10 Nov 2011

CR IP TI ON BS SU

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

Somalia famine baby back from brink of death

Hindus found guilty over deadly 2002 Indian riots

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Brains, guts, glitz are honored at Glamour fest

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Tendulkar misses milestone, but India win

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Minister urged to apply law on ‘immoral’ colonel

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THULHIJJA 14, 1432 AH

Woman given KD 10,000 in ‘hush money’ • MoI vows action

Max 22º Min 09º Low Tide 06:03& 17:42 High Tide 12:27 & 23:08

By B Izzak

Iran defiant over nukes, warns Israel TEHRAN: Iran vowed yesterday it “will not budge an iota” from its nuclear path despite a new UN report hardening suspicions it is seeking atomic weapons, as an Iranian general warned Israel of “destruction” if it launched an attack. The words of defiance fell while the United States and its allies said they were looking at imposing more sanctions on Iran, and Tehran’s chief ally, China, urged the Islamic republic to cooperate with the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency. But Russia ruled out backing new sanctions against Iran and held urgent consultations with its Soviet-era ally following the publication of the damning report from the IAEA. After a week of sabre-rattling among Israeli officials and media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the world must end Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.

The UN nuclear watchdog’s report on Tuesday said “credible” evidence existed of Iran working towards making nuclear warheads to fit inside Shahab-3 medium-range missiles. Iranian officials immediately characterised the report as “baseless” and hewing to intelligence provided by Ahmadinejad Iran’s arch-foe the United States.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday in a speech broadcast on state television: “We will not budge an iota from the path we are committed to.”

He reiterated that, contrary to the IAEA report, Iran’s nuclear program was exclusively peaceful in nature, saying “we don’t need the atomic bomb”. His deputy armed forces chief, Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, warned however that any sign of Israel carrying out threats to attack Iran’s nuclear sites “will see its destruction”. Jazayeri said in an interview with Iran’s Arabic-language channel Al-Alam that the Israeli nuclear site of Dimona was “the most accessible” target. But he also stated that “our response would not be limited to the Middle East.”

Continued on Page 13

CAIRO: Angry Syrian protesters chant anti-Syrian regime slogans as they wave a Syrian revolution flag outside the Arab League headquarters yesterday. (Inset) Damascus-based Syrian opposition representative Abdelaziz Khayer is seen after Syrian activists residing in Egypt threw eggs on him and his comrades for being ‘traitors bought by the regime’ outside the League headquarters. — AP/AFP

Syria oppn group pelted with eggs BEIRUT: Angry Syrian protesters pelted a group of opposition leaders with eggs outside Arab League headquarters in Cairo yesterday, preventing them from entering the building for talks with the organization’s chief about the violence in Syria. In Syria itself, security forces killed at least 12 protesters at anti-government demonstrations yesterday in Damascus and elsewhere, activists said, as the brutal crackdown continues despite Syria’s agreement to an Arab League plan to stop the violence.

Future development of Makkah to fit heritage MAKKAH: Future development in the Muslim sacred city of Makkah will be more in tune with traditional architecture, the mayor says, but for now residents worry that Islam’s holiest sites are disappearing behind skyscrapers. The historic city, the birthplace of Islam, is studded with dozens of yellow and red cranes and metal scaffolding aimed at increasing hotel space and improving facilities to make the annual hajj pilgrimage safer and easier.

As more than 2.5 million Muslims from across the world

The Cairo scuffle highlights the deep divisions within the Syrian opposition, which is struggling to overcome infighting and inexperience eight months into the uprising against President Bashar Assad’s autocratic regime. The fault lines within the movement continue to hamper its efforts to topple Assad and have prevented the opposition from gaining the traction it needs to present a credible alternative to the regime. Instead, it remains deeply divided over Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Opposition MPs yesterday called on Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah to apply the law on a senior officer who is allegedly involved in a “moral scandal” and to refuse interference by senior officials including a minister who want to cover up the incident. The scandal unfolded during the Eid Al-Adha holiday when a Kuwaiti woman came to Bayan police station and claimed she was beaten up by the deputy director of special forces Col Shukri Al-Najjar when they were on yacht on Sunday along with another female. The colonel later followed her and beat her again, causing some injuries.

The woman later claimed that she was forced by senior officers at the police station not to lodge a complaint and claimed she was given KD 10,000 from the colonel to keep silent. The woman however changed her mind when details of the agreement were released on Twitter and other blogs, and brought a medical report and filed a complaint. Col Al-Najjar has been behind bars at the interior ministry’s inspection department and was interrogated several times at the orders of the interior minister.

The interior ministry in a statement late yesterday said it had received a complete report on the incident and a decision will be made on Sunday. The ministry added that the law would be applied on anyone regardless of their rank and position. Reports on various media outlets suggested Al-Najjar has been asked to undergo tests for alcohol and drugs because the woman claimed the colonel was drunk and had drugs when he beat her. The incident became a political issue because it was Al-Najjar who commanded the elite special forces that beat up people and several MPs at the diwaniya of MP Jamaan Al-Harbash in December last year for which the prime minister was grilled and was among the reasons for forcing former interior minister Sheikh Jaber AlKhaled Al-Sabah to resign.

Al-Harbash and a number of MPs yesterday charged that a Cabinet minister other than the interior minister interfered in the issue in a bid to cover up the incident and protect the officer. AlHarbash said that the interior minister is under tremendous pressure from the “forces of corruption”, adding that the minister is at a crossroads - he either applies the law to safeguard Kuwait or relents to pressure from corruption forces to keep his post. The lawmaker also sent 16 questions to the minister asking for details on the scandal, focusing mostly on what happened at the police station and whether the victim had been intimidated by police officers to compel her not to file a complaint. In one of the questions Al-Harbash asked if the woman was pressurised to delete claims that the colonel had attempted to kill her.

Opposition MP Musallam Al-Barrak meanwhile asked the minister about the identity of a senior police officer who intervened in the interrogation with the woman and pressured her to change some of her testimony. Al-Barrak asked who had ordered the officer to go to the police station and interfere in the investigation. The lawmaker also asked the interior minister if another minister called a senior interior ministry official asking him to cover up the scandal. MP Dhaifallah Buramia demanded that the interior minister publicly explain if that minister made the call and if that attempt was made with his knowledge, adding that the interior minister must reveal the identity of that minister.

Students stage London march

flood Makkah’s narrow streets for the annual pilgrimage, however, many visitors and residents point to a government-owned 600-m tower surmounted by an extravagant clock as evidence development has moved too quickly. “The building regulations in the city take into consideration the width of the streets, central locations and do not allow the building of skyscrapers...what was built was that,” Mayor Osama Al-Bar told Reuters when asked about the MAKKAH: An aerial view shows the tower.

Makkah Clock Tower near the Grand Continued on Page 13 Mosque . — AFP

LONDON: Thousands of students marched through London yesterday against cuts to university funding, facing off against police armed with rubber bullets amid fears of a repeat of violent protests last year.

Police cleared a group of protesters who pitched their tents in the tourist hub of Trafalgar Square, while sticks and bottles were thrown at riot officers in the financial district, AFP correspondents reported. Scotland Yard said police had made a number of arrests for public order offences. It said 2,000 protesters were taking part, while the organisers of the demonstration said there were 10,000 people involved.

The situation was tense, with police authorised to use plastic baton rounds if there is any repetition of LONDON: A protester wearing a paper mask of British last year’s violence, when Prime Minister David Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg play-acts with a Cameron’s party headquarters was attacked on Nov cleaver during a demonstration yesterday. — AFP Continued on Page 13

in the

news

Veteran Kuwaiti actor Mansour passes away

Saudis hail success of this year’s hajj

Cole bomb suspect arraigned at Gitmo

Itching powder gets Mumbai traders’ goat

KUWAIT: Well-known Kuwaiti actor Mansour Al-Mansour AlArfaj passed away yesterday in Algiers, where he was on an official mission with the Al Khaleej theater group to perform the “Al Makeed” play on nomination from the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters. Al-Mansour was born in 1941, and worked as an actor, radio director and theater Mansour Al-Mansour director. He started working at Radio Kuwait in 1959. He belongs to a family of artistes, as his brothers Mohammed and Hussain are actors too, and Abdul Aziz is a director. Al-Mansour also directed several plays and radio works like “Habeeba” for Radio Kuwait over several years, and “Sindbad” and “Sandrela” plays.

MAKKAH: Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdel Aziz hailed the “success” of this year’s hajj despite fears of “chaos” in the wake of the Arab Spring, as remaining pilgrims continued final rites yesterday. “We thank God for the success of this year’s hajj, which was the best pilgrimage season to ever pass,” Nayef told the commanders of hajj security forces late on Tuesday. “Some (pilgrims) were expected to exploit the international and regional changes taking place to cause chaos. But thank God this did not happen,” SPA quoted Nayef, who also holds the interior portfolio, as saying. “What’s going on in Syria is painful,” Syrian pilgrim Abu Imad said. “I’m coming here to perform pilgrimage and to pray for myself and my children.” “We thank all the pilgrims for proving that they are Muslims who respect this (hajj) rite and for being cooperative,” Nayef added.

Indonesian pilgrim Hamid Eddine also believes that “pilgrims must follow instructions to gain the rewards of hajj and to smoothly perform their pilgrimage”.

US NAVAL BASE AT GUANTANAMO BAY: The main suspect in the USS Cole bombing was formally arraigned yesterday at Guantanamo in the first such case since US President Barack Obama reversed course and ordered controversial military trials to resume. Saudi-born Abd alRahim Al-Nashiri, 46, who was appearing in court for the first time since his 2002 arrest, faces the death penalty if convicted of planning and preparing the Oct 2000 attack on the US Navy destroyer in Yemen’s port of Aden.

Nashiri, who has not been seen publicly since his 2002 capture in the Gulf and subsequent incarceration at secret CIA prisons, appeared wearing prison clothes with short hair and a stubble. He smiled several times at the judge. A congressional investigation found that Nashiri was waterboarded while in custody, and that handlers loaded a gun and turned on a power drill near his head.

“By torturing Mr Nashiri, the United States has lost all moral authority to try Mr Nashiri,” his civilian lawyer Richard Kammen told reporters.

MUMBAI: A number of livestock traders were robbed of their lucrative Eid Al-Adha takings after thieves threw itching powder over them at a Mumbai market, a newspaper report said yesterday. The Daily News and Analysis said that several traders selling goats and sheep at the Deonar market were targeted in the run-up to the festival on Monday, which is marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals. One trader was robbed of his bag containing 261,000 rupees ($5,250) when he was distracted by trying to scratch the all-over itch, the daily said. “The accused... picked up the bag and jumped over the 10feet boundary wall to escape,” one eyewitness was quoted as saying. The president of the All India Sheep and Goat Breeders and Dealers Association, Mohammad Aslam Qureshi, added that the offences “happened right in front of the police personnel”. Another trader said that several similar robberies had taken place at the market in the two weeks preceding Eid but had not been reported.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

LOCAL

Years

KUWAIT: Abattoirs in Kuwait were crowded during Eid Al-Adha, (Feast of Sacrifice) holidays. Muslims from around the world offered animal sacrifices to mark the occasion. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Association slams ‘racist’ hospital for expatriates KUWAIT: The decision to build hospitals backed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) for the exclusive use of expatriates risks tarnishing Kuwait’s reputation on humanitarian grounds, read a recent statement issued by the Kuwaiti Doctors Association(KDA). The project is to be funded through revenues generated from health insurance fees levied on expatriates.

“The current draft law doesn’t go in line with the human rights agreements that can hurt Kuwait’s reputation if built without medical, financial or humanitarian justification provided,” the report stated, referring to the project ’s draft law presented by Minister of Health Dr Hilal Al-Sayer.

When implemented, current public medical facilities can only be accessed by citizens in a move to tackle the current problem of overcrowded hospitals and polyclinics.

“The fact that the level of medical services rendered in Kuwait are deteriorating doesn’t justify devising regulations to promote racism or discrimination,” the statement reads, further rejecting the notion of blaming the rapid increase of the country’s expatriate population for poor healthcare.

“While citizens should be given priority by their government to receive medical care, the government should come up with solutions to eliminate the problem of crowded medical facilities,” the association said, urging the government to start with “preventing

incidents where people arrive in Kuwait via on visit visa to avail of cheap medical services.” “The challenge to provide best quality medical services to citizens doesn’t give us the right to portray expatriates as the only reason for falling standards.

The report also highlighted the financial losses the project is expected to suffer as forecasted in a recent Alshall report, as well as the negative effects on medical practices “as it limits diversity in diagnosis and treatment offered at public medical facilities.” The report also argues that building more public hospitals and polyclinics is a better solution, reported Al- Rai. In other news, a report quoting MoH insiders reveal the ministry’s plans to form a supreme National committee for non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart diseases and diabetes, in line with a United Nations charter issued last September.

It indicates that these diseases are to be blamed for 13 percent of deaths that occurred globally in 2008, reported Al-Jarida. The MoH is still carrying out engineering studies to build a multi-storey building adjacent to AlRazi Hospital, announced Sameer AlAsfour Assistant Undersecretary for Public Services and Maintenance in a recent statement. He noted that AlAdan Hospital will soon be home to “the largest intensive care units in the Middle East,” reported Al-Rai.

Officer in custody pending investigation in assault case Woman pressurized to drop charges KUWAIT: A senior Ministry of Interior (MoI) official accused of physically assaulting a woman whilst drunk has been detained since Sunday pending the ongoing investigation on the orders of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, according to a security insider. The woman involved, however, has suggested that she was pressurized by high-ranking police officials to drop the charges against the officer. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case and the ongoing investigation, the MoI insider indicated that the accused officer, Colonel Shukri Al-Najjar, had been ordered to undergo a blood alcohol test to determine the truth of the claims that he was drunk during the incident. The test results which came back on Tuesday night indicate that no trace of alcohol or other drugs were found in Col. Al-Najjar’s blood.

According to the insider, the incident began after Col. Al-Najjar set out on a yacht cruise with three female friends. During the cruise, he became embroiled in a row with one of the women, another Kuwaiti citizen, which quickly turned into a heated verbal argument. The trip

was quickly cut short and on returning to the yacht club in Salmiya, the argument resumed and developed into a physical fight. Col. AlNajjar then forced the woman into the car and drove away, with the argument continuing during the drive, eventually reaching a spot near the Kuwait International Fairground in Mishref where the woman escaped from the car. At this point she encountered a Kuwaiti man who offered to take her to Bayan police station after becoming alarmed at the woman’s appearance and demeanor.

Since the incident, reports have emerged that the woman agreed to drop the assault charges she had pressed against Col. Al-Najjar after her attorney reached an agreement with his representatives that he would pay KD10,000 compensation to her over the incident.

Contacted by local daily Al-Rai, however, the woman, who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity, suggested that she initially felt compelled to accept this agreement in order to avoid any scandal before changing her mind, fearing that the officer would escape being held accountable for his actions.

The woman confirmed that she had been

News

in brief

More jobs for Kuwaitis KUWAIT: The Civil Service Commission is set to announce the names of more than 3,000 Kuwaitis chosen for jobs with various government bodies following the Eid Al-Adha holiday, which ends on Saturday night. The CSC’s plan was revealed by a commission insider, who said that those selected would consist of Kuwaiti men and women who previously registered their names on the CSC’s waiting list for civil service jobs. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the CSC insider said that the commission is currently working closely with other state bodies to list all public sector job vacancies in order to give the jobs to Kuwaitis.

MEW to build underground water reservoirs KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water intends to construct a number of underground water reservoirs as part of phase four of its water storage project.

An MEW source further revealed that the ministry is currently studying three new sites in the Mutlaa Ridge area, which are suitable for the construction of 10 large storage tanks, with each having a capacity of 50 million gallons.

It is also reportedly studying another two sites in the Jal area for the construction

of an additional ten storage tanks of the same capacity. The sites have been chosen specifically for their elevation above normal ground level, which will allow the water to be piped more easily to consumers without relying on expensive pumping operations.

The MEW is expected to conclude its studies of the selected areas during the current financial year before drawing up the tenders for the projects, which are projected to cost around KD50 million in total. — Al-Anba

Non-updated housing applications KUWAIT: The Public Authority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) is apparently seeking a legal means to cancel thousands of housing applications which have not been updated for years, indicating that those who submitted them no longer require properties.

Speaking to local daily Al-Rai, PAHW Deputy Director General Subhi Al-Mullah explained that legal complications currently prevent the authority from removing more than 4,000 applications that have not been updated since the 1990s, which form 5 percent of the total of all the applications submitted to the PAHW. At present, the PAHW can only cancel housing applications under very specific criteria, such as the applicant losing his or her Kuwaiti citizenship or personally agreeing to cancel their application.

Eight hurt in car accidents

By Hanan Al-Saadoun KUWAIT: A 26-year-old Kuwaiti man and a 17-year-old Saudi boy suffered multiple injuries in a car crash on Arabian Gulf Road opposite TGI Friday’s restaurant, whilst a 20-year-old Kuwaiti man involved in the same accident sustained fractures to his left arm and leg.

All three were rushed to Amiri Hospital.

In a separate incident on Fahaheel Expressway near the Shuaiba turnoff, a 24-year-old Kuwaiti man suffered multiple injuries, whilst a 25-year-old compatriot suffered a fracture to his right leg.

Both were taken to Adan Hospital.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old Kuwaiti man was taken to Farwaniya Hospital after suffering a broken leg in a crash on the Fifth Ring Road near the Khaitan turnoff.

In a fourth incident, a 12-year-old Kuwaiti boy sustained fractures to his left leg when he was hit by a car whilst crossing the street under the Marina Bridge. He was taken to Mubarak Hospital.

Finally, a 25-year-old Kuwaiti man was taken to Adan Hospital after suffer-

ing injuries to one hand in a dune buggy accident in Julaia.

Emergency calls A total of 834 medical emergency calls were received by the emergency services hotline during the Eid holiday period, with 136 of these being individuals involved in traffic accidents who were subsequently hospitalized.

Another 534 people were taken to hospital for various reasons, said a Ministry of Health insider. Meanwhile, the health ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Interior on plans for the upcoming camping season, organizing a number of security checkpoints near campsites. The plan also includes preparations to help the Hajjis returning from the annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia overland and by air, with a number of ambulances on standby in case of any emergency.

Fight club An 18-year-old Kuwaiti boy was taken to Adan Hospital after sustaining injuries in a fight near a security checkpoint in Julaia.

MoI looks to ‘militarize’ civilian posts KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior is reportedly considering replacing all of its civilian office staff with trained servicemen in an effort to avoid further disruptive strikes, after the civilian personnel staged strike action.

According to an MoI insider, servicemen are prohibited by military law from staging any such strike action, leading senior interior ministry officials to believe that it would be less potentially disruptive to deploy military personnel in all positions currently held by civilians.

“The Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-

Humoud Al-Sabah insists that nobody can be allowed to twist the arm of the ministry, whose main job is to maintain national security,” said the insider.

Any such move would not mean the civilian MoI employees being laid off, the insider stressed, but would mean they would be limited to performing tasks which don’t directly affect national interests or the ministry’s performance of its duties.

The insider also indicated that 200 servicemen previously trained in basic computer skills are already prepared to take over the office work at the ministry in case of any emergency. — Al-Rai

friends with Col. Al-Najjar for almost a year, adding that what happened during the incident in question was a personal dispute between them. She explained that she sustained bruises when he prevented her from getting out of his car as she attempted to escape him.

She further claimed that pressure from highranking officials at Bayan police station resulted in delays in filing charges against Col. Al-Najjar until she agreed, following a discussion with her lawyer, to file the charges the next day at Maidan Hawally police station after obtaining a medical report. The woman was adamant that she had come under no pressure from any MPs concerning the case, explaining that she had initially agreed on the compromise of accepting a compensatory payment in return for dropping the charges after her lawyer led her to believe that media exposure could potentially damage her social reputation. She explained that she subsequently changed her mind about this after feeling that she had been betrayed when the lawyer leaked news of the agreement both to the press and online, adding, “I felt that the agreement was only reached to help the official avoid legal action.” — Al-Qabas, Al-Rai

Violating preschools’ licenses to be cancelled

KUWAIT: People visit the graves of family members, relatives and loved ones during Eid. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Kuwait’s ambassadors to be reshuffle

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah is shortly to sign a new directive ordering a reshuffle of Kuwait’s current overseas ambassadors and appointing a number of new ambassadors.

According to a foreign ministry official, Kuwait is set to open a number of new embassies, with several current and new ambassadors to be appointed to serve at these, whilst other serving ambassadors are reportedly set to be recalled and reappointed to posts in the foreign ministry.

On a separate issue, the foreign ministry insider also revealed that the upcoming GCC foreign ministers’ meeting, scheduled to take place in Riyadh next month, will feature discussion of the disagreement amongst GCC member states over the mooted membership of Jordan and Morocco. The insider said that the membership of the two non-Gulf nations

had not yet been fully decided upon since some GCC member states are strongly opposed to granting them full membership, wishing instead to limit them to membership of only certain committees, such as the educational, health, social and sports committees, giving them the same status as Yemen and Iraq. The insider suggested that a report containing a number of recommendations on the issue is currently being prepared for discussion during the Riyadh summit.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor has reportedly uncovered over 2,000 illegal work visas which were issued with the help of corrupt labor department employees who did not register them on the ministry’s system. The visas were issued for individuals working for a number of Kuwaiti visa traffickers and others from other GCC member states. MSAL insider said that those responsible would be referred for legal prosecution once the proper evidence has been assembled.

KUWAIT: Preschools for young children should be established only after obtaining a license from the ministry in accordance with Law Number 73/1999.

This announcement was made by Iqbal AlRumaidheen Manager of Women and Childhood Department at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. No children should be admitted these facilities unless a written approval is received sixty days prior to planned date of opening, reported AlJarida. Furthermore, Al-Rumaidheen said that the educational facilities violating the law would be notified and asked to remedy the situation within a month. She also said that nursery buildings should conform to the Fire Department’s specifications like as allocating the ground floor for classrooms while keeping offices on the first floor, using fire-resistant building materials, creating emergency exits, signs, stocking manual fire extinguishers and power sockets that are sealed.

118 servicemen to be granted citizenship KUWAIT: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has reportedly completed work on a list of 118 current and former servicemen who will be granted citizenship in acknowledgement of their service to Kuwait.

Many of the individuals whose names are included in the list are bedoon (stateless). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Sabah issued strict instructions for its completion and subsequent referral to military intelligence. The names of 19 individuals have been removed from the list citing criminal background, reported Alshahed. The list includes the names of bedoon servicemen who participated in the Arab wars and have registered names during 1965 census, and the sons of martyrs who participated in the Kuwait Liberation War.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

local

New online recruitment system aims to cut abuse Bangladeshis expand job-seeking pool

By Ben Garcia

Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II

GCC leaders’ generosity exemplary: Orthodox head Mar Baselios

By Sunil Cherian KUWAIT: The religious generosity of the Gulf nations’ rulers has enabled other religious groups, especially those of Christian denominations to open a number of centers in GCC countries, said the supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church yesterday.

Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, is currently in Kuwait to participate in the centenary celebrations of the Catholicate established in Kerala in 1912.

His hosts in Kuwait, the Indian Orthodox St. Gregorios church, also celebrates is harvest festival during a day-long program tomorrow at Al-Jaleel School Auditorium in Hawally.

This is the first visit to Kuwait by Mar Baselios, the eighth Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, which is rooted in the eastern traditions of the Anthokyan (Syrian) church, with 10,000 members at present in Kuwait, including 3,000 families.

“Up until 1876, we were one bishop,

one diocese community”, Mar Baselios told the Kuwait Times. “But now we’ve grown to 30 dioceses and the community is still growing inside and outside India, thanks to the religious freedom we have, especially in the Middle East”.

Of the 30 dioceses, three are outside India. Calcutta diocesan Metropolitan Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius is accompanying Mar Baselios on this trip since St Gregorios Church in Kuwait comes under the Calcutta diocese’s aegis.

Tomorrow’s program will also host the Vatican nuncio, the Armenian Archbishop, the National Evangelical Church Common Council Chairman and several community leaders, as well as a number of prominent cultural figures.

Visiting celebrities Kottayam Nazeer, singer Sudeep and the Star Singers fame Antony will lead the entertainment program. “Knowledge is power, according to the western religious leaders,” said Mar Baselios, adding, “We, the followers of the eastern tradition, believe that knowledge is light.”

KUWAIT: An overseas job should be accepted only after performing adequate background checks lest one falls into a trap laid by devious middlemen or recruitment agencies. Their unscrupulous practices take advantage of helpless job seekers, laborers or domestic helpers. In Bangladesh for example, middlemen usually ask KD 800 to 900 offering employment abroad. To avoid such a rip-off, the government has recently set-up a new on-line system, which it claims, can help stop malpractices to an extent.

“Yes we do have the system now that can help our people especially those seeking employment abroad,” said Ali Razzak, Bangladesh Embassy First Secretary [Labour Attache] to Kuwait.

In a telephonic interview with the Kuwait Times yesterday, he said, “It will greatly help job seekers from rural districts. I think it will cut the stress and also arduous and expensive manner in which jobs are sought,” he explained. He admitted that neither does the embassy process jobs directly nor are citizens directed to any recruitment

agencies. “Since 2006, a ban has been place in recruiting female workers. So very few are entering Kuwait now if there are any,” he revealed. “Our people here [newly hired] mostly come through their personal contacts,” he said with reference to the continual influx of Bangladeshi citizens seeking job placements here.

According to the government of Bangladesh the new system will make it easier for job seekers [in Bangladesh] to get employment abroad, virtually eliminating middlemen or other recruitment agencies. The system also aims to simplify the recruitment process.

However, the new online system has failed to impress many. A Bangladeshi expat who requested anonymity wants to see his government play a greater role taking up responsibility rather than job placement. “Do you think that human trafficking issue, non-payment of salaries, harassment and abuses will finally end if the placement system goes to the government,” he asked. “What we want from our government is to be responsible enough for the welfare of our overseas workers,” he said.

Taking the point further he

stressed that the government should pass a law that will help Bangladeshi workers abroad by teaching their representatives [embassy missions] here to work properly. “In that way, we can easily approach the embassy to receive assistance,” he said.

He argued that the online system will not be advantageous to people seeking a job abroad. “If I am the job seeker, I will not wait forever to be called or for my CV to be checked or verified by some companies. if I need a job, I want it right now or at least the soonest, I need to feed my family.

I cannot wait forever,” he argued.

Another Bangladeshi expat was more cautious on the subject. “The system is good if the government is serious about it and if it will not be misused by corrupt government officials,” said Mohd Abdur Raouf Mowla, Editor of the ‘Monthly Morulekha Kuwait,’ the first Bangla Journal approved by the Kuwaiti government. “Who would want to pay KD 800-900 to the middleman just to get employment in Kuwait? Nobody. If they are serious about implementing the system, it will help a lot of poor countrymen from rural areas,” he said. Mowla, a lifetime member

of Bangladesh Human Rights Council, also urged the government of Bangladesh to send more semi-skilled workers.

“I personally want to see more domestic helpers rather than cleaners here,” he said. “If the minimum salary paid to a housemaid is KD 60, it is better than cleaners who earn the same amount but pay for their food, accommodation and transportation. At the end of the month most of them [cleaners] are broke,” he added.

Bangladeshi overseas job seekers are encouraged to register at the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment website under the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET ).

The website was launched on September 29, 2011. The BMET has promised to process foreign demands for Bangladeshi manpower.

Remittances received from approximately seven million Bangladeshis abroad touched $11 billion keeping the Bangladeshi economy afloat.

Millions of Bangladeshis depend on remittances from abroad sent mainly from the Middle East, South East Asia and Europe.

Kuwaiti Gitmo detainee pictured in YouTube video KUWAIT: A recent video posted on YouTube four days ago shows one of the two Kuwaiti detainee at Guantanamo Bay prison, Fayez Al-Kandari, apparently looking healthy and walking around his openair cell.

The video shows Al-Kandari walking around his six-meter-square open air cell and sorting his laundry, as well as depicting other prisoners detained at the controversial American facility, with the cells

being only a few meters apart. There has been some disquiet amongst Kuwaiti authorities at the continuing detention of two Kuwaiti prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah raising the issue during his last visit to the USA. The case was also a priority issue for discussion during the recent visit to the USA by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser AlMohammed Al-Sabah. — Al-Anba

KUWAIT: Pictures showing irregularities spotted in Doha area this week. The Kuwait Municipality is currently intensifying efforts to remove waste and illegal practices around the country through inspection campaigns.

— Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

KAC fully prepared for pilgrims’ return JEDDAH: The chairman of the Kuwait Airways Corporation’s (KAC) Hajj and Umrah committee yesterday emphasized that the airline is fully prepared for the return of a large number of pilgrims following the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Committee chairman Hadi Al-Azmi said that the airline’s preparations meant that there would be no delays or disruptions to KAC’s operational plans for the pilgrims’ return home from Saudi Arabia.

Al-Azmi said that, as in previous years, none of KAC’s flights laid on for the returning pilgrims would be delayed, thanks to the airline staff’s customary eagerness to utilize all their capabilities to ensure all passengers’ safe transit.

KAC seeks to continue its role in providing the best services to passengers with its usual care and attention to detail, said Al-Azmi, more especially during the season of Hajj and

the Eid Al-Adha holiday.

The senior KAC official also expressed his thanks for the cooperation of other airlines, including Saudi Arabian Airlines, in providing additional flights to transport pilgrims, adding that KAC itself has laid on 38 flights on top of its usual scheduled flights over the next three days to help all the pilgrims to return home, without experiencing any flight disruptions or delays.

Meanwhile, five hundred Hajj pilgrims returned to Kuwait from Saudi Arabia aboard two flights on Tuesday evening, according to a senior official from the Directorate General of Civil Aviations (DGCA), adding that a further 6,436 pilgrims are set to return on another 21 flights during the week.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, DGCA Operations Director Essam Al-Zamel further revealed that over 100,000 people had left Kuwait during the Eid Al-Adha holiday,

Dive team wins environmental award KUWAIT: A delegation representing the Kuwait Dive Team of the Environmental Voluntary Foundation will arrive in Dubai to receive the Ford Environmental Award, conferred in cooperation with the UNESCO. “This is one of the most significant awards that prove the efforts displayed

by Kuwaiti divers in environmental voluntary service,” said team leader Waleed

Al-Fadhel.

Since its founding in 2000, the Ford Environmental Award provided annual financial support totaling to $1.1 million to more than 130 organizations in the Middle East. It helps finance environment preserving projects. The delegation will also hold a presentation on the diving team’s projects and achievements during the festival, Al-Fadhel said.

Cabinet to win hearts through financial privileges KUWAIT: Cabinet members will be present during a parliamentary session where voting will be done on a draft bill to grant financial privileges to teachers and Kuwaiti college students, a report stated.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, officials noted that the Cabinet seeks to “ease public frustration” by allowing the bill to be passed, in addition to agreeing on several demands submitted by labor unions from different state departments to the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

“The government appears to be willing to go against economic recommendations that warn against increasing pressure on the state budget in an attempt to win public support,” a source said.

The Cabinet also faces a new challenge in the form of a grilling motion presented against His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh

Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah regarding the suspicious cash deposits case, clouding the relationship between the executive and legislative authorities.

On that regard, MP Saleh Al-Mulla said that this relationship has reached “too deep into a dark tunnel,” expressing pessimism regarding the possibility of reaching solutions to help restore the relationship “unless there is intervention from HH the Amir through constitutional means,” hinting at HH the Amir’s exclusive constitutional authority to dissolve the Parliament, reported Al-Jarida. On the other hand, progovernment MP Mikhled Al-Azmi argued that the relationship shared between the Parliament and the Cabinet will “prosper given the Constitutional Court’s rule that provides immunity to the premier against grilling motions.”

KUWAIT: Eid Al-Adha is a special celebration for children, who enjoy many outdoor and indoor activities.

— Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

with 15 additional flights being laid on in addition to the scheduled 115 to meet the high levels of demand. He added that Beirut was the favorite destination of holiday travelers during this period.

A number of returning Hajj pilgrims who spoke to reporters at the airport on Tuesday evening lauded the Saudi authorities’ preparations for the Hajj period, as well as praising the role played by the official Kuwaiti Hajj delegation in ensuring that all obstacles faced by Kuwaiti pilgrims were immediately tackled. It was also reported that a total of eight violations were recorded by official Kuwaiti Hajj convoys participating in this year’s pilgrimage, with a Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs insider suggesting that punitive measures will be taken against the agencies responsible for the convoys in question once an investigation has been carried out. — Al-Qaba

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in my view

kuwait digest

Time for a review of mosque regulations

Where is the grass greener?

By Saud Al-Sabeie he current system of building mosques in residential areas needs to be reviewed. It’s been noted that the areas allocated for construction of the mosques generally measure around 400 square meters, while the area including the walls around the mosques’ courtyards exceeds 3,000 square meter more or less. Most of this area is unused except in planting some trees which are not cared for by anyone and quickly die.

Building in this way is no good for the public interest, and it would be far better if these courtyard areas were used for car parking, helping both mosque visitors and nearby residents since most of the streets surrounding the mosques are narrow while the neighboring houses lack sufficient parking places for mosque visitors especially during the main Fr iday prayers and during the month of Ramadan.

In these periods, the surrounding streets around these mosques are effectively shut

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By Lisa Conrad

lisa@kuwaittimes.net any expats and Kuwaitis alike swear by regular travel to get some much-needed change from their usual routine. Both complain, as a matter of habit, of the repetitiveness of their lifestyle and of the ‘need’ to get away. However, while travel always provides a welcome change, it also highlights the very details we often forget to appreciate about Kuwait.

A recent trip to Europe highlighted some of the issues we often take for granted after settling here. An especially prominent issue was work and money, or the lack thereof. Many of the people I met complained tirelessly about their financial situation, “I’ve got 10 years experience” said a European colleague, “yet it’s quite likely I’ll be fired and replaced with a fresh graduate who will accept half my salary but produce terrible work.”

Another said, worriedly, that despite being well into her 30’s, she had no savings whatsoever and had no idea of how she’d ever reach any kind of stability on her current salary.

The fear and frustration hung heavily in the air as many seemed to be questioning their future and how they would manage to survive rising prices, heavy taxes and shrinking salaries. The unemployment rates in the UK at the moment, for example, have placed suffocating restrictions on fresh graduates and seasoned professionals alike. A university classmate recently lamented being rejected for an unpaid internship, which, the interviewer informed her, had been filled by a PhD graduate. “Since when did PhD graduates apply for unpaid internships? If that’s the bottom rung of the ladder for them, then where does that leave MA, BA and secondary school graduates?”

Kuwait is heavily criticized for its utilization of wasta (connections). Yes, but at the end of the day, people are still getting jobs. Whether it’s through wasta or merit, at least there’s the opportunity to earn a living at a level on par with (or above) your qualifications and experience. The desire of the country to develop has provided opportunities for expats and locals alike, who enjoy a standard of living considerably more comfortable than those struggling through harsher realities transformed by economic woes. Materialistic opportunities aside, secure employment definitely makes for better peace of mind and avoids the stress and fear of struggling to find work. Many complain of the boredom of their routine in Kuwait. Many of those living in cities with endless entertainment options often don’t have the time, or the means, to actually enjoy them. The grass certainly is greener on the other side. When it comes to security, the beautiful weather at the moment and the unbeatable hospitality, I’d much rather be sinking my feet into the sand.

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kuwait digest

Get rid of corrupt MPs

By Dr Yaqoub Al-Sharrah ho should be blamed in the cash deposits case? Is it the MPs involved, citizens who voted for them, or the state itself?

This scandal has made voters more aware today than ever before about the dishonorable lawmakers they elected. We can say that people today know that unexpected developments came about as a result of unfortunate selections made during the election process. Of course, people didn’t suspect candidates motives, which surfaces only after lawmakers begin legislating. The general idea that people have about the legislative authority is that it is committed to duties including holding the government accountable for errors, as well as enforcing legislations that contribute to the country’s development.

Today, many people speculate that MPs involved in the graft scandal are eventually able to evade punishment.

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This scandal has made voters more aware today than ever before about the dishonorable lawmakers they elected. We can say that people today know that unexpected developments came about as a result of unfortunate selections made during the election process. Of course, people didn’t suspect candidates motives, which surfaces only after lawmakers begin legislating.

Political corruption isn’t new in Kuwait. We have heard many stories about incidents in which MPs benefited by purchasing properties, commercial deals, and appointment of relatives to senior posts as a form of bribe. The difference with the newest case, however, is that it pertains with MPs who clearly obtained financial privileges. It is not only illegal, but also violates the basic principles of parliamentary work. The executive authority whose job is to eliminate corruption is guilty of spreading it. The door was left ajar for it to spread when regulations are not enforced.

I hope that voters will be able to realize how serious today’s problems are and will turn their backs at any MP who is willing to betray voters’ trust. —Al-Rai

kuwait digest

My mother conveys her greetings

By Iqbal Al-Ahmad y mother says hello, and I wonder if you have some tomatoes?’ I am sure many of you haven’t come across this expression for a long time. Some may smile and feel comfortable if it reminds them of their beautiful past.

I received an e-mail that reminded me of those days, making me want to get back what can be obtained, whatever remains after being destroyed by civilization and development, increasing work and preoccupation caused advancements made in technology.

Don’t you agree with me that we have lost the small neighborly requests made? During these days when we have no time, especially when we are cooking or when it is too late, requests made between neighbors are a ‘shame.’ They prefer to send the driver to the nearest co-operative society to buy the essentials like a ‘ kilo’ of onions or tomatoes, instead of resorting to some neighborly rescue.

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Is the need for a neighborhood soon becoming antiquated? Has the neighborhood shrunk to only addresses and buildings? While the neighborhood of hearts has disappeared, how did it lose its warmth that protected us as a society?

A friend pitched a great idea about all neighborhood residents meeting on a certain day at the nearest park to get acquainted. I added that residents exchange cooked dishes, and that a lunch be held jointly between all homes. Such steps can help forge long-lost social ties.

I thank God that I still live in such a neighborhood where a young boy knocks next-door and says, “My mother says hello and ask if you have some tomatoes.”

There are some neighbors that rescue me during crises because I share good relations with them. Social visits are exchanged without making prior appointments. If I get bored with my cooking, there is always another place I can fall back on! —Al-Qabas

kuwait digest

The taxi bane

By Aziza Al-Mufarrej uwait has been blessed by a group of citizens thanks to Eid holidays. who have helped taxis ply the streets. One taxi This situation reminds us of our streets before is placed between one some Kuwaitis began hiring taxi, and another and yet armies of expats, some of another one! These ‘taxi com- The state of our streets these whom charge anything panies’ fill citizens’ pockets, days remind us of times when between KD 500 to KD 1500! including those of some high Don’t forget the money that is uniformed people did not betray paid to visa traders, annual ranking officers.

All what the taxi driver their oath and did not accept payments made. These expats does is to come to office every bribes and did not grant drivers obtain it, even if they rob the morning and hand over a cercountry and its people. tain amount which is normally licenses for KD 50. There are The state of our streets KD 15. These gains have those who accept bribes to issue these days remind us of inspired private drivers to lie fake salary certificates. There times when uniformed peoand play tricks to join compaple did not betray their oath nies. The citizens who hire are those that accept bribes to and did not accept bribes do anything for a few dinars. We and did not grant drivers drivers are losers.

They find themselves com- are reminded of a time when licenses for KD 50. There are pelled to train them at their those who accept bribes to own expense. They receive Kuwait was clean, with clean issue fake salary certificates. drivers licenses with which people, clean National Assembly There are those that accept they work for a while, learn and clean air. bribes to do anything for a the routes well and then join few dinars. We are reminded taxi companies. of a time when Kuwait was These days our streets are nice. This is because clean, with clean people, clean National Assembly traffic jams are less and traffic flow is smooth, and clean air. —Al-Watan

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The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs must demand the demolition of the walls around these mosques’ courtyards to create parking spaces for worshipers, rather than planting useless trees and creating homes for stray cats. There is another issue which is the sheer volume used by some muezzins (prayer callers), many of whom cannot speak Arabic well or make pleasant-sounding calls to prayer down, with cars scattered chaotically in front of adjacent homes in a state of confusion which disturbs the neighbors.

The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs must demand the demolition of the walls around these mosques’ courtyards to create parking spaces for worshipers, rather than planting useless trees and creating homes for stray cats.

Since we are talking about mosques, there is another issue which is the sheer volume used by some muezzins (prayer callers), many of whom cannot speak Arabic well or make pleasant-sounding calls to prayer. As Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) himself noted, he chose Rabah as a muezzin because of his pleasant voice.

The muezzin’s role is not limited to the ‘athan’ or call to prayer; he also replaces the Imam should the latter be absent for any reason in performing the prayers and delivering the Quran sermon, during Maghreb, Isha and Fajr; if he does not know Arabic well, this becomes clear during the prayers. One more thing; microphones do not need to be switched to top volume; when you’re in Block 1 and can hear the athan from Block 4 (as well as in your own block and any other adjacent ones), this is excessive.

Therefore, it is necessar y to reduce the sound level to the limits of the geographical area immediately surrounding the mosque. I hope that the MAIA will take this into consideration. —Al-Anba

kuwait digest

Dealing with tweeters

By Dr Shamlan Yousif Al-Essa epresented by the Interior Ministry, the government committed a grave error in arresting young Kuwaiti ‘tweeters’ ( Twitter users) Tareq Al-Muttairi and Hamad Al-Alyan who were released by the public prosecutor pending further investigations concerning slandering the Amir. Investigations will only be conducted after the Eid holidays.

Recently, Twitter carried information, which I hope is wrong, about plans to pursue 61 bloggers accused of doing the same. Such an approach is completely unacceptable when modern technology has advanced so much. In addition, Kuwait Human Rights Society (KHRS) warned against suppressing freedom and demanded that a proper legislation be passed to protect modern means of communications.

The government must be fully aware that all studies conducted prior to the Arab youth demonstrations wave emphasized on the youth. They comprise 60 percent of the Arab population. They were fully occupied in using social communication networks and the internet to stir up a revolution. Therefore, we do urge the Interior Ministry to conduct a field survey on youth interests in 2011.

According to a study conducted by the Booz And Co. entitled ‘Youth in GCC Countries, Meeting the Challenge 2011’, 87 percent of the GCC states’ youth were mainly concerned about finding a job, which is strange, espe-

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cially in countries that mainly depend on foreign labor.

This low percentage of citizens engaged in the workforce could be because of the low educational and academic standards attained by young male GCC nationals who

The government must be fully aware that all studies conducted prior to the Arab youth demonstrations wave emphasized on the youth. They comprise 60 percent of the Arab population. They were fully occupied in using social communication networks and the internet to stir up a revolution.

Therefore, we do urge the Interior Ministry to conduct a field survey on youth interests in 2011. mainly focused on getting government jobs and demanded that women remain at home to look after families and kids.

Another wide scale study conducted in 2006 by late Dr Khaldoun Al-Naqeeb on the interests of young people in GCC states, which covered Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Oman and KSA, asked one main question: Do you think the political regime become more democratic?

The answers showed that 83 per cent of Bahrain’s youth demanded democracy, which was clearly manifested in the form of recent demands to change the regime’s nature. At least, 82 percent of Saudi youth demanded the same. Also, 72 percent of Omani youth, 60 percent of Kuwaiti youth and only 37 per cent of Emirati youth put forward the same demands. Al-Naqeeb highlighted that such findings need to be studied more.

What I want to say here is that Kuwaiti youth have their own concerns and are never bothered about politics except during election times. This could be attributed to the abundance in welfare they have been experiencing. However it does not, on the other hand, mean that our youth do not care about politics at all. It simply means that they tend to adapt gradual reform rather than revolutions. Therefore, I urge the Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Homoud Al-Sabah to stop interfering in youngster’s chats because they are fully aware of their responsibilities and are pro-regime. They cannot be arrested until an internet and satellite TV channels law is formulated. —Al-Watan

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Waiting to meet daddy AUSTIN: When she’s trying to fall asleep, lying in their bed wearing one of his old T-shirts, that’s when she misses him the most.

The life of a deployed soldier’s wife is full of ups and downs, good days and bad. For Tasha Kilen, wife of Staff Sgt. Eric Kilen, caring for their 2 1/2month-old son, Keegan, helps her get through the days. “I go month-by-month,” Tasha said. “I love turning the calendar.”

Though she’s ready for the deployment to be over, she does have a support group - her mom, Karee Ranniter, and mother-in-law, Sandy Kilen.

They were both there during Keegan’s birth, which Eric had to miss.

“He was really upset he missed the delivery,” Tasha said. “He saw Keegan when he was an hour old over Skype.”

Skype, the Internet service that allows free video calling, has been a major source of happiness for Tasha, who said she talks with Eric frequently and likes being able to see him. Skype is also the only means for Eric, who’s never met his son, to see Keegan. “I like being able to see his face and hear his voice,” Tasha said.

When Eric, a member of the Minnesota National Guard unit based in Albert Lea, was training in Fort McCoy, Wis., they weren’t able to Skype but could talk on the phone each night. Tasha said she almost didn’t recognize him when she went to the family picnic on July 10. Eric has now been in Kuwait since the beginning of August. Albert Lea’s unit - Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, within the 34th ‘Red Bull’ Division - along with other units of the Minnesota National Guard, are escorting troops and equipment out of Iraq as part of Operation New Dawn.

While raising Keegan keeps Tasha busy and makes the time fly, it also makes her miss Eric.

When Keegan cries in the middle of the night, she wishes there were someone there she could nudge to help her. Or when Keegan had some breathing problems that prompted a trip to a Rochester hospital, she wished Eric could have been there, even when it turned out to be just a cold. She was thankful for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group in Rochester for providing her meal vouchers during her stay.

Tasha has been looking forward to Eric’s twoweek leave, which he will take near Christmas. She’s glad he’ll be home for Keegan’s first Christmas, and they have plans to visit family members in the area.

“We’re also going to do family photos,” Tasha said.

Photos are important to both Tasha and Eric.

She has been sending him so many he already has one wall of his room at Camp Buehring in Kuwait filled with photos. She enjoys sending him mail, whether it’s letters or boxes of Halloween goodies.

Eric has been sending her items, too, including a large rug and some scarves. She enjoys hearing about what his life is like in Kuwait, even if he can’t tell her everything.

“He’ll let me know when there’s a sandstorm,” Tasha said. “He’s pretty open, but he can’t tell me anything mission-specific.”

Tasha, 20, met Eric, 29, while they were on the

Student Senate together at Riverland Community College. They were married Aug. 14, 2010, and Keegan was born one year and one day later on Aug 15.

A typical day for Tasha starts around 7 am, or earlier depending on when Keegan wakes up. She takes Keegan to day care, and then she does online schoolwork, cleaning and chores, and sometimes works out at the Albert Lea Family YMCA, where she gets a free membership during Eric’s deployment.

She often chats with Eric on Skype from noon to 2 pm depending on his schedule. In Kuwait, with the time change, that’s around 8 to 10 pm, so he’s usually about to settle in for the night. Then she’ll pick Keegan up from day care, and three or four times a week they head to New Richland to see Ranniter. Because Tasha works part time at Kwik Trip in Albert Lea on nights and weekends - when day care is unavailable - Ranniter often looks after Keegan.

The Kilen’s newborn baby boy Keegan, was born while his dad Eric was serving overseas in Kuwait with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, within the 34th Red Bull Division in Kuwait.

“If Eric were home, I wouldn’t get to see Keegan quite as much, but I would still get to see him,” Ranniter said.

Ranniter said there are good days and bad for Tasha, like the day when Keegan first started cooing and Eric wasn’t able to see it. Keegan does recognize Eric over Skype, and they get to see each other that way. Ranniter said she worries about Eric and is excited to see him over the holidays.

“As time keeps going, it won’t be long, and he’ll be home for good,” she said.

Tasha said Eric hopes to find a full-time position with the Guard after his deployment. He’s been deployed to Afghanistan and Kosovo before, and she understands there may be more deployments in the future. She worries about him but understood the risks when she married him.

“I know he’s with well-trained soldiers,” Tasha said.

As far as plans for when Eric gets home, Tasha said they’ve only talked about finally taking a honeymoon on their second anniversary in August.

Tasha misses Eric often, but said she’s impressed with how well she’s been handling the deployment and time apart. Though it can be hard, she’s proud of her husband. “I love being an Army wife,” Tasha said. —Austin Daily Herald

Contractors sorting remnants of Iraq war at Kuwait center American cost-benefit analysis CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait: A steady stream of shipping containers is stacked in a sandy yard near the edge of Camp Arifjan. The containers hold the remnants of a war in Iraq that will end in December after nearly a decade of fighting. In Kuwait, the equipment is sorted by units that fall under Fort Bragg’s 1st Theater Sustainment Command at the Theater Redistribution Center.

The center, a 1.2-mile stretch of containers, boxes and buildings, is where the mountains of equipment are organized. With nearly 100 containers arriving each day - and a backlog of more than 700 sitting on site - workers expect to be busy cataloging the end of the war for nearly half a year after the last American troops leave Baghdad. “We’re getting busier and busier,” said Lt Col Hollie Crissey of the 230th Sustainment Brigade, a National Guard unit based in Tennessee that falls under the 1st TSC. The containers-measuring either 20 or 40 feet long-all look roughly the same from the outside.

They contain every bit of non-rolling US equipment from the war in Iraq.

Workers, mostly contractors who are supervised by the 553rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion from Fort Hood, Texas, are never certain about what’s inside until the containers are opened. “There’s no way to know,” said Maj Dennis Utt of the 553rd support battalion. “It could be filled with toilet paper, or it could be filled with steel beams.”

From office supplies to tires-nearly 21,000 of them-to meals, each container is sorted and any salvageable item is kept for further use by the US military. Some items are shipped back to the US, Crissey said. Others head to Afghanistan or to other military installations overseas. “It all undergoes a cost-benefit analysis,” she said. “The idea is to save costs.”

Utt said the Theater Redistribution Center

processes roughly 36 containers a day, but that number is expected to climb to as many as 50 by the end of the drawdown.

Nearly 1,500 contractors are involved in unloading the containers, which are expected to total about 10,000 by Dec 31. Between 5,000 and

take 12 boxes down to your basement and you need 18.” Already, the Theater Redistribution Center has processed $1.4 million worth of equipment since the beginning of the year.

The center was created based on lessons from the US’s last war in Iraq, Desert Storm.

KUWAIT: Contract workers use high-pressure hoses to clean spare engines.

7,000 of those containers are expected in the next month and a half, Utt said. With all but 12 US bases closed in Iraq, Crissey and Utt said, roughly half of their work is done. But they said they anticipate more equipment than expected. “It’s a lot like moving out of a house you’ve been living in for the last eight or nine years,” Crissey said. “You

That war involved more service members but far less equipment. “The idea is for us to have a responsible drawdown,” Crissey said. “There won’t be an iron mountain with miles of equipment. We’re more proactive this time.

There were a lot of lessons learned in Desert Storm.” —The Fayetteville Observer

Kuwaitis urged to invest in Jordan AMMAN: Chairman of Jordan’s Chamber of Commerce Nael alKabariti said yesterday that the Kuwaiti private sector is Jordan’s most important economic partner amidst the excellent cooperation ties between the two countries in various fields.

Al-Kabariti said that “the Kuwaiti investments in Jordan, the first among Arab and foreign ones, emphasize the importance of the

role played by the Kuwaiti private sector in the Jordanian economy and the importance of this role in the achievement of mutual interests to serve the two countries and peoples.”

He stressed the importance of care and attention given to the bilateral ties by officials in both countries, led by Jordan’s King Abdullah II and his brother, His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh

Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

He said that Jordan’s commercial sector is keen to develop economic and trade cooperation between the two countries in order to serve the interests of both parties, stressing the importance of mutual visits of those in charge from both countries and their impact in the promotion of cooperation between the two sides. AlKabariti urged the Kuwaiti private

sector to take advantage of investment opportunities available in Jordan to set up more of the investment projects which constitute an added value to the Jordanian economy and investors alike.

He said the investment opportunities available in his country include the Dead Sea cosmetics industry, cosmetics, pharmaceutical industry, marble, food, clothes, furniture and engineering. —KUNA

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

local

Drunken thugs arrested for assaulting couple Pepper sprayed into driver’s eyes

KUWAIT: The Commercial Bank of Kuwait hosted a party at the Kuwait Autism Center to celebrate Eid Al-Adha. The event featured several activities and competitions enjoyed by children.

Kuwait praised for generous contributions to assist Somalis UNITED NATIONS: The Executive Directors of the World Food Programme ( WFP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) thanked the State of Kuwait this week for its “generous contributions” to assist the people of Somalia in coping with the horrendous drought and famine there.

In a letter to the Kuwaiti Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi, WFP’s Executive Director, Josette Sheeran, expressed her “deep appreciation” for Kuwait’s “generous contribution” of $250,000 to the Programme’s emergency food operations to assist the drought-stricken people in Somalia and those forced to flee to neighboring countries. “ This contribution highlights Kuwait’s leading role in providing humanitarian and development assistance worldwide. The WFP is honoured to pursue and strengthen its partnership with the State of Kuwait and its institutions,” Sheeran stressed in her letter to Ambassador Al-Otaibi. The WFP head continued, “I would like to reiterate my most sincere thanks and appreciation to the people and Government of the State of Kuwait for supporting the very important opera-

tions in Somalia,” adding, “Thanks to the support from the State of Kuwait, WFP will be able to continue the Support to 1.9 million people in Somalia with life-saving nutritious food.”

Moreover, she added, the WFP is helping an increasing number of Somali women, children and men who have fled to neighboring countries in search of food, noting that there are currently 490,000 Somali refugees in Kenya and 150,000 in Ethiopia.

In a separate letter, addressed to Ambassador Al-Otaibi, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake also expressed his agency’s “appreciation” of Kuwait’s contribution of $250,000 for humanitarian assistance and aid to Somalia. Lake assured Ambassador AlOtaibi in the letter that the contribution would be utilized as indicated by the Kuwaiti Government.

At a pledging Conference held on Tuesday evening in support of the UN’s development activities for 2012, Ambassador Al-Otaibi announced the Kuwaiti contribution of about $6 million to the various UN agencies.

Twenty member states pledged a total of approximately $265 million during the event. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Seven drunken teenage thugs were arrested for physically assaulting a married couple in a popular local gathering place. The incident began after a man out for a walk with his wife remonstrated with the youths for harassing them, at which point the adolescent hoodlums launched a physical assault on them both. The melee caught the attention of police officers patrolling the area, who managed to prevent the youths from fleeing, arresting them all with the help of back-up officers. The thuggish teens are currently in police custody and have been referred to the relevant authorities. In a separate case, a hunt is underway for three teenage thugs who sprayed pepper spray into a taxi driver’s eyes in order to escape without paying the fare for his services. The incident took place near a cooperative store in Salwa where the trio had asked to be dropped after hailing the cab in Salmiya. When he stopped, however, one of the three pulled out a can of pepper spray and sprayed it directly into his eyes before the three fled the scene laughing. Emergency services personnel arrived shortly afterwards and the taxi driver was taken to hospital while crime scene officers removed fingerprints and other evidence from the vehicle. The search for the thuggish trio is continuing.

Mom saves baby’s life A mother saved her baby son’s life by successfully performing CPR after he drowned in the bathtub whilst she was out of the room for a moment. Although she immediately called the emergency services hotline, the woman did not wait for paramedics to arrive before performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her son who was not breathing. By the time paramedics arrived, the woman had been able

to restore her son’s breathing and heartbeat.

He was subsequently taken to Mubarak Hospital where his condition was described as stable.

Tragic accident A three-year-old boy died instantly in a tragic accident in Naeem when he was hit by a car. The child’s body was removed for autopsy and police took the traumatized driver of the vehicle, an Asian expatriate, into custody to face charges.

Cell cells An investigation is underway after an impromptu cell search by Central Prison warders uncovered a number of cell phones and SIM cards, as well as several pornographic pictures. Staff at the prison are questioning prisoners to find out how they managed to obtain the contraband items.

Bad co-worker Police have issued an arrest warrant for an expatriate Arab man who is accused of sexually harassing a female coworker at a company in Farwaniya. The woman, a Filipina expatriate, told officers at the local police station that her colleague had touched her inappropriately and offered to pay her for sexual favors, refusing to accept her rejection of his unwanted advances.

Fugitive brothers Three brothers wanted in connection with a KD179,000 debt were arrested together in a car on the Fifth Ring Road. Police officers carrying out a routine patrol in the area pulled the men’s car over after becoming suspicious of the four occupants’ behavior. On checking

Jarrah Al-Omani

Rejected suitor’s revenge A Kuwaiti man has pressed charges of attempted murder against a young Iranian man who he said intentionally rammed his family’s car during a day out, causing it to crash and leading to a fire breaking out in the engine, after his request to marry the citizen’s daughter was turned down. The shaken Kuwaiti driver told police who turned up at the accident scene that he recognized the driver of the vehicle which rammed his own as the young man who had requested permission to marry his daughter, with the father rejecting this request. He indicated that the severity of the impact when the other car hit his own was demonstrated by the subsequent fire. When police traced and questioned the accused man, he acknowledged that he had been turned down as a prospective husband for the complainant’s daughter, but rejected the accusations that he had caused the accident. The investigation into the case is continuing.

Dopey drunks A group of eight drunken youths were arrested in the parking lot of a Salmiya mall where they caused a scene by turning up their car stereo to deafening volume. They were taken into custody at Rumaithiya police station to face further action.

—Al-Rai, Al-Anba, Al-Watan

Guangzhou, Kuwait to sign twinning agreement GUANGZHOU, China: Kuwait’s Consul General to Guangzhou, Abdulwahab Al-Saqer revealed yesterday that the cities of Guangzhou and Kuwait City would be signing a twinning agreement to bolster bilateral ties. Al-Saqer revealed the forth-

coming agreement during a meeting with the Vice-Mayor of the Chinese city, Chen Mingde.

The Kuwaiti official said that the deal would be signed during an upcoming visit to Guangzhou by the Governor of Kuwait Capital District,

Sheikh Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The Kuwaiti official lauded the Chinese economic experience, which achieved growth during the last five years despite the global economic crisis, affirming that Kuwait is extremely keen to learn from the Chinese

Eid celebrated at Entertainment City KUWAIT: Visitors to the Entertainment City enjoyed several activities held as part of a special program to celebrate Eid Al-Adha holidays, like shows and competitions. “The program featured several activities including folk bands performances, a cartoon characters show, as well as holding competitions to distribute valuable

the license plate, the officers found that the vehicle was registered to a company with a sequestration order against it. After further checks revealed that the three brothers were wanted in connection with the massive aforementioned debt. They were taken into custody to face further action, whilst the friend who was with them was released.

prizes to participants of all ages,” said Jarrah Al-Omani, acting director of Operations and Activities Department at the Touristic Enter tainment Company ( TEC ).

Meanwhile, Al-Omani noted that the Entertainment City will begin functioning today, in accordance with winter timing (4 pm to 12 am).

expertise on economic issues. Chen, meanwhile, lauded the upcoming agreement between Kuwait and China, stressing that officials from both countries are looking forward to achieving greater economic cooperation in the future. —KUNA

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Philippines offers to fly in docs to check Arroyo

Grenades kill two in Somali capital, MP slain Page 10

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ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou greets reporters while arriving for his meeting with the Greek President in Athens yesterday. —AFP

Greek parties agree speaker as new PM Papandreou fails to name successor as premier ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said he was stepping down yesterday without saying who would succeed him as the nation heads towards an economic precipice, but party sources said political leaders had agreed it would be the speaker of parliament. Parties from left and right settled on veteran socialist Filippos Petsalnikos, barring-last minute snags, the sources said, turning to their own political class after ditching a plan to recruit a former top European Central Bank official.

Greeks and the nation’s international lenders have watched in growing horror for three days as party leaders feuded

over a shrinking list of credible candidates to lead a national unity coalition after Papandreou’s government imploded. In a television address before heading to meet the president, Papandreou wished the new prime minister well without giving any name and declared that Greece had avoided bankruptcy. He also said the new government would win approval for Greece’s 130 billion euro bailout deal and secure the nation’s membership of the euro zone despite its crisis.

“I am proud that, despite the difficulties, we avoided bankruptcy and ensured the country stayed on its feet,”

he said. “I want to wish the new prime minister success, I will support the new effort with all my strength.” “Today, despite our differences-political and social differences do exist-we have put aside our fruitless conflict and disagreement,” Papandreou said.

It was left to the party sources to give Greeks some idea of who their leader will be until early elections are held in February. They named speaker Filippos Petsalnikos, 60, who founded the PASOK party along with Papandreou’s father Andreas, Greece’s first socialist prime minister.

However, they warned against taking anything for granted. “We have agreed on Petsalnikos but things can change between now and when the prime minister sees the president,” a source close to the discussions between PASOK and the conservative opposition New Democracy told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Earlier optimistic reports have proved premature as the parties bickered over who should take the poisoned chalice and lead a government that will impose yet more crippling austerity on an angry electorate.

With Greeks and the European Union clamoring for an end to the game of political cat-and-mouse, the central bank governor earlier made a rare intervention to say a new coalition was imperative for securing a 130 billion euro bailout. “Political uncertainty has added to the stress facing the economy and the banking system,” Bank of Greece Governor George Provopoulos said in a statement.

“Any delay in forming a new government threatens to damage further the country’s credibility.” Greece will run out of money next month unless the new government comes to terms with the EU and IMF, Greece’s last remaining lenders.

Greece’s international lenders had put their faith in a plan for Lucas Papademos, a former vice-president of the European Central Bank, to head the new government as a technocrat and give it the credibility that politicians lost long ago. But that idea stalled in the small hours, apparently over politicians’ refusal to let Papademos pick his own team to tackle Greece’s overwhelming debt and budget problems.— Reuters

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Syria apologises to Lebanon over incursions BEIRUT: Syria has apologized to Lebanon over repeated border violations and has vowed to respect its neighbor’s independence and sovereignty, Lebanese President Michel Sleiman’s office told AFP yesterday. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official in the presidency confirmed reports Sleiman had raised the border violations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and that security officials in both countries had discussed the matter.

According to Al-Liwaa newspaper, Sleiman in an

interview said he had personally spoken with Assad on the repeated cross-border incursions and that “Syria had expressed regret for the unintended violations”, vowing they would not be repeated.

Sleiman also confirmed the Syrian army had planted mines along the border with Lebanon to prevent smuggling and infiltration. Tension along Lebanon’s border with Syria has mounted since the outbreak of the revolt against Assad’s regime that has left more than 3,500 people dead according to the

United Nations.

The brutal crackdown against the uprising has prompted some 5,000 Syrians to seek refuge in Lebanon, among them defecting soldiers and opposition activists. Syria has staged a number of incursions into Lebanon in recent weeks that have left three Syrians dead. The Lebanese government, which is dominated by the Syrian-backed Hezbollah and its allies, has largely stayed mum on the border violations, prompting fierce criticism by the

Western-backed opposition. Lebanese authorities have also come under attack over the disappearance of a number of Syrian opposition figures in Lebanon. Prime Minister Najib Mikati last week acknowledged Syrian opposition figures had been kidnapped in Lebanon, but he downplayed the abductions as isolated incidents. Syria has traditionally held sway in Lebanese politics but it was forced to withdraw its troops from its smaller neighbour in 2005 following a 29-year presence.— AFP

Religious minorities put faith in Tunisia’s democracy Jews, Christians expect Islamist-led govt to respect rights TUNIS: Minority Jews and Christians are putting their faith in Tunisia’s nascent democracy to ensure its new Islamist-led leadership respects their rights in this traditionally secular state.

Religious minorities in the Arab world have mostly lost out when dictators are toppled and radical Islamists exploit the power vacuum to attack non-Muslims. The targeting of Christians in Iraq and Egypt constitutes a frightening example.

Tunisia, birthplace of the first Arab Spring uprising, stands as a cautious exception. Minorities are staying here and hoping for the best. “The Tunisian people, including the Jews, have understood that democracy is the best solution for everybody,” said Khelifa Attoun, a Tunis businessman who is vice-president of the local Jewish community. “The democratic spirit is there,” said the Jordanian-born Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tunis, Maroun Lahham.

“This is not Iran, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia - it’s not Switzerland or Sweden either,” he said. “This will be a real Arab democracy, with a Muslim coloring.” Their cautious optimism echoed comments

by Muslim analysts who expect Ennahda, the moderate Islamist party that won 41.7 percent of the Oct. 23 vote for a new assembly, to substantiate its claim that Islam and democracy are compatible.

“Ennahda is not going to throw away this opportunity that history has given it,” said Sofiane Ben Farhat, a senior editor at the daily La Presse de Tunisie.

Tunisia’s religious minorities are tiny. There are only about 30,000 Christians, almost all foreigners of European and sub-Saharan African origin, and fewer than 2,000 Jews in a community that dates back to the Roman Empire.

The outlook for them was not reassuring in the weeks after autocrat Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fell on Jan 14. A synagogue in the southern city of Ghabes was set ablaze on Feb. 1.

Two weeks later, several dozen radical Muslims massed outside the Tunis Grand Synagogue chanting “Allahu Akbar” and “The army of Mohammad is returning”. Four days after that, a Polish priest was found murdered at his Catholic school in Tunis. But civil society responded with a 15,000-strong protest march down Tunis’s main avenue on Feb. 19 chanting “Terrorism is not Tunisian” and “Religion is personal.” Police were posted behind barbed wire at the Tunis synagogue and at a Jewish nursing home in a Tunis suburb. It eventually emerged that Rev. Marek Rybinski was murdered by

a staff member after a wage dispute. Jewish leaders said the Ghabes synagogue attack looked like a provocation by supporters of the deposed dictator.

“There was unrest for the first two months, but then the government was able to calm things down,” said Tunis jeweller Yonathan Rakkah after an evening prayer in the synagogue. In early April, Israel announced a financial aid package for Tunisian Jews it said were in distress and eager to emigrate. Tunis Jews said only a handful took up the offer.

Still, security concerns persisted. In May, only about 100 Jewish

TUNIS: Muslim fundamentalists demonstrate outside the foreign ministry yesterday in Tunis, to demand the release of prisoners sentenced to death in Iraq for their involvement in the Gulf war. —AP

Algeria counts cost of cool response to Libya ALGIERS: Border guards loyal to Libya’s new rulers were waving travellers through the Ras Jdir crossing from Tunisia into Libya one day last month, until a man approached their checkpoint and handed them his Algerian passport. “Go back to where you came from,” the border guard told the owner of the passport, in an exchange witnessed by a Reuters journalist.

“I do not need to waste my time talking to Algerians.”

This kind of incident has become commonplace ever since power in Libya was taken by a new government which says it believes neighboring Algeria was on the side of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in the revolt against his rule. Western diplomats and analysts say there is no hard evidence to show the Algerian government was supporting Gaddafi. Algeria denies it too, saying it stuck to a position of strict neutrality and complied with United Nations sanctions.

Nevertheless, the perception of Algeria as a country that would have preferred Gaddafi to win the conflict has stuck in the minds of many Libyans and some people in Western capitals. That has harmed Algeria’s ties with Libya-a relationship which matters to the outside world because the neighbors need to work together to prevent the vast quantities of weapons and explosives in Libya ending up in the hands of al Qaeda. It has also hurt the international standing of Algeria, a country which has spent the last 10 years shedding the label of outcast attached to it over its past human rights record.

“Algeria will have to consider the damage to its own image internationally by being seen to be proGaddafi, even if we do not believe that is the case,” said a Western diplomat. But the damage will be limited. With its oil and gas reserves and its proudly nationalistic outlook, Algeria is well insulated from international criticism. Algeria’s relationship with Libya has, in the past eight months, been sucked into a spiral of accusation and counter-accusations from which it will struggle to recover. It began with allegations of secret Algerian flights delivering arms to Gaddafi-denied by Algeria’s government and dismissed by senior US and European officials. Although one US legislator has asked Congress to investigate media reports that Algeria was instrumental in sending military aid to the former leader.

It was aggravated by Algeria voicing worries about hardline Islamists infiltrating the anti-Gaddafi rebel-

lion, and of unsecured weapons falling into the hands of al Qaeda. Algeria’s reluctance to recognize the National Transitional Council (NTC) as Libya’s rightful government did not help. The problems deepened with Algeria’s decision to give refuge to Muammar Gaddafi’s wife, daughter and two of his sons. Algiers said it was a humanitarian act; a senior Libyan official called it an “act of aggression”.

Assertions that Algeria gave any practical help to Gaddafi in his fight to retain power are unproven.

Algeria’s leaders had no personal affection for Gaddafi but they-like many other Arab leaders-were wary of backing Libya’s revolt because they feared to do so could encourage uprisings on their own territory.

But what is clear is that many Algerian decisionmakers would rather the revolt had never begun, and once it had, were nervous about the direction it was taking. The reason behind that thinking is Algeria’s long insurgency by Islamist militants which killed about 200,000 people and which is still not decisively stamped out. Algeria’s government believes the revolt in Libya could be exploited by militants to acquire weapons and launch new attacks on its soil.

It is also uncomfortable that Islamists who share ideological ties to the militants it has been fighting are now in positions of power in Libya. One such person is Abdel Hakim Belhadj. He spent time in Afghanistan and had indirect dealings with al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. He now renounces violence and is head of Tripoli’s military council, a body that comes under the NTC umbrella.

“It is very difficult to have a dialogue with someone like Belhadj, for example,” said Abdelhamid Si Afif, a member of the executive of Algeria’s ruling FLN party who also chairs the foreign affairs committee in parliament. “He is known in Algeria for his acquaintances with Islamist extremists. Algeria has known terrorism.”

Algeria has not made a great effort to articulate that point of view. No government minister has given a detailed, public explanation of the policy on Libya since the revolt began. That is part and parcel of the Algerian government’s outlook on the outside world, said Geoff Porter, founder of North Africa Risk Consulting. “Algeria does indeed run the risk of isolating itself on the international stage, but Algeria has always been a fiercely independent country,” he said.—Reuters

pilgrims visited the famous synagogue in Djerba for Lag BaOmer, a holiday following Passover that usually attracts 5,000 Jews from Tunisia, France, Israel and other countries. During the campaign for the Oct. 23 election for Tunisia’s new democratic assembly, moderate Islamists in the Ennahda party promised to maintain the country’s secular state and respect human rights, women’s rights and other freedoms.

Among the 10,000 candidates was one Jew, kosher restaurant owner Gilles Jacob Lellouche from the Tunis port area of La Goulette, where many Jews live. “I wanted to break the taboo that someone from a minority can’t get involved in politics,” said Lellouche, who was not elected. “People saw me as a citizen who was getting involved. It all went very well.”

The Ennahda candidate in La Goulette visited the Jewish nursing home to reassure the residents and party leader Rachid Ghannouchi met the Tunis community’s leader. The smooth voting process and the fact that Ennahda fell short of a majority, forcing it to seek a coalition with two secular parties, seems to have reassured the minorities.

“Ennahda will have to follow the moderate Tunisian tradition. Jews have no problem with Ennahda, only with the salafists,” Attoun said, referring to the minority of radical Islamists. “But Ennahda won’t let them do what they want.”

“Everybody is watching Ennahda and knows what they have promised,” Lahham said. “If they want to change anything, the street is there to protest.” A senior Western diplomat in touch with Jewish communities around the country said they were not getting ready to leave. “Ennahda has gone out of its way to reassure the Jewish community,” he said. “It’s in Ennahda’s interest both as a political party and as the leader of the next government of Tunisia to show that this tradition of tolerance continues.”— Reuters

CAIRO: Hundreds of Egyptian protesters shout anti-military ruling council outside Torah prison in Cairo yesterday in support to jailed Alaa Abdel-Fattah, one of Egypt’s most vocal activists and bloggers and an icon of the uprising that led to Hosni Mubarak’s ouster in February.—AP

Mother of jailed Egyptian blogger on hunger strike CAIRO: The mother of one of Egypt’s best known activists has gone on hunger strike to protest her son’s detention by the country’s military rulers, the family said yesterday. Laila Soueif’s protest is part of the furor surrounding the Oct. 30 arrest of her son, Alaa Abdel Fattah, one of Egypt’s most vocal activists and bloggers and an icon of the uprising that led to Hosni Mubarak’s ouster in February.

The military has accused Abdel-Fattah of inciting sectarian clashes on Oct 9 that killed 27 people, most of them Christians, in the worst violence since the antiMubarak revolt. He is also accused of assaulting on-duty soldiers and damaging military property.

Abdel-Fattah’s family said that Soueif, who is 55, began the strike on Sunday and has been surviving on water, tea and cigarettes. “I am good so far,” a cheerful Soueif told The Associated Press by telephone. “My blood pressure is stable, but I will continue the hunger strike until Alaa is freed.” Mona Seif, Abdel-Fattah’s sister, said her mother was not showing any signs of physical frailty. Abdel-Fattah was summoned by military prosecutors on Oct 30. He refused to answer questions about the Oct 9 violence on the grounds that the military was involved in the clashes.

Abdel-Fattah’s supporters have planned a protest for later yesterday outside the Cairo prison where he is being

held. They dismiss the claims against Abdel-Fattah, saying the military is trying to silence a prominent critic and to deflect blame on its soldiers in the violence. A persistent controversy over whom to blame for the bloodshed has signaled a new low in relations between the military and activists, who blame the troops for starting the violence and army vehicles of running over protesters. The military denies the charge, insisting that troops deployed to deal with a Christian protest had no ammunition or firearms.

The military initially ordered the Cabinet to investigate the violence but later decreed that it will carry out the probe itself, a move that led to suspicions of a cover-up. Abdel-Fattah’s arrest has triggered an uproar at home and abroad and, like the Oct 9 clashes, has further tainted the military’s reputation.

His detention is one of several issues that have strained relations between the military and political activists. They accuse the ruling generals of human rights violations, ignoring calls at home and abroad for stopping trials of civilians before military tribunals - at least 12,000 since February - and of making major policy decisions without consultations.

“My brother’s arrest is a message from the military that it will now target the activists whom we thought were immune by virtue of their prominence,” Seif, Abdel-Fattah’s sister, said.— AP

Al-Qaeda to produce film on Awlaqi’s life with message to US ADEN: A radical group in Yemen announced yesterday that a film will be produced documenting the life of slain USborn cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi and which will include a previously unknown message to Americans. Partisans of Sharia (Islamic law) said “a film on Awlaqi’s life will be produced in both Arabic and English on his role in reviving the rite of jihad (holy war) in the hearts of many Muslim youths, especially in Arab societies,” the Al-Qaeda linked group said in a statement.

Anwar al-Awlaqi, who was the first US citizen to be put on a US list of militants targeted for assassination, was killed on September 30 in an air strike in Yemen.

The film will be produced by Sada alMalahem, the media arm of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s (AQAP), the radical group said without indicating when it will be released.

“The film will include a video, broadcast for the first time and titled: ‘Message for the American people’-recorded in English

by Sheikh Anwar before his martyrdom,” said the statement, distributed in the village of Rawda, an Al-Qaeda stronghold in Yemen’s eastern Shebwa province. US intelligence officials believe Awlaqi was linked to a US army major charged with shooting dead 13 people in Fort Hood, Texas, and to a Nigerian student accused of trying to blow up a US airliner on December 25, 2009.

Awlaqi was also believed to be the leader of overseas operations of AQAP, which vowed revenge for his killing. AQAP has taken advantage of 11 months of deadly protests against Yemen’s veteran President Ali Abdullah Saleh to bolster its presence not only in Shabwa, but also in nearby Marib and Abyan provinces. —AFP

TRIPOLI: Libyan newly-elected interim Prime Minister Abdel Rahim Al-Keib speaks to fighters from the National Transitional Council’s (NTC) Saraya Hamra battalion as they protest outside his office in Tripoli yesterday to demand payment of their salaries. —AFP

US hands massive base over to Iraq BAGHDAD: US forces have handed Joint Base Balad, which was once one of the world’s busiest airports and housed some 36,000 personnel, over to Iraqi control, a US military spokesman said yesterday. “We handed over Joint Base Balad (JBB) yesterday,” the spokesman said, adding that at its peak, the base to the north of Baghdad housed “28,000 uniformed personnel and 8,000 civilian contractors.”

“It was the second-largest base (for US forces in Iraq) in terms of personnel,” the spokesman said. Only the Victory Base Complex on Baghdad’s outskirts once housed more-an estimated 100,000-plus people, some 42,000 of whom were military personnel and over 65,000 others who were contractors, according to Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Brooks, the command histori-

an for United States Forces - Iraq.

Balad had “27,500 landings and take-offs a month” in 2006, making it one of the world’s busiest airports, the spokesman said. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing was the last unit to leave JBB, which occupied 25 square kilometres (nine square miles) and had a 20-kilometre (12-mile) security perimeter. “Balad was a Level I trauma centre which boasted a 98-percent survival rate for wounded Americans and Iraqis alike,” the spokesman said.

All of the roughly 31,000 US military personnel in Iraq are to depart the country by year’s end, after negotiations between Baghdad and Washington on a post-2011 US military training mission broke down.

Eleven US bases remain to be handed over, according to the spokesman.— AFP

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Mississippi defeats ‘personhood’ measure MIAMI: A measure that would have given “personhood” rights to unborn babies proved too radical even for the Bible Belt state of Mississippi, which soundly defeated the thinly-veiled anti-abortion initiative. One year before the November 2012 elections were expected to see a flurry of similar efforts across the United States to give constitutional rights to embryos and fetuses, voters roundly rejected the proposed amendment to Mississippi’s constitution.

The so-called “personhood amendment,” which would have granted rights to an embryo from the moment of conception and could have criminalized abortion, was similar to a measure rejected twice by voters in the state of Colorado. The measure known as “Initiative 26” not only would have made abortion illegal, but it would have effectively outlawed conventional birth control methods like IUDs and the morning-after pill. The measure reads: “Should the term ‘person’ be defined to include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or the functional equivalent thereof?”

Had the bill passed, abortion in Mississippi would have been made illegal even in the case of

rape and incest. Official vote results have yet to be released, but by late Tuesday the “no” vote for the initiative had a double-digit lead with 60 percent of precincts reporting, according to the website of Mississippi’s Clarion-Ledger newspaper.

Mississippi’s Republican Governor Haley Barbour expressed some reservations but nevertheless supported the measure, as did both major party gubernatorial candidates, including Republican Phil Bryant who won his bid to succeed Barbour. Bryant, currently the lieutenant governor, was quoted as telling supporters in the city of Tupelo earlier this week that “Satan wins” if the amendment was defeated, and calling controversy over the now-defunct measure “a battle of good and evil of Biblical proportions.”

Barbour meanwhile cast his vote in favor via an absentee ballot last week. “I think all in all, I know I believe life begins at conception. So I think the right thing to do was to vote for it,” he said, although he has also in the past stated concerns about situations in which a pregnancy needs to be terminated to save the life of the mother.

Colorado-based group Personhood USA is planning a drive to put similar measures on the ballot

in Florida, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada and California in November 2012, which could help ramp up a conservative push in what is expected to be a tough election year for President Barack Obama and other candidates from his Democratic party.

“We believe that by legally changing the definition of what a person is, it can undermine Roe v.

Wade and outlaw abortion,” Personhood USA president Keith Mason said, referring to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling giving women the right to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.

Democratic National Committee head Debbie Wasserman Schultz said defeat of the “dangerous and divisive measure” in one of the nation’s most conservative states allows abortion-rights supporters to “breathe a sigh of relief,” but said “the fight is far from over” since other states are planning to try to pass similar measures. Bioethics and legal scholar Paul Lombardo, a professor at the University of Virginia and Georgia State University, said the “radical” Mississippi measure could have had wide-ranging legal repercussions.

The amendment “would have an extraordinary impact on many features of the law, and it would

also make things like birth control potentially criminal,” he told AFP ahead of the vote. The New York based Center for Reproductive Rights late on Tuesday called the rejection of the measure a win for women. “Today’s vote is a huge victory for anyone concerned about protecting our constitutional rights against erosion. “It sends an unequivocal message to proponents of these measures that the American people, no matter the political perspective, will not stand for such blatant attacks on the health and constitutionally protected rights of women in this country,” said the group’s director Nancy Northrup.

Outlawing such commonly used medical services “runs completely counter to the US Constitution, not to mention some of our most deeply held American political traditions and values,” Northrup said. Outside a polling station in Jackson on Tuesday, voter Regina Madison was hopeful the initiative would pass, calling it “the first step for a national fight” to outlaw abortion. “I’m proud to vote today for (the) constitutional amendment that simply says that the baby has the legal rights of a person from the very beginning, from conception,” she said.— AFP

Powerful storm rips off roofs, floods Nome, Alaska Homes close to ocean evacuated

KEY BRIDGE: In this Nov 2, 2011, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks in front of the Key Bridge, which spans Arlington, Va and Washington, urging Congress to pass the infrastructure piece of the American Jobs Act. —AP

Obama to order cuts in travel, cellphones, swag WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama is coming out against swag. That’s swag, as in the coffee mugs, pens, T-shirts and other public relations articles that federal government agencies purchase with taxpayer money to promote their work. The swag ban is part of an executive order the president will sign yesterday to cut waste and make government more efficient. Obama has been using his executive powers on modest proposals to promote job creation, assist homeowners and consumers, or alleviate spending.

Besides putting an end to the promotional gear, the new order directs agencies to reduce travel spending, cut back on cellphones and laptops issued to employees, cut down the size of the executive vehicle fleet and post documents online instead of printing them - measures that individually would hardly merit a White House news release. The administration’s goal is to cut spending by 20 percent in areas covered by the executive order.

“We’re cutting what we don’t need so that we can invest in what we do need,” Obama said in a statement. The White House yesterday also plans to announce four finalists in a cost-saving contest among federal government employees. One finalist suggested the creation of a tool “lending library,” another proposed ending the purchase of US code books that are already available online.

Among examples cited by the White House of cost-cutting already under way are the Internal Revenue Service’s plan to cut 27 percent of its travel costs by relying more on teleconferences and webinars and the Homeland Security Department’s decision to conduct annual audits to reduce the number of unused cellphones and air cards. At the Commerce Department, the White House said, the agency has reduced the number of fleet drivers to one for all top departmental officials, including for new Secretary John Bryson.— AP

MANAGUA: Opponents of reelected Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega set fire during clashes with Daniel Ortega supporters, two days after the presidential elections, in Managua on Tuesday.—AP

Nicaragua’s Ortega: No dramatic changes in store MANAGUA: Newly re-elected President Daniel Ortega said Tuesday there won’t be any dramatic changes in his new administration and that he will continue taking Nicaragua on a path that is “Christian, socialist and in solidarity.” In his first public speech since his landslide win in Sunday’s presidential election, the onetime Sandinista revolutionary discarded major policy changes in his second consecutive term in office.

“Why change if we’re doing a good job,” said the onetime firebrand Marxist who in recent years has espoused a politics of personality based on Christianity, socialism and free enterprise. Electoral council President Roberto Rivas officially declared Ortega the winner on Tuesday, though the incumbent president had a 63 percent to 31 percent lead over his nearest rival with 86 percent of the votes counted on Monday.

“He has officially been declared the president of the republic,” Rivas told Radio Ya, calling the margin of victory unprecedented in Nicaragua. But complaints of voting irregularities by local and international groups continued. A team from the European Union said in a news release Tuesday that the vote was direct-

ed “by electoral authorities that were not completely independent nor impartial and who didn’t fulfill their duty of transparency and of collaborating with all parties.” The team said the electoral council showed bias by allowing the people overseeing several polling places to come from only Ortega’s Sandinista Party.

The Nicaraguan American Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that many anomalies were observed in “a non-transparent process.” The chamber, however, congratulated the Nicaraguan people for “exercising their civic right despite the limitations known by all.” Since returning to power in 2007, the 65-year-old Ortega has boosted his popularity in Central America’s poorest country with a combination of pork-barrel populism and support for the free-market economy he once opposed.

His opponents feared that if Ortega wins with a clear majority, he would be able to change the constitution to legitimize the Supreme Court ruling and pave the way to becoming president for life. Ortega has dismissed such charges as scare tactics, and said the results would indicate the Nicaraguans are now voting “without fear.”—AP

ANCHORAGE: A powerful Bering Sea storm hit western Alaska early yesterday with high winds and surging seas, the National Weather Service said. “We do have some reports of buildings losing roofs in the Nome area,” said meteorologist Scott Berg at the Fairbanks office. “Also water at the base of buildings in Nome.” Some homes close to ocean have been evacuated, but there are no reports of injuries, he said. A storm surge could bring more severe flooding later yesterday in the Nome area, Berg said.

Blizzard conditions prevailed overnight in quite a few places with sustained winds of 60 mph and gusts to 80 mph. Berg said big lowpressure systems hit Alaska often, but this one is different because of the track it took and because ice hasn’t formed yet to protect the shore. “Because we don’t have shore-fast ice this time of year, that’s what’s significant,” he said.

“Just hasn’t got cold enough yet. We have open water generally until the first of December.” The unusual storm had western Alaska bracing Tuesday. Tiny coastal communities were at particular risk for damage from wind and expected flooding.

Winds had already reached 80 mph late Tuesday, said Neil Murakami, a National Weather Service forecaster in Anchorage. The storm surge could produce seven-foot rise in sea levels, which would cause heavy flooding, meteorologist Stephen Kearney in Fairbanks said. State emergency management officials said some residents in the storm’s path headed for emergency shelters Tuesday.

Seventy miles north of Nome in the village of Brevig Mission, teacher AnnMarie Rudstrom had made plans to move her family to higher ground from their home on a spit separating the village lagoon and the ocean. The ocean by Tuesday afternoon had started to churn in shades of gray. “It’s pretty ominous looking and the waves are getting bigger,” Rudstrom said. State officials warned residents in harm’s way to secure home heating fuel tanks in case sea water flooded into communities.

The windows were boarded up Tuesday morning at the Polar Cafe, a popular restaurant that faces the ocean in Nome. Items stored in the basement had been carried upstairs and were in one of the hotel rooms, said waitress

Andrea Surina. Plans were being made to move the propane tanks to a safer spot, she said. The last time forecasters saw something similar was in November 1974, when Nome also took the brunt of the storm. That surge measured more than 13 feet, pushing beach driftwood above the level of the previous storm of its type in 1913.

Officials are concerned for Alaska Natives in the 18 villages in the region. The village of Point Hope, which sits on the tip of a peninsula with the Arctic Ocean on one side and the Bering Sea on the other, is seven to eight feet above sea level, Mayor Steve Oomittuk said.

The Inupiat Eskimo village of about 700 people has no sea wall and no evacuation road. If evacuation becomes necessary, everyone will go to the school because it sits on higher ground and is big enough to accommodate everyone, he said.

Smaller communities that are vulnerable to storm erosion were of particular concern, especially the village of Kivalina, already one of the state’s most threatened communities because of erosion. — AP

Latin American nations oppose US immigration law SOUTH CAROLINA: Sixteen Latin American and Caribbean nations on Tuesday asked to join the US Department of Justice’s lawsuit against South Carolina’s new immigration law amid fears it would lead to their citizens facing state-sanctioned discrimination. Mexico, Honduras, Brazil, Ecuador and Chile were among the nations filing papers Tuesday, asking to join the litigation filed by the Justice Department last week in Charleston.

In the complaint, federal lawyers asked the court to stop the state from enforcing a law that takes effect in January. The measure would require law officers who make a traffic stop to call federal immigration officials if they suspect someone is in the country illegally. The measure bars officers from holding someone solely on that suspicion. Opponents railed against the measure as encouraging racial profiling.

The nations state in their filings that their relationships are with the United States and that relationship should not be affected by what states do. They’ve filed similar challenges to Alabama’s new law. Mexico said it “has an interest in protecting its citizens and ensuring that their ethnicity is not used as the basis for state-sanctioned acts of bias and discrimination.” That was a view shared in a separate request to join the litigation by Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

Lawyers filing the papers referred questions to the Mexican embassy in Washington.In a subsequent statement, the Mexican government said some of the law’s “provisions would criminalize immigration and could lead to the selective application of the law. Its enforcement could adversely affect the civil rights of Mexican nationals living in South Carolina or visiting that state.” Mexico said it would “continue to make use of all available means and channels in order to firmly and immediately respond to any violation of the fundamental rights of Mexicans, regardless of their immigration status.”

In a request filed Monday seeking a permanent halt to the law, the Justice Department argues that only the federal government has the constitutional authority to enforce immigration laws. South Carolina’s law also mandates that all businesses use an online system the US government runs to check their new hires’ legal status. If they knowingly violate the law, they can lose their business license.

It also makes it a felony to create fake identifications or harbor illegal immigrants. US Attorney Bill Nettles in South Carolina said the law violates people’s right to due process and is unconstitutional. The Justice Department is challenging similar laws in Alabama and Arizona and is reviewing them in Utah, Indiana and Georgia. They argue the state laws divert resources from efforts to fight terrorism, drug smuggling and gang activity and will bring harassment and detention of foreign visitors, legal immigrants or US citizens who can’t immediately prove their legal status.

But supporters say the state laws wouldn’t be necessary if the federal government would do its job of enforcing the law. Rob Godfrey, Gov. Nikki Haley’s spokesman, said Tuesday that the governor wouldn’t back down in the face of lawsuits and challenges. “The governor’s job is to protect the citizens of South Carolina. That’s what she’s doing, and she isn’t going to stop no matter who decides to sue her, whether it be the unions, the ACLU, DOJ or anyone else,” Godfrey said. — AP

OHIO: Supporters against Senate Bill 5 celebrate after the bill was defeated Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio. —AP

Ohio voters reject Republican-backed measures OHIO: Voters in the industrial battleground state of Ohio overwhelmingly rejected a law curbing union bargaining rights for public employees, while voters in Mississippi rejected an anti-abortion measure that would have defined life as beginning at conception, dealing blows to Republicans a year before a presidential election.

The votes buoyed Democrats who are hoping to rebound from their sweeping election losses in 2010. Still, regardless of the ballot questions and key political races in Tuesday’s off-year election, most experts agree the most important factor in 2012 remains the stubbornly weak economy. In other races Tuesday, Kentucky’s Democratic governor won another term, and Mississippi voters kept their governor’s office in Republican hands - decisions that suggested many Americans were not ready to abandon incumbent parties, despite the nation’s economic woes. The surprise defeat of the Mississippi measure ended a drive to use it to mount a legal attack on the 1973 US Supreme Court decision that established the right to abortion, Roe v. Wade.

Voters’ last major judgments of 2011 were closely watched for any hints about the public’s political mood just two months ahead of the first presidential primary and nearly four years into the worst economic slowdown since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Tuesday’s result in the closely divided swing state of Ohio was expected to resonate from statehouses to the White House ahead of the 2012 presidential election. Ohio’s bill went further than a similar one in the state of Wisconsin by including police officers and firefighters, and it was considered by many observers to be a barometer of the American mood on the political conundrum of the day: What’s the appropriate size and role of government, and who should pay for it? Its defeat is anticipated to energize the labor movement, which largely supports Democrats, ahead of President Barack Obama’s re-election effort.

The result indicated that voters in the industrial Midwest may be growing disenchanted with the Republicans voted into office in 2010 with the backing of the conservative tea party movement advocating deep spending cuts and no tax increases. The new law repealed in Ohio would have severely limited the bargaining rights of more than 350,000 teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public employees.

The law hadn’t taken effect yet. It would have permitted workers to negotiate wages but not pensions or health care benefits. It also banned public-worker strikes, scrapped binding arbitration and dropped promotions based solely on seniority. With 99 percent of the vote tallied, the repeal effort led by 61 percent to 39 percent. The decision was a stiff blow to Gov. John Kasich and cast doubt on other Republican governors who have sought unionlimiting measures as a way to curb spending.

Kasich and supporters in the business community promoted the law as a means for local governments to save money. The largely unionfunded opponent coalition, painted the issue as a threat to public safety and middle-class workers. The outcome will no doubt be watched by presidential candidates as a gauge of the Ohio electorate, which is seen as a bellwether. No Republican has won the White House without Ohio, and only two Democrats have done so in more than a century.

The Mississippi measure to define life as beginning at conception would have been the first victory in the US for the so-called personhood movement, which aims to make abortion all but illegal. Similar attempts have failed in Colorado and are under way elsewhere.

The proposal divided the medical and religious communities. Opponents said the measure would have made some forms of birth control, such as the morning-after pill or the intrauterine device, illegal. And they worried that it could have deterred physicians from performing in vitro fertilization for fear of criminal charges if an embryo did not survive.—AP

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Grenades kill two in Somali capital, MP slain Parliamentarian gunned down outside his house

STONE TOWN: Britain’s Prince Charles take part in a chapauringe dance in Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania on the third day of a four day tour of the country Tuesday.—AP

Tanzania opposition chief surrenders after demo ARUSHA: A Tanzanian opposition leader surrendered to police yesterday after leading a protest calling for the release of one its members and the resignation of President Jakaya Kikwete. Freeman Mbowe, who heads the CHADEMA party, and scores of supporters staged a demonstration Monday in the country’s northern town of Arusha demanding the release of one of its officials and that Kikwete steps down.

The party accuses the president of using security forces to disrupt its activities. “He has turned himself in to police,” party spokesman Erasto Tumbo told AFP, adding that Mbowe preferred being detained as a sign of protest against the arrests. “The arrest of our party leaders must stop. We

respect the laws, but the police are blocking our activities.” Police on Monday arrested Wilbrod Slaa, CHADEMA’s secretary general who was beaten by Kikwete in the 2010 presidential election, alongside 26 other party members. They were released on bail late on Tuesday.

Tumbo announced a series of protests to kick off in the capital Dar es Salaam on Thursday to denounce the arrests.

Members of CHADEMA, Tanzania’s main opposition group, have faced court cases since January over demonstrations authorities declared illegal. During a demonstration in January in Arusha, two opposition members were shot dead when police opened fire to disperse the crowd.— AFP

EU parliament speaker urges Israel to free Irish lawmaker BRUSSELS: The European parliament’s president called on Israel yesterday to release an Irish EU lawmaker who is among more than 20 people detained for trying to break a naval blockade by sailing to Gaza.

Paul Murphy, an Irish Socialist Party member, is among some 20 people who are still held near Tel Aviv after refusing to be immediately expelled from Israel.

European parliament president Jerzy Buzek “calls on Israeli authorities to quickly free Paul Murphy and other Europeans detained with him,” Buzek’s spokesman Robert Golanski told AFP. Buzek urges Israeli authorities must “respect the rights” of the detainees, Golanski said. A spokesman for Murphy’s leftist group in the parliament said the MEP “considers that he was kidnapped in international waters,” and

MOGADISHU: Gunmen shot dead a S omali lawmaker in M ogadishu yesterday, a day after Al- Qaeda-linked rebels killed at least two people in a series of grenade attacks and said they would step up assaults in the capital. It was not immediately clear who carried out the assassination of parliamentarian Aden Bule. Local residents blamed clan militia fighters.

Tuesday evening’s strikes highlighted the ease at which al Shabaab militants are able to infiltrate the heart of the coastal city, which is meant to be under the control of government soldiers and an African Union force (AMISOM). “A grenade was hurled at the busy Howlwadag road last night, killing two people and injuring nine others, including soldiers,” said ambulance coordinator Ali Musa, referring to the attack on a street through the city’s main Bakara Market.

Al Shabaab claimed to have killed 15 government soldiers in four separate attacks. Twelve

were killed as they patrolled the Howlwadag road, the rebels said. Other targets included the house of a former justice minister and a prominent local elder.

The militants, who are bracing for battle with Kenyan forces in southern S omalia, said Tuesday’s grenades were “just an introduction”.

“We are planning more serious attacks inside the capital, Mogadishu,” Sheik h Abdiasis Abu Musab, an Al Shabaab spokesman, told Reuters yesterday. The militants pulled most of their fighters out of Mogadishu, epicentre of their almost five-year insurgency, in August amid reports of internal divisions and funding shor tages.

Since then, the AMISOM peacekeeping force and government troops have been flushing out remnant insurgent fighters.

The United Nations estimates 98 percent of the capital is under the government’s control-the most since the overthrow of a dictator in 1991 threw the Horn

of Africa country into conflict and left much of Mogadishu in the hands of warlords. Security has improved since the militants retreated: men in flowing robes chat lazily on sidewalks over sweet tea, residents are returning to former rebel strongholds to rebuild homes and the daily crackle of gunfire and thud of mortars has subsided.

The murder of Bule, however, underscored the threat clan militia still pose, and the difficulties policing M ogadishu.

“Two men armed with Ak 47 rifles shot the lawmaker dead in front of his house.

His body has not yet been carried from the spot,” said resident Ali Aden, who witnessed the shooting.

“I believe it was the clan militia who occupied his own house by force for years,” he said, adding that Bule had ordered the security forces to evict the squatting fighters.

In a shift from more conventional street warfare, al Shabaab has increasingly resorted to sui-

cide attacks and guerilla-style tactics. They claimed responsibility for an Oct 4 suicide truck bomb which killed more than 70 people. AMISOM said the insurgents had melted into the population and troop numbers were insufficient to secure the entire city. “ We know the fighters are still hiding among the population, Paddy Ankunda, AMISOM spokesman, told Reuters. “It is the work of the government to do house-to-house inspections to capture the al Shabaab remnants.” Fighting to impose a harsh version of sharia law on the nation, al Shabaab is also readying to wage battle with troops from Kenya, which sent its forces across the border to crush the militants more than three weeks ago. City dwellers feared recent securit y gains could come undone. “It seems (the government) will never control the grenades and other explosions,” said Hassan Abdulle, who recently returned to live in the city.— Reuters

NATO urges Georgia to deepen reforms for membership bid

refuses to be expelled immediately because he challenges the fact he has to appear before an Israeli judge.

The Israeli interior ministry said Sunday that the 21 activists were being held pending proceedings against their deportation before an Israeli judge. The 21 were among 27 passengers and crew aboard two ships intercepted by the Israeli navy as they tried to run the blockade of the Gaza Strip last week. Israeli commandos boarded the Irishflagged Saoirse (Freedom) and the Canadian ship Tahrir (Liberation) in international waters off Gaza on Friday before the navy escorted them to the port of Ashdod.

Six passengers were released on Saturdayan Arab-Israeli, two Greek crewmen, and three journalists from Egypt, Spain and the United States.— AFP

TBILISI: The NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, right, attends a Georgian-NATO Commission meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia yesterday.—AP

TBILISI: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen yesterday urged Georgia to intensify its military and political reforms to boost the ex-Soviet state’s bid for membership of the Western alliance. “Further reforms will be a ticket to membership,” Rasmussen told reporters in Tbilisi at the start of his two-day visit to the country.

NATO leaders agreed at their 2008 summit in Bucharest that Georgia and Ukraine could join the military alliance at an unspecified point in the future, although they were denied coveted pre-membership status amid strong opposition from Russia. “Since the Bucharest summit, Georgia has become a lot closer to NATO but there is still work to be done,” Rasmussen said.

He said that his visit would enable NATO to “review the progress made and the challenges that lie ahead”.

The small Caucasus republic’s NATO aspirations have infuriated its powerful neighbour Russia, which fought a brief war with Georgia in 2008. Seeking to prove itself as a reliable partner, Georgia has become one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the Western allianceled mission in Afghanistan, deploying more than 900 troops to help combat the Taliban and suffering 10 losses to date.— AFP

Somalia famine baby back from brink of death

WARSAW: Janusz Palikot, leader of the new left wing party, the Palikot’s Movement, speaks at a press conference after he demanded parliament authorities to remove the Catholic crucifix from the assembly hall, in Warsaw, Poland yesterday.—AP

Polish party wants crucifix in parliament removed WARSAW: A new left-wing party in Poland demanded yesterday the removal of a crucifix that hangs in parliament, a move seen by many citizens in the mainly Roman Catholic country as a provocative challenge to a cherished symbol. The party, Palikot’s Movement, filed its request with the new parliamentary speaker, Ewa Kopacz. It argues the crucifix violates a constitutional guarantee of a secular state.

It is the party’s first such appeal since the newly elected parliament held its first sitting Tuesday and follows a similar appeal made last month which went unanswered.

“Poland is a lay country and its public authorities, including the legislature, should maintain impartiality on matters of religious and philosophical convictions,” the party said.

Led by maverick businessman-turnedpolitician, Janusz Palikot, the party unexpectedly emerged as the third political force in Oct 9 elections. It advocates curbing the influence of the church, simplifying laws and cutting down on bureaucracy. It also supports gay rights, and two of its members made history by becoming the first transsexual and openly gay person to be elected as lawmakers.

However, it’s the party’s demand that the crucifix be removed that has caused the biggest stir. The conservative opposi-

tion Law and Justice party and a youth organization have written to Kopacz in support of the crucifix. They recalled that it was put up as a symbol of regained freedom after communism - which was hostile to religion - was toppled in 1989. “This is not only about issues related to faith and religion, a part of our tradition,” said Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the head of Law and Justice. “This is a matter of patriotism, of national identity, national dignity.”

The dispute over the cross in parliament prompted the church to recently ban a prominent priest, Adam Boniecki, from making public statements. Boniecki said on private TVN24 that there might be reasons to have the cross removed and that the church should examine why there has been a recent rise in anti-church views. Boniecki is the former editor of the respected Catholic weekly, Tygodnik Powszechny. In another issue tied to the storm over the place of religion in public life, the country’s leading pro-choice activist, Wanda Nowicka, faced a struggle on Tuesday to win election as a deputy speaker of parliament. Nowicka, who also belongs to Palikot’s Movement, failed to win that position in a first round, with many lawmakers objecting due to their Catholic, anti-abortion views. She eventually prevailed in a second round of voting.— AP

NAIROBI: As Minhaj Gedi Farah lay silently on a hospital bed three months ago, even his mother had given up hope that the skeletal Somali baby would live. Weeks of intensive feeding, though, have transformed him into a chubby-cheeked infant who crawls. The is one of several stories highlighted yesterday in an annual New York fundraising event held by the aid group International Rescue Committee, which helped nurse Minhaj back to health.

Famine has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Somali children this year, but the UN said despite restrictions by Islamist insurgents, heavy rains and fighting, aid agencies are expanding their reach. Food aid is now getting to 2.2 million of the 4 million Somalis who need it, the UN said. “His mother never thought he would recover.

Every member of his family is happy,” said Sirat Amin, a nursenutritionist with the International Rescue Committee who has been monitoring Minhaj’s progress. “He can sit without being supported, he can have (nutritional supplement) Plumpynut on his own. He’s crawling.”

In July, the month that the UN declared parts of Somalia famine zones, Minhaj was one of dozens of limp babies lying under mosquito net shrouds in the sweltering wards of the IRC hospital in Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp. Seven-month-old Minhaj weighed only 3.2 kilograms (7.05 pounds), less than some newborns.

Pictures of his gaunt cheeks and bulging eyes made him the face of the famine. But after weeks of intensive feeding with Plumpynut - a kind of sweetened peanut butter packed with nutrients - he is nearly 8 kilograms (17.64 pounds), almost normal for a boy his age.

Since the beginning of the year, hundreds of thousands of Somali families have poured over the border, fleeing war and hunger. Domes made from dirty tarpaulins and scraps of cloth mushroomed on the scrublands of northern Kenya and the UN ‘s famine announcement brought planeloads of television crews to capture images of their suffering.

Now the torrent of refugees fleeing into Kenya has slowed to a trickle and the camera crews have gone home. But that doesn’t mean the emergency is over.

Nearly 2 million Somalis still don’t have access to food aid.

Rain has turned tracks through the bush to slush and there’s been fighting along the border after hundreds of Kenyan soldiers crossed into Somalia. Last month’s incursion followed a string of kidnappings on Kenyan soil by Somali gunmen. Families wanting to flee may fear being caught up in the fighting or be stuck in the mud. Only the strongest are getting through.

When they arrive, they are not only star ving but sick and exhausted, Amin said. So although less are coming, when

they arrive in the refugee camps in Kenya many are in a more severe state of starvation.

The ward where Amin works has been expanded by two tents, but even so, 78 children are sharing 56 beds. That’s about twice as many as when Minhaj was admitted. Some children are in even worse condition than he was. Many of the new arrivals come in with diarrhea, cases of cholera, or secondary infections.

Amin and other aid agencies say that deaths from illness are likely to rocket as weakened immune systems contend with the cold rains and diseases spread by puddles of dirty water.

The UN Children’s Fund said around 168,0000 acutely malnourished children under the age of 5 could die within weeks.

They are concerned about infectious diseases like measles, cholera and malaria, particularly in the dirty and overcrowded camps in the capital of Mogadishu. “ The famine is not over ...

Children are dying on a daily basis,” said Hannan Sulieman, UNICEF’s deputy representative for the Somalia mission.

“Malnutrition has been way

above emergency levels for over 10 years.” She said that her organization was planning to maintain current levels of aid until August or September next year, when Somalia would have had a long and a short rain harvest. The famine is the worst emergency to hit Somalia for a generation. The UN has appealed for $1 billion and has got $779 million so far.

But aid still doesn’t reach many of the starving. Islamist militias battling the weak UN backed government have forbidden many aid agencies to operate in their territory, exacerbating the effects of a severe drought. So even after their parents have struggled through the mud, have made it past the militias and have staggered into the hospital, it is still too late for many, said Amin.

“I’m coping with it but sometimes it’s heartbreaking. People are suffering. Sometimes they die in front of you,” he said.

“Sometimes you want to help but the numbers are just so high.

There are just so many.” But seeing children like Minhaj recover gives him the strength to go on.—AP

DADAAB, Kenya: This composite image shows baby Minhaj Gedi Farah at various dates of his recovery at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) hospital. Photo on left shows Minhaj as he arrived at the hospital on July 26, 2011. Photo on right dates on Oct 19, 2011. — AP

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Hindus found guilty over deadly 2002 Indian riots Verdicts split activists campaigning for justice

ADDU: Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, center, inspects a guard of honor after his arrival in Addu, Maldives yesterday.—AP

Pakistan wants to mend ‘trust deficit’ with India ADDU: Pakistan’s foreign minister said yesterday she hopes to discuss with her Indian counterpart ways of closing a “trust deficit” between the archrivals and combating regional terrorism. Pakistan’s Hina Rabbani Khar and Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna participated in a foreign ministers’ meeting before an eightnation South Asian summit in Maldives.

Khar told reporters that Pakistan would like for “the trust deficit that (has existed) between the two countries for many years to be reduced. ... “We have many, many long miles to move ahead still, and we hope that this cooperation, with mutual trust more than anything else, ... we will be able to move on.” The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has its 17th meeting on Addu atoll in this Indian Ocean archipelago starting today. SAARC representatives are India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. The two foreign ministers will have talks before bilateral discussions between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani sched-

uled on the sidelines of the summit today. Khar said that the discussions are expected to focus on regional terrorism.

“Nobody can deny the fact that this is a major challenge the region faces.

Pakistan is a country that has suffered in the hands of terror more than any other country may (have) in the region or in the world,” Khar said.

Any issue that is a challenge to the region or to the two countries could be discussed, she said. Pakistan and India have fought three wars since they were carved off from each other in 1947, with the disputed status of Kashmir the main flashpoint. Both countries claim all of Kashmir. India has also been hit by terror attacks by militants trained in Pakistan, allegedly with the support of the Pakistani military. An attack in 2008 in Mumbai by Pakistani terrorists froze a slow moving peace process that has only recently resumed.

In the latest positive sign, Pakistan last week announced normalized trade ties with India, granting it “Most Favored Nation” status and enabling its producers to export more goods to India.— AP

Bangladesh may withdraw complaint over EU help ADDU CITY: Bangladesh is considering withdrawing a complaint about a European move to grant beneficial import conditions to Pakistani textile makers as an aid measure following Pakistan’s floods last year, a senior Bangladeshi official said yesterday. Europe and Pak istan had expected a long-announced plan for trade preferences for Pakistani textile makers to be approved during a meeting of trade diplomats in Geneva this week, but a Bangladeshi complaint halted the move.

Pakistan was being granted the beneficial import conditions to its textile makers as an aid measure following devastating floods in the South Asian country last year.

Bangladeshi officials said their Pakistani counterparts had “unofficially” raised the matter on the sidelines of an ongoing South Asian leaders’ summit on this remote Maldivian atoll. “I will check with Geneva ... as far as I know we are supposed to withdraw this (complaint),” Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes told Reuters.

“There has been some informal discussion on this here with the Pakistani officials,” he said. “They have asked us unofficially about it and we have told them we

are checking and will get back to them. So discussions are on to find out a way.”

Islamabad called Dhaka’s objections to the beneficial import conditions for its textile makers “an accident”. “Of course, we are very concerned about it. We have been conveyed by them that it was at best an accident,” Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan’s foreign minister, told Reuters.

Bangladesh had concerns about the impact of the European measures, which would make it easier for Pakistan to export textiles to Europe. Bangladesh competes with Pakistan for textiles sales to the European market. The two-year cut in tariffs offered by the EU would be a small boost for Pakistan’s exporters.

World Trade Organization rules say the same deal must be offered to all trade partners, so by making an exception for Pakistan, the EU needs to get all WTO members on side and any one country can block the deal. Until recently India, Pakistan’s neighbour and rival, had objected to the European plan, effectively vetoing it. But as tensions between the two traditional South Asian enemies have eased, India signaled it no longer opposed the plan.— Reuters

Pakistani president vows operations against Haqqanis ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president promised to work with the United States to “eradicate” the militant Haqqani network, a pledge made during a meeting with visiting American congressmen, according to one of the lawmakers.

But the head of the Homeland Security delegation, Michael McCaul, downplayed the significance of the remarks, saying it was unclear whether President Asif Ali Zardari had the power to make good on his pledge, given the influence of the military in Pakistan.

According to McCaul, Zardari also appeared to brush off threats that US aid spending to Pakistan could be significantly cut if Islamabad did not do more to squeeze insurgents like the Haqqanis, who are based in northwest Pakistan but attack US and Afghan troops in Afghanistan. “I think he thinks it’s a given that we are going to continue the aid, but I tried to tell him that it’s in jeopardy,” McCaul, a Republican congressman from Texas, said of Zardari. “He said, ‘I appreciate your assistance, but it’s trade more than aid that I need.’”

McCaul and the visiting lawmakers met with Zardari in the Pakistani port city of Karachi on Tuesday, and revealed details of his conversation later the same day. Relations between the United States and Pakistan have plummeted over the last year following the shooting deaths of two Pakistanis by a CIA contractor and the American unilateral raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May. Persistent allegations that Pakistani security forces are aiding or tolerating Afghan insurgents have led many US lawmakers to call for cuts in the billions of dollars in aid given to Pakistan. The Haqqani network is an al-Qaida linked militant group with roots in eastern Afghanistan that has long been based in the Pakistani border region of North Waziristan.

US and NATO officials say it is currently the most deadly foe in Afghanistan.

The problem is especially acute because

Washington is committed to withdrawing most of its combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Seeing the country fall back into the hands of the Taleban or descend into bloody civil war would be a crushing failure for Washington. The US has been applying steady pressure on Pakistan to tackle the Haqqanis, but with little effect.

“The president, on the record, said ‘I am going to work with you to eradicate them,’” McCaul said. He further quoted Zardari as saying: “I know these people very well, they are snakes and I’m going to go after all of them.”

McCaul said he welcomed the president’s statement, but “the real question is how much does this president control the military” and the country’s spy service. Zardari heads a democratically elected civilian government, but the military, which has ruled Pakistan for much of its existence, does not follow his orders when it comes to Afghan policy and other defense issues. McCaul said the American delegation asked to meet the Pakistani army and spy chiefs, but this was not possible.

The Pakistani military views neighboring India - and not Islamist militants at home - as the country’s biggest threat and sees Afghanistan through that lens. Consequently, Islamabad is widely believed to be reluctant to move against the Haqqanis because it sees them as potential allies against Indian influence in Afghanistan when America withdraws. In talks late last month with US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other American officials, Pakistani army chief Gen. Ashfaq Perverse Kayani recognized the need to “squeeze the Haqqanis,” a senior US official said at the time, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Greater intelligence sharing, cutting financing networks and stopping fighters from crossing the border were discussed, he said.— AP

MEHSANA: An Indian court yesterday found 31 Hindus guilty of killing 33 Muslims in a single house during religious riots in the state of Gujarat in 2002, provoking a mixed response from activists. In some of India’s worst interfaith violence since independence in 1947, about 2,000 people died in a wave of antiMuslim unrest triggered by a train fire in which Hindu pilgrims were burnt alive.

Muslims were blamed for the train fire, and Hindu mobs hungry for revenge rampaged through Muslim neighborhoods in towns and villages across Gujarat state during three days of bloodshed. “Out of the 73 accused, 31 are guilty and 42 are acquitted of all charges,” judge SC Srivastava told the special court near Sardarpura village, where the 33 Muslims sought shelter in a small house on the night of February 28, 2002.

The victims had crowded into the house to escape the rioters, who set the building alight.

Bodies of 28 people were found at the scene, with five others dying later of their injuries.

Life sentences were handed to all 31 men for murder, arson and other charges, following earlier convictions of other Hindu rioters over the outbreak of violence. The government in the western state of Gujarat-still headed by Hindu nationalist chief minister Narendra Modi-has been accused by rights groups of tacitly supporting the rioters.

Yesterday’s verdicts, which come after years of accusations that authorities dragged their heels in prosecuting Hindus, split activists campaigning for justice. “This is the first time in 60 years that so many people have been convicted in a case of communal violence,” Teesta Setelvad, secretary of the Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) group, told the NDTV news channel.

“It is wrong to say that the big ones have been let off. All the accused in the case are big

agriculturists, land owners and influential people.” But other groups representing riot victims said the 42 acquittals due to lack of evidence revealed how many offenders would never been punished. “So many of them had been identified but still they were not convicted,” said activist Sandhya Gokhale, vowing further efforts to pursue the guilty.

Responsibility for the train fire has been the subject of fierce dispute between Hindus and Muslims, but in March this year a court handed 11 death sentences and 20 life terms to Muslims convicted over the blaze. During the slaughter in Gujarat, witnesses said bay-

ing Hindu mobs surrounded and raped Muslim women, then poured kerosene down their throats and on their children and threw lit matches at them. The Hindu pilgrims on the train were returning from the town of Ayodhya, another flashpoint for inter-religion unrest after a mosque was razed in 1992 by Hindu zealots, leading to separate riots that killed thousands of people, mostly Muslims.

Narendra Modi, who is seen by many in the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a future candidate for prime minister, denies all accusations about his handling of the riots.— AFP

MEHSANA: Special Prosecutor S.C. Shah (2nd R) briefs media representatives outside the district session court at Mehsana, some 70 kms from Ahmedabad yesterday.—AFP

Rogue Afghan soldier shoots 3 Australians SYDNEY: A rogue Afghan soldier was on the run yesterday after shooting and wounding three Australian troops, days after a similar incident left three Australians dead, the defence department said. The men suffered serious wounds but all were in a stable condition after an Afghan National Army soldier opened fire with an automatic weapon and a grenade launcher at a joint base at Charmistan in Uruzgan province on Tuesday.

Two Afghan soldiers were also wounded before the man fled in an Afghan army vehicle. The incident comes less than a fortnight after another Afghan soldier killed three Australians and wounded seven others when he opened fire during a parade in Kandahar province. “It is too early to speculate that the two incidents are linked,” defence force chief David Hurley told reporters,

adding that nine or 10 Australians and about 30 Afghans were at the base when the latest attack occurred.

“I stress that there is no simple one-line explanation to this incident or the previous incident.

“We need to do some digging, further digging,” he added when asked whether he knew of the motive. “It could be personal grievance, it could be religious ideology. We don’t know, there was no indication.” In a statement published on their Voice of Jihad website, Taleban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi claimed the attacker had been in touch with the insurgents before he struck and had now handed himself over to the local Taleban .

The statement added that he escaped the base in a tank along with ten other soldiers and that the vehicle and ten Kalashnikovs were now in Taleban hands. The

Taleban , who claimed ten Australian soldiers died in the incident, are known routinely to distort and exaggerate their public statements. Local Afghan officials said a hunt was under way for the rogue soldier. The attack was the third such shooting to affect Australian troops this year, after an Afghan soldier killed an Australian lance corporal in May as they shared guard duties at a patrol base in the Chora Valley.

The latest incident took place just days after Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited Afghanistan, making an unannounced stopover to meet troops in the restive southern province of Uruzgan. She said yesterday that Australians would continue to train Afghan National Army soldiers, despite the risk. “I’m very conscious that this attack, coming so soon after the dreadful attacks of October 29, will... cause

Sickness delays Sonia Gandhi’s return NEW DELHI: Poor health yesterday forced Sonia Gandhi, president of India’s ruling Congress party, to cancel her first public speech since undergoing surgery in August, a party spokesman said. Gandhi was expected to signal her return to party business by addressing a rally in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand but she pulled out after being diagnosed with “viral fever”, Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwiwedi told AFP. “She has been running a viral fever since yesterday, so today we cancelled the plan for her to go to Uttarakhand,” he said yesterday. “I don’t think the fever will last beyond three or four days.” Speculation over Gandhi’s health and the future of the Congress party has been mounting ever since she went to the United States three months ago to receive treatment for an undisclosed illness, thought to be cancer.

She has since appeared in public several times, but has not spoken and her party has given no further details about the nature of her illness or her treatment. An AFP reporter at the scene said up to 20,000 supporters had gathered at the site, keen to catch a glimpse of the Italian-born leader who wields uncontested power in the Congress party. “I am very worried to hear she is sick again. I hope she gets better soon,” housewife Kamala Rawat, 32, told AFP. “I will welcome her here if she makes another visit.”

One media report has suggested that Gandhi’s son, Rahul, will take over as party president by the end of the year, but critics panned his performance in joint control while his mother was receiving treatment. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Congress spokesman Dwivedi declined to say when Rahul would step into his mother’s shoes but indicated that his profile within the party was set to grow in the coming months.

“There is no suspense about it. He has a role, which is increasing constantly. In natural course, his role will go on increasing. This is what Congressmen want,” he said. The Congress party, which rules in a coalition in New Delhi, faces polls in key states next year including in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state where both Sonia and Rahul have

their constituencies.

The Congress-led government has been hit hard by a series of graft scandals allegedly involving top-level ministers, two of whom were forced to resign amid escalating public anger. Gandhi’s scheduled speech at the rally yesterday was read out instead by Defence Minister AK Antony. In it, Gandhi took on social activist and anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare and his team of activists who led huge street protests in August to demand the creation of a new anti-graft ombudsman called a “Lokpal”. The government’s slow and muddled response to the demonstrations, and a perceived lack of leadership from Rahul, were widely criticised by Indian political commentators. “Our prime minister has already said that the government is committed to passing a strong Lokpal bill in parliament. So what’s the noise about?” Sonia’s speech said. —AFP

NEW DELHI: In this photograph taken on October 2, 2011, chairperson of India’s Congress-led UPA government Sonia Gandhi pays her respects at the memorial to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi, in honour of Gandhi’s 143rd birth anniversary. —AFP

Australians to question our mission in Afghanistan and the trust we have in Afghan National Army soldiers,” she said.

“As distressing as these incidents are, as dreadful as these incidents are, our mission in Afghanistan does need to continue. “Training is pivotal to that mission and our purpose in Afghanistan is to deny Afghanistan as a country in which terrorists can train to wreak violence around the world,” she added to reporters. Australia has 1,550 troops stationed in the strife-torn country, with 32 so far killed in the conflict. The country’s troops were first deployed to Afghanistan in late 2001 before being pulled out in 2002. They were redeployed in 2005 and have been training Afghan soldiers in Uruzgan. Canberra intends to keep troops in the central Asian nation until 2014.—AFP

Swedish troops to start leaving Afghanistan soon STOCKHOLM : Sweden’s center-right government yesterday said it has reached a broad agreement with the opposition to start withdrawing the country’s troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year. Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said the Nordic nation will reduce its 500 troops to 400 by the end of 2012 and complete the departure by summer 2014. After that, some 200 Swedes will remain in the country to support and train Afghan security forces, Bildt said.

The minority four-party coalition handed over the proposal to parliament after securing support from lawmakers of the two largest opposition parties, the Social Democrats and Green Party. It wasn’t immediately clear when the official vote will be held. The Swedish troops are part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force near the city Mazar-e-Sharif, in northern Afghanistan.

Bildt said the decision follows Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s plan to put its own troops in charge of security before the end of his presidency in late 2014. “The process to hand over the responsibility for security has already been initiated in Mazar eSharif and when President Karzai, within a week, puts forward a proposal for more areas where the transfer will start, it will most certainly include the main part of the four Afghan provinces that the Swedish-Finnish troops are responsible for today,” Bildt said in a statement. Finland, which has some 190 peacekeepers in Afghanistan working closely with the Swedes, has not yet decided on any withdrawal plans. In addition to the staff that will support the Afghan security forces, Sweden will also continue its aid work in Afghanistan after 2014, Bildt said. He added he believes the UN has an important role to play in Afghanistan also in the future. “I am one of those who find it hard to see how the country can proceed through the important election campaigns in 2014 and 2015 without any kind of help and support from the UN ,” Bildt said. “It is important for us to act for a strong and clear role for the UN “— AP

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

i n t e r n at i o n a l

Parents pray, jets grounded for South Korea college exam SEOUL: Jets will be grounded across South Korea and anxious parents will pray while their children take annual exams that could lead them to one of the country’s top universities and eventually a good job for life. As well as prayers at churches and temples in this country of 50 million people, the 690,000 students who sit the exams today have been boosting their chances by eating toffee, to help the right answers stick, and staying away from bananas and seaweed, that might make them slip in the tests.

“I have been so stressed just looking at other mothers send their children off to good colleges,” said Kwon Jeong-hee, whose son is taking the socalled CSAT tests for the second time. Kwon was praying at the Jogyesa Buddhist temple in downtown Seoul, which has held special prayer meet-

ings for parents of CSAT exam takers. Many anxious parents have been praying for weeks, if not months. “I haven’t allowed guests into my home recently because of superstitions against strangers, and I don’t let my son eat seaweed soup because it’s unnerving,” she said. The exams are a major event here, and society scrambles to make things easier for stressed students. During oral tests, aircraft will be banned from taking off and landing, and drivers are forbidden from sounding their horns. Police vehicles will even escort laterunning students to the exam rooms.

Even the stock exchange will open an hour late to reduce the chance that students will be caught in traffic en route to the exams, an annual rite of passage that can literally make or break the lives of the 18-year olds sitting them. “The mothers are

more anxious than the children,” said Yu Mi-ran, who has prayed daily at her church in central Seoul for over 20 days for her daughter.

Along with toffee, students are given presents of forks to help them “stab” the correct answers, while toilet paper is also good luck as in Korean it is called “pul-da”, a homonym for “solve” or “unravel.” Porridge is also a banned food for test takers as “cooking porridge” in Korean is also slang for “messing up.”

With the youngsters’ whole future at stake, some go further than trusting in toffee and forks.

A national scandal erupted in 2004 when a group of students were caught cheating with cell phones and working as a network. So serious is the exam that the offending students were handed down suspended sentences in court a few months later.

One high school student jumped off the roof of the school where she had been taking the test in 2007 and others have committed suicide after getting their results.

Test supervisors get special training and during the exam, they are not allowed to cough, chew gum or put on strong perfume that might distract students. With high levels of youth unemployment and a growing informal employment sector that doesn’t bring the same benefits as working for huge South Korean conglomerates that offer a steady job and pension, anxious prayers from parents don’t always stop when the exams are finished. “My son took the CSAT more than a decade ago,” said a mother at Jogyesa as she slipped a 5,000 won note inside a collecting box. “I’m here to get him a job.”— Reuters

Philippines offers to fly in docs to check Arroyo

DA NANG: This picture taken November 8, 2011 by Vietnam News Agency shows flooded houses in Hoa Vang district, in the central city of Da Nang. —AFP

Vietnam floods kill at least 100 HANOI: The death toll from weeks of severe flooding in Vietnam has climbed to 100, the government said yesterday, as a fresh deluge in central provinces prompted the evacuation of some 30,000 people.

The latest victims, 17 adults and five children, were killed when floods triggered by torrential rain swamped four central provinces in recent days, the national flood and storm control committee said.

Flooding in the country ’s southern Mekong Delta has already left 78 people dead. The UN said on Monday that 65 children under the age of 16 were among those killed in the delta region, most of them due to drowning. As the floods bat-

tered parts of central Vietnam, newspapers ran pictures of inundated houses and streets in the town of Hoi An and the ancient city of Hue. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Forecasters said more rain was expected in the region. Nationwide, more than half a million people have seen their homes or livelihoods affected by the rising waters, which have inundated around 140,000 homes. Unusually heavy monsoon rains have caused devastation across the region, with more than 500 dead in Thailand’s worst flooding in half a centur y and around 250 k illed in Cambodia.— AFP

MANILA: The Philippine president yesterday offered to fly in foreign doctors for his predecessor but refused to lift a travel ban against her, expressing concern that she might never return because of corruption complaints.

President Benigno Aquino III said his administration will pay for former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to get a bone biopsy in the Philippines.

She is fighting the travel ban in the Supreme Court, saying her rights are being violated because she has not been formally charged with a crime.

Aquino, who has long accused Arroyo’s administration of corruption, told reporters at a televised news conference that allowing her to leave the country would be an unacceptable risk. “We also wish for the immediate recovery of Mrs Arroyo, but let me ask you - if we allow an accused with a pending non-bailable case to travel to countries without extradition treaties with the Philippines to seek medical care for an ailment that can be addressed sufficiently in our own hospitals, is justice prevailing?”

Aquino said.

“In case she chooses not to return, how can we compel her to answer the charges?” he asked. Arroyo has underwent three surgeries on her cervical spine while facing complaints of electoral sabotage and plunder during her nine years in office. Aquino’s justice secretary turned down her request to leave the country to get treatment on Tuesday. Arroyo’s spokeswoman Elena Bautista-Horn said Arroyo is thankful for the government’s offer but will still pursue her court petition.

“We will pursue our Supreme Court petition because if we agree to the offer, it’s like saying it’s okay for them to curtail her right to choose where to be treated,” Horn said in a telephone interview. Horn said she could not categorically say that the offer is being rejected because they have not discussed its details. Arroyo has denied any wrongdoing. She and her husband, who is also named in the complaints, sought to overturn the travel ban at the Supreme Court. A court spokesman said the case may be decided next week. In a statement released through his lawyer, Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, called Aquino’s administration “a bunch of schoolyard bullies.” Arroyo’s camp released photographs to newspapers of the 64-year-old ex-leader looking frail and wearing a head-and-neck brace.

Arroyo stepped down last year and was then elected to Congress but remains hounded by allegations of corruption and electoral cheating.

Aquino, a former senator and son of former President Corazon Aquino, has made the prosecution of corrupt officials a cornerstone of his administration. The Arroyos are facing complaints of electoral sabotage for alleging tampering with the results of 2007 congressional polls. She is separately accused of illegally using government funds for her election campaign in 2004.— AP

QUEZON: In this Tuesday Nov 8 photo, former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, wearing a head and neck brace, reacts during an interview with a local reporter at her residence in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines.—AP

Malaysia urged to rescind ban on gay arts festival KUALA LUMPUR: Human Rights Watch urged Malaysia’s government yesterday to rescind a ban on an annual gay arts festival and amend criminal laws that it said discriminated against homosexuals. The “Sexual Independence” festival was launched in 2008 to promote gay rights in the Muslim-majority nation and was held without interference for three years. But it drew growing criticism this year from politicians and religious leaders after awareness of the event became widespread. This year’s festival was due to start yesterday, but police banned it last week on grounds of national security after several Muslim groups threatened to launch protests against the event. US-based Human Rights

Watch said police showed no evidence that the five-day event, to be held in a private art center, would disturb public order. “The banning of this festival violates basic rights to freedom of association and expression guaranteed by international human rights law and the Malaysian constitution,” the group said in a letter to Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The ban contradicted Najib’s call to promote unity in diversity and indicated that a “discriminatory, homophobic agenda persists” within the government, the group said. It urged Malaysia to overturn a decades-old law that makes sexual relations between same-sex adults punishable by 20 years in prison. Najib and his aides

South Korean probed for mailing severed finger LANAO: Philippine army troops (F) and policemen hold a joint patrol in the hointerlands of Pantar town in Lanao del Norte yesterday as part of security measures as authorities try to search for three missing South Korean miners believed to abducted in Lanao del Norte last week. —AFP

Philippine talks with rebels hit an impasse MANILA: Negotiations to end one of Asia’s longest-running Marxist insurgencies have stalled in the Philippines after Maoist rebels insisted jailed comrades be released and escalated attacks on government troops and mining companies, the government said yesterday. The guerrillas wanted several more comrades freed after the government released five in recent months, one of whom is believed to have returned to fight with the rebels, government negotiator Alexander Padilla said. He said the government would not release more rebels. Padilla called on the guerrillas to return to the negotiating table and said both sides may miss the mid-2012 deadline to complete the talks. “We’re no longer advancing because we keep going in circles,” Padilla said in a news conference.

Norway, which has been brokering the talks, has tried to bridge differences between the Manila government and the guerrillas but has not brought them back to the negotiating table. Rebel negotiators refused to meet government counterparts in June and last month, demanding the release of 13 more jailed guerrillas.

They said the 13 are consultants in the peace talks and are covered by a 1995

agreement that provided them immunity from prosecution and arrest.

Padilla said the rebels failed to produce proof the detainees are covered by the agreement.

A recent wave of rebel attacks, including an assault by more than 200 New People’s Army guerrillas that devastated three nickel mining complexes in southern Surigao del Norte province in October, has also damaged efforts to build trust, Padilla said.

“These attacks are not helping to create a conducive atmosphere for the negotiations,” he said.

Military officials have said the attacks were part of rebel extortion attempts. The guerrillas, however, accused the mining firms of causing massive environmental pollution and exploiting Filipino workers by paying them cheap wages in dangerous work conditions. The rebels have been fighting for a Marxist state since 1969, accusing successive Philippine administrations of subservience to US interests and failing to improve the lives of the poor. Their numbers have dwindled to an estimated 4,000 fighters amid battle setbacks, surrenders and factionalism. They are listed as a terrorist organization by the US and European Union.— AP

SEOUL: A South Korean is being investigated for cutting off part of his finger and sending it to the Japanese embassy in protest at Tokyo’s claim to Seoul-held islands, a report said yesterday. The 47year-old identified as Choi originally cut his finger during a protest outside the embassy in April and at the time had surgery to stitch it back on, Lee Jong-Wook, a police detective handling the case, told Yonhap news agency.

The demonstration was staged after Japan approved new school textbooks which describe the islands-called Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan-as part of its territory. The islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) have been a frequent irritant in

relations. Choi travelled from the southeastern city of Ulsan to Seoul in May to protest again against Japan’s claims. During that protest, he again cut off the same portion of his left little finger.

When doctors told him that the finger could not be reattached a second time, he sent it to the embassy by delivery service, the news agency quoted the detective as saying. Choi told police he was upset that Japan had restated its claims despite receiving aid from South Korea following the March earthquake and tsunami. Choi was not in custody and prosecutors were deciding what to do about the case, police were quoted as saying. It was unclear what month he sent the finger to the embassy. — AFP

PHNOM PENH: Cambodian scouts carry balloons during a ceremony marking the Independence Day in Phnom Penh yesterday. Cambodia was celebrating the 58th anniversary of its independence from France in 1953. —AFP

couldn’t be reached immediately for comments.

Gay rights activists had said the festival was meant to counter widespread homophobia in this socially conservative Muslim-majority nation, where a young gay man received death threats last year after posting a YouTube clip defending his sexuality.

The agenda for this year’s festival, themed “Queer Without Fear,” included talks on sexuality, an art exhibition and a makeup workshop by a drag queen. Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, currently on trial for sodomy, earlier this week joined the public outcry over the ban and said he supported the movement’s right to free expression.— AP

Japan releases China fishing boat captain TOKYO: Japan released a Chinese fishing boat captain yesterday, three days after his arrest for refusing a coast guard inspection in Japanese territorial waters, putting a quick end to the latest in a series of maritime incidents between Asia’s largest economies. The release comes little more than a year after tensions between Japan and China flared up following a detention of the captain of a Chinese trawler that collided with Japanese patrol boats near disputed islets in the East China Sea. The isles, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, are located near potentially rich maritime gas reserves. That clash stirred nationalistic frenzy in both countries and severely strained diplomatic relations. This time, however, the Chinese ship was detained in an area that is not a subject of territorial disputes, the coast guard said. “I understand the case was handled properly based on the law and evidence,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura told a regular news conference, adding that the incident was unlikely to affect bilateral ties.

The skipper, released after he paid a fine, had taken his boat into waters near the Goto islands off Nagasaki in southwestern Japan on Sunday when it was spotted by the coast guard, according to the Nagasaki Coast Guard Office. The vessel ignored requests to stop, including signs in Chinese, it said.

China had urged Tokyo on Tuesday to resolve the arrest quickly and appropriately, calling it an “ordinary fishing incident”.

The prosecutors’ office in Fukuoka, near Nagasaki, said the skipper was released after paying a fine of 300,000 yen ($3,860). He and 10 crew members sailed out of Nagasaki, the coast guard said. In August, Japan’s coast guard arrested the skippers of two Chinese fishing boats that were operating without permission in waters Japan considers its exclusive economic zone. — Reuters

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

NEWS

CHANDLER-AHWATUKEE, Arizona: A tanker explodes after being hit by another truck on westbound Interstate 10 near Chandler Boulevard on the Arizona border yesterday. Authorities in Phoenix say a milk truck driver was killed when he rear-ended another tanker truck hauling fuel, sparking a huge fire that snarled rush hour traffic for hours. — AP

Sadr was ‘liquidated’ in Libya BENGHAZI, Libya: Revered Lebanese spiritual leader Musa Sadr, who went missing in Libya in 1978, was “liquidated” at the time, a former aide to Muammar Gaddafi said yesterday. The fate of the Iranian-born Shiite cleric has been unknown since he vanished during a trip to Libya aimed at negotiating an end to Lebanon’s 19751990 civil war. Ahmed Ramadan, one of the most influential people in Gaddafi’s entourage, said yesterday on Al-Aan television that Sadr disappeared following a meeting with the late Libyan dictator soon after arriving in Tripoli.

“I bear witness that (Sadr) came... he arrived in Libya,” Ramadan said on the Dubai-based channel, adding the meeting had lasted for two and a half hours. Two officials then “took the guests”, including the cleric and those who accompanied him, and “100 percent, what we heard is that he was liquidated”, said Ramadan.

Ramadan said it was “possible” that Gaddafi had given the orders for Sadr to be killed because after the meeting, “He said: ‘Take him’.” He said he received the information from “some sources at the time” as well as from one of the three officials involved who had since died,

and that his statements could be corroborated by “complete files”. The remains of the cleric, who would have been 83 in April, were likely to be located in either Janzur, a suburb east of Tripoli, or the southern region of Sabha, he said.

Officially invited to Libya, he arrived there on Aug 25, 1978, with two companions Sheikh Mohammed Yacoub and journalist Abbas Badreddin. They were seen for the last time on Aug 31, 1978. His disappearance had been a source of tension between Lebanon and the Gaddafi regime, which always maintained that the cleric had left Libya for Italy. According to an indictment against Gaddafi issued by Lebanese authorities, Gaddafi ordered Sadr to be “taken away” after the pair got into a heated argument. Abdel Moneim Al-Honi, a former colonel who took part in the 1969 coup that brought Gaddafi to power, revealed in February that Gaddafi had ordered Sadr killed during his visit and that the cleric was buried in the southern region of Sabha. Gaddafi was killed in his hometown of Sirte on Oct 20 after an eight-month armed rebellion inspired by a wave of prodemocracy protests that swept the Arab world. — AFP

Students stage London march Continued from Page 1 10, 2010. They are also the biggest protests in London since riots rocked the capital and other English cities in August, leaving five people dead. “The message this year is the same as last year,” Michael Chessum of the National Campaign against Fees and Cuts told AFP as the march set off from outside the University of London building in the centre of the city. “Some people think the only way to make their point is by doing things beyond the law. We have students on the way to prevent trouble. But the majority of the violence comes from the police.”

Scotland Yard said it had deployed 4,000 officers for the protest to prevent any repeat of the violent scenes last year during similar marches against cuts to higher education funding and a hike in tuition fees. The marchers went from the University of London to St Paul’s Cathedral in the heart of the financial district, where anti-capitalism

protesters inspired by the “Occupy Wall Street” movement have been camping out since mid-October. Lines of police vehicles prevented the two groups from joining, while police helicopters hovered overhead.

But a group of protesters had earlier broken off from the main rally to set up around 25 tents in historic Trafalgar Square at the foot of Nelson’s Column, which commemorates one of Britain’s greatest naval victories. Police later moved in, hauling protesters out of the green and blue tents which officers then folded up. “This is what democracy looks like,” screamed one protester with a trickle of blood running down his forehead, as police led him away in handcuffs. Another protester, Glyn Jukes, told AFP the demonstrators were allied to the “Occupy London Stock Exchange” movement in St Paul’s.

Back on the main march, police handed out booklets to protesters advising them what to do if there is disorder, for example to stand aside and

let officers work, demonstrators said.

Louisa Loveluck, 22, who graduated with a degree in politics last year, said she still feared a violent response from the police. “I don’t feel safe knowing that the police can use rubber bullets. I don’t have faith in the police,” she said.

The student protests began last year over plans to triple university tuition fees, which were subsequently passed by parliament, but they say their opposition is now to a wider attempt to bring “market chaos” to the sector. The fees hike triggered a series of four demonstrations in London against austerity measures, culminating in a chaotic protest on Dec 9 when the car carrying heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and his wife Camilla was attacked. Fears of violence have also been raised after London was rocked by riots and looting for four nights in August, which the government blamed on criminality, but which many analysts linked to high levels of deprivation in some areas. — AFP

Iran defiant over nukes, warns Israel Continued from Page 1 Netanyahu said the world must end Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. “The significance of the report is that the international community must bring about the cessation of Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons which endanger the peace of the world and of the Middle East,” the Israeli premier said in a statement. Israeli President Shimon Peres had said at the weekend that the probability of an attack on Iran was becoming “more and more likely”.

Amid the hard language in the IAEA report and the threats of Israeli military action, the United States and its allies were talking up the possibility of additional sanctions on Iran. A senior US official speaking on condition of anonymity said: “We don’t take anything off the table when we look at sanctions. We believe there is a broad spectrum of action we could take.” But Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov made clear that Moscow would resist the tougher sanctions now under discussion in Washington and Europe. “Any additional sanctions against Iran will be interpreted by the international community as a means of changing the regime in Tehran,” Gatilov told Interfax. “This approach is unacceptable to us, and Russia does not intend to review this proposal,” he said without specifying whether Moscow would actually use its UN Security Council veto.

France’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying “we are prepared to adopt... unprecedented sanctions” should Iran refuse to cooperate with the IAEA. A spokeswoman for the European Union’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the IAEA’s report “seriously aggravates existing concerns” and the 27-nation bloc was working on “an adequate reaction.” Ashton represents the six world powers - Britain, China, France, Germany,

Russia and the United States - in stalled negotiations with Iran aimed at convincing Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment activities.

China and Russia have been reluctant to impose further sanctions on Iran, but Beijing, which also wields a Security Council veto, urged Tehran to show “flexibility and sincerity” in the wake of the IAEA report. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing was still studying the document but called on Iran to “engage in serious cooperation” with the nuclear agency. The report itself stated that the IAEA had “serious concerns” Iran “has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device.”

Although it stopped short of making an outright accusation of weapons programs, it detailed activities it said showed computer modelling of a nuclear warhead, testing explosives in a large chamber at the Parchin military base near Tehran and studying how to arm a Shahab-3 missile with an atomic warhead. Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said the allegations were “baseless” and insisted his country “will continue its peaceful nuclear activities”.

Analysts said that while the report was important for showing Iranian activity that could relate to nuclear weapons production, there was no “smoking gun” proving Tehran was on the verge of making an atomic bomb. “This isn’t new blockbuster information,” Peter Crail from the Arms Control Association in Washington told AFP. The Institute for Science and International Security said it was notable the report lacked “any assessment by the IAEA of Iran’s capability to make a nuclear explosive device based on what is learned through these activities”. Amir Mohebian, an Iranian analyst at a moderateconservative think-tank in Tehran, said the report seemed designed to increase pressure on Iran and set the scene for possible air strikes. — AFP

Future development of Makkah to fit...

Continued from Page 1 Future projects “will be far from the grand mosque by 300 meters ... The buildings will have reasonable heights between 8 to 10 floors and will have the Makkan style,” he said.

Within six years, the government hopes to reinforce the infrastructure surrounding Makkah’s Grand Mosque, home to the cube -shaped Kaaba towards which Muslims the world over turn in prayer, replacing congested narrow roads with new ones, installing foot bridges for pedestrians and a four-line metro. On Tuesday, Crown Prince Nayef, whose ruling Al Saud family bases its legitimacy in part on its guardianship of Islam’s holiest sites, said the development that had already taken place would “be little compared to what will happen”.

“We want to evolve Makkah, not change it,” said Sami Angawi, founder of Hajj Research Center and an expert on Makkah. Angawi, who is originally from Makkah, has not stepped into his city for the past two years because he is unhappy about the way that it is being transformed. “I love Makkah and cannot see the beloved (sanctuary) of the Prophet being destroyed and handled this way,” said Angawi, who shares a belief with many Muslims that Makkah is a holy place where change must be made in a delicate manner.

An hour before evening prayer, the marble floor around the Grand Mosque is hardly visible as millions of worshippers stand side-by-side, lining their prayer mats outside the overflowing mosque to reserve a spot in anticipation for the call to pray. The pilgrimage was once the culmination of an arduous desert journey over perilous weeks or months, but with the advent of modern transport, the number of hajjis, or pilgrims, has risen to millions, gridlocking the city’s roads and compromising safety.

Deadly stampedes, tent fires and other accidents have several times caused hundreds of deaths, forcing the government to spend lavishly on new infrastructure. “For sure (the expansion) will be good for pilgrims because usually there are huge numbers of pilgrims, especially during prayer times,” Ahdab Seif, an Egyptian pilgrim, said outside the Grand Mosque.

Long-term projects around the mosque will include hotels, malls and cafes. Developments in the suburbs

include housing estates and a park for residents who have been made to relocate from the city centre.

“Makkah is known to be an old city ... it has some old haphazard buildings located near the Grand Mosque and this project will reshape the face of Makkah and raise the capacity and services of the city,” Bar said. “By 2020 we hope that results will be visible as major parts of the projects will be complete,” he said, sitting behind his wooden desk at the Makkah municipality. Among the announced projects, which will cost more than $30 billion, is a historic expansion of the Grand Mosque to add 400,000 sq m and add shaded areas to shelter worshippers from the scorching desert sun.

The clock tower of the King Abdulaziz Endowment, which is visible for miles around and stands next to the Grand Mosque, has been the focal point of criticism.

“What is not nice is that the outside design is not traditionally Arabic... What they created looks like the buildings in Australia, it does not give a feel of Arabs and Makkah,” said Wafa Sbbet, 50, who came from Sydney for the hajj. The tower, which overlooks the Kaaba, was built over a demolished 18th-century Ottoman fort on a prominent Makkah hillside, now flattened to the ground. “This is a sanctuary ... My objection is not about expansion, or increasing capacity for pilgrims or developing Makkah. My objection is about how it is done,” Angawi said. “This tower does not respect the dignity, sanctity and culture of the Kaaba ... it has demolished a whole mountain.”

Makkah residents, who once lived a few steps from the Grand Mosque, say they are being pushed away from the city-centre to make way for hotels and restaurants that will cater to visiting pilgrims. A square foot of land around the Grand Mosque has in some cases reached up to $18,000, Bar said, significantly higher than average prices of around $4,420 in Monaco.

Property consultant Jones Lang LaSalle could not corroborate those prices but confirmed that the land around the Grand Mosque is the most expensive real estate in the world. “Makkah is the heart of the Islamic world... what we are doing is changing the heart from a natural heart to a mechanical one,” Angawi said. “Now we should review and stop any project that does not respect the scale of the Kaaba and the environment of the holy sanctuary ... Take the bulldozers and dynamites out of Makkah.” — Reuters

Syria oppn group pelted with eggs Continued from Page 1 fundamental issues, such as whether to engage in dialogue with the regime and call for foreign military intervention.

The protesters in Cairo - apparently concerned the group of opposition leaders would agree to a dialogue with the Syrian government threw eggs at a four-member delegation of the Syrian National Coordination Committee, headed by Hassan Abdul-Azim, as they tried to enter the Arab League’s headquarters in downtown Cairo. Members of the delegation, who were pushed and shoved by about 100 protesters, were forced to turn back. “No to dialogue with the regime,” shouted one protester, who gave only his first name, Amjad.

Arab league officials said the delegation left to get a change of clothes and would return in a few hours time, but an official said later that a member of the delegation was meeting with Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby. The Syriabased National Coordination Committee is a rival to the broadbased Syrian National Council group that was formed in Turkey in October and rejects contact with the regime under the current crackdown. “What happened in Cairo is completely unacceptable behavior that plays into the hands of the regime and hurts our goals,” Sada Hamzeh, a Paris-based Syrian dissident told The Associated Press.

Some Syrians see the NCC, which includes veteran activists and former political prisoners, as more lenient and willing to engage in a dialogue with the Syrian leadership. The NCC’s stance has prompted some anti-government protesters in Syria to carry banners reading: “ The National Coordination Committee does not represent me.” Members of the NCC reject the accusations, and the group’s chief is adamant there will be no dialogue during the crackdown, but there have been reports of infighting and differing opinions within the group itself.

Hussein Al-Odat, a Damascusbased member of the NCC, said talks with members of Assad’s regime were out of the question until Syria implements the first part of an Arab League plan agreed to last week by putting an end to the violence and the security crackdown. “After that, we will enter negotiations over changing the regime from its current form to a democratic, pluralistic one and negotiate on the terms of a transitional period,” he told AP. He said the delegation was in Egypt in response to an invitation by Elaraby, who wanted to hear the group’s views.

Syria agreed to a peace plan brokered by the Arab League last week, but officials say Damascus has since failed to abide by its commitments under the plan, including to pull tanks and other armor out of cities and stop the bloodshed that the UN estimates has left at least 3,500 peo-

ple dead. The deal includes a pledge to work on starting a dialogue with the Syrian opposition. But the violence has continued unabated more than 100 people have been killed in the flashpoint region of Homs in central Syria in the past week - prompting Qatar’s prime minister to call for an emergency meeting Saturday to discuss Syria’s failure to abide by its commitments.

Activists said at least 12 people were killed by security forces across Syria yesterday, including five who died in the Syrian capital. The Britishbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees, a key activist network, said the four were killed when security forces fired on a funeral for a man who was shot dead by security earlier in the day. Three others were killed in the southern village of Inkhel and two in Homs. Three people, one of them a child, died under the bullets of the regime’s forces in the southern region of Daraa, birthplace of the eight-month-old protest movement against President Bashar Al-Assad, the Observatory said in a statement.

In Abu Kamal in the east, one civilian was killed during checks and questioning by security forces. It was not clear what action the Arab League would take if the bloodshed continues. It could isolate Syria by suspending or freezing its membership. That would be a symbolic blow to a nation that prides itself on being a powerhouse of Arab nationalism. — Agencies

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

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Issues

No ‘smoking gun’ in Iran nuke report

By Simon Sturdee he UN atomic watchdog’s hardest-hitting report to date on Iran’s suspected nuclear weapons drive is probably too weak to convince Russia and China of the need for more sanctions, analysts said yesterday. The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a keenly awaited report circulated late Tuesday it had broadly “credible” intelligence suggesting Iran had done work towards building nuclear warheads. Publishing reams of input from foreign intelligence agencies, and backed up by its own information, the IAEA said the Islamic republic had engaged in activities that could only conceivably have one purpose: producing the bomb.

These included computer modelling of a nuclear warhead; testing explosives in a large metal chamber at the sprawling Parchin military base near Tehran; and studying how to arm a Shahab 3 medium-range missile with an atomic warhead. Significantly, although its findings concurred with a much-cited 2007 US intelligence report suggesting Iran had scrapped an official nuclear weapons drive in 2003, the IAEA also suspects some covert work had continued.

The United States said late Tuesday it would ratchet up pressure and consult its partners on possible new sanctions, while fellow permanent UN Security Council member France called Wednesday for “unprecedented sanctions”. “ The overwhelming impression is that over 20-25 years Iran ... consistently engaged in activities that are useful for nuclear weapons production,” Mark Hibbs from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think-tank told AFP. “Some of the activities may have another use... but it is the context which is important. We are talking about a country that has been hiding its activities and that has been deceiving the agency for a period of over two decades.”

Peter Crail from the Arms Control Association in Washington agreed, but he said that the report did not constitute a “smoking gun” proving conclusively that the Iranians “are on the verge of making a nuclear weapon”. “This isn’t new blockbuster information,” Crail told AFP. “It is just more detail behind the current assessments, that Iran has been trying to build different aspects of a nuclear weapons programme but that it hasn’t yet made a decision to put all those together and actually pursue a bomb.”

The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said that if it were true that Iran engaged in “weaponisation activities” after 2003, this would constitute a “major violation” of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). “Notably absent, however, is any assessment by the IAEA of Iran’s capability to make a nuclear explosive device based on what is learned through these activities,” the Washington-based thinktank said in a report.

As a result, analysts said it would be tough to convince Russia and China of the need for the IAEA’s board to pass a resolution when it meets next Thursday and Friday reporting Iran to the UN Security Council again for non-compliance. Such a resolution, even if passed by the board where a simple majority is needed, would in any case be dead in the water by the time it arrived in New York, where Moscow and Beijing both wield a veto. “It is unlikely, particularly given the position of Russia and China, that there will be additional sanctions,” Crail said.

Hibbs agreed: “Six weeks ago we were hearing from these countries (China and Russia) that they were not willing to support that resolution. That resolve on the Russian and Chinese side appears to have remained firm.” Moscow on Tuesday even went so far as to express anger over the publication of the report, saying it risked damaging the chance of a renewal of talks, with the foreign ministry saying it was “gravely disappointed and bewildered”. But Crail added the report was damning enough to build a “very strong case” for strengthening the existing sanctions, saying countries still had a “lot of latitude” to impose more restrictions within the existing legal framework. —AFP

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Iran report set to deepen Western curbs

By William Maclean UN repor t that Iran worked to develop an atomic bomb design is likely to trigger more Western sanctions and give impetus to a suspected covert campaign by the West and Israel to sabotage Tehran’s nuclear activities. But any unilateral Western curbs will probably stop short of sweeping extra steps on Tehran’s lifeline energy sector for fear of damaging the global economy and backfiring politically on Western governments struggling to stave off recession.

And chances are slim of stiffer United Nations sanctions, potentially the most effective type as they bind the whole of the international community, because Tehran’s traditional sympathisers Russia and China have the power to veto any council resolution to tighten sanctions.

For those two countries to throw their weight behind additional tough UN measures, analysts say, the UN report would probably have had to provide incontrovertible “smoking gun” evidence of a current program to build a nuclear weapon.

Instead, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, although widely seen as its most damning to date and citing “serious concerns about possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program”, was less categorical. Its main finding was that Iran appeared to have worked on designing a nuclear warhead and that secret weapons-relevant research may be continuing. The Obama administration, pressured by the US Congress, will now likely push for tougher sanctions, said Trita Parsi, President of the National Iranian American Council, a moderate public interest group. “But the bottom line is that, while a new package of sanctions targeting the nuclear program may help slow down the program, it is unlikely to change its trajectory,” he said. “Indiscriminate sanctions that harm

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the Iranian people rather than the government ... will only make matters worse,” he said, referring to economic strains experienced by ordinary Iranians. “ To resolve the problem, sustained and persistent diplomacy is needed. But diplomacy is a tough road to travel, because it requires more political capital and will than sanctions do.”

The IAEA report lent support to analysts who suspect the Islamic republic is developing the ability to weaponise its nuclear material in the event it ever decided to build a bomb. But it offered little concrete backup for who those fear Iran is rushing to develop nuclear weapons, or to those at the other end of the spectrum of opinion who say assurances that Iran’s nuclear work is solely peaceful should be believed. For its part, the Islamic Republic dismissed the report.

“We do not need an atomic bomb and ... history has shown none of Iran’s enemies taste vic tor y and glor y,” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in Shahr Kord in western Iran.

Some analysts say the most promising avenue, from a Western perspective, for nations worried about Iran’s nuclear work is to use the report to lobby for stricter unilateral curbs by the European Union, the United States and other nations. Such measures would tighten pressure on Iranian banks and shipping companies but without bringing the economy to its knees. Iran’s nuclear advance may have been slowed by sanctions, suspected sabotage such as the Stuxnet computer virus, covert interception of Iranian nuclear smuggling and possibly by mysterious killings of several Iranian nuclear scientists, but the country’s stockpile of refined uranium is steadily growing.

Experts estimate Iran now has enough low-enriched material for at least two bombs, if the material is refined much more, and Israel and the United States,

Tehran’s arch foes, have not ruled out military action if diplomacy fails to solve the row. The standoff over Iran’s nuclear program is entering a more dangerous phase and the risk of conflict will increase if Iran does not negotiate, British Foreign Secretar y William Hague warned on Wednesday.

France lost little time in signalling Western resolve, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe telling RFI radio that France planned to push for unprecedented sanctions against Iran. “I think we have to do everything we can to avoid the irreparable damage that military action would cause,” he said. Britain said it was studying additional measures against Iran’s financial, oil and gas sectors, and Germany said the report reinforced concerns over Iran’s nuclear work.

Mark Fitzpatrick, a nuclear expert and a Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the evidence about Iran’s nuclear-related activities “all point to one conclusion - Iran wants to be able to produce a nuclear weapon if and when it makes a political decision to do so.”

Davis Lewin, political director of the Henry Jackson Society, a UK think-tank sympathetic to US neo-conservatives, said that with the IAEA report’s release “we can expect a paradigm shift in international diplomacy whereby Iran’s disingenuous and time-buying tactics are seen for what they are”. “If not quite a ‘smoking gun’, the agency report ought to convince even sceptics of the mullahs’ true intentions.”

But divisions within the international community on the Iran nuclear question remain gaping. Russia said yesterday it would not back new sanctions. And influential nations outside the Western diplomacy mainstream have yet to respond.

Turkey, whose ties with Tehran have come under strain in recent months af ter Ankara decided to host a radar system for a NATO missile shield program and

increased criticism of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s crackdown, has yet to give an official reac tion to the IAEA report. However, a foreign ministry official said Turkey was studying the document.

“Our views regarding nuclear proliferation in the world and in particular the adjacent regions are well known. We are against any kind of proliferation by any state. We also believe that peaceful efforts for civilian usage should not be prevented,” the official told Reuters.

Richard Dalton, a former British ambassador to Iran, told Reuters he doubted whether in an elec tion period US President Barack Obama would directly sanction either the Iranian central bank or oil exports “because of the effect on the world economy of the (higher) price of gasoline”. “Even (Obama’s predecessor) George Bush wasn’t prepared to do anything ahead of his election that would impac t on volumes of oil so I’m not expecting Obama to do that.”

Dalton said the six outside powers involved in Iran nuclear diplomacy - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - should devise additional sanctions and use the threat of them as leverage to obtain Iranian flexibility. “We have to face the fact that only Iran can prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon,” he said. He said this would involve talking to Iran about lifting obstacles to further negotiations on its nuclear work by discussing issues including confidence-building measures and regional affairs such as drugs, Afghanistan and Gulf security. Dalton said it was not effective to pile up the costs “without spelling out the benefits of a progressive reduction of areas of disagreement between the outside world and Iran”. “They have concentrated far too much on belabouring Iran including highly aggressive actions like Stuxnet ... and then they are surprised that Iran is defiant.” — Reuters

Crisis brings curtain down on Berlusconi era

By Michele Leridon ilvio Berlusconi was once the embodiment of success, power and money who sold Italians his version of the American dream. The billionaire is leaving now having lost the ability to connect with his people - a victim of the debt crisis and his own increasingly public demons. “The curtain falls on the Truman Show,” read a headline in the left-wing daily La Repubblica, which has long called for Berlusconi to step down. Columnist Barbara Spinelli said the era of “Berlusconism” in which “image trumped reality” was over after its creator fell victim to his own illusion.

When he first entered politics in 1993 with the creation of a party named after the football chant “Forza Italia” (“Go Italy”), the playboy media magnate with the permanent smile asked Italians to identify with his success.

The materialist message was pumped out by the three television stations in his business empire Mediaset, relayed by reality television shows and “veline” - scantily clad showgirls who became a feature of Italian television. The strategy worked and Berlusconi enjoyed widespread popularity. The great paradox of Berlusconi, who has been frequently investigated for fraud and bribery, is that his success rose up on the ruins of the Christian Democratic party brought down by corruption in the early 1990s.

“He told Italians: ‘I’m a political outsider. I’m here.

I’m above the law. I’ll help you to do business like me and you can have a slice of the cake,” Roberta di Monticelli, a philosopher, told AFP. The strategy worked as long as the economy remained buoyant but as the financial crisis deepened, the cake got smaller. “Berlusconi’s populism is based on show and the promise of happiness,” said Giacomo Marramao, a professor of political philosophy at Rome 3 university.

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“When you mobilise people not through deep history but with the manipulation of desire, when promises are not kept, everything collapses,” he said.

Elected for the third time in 2008 with a sweeping victory, the 75-year-old Berlusconi has seen his popularity ratings collapse to just 22 percent in recent days while Italy has been clobbered by the financial markets. “He once embodied a very strong image of success,” said the sociologist Antimo Farro.

That success drained away and his playboy image took a hit when he went on trial this year for paying an underage prostitute.

“From the image of an all-powerful man always surrounded by beautiful women, he became the poor rich guy who pays prostitutes,” Farro said.

The sex scandals in which Berlusconi has been implicated have put off Catholic voters and the Church has become increasingly critical despite Berlusconi’s support on its policies including opposition to euthanasia. The question many Italians are asking themselves is whether “Berlusconism” - the Berlusconi style of doing politics - will disappear with his resignation, expected by the end of the month.

“The logic of individualism and scepticism of the law have been very profound,” said di Monticelli. But the philosopher added: “A growing minority is fed up with the culture of obscenity.” She said there was a chance now for a new, more moral kind of civil society. But with the question still open, Italians are voicing scepticism. “Berlusconi is just the tip of the iceberg,” said a young civil servant in central Rome. “His successors are just as corrupt and incapable.” — AFP

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

sp orts

Knee injury rules Nasri out

Cricket ODI rule changes

Ecclestone in F1 bribery case MUNICH: Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone took the stand in Munich yesterday as the star witness in the trial of a German former banker accused of receiving bribes from the motorsport chief.

The testimony from Ecclestone, Formula One’s commercial rights holder who has run the sport for nearly 40 years, was keenly awaited in the trial of Gerhard Gribkowsky, who is accused of corruption, tax evasion and embezzlement.

The German is alleged to have received bribes worth millions from Britain’s Ecclestone between 2006 and 2007 over the sale of the Formula One rights to CVC, the investment firm which owns most of the multi-billiondollar sport.

The sale was crucial to Ecclestone as the British private investor fund wanted to retain him as the head of the sport.

The 81-year-old Ecclestone faces no charges and denies having bribed Gribkowsky, 53, to make sure that Formula One was sold to CVC. Yesterday, the Briton told the court he had paid Gribkowsky because he had little alternative, indicating the German had threatened him.

“He wanted some money to start his own business,” said Ecclestone. “My thought was, maybe I can keep him quiet, maybe I can keep him peaceful.” —AFP

DUBAI: Rival coaches Geoff Marsh and Mohsin Khan said they were comfortable with the change in rules as Pakistan and Sri Lanka play under them for the first time in the opening day-night match here on Friday.

Teams will have to start the batting and bowling Powerplays at the beginning of any over between the 16th and the 36th over for a full game while two new balls - one from either end - will be used during an innings.

Marsh said his players have talked about these changes which came into effect from October 1. “We had a good chat about the powerplay and it comes down to waiting and seeing the game. It would be interesting, a lot of cricket is there after the 40th over so we need to bat normally and don’t lose too many wickets,” he said yesterday. Marsh, a former Australian opener who also coached Australia

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to 1999 World Cup victory besides having a stint with Zimbabwe, took charge of the Sri Lankan team in September.

He said bowlers should not think about two balls at each end and bowl normally. “Two balls were used the last time when I was playing,” said Marsh of the experiment done during the 1992 World Cup held in Australia. “We have to see, basically we don’t want to read too much into it, if you think you start to be negative.” Marsh hoped his team carried the confidence of the last Test in Sharjah where Sri Lanka fared well before rain spoilt their chances of victory. Pakistan salvaged a draw to take the three-Test series 1-0.

“Obviously one-dayers is a different form but we are happy the way we ended the last game and had there been no rain we had a good chance of winning,” said Marsh.—AFP

FRANCE: France midfielder Samir Nasri has pulled out of friendlies against the United States and Belgium amid injury concerns within the squad, the French federation (FFF) said on Tuesday.

The FFF said on its website (www.fff.fr) that Manchester City’s Nasri was suffering from a knee injury that ruled him out of Friday’s game against the U.S. and Tuesday’s match against Belgium, both being played at the Stade de France.

Nasri, however, was not coach Laurent Blanc’s only concern. “We still have some little problems,” he told reporters at France’s training camp in the outskirts of Paris on Tuesday. “(The knee injury) is a tricky one that he picked up while playing at Arsenal,” Blanc said hours before Nasri pulled out.

Newcastle United holding midfielder Yohan Cabaye and Olympique Marseille forward Loic Remy have groin problems, while Chelsea winger Florent Malouda has a thigh injury.

“We’ll assess the situation tonight or tomorrow morning and we will then see if we need to reinforce the squad,” said Blanc, who confirmed Eric Abidal would join the squad only on Thursday after reaching an agreement with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

Under the terms of the agreement, defender Abidal will sit on the bench for Barca’s King’s Cup match on Wednesday before joining the French squad. —Reuters

Stars shine over Capitals rebound to essentially seal the win with 5:14 left. Milan Hejduk pulled the Avalanche within two goals a couple minutes later, but Franzen scored an empty-net goal with 31.3 seconds left.

Gabriel Landeskog also scored for Colorado.

WASHINGTON: Washington’s hot form streak on home ice was ended Tuesday as the Dallas Stars beat the Capitals 5-2 in a clash of two of the NHL’s early divisional leaders.

Michael Ryder scored twice and Adam Burish had the tiebreaking goal early in the third period as Dallas inflicted the first home defeat on Washington in seven games.

Burish put Dallas ahead to stay at 34 seconds of the third period, and Jamie Benn and Eric Nystrom scored in a 32second span to make it 5-2 with 11:55 left, giving the Stars their fourth straight win and the NHL’s best record at 11-3.

Alexander Semin and John Carlson scored for the Capitals.

Sebastien Loeb in action in this file photo.

Loeb aiming for eighth title CARDIFF: Sebastien Loeb will bid for an eighth consecutive drivers’ title at the season-closing leg of the World R ally Championship starting in Wales today.

Loeb’s 67th career win and the fifth this year at last month’s Rally of Catalunya assured his team Citroen of the manufacturers’ title ahead of the closing rally in Wales to come.

The French ace, who has also won in Mexico, Sardinia, Argentina and Finland this season, now goes into the final rally with an eightpoint advantage over Finn Mikko Hir vonen in the overall drivers’ standings.

“The scenario is like the one in 2009. We started Rally GB neck and neck with M ik ko H ir vonen and whoever finished in front of the other was world champion,” said Loeb. “ With a seven-point gap between victory and second place and three points for the best time in the Power Stage, it’s not a very comfor table situation. M y aim won’t be to win at any cost but to run my race depending on Mikko’s.”

Ford driver Hir vonen said he would have but one focus going into the rally which kicks off with two runs over the Great Orme allasphalt toll road in North Wales, not used on the event since 1981, before a single stage in Clocaenog

Forest, which last appeared on the Rally GB itinerary in 1996.

“The only thing I can do is aim to win the rally. If something unexpected happens to Loeb, I may not need to win anymore, but from the outset, the sole target has to be victory,” he said.

“In Wales, everything depends so much upon the conditions. If they’re tricky, you need to be confident, trust the pace notes and take risks, even if you can’t see so well in places.”

If Hirvonen wins with Loeb second Loeb would take the drivers’ crown by a solitary point. However, with bonus points up for grabs on the Power Stage, the championship could be decided by the outcome of the rally’s final test on Sunday afternoon.

“Mikko’s very strong mentally in these kinds of situations,” Loeb acknowledged. “Above all, don’t underestimate him. At the midseason mark he said he didn’t believe in his chances of winning the title. But the way the recent rallies have panned out have put him back in the running.

“In some ways, he really hasn’t g ot anyt h ing to l o se a nd he’s going to seize his chances. Being second holds no interest for him.

He’s going to push right from the start to go for victory. He’s certainly going to set the pace in the race.” —AFP

Panthers 5, Maple Leafs 1 In Toronto, Florida took advantage of shaky Toronto goalie Jonas Gustavsson and routed the Maple Leafs. Jack Skille, Marco Sturm, Tomas Kopecky, Sean Bergenheim and Shawn Matthias had the goals for Florida (7-4-3), off to its best start in 12 years.

The Maple Leafs, struggling without injured goalie James Reimer, were booed by the home fans for the second straight game after Gustavsson surrendered three soft goals.

Phil Kessel scored Toronto’s lone goal - his NHL-leading 11th of the season, which ended a team scoreless streak of 138 minutes.

Blues 3, Blackhawks 0 In St. Louis, the hosts gave new coach Ken Hitchcock a win in his first game in charge, beating Chicago. The Blues had replaced Davis Payne after a mediocre six wins from 13 games to start the season.

St. Louis goalie Jaroslav Halak shrugged off his shaky start to the season, making 29 saves for the shutout, while Chris Stewart scored on the power play to end a 10-game goal drought, and Vladimir Sobotka and TJ Oshie also found the net.

Kings 4, Predators 3 In Los Angeles, Mike Richards scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second period as Los Angeles snapped a five-game losing streak with a victory over Nashville.

Kings defensemen Alec Martinez and Drew Doughty each got their first goal of the season. Simon Gagne also scored for Los Angeles.

Matt Halischuk, Patric Hornqvist and rookie Craig Smith scored for Nashville.

Hornqvist extended his goal-scoring streak to six games, tying the franchise record shared by J.P. Dumont and Alexander Radulov.

Oilers 3, Canadiens 1 In Montreal, Nikolai Khabibulin made 28 saves to help Edmonton down Montreal. Khabibulin, who has allowed just nine goals in nine games, has yet to lose in regulation, improving to 7-0-2.

Ryan Jones scored a short-handed goal in the second period, Tom Gilbert scored at 16:28 of the third and Ryan Smyth scored into an empty net with 42.4 seconds remaining. Montreal’s Max Pacioretty had scored 22 seconds after Gilbert to make it 2-1.

Sabres 6, Jets 5 In Buffalo, Thomas Vanek scored a power-play goal 4:35 into overtime, tipping in Jason Pominville’s shot, in Buffalo’s victory over Winnipeg.

Vanek scored twice and Pominville finished with a goal and two assists.

Derek Roy had two goals and an assist, forcing overtime by scoring a powerplay goal with 6:08 left in regulation as Buffalo extended its winning streak to three games.

Bryan Little scored twice, and Dustin Byfuglien and Tanner Glass each had a goal and an assist for the Jets, who went 3-2-2 on their longest road trip of the season. The Sabres never led until Vanek’s winning goal. They trailed 2-0 before the game was six minutes old.

CALGARY: Tim Jackman No. 15 of the Calgary Flames fights Brad Staubitz No. 16 of the Minnesota Wild in the first period of NHL action. —AFP Wild 3, Flames 0 In Calgary, Niklas Backstrom stopped 41 shots as Minnesota beat Calgary for its fifth straight victory. Dany Heatley had a goal and an assist for the Wild.

Darroll Powe and Guillaume Latendresse also scored. The Flames had seven power-play opportunities, including a 5-minute man advantage, but couldn’t get the puck past Backstrom in his first start in five games.

Red Wings 5, Avalanche 2 In Detroit, Johan Franzen scored three goals, and suddenly Detroit rolled over Colorado. Nicklas Lidstrom started the scoring midway through the first period. Franzen then scored twice to give the Red Wings a threegoal lead in the second period and chased Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov.

Dan Cleary scored off his own

Devils 3, Hurricanes 2 In Newark, New Jersey, rookie center Adam Henrique scored with 3:19 left to lift New Jersey over Carolina. The Devils earned their third straight win, and the Hurricanes dropped their third straight.

Henrique inadvertently sent Joni Pitkanen’s pass past his own goalie to tie the game at 2-2 at 6:06 of the third period. But Henrique made up for that by skating around goalie Cam Ward and sliding the puck under him for the winning goal. It was the rookie’s second straight game-winner after scoring in overtime to beat Winnipeg on Saturday.

Dainius Zubrus and Petr Sykora also scored for New Jersey. Brandon Sutter had a short-handed goal for Carolina. —AP

NHL results/standings NHL results and standings on Tuesday.

Dallas 5, Washington 2; Buffalo 6, Winnipeg 5 (OT); Florida 5, Toronto 1; New Jersey 3, Carolina 2; Edmonton 3, Montreal 1; Detroit 5, Colorado 2; St. Louis 3, Chicago 0; Minnesota 3, Calgary 0; Los Angeles 4, Nashville 3.

(OT denotes overtime win) Eastern Conference Western Conference Atlantic Division Central Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Chicago 8 4 3 46 45 19 Pittsburgh 9 3 3 45 34 21 Nashville 7 5 2 38 38 16 Philadelphia 8 4 2 56 44 18 Detroit 7 5 1 34 31 15 NY Rangers 7 3 3 35 29 17 St. Louis 7 7 0 35 35 14 New Jersey 7 5 1 33 36 15 Columbus 2 11 1 31 53 5 NY Islanders 4 6 2 25 35 10 Northwest Division Northeast Division Edmonton 9 3 2 33 23 20 Toronto 9 5 1 46 51 19 Minnesota 8 3 3 33 26 19 Buffalo 9 5 0 42 33 18 Vancouver 7 7 1 45 44 15 Ottawa 7 7 1 45 55 15 Colorado 7 7 1 42 47 15 Boston 6 7 0 40 30 12 Calgary 6 7 1 30 35 13 Montreal 5 7 2 35 39 12 Washington Florida Tampa Bay Winnipeg Carolina

Southeast Division 9 4 0 50 7 4 3 39 7 5 2 44 5 7 3 40 5 7 3 37

38 37 46 51 50

18 17 16 13 13

Dallas San Jose Los Angeles Phoenix Anaheim

Pacific Division 11 3 0 8 4 1 7 5 3 7 4 2 5 6 3

45 41 34 38 27

Montpellier face baptism of fire against Leinster sparked the French into their best rugby of the tournament. Should he manage to do so it will get the majority of the 32,000 spectators in the stadium belonging to the football side behind them and could rattle a Leinster side who will be without inspirational duo, Brian O’Driscoll and Shane Horgan.

Indeed this will be a good test for the Irish province as O’Driscoll - who will travel and perform waterboy duties during the match - and Horgan are slated to be out for six and four months respectively so they will be shorn of their talents for most of the pool stage. Leinster coach Joe Schmidt admits that his champions face a demanding challenge against a side that will be packed with talent.

“They’ve made a big thing of the first game against us and are looking to sell out

22 17 17 16 13

Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

Preview

PARIS: Montpellier have struggled to make an impact in the Top 14 this season but on Saturday they will look to catch European Cup holders Leinster cold and make it a memorable debut in the competition.

To achieve that, though, they will need to recapture last season’s astonishing form that saw them go all the way to the Top 14 final where they lost to four-time European champions Toulouse.

Whilst Leinster are battle-hardened European campaigners and showed great resilience to come back from 22-6 down at half-time to beat Northampton 33-22 in last season’s final, Montpellier could pull off a shock. They will have their World Cup absentees back and will hope fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc will be in as scintillating form as he was in the 8-7 final final defeat by the All Blacks where his introduction

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Stade de le Mosson,” he said.”I think that’s a big thing for them.

“They’ve haven’t started the French league well (they’ve won just two of their nine matches) but they’ve been deprived of a number of quality players and that’s been frustrating for them.

“But at the same time, Marmuka Gorgodze’s, Sakiusa Matadigo’s, Francois Trinh-Duc and Fulgence Ouedraogo should all be back for them and they have got some good imports.

“I know Fabien Galthie (Montpellier head coach) pretty well and spent a bit of time with him at Stade Francais about six years ago. I know a little bit about how he thinks and he’d know every bit as much about me.”

Galthie’s fellow head coach Eric Bechu said that he hoped the side would do

themselves justice. “Now we have achieved our goal of being in the European Cup, we are going to try and do something memorable,” said Bechu.

“But If I was to say we would try and qualify for the knockout stages with Leinster in the pool, you would think I was mad and you would be correct,” he added disarmingly.

Unlike Montpellier, Biarritz are experienced European Cup campaigners - they have lost in two finals - but they equally need a boost this weekend after a disastrous opening to their Top 14 campaign which sees them lie bottom with just one win in nine games.

A trip to Welsh side Ospreys would not usually be thought of as the best way to remedy a poor run, but Biarritz stalwart Imanol Harinordoquy told Rugby365 this

could be the best way to turn their season round. “We have nothing to lose against a side that on paper is stronger than us,” said the 31-year-old No.8, who was outstanding in the World Cup final.

“The championship has been a little bit complicated for us but hopefully this will give us some much-needed oxygen.”

Ospreys also go into the clash with all their players from the World Cup back in contention with some of them having played in the 9-9 draw with the Scarlets last weekend.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley saw much to be encouraged by that performance. “We have to go into the Biarritz game knowing we haven’t won - we haven’t lost, which is important - but there was intensity around the tackle area, the Scarlets approach to it, it was good preparation for us.” —AFP

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

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NBA union: No deal, no fear of ultimatum, either NEW YORK: NBA players made it clear Tuesday: No deal. No fear of Commissioner David Stern’s ultimatum, either. “The current offer on the table from the NBA is one that we cannot accept,” players’ association president Derek Fisher said.

Instead, the players said they will ask for another meeting with owners before Stern’s Wednesday afternoon deadline - and sound willing to agree to a 50-50 split of revenues under the right circumstances - in an attempt to end the lockout and save the season. In an interview on NBA TV, Stern said that whether he agrees to meet “would be guided by the labor relations committee.” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the league has not yet heard from Hunter.

A month of the season has already been lost, and the NBA risks losing fans without an agreement soon. Some already appear to have forgotten: Blake Griffin, last season’s rookie of the year, stood around in the lobby of a busy hotel off Broadway and was rarely approached by fans.

The league’s current proposal calls for players to receive between 49 percent and 51 percent of bas-

Warner: Worlds would ‘complete circle’ for London LONDON: Staging the 2017 world championships in London would “complete the circle” following the 2012 Olympic Games in the capital and go a long way to fulfilling Britain’s athletics legacy promise, UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner said on Tuesday.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will award the biennial track and field showpiece to either London or Doha in a vote in Monaco tomorrow.

Neither capital has staged the event, with London embarrassingly giving up the opportunity in 2005 because a proposed new stadium was deemed too expensive.

Doubts over the future use of the new Olympic stadium in Stratford has shrouded London’s 2017 bid following a protracted dispute over the decision to award Premier League soccer club West Ham United the right to move in after next year’s Games.

The uncertainty ended last month when the IAAF were given a signed legal document from the British government guaranteeing the athletics track would be maintained at the Olympic Stadium regardless of which football club moved in.

Warner said on Tuesday that athletics was guaranteed within the stadium for 99 years under the terms of new arrangements for it to remain in public ownership with a range of tenants for its use at different times of the year. “Obviously athletics has primacy through the key summer months,” he told a conference call.

“So what you’ll find when that all comes out in the tender documents in the coming weeks is a commitment to 99 years for athletics for at least as long as the serviceable life for the stadium. To all intents and purposes, for as long as the stadium is there, it will have a track and field facility at its heart.”

Warner believes the London bid has gone a long way towards convincing IAAF president Lamine Diack and other governing body council members that it will secure the legacy from 2012.

“About this time last year he (Diack) made it very clear that he expected this country to deliver on the promise that was made by Seb (Olympic organising committee chief Sebastian Coe) in Singapore in 2005 and our argument to Lamine, and what we have been saying to him and his council, is that to award the championships to us completes the circle.

“Not only have we secured the facility with their help, for which we are very grateful, but we can make it come to life and justify its existence in the heart of the Olympic Park. There is a nice symmetry to that.

“We are making the argument that we are looking to them to help us secure the legacy from 2012 for the premier Olympic sport and to be sure we can enjoy international standard athletics in Stratford for generations to come.

“I hope the council members come Friday will be voting not just for a world championship but they’ll be helping us cement a long-term future for globalstandard athletics in one of the world’s great cities.”

Warner said London’s bid was very “athlete centric”, with planning including such attention to detail as “the number of coat hangers in the wardrobes of athletes’ bedrooms to ensure they have a satisfactory place to stay”.

Among the London delegation in Monaco hoping to convince IAAF Council members will be former British Olympic heptathlon champion Denise Lewis and talented teenage sprinter Jodie Williams.

“Jodie Williams, one of the brightest young stars of track and field, is in our presentation team and will be presenting to the IAAF the case for the athletes of tomorrow, particularly the British athletes of tomorrow, to bring an event of this scale back to London as quickly as possible after the Olympics,” Warner said.

“The athletes are the heart of everything we are trying to do. We have, I think, got ideal conditions for athletes in London to break records. It’s a city that will provide athletes with a home set of supporters, whichever nationality they are, and a full stadium...in the mornings and evenings, which will be an absolute first if we can pull it off which I am sure we can.” The IAAF, Warner said, should think long and hard about returning the championships “to the heartland of European athletics”.

Moscow will stage the event in 2013 following this year’s edition in South Korea. Beijing has been awarded the 2015 championships.

“It’s important to bring the championship back to western Europe on a frequent basis to nurture the interest of sponsors and broadcasters,” Warner said.

“We have found overwhelming positive support and noise from the IAAF’s existing sponsors to potential sponsors, from existing broadcasters and potential broadcasters who enjoyed the Berlin experience of 2009 and don’t want to leave at least 10 years before they can enjoy that again.”— Reuters

ketball-related income, though union officials argue it would be nearly impossible to get above 50.2 percent. “The players are clearly of the mind that it’s an unacceptable proposal,” union executive director Billy Hunter said. “But because of their commitment to the game and their desire to play, they’re saying to us that we want you to go back, see if you can go back, get a better deal.”

If players don’t take the deal by late yesterday, the next offer will call for salary rollbacks, a 53-47 revenue split in the owners’ favor and essentially a hard salary cap. “Our proposal on the table now goes away (Wednesday),” Stern said. “Our next proposal will then go to the players, and we will see where negotiations go.” Players are willing to negotiate further on the revenue split if they get some concessions on the salary cap system. Without them, Fisher said “we don’t see a way of getting a deal done between now and end of business” late yesterday.

The league is seeking to limit the spending options of teams above the luxury tax threshold, believing that would lead to greater competitive balance. Players want all teams to be options for free

agents. When asked if there’s still wiggle room on system issues, Stern said that as of 3 a.m. Sunday there was none left. The players insisted they will not be forced into taking a bad deal by an ultimatum though Stern refused to call it that. “The players are saying that we understand their position, but unfortunately we’re not intimidated by all that,” Hunter said.

With more than 40 players ranging from All-Stars to minimum salary players behind them, Fisher and Hunter dismissed Stern’s warning, had hard words for Michael Jordan and repeated that they are willing to negotiate and believe they have made more than enough economic concessions to get the salary cap system they want. That message was not just for the owners.

They also were speaking to the players and agents who advocate disbanding the union in an attempt to take on the league in court. Union leaders said there was very little discussion about decertification, saying they understand there would be differences of opinion with a membership of 450, but that the team representatives summoned to New York knew the best interests of their team-

mates. The union called the meeting after Stern issued his ultimatum early Sunday morning following an eight-hour bargaining session with a federal mediator. Fisher said 43 players, including superstars Carmelo Anthony and Griffin, attended the meeting and that 29 of the 30 teams were represented.

Jordan provided perhaps the most memorable moment of the last lockout, chastising former Washington owner Abe Pollin that he should sell his team if he couldn’t make a profit without concessions from players. Jordan now owns the Charlotte Bobcats and is considered one of the hardliners who never wanted Stern to offer the players a 50-50 split.

“I would give him the advice that he gave to Abe Pollin,” Hunter said.

After the press conference, Fisher bumped into an old acquaintance from Arkansas, former President Bill Clinton, who was at the hotel preparing to appear on an evening talk show. Clinton signed a copy of his new book, “Back to Work,” for Fisher as players looked on. Next, Fisher would like to meet with Stern, believing there is room to compromise.—AP

Hamilton faces a moment of truth ABU DHABI: Lewis Hamilton faces a moment of truth in Abu Dhabi this weekend. The 2008 world champion has never finished a season behind a McLaren team mate since he entered Formula One in 2007 but that proud boast is set to end in the glare of the Yas Marina floodlights on Sunday.

Jenson Button is 38 points clear of his fellow-Briton, with only 25 left to win after the penultimate race of the year in the Emirate, and is on course to finish as overall runner-up behind Red Bull’s double world champion Sebastian Vettel.

Beating one’s team mate is every driver’s immediate aim, since only he has exactly the same equipment and is therefore a true measure of performance, but it is not Button’s top priority.

“It would be nice to finish ahead of him in the championship but if I could get another win that would mean so much more to me this year,” the 2009 champion told Reuters after the last Indian Grand Prix.

Button has taken three wins to Hamilton’s two in a championship dominated by Vettel and Red Bull, despite the McLaren being close to their pace.

Vettel, 24, is the over whelming favourite to chalk up a record-equalling 14th pole of the season on Saturday and then complete a clean sweep of three wins in the three Abu Dhabi Grands Prix held to date.

The German won the title here last year, and has already wrapped up his defence of that crown, and has nothing but good memories of the day-to-night race at the lavish anti-clockwise circuit.

Lewis Hamilton takes a curve in this file photo.

Hamilton and Button have both been on the podium in the previous two races in Abu Dhabi and the older Englishman sees no reason why they cannot topple Vettel from the highest step.

“Quite a few times this year, especially

over the last few races, I have been the closest guy to Sebastian when he’s won races,” said Button, a winner most recently in Japan after Vettel had won there the previous two years from pole.

“I think we’re closer now than we were

last year at this time of the season. We are much stronger at the moment than we were last year,” he added. “We’re not quite as good as the Red Bulls. But they’re not a big chunk ahead of us. It’s very close.

“It’s a circuit that does suit their car,” said the 31-year-old. “It’s very stop/start and they seem to be very good at that type of corner.

“It is going to be tough to beat him (Vettel) and I would say out of the two (races left), (the season-ending race in) Brazil is the one that we have more of a chance of winning. but you never know.”

Hamilton started on pole in Abu Dhabi in 2009 and then set the fastest lap last year on his way to second place.

“Red Bull and Sebastian may have clinched both championships, but I’m still determined to end the season on a winning high. I’ve won two grands prix this year, and I’d love to double that by the end of the year,” said Hamilton.

Red Bull’s Mark Webber will be happy with just one, the Australian still seeking that elusive first win of the season, while Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso wants to put Ferrari on the Abu Dhabi podium for the first time.

Like Button, it matters far more to Alonso to win the race than to finish overall runner-up. “I will not remember the 2011 season if I finish second or third,” said Spain’s double champion, currently third overall. “Once you are no longer in the hunt for the world championship win, the other positions are less relevant.” — Reuters

20 athletes push the limits of gravity at the Red Bull Art of Motion in Kuwait Top 3 Free-runners from local qualifier advance to finals KUWAIT: Kuwait will host the sixth and final stop of the 2011 Red Bull Art of Motion. The event will feature the top Free-runners and Parkour athletes from Kuwait and across the world. On Saturday November 12, a battle between the top local Free-runners and Parkour Athletes will take place in Kuwait to determine the top three local qualifiers who will join 17 other athletes from across the world.

On Wednesday November 16 and Thursday November 17, the top 20 athletes using their Mini cars will turn the island of Failaka into a spectacular acrobatic Parkour and Free-running show when they compete in the Red Bull Art of Motion in Kuwait using their Mini cars.

The two-day, free-running competition will challenge participants to navigate the natural obstacles of the historical island of Failaka - demonstrating a captivating blend of Free-running, Parkour, martial arts and gymnastics along the way. The traditional and historic buildings of Failaka will serve as the competition site for

the athletes taking part.

The competition will push athletes to blend the physical discipline of overcoming obstacles by adapting movements to surroundings (parkour) with free-running, a form of urban acrobatics that challenges individuals to perform movements based on the island landscape. Each team will use Failaka’s street scenery as a creative playing field on which to showcase innovative athleticism.

In Free Running the object is to overcome the natural obstacles with utmost creativity, style, skill and a perfect fluidity. The athletes push the limits of gravity as they overcome the gorges between houses and other hurdles with an unbelievable aura of lightness.

Red Bull Art of Motion brings together the world’s best parkour athletes and free-runners on unique courses in epic locations across the globe. Art of Motion began in Vienna, Austria in 2007.

World-renowned free-running star and the victor in

that first competition, Ryan Doyle, explains that each event is about the taking part more than the winning: “It’s more of an exhibition of different styles. It’s not 20 Free-runners competing against each other, its 20 Freerunners competing against the course every time almost like 20 different tournaments.”

Previous Winners 2007 (Vienna, Austria): Ryan Doyle (UK) 2009 (Vienna, Austria): Jason Paul (Germany) 2009 (Helsingborg, Sweden): “Dido” Delyan Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 2010 (Vienna, Austria): Jason Paul (Germany) 2010 (Tampa, USA): Yohan Leroux (France) 2010 (Boston, USA): Jason Paul (Germany) 2011 (London, UK): Tim Shieff (UK) 2011 (Yokohama, Japan): Jason Paul (Germany) 2011 (Sao Paolo, Brazil): Ryan Doyle (UK) 2011 (Detroit, USA): Marcus Gustafsson (Sweden) 2011 (Santorini, Greece): Pavel Petkuns (Latvia)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

S P ORT S

A warrior who didn’t know how to back down

G

eorge Foreman’s crushing right uppercut connected for the first time in Round 1 and, suddenly, the heavyweight champion of the world was on the canvas. At ringside, the shocking sight sent Howard Cosell into a frenzy.

“Down goes Frazah! Down goes Frazah! Down goes Frazah!” Cosell screamed into his ABC television microphone. Across the ring, Foreman was thinking one thing: Please don’t let Joe Frazier get up.

“I saw him get up and I said to myself ‘Oh boy, he’s going to get me now,” Foreman recalled Tuesday during a telephone interview. “You didn’t want him getting up, and you really didn’t want him getting up mad.”

Get up Frazier did, only to go down again and again. Six times in all before the bell could sound to end the second round.

Yet there he was still, out on his feet but still upright and ready for more. Frazier wasn’t going to surrender his heavyweight title until the referee mercifully put an end to the carnage in Jamaica.

“Joe Frazier wouldn’t back away from King Kong,” Foreman said. “Joe Frazier was one brave man.”

Brave enough to take on the fearsome and much bigger Foreman in a fight he seemed destined to lose. Brave enough to hand Muhammad Ali his first loss and then almost fight to the death with him in the Philippines.

But that’s what Frazier was. An undersized war-

rior who didn’t know how to back down. A fighter to the core. Understand that, and you understood Joe Frazier.

He kept getting up when Foreman knocked him down. He kept trying to fight Ali even though one eye was swollen shut and he couldn’t see out of the other.

And he kept fighting for his rightful place in history until his death Monday night in Philadelphia at the age of 67. “His pride and dignity made him fight to the end,” Don King said. “Joe never forgave Muhammad Ali for what he did to him, but Joe Frazier proved that he wasn’t only a great fighter but a great man.”

I spent some time talking to Frazier earlier this year as he reminisced about his career and his life.

The 40th anniversary of the Fight of the Century was looming, and Frazier was more than happy to talk about a memorable night long past.

No one in Madison Square Garden that night, it seemed, wanted him to beat Muhammad Ali. Not the fans who scraped together enough money to get a cheap seat in the rafters, and certainly not the celebrities and various rogues of the night who dressed in their finest to parade around ringside before the bout.

Frank Sinatra shot pictures for Life magazine from ringside. Barbra Streisand and Bill Cosby watched from seats just a few steps away.

They saw Frazier do what no man had done

before - beat the great Ali. If that wasn’t enough, he knocked Ali down in the 15th round with one of his classic left hooks to seal the deal.

I can’t go nowhere where it’s not mentioned,” Frazier said. “That was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life.”

He fought Ali the way he fought everyone, with his chin planted on his opponent’s shoulder, because that was the only way he could fight.

Frazier barely stood 5-foot-10, never weighed more than 205 or so. He wasn’t going to beat people with his physical skills, so he figured out a way to keep relentless pressure on until he could find a way to land a left hook that surely was one of the most beautiful punches in boxing.

It didn’t work against Foreman because Foreman was simply too big, too powerful. Ali found a way to beat him in their final two fights, too, including a fight so epic that boxing people simply shake their heads when asked what happened at the Thrilla in Manila.

Ali would later say it was the closest thing he ever knew to death. Though blinded by his swollen eyes, Frazier still tried to fight the 15th round against one of the greatest fighters ever.

The bitterness toward Ali that Frazier carried throughout the rest of his life was especially rooted in that fight. Ali called him a gorilla, an Uncle Tom. When Frazier returned home, his children asked why the other kids at school were saying the same

thing.

“Joe could never forgive him for that,” King said over the phone. “But you have to know the times, the race struggle in America. Joe couldn’t understand why some of the blacks looked at him with disdain and then extolled Muhammad Ali. But Smokin’ Joe was an integral part of history. That fight changed things for a lot of people. It changed the respect paid when people would look at other people of color.”

That fight changed things for Frazier, too.

Neither he nor Ali were ever the same after the brutal bout, and Frazier would have only one more meaningful fight, a second knockout loss to Foreman.

He would burn through all the riches he made in the ring, ending up in an apartment over his gym in Philadelphia. But he loved to make appearances, loved to be with fans, as he was in September when he signed memorabilia in Las Vegas. “Joe Frazier, sharp as a razor,” he told them.

Ali put out a statement saying he would always remember Frazier with respect and admiration, something Frazier surely would have scoffed at.

In the end, he’ll go down as one of the great heavyweights ever, a man who fought hard in Ali’s shadow, then fought even harder to get out of it.

“All he wanted to do was beat up Muhammad Ali one more time,” Foreman said. “Maybe someday in heaven he’ll have a chance to do it.” —AP

Frazier had to wait until death to win top billing

BEIJING: China’s Hao Yun competes to win the Men’s 1,500m Freestyle final at the FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup. — AP

Brazil political turmoil won’t affect 2016 Games, says Bach BERLIN: Brazilian government scandals, a string of resignations and lagging 2014 soccer World Cup preparations will not affect progress for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, a senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member said on Tuesday.

The South American nation, due to host the world’s biggest sporting events two years apart, last month saw sports minister Orlando Silva become the sixth minister to step down this year and the fifth forced out over ethics breaches.

Silva was the government’s point man for coordinating investments and infrastructure upgrades for the two events. “ The preparations for the Games always have their ups and downs,” IOC Vice President Thomas Bach told Reuters in an interview: “The (Rio) organising committee is doing an excellent job and the political commitment is as strong as ever, also with the new president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff. “ The new sports minister (Aldo Rebelo) will have these two great events as a top priority. I think there is no reason to be worried,” said Bach, adding that work for the World Cup would also benefit the Games two years later.

Preparations for the soccer extravaganza have faced criticism as the construction of stadiums and transport infrastructure progress only slowly and costs balloon.

“With regard to Rio we should not make the mistake of translating some of the challenges regarding the World Cup to the Olympic Games. They are two different issues,” said German Bach, who also heads his country’s Olympic committee (DOSB).

Bach, an Olympic fencing gold medallist and a potential candidate to succeed IOC President Jacques Rogge when the Belgian steps down in 2013, praised London Games preparations, saying he expected the 2012 Olympics to have a unique feel.

“The London Games will be full of atmosphere from what we can already see. Organisers and (Games chief ) Seb Coe in particular will succeed in combining the British Olympic and sports tradition with a great appeal to youth.”

“Organisationally everything is on time and on budget,” he said. The IOC, however, will not have an eligibility rule in place in London to ban doping offenders with a six-month suspension or longer from competing there after the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected it last month.

But the so-called “Osaka rule”, introduced in 2008 before the Beijing Olympics, will be brought back in the revised World Anti-Doping Agency code in 2013 if the IOC gets its way.

“We will push for such a change in the WADA code because we want to protect the clean athletes and the reputation of the Games,” said Bach. “It will be more or less the same (rule) after discussions with all stakeholders.”

Bach is also awaiting the results of a German study into doping in the country over the past 50 years, rejecting claims there was systematic doping in West Germany as was the case in East Germany with its well-documented doping programme. following the release of the first part of the study recently.

“This is an interim report. It is more about hints and we have to wait for the final report but what the authors made very clear is that in the West there was no state doping programme. That is pretty clear,” he said.

“There were some hints that some institutions allegedly closed their eyes but this you have to see in the context of the scientific discussion at the time. The discussion about anabolic steroids was quite divisive in the scientific world at the time. It is easy to judge in hindsight.”

He said the DOSB would comment on the findings once the full report was issued next year.

Bach said the IOC’s executive board next month would be discussing an ongoing ethics investigation into IOC members following a BBC programme alleging corruption last year.

World athletics chief Lamine Diack, former world soccer (FIFA) boss Joao Havelange and African football chief Issa Hayatou-all IOC members-had been linked in the programme to a corruption affair that has rocked FIFA in the past 12 months.

Whether or not the IOC would merely discuss the probe or if there were specific actions expected against members in their early December meeting in Lausanne was still unclear.

“I haven’t seen any documentation yet there from our ethics commission. I only learned that it will be discussed during the next executive board meeting,” said Bach. “I cannot speculate. I want that they produce a fair report.”

Bach was also tight-lipped on speculation he would run for the IOC presidency in two years’ time. There is no official candidate for that race yet but many insiders speculate Bach is among the top contenders for the job.

“It ‘s an honor people think that you could be one of the candidates there. For such kind of questions two years are an eternity and this is why I still have to make my mind up,” he said.

“On the other hand, I think it would not be fair to the IOC nor to President Rogge to start personal discussions now about his successor,” he added. —Reuters

NEW YORK: Joe Frazier had to wait until death to win rightful appreciation after a boxing career spent in the shadow of the magnificent Muhammad Ali, boxing historian Bert Sugar told Reuters.

“He never got his due,” Sugar told Reuters on Tuesday when asked about the former world heavyweight champion, who fought three epic bouts with Ali in the 1970s and died late on Monday from liver cancer at age 67.

“People say Ali-Frazier, and the winner of that fight was Frazier,” Sugar said about their first clash in March of 1971, a battle of undefeated heavyweights at Madison Square Garden that left both boxers hospitalised.

“This is the day for Joe Frazier, who has always been the second slot to Muhammad Ali, even when he won. Today is the day when he stands up as his own and he’s Joe Frazier, period, paragraph, and he can stand up to anybody on his own.”

Boxing promoter Bob Arum said the three bouts between the fighters stood as a hallmark in sport. “He gave the world what had to be one of the most thrilling trilogies in any sport,” he said about Frazier’s bouts against Ali. “There was nothing like it in this country and in the world for the attention those fights received.”

Ali returned after a three-year exile imposed after he refused induction for the Vietnam War due to his Muslim beliefs to face Frazier and the build-up was intense.

“I think the first, certainly was the biggest event I ever covered. It seemed like the world stopped in anticipation of it,” HBO fight commentator Larry Merchant told Reuters in a phone interview from his California home.

“It was building up for several years, two heavyweight champions. Ali in exile. “And then to have the fight and the drama exceed the highest expectations, was a once-in-a-half-century, thrilling event.”

Merchant did not think Frazier was slighted by his association with Ali, but rather enhanced. “Regardless of the fact that Ali was such a towering figure in his time, a worldwide figure, he brought out the best in Joe Frazier,” said Merchant.

“Indeed Frazier was admired and respected widely and had the heavyweight stage to himself during Ali’s exile... in boxing, nobody didn’t love Joe Frazier and what he represented in his

PHILADELPHIA: An old photograph and flowers have been placed at a makeshift memorial at the former location of Joe Frazier’s gym, that is now a furniture outlet store. Frazier died Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer at 67. —AP

honesty, dedication and toughness as a champion.

“It was one extraordinary man against an ordinary Joe in terms of personalities and how they reached out to the world.”

Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Dave Anderson of the New York Times wrote that he considered Frazier a better fighter. “I’ve always believed that, each at his best, Joe Frazier... was the better fighter,” Anderson wrote in his column.

Ali won their Garden rematch by decision, setting up the “Thrilla in Manila” rubber bout in 1975. Ali won that rough bout, but Anderson said Frazier inflicted more punishment.

“The Thrilla in Manila in 1975 was awarded to Ali when Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, wouldn’t let him answer the bell for the 15th round because he couldn’t see the right hands coming out of his closed left eye,” recalled Anderson.

“But Frazier soon talked freely in the interview area. When an exhausted Ali finally arrived, he described their epic in brutality as

‘next to death.’ “That evening, at a party in an old Filipino palace, Ali, his ribs battered, walked stiffly and sat stiffly, painfully offering a finger or two instead of shaking hands. At his hotel, Frazier sang and danced. Seeing them both, if you didn’t know what had happened in the fight you had to think Frazier was the winner.”

Said Sugar: “Had he stood up off his stool and gone to the center of the ring, Ali would have collapsed. Ali has no legs, they have to almost drag him to the corner after the last round. He would have lost. That’s one of the ironies.”

Some diminish Frazier in historical terms because his career ebbed after his three epic fights against Ali. “It is no surprise that after that night of greatness, he was never the same,” Wally Matthews wrote for espn.com about Frazier’s ferocious victory in their first fight.

“But to knock Frazier for being unable to match the greatest athletic performance ever seen at Madison Square Garden is like criticizing Michelangelo for being unable to sculpt another David.” —Reuters

Heinz wins WSOP main event

LAS VEGAS: Pius Heinz, of Germany, competes at the final table of the World Series of Poker. —AP

LAS VEGAS: Germany’s Pius Heinz won the World Series of Poker main event and its $8.72 million first prize early yesterday, outlasting his Czech opponent in a long one-on-one session.

On the final hand, Heinz- a 22-year-old from Cologne - had an ace-king, while Martin Staszko held a seven-10 of clubs.

The board was a five of clubs, two of diamonds, nine of spades, jack of hearts and four of diamonds, helping neither player.

“It’s got to be the happiest day of my life,” Heinz said. “But I can’t believe what happened - it’s unreal.” Staszko, a chess whiz who once worked for three years at an auto paint shop, said he thought his finish would help poker in his native country.

“I’m never happy if I don’t win,” Staszko said. “But it’s not too bad. Second place is OK.” He picked up $5.43 million for second place. American Ben Lamb was eliminated in third place early in Tuesday’s session.

Heinz emerged the victor after a prolonged heads-up battle. It lasted 119 hands and saw big swings - including nine lead changes and a moment when Staszko had a nearly 4-1 chip edge on Heinz.

But Heinz, who started the day with just over half the chips in play, lured Staszko to gamble with less-than-ideal hands as the Czech sought to end the contest. “I just tried to focus and not make mistakes,” Heinz said.

Heinz, who said he had a rough sixmonth run in poker before the series and was thinking about whether to go back to college, made a big move Sunday when the final table of nine players assembled after a 3-1/2 month hiatus. He aggressively stormed from seventh in chips to first.

The past four WSOP main events have been won by players in their early 20s, in contrast to the experiend pros who dominated in the early years of an event that has been going since 1970.

Lamb, an experienced professional who made his mark at the 58-tournament series this year by winning Player of the Year honors, had a large contingent of rowdy supporters and a smaller group of friends and poker experts feeding him information about his play and his opponents.

He was eliminated early Tuesday in four hands. He pushed all-in on the first hand of play with a king-jack, hoping to induce Staszko to fold pocket sevens.

But Staszko called and kept his marginal advantage as the five community cards were dealt. “I got the sense he wasn’t like super strong, but he actually was stronger than I thought he was,” Lamb said.

That left Lamb very short on chips, and he pushed all-in again three hands later with a queen-six. This time, Staszko had pocket jacks and eliminated Lamb. “I wanted to come in aggressive, and I did,” Lamb said.

“Every poker player dreams of having the year I had, so I don’t want to sit here and have people cry for me,” he said. “I’ll be OK.” For the first time, every hand at the final table was playing out nearly live on ESPN, including tense stretches of several minutes during which players mulled difficult decisions. The play was being aired on a 15-minute delay with hole cards revealed once hands ended - enough time to ensure gambling regulators that players couldn’t cheat. — AP

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For once, FIFA does the right thing PARIS: It’s often fishy when politicians wade into the world of sports, popping up at just the right moment to be photographed with a winning team and scoring political points off the back of sports as freely as Lionel Messi scores goals.

Latest example, David Cameron. In focusing indignation on FIFA, Britain’s prime minister is taking a shot at the easiest of slow-moving targets, a body seen as so discredited by many fans of football that almost anyone who criticizes the sport’s international governing body is guaranteed a sympathetic audience.

Only this time, FIFA for once has done something right. More than that, it is standing up for important principles even though doing so makes it look cold, heartless and overly bureaucratic, at least to Britons.

At issue is whether England’s players should be allowed to wear a symbol - an embroidered red poppy - on their foot-

ball shirts this weekend to remember the dead from the past centur y of wars Britain fought in. FIFA says no. Its reasons are sound. A ‘yes’ to the poppy would set an unnecessary precedent.

North Korea could demand that its players keep their lapel pins honoring dictators Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung when they take to the pitch.

China could request that its team be allowed to commemorate Japan’s 1937 slaughter of at least 150,000 people known as the “Rape of Nanking.”

Japan could ask to wear a dove of peace or other symbol to remember the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The list could run on and on.

There are 200 or so countries under the FIFA umbrella, and each and everyone of them has political and social issues, special days of historical importance, perceived injustices and long-held grudges, and nationally recognized sym-

bols that are as dear to their hearts as the poppy is to many Britons. There is no place for this baggage on a football pitch. For 90 minutes, leave it all behind.

The enforced neutrality of the pitch FIFA allows no political, religious, commercial or personal messages on players’ kit - enables football to function and thrive as a global game that can cross closed borders and bring together people otherwise divided.

The pared-down simplicity of nothing more complicated than 22 players and one ball enables Israelis to play Palestinians, South Korea to play North Korea, or Argentina and England to meet in the World Cup four years after the 1982 Falklands War. There could be arguments, not football, if nations were allowed to advocate their causes on a pitch and wave them in the face of the opposing team or of the world.

But the poppy isn’t offensive like the

Nazi swastika. It is not a Christian cross or a commercial symbol like the golden arches. FIFA looked insensitive for stamping on such a sweet, seemingly innocent flower.

“This seems outrageous,” Cameron said yesterday. “The idea that wearing a poppy to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom is a political act is absurd. Wearing a poppy is an act of huge respect and national pride. “I hope FIFA will reconsider.”

Clearly, the Aston Villa supporter feels very strongly about how FIFA manages football. Or could it also be that this issue offered Cameron a handy diversion from the far more pressing problems that Britain faces, with FIFA an easy fall-guy?

In Britain, poppies are widely worn ahead of Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 in tribute to soldiers killed from World War I onward. That includes the Iraq and Afghan wars.

Does that make the poppy a political symbol, perhaps even an affront, to those people who opposed the invasion of Iraq and want Britain and other powers to pull their troops out of Afghanistan? I don’t know.

But I do know that FIFA, a football body, shouldn’t have to start making calls on which symbols might or might not be acceptable on a football pitch, why, and justify them.

FIFA says it has approved an English Football Association request for a minute’s silence at Wembley this Saturday before England plays world and European champion Spain. England’s players will also have black armbands to wear during the match and poppyembossed jackets for the pre-match national anthems. A poppy wreath will be laid pre-match on the field. But once the whistle blows, keep it simple. Players, ball. No more, no less.—AP

Euro 2012 lineup close to completion with playoffs

HRASNICA: Bosnia’s national soccer team players warm up during a training session in Sarajevo’s suburb of Hrasnica. Bosnia will face Portugal in the first leg of their Euro 2012 playoff tomorrow.—AP

Africans set off on journey to Brazil JOHANNESBURG: The 152-fixture African journey to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil begins Friday with Djibouti and Namibia first into action on a 10-game schedule.

Former World Cup qualifiers Democratic Republic of Congo-called Zaire when they competed in 1974 — and 2006 participants Togo are among 22 teams involved in a whirlwind first round.

Return matches are slated for November 15 apart from the Somalia-Ethiopia tie, which will be played a day later because the first leg has been put back 24 hours as it is also being played in Djibouti owing to the Somali civil war.

The 11 overall winners plus Liberia, who received a bye when cash-strapped Mauritius withdrew, advance to the minileague second phase starting next June where they will be joined by the 28 topranked nations when the draw was made.

Other teams in action this weekend include Kenya, under new coach Francis Kimanzi, and 2012 Africa Cup of Nations cohosts Equatorial Guinea, who will relish some competitive fare after a year of friendlies. DR Congo were the first subSaharan country to represent Africa at the World Cup and either side of being cruelly exposed in a 9-0 drubbing from Yugoslavia, suffered far less painful losses against Scotland and Brazil.

The Congolese recently hired experienced Frenchman Claude le Roy for a second spell as coach and he will be encouraged by a 3-0 win over Lesotho in neutral Pretoria last weekend as they prepare to visit struggling Swaziland.

Talismanic midfielder Mputu Mabi from

four-time African club champions TP Mazembe is back after a one-year ban for chasing and kicking a referee and a mix of local and foreign-based stars should succeed in picturesque Lobamba.

Swaziland upset DR Congo 1-0 and held Cameroon 0-0 at home in 1994 World Cup eliminators, but the current national squad is among the weakest in Africa having lost all six 2012 Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Togo are tr ying to lure Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor out of national team retirement, but should have the beating of Guinea Bissau even without the gangling goal poacher.

Adebayor quit after the Togolese were attacked by separatists and suffered two fatalities as they entered Angola for the 2010 Cup of Nations and the team has been in the doldrums since with just one victory from eight 2012 qualifiers.

Guinea Bissau have been equally poor, losing five 2012 African eliminators on the trot after a win over Kenya, and history is also against them with Togo winning 3-0 overall when they clashed in a 2002 World Cup qualifier.

Kenya improved since that miserable day on an artificial pitch in Bissau and although they will not be at the African finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea next January, ended promisingly by forcing a 0-0 draw at bitter rivals Uganda. The Harambee Stars face football featherweights Seychelles, with the first leg on the Indian Ocean islands best known for tourism, and a Kenyan side parading Europe-based stars MacDonald Mariga and Dennis Oliech should win both games.—AFP

Tiny Estonia makes splash in Euro 2012 qualifier TALLINN: Of the eight countries contesting playoffs for the 2012 European Championship, Estonia is perhaps the biggest surprise of all.

The Baltic nation of just 1.3 million people lacks previous football accomplishments and its domestic league is ranked 47th of UEFA’s 53 member countries, behind minnows like Malta and Liechtenstein, though those countries rank lower than Estonia in FIFA’s rankings. Estonia also displays a lack of excitement for the sport that is unusual in football-crazed Europe. It’s partly a legacy of five decades of Soviet occupation, when the tiny republic developed more enthusiasm for winter sports and basketball.

When Estonia faces Ireland in the first leg of the playoffs tomorrow, it will be the most important game the national team has played since the country regained independence in 1991, and a rare chance to play before a sold-out crowd at the 10,000-seat A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn.

“It’s a 10-year-old stadium and it has only been full for the first game against Holland, England, Brazil ... not many games,” says Mart Poom, a former goalkeeper in England for Derby County and Sunderland, who is the biggest name in Estonian football.

Estonia’s biggest sports achievements to date include Erik Nool’s decathlon gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and three gold medals in cross-country skiing at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Until now, the country had never come close to qualifying for the European Championship or World Cup. In the previous European qualifying campaign, Estonia was next-to-last in its group, ahead of Andorra.

This time around, Estonia stunned experts with away wins against Serbia and Slovenia both of which played at the 2010 World Cup - to clinch second place in Group C, well behind Italy.

“Before, I was thinking that if we achieve some notable result then it will mean a lot for football,” said Aivar Pohlak, a children’s author and literature teacher who has been president of the Estonian Football Association since 2007. “But now - after the first notable result, I can say that it (means) much more for society, much more for people, much more for the nation, for the state.”

Only five Estonian clubs pay their players a full-time wage, and the lopsided league throws up anomalies like Lasnamae Ajax, which conceded 192 goals in 36 games this season without winning a single game. This low standard forces most of the Estonian national team to play abroad.

Konstantin Vassiljev, the attacking midfielder whose two goals against Northern Ireland clinched the 2-1 win that helped Estonia secure a playoff berth by finishing second in their qualifying group, plays for Amkar Perm in Russia.

Three of his teammates also play in Russia, while other members of the squad play for clubs in Norway, Poland, Denmark, Cyprus, the United States, Belarus, the Netherlands and even China.

Estonians turned their interest from football to basketball during the Cold War, partly because of local basketball team Kalev’s success in the Soviet league.

“I think generations lost the habit of coming to games,” said Poom, who is now sporting director for Flora Tallinn, Estonia’s top club.

“Football was very popular before World War II, with big crowds by our standards.”—AP

LONDON: The lineup for the European Championship could become clearer Friday when the playoffs for the final four places at next year’s tournament get under way.

While already qualified Germany, France and the Netherlands are in friendly action, the Czech Republic hosts Montenegro as it tries to maintain a record of reaching every European Championship since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. Portugal is at BosniaHerzegovina targeting a fifth straight tournament, while Croatia travels to Turkey and Ireland is at Estonia in the other playoffs, which conclude with the return legs on Tuesday.

But the Czechs have big injury problems, with goalkeeper Petr Cech in doubt because of a broken nose and striker Milan Baros carrying a muscle problem. “We need them both, there’s no doubt about that,” Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky said.

Cech was hurt last weekend playing for Chelsea in a Premier League win over Blackburn and had his trip to join up with the national team delayed.

“If everything’s fine, I should be training with the team on Thursday,” Cech said. Cech already wears head gear after fracturing his skull in a 2006 club game and, if he plays, may wear a protective mask over his nose.

“It’s not a pleasant thing to have the nose broken but I still believe he will be available,” Czech Republic coach Michal Bilek said.

The Czechs are favored to reach the tournament in Poland and Ukraine but Montenegro showed it has the talent to create a shock, finishing above Switzerland, Wales and Bulgaria in qualifying and drawing 0-

0 at Wembley Stadium against group winner England.

Portugal has been to every World Cup and European Championship since 2000 and, with Cristiano Ronaldo having scored four hat tricks in 11 league games for Real Madrid this season, is an overwhelming favorite to overcome Bosnia.

Ireland has had miserable luck in playoffs, losing four of its previous five playoffs for major tournaments

“The lads were very upset about it at the time and it still mentally scars you,” McShane said. “When you think back, it hurt a lot to be knocked out in that manner. “Hopefully that bit of luck is on our side this time.”

Estonia got a lift last weekend when Joel Lindpere agreed to return to the national team after a two-year hiatus. Estonia coach Tarmo Ruutli said his team is confident after studying Ireland ahead of Friday’s match.

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina players leave the pitch after a training session in Buenos Aires. Argentina will face Bolivia in a 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer game in Buenos Aires tomorrow.—AP to the Netherlands, Turkey, Belgium and France. Ireland’s single playoff success was a two-legged win over Iran for a spot at the 2002 World Cup. Ireland defender Paul McShane said the last of those losses - when Thierry Henry’s infamous hand ball set up an ultimately crucial goal - has made his teammates even more determined to get past Estonia.

“We know our opponent throughout - its players and its philosophy,” Ruutli said. “Ireland has a style of its very own.”

There are also 11 friendlies in Europe on Friday, with Germany taking on Ukraine without striker Miroslav Klose and midfielder Marco Reus. Klose has an inflamed knee tendon and Reus is down with the stom-

ach flu. The German Football Federation said Klose will return for next week’s friendly against the Netherlands. Reus’ return will depend on his condition. It is the fifth time Reus has sat out a Germany match because of health problems.

France will be without midfielder Samir Nasri against the United States - and Belgium next week - because of a knee problem.

Nasri played in Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Villarreal in the Champions League last Wednesday, but manager Roberto Mancini left him on the bench to rest him when the team beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2 last weekend in the Premier League.

“It’s an old issue which is resurfacing,” Nasri said. “It’s a knee tendinitis which is coming back.” World Cup runner-up Netherlands hosts Switzerland, Italy is at Poland, while world and European champion Spain is at England on Saturday.

Spain has won its last three meetings with the English without conceding a goal but England’s attempt to improve upon that dismal record has been overshadowed domestically by a row over whether players can wear a symbol to honor war dead on their shirts.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said it was “outrageous” that FIFA has refused to allow England players to wear embroidered red poppies, but world football’s ruling body maintained its stance that it could not allow any symbol that might be construed as political.

FIFA has approved plans for both England and Wales, which plays Norway in Cardiff on Saturday, to observe a minute’s silence before their matches.—AP

KGA lifts Eslinda Memorial Trophy KUWAIT: Nineteen Teams participated in the 3rd Edition of Eslinda Memorial Football Tournament organized by Churchill Brothers sponsored Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) on the first day of Eid Al Adha under the presidentship of Salvador Dias which was witnessed by a large number of spectators at the MOH Grounds under the auspices of KIFF and officiated by KIFRA referees.

The tournament was sponsored by Gulf Cables & Electrical Co. and co-sponsored by UAE Exchange Co., Super Middle East Freight & Logistics Co., Lulu Hypermarkets, Speedex, Mughal Mahal, Dana Optics, Lipton, Fitwell Tailor, M&M Confectionery, Bhasin Co. and Almarai Co. and matches conducted in an orderly manner and it was Skynet Raiders, KGA, United Friends Club and Curtorcares United who reached the top last four in their respective groups.

On the onset, KGA president welcomed the chief guest and the guest of honor with bouquet of flowers presented by Olesya Dias and Lavina Fernandes.

The finals were hotly contested by Curtorcares United and KGA and the results were decided by the tie-breaker with KGA winning the glittering Winners Trophy given away by the chief guest Dennis D’Costa and the Runners-up Trophy went to Curtorcares United presented by guest of honor MerwIn Franco of Gulf Cable & Electrical Co. A game of housie was conducted with prizes sponsored by Tome Gracias and Joseph Mergulhao which were won by Amaldo Fernandes (President Curtorcares United) and Tony Dias (President Santos FC). Among the special invitees were Pancily Varkey - UAE Exchange Co. country head, Ivan Barretto (Speedex), Domingos Araujo (Kala Mogui Kuwait), Gaspar Almeida (Goa-world.com), Armado Fernandes (Carrier), Ranifa Dias and Franwin Noronha and their families.

Special highlights and prizes were awarded to Conny Rodrigues of KGA who was decided by a panel of judges as the Best Goalkeeper (final) and Man of the Match (final), Zico Fernandes of Curtorcares United as the Best Defender, Josse Fernandes and Valente Fernandes (both of KGA) were awarded the Best Striker and First Scorer of the final respectively.

Lester Dias of Curtorcares United was awarded the best goalkeeper of the tournament and the best disciplined team was claimed by United Friends Club which were presented by Pancily Varkey (UAE Exchange Co). The tournament proceedings were compered by Penny Rebello and DJ music provided

by Franky Costa and Chefle D’Souza.

Refreshments by Lipton Tea and Almarai were served to all teams and spectators which included families and children. KGA wishes to thank all the sponsors, co-sponsors, gift donors (including Brian Gomes, Midas Fernandes, Rohit Kamble, Michael Fernandes & Alvito D’Cunha). Internet, KIFRA referees, and press media for their support . The individual prizes for the team players for the Winners were

given away by Dennis D’Costa and for the Runnersup team by Merwin Franco. Teddy Pinto claimed the Oldest Player award registered with KIFF playing for the tournament to a thunderous applause which was presented by V.K. Vohra (KGA) and Prizes to the semi-finalists were given away by Avinash Rogtao (KGA) and Fidelis Fernandes (KIFF President & KGA member).

Individual gifts were also given to KIFRA referees offered by Lulu Hypermarkets to Adolf Fernandes, Robert Simon, Rosario Colaco, Arnold, Romeo Fernandes, Duarte Ferrao, Victor Andrade, Edward Dias, Casmiro Fernandes, Conny Rodrigues, Bernardo Fernandes and Romeo D’Costa.

KGA now get set for presenting a Konkani tiatr “Xirlo” by Mario Menezes on 18th November at Al Jeel Al Jadeed Arabic School (Opp. Canary Restaurant), Tunis Street - Hawalli. The Eid Al Adha festivities are continuously celebrated by KGA for the last three years at the lush green serene surroundings of the MOH Grounds with the Arabian sea tidal waves in the background and the organizers and thankful to the MOH Grounds management.

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By not acting, golf flunks own racism test PARIS: Now we know: Golf is a sport where you can aim a racial slur at Tiger Woods in front of a room of people and not get punished for it. In fact, in certain company, when the audience is in a party mood and thinks the world is not watching or listening, you might even get a few laughs.

If golf really and truly had “no place for any form of racism,” which is what the heads of the PGA and European tours said, then Steve Williams wouldn’t be working this week. Instead he would be suspended or lying low somewhere, wishing he hadn’t referred to Woods as “that black a———-.”

If golf really had no place for racism, then the sport would have required that the caddie sacked

by Woods in July do more, far more, than simply apologize, which he has done both to Woods in person and to the wider world in a begrudging, three-line statement. Why not, for starters, insist that he attend courses on race relations and respect before next stepping onto a fairway?

If golf had zero place for racism, there would be fewer apologists for Williams quickly turning the page. There would be more golfers like Fred Couples who were not prepared to dismiss Williams’ comment at a caddies awards party as an ugly attempt at humor that failed. The U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup was reported as saying that

if Williams was his caddy, he’d have fired him.

Woods said he and Williams “met face to face and talked about it, talked it through” Tuesday.

Greg Norman, captain of the Presidents Cup International side, employed Williams in the 1980s.

Both golfers said the New Zealand caddie is not a racist. “No doubt about that,” Woods said. “No, not at all,” Norman said.

Which is somewhat reassuring but also irrelevant here. That Williams, as far as ex-colleagues can actually know these things, does not hate people because of their skin color or ethnic background does not erase what he said.

Suggesting it was out of character, that Williams doesn’t habitually say such things, that the comment was reported out of context or that those who weren’t there aren’t qualified to have an opinion, does not make such slurs right or less painful to people who have long been on the receiving end of them. Woods called the remark “hurtful” and “a wrong thing to say.”

“There are people out there who have heard these single statements over a number of years,” said Kevin Hylton, author of “‘Race’ and Sport: Critical Race Theory.” “These - if you want to call them micro-aggressions - build up, they aggregate, they accumulate to the (point) that they are affect-

ing the psyche of many, many, many individuals,” Hylton, a professor at Leeds Metropolitan University in northern England, said in a phone interview. “For each statement that somebody tries to laugh off, that’s another straw on the camel’s back.” What happens at the caddies dinners isn’t meant to leave the room. Those who attend the annual parties do so on the understanding that what is said remains off the record. But, in this case, the rules made the whole affair look worse and raised disturbing questions. If not for British reporters who ignored the restrictions, would anyone have said anything? No matter the context, racial slurs should be taboo. So is this what top people in golf say to each other behind closed doors?

Surely not, one imagines. Even so, that Williams seemed to feel comfortable that he wouldn’t be booed off stage or ostracized for his remark had the unfortunate effect of making his audience of fellow caddies and players look complicit, even if it wasn’t. That impression was aided by Williams telling a New Zealand radio station that the evening was “a fun sort of thing, and everyone laughed their heads off. So, you know, what you read is absolutely ridiculous.” In that interview, Williams expressed no remorse at all.

“People can make all kinds of excuses and they can make all kinds of justifications about him and the audience, but what he said was totally unacceptable and he should pay a price for it,” Chuck Korr, co-author of “More Than Just a Game: Football v Apartheid,” said in a phone interview. “People have let him off the hook: ‘He’s just a good old guy who had a few too many drinks.’”

Some said Adam Scott, his employer, should have sacked Williams. But Scott was a victim here, too, unwittingly placed in the middle by something hateful someone else said.

This was a problem for the whole of golf, represented by top administrators, to take a stand on.

The sport needed to make it loud and clear that racial slurs will have punitive consequences, to dissuade others from making them, too.

Golf has myriad rules to govern the minutiae of what to do, say, when the wind blows the ball or when it lands in water. But on this issue that mattered, it let itself down.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem and European Tour chief executive George O’Grady condemned Williams’ slur as “entirely unacceptable in whatever context.” But they took no action. Golf has no place for racism, they said. Williams put that to the test. Golf failed. — AP

Djokovic and Murray cruise at Paris Masters

SYDNEY: US golfer Tiger Woods waves flies away from his face during a pro-am event of the Australian Open golf tournament. — AP

Revitalised Woods back in the hunt in Australia SYDNEY: Tiger Woods is convinced he is finally in position to begin his rise to the top of world golf again but he will have to beat a world class field at the Australian Open this week if he is to end his two-year title drought.

With the Presidents Cup following next week in Melbourne, the 107-year-old tournament has attracted one of its strongest fields, including eight of the world’s top 20, to compete for the modest $1.5 million purse at the Lakes Golf Course.

Fourteen-times major winner Woods is languishing at number 58 in the world after two years of personal problems and injuries but the American remains the major draw card on his return to the country where he registered his last victory at the 2009 Australian Masters.

The 35-year-old arrived in Australia amid a media frenzy caused by a racist remark made by his former caddie Steve Williams and, having met and received an apology from the New Zealander on Tuesday, hopes a line has been drawn under the incident.

That will leave the former world number one clear to continue plotting the course he hopes will take him back to the top of the game he dominated for so long.

Finally fully recovered from the Achilles and knee injuries that have restricted both his ability to practise and his tournament time, Woods said he “absolutely” believed he could dominate golf again-even if it might take some time.

“If you’re Usain Bolt you don’t just go out and run in world record time, it takes time, it takes training,” he said, referring to the Jamaican Olympic sprint champion.

“Finally I’m able to do (that) and that’s what’s so exciting about these tournaments coming up as well as going into next year, I finally feel like I’m able to do that.

“I’m here to try to get a W, just like I am at every event,” he added. “But I have some work to do before that happens. I’ll take a look at the golf course, figure it out, figure out the game plan and then execute my game plan.” Woods will come up against

one of the local favourites for the first time in Thursday’s opening round, having been grouped with two Australians-world number seven Jason Day and twice former champion Robert Allenby.

Day, who finished runner up at the US Masters and US Open this year and has been tipped as a future number one by Australian great Greg Norman, said winning his home open was “very important”.

“I have watched it ever since I was a kid,” the 23-year-old said. “I have always wanted to win it. I want to win majors and PGA Tour events but I obviously want to put my name on the Australian Open trophy. “That has been a very big goal for me, ever since I was a little kid.”

Adam Scott (world number eight) won the title in 2009 and is another strong Australian contender, while the American charge is expected to come from big-hitting Dustin Johnson (five), Matt Kuchar (nine), Nick Watney (12) and Bubba Watson (17).

Although the Americans lack the special motivation to win on home soil, there is a cache to claiming a title that the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Peter Thomson and Gary Player have held in the past. “Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have said to be a truly great player you’ve got to travel the world and win everywhere,” said Watney.

“It would definitely be a huge feather in my cap to play well here. I have come a long way so I would like to make it worthwhile.”

There will, however, be something of a culture shock for some of the Americans who rarely stray from the US PGA circuit to play abroad. “You are learning different grasses, different winds, you learn that the air is a little bit thicker in the wind here,” said Watson.

“When the ball is into the wind it goes a lot shorter. It is totally different to what we are used to. It is a learning experience. “We want to learn. We want to go to different places and learn golf courses and see how our game travels. It is fun unless you play really bad.” — Reuters

Champions Tour triumph HENDERSON: Kenny Perry made nine birdies and led the Champions Tour to the title at the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge on Tuesday.

The Champions Tour team, made up of Perry, Jay Haas and Mark Calcavecchia, were a combined 15 under in the twoplayer, best-ball format that allowed each team to discard one score per hole. The group shot 8 under over the final nine holes to overtake the PGA Tour team of Boo Weekley, Gar y Woodland and Jonathan Byrd, which finished at 12 under at the par-72 Rio Secco Golf Club (par 72).

Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis of the LPGA Tour also topped the PGA Tour threesome by going 14 under.

The defending champion PGA held a 3-stroke edge over the Champions Tour, and a 5-stroke lead over the LPGA Tour after nine holes, largely due to eagles on the par-5, 516-yard eighth hole by Weekley and Woodland. Byrd also shot a 5-under 31 over the first nine holes.

Kerr keyed the LPGA attack by going 5 under over the final five holes. She eagled the 14th, birdied the 15th, parred the 16th and birdied the 17th and 18th holes. She had six birdies and eagled the par-5, 505-yard 14th.

Perry birdied four holes on the front nine and five on the back nine to go along with one bogey. He helped his team grab a 2-stroke lead over the PGA and LPGA after 16 holes by carding birdies on four consecutive holes - the 11th through the 14th.

Perry was the individual winner with an 8-under 64 (32-32). Last year, he tied the PGA’s Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson for low individual honors at 4under 68. The Champions team received $500,000, the second-place LPGA squad earned $270,000, and the third-place PGA team got $230,000.

It was the seventh win for the Champions Tour in the 20 years the event has been held. The PGA Tour has eight titles, and the LPGA has five. —AP

PARIS: Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray both shrugged off injury concerns to sweep into the third round of the Paris Masters at Bercy Arena here yesterday.

Djokovic’s participation in the year’s penultimate event, which he won in 2009, had been cast into doubt by the recurrence of a shoulder injury, but he had too much for Croatian Ivan Dodig in a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

The world number one succumbed to only his fourth defeat of the year against Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals of last week’s Swiss Indoors and he showed signs of rustiness in the first set here, double-faulting twice and producing 10 unforced errors.

A sublime behind-the-back forehand early in the second set proved he was finding his rhythm, however, and he closed out victory to set up an encounter with 15th-seeded compatriot Viktor Troicki.

“It’s obvious that I’m still not on top of my game, but I’m taking things quite slowly, knowing that the form will improve each day that I play,” said Djokovic.

“I’ve been working quite hard in the last few weeks after my injury and I think things are going in the right direction.” Second seed Murray had to withdraw from the Swiss Indoors with a buttock muscle strain but he showed no ill-effects in a 62, 6-4 defeat of France’s Jeremy Chardy. The world number three, who won three consecutive tournaments in Asia last month and is on a 17match unbeaten streak, now finds his route to the quarter-finals barred by number 13 seed Andy Roddick.

Murray has a 7-3 career record against the American, and prevailed in straight sets when they met on grass in the semi-finals at Queen’s Club in June this year.“It was good, but I can definitely play better and it’ll be a tough match tomorrow (Thursday),” said Murray. “(Roddick) is a very good competitor, so he always makes it tough. He has a big serve and is pretty consistent from the back of the court, so you have to be patient against him and dictate the games when you get a chance.“But when you can get into his service games and put him under pressure, he doesn’t like it so much.” Third seed Roger Federer enjoyed a similarly straightforward afternoon, defeating Adrian Mannarino of France 6-2, 6-3.

The great Swiss has never been beyond the last four at this event and he will have to contend

PARIS: Andy Murray from Great Britain returns the ball to Jeremy Chardy of France during their match in the Paris Tennis Masters tournament. — AP with stylish home favourite Richard Gasquet, the 16th seed, in the third round.

“I always enjoy playing against any French guy, because they’re good shot-makers,” said Federer, who lost to Gasquet at the Rome Masters in May but beat him at Bercy last year.

“Especially here in France, I think the crowd can maybe get into it a bit more, because when you do play a French guy it’s a bit more intense.”

Earlier, Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer took

Tevez no-show for City training LONDON: Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez could face further disciplinary action from the Premier League club after failing to report for training yesterday.

The 27-year-old is reported to have flown to Argentina earlier this week but had been due to return to Manchester yesterday. City officials however confirmed that Tevez had not appeared at the club’s complex.

City last month fined Tevez four weeks’ wages-later reduced to two-for five breaches of contract relating to his behaviour during the club’s 2-0 defeat at Bayern Munich on September 27.

Tevez had been accused of refusing to appear as a substitute but the player denied those claims, insisting he had only declined a request to warm-up on the grounds that he had already done so.

City manager Rober to Mancini vowed Tevez was “finished” at the club but recent reports in England and Italy have suggested the Argentinian may continue to play at Eastlands if he apologises to his team-mates.

Tevez’s latest apparent defiance of City prompted dismay from Gordon Taylor, the head of the main players union in England, the Professional Footballers Association (PFA).

Taylor, whose organisation had helped Tevez cut his fine from four weeks wages to two weeks last month, expressed Carlos Tevez concern that the Argentinian was leaving himself vulnerable to further action by City.

“I believe there is going to be more trouble than peace in this situation,” Taylor told Sky Sports. “I do feel very disappointed to say the least.

“Now he’s left in a position that becomes very vulnerable. His advisors must be wondering ‘where do we go from here?’” Asked if Tevez had burnt his bridges with City and the PFA, Taylor replied: “I don’t cut off anything with my players even when they’re in the wrong.”

But he added: “On the other hand, I have to advise him that at the moment he’s just not doing himself any good at all.

“And he’s leaving himself very vulnerable to action by the club and that could be very serious sanctions coming so soon after the last problem.

“From that point of view, the lad is digging himself a hole that is going deeper. And it’s a worry to me how we can now get out of this.” — AFP

his place in the third round with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

Ferrer, who has already booked a berth at the WTA Tour Finals in London later this month, will face Ukrainian 14th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov for a place in the last eight. Serbian 11th seed Janko Tipsarevic stormed into the third round by thrashing American Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-1, 6-0 to set up a clash with Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych. — AFP

African flops turn to friendlies for salvation JOHANNESBURG: Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa hope to start repairing the damage of 2012 Africa Cup of Nations failure when they play friendlies this weekend.

Tunisia visit Algeria, Cameroon play Sudan and hosts Morocco in Marrakech, Nigeria have home advantage over Botswana and South Africa defend an unbeaten record against top-ranked African team Ivory Coast.

There will also be the novel pairing of Niger against Belarus in Dubai and France, a home from home for so many African footballers, welcome Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

Some sides will be starting the countdown to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, which kicks off on January 21 and continues for 22 days.

Others like the Algerian Desert Foxes, Cameroonian Indomitable Lions, Nigerian Super Eagles and South African Bafana Bafana (The Boys) failed to get past the Cup of Nations qualifiers and must gaze further ahead.

Their sights are now trained on the 2013 Cup of Nations in South Africa-there is only a 12-month gap between tournaments because of a switch from even-year to odd-year dates-and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Cameroon and Nigeria parade new managers and Stephen Keshi, skipper of the Super Eagles when they were last African champions 17 years ago, seems to have an easier start than Frenchman Denis Lavagne.

Nigeria may be down after a late Guinea equaliser in Abuja last month cost them a place at the 2012 African showcase, but they boast a squad that looks strong enough to defeat surprise Cup of Nations qualifiers Botswana in Benin City.

Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu have been recalled, Wigan winger Victor Moses chosen for the first time, but recurring knee problems rule out West Bromwich Albion goal poacher Osaze Odemwingie.

Botswana were the first country to qualify for the 2012 Cup of Nations, topping a pool that included 2004 African champions Tunisia and 2010 qualifiers Malawi and Togo.

Jerome Ramatlhakwane is a proven match-winner, netting five of the seven goals that took the Zebras to the finals for the first time, and a possible clash with veteran Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo could provide a fancinating cameo.

Lavagne succeeded Spaniard Javier Clemente after Cameroon failed to go through from a Cup of Nations group won convincingly by Senegal and the Samuel Eto’o-skippered squad face Sudan Friday and Morocco two days later. —AFP

Hamilton faces a moment of truth

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For once, FIFA does the right thing

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NEW DELHI: Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar (center) walks off after being dismissed, as West Indies cricketers Darren Sammy (second right) and Carlton Baugh (left) celebrate, on the fourth day of the first of the three cricket Test match. —AP

Tendulkar misses milestone, India win NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar’s sparkling 76 secured India’s five-wicket victory in the first Test against West Indies while prolonging his agonising wait for his 100th international century.

Statistically the greatest cricketer with 33,000plus runs in international cricket, Tendulkar, who passed 15,000 Test runs on Tuesday, looked set for the triple digit mark before leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo trapped him leg before.

The 38-year-old batsman departed after a fluent 148-ball knock, studded with 10 crisp boundaries, but not before laying the foundation for a much-needed win for India, who lost their top test ranking after a 4-0 whitewash in England.

Vangipurappu Laxman (58 not out) also chipped in with a half-century as India, resuming on 152 for two wickets, chased down the 276run victory target just after the lunch break with the loss of five wickets. Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was named man of the match for his nine-wicket haul in his debut test, while left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha finished with seven wickets.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was nat-

urally delighted with the performance of the team’s relatively inexperienced bowling unit.

“It was not an easy wicket to get the batsmen out. Ojha bowled really well in the first innings and Ashwin in the second innings,” he said.

“It was not that Ashwin got a lot out of the wicket. It was his variations that helped him. He was flighting the ball nicely and at the same time he got the carrom-ball and the top-spinner which also worked.” West Indies badly needed a couple of early breakthroughs in the bowlerdominated test where 32 wickets fell on the first three days and Fidel Edwards made early inroads when he disturbed overnight batsman Rahul Dravid’s (31) stumps in the second over of the day.

“We always had hope... we got an early wicket before Laxman came and batted really well with Sachin. They took the game away from us,” West Indies captain Darren Sammy said.

Tendulkar found the boundary regularly and Sammy and his men were up against the skill and experience of a man whose individual Test aggregate is greater than the whole West Indies

SCOREBOARD

team put together. Tendulkar brought up his 62nd test fifty before Bishoo sent him back, much to the disappointment of the 5000-odd crowd that had gathered at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in hope of witnessing his 100th international century.

Laxman made sure India scored the 124 runs they needed on the fourth day to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The wristy right-hander elegantly flicked off his pads whenever the rival bowlers strayed.

Laxman took a single off Kraigg Brathwaite to score the winning run. Ojha and Ashwin claimed 16 of the 20 West Indies wickets that fell in the match and Sammy conceded they would have to find a solution soon. “(Playing) spin has been a problem for us. Losing 15 wickets for 220-odd runs, last five in the first innings and all in the second...we need to find a way to score against spin bowling,” Sammy said. Kolkata hosts the second test from Nov. 14, while the third starts on Nov. 22 in Mumbai.

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin relished what turned into a dream Test debut in which he

successful Indian bowler on debut after legspinner Narendra Hirwani, who took 16-136 against West Indies in 1988.

Ashwin will marry childhood sweetheart Prithi Narayanan in a families-only ceremony in Chennai a day before the second Test which starts in Kolkata on Monday.—Agencies

SCOREBOARD NEW DELHI: Scoreboard after India beat West Indies by five wickets in the first test at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium yesterday: M. S. Dhoni not out 0 West Indies first innings 304 Extra (b-1 lb-14 nb-1) 16 India first innings 209 Total (5 wickets; 80.4 overs) 276 West Indies second innings 180 India second innings (overnight 152-2) Fall of wickets: 1-51 2-95 3-162 4-233 5-275 G. Gambhir lbw b Samuels 22 Did not bat: R. Ashwin, I. Sharma, P. Ojha, U. V. Sehwag b Sammy 55 Yadav.

R. Dravid b F. Edwards 31 Bowling: F. Edwards 15-3-51-1, R. Rampaul 10-0S. Tendulkar lbw b Bishoo 76 34-0 (1nb), D. Sammy 16-0-56-2, M. Samuels 16-0V.V.S. Laxman not out 58 57-1, D. Bishoo 22-2-56-1. K. Brathwaite 1.4-0-7-0.

Y. Singh b Sammy 18

Clarke century thwarts Steyn

CAPE TOWN: Scores at close on the first day of the first Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands here yesterday: Australia, first innings S. Watson c Kallis b Steyn 3 P. Hughes c Boucher b Philander 9 S. Marsh lbw b Steyn 44 R. Ponting lbw b Steyn 8 M. Clarke not out 107 M. Hussey c Boucher b Morkel 1 B. Haddin c Prince b Steyn 5 M. Johnson c Morkel b Philander 20 R. Harris c Morkel b Philander 5 P. Siddle not out 0 Extras (b5, lb3, nb3, w1) 12 Total (8 wkts, 55 overs) 214 Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Watson), 2-13 (Hughes), 3-40 (Ponting), 4-143 (Marsh), 5-158 (Hussey), 6-163 (Haddin), 7-202 (Johnson), 8-214 (Harris) Bowling: Steyn 14-4-31-4, Philander 16-2-54-3 (3nb, 1w), Morkel 13-2-58-1, Tahir 6-1-26-0, Kallis 6-0-37-0.

To bat: N. Lyon.

Butt files appeal against sentence ISLAMABAD: Disgraced Pakistan cricketer Salman Butt has filed an appeal against a 30-month prison sentence for spot-fixing. Lawyer Yasin Patel confirmed to The Associated Press in an email yesterday that an appeal was filed against the sentence handed down in a London court last week. “Yes,” replied Patel to AP’s query whether Butt filed the appeal.

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif was also sent to prison for 1 year and teenage fast bowler Mohammad Amir for six months for bowling no-balls at prearranged times during a test against England last year in order to fix spot-betting markets.

Agent Mazhar Majeed, who was secretly filmed by a reporter of a British tabloid accepting 150,000 pounds ($242,000), got the stiffest punishment when he was sent to jail for 2 years, 8 months. In February, the International Cricket Council banned the players for five years each for rigging the match at Lord’s.

Families of the disgraced cricketers have rejected the sentences, but there’s little sympathy for them in a country of 180 million people. While Butt and Asif seem to have virtually no chance to revive their cricketing careers, Amir, who will be 24 in five years, could make a comeback after completing his sentencing and the ICC suspension. — AP

claimed 9-128 only four days before he gets married. “I don’t know if it’s a gift for me and my wife before marriage but it is a very happy feeling to go into my wedding with such a performance,” Ashwin said. The 25-year-old repaid the selectors’ faith by earning a rare man of the match award on test debut, and becoming the second most

CAPE TOWN: South Africa’s Dale Steyn bowls during the opening Test match against Australia at Newlands yesterday. — AP

CAPE TOWN: Australian captain Michael Clarke hit an aggressive century to cancel out some superb fast bowling by South Africa’s Dale Steyn on the first day of the first Test at Newlands here yesterday.

Clarke hit 107 not out in an Australian total of 214 for eight, while Steyn proved a constant threat to the batsmen on a seam-friendly surface, tak ing four for 31. New cap Vernon Philander took three for 54.

Shaun Marsh was the only top order batsman to provide meaningful support to Clarke, making 44 and helping his captain put on 103 for the fourth wicket.

For the rest it was a struggle after Australia were sent in to bat on a day restricted by rain and bad light to 55 overs.

Clarke said he expected the ball to swing and seam throughout the match. He said he would have liked his team to have posted 300 but felt they remained in contention in the opening clash of a two-match series. “We’re going to have to bowl well. If we hit our areas and hold our catches we’re in the ball game.”

Australia crashed to 40 for three before Clarke was the dominant partner as he and Marsh revived Australia’s fortunes. Marsh contributed only 27 of the 103 runs added by the pair but played a valuable supporting role while Clarke counter-attacked.

Graeme Smith’s decision to send Australia in quickly paid off as Steyn claimed the wickets of Shane Watson and Rick y Ponting, while Philander had Phil Hughes caught behind after rain delayed the start by almost two hours.

Steyn dismissed Marsh with the first ball of his third spell when he was called back for what proved to be the last over before tea.

Clarke was given a torrid time by Steyn at the start of his innings before going for his shots when Steyn was replaced by Jacques Kallis. “I started horribly,” Clarke admitted.

“I couldn’t get my head out of the way and Steyn kept getting closer and closer to my head. Every hundred you get for Australia is

special. It’s great to be able to score runs when the team is under pressure.”

The Australian captain scored 40 of the runs as the stand with Marsh became worth 50, reached 5000 runs in Test cricket when his score was on 44, and hurried to his fifty off only 56 balls with nine fours.

He maintained the pace despite losing Marsh, Mike Hussey and Brad Haddin before reaching his 16th Test century off 108 balls when he stroked Kallis through the covers for his 16th boundary.

The left-handed Marsh was tested with some shor t-pitched bowling early on but remained unruffled, collecting runs when the bowlers strayed in line or length in a 101-ball innings which included eight fours.

Marsh was trapped on his crease and given out by umpire Ian Gould. He asked for a review but it confirmed that Gould was right.

Earlier South Africa successfully sought a review when Ponting was given not out against Steyn by umpire Billy Doctrove.

Replays showed the ball would have hit his leg stump. Steyn admitted that he had not been enthusiastic about calling for a replay.

“I thought he hit it so I didn’t even appeal.

Things happen pretty quickly when you run in and bowl as fast as you can.” He said first slip Smith and wicketkeeper Mark Boucher were convinced there was no bat involved and had insisted on a review.

South Africa also had an unsuccessful review when Gould gave Marsh not out on 28 against Philander, the ball pitching outside leg stump.

“The conditions suited us,” said Steyn. “We went for a little more than we wanted to with the run rate but if you asked us at the start of the day whether we wanted eight wickets we would have taken it.”

Philander, 26, was one of two new caps, with South Africa also selecting Pakistan-born legspinner Imran Tahir, 32. Tahir did not look threatening in his six overs, conceding 26 runs.—AFP

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Oil demand unsure on economic woes: OPEC

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Arab Spring raises hope for ‘transparent’ trade Page 23

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BMW 7 Series ‘UAE Edition’ ready to launch in Dubai

HSBC may leave UK as markets hit profits

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NEW YORK: A Mercedes-Benz is pictured as it celebrates 125 Years at the James Beard House on November 8, 2011. (Inset) An earlier model is seen. — AP

World economy risks ‘downward spiral’ Italian borrowing costs hit unsustainable level ROME/LONDON: Italian borrowing costs reached breaking point yesterday after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s promise to resign failed to raise optimism about the country’s ability to deliver on long-promised economic reforms. Italian 10-year bond yields shot above the 7 percent level that is widely deemed unsustainable, reflecting investors’ concerns that they may not get their money back, prompting German Chancellor Angela Merkel to issue a call to arms. Merkel said Europe’s plight was now so “unpleasant” that deep structural reforms were needed quickly, warning the rest of the world would not wait.

She called for changes in EU treaties after French President Nicolas Sarkozy advocated a two-speed Europe in which euro zone countries accelerate and deepen integration while an expanding group outside the currency bloc stayed more loosely connected- a signal that some members may have to quit the euro if the entire structure is not to crumble. Portugal and Ireland were forced to seek EU-IMF bailouts when their borrowing costs reached similar levels and clearing house LCH. Clearnet sounded another alarm by increasing the margin it demands on debt from the euro zone’s third largest economy, effectively raising the

cost of holding Italian bonds.

The European Central Bank, the only effective bulwark against market attacks, wasted no time intervening to buy Italian bonds in large amounts. “The ECB is buying aggressively”, one trader said. Italy has replaced Greece at the centre of the euro zone debt crisis and is on the cusp of requiring a bailout that Europe cannot afford to give. Unlike Greece, an Italian default would threaten the entire euro project.

Having lost his majority in a key parliamentary vote, Berlusconi confirmed he would resign after implementing urgent economic reforms demanded by the European Union, and said Italy must then hold an election in which he would not stand. He opposed any form of transitional or unity governmentwhich the opposition and many in the markets favor-and said polls were not likely until February, leaving a three-month policy vacuum in which markets could create havoc.

“It is a step in the right direction,” Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg said when asked about Berlusconi’s plan to resign. “There has been no proper understanding of the problems being faced in Italy.” Even with the exit of a man who came to symbolize scandal and empty promises, it will not be easy for Italy to

convince markets it can cut its huge debt, liberalize the labor market, attack tax evasion and boost productivity.

“There is no guarantee (Berlusconi’s) successor will be able to do a better job. Just keep your eyes on the Italian yield for now,” Christian Jimenez, fund manager and president of Diamant Bleu Gestion, said. While Italian bonds blew out, worries that the debt crisis could be infiltrating the core of the euro zone were reflected in the spread of 10-year French government bonds over their German equivalent blowing out to a euro era high around 140 basis points.

Frustration Policymakers outside the euro area kept up pressure for more decisive action to stop the crisis spreading. Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, told a financial forum in Beijing that Europe’s debt crisis risked plunging the global economy into a Japanstyle “lost decade”. “Our sense is that if we do not act boldly and if we do not act together, the economy around the world runs the risk of downward spiral of uncertainty, financial instability and potential collapse of global demand ... we could run the risk of what some commen-

tators are already calling the lost decade.”

Berlusconi has reluctantly conceded that the IMF can oversee Italian reform efforts. Euro zone finance ministers agreed on Monday on a roadmap for leveraging the 17-nation currency bloc’s 440-billion-euro ($600 billion) rescue fund to shield larger economies like Italy and Spain from a possible Greek default. But there are doubts about the efficacy of those complex plans, and with Italy’s debt totaling around 1.9 trillion euros even a larger bailout fund could struggle to cope.

Lagarde said she was hopeful the technical details on boosting the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) to around 1 trillion euros would be ready by December. Many outside Europe are calling on the ECB to take a more active role as other major central banks do in acting as lender of last resort. German opposition to that remains implacable, seeing it as a threat to the central bank’s independence.

German central bank chief Jens Weidmann, a key member of the ECB, rejected a separate proposal to use national gold and currency reserves or IMF special drawing rights to boost the bailout fund, welcoming opposition from Merkel to the same. But with the ECB just about the only buyer of Italian bonds, accord-

How ready is Europe to bail out Italy?

BRUSSELS: With Italy teetering on the brink of financial disaster, the eurozone is under pressure to put up robust defenses to keep the bloc’s third largest economy from sinking and dragging down the euro with it. After Greece, Ireland and Portugal, Italy-which accounts for one fifth of the 17-nation eurozone economy-could be next to need a bailout, having already refused last week to take up the offer of 50 billion euros in IMF support.

Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter each warned this week that Italy was too big to bail out, the Finn wondering how Europe could ever “shoulder the entire Italian national debt.”

That vast debt mountain has reached 1.9 trillion euros ($2.6 trillion). With Italy needing to raise up to 400 billion euros next year, the price could be heavy after Rome’s borrowing rates soared to a record 7.0 percent yesterday.

By comparison, Germany currently pays around 1.75 percent but the underlying problem is that Italy’s economy is not growing anywhere fast enough to keep up with such rates, leaving the debt to mount ever higher. “If Italy’s nominal GDP (Gross Domestic Product) were growing at a modest 4.0 percent and the interest rates it paid on new debt were 5.0 percent or less, it might manage its way out, however, neither is likely,” says Peter Morici, a professor at the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business. One option would

be for Italy to call in the eurozone rescue fund, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), which can issue loans but also act to provide governments with liquidity via bond purchases. EU officials have been planning for this eventuality for weeks, although Rome has yet to ask for help.

But until the EFSF leverages, as planned, its capacity up from the 440 billion euros of government guarantees it currently contains, to the trillion EU leaders want, there is little scope for the fund to make much difference.

The ramping up of its firepower, also involving a special investment fund to attract Chinese or Russian interest and managed by the IMF, will not be ready before February, EU finance chiefs admitted this week. A plan to use the EFSF to insure debt issued by fragile states cannot help either since it would not be operational until December. Besides, Morici said, “large purchases of Italian debt by France would surely result in the loss of an AAA rating it already doesn’t deserve, push up further French borrowing costs and put Paris’ finances into a negative feedback cycle. “With Europe imploding, even Germany’s finances would not look quite so pristine” thereafter. Either way, time is of the essence, with Italy’s next big five-year bond issue set for Monday. For now, the European Central Bank (ECB) will remain at the forefront of efforts aimed at stopping the country’s borrowing costs soaring off the scale altogether. —AFP

ing to traders, it will have to act more aggressively to contain the latest wave of crisis, despite internal opposition to its bond-buying program. It could call on limitless power if it began printing money as the Federal Reserve and Bank of England have. But for it, and Berlin, that is a step too far.

Greek standoff With the markets’ fire turned firmly on Italy, Greece’s struggle to find a new prime minister became something of a sideshow, but one which demonstrated the difficulty in taking decisive action anywhere within the euro zone.

Greek political leaders scrambled to agree on a new premier to lead the country back from the brink of bankruptcy, after a plan to name a former ECB official appeared to fall apart. The aim is to establish a “100-day” government to push a 130 billion euro bailout plan, including a “voluntary” 50 percent writedown on Greece’s debt to private sector bondholders, through parliament by February. The socialist and conservative parties had wanted former ECB vice-president Lucas Papademos to lead a government of national unity but he appears to have made demands about his level of influence which they could not swallow. — Reuters

Lloyds CEO woes may result in downgrade

MILAN: A man begs for money in front of a bank yesterday. — AP

LONDON: Moody’s said it may cut its ratings for Lloyds, given chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio being on sick leave may hinder the part state-owned British bank’s restructuring plan. Lloyds shocked investors last week when it said 47-year-old Horta-Osorio was taking a break due to stress-related illness, leaving a potential power vacuum at the top of Britain’s biggest retail bank. Moody’s said yesterday: “The review has been prompted by the significant upheaval within Lloyds’ senior management”.

Finance director Tim Tookey, due to leave the bank in February for insurer Resolution, was named interim CEO, adding to worries that the executive shake-up by Horta-Osorio has left Lloyds thin at the top at a time when it faces several headwinds.

Tookey said Horta-Osorio was still expected back at work before Christmas, but his absence comes at a difficult for the bank, as it works on the disposal of some 630 retail bank branches and a broader strategy review that has entailed some 15,000 job cuts and plans to halve Lloyds’ international presence.

“Moody’s is concerned that the group may face a major challenge in ensuring continuity of leadership, given that the CEO has only been in place since March 2011; and there have been several high-level manage-

ment changes since his arrival, including the announcement that the current CFO will leave in February 2012,” the agency said.

“The situation is exacerbated by the fact that it comes at a time of turbulent conditions in the financial markets and the necessity for Lloyds to execute important tasks, including the EU-mandated sale of branches and the ongoing wind-down of non-core assets,” it added. Moody’s has an A2 senior debt rating on Lloyds Banking Group.

Lloyds seeks to reassure Moody’s Lloyds said it would work with Moody’s to reassure the agency over its interim management arrangements and its ability to execute the company’s strategy. “We note the rationale for the review of our ratings.

Lloyds believes it has acted quickly and appropriately following the request of the CEO, Antonio Horta-Osorio, for a short leave of absence,” the bank said in a statement.

“We will be working with Moody’s to assure them of the efficacy of our interim management arrangements and our ability to deliver on our strategic aims,” it added.

On Tuesday, Lloyds slumped to a thirdquarter loss of 607 million pounds ($976.5 million) after its earnings were hit by lower banking margins and higher funding costs.

The loss came on top of an interim loss of 3.25 billion pounds. —Reuters

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BUSINESS

Oil demand unsure on economic woes: OPEC Oil to hold steady at 1.2m barrels per day in 2012 KABUL: OPEC yesterday held steady its forecast for oil demand growth next year, but warned that uncertainty has increased in the world’s economic outlook as the eurozone nations grapple with their debt crisis. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, supplier of about a third of the world’s oil, held its forecast for global economic growth steady at 3.6 percent for 2011, but cut its projection for next year to 3.6 percent from 3.7 percent. OPEC said in its October monthly market report that while world oil demand growth is projected at 900,000 barrels per day in 2011 unchanged from its September figures - demand in industrialized nations is seen dropping further “as a result of slowing economic momentum, particularly in the (European Union).”

Oil demand growth is also projected to hold steady at 1.2 mil-

lion barrels per day in 2012, but “uncertainties in the world economic outlook for the coming year have increased due to the challenges facing the OECD economies.” The 12-nation producer bloc is scheduled to meet next month to evaluate whether to revise its member states’ output quotas.

The recent rally in global crude oil markets is pushing the US benchmark crude futures contract closer to $100 per barrel while its London-based Brent counterpart remains well above that level. Those prices are widely seen as acceptable to the OPEC members, most of whom overwhelmingly rely on revenue from oil exports for their government budgets. The US benchmark crude futures contract for December delivery fell below $96 per barrel on electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange while Brent was below

$114 per barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange in London Debt concerns in the EU, particularly in Greece and Italy, have weighed heavily on global financial and oil markets over the past few months, raising fears about defaults and the possibility that the world could be plunged into a recession.

The lack of change in oil demand for 2011, particularly moving into the winter when demand generally picks up, reflects the continued uncertainties in the world economy. OPEC said despite the winter demand for refined oil products, OECD “oil demand is expected to remain negative as a result of the slowing economic momentum.” “Growing economic uncertainties in the EU have dampened the continent<s oil usage,” it said, adding that the EU’s contraction in oil demand stands at 140,000 barrels per day in 2011, and is forecast to shrink

Cashing in on Egypt’s black cloud CAIRO: After the rice harvest each autumn, Egyptians take a deep breath and brace for the “black cloud”, a thick layer of smog from burning rice straw that spreads across Cairo and the Nile valley for several weeks. Environmentalists blame the burning of agricultural “waste”, mostly rice straw, for the pall of smoke that turns the capital’s already noxious air into an even more toxic mix. Farmers produce about 30 million tons of what they see as waste each year. What they burn is responsible for 42 percent of autumnal air pollution, the environmentalists say.

Rice straw has plenty of potential uses, experts contend. The challenge for Egypt, struggling to revive an economy hit by an uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak, is to develop the cost-effective technologies needed to convert the straw into pulp for paper, fertilizer, active carbon or natural fiber plastic composites-and to convince farmers not to burn it. “Developed countries don’t even have that term in their dictionary. There is no such thing as waste, anything they produce they use,” Galal Nawwar, head of the chemical industries research division of Egypt’s National Research Centre, said.

Nawwar and other Egyptian scientists and environmentalists say farmers who burn rice straw are squandering a commodity that could generate as much as 300 Egyptian pounds ($50.25) a ton. But in a nation where many farms are based on small holdings and cultivation techniques that have changed little in decades or even centuries, farmers burn around 4 million tons of rice straw every season, emitting 80,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

The impact is most acute in Cairo, one of the world’s most polluted cities, with a population of up to 17 million. The sprawling capital of the most populous Arab country stretches along the Nile, hemmed in by high ground on either

side. As a result, pollutants are trapped in a layer that hangs just 25 meters (80 feet) above the ground. Farmers, eager to get rid of the straw to free up space for winter crops, are unaware of its value. “Burning the rice straw is not good for us either, but I have to burn it anyway, there is no other solution,” said Mohamed Sabah, a farmer from Kafr el-Sheikh in the Nile Delta who plants around 70 feddans (29 hectares) of rice every year.

Getting the message across Egyptian scientists have been using rice straw in pilot projects to produce a variety of materials from pulp for paper production to active carbon for use in water filters. The Environment Ministry has tried to contain the pollution blight over the past decade by collecting rice straw from some farms for 45 pounds a to. This year, it contracted one state and two private firms to collect, press and bale the rice straw. But many small farmers set their straw ablaze as usual.

“We are surrounded here in our mill by rice fields and most farmers are still burning their rice straw,” said Mostafa el-Salteesy who owns a rice mill in Kafr el-Sheikh. “There was an announcement in the newspaper a few days ago for a company saying it would collect the rice straw but this is something very new,” Salteesy said.

The rice straw gathered is mainly used to make fertilizers. But critics say this is unsustainable because pressing and baling the straw costs more than the fertilizers produced. Amr Helal, a board member of the Egyptian Chamber of Industry and Engineering, said every two tons of rice straw made about 1 ton of fertilizer, costing 300 pounds per ton. Yet every ton of fertilizer is sold for about 150 pounds. —Reuters

again in 2012 by about 80,000 barrels per day because of “the rather pessimistic” economic developments in the region.

Further undercutting demand growth this year has been the United States. US gasoline demand has been declining for the past four months, OPEC said, adding that the current cold front in the US is also not expected to boost demand for crude oil there, either. Oil demand for 2011 is projected to be 87.81 million barrels per day, while it climbs to 89.01 million barrels per day in 2012. OPEC said with that with EU economic concerns weighing on the market, oil demand growth next year is expected mainly to come from non-OECD countries China, India, the Middle East and Latin America. While US oil demand is expected to return to normal growth levels, “it will remain the wild card for 2012,” OPEC said. —AP

Chevrolet to attend Dubai Motor Show DUBAI: Here to celebrate Chevrolet’s Centennial at the Dubai International Motor Show with a special appearance will be Louis Chevrolet himself, thanks to the region’s first-of-its kind augmented reality. In Dubai from November 10-14, 2011 at the Chevrolet stand SSA58, Louis Chevrolet will meet and greet the visitors so don’t miss this once in a lifetime oppor tunity to ride with an automotive legend! Make sure you come down and say hello.

Chevrolet was founded in Detroit, in November 1911, by racer Louis Chevrolet and General Motors founder William C “Billy” Durant, who developed cars that quickly earned reputations for performance, Louis Chevrolet durability and value.

Those traits remain at the core of Chevrolet, which is the world’s fourth-largest automotive brand. The first Chevrolet production vehicle was the Series C Classic Six, a large, finely crafted motorcar with a large 4.9L, sixcylinder engine producing 40 horsepower and capable of top speeds of about 105km per hour. A great deal of myth and legend surround Louis Chevrolet (1878 1941), who was born in Switzerland and later emigrated across the Atlantic to the United States of America.

What is well documented about his life, however, is his passion for race car driving and automobile design, the spirit of which is still very much alive today.

HONG KONG: Agility officials collect the prestigious ‘Logistics Award’ at the recent Lloyd’s List Asia awards ceremony.

Agility wins again at Lloyd’s List Asia Awards HONG KONG: Agility, a leading global logistics provider, collected the prestigious “Logistics Award” at the recent Lloyd’s List Asia awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The event took place in front of 400 leading shipping and logistics professionals at the Grand Hyatt Ballroom.

Collecting the award, Mor ten Damgaard, Agility’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific said, “We are thrilled to have received this award for the fourth year in-a-row. We would like to thank Lloyd’s List and the judges for recognizing Agility in this highly competitive category. In Asia and around the world we continue to strengthen our presence and capabili-

ties so we can keep delivering innovative, end-to-end, global supply chain solutions for our customers.”

The award judges included academic and industry leaders from across the Asia Pacific region — including Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines. The judges noted Agility’s strong presence in the emerging markets of South East Asia with a special mention of the company’s cross border logistics solutions.

Readers of Lloyd’s List, one of the world’s oldest continuously-running journals, selected a short list of finalists before an eminent judging panel reviewed submissions and announced Agility as the 2011 winner.

ABK offers more privileges KUWAIT: Af ter launching the ABK Emirates World MasterCard, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait is giving World MasterCard owners more privileges.

seek to provide the best services to our customers in Kuwait and overseas, therefore the ABK Emirates World MasterCard was designed to distinguish customers by giving them additional privileges and benefits .” Lockie added, “The cardholder will have complimentar y access to over 600 VIP International Airport Lounges, and for ever y KD 1 spent on the World MasterCard he will be getting seven Skywards Miles (Skywards, the award winning frequent flyer program of Emirates) to be used on Emirates , as well as travel insurance coverage up to a million dollars .”

“As an exclusive added value “Lockie said “ABK is offering 10,000 bonus Skywards Miles to the cardholder, along with the luxury of global concierge service in addition to many other benefits. If you are looking to be unique and live the luxur y our card offers, ABK Emirates World MasterCard is your best choice.” To benefit from these privileges and many more, call Ahlan Ahli on 1899899, or chat Live with the bank representative on Ahli Chat through our website www.eahli.com.

Stewart Lockie Stewart Lockie, GM, Retail explained the benefits and advantages that the client can get by owning the ABK Emirates World MasterCard “ In ABK we

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 Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2720000 .4370000 .3760000 .3080000 .2680000 .2840000 .0040000 .0020000 .0745780 .7265880 .3810000 .0700000 .7122870 .0040000 .0430000

.2780000 .4500000 .3880000 .3190000 .2770000 .2930000 .0072500 .0035000 .0753270 .7338900 .4010000 .0760000 .7194450 .0072000 .0530000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2747000 .27680000 GB Pound/KD .4398910 .4432540 Euro .3784400 .3813340 Swiss francs .3108870 .3132640 Canadian dollars .2707200 .2727900 Danish Kroner .0508600 .0512490 Swedish Kroner .0417030 .0420220 Australian dlr .2861550 .2883430 Hong Kong dlr .0353550 .0356250 Singapore dlr .2164530 .2181070 Japanese yen .0035180 .0035450 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 .0056490 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 .0025200 Pakistan rupee .0000000 .0032340 Bangladesh taka .0000000 .0036520 UAE dirhams .0748200 .0753920 Bahraini dinars .7289370 .7345130 Jordanian dinar .0000000 .3915130 Saudi Riyal/KD .0732730 .0738330 Omani riyals .7137850 .7192410 Philippine Peso .0000000 .0065050

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

ASIAN COUNTRIES 3.587 5.983 3.196 2.502 3.501 217.340 35.553 3.616 6.423 8.993 0.271 0.273

GCC COUNTRIES 73.683 75.921 717.680 733.890 75.238

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Egyptian Pound - Cash Egyptian Pound - Transfer Yemen Riyal/for 1000 Tunisian Dinar Jordanian Dinar Lebanese Lira/for 1000 Syrian Lier Morocco Dirham

ARAB COUNTRIES 48.750 46.241 1.264 193.820 390.200 185.400 5.965 34.525

EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 276.200 Euro 383.920 Sterling Pound 447.310 Canadian dollar 274.830 Turkish lire 155.540 Swiss Franc 310.690 Australian dollar 284.710 US Dollar Buying 275.000

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria

SELL CASH 288.800 732.450 3.720 276.200 541.000 36.600 51.900 167.800 48.020 384.800 36.150 5.930 0.032 0.223 0.240 3.650 390.860 0.186 90.660 46.100 4.240 222.800 1.785

50.200 715.350 3.270 6.580 76.190 73.530 218.430 37.830 2.602 447.300 42.800 311.300 5.500 9.360 198.263 75.090 275.800 1.200

715.170 3.200 6.400 75.760 73.530 218.430 37.810 2.495 445.300 309.800 5.500 9.180 74.990 275.400

10 Tola

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 445.300 275.400

Sterling Pound US Dollar

SELL DRAFT 287.300 732.450 3.610 274.700

218.400 46.174 383.300 36.600 5.550 0.032

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro 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

287.21 275.23 316.55 381.23 442.15 3.59 3.632 5.584 2.505 3.501 3.208 75.13 734.15 46.28 392.66 717.30 76.11 73.70

288.00 275.00 317.00 385.00 446.00 3.62 3.705 5.900 2.608 4.250 3.350 75.50 735.00 48.10 392.00 717.00 76.50 74.00

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 390.266 0.185 90.660 3.480 221.300

Rate for Transfer US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar

Selling Rate 273.850 277.615 442.140 389.790 317.635 726.070

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

74.535 75.165 72.990 385.475 45.923 2.482 5.619 3.164 3.606 6.425 671.723 3.710 9.070 5.765 3.560 90.965

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

GOLD 1,847.560

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

GOLD 316.500 160.000 82.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Currency Rate per 1000 (Tran) US Dollar 275.350 Pak Rupees 3.205 Indian Rupees 5.535 Sri Lankan Rupees 2.510 Bangladesh Taka 3.620 Philippines Peso 6.435 UAE Dirhams 75.060 Saudi Riyals 73.570 Bahraini Dinars 731.900 Egyptian Pounds 46.155 Pound Sterling 448.300 Indonesian Rupiah 3.190 Yemeni Riyal 1.550 Jordanian Dinars 391.100 Syrian Pounds 5.750 Euro 386.300 Canadian Dollars 277.900 Nepali rupee 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange Currency Transfer Rate (Per 1000) US Dollar 275.550 Euro 382.400 Pound Sterling 443.300 Canadian Dollar 273.900 Japanese Yen 3.555 Indian Rupee 5.608 Egyptian Pound 46.225 Sri Lankan Rupee 2.500 Bangladesh Taka 3.620 Philippines Peso 6.430 Pakistan Rupee 3.205 Bahraini Dinar 733.850 UAE Dirham 75.100 Saudi Riyal 73.550 *Rates are subject to change

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

BUSINESS

Arab Spring raises hope for ‘transparent’ trade ‘Graft has economic value as you measure cost of corruption’

BMW 7 Series ‘UAE Edition’ ready to launch in Dubai DUBAI: To mark the 40th anniversary of the unification of the United Arab Emirates, which took place in December 1971, BMW Group will launch the BMW 7 Series UAE 40th anniversary Limited Edition at the 2011 Dubai International Motor Show. The exclusive example of BMW’s flagship model will be limited to just 40 cars and sold by BMW Group’s two importers in the UAE: AGMC and Abu Dhabi Motors The BMW 7 Series UAE 40th Anniversary Limited Edition features an exclusive Marakesh Brown exterior colour. This is coupled with a Merino Platinum leather interior, which features the UAE emblem on the headrest, iDrive button and other areas of the interior trim. An elegant ‘UAE 40 years’ designation features on the chrome trim at the rear of the 7 Series.

Based on the BMW 750Li model, the UAE 40th Anniversary Edition is fitted with a 4.4litre V8 engine coupled with BMW TwinPower twin-turbo technology. This produces 407 hp from 5500-6400rpm and a maximum of 600 Nm of torque from 17504500rpm.

Since its launch in November 2008, the BMW 7 Series has become one of the best

selling cars in the Middle East region and is a byword for luxury, elegance and innovation.

Designed by a Middle East duo - Lebaneseborn Karim Habib is Head of Exterior Design for all BMW models, and Iranian-born Nader Faghihzadeh was responsible for the interior. The BMW 7 Series features the automotive industry’s first Arabic-language iDrive control system to control the multitude of functions and navigation system.

“The BMW 7 Series is our undisputed flagship of the range within the Middle East and we thought it only fitting that we produce a bespoke version for the UAE in celebration of the country’s 40th Anniversary,” said Dr Joerg Breuer, Managing Director of BMW Group Middle East. Together with local importer AGMC, BMW Group will be showcasing 16 new models at the Dubai International Convention Centre from 10th and 14th November, 2011. The BMW 7 Series “UAE Edition” is set to be just one of the highlights at the BMW Group stand, alongside the BMW Vision ConnectedDrive, a demonstration of BMW’s development of innovative driver assistance systems and mobility services, and an exclusive BMW 7 Series “Steinway & Sons Edition”.

How to deal with stress at workplace Bayt.com Report Job stress affects almost everyone at some stage of their career and for some it is quite an endemic part of their day-to-day existence on the jobs and, if not addressed, can often manifests itself in physical and psychosomatic ailments such as high blood pressure, ulcers, stomach disorders, sleeplessness and general ongoing feelings of fatigue and anxiety. Top Tips to overcome stress from Bayt.com, the Middle East’s job site below: Face the problem: Do you have trouble sleeping? Does your heart start palpitating as you approach the office or as you hear your boss’ voice? Do you have trouble concentrating and moving forward with anything? If the answer to these or related questions is ‘yes’ and has been for some time, chances are you are experiencing stress. The first task is to admit to yourself that you are stressed out and to genuinely confront the magnitude of your stress and decide to do something about it. Sit down with a pen and paper, document each and every matter that causes you stress and try to see it in proportion.

Once you have come to terms with the sources of your stress and can see matters somewhat in proportion, you may be able to confront them.

Ask the right questions: If the stress you are feeling is severe, you may well be in an unsuitable job. Are you over/under qualified for the job? Did you take this job because there was nothing else out there or because you were in a hurry? Do you really not see any way to improve your disastrous relationship with your boss? Is the environment unfair and the criticism unconstructive? Do you see yourself going nowhere in this job even though you have taken various action steps to move your career forward? If the answer to some of the above is a resounding ‘yes’, then you may want to consider looking around either in the same company or elsewhere or making other real changes such as taking courses or undergoing counseling to make you more confident in your career.

Take control: Take control of your career!

Do so by: confronting your problems (this includes coursework you need, asking for the raise you deserve, telling your boss of something that bothers you, communicating better), setting goals (to optimize on your success and build your future you need to plan forward and set personal and professional milestones at specific dates which you can work towards accomplishing), prioritizing your tasks (Get into the habit of having a todo list and approach every task by assigning it a priority. Your list may include the following priority columns: Top Priority, Today, This Week, Ongoing. A clean organized approach to your tasks is a great start to achieving overall success), and investing in ‘Brand You’ (Get to know yourself and come to terms with what your limits and strengths really are.

You can then invest in yourself and concentrate on building your unique areas of strength. There is nothing like constant education and self-advancement to give you that extra confidence you need to face your job and peers on a relaxed footing).

Set reward milestones: Set yourself reasonable reward milestones and at every milestone, reward yourself with something that truly makes you happy. Having something positive to look forward to can really make a difference in your overall emotional wellbeing.

Incorporate “stress busters” into your routine: Effective stress busters range from incorporating regular exercise into your routine to meditation to special feel-good treats such as aromatherapy and massage.

Creative endeavors and other hobbies help to take your mind off stressful aspects of your life and channel your ‘stress energy’ in a more positive direction. Music is a wonderful way to unwind. Talk therapy also helps a lot. The latter need not be with a professional; you can find a mentor to talk to about your daily difficulties or a peer who is a good listener.

NVIDIA Quad-Core Tegra Chip sets new standards SANTA CLARA: NVIDIA yesterday ushered in the era of quad-core mobile computing with the introduction of the NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, bringing PC-class performance levels, better battery life and improved mobile experiences to tablets and phones. The world’s first quad-core tablet with the Tegra 3 processor is the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer Prime.

Known previously by the codename “Project Kal-El,” the Tegra 3 processor provides up to 3x the graphics performance of Tegra 2, and up to 61 percent lower power consumption. This translates into an industry-leading 12 hours of battery life for HD video playback. The Tegra 3 processor implements a new, patentpending technology known as Variable Symmetric Multiprocessing (vSMP).vSMP includes a fifth CPU “companion”, specifically designed for work requiring little power. The four main cores are specifically designed for work requiring high performance, and generally consume less power than dual-core processors. During tasks that require less power consumption - like listening to music, playing back video or updating background data - the Tegra 3 processor completely shuts down its four performance-tuned cores and, instead, uses its companion core. For high-performance tasks -

like web browsing, multitasking and gaming the Tegra 3 processor disables the companion.

“NVIDIA’s fifth core is ingenious,” said Nathan Brookwood, Research Fellow at Insight 64.

“Tegra 3’s vSMP technology extends the battery life of next-generation mobile devices by using less power when they’re handling undemanding tasks and then ratcheting up performance when it’s really needed.”

The Tegra 3 quad-core CPUs are complemented with a new 12-core NVIDIA GeForce GPU, which delivers more realism with dynamic lighting, physical effects and high resolution environments, plus support for 3D stereo, giving developers the means to bring the next generation of mobile games to life. For the millions who play games on mobile devices, the Tegra 3 processor provides an experience comparable to that of a game console. It offers full game-controller support, enabling consumers to play games on their tablet or super phone, or connect to big screen HDTVs for a truly immersive experience. It also leverages NVIDIA’s award-winning 3D Vision technology and automatically converts OpenGL applications to stereo 3D, so consumers can experience 3D on a big screen 3D TV (via HDMI 1.4 technology).

AMMAN: Gulf investor Omar Ayesh flew to Tripoli to meet Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi when the son of Libya’s now-deposed strongman wanted to talk business, only to be caught in a web of bribery and crony capitalism. A deal for a beachfront resort project on Tripoli’s seafront was signed with Muammar Gaddafi’s government and excavation work began, but it stopped after people linked to Gaddafi began asking for payoffs, the 43-year-old businessman says.

Now, Ayesh is trying to revive the project. “I didn’t expect influential figures within the regime would take over the project because it was lucrative. I just hope the new Libya will not repeat the mistakes of the past,” says Ayesh, chairman of United Arab Emirates-based Nobles Investments.

Across the Middle East and North Africa, the Arab Spring uprisings have hurt many businessmen.

Economies have slowed sharply as political uncertainty deters investment, new governments focus on trying to restore social stability instead of reforming economic policy, and labor unrest disrupts production and drives up costs. But Ayesh is one of a substantial number of businessmen who say the economic climate is already improving in an important way: it is becoming easier to do business without the involvement of corrupt politicians and officials.

“Corruption was a major hurdle before the revolution and now it’s much less. This has improved the business environment in Egypt. We are much more optimistic,” said Issam Hijazi, chairman of Hijazi and Ghosheh, a Jordanian meat processing firm with millions of dollars of investments in Egypt and the region.

Patronage Many businessmen are not as positive as Hijazi. In Egypt, for example, some small company owners still report struggles with corrupt officials and parasitical government bureaucracies that only their larger, wealthier competitors have the money to overcome.

But to some extent, the ousting of president Hosni Mubarak has loosened the grip of a clique of politicians, officials and their businesses cronies on commercial opportunities and the licenses and financing needed to exploit them.

Companies linked to the former regime face legal challenges over past deals and must operate under greater public scrutiny; this levels the playing field and allows a wider group of businessmen to compete. Egyptian trade with Sudan, for example, is no longer dominated by businessmen linked to the Mubarak regime; it has become more open and diversified, said a business consultant in Egypt, who

declined to be named because of the political sensitivity of the issue.

Cases such as that of former Egyptian housing minister Ahmed Al-Maghrabi have sent a chilling signal to officials and businessmen involved in improper deals. Maghrabi was sentenced to five years in jail in May over an illegal land deal in the Mubarak era; he and a businessman involved were ordered to return a total of 72 million Egyptian pounds ($12.6 million) to the state and were together fined a further 72 million pounds.

Much the same is happening in Tunisia, where members of the family of deposed president Zine AlAbidine Ben Ali once owned or controlled many of the country’s biggest companies, with interests in media, banking and telecommunications. “The political support and access to funds that some of the leaders of private sector in the Arab world had has been lost,” said Walid Nassan, head of the Jordan operation of Egyptian investment firm EFG Hermes.

“They now need to present themselves on their own credentials and many are tarnished. Those who exploited the system can no longer do that so openly and blatantly.” At a meeting in Istanbul last week between executives of international oil firms and Libyan officials, who discussed Libya’s plans to buy nearly $3 billion of gasoline, oil traders were struck by the change in how the Libyans operated. The newly appointed managers of Libya’s National Oil Corp refused invitations to lunch or dinner and kept to a tight schedule.

“Before, everything was done under the table and with bribes. Now I haven’t heard anything about bribes, and tenders are being used to buy and sell,” one trader said. In countries that have not seen their governments overthrown, the change in the business climate has been less dramatic. But here too, the Arab Spring appears to be increasing popular pressure for more transparency and an end to political patronage of business-pressure that governments cannot entirely ignore.

In Morocco, King Mohammed has ordered that the antitrust authority be given more powers to enforce transparency and good corporate governance. The authority’s head said it would be evenhanded in dealing with firms owned by the monarchy, the biggest private stakeholder in the economyalthough it may have to wait until late 2012 to obtain the power to intervene. Usama Fayyad, executive chairman of Oasis 500, a Jordan-based investment firm which finances start-up firms in the region’s information technology sector, said governments had become more careful about appearing even-

handed towards companies, even in countries that have been relatively untouched by the Arab Spring.

“Abuse of authority by government entities has definitely decreased. I see it applying even to countries that don’t have protests,” he said. “It doesn’t mean it’s disappeared, but it means that they are more careful and this holds true in Lebanon, Iraq and in the Gulf in Saudi Arabia, where people are more afraid of exercising undue influence because scrutiny is coming. They know there will be more scrutiny, definitely more than before and that creates more diversified economic opportunities.”

He said big companies as well as governments had become “afraid of exercising their old methods of intimidation, influence peddling and corruption.

This is helping local companies that previously were marginalized.” Omar Bitar, head of Middle East emerging markets at consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers, said bidding processes for government contracts in the region were becoming more stringent and transparent, to the point that the award of some contracts was slowing down.

Jobs It is not clear how lasting these changes in the region’s business environment will be. New networks of corruption and economic patronage may form as post-uprising governments become more stable; public indignation over crony capitalism may fade as governments around the region buy off the public with subsidies and increased welfare spending.

Some businessmen suggest that in the short term at least, the cleaner commercial environment is actually hurting economies by making it more difficult for deals to get done.

“Legitimate business is being hurt by the perception of impropriety and few people dare to exercise their authority for fear of a witchhunt, and this is paralyzing business,” said one Middle Eastern banker, who requested anonymity. “Graft has an economic value as you measure the cost of corruption-monetary versus facilitation of business...Although companies now don’t have to buy the deal from some guy, it takes longer to secure the deal, plus the political risks have shot up.

“Business in Tunisia and in Egypt, at least on the surface, is not as tidy. You used to know someone who would facilitate business. Now it’s a big muddle.” In the long term, though, a cleaner, fairer business environment could, even more than other economic reforms such as deregulation and fiscal policy changes, help to solve one of the Arab world’s biggest problems: job creation. — Reuters

Russia-Georgia deal opens way to WTO GENEVA: Russia signed a Swiss-brokered deal with Georgia yesterday that removes the last big obstacle to Moscow joining the World Trade Organization after 18 years of negotiations. Russia’s accession will be the biggest step in world trade liberalization since China joined the WTO a decade ago, sealing its integration into the world economy two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

“It’s over. We’ve signed the document,” Sergi Kapanadze, Georgian deputy foreign minister and senior negotiator, told Reuters.

“There are no more obstacles from Georgia to Russia to becoming a member of the WTO.” There was no immediate comment from Russia, whose $1.9 trillion economy is the biggest outside the WTO. But WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said: “We are delighted that agreement has been reached between Georgia and the Russsian Federation. We congratulate them and we congratulate the Swiss mediators.” After near-

ly two decades of negotiations with the 153member club, Russia’s last challenge was to reach a deal with Georgia to stop its entry being blocked by the former Soviet republic with which it fought a short war in 2008.

Kapanadze said Russia and Georgia, which do not have diplomatic relations, covered the basic principles for monitoring mutual trade between Moscow and Tbilisi, including two Moscow-backed breakaway regions in Georgia. Russia has said it hopes a WTO working group meeting this week will draw up a final document for approval by WTO trade ministers in Geneva on Dec 15. Entry also needs the approval of Russian parliament, which is likely before an election next March that is expected to return Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to the presidency. Accession will send a signal to companies and investors that Russia, the world’s largest energy producer, is starting to move closer to a rulebased system of doing business. — Reuters

Xerox in Leaders Quadrant of 2011 DUBAI: Xerox Corporation has been placed by Gartner, Inc in the Leaders Quadrant of the 2011 Magic Quadrant for Managed Print Services (MPS) Worldwide. The Magic Quadrant is a proprietary research tool developed by Gartner that offers visual snapshots of a market’s direction, maturity and participants, and evaluates companies on completeness of vision and ability to execute.

Still the market leader in MPS, Xerox continues to save businesses of all sizes up to 30 percent of operating costs with new features such as print governance automated guidelines that direct users to the most cost-effective, energy-efficient option. By adding business process and IT outsourcing services from ACS, A Xerox Company, and working with partners like Cisco, Xerox is helping customers use MPS as a way to simplify print and IT management.

“We believe Xerox maintains its leadership posi-

tion in MPS by understanding what our customers need most - from supporting the mobile workforce, to a simplified approach for small businesses,” said Dan Smith, Head of Integrated Marketing for the Middle East and Africa region of Xerox’s Developing Markets Operations. “We’re racing ahead of our competition because we continue to innovate on behalf of our clients, providing technology and services that not only save time and money but also add incremental value to their real business.” Xerox earns customer confidence using Lean Six Sigma-based assessments to evaluate daily work processes and design a MPS strategies that guarantee significant cost savings based on specific data and observations. Xerox also extends its offering to small and mid-sized businesses via the company’s global network of channel partners, who build their own branded MPS program for clients with Xerox support and training.

Ebtihaj Al-Roomi

Gulf Bank unveils Shopping Festival KUWAIT: Gulf Bank announced the launch of its Kuwait Shopping Festival for Gulf Bank credit card holders. From November 3 to December 31, 2011 the bank’s credit card holders can enjoy a variety of discounts if they use their cards to purchase items at select outlets across shopping centers in Kuwait.

Ebtihaj Al-Roomi, Assistant General Manager, Marketing at Gulf Bank said: “Our Shopping Festival comes at a good time when most people are buying gifts either for Eid or for the upcoming festive season. Gulf Bank credit card customers can shop and automatically receive discounts instantly. We believe that excellent banking services should include outstanding offers for customers and this offer includes twenty one merchants with a variety to choose from.

We also take this opportunity to wish all our customers a Happy Eid.” The Kuwait Shopping Festival campaign is in line with Gulf Bank’s ongoing customer satisfaction strategy, aimed at meeting the needs of all its customers. To find out more about Gulf Bank’s latest promotions, as well as all the merchant discounts available during the festival, customers can visit the Bank’s bilingual website www.e gulfbank.com. Customers can also visit one of Gulf Bank’s 55 branches, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance.

Burgan Bank announces exciting offers KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday that it has launched a new and promotion for its VISA Platinum and Gold Card holders. Through this tie up, customers are entitled to special offers in Missoni Hotel, Kuwait. The new promotion, which is valid from today until April 2012, allows the bank’s Visa Platinum Credit Cardholders to enjoy three free nights for the price of two, and a privileged free upgrade at the hotel for Visa Gold Credit Cardholders.

To make use of this promotion, customers need to use their Burgan Bank’s VISA Platinum or VISA Gold Credit Cardholders upon reservation.

Haneen Al-Rumaihi, Burgan Bank ’s Head of Marketing said: “This new offer further builds on our extensive added value promotions that aim at providing greater convenience for our credit cardholders. Burgan Bank is committed to enhancing customers’ banking experience by ensuring the continuous use of their cards, as

well as taking advantage of great discounts and offers from various outlets.”

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Visa International, in which our customers will enjoy a unique experience,” added Al-Rumaihi. To find out more about Burgan Bank’s latest promotions, clients are urged to visit any of the bank’s conveniently located branches, or call the 24/7 Telebanking service on 1804080 or log on to Burgan Bank’s website at www.burgan.com.

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

business

Finnish govt struggles against recession risk HELSINKI: As Finland grapples with the impact of the eurozone crisis on its own economy, analysts remain divided about its prospects for sustainable growth. The question on everyone’s lips is: Can the small, heavily export-dependent Finnish economy side-step a recession amid the eurozone turbulence?

According to Raimo Sailas, a straight-talking senior finance ministry bureaucrat, the answer is an unequivocal “No.” With Finland’s economy expected to contract in both the current quarter and in the first three months of 2012, he sees Finland facing a recession.

“I recently came across information that isn’t yet all public, indicating that global trade is contracting faster than it did ahead of the ... 2008 recession,” Sailas said in a recent interview with public broadcaster YLE. “The government must act quickly if a recession is on the way,” he added. OP-Pohjola bank analyst Reijo Heiskanen was however less pessimistic, telling AFP that while two successive quarters of economic contraction constitutes a recession,

the Finnish economy was expected to rebound in the second quarter of 2012.

And since other indicators like consumer confidence and employment had not declined, the expected two-quarter slump in economic growth could merely be described as a “technical recession”.

Finnish unemployment dipped slightly to 6.9 percent in September down from 7.0 percent a year earlier, and although official data has shown a steady decline in consumer confidence in the overall economy, there was little change since the beginning of the year in consumers’ confidence in their own finances. Sailas however stressed that prior to the 2008 downturn, employment levels in Finland were higher than they are now, while exports were stronger. “In other words the basics at this point are very poor,” he stressed in the YLE interview. Given disintegrating expectations regarding the wider eurozone, Sailas said Finland needs to improve competitiveness, balance public finances and maintain prudent economic policy.

In 2010 when Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen was finance minister, the government passed a 50-billion-euro ($60-billion) stimulus budget to try to stave off economic decline and stimulate employment.

The government has maintained its forecast of economic growth next year, although it in August lowered its expectations to 1.8 percent growth for 2012 from the 2.8 percent forecast in March. Heiskanen insisted things were not too bad. “Back in 2008 interest rates were high so this affected consumer behavior. Now they’re low and falling slightly so the situation is different,” he said.

“There is risk but people can be calm because their situations are stable and their finances look good,” he added. Helsinki-based welfare services director Jarmo Koekkoe agreed, pointing out there were no signs yet that people were suffering on the ground. “The recession in 2008 hit the public services in Finland badly and they still haven’t recovered. The new situation hasn’t affected anyone yet in that regard,” Koekkoe noted. But while the situation at

home may not be too bad, external factors are even more toxic than prior to the financial meltdown three years ago and analysts agree that the menu of options in Finland is limited.

Back then the financial profligacy could be attributed to the banking sector, while today’s mea culpa’s are being sung by the governments of Greece and Italy. Sovereign debt has spiraled out of control, with Athens teetering on the brink of default and Italy facing record high borrowing rates near those that forced Greece, Ireland and Portugal into seeking bailouts. “Today global and European factors are important,” said Penna Urrila, chief economic policy advisor for the Finnish employers organization EK. “We need to follow the surveys to see how fast international developments are being reflected in Finland,” he told AFP. Regardless of the accelerating global crisis, Heiskanen meanwhile insisted “it’s important for government to stick to the plan to balance state finances rather than introduce panic-driven measures.” — AFP

Abu Dhabi re-adjusts development strategy Prestige property projects reviewed ABU DHABI: When Abu Dhabi announced that it would delay establishing local branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums, it was an important signal of the emirate’s economic strategy as well as its cultural priorities. “Due to the immense magnitude of the work associated with the development of such consequential projects, the company has decided to extend the delivery dates,” the government-owned Tourism Development and Investment Co said last month.

The company gave no new dates for opening the museums, which were originally scheduled to start operating between 2013 and 2014 as part of a $27 billion art and culture development on Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island. But the message was clear: getting the projects right and ensuring public demand for them would be given precedence over rushing them out quickly to gain prestige. Across the oil-rich state, which accounts for more than half of the United Arab Emirates’ economy, government-backed real estate, commercial and tourism projects, many conceived during the boom years of 2003-2008, are under review and in some cases being delayed or put on hold.

This is happening under economic pressure; large parts of the real estate market are weak, and the shaky state of the global economy threatens demand for Abu Dhabi’s property and tourism sectors. Average residential property prices in the emirate sank 7 percent in the third quarter of this year from the previous quarter, and are down 49 percent from their peak in 2008, according to consultants Jones Lang LaSalle.

But Abu Dhabi’s retrenchment is different from the panicky restructuring which was forced on neighboring emirate Dubai by a property crash and recession in 2009. Abu Dhabi will not need a bailout and has plenty of money to continue promoting projects; it is merely shifting its priorities away from some high-end developments for which demand has weakened and towards housing and welfare projects for the mass of its citizens.

Abu Dhabi originally wanted to do too much, too soon and has now realized that strategy is

not feasible, said Abdelkhaleq Abdullah, professor of political science at Emirates University. “A review of what is going on is very positive-it is timely and it is a matter of being more prudent.

Slow is good, slow is beautiful.”

Projects Gauging the extent of Abu Dhabi’s retrenchment is difficult because the government is secretive about some aspects of economic policy and does not regularly release detailed data on its spending. But on the level of individual companies, a pattern is emerging. Abu Dhabi’s government-owned investment fund, Mubadala, is reviewing its multi-billion dollar Mina Zayed Watefront project, whose centerpiece was to be the MGM Grand Abu Dhabi, comprising hotels and an entertainment complex. Mubadala first announced the project in 2007, and in 2008 formed a joint venture with MGM Mirage Hospitality to develop it.

“The project is still being reviewed and any material developments will be announced in due course,” Mubadala said in an email to Reuters. Late last year, Mubadala put on hold planned construction of a stadium in Abu Dhabi with capacity for some 50,000 people, citing “proprietary decisions of the government”.

Indebted developer Aldar Properties announced in late October that it was cutting nearly a quarter of its staff and scaling back some of its operations. The builder of the Yas Marina Formula One circuit received a $5.2 billion rescue package from the Abu Dhabi government earlier this year. A report from Citibank, citing data from the Middle East Economic Digest, estimated Abu Dhabi had put on hold some $75 billion worth of projects since April 2010, of which 91 percent are in the real estate and construction sectors.

Government officials insist the decisions made

by Mubadala, Tourism Development and Investment Co and other companies are independent ones made on a case-by-case basis by the firms.

“These are positive decisions and are being made on their own merits. It is not a crisis-the world has changed and it is ludicrous to carry on at the breakneck speed of three years ago,” said one official familiar with the matter, declining to

ABU DHABI: Sun rises behind a minaret on Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway. When Abu Dhabi announced that it would delay establishing local branches of the Louvre and Guggenheim museums, it was an important signal of the emirate’s economic strategy as well as its cultural priorities. — AP

be named because he was not authorised to speak publicly on development strategy.

Another, senior Abu Dhabi government official said, “A review doesn’t mean slowing or cancelling projects. It is a pragmatic approach in a changing world.

“We have seen changes that impact all of us and there are international partners for many of these projects. You have to be patient.” At the same time, some parts of Abu Dhabi’s development strategy are proceeding without change or have been accelerated. One is the construction of middle income housing for its citizens, part of a Gulf-wide trend to improve social welfare after political unrest elsewhere in the Arab world; initiatives launched by the government this year include building 7,500 new homes for nationals in the emirate and 500 new villas for Emirati families on Yas Island.

“The government has continued in its projects, for example the infrastructure projects, the education projects, the health care, all of those are ongoing,” Fahad Al-Raqbani, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, an economic policy advisory council, told Reuters.

“In fact, there is an increase in the budget for specific sectors, namely for the housing, health care and education.” Raqbani said Abu Dhabi’s ambitious plan to diversify its economy, which envisages lifting the non-oil share of gross domestic product to 64 percent in 2030 from roughly 50 percent now by developing sectors such as tourism, financial services and even aerospace, remained on track. “The best way to protect your economy is by having a diversified economy, not solely focused on a single sector,” he said.

Positive Abu Dhabi’s new priorities may hurt its real estate and construction sectors in the immediate term. Citibank forecasts a nominal decline of 5 percent in construction this year and flat activity in real estate. In the longer term, however, fewer big government-backed projects could rekindle private sector demand by making the property market more price-competitive. “While the steps being made by Abu Dhabi government to consolidate projects and government entities and re-prioritise investment are having a short-term negative impact on the market, these moves are highly positive for the medium term market outlook,” said David Dudley, head of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Abu Dhabi office.

“The market is taking a short-term hit for longer-term benefit.” Barring an extended plunge in global oil prices, which is not happening despite the weakness of the world economy, Abu Dhabi’s overall growth looks solid. Real GDP growth is estimated at about 4.5 percent this year and in the same area next year, Mohamed Omar Abdulla, Undersecretary at the emirate’s Department of Economic Development, told Reuters last month.

Dubai’s retrenchment has been seen by markets as underlining its financial weakness; companies in the emirate are still restructuring tens of billions of dollars of debt. But because of Abu Dhabi’s massive financial resources, its own change of strategy may be received positively and ultimately encourage international investors to cut the premium which they demand for buying Abu Dhabi debt, which is partly the result of the secrecy surrounding its accounts. Abu Dhabi, which has contributed at least $10 billion to bailing out Dubai, may conceivably be required to provide more money in coming years.— Reuters

Hopes for breakout by Qatar stocks DUBAI: Qatar’s stock market could break above its recent trading range as soon as next week if global markets, still vulnerable to the euro zone debt crisis, do not fall sharply, analysts say. The Qatar market, reopening yesterday after long Eid holidays, climbed 0.9 percent to 8,705 points. In the week before the holidays, it had risen above its September peak of 8,520 points, viewed as an important barrier by many investors. Traders said strong economic growth in Qatar, high oil prices and robust performances by the country’s banks were fuelling interest in the market, which could increase if the euro zone began to make headway in resolving its crisis.

“The 8,520 level had been holding the index down for the past six months but now the 8,850 level is in sight, and there is potential to even go beyond that target,” said Sleiman Aboulhosn, assistant fund manager at Al Masah Capital. The 8,850 point area is where the index peaked in April this year. “We expect further upside in Qatar over the next one to two weeks, in the absence of an extraordinary event,” Aboulhosn added.

Industries Qatar, Masraf Al-Rayan, Nakilat and Qatar National Bank have been bought in recent

trading days. These companies posted strong quarterly earnings over the last few weeks. Qatar National Bank surged 1.6 percent yesterday to finish at 148 riyals, its highest closing price this year.

Late last month it broke above a symmetrical triangle formed by its highs and lows since May-a bullish technical signal which targets the 160 riyal area.

“Outperformers like the banking sector are the main reason why Qatar is more resilient to international markets’ downside,” said Marwan Shurrab, vice-president and chief trader at Gulfmena Investments. “Banking stocks are correlated to government activities and spending locally.”

Samer Al-Jaouni, general manager of Middle East Financial Brokerage, said: “You could do well buying Qatar even though prices are higher than other markets...It’s justified because we’re expecting growth and higher dividends.”

Fragile Any rally in Qatar could be cut short, however, by a worsening of the euro zone crisis and signs that global economic growth is deteriorating further. Gulf markets are “still strong in terms of earn-

ings and growth expectations towards the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, which is something that will play in our favor going forward after Q3 (profit) numbers,” Shurrab said.

But he added, “The pure driver is sentiment in overseas and international markets. It’s not local sentiment, it’s not local consumption and it’s not numbers coming out that are moving the market.

People are looking at global growth, and will it be affected going forward or not.” United Arab Emirates markets were the only other Gulf bourses to resume trading yesterday; others will reopen next week. The Dubai index rose 0.4 percent but trading volumes generally stayed low, showing sentiment remains fragile.

One positive sign yesterday was the performance of Abu Dhabi developer Aldar Properties, which rose 1.9 percent in active trade after it reported slightly better-than-expected thirdquarter profits before the holidays. The company posted a profit of 144 million dirhams for the quarter compared with a net loss of 731.2 million dirhams a year earlier; analysts had on average predicted a profit of 139.8 million dirhams in the latest quarter. —Reuters

NEW YORK: Pedestrians pass the Macy’s department store location Nov 8, 2011. — AP

Gulf banks may store trouble with policies DUBAI: In April this year, with the economy growing at an annual clip of at least 15 percent, Qatar’s central bank cut key interest rates by at least half a percentage point. In August, as domestic credit expanded at a nearly 20 percent rate, it cut them again. Across the six oil-rich economies of the Gulf, central banks are running loose monetary policies that contrast sharply with their strong economic growth.

Saudi Arabia is holding its key interest rate at 2 percent, after cutting it to that level during a near-recession in 2009, even though gross domestic product growth has rebounded to a projected 6.2 percent this year, according to a Reuters poll of analysts. The United Arab Emirates’ repo rate is at 1 percent-lower than the troubled euro zone’s benchmark ratealthough growth this year is expected to be 3.8 percent. Meanwhile, Gulf countries have loosened fiscal policy this year, ramping up social spending to head off social unrest after regime changes elsewhere in the Arab world.

Saudi Arabia has announced $130 billion of extra spending, which is expected to be spread over several years; while Oman is boosting 2011 budget spending by over 10 percent from its original plan, and intends to keep spending at a similarly high level next year. Over the long term, it is a potentially explosive policy mix and some economists are starting to think Gulf central banks risk storing up trouble for the future, in the form of inflation or asset bubbles.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said last month that the region’s accommodative monetary policy was still appropriate, but warned that “policymakers should stand ready to adjust fiscal and monetary policies should inflationary pressures or credit bubbles emerge.” “Over the longer horizon, fiscal and monetary policy should be redesigned to enhance the ability to smooth consumption and absorb shocks, safeguard long-term sustainability, and bolster financial stability,” the IMF said in its twice-yearly Middle East and North Africa outlook.

Currency pegs The Gulf countries have solid reasons for loose monetary policy. All of them peg their currencies to the US dollar, except Kuwait which bases the value of the dinar on a dollardominated basket of currencies. With the United States keeping its interest rates ultralow, the Gulf will risk destabilizing inflows of speculative “hot money” if it lets too big a gap develop with its own rates. That seemed to be a motive behind Qatar’s rate cuts this year; the August cut came one day after the U.S. Federal Reserve publicly pledged to keep its rates near zero for at least two more years. The Qatari central bank wanted to curb inflows of speculative capital, local media quoted the governor as saying. But there is a deeper reason for loose policies around the region: unlike economic growth, stock and real estate markets have not recovered from the slump of 2008/2009.

Dubai’s stock market index is near its lowest level since 2004; firms across the Gulf are still struggling to restructure debts after running into trouble in 2009, and analysts say Dubai residential property prices have not finished falling. Weak global markets are also hurting Gulf asset prices. —Reuters “If you look at the market performance in the UAE and across the region, whether due to company earnings, political or global risks, we still have depreciation in asset prices. I don’t see in the short- or mid-term any risk to the loose policies,” said Mahdi Mattar, chief economist at CAPM Investment in Dubai. Weak asset prices underline another problem for the central banks. Although all the countries aim to diversify their economies, boost the role of the private sector and reduce their reliance on oil and gas, much or most of this year’s growth has been

based on high oil prices and government spending.

Although growth in bank lending to the private sector hit a 28-month high of 9.2 percent in Saudi Arabia in August, it is only just recovering from levels below 5 percent which prevailed last year. Bank lending growth in the UAE accelerated to at least an 18-month high of 3.5 percent in September, but that is still below the projected rate of GDP growth.

“One reason that governments have kept interest rates so low currently is because they want to stimulate more bank lending,” said Paul Gamble, head of research at Jadwa Investment in Riyadh. “As the banks are not really lending, the effect of very low interest rates is not being transmitted into the economy.” The euro zone crisis may be worsening the problem. About 50 percent of cross-border syndicated lending in the Middle East and North Africa has come from European institutions in recent years, said V Shankar, Standard Chartered’s chief executive for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and he Americas. Many European banks are now shrinking their new business. “What it means for a lot of corporates, who are in good shape, is that they will need to curtail their ambitions,” he said. That may be prompting central banks to keep interest rates extremely low in an effort to stimulate the private sector, even though overall growth in the economy is strong.

Inflation still benign So far, with the exception of Oman, where consumer price inflation climbed to a 29month high of 5.3 percent year-on-year in August, there is little sign of inflationary pressures building in the Gulf. The latest Reuters analyst poll, in September, predicted Saudi Arabian inflation of 5.1 percent this year and 5.0 percent next year-still well below the double-digit rates seen during the oil boom of 2008. Inflation in the UAE is projected at 2.0 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively.

But because of the currency pegs to the greenback, these calculations could change quickly if the U.S. currency enters an extended depreciation globally as a result of a prolonged U.S. low-rate policy.

“I don’t think (inflation) pressures will mount in 2012, but central banks may need to be more closely monitoring their inflationary dynamics,” said Andrew Gilmour, senior economist at Samba Financial Group in London. “The country to look at in that context would be Qatar, which is pushing ahead with an ambitious infrastructure and development program, and there is a potential for price pressures by 2013 if US rates are still low. In this context Qatar might be looking to tighten.”

Qatar’s inflation has been trending up this year, to 2.2 percent in September from 1.6 percent in January, and the Reuters poll forecast full-year rates of 2.7 percent in 2011 and 3.5 percent in 2012. Similarly, while asset bubbles in the Gulf have not begun reinflating, they could do so if governments’ expansive fiscal policies convince Gulf investors that markets have bottomed out and cause funds to flow back out of bank deposits. Gabriel Sterne, a senior economist at Exotix in London, said one candidate for an asset bubble could be Saudi Arabia’s real estate market, because government spending was focusing on property development. “In the GCC countries, where excess liquidity in the banking system is ample...a change in the willingness to lend could spark a rapid pickup in credit growth,” the IMF said. If asset markets and inflation start to surge in the Gulf and central banks are unable to hike rates because of a low US rate policy, they are likely to resort to draining excess funds from the banking system-a strategy followed with limited success this year by fast-growing economies in Asia. “If they don’t start to control liquidity, it might create a vicious cycle. — Reuters

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

BUSINESS

China’s inflation falls on lower food cost rise Room for pro-growth policy fine-tuning: Analysts

MUMBAI: Indian laborers sit on a hand cart as they wait for work yesterday. — AP

Indian auto sales crash by 24 percent MUMBAI: New car sales in India fell 24 percent in October-its sharpest fall in more than a decade-as high interest rates and rising fuel prices hurt demand, an industry body said yesterday. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said sales fell to 138,521 vehicles last month, down from 181,704 vehicles a year earlier, the biggest decline since a collapse of 39.8 percent in December 2000. Car sales have been slowing in India for four straight months as high borrowing costs hit one of the world’s fastestgrowing auto sectors, which has attracted interest from major global players.

The weak data adds to gloom around the global economy and will hit hopes that emerging markets such as India can power growth as Europe and the United States struggle. “Sharp interest rate and fuel price hikes have weakened demand,” said Sugato Sen, senior director of SIAM, urging that “negative sentiments” affecting the sector will have to be tackled. Business leaders have repeatedly urged India’s central Reserve Bank of India to halt its cycle of 13 interest rate hikes since March 2010 — the most aggressive tightening pace of any central bank globally-saying it has hurt investment and growth.

The country posted its slowest gross domestic product (GDP) growth in six quarters, up 7.7 percent year-on-year, for the April to June quarter. Credit growth from banks-at

17 to 18 percent-is still low and corporates are shy to make big ticket investments.

Consumers have been reluctant to buy cars due to rising fuel costs, with state-run oil firms hiking prices four times this year to offset losses on sales due to a drop in the rupee against the dollar and high crude oil prices.

Besides this, auto loans have become costlier due to interest rate hikes and prices of cars have risen on the back of steeper commodity prices. Production has also been hit by a long-running labour dispute at Maruti Suzuki, India’s biggest carmaker.

Auto sales are viewed as a key indicator of short-term economic trends. “The continuing decline in car sales reflects pressure on consumer confidence,” said Siddhartha Sanyal, chief India economist with Barclays Capital.

India’s central bank last month gave a strong signal that it may not hike rates again for the rest of the calendar year, but auto analysts say a revival for the sector could take time.

Deepak Jain, auto analyst with Mumbai-based brokerage Sharekhan, expects demand to pick up early in 2012, by which time interest rates are expected to have peaked out. India’s inflation, at 9.72 percent, is the highest among major global economies. SIAM has already sharply cut its forecast for Indian car sales growth in the fiscal year to March 2012 to between two and four percent, down from an earlier projection of 10 to 12 percent. — AFP

BANGKOK: Employees using an improvised float carry a car to a safer place as part of their shop’s service at Bangkok Yai district yesterday. — AP

Two more industrial parks threatened by Thai floods BANGKOK: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pledged more than $4 billion yesterday to help Thailand recover from the worst floods in half a century, as workers slowed the flow of water threatening the commercial heart of the capital, Bangkok. Evacuation orders have spread to a third of Bangkok’s districts, mostly in the north of the densely populated city of 12 million people, since late October, as floodwater strewn with trash slowly seeps in from northern and northeastern provinces.

Yingluck, a political novice elected this year, said about 120 billion baht($3.9 billion) had been set aside for a flood recovery effort, a figure that rises to 130 billion baht ($4.2 billion) when local government funds are added. On the streets of Bangkok, few see an end to the slow-moving disaster that began after tropical storm Nock-ten battered Southeast Asia in late July. Since then, at least 529 people have been killed, many electrocuted or drowned, in floods that have affected 63 of Thailand’s 77 provinces.

Some hard-hit regions have started to recover since the end of the August-to-October monsoon season, with only 24 provinces now classified as flooded. But for low-lying Bangkok, the disaster is far from over, as the authorities struggle to keep inner-city neighborhoods and business districts dry. “I’m concerned about more water reaching Bangkok and I just want to know when it will recede. It’s rising and it should recede but when will that be?” said Bangkok resident, Nee Jiranantawat, 53.

Others said they feared they may run low on food and other supplies, especially in homes flooded in waist-high water. Nikom Teo-au, a 56year-old garage owner, said he was facing difficulty delivering food to his family at his home on a street under up to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) of water in Bangkok’s Din Daeng neighbourhood, just 7 km (4.3 miles) from the main Silom business district where buildings are ringed with sand bags.

Yingluck, a 46-year-old former businesswoman and sister of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said the money would ease the suffering of victims and repair damaged infrastructure. She spoke at a special session of parliament called to debate the flooding and her management of the crisis a day after announcing she had pulled out of a weekend summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in Hawaii to concentrate on relief work.

Economic toll The toll on Thailand’s economy and hundreds of global manufacturers who rely on its low-cost factories keeps rising. The central bank has slashed its economic growth forecast for

this year to 2.6 percent from 4.1 percent, citing the repercussions of floods which forced seven big industrial estates to close in central provinces in October. The economic impact will be even worse if Bangkok, which accounts for 41 percent of gross domestic product, is overrun. Workers and soldiers are trying to hold the line at the city’s Bang Sue canal, pushing water into the Chao Phraya river and stopping it from overflowing to the south. Reuters reporters in the area said they had mostly achieved this so far.

Even so, with each week, the water has slowly drawn closer to the business district and the Ratchaprasong intersection, whose swanky shopping malls and five-star hotels were closed for weeks by political protests in April-May last year. The major north-south Ratchadaphisek and Viphavadi-Rangsit roads were flooded in the vicinity of the Bang Sue canal. A Reuters reporter said the area was under 60 cm (2 ft) of dark, foul-smelling water in places, with trash on the surface.

Chatuchak market, whose 11,000 stalls are a draw for tourists and residents alike, opened last weekend but was now submerged, with vendors’ carts and tables washed away and stray dogs taking refuge on the rooftops, the reporter said. Barefoot soldiers were ushering people from the elevated Skytrain-still working across the capital, like the MRT underground railwayonto buses crammed with passengers.

In the east of the capital, floodwater still threatened two big industrial estates, Bang Chan with 93 factories including Nestle SA and Lat Krabang with 254 including Unilever Pcl and Honda Motor Co. “The water level situation in Beung Kratiem on the north side of Bang Chan Industrial Estate is still a concern. Even with the water pumps there, water keeps rising,” said Thanes Weerasiri, secretary-general of the Engineering Institute of Thailand. “The water level has risen by 3 cm (1.2 inches) from yesterday,” he told Reuters, adding that efforts to divert the water into a major canal nearby had been stepped up. Channel 3 television said water had got into one factory compound.

However, the situation inside the Lat Krabang Industrial Estate was still normal. The estates are about 10 km (6 miles) north of Bangkok’s main Suvarnabhumi airport, which is functioning normally inside a reinforced dike at least 3 meters (10 ft) high. The Chao Phraya river snaking through Bangkok has another phase of high tides from today to Monday and riverside communities are braced for floods, especially on the relatively dry east bank, although a navy official said the river should not reach the record high levels seen at the end of October.—Reuters

BEIJING: Chinese industrial output in October grew at its weakest annual pace in a year and inflation fell sharply, raising expectations Beijing will do more to support economic growth by “fine tuning” policy. A flurry of data yesterday showed that China’s factories are bearing the brunt of a modest economic slowdown even as consumer spending and investment in assets such as roads and other infrastructure remain resilient. China’s annual inflation rate fell to 5.5 percent in October from September’s 6.1 percent-the biggest drop in the annual rate from one month to the next since February 2009 — and a further pullback from July’s three-year peak of 6.5 percent.

Premier Wen Jiabao said prices had fallen further since October, adding to the view that the State Council will start to favor more pro-growth policies, although inflation is still too high to expect a quick cut in interest rates from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). “All of this suggests that the balance of risk for the PBOC and State Council is likely shifting to growth and away from inflation,” Tim Condon, head of Asian economic research at ING in Singapore, said.

“I don’t have any (easing) in my forecast horizon. A required reserve ratio cut is a possibility, but I expect that they would continue with these fine-tuning measures,” he added. China’s leaders have begun talking in recent weeks about “fine tuning” macroeconomic policy to maintain economic growth, which slowed in the third quarter to 9.1 percent, its weakest in more than two years.

The inflation figures soothed investors concerns about a sharp slowdown in China, supporting oil and copper prices and underpinning Chinese shares, although market direction was being largely set by events in Europe. The 5.5 percent rise in the consumer price index in the year to September was bang in line with expectations from a Reuters poll.

Producer price inflation also showed a marked slowdown to 5.0 percent in October, a one-year low, from 6.5 percent in September.

The median of a Reuters poll had forecast an October reading of 5.7 percent. Bank of America/Merrill Lynch economist, Ting Lu, said the sets of figures suggested his forecast that consumer inflation would drop to 4.6 percent in December may now be too high. Indeed, Wen suggested prices had continued to fall. “Since October, overall domestic prices have been falling noticeably,” Wen was quoted as saying by a government website. “Prices of pork and eggs have fallen, but prices of fruit, dairy products, beef and mutton remain at high levels,” he said.

Industrial output rose in October by 13.2 percent from a year earlier, slightly below expectations for a 13.4 percent rise and the weakest pace since October 2010. Government officials have expressed concern about weakening external demand for goods from China’s factories, even though the sector is on track to expand by an annual 11 percent this year-in line with official targets. Exports were a net drag on China’s economic growth in the first nine months of this year as the sector felt the chill of a weak global market. October trade figures are due for release today.

Retail sales rose 17.2 percent, also slightly below expectations for a 17.4 percent rise, but maintaining a steady pace of growth. Fixedasset investment in January through October increased 24.9 percent from the same year-earlier period, topping expectations. Wen and other policymakers have made it clear that stabilizing prices and fighting inflation are the top priority, so analysts rule out an early rate cut or reduction in bank reserve ratios.

Even after the big fall in October, inflation remains well above the government’s 2011 target of 4 percent. But in a nod to the slowdown in growth, the government has announced selective measures to support the economy. Most evidence of fine-tuning so far has been seen through tweaks to tax policy aimed at small and medium-sized businesses and some signs that bank lending to that sector of the economywhich supports 75 percent of China’s jobs-could be relaxed. The next move by the government could be to tolerate more lending. Credit extended so far leaves lots of room for what would effectively be an acceleration of lending in the fourth quarter compared with the rest of the year.

Inflation, property controls The premier said Beijing would not loosen policies to rein in the red-hot property market, a report on the official Xinhua news agency said.

In a sign the measures may be working, property sales fell in October from a year earlier for the first time in six months. Wen said the construction of government-subsidized housing projects would help relieve some supply strains and ease housing inflation. Evidence that food inflation is easing also supports the case for further finetuning measures from the government.

Food prices, a major source of inflationary

pressure in China, rose 11.9 percent in October from a year earlier, the smallest annual increase since May. But they fell 0.2 percent from September, the first decline since May. “This indicates inflation pressure is indeed slowing,” said Zhang Zhiwei, an economist at Nomura in Hong Kong, who said consumer inflation may drop below 5 percent in November. “Lower inflationary pressure leaves room for further policy fine tuning. The PBOC has already marginally loosened liquidity by open market operations in October.

“We expect this type of fine-tuning to continue, but RRR and interest rates will be kept unchanged for the rest of 2011.” While most analysts rule out an immediate cut in interest rates, there is more debate on when the central bank might reduce bank reserve ratios. At 21.5 percent, the RRR is at a record level for big banks.

Analysts at ANZ believe the economy is deteriorating so quickly that the PBOC could imminently start to ease policy by reversing some of the nine hikes to RRR made in the tightening cycle that began in October 2010.

Annual economic growth rates have fallen for three straight quarters. Analysts forecast growth would slow to less than 9 percent next year for the first time in a decade. The country’s big manufacturers ran at their slowest pace in October since early 2009, the latest private-sector survey of purchasing managers showed, though there were signs of smaller firms bouncing back. The overall trend though is an unmistakable deterioration in the industrial sector, You Hongye, an analyst at Essence Securities in Beijing, said. “If such a trend continues in coming months, it is very likely to see GDP growth below 9 percent in the first quarter of 2012. But it is not the right time for the government to shift policy stance,” You said. — Reuters

HUBEI: A Chinese woman inspects a bottle of chili sauce at a supermarket in Yichang yesterday. — AFP

Olympus losses may have exceeded $1bn TOKYO: Losses on securities investments at the core of a scandal rocking Japan’s Olympus Corp may have once exceeded $1 billion, the Nikkei newspaper said yesterday, as the 92-year-old firm’s share price plunged due to doubts about its future. Olympus admitted on Tuesday it used M&A deals to hide losses dating back two decades, a revelation that followed a public campaign by ex-CEO Michael Woodford to get the maker of endoscopes and cameras to explain a series of mysterious deals, including one involving a record advisory fee.

The scandal has raised questions about Japan’s corporate governance and revived memories of the dark days after Japan’s bubble of soaring share and land prices burst in 1990, leaving many top firms with losses on fancy financial deals and looking for ways to hide them. “Trust in Japanese firms may be questioned as attempts by Olympus to hide losses stretch back to the bubble era, which brings up the question of whether other companies were involved in similar practices as well,” Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of the No.2 opposition party, the New Komeito, told Reuters in an interview.

The Nikkei said Japan’s financial watchdogs and prosecutors should stay on top of the case and cooperate with overseas authorities who are also investigating. Olympus declined to comment on the Nikkei report, which quoted sources close to the matter. Company President Shuichi Takayama on Tuesday blamed Tsuyoshi Kikukawa, who quit as president and chairman on Oct. 26, Vice-President Hisashi Mori and internal auditor Hideo Yamada for the cover-up that used funds related to M&A deals, saying he would consider criminal complaints against them.

But he declined to detail how the losses had occurred or the amounts involved before an external panel completes an investigation. Former Olympus President Toshiro Shimoyama, who served from 1984 to 1993, told the Nikkei in an interview he had no memory of any loss-hiding scheme and was not closely involved in finance at the time.

Olympus’ share price plunged 20.4 percent to 584 yen yesterday, falling by its daily trading limit of 150 yen. It was also limit down on Tuesday when Olympus admitted to the cover up. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management said it had sold all Olympus shares from its eight mutual funds on Tuesday because the outlook for the firm’s profits was uncertain. Olympus shares have lost more than threequarters of their value, of $6 billion , since Oct. 14, the day the company fired Woodford. Olympus said Woodford, a 30-year veteran at the firm, failed to understand its management style and Japanese culture. Woodford says he was sacked for questioning the $687 million paid as an advisory fee on its $2.2 billion acquisition of British medical equipment maker Gyrus in 2008, the biggest in M&A history, as well as its buyout of three tiny domestic firms. The advisory fee represented some 31 percent of the acquisition price, significantly higher than the industry practice of around 1 percent and a record. —Reuters

Forget China, it’s jobs and pay: Taiwan TAIPEI: An election that will determine whether China and Taiwan are headed for warmer relations or a period of potentially explosive tension may be decided by a bloc of voters who could not care less about the state of affairs across the Taiwan Strait. Voters in their 20s are a critical constituency in Taiwan’s presidential elections in January, and the 3.5 million of them have a message for the candidates seeking their support: give us more about jobs and wages and less about ties with Beijing.

Political debate in Taiwan has traditionally been dominated by the question of Taiwan’s identity and relations with rival China, which sees the self-ruled island a renegade province that should be reunited with the mainland by force if necessary. But the younger generation is less interested in issues of identity than their parents, and become irritated when politicians focus on that instead of more immediate problems: low wages, a weak job market and expensive housing.

“I think national identity is important, but the economy is more important. The issue of national identity will be resolved over time. There are more pressing day-to-day problems,” said Chao Po Sun, 27, a life insurance salesman. The power of Chao and others in Taiwan’s youngest voting bloc is significant. They make up a fifth of voters, according to the National Statistics Bureau. They also like to vote. Four out of five went to the polls in past elections.

So this poll may come down to a generation of voters who are disaffected, relatively well educated, and worried about their futures and the economy. And unlike older voters, they are not as settled in their views. With opinion polls showing only a few percentage points separating the two candidates, incumbent Nationalist Party President Ma Ying-jeou and opposition Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Tsai Ingwen will need to court the youth vote.

“Other voting groups may have already formed their opinions, but young people are new voters who can be persuaded. So getting their support is, of course, very important,” said Sidney Lin, Deputy Director of the DPP’s Youth Group. One DPP strategy, according to Lin, is to hit the streets, organizing youth-oriented events and spread the message. Both candidates have Facebook “fan pages” to attract youth online.

Like young voters in South Korea, who recently swung Seoul’s mayoral election by turning to an independent candidate en masse,

Taiwan’s youth voters are wired and can communicate political views, and politicians’ gaffes, rapidly through the Internet. “Taiwan and South Korea are two places where young people are dissatisfied. The current governments aren’t particularly paying attention to [them]. And they are similar in using social media,” said Bruce Jacobs, a professor Asian Studies at Monash University.

Self-absorbed Chang Fang Lo, a 27-year-old accountant at chip maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, who supports neither party, illustrates the challenge for political leaders. “I think the KMT and DPP are both a little selfabsorbed,” said Chang. “Too many people are unemployed. You can’t make any money.

Housing prices go up but wages don’t.”

At close to seven percent, unemployment among 25 to 29 year olds is well ahead of the overall jobless rate of just over four percent in September. And the average starting salary for college graduates is around T$24,000 ($798) a month, only just above the legal minimum wage of T$17,880. Average house prices, meanwhile, reached 11 times average income last year.

“For a long time, young people in Taiwan felt school was really hard, but there was a reward at the end of it. For today’s youth, it’s not clear that there’s anything waiting for them at the end,” said Shelly Rigger, Professor of East Asian Politics at Davidson College in the United States. Thus far, neither party has been particularly effective at courting the youth vote.

The DPP was able to seize the early imitative in campaigning by attacking Ma’s economic record and proposing policies that focused on job creation, building the domestic economy and a fair distribution of resources. Ma, in response, pledged to put the economy first if reelected, promising higher incomes and measures to keep property prices affordable. He has sought out industry leaders for advice on economic policy during the current downturn. A recent opinion poll by the Liberty Times, a proDPP paper, shows that 33.14 pct of voters age 20-29 support Tsai and 26.74 pct Ma. That may be because the debate once again reverted to the old script, with China relations in the starring role. “We still see the traditional two-camp campaigns. The focus has turned to cross-strait relations again,” said Eric Yu, of the Election Study Center at National Chengchi University.—Reuters

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

business

Freeport Indonesia union may extend strike to third month JAKARTA: Union workers at Freeport Indonesia’s Grasberg copper mine said yesterday they could extend their strike by another month, which would make it the longest mining stoppage in the country’s history. Workers had been due to end a two-month strike over pay on Nov 15, but union officials said the dispute that has slashed production and disrupted shipments from the world’s second-biggest copper mine could now last through Dec 15.

The strike at the mine located in the remote Papua region, forced Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc to declare force majeure on concentrate shipments in late October and raised doubts it can meet fourth-quarter output and sales targets. It was not clear if the union’s latest move represented a hardening of its position, or was simply part of a process that requires it to give notice to the local government so that it can go on strike legally.

“This is a safety net. If we fail to find a solution, we can extend the strike and be protected by the law. We have already informed all parties this on Nov 2,” union official Virgo Solossa told Reuters.

“The strike will be automatically extended, that is the aim.” A day earlier, the union said it would consider almost halving its pay demands if the firm agreed to an extra pay hike when workers are promoted, which appeared to be a step towards resolving one of Indonesia’s worst industrial rows.

“The negotiations are still ongoing and we still have hopes that a fair agreement could be reached,” said Freeport Indonesia spokesman Ramdani Sirait said. A pay deal would end the strike by workers as well as their roadblocks to the mine’s supply routes, speeding up repairs of damaged pipes that transport concentrates to the firm’s port in the restive Papua region.

The disruptions forced the firm to declare force majeure on shipments on Oct 26, supporting copper prices that had been under pressure by concerns over the world economy. Yesterday, threemonth copper on the London Metal Exchange rose as much as 2 percent-before reversing gains.

Barclays Capital in a report forecast copper mine supply to fall 2 percent this year-the first production drop since 2002 — on a slew of disruptions,

including the Freeport strikes at Grasberg and Cerro Verde in Peru.

“The impact of this supply tightness has certainly been visible in TC/RCs, where spot terms have more than halved since Q2 this year and are unlikely to reverse this trend on the basis of our latest mine forecast,” the report said. Traders said an extension of the strike would drive down treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) that smelters receive for converting copper concentrate imports into refined metal because affected smelters-such as the joint venture in Indonesia and Freeport’s smelter in Spain-would buy spot concentrates in the global market. “We hear that smelters are holding back buying, as they usually do during TC/RCs mating season,” said a Qingdao-based trader, who declined to be named. “The smelters are smart- they have probably stocked up on concentrates before they go to the negotiation table.”

Repairs underway Freeport has begun repairing the pipelines, which include one carrying concentrate from the

mine to a dewatering plant near the port and another that transports diesel-but has been unable to gain full access to affected areas due to roadblocks, said the firm. “The process to fix pipes is going to take more time. We need a security guarantee at several points to fix the pipes,” spokesman Sirait said. The firm had said it will take a month to fix the main sabotage-hit pipeline.

As a result of low production and processing rates, the firm has suggested it might not achieve fourth-quarter production and sales targets and the government had said the mine was producing copper, gold and silver ore at just 5 percent of capacity.

The company has also been hit by attacks on equipment and staff.

“The financial stakes for Freeport McMoRan are enormous due to the blockade and the strategic will of the strikers,” said Dick Blin, spokesman for the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine Workers’ Union (ICEM). “It’s vital that both sides remain at the bargaining table and continue to work toward an agreement to prevent further bloodshed.” — Reuters

HSBC may leave UK as markets hit profits Q3 underlying pretax profit drops 36% LONDON: HSBC said costly new capital rules might force it to leave Britain, a threat it has made before, but which this time came with a bigger-than-expected fall in profit and a warning of “very challenging” conditions ahead. Extra British regulations could cost $2.5 billion a year, which the bank said on yesterday may be “too high” to stay, though it would delay its decision to move its headquarters back to Hong Kong or elsewhere until at least next year.

HSBC’s corporate clients provided a rare bright spot, but its investment bank revenues slumped in credit and in rates, while a US moratorium on mortgage foreclosures forced US delinquencies up for the first time in two year and drove losses on bad debts sharply higher.

Shares in Europe’s biggest bank fell more than 5 percent, after HSBC said its underlying pretax profit in the three months to the end of September fell 36 percent from a year ago to $3 billion.

“Asian growth is insufficient to fill the hole left by run-off of the Household disaster in the US, and (investment bank) GBM profitability has fallen sharply,” said Ian Gordon, analyst at Evolution Securities. “The challenge of improving the group’s cost efficiency is tortuous,” he added. HSBC Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver aims to cut annual costs by $3.5 billion and sharpen the bank’s focus on Asia, quitting countries where the bank lacks scale in an attempt to revive profitability.

HSBC said loan impairment charges in the third quarter were $700 million higher than a year ago, mainly due to an increase in provisions for its mortgage portfolio in North America. The increase was largely linked to the moratorium on foreclosures in the United States. “We’re seeing the effects of moral hazard, where even seriously delinquent customers simply cannot be foreclosed on by banks operating in the United States,” Finance Director Iain Mackay told journalists on a conference call.

HSBC became one of the biggest providers of so-called sub-prime mortgages for customers with a weaker credit history in the United States after its troubled purchase of Household Finance. It has closed the business and is running down its $50 billion loan book. US regulators suspended foreclosures, although banks in some states have restarted foreclosure actions since.

Packing suitcases HSBC fired a warning shot at British politicians who are considering imposing tougher regulations, saying the cost might prompt it to move its headquarters out of the country where it has been based for the last 20 years. Gulliver said requiring banks to hold substantial debt that can absorb losses if it hits trouble could force HSBC to issue $55 billion of senior debt, at an annual cost of $2.1 billion. He said depositrich HSBC does not need this extra buffer.

It pays another $400 million on its overseas assets under a UK bank levy. “You get to a $2.5 billion cost for being UK headquartered. This is a non-trivial decision, you don’t move your head office on a regular basis,” Gulliver said. Mackay said of the $2.5 billion cost: “We would probably view that as too high.”

Gulliver said the decision would not take place at this month’s board meeting, and would likely be taken in the next year to 18 months. It would only consider moving the holding company abroad, and the retail bank would “always” be based in the UK. HSBC has so far said it will sell or retreat from 14 countries. They include the sale of its US credit card business and branches in New York state, retail businesses in Russia, Poland and Chile, and its Canadian brokerage business. It is exiting Poland and Georgia.

It has also put its $1 billion general insurance business on the block. But its cost efficiency ratio so far this year worsened, to 54.6 percent from 54 percent last year, while it had reduced headcount by 5,000 since the first quarter. “The outlook for the global economy is very challenging as problems in developed markets begin to affect growth rates around the world,” HSBC said.

By 1035 GMT, HSBC’s London-listed shares were 5.2 percent weaker at 509 pence. The stock has fallen more than 20 percent this year-still not as bad as a 31 percent drop in the wider DJ index of European banks. — Reuters

Cameroon’s economic growth seen at 4.4% in 2012

ATHENS: Newspapers are displayed at a newsstand yesterday. — AFP

Greeks eyed for world’s least enviable career ATHENS: As Greece sinks deeper into political stalemate and grueling austerity, its beleaguered leaders have been head-hunting for a candidate of international clout to pull the country back from the brink. The search located two globe-trotting economists and two European jurists in a power countdown initiated by outgoing Prime Minister George Papandreou last week when he called for a referendum to ratify an EU salvation deal for Greece. Shocked European leaders gave Papandreou a dressing-down and he returned home to a party revolt that forced him to agree to make way for a unity government.

Former European Central Bank vice-president Lucas Papademos is now the favourite to accept the poisoned chalice, although a series of demands he made to take the job has apparently delayed his appointment. Media reports said that Papademos wants to extend the new government’s term to beyond February 19, a date tentatively set for a fresh round of elections, and appoint opposition conservatives to the new cabinet. The names of two fall-back candidates and an outsider were also circulating: 69-year-old European ombudsman Nikiforos Diamantouros, 64-year-old former finance minister Panagiotis Roumeliotis who represents Greece at the IMF, and 63-year-old Vassileios Skouris, president of the European Court of Justice.

But Papademos, a technocrat who has won international respect for his financial expertise as the right-hand man of former ECB chief Jean-Claude Trichet, was still front-runner according to concurring reports. The incoming team faces pressing deadlines and only has enough money to last through to midDecember. On Tuesday, Athens sold 1.3 billion

euros in six-month treasury bills to keep itself going. The interest rate offered to investors inched up to 4.89 percent from 4.86 percent in an equivalent auction last month.

According to the finance ministry, it must draft a 2012 budget in two weeks and push it through parliament by the end of December.

Athens also needs to negotiate with its European peers on unlocking 30 billion euros ($41 billion) by early January to recapitalise Greek banks, and secure a 20 billion euro loan tranche before the end of February.

And the eurozone has asked the new government partners in Greece to co-sign commitments in exchange for international rescue funding. “We asked the new Greek authorities to send a letter, co-signed by the two parties of the incoming government” to reaffirm Greece’s commitment to demands for financial reform under the terms of an EU-IMF rescue, Luxembourg premier Jean-Claude Juncker said.

The EU bailout deal hammered out late last month would give Greece 100 billion euros in eurozone loans, a further 100 billion in debt reduction, with banks accepting losses on their Greek bond holdings, and 30 billion in government guarantees. “The only important question relates to the distribution of pain as the inevitable adjustment takes place. While this is a question only for the Greeks to decide, it seems to me that greater tax compliance for the better off and lower government spending, must both be a part of the adjustment process,” said Erik Nielsen, global chief economist at UniCredit. The bailout is designed to lighten the country’s crushing debt load by nearly a third but is also understood to entail continued cutbacks after two years of painful austerity sacrifices.—AFP

YAOUNDE: Cameroon’s economic growth will pick up to 4.4 percent next year, economists surveyed by Reuters said, but the Central African nation is set to underperform its potential despite a relatively trouble-free election last month. The growth figure, the median of forecasts, is well above the 3.7 forecast for this year, but infrastructure constraints and a poor business environment will continue to cloud the short term while uncertainty over political leadership hangs over medium-term prospects.

“A large part of the reason for the forecast uptick in economic growth is new oil wells coming on stream,” said Melissa van Rensburg, at the Cape Town-based NKC Independent Economists, a consultancy that tracks frontier economies. “(This) is expected to lead to an increase in domestic oil production during 2012-14,” van Rensburg added. The improved growth comes as commodity-rich Cameroon continues to recover from the 2008-9 financial crisis.

Better tax collection, government investment in cement factories and several infrastructure projects were cited by Standard Chartered bank in a recent briefing note as being behind the growth momentum. An uptick in oil production - from 64,000 barrels per day in 2010 coupled with resilient oil prices will also help the country in the short term, though Standard Chartered warned of a decline in oil output beyond 2014.

The forecast growth levels may be below most of the rest of Africa but is above the country’s recent performances. Cameroon, rich in natural resources including minerals, oil and gas and timber, has enjoyed relative political stability. President Paul Biya’s re-election last month was never in doubt as the man who has run the Central African nation for 29 years faced a divided opposition field. But the nation has long been dogged by a tricky business climate, a large infrastructure gap and a weak financial system, issues that are unlikely to be resolved quickly as debates over who should replace the 78-yearold pick up steam.

“In the meantime, non-negligible risks also stem from the public policy inertia that would probably result from a continued and almost undisputed dominance of the CPDM (ruling party),” Standard Bank’s Samir Gadio said.

Inflation is expected to average 2.9 percent for this year before slowing to 2.5 next year.

“Although consumer price inflation is expected to accelerate this year, it will still be lower than in many other developing countries,” said van Rensburg. “The reasons for this include that the CFA franc is pegged at a fixed rate against the euro, good domestic food harvests, lower import tariffs on several food products, and subsidies on fuel.” she added. — Reuters

BARCELONA: Staff and patients of El Prat Hospital in Barcelona against government austerity cuts in this file photo. — AFP

Poverty rises in Spain as downturn grinds on MADRID: For the past three months Maria Jose del Coto Maeso has lived in an empty store in the Spanish capital with no shower or cooking facilities with her disabled son and unemployed daughter. A neighbor has allowed her to occupy the store since police in July evicted her from the apartment she had lived in on the same street for 31 years for failing to make her mortgage payments. “At least we have a place to go. There are people who are on the streets,” said Maeso who wore purple pajamas as she stood surrounded by clothes hung up to dry in a kitchen area she set up at the front of the store.

The 30 square meter (320 square foot) store has a toilet but no running hot water. To take a shower Maeso, 53, heats water on a hot plate which she also uses to cook basic food items.

Every night the family lays out three mattresses on the floor of the living room area to sleep.

Cardboard boxes with the family’s belongings are stacked floor to ceiling alongside the walls.

“We live how we can. I can’t say we live very well, but we do what we can to survive. I would love to not be here tomorrow, that everything could be fixed, but I am not sure,” said Maeso.

With an income of around 1,000 euros ($1,400) a month — 700 euros in government assistance and the rest from child support payments-she is one of a growing number of Spaniards feeling the pain of a biting economic crisis that is dominating November 20 general election. Maeso began to struggle to pay the roughly 200,000 euros still owed to savings bank Caja Mediterraneo after the monthly mortgage payment ballooned to 1,300 euros from 600 euros.

She is unable to work as she has to give round-the-clock care to her 26-year-old son Abel, who was left severely handicapped after he suffered an accident as a toddler. Her 25year-old daughter, also named Maria Jose, has not been able to find stable employment since completing a history degree two years ago.

Maeso began a master’s program in October but said she would go abroad if she found a job.

“Right now Spain does not offer anything,” she said as she sat on the sofa surrounded by the family’s two cats and dog. The plight of Maeso’s family highlights how Spain’s prolonged economic downturn and sky-high unemployment rate of 21.52 percent-the highest rate in the industrialized world-has plunged millions into poverty.

The proportion of Spaniards living below the poverty line-defined as making do on less

than 60 percent of average national incomerose to 21.8 percent this year from 19.7 percent in 2007, before the start of the economic downturn, according to the National Statistic Institute. The number of households in which all members are unemployed soared to 1,425,200 in the third quarter of this year from just 379,300 during the same quarter of 2007.

“What is most worrying is the number of households with all its members out of work, this is very dangerous because it can have a deep impact on social stability,” said Juan Carlos Martinez Lazaro, an economist at Madrid’s IE Business School. The rise in joblessness has led to an explosion in the number of home foreclosures.

There were 31,955 foreclosures during the first half of the year, near the record 47,809 during all of of 2010. This economic downturn has had a deeper impact on living standards because it has lasted longer than past downturns, and it has hit primary breadwinners harder, said the head of the University of Navarra’s social work department, Miguel Laparra.

The main breadwinner is out of work in one in 10 Spanish households, a record high, said Laparra who coordinated a study on the impact of the economic downturn on poverty for Spain’s FOESSA social studies foundation. “In past downturns it was young people who lived with their parents or the partners of the main breadwinner who were most affected. When the main breadwinner is unemployed, the impact on the family is much greater,” he said.

Half of all Spaniards have not been affected by the economic downturn while for a quarter it has led to a reduction in consumption but “without a great impact”, said Laparra. “For the remaining quarter there has been a pronounced impact on basic living conditions.

They are forced to give up key goods like medicine or paying for university studies,” he said. To survive, the swelling ranks of the poor are turning to charities for food, clothes and help paying utility bills.

The Spanish branch of the international Catholic charity Caritas provided aid to 950,001 people last year, more than double the roughly 400,000 who received aid in 2007 before the economy tanked. Thirty percent knocked on Caritas’ door last year for the first time in their lives. “There has been an increase in the number of new people seeking aid while those who were already getting it continue to need it. It is a stagnation of poverty,” said the secretary general of the charity, Sebastian Mora. — AFP

MELBOURNE: Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (2nd R) inspects a small electric car on a stall at the Carbon Expo Australasia yesterday. Gillard attended the expo a day after Australia passed its controversial pollution tax in a sweeping and historic reform aimed at lowering carbon emissions blamed for climate change. — AFP

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

Years

TECHNOLOGY

BlackBerry to use key technology by Assa Abloy STOCKHOLM: Assa Abloy AB, the world’s leading lock group, said Tuesday it is collaborating with Research in Motion to include key-card technology in upcoming BlackBerry models. In a statement released Tuesday, Assa Abloy said the technology, known as Near Field Communication, will be incorporated in smartphones so they can replace regular access cards.

It said the technology will be included in the BlackBerry Bold 9900/9930 and BlackBerry Curve

9350/9360, which will be launched in early 2012.

Users will be able to swipe their phones in front of a door’s card reader to gain access to a building.

For increased security, the phone can be combined with a PIN number. Assa Abloy is a leader in mobile key technology and its HID iClass system already exists in buildings around the world.

The head of Assa Abloy’s mobile keys division, Daniel Berg, said the phones will work with existing door-opening systems and will mainly

replace access cards at offices, but can also be used to open home or garage doors. There is also a possibility to develop the NFC technology in the phones so it can be used for time reports and payments, Berg said. In some countries, the NFC technology already exists in cards that are used for payments or as tickets in subway systems.

Berg said the technology built into the BlackBerries could also work for such applications in the future.

The deal marks the first time the company’s technology, which was tested at hotels in Stockholm last year, is incorporated into a mobile phone model. Berg said the agreement with BlackBerry isn’t exclusive and Assa Abloy is also in talks to sell its technology to other mobile phone makers. The value of the deal will depend on the sales volumes of the BlackBerry models and how many people opt to use the key technology, he said.— AP

Russian spacecraft fails to head for Mars moon Engine fails to fire, craft left in orbit

TOKYO: A master-slave remote-control robot system at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo yesterday. The robot, by Kyokko Electric, features an operator wearing a 3D head mounted display (HMD) and flexible data gloves to operate a humanoid robot. —AFP

Oracle report reveals need for energy revolution Research, conducted by The Future Laboratory and involving a global panel of experts, highlights the electricity issues that must be addressed and the trends that will combine to make the smart grid and smart energy a reality.

• Oracle, in partnership with future trends consultancy, The Future Laboratory, today launches Future of Energy, a study which looks at the role smart grids will play in meeting the energy efficiency targets set by the European Union’s (EU) Low Carbon 2050 Strategy, which calls for an 80-95% cut of greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2050. The report highlights the electricity issues that must be addressed over the next four decades and the trends that will combine to achieve decarbonisation of the industry and society.

• The Future Laboratory recruited a panel of experts from Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) including Hans Martens (European Policy Commission), Will Pearson (Eurasia Group) and Monika Stajnarova (BEUC) to consider how carbon emission targets of 2050 can be met through commercial investment, consumer engagement and political leadership. As well, experts provided their views on the role technology will play towards a smart energy future • The study asserts that ‘nudge’ policies and choice architectures have been introduced by governments and utilities to encourage greater energy efficiency to meet targets. These include: • Gaining consumer support by providing a range of incentives to help reduce energy demands placed on the grid by domestic users • Introducing legislation to promote change • The report states that smart grids capable of integrating clean technologies such as wind and solar energy - and also able to efficiently align power supply and demand will play a critical role in achieving decarbonisation.

Additionally, data will be as important as energy itself in the power grid of the future and the successful interpretation

of this data will be of central importance in safeguarding energy security.

Using ICT to converge data will also be needed to ensure energy transformation • The Future Laboratory identified a number of key technology areas that will play a critical role in meeting the rise in electricity demand, these include: • Providing reliable electricity supplies, especially as economies move to an even greater dependence on digital technology • Using advance demand-side management tools to encourage load-shifting away from periods of peak demand • Implementing smart information systems able to respond in near real-time to enable dynamic pricing, providing customers with real-time differentiated electricity prices • Making consumer data and dynamic energy rates readily available to encourage development of new business models, fostering competition and altering the competitive landscape • However, the study confirmed that there are a number of vulnerabilities affecting the uptake of the smart grid such as lack of investment in consumer awareness and education, the need to ensure end-to-end privacy and security, and no set, common standards • Experts contributing to the study believe that the rapid adoption of electric vehicles will have a dramatic impact on the smart grid by spurring infrastructure investment, encouraging new services and promoting public awareness and engagement with their energy use • The Future of Energy report concludes that widely shared objectives of energy security, reduced emissions and continued economic growth are dependent on the development of a smart grid capable of delivering energy efficiency and demand response, as well as integrating renewable and variable sources of energy .

The report is available to download from http://emeapressoffice.oracle.com/imagelibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=1766

TOKYO: A Nippon Dental University Hospital staff member demonstrates a humanoid robot dental therapy simulator named “Simroid” at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo yesterday. The robot was developed by Japanese robot venture Kokoro, is made for dentists and students, and has sensors in its mouth that trigger the sound “Ouch” when the dentist gives the wrong treatment. —AFP

MOSCOW: Russia’s first planned interplanetary mission in more than two decades went wrong yesterday when a $163 million unmanned spacecraft failed to take the proper course towards Mars soon after its launch. Russian space agency chief Vladimir Popovkin said an engine failed to fire on the Phobos-Grunt probe after it reached Earth’s orbit, leaving Moscow space officials just three days to jolt it out of orbit before its batteries run out.

“The engine did not fire, neither the first nor the second burn occurred. This means that the craft was unable to find its bearings by the stars,” state television quoted Popovkin as saying at Russia’s Baikonur launch facility in Kazakhstan.

The mission to bring back a sample of soil-”grunt” in Russian-from the Martian moon Phobos was supposed to assert Russia’s place at the front line of space exploration. But if Moscow cannot bounce it out of orbit, the Phobos probe could become several tons of expensive space junk circling the Earth.

Failure would be a major blow to the pride of Russia’s space agency, which was crimped by budget constraints and a brain drain following the 1991 Soviet collapse and suffered a humiliating series of setbacks this year. “They say there is hope to reset it, apparently it’s a problem with the programming but there is very little time,” the lead mission scientist Alexander Zakharov of the Space Research Institute told Reuters. “I feel grief.

It’s very sad that this is how it all worked out but this is a consequence of our lack of people after such a big interval... Many young people worked on this. There is a lack of experience, we are working almost from scratch.”

The 5-billion-rouble ($163 million) probe blasted off at 12:16 a.m. Moscow time from the Baikonur launch pad on a Zenit-2SB rocket, Roskosmos said-starting what is meant to be a three-year trip to Phobos and back. It was an undertaking haunted by past failures, and has become a test of the Russian space industry. If successful, its long journey would be the first Soviet or Russian deep-space probe to Mars to fulfil its mission completely.

Six men have also just completed a 520-day experiment in Russia intended to help show whether people could stay healthy and sane if they went to Mars and back. Meanwhile, US rovers have logged hundreds of hours on Mars, India and China have sent probes to Earth’s

moon, while Japan has visited an asteroid and brought back samples. Russian scientists have dreamed of probing the Red Planet’s potatoshaped satellite Phobos, a mere 22 km (13 miles) across, since the 1960s heyday of pioneering Soviet forays into space. But two Phobos missions sent up in 1988 failed, one going silent within metres of the surface. In 1996, another unmanned Russian craft bound for Mars broke up in the atmosphere after a botched launch.

“We have always been very unlucky with Mars,” Zakharov said. Moscow’s last successful missions beyond Earth orbit, Vega 1 and 2, probed Venus and Halley’s Comet in the mid1980s. Russia continues to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station, but a series of failed unmanned launches this year has underscored the fragility of its space program. Dust from Phobos, scientists say, could shed light on the genesis of the solar system, and data collected on

KAZAKHSTAN: A picture taken on November 8, 2011, shows the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 30 crew, (L-R) US astronaut Dan Burbank, Russian cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Anton Shkaplerov , working with the equipment during their final prelaunch preparations at the Russian leased Kazakhstan’s Baikonur cosmodrome. —AFP

US teens say peers are mostly kind online WASHINGTON: Most US teenagers who use social networking sites say their peers are “mostly kind” to one another online although the vast majority have witnessed mean or cruel behavior, a study said yesterday. The study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, the Family Online Safety Institute and Cable in the Classroom takes an in-depth look at the environment and behavior of American teenagers on social networks.

According to the study, 95 percent of US teens aged 12-17 are online and 80 percent of connected teens use social networking sites such as Facebook or Myspace. Sixtynine percent of the teenagers who use social networks said they are mostly kind spaces, while 20 percent said their peers are mostly unkind online and 11 percent said “it depends.” Eighty-eight percent said they have witnessed mean or cruel behavior online and 15 percent said they have personally been the target of mean or cruel behavior on social networks in the past 12 months.

Twelve percent said they witnessed cruel behavior on social networking sites “frequently,” 29 percent said they encountered it “sometimes” and 47 percent said it was just “once in a while.” “Social networking sites have created new spaces for teens to interact and they witness a mixture of altruism and cruelty on those sites,” said the Pew Research Center’s Amanda Lenhart.

“For most teens, these are exciting and rewarding spaces,” said Lenhart, lead author of the report, “Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites: How American teens navigate the new world of ‘digital citizenship.’”

“But the majority have also seen a darker side,” she said. “”And for a subset of teens, the world of social media isn’t a pretty place because it presents a climate of drama and mean behavior.” Ninety percent of teens said they ignored the mean behavior they witnessed, 80 percent said they personally defended a victim and 21 percent said they personally took part in the harassment of others on a social network site.

the voyage might help solve enduring mysteries such as whether Earth’s neighbor has ever supported life.

The plan is for Phobos-Grunt to reach Mars next year, touch down on the larger of Mars’ two tiny moons in 2013, collect a sample from the surface and fly back to Earth in 2014. Hitching a ride is China’s first interplanetary spacecraft, the tiny 115-kg (250-pound) Yinghuo-1, which is to work in orbit with Phobos-Grunt over a year to study the atmosphere of Mars. Phobos-Grunt is also carrying vials of Earth bacteria suited to extreme environments, plant seeds and tiny invertebrate animals known as water bears, to see if they can survive in space. It is meant to be the first time microbes carried by a spacecraft spend years in space and go beyond the protective bubble of Earth’s magnetic field, testing part of a theory that life may have migrated between planets inside meteorites.— Reuters

Nineteen percent said they have experienced bullying in the past 12 months either in person, by text message, by phone call or online. Twelve percent said they were bullied in person, nine percent said they were bullied by text message and eight percent said they were bullied online, either by email, on a social network site or through instant messaging. While 78 percent of teens said their social media interactions resulted in a positive outcome-such as deepening a friendship — 41 percent reported at least one negative outcome such as an argument, loss of a friendship, problems with their parents or even a physical fight.

Parents are the top source of advice to teens on online issues, according to the study. Eighty-six percent of online teens said they have received advice from their parents about using the Internet safely and 70 percent said they have received advice from a teacher or another adult at school.

Sixty-one percent of teens said their parents have checked their social network site profile.

Nicky Jackson Colaco, who manages online safety programs at Facebook-the world’s largest social network, with more than 800 million members-welcomed the report. “We believe that educating teens about safety is a responsibility shared by policy makers, safety advocates, parents and services like Facebook,” she said.

“Facebook believes in addressing safety, bullying and harassment issues proactively-because building a trusted environment is fundamental to our mission and to ensuring a positive experience for people who use our site.”

The survey of 799 teens was conducted April 19-July 14 and has a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.

Members of the Family Online Safety Institute include AOL, Comcast, Disney, Facebook, France Telecom, Google, Microsoft, Verizon and Yahoo! Cable in the Classroom is the the national education foundation of the US cable television industry.— AFP

Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL team up to sell ads SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL are joining forces in an online advertising attack on Google and Facebook. The alliance, announced Tuesday, is designed to sell some of the less-prized ad space that Microsoft Corp. Yahoo Inc. and AOL Inc. have had trouble filling on their own.Even as they share some resources, the three companies vowed to retain their independence and compete against each other with separate sales teams.

For that reason, they said they don’t expect U.S. antitrust regulators to object to the nonexclusive partnership before they begin selling ads together in January. Ross Levinsohn, a Yahoo executive vice president, hailed the alliance as a “fundamental rethinking” of the Internet ad market.

That statement also could be interpreted as a bit of wishful thinking. Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL all need to change the direction of an online ad market that has been increasingly tilting in the direction of Google and Facebook. Having already built a money-making machine in its dominant search engine, Google has become even more powerful in Internet marketing since it bought DoubleClick’s ad service for $3.2 billion in 2008.

That deal provided Google with a springboard to leap from text ads that appear next to search results into the graphical messages known as display advertising.

Facebook attracts more advertising as it becomes established as the Internet’s most popular hangout. The company accumulates valuable insights into people’s interests as its 800 million users share their passions. That advantage has helped Facebook become the leader in U.S. display advertising with a 16 percent share of the online ad market, according to the research firm eMarketer Inc. Yahoo, the former leader, has seen its share fall from 18 percent in 2008 to 13 percent this year. Google’s share of the display market from 2 percent in 2008 to 9 percent.

Microsoft stands at 5 percent and AOL is hovering around 4 percent, according to eMarketer. As it has fallen further behind in Internet advertising, Microsoft’s online division has piled up operating losses of $7 billion since June 2008. Revenue at both Yahoo and AOL is steadily falling. Yahoo has been struggling so much that its board is mulling whether to sell all or part of the company.

By tapping into each other’s technology, Yahoo, and AOL are betting they can save money and sell more advertising. The partnership will cover a category of advertising that doesn’t typically appear in the prime slots on websites. Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL believe that space will be in higher demand if they can succeed at creating a more efficient, transparent market that helps connect advertisers with the Web audiences best suited for their marketing campaigns.— AP

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New review questions benefit of cutting down on salt Reducing salt cuts blood pressure, but does it save lives?

KAZAKHSTAN: A Zenit-2SB rocket, carrying the Phobos-Grunt (Phobos Soil) spacecraft, stands at a launch pad of the Russian leased Kazakhstan’s Baikonur cosmodrome early yesterday, just before its blast off toward Mars.—AFP

Climate to widen sleeping sickness risk to southern Africa PARIS: Sleeping sickness could threaten tens of millions more people as the tsetse fly which transmits the disease spreads to southern Africa as a result of global warming, a study published yesterday says. By 2090, an additional 40 to 77 million people could be at risk of exposure to the disease, the study concludes. Currently 75 million people live within its range. The scientists base the estimate on how the tsetse and the Trypanosoma parasite it carries are likely to respond to rising temperatures in coming decades. At present, 70,000 cases of sleeping sickness, also called trypanosomiasis, occur each year in eastern, central and western Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The parasite is transmitted from cattle to humans by the tsetse when it takes a blood meal. It is fatal without treatment, causing convulsions and serious sleep disturbance that lead to coma and death.

Scientists led by Sean Moore of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carried out a computer simulation in

line with two scenarios laid out by UN climatologists in 2007, predicting warming of 1.1-5.4 degrees Celsius (2.0-9.7 degrees Fahrenheit) depending on carbon emissions. The team looked at the strain of parasite that is prevalent in East Africa and the two tsetse species which carry it. Outbreaks of the disease can occur when mean temperatures are between 20.7 C to 26.1 C (69.25 F to 79 F), they found.

Some parts of eastern Africa will become too hot for tsetse larvae to survive.

But other areas in this region, as well as in southern Africa, that were previously too cool will become a potential home for it.

The study, appearing in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, adds to previous research into the link between disease and climate shift. In 2008, the US Wildlife Conservation Society identified a “deadly dozen” of diseases that could spread into more temperate areas through mosquitoes, parasites or pathogen-laden water. They include malaria, cholera and yellow fever as well as sleeping sickness.—AFP

LONDON: Reducing salt in the diets of the general population may not have an overall positive health impact, according to a review of more than 160 scientific studies published yesterday. In an analysis that fuels a row over the health effects of salt, researchers writing in the American Journal of Hypertension and the Cochrane Library journal said the systematic review added to growing evidence suggesting officials should re-evaluate policies advising everyone to eat less salt.

The review-which collated and analysed the findings of 167 previous studies-found that while cutting down on salt reduced blood pressure in people who have normal or high blood pressure, it also caused increases in some hormones and other compounds that can adversely affect people’s heart health. “I can’t really see, if you look at the total evidence, that there is any reason to believe there is a net benefit of decreasing sodium intake in the general population,” said Niels Graudal of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, who led the review and spoke to

Reuters in a telephone interview.

Lowering salt intake is known to reduce blood pressure, but research has yet to show whether that translates into better overall heart health in the wider population. Despite that, many countries have government-sanctioned guidelines calling on people to cut their salt or sodium intake for the sake of their longer-term health. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the leading causes of strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases, which together are the biggest killers worldwide and claim more than 17 million lives a year. “The question is not ‘should’ we reduce salt intake, but ‘how’,” said Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and chairman of the World Action on Salt campaign group, who said he strongly disagreed with Graudal’s findings. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists reducing salt intake among its top 10 “best buys” for reducing rates of chronic disease.

Net benefit?

But a series of studies looking

at dietary salt have recently suggested the evidence base for population-wide salt-reduction policies may not be as strong as first thought.

A separate Cochrane Library review conducted by British researchers and published in July found no evidence that small reductions in salt intake lowered the risk of developing heart disease or dying prematurely.

And another study by Belgian scientists published in May found that people who ate lots of salt were no more likely to get high blood pressure, and were statistically less likely to die of heart disease, than those with low salt intake. Graudal said his results showed that when salt intake is reduced, there are increases in some hormones and in fats known as lipids “which could be harmful if persistent over time”.

He added that because none of the studies in the review were able to measure long-term health effects, his team was not able to say “if low salt diets improve or worsen health out-

comes”. Graudal said the growing number of studies questioning the net benefit of salt reduction meant public health officials should look again at their guidelines. Current government advice in Britain calls for an acceleration of the reduction in salt intake by adults from a maximum of 6 grams(g) a day by 2015 to 3g by 2025.

US dietary guidelines recommend Americans consume less than 2.3g of sodium daily, or 1.5g for certain people who are more at risk of high blood pressure or heart disease. A teaspoon of salt, or roughly 5g, contains around 2.3g of sodium.

MacGregor disputed Graudal’s conclusion about the lack of a net benefit from cutting salt and said the review “clearly shows once again that decreasing salt intake lowers blood pressure”. “ This study, contrar y to the authors’ claims, supports the wealth of evidence that reducing our salt intake will be immensely beneficial in preventing strokes, heart attacks and heart failure,” he said in a statement emailed to Reuters.—Reuters

Women suffer quicker brain damage from alcohol abuse STOCKHOLM: Women alcoholics suffer damage to the part of their brain that controls moods, impulses and sleep three times faster than their male counterparts, a Swedish study showed yesterday. Women suffer a 50-percent reduction in the so-called serotonin function in their brain after four years of excessive drinking, while men show the same amount of damage after 12 years of alcohol abuse, according to the study by researchers at Gothenburg University. “The impairment is progressing much faster in women,” explained Kristina Berglund, who conducted the study with colleagues from the university’s Department of Psychology, as well as two researchers at the faculty of Health Sciences, known as the Sahlgrenska Academy.

Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter that is. among other things. critical to the development and treatment of depression and chronic anxi-

ety. It also regulates impulse control and our ability to fall asleep and stay awake. The researchers studied several brain functions of 42 people-a third of them women-who admitted to alcohol dependency, along with 28 control subjects. “We saw that the alcohol dependent individuals had significantly lower serotonin functions,” Berglund told AFP. The women tested said they on average had been drinking the equivalent of about 12 bottles of wine a week for four years, while the men had been drinking the same amount, but for 12 years.

However, “we could see the damage to the serotonin function was equal between men and women,” Berglund said. The results, which are scheduled to be published in the journal of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research in January, had come as a partial surprise to the researchers, she said. “We were not surprised to

find that the serotonin function was impaired in the alcohol-dependent individuals, but we were surprised to see that women were so much more vulnerable, even in the brain,” she said. Ulf Berggren, one of the Sahlgrenska Academy contributors to the study, meanwhile stressed that while the timing was different, men ultimately suffered the same degree of harm to their serotonin function as women. The study authors acknowledged more research was needed, especially since they had used such a small number of test subjects. Berglund also said that while the researchers had connected significant serotonin function harm to alcohol abuse, they still needed to look at the psychological impact of the damage. “We know this function is significantly impaired, but what does this mean? What are the consequences? That’s a question that needs answering,” she said.—AFP

Gene test helps tailored treatment for cancer patients PARIS: Doctors yesterday said they had used a wide-ranging genetic test for mutations in cancer cells to help finetune treatment for patients with lung tumors. Used on patients with so-called non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the technique has been such a success that the team is now using it for colorectal, breast and brain cancer and are assessing it for leukaemia, they said. The goal is to identify specific genetic mutations that enable cells to divide and multiply unchecked. The next step is to target these mutations with “smart drugs” that block the enzyme which enables the cells to proliferate.

Tailored drugs are considered like a sniper’s rifle, seeking out the type of rogue cell, as opposed to chemotherapy, which acts more like a scattergun. “Choosing the right therapy can raise response rates [to drugs] in NSCLC patients from around 2030 percent to 60-75 percent and may improve surival,” said Lecia Sequist of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, who co-led the research.

The test, called SNaPshot, looks for 50 mutation sites in 14 genes known to play a role in NSCLC.

By fast-tracking traditional methods for amplifying and analyzing gene samples, called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the technique takes less than three weeks on average to get the results. The investigators analyzed tissue taken from 589 patients in a 14-month trial and found one or more mutations in just over half of the samples.

Out of the 589 patients, there were 353 with advanced cancer. And in 170 of these, the doctors were able to pinpoint one or more genes that were troublemakers. That discovery opened the way to having 78 patients gain targeted therapy. Sequest said this is the first time that such a wide net of faulty genes has been cast to create a genotype-or genetic profile-for use in cancer treatment. “Our study is exciting because it demonstrates that indeed it is possible today to integrate testing for multiple genetic biomarkers into a busy clinic and steer patients toward personalized therapies,” she said in a press release. Genotyping is a fast-developing tool in preventive medicine, helping doctors to identify, for instance, women at risk of breast cancer.

The trial is written up in a European cancer journal, Annals of Oncology.—AFP

US panel backs skin cancer advice for youths NEW YORK: A US government-backed expert panel joined in the fight against skin cancer on Tuesday with a proposal urging doctors to counsel fair-skinned youths about sun protection. “The definition of fair skin is it doesn’t tan very well, so stop trying!” said Dr Virginia Moyer, head of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). “All you are doing is damaging your skin.” The new proposal, posted in draft form on the USPSTF’s website, is the latest attempt to shield Americans against the cancer-promoting effects of ultraviolet, or UV, radiation.

Earlier this year, the American Academy of Pediatrics joined the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Dermatology and other groups pushing for a ban of indoor tanning. According to Moyer, research has shown a strong link between UV radiation and skin cancer. More than two million Americans get skin cancer every year, but most cases aren’t very dangerous and can usually be cured. “It’s not going to kill them, but it’s no fun either,” said Moyer, whose mother has skin cancer and is getting injections with chemicals to destroy the tumor cells. About one in 50 white Americans born today will get a deadlier type of skin cancer called melanoma at some point. The American Cancer Society estimates that melanoma causes just under three-quarters of the nearly 11,800 skin cancer

deaths every year. The USPSTF recommendation covers children and young adults from 10 to 24 years old and updates a 2003 statement that said the evidence was insufficient to give advice. According to the panel, there is now sufficient evidence that counseling people in this age group-for instance by showing them pictures of wrinkled, sun-damaged skin-will make them more careful about sunbathing and indoor tanning. “The approach that you take is not, ‘Stay out of the sun and prevent cancer.’ It is, ‘Stay out of the sun and prevent ugly skin,’” Moyer told Reuters Health. “There is nothing more important to a teenager than how they look.”

For kids under 10 and adults over 24, the panel said there is not enough evidence that counseling changes behavior. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) welcomed the new recommendations but said the USPSTF hadn’t gone far enough. “The Academy believes sun protection counseling is important for everyone, including the adult population,” AAD President Dr Ronald L Moy told Reuters Health by email. “More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than 2 million people are diagnosed annually, and excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and tanning beds is the most preventable cause of all skin cancers.”—Reuters

KIEV: British singer Elton John stands next to a placard bearing a picture of a woman diagnosed with the HIV virus, prior to a press conference yesterday. The founders of the Elton John Foundation (EJAF) and Ukrainian businesswoman and sponsor Elena Pinchuk, ANTIAIDS Foundation (EPAAF), presented to journalists their second joint charitable project. Its goal is to help girls and women who spent most of their lives in the street, to have access to HIV testing and to receive social, medical and legal assistance.—AFP

Scientists find big chink in malaria’s armor PARIS: Researchers said yesterday they had discovered a unique microscopic channel through which malaria parasites must pass to infect red blood cells, a finding that opens up a highly promising target for a vaccine. The doorway mechanism is common to all known strains of the deadliest mosquito-borne pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, which means that a future vaccine could in theory work against all of them, according to the study published in the journal Nature. The death toll from malaria has declined by a fifth over the last decade, but the disease still claims some 800,000 lives every year, mostly children under five in subSaharan Africa. “Our findings were unexpected and have completely changed the way in which we view the invasion process,” said Gavin Wright of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the study’s senior co-author. The breakthrough “seems to have revealed an Achilles’ heel in the way the parasite invades our red blood cells.” Up to now, scientists assumed that P falciparum had several options for piercing the defenses of blood cells. But in experiments, Wright and colleagues showed that intrusion depends on the interaction between a specific molecule on the parasite, called a ligand, and a specific receptor on the blood cell.—AFP

Kids with depressed dads have more behavior issues NEW YORK: Children whose fathers are depressed are more likely to have emotional and behavioral problems than those whose fathers aren’t, according to a US study of more than 20,000 families. The issue is especially important at a time when many parents are out of work and struggling to support their families, while others are returning from Afghanistan and Iraq with emotional wounds, said study author Michael Weitzman, at the New York University School of Medicine.

Though depression in mothers had long been associated with an increase in problems for children, this is one of the first times the connection with depressed fathers has been studied on such a large scale, he added. “In the big picture of caring about our children and trying to do whatever is best to help them achieve the highest potential ... clearly fathers are not regularly thought of,” Weitzman said.

The findings, published in Pediatrics, also showed that children were most likely to have problems when both parents suffered from depression. Weitzman and his colleagues used data from a national study that included home interviews with 21,993 families, all of which had a child between the age of five and 17, and both a mother and father living at home.

At each interview, either the mother or the father answered questions about depression symptoms in both parents, as well as how much trouble children had getting along with their parents or other children, and behavior at home and at school. Eleven percent of children with a depressed father had problems at home or at school, and 19 percent had problems if their mother was depressed. If both parents had depression, as many as one in four children struggled emotionally and behaviorally. —Reuters

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New Haiti cholera campaign faces tough questions HAITI: Haiti’s two most prominent health care organizations are preparing a new assault on the country’s deadly cholera epidemic: the dispatch of hundreds of workers to remote villages and gritty alleys in the capital to administer a vaccine against the raging disease. But the pilot project, which has not yet secured the $870,000 it is estimated to cost, has set off a debate among some public health experts who question the wisdom of a program that will inoculate only 1 percent of the population and could deplete the world’s stock of available cholera vaccine, potentially putting people at risk in other vulnerable places.

Experts also wonder whether it will even be possible to successfully administer a vaccine that must be given in two dosages two weeks apart. They contend the money is best spent cleaning up the waterways that have allowed cholera to flourish in Haiti. “Everybody thinks it’s going to do some good,” said Richard Garfield, a professor of public health and nursing at Columbia University. “But it’s hard to specify how much good and benefit will come out of that ... There are bigger-bang-for-thebuck activities out there.”

Par tners in Health, based in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Gheskio Center, a health nonprofit that has historically focused on AIDS, are joining in the vaccine campaign, hoping it will save lives. Partners in Health co-founder, Dr Paul Farmer, became an early advocate of the vaccine. A Harvard professor and special UN envoy, his opinion carries weight in Haiti, where he has been working to improve public health for more than 20 years. He’s adamant that the vaccinations should be done for Haiti’s poor regardless of the cost.

“It’s been a joke to focus on how much it costs,” Farmer said by telephone. “The Haitian cholera epidemic is the largest in the world.” Doctors Without Borders estimates it would cost up to $40 million to inoculate the entire country and points out that the immunity from the vaccine begins to wear off within three years. “Money spent on vaccines should not come at the expense of money spent on permanent water and sanitation measures,” Dr David Olson, a medical adviser for Doctors Without Borders, wrote in an October press release.

The proposal for a vaccine campaign in Haiti surfaced soon after the disease emerged in October 2010, when UN peacekeepers from Nepal apparently triggered the contagion through an inadequate sanitation system installed near the country ’s largest river, the Artibonite, according to several studies. The studies were cited as evidence in a claim announced Tuesday by the Boston-based Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, which

argues that the world body is responsible for the epidemic and should compensate more than 5,000 cholera victims.

Cholera, spread by water and contact with other people who have the disease, has sickened nearly 500,000 and killed more than 6,500, according to Haiti’s Health Ministry. The disease causes rapid dehydration that can kill someone within hours but is easily treatable. In the first weeks of the outbreak, assistance poured into the country from Doc tors Without Borders, Oxfam, Par tners in Health, as well as many smaller groups.

Following the outbreak, public health experts discussed the possibility of introducing an oral vaccine but the administration of former President Rene Preval didn’t want it unless the entire country of 10 million could be treated. The more pressing need was to combat a mortality rate that went as

high as 5 percent. Dehydrated Haitians were dropping dead in the streets and hills as health workers scrambled to hydrate survivors in makeshift treatment centers.

At the time, there was only one vaccine available - Dukoral, which is manufactured by the Dutch biopharmaceutical company Crucell NV. The global supply was limited to about 250,000 doses. The vaccine, sold at $6 a dose, is used mostly by affluent travelers rather than people in cholera-infected countries. In recent months, the vaccine option has grown more viable for several reasons. For one, the World Health Organization in September approved the use of a second vaccine, Shanchol, which is made by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur. The approval was needed so UN agencies like Unicef could procure the vaccine.

Plus, Haiti’s new leaders, President Michel

HAITI: File photo shows people suffering cholera symptoms receive treatment at a local hospital in Limbe village, near Cap Haitien. (Inset) A girl receives treatment for cholera symptoms at a Doctors Without Borders, MSF.—AP photos

Martelly and his prime minister, Dr Garry Conille, support the campaign. In January, health workers will fan out in the Central Plateau and the capital, urging people to seek vaccinations and then documenting those who do. They aim to reach 80 percent of their targeted population living in those areas.

The project includes 200,000 doses of the vaccine currently available, its delivery to Haiti, health workers’ salaries, and construction of a refrigerated facility to store Shanchol, according to Partners in Health. Each dose costs less than Dukoral, at $1.85, and altogether the cost will run about $870,000.

Peter Graaff, the Haiti representative of the World Health Organization, acknowledged complications associated with the program.

“Cholera vaccination is not the easiest form of vaccination,” Graaff said in his Port-au-Prince office, pointing out the need for a second dose and refrigeration for the vaccine and the limited vaccine supply worldwide. “It’s obviously one of a number of preventative measures.”

Jon Weigel, a researcher for Farmer, counters the concerns of a follow-up dose by pointing to a successful vaccination program Partners in Health launched just before the January 2010 earthquake.

Health workers sought to inoculate 3,000 girls with the Gardasil vaccine for human papillomavirus, the main cause of cervical cancer.

The distribution was relatively more complicated. It required three doses over a period of six months. Plus, chaos from the earthquake threatened to disrupt delivery of the final dose. The completion rate: 75 percent.

Coming up with the money shouldn’t be an issue. Partners in Health is negotiating with donors though it would not identify them. The health care nonprofit is among the top recipients of aid in Haiti, and last year brought in $151 million for its work in 12 countries, according to tax returns filed with the US Internal Revenue Ser vice. Weigel stressed efforts to develop Haiti’s water and sewer systems, or to promote good hygiene, won’t be ignored.

“We’re not doing this at the exclusion of water and sanitation,” said Weigel. “We really think that it’s faulty logic to think that it’s one or the other.”

Farmer acknowledges the global shortage but believes the epidemic will spur pharmaceutical companies to increase supply. “This is an oral vaccine that was designed to be used in poor countries,” Farmer said. “This is the lowest-hanging fruit.”

Still, Garfield and others say that the project poses some tough ethical dilemmas. “It’s not clear who gets in the life boat and who doesn’t,” he said.—AP

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Announcements Free medical camp MES conducts their 12th Free Medical Screening Camp on Friday 11th November at Central School - Abbasiya in association with Kuwait Medical Association (KMA), Indian Doctors Forum (IDF), Kuwait Heart Foundation and Indian Dentists Alliance in Kuwait. The camp will be from 8 am to 2:30 pm. Around 50 specialized doctors from IDF will lead the examination. Thousands of poor and needy community members were benefited from the past 11 Medical Camps. Doctors specialized in Gynecology, Ortho, Cardiology, Surgical, Pediatrics, Diabetes, Ophthalmology, ENT, Skin, General Medicine and Dental are available in the camp. Applicant should bring any medical records he/she have i.e. X-ray, Lab Test Report.

Application forms are available at all the Branches of Gulf Mart, Tasty Restaurant, Al-Yaqza Book Shop (Kuwait City), Dress Mart (Fahaheel), Highland Supermarket (Abbasiya), Azizia Book Shop (Salmiya). Duly filled application will be acceptable maximum by 5th November 2011. For details contact Zubair (99826195) & Hassan Managad (99131104).

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

W H AT ’ S O N

Movenpick reaches 20 Green Globe certifications regionally

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ovenpick Hotels & Resorts has now received Green Globe certification for 20 Middle Eastern properties, meaning that the international hotel group has become the leading hospitality company in the region in terms of measuring and monitoring its environmental and social performance. In line with its corporate worldwide vision, Movenpick hotels in the Middle East are strongly committed to Green Globe certification and specifically aim to establish a common and global approach to environmental, employer and social sustainability.

In the Middle East, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have been the ‘greenest’ countries to date, with five hotels in each country accredited with Green Globe status.

Movenpick Resort Tala Bay Aqaba which was the first to receive certification regionally - has since been joined by Aqaba, Petra, Petra

Nabatean Castle and the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort & Spa in achieving the prestigious ranking in Jordan.

And within this select group, and the company as a whole, the Dead Sea resort has been the most successful participant in the programme, recording 95 points, the highest-ever rating awarded by the Green Globe Institution.

Qassim, Jeddah, Al Nawras Jeddah, Al Khobar, Anwar Al Madinah, Madinah and Yanbu have also shown their environmentally aware credentials in Saudi Arabia, while two hotels in Dubai Bur Dubai and Deira - have also been awarded certification.

Movenpick’s properties in Qatar and Kuwait, as well as Bahrain and

Lebanon, were the other properties to make the grade.

Gerard Hotelier, Vice President Operations Middle East Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, said he is proud to have so many hotels now Green Globe certified across the region and looks forward to

more joining in the months ahead.

“The programme is not only important for our hotel company, but in a world where resources are increasingly scarce, it helps us set an example and raise industry benchmarks. Looking to the future, our present commitments

and activities will increasingly become the expected standard of the hotel industry.”

Green Globe Certification CEO Guido Bauer said achieving Green Globe’s certified status is a hallmark for the highest international level of sustainable travel and tourism. “In their first year of certification, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has exceeded the requirements, and in many cases its properties are world leaders in meeting the 339 sustainability indicators that define sustainable practice,” said Bauer. “These indicators are documented activities that the properties are working at every day and have been independently verified by an accredited auditor’s onsite inspection.”

“The sustainable work practices and management of Movenpick properties contribute to conservation of the natural and cultural heritage that surrounds the resorts, support communities through economic and social development programs and ensure quality employment for local people.”

Movenpick Hotels & Resorts is aiming for 100 per cent of its hotels, resorts and cruises to be Green Globe certified within two years.

The origins of the Green Globe organisation can be traced back to the UN Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, where 182 heads of state from around the world endorsed the Agenda 21 principles of sustainable development. Two years later, the Green Globe membership was established. The Green Globe brand represents the best in sustainable practice within the travel and tourism sector and provides certification, training and marketing services in 83 countries.

Indian Lawyers’ Forum Onam Indian Lawyers’ Forum will celebrate Onam, the unique, secular, harvest festival of Kerala on 18th November, 2011 Friday 10.30 am at Hi-Dine Restaurant Auditorium, Abbassia. Celebrations will include traditional variety entertainments, with the grand ‘ONASADHYA’. All Indian Lawyers & Law graduates working here in Kuwait are invited with their families.

For details contact Panicker 97203939, Pulikkal 97260159. Email: advpanicker@gmail.com Tulukoota talent hunt Tulukoota Kuwait will hold a “Talent Hunt 2011” a chance to prove an inborn trait in you that confirms your individuality, uniqueness. For more information and registration form kindly log on to our Website: www.tulukootakuwait.org or visit our facebook page - Tulukoota Kuwait Talent Hunt 2011. You could also email your form request to: secretary@tulukootakuwait.org or contact our area coordinators mentioned below. Mangaf, Fahaheel, Abuhalifa : Ronald Dsouza- 60035824, Shalini Alva- 23726164, Suma Bhatt- 97834578 Salmiya & Hawally: Swarna Shetty- 99006934, Kripa Gatty- 66044194 Kuwait City, Jahra, Sharq: Rekha Sachu- 65044521,97862115 Farwaniya, Abbassiya, Shuwaikh & Khaitan: Sathyanarayana66585077 Sanath Shetty- 67712409.

BEC T10 Cricket tournament The BEC T10 Tennis Ball Cricket Tournament will be organized & played from 7th October to 11th November, 2011. The Tournament being organized by RED N BLACK CRICKET CLUB and sponsored by BEC EXCHANGE will be played out in Abu Halifa cricket grounds. For registration and other queries please mail at mail@rednblack.org or call 66820148/ 66130940/ 66841653.

KGA Alemao Memorial Football Tournament The 3rd edition of Eslinda Alemao Memorial Football 7-a-side tournament will be held on first day of Eid Al Adha Festival (6th November 2011) to be held at the MOH Grounds, Al-Sabah Hospital Premises, Shuwaikh under the auspices of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF). All KIFF affiliated teams are requested to contact the organizers, Kuwait Goan Association (KGA). For more info, Email: kgakuwait@gmail.com Tel: (+965) 94963677.

Youth Chorus competition Youth Chorus is organizing the sixth Christian Malayalam Group Song Competition on Friday, 18th November 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the United Indian School Auditorium, Abbasiya. The team has to present one Christian Malayalam song within seven minutes. The minimum number of members in the team should be 7 and the maximum 20, including the orchestra persons.

The first, second and third prize winners will be awarded with rolling trophies and certificates.

The following prestigious trophies will be awarded to the winners.

First Prize - Youth Chorus Ever Rolling Trophy Second Prize- Omana Jose memorial Ever Rolling Trophy Third Prize- Youth Chorus Ever Rolling Trophy All the other participating teams will be awarded a Youth Chorus memento. Please register the name of your team with the conveners on or before 10th November 2011. Tel: 66853100, 6651093 or to our e-mail address youthchorus@gmail.com Voice Kuwait Vanitha Vedhi We cordially invite you and your family to enjoy “Onothsavam - 2011” celebrations on Friday 11th Nov 2011 at Central School Auditorium, Abbasiya From 9.00 am to 3.00 pm Contact: 99951465, 24342675 Thrissur Mahotsavam 2011 Thrissur Association of Kuwait (TRASSK) is conducting its 5th annual celebration “MAHOTSAVAM 2011” on 11/11/2011 at 2:30pm at the American International School, Maidan Hawally. His excellency Satish C Mehta will be chief guest for the program. Cultural programs will be performed to demonstrate the true cultural heritage of the Thrissur district. Renowned singers Vithu Prathab, Sangeeth and Liji will also perform. For more details, contact: 99916533 or 97551368.

GIS team crowned winners

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ulf Indian School emerged winners of the Inter School quiz competition, KQ Matters, for the second time in a row. The quiz was conducted by the Indian Educational School on 21st October 2011 with a participation of fourteen schools in Kuwait. This quizzing event was yet another venue to prove the brilliance of the GIS students Sneha A mathew and Shanthi Roy of classes 8 and 9 respectively. The students were endowed with trophies, certificates and a cash prize of KD 500 for their stellar performance.

GIS family congratulates the winners!

IWG - Kuwait meeting

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he Palestinian Culture Center in cooperation with Bayt Lothan invite you to its fall exhibition. The exhibition aims to preserve the Palestinian handicrafts to reaffirm the Palestinian national identity as well as empowering refugee women in the camps.

We display classic designs intertwined with modern uses, colors,

and motifs to showcase some of the creativity of the Palestinian women.

Items on sale include: cushions, runners, scarves, shawls, long traditional dresses as well as smaller items.

They also have handmade ceramics from Palestine, books, music and movies.

On Thursday evening there will be folklore dabble dance, children’s

activities and a bake sale of traditional foods.

Location: Bayt Lothan, Salmiya next to Marina Mall Date: Monday November 14th to Thursday November 17 2011 Time: 10:00am to 1:30pm - 4:30pm to 8:30pm Telephone: 25755866 - 25727388 99376608

Our next meeting will be on Sunday 13 November at the Radisson Blu-Boubiyan Room. Doors open at 9:30am with the program commencing at 10:00 am prompt. We hope you will join us in welcoming Mohammed Jasim Al-Bhubaib, General Manager & Partner of Melenzane Restaurant and Catering.

Dhubaib is also a professional chef who trained in France. He will be speaking to us about Italian cuisine and the sourcing of produce in Kuwait. We look forward to seeing all of you at this very special meeting.

McDonald’s Hawalli hosts MarinaFM (88.8) Live at reopening

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cDonald’s Kuwait recently held a celebration for the re-opening of their Hawalli branch on Ibn Khaldoun St. on Thursday November 3rd.

The celebration is in honor of the completion of the new contemporary look which is part of McDonald’s recent rebranding strategy across McDonald’s stores both in Kuwait, and worldwide.

Marina FM (88.8) drew a large crowd as they broadcasted live from the Hawalli branch during the Osama Fouda show.

Ronald McDonald initiated the inauguration with the cut of the ribbon and the night was filled with festivities and activities. During the evening McDonald’s gave away holiday trips for two and iPhone 4S s as prizes, all part of the reopening celebrations.

“McDonald’s Kuwait is a ‘forever young’ brand always adapting with the times.

The revamped design gives McDonald’s a more modern and upscale look, making it a place where you can sit, eat and indulge on a cup of coffee while browsing the internet because of the free wifi

available at many of the branches.”

Commented George Khawam, Marketing Director of McDonald’s Kuwait.

The essence of the renovation is the new image McDonald’s stores are adopting, simply stated it is a fresh modern interior and exterior that will further set us apart from the rest. The interior decor emanates a serene tranquil feel and has more natural elements rather than the traditional plastic artificial ones.

“This whole direction mainly stems from McDonald’s belief that it not only offers delicious food but pleasant memories as well. It is memories that a customer takes when he leaves the store and so the in-store experience is crucial for memorable memories.” Concluded Mr Khawam.

McDonald’s today has 63 restaurants geographically located to serve customers in many areas, committed to the well being of the society with an active social responsibility agenda, while maintaining high-quality products served in a safe and friendly atmosphere.

Literary prize awarded

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aippattoor Thankachan, prominent Indian writer who lives in Ardiya is presented Pravasi Malayala Sahithya Prize by Kerala State Cultural Minister KC Joseph. Thankachan who is in Kuwait for many years has published more than 20 books, including fiction and about his life in Kuwait.

His experiences at Andaman titled ‘The Sea at Car Nicobar’, published by Prabhath Book House, Trivandrum won the award.

Upcoming events Annual holiday bazaar Bring the family and enjoy a festive day of shopping and socializing!! on Friday, November 18 from 10:30 am - 9 pm at The Salwa Sabah Al-Ahmed Theater and Hall, Gulf Road Entrance, just after the Hard Rock Café and before Marina Crescent. Santa will be there From 11 am - 2 pm & 5 - 7 pm.

SOS’s annual function Friends of SOS children’s villages Pakistan, Kuwait Chapter are in action once again. The much awaited ‘Annual-Function’ has been planned. It will be an evening of entertainment for a noble cause.

‘Friends’ are engaged with SOS children’s villages for the past many years. We have Alhadulillah done a lot to support the villages in Pakistan. Our regular ‘Friends’ are well aware of the hospitality and joyful environment at the function. We are also looking forward to welcoming new friends from all communities. The venue is at GUST Auditorium, Mishref on Thursday 24th November at 7:30 pm. For details contact: Aziz Mamuji:

99837040 Ghazala Bano: 66385203.

Cynthia & Danny-99169310.

Gala concert Special gala concert celebrating the Polish presidency in the European Union on November 12 at 8pm at Al Hashemi Ballroom at Radisson Blu Hotel performed by Alicja Wegorzewska - Whiskerd (mezzosaprano) with participation of Bogdan Kierejsza (Violin).

KTAA events Nov. 15: “A Century of Color: Maya Weaving and Textiles from Guatemals.” Linda Fouke, KTAA Vice President, presenter Dec. 13: Mr. Hindi from Samovar Carpets. Location to be announced. For more info: 23903462 (English)/22432395 (Arabic) Email: wovenpieces@yahoo.com or ktaaworkshop@yahoo.com

Fitness program To All Filipinos In Kuwait ..”Tara Na, Mag-Excersice Na Tayo Tuwing Biernes!! The Filipino Cultural Club (FCC), coordially invites you to attend /participate in” FCC’s beach Clean-up and Physical Fitness” programme dubbed as “A Dance with the Sun by the Sea... Season -2” on 28 November, 7 am, McDonald’s Corniche, Gulf Road. Fitness program will run for four months evry Friday 7:00 am McDonald seaside.

Come, join us and tag along your family and friends in this very exciting and stimulating activity. For details contact Bong -99530665, Maria-99079341,

Konkani drama Kuwait Goan Association (KGA) after presenting popular Konkani tiatrs ‘Ghor Bandlem ghorabo Modlo’ and ‘Tujea Moga Passot’, now all set to present Tragedy King Mario Menezes most popular Konkani drama “Hatachim Panch Bottam” in Kuwait on Friday, 18th November 2011 with full troupe.

Await for more details or email: kgakuwait@gmail.com

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Embassy Information

KDNA holds Malabar Fest

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he Malabar Mahostavam organised under the auspices of the Kozhikode District NRI association in the desert land of Kuwait city was indeed a spectacular sight both in letter and spirit. The festival served to cater to the various tastes of people both for the mind and body including mouth watering dishes like Kozhikodan halwas, egg recipes including the famous Kozhikodan Biriyani. Beneath this special Kozhikodan vivid varieties of pickles like carrot, Beetroot, mango, and salted gooseberries. Ice scratches seen in the Kozhikode beach & ground nut vehicle stunned the viewers. There were items to satisfy the taste of children too like toys, balloons, whistles, etc, without

disappointing anyone.

A poster exhibition was conducted by Mujeeb Chemmikkatt and Mahindran Thikodi which was illustrated different posters proclaiming the invaluable contribution made by socio- cultural and literary personalities of Kozhikode that gave a boost to the name and fame of Malabar, also the various stalls put up by a business houses also found their way in the Malabar Mahotsavam.

The Malabar mahostavam entry was open by cutting a ribbon by cine artist Kailash and The Malabarmmahostvam was declared open by the famous Movie Director V.M. Vinu Henna designing Competition winners were Foumi Noufal who secured the

first Prize, 2nd prize for Nada Valiyakkath & Shamna Jaffer who got the third prize.

This was inaugurated by Miss Kerala beautiful voice and Miss Vivacious Miss.

Shikha Santosh, and the judges were actor Kailash, Director V.M. Vinu and Sindhu Vijayan.

Cultural meet was presided over by Zubair MM, President of KDNA and inaugurated by H.K. Mohan, First Secretary Indian Embassy to Kuwait. Key note address was delivered by chief guest film Director VM Vinu, Suresh Mathur, General Secretary, explained about KDNA activities and its upcoming projects which will carry out relief works for needy and less privileged people in Kerala as well as in Kuwait. Vijayan Karayil, Joint Secretary of

Indian community school, Advisory Board members Krishnan Kadalundi, Basheer Batha, Actor Kailash and Miss Shika Santosh made felicitation speeches. Program general convener Nasir Thikkodi welcomed the audience and Santosh Punathil Treasurer KDNA. rendered Vote of thanks.

Variety of cultural programs enthralled the audience and they won several instant prices from the road show. The Malabar mahostavam 2011 came to end with musical extravaganza held by Mohammed Aslam also known as junior Mohammed Rafi and Jasreen. This was held under the guidance of the Arts Secretary Rafi Kallai, who is a famous singer from dawn to dusk.

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. Canada offers a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that Consular Officials can contact and assist Canadians in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform Canadians of a family emergency at home. The Embassy of Canada encourages all Canadian Citizens to register online through the Government of Canada Travel Website at www.voyage.gc.ca. The Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi provides visa and immigration services to residents of Kuwait. 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.

Effective January 15, 2011, the only Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application form that will be accepted by CIC is the Application for Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada [IMM 5257] form.

All previous Temporary Resident Visa application forms will no longer be accepted by CIC and instead will be returned to applicants. Should old applications be submitted prior to January 15, 2011 they will continue to be processed.

To ensure that the most recent version of the Temporary Resident Visa application form is being utilized, applicants should refer to the CIC website. As of January 15, 2011, forms are to be filled in electronically. The Embassy of Canada is open from 07:30 to 15:30 Sunday through Thursday. Consular Services for Canadian Citizens are provided from 09:00 until 12:00 on Sunday through Wednesday.

The forms are available on the internet at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/ IMM5257E.PDF. A guide explaining the process can be found here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/guides /5256E.PDF. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF GERMANY

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuwait wishes to announce that as of 1 May 2011, the external service provider Al Qabas Assurex is operating a Visa Application Centre in support of the German Embassy. Short-term visa applications for travels to Germany (e.g. for tourism, visits, business) are to be submitted to the service provider Al Qabas who for your convenience will ensure that all relevant documents are included in your application. Your personal appearance at the Application Centre is not required. Address of the Visa Application Centre: Al Qabas Assurex Sanabel Tower (AlBabtain) Mezzanine (M3) opposite Sharq Mall Kuwait 22924444 Fax: 22924442 Further information are available on the following websites: www.kuwait.diplo.de www.qavisa.com nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed today, Thursday for - Guru Nanak’s birthday. nnnnnnn

Warm welcome accorded to HH Catholicos of the East

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he Supreme Head of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church HH Moran Mar Baselios Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, who reached Kuwait to bless the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Catholicate Centenary celebrations in the Gulf region and the Harvest Festival in

the auspices of St Gregorios Indian Orthodox Maha Edavaka, has been accorded a warm welcome at Kuwait Intl airport yesterday morning by the Maha Edavaka.

Malankara Orthodox Church Priest Trusty Rev Fr Dr Johns Konat, Church Secretary Dr George Joseph, also

reached Kuwait along with the Catholicos to take part in the celebrations. H G Dr Joseph Mar Dionysius Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese, Very Rev. Gevarghese Ramban, Parish Vicar Fr Jose Mathew, Asso. Vicar Fr George C Varghese, Parish Trusty Jose Daniel, Parish Secretary John George, Church Managing Committee

members Kurian Varghese, Shaji Abraham, General Convener K V James, Fr Abraham Parampuzha, Fr Saju Philip, Parish managing committee members, Harvest Festival conveners, spiritual & charitable organization office bearers were among who received the Catholicos at the airport.

EMBASSY OF KENYA The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya wishes to request all Kenyans resident in or training through Kuwait to register with the Embassy.

We are updating our database. This information is necessary in order to facilitate quick assistance and advise in times of emergency. Kindly visit in person or register through our website www.kenyaembkuwait.com. The Embassy is located in: Surra Area Block 6 - Street 9 - Villa 3 Tel: 25353362 - 25353314; Fax: 25353316. nnnnnnn

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ar Al Funoon has the pleasure to invite you to an art exhibition of works from Hamad Al-Saab & Ali Sultan titled: Connect To Disconnect To Connect. Opening on November 14th & will continue until November 21st Where: Dar Al Funoon (Behbehani Compound, House 28, Kuwait City) Time: 7pm on opening night

Aware Center Arabic lessons The AWARE Management is glad to inform you that Winter 1 Arabic language courses will begin on November 20th, 2011 until January 12th, 2012. AWARE Arabic language courses are designed with the expat in mind. The environment is relaxed and courses are designed for those wanting to learn Arabic for travel, cultural understanding, and conducting business or simply to become more involved in the community. We cater to teachers, travelers & those working in the private business sector. Arabic classes at the AWARE Center are unique because students are provided with the chance to practice their Arabic through various social activities that aim at bringing Arabs and Westerners together.

AWARE Arabic courses highlight: lIntroductory to Level 4 Arabic language basics lBetter prepare you for speaking, reading and writing Arabic lCombine language learning with cultural insights lTaught in multi-nationality group settings lProvide opportunities to interact with Western expatriates and native Kuwaitis/Arabs.

For more information or registration, call 25335260/80 ext 105/104/0 or log onto: www.aware.com.kw.

Aware center tour

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he Aware centre has organized a 1 1/2 tour of one of Kuwait’s most famous landmarks: The Grand Mosque. The tour will commence at 9.30am on Saturday the 12th of November, but those interested in taking part should meet at the Grande Mosque at 9.15.

The dress code is conservative, and cameras are allowed. Please note, women are kindly requested to wear long and loose fitting clothing and may take a scarf for covering their hair. The Mosque will be able to provide scarves for those without.

‘KAVIYARANGAM (Poets Meet)’

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upreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan Moran Mar Baslios is being presented a caricature by Johnarts Kalabhavan (unseen) in Abbasiya, yesterday.

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WARE Centre hosts a movie day (November 25th at 3pm) For more info: 2533-5260/80 Join the AWARE Center once a month as they explore the culture of the Arabs and Muslims through film. This Friday’s film is titled Cairo Time, a 2009 drama Canadian Film.

Cairo Time is a 2009 film by Canadian director Ruba Nadda. It is a romantic drama about a brief, unexpected love affair that catches two people completely off-guard.

This movie won the “Best Canadian Feature Film” at the Toronto International Film Festival 2009. Duration: 90 minutes.

Plot Synopsis Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) is a Canadian magazine editor who arrives in Cairo for a vacation with her long-time husband (Tom McCamus), a UN official working in Gaza.

Delayed, her husband asks his friend-a handsome Egyptian named Tareq (Alexander Siddig)-to watch over Juliette. Juliette finds herself falling in love not only with the city but with Tareq.

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e are glad to inform that “Valaikuda Vanambadi Poets Association”, Kuwait celebrates every year a grand “KAVIYARANGAM (Poets Meet)” with our NRI Tamil Poets along with Famous Tamil Poets from Tamil Nadu.

This year we are planning to conduct the Kaviyarangam on Thursday, 24th Nov 2011 at American International SchooL auditorium which is in Maidan Hawally at 5:00 pm.

The Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, His Excellency H.E Satish C. Mehta will be presiding over the function.

We have invited Col. Dr. G. Thiruvasagam, Honorable Vice Chancellor, University of Madras and the Famous Tamil Cinema Poet & Lyricist Kalaimamani Kabilan, who has written more than 1500 cine songs and the popular Folk song singers Kalaimamani Selvi Ayyappan and Ayyappan who had performed on more than 1000 stages from India as chief guests, to entertain the Kuwait living NRIs with their tremendous performance and speech. As an additional entertainment, Classical dance will be performed by “Sangamam” dance group and karaoke songs

by Valaikuda Vanambadi s singers.

So, we expect your presence and contribution to make this program a grand success.

For more details, contact 97801299, 67077302, 99847838.

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax- 25387719.

Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF PERU The Embassy of Peru is located at Al-Arablya Tower, Sharq, Ahmed Al-Jaber Street, on the 6th Floor. In the same place, as a part of the Chancellery of the Embassy of Peru in Kuwait, also is located the Showing Room of “PeruExpoTour, Trade & Invest.” nnnnnnn

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.

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

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00:50 Man-Eating Super Snake 01:45 Animal Cops Houston 02:40 Galapagos 03:35 Wildest Africa 04:30 Man-Eating Super Snake 05:25 Cats 101 06:20 Animal Cops Houston 07:10 Animal Cops Specials 2009 08:00 Monkey Life 08:25 The Really Wild Show 08:50 Growing Up...

09:40 Breed All About It 10:10 Dogs 101: Specials 11:05 Cats 101 12:00 Animal Cops Houston 12:55 Michaela’s Animal Road Trip 13:50 SSPCA: On The Wildside 14:45 Animal Cops Houston 15:40 Galapagos 16:30 Monkey Life 17:00 The Really Wild Show 17:30 Baby Planet 18:25 Cats 101 19:20 World’s Ugliest Dog Competition 20:15 Monkey Life 20:40 Breed All About It 21:10 Dogs 101 22:05 Galapagos 23:00 Venom Hunter With Donald Schultz 23:55 Untamed & Uncut

00:30 Gavin & Stacey 01:00 2 Point 4 Children 02:05 The Weakest Link: S11: Set 02 02:50 Casualty: Set 3 03:40 Doctors: Set 2 04:10 2 Point 4 Children 04:40 3rd & Bird: set 01 04:50 Bobinogs 05:00 Boogie Beebies: Set 4 05:15 Spot’s Musical Adventures 05:20 Me Too: Set 1 05:40 Fimbles: Set 2 06:00 3rd & Bird: set 01 06:10 Bobinogs 06:20 Boogie Beebies: Set 4 06:35 Spot’s Musical Adventures 06:40 Me Too: Set 1 07:00 Charlie & Lola: Set 2 07:10 Fimbles: Set 2 07:30 3rd & Bird: set 01 07:40 Bobinogs 07:50 Boogie Beebies: Set 4 08:05 Spot’s Musical Adventures 08:10 Me Too: Set 1 08:30 Charlie & Lola: Set 2 08:40 Fimbles: Set 2 09:00 3rd & Bird: set 01 09:10 Bobinogs 09:20 Boogie Beebies: Set 4 09:35 Spot’s Musical Adventures 09:40 Me Too: Set 1 10:00 Charlie & Lola: Set 2 10:15 Fimbles: Set 2 10:35 2 Point 4 Children 11:35 The Weakest Link: S11: Set 02 12:20 Emma (2009) 13:15 Doctors: Set 2 13:45 Eastenders: set 253 14:15 Casualty: Set 3 15:10 2 Point 4 Children 16:40 Emma (2009) 17:30 The Weakest Link: S11: Set 02 18:15 Doctors: Set 2 18:45 Eastenders: set 253 19:15 Casualty: Set 3 20:10 Emma (2009) 21:00 The Weakest Link: S11: Set 02 21:45 Doctors: Set 2 22:15 Eastenders: set 253 22:45 Incredible Journeys With Steve Leonard 23:35 Coast

00:00 00:45 01:10 02:00 02:50

Holmes On Homes The Naked Chef Come Dine With Me What Not To Wear Holmes On Homes

03:40 The Naked Chef 04:05 Come Dine With Me 04:55 What Not To Wear 05:45 Holmes On Homes 06:35 The Naked Chef 07:05 Come Dine With Me 08:00 Cash In The Attic USA 08:20 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 08:45 Daily Cooks Challenge 10:45 Antiques Roadshow 11:40 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 12:25 Bargain Hunt 13:10 Come Dine With Me 14:00 Daily Cooks Challenge 15:55 Antiques Roadshow 16:45 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 17:35 Bargain Hunt 18:20 Come Dine With Me 19:10 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 19:35 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 20:00 Rhodes Across Italy 20:45 Come Dine With Me 21:35 Antiques Roadshow 22:25 Bargain Hunt: Famous Finds 23:10 Bargain Hunt

00:00 BBC World News America 00:30 Hardtalk 01:00 BBC World News 01:30 World Business Report 01:45 Sport Today 02:00 BBC World News America 02:30 Asia Business Report 02:45 Sport Today 03:00 Newsday 03:30 Asia Business Report 03:45 Sport Today 04:00 Newsday 04:30 Asia Business Report 04:45 Sport Today 05:00 Newsday 05:30 Asia Business Report 05:45 Sport Today 06:00 Newsday 06:30 Asia Business Report 06:45 Sport Today 07:00 Newsday 07:30 Hardtalk 08:00 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 World Business Report 11:45 Sport Today 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 Hardtalk 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 BBC World News 14:30 World Business Report 14:45 Sport Today 15:00 GMT With George Alagiah 16:00 Impact With Mishal Husain 17:30 World Business Report 17:45 Sport Today 18:00 BBC World News 18:30 Hardtalk 19:00 BBC World News 19:30 World Business Report 19:45 Sport Today 20:00 The Hub With Nik Gowing 21:30 World Business Report 21:45 Sport Today 22:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 23:30 World Business Report 23:45 Sport Today

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The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

TV PROGRAMS 04:25 04:50 05:15 05:35 06:00 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 09:00 09:25 09:50 10:15 10:40 11:05 11:30 11:55 12:20 12:35 13:00 13:15 13:40 13:55 14:20 14:45 15:15 15:40 16:05 16:30 16:55 17:20 Doo 17:45 18:10 19:45 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:45 22:10 22:35 23:00 23:25 23:55

Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery Duck Dodgers The Garfield Show New Yogi Bear Show Bananas In Pyjamas Baby Looney Tunes Gerald McBoing Boing Jelly Jamm Pink Panther And Pals Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show Dastardly And Muttley The Flintstones Tom & Jerry Pink Panther And Pals Top Cat New Yogi Bear Show Puppy In My Pocket Jelly Jamm Baby Looney Tunes Bananas In Pyjamas The Jetsons Duck Dodgers Looney Tunes Scooby Doo Where Are You! Tom & Jerry The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop Droopy: Master Detective Wacky Races Scooby-Doo And ScrappyDastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Dexters Laboratory Gerald McBoing Boing Bananas In Pyjamas Top Cat Wacky Races Tom & Jerry The Scooby Doo Show Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Johnny Bravo Dexters Laboratory

00:15 Samurai Jack 00:40 Megas XLR 01:05 Robotboy 01:30 Squirrel Boy 01:55 George Of The Jungle 02:20 Cramp Twins 02:45 Chop Socky Chooks 03:10 Best Ed 03:35 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 04:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 04:25 Generator Rex 04:50 Adventure Time 05:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 05:40 Chowder 05:55 Powerpuff Girls 06:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 06:55 I Am Weasel 07:20 Squirrel Boy 07:45 Cow & Chicken 08:00 Casper’s Scare School 08:04 Cow & Chicken 08:25 Angelo Rules 08:50 Best Ed 09:15 The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack 09:40 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 10:05 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 10:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 10:55 Cow & Chicken 11:20 I Am Weasel 11:35 Adventure Time 12:00 Ben 10 12:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 12:50 The Secret Saturdays 13:15 Samurai Jack 13:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 14:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 14:30 Skunk Fu! 14:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 15:15 The Amazing World Of Gumball 15:40 Ed, Edd n Eddy 16:05 Camp Lazlo 16:30 Chowder 16:55 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 17:25 Cow & Chicken

THE POSTMAN ON OSN ACTION HD

17:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 18:15 I Am Weasel 18:40 George Of The Jungle 19:05 Codename: Kids Next Door 19:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 19:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 20:20 Generator Rex 20:45 Bakugan: Gundalian Invaders 21:10 Hero 108 21:35 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 22:00 Total Drama Action 22:25 The Amazing World Of Gumball 22:50 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 23:00 Ben 10 23:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 23:50 The Secret Saturdays

00:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson 01:00 Backstory 01:30 World Sport 02:00 The Situation Room 03:00 World Report 04:00 Anderson Cooper 360 05:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 06:00 Quest Means Business 07:00 World Sport 07:30 Talk Asia 08:00 World Report 08:30 Backstory 09:00 World Report 11:00 World Sport 11:30 The Gateway 11:45 Future Cities 12:00 World Business Today 13:00 American Morning: Wake-Up Call 13:30 Open Court 14:00 World One 15:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 16:00 News Stream 17:00 World Business Today 18:00 International Desk 19:00 The Brief 19:30 World Sport 20:00 Prism 21:00 International Desk 21:30 Open Court 22:00 Quest Means Business 23:00 Piers Morgan Tonight

00:15 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:25 04:20 05:15 05:40 06:05 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:25 12:20 13:15 14:10 15:05 15:30 16:00 16:25 16:55 17:50 18:45 19:10 19:40 20:05 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:25 23:20

Swamp Brothers Man vs Fish With Matt Watson Overhaulin’ Dirty Jobs Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’s Made How Do They Do It? Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Overhaulin’ How It’s Made Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Scrappers Dual Survival Ultimate Survival Ultimate Survival Man vs Fish With Matt Watson Swamp Brothers Cash Cab Us Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear Overhaulin’ Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Scrappers How Do They Do It? How It’s Made Cash Cab Us One Man Army Ultimate Survival Nothing Personal

00:40 The Gadget Show 01:05 The Tech Show 01:35 Mighty Ships 02:25 Green Wheels 02:50 Weird Or What?

03:40 Brainiac 04:35 The Gadget Show 05:25 How Stuff’s Made 05:50 Mighty Ships 06:40 Stuntdawgs 07:10 Engineered 08:00 Punkin Chunkin 2010 08:50 Moon Machines 09:40 The Tech Show 10:10 Weird Connections 10:35 The Gadget Show 11:25 Engineered 12:20 Sci-Fi Science 12:45 How Stuff’s Made 13:15 Weird Or What?

14:05 Moon Machines 14:55 Stuntdawgs 15:20 Green Wheels 15:50 Mighty Ships 16:40 Weird Connections 17:05 Punkin Chunkin 2010 18:00 Brainiac 18:50 Sci-Fi Science 19:15 The Tech Show 19:40 Bang Goes The Theory 20:30 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman 21:20 Ecopolis 22:10 The Gadget Show 23:00 Bang Goes The Theory 23:50 Through The Wormhole With Morgan Freeman

00:00 00:25 01:15 02:00 02:50 03:35 04:25 05:15 06:00 06:20 Cody 06:45 07:05 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:35 09:00

Kim Possible Fairly Odd Parents Stitch Replacements Emperor’s New School Stitch Replacements Fairly Odd Parents Emperor’s New School The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb Wizards Of Waverly Place Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates

09:15 Jungle Junction 09:25 The Hive 09:35 Handy Manny 09:50 Imagination Movers 10:15 Phineas And Ferb 10:30 Emperor’s New School 10:50 Good Luck Charlie 11:15 Phineas And Ferb 11:35 Suite Life On Deck 12:00 Wizards Of Waverly Place 12:25 Sonny With A Chance 12:45 Good Luck Charlie 13:10 Hannah Montana 13:30 Suite Life On Deck 13:55 Wizards Of Waverly Place 14:20 The Adventures Of Disney Fairies 14:55 Good Luck Charlie 15:20 Phineas And Ferb 15:45 Fish Hooks 16:10 Shake It Up 16:35 The Suite Life Of Zack And Cody 17:00 Phineas And Ferb 18:15 Shake It Up 18:45 Suite Life On Deck 19:35 Good Luck Charlie 20:00 Emperor’s New School 20:25 Fish Hooks 20:50 Hannah Montana 21:15 Sonny With A Chance 21:35 Good Luck Charlie 22:00 Shake It Up 22:25 Suite Life On Deck 22:50 Sonny With A Chance 23:15 Wizards Of Waverly Place

00:25 Kendra 00:55 Style Star 01:25 Young, Beautiful & Vanished 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 40 (More) Crimes Of Fashion 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Kendra 09:45 Kendra 10:15 THS 12:05 E! News 13:05 Fashion Police 13:35 Style Star 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Giuliana & Bill 15:30 THS 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Ice Loves Coco 17:25 Ice Loves Coco 17:55 E! News 18:55 E!es 19:55 Dirty Soap 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Bridalplasty 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami

00:40 01:30 02:15 02:40 03:05 03:50 04:40 05:25 05:50 06:15 07:10 08:00 08:45 09:35 10:20 10:45 11:05 11:50 12:40 13:25 14:15 15:00 15:50 16:15 16:35 17:20 18:10 19:00 19:45 20:10 20:55 21:20 22:10 23:00 23:50

Dr G: Medical Examiner Ghost Lab Crime Scene Psychics Crime Scene Psychics I Almost Got Away With It FBI Case Files Dr G: Medical Examiner Crime Scene Psychics Crime Scene Psychics Ghost Lab Mystery ER Murder Shift Forensic Detectives Mystery ER Real Emergency Calls Street Patrol Ghost Lab FBI Files Murder Shift On The Case With Paula Zahn Fugitive Strike Force Mystery ER Street Patrol Real Emergency Calls Ghost Lab FBI Files Forensic Detectives Murder Shift Real Emergency Calls Mystery ER Street Patrol On The Case With Paula Zahn Fugitive Strike Force Cuff Me If You Can Forensic Justice

00:00 01:00 01:30 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 13:30 14:30 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 19:30 20:30 21:00 22:00 23:00

Best of Treks in a Wild World Destination Extreme First Ascent City Chase Rome City Chase Marrakech Departures Nomads Best of Treks in a Wild World Destination Extreme First Ascent City Chase Rome City Chase Marrakech Departures Nomads Best of Treks in a Wild World Bondi Rescue: Bali Bondi Rescue Travel Madness Deadliest Journeys Cruise Ship Diaries Ultimate Traveller Warrior Road Trip Bondi Rescue: Bali Bondi Rescue Travel Madness Deadliest Journeys Cruise Ship Diaries Ultimate Traveller

00:00 18 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 09:30 12:30 14:30 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Clive Barker’s Book Of BloodNine Dead-PG15 Homecoming-PG15 Rocky-PG15 Ballistica-PG15 The Postman-PG15 Patriot Games-PG15 Ballistica-PG15 Shinjuku Incident-PG15 Patriot Games-PG15 Jennifer’s Body-18 The Alphabet Killer-PG15

01:15 03:15 05:00 07:00

The Tender Hook-PG15 Make It Happen-PG15 Planet 51-PG The Eclipse-PG15

FASTER ON OSN CINEMA 09:00 11:00 13:15 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Make It Happen-PG15 On Broadway-PG15 The Nutty Professor-FAM Shrek Forever After-FAM Ramona And Beezus-PG Girl, Positive-PG15 Faster-PG15 Mr. Nice-18

00:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 01:00 The Colbert Report 01:30 South Park 02:00 American Dad 02:30 Entourage 03:00 Friends 04:00 According To Jim 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Dharma And Greg 06:00 Weird Science 06:30 Just Shoot Me 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 According To Jim 08:30 Friends 09:00 Dharma And Greg 09:30 The League 10:00 Parks And Recreation 10:30 Just Shoot Me 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Weird Science 12:30 According To Jim 13:00 Friends 13:30 Dharma And Greg 14:00 Just Shoot Me 14:30 The League 15:00 Parks And Recreation 15:30 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 16:00 The Colbert Report 16:30 Weird Science 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Friends 19:00 Community 19:30 Wilfred 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Funny Or Die Presents 22:30 Entourage 23:00 South Park 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 07:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

Terra Nova True Blood Big Love Once Upon A Time The Invisible Man Good Morning America Detroit 1-8-7 Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Terra Nova Once Upon A Time The Invisible Man Live Good Morning America The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Turn Back Your Body Clock Eureka The X Factor (US) Treme Detroit 1-8-7

00:00 The Closer 01:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior 02:00 Terra Nova 03:00 True Blood 04:00 Once Upon A Time 05:00 The Good Guys 06:00 The Closer 07:00 Outsourced 07:30 Coronation Street 08:00 Bones 09:00 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior 10:00 Terra Nova 11:00 Once Upon A Time 12:00 Outsourced 12:30 Coronation Street 13:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 14:00 Bones 15:00 The Closer 16:00 The Simpsons 17:00 The Ellen DeGeneres Show 18:00 Bones

19:00 20:00 22:00 23:00

Eureka The X Factor (US) Treme No Ordinary Family

01:30 03:30 05:15 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:45 15:30 17:30 19:30 21:45 23:15

8 Mile-PG15 Mindhunters-18 Jason X-18 Echelon Conspiracy-PG15 Speed-PG15 Avatar-PG The Lost Future-PG15 Speed-PG15 Top Gun-PG15 From Hell-18 Outpost-18 Carrie-18

00:00 02:00 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

The Freshman-PG15 Stan Helsing-18 Babe-FAM Babe: Pig In The City-FAM Valentine’s Day-PG15 Born Yesterday-PG15 The Country Bears-PG Julie And Julia-PG15 The Freshman-PG15 The Allnighter-PG15 Cop Out-PG15 Couples Retreat-18

01:15 03:00 05:00 07:15 09:00 11:00 13:15 15:15 16:45 19:00 21:00 23:00

The Headless Woman-PG15 Chelsea On The Rocks-PG15 Mr. Jones-PG15 Delgo-FAM Amelia-PG15 Dance With Me-PG Khao Niao Moo Ping-PG15 The Cake Eaters-PG15 The Italian Job (1969)-PG Alice In Wonderland-PG Up In The Air-PG15 No Escape-PG15

02:15 Blue Valentine-18 04:30 How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days-PG 06:45 Iron Man 2-PG15 09:00 Tangled-FAM 11:00 Good Hair-PG15 13:00 Phoebe In Wonderland-PG 15:00 Charlie St. Cloud-PG15 17:00 Tangled-FAM 19:00 It’s Complicated-PG15 21:00 Faster-PG15 23:00 Shrink-18

00:00 Zorro’s Secrets-PG 02:00 The Big Green-PG 04:00 Ulysses-PG 06:00 Barney’s Great AdventureFAM 08:00 Pocahontas III: The Journey In Time-PG 10:00 Scooby-Doo! Camp ScareFAM 11:45 Lego: The Adventures Of Clutch Powers-FAM 13:45 The Big Green-PG 16:00 A Simple Wish-FAM 18:00 Scooby-Doo! Camp ScareFAM 20:00 Pollyworld-FAM 22:00 Lego: The Adventures Of Clutch Powers-FAM

00:00 Tetro-18 02:15 Frenemy-18 04:00 Furry Vengeance-PG 05:45 Carnera: The Walking Mountain-PG 08:00 Fly Me To The Moon-PG 10:00 That’s What I Am-PG15 12:00 You Again-PG15 14:00 Marmaduke-PG 16:00 Fly Me To The Moon-PG 17:45 A Fork In The Road-PG15 20:00 Inception-PG15 23:00 Bond Of Silence-PG15

02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00

Powerboats Powerboats Trans World Sport Le Mans Cup

06:00 07:00 08:00 13:00 14:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 22:30

WWE Tough Enough Powerboats Live European PGA Tour Trans World Sport Rugby League 4 Nations Powerboats Powerboats Trans World Sport WWE NXT UFC The Ultimate Fighter Powerboats Futbol Mundial Live Premier League Snooker

00:30 Rugby League 4 Nations 02:30 Beach Volley Ball 03:00 European Challenge Tour Highlights 04:00 Asian Tour Golf Show 04:30 Spirit of Yachting 05:00 Volvo Ocean Race 06:00 Equestrian World 06:30 Beach Volley Ball 07:00 Pro 12 Celtic League 09:00 Total Rugby 09:30 Futbol Mundial 10:00 Rugby League 4 Nations 12:00 Equestrian World 12:30 Spirit of Yachting 13:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 13:30 Beach Volley Ball 14:00 Volvo Ocean Race 15:00 World Hockey 15:30 Total Rugby 16:00 Scottish Premier League 18:00 Futbol Mundial 18:30 Rugby League 4 Nations 20:30 Total Rugby 21:00 Scottish Premier League Highlights 21:30 Trans World Sport 22:30 Live Premier League Snooker

00:00 Futbol Mundial 00:30 European Tour Weekly 01:00 Golfing World 02:00 Premier League Snooker 05:30 European Challenge Tour Highlights 06:30 Asian Tour Golf 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 Live European PGA Tour 13:00 Golfing World 14:00 European Tour Weekly 14:30 Asian Tour Golf 15:00 European Challenge Tour Highlights 16:00 Trans World Sports 17:00 European PGA Tour 22:15 Total Rugby 22:45 Live European Challenge Cup

00:00 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup 01:00 Super League Formula 03:30 V8 Supercars 04:00 WWE Tough Enough 05:00 UFC Unleashed 06:00 UFC Unleashed 07:00 WWE SmackDown 09:00 WWE Bottom Line 10:00 WWE Tough Enough 11:00 V8 Supercars 12:00 Speedway 13:00 Powerboats 14:00 Powerboats 15:00 Powerboats Highlights 15:30 Super League Formula 18:00 WWE Vintage Collection 19:00 WWE NXT 20:00 UFC Total Ultimate Fighter Season 21:00 UFC 138

02:05 03:35 05:05 06:35 08:00 09:50 11:30 13:20 15:15 16:55 18:45 21:20 23:00

Son Of A Gunfighter-FAM These Wilder Years-PG Ride, Vaquero!-FAM Black Legion-PG Dark Passage-FAM Kismet-FAM Summer Stock-FAM Silk Stockings-FAM The Trouble With Girls-FAM Passage To Marseille-PG Home From The Hill-PG Elvis: That’s The Way It Is-FAM The Sunshine Boys-PG

Classifieds THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

Barnes & Noble unveils tablet to challenge Kindle Fire LOS ANGELES: The Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet was announced on Monday as the bookseller's answer to the coming Amazon Kindle Fire and Kobo Vox tablets.

The Nook Tablet is now on pre-order and will ship to Barnes & Noble stores and other retailers (Target, Staples, Wal-Mart, Office Max and many others) late next week at a price of $249 — about $50 more than the Kindle Fire.

But for the extra $50, the Nook Tablet offers beefier specs than the Kindle Fire that, Chief Executive William Lynch argued in unveiling the new Barnes & Noble device, will add up to a faster, smoother experience when reading books, playing games or watching movies.

So just what are those increased specs?

The Nook Tablet gets 16 gigabytes of builtin storage and 1 gigabyte of RAM. The Nook Color, which used to sell for $249 but was cut in price to $199 on Monday, has 8 gigabytes of storage and 512 megabytes of RAM. Both Nook devices feature the same 7-inch touch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and a microSD card slot that can accommodate up to 32-gigabytes of added storage.

The Kindle Fire features Nook-Colormatching specs with a 7-inch touch screen, a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, 8 gigabytes of built-in storage and 512 megabytes of RAM. Amazon's tablet has no microSD card slot.

The Nook Tablet will offer up to 11.5 hours of battery life, which beats the Kindle Fire's promise of an 8-hour battery life.

Each of the three tablets runs on modified versions of Google's Android Gingerbread operating system and connects to the Internet over Wi-Fi, with no 3G or 4G options offered.

All three also make use of cloud storage, with the Nook Tablet and Nook Color syncing to the Nook Cloud service and the Kindle Fire using Amazon Cloud Drive.

Unlike the Kindle Fire, Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet and Nook Color have no built-in storefront for buying movies and music.

Lynch said that while Amazon sells those items, Barnes & Noble is focused on selling digital reading content, while letting others handle the music, TV show and film side of things _ such as Netflix, Hulu and Pandora, which all come pre-installed on the Nook Tablet.

"The Kindle Fire is a vending machine for Amazon services, they've said it themselves," he said at the company's flagship store in New York's Union Square during the Nook Tablet reveal. "In one word, we're more open" in allowing users to get their music and video content from wherever they want.

Amazon, meanwhile, has marketed its services as a strength of the Kindle Fire and not a detractor.

As far as styling, the Nook Tablet looks exactly like the Nook Color, save for a different shade of gray paint adorning the face of the device. The single black bar home button and rounded hook on one corner remain in place, as does a soft-touch rubberized back. — MCT

CHANGE OF NAME

ACCOMMODATION Sharing accommodation available for a single family with a family in two bedroom, hall, two toilet in Abbassiya, opp United Indian School.

Call: 99170268. (C 3730) 10-11-2011

I, Vanki Reddy Sreelatha, holder of Indian Passport No. G6791519 converted to Islam do hereby change my name to Aasma Bano.

(C 3727) 5-11-2011

No: 1526?

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines KAC KAC JZR KLM JZR JZR SVA ETH KAC THY UAE QTR DHX KAC MSR FDB ETD GFA SVA KAC KAC THY DHX FCX JZR JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC KAC FDB IRA KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY QTR FDB SVA ETD IRA SVA GFA KAC SVA JZR KNE SVA MEA IRA SYR KAC MSC SVA MSR JZR KAC GFA MSR SVA IRA FDB KAC SVA

Arrival Flights on Thursday 10/11/2011 Flt Route 2902 JEDDAH 2934 JEDDAH 185 DUBAI 447 AMSTERDAM/BAHRAIN 267 BEIRUT 539 CAIRO 5322 JEDDAH 620 ADDIS ABABA 2932 JEDDAH 772 ISTANBUL 853 DUBAI 138 DOHA 370 BAHRAIN 154 ISTANBUL 612 CAIRO 67 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 211 BAHRAIN 5388 JEDDAH 2936 JEDDAH 2940 JEDDAH 770 ISTANBUL 170 BAHRAIN 201 DUBAI 503 LUXOR 555 ALEXANDRIA 2952 JEDDAH 157 LONDON 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 2954 JEDDAH 206 ISLAMABAD 53 DUBAI 617 AHWAZ 302 MUMBAI 531 ASSIUT 332 TRIVANDRUM 2956 JEDDAH 284 DHAKA 362 COLOMBO 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 5460 JEDDAH 301 ABU DHABI 3417 MASHAD 5400 JEDDAH 213 BAHRAIN 2938 JEDDAH 5408 JEDDAH 165 DUBAI 789 JEDDAH 5470 JEDDAH 404 BEIRUT 3360 MASHAD 341 DAMASCUS/DEIREZZOR 2942 JEDDAH 9621 SOHAG 5478 JEDDAH 610 CAIRO 201 DAMASCUS 672 DUBAI 219 BAHRAIN 621 ASSIUT 5424 JEDDAH 3403 TEHRAN/MASHAD 57 DUBAI 2944 JEDDAH 5474 JEDDAH

Time 0:10 0:15 0:20 0:30 0:45 0:50 0:55 1:45 2:10 2:15 2:35 2:40 2:55 2:55 3:00 3:05 3:10 3:15 3:30 3:40 4:40 4:50 5:15 5:30 5:55 6:00 6:30 6:40 6:45 7:30 7:40 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:10 8:15 8:20 8:30 9:00 9:05 9:20 9:30 9:35 9:40 9:50 9:55 10:40 10:55 11:20 11:20 11:50 11:55 12:00 12:35 12:40 12:45 12:50 12:55 13:00 13:20 13:25 13:30 13:30 13:35 13:50 13:50 13:55

UAL VOS OMA QTR KNE SVA RJA KAC KAC JZR JZR IRC LMU KAC QTR SVA KAC JZR MLR JZR ETD KAC GFA SVA SVA TAR ABY KAC JZR RBG SVA ALK MSC SVA FDB KAC KAC JZR KAC KAC KAC SVA KAC KAC FDB FDB JAI OMA SVA MSR DHX SVA MEA GFA LMU QTR UAE JZR THY KLM AIC KAC JZR JZR SVA UAL AXB BBC DLH SVA

982 93 645 140 745 500 640 788 2946 257 241 6791 407 546 134 5406 2950 535 403 357 303 118 215 510 5402 327 127 2948 777 3553 5452 227 9623 5410 63 502 542 125 786 614 674 5472 104 774 61 8067 572 647 5468 618 372 5484 402 217 409 136 859 135 3300 445 981 2962 513 239 5480 981 389 43 636 5442

WASHINGTON DC DULLES KANDAHAR/DUBAI MUSCAT DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH AMMAN JEDDAH JEDDAH BEIRUT AMMAN MASHAD ALEXANDRIA ALEXANDRIA DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH CAIRO COLOMBO MASHAD ABU DHABI NEW YORK BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH TUNIS/DUBAI SHARJAH JEDDAH JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH COLOMBO/DUBAI SOHAG JEDDAH DUBAI BEIRUT CAIRO BAHRAIN JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI JEDDAH LONDON RIYADH DUBAI DUBAI MUMBAI MUSCAT JEDDAH ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN JEDDAH BEIRUT BAHRAIN ASSIUT DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN ISTANBUL AMSTERDAM CHENNAI/HYDERABAD/AHMEDABAD JEDDAH SHARM EL SHEIKH AMMAN JEDDAH BAHRAIN KOZHIKODE/MANGALORE DHAKA FRANKFURT JEDDAH

14:05 14:15 14:15 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:40 14:50 14:50 15:00 15:05 15:05 15:10 15:20 15:25 15:55 16:10 16:25 16:40 16:50 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:30 17:35 17:40 17:40 17:45 17:50 18:00 18:10 18:30 18:30 18:40 18:45 18:50 19:00 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:30 19:35 19:40 20:00 20:05 20:10 20:15 20:30 20:45 21:00 21:00 21:20 21:25 21:30 21:35 21:40 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:05 22:15 22:20 22:45 22:55 23:00 23:35 23:45 23:50 23:59

Airlines AXB UAL IAC SVA KAC PIA JZR DLH KLM SVA KAC KAC ETH THY FDB UAE DHX MSR ETD SVA QTR KAC THY JZR GFA JZR KAC FDB KAC KAC BAW IRA JZR KAC JZR KAC KAC JZR KAC UAE ABY FDB QTR ETD SVA GFA IRA JZR SVA KAC KAC SVA KAC KNE JZR KAC SVA MEA IRA KAC SYR KAC MSC MSR SVA GFA IRA MSR FDB

Departure Flights on Thursday 10/11/2011 Flt Route 394 COCHIN/KOZHIKODE 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 976 GOA/CHENNAI 4310 JEDDAH 2951 JEDDAH 216 KARACHI 530 ASSIUT 637 FRANKFURT 447 AMSTERDAM 4322 JEDDAH 2955 JEDDAH 2953 JEDDAH 621 ADDIS ABABA 773 ISTANBUL 68 DUBAI 854 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 613 CAIRO 306 ABU DHABI 4388 JEDDAH 139 DOHA 2937 JEDDAH 771 ISTANBUL 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 200 DAMASCUS 2941 JEDDAH 54 DUBAI 2943 JEDDAH 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 606 MASHAD 256 BEIRUT 671 DUBAI 534 CAIRO 787 JEDDAH 2945 JEDDAH 240 AMMAN 101 LONDON/NEW YORK 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 56 DUBAI 133 DOHA 302 ABU DHABI 4460 JEDDAH 214 BAHRAIN 604 ISFAHAN 356 MASHAD 4400 JEDDAH 2949 JEDDAH 165 ROME/PARIS 4408 JEDDAH 541 CAIRO 790 JEDDAH 776 JEDDAH 2947 JEDDAH 4470 JEDDAH 405 BEIRUT 3407 TEHRAN 501 BEIRUT 342 DEIREZZOR/DAMASCUS 785 JEDDAH 9622 SOHAG 611 CAIRO 4478 JEDDAH 220 BAHRAIN 3468 TEHRAN 622 ASSIUT 58 DUBAI

Time 0:40 0:45 0:50 0:55 1:00 1:10 1:15 1:20 1:45 1:55 2:00 2:20 2:45 3:15 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:00 4:30 4:55 5:30 5:50 6:55 7:00 7:30 7:30 8:25 8:30 8:30 8:40 8:50 9:00 9:00 9:15 9:25 9:30 9:35 9:35 9:40 9:45 10:05 10:10 10:20 10:30 10:40 10:40 10:50 10:55 11:00 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:05 12:15 12:30 12:55 12:55 13:00 13:00 13:35 13:40 13:45 13:55 13:55 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:35

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

SVA SVA KAC KNE OMA UAL RJA JZR LMU SVA JZR IRC KAC KAC QTR SVA KAC JZR ETD MLR JZR QTR VOS GFA TAR ABY RBG SVA SVA JZR KAC SVA KAC JZR ALK FDB MSC SVA KAC JZR KAC SVA FDB KAC KAC KAC DHX FDB KAC JAI OMA SVA MSR SVA DHX KAC LMU KAC MEA GFA FCX QTR KAC JZR UAE THY KAC KLM JZR JZR KAC SVA KAC

4424 4474 673 746 646 982 641 124 408 505 512 6792 613 773 141 4406 2961 238 304 404 538 135 82 216 328 128 3554 4402 511 266 2703 4452 2959 134 228 64 9624 4410 2701 184 283 4472 62 343 331 2969 171 8068 351 571 648 4468 619 4484 373 675 410 2963 403 218 102 137 301 554 860 3301 205 445 268 528 415 4480 411

JEDDAH JEDDAH DUBAI JEDDAH MUSCAT BAHRAIN AMMAN BAHRAIN ASSIUT JEDDAH SHARM EL SHEIKH AHWAZ BAHRAIN RIYADH DOHA JEDDAH JEDDAH AMMAN ABU DHABI DUBAI/COLOMBO CAIRO DOHA BAGHDAD BAHRAIN TUNIS SHARJAH ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH RIYADH BEIRUT MEDINAH JEDDAH JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI/COLOMBO DUBAI ASSIUT JEDDAH MEDINAH DUBAI DHAKA JEDDAH DUBAI CHENNAI TRIVANDRUM JEDDAH BAHRAIN DUBAI COCHIN MUMBAI MUSCAT MEDINAH ALEXANDRIA MEDINAH BAHRAIN DUBAI ALEXANDRIA JEDDAH BEIRUT BAHRAIN BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ALEXANDRIA DUBAI ISTANBUL ISLAMABAD BAHRAIN/AMSTERDAM BEIRUT ASSIUT KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA JEDDAH BANGKOK/MANILA

14:40 14:55 15:05 15:10 15:15 15:20 15:35 15:50 15:55 16:00 16:05 16:05 16:20 16:25 16:30 16:55 17:00 17:15 17:35 17:40 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:25 18:25 18:30 18:30 18:35 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:05 19:10 19:20 19:30 19:30 19:50 19:55 20:15 20:30 20:40 20:55 21:00 21:00 21:00 21:05 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:30 21:45 21:55 22:00 22:10 22:15 22:20 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:45 22:50 23:00 23:00 23:05 23:10 23:35 23:45 23:55 23:55

34

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

stars CROSSWORD 493

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) You may have to excuse yourself from some of the interactions with co-workers in order to get your work accomplished today. You may feel like talking a bit more than usual, happily becoming lost in conversation. It is certainly a day for thinking and ideas. There will be an urge to communicate more than usual. With your attitude to become more attentive to your work, much can be accomplished. Later today there will be an opportunity to exchange information and become more involved with neighbors or sibling(s). Others may find you especially witty and eccentric this evening. You may have insights or breakthroughs in regard to your own living situation today. You are ready for big changes and you proceed with little steps.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) You bring a lot of mental skills and understanding to whatever you do and could help others take a more independent approach to their life or career. Some of your friends and even co-workers may seek you out for your psychological insight and understanding. Today may be one of those days where you seem to be spending more time in giving guidance to others than you are in achieving results from your work. You may find yourself in overtime or taking a bit of work home with you this afternoon. Your inner resources and emotions may also be accented this evening when a young person presents you with some interesting challenges. You expect good will and effort from everyone that seeks your guidance and you receive positive results.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. Characteristic of a mob.

4. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds.

9. (usually followed by `to') Having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something.

13. Any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all.

14. A cloth having a crisscross design.

15. The act of grasping.

16. Having leadership guidance.

17. A violin made by Antonio Stradivari or a member of his family.

18. Any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids.

19. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

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

23. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people.

25. A member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in NE Nebraska.

28. A ductile gray metallic element of the lanthanide series.

30. A master's degree in fine arts.

33. A poplar that is widely cultivated in the United States.

34. A light strong brittle gray toxic bivalent metallic element.

37. A state of southwestern India.

39. The mission in San Antonio where in 1836 Mexican forces under Santa Anna besieged and massacred American rebels who were fighting to make Texas independent of Mexico.

41. Large burrowing rodent of South and Central America.

44. The United Nations agency concerned with civil aviation.

45. A very poisonous metallic element that has three allotropic forms.

47. A light touch or stroke.

48. Wood of any of various maple trees.

51. Obvious and dull.

54. An independent agency of the United States government responsible for collecting and coordinating intelligence and counterintelligence activities abroad in the national interest.

57. A unit of current equal to 10 amperes.

58. Australian physiologist noted for his research on the conduction of impulses by nerve cells (1903-1997).

60. Of or relating to or characteristic of Thailand of its people.

61. Feel admiration for.

64. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

65. 30 to 300 gigahertz.

66. Melon having yellowish rind and whitish flesh.

67. The longer of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code.

DOWN 1. A master's degree in library science.

2. An organization of countries formed in 1961 to agree on a common policy for the sale of petroleum.

3. English monk and scholar (672-735).

4. (computer science) The rate at which data is transferred (as by a modem).

5. Of or pertaining to or written in Altaic.

6. An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect.

7. Deciduous South African tree having large odd-pinnate leaves and profuse fragrant orange-yellow flowers.

8. A condition (mostly in boys) characterized by behavioral and learning disorders.

9. (Greek mythology) One of the three Graces.

10. (informal) Exceptionally good.

11. A Loloish language.

12. An ancient Hebrew unit of dry measure equal to about a bushel.

20. Tropical woody herb with showy yellow flowers and flat pods.

22. A port in western Israel on the Mediterranean.

24. A metric unit of length equal to 100 meters.

26. A dark-skinned member of a race of people living in Australia when Europeans arrived.

27. A collection of objects laid on top of each other.

29. A gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number).

31. Fallow deer.

32. Drive away by crying "shoo!".

35. Electronic warfare undertaken to insure effective friendly use of the electromagnetic spectrum in spite of the enemy's use of electronic warfare.

36. A cord that is drawn through eyelets or around hooks in order to draw together two edges (as of a shoe or garment).

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

40. Of a pale purple color.

42. (Old Testament) In Judeo-Christian mythology.

43. A high-crowned black cap (usually made of felt or sheepskin) worn by men in Turkey and Iran and the Caucasus.

46. A region of Malaysia in northeastern Borneo.

47. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

49. Sour or bitter in taste.

50. A genus of temperate and arctic evergreen trees (see spruce).

52. Marked by or showing unaffected simplicity and lack of guile or worldly experience.

53. A software system that facilitates the creation and maintenance and use of an electronic database.

54. A highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series).

55. Having nine hinged bands of bony plates.

56. United States writer (born in Poland) who wrote in Yiddish (1880-1957).

59. A boy or man.

62. An official prosecutor for a judicial district.

63. A state in midwestern United States.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Things are happening and your career or path depends on your own ambition and drive, which are strong now. This is the time to get ahead by taking action. Good fortune and plain old luck surround you. You easily make correct decisions and you find the right path to move forward where career and success are concerned. Life’s problems seem manageable. On the home front you will be the center of attention as you may have unexpected company. You enjoy entertaining others and can always find some type of refreshment to serve when necessary. There will be an opportunity to trade information and enjoy conversations about curious things. This can be an expansive, creative period—a time you will look back on with fondness.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

This is a very lucky day for making plans. You feel successful.

Subjects such as law, politics, education, travel and religion are some of the areas where emotionally charged issues could be discussed. Good advice from a guide or older person may be helpful—listen carefully. This is also a time of strong desire—perfect for starting something out or taking care of business. A business partnership that used to work to your advantage now seems less in keeping with your plans for the future and it is time for changes to be made. A change of atmosphere after work may help you gain focus on this change and may call for bouncing a basketball around for a while. This or some similar activity is a great way to get rid of stress after a busy workday.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Career decisions are straightforward. You make your way through ideas, concepts and your ability to express them to others.

You will make career gains by your ability to sense quality and choose accordingly.

Helping those who cannot help themselves—and accepting such help if you need it—is an essential lesson now. There is a mentor to be found if you need one and you may have the opportunity to play such a role for someone else. You may find yourself more than a little eager to acquire items today. Your current appreciation for just about everything may lead you to overspend this afternoon. Talk to a friend this evening and make plans to exercise together throughout the winter. This is a great way to channel tensions into some physical energy.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Outer circumstances are favorable and it should be easy for you to push forward in projects and in other aspects of your life. Things may seem almost magical in the way they work out to the most positive. This is a great time to get things accomplished. Environmental contaminants connected with your work can be a problem and you may be successful in convincing higher-ups of needed changes. You may encourage co-workers to join with you regarding a cleanup project in your work environment. There are rewards! Others appreciate your attention to better working conditions. You may eventually see a domino effect with other businesses around your city where this cleanup is concerned. You enjoy visiting with friends this evening.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) There is a more dynamic and outgoing quality to your life style now. Besting others in the heat of competition and taking on a leadership role means more to you now than in the past. Financial gain is the bright prospect looming before you now, as you focus in on how much things really mean to you. There may be a tendency to emphasize the material too much, which could lead to the feeling that the things you own, own you instead. This can be an expansive, creative and even a romantic phase; a time you will look back on with pride and fondness. What a great time this is to reflect and understand your own situation—just how you feel about your place in the world. Someone from your past is on your mind. He or she may be thinking about you as well.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) You are feeling good and everything in the workplace seems to just fall into place. Your communication skills seem fine-tuned. You can demonstrate great understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others just now and are in a good position to teach, guide or just enjoy the special personalities of the people around you. Your mind is ever on communication, how you present yourself and come across with others. It is easy for you to express yourself in a crowd—you are talented. Others could seek you out for your psychological insight and understanding.

You have an ability to find the real breakthroughs and to spot new trends. You work in areas that are at the very fringe of technology. The word is accomplishment—if there is a job, you can do it.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Yesterday’s Solution

Your good eye-hand coordination and a sustained effort make almost any task run well. You may feel like relieving some of this intensity with exercising or just getting out and about during the noon hour today.

You may even enjoy a bit of exercise with a few of your co-worker friends. You work hard and a break to refurbish your energy is important. This is a period of great mental activity and heightened communication with others. Intellectualism and the exchange of ideas have special appeal. You tend to be creative and original in your work and career; managing to bring new ideas and spontaneity to bear. A round table discussion is important and productive this afternoon. You enjoy the company of a pet this evening and one of you learns a new trick.

Your ideas and thoughts may run counter to accepted values: your own or those of others. You may find yourself in a disapproving mood at times. Decisions made now may have to be rethought later.

You could find yourself tense. This is a great time to reflect and understand your own situation, just how you feel about the direction in which you are moving and perhaps some changes that may be needed. There could be an opportunity to rise above your own limitations. You will find that when you remove any emotional issues, you make clear and wise choices. You have an open invitation at this time to have special time with someone you love. A relaxed evening with music can provide opportunities for you to loosen up.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) Events may make it easy for you to be original, have breakthroughs and find new solutions to old problems. Independence, originality and eccentricity are to the forefront. You have a burning zeal for humanitarian goals and what is best for a group or a community. With little patience for red tape and superficialities, you insist on getting right to the heart of any question. You enjoy your own life situation and feel especially kind towards a neighbor or friend. Someone may compliment you on your tastes or belongings as you visit with friends in your home later today. At this time of year there are always opportunities to talk about tradition. You may find that you have been invited to several parties and may be asked to help in the planning stages of one or two.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

The work you do and the way you take care of your health are important keys to your best potentials now, in many respects.

There is a need for focus and careful analysis in these areas of your life. Set up systems and schedules and stick to them! You may experience dissatisfaction with what you have or find around you. Perhaps it is time to weed out the unessential or find help to complete long projects that have become tedious or boring. These things that you get rid of create a space for new and more fascinating things to enjoy. Friends this afternoon bring a give-and-take opportunity into your life. You give and crave to be appreciated for your gifts. This evening brings about a creative and even romantic phase—a time of fond memories.

A

y

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Years

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

i n f o r m at i o n

FIRE BRIGADE

112

Al-Madena

22418714

Al-Shohada’a

22545171

Al-Shuwaikh

24810598

Al-Nuzha

22545171

Sabhan

24742838

Al-Helaly

22434853

Al-Fayhaa

22545051

Al-Farwaniya

24711433

Al-Sulaibikhat

24316983

Al-Fahaheel

23927002

Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh

24316983

Ahmadi

23980088

Al-Mangaf

23711183

Al-Shuaiba

23262845

24812000

Al-Jahra

25610011

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Al-Salmiya

25616368

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

Ministry of Interior website: www.moi.gov.kw For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128

Hospitals Sabah Hospital

POLICE STATION Al-Madena Police Station Al-Murqab Police Station Al-Daiya Police Station Al-Fayha’a Police Station Al-Qadissiya Police Station Al-Nugra Police Station Al-Salmiya Police Station Al-Dasma Police Station

Clinics Rabiya

4732263

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

22451082

Al-Mirqab

22456536

Sharq

22465401

Salmiya

25746401

Jabriya

25316254

Maidan Hawally

25623444

Bayan

25388462

Mishref

25381200

W.Hawally

22630786

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

24775066

North Jahra

24775992

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

Firdous

24892674

Al-Omariya

24719048

N.Kheitan

24710044

Fintas

3900322

22434064 22435865 22544200 22547133 22515277 22616662 25714406 22530801

THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY FOR CIVIL INFORMATION Automated enquiry about the Civil ID card is 1889988

AIRLINES

PHARMACIES ON 24 HRS DUTY GOVERNORATE

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

Hawally

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

Kuwait Airways Jazeera Airways Jet Airways FlyDubai Qatar Airways KLM Air Slovakia Olympic Airways Royal Jordanian Reservation British Airways Air France Emirates Air India Sri Lanka Airlines Egypt Air Swiss Air Saudia Middle East Airlines Lufthansa PIA Alitalia Balkan Airlines Bangladesh Airlines Czech Airlines Indian Airlines Oman Air Turkish Airlines Aeroflot

171 177 22924455 22414400 22423888 22425747 22434940 22420002/9 22418064/5/6 22433388 22425635 22430224 22425566 22438184 22424444 22421578 22421516 22426306 22423073 22422493 22421044 22414427 22416474 22452977/8 22417901/ 2433141 22456700 22958787 22453820/1 22404838/9

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

Plastic Surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalaf

22547272

Dr. Khaled Hamadi

Dr. Abdal-Redha Lari

22617700

Dr. Abd Al-Aziz Al-Rashed

Dr. Abdel Quttainah

25625030/60

Family Doctor Dr Divya Damodar

23729596/23729581

Psychiatrists Dr. Esam Al-Ansari

22635047

Dr Eisa M. Al-Balhan

INTERNATIONAL CALLS

22613623/0

Gynaecologists & Obstetricians DrAdrian arbe

23729596/23729581

Dr. Verginia s.Marin

2572-6666 ext 8321

Endocrinologist

25665898 25340300

Dr. Zahra Qabazard

25710444

Dr. Sohail Qamar

22621099

Dr. Snaa Maaroof

25713514

Dr. Pradip Gujare

23713100

Dr. Zacharias Mathew

24334282

(1) Ear, Nose and Throat (2) Plastic Surgeon Dr. Abdul Mohsin Jafar, FRCS (Canada)

25655535

Dentists

Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

22655539

Dr. Majeda Khalefa Aliytami

25343406

Dr. Shamah Al-Matar

22641071/2

Dr. Ahmad Al-Khooly

25739272

Dr. Anesah Al-Rasheed

22562226

22618787

Dr. Abidallah Al-Amer

22561444

Dr. Faysal Al-Fozan

22619557

Dr. Abdallateef Al-Katrash

22525888

Dr. Abidallah Al-Duweisan

25653755

Dr. Bader Al-Ansari

25620111

General Surgeons Dr. Amer Zawaz Al-Amer

22610044

Dr. Mohammad Yousef Basher

25327148

Internists, Chest & Heart Dr. Adnan Ebil Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

22666300 25728004

Dr. Nadem Al-Ghabra

25355515

Dr. Mobarak Aldoub

24726446

Dr Nasser Behbehani

25654300/3

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

Neurologists

22639939

Dr. Mousa Khadada

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

3729596/3729581

Dr. Sohal Najem Al-Shemeri

25633324

Dr. Jasem Mola Hassan

25345875

Gastrologists Dr. Sami Aman

22636464

Dr. Mohammad Al-Shamaly

25322030

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa, Ph.D. 2290-1677 Susannah-Joy Schuilenberg, M.A. 2290-1677

25339330

Dr. Ahmad Al-Ansari 25658888 Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291

Dr. Musaed Faraj Khamees

22666288

Rheumatologists: Dr. Adel Al-Awadi

Dr Anil Thomas

Dr. Salem soso

Dr. Abd Al-Naser Al-Othman

25330060

Dr. Khaled Al-Jarallah

25722290

Internist, Chest & Heart DR.Mohammes Akkad

24555050 Ext 210

Dr. Mohammad Zubaid MB, ChB, FRCPC, PACC Assistant Professor Of Medicine Head, Division of Cardiology Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital Consultant Cardiologist Dr. Farida Al-Habib MD, PH.D, FACC Inaya German Medical Center Te: 2575077 Fax: 25723123

2611555-2622555

William Schuilenberg, RPC 2290-1677 Zaina Al Zabin, M.Sc. 2290-1677

Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Anguilla Antiga Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands

0093 00355 00213 00376 00244 001264 001268 0054 00374 0061 0043 001242 00973 00880 001246 00375 0032 00501 00229 001441 00975 00591 00387 00267 0055 00673 00359 00226 00257 00855 00237 001 00238 001345

Central African Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Cyprus (Northern) Czech Republic Denmark Diego Garcia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador England (UK) Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Ruby Dee is alive, despite false Twitter reports

South Korean star Rain adjusting well to army life ans wept as he was drafted into the army last month but South Korean pop sensation Rain is apparently adjusting well to military life. Rain, whose real name is Jung Ji-Hoon, will become an assistant instructor next month at the boot camp which he entered in October, the defense ministry said yesterday. “Assistant instructors are chosen based on outstanding training results and their willingness, and Jung has shown that,” a ministry spokesman told AFP. Rain was recently also named top marksman at the camp. The 29-year-old singer has a huge following across Asia. Many fans, including hundreds from elsewhere in Asia, burst into tears when he entered the camp to start his 22-month mandatory military service.

South Korea, which has remained technically at war with North Korea since their 1950-1953 conflict, requires all eligible men to serve in the military, although candidates can defer their service.

F

ontrary to a flood of tweets overnight, Ruby Dee is very much alive. Jeffrey Leavitt, representative for the 87-year-old actress and civil rights activist, corrected the false reports yesterday. Dee’s rumored death apparently resulted from confusion between her name and that of Heavy D, the popular rapper who died in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday at age 44. The mix-up was compounded when the Rev. Jesse Jackson informed his Twitter followers that Ruby Dee had died, and she became a trending topic on the social network. Shortly afterward, Jackson corrected his post. “The news of the passing of Ruby Dee HAS NOT BEEN confirmed,” he tweeted, and urged his followers to pass the word.

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Shakira receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame Singer Shakira became the first Colombian artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, joining Latin stars Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera on the famed street. “I would like to dedicate this to the Latin community in the US, a community that restlessly works and dreams and dreams and works everyday to make this a better country,” said the singer to fans gathered on the iconic Hollywood Blvd. sidewalk to see the singer unveil her star. Shakira, 34, rose to fame in Latin America in the 1990s with her album “Pies Descalzos” and singles such as “Donde Estas Corazon” and “Estoy Aqui.” Her second official album, “Donde Estan Los Ladrones?” garnered international success with singles such as “No Creo” and the Arab-inspired “Ojos Asi.” The Latin singer then produced an English crossover album, “Laundry Service,” following in the footsteps of bilingual artists like Enrique Iglesias and Martin, who also recorded in Spanish and English. Her single “Whenever, Wherever,” topped charts in many European counties and the Spanish version of the single won a Latin Grammy award. “When I was seven

Rapper Heavy D is dead at 44 apper Heavy D, who rose to fame during the 1990s and scored hit singles such as “Now That We Found Love”, died on Tuesday after collapsing outside his Beverly Hills home. He was 44. Beverly Hills Police Lt Mark Rosen said in a statement that the rapper, whose real name is Dwight Arrington Meyers, was found on a walkway at 11:25 am PST outside his condominium. He conscious and talking, but having difficulty breathing. Paramedics were called and the singer was rushed to a nearby hospital. “The individual ultimately died at the hospital,” Rosen said. He added that there were no signs of foul play, and the death is believed to be medically related. An official cause is pending an autopsy by Los Angeles County coroners. The singer’s New York-based agent was not immediately available for comment. Rotund rapper Heavy D was born in Jamaica and moved to Mt Vernon, New York as a child. He enjoyed hip hop music as a kid and formed his first group, the Boyz, with high school friends who took the stage names DJ Eddie F, Trouble T-Roy and G-Wiz. The group became Heavy D & The Boyz and released their first album in 1987, which included singles “Mr Big Stuff” and “The Overweight Lover’s in the House.” Their breakout album came with 1989’s “Big Tyme,” which included the hits “Somebody for Me” and “We Got Our Own Thang.” The band met with tragedy in 1990 when Trouble T-Roy died in an accident. One year later, they scored their biggest hit with the album “Peaceful Journey” and single “Now That We Found Love,” which reached the top five on R&B charts and crossed over to mainstream pop audiences. A string of hits followed in the 1990s. Heavy D performed at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards and at the Michael Jackson tribute show in Cardiff, Wales, both in October.

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years-old, I came to Los Angeles for the first time and I passed by the Walk of Fame with my mother,” reminisced Shakira. “I remember that my mom told me, ‘Shaki, one day you are going to have your name on this place.’” The singer has won two Grammys and was nominated for her collaborations with Beyonce on the single “Beautiful Liar” and

Wyclef Jean on “Hips Don’t Lie.” Shakira’s latest album, “Sale el Sol” is nominated at the upcoming 2011 Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.

20th child due for Duggar reality TV couple Kids and Counting” stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar are expecting the birth of their 20th child, the couple said Tuesday, predicting they would yet again change the name of their reality TV show. The Duggars said their new baby is due in April. “We are just really looking forward with excitement to this new little gift,” Michelle Duggar said in a video for cable network TLC that was posted online on Tuesday. “And so the title will change to ‘20 and Counting.”“ The Duggars’ television show has changed titles as the family has grown. It was called “17 Kids and Counting” in 2008, and with the birth of each child the name has been updated. Michelle, 45, said in the video that she and her husband were surprised at the latest pregnancy. During her last pregnancy, Michelle was diagnosed with preeclampsia, or pregnancy-induced hypertension. Jim Bob said the couple were “praying that that won’t happen this time.” The conservative Christian Duggar couple have given all their children names that begin with the letter J Jim Bob is a former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.

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McLachlan to perform at autism fundraiser arah McLachlan is ready to sing out in the fight against autism. The musician is the first performer announced for a fundraiser to benefit Autism Speaks, a leading national science and advocacy group. Autism Speaks says the inaugural Blue Tie-Blue Jean Ball will be held Dec. 1 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, with other stars to be announced. McLachlan has friends and colleagues whose families are affected by the disorder and says she was honored to be part of the group’s goals. The goals include promoting awareness of autism spectrum disorders and raising money for research and prevention.

S ‘Potter,’ ‘Glee’ top People’s Choice nominations aty Perry, “Glee” and Harry Potter have conjured up the most nominations for the People’s Choice Awards. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” topped Tuesday’s nomination announcement with nine nods, including favorite movie and ensemble movie cast, while pop star Perry and the Fox musical “Glee” are both up for seven trophies. Voting for the 38th annual fan-favorite ceremony, which is set for Jan. 11 at the Nokia Theatre, ends Dec 6. “Glee,” which focuses on the outsider show choir New Directions, got a nomination for favorite network TV comedy and in several of the ceremony’s TV acting categories:

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Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith for favorite TV comedy actor, Jane Lynch and Lea Michele for favorite TV comedy actress and Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristin Chenoweth for favorite TV guest star. Perry’s seven nominations span the music, movies and TV genres. She’s up for favorite female artist, pop artist, tour headliner, song for “E.T” and music video for “Last Friday Night,” as well as favorite animated movie voice for her role as Smurfette in “The Smurfs” and favorite TV guest star as the flirtatious Honey on the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.”

It’s Bieber vs Monroe at Hollywood auction he was among the most photographed celebrities of her day, and he is among the top pop stars of his.

But whose pictures are worth more - Marilyn Monroe or Justin Bieber? Memorabilia collectors and fans of the two stars will soon find out in a four-day, December auction of Hollywood memorabilia, called Icons and Idols, from Julien’s Auctions. The images of Bieber behind the scenes of his music video for “One Less Lonely Girl” and Monroe, which vary from items when she was an unknown to those when she was star, are just a few of the 1600 items from film, music and sports figures expected to go under the hammer in a sale that could fetch $2 million to $4 million, auctioneer Darren Julien estimated. The 14 Polaroid photographs of Bieber, 17, were taken by a crew member on the video set, and are estimated to sell for $1,200. But when his legion of young “Beliebers” catch wind of the sale, that price could skyrocket to somewhere up around $6,000, Julien believes. “He is highly collectible, and these kind of

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photographs rarely go on sale. I don’t think Justin ever intended them to go on sale,” said Julien. Yet, unlike a known commodity such as Monroe, star of films including “Some Like It Hot” and “The Seven Year Itch,” Bieber still might flame out as a pop idol. “He’s young and in some ways he still has to prove himself, but he’s got the talent to be like John Lennon or Paul McCartney. He’s got that potential, and he can be at that level of collectability,” said Julien. The Monroe items range from early pictures of her as a 19-year-old and a never before sold letter, expected to fetch $30,000 to $50,000, she sent to her mother while still known as Norma Jeane and married to Jimmie Dougherty in which she talks of her future hopes. Also up for sale is an image taken by Cecil Beaton after Monroe became a movie star in which the actress is reclining with a rose. The pictures were put in a Cartier triptych frame and said to be her favorite images of herself. It’s estimated sale price is $80,000-$100,000. With prices like that, it’s very likely the Bieber photos will fall far short of Monroe’s, but his fans can take heart in the title of his own song, “Never Say Never.” —Agencies

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Sam Lam prepares to weigh rough leaves of pu erh tea, a dark tea that is fermented after drying and whose taste mellows with age, in his shop in Hong Kong. — AFP photos

ifteen years ago the Lam family business picked up a consignment of aged tea from a defunct Hong Kong restaurant. Its value has since risen by a factor of 10,000, as the Lams have found themselves part of a boom that is both investment fad and cultural obsession. “It’s like magic,” managing director Sam Lam told AFP as he prepared tea according to the Chinese ritual, pouring boiling water through rough leaves and then into tiny cups to drink, and spoke of the profits to be made. The tea is pu erh, a dark tea that is fermented after drying and whose taste mellows with age. Its history is thought to date back between one and two thousand years, with legends of growers in mountainous Yunnan province ferociously guarding their cultivation secrets.

Over the past 20 years prices for aged pu erh have rocketed, while China has encouraged renewed development of a luxury tea culture which parallels that of wine-partly as a source of national pride in a home-grown high-end product. With over 70,000 tea businesses in mainland China, skilled buyers must taste tea in order to assess its quality, which only increases pu erh’s

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Sam Lam takes rough leaves of a pu erh tea.

Pop Art canvas by Roy Lichtenstein, “I Can See the Whole Room!... and There’s Nobody in It!,” smashed the previous world record for the contemporary artist, selling for $43.2 million Tuesday. The sale at Christie’s beat the artist’s previous auction record of $42.6 million and led a strong performance across the board. The contemporary art auction reaped a total of $247.6 million, bettering the presale low estimate of $226 million and notching up record prices for 16 artists. “I Can See the Whole Room!...” was executed in 1961 with oil and graphite in Lichtenstein’s familiar cartoon style, depicting a stern male face peering out from the canvas through a peephole and featuring the work’s title in a speech bubble.

Bidding started at a heated pace for the star of the evening sale in Manhattan, opening at $27 million and hitting $34 million within 15 seconds, before shifting down a gear. Other big sellers included a 1956 oil work

by Mark Rothko, “White Cloud,” for $18.6 million, and an enormous bronze sculpture of a spider-so big that it was exhibited outside Christie’s, towering over the sidewalk-for $10.7 million. An Andy Warhol titled “Silver Liz” sold for $16.3 million, at the low end of the presale estimate, and very much “a bargain,” according to one Christie’s official.

Not every work sold. Notable flops included Francis Bacon’s “Study of a Man Talking,” which was predicted to sell for between $12-$18 million, but found no buyers. But Brett Gorvy, head of Christie’s contemporary art, celebrated what he said were “very strong results,” with 90 percent of Tuesday’s lots going under the hammer. Bidding for the Lichtenstein was “very heated,” he said, while collectors were also “bidding very aggressively” in other parts of the auction. “The overriding message,” he said, was “high quality, rarity of works and very high, very prominent provenances.”

Asked to describe the geographical pattern of bids, he said they came from a broad international range. “The top 10 collectors of the world-they were participating tonight,” he said.—AFP

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Lam Kwan Yin prepares pu erh tea.

mystique and sociability. “You can tell from the aftertaste, the smoothness,” says Lam, pouring out cups with practiced hands. The tea is sold in pressed round “cakes”, wrapped in paper printed with bold designs that reflect the vintage of each one.

Lam’s father set up the business, Lam Kie Yuen, after moving to Hong Kong from the wartorn mainland in 1949. But the pair say it is only since the mid-nineties that the market for luxury pu erh-also, in its less refined forms, a staple of cheap restaurants has exploded, with middleclass investors joining the wealthy to buy it up.

The Lams are now selling tea from the 1930 to 1950 era for up to HK$200,000 (over $25,000) per 345-gram (12.2 ounce) cake, having bought much of it in cheap truckloads from dim sum restaurants that closed down. “Growth slowed during the economic downturn, but it’s still ongoing,” said Sam Lam. “As the price is rising, people are buying it less to drink, and more to collect and invest.”

But luxury pu erh is not just bought to lay aside; it is identified with proud, ancient aspects of Chinese culture, in contrast with the cheap “made in China” goods that have spurred the country’s economic rise. In Hong Kong’s hectic Mong Kok district, fashionably dressed young men gather at a calm tea house for lessons from qualified tea master Eliza Liu. “It’s like a drug-I’m addicted now,” said student Ngan Kan Shing, 21.

“By discovering tea I feel that I’ve learned about China.” He has been coming to classes for six years, but says: “I still only know the basics.”

The group examines the color of each cup of tea before sniffing and then slurping it in respectful silence, as Liu talks them through the value of the aged tea. Grown before artificial pesticides and dried naturally rather than at a high temperature, it has a paler color and a smoother taste.

“Good tea is produced at higher altitude, and also depends on climate,” says Liu. “In Yunnan, they say a tea tree can experience all four seasons in one day.” The tea is served from small fine china tea sets, used with a tray that drains off excess water. The first cup of each brew is not drunk, as it is used to clean dust or residue from the leaves. After that, a good tea should taste different with every cup, say experts.

According to China’s state-run Global Times, one batch of top pu erh sold at auction for $250 per gram in 2002, while rare Da Hong Pao

Sam Lam smells a 50-year-old pu erh tea cake.

oolong can also rival such prices. But Liu and tea professor Yip Man, who taught her the art, are skeptical of the eye-popping prices paid for some teas, preferring to emphasize tea’s longtime role in Chinese medicine and thought. “Tea has a philosophy behind it, and it’s about health.

Tea has been very commercialized, but a cheaper tea may also be as good (as an expensive one),” said Yip. “The philosophy is about harmony, bringing people together, peace within the self.”

The price of pu erh is acknowledged to be boosted by a tight supply, and sceptics argue that investors buying aged pu erh may be made to look foolish as China’s newly affluent drinkers -smove on to fresh fashions like Phoenix Oolong. However Lam says that although the astonishing growth of the last two decades may not be sustained, pu erh is still a good investment. He said a buyer of a good, inexpensive pu erh-at, say, HK$100 ($13) a cake-now could expect to make a 10 percent return in a year.

“But you have to choose the right tea,” he said.

Luxury tea houses springing up in London and Sydney indicate China might succeed in exporting its high-end tea culture. And Liu and her students feel meanwhile that they are tapping into much more than a fad. Student Ngan is evangel-

Sam Lam prepares a traditional tea.

Sam Lam takes a traditional tea pot before making a pu erh tea. ical about pu erh. “Before learning about tea, a lot of my friends believed the stereotype that tea is for old people. But now I think they’re changing their minds,” he said. — AFP

Sam Lam holds a 50-year-old pu erh tea cake.

rare yellow pear-shaped diamond is expected to fetch $11-15 million at auction next week, and the buyer will have the chance to name it, Sotheby’s said yesterday.

The so-called Sun-Drop Diamond is described as fancy vivid yellow - the highest color grading - by gemstone experts. It is the largest known diamond of its kind, at 110.3 carats. “It looks the weight,” said David Bennett, the head of Sotheby’s jewelry division. “At the same time it’s a very bright stone,” he added, as a model showed off the diamond to photographers before the Nov 15 sale at Geneva’s Beau-Rivage hotel.

The jewel is being sold by Cora International, which discovered the diamond in South Africa only last year - meaning it has no history of previous wearers. “Some people find it very attractive to own a stone that’s been lying untouched in the earth for millions of years,” Bennet told The Associated Press.

Other lots include a suite of jewels given by the Ottoman Empire’s Sultan Abdul Hamid II to the wife of the Khedive of Egypt in the late 19th century. The set comprising a necklace, brooch and pair of earrings could fetch $10 million. Some of the gems may have been part of a peace offering given by Russian Czar Peter the Great’s wife Catherine to Ottoman

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A model displays a 110.03 carats Sun-Drop Diamond described as fancy vivid yellow, the highest color grading by gemstone experts at a Sotheby’s preview show in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.—AP

Sultan Ahmed II in 1711, Sotheby’s said.

The jewel auction is preceded by a sale of historic watches Nov. 13. Items include timepieces worn by India’s first president, Rajendra Prasad, and a Rolex belonging to German chancellor Konrad Adenauer. The classic gold watch was presented to Adenauer by Rolex’s German founder Hans Wilsdorf in 1955. A letter from Wilsdorf explains that Adenauer would be able to wear the watch during his daily bath without harm-

ing the mechanism. It is not known if Germany’s first chancellor after World War II ever did so.Despite global economic jitters the market for high-end luxury goods remains healthy, said Bennet. Last year, Sotheby’s sold a 24.78-carat fancy intense pink diamond for a record-breaking $46 million. — AP

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

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David Lynch’s strange solo album debut

David Crosby, center, and Graham Nash, right, perform at the Occupy Wall Street encampment at Zuccotti Park, Tuesday. —AP

Music, voting and marching on Occupy agenda S O

ccupy Wall Street demonstrations in New York City went old school on Tuesday as activist musicians David Crosby and Graham Nash delivered a touch of Woodstock, plans for a march to Washington were unveiled and some participants practiced another kind of democracy - voting.

Demonstrators have been making their voices heard in the nation’s town squares for some time now, and the spirit of protest has remained paramount. At Zuccotti Park, Crosby and Nash, of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young were the latest entertainers to lend their talents to the cause.

The white-haired duo led a chant of “No More War!” and played a 20-minute acoustic performance for about 1,000 protesters and onlookers who stood elbow-to-elbow and spilled out of the lower Manhattan park onto nearby streets. There was an air of nostalgia and the smell of marijuana - wafting over the crowd as the pair had fans humming along to hits like “Teach Your Children Well,” from the 1971 ‘Deja Vu’ album, and “Long Time Gone,”

from their first album. Teenager Tyler Westcott wasn’t around when Crosby and Nash made it big, but knew well the impact they made.

“These relics of Woodstock came and supported our movement,” said the 19-year-old college student from Hunt, NY, his voice rising with excitement. “It’s wild, how things line up.

“What you have here is the New Left from the Vietnam era - and the new left here now.” Last month, folk music legend Pete Seeger and ‘60s folk singer Arlo Guthrie joined Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in their campaign against corporate greed. Recently, rappers Talib Kweli, Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco visited protesters in the park. In California, hip hop heavyweights MC Hammer, Raymond “Boots” Riley of hip hop group The Coup, and local rapper Mistah FAB have stopped by encampments.

Taking the Occupy protest on the road to the country’s elected officials was also on the agenda Tuesday. A small group of Occupy Wall Street activists will start a march Wednesday with the hope of arriving in Washington on

Nov. 23, the deadline for a congressional committee to decide whether to keep President Barack Obama’s extension of Bush-era tax cuts. Protesters say the cuts benefit only rich Americans. Kelley Brannon is organizing the 240-mile march through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland with a core group of a dozen activists. They hope to pick up other marchers along the way - even if for a day, or only an hour.

“Occupy the Highway” - as it’s been dubbed - will start from the Manhattan park and continue with a ferry ride across the Hudson River to Elizabeth, NJ. Brannon likened the effort to the long-distance marches led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., during the civil rights era. “I mean, I’m not comparing us to Martin Luther King,” said Brannon, of Queens, referring to three marches King led in 1965 from Selma, Ala., to Montgomery.

Those marches ranged in size from 600 to 8,000 people. “That’s the premise Occupy is taking to the road: the historic relevance of such long-distance marches for social causes,”

Brannon said. But a day before beginning the march begins, some protesters recognized Tuesday as election day in the US, and cast their vote in some of the many local races and higher profile races being decided in several states. Tom Hagan, a 61-year-old salesman from Queens and a Vietnam War veteran, flashed a big smile as he stood in the Zuccotti Park with a sign that read: “Election Day Sale.

Buy One Politician. Get One Free.”

Hagan, a registered Democrat, said he votes in every election, including Tuesday’s.

He also said he had come to the Occupy protest “because our democracy is for sale; we don’t have a representative democracy anymore.” Shawn Cronick voted in Philadelphia’s mayoral race before heading to the Occupy Philadelphia encampment. “It’s easy to be cynical and wonder if it can change a political climate dominated by money,” he said. “That’s not an excuse to check out of the process; it just means we have to do more than vote. We have to stand up for ourselves and against corporate interests.” —AP

Former Oasis frontman releases first solo album

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hen artists break free from the bands that have always defined them to take up solo careers, some celebrate their emancipation with radical musical departures. Others adhere to the old group’s sound as much as possible, either out of fear, habit, or a desire to prove once and for all that they were the brains of the band. Noel Gallagher goes the latter route on “Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds,” which almost sounds more like Oasis than Oasis did-the sole difference being that it’s him singing, not embattled brother Liam.

It’s as if Noel wanted to establish that Oasis would’ve fared just fine with him as frontman. It’s a point almost worth proving. Noel is close to a dead ringer, vocally, for his sibling, so Oasis fans may feel as if not much has changed, at least in the studio. And it must feel as liberating for Noel to get to sing his own songs as it was for Pete Townshend when he started making solo records.

But the seamless transition doesn’t really speak well for the individuality his songs require.

And Noel does have just a wee bit less personality. With Liam, you always sensed a slight sneer at work, even when he was singing his brother’s most romantic songs. Now, Noel’s slightly blander tone removes any such ironic distance, but points up how banal his lyrics can be, shorn of the attitude his bro brought to the table.

Almost all of “High Flying Birds” (which shares its name with the group Gallagher assembled) persists in the anthemic, pretty, ploddingly mid-tempo mode that Oasis struck UK gold with and mined to the end. Less than midway through the opening track, “Everybody’s on the Run,” a choir and strings have kicked in, to nice but not particularly transformative effect.

Other predictably Beatles-esque touches abound on this handsomely mounted but unexciting effort. You get trumpet squalls, calliope sounds, and Mellotron-ish key-

Eastwood’s ‘J

“J

Edgar” assembles the talents of three people who should all think twice before doing another historical biopic — Leonardo DiCaprio, who awkwardly juggled aging makeup and a ridiculous mustache in “The Aviator”; screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who turned the fascinating political life of Harvey Milk into a clunky series of and-then-this-happened in “Milk”; and director Clint Eastwood, the man behind the Charlie Parker movie “Bird,” which bent time and space to make 161 minutes feel like several weeks. At least this time, there’s no mustache. Love him or hate him, J Edgar Hoover makes for an interesting character.

He helped create the FBI, brought down gangsters, and wielded unimaginable power for decades by knowing the dirty secrets of everyone who occupied the White House during his long tenure.

He carried his loathing of anarchists and Communists into the Civil Rights era, where he attempted to bring down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with evidence of the activist’s sexual peccadilloes.

Ironically, at the same time he had an intense and lengthy relationship - possibly never consummated - with Clyde Tolson, his close associate at the bureau.

But while “J Edgar” acknowledges the contradictions and the passions and the weaknesses of Hoover, the movie never makes him feel like a real person. As with Black’s two previous screen biographies (“Milk” and the TV-movie “Pedro,” about AIDS activist Pedro Zamora), the screenplay tries to build a character by merely reciting historical incidents, so we’re left with something closer to a monument than to an intimate portrait. We get the what, but

boards in “The Death of You and Me,” which, ominous title aside, turns out to be “Penny Lane”-level jaunty.

The uncharacteristically speedy “AKA What a Life,” takes its inspiration from Paul McCartney’s solo career- specifically, “Nineteen Ninety Five,” with its fast beat and nervously quick piano. The problem is, Macca always came up with a chorus, whereas Gallagher just repeats “What a life” four times as his refrain, which makes the initially promising tune drag.

If you buy the deluxe edition, you’ll get the most interesting hybrid of styles with the bonus track “The Good Rebel,” which takes Ringo’s drumbeat from “Rain” and weds it to an old-school R.E.M.-style chorus. (The fact that Gallagher keeps singing “Rain, like rain don’t care for the sunshine” is probably no coincidental homage.)

Unfortunately, the record is rife with provocative titles that give no indication of the utterly ordinary songs within.

For instance, you might hope that “If I Had a Gun” is about what Noel would do to Liam if England had more lax weapons laws. But no. “If I had a gun, I’d shoot a whole into the sun, and love would burn this city down for you,” Gallagher sings. “Let me fly you to the moon,” he adds, probably not thinking too hard about what would have happened to the rest of the solar system after he’d destroyed the sun and Earth to amuse his girl. —Reuters

ometimes it’s hard not to think that David Lynch’s fixation on transcendental meditation isn’t a joke the filmmaker is playing on us. Is there any major artist whose entire body of work has seemed more ominous, more filled with sinister intonations, less meditative? Mantras don’t come much scarier than “fire walk with me.” Lynch’s first solo album, “Crazy Clown Time,” doesn’t sound very Maharishi-approved, either. If you’ve ommm-ed your way to a state of higher consciousness, it’s just the record to bring yourself back down to earth, though it might overcompensate by taking you to the third or fourth rung of the underworld. Maybe, with all these tense and nerve-racking sounds, Lynch just intends to create more demand for the calming cure that TM is meant to offer.

That said, the album is frequently funny, on top of creepy not in a just-kidding-about-all-this kind of way, but in that peculiarly Lynchian manner in which a strong streak of absurdism has always offset the unsettling. The album’s only guest vocal is right up front, with Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs taking the lead on a breathy “Pinky’s Dream,” in which she repeatedly implores, “Please, Pinky, watch the road.” The song’s abrupt ending suggests that he didn’t. (Maybe it was their wrecked car that Nic Cage and Laura Dern came upon in “Wild at Heart”?)

In that opener, as in most of the tracks, Lynch is doing variations on the dark and elementary blues shuffles he and Angelo Badalamenti used to come up with for roadhouse and party scenes in the “Twin Peaks” franchise. You get a lot of tremolo guitar, doled out as sparingly as possible, as if Lynch took four bars of an old Ventures song and decided to parcel all those deep, twangy chords out one by one over the course of an entire album. But this is the first time we’ve heard much of Lynch singing or “singing.” He does more acting on this album than he ever did on-screen, so we don’t really hear much of his natural Jimmy-Stewarton-Mars voice, since even when he’s doing spokenword pieces, he makes some attempt to filter or disguise his vocals. The title track finds Lynch talking in a high-pitched boy’s voice as he describes a backyard bacchanalia. “Pauley had a red shirt... Suzy had hers off completely Buddy screamed so loud, he spit,” Lynch nearly whines, against a lurching backdrop of threatening blues, disturbing guitar interruptions, and constant moans. He could almost be a maniac describing a massacre, but more likely, he’s an actual kid, cheerfully trying to come to terms with the mysterious goings-on he witnessed at a teenagers’ beer bash.

He’s definitely playing an adult, and a disturbed one, in “Football Game” (“I saw you with another man/You better run, baby, I hope you can”), “These Are My Friends” (“I got a prescription for a problem, keeps the hounds at bay”), and “Speed Roadster” (“I know you f—-ed Al/He’s supposed to be my pal I might be stalkin’ you”) These are definitely the white man’s blues, with Lynch sounding more like Emo Phillips than Esther Phillips. —Reuters

Edgar’ misses the mark

never the why. The script also uses the hoariest of framing devices, with an elderly Hoover narrating his life story to a series of young FBI agents.

(There’s a twist to all this, but it arrives too late to make an impact.) Cue scene after scene of shakyvoiced DiCaprio talking over scene after scene of young Hoover working at the Justice Department, making enemies, becoming head of the newly formed FBI, meeting Helen Gandy (Naomi Watts)

and making her his lifelong personal secretary, etc.

Eastwood and his team of art directors have an unfailing eye for period detail-fetishists for vintage office supplies and stationery will be in hog heaven-but too often the narration feels like a crutch when it’s not outright redundant. Hoover - like DiCaprio’s Howard Hughes-is mommy-obsessed, turning to his mother (Judi Dench) for her advice and denying himself the affection of other men

In this image released by Warner Bros. Pictures, Leonardo DiCaprio portrays J Edgar Hoover in a scene from “J Edgar.” — AP

when she makes it clear that such a thing would be unthinkable for her. That’s bad news for Tolson (Armie Hammer, gleaming like a Pepsodent model), who has lunch and dinner with Hoover every day but never gets any more physical acknowledgment than the occasional holding of hands and, in Black’s telling, one kiss after the two have a physical altercation.

People buying a ticket to “J Edgar” to see the head of the FBI presented as a cross-dresser enjoying a passionate affair with his second in command are in for a disappointment, but the film’s portrayal of the Hoover-Tolson relationship actually rings true. Even if the two of them were gay, the times and their own personal programming would never allow them to do anything but repress their urges and make whatever life they could within the confines of 1930s Washington, DC. It certainly helps this part of the story that Hammer gives the film’s most relatable performance. With DiCaprio buried under equally thick layers of old-age putty and clunky narration, Hammer makes Tolson into a real person, swept up in Hoover’s charisma and power and content to live his life in the other man’s shadow.

So much of “J Edgar” drags by at an interminable pace that I found myself thinking about moments from Harry Shearer’s hilarious radio musical “J Edgar!” which featured Kelsey Grammer as Hoover and John Goodman as Tolson. While that satirical piece obviously exaggerates the facts here and there, it’s the Hoover who attacks his enemies in song who feels more memorable and more complex than the one DiCaprio gives us.—Reuters

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M O V I E S

Actor Brad Pitt, center in background, poses with school baseball players from the areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, prior to the Japan premiere for his latest film “Moneyball” in Tokyo yesterday. (Inset) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie pose during a photo session prior to the Japan premiere of Pitt’s latest film “Moneyball’. — AP/AFP

Review

Depression looks gorgeous in

‘Melancholia’

D

epression finally seems to have brought out the best in Lars von Trier: “Melancholia” is his strongest work in a while, a devastatingly beautiful, operatic mixture of all his signature themes and visual schemes. Doom is certain from the start. This is, after all, a von Trier film. But the director portends his characters’ fate with a lengthy, wordless prelude: a series of sumptuously photographed, super-slow- motion images of sadness and frustration accompanied by the swelling overture from Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde.” We see Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg struggle against the elements, against themselves. We know this cannot end well.

Bombastic? But of course. Still, we’re hooked. Yet melancholia isn’t just a state of mind but also the name of a planet that’s hurtling toward Earth. Yes, an actual planet - or a metaphor, you decide. It doesn’t matter; what resonates is the resulting mood, and it’s inescapable. Von Trier himself has battled depression over the past several years; he last worked through it cinematically, and far less effectively, with the gratuitous “Antichrist” from 2009, which featured genital mutilation and the unintentional catchphrase, “Chaos reigns,” uttered by an injured fox. This time, the Danish writer-director seems far more interested in exploring the depths of his characters’ despair and fear, in understanding the humanity within their darker recesses, rather than shocking us for shock’s sake.

Von Trier has been unjustly accused of misogyny toward his female characters, and yes, they do tend to suffer horribly. But these roles also provide enticing challenges for the actresses playing them, and in the antisocial, apprehensive bride Justine, Dunst delivers the most complex perform-

ance of her life. Everything about her carriage suggests that she’s psychologically slogging through molasses just to carry out basic, daily functions like bathing and eating dinner.

But Dunst also vividly conveys Justine’s feeble attempts at normalcy and civility with just the slightest forced smile.

The irony is that the closer this threatening planet draws near, the better she feels. If this is the end of the world, she welcomes it.

“Melancholia” is divided into two parts, beginning with “Justine,” which focuses on her lavish wedding day. It’s a bad omen that the limousine carrying her and her new husband, the sweetly bland Michael (Alexander Skarsgard), repeatedly gets stuck trying to drive up the narrow, winding path to the decadent estate where the reception is taking place. This also happens to be the home of her sister, Claire (Gainsbourg), and her wealthy husband, John (Keifer Sutherland), who become increasingly frustrated with Justine’s inability to act polite and appreciative on cue.

Empty rituals like cutting the wedding cake or tossing the bouquet become torturous waiting games. But weirdness abounds thanks to several invited guests, including Justine and Claire’s abrasive mother (a deliciously cruel Charlotte Rampling) and Justine’s boss (von Trier regular Stellan Skarsgard), who insists on hounding her about work. The cumulative train wreck, presented in matter-of-fact and often humorous fashion, is riveting and it builds a steady tension.

Von Trier depicts these awkward moments in the intimate, hand-held manner that’s a key component of his stripped-down Dogme style, which stands in stark contrast to the voluptuousness of the film’s start. That he combines

into a somber mood in preparation for the film’s climax. It follows Claire as she tries to care for her sister and raise her young son while keeping the family’s rambling mansion afloat and preparing for the Earth to be swallowed whole.

John is fascinated by the approach of this other, previously unknown planet, which he insists will bypass our own entirely. Claire, however, grows more paranoid and anxious by the day - and actually does seek out some form of pharmacological relief. As she proved in “Antichrist,” Gainsbourg is willing to go as far as she must in portraying her character’s extremes.

“Extreme” is also a good word to describe the film’s final shot. It was unnecessary; merely suggesting what happens to these people rather than showing it would have been more powerful. But von Trier has never been fond of restraint, even in his more austere pictures, so why start now? “Melancholia,” a Magnolia Pictures release, is rated R for some graphic nudity, sexual content and language.

Running time: 130 minutes.

Three and a half stars out of four. —AP

both aesthetic approaches in the same movie - and does it so seamlessly - is the mark of an artist we cannot ignore, despite his ego and often inappropriate outbursts. Part two, “Claire,” feels less urgent, less unpredictable, but it lulls us

Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions: G - General audiences. All ages admitted.

PG - Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

PG-13 - Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.

R - Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

NC-17 - No one under 17 admitted.

Bollywood film in Herzog takes on death penalty in ‘Abyss’ Tibet flag trouble W A

new Bollywood film has cut a scene showing a “Free Tibet” flag on the orders of India’s censor board, sparking protests from the exiled Tibetan community, a report said yesterday. “Rockstar”, directed by Imtiaz Ali, ran into trouble over the scene which shows fans waving the flag as the male lead, played by popular actor Ranbir Kapoor, sings the song “Saada Haq” (Our Right). The song was shot at the Tibetan Norbulingka monastery in McLeod Ganj, a town in the foothills of the Himalayas that is home to the Tibet government in exile in India and the Dalai Lama.

“Ali has made the deletions, affording the film a U/A (under adult supervision) rating,” the Times of India reported yesterday quoting the chief executive of the Indian censor board, Pankaja Thakur. Beijing is extremely sensitive to any activity seen as “antiChina” and the presence of the Dalai Lama and the large Tibetan exile community in India is a constant irritant in relations between Asia’s future superpowers. The red and blue flag featuring a rising sun is a symbol of Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule. Angry Tibetan activists in India said they would stage rallies across the country to protest the censor’s decision to cut the scene. “It is extremely disturbing that such a grotesque violation of free

Imtiaz Ali speech is occurring in the world’s largest democracy,” said Dorjee Tseten, the country director of Students for a Free Tibet, in a website post. Tseten also accused the Indian government of “caving in” to Chinese pressure instead of promoting and protecting the Tibetan people’s basic human rights.

Ali, regarded as one of the most talented Bollywood directors with two backto-back hits under his belt, denied taking any political stand in the film.

“I don’t see anything controversial in either the intention or portrayal of the scene,” he told the national NDTV news channel, adding the song was more about personal freedom rather than any geographical or political issue. Clips of the song showing the flag can still be viewed on You Tube.

The film’s music, composed by the Oscar-winning AR Rahman, is already topping the charts. —AFP

erner Herzog does something great reporters know how to do: He listens. He pays attention during conversation. He’s so in-the-moment, he instinctively asks the natural follow-up question, and that’s what often elicits the greatest honesty and the most unexpected emotion. And so in his latest documentary, “Into the Abyss,” Herzog turns an earnest, low-key interview with a prison chaplain into a sudden outburst of tears, merely by asking the gentleman to relay an anecdote about a squirrel he saw on a golf course. Perhaps it’s his very presence that makes people feel so safe; approaching 70, the veteran director quietly probes his subjects’ histories in that mesmerizing, instantly recognizable and often-imitated German accent of his. But he also seems genuinely engrossed in the subjects he tackles, and that purity of interest shines through.

In taking on a divisive topic like the death penalty especially in a place like Texas, where the punishment is more prevalent than in other states - Herzog never seems to be judging the people on the other side of his camera.

Unlike some of his other documentaries like “Grizzly Man,” for example, he doesn’t insert himself in the story. He states at the outset that he’s opposed to capital punishment, but then goes on to interview the various people associated with a bloody triple murder without injecting that opinion. He simply lets them tells their stories. And he listens.

It’s hard not to be moved by the gruesome and horrifically needless crime he’s exploring; comparisons to “In Cold Blood” aren’t just apt, they’re inescapable. In 2001, three people were shot to death over a red Chevrolet Camaro near Conroe, Texas, just north of Houston: 50year-old Sandra Stotler, her teenage son and a friend of the boy. Herzog knows he doesn’t need to embellish the graphic crime scene footage he shows; it’s startling enough on its own.

The convicted killers, Michael Perry and Jason Burkett, knew Stotler’s son and only meant to break into their house to steal the car, but the crime went horribly wrong.

Perry was sentenced to death for Stotler’s murder, and Herzog spoke to him in prison just eight days before his July 1, 2010, execution. Perry found religion behind bars, as is so often the case. He smiles a lot through the pane of glass separating him and Herzog. He’s beyond calm; he’s almost upbeat. Burkett, meanwhile, was tried separately and is serving a life sentence for killing the two boys. He found a wife behind bars, as is also so often the case - a woman named Melyssa who read about his case, began corresponding with him and eventually became his bride.

There’s a chilling stillness in his eyes. He speaks matter-offactly about the kind of future he might have, but also about his past.

That’s an avenue Herzog wants to travel down, as well.

Aside from talking to investigators on the case and the survivors who tearfully tell what it’s like living each new day without their loved ones, Herzog wants to know what shaped these two young men. Perry was pretty much

homeless when the crime occurred, but Burkett seems to have been doomed long before then. His father, Delbert, was in and out of prison throughout his childhood and is currently serving a 40-year sentence of his own. He also opens up to Herzog and gets choked up recalling the Thanksgiving he spent with his fellow-inmate son. He describes how he felt like a failure on what should have been a joyful holiday. As extreme as their situation is, every parent can relate to that sensation. Regardless of your own stance on the death penalty, it’s impossible not to be shaken by the senseless loss depicted in “Into the Abyss,” the overwhelming sadness, but also the possibility of spiritual redemption. Herzog lets all these complicated dynamics speak for themselves, and then lets us decide.

“Into the Abyss,” an IFC Films release, is rated PG-13 for mature thematic material and some disturbing images.

Running time: 106 minutes.

Three and a half stars out of four. —AP

e niv rsar n

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Bollywood film in Tibet flag trouble

Years

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011

Jennifer Lopez is seen on stage at Glamour Magazine Honors The 21st Annual Women of the Year Award at Carnegie Hall ceremony. —AP photos

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Actress Jennifer Aniston

Brains, guts, glitz are honored at Glamour fest H

is wife couldn’t be there herself to accept her honor. So Mark Kelly, husband of recovering congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, spoke on her behalf. But, he made clear, his wife was still running the show. “We went over my remarks very carefully,” Kelly said at Glamour’s Women of the Year awards on Monday. “She’s still in charge.” Giffords was one of 11 women honored at the Carnegie Hall ceremony, the 21st time the awards have been presented.

As always, the assembled group was a formidable mix of brains, guts, entrepreneurship, and yes, glamour. On that last count, Jennifer Lopez was there, dressed to the nines in a high-slit Versace gown her award presented by designer friend Donatella Versace, in fact. She talked about the year’s “ups, and not-so-ups,” the latter a reference to her split with husband Marc Anthony.

“It’s the women in my life that helped me,” she said, tearfully. “The most important thing they taught me is to support other women.” An emotional high point came from an unexpected place, with the appearance of a woman named simply “T,” who was forced into prostitution as a child and now is an activist trying to stamp out sexual slavActress Jessica Alba Esraa Abdel Fatah left and ery in this country. “I am just one of many,” actress Kerry Washington said “T,” or Withelma “T” Ortiz-Macy. She advised the young girls in the audience to “Think about your personal influence.” The tone for the evening - solidarity among women - was set by Glamour’s editor-inchief, Cindi Leive. “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women,” she said, to applause. “We didn’t let any of them in tonight.”

Each honoree was presented with her award by someone of equal or often greater fame: Late-night host Chelsea Handler was given her award by friend Jennifer Aniston, who misted up as she praised Handler, even while noting that “Half her life, she is drunk.”

Handler was as direct as she is on TV. “You really can do what you want. Just get out there and do it,” she said - expletive removed here. The world of fashion had a strong presence, naturally. Tory Burch, a goto designer for upscale professional women, was introduced by actress Jessica Alba.

(From left) Jenna Bush Hager, Barbara Bush, and Laura Bush, Burch declared proudly that 80 percent of her employees were women. “Women are are seen on stage.

our best investment,” she said.

And designer Marc Jacobs wasn’t getting an award - wrong chromosome - but he presented one to artist Cindy Sherman, known for conceptual photographs of herself, one of which recently sold for $3.9 million - a record for a photo. “I’ll just let my work speak for itself,” Sherman said, concisely. Arianna Huffington, whose Huffington Post has become a media force, received her award from Barbara Walters. She cheekily urged women to “sleep their way to the top” - by enriching their sleep-deprived lives with some more shuteye.

She also regaled the crowd with the story of a failed relationship that set her career on an upward path. “Everything good that happened to me happened because a man wouldn’t marry me,” she said. The lifetime achievement winner was Gloria Steinem, whose award was presented by Anita Hill, 20 years after the Clarence Thomas hearings. “There’s no one on earth I’d be more honored to get an award from than Anita Hill,” said Steinem, 77, who credited Hill with “changing the consciousness of our country.”

“I can’t wait to see what you all do,” Gloria Steinem Actress Lea Michel Arianna Huffington Steinem called up to the balcony, filled by girls from youth groups from across the city.

She told them to remember that “Life is one big surprise. You can prepare, but you can’t plan.” Also honored: Lea Michele of “Glee,” who recalled how just a few years back, she’d been struggling, and hearing “No” a lot. She told the young girls to forget that word - and to “Use your voice, in positive ways.”

Esraa Abdel Fattah of Egypt was given the Women of the Year fund award, for her key role in mobilizing Egyptians on Facebook during that country’s Arab Spring revolt. “I will see a woman as leader of my country one day,” she declared. And speaking of international relations, former Secretary of State Condolezza Rice was there, to present an award to the wife of her former boss, Laura Bush, and the Bush daughters, Jenna and Barbara. Making a cameo in a video was former President (From left) Claudia Kelly, George W. Bush. “The truth of the matter is that Laura Bush was the greatest first lady Astronaut Mark Edward Kelly Singer Deborah Harry and Claire Kelly. ever,” he said with a grin. —AP

Versace’s H&M collection ramps up glamour F

rom her ultra-blond hair to her super-high heels, Donatella Versace uses every inch of her being to embrace glamour, and she wasn’t going to put the Versace name on anything and certainly not a collection for global fast-fashion retailer H&M - that didn’t do the same. The clothes that debuted Tuesday night on the catwalk lived up to the hype surrounding the limited-edition collection as well as Versace’s own glitzy standards: There was a metallic disco dress, a studded leather bomber jacket and an animal-print-meets-tropical-sunset tank dress for women; and a hot-pink suit, studded tuxedo-style shorts and a palm-tree, second-skirt T-shirt for men.

The runway at the huge and historic Pier 57 in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District attracted a crowd that included Blake Lively, Uma Thurman and Jessica Alba. Nicki Minaj and Prince took their

front row seats just before the show started, and then emerged on stage at the after-party that recreated a Miami nightclub. Minaj did swap the green feather fascinator she wore to the show for a crystal-covered trucker hat when it came time to perform. Swedish fashion chain Hennes & Mauritz AB has partnered with big names before, including Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz, and Target Corp.’s joint line with the Italian knitwear brand Missoni earlier this fall caused a frenzy, causing its website to crash the first day items were offered. None had a launch quite like this, though.

Versace said in a backstage interview that she thinks it’s this sort of production, coupled with clothes embellished with sequins, studs, leather and lace, that will serve as the antidote for the struggling economy. “It was done totally wrong the

last time the economy failed,” she said.

“Everyone said, ‘Let’s do safe clothes of a good quality that people will invest in and wear year after year.’ That couldn’t be more wrong. The companies that survived the most were the ones that were recognizable, that stuck to their DNA, and our DNA is glamour.” She added: “This is a very joyful collection.” Tropical floral patterns were splashed on tight leggings and tunic tops, and heart-print dresses were covered with beaded fringe. Many models wore hot-pink strappy sandals and carried printed handbags with the South Beach motif and Versace’s Medusa logo.

Many of the styles were updated (and, with top prices of $299, less expensive) interpretations of signature looks of the house as it was first designed by the late Gianni Versace and for the last 14 years by his sister Donatella. “I really wanted iconic moments of Versace,” she said. There even

was a black dress with gold hardware reminiscent of the label’s safety-pin gown made famous by Elizabeth Hurley. Versace said she thinks these head-turning styles are the right introduction to the nextgeneration shoppers - the ones who know how to mix top-tier designer labels with inexpensive trendy pieces.

“Young people like to dress up and look cool.” Versace said. With 20-somethings as children, Versace said she has done her fair share of shopping with them at stores such as H&M. “I know this customer. I know what they want. They follow music, fashion. For the new generation, it’s all pop culture.” She pays attention to it, too, she said, and she mines it for inspiration. “Creativity comes from quantity and quality of information. I want to know everything: politics, music, movies. Only this way can you come up with each new collection.” —AP

Singer Jennifer Lopez and designer Donatella Versace on stage at the Women of the Year Award ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York. —AP