphis,” a film he directed and starring Johnny Depp that was premiering in Canada. Jackson spoke via Skype. Subsequent calls to Jackson’s publicists were not returned. Tolkien fans claim that Jackson is seeking to cash by dragging out stories into several films to reap more box office revenue, or has run out of new ideas.

In a similar trend, “Harry Potter” turned the seventh and final of the novel series-”Deathly Hallows”-into two separate movies, and continued with the “Twilight” and “The Hunger Games” franchises. Tolkien himself has been derided as a writer in need of a cutthroat editor. “Lord of the Rings,” written between 1937 and 1949 as a sequel to “The Hobbit,” was originally intended by Tolkien to be one book, but his publisher insisted on releasing it as three tomes for economic reasons. —AFP

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

lifestyle F a s h i o n

Models walk in the finale of the Prabal Gurung Spring 2013 collection, during Fashion Week in New York, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012.

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enough to go under a parka or a vest and buttery enough for spring.” Designers have been moving away from seasonal dressing, meaning that models at Rag & Bone endured layers of leather in a roasting un-air conditioned preview on Friday. “I’m not designing specifically for ‘the show’ or even for spring,” said Tom Mora of J. Crew, which has a preview here on Tuesday. “We have deliveries once a month and we always want it to look new.” The crowd traded tank tops and open-toed shoes

on Friday for long sleeves and boots on Saturday as rain leaked through the tents at Lincoln Center. MercedesBenz Fashion Week previews for retailers, editors and stylists continue for eight days, before the fashion crowd heads for London, Milan and Paris.

BILLY REID The town met the country when designer Billy Reid infused his men’s and women’s collections with some of his Alabama charm. Ascots, pelican prints and fishing shirts took over a very urban space Friday night sandwiched between art galleries in Chelsea. He offered a coated cotton utility jacket paired with high waisted trousers and a gold linen shirtdress with exaggerated pockets for women, and a leather peak lapel jacket, worn with a linen mock turtleneck and sharkskin-texture trouser for men. When Reid’s two worlds come together, the audience sees charm, good taste and a bit of wit.

Perhaps more importantly, though, there’s a sense of reality here: There are stylish linen sportcoats, luxe - and on-trend - leather looks, and well-tailored suits, including chic, slim pantsuits for women, that one could imagine being worn by the finicky fashion crowd and everyone else. The warning should come that while the styles have broad appeal, the price tags might not. Reid seems to favor rich fabrics and materials, especially suedes, lambskin and leather in beige, bone and tobacco.

REBECCA TAYLOR Rebecca Taylor’s muse for the spring season is the city girl - normally quite content where she is - who allows herself to dream of that tropical vacation from time to time. On the runway, Taylor transported her to Hawaii. Of course, this urban dweller doesn’t have board shorts. She packs a coral-colored hibiscus print T-shirt dress with sexy cutouts. The collection also included soft, washed denim pieces contrasted with silk ones studded with jewels. When this girl touches back home and is ready to return to work, Taylor offered her a textured turquoise leather jacket, black dotted bra top and flirty black knit skirt. “I think sexy is changing. Strong is a good way for a woman to feel sexy - not overtly feminine, but not the power shoulder of the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Taylor said before the show. “I’m not quite going there.”

JILL STUART Designer Jill Stuart says spring is her favorite season, and she tried to convey that in a runway collection that celebrated lightness and femininity. That’s what Stuart does these days: pretty clothes that don’t reinvent the wheel. There was a delicate white lace tea-time dress, and lingerie-inspired silk tap pants with a bustier top covered by a trench. A high-neck, bone-colored blouse was made of lace and dotted with flower appliques, and a seafoam-green, one-shouldered dress with a keyhole cutout on the top and a pleated skirt gave the catwalk a shot of color. She is aiming for “timeless, elegant dresses that are always capturing the season,” Stuart said backstage, but that could really be worn anytime. “I want to wear the black lace dress that’s opening the show right now, tonight.” (She has a dinner date with her daughter.)

JILL STUART

EDUN One doesn’t usually think of harsh military green as a color that will come off well on the fashion runway. But at Edun, the label founded by U2 rocker Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, the color is used by designer Sharon Wauchob to embody toughness. Along with designs like a camouflage print, cargo pants, and utility vests, it’s part of a protective “outer layer” that envelops softer, sexier items in fabrics like silk and chiffon. “That’s the duality of the Edun girl - soft but edgy,” Hewson said after the show. “This time, we wanted to take the intimacy of the bedroom out to the street. So for example you have cargo pants - but in silk.” Edun was founded in 2005 by Bono and Hewson to promote change through a trading relationship with Africa. The Edun shows are big draws for fellow celebs, often musicians. On Saturday, singer Alicia Keys was on hand, as well as R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe. “I love sexy clothes, so this was good for me,” Keys said after the show.

Edun

BILLY REID

flurry of assistants rushed to protect racks of clothes at New York Fashion Week from Saturday’s sudden downpours - perhaps as potent a reminder as any during these spring previews that seasons can be temperamental. Maybe that’s why leather is as common in these previews for spring and summer 2013 as the pops of color and chiffon you might expect. “You can wear those leather jackets all year long,” said stylist June Ambrose. “They’re sleek

PRABAL GURUNG Prabal Gurung is proposing a little more freedom in a woman’s wardrobe. The looser, lessconstructed silhouette was seen from the first look, an ethereal white hand-embroidered jacket with beads and a trail of chiffon floating behind, to the last, a blush-colored strapless cocktail dress with ostrich feathers and “creeping sequins.” “Clothes are moving slightly away from the body. You know, especially what is happening around the world right now, especially in America with politics and everything, the idea of giving freedom to women sounds very, very exciting to me,” he said backstage before the show. Gurung didn’t shy away from the heavily embellished path, even if it meant going his own way this round of previews, where other designers have pared down their looks. He also took into account that women are always in motion. Maybe that explains the new take on “sweatpants” - in printed silk.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

lifestyle F a s h i o n CHRISTIAN SIRIANO Some of his fashionista fans and “Project Runway” followers may not know this, but Christian Siriano danced ballet when he was younger, as did his sister. And so, when the designer was seeking inspiration for his latest collection, he found it in ballet, specifically in American Ballet Theatre’s production of “The Dream,” which evokes a sumptuous fairy-tale world filled with pastel-colored tulle. “I was feeling very romantic,” he said in a backstage interview. Siriano, who won the fourth season of “Project Runway” and has done more with that launching pad than any other winner, thrilled his audience with a series of graceful, delicate and sometimes dramatic designs, in colors like ballet pink, sea foam, mint, ivory, champagne and watercolor (that last color looked exactly like it had been mixed at Monet’s easel.) He saved the most dramatic gesture for the end: There was an audible gasp when not one but three models came out to show the final look, striding three across with one slightly in front, as if in a ballet sequence. They wore flowing tulle applique dresses, one in watercolor, one in pink and one in sea foam.

TOMMY HILFIGER Tommy Hilfiger wants men to put some prep in their step with his varsityinspired collection, fit for an afternoon cricket match or a leisurely day on the yacht. Seersucker blazers and shorts in Hilfiger’s signature red, white and blue were adorned with college emblems and gold insignia buttons. Slim-fitted suits were paired with crisp, button-down shirts or V-neck cashmere sweaters. And there were stripes- lots and lots of stripes in a collection inspired by Hilfiger’s style icons: James Dean, Paul Newman and the Kennedys. “We think that stripes are really going to be the rule of the spring/summer for men,” Hilfiger said before the show. Gold-medalist swimmer Nathan Adrian sat front row alongside Joshua Bowman and Gabriel Mann, stars of ABC’s “Revenge.” “I’ve been wearing Tommy since high school and it’s just so sharp,” said Mann. “I think that’s my favorite style actually: prep with edge.”

CUSHNIE ET OCHS The Cushnie et Ochs spring collection was full of chic, sharp lines, but designers Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs didn’t use a razor’s edge to get them. It was clean without the mean on this runway at the downtown Milk Studios at New York Fashion Week on Friday. A group of white dresses - one a slinky jersey, one with butter fly sleeves and another with skin-baring slits on the bodice and seemingly held together at the bustline by a metal triangle - set the tone of relaxed elegance, while a parade of black dresses, dressier in silk faille and satin that emphasized sheath shapes and high waists, sealed the no-nonsense deal. Sandwiched in between the black and white were the shades of ocean blue that have proved popular along with black and white at these seasonal previews. — AP

CHARLOTTE RONSON Charlotte Ronson said it with fishnet accents and see-through vinyl varsity jackets during a runway show filled with flouncy dresses in sea greens, ocean blues, lemonade and mint.

To the beat of her DJ twin, Samantha, the designer on Friday also sent out a water lily print in black, blue and taupe for dresses, skirts and bralettes.

Dresses were girly, some with pleated bottoms above the knee. Others were done with sheer panels also used in peplum blouses and with a denim stripe print. Paris Hilton, Rachel Zoe, Kimora Lee Simmons and her ex-husband, Russell Simmons, sat in the front row with their daughters.

Wife jilted in Kristen Stewart saga hits runway

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2012

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Israel’s actress Hadas Yaron holds the Coppa Volpi for the Best Actress she received for ‘Lemale et Ha Chalal’.

Director Kim Ki-duk, left, bows in front of the Jury as he is announced the winner of the Golden Lion for best movie for his film ‘Pieta’ at the 69th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Saturday. — AP photos

Director Kim Ki-duk shows his Golden Lion for best movie for his film ‘Pieta’.

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman receives the Silver Lion for Best Director on behalf of director Paul Thomas Anderson (not shown).

outh Korean director Kim Ki-duk’s “Pieta” won the top prize at the Venice film festival, while Paul Thomas Anderson’s Scientology-inspired “The Master” walked off with two major awards. The eccentric Kim delighted the audience at the awards ceremony by breaking into song on stage to celebrate winning the Golden Lion award for his bleak morality tale. The director, whose personality seems far from the darkness of his protagonists, belted out the Korean folk song “Arirang” on stage to thank the jury.His film tells the story of a diabolical loan shark who prowls the alleys and clapped-out workshops of a Seoul district being redeveloped. A mysterious woman claiming to be his mother walks into his life and the twisted hero struggles for redemption in an emotional crescendo. Kim said that his film was intended to be a denunciation of “extreme capitalism”, adding that money was the “third protagonist” in the movie.

The loan shark in the film is played with skin-crawling intensity by Lee Jung-jin and the woman is a haunting presence played

by Cho Min-soo. The film’s title was inspired by Michelangelo’s famous “Pieta” statue in the Vatican of the Virgin Mary holding the corpse of her son Jesus Christ. “I’ve been to the Vatican twice to admire this masterpiece by Michelangelo. The image of this embrace has stayed with me for many years. For me, it is an embrace of humanity,” the pony-tailed director told reporters earlier. Actor Lee spoke of his apprehension when taking the part of the loan shark. “I was a bit afraid because he works with darkness, with difficulty, but it all went very well,” Lee said.

“I was not asked to play beautiful scenes but to play true scenes.” The 51-year-old Kim is no stranger to the Venice film festival. He won the best director award in 2004 for his “Bin-jip” (“3Iron”) about the relationship between a young drifter and an abused housewife. Hollywood producer and director Michael Mann, who presided over this year’s jury, paid tribute to all 18 films in competition. But “Pieta” in particular “seduced you viscerally,” he added. The best actor prize went jointly to Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman for their performances in Anderson’s “The Master.”

And Anderson picked up the Silver Lion award for best director. Phoenix plays an alcoholic World War II veteran who becomes a disciple to the charismatic Hoffman, playing the leader of a nascent movement called “The Cause” in the beautifully shot movie set in the 1950s. Hoffman’s character is loosely based on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. As Phoenix and Anderson were not present, the prizes were collected by a disheveled-looking Hoffman, who said he had just stepped off a plane. “Joaquin Phoenix is a life force in the film and I kind of rode it in the film and that was my performance. It was something untameable,” Hoffman said.

Receiving the award for Anderson, he said: “He happens to be one of the great filmmakers in the world. I think he’s the best.”

The award for best actress was picked up by Hadas Yaron who plays a fragile but passionate young girl becoming a woman in an Orthodox Hasidic community in Tel Aviv in Rama Burshtein’s “Lemale Et Ha’Chalal” (“Fill the Void”).

The jury also awarded a special prize to Austrian director Ulrich Seidl’s “PARADIES: Glaube” (“PARADISE: Faith”) — a controversial film about a disturbed woman whose Catholic faith turns into a sexual obsession. French director Olivier Assayas won best screenplay for his “Apres Mai” (“Something in the Air”) about a group of politically active youngsters growing up in France in the early 1970s. The prize for the best rising star went to Fabrizio Falco for performances in two Italian films: Marco Bellocchio’s “Bella Addormentata” and in Daniele Cipri’s “E Stato Il Figlio.”

Cipri picked up the award for best technical contribution for the cinematography in his film. The world’s oldest film festival has brought Hollywood veterans like Robert Redford and new stars Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens as well as art house auteurs from around the globe to the seaside resort of the Venice Lido. The eagerly awaited “To the Wonder” by Terrence Malick starring Ben Affleck and Javier Bardem disappointed many critics with its overtly auteurish visual story of love in its many forms. The festival included several new talents from an Arab world in upheaval and a strong focus on the social and moral fallout from the economic crisis sweeping Europe and the United States. — AFP

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Austrian film director Ulrich Seidl holds the Special Jury Prize he received for ‘Paradies: Glaube’.

Actor Joaquin Phoenix receives the Coppa Volpi for best actor.

Belgian film director Frederic Fonteyne poses with the Special Orizzonti Jury Prize award for Full-Length Films he received for “Tango Libre”.

Chinese film director Wang Bing poses with the Orizzonti South Korean Yoo Min-young poses Italian film director Daniele Cipri holds the with the Orizzonti Youtube award Prize for the Best Technical Contribution Award for Best Film he received for ‘San Zimei’. for Best Short Film she received for Award he received for ‘E stato il figlio’.

‘Cho-De’.

French film director Olivier Assayas poses with the Prize for the Best Screenplay.

Turkish film director Ali Aydin holds the Lion of the Future Award he received for “Kuf”.

Italian actor Fabrizio Falco holds the Marcello Mastroianni Award for the Best Young Actor or Actress he received for ‘Bella addormentata’ and ‘E stato il figlio’.