11th Oct 2011

CR IP TI ON BS SU

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

Ban on domestic workers yet to be implemented

Forces drive on Centre of Sirte

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Europe postpones key debt summit

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Raiders whip Texans, Patriots win

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Economic ‘security’ vital for Asia: Kuwait Amir invites ACD members to Kuwait summit in 2012

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conspiracy theories

How noble are Nobel prizes?

By Badrya Darwish

badrya_d@kuwaittimes.net

I

’m proud that an Arab woman from Yemen last week was one of the three ladies who won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011. Tawakkul Karman, a young Yemeni journalist, 32 years old, shared the prestigious prize with two other women, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Liberian peace warrior Leymah Gbowee. The three women will receive medals and a lump sum of around one million euro in Oslo on the tenth of December as this date will mark the anniversary of the founder of the prize, Alfred Nobel.

All is well to me. Mabrook (congratulations) Karman on your accomplishment, but if the Nobel Prize was given to Karman on the basis of the fact that she belongs to the Arab Spring movement, why not others? What about the Egyptian activist Asmaa Mahfouz who ignited the Tahrir Square in the 25th of January revolution. This young 27year-old lady simply announced on YouTube that she would stand in the middle of the square in protest and asked if anyone would join her in the fight for freedom for her country. To her amazement, when she arrived at the Omar Effendi building in the Tahrir Square she found a large crowd of young men and women who responded to her call. On this basis, Asmaa was considered the ignition to the Egyptian revolution, much like the Tunisian revolution ignited by Mohamed Bouazizi. On a side note, it would have been a nice gesture if Bouazizi was considered for the prize. I understand that the prizes do not go to dead people. Why not? His family and community could have benefited from such a prize.

In the Egyptian revolution, Asmaa did not stand alone.

It took only a few days and she was joined by many more young activists including Nawara Najm, daughter of the well-known Egyptian poet Ahmad Najm. Also, Israa Abdel Fatah joined the team in their struggle. How come these people were not considered? What about Wael Al Ghounaim, the young man who played a big role in the organization of the Arab Spring in Egypt? How were all these people overlooked when they were deciding the laureates of the Nobel Peace Prize for this year?

What are the criteria or on what basis these juries decide the winners? There are thousands of women worldwide (if we are talking about women only) who struggled and still struggle for the freedom of their countries and their people. For next year, I hope the consideration will be wider and the prize could be shared by many more struggling men and women. That makes me wonder how noble is the Nobel Prize. In 1978, it was given to Menachem Begin, former Israeli prime minister, who shared it with then Egyptian president Anwar Sadat for their joint effort to bring about peace between Arabs and Israelis. In the same year, Menachem Begin attacked Lebanon regardless of his past. Still he got the Nobel Prize.

KUWAIT: HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah poses with members of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue during the inaugural session in Kuwait yesterday.

(Inset) HH the Amir delivering the inaugural speech at the ACD. — Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Customs strike halts Kuwait oil shipments

By A Saleh and Agencies KUWAIT: All vessel traffic in and out of Kuwaiti ports was halted and oil tanker traffic came to a grinding halt yesterday as Kuwait customs union went on a flash strike, shipping sources said.

The customs employees went on the strike demanding salary increments equal to those of their peers in other lines of work. Negotiating with the

American duo win Economics Nobel

KUWAIT: Clients and officials gather outside the customs office at the port yesterday following a strike by customs union members that halted the complete vessel movement in and out of Kuwait yesterday. — Photos by Fouad Al-Shaikh

Grilling on Thursday as liberals meet to decide Hayef slams education minister

By B Izzak KUWAIT: The liberals’ camp is to hold meetings over the next two days in order to take their final decision regarding a proposed grilling of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad AlAhmad Al-Sabah over the government’s failure to deal with the corruption scandal.

The liberals, who include the National Democratic Alliance, the Democratic Forum and the Progressive Movement, in addition to the National Action Bloc which consists of six MPs, are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday.

The participation of the liberal MPs in a potential non-cooperation vote against the prime minister is very crucial for the success of the vote as the opposition has

demonstrators, Customs Director Ibrahim Al-Ghanim asked the strikers to end the strike and promised to consider their demands. However, they refused to call off the strike saying that they did not trust Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shamali who had broken promises several times in the past.

“All vessel movements in and out of Kuwaiti ports are suspended,” a shipping source said, adding that at Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: The scheduled 10th Asia Cooperation Dialogue got underway here yesterday under the sponsorship of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah AlAhmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, with the foreign minister of the host Gulf state stressing that “economic security” should top strategies of the Asian nations.

HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah invited major Asian powers, all members of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, to gather in the Gulf state for a summit next year. “Kuwait calls for a summit meeting for (ACD) member states in 2012 to discuss all issues related to the continent of Asia... (and) Kuwait is pleased to host it,” he said at the opening of a two-day conference for the 31-member ACD. Sheikh Sabah urged stronger cooperation between Asian countries to avert the impact of the global economic and financial crises. The current ACD summit brings together foreign ministers and senior officials from Asia’s top economies China, Japan, India and South Korea with their counterparts in the world’s leading oil producers, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, in addition to Iran and Russia.

Speaking at the inaugural session, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Continued on Page 13

claimed that it has the support of around 18-20 MPs and it desperately needs the support of liberals to secure the required 25 votes.

The liberals have played an effective role in the campaign against corruption and specifically against the corruption scandal involving a large number of MPs but their support of a non-cooperation vote is not yet certain.

The proposed grilling of the prime minister is expected to be filed on Thursday by at least two blocs, the Popular Action Bloc and the Reform and Development Bloc and if the National Bloc agrees, it is highly expected to take part with one of its MPs. The two blocs have already prepared the draft grilling and is expected to be ready either today or tomorrow and will Continued on Page 13

Kuwait ready to invest in Europe: Al-Shamali DUBAI: Kuwait is open to any investment opportunities in Europe if they are compatible with risk controls, the OPEC member’s Finance Minister Mustapha AlShamali was quoted as saying by the state news agency KUNA yesterday.

Kuwait, the world’s No 6 crude exporter is one of the richest countries globally with its sovereign wealth fund, Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), managing assets in excess of $290 billion. It owns stakes in Citigroup , Daimler AG and Agricultural Bank of China among other companies.

Asked whether Kuwait would consider buying euro-zone government bonds, including Italian bonds, Shamali told KUNA in Beijing: “We are open to any investment opportunities in all parts of Europe, as long as these investments are compatible with risk controls and they fall within our investment criteria.”

Italy will test investor nerves with bond issues later this week after its credit

rating was downgraded last week by Moody’s and Fitch. The markets have been speculating that cash-rich Gulf oil exporters such as Qatar might inject money into European banks exposed to cash-strapped governments such as Greece. Saudi finance minister said last month the euro-zone debt crisis was a cause for concern but it might also be an opportunity for investors.

In August, Qatar bought about 17 percent of the lender that will be created by a merger of Greece’s Alpha Bank and Eurobank, injecting 500 million euros into the new entity.

Shamali said yesterday that KIA’s long-term investment strategy meant it could withstand large market fluctuations caused by the euro-zone debt crisis. “As a long-term international investor, the authority seeks to invest in growing economies across the world, including advanced economies,” Shamali said. — Reuters

STOCKHOLM: Two US researchers won the 2011 Nobel Economics Prize yesterday for research on how different events affect economies and which could help find answers to the current crisis, the Nobel jury said.

Thomas Sargent and Christopher Sims, both 68, have developed methods that help answer questions “regardChristopher Sims ing the causal relationship between economic policy and different macroeconomic variables, such as GDP, inflation, employment and investments,” the Nobel jury said.

“Their combined work constitutes a solid foundation for modern macroeconomic analysis. It is hard to envisage today’s research without this foundation,” it added. Economies are constantly affected by both anticipated events, like Thomas Sargent long term fiscal policy and shifts in monetary policies, and unanticipated events like sudden hikes in the price of oil or an unexpected drop in household consumption.

The laureates’ work in the 1970s and 1980s provides methodologies that facilitate understanding of how both systemic policy shifts and so-called “shocks” affect the macroeconomy in the short and long run.

Sargent worked on structural macroeconomics, used to analyze permanent changes in economic policy, as well as the reciprocal relationship between the expectations of the private sector regarding future policy and actual policy decisions about wages, prices and investments. “This method can be applied to study macroeconomic relations when households and firms adjust Continued on Page 13

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‘Political instability no excuse to not protect environment’ Green Line holds press conference

By Nawara Fattahova KUWAIT: Rising political instability in the country should not be used as an excuse to forget the environment and human health, MP Musallam Al-Barrak remarked yesterday. “Those who tried to dissuade me from attending this

Green Line and a group of MPs that also includes Ahmad AlSaadoun.

Installing CCTV cameras at the headquarters of the Environment Public Authority (EPA) has stirred a controversy. “Installing CCTV cameras in the smoke detector at EPA’s headquarter without the

Minister of Interior for installing cameras at the Iradah Square outside the Parliament without informing citizens. We don’t accept such behavior and acts,” he noted.

According to Al-Barrak, EPA does not execute court verdicts and illustrated with the example

KUWAIT: MP Hasan Jawhar, Musallam Al-Barrak, and Khalid Al-Hajiri during the conference yesterday. conference reasoned that the Green Line has its own agenda.”

He hoped that more cooperation can be forged with the Green Line Environment Group - Kuwait (GLEG) on different environmental issues. Al-Barrak was speaking during a press conference held in Salmiya yesterday.

He has appointed MP Dr Hasan Jawhar as the coordinator of a partnership formed between the

knowledge of the employees is in bad taste and exposes maladministration in EPA. It is a violation of employees’ right and infringement on their personal freedom,” said MP Al-Barrak.

The lawmaker demanded that this situation be corrected, “Any firm can install cameras after informing employees about it.

This reminds me of a grilling motion initiated against the

News

in brief

New hotels near planned airport KUWAIT: The Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) asked the Ministry of Public Works(MPW) to build two hotels on the site of to-be constructed new Kuwait International Airport. This is in addition to building a police station and a fullyequipped medical facility. The ministry is currently studying the possibility of adding new buildings to improve airports’ performance, placing it among world-class facilities in the world, reported Aljarida.

The ministry received feedback by holding meetings with the rest of government bodies. They are involved in its management. The airport will receive new aircraft. Passenger traffic is expected to rise.

Mishref sanitary station KUWAIT: Engineer Ali Abu al Banat, team leader of the rehabilitation of the Meshref sanitary station, has said that they are currently reviewing final preparations needed for the operation of the station. He added that equipment is currently going through quality checks, and added that the aim was to restore the station, not to redesign it. The repairs were undertaken by Al Khorafi and Co. He added that repairing the station came at a cost of KD 8 million, while the cost of the station contract in its entirety amounted to KD 15 million. He further added that the manufacturers and companies responsible for the repair, supervision and operation of Mishref station will arrive in Kuwait and that the station will be initially inaugurated in two weeks time, with an official inauguration being planned for a later date.

Sabah Al-Ahmad City infrastructure KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works and State Minister for Municipal Affairs Dr Fadhal Safar announced the completion of infrastructure work for Sabah AlAhmad City in Al-Khairan (sector A3). In a press release, Safar encouraged owners of building plots in the area to liaise with the Ahmadi Governorate Municipality to obtain necessary building licenses in compliance with regulations. Safar also offered his thanks and appreciation for the work, efforts and time of those involved in the project.

Ministry to relocate Physiotherapy hospital KUWAIT: The Ministry of Health plans to relocate the Physiotherapy Hospital and construct a medical facility that provides health care services to senior citizens and people with special needs.

Ministry of Health’s Undersecretary Dr Ibrahim AlAbdulhadi sent a letter to Municipal Council President Zaid Al-Azmy, requesting that the topic be discussed during the next Council meeting, reported Al-Rai. The letter quoted in recent news reports points out that the Cabinet has already approved this stipulation. However, it is necessary to receive the Municipal Council’s approval for future licensing processes.

Flaws in wealth disclosure law KUWAIT: Constitutional expert and public law Professor at Kuwait University, Dr Mohammad Al-Faily, has said that wealth disclosure should be for the total amount of money shown at the time of disclosure.

He added that comments about the retroactive effect when wealth exposure law is implemented with penal provisions is unconstitutional because Kuwait’s constitution prohibits the implementation of penal provisions retroactively. —Al-Jarida

of Jasim Al-Shawaf. “Al-Shawaf was terminated from his work place for inane reasons, and the court restored his right to work by issuing a verdict. The EPA did not comply with the verdict.

Employee Khawla Al-Obaidan also met with a similar fate,” he pointed out.

More conferences will be held in the future on different environmental issues especially the

Umm Al-Haiman pollution issue and the Mishref sewage treatment plant, “These issues will be discussed in detail to highlight the improvement in this cases.

We hope that the media will highlight these issues to give a clear view about the danger of the environmental situation,” AlBarrak concluded.

MP Hasan Jawhar commented on the CCTV cameras issue, “I have listened to the complaints and to EPA. I found the explanation given by EPA unsatisfactor y. Installing cameras in the smoke detector without informing employees is not acceptable. They should have installed it in a suitable place and inform the employees. A similar issue took place a few years ago. The cameras were removed soon,” he stressed. “ The most important environmental issue affecting health in Kuwait is sea pollution. In 1985, Kuwait submitted a study to the United Nations on Kuwait food security, which is enough to sustain the country for six months in the case of emergency. Today the sea is polluted and has created fear in people,” he added.

Khalid Al-Hajiri, Chairman of GLEG stated that it is important to execute court decisions and verdicts, “Also, I think there are many important environmental issues that should be discussed such as Um Al-Haiman and Mishref station. We hope all the environmental activists can corral support from MPs,” he noted.

Municipal Council employees to join strikes

By A Saleh KUWAIT: A number of employees working in the Municipal Council’s secretariat general organized strikes demanding that financial privileges be paid on par with payments made by other civil bodies.

Jassim Al-Randi Municipal Council Chairman said that yesterday’s strike was nothing but a message to state officials.

He also urged HH that the Prime Minister intervene. “We have been working hard for so long without even receiving a word of praise from officials,” he stressed.

He pointed out that many promotions and increment letters were signed and sent to the minister’s office. Al-Randi also criticized the role played by the municipality employees’ syndicate which he described as being ‘passive.’

Demonstrators’ claims and demands were seconded by Municipal Council members, Mane’ Al-Ajmi, Faraz AlMuttairi and Abdulah Fahad. They supported demands, describing them as being rightful that ought to be studied according to laws and administrative rules and regulations.

In another development, MP Falah Al-

Sawwagh quizzed the Health Minister Dr Hilal Al-Sayer about appointing members to the medical board. He stressed that Kuwaiti medical staff members should be taken care of as they form an integral part of the development plan.

Al-Sawwagh noted that many complaints were recently filed against Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties (KIMS). It had recommended that Kuwaiti doctors join the medical board. He demanded a full list of the conditions that were set for joining the board, the qualifications needed and the procedure followed to decide how transparent KIMS was.

In other news, MP Mohammed Hayef stressed that he will not hesitate to initiate a grilling motion against the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Ahmed Al-Mulaifi unless he withdraws a decision to adjust the seventh grade Islamic Education text book by removing a Hadith. “This is a dangerous matter and we will check it,” he stressed.

Notably, the Ministry of Education responded to previous parliamentary objections over the possibility of omitting the Hadith saying that it was it was only moved to another page.

KUWAIT: The 10th Asia Cooperation Dialogue got underway here yesterday under the sponsorship of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Speaking at the inaugural session, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, expressed gratitude to HH the Amir for sponsoring ‘this crucial Asian event’. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Objections against meat distribution KUWAIT: Several economic sources have expressed their displeasure with the decision taken by the Council of Ministers to distribute Australian meat through the Ministry of Commerce by ration cards or through the supplies company. They said that the decision is reflective of socialist methods, which is ill-fitting as Kuwait is known to have a free capitalist system.

They further questioned whether it was realistic to distribute meat with ration cards, and queried how allowances per individual would be decided.

They warned that such actions, aimed

at solving issues related to high prices, could create other social, political and financial problems.

They added that the priority should be to bring about a unification of meat prices for both citizens and expats alike because it is a strategic source of food.

Limiting the supply of subsidized and free products to a certain group, they asserted, can cause negative consequences for expatriates.

They cited the example of the sharp rise in prices following the Amiri grant of KD 1000 for each citizen, which left expatriates facing elevated prices without elevated incomes. —Annahar

Proposals to handle defects in Kuwaiti economy KUWAIT: The Financial and Economic Reform Committee, a subcommittee of the Consulting Committee for discussing economic situation, has completed the final draft of their report regarding how to handle defects in the Kuwaiti economy. The draft will be merged with the final report, which will be presented to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad.

Official sources in the committee said that the draft carried the title “Financial and economic reform path”.

Various problems were outlined and realistic solutions put for ward. The source added that the Committee used

World Bank and IMF reports, as well as the advice of Tony Blair and studies composed by Baker Mackanzie.

The draf t shows the move of oil prices from the seventies until the present day, the source revealed.

Kuwait oil production in the seventies was 2 million barrels per day, and has reached 2.9 million barrels per day with prices exceeding $100. However, the source further added that the draft revealed that the state’s budget is heading for a sizeable deficit during the period between 2025 and 2030, as expenditures will exceed salaries and insurance. —Al-Anbaa

Conference removes distinction between information security, national security KUWAIT: For two days on Oct 3 and 4, the Arabian Conference on Information and Communications Security (ACICS) convened at Arraya Conference Hall in Kuwait. ACICS was held by the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) in Kuwait, and organized by the United Marketing and Organizing Exhibitions Co. (UNIEXPO). ACICS success was manifested by the large number of attendees during all sessions and activities, the world-class participating and sponsoring vendors and government agencies, and the distinguished industry specialists who addressed the audience.

The patronage of his Highness the Prime Minister Sheik h Nasser Mohammad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah represented by Salem Al-Othaina the Minister of Electricity and Water and the Acting Minister of Information and Communications represented a very important governmental support for the conference and contributed to its success.

During his opening speech, AlOthaina, made it clear that the Kuwaiti government deals with information and communications security as a national security issue. He confirmed that the Kuwaiti Government realize the implications and responsibilities quite well. He warned that cybercrime is, sometimes, more dangerous since it is planned and executed in the dark. He, also, considered that the political instabilities in the area contributes to the risk landscape in

light of the proliferation of use of IT sys- rity plans should be supported by polititems and devices in all aspects of our cal leadership on a very high level to lives today. Abdullatif Al-Suraie, General ensure success and homogeneity across Manager of the Central Agency for all government agencies.

Information Technology (CAIT), elaboratl National Information Security must ed that CAIT considers information and go beyond the traditional view of inforcommunications security as the corner mation security as a technological issue. stone of the e-government programs The National Security Strategy must take executed in collaboration with all other into account the following: (1) Planning government agencies. He highlighted (2) Culture (3) Process (4) Competencies the various government (5) Technology and (6) wide initiatives and projects Communication. that CAIT is embarking on to l Urgent need to develfulfill its role. op a national Information Many international Security Framework that world-class vendors, concontinually evolves and sultants, and policy makers adapts, in-line with the found ACICS as the perfect threat landscape which venue to present their specontinues to evolve. cialized researches and l National Information showcase their products Security Framework and services. Not only many should be e-services cenconsultants were visiting tric given that the e-servSalem Al-Othaina Kuwait for the first time, ices are the major top-levthey were also sharing the el asset to the governaudience some first time topics. ment and the methodology for developVendors were encouraged by the sta- ing e-government programs. ble and promising investment opportul Central Agency for Information nities that Kuwait provides. Accordingly, Technology needs to build a national many participating vendors have already Computer Emergency Response Team booked their booths for next year in (CERT ) with all necessar y business addition to many others who decided to processes, capabilities, and basis of participate based on this year’s success. inter facing with other government ACICS was concluding by announcing agencies. the following recommendations: l Set the criteria and rules for building all government information systems l Information security is a national security issue that should be dealt with with the necessary business continuity on that basis. National information secu- and disaster recovery parameters since

this is a main component of information security and safety, especially in light of the latest instabilities in the area. l Develop or outsource national or international qualified human resources in the field of information security as necessary. l Follow up the approval of regulations and laws related to information security, confidentiality, e-transactions, and cybercrimes. Also, provide necessary training for human resources working in the government judicial and security departments. l Enhance level of cooperation and exchange of information about information security and cybercrimes regionally and internationally. l Enhance the level of public awareness about information security issues using various types media and education to ensure reachability. l Encourage information security research and development at educational institutions, national security departments, and judicial departments. The cooperation with specialized companies and organizations is highly recommended to develop the capacity of Kuwaiti institutions in dealing with the risks arising from cybercrimes. l This conference will continue to be held each year, and it is intended to be held next year during the second half of the month of October 2012, during which there will be a follow up on what has been achieved from this year conference recommendations.

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KUWAIT: The 8th Theatre Festival opened on Sunday at the Dasma Theatre in Kuwait. It was inaugurated under the patronage of Faisal Al-Jazzaf, Chairman of Public Authority for Youth and Sports. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Ban on domestic workers yet to be implemented Filipino minister in Kuwait

Al-Rashid denies resignation rumors KUWAIT: Minister of Cabinet Affairs Ali Al-Rashid denied rumors that he plans to tender resignation from his position. He spoke to reporters at the Kuwait International Airport(KIA) after arriving on Sunday from a medical trip to the United States of America.

“I am not thinking about resigning,” Al-Rashid said. “On the contrary, I’m going against doctor’s advice to take a month’s rest, resume working within a

couple of days.”

Some citizens and state officials welcomed Al-Rashid including Minister of Public Works and Municipality Affairs Dr Fadhel Safar.

Al-Rashid also expressed gratitude to His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah for taking the decision to send him abroad to receive treatment in the United States, reported Al-Qabas.

Ministry not to relent to students’ demands

KUWAIT: (Left) Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario, fifth left, poses here with Ambassador Primavera and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director of American Affairs Turkey Melfi Al-Deehani on his arrival at the Kuwait Airport yesterday. (Right) Albert del Rosario.—Photos by Ben Garcia

By Ben Garcia KUWAIT: The Philippines Foreign Affairs Minister (Secretary of Foreign Affairs) has denied reports that Manila is officially banning Filipino domestic helpers from working in Kuwait.

The Filipino Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Albert del Rosario, arrived in the country yesterday morning to attend a two-day Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). “I believe the ban is yet to be implemented. We haven’t taken any decisions yet [as to when the ban will be implemented],” Del Rosario said, echoing comments made by Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait, Shulan Primavera Kuwait Times phone interview yesterday which denied that Manila had officially announced a suspension in the process of sending its domestic workers to

Kuwait until new legislation is introduced to protect their workers. Primavera was quoted on Sunday as saying: “ The last update I received from the team which visited Kuwait last week was that the committee in the House of Representatives will review the Migrant Workers Act. So far, as we’re talking, we haven’t received any official statement or information from Manila, and all of my sources are denying it [that an official announcement has been issued].

Manila had been contemplating the introduction of such measures highlighting the need for Kuwait to follow regulations set by the ILO, as well as regulations issued by the Philippine authorities in compliance with Republic Act 10022, more commonly known as the Migrant Workers Act.

Asked whether the Philippines will finally lift the ban on Overseas Filipino Workers going to Iraq, Del Rosario said, “We are looking forward to that and it’s a matter being studied carefully.”

With regard to the Kuwaiti investments in the Philippines, Del Rosario mentioned several companies and businesses currently at work.

Del Rosario is in the country for the ACD ministerial meeting.

He will also be holding meetings with HH the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Muhammad Al-Sabah and his counterpart Sheikh Dr Muhammad Sabah Al-Salem AlSabah. Del Rosario will also meet with several heads of various Kuwaiti investors in order to attract more investors to the Philippines.

Indebted expatriate detainees may soon be deported KUWAIT: Kuwaiti authorities may soon deport some expatriates detained for debts, according to a government source.

The source, close to the committee established by Interior Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hamoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to examine the case of each expatriate detained for debts, spoke on the condition of anonymity as the news has yet be formally disclosed.

Al-Sabah established the committee following an incident in August in which several detainees threatened joint sui-

cide to protest the conditions in which they had been held for years as they awaited legal proceedings.

The same source added that the committee met on Sunday to discuss the recommendations of the study, which includes deporting detainees who remain in jail for minor debts that are dwarfed by the cost to the Kuwaiti state of detaining the individual.

The committee is also said to have contacted soon-to-deported inmates’ respective embassies in order to obtain their travel documents. — Al-Qabas

“We have a huge banana and pineapple plantations owned by a Kuwaiti company, in Davao; we also have a multi-billion dollar investment by KGL at Clark Airbase and the Negros Navigation by Aboitiz Shipping company, which is also majority acquired by KGL. We also have two energy exploration contracts from Kuwait and others,” said Del Rosario.

Asked whether he will seek assistance, particularly in the aftermath of the two typhoons that devastated the Philippines, he added “We haven’t sought any aid or assistance from any other countries at this point in time.”

During his visit, Del Rosario is also trying to gain the support of other Asian member states for the candidacy of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago for a seat in the International Criminal Court (ICC).

KMSC head alleges fraud in PAYS case KUWAIT: The head of the Kuwait Motor Sports Club (KMSC) has confirmed reports that a senior parliamentarian submitted a forged document in order to take leave and participate in a tournament.

The initial report, published earlier this week, indicated that National Assembly (NA) Secretary General Allam AlKandari filed a case with the Public Prosecution against NA labor union president Abdullah Saud, after Saud submitted an apparent Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS) document that PAYS later confirmed it did not issue.

Meanwhile, KMSC Board Chairman Sheikh Ahmed AlDawood Al-Sabah insisted, in a phone call from Madrid, that Saud never obtained a requisite letter from KSMC to submit with the leave request, and denied that Saud was even a member of the club. Al-Sabah also alluded to the complicity of a PAYS official in the case, stating “PAYS cannot issue a leave request unless with an official letter from the KMSC. [...] How was the request issued when we [KSMC] never provided a letter? This proves that fraud is involved in the case.” —Al-Rai

Mishref station resumes operation

KUWAIT: The Fifth Kuwait Transparency Forum opened yesterday. It was entitled ‘Transparency in Public Sector.’ Salah Al-Ghazali, from the Kuwait Transparency Society (KTS) presided over the event where measures to boost transparency laws to fight corruption in private sector companies was discussed.

KUWAIT: Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs Dr. Fahdel Safar announced yesterday the gradual reactivation of Mishref sanitation station will start today.

Dr. Al-Safar visited the station yesterday to confirm the readiness of the final preparations and process of re-running includes transfer of flow to the stations by lifting clogs. The first amount will be about 30,000 cubic meters daily and after the workflow is confirmed, other quantities will flow from Sabah Al-Salem area, he noted.

Dr. Al-Safar stressed the importance of following safety regulations to reopen the station.

For his part, Assistant Undersecretary for Health engineering affairs at the ministry Khaled Al-Khezi said all safety measures are taken for the reopening of the station as well as recommendations aaddressed by the various commissions of inquiry.

The station was closed since August 23 2009, to take several legal proceedings, technical, and hire an international consultant and specialist contractor. — KUNA

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Education (MoE) will not revert its decision to readjust the newly-introduced evaluation method at the secondary education level, despite students’ plans to demonstrate. A protest was staged outside the ministry’s building last Thursday.

Ahmad Al-Mulaifi Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education confirmed this in a press statement following a meeting held on Sunday. Senior MoE officials including directors of educational directorates and a number of assistant

undersecretaries said, “The decision has been misunderstood. It will serve students’ best interest and future. The ministry has been keen on it.”

On Sunday Minister Al-Mulaifi inaugurated the Al-Sadeem School for Learning Disabilities, the first of its kind in Kuwait and the region. MoE Undersecretar y Tamadher Al-Sadairawi who was present at the inauguration told reporters that the school’s teaching staff underwent “high quality training supervised by a British company.” — Al-Qabas

Fingerprinting system underway soon: MEW KUWAIT: The Ministry of Electricity and Water will start to complete its database of employees’ fingerprints this weekend ahead of launching the fingerprinting ‘clock-in’ system. “The Ministry has prepared 50 of its 160 buildings; including its headquarters building, while the remaining locations are set to be ready before mid-month”, said Director of the department supervising the project, Ali Al-Saleh.

Employees at the consumers affairs offices and power plants are set to inaugurate the project ahead of other departments. Al-Saleh added that sur-

veillance cameras have been installed to monitor the process of clock-in and out processes of the ministr y ’s 14,850 employees. In other news, officials from the Partnership Technical Bureau urged officials currently studying bids presented for the North Zoor power plant project against making statements to the media. The officials, who were quoted while speaking anonymously in a recent report, insist that making statements to local or foreign media outlets could “create rumors and confusion that could cause obstacles in executing the project in time”. —Al Rai

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Local Spotlight

in my view

The Arabs’ Dilemma

My generation’s challenge

By Fouad Al-Obaid

Muna Al-Fuzai

fouad@kuwaittimes.net Twitter: @Fouadalobaid

rotests, standstills, angry mobs, millions accumulating in various accounts; a situation leading to confrontation, witnessing chaos in the making. Is chaos simply the logical outcome of a squandered decade? We have wasted much time bickering on how to block, prevent, and scrap projects that are of vital importance. We managed to screw them up. Buildings are going up in Kuwait City, some development is being felt in the outskirts, but the question remains - why are regional countries in a better economic shape? How high will we allow unemployment statistics before acting? I infer real and masked-unemployment, for government jobs that are not needed, with no skills required, and at times no need to show up for work. These do not count as jobs!

We have managed to stop progress, or at least that is the impression the average citizen has of his country: one void of a vision. We pride ourselves in our democracy, and yet tragically could our ‘democratic’ experience be the cause of our chaos? Is it time for our democracy to evolve and develop? We have a Parliament filled with 50 people that share no common goal! We have parliamentarians that are primarily there to serve their interest. The lack of political parties means that politicians’ ultimate objective is to remains in his seat for as long as possible. The dilemma of such a situation is that it leads to theatric displays of power by some MPs who use their work venue to show-off their oratory skills by grilling Ministers who inherit their predecessors’ ills!

I would argue that we are in need for the formation of political parties, and for the creation of independent government authorities that answer to the prime minister and are able to independently pass directives. It is insane that a country gifted with oil-wealth is unable to fast-track reform and push for greatness, anything less is unacceptable. With over $300 billion in assets and another $75 plus billion in annual revenue, why can we not achieve greatness? Squandering public wealth to amass popular support is not a long-term solution, let alone, a viable short-term one. Whether the supposed multi-million dinar accounts of MPs or the several thousand dinars the state employees benefit from, the squander is the same the difference is the amount!

We need to invest heavily in two fields, education in all of its stages, and research and development. We need to instill a new national mentality, one of innovation. Development should not be targeted simply at covering the national market. We need to push for the creation of medium-sized enterprises that are capable of competing regionally and internationally. We need national champions that are at the cutting edge of innovation in different fields. Schools should be places of high culture. Why not create top-notch esthetically, visually, and structural units of learning that are independent, and are home to the cultivation of knowledge. We deserve the best, and should invest in the best technology that can help us achieve just that!

Let us not fail ourselves, and let us not burden our generation when we could be the best generation our nation has seen, one that is in sync with the world, skilled, and savvy.

muna@kuwaittimes.net (Part 2)

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nother aspect here is what is known as socialist democracy, which I believe is an illusion. I don’t think that such a thing even exists; one can either have socialism or democracy, but the two cannot coexist and all nations which have attempted to do so have failed dramatically.

People are not sheep or cattle. That should be the lesson learned by those responsible for all systems. So, I think any new power now who may come to lead these countries after the uprisings are over must be fully aware that there is a need to find a new system that allows people to express their ideas and aspirations, not in closed rooms in secret, but wherever they wish, and to be able afterwards to return home without fear.

We need to see new and different political parties. Whilst I know that in many countries now the Islamic parties are eager to take control and seize power, I doubt that any conservative Islamic party will win any election or have power. No way.

The Islamic parties are certainly organized when it comes to their objective, which is, of course, attaining power. But the conservatives’ calls alarm many people, especially those who we might refer to as the ordinary people or the ‘man on the street,’ who for the most part just want to live in peace and let others get on with their own lives. The vast majority of people just wish to ensure that their children attain a good education and enjoy decent meals every day.

And guess what? They will keep on practicing their five pillars of Islam quietly and away from the political realm, whoever is in power. They will keep performing their rituals quietly and with humility no matter who’s in power and they don’t want to be led by autocrats who believe that they alone know most about their religion or wish to force people to change to fit their ideas. For all these reasons, I don’t believe that the Islamic parties will win any upcoming election.

After all this, Arabs now wish to breathe the fresh air of freedom and there is no way they will choose to move from one prison to another or to be led like cattle by a new set of authoritarians. I think independent individuals with clean records, who have no interest in name-calling and smears, will be the coming heroes and the people’s choice.

It is time for the Middle East to seize that chance, to move ahead and decide its own fate, to leave behind the name-calling and smears and make its own future.

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kuwait digest

Bedoons’ ongoing wait

By Waleed Al-Ahmad he government had announced during the early to come up with categories to classify bedoons and eighties that the problem of stateless residents deport those that do not have documents, while would be resolved soon. It had made similar granting others permanent residencies. promises after the Gulf War in 1991, initially vowing to No one is asking the government to naturalize all end the problem in five years. bedoons. We understand that there are people who Nothing has happened since then, other than the deliberately destroyed their original passports and documents piling up at claim to be stateless resinaturalization commitdents. What about those No one is asking the government to tees. Wasta (unlawful who followed all procenaturalize all bedoons. We undermediation) serving as dures and provided all stand that there are people who the only way to move the documents that the deliberately destroyed their original them - not for approval. government asks for natWasta intervened and uralization including a passports and claim to be stateless granted citizenship to clean criminal record? residents. What about those who folpeople under the Why can’t the governlowed all procedures and provided all ‘notable services to the ment make an instant the documents that the government country’ clause. The decision to naturalize asks for naturalization including a more deserving resithem instead of having dents were left out, them wait for months? clean criminal record? Why can’t the only to become entiLast week, Saleh Algovernment make an instant decision tled to receive basic Fadhalah, Chairman of to naturalize them instead of having human rights like medthe Central Apparatus them wait for months? Last week, ical treatment and edufor Solving Illegal cation after being presResidents Issues, Saleh Al-Fadhalah, Chairman of the sured by the United announced that the Central Apparatus for Solving Illegal States. apparatus is working Residents Issues, announced that the The fourth generatoward finishing its apparatus is working toward finishing tion bedoons grew up works as soon as possiin the suburbs of Jahra, ble, and within a fiveits works as soon as possible, and Sulaibiya, Kabad and year timeframe allocated within a five-year timeframe allocated Ahmadi. There was by the government. The by the government. hate against the govinconsistency in this ernment when it statement is similar to closed doors. Some had no choice but to steal and the approach used by the government throughout the engage in crime. Fueled by frustration from being past years. Bedoons are ignored while other nationaliignored by the government and Parliament, stateless ties were naturalized for performing ‘notable services residents demonstrated. The government is still trying to the country.’ — Al-Rai

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kuwait digest

There’s still hope

kuwait digest

Third ‘Apple’ creator

kuwait digest

Bribery through the years

By Nabil Bin Salamah

By Abdullatif Al-Duaij

f someday I feel unable to fulfill my duties as Apple CEO, I’ll be the first to admit it”, said the creator of the third ‘Apple’ while bidding his office colleagues farewell. He had been battling cancer for seven years.

He passed away shortly after making this statement, after placing his ‘Apple’ in each and every home, firm and establishment. As it has been said, three apples changed the world: Adam and Eve’s apple, Newton’s apple and the apple of Steve Jobs. The IT wizard, changed our views on technology.

His friends and acquaintances back in the seventies never thought that the garage he started working at with his lifetime friend would turn into such a technology behemoth making it the most expensive technology company in the world. The latest US Treasury statistics reveal that with assets worth $76.4 billion, Apple possessed more liquid assets than the US government itself. What Jobs did was described by so many people as ‘magic’ placing him in the same league as the greatest inventors of all times. He managed to go way beyond reality and beyond people’s aspirations. “To ask clients about their current needs and start working on providing them is a waste as by the time you manage to do so, they will have wanted newer things,” he once said.

In fact, this was the secret of the Apple owner’s genius. He went way beyond others’ ideas and imagination, resulting in the IPod revolution that was vastly welcomed by music lovers. It was then followed with the IPhone revolution and heralded the era of tablet computers in the form of IPads.

Many corporate firms also benefited, including Kuwait’s Zain Telecom. The Apple-Zain cooperation, still existent, has Zain clients using the smartphone.

Many now prefer using Apple applications, thanks to which, Zain has created a wonderful community of app lovers. Jobs’ life wasn’t easy. It had ups and downs but what helped him rebound every time was his love for technology. “The secret behind the remarkable success I made with Apple is human love for technology,” he once said. — Aljarida

n the beginning of parliamentary work in Kuwait, enforced. Eventually, these projects turned into a tool most proposals made by MPs in the inaugural according to which voters are ‘bribed’ through gifts in Parliament were municipal in nature instead of the form of financial privileges and loans. The current being legislative or political. At that time, MPs focused generation is not aware of the legislations enforced on projects such as road works (eg: creating a U-turn at during that time. However, everyone remembers that a certain street), building legislations were enforced mosques and polyclinics. following the increase in The third Parliament coincided The second Parliament oil prices. This also was elected in 1967 in includes those that fell with a skyrocketing increase in oil elections believed to have short of enforcement like prices due to international circumbeen rigged. They saw banks loans and the stances. The government was able more improvement, as allowances given to famito nationalize oil fields. It provided MPs began focusing on lies and individuals. more important projects While it serves as evienormous growth in terms of the like building low-cost dence that the governstate’s budget. It opened the door homes and providing ment and Parliament for salary raises, allowances, houshousing care to citizens. A have sponsored a culture ing and marriage loans to be dispute occurred about of ‘bribery’ in the Kuwaiti classifying Sulaibikhat as a society (by buying peoenforced. Eventually, these projects village or suburb. This is ple’s allegiances through turned into a tool according to because housing distribuspending), people refuse which voters are ‘bribed’ through tion would depend on this to admit that fact. They gifts in the form of financial privikind of classification. have accepted this situaleges and loans. The current generEither way, the low prices tion. of oil at the time did not Recently, the Ministry ation is not aware of the legislaprovide a motive to the of Information (MoI) tions enforced during that time. government or MPs to announced that compaHowever, everyone remembers that increase spending on citinies can apply to receive a legislations were enforced followzens, or in other words, unit at the industrial area voters. of Ardiya to be used in ing the increase in oil prices.

The third Parliament building a headquarters’ coincided with a skyrockbuilding. Each unit will be eting increase in oil prices due to international circum- gifted free of charge costing KD 3 million. Owners of stances. The government was able to nationalize oil newspapers signed an agreement when they received fields. It provided enormous growth in terms of the the unit to refrain from asking any form of support. It’s state’s budget. It opened the door for salary raises, ironic because, what can KD 3 million land mean to an allowances, housing and marriage loans to be institution? - Al-Qabas

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By Fuhaid Al-Busairi was sitting alone in the diwaniya when my phone rang, and the man on the other end identified himself as Abu Fahad, supervisor of the Jahra governorate’s cemeteries. He requested to meet me to talk about problems that he faced at his workplace. At first, I thought this was some kind of a prank that one of my friends played. I played along with the caller until he hung up after saying that he would come over to my place to have a chat.

Ten minutes later, while I was still convinced that the whole thing was a joke, a cheerful bearded young man came into the diwaniya and greeted me warmly.

At first glance, the man appeared to be in his early thirties wearing clean but not very fashionable clothes which indicated that he was spiritually inclined. After realizing this isn’t a prank and having apologized for what I said during the phone call, we sat down to talk about the subject he came to discuss.

The man didn’t seem bothered that I disrespectfully regarded him as a prank caller at first, as he cut directly to the topic which pertained with the situation workers face at the cemeteries he supervises. Ironically, he began talking about the true meaning of happiness while his subject concerned the daily troubles that he faces at his workplace, as well as the type of work conditions which pale in comparison to other GCC states.

The way Abu Fahad spoke gave the impression that he has true passion for what he does and understanding on the holiness of the tasks he is responsible for.

He expressed a kind of commitment to work duties that is only paralleled by the commitment a father has for his duties towards his son. I found that very surprising during these times when job loyalty is regarded as something foolish.

Abu Fahad is a Kuwaiti man from a famous family and tribe that can easily find a different job elsewhere.

He chose to work at the only place where he can find peace within himself. People usually understand when an arts professor speaks about how much passion he has for his job. It seems Abu Fahad was able to find tranquility in the most depressing of places. Today Abu Fahad and I are friends, and have had numerous conversations. The smile on his face still remains. He talks about the obstacles faced as a result of bureaucracy. He never thought about going on a strike or making pay raise demands because his passion for his job seeks higher goals. Abu Fahad is an example that Kuwait still has noble citizens. He makes me realize that there’s still hope for Kuwait. — Al-Rai

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

Years

local

Major money laundering scandal to be unearthed Bribery widespread in Kuwait KUWAIT: Investigations are currently being held into what could be the largest money laundering scandal ever to be unearthed in Kuwait involving parliament members. It was brought to light on the heels of suspicious multimilliondinar deposits found in MPs’ bank accounts. According to a news report, the recent case involves two current lawmakers representing two different constituencies, as well as a businessman who is a local company’s board member. He has been previously suspected of siphoning off money to other countries.

Suspicions regarding the case first appeared when investigations determined the source of a KD 13 million deposit. One of the MPs involved in the case was as an employee before being elected to the Parliament. Meanwhile, the second MP is accused of amassing a total of KD 10 million in a similar fashion.

Since the scandal emerged in late

August, several cases were filed with the Public Prosecution Department pertinent with MPs who possess large deposits in bank accounts.

However, officials indicate that what distinguishes the most recent case is the fact that they had evidence which can warrant for it to be classified as money laundering.

Political analysts believe that the nature of relationships shared between MPs and businessmen were also revealed.

The multi-million deposits scandal garnered nationwide attention and sparked demonstration as well as an interpellation motion prepared against Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah over the government’s procedures.

Meanwhile, a field study carried out revealed that five percent of employees in Kuwait collected bribes throughout

their careers, with the percentage increasing by 15 percent between public and private sectors.

The study, carried out by the Kuwait University and handed to the Ministry of Awqaf and Municipality Affairs places customs employees on top of the rung of employees who abused their positions to collect bribes, followed by employees in the Ministr y of Interior, Kuwait Municipality, Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, correctional institutions, realestate registration, sales and tenders, Ministry of Education and media institutions respectively, reported Al-Rai. Furthermore, the study concludes that the state is not serious about combating the spread of bribery, especially as 59 percentage of those surveyed believe that this illegal practice is on the rise. The study lists low wages as well as lack of proper monitoring as some of the reasons behind the spread of bribery.

Kuwait hosts GCC panel on occupational health, safety KUWAIT: The meeting of the GCC committee on occupational health and safety will open here today with participation of representatives of the six GCC members in addition to Yemen.

Assistant Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Health for Medical Services Dr Qais Al-Duwairi expressed in a press statement yesterday satisfaction with the joint efforts being made by the countries of the region to promote the standards of occupational health and safety.

“This work includes the conference in occupational health and safety recommendations that was held in Turkey’s capital Istanbul for Kuwait’s initiative of Occupational Health,” he said. For his part, Executive Director of the GCC Ministers of Health Board Dr Tawfiq Khoja said the two-day meeting is to further the initiative of Kuwait to strengthen occupational

Kuwait envoy hails Italy honoring of FM ROME: Kuwait Ambassador to Italy Sheikh Jaber Du’aij Al-Sabah hailed here yesterday the initiatives of Florence City to grant “Leone del Marzocco,” and the University for Foreigners of Perugia to grant an honorary doctorate, to Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. Sheikh Jaber said: “The two initiatives represent a new recognition of Kuwait’s rising status and great presence on the international affairs as well as Sheikh Dr Mohammad’s active diplomatic role.”

“This is the first time for an Arab dignitary to win the decoration and the doctorate - the Lectio Doctoralis in Communication Systems and International Relations.

This indicates the close bonds and intimate friendship between Italy and Kuwait not only on the official scale but also on the scientific, academic, cultural and popular ones,” the ambassador pointed out.

Sheikh Jaber noted the Italian media covered extensively the festive conferment ceremonies in Florence and in Perugia which coincided with the 50th anniversary of Kuwait independence and the 150th anniversary of Italy’s reunification. The celebrations were held on the sidelines of the celebration to mark the 20th anniversary of the twinning agreement between Florence and Kuwait city and as part of Florence selection as the Cultural City of Europe, he pointed out.

“Florence and Kuwait Embassy are preparing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the initiation of the Kuwaiti-Italian friendship society which was launched to back Kuwait’s struggle against the Iraqi occupation and promote the people-to-people relationship,” he revealed. Sheikh Jaber added that Sheikh Dr. Mohammad held, during his stay here, talks with the Italian officials to open new horizons for scientific and academic exchanges between the two countries.

“The historic visit to Italy last year by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah which followed a visit by HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah gave a strong momentum to the bilateral ties in all fields,” he went on. He added that the cultural activities being organized by Kuwait in Italy, such as the Islamic art exhibition in Milan last year and the cultural week in Florence last summer, made resounding success. The activities of Kuwait Days in Milan kicked off yesterday in collaboration with the embassy. — KUNA

health in the GCC countries. Kuwait hosted (I Kuwait) conference last April with the participation of local, regional and international bodies, to achieve wide acclaim among workers in this vital area and enhancing the occupational health and safety. Director of the Media Department at the Ministry of Health Dr Ahmed Al-Shatti said the meeting will establish in particular the work of the GCC in the field of occupational health and requires the adoption of ways to activate the recommendations of the initiative.

He pointed out to the need for the preparedness for the regional workshop on occupational health standards and accreditation system in the health industry, at the Gulf region level, which requires more attention to the quality of service to ensure the safety of the patient and medical team. — KUNA

KUWAIT: E. Ahamed, Indian Minister of State for External affairs, arrived in Kuwait on Sunday on a two days visit to attend the Asia Cooperation Dialogue meeting. Indian Ambassador Sathish C. Mehta hosted a reception in honor of the visiting dignitary at the India House. The reception was well attended by a large number of dignitaries including prominent Kuwaitis, representatives of Indian Community in Kuwait and other high officials. The Indian Business Council of Kuwait hosted a dinner in E Ahamed’s honor.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

LOCAL

Long-term residency violators held in Jahra Public molestation reported KUWAIT: Jahra police have arrested three men who have resided in Kuwait illegally for the past 15 years. Officers in Amghara stopped an Asian man after noticing suspicious behavior and upon inspection of his identity found that his residency permit had expired a decade and half ago.

The individual was then asked to lead the officers to his residence, where they found and detained two other men with similar statuses. The three told investigators that they have been unable to attain legal residency in Kuwait as their home state has banned its citizens from obtaining work visas for Kuwait.

Molestation case Police are searching for a man accused of molesting a girl in Nugra. According to statements given by the 11-year-old victim, the individual approached the girl as she played alone in the yard next to her apartment building. The individual proceeded to touch the girl inappropriately and then undress her, at which point her cries prompted the assailant to flee. The victim’s father then rushed the girl to the local police station, where she provided police with descriptions of her attacker.

Al-Andalus shooting Al-Andalus police officers are

attempting to identify the suspect in a recent public shooting.

The apparent target, a Kuwaiti national, reported to police that upon exiting his house he heard several gunshots ring out from an unknown source hitting the individual’s house and car.

Investigations are ongoing.

Brutal assault Police are searching for two men accused of assaulting an individual they accused of stealing from their residence. In his statement at Sulbaikhat police station, the victim, a man of Asian origin, told police that on the day in question he returned home after finishing carpentry work at the residence of two Kuwaiti nationals only for the pair to storm into his house and assault him, inflicting burns over large swathes of his body. The two men reportedly accused the victim of stealing KD 2,400. Investigations remain ongoing.

Suspicious accident A 27-year-old Indian man was killed when a compatriot ran him over at Abdullah Port. The victim’s body was taken to the coroner after paramedics pronounced him dead on the scene. The driver meanwhile told police that he could not avoid the victim after he ‘deliberately’ ran in front of the car. Investigations are ongoing.

Accidental shooting A young man has been hospitalized after reportedly accidentally shooting himself in the foot.

Responding to the victim’s call, an ambulance rushed him from AlSalmi to Jahra Hospital, where he is recovering. Police are awaiting the stabilization of the individual’s condition before investigating further.

General Department.

Wooers turn violent A young man was admitted to the Mubarak Hospital intensive care unit after being stabbed in a brawl at a leisure park. Police and paramedics rushed to the Hawally park after the fight was reported, but not in time to apprehend the second brawler.

Early police investigations suggest that the two came to blows as they harassed the same group of girls.

Misunderstanding A Kuwaiti national has been released from police custody after his attempt to settle a family dispute was mistakenly reported as a kidnapping. The misunderstanding occurred when the individual in question was witnessed forcing a teenager into his car in Jaber Al-Ali. A witness to the incident provided the police with the license plate number and the man was arrested shortly after.

Only then did it transpire that the teenager in question was the individual’s cousin, who had walked out of his house following an argument with his parents; the ‘suspect’ was in fact taking his cousin home when originally reported and was released after police confirmed the account with the teenager’s family.

Snoozing suspect A Kuwaiti national was arrested at Kuwait I nternational Airpor t for possession and abuse of drugs, after security officers’ found 100 pills on the individual. The officers’ suspicions were raised af ter they woke the sleeping individual to find he had missed his flight.

The individual, who admitted to falling asleep after consuming several of the pills, has been referred to the Drug Control

Fugitive arrested Farwaniya police recently arrested an individual wanted for 25 separate charges. Patrol officers pulled the middle-aged man over for his driving and upon inspection of his identity found that he was wanted on multiple charges, including in a case in which he was indebted to a company by KD 25,000. The suspect has since been referred to the relevant authorities.

—Al-Rai, Al-Anbaa, Al-Qabas

Kuwait presents plan to combat sea piracy

KUWAIT: May Al-Mudhaf, Burgan Bank’s chief treasury and investment officer with two members of the Vienna Boys Choir at the event.

Burgan Bank Private Banking hosts event for its clientele KUWAIT: Burgan Bank Private Banking recently held an exclusive event for its clientele at Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyya’s Museum in the Americani Cultural Center. The event was an opportunity for the bank to meet, and strengthen ties with, its high net worth clients, as well as to shed light on the recent key milestones that Burgan Bank’s Private Banking Group achieved by winning the prestigious “Best Private Bank in Kuwait award in 2011”.

During the event, guests were treated to a special tour to view, for the first time in Kuwait, the remarkable Al Sabah collection entitled “Treasury of the World: Jeweled Arts of India in the Age of Mughals.” They were also briefed on the history of the American Mission Hospital, which was followed by a special performance with contemporary music played for the first time in Kuwait by the

renowned “Vienna Boys’ Choir”.

May Al-Mudhaf, Burgan Bank’s Chief Investment Banking and Treasury Officer, said: “ This exclusive evening is a token of our appreciation to our clientele to thank them for voting for us in the 2011 World Finance Banking Awards, which led to Burgan Private Banking being recognized as the best private bank in Kuwait.”

Earlier in 2007, Burgan Bank Private Banking was recognized by Euromoney as the Best Local Private Bank in Kuwait.

In 2011, it was awarded once again with the “Best Private Bank in Kuwait” award

by World Finance, a reflection of its commitment to attain trust through excellence.

Burgan Bank’s Private Banking Group provides wealth management services, investment vehicles, and traditional banking services to clients from Kuwait and the region with high net worth.

AL-KHOBAR: Kuwait has presented a plan to protect marine sailing routes, fight piracy and combat armed assaults. Lt Commander Sheikh Mubarak Ali Yousef Al-Sabah, head of marine operations of the Kuwaiti Coast Guard, said in a statement yesterday that he had presented the plan to the Third International Symposium for Marine Disaster Management, held in the city of Al-Khobar in Al-Sharkiah region.

The Kuwaiti work plan proposed various means of facing possible hazards in the water of the Arab Gulf, said Sheikh Mubarak. The symposium, attended by the general directorate of the coast guards of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior and the Kuwaiti Fire Department, was held yesterday under sponsorship of the Saudi assistant minister of interior, Prince Mohammed Bin Naif Bin Abdul Aziz.

Sheikh Mubarak discussed the significance of holding such seminars, which bolster coordination among the border and coast guards of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and praised the existing cooperation between the Kuwaiti and Saudi coast guards.

The delegation representing the Kuwaiti fire department presented a work paper about the sand storm that struck Kuwait earlier this year, resulting in five people going missing. The delegation briefed the attendees about operations for rescuing up to 180 people during the fiery storm.

The seminar, which addressed maritime security and safety, brought together a number of experts from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United States, as well as Italy, Britain, France, Sweden and the Netherlands, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Malaysia, Finland, Iran and New Zealand. —KUNA

KUWAIT: The German Ambassador to Kuwait, Frank M Mann yesterday hosted a special reception at his residence to celebrate his country’s National Day. Diplomats, dignitaries and members of the media attended the event. —Photos by Joseph Shagra

Al-Shamali loses lawsuit against Al-Barrak KUWAIT: The Cassation Court rejected an appeal made by Mustafa Al-Shamali, Minister of Finance. An Appeals Court took the decision to overrule the verdict passed by the Court of First Instance, sentencing MP Musallam Al-Barrak to pay compensation over defamation charges, reported Al-Qabas.

“Musallam Al-Barrak stated this only during his last election. He hopes that the Finance Minister will find a place in the

Kuwait confident in China’s investment growth

MILAN: Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah pictured with Kuwaiti officials in Milan yesterday.

Kuwait day in Milan ‘cultural mirror’ MILAN: Kuwait’s Information Ministry Undersecretary, Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, commented yesterday that the ‘Kuwait days in Milan,’ which is set to begin this evening, is a cultural mirror that is reflective of Kuwait’s legacy, heritage and culture.

The official praised the planning and preparation put into the event, adding that such events are symbolic of the

strong relations between Italy and Kuwait.

He further added that the event, held under the auspices of Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, would be dubbed “Don’t Wait ... Discover Kuwait,” noting that it would consist of several cultural activities promoting bilateral ties. The event will be held in Milan’s major square. —KUNA

BEIJING: Kuwaiti Finance Minister Mustafa Al-Shimali discussed the potential for significant increases in investment opportunities in China yesterday, including various companies and projects expected to be privatized, “ The establishment of the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) office in Beijing is a reflec tion of Kuwait ’s confidence in business opportunities in China, whose economy is the world’s second-biggest after the US and on track to continue high growth,” Al-Shimali told KUNA. He arrived on Saturday to hold talks with the Chinese financial leaders, including Finance Minister Xie Xuren and Yi G ang, Deput y Governor of the People’s Bank of China and administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange KIA, which manages Kuwait’s oil generated-assets, expects its first representative office to mainly ser ve China, said Al-Shimali, who is also Chairman of KIA, adding that it will also oversee neighboring countries. In addition to conveying investment opportunities in China to the Kuwait

head office, as part of the country’s efforts to encourage cross-investment, KIA’s Beijing office is also endeavoring to provide a gateway for Chinese businesses and entities to invest in Kuwait.

Al-Shimali also touched on KIA’s investment strategy, saying, “As a global and long-term investor, KIA seeks investments in high growth economies in every continent of the world, including value investments in developed economies.” As for an impact on Kuwait’s investments from the eurozone debt crisis and global fiscal challenges, the minister said KIA is can tolerate and accept the high volatility in the markets due to the nature of the fund’s investment horizon. He further added, “As a long term investor, KIA continues to look for value investment opportunities globally.”

Asked about the potential purchase of government bonds in the troubled eurozone, such as Italian bonds, Al-Shimali said, “We are open to any investment opportunities in Europe as long as they meet our risk parameters and fit within our investment criteria.” —KUNA

new Cabinet,” said Thamer Al-Jadan. He described the incident that Minister AlShamali interpreted as an insult, “The Court passed its ruling based on the fact that Al-Barrak’s statements only expressed his opinion. It cannot be construed as an insult. He never knew who the next minister would be.” This case is one of the many filed by Al-Shamali against critic Musallam Al-Barrak. It concerns statements that the MP made to the media.

Al-Shimali inaugurates KIA office in Beijing BEIJING: Kuwaiti Minister of Finance Mustafa AlShimali yesterday inaugurated Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) Beijing Representative Office, marking a significant milestone in Kuwait’s long-term strategic investment plan in the world’s secondbiggest economy.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by hundreds of Chinese and foreign prominent businessmen, as well as diplomatic corps stationed in Beijing. Kuwaiti Ambassador to China Mohammad Al-Thuwaikh Consul General in Hong Kong Bader AlTunaib were also present.

Located in the heart of business district in the Chinese capital, Kuwait Investment Beijing Representative Office (KIRO) will serve as the sovereign wealth fund’s on-the-ground presence in China to explore opportunities for the KIA head office to review. It is KIA’s first ever overseas office since the establishment of the Kuwait Investment Office in London in 1953.

In his speech addressing the guests, Al-Shimali, who doubles KIA Chairman, said Kuwait and China have enjoyed relations based on mutual respect and cooperation since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1971.

“This culminated in the landmark visit of H.H. the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber AlSabah to Beijing in 2009, when the two countries agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in economic, trade, energy, infrastructure and finance sectors,” the minister said. —KUNA

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

N Korea notches up cult around ‘Illustrious’ son

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SIRTE: Libya’s new regime forces fire their weapons at fighters loyal to fugitive strongman Muammar Gaddafi as a comrade plays a guitar during a battle in Sirte yesterday in a drive to control Kadhafi’s hometown after a month-long siege. —AFP

Forces drive on centre of Sirte Interim waiting to declare liberation SIRTE: Libya’s new regime forces were battling block by block towards the centre of Sirte yesterday, eyeing the symbolic prize of finally capturing Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown after a month-long siege. But Gaddafi diehards were putting up fierce resistance and in their other remaining bastion, Bani Walid, they mounted a fightback, killing 17 National Transitional Council fighters.

The interim ruling NTC has been waiting for Sirte’s full capture to declare the liberation of the whole of Libya, clearing the way to draw up a timetable for elections.

A column of NTC troops thrust towards central Sirte from positions east along the Mediterranean coast, coming under heavy rocket and small arms fire as they inched forward house by house.

They advanced about a kilometre (1,000 yards) into the city centre from the south and east by the afternoon, backed by heavy shelling and tanks. “The revolutionaries are less than one kilometer from the central square. We control about 90 percent of Sirte,” said Makhluf El-Ferjani of the Sirte military council.

Little more than sniper fire was coming back at them, but at least 17 NTC fighters were killed and dozens more

were wounded yesterday, medics told AFP. “They have nothing left,” said NTC fighter Khaled Abu Zakuk. Burned-out vehicles littered the streets as NTC tanks and artillery pounded Gaddafi positions in open ground in the Dollar area of the city from a ridge some four kilometres (two and a half miles) inland, which they seized in a major advance on Sunday. On the third day of what commanders have touted as a final assault, NTC troops captured Sirte’s showpiece conference centre, university campus and hospital on Sunday, AFP correspondents said.

But the military gains came at a heavy price, with medics reporting 13 dead and 90 wounded on the western side of the city alone. The bodies of another four NTC fighters were recovered from the city’s Ibn Sina hospital following its capture from Gaddafi’s forces.

The hospital’s upper floors were blasted after a massive firefight broke out late on Sunday, with intense machinegun and rocket fire. “It’s chaotic,” said Red Cross spokeswoman Dibeh Fakhr, as a team of medics wheeled patients out on beds and shells rocked the area.

A convoy of nine vehicles, including four large trucks, waited outside to ferry

the patients away from the war zone, a job the Red Cross hoped to finish yesterday. “This is not a functioning hospital.

The patients need evacuation because the wards have all been hit. There were three doctors here last week, but yesterday there was just one.”

The wounded were still on beds in the corridors, all of them men of fighting age whom the NTC fighters accuse of being Gaddafi’s loyalists-something they denied.

“They think I was with the Gaddafi fighters but it was just an accident,” said Abdullah Mohammed Faraj, a 24-yearold with a stump for a right arm. Beside him an NTC fighter said: “Tell the truth.

Be a soldier. Be a man.” In Bani Walid, a desert oasis 170 kilometres (105 miles) southeast of Tripoli, the military spokesman for Libya’s new leadership said NTC fighters withdrew from forward positions in what he termed a “tactical pullback” after intense fighting on Sunday.

“We lost 17 fighters in fierce clashes on Sunday and our forces have withdrawn from the airport where they had taken control,” said Salem Gheith, head of the NTC military command centre in the capital.—AP

EU expands sanctions against Iran LUXEMBOURG: The European Union has expanded sanctions against Iran because of continued human rights abuses. A meeting of EU foreign ministers added 29 officials linked to the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the list of people facing a visa ban and asset freeze. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday the measures aim to increase pressure on Iran to improve “its appalling human rights record.” “Today’s decision sends a clear message to every individual on this list, and others in the Iranian regime, that we will not stand by. They will be held to account for their actions and should not involve themselves in the appalling abuses we continue to witness,” Hague said.

The EU says human rights abuses have increased over the past weeks and months, including the execution of minors. It is also calling for more religious freedom and an end to repression of the political opposition. —AP

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IAEA seen giving more detail on Iran atom bomb fears VIENNA: The UN atomic watchdog is expected to spell out in more detail soon the reasons for its growing concern that Iran may be working covertly to develop a nuclear missile, diplomats say. Such a move by the International Atomic Energy Agency, possibly in a new quarterly report on Iran due early next month, could raise pressure on Tehran and offer more arguments for Western powers to tighten sanctions on the major oil producer.

The United States and its allies have urged IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano to declare plainly whether he believes that there have been military aspects to Tehran’s nuclear activities and whether such work may still be going on. It remains to be seen whether the report’s conclusion will be sufficiently clear-cut to prompt the agency’s 35-nation board of governors to take action at a Nov. 17-18 meeting, possibly by reporting Iran once again to the UNSecurity Council.

“Many countries have called on Amano

to give his best possible assessment of the possible military dimension of Iran’s nuclear program,” one Western envoy said.

But it is hard to know now what Amano will say and it is “much too early to make a judgment” on whether it could provide the basis for referring the issue to the Security Council in New York, as happened in 2006, the diplomat added. A divided board decided in June to report Syria, Iran’s ally, to the Security Council for stonewalling an IAEA probe into a suspected reactor site that was bombed by Israel in 2007.

Russia and China opposed the US -led diplomatic crackdown on Syria, highlighting big power rifts that the West would want to avoid in any similar IAEA board vote on Iran. “Russia and China appear to be in no mood for imposing additional pressure on Iran without a pressing reason for concern,” said Ali Vaez, an Iran expert at the Federation of American Scientists thinktank. Iran says it is enriching uranium solely for peaceful electricity generation. But its

history of concealing sensitive nuclear activity, continued restrictions on access for IAEA inspectors and its refusal to suspend work that also can also yield atomic bombs have drawn four rounds of UNsanctions, as well as separate US and European punitive steps.

Western analysts and diplomats say Iran has no logical civilian use for the enriched uranium it is stockpiling because it would take many years for it to launch even one of a series of nuclear power stations it says it is planning. Iran’s only existing nuclear power plant, at Bushehr, was built by Russia and is fuelled by Russian enriched uranium. Pierre Goldschmidt, a former IAEA deputy director general, said Iran’s “nuclear-related activities and uncooperative behavior make more sense if their objective is to become a nuclear threshold state rather than developing an exclusively peaceful nuclear program”.

Amano said last month that he was “increasingly concerned” about possible

activity in Iran to develop a nuclear payload for a missile and that the agency continued to receive information adding to those fears. The veteran Japanese diplomat, who has taken a more pointed approach to Iran than his predecessor Mohamed ElBaradei, said he planned to “set out in greater detail the basis for the agency’s concerns,” in order to keep member states informed.

For several years, the IAEA has been investigating Western intelligence reports indicating Iran has melded efforts to process uranium, test explosives at high altitude and revamp a ballistic missile cone to accommodate a nuclear warhead.Nuclear expert Greg Thielmann said he hoped the IAEA would provide more clarity about the timeline of the information it has received, and also about the number of sources. A controversial 2007 US National Intelligence Estimate assessed with “high confidence” that Iran halted a nuclear weapons program in 2003 and with “moderate confidence” it had not been

restarted as of mid-2007. Many conservative foreign policy experts criticized the 2007 report as inaccurate and naive, and US intelligence agencies now believe Iranian leaders have resumed closed-door debates over the last four years about whether to build a nuclear bomb.

Thielmann said he suspected that any military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear programme were “quite compartmentalized” and that not even all those contributing to any such an effort would know about the ultimate purposes of their work. “But the most difficult intelligence challenge is getting into the mind of the Supreme Leader,” Thielmann said, referring to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s highest authority. “He would be the one to make the critical decisions and my guess is that he has approved development of a nuclear weapon breakout option, but has not yet decided to go all the way,” said Thielmann, of the US -based Arms Control Association.— Reuters

Syria cleric threatens attacks on US and EU International community unwillingness to get directly involved

CAIRO: Angry Egyptian Christians protest outside St. Mark’s Cathedral against the military ruling council, in Cairo yesterday a day after 24 people, mostly Christians, died in clashes with Egyptian security forces. —AFP

Egypt orders probe after deadly Coptic clashes CAIRO: Egypt’s military rulers ordered a speedy probe into clashes which killed 25 people, mostly Coptic Christians, as the cabinet held crisis talks amid fears of wider sectarian unrest and Washington urged restraint. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) “tasked the government with quickly forming a fact finding committee to determine what happened,” in a statement read on state television.

It called for “all measures against all those proven to have been involved, either directly or by incitement.” Both the ruling military council and the cabinet held crisis talks, a day after the clashes in Cairo left 25 dead, most of them Copts, and more than 300 people injured, according to health ministry figures.

SCAF, which took power when president Hosni Mubarak was ousted in February, stressed it “continues to bear national responsibility to protect the people” until it hands over to an elected civilian authority. US President Barack Obama is “deeply concerned” about the violence, the White House said.

“Now is a time for restraint on all sides so that Egyptians can move forward together to forge a strong and united Egypt,” spokesman Jay Carney said.

“As the Egyptian people shape their future, the United States continues to believe that the rights of minorities-including Copts-must be respected, and that all people have the universal rights of peaceful protest and religious freedom. “These tragic events should not stand in the way of timely elections and a continued transition to democracy that is peaceful, just and inclusive.” Military prosecutors began questioning 25 people accused of involvement in the clashes, state news agency MENA reported, after a security official said 40 people were arrested overnight.

Copts had been protesting against an attack earlier this month on a church in the southern city of Aswan when the violence erupted. Fighting later near the hospital caused more casualties. Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox church led by Pope Shenuda III accused “infiltrators” of triggering the street battle on the Nile waterfront. “The Christian faith denounces violence. Strangers infiltrated the demonstration and committed the crimes for which the Copts have been blamed,” it said after Shenuda met 70 church leaders.

“Copts have suffered repeated problems without accountability for the aggressors,” it said in a statement, calling on authorities to “solve the root causes of the problems.” The clashes rattled the Cairo stock exchange, which shed 5.15% within minutes of opening.

European leaders gathered for talks in Luxembourg expressed alarm at the Cairo clashes. A curfew was imposed overnight in parts of the Egyptian capital. In a late-night address, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf appealed to Egyptians “not to give in to sedition” and warned the country was “in danger.”

At least five of the dead were mown down by a speeding army vehicle which swerved to hit protesters, a Coptic priest said, while an AFP correspondent saw bodies with gunshot wounds at the hospital.

The grand imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Tayyeb, the Sunni religious head, called for crisis talks between Muslim and Christian leaders “in a bid to contain the crisis,” state television said. Some commentators warned of civil religious strife, but others said the clashes were fuelled not only by sectarian strife but also by anger towards the security services and the military council which succeeded Mubarak.

Government-backed provocation was also blamed. Users of social networking sites such as Twitter said the initial clashes outside the state television building on the Nile were provoked by “thugs” at the scene, while the broadcaster was accused of fanning antiCoptic sentiment.

Yesterday, the authorities announced the hanging of a man sentenced to death for shooting six Copts last year. The protesters in Cairo clashed with anti-riot police and soldiers guarding the state television building, after thousands staged a protest march from the Shobra district. A standoff degenerated as the demonstrators hurled stones and set fire to two cars, an AFP correspondent said. An army vehicle was also burned. “Down with the marshal,” the thousands of demonstrators chanted, referring to SCAF chief Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi. State television reported that three soldiers were shot dead and dozens wounded.

Copts complain of systematic discrimination, but since Mubarak’s fall, tensions have also mounted between the military-initially hailed for not siding with Mubarak-and groups which spearheaded the revolt. — AFP

BEIRUT: Syria’s top Sunni Muslim cleric has warned Western countries against military intervention in Syria and threatened to retaliate with suicide bombings in the United States and Europe if his country comes under attack.

Western countries have shown no willingness to open a Libyan-style military campaign against the regime of President Bashar Assad, who has launched a bloody crackdown on the sevenmonth uprising against his rule, and NATO’s chief said last week the alliance has “no intention whatsoever” of intervening in Syria.

Still, the prospect of such an intervention seems to have rattled the Assad regime, although publicly, officials say they are confident there would be no such thing because no one wants to foot the bill. In a speech late Sunday, Grand Mufti Ahmad Badreddine Hassoun, a state-appointed cleric and Assad loyalist, issued a clear warning to the West.

“I say to all of Europe, I say to America, we will set up suicide bombers who are now in your countries, if you bomb Syria or Lebanon,” Hassoun said in a speech late Sunday. “From now on an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Hassoun spoke to a delegation of Lebanese women who came to offer their condolences for his son’s death by unknown gunmen earlier this month. “Don’t come near our country, I beg you,” Hassoun said.

The international community’s unwillingness to get directly involved stems from a mix of international political complications, worries over unleashing a civil war and plausible risks of touching off a wider Middle East conflict with archfoes Israel and Iran in the mix. Hassoun’s comments follow another warning by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, who told the international community Sunday not to recognize a new umbrella council formed by the opposition, threatening “tough measures” against any country that does so.

Moallem did not specify what measures Damascus might take. But he went on to say that countries that do not protect Syrian missions could find their own embassies treated in the same way. The Syrian National Council, announced last week in Turkey, is a broad-based group which includes most major opposition factions. No country or international body has recognized it so far as a legal representative of the Syrian people, but the European Union is intensifying its contacts with the nascent Syrian opposition.

EU officials said yesterday there were also moving to widen sanctions against Assad’s regime, whose ongoing crackdown on civilian protesters has killed nearly 3,000 people. “I believe we have to get to know them better and get to know their intentions,” French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in Luxembourg of the council. Earlier in the day, the members of the

GAZA CITY: Gaza’s Hamas rulers have imposed new entry restrictions requiring most foreigners to obtain a visa to enter the coastal territory, a move that could restrict the work of some

Minister Nuri al-Maliki after irregularities worth $1.7 billion were discovered in power deals with two foreign firms. His predecessor was also forced out in 2010 summer after protests over chronic power shortages.

Electricity supplies collapsed into chaos after the invasion when power plants were looted or went without maintenance.

Iraq’s national grid supplies only a few hours of power a day, forcing Iraqis to rely on private or neighborhood generators. Iraq’s electricity supply this summer was 8,300 megawatts enough to provide eight hours of power a day, compared with peak demand of 15,000 MW during summer days, said Raad alHaris, senior deputy minister of electricity said in September. — Reuters

RABAT: A police officer detains an imam during a protest in downtown Rabat, Morocco yesterday. Dozens of imams from mosques across Morocco have protested in the capital over tight controls on their preaching. —AP

The LCC reported heavy machine gun and anti-aircraft fire in the Homs neighborhoods of Bayada and Qsour, and loud explosions in Khaldiyeh. Both groups said the fighting resulted in the destruction of homes and damaged shops and cars in several districts.

“The situation has been terrible since yesterd a y,” s a i d a H o m s r e s i d e n t w h e r e t h e Observatory reported at least seven civilians were killed on Sunday. “ The clashes were very intense yesterday and I heard shooting this morning as well.”

The man, who asked that his name not be used for fear of government reprisals, said he saw troops in armored personnel carriers a rou nd tens e a reas of Homs, s u ch a s Khaldiyeh and Baba Amr. “The army is isolating some areas,” he said, reporting bouts of gunfire throughout the Sunday and Monday.

The Observatory said five soldiers and three civilians were killed in Dael, while the rest were killed in the Jabal al-Zawiyah areas in Idlib. Also Sunday, a shooting at a funeral in the Damascus suburb of Dumair left three dead, it said.

The violence was the worst since last month’s clashes in the central town of Rastan that the army retook after five days of intense fighting. The Syrian government denies any army defections and blames terrorists and Muslim extremists for the violence.— AP

HAMA: An image grab from a video uploaded on YouTube allegedly shows the funeral of anti-government demonstrator Ahmad Ibrahim, in Morek village, outisde Hama on October 10, 2011.

Activists said 14 civilians and 17 security personnel were killed in continuing violence in the country.— AFP

Hamas: Foreigners must apply for Gaza visas

Iraq parliament approves a new electricity minister BAGHDAD: Iraq’s parliament approved a new electricity minister yesterday, two months after the former minister stepped down over contract irregularities in the latest scandal to hit the troubled sector. Electricity shortages are one of the biggest gripes among Iraqis since the US-led invasion in 2003 and the ministry has been a source of political squabbling among the Sunni, Shi’ite and Kurdish blocs who make up Iraq’s powersharing government.

The new minister, Karim Aftan, 60, was an independent candidate of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya party, rivals of the Shi’ite ruling coalition, lawmaker Zuhair al-Araji said. The former minister, Raad Shallal, resigned from his post in early August at the request of Prime

council said they agreed on a democratic framework for a future nation and that they want international observers to be allowed into Syria to gauge the situation.

Ghied Al Hashmy, a political scientist who participated in a conference of Syrian opposition members in Sweden, said the council opposes military intervention but wants more political pressure on Syria, such as the targeted economic sanctions the EU has been applying. Despite the mounting international pressure on Assad, his regime has been unrelenting in its crackdown.

Yesterday, Syrian troops clashed with opponents in the flashpoint city of Homs, a hotbed of dissent where hundreds of army deserters are believed to be active. The renewed fighting in the central city illustrates the difficulty regime forces face in stamping out anti-government protests that have been bolstered by army deserters fighting back soldiers.

The trend toward militarization of the uprising has raised fears that Syria may be sliding toward civil war. Meanwhile, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said clashes over the weekend between Syrian soldiers and army defectors and a shooting at a funeral killed at least 17 members of the military and 14 civilians. In addition to the violence in Homs on Sunday, activists said there was fighting in the northwestern province of Idlib and the southern village of Dael.

international aid organizations. Foreigners mostly aid workers and pro-Palestinian activists - will now have to apply online or through a local sponsor a week in advance to obtain a monthlong visa, according to information posted on the Hamas Interior Ministry website late Sunday. Information posted on the Hamas website said the new procedures would take effect on Tuesday. A separate set of procedures for foreign journalists is still being completed, Hamas said, and UN workers would not be affected. A Hamas official said the visa application will include a $7 registration fee, a requirement that could cause trouble for aid groups.

Most international aid organizations are prohibited from financial dealings with the Hamas government because the militant Islamic group is considered a terrorist organization by the US and EU. Even a small visa fee would violate the restrictions.

“Basically as long as they keep insisting on us paying a registration fee when we go in, we can’t go in,” said an official with one prominent aid group that works in Gaza. “If there’s no money (involved), it’s OK. We have no problem with registering. The problem is with paying,” he said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because his organization, like others contacted

by The Associated Press, declined to comment publicly on the sensitive issue. Foreign aid workers in Gaza say they already struggle to obtain 6-month Israeli permits to enter through Israel’s crossings.—AP

EU expands sanctions against Iran LUXEMBOURG: The European Union has expanded sanctions against Iran because of continued human rights abuses. A meeting of EU foreign ministers added 29 officials linked to the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the list of people facing a visa ban and asset freeze. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said yesterday the measures aim to increase pressure on Iran to improve “its appalling human rights record.” “ Today’s decision sends a clear message to every individual on this list, and others in the Iranian regime, that we will not stand by. They will be held to account for their actions and should not involve themselves in the appalling abuses we continue to witness,” Hague said.

The EU says human rights abuses have increased over the past weeks and months, including the execution of minors. It is also calling for more religious freedom and an end to repression of the political opposition. The National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a statement welcoming the sanctions and calling on the EU and the UN to adopt comprehensive sanctions, particularly on oil. “The silence and inaction by the international community vis-avis crimes committed by the mullahs during the past 30 years has emboldened them to continue unabated with torture and killings in Iran,” the statement said. — AP

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Major hurricane Jova to slam Mexico Pacific coast Weather threatens nation’s biggest port PUERTO VALLARTA: Hurricane Jova strengthened to a major, Category 3 hurricane yesterday as it marched toward Mexico’s Pacific coast, threatening the idyllic beach resort of Barra de Navidad and one of the nation’s biggest cargo ports. Jova’s maximum sustained winds built to near 125 mph (201 kph) by yesterday morning, and the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said it reach Category 4 strength, with winds of greater than 131 mph (210 kph) on Tuesday before hitting land.

The forecast track would carry its center near Barra de Navidad, south of the larger resor t of Puerto Vallarta, late today. Hotels in the hurricane’s path were already taking precautions, though the sun continued to shine from time to time. Almost all the guests at the 199-room Grand Bay Hotel on Isla Navidad, just off the coast, were scheduled to check out yesterday, and only one American couple will ride out the storm, said hotel desk clerk Julio Cesar Ortega.

Hotel employees were taping up windows, cleaning out water channels to avoid flooding and were planning to pull in all beach furniture later today as Jova gets closer. “The wind doesn’t really

hit us here, because we are protected by the hills,” Ortega said.

“But in any case, we’re taking precautions for the storm’s approach.” The hotel’s approximately 90 employees are planning to take shelter in an interior ballroom if things get ugly.

The Mexican government declared a hurricane warning for a 100-mile (160-kilometer) stretch of coast form just south of Puer to Vallar ta to a point south of Manzanillo, one of Mexico’s chief cargo por ts. A tropical storm warning was in effect further south, to the port of Lazaro Cardenas. Jova was located about 255 miles (405 kilometers) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and was moving east at about 5 mph (7 kph).

The mountainous terrain inland usually weakens hurricanes like Jova fairly quickly once they hit land, but “maybe coastal flooding will be an issue,” said National Hurricane Center forecaster Felix Garcia. “The rainfall will be absolutely torrential,” Garcia said. Remnants of the hurricane are projected to pass through the Guadalajara area and to be dissipating by the time the Jalisco state capital inaugurates the Pan American Games

Air Canada agreement rejected by flight attendants TORONTO: Canada’s labor minister said yesterday that a work stoppage at Air Canada is unacceptable, responding to a vote by flight attendants to reject a second tentative deal and serve strike notice. Air Canada, the country’s largest airline, could face a strike Thursday after flight attendants rejected a second tentative offer on Sunday. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 6,800 flight attendants, said 65 percent of those who voted rejected the deal. The flight attendants also turned down an offer in August, triggering a new round of contract talks last month.

Labor Minister Lisa Raitt said in a statement the government was considering its options. She said they will be clear that “a work stoppage is unacceptable in this time of fragile economy.” She added: “We are very disappointed with the result. There have been two full rounds of collective bargaining resulting in tentative agreements recommended by the bargaining committee. In each case the membership has rejected the recommendation of their team.”

Raitt previously put pressure on the two sides by saying the government would introduce back-to-work legislation. Should the flight attendants carry through on their strike threat, it would be the second work stoppage this year for Air Canada. About 3,800 Air Canada customer sales and service representatives held a threeday strike in June, but Raitt introduced back-to-work legislation two days into it.

The flight attendants’ union has been negotiating with the Montreal-based airline for months. Union leaders had predicted the revamped offer would be approved. They said they had managed to get about 80 percent of what the membership had demanded in the areas of wages, pensions, crew rest, working conditions and work rules. Jeff Taylor, the president of CUPE’s Air Canada division, said in a statement that the second rejection shows how frustrated flight attendants are with the airline after years of giving concessions. Taylor urged the government not to intercede. —AP

Cuban Ladies in White fear for ailing leader’s life HAVANA: Cuba’s Ladies in White-wives and mothers of political prisoners who have emerged as influential dissidents in their own right-blamed the government Sunday for their leader’s grave health condition. “We hereby hold the government, state security and her doctors, responsible for Laura’s help, and for Laura’s recovery,” warned Berta Soler, another top leader of the group, referring to Laura Pollan, after a march in Havana.

Pollan, 63, was taken for hospital care on Friday in acute respiratory distress. She has been diagnosed as having a virus, and is in “very serious” condition in intensive care at Havana’s Calixto Garcia Hospital. Soler said no one has identified the virus that is ailing Pollan, who has diabetes and a heart condition.

“They are dragging their feet on getting a diagnosis and that has made this sickness worse for Laura,” Soler charged.

Pollan’s husband, former political prisoner Hector Maseda, told AFP Sunday that his wife was being cared for ably, but that her virus had not yet been diagnosed. The Cuban government accuses the Ladies in White, winners of the European Parliament’s 2005 Sakharov Prize, of provoking disturbances to highlight an alleged increase in repression, though Havana freed about 130 political prisoners between July 2010 and March 2011 with church mediation.

The Ladies in White have asked the local Roman Catholic Church to mediate with the Americas’ only oneparty Communist regime which refuses to allow political opening. Soler emerged as a dissident in her own right as she campaigned for the release of her husband. A nuclear engineer who had a political falling out with officialdom, Maseda was detained in 2003 and held until February 2011.

The ladies group however was founded after the arrest and imprisonment of 75 Cuban dissidents like him in 2003.

The group marches peacefully in Havana every Sunday in white clothing, a color they say is intended to symbolize peace, often carrying gladiolus. An estimated 50 political prisoners remain behind bars in this Caribbean country of 11 million. —AFP

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7 boaters survive 20 hours in US waters; 1 missing MIAMI: Seven people, including a 4-yearold girl, survived 20 hours at sea by clinging to their capsized boat and a small cooler after their vessel flipped during a fishing trip off the Florida Keys, officials said yesterday. An 80-year-old woman, the mother of one of the men aboard, is missing and presumed drowned. Three other women on board told rescuers they didn’t have time to grab life jackets for anyone except the girl when two waves suddenly flipped the boat off Long Key in choppy, rainy waters Saturday afternoon, US Coast Guard Seaman Kendra Graves said.

Three men on board tried to help the 80-year-old woman, but she went under the water within minutes of the boat capsizing, said Florida Fish and Wildlife Spokesman Robert Dube. “She was one of the men’s mother. He could not hold onto

his mother and she went under,” Dube said.

At some point, the boaters drifted apart, with three women and the girl hanging on to the cooler and the three men holding on to the boat.

A commercial fisherman saw the capsized boat Sunday morning and rescued the men clinging to its bow, Dube said.

The women and girl were soon picked up by the Coast Guard, several miles from where the boat had capsized. “They were hanging onto the cooler. It was afloat but its main purpose was to keep them together,” Graves said. Once aboard, the women asked about the men. “They wanted to know, ‘Where are our husbands?’”

Graves said. The identities and conditions of the survivors had not been released as of yesterday afternoon. —AP

Demonstrators in Bolivia resume march MEXICO CITY: Project Science handout satellite image shows Hurricane Jova (bottom) of the Pacific coast of Mexico. Hurricane Jova rapidly surged yesterday to become a major category three storm, and was on course to make landfall in southwestern Mexico in the coming days, US meteorologists said. —AFP on Friday. Puer to Vallar ta is scheduled to host two events, open-water swimming and the triathlon, about a week later.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Irwin was weakening slightly far-

ther out in the Pacific with winds near 40 mph (65 kph), and while it is expected to move eastward toward land, it was not immediately clear if it will eventually reach the coast. —AP

LA PAZ: Hundreds of indigenous people protesting the construction of a road in Bolivia’s Amazon basin region marched Sunday toward the capital, La Paz, their leaders said. “We walked starting at 3:00 am” for 31 kilometers (19 miles), said march leader Adolfo Chavez. He did not say precisely when demonstrators would be in La Paz. But what lies ahead, only in terms of the march: crossing the Andes at a staggering 4,600 meters (15,000 feet). Indigenous people angry at the plans to build a highway through an Amazon nature reserve had been holding off and on protests for months-even after President Evo Morales technically

suspended the project and publicly apologized for earlier violence.

Following widespread uproar, Morales, who backs the road, called for an international investigation into the police crackdown and arrests of hundreds of activists who had been marching for a month. Rights observers from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) said last week they would form a commission to carry out a probe of abuses earlier during the march. —AFP

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UK’s defense minister apologizes over access row LONDON: Britain’s defense minister will have time to defend himself over claims he broke rules in his dealings with a close friend who worked as an industry consultant, Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday.

Defense Secretary Liam Fox is alleged to have acted inappropriately in allowing his former flatmate and best man Adam Werritty, who has worked as a defense consultant, access to Britain’s defense ministry buildings and to overseas visits.

Fox, who last week insisted allegations against him were “baseless,” told lawmakers that Werritty had visited the defense ministry on 22 occasions over the last 16 months and had been present during 18 trips overseas.

He previously told an opposition lawmaker that Werritty

had not traveled on official trips overseas, but told the House of Commons that his friend had dropped by during a number of visits.

“I accept that it was a mistake to allow the distinction to be blurred between my professional responsibilities and personal loyalties to a friend,” Fox told the House of Commons in a statement. Opposition lawmakers have demanded to know whether Werritty, who previously ran a now defunct defense consultancy called Security Futures, profited from his ties to Fox. Last week Fox told Ursula Brennan, the most senior civil servant in the defense ministry, to investigate the claims against him and produce a report by Oct 21.

In interim findings provided to Cameron’s office yes-

terday, Brennan said Fox had acknowledged it had been wrong for his officials to provide Werritty with details of visits overseas - usually regarded as sensitive information because of the security implications. Brennan said that, in the future, Fox’s ministry and other departments need “to ensure that a clear distinction is made between party political, personal and government business.” Cameron must eventually decide whether Fox breached Britain’s ministerial code, and rule on whether any action is necessary.

Under standards rules, ministers are expected to make sure “that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests.” Following a speech in central

London, Cameron hinted that Fox is likely to continue in his current role. “He said he has made a mistake, he has got something wrong. He has apologized about that,” said Cameron, who discussed the issue with Fox in a phone call on Sunday.

“I am sure that we can answer these questions and come through beyond it,” he added. “We are not rushing these things.” Fox told legislators that Werritty had never been given access to classified documents, or briefed on national security issues. Cameron’s spokesman, Steve Field, said a final decision on Fox’s future would likely take several days. “Our objective here is to establish the facts and what we are going to do is establish the facts before we draw any conclusions,” he said. — AP

AU, Somali forces seize Mogadishu rebel bases Offensive to flush out last pockets of rebellion

YAOUNDE: President of ELECAM, Cameroon’s elections body, Samuel Fonkam Azu’u, right, speaks at a press conference in Yaounde, Cameroon yesterday.—AP

Cameroon opposition: Vote marred by irregularities DOUALA: Opposition candidates yesterday alleged widespread fraud and intimidation at polling stations, a day after voters cast ballots in an election widely expected to hand another term to one of Africa’s longest ruling leaders. President Paul Biya, who has been in power for nearly 30 years, changed the constitution so he could run again this year. The inevitability of the election’s outcome dampened turnout considerably, though opposition candidates also charged their supporters were chased from polling stations.

Momo Jean de Dieu, one of nearly two dozen candidates challenging the incumbent, said he had received reports of ballot boxes not being properly sealed, implying they could be stuffed. Ballots were missing from some polling stations as well, he said.

Another candidate, Albert Dzongang, said he could not even vote for himself because his name was not found on voter lists.

“I don’t know why my name, and that of my wife, were erased from the list,” he said.

“To be a candidate in Cameroon, you must be eligible to vote first. So I don’t know how my candidature was approved when I am not an eligible voter.” Biya, 78, dismissed the criticisms in an interview with state radio, saying “perfection is not of this world.” “We must be tolerant with (elections body) ELECAM regarding eventual flaws,” he said. “But there was never intention to fraud. We are for transparent and free elections.”

Poll workers used candles and the light from cellular phones to count ballots late into the night Sunday. Results are not due until later this month, though candidates now have three days to lodge complaints at the Supreme Court. The announcement could come sooner if the court rules on any petitions filed. Only the Supreme Court is allowed to declare a winner, a move opposition party leaders say is a well-calculated strategy to avoid the postelection chaos in Ivory Coast, where the initial results were quickly over-

turned by officials loyal to the country’s incumbent leader who refused to concede defeat. The standoff led to months of bloody conflict that left thousands dead.

Cameroonian opposition candidate Anicet Ekane said the decision in May to strip the elections management body ELECAM of the ability to announce election results is an indication that Biya lacks trust in the body. “He is scared ELECAM could play a fast one on him,” Ekane said. It also indicates that Biya will do everything humanly possible to cling to power. He exercises extensive control over the judiciary, and the Supreme Court is at his beck and call.”

Food and living costs continue to spiral in Cameroon, and unemployment has reached a crushing 60 percent, according to government statistics. However, Cameroonians largely stayed away from the polls after Biya eliminated term limits from the constitution to pave the way for another seven-year term.

A front-page headline on the Monday edition of the independent French-language daily, Mutations, reads: “2011 Presidential Election; The Victory of Abstention.”

“Cameroonians massively abstained because they have understood over time that their votes don’t count and that Mr. Biya decides on the percentages to be shared among the candidates,” Franklin Nyamsi, a Cameroonian-born lecturer at the University of Rouen in France told The Associated Press early yesterday by phone. Sunday’s vote was mostly peaceful, though a government minister said gunmen killed two Cameroonian troops in the volatile Bakassi peninsula who were helping to secure the area on election day. The Bakassi peninsula had been a disputed territory between Cameroon and Nigeria for 15 years, until a 2002 verdict of the International Court of Justice declared the area part of Cameroon. But armed splinter groups still disputing Cameroon’s authority in the territory have persistently clashed.— AP

S Africa launches census, dogged by crime fears JOHANNESBURG: - South Africa launched its census count yesterday, with officials pleading for residents in the crime-plagued nation to open their often formidably barricaded doors to teams of yellow-shirted enumerators. The census poses a stiff logistical challenge in the best of scenarios. Enumerators must navigate 11 official languages while criss-crossing impoverished shantytowns and fortified suburban homes flanked by steep walls and electric fences.

“Perhaps the greatest risk is that people do not voluntarily participate in being counted-they shut the doors, let out the dogs and turn out the lights when the enumerators approach,” said Trevor Manuel, head of the National Planning Commission, organizers of the count that runs to October 31. The last count in 2001 put the population at 44.8 million people, but the national statistics agency Stats SA admits the margin of error was large.

“We had a big undercount. We missed 17 percent of the population,” said the agency’s spokesman Trevor Oosterwyk. This time South Africa’s population is expected to be about 50 million, half of them younger than 25, when the results are announced in November 2012. To ease residents’ fears, the 120,000 census-takers will work only in the neighborhoods where they live. They all have at least a high school diploma. Each carries a badge showing the enumerator’s name and embossed with a hologram.

Posters with their picture were hung on kerbsides. And criminal background checks were performed on all of them. “We have made sure that all field workers have been

vetted, there are no people with criminal records,” Oosterwyk said. Despite South Africa’s 25 percent unemployment rate, recruiting census-takers in each neighborhood proved a challenge. “Recruitment is a nightmare because although we have a lot of unemployment we need people who live in the same area they will enumerate,” said July Reddy, a district manager for the census in Randburg, outside Johannesburg.

With an average of 43 people killed every day in South Africa, crime poses as much a problem in the shantytowns-where violent crime is concentrated-as in wealthy neighbourhoods that fortify themselves against it.

“People with big houses are very much reluctant to apply to be enumerators, but we need them because they are familiar with the area,” said William Monama, who is working his third census in Randburg.

Census-takers are paid 4,000 rands ($500, 400 euros) for the three weeks of work, with many students signing for the challenge of convincing the nation to answer all of the government’s 75 questions. The first people counted were babies born after midnight, people in hospitals, and travellers in hotels.

After the sun rose, census-takers in their trademark yellow T-shirts took to the streets armed with their questionnaires in all 11 of South Africa’s languages, as well as in French and Portuguese for immigrants from other parts of Africa. Yesterday, President Jacob Zuma urged the nation to participate, which is technically a legal obligation. “It will help us plan well to build a better life for all,” he said.— AFP

MOGADISHU: African Union and Somali government forces yesterday seized strategic positions from Islamist insurgents in an offensive to flush out the last pockets of rebellion in Mogadishu. The drive came nearly a week after the insurgents carried out their worst ever suicide attack in the Somali capital, killing at least 82 people and demonstrating they were still able to wreak havoc deep inside the city.

The AU and government forces took a former pasta factory building, two key junctions and two districts in the northeast of the city, giving them control of movement into Mogadishu from the northern front. One AU soldier was killed and six were wounded in yesterday’s fighting, said force spokesman Paddy Ankunda.

“The outer north and eastern fringes of the city must still be cleared, but key ground and buildings are no longer under the control of the extremists,” Ankunda said. “The challenge is now to protect civilians from the sort of terror attack we saw last week,” he added. “The pasta factory compound was an operational hub for the extremists from which they shell civilian targets.

This operation is intended to save the lives of the people who have returned to their homes,” a government statement said.

The AU and Somali government forces began the offensive on Saturday to expel remnants left in Mogadishu after Shebab fighters abandoned most of their positions there in August. However, a Shebab official who did not want to be named said they allowed the African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) troops to take the pasta factory to ensnare them.

“Allowing the AMISOM troops to come to the pasta factory was just a trap planned earlier so that they spread out their troops,” the official told AFP. “The idea of the Shebab was not to defend any positions, but to do as much damage to AMISOM.” The devastating suicide bombing was the Shebab’s first attack since their surprise withdrawal and spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage vowed more violence against the government and the AU troops.

AU force commander Major General Fred Mugisha last week called for stronger world action against the Shebab. Although the 9,000strong AU force controls 95 percent of Mogadishu, according to Mugisha, it remains

Blasts kill 2 in restive northeast Nigeria city MAIDUGURI: Two people were killed after suspected members of a radical Muslim sect set off two bombs in a northeastern Nigerian city where fear and insecurity persist, authorities said yesterday. A blast yesterday morning near an after-hours market in the city of Maiduguri killed a soldier, said Joint Military Taskforce spokesman Col. Victor Ebhaleme. A civilian also died after reaching the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, a mortuary attendant said. Two other soldiers were wounded by the blast, Ebhaleme said.

Another blast hit about 10 miles (16 kilometers) away on Sunday afternoon, injuring one person and destroying a patrol vehicle parked in front of a mosque, he said. A witness at the after-hours market, who did not give his name for fear of reprisals, said the military burned down several shops there after accusing market traders of allowing Boko Haram sect members to hide bombs in their stalls.

Ebhaleme said some residents had been “harboring suspects,” but he denied the claims that soldiers had torched shops. Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is sacrilege” in the local Hausa language, has carried out increasingly violent sectarian attacks over the last year.

Residents in the city of Maiduguri live in fear of the radical sect held responsible for a spate of bombings in recent months. They also fear reprisal attacks by a taskforce, which includes policemen, soldiers and other security officers deployed to Nigeria’s north since June.

Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the Aug 26 car bombing at the United Nations headquarters in Nigeria, killing 23 people and wounding 116 others.— AP

overstretched and unable to ensure effective security of the war-ravaged city. The rebels still control Dayniile district in southern Mogadishu and the main road linking the city to the western regions after their northern bases were captured in yesterday’s operation. Residents reported intense fighting during the offensive. “There is heavy fighting around Jungal. They are exchanging heavy artillery fire,” said Fartun Idris.

Mugisha urged the population yesterday to back the shaky Western-backed transitional government. “We urge the civilian population to support their government and isolate and reject criminals. That way we can start to provide effective security together,” he said in a statement.

The Shebab had waged a four-year battle in Mogadishu to topple the Somali government before suddenly abandoning their bases.

Analysts said internal dissent, dwindling resources and popular support as well as their failure to dislodge the government forced them to give up the bloody campaign. However, the Shebab said it was a change of military tactic, which the security forces in Somalia said meant resorting to guerrilla attacks. The Somali government has repeatedly urged the international community to capitalize on the insurgents’ retreat to consolidate the administration’s authority.

Somalia has lacked an effective central government since plunging into a bloody civil war two decades ago. Last month, the transitional government, authorities of two semiautonomous regional administrations and a progovernment militia launched a new bid to restore security and set up a national authority after the Shebab pull-out.— AFP

MOGADISHU: Photo made on October 4, 2011 shows troops of the Ugandan contingent of AMISOM, the AU peacekeeping force in Somalia, at their base at Mogadishu stadium during preparations for an offensive in Mogadishu on Al-Shebab Somali extremist held areas recently captured from Al-Qaeda inspired Al-Shebab Somali hardline extremists. —AFP

France’s Hollande faces close runoff for Socialist primary PARIS: A strong showing by hardline leftist Arnaud Montebourg in France’s Socialist Party primary vote makes the selection of a moderate candidate less of a certainty and could drag the party’s 2012 presidential campaign further to the left.

Francois Hollande, a moderate who wants to curb the public deficit and foster closer European integration, won 39 percent in Sunday’s first-round vote, beating Martine Aubry, a more old-school leftist who secured 31 percent, according to results released yesterday with 86.5 percent of the vote counted. Hollande has long been the favourite to challenge President Nicolas Sarkozy next April. But an unexpectedly high 17 percent score by Montebourg-who wants to row back on globalisation and have the state take partial control of banks-raises the possibility that Aubry could win the Oct. 16 runoff instead.

It also suggests that Hollande may have to lean further leftwards to nail down the candidacy and, if he wins that, to gather critical voting mass for 2012.

Analysts say the second round of the primary is now much harder to call, making it in both candidates’ interests to cosy up to the newly influential Montebourg in the days ahead. “Things are basically very open. It’s more complicated than it was before,” said Francois Miquet-Marty of pollster Viavoice.

“Montebourg is closer ideologically to Aubry but the personalities will count too. This period between the two rounds is crucial. It’s all about the balance between credibility and a left-wing identity. Hollande is going to have to show that he belongs to the left,” he said. Opinion polls show that both Hollande and Aubry, bitter rivals and former party leaders, could unseat the conservative Sarkozy if the election, scheduled for April, were held today.

Investors have been relatively unfazed to date by the left’s lead in election polls. But the prospect of an Aubry candidacy or of Hollande tilting further left could rattle some foreign observers, already fretting over France’s shaky public finances and its rescue, with Belgium, of Dexia bank . Montebourg’s outspoken stance against globalisation and bank sector profligacy during Socialist TV debates raises the spectre of some of his more radical ideas, such as putting government officials with veto power on the boards of banks, having to be embraced by whoever the left’s candidate is.

“How can those who advocate deglobalisation, a Sixth Republic, a radical left, vote for somebody who is the furthest away from these political theories?” said Jean-Christophe Cambadelis, a prominent Socialist and backer of Aubry. Hollande conceded he may have to take Montebourg’s ideas into account. “A message has been voiced ... through Arnaud Montebourg, a will for protection from globalisation and for more morals in

political life. I hear it,” he told RTL radio.

The left-leaning daily Liberation saw Montebourg having a clear influence on the left’s campaign. “The very big score of (Montebourg), who defended deglobalisation and a line that is left of left, gives him a real influence on the ideological and political profile of the victor,” it said in an editorial.

The left is bent on ousting the conservatives from the presidential palace after three terms in opposition.

Polls show most French want a change of government, due largely to frustration with Sarkozy’s economic management and the perception he has done little for jobs or spending power. Polls have pegged Hollande, a witty if unexciting party veteran who has never been a government minister, as favourite for the left ever since the downfall of the party’s erstwhile star, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, in a sex scandal this year.

The Socialists’ victory in Senate elections last month, ending conservative control of what had been a bastion of the right for half a century, triggered muttering that Sarkozy may be the wrong person to stand for the ruling UMP party. Many of those voters who supported Sarkozy for his down-to-earth manner and message of change in 2007 now resent a manner that critics say is impulsive and brash, as well as a view that he has favored the wealthy with tax breaks.

Focused this week on finding ways to counter a sovereign debt crisis that threatens a global recession, Sarkozy is not expected to confirm he will run for a second term until after France’s G20 summit in early November. Voting in the Socialist primary was open to anyone professing leftist views and was not restricted to party members, giving a view of how the wider public might vote. Final results of Sunday’s vote by more than 2.5 million people were delayed but should be in line with current figures, Socialist Party head Harlem Desir told a news conference.

Even if Montebourg does not explicitly call on his backers to vote for Aubry, the daughter of former European Commission president Jacques Delors and known for her role in introducing the 35-hour work week, many are expected to opt for her. Supporters of Segolene Royal, who wept after winning just 7 percent of Sunday’s vote four years over she lost the 2007 election to Sarkozy, may also plump for Aubry over Hollande, Royal’s estranged former partner and father of her children. Montebourg met Royal yesterday, but his spokesman said that did not mean the pair would necessarily jointly back Aubry or Hollande, who will face off in a TV debate tomorrow.

“Given his big score yesterday, it’s likely he will be at the centre of a great deal of attention,” Aubry supporter and ex-UNEF student union head Bruno Juillard said of Montebourg. — Reuters

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Torture rife in Afghan detention facilities: UN Scores of detainees say tortured to force confessions

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s main opposition leader Khaleda Zia, left, addresses supporters at Narshindi, 25 kilometers (16 miles) east of Dhaka, Bangladesh yesterday. —AP

Bangladesh opposition holds anti-govt caravan DHAKA: Bangladesh’s main opposition leader and thousands of her supporters held a cross-country caravan yesterday to demand that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government resign and call new elections. Khaleda Zia led more than 15,000 of her supporters from her office in the capital, Dhaka, in central Bangladesh to Sylhet city, 120 miles (192 kilometers) to the northeast, according to Zia’s spokesman, Fakhrul Islam.

Zia was to address several roadside rallies on the way to Sylhet, and the caravan was expected to reach Sylhet late yesterday evening. Riot police were monitoring the convoy of about 3,000 jeeps and minibuses, but no violence was immediately reported. Bangladesh’s next general election is not due until 2014, but the opposition is trying to pressure the government to announce early polls.

Zia’s four-party opposition alliance has accused Hasina’s 2-year-old government of failing to control inflation and keep law and order.

Inflation has crossed 12 percent in recent months, up from 8 percent three years ago. Meanwhile, the nation’s two stock markets have plunged, prompting street protests and clashes between police and investors. The government

has blamed novice investors, saying they have bought stocks without understanding the markets.

Zia also accuses the government of failing to control prices and of unleashing a “reign of terror” by activists from its student and youth wings. The youth wings of various parties are often accused of violence. The former prime minister has also criticized the government’s abolishment of a 15-year-old system under which elections were overseen by independent caretaker administrations after the end of a government’s five-year term. The government amended the constitution earlier this year to eliminate the system despite opposition protests.

Hasina came to power with a landslide election victory in 2008 after a nearly two-year state of emergency. She has rejected the opposition’s demand for early elections, and says 2014 polls will be supervised by her government. The opposition fears elections will be rigged if held under government supervision. In Bangladesh, a fragile parliamentary democracy, opposition parties often use forceful protest measures, including crippling general strikes, to harass the government. — AP

KABUL: Afghanistan’s intelligence agency and police force have been “systematically” torturing detainees including children at a number of jails, in breach of local and international laws, a United Nations report said yesterday. Scores of people told the UN that the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and the Afghan National Police had physically or mentally abused them, using beatings, electrocution and toenail removal, according to the report. But the head of the UN in Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, said that torture was neither institutional nor government policy, and praised the ministry and intelligence agency for allowing access to their prisons for research. The Afghan government rejected many of the allegations, but conceded there may have been some abuse, and added that steps were being taken to prevent further problems.

Interviews with 379 pre-trial detainees and convicted prisoners were conducted at 47 different facilities by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) from October 2010 to August 2011.

The report said 324 of the detainees were accused of crimes related to the war. There was systematic torture found at five NDS “facilities”, the report said, and “multiple, credible allegations” of torture at two others. There were also some allegations from 17 other facilities that the UN said it was still investigating.

Almost half of those interviewed were suspected insurgents, 20 percent were arrested while carrying explosives and 11 percent were failed suicide bombers. UNAMA said almost half of those it interviewed at NDS facilities experienced interrogation techniques that constituted torture. Of those in police facilities, more than a third of the 117 suspected insurgents or

Court stays sentence for Mumbai gunman

Sri Lanka says poll killings a ‘tragedy’

NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court yesterday stayed the death sentence handed down to the lone surviving gunman from the 2008 Islamist attacks in Mumbai, pending an appeal hearing. “This case has to be heard on top priority,” judge Aftab Alam told the court. “It is the demand of the judicial system that we have to hear this appeal.” Pakistani national Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, one of 10 gunmen who laid siege to Mumbai for nearly three days killing 166 people, was convicted in May 2010. Kasab was found guilty of a string of crimes including waging war against India, murder, attempted murder and terrorist acts after a trial at a maximum security prison court in Mumbai.

The first appeal by the 23-year-old from a poor farming area in Pakistan’s Punjab state failed in February, when the state high court in Mumbai confirmed both his conviction and death sentence. India reserves executions, which are carried out by hanging, for the “rarest of the rare” offences. During his trial, the prosecution produced fingerprint, DNA, eyewitness and camera evidence showing Kasab opening fire with an AK-47 machine gun and throwing grenades at Mumbai’s main railway station on November 26.

Some 52 people died and 109 others were wounded in the bloodiest episode of the multiple attacks. A number of senior police officers, including the head of the state anti-terrorism squad, were killed as the gunmen fled the scene of the carnage. Three luxury hotels, a popular tourist restaurant and a Jewish centre were also attacked before security forces finally overwhelmed the attackers and regained control of the city. Prosecuting lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who will appear for the state of Maharashtra at the appeal, described the Supreme Court’s decision as “routine” despite the weight of prosecution evidence against Kasab.

“It’s not unusual,” Nikam told AFP. “I will be there to argue the case.” Kasab’s lawyers previously claimed that evidence and witnesses were manipulated and that his original legal team did not have enough time to prepare a defense. The appeal hearing will begin on January 25, the two-judge bench said. India has accused the banned, Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba of being behind the Mumbai attacks, which led to the suspension of fragile peace talks between the two neighbours and rivals.

If the Supreme Court upholds the verdict and sentence, Kasab-who is in jail in Mumbai-can appeal for clemency to Indian President Pratibha Patil as a last resort. Most death sentences in India are commuted to life imprisonment, and convicts can sit on death row for years awaiting a final decision on their pleas for clemency. But the Mumbai attacks horrified the nation as each development unfolded live on television, and there have been public calls for Kasab’s execution to be expedited.

Afzal Guru, who was convicted of conspiring with the gunmen who attacked India’s parliament in 2001, killing 10 people, has been on death row for nearly a decade. His appeal against his death sentence was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2006. The last execution in India was in 2004 when a 41-year-old former security guard was hanged for the rape and murder of a schoolgirl. — AFP

COLOMBO: A gun battle between rival Sri Lankan ruling party factions that killed four people during local polls was a “tragedy,” the government said yesterday, promising an impartial police investigation. Police said they had detained a suspect and seized 12 pistols, two revolvers and two automatic assault rifles believed to have been used in Saturday’s brief but intense shootout in the Colombo suburb of Kolonnawaclash.

Former legislator and presidential aide Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was killed along with two of his bodyguards, while a fourth man died from his wounds yesterday. “It is a tragedy,” said government spokesman Dullas Alahapperuma. “It was a clash between two groups within our own party. Police will conduct an impartial investigation,” he said, while declining to apportion blame for the incident. Police said Premachandra, 55, died of multiple gunshot wounds while his arch rival, legislator Duminda Silva, was still in intensive care after surgery to remove two bullets from his brain.

Security has been stepped up in Kolonnawa where Premachandra’s funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, police officials said. President Mahinda Rajapakse’s ruling alliance swept Saturday’s local polls, winning 22 out of 23 local councils in elections, but rights groups said the shooting underscored the link between violence and politics on the island.

Saturday’s poll was seen as a mid-term test for Rajapakse, who won a second term for himself and his party in elections last year. — AFP

Taleban attack kills Pakistani soldier PESHAWAR: Taleban militants killed a Pakistani soldier and wounded two others in the latest cross-border attack in the country’s northwest, security officials said yesterday. The incident took place late Sunday when a group of militants armed with rocket launchers attacked a paramilitary Frontier Corps patrolling party in Pakistan’s northwestern Upper Dir district along the Afghan border. “One soldier was killed and two were wounded in the attack,” a Pakistani official, who requested anonymity, told AFP. “Our troops retaliated and repulsed the attack. Four militants were killed during exchange of fire.”

Another security official in Peshawar said around a dozen Taleban militants were involved in the attack.

The official blamed Pakistani and Afghan Taleban militants who fled into Afghanistan after Pakistani military launched an offensive in the country’s northwestern Swat valley and adjacent districts in 2009. This attack was the latest in a series of recent alleged cross-border incidents, many of which have raised tensions between the neighbours as the Afghan war continues to claim a high toll after 10 years.

On August 27, Taleban fighters killed 25 Pakistani troops in Chitral district in a similar cross-border attack blamed on militants who had taken refuge in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Nuristan provinces. The Pakistani army said at the time that those believed to have coordinated the raid-including Maulanah Fazlullah, a radical cleric from Swat valley-had fled to Afghanistan after its military offensives. — AFP

those believed to be assisting militants told UNAMA they had been subjected to torture or inhumane treatment. Beyond physical mistreatment, which included sexual humiliation, many prisoners also said they had been held beyond the maximum duration allowed by law and denied family visits. The United Nations said Afghanistan’s difficult security situation did not justify any mistreatment.

The intelligence agency said in an official response that “reference has been made to some

prisoners might be making false claims to discredit the government. However it also said several officials had recently been dismissed or suspended, and the agency was “keen for reform and improvement in the field of interrogation”.

UNAMA said it had designed its study to take into account concerns from the Afghan authorities that detainees might give false accounts to discredit security agencies and further insurgent propaganda. The Interior Ministry accepted there were cases of

into alleged torture that prompted NATO to halt transfers of prisoners to several southern Afghan jails in July.

Those findings raised questions about the capacity of Afghan security forces at a time when they are meant to be taking on greater security responsibilities ahead of a planned withdrawal of all foreign combat troops by the end of 2014. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said it was made aware of UNAMA’s findings last month and has since helped the

KABUL: In this file photo dated Sunday, March 25, 2007, an Afghan National Army soldier stands in front of the gate of the newly refurbished Pul-e-Charkhy prison during an opening ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan. —AP issues that are not in conformity with work principles of the NDS,” and specifically rejected some allegations of mistreatment.

“Torture methods such as electric shock, threat of rape, twisting of sexual organs etc. are methods that are absolutely non-existent in the NDS,” an official government response said. The statement suggested some insurgent

poor treatment of detainees in police custody, but said they were in the minority and it was committed to punishing violators and ensuring police were trained to protect human rights. “It is evident ... that the outcome of the report cannot be totally rejected/denied due to some existing problems,” it said. The report follows a similar UN investigation

Afghan government develop a six-stage plan to tackle torture, which included inspections, monitoring, training in human rights protection, and formal certification procedures. “Initiatives being implemented will help strengthen rule of law, continue to enhance government credibility, and limit the appeal of the insurgency,” ISAF said in a statement. —Reuters

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13 Chinese sailors killed near Golden Triangle BEIJING: China suspended shipping through Southeast Asia’s Golden Triangle yesterday after attacks by suspected drug traffickers on two Chinese cargo ships left 13 people dead or missing on the Mekong River. The bodies of 12 crew members were found near Chiang Rai in northern Thailand on Friday and Saturday after the ships were hijacked Wednesday, the China Daily newspaper reported. Another body was found in the same area early yesterday, China’s official Xinhua News Agency said.

Most of the victims had been bound and blindfolded with adhesive tape and shot, the China Daily reported. The crew included two

female cooks, it said. Thai police Col Phopkorn Kooncharoensook said 11 bodies were recovered from the river and another was found on one of the boats.

The Golden Triangle region, where the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet, is notorious for the production and trafficking of heroin and other illicit drugs.

The Bangkok Post reported yesterday that local authorities seized both boats after a gun battle with the hijackers and found cargo that included amphetamine pills worth 100 million baht ($3.22 million), garlic, apples and fuel. The Post cited Thai army officials as saying a gang run

by suspected ethnic Shan drug trafficker Nor Kham was believed to be behind the attacks. It said the gang demands protection money from ships it hijacks on the Mekong and kills crew members who refuse to cooperate.

The boats are used to smuggle drugs from Myanmar to Thailand, the Post said. The area is rife with international gangs that frequently target ships from China, Phopkorn told The Associated Press. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a passenger boat or a cargo ship. If you don’t pay them, you either get robbed or killed,” Phopkorn said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a daily news conference yesterday

that China had suspended shipping from Yunnan down the Mekong and had sent a team to help investigate the killings. He also said China had appealed to Thailand to boost security on the river. He put the number of dead at 11 crew, with another two missing. In April, three Chinese boats and 34 crew members were taken hostage by pirates along the Mekong in Myanmar but were safely rescued within days. Surachart Chantawatcharakorn, the head of customs in the riverside Thai town of Chiang Saen, said a dozen Chinese boats had anchored along the Thai shore on Wednesday and were refusing to make the perilous trip back to China. — AP

Thai capital bracing for arrival of flood waters High ocean tides expected to worsen floods

PYONGYANG: In this Oct. 10, 2010 file photo, North Korea leader Kim Jong Il’s son Kim Jong Un attends a military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party in Pyongyang, North Korea. —AP

N Korea notches up cult around ‘Illustrious’ son PYONGYANG: The Illustrious General has had a busy year. Since making his international debut a year ago yesterday, Kim Jong Un has been serving as military strategist, political statesman and trusted deputy to his father, leader Kim Jong Il. The newly minted four-star general, believed in his late 20s, is widely credited at home with orchestrating a deadly artillery attack on a front-line South Korean island that nearly brought the foes back to the brink of another war. He appears regularly with his father at marquee events and accompanies him on inspection trips to farms and factories visits now commemorated with plaques bearing his name.

Officials even say Jong Un, who was on hand for a recent state visit by Laos’ president, has been entrusted with full leadership of the country while his father has made extended trips to China and Russia over the last year. At least that’s the official portrait emerging of the young man who in just one year has cemented his status as North Korea’s next leader.

The inner workings of North Korea’s political leadership and mythmaking have never been easy for the outside world to fathom or confirm. Information is tightly controlled, both to the people at home and to the wider world.

Foreigners are only allowed in on a limited and restricted basis. Still, North Korea has made substantial progress in building up the cult of personality surrounding Jong Un, and a biography and other top government and political posts can be expected over the coming months, says Yoo Ho-yeol, a professor at Korea University in South Korea.

“He is now performing the role of successor,” Yoo said yesterday. “He has virtually cemented his status as the next leader.” Kim Jong Un was unveiled to the world a year ago at a grand military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers’ Party, saluting troops by his father’s side in an appearance captured live by international media.

His emergence settled the question of which of Kim Jong Il’s three known sons would succeed him as the third generation leader in a family dynasty that has ruled since North Korea’s postwar inception in 1948. The succession became a pressing issue in 2008 when Kim Jong Il dropped out of public sight for a couple of months. US and South Korean officials say he suffered a stroke; the North Korean people say their leader was suffering from exhaustion.

Still, Jong Un remains an enigma, even to those at home. North Koreans are told he graduated from Kim Il Sung

Military University, speaks several foreign languages, including English, and is a whiz at computing and technology.

However, his exact date of birth, his marital status and even the name of his mother - said to be Kim Jong Il’s late second wife, Ko Yong Hui - have never been made public, even to the North Korean people.

North Koreans are expecting to learn more about him next year when the nation celebrates one of its biggest historical milestones: the 100th anniversary on April 15 of the birth of the late family patriarch Kim Il Sung. Next year promises to be momentous for a government that loves round figures. Kim Il Sung would have turned 100, Kim Jong Il will be 70, and some speculate that Kim Jong Un may celebrate his 30th birthday in what would be a perfect storm of succession mathematics.

The emphasis on the Kim family’s legitimacy to lead has never been stronger. The most popular of the songs written to honor Jong Un is called “Footsteps,” an obvious reference to his role in carrying out his family’s legacy.

Yesterday, students in traditional dress swayed and danced to the song at plaza in front of the city’s massive monument to the Workers’ Party. Kim Il Sung remains a revered figure 17 years after his death, and Jong Un appears to be modeling himself after his grandfather, down to his hairdo. Portraits of the young Kim Il Sung hanging on the walls of the Pyongyang office where the president founded the Workers’ Party show the same look: a thick head of hair on top and shaved at the sides above the ear.

North Koreans have been gearing up for 2012 for three years with a push to build a “strong and prosperous country.”

Factories have been charged with churning out an array of consumer goods designed to improve the people’s daily lives. All across Pyongyang, buildings are being torn down and renovated and new ones built, a campaign said to be led by Jong Un. At the Wonsan Youth Power Station in eastern North Korea, manager Pyon Ung Kyu said the hydropower plant has put up a third plaque on the wall in honor of the future leader.

One gives blessings to Kim Il Sung, another to Kim Jong Il, and the newest also in honorific red lettering - to the “Illustrious General.” Across the countryside, similar plaques are visible, posted at schools, farms and shops. In Pyongyang, Ri Un Suk, manager of a shop selling meat and fish on central Pothongmun Street, recalls how Jong Un, full of energy, turned up with his father last month to inspect the new store. — AP

BANGKOK: Thai authorities are rushing to build sandbag barricades in the capital to protect it from the worst floods in decades that have already killed nearly 270 people across the country. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that government workers have two days to build three major water barricades before runoff from the north reaches Bangkok.

Unusually high ocean tides are expected to worsen the floods.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said 269 people have died, mostly from drowning, since tropical storms began hitting Thailand at the end of July. It said 8.2 million people in 60 of the country’s 77 provinces have been affected by floods and mudslides, and 30 provinces are currently inundated.

Yingluck said she didn’t know if Bangkok would be protected from the flooding. “It is really hard to tell because it’s difficult to predict the volume of water,” she told reporters. “But I insist if we can complete the three main water barriers within the next one or two days, Bangkok will be safe.”

The government planned to use 1.5 million sandbags to build the barriers but still lacked more than 100,000 as of yesterday. In Ayutthaya province to the north, flooding forced more than 200 factories in two industrial zones to shut, including Japanese automobile giant Honda, whose production plant suffered water damage. Floods also inundated Thailand’s eastern neighbor Cambodia, where at least 207 people have died since August, when waters from the Mekong River and mountainous areas began rushing into lowland areas, said Nhim Vanda, deputy chief of the National Committee

for Disaster Management. He said the dead included 83 children.

Although Cambodia’s death toll was lower than Thailand’s, proportionately it was much higher, since it has less than one quarter the population of its richer and bigger neighbor.

The floods have affected 1.2 million people and damaged more than 1,000 schools and 400 Buddhist temples, Nhim Vanda said. He said the

BANGKOK: Thai residents make their way through floodwaters on the back of an elephant in Ayutthaya province, north of the capital Bangkok yesterday. —AFP

German judge resigns from Cambodia tribunal PHNOM PENH: A German judge responsible for indictments of Khmer Rouge war crimes suspects at Cambodia’s UNbacked tribunal has resigned, alleging government interference in the investigation of new cases. Judge Siegfried Blunk had come under fire from rights groups for failing to fully investigate new suspects for the court, which is seeking justice for an estimated 1.7 million people who died of starvation, exhaustion, lack of medical care or torture during the communist Khmer Rouge’s 1970s rule.

Last week, Human Rights Watch called for Blunk to resign for failing to conduct genuine and impartial investigations into suspects beyond one convicted last year and four others set for trial. Blunk’s resignation over the weekend was announced yesterday. He defended his record, blaming government pressure for the lack of new cases. He cited Cambodia’s information minister as saying in May that if investigating judges wanted to probe new cases, “they should pack their bags and leave.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen has also openly opposed expanding the trials with additional indictments of former Khmer Rouge figures, some of whom have become his political allies. Blunk said such statements “will be perceived as attempted interference by government officials.” He said he could not be influenced by such opposition, but his “ability to withstand such pressure by government officials and to perform his duties independently could always be called in doubt.” Cambodian Information Minister Khieu Kanharith denied that the government was interfering with the court. Human Rights Watch also called last week for a second judge responsible for indictments on the court - You

Bunleng of Cambodia - to step down.

The group said justice could not be obtained as long as the two judges held their jobs. Controversy over the two coinvestigating judges’ actions began in April, when they announced that they had concluded their investigation into what is known as Case 003. Human Rights Watch accused the judges of failing to do a thorough job in an effort to torpedo chances of further indictments.

The judges’ move also triggered criticism from several of the tribunal’s UN appointed legal staff, who complained in a private letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the move represented a failure of justice. — AP

appeared conciliatory about easing limits on freedom of speech and holding talks with ethnic rebels. “We have stated clearly that we are prepared for a new chapter in our relations,” Campbell said.

“I think it would be fair to say that we will match their steps with comparable steps and we are looking forward in the course of the next several weeks to continuing a dialogue that has really stepped up in recent months.”

The United States has long imposed political and economic sanctions on Myanmar because of its former military junta’s failure to hand over power to a democratically elected government and its poor human rights record. The US could ease restrictions on financial transactions and travel by

Japan offers 10,000 free trips to foreigners: Report TOKYO: Japan will offer 10,000 foreigners free airfares to visit the country next year, in an attempt to boost the tourism industry which has been hit by the ongoing nuclear disaster, a report said yesterday. The Japan Tourism Agency plans to ask would-be travelers to submit online applications for the free flights, detailing which areas of the country they would like to visit, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said.

The agency will select the successful entrants and ask them to write a report about their trip which will be published on the Internet. Tourism authorities hope that positive reports from travelers about their experiences in Japan will help ease international worries about visiting the country, the newspaper said. The program, which will require travelers to cover other costs such as accommodation, is expected to start from next April, subject to government budgetary approval.

The number of foreign tourists to Japan fell more than 50 percent year-on-year during the three months after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns and explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The sharp drop began to ease somewhat in the summer. In June and July, tourist figures were down 36 percent from a year ago, easing to 32 percent in August as the country worked to reassure foreign tourism markets. The government has said Japan is safe except for the immediate vicinity of the crippled plant, where work crews are still trying to bring the facility to a cold shutdown. —AFP

Nine killed as Philippine troops clash with rebels PHNOM PHEN: This undated handout picture released yesterday by the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) shows co-investigating judge Siegfried Blunk. —AFP

Senior US diplomat sees change afoot in Myanmar BANGKOK: A senior US diplomat said yesterday that Washington will respond with reciprocal measures to moves by Myanmar’s military-backed government to become freer and more democratic. US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt M. Campbell said elections that brought a civilian government to power in March were flawed and the United States still has many concerns about issues in Myanmar, “but it is also undeniably the case that there are dramatic developments under way.”

Campbell, speaking at a lecture in the Thai capital, Bangkok, cited a “very consequential dialogue” between new President Thein Sein and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi as a major positive development. In public speeches Thein Sein has also

waters also swept away some 600 houses and destroyed 395,000 acres (160,000 hectares) of rice fields.

The flooding is the deadliest to hit Cambodia since 2000, when 374 people were killed. Hundreds of people have been killed across Southeast Asia, China, Japan and South Asia in the last four months from prolonged monsoon flooding, typhoons and storms. — AP

top Myanmar officials, and also unblock aid by some multilateral agencies as well as resume its own assistance.

Campbell said areas where Washington hopes for more progress include freedom for political prisoners, talks with ethnic minorities who have been battling for greater autonomy, and an end to reported military assistance from North Korea that violates UN nonproliferation resolutions.

“It would be fair to say that compared to what we’ve experienced in the past, there are clearly changes afoot, but we are at the early stages of that process and we are looking to see whether they will be sustained, whether they will continue and whether they will grow,” Campbell said. — AP

MANILA: Army troops battled communist guerrillas in a running gunbattle yesterday that killed eight rebels and a soldier in the mountainous northern Philippines in the latest flare up in the 42-year insurgency despite on-and-off peace talks. A platoon of soldiers was patrolling near Abra province’s Tineg village when about 20 New People’s Army guerrillas opened fire with assault rifles, killing a soldier and wounding another, army spokesman Maj. Harold Cabunoc said. A running gunbattle followed in which eight rebels died and a soldier was wounded, he said.

The soldiers ran out of ammunition at one point but were backed up by more troops and air force assault helicopters, Cabunoc said. Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz said the troops pursued the fleeing guerrillas and the fighting dragged on for hours in the hinterlands. The fierce fighting was the latest to erupt despite sporadic peace negotiations brokered by Norway. Last week, more than 200 guerrillas stormed three nickel mining complexes in Claver town in southern Surigao del Norte province. The rebels disarmed guards, briefly held employees and torched trucks, heavy equipment and company offices in some of their largest attacks in recent years.

The government deployed additional troops to Surigao to reassure mining companies and foreign investors. The rebels separately freed a town mayor and six other captives in the south over the weekend, a move welcomed by the government. — AP

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NEWS

Nobel in hand, Liberia’s leader seeks re-election MONROVIA: She may have won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, but even that may not be enough to persuade voters in this nation with 80 percent unemployment to re-elect President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf today.

The 72-year-old Harvard-educated leader suffers from a rare paradox: She is lionized abroad and her star has continued to rise, but her popularity at home has waned over claims that she has done too little to alleviate the nation’s crushing poverty. “One out of every three Liberians cannot feed themselves. They live in abject poverty. And they couldn’t care less about the Nobel prize,” said 60-year-old Charles Brumskine, one of 15 opposition candidates facing Sirleaf in today’s election.

“There’s a disconnect between how she is seen abroad and how she is seen here. Ellen will be lucky to get 10 percent of the vote in tomorrow’s election.”

Few dispute that the nation Sirleaf inherited five years ago was one of the most broken, its social fabric irreparably damaged by a 14-year civil war that left the countryside dotted with mass graves. Some towns were so hard-hit you could walk for blocks and not find one building that had been spared. Years later, judges still preside over courtrooms that have holes in the walls and nurses tend to patients in wards with blasted-out doors.

Sirleaf’s achievements include getting $5 billion of the country’s international debt wiped clean, allowing Liberia to establish a sovereign credit rating, a precondition for issuing bonds. Her government has built clinics, schools and roads, though her critics say she has built too few. And despite the deep wounds inflicted by the civil war, she is credited with maintaining peace.

In Oslo on Friday, the Nobel Committee awarded her and two other female activists the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, citing their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women.

Even those who support Sirleaf say the problem is that her accomplishments are mostly intangible and Liberia remains deeply impoverished, with only one in five people able to find work, according to a 2008 U.N. report.

Only some 8,000 customers receive piped water in Monrovia, the capital of 1.5 million. There isn’t even running water in the building that houses the state water utility.

“My feeling has been from early on that Liberians had unrealistic expectations of what anybody could do,” said West Africa exper t Mike McGovern, an anthropologist at Yale University.

“The country has been pulverized by the war - the health system, the education system, the roads, everything was so destroyed that even an influx of money the likes which we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan would not have fixed everything. And frankly the amount of money that has gone to Liberia has been a few drops in the bucket by comparison,” he said.

Sirleaf was elected in 2005, becoming the first African woman to be democratically elected. She defeated soccer sensation George Weah, who came in second and who lost the race in part because of his lack of formal education.

Weah, a former FIFA World Player of the Year, is again her main contender. However, in a move intended to silence critics he has agreed to run as the No. 2 on a ticket alongside presidential candidate Winston Tubman, who like Sirleaf was educated at Harvard.

Weah also recently earned a business degree from DeVry University in Miami.

“It’s good that we have another Harvard graduate who is going to be in the race, but what is important is not where you went to school,” Tubman told The Associated Press. “It’s what you are doing. And Mrs. Sirleaf has had almost six years now to demonstrate what she can do.”

It’s not difficult to point to problems in this nation of 3.8 million. More women die in childbirth here than in almost any other nation. So do children under 5.

Despite the flow of aid and eight years of peace, Liberia has only inched up two spots from the bottom of the United Nations index tracking development.

Liberia ranks 162nd on the 168-country index - up from 164th a few years ago.

Another criticism of Sirleaf is her alleged role in the nation’s civil war. In front of Liberia’s truth and reconciliation commission, Sirleaf acknowledged having given money to warlord Charles Taylor, whose rebels invaded in 1989, marking the start of the 14-year conflict. She argued she stopped financing Taylor when his ruthless tactics became clear. Taylor is awaiting judgment on charges of crimes against humanity at the Hague.

Human rights experts have described Sirleaf’s role in the conflict as minimal, but opposition candidates lambasted the Oslo Committee for awarding her the Peace prize. Tubman accuses the president of bringing wars and hardships to Liberia instead of peace.

“But there is another way to look at it,” Tubman said. “Mrs. Sirleaf is about to leave power. She’s about to be voted out of power by her people. So it is good that she has a consolation prize.” —AP

American duo win Economics Nobel Continued from Page 1 their expectations concurrently with economic developments,” the jury said. Sims has meanwhile focused on “how shocks spread throughout the economy,” mapping the effects of temporary changes in economic policy, like sudden central bank rate hikes or other unexpected factors.

While the pair worked separately, their work is complementary and “has been adopted by researchers and policymakers around the world,” the jury said. John Hassler, a member of the Nobel Committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences that attributes the prize, said the pair’s methods could be used to understand the current economic crisis.

“We don’t really have a good answer to what happened during the financial crisis nor what we should do in order to reduce the risk of something like this happening again, but we are pretty sure that the methods they have developed (can) help us in finding the answers to questions like that,” Hassler said.

Sims, interviewed by telephone from the Nobel press conference, also said he hoped his research could be useful for solving the current turmoil. “If I had a simple answer to that I would have been spreading it around the world. There’s no simple way to do it, it requires a lot of slow work looking at data,” he said. “But I think that the methods that I’ve used and that Tom (Sargent) has

developed are central to finding our way out of this mess.”

Regarding the 10-million-kronor ($1.48-million, 1.08million-euro) prize sum, Sims said he wouldn’t invest it on the shaky markets for the time-being.

“First thing I’ve got to do is just keep it in cash for a while and think,” he said. Sargent is a professor of economics and business at New York University, while Sims is professor of economics and banking at Princeton University. The economics prize is the only one of the six Nobels not originally included in the 1895 will of the prize creator, Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel.

It was created by the Swedish central bank, the Riksbank, in 1968 to commemorate its tricentary and was first handed out in 1969. The 10-million-Swedishkronor prize sum is funded by the Riksbank, unlike the other prizes which are financed by the Nobel Foundation. The two most-watched prizes, those for literature and peace, were announced last week. Swedish poet Tomas Transtroemer won the Literature Prize on Thursday, and on Friday the Peace Prize was awarded to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her compatriot peace activist Leymah Gbowee, as well as Yemeni blogger and activist Tawakkul Karman, in a nod to women’s empowerment.

All of the Nobel laureates will receive their prizes at gala ceremonies in Oslo and Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel. — AFP

Grilling on Thursday as liberals meet...

Continued from Page 1 focus on the government failure to act over the corruption scandal. In another development, Islamist MP Mohammad Hayef yesterday warned he would grill Education Minister Ahmad Al-Mulaifi over deleting a controversial Hadith or a Prophet saying from the seventh grade religion textbook.

The Hadith warns Muslims against insulting or saying any derogatory remarks against all his companions, particularly those who were very close to him.

The Hadith is controversial because of the differences between Sunni and Shiite Muslims over the issue.

Sunnis claim that some Shiite extremists do insult senior Prophet’s (PBUH) companions like the first three Caliphs; Abu Bakr, Omar Bin Al-Khattan and Othman, who are highly revered by Sunnis but not by Shiites.

The education ministry has admitted deleting the Hadith from one chapter but said it kept it in another.

However, it was later found that the Hadith version was modified. Hayef demanded that the Hadith be reinstated in its original form which “scorns those who insult

the Prophet’s (PBUH) companions” but the ministry removed “scorns” and just kept the warning.

Hayef said that respecting the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) is an integral part of the Muslim faith and undermining their status is totally prohibited. The Islamist lawmaker said that modifying the Hadith is a “project for crisis” and “aimed at satisfying those who insult the Prophet’s (PBUH) companions and a disguised acknowledgment of their right to do so”.

He also said that the ministry’s action is an indirect act of undermining the status of the Prophet’s (PBUH)` companions.

In the meantime, the assembly’s women committee yesterday invited the housing minister for a meeting to discuss the action of the state-owned Credit and Savings Bank of reducing housing loans for Kuwaiti women from the approved KD 70,000 as their men counterparts to KD 45,000.

Head of the committee MP Maasouma Al-Mubarak said that the action was taken without any explanation and the committee members want to know why this happened and what is the justification.

Customs strike halts Kuwait oil shipments Continued from Page 1 least five oil tankers were waiting to depart from Mina Al-Ahmadi port, which handles the bulk of Kuwait’s oil exports. Customs Employees Union chairman Ahmed Al-Enezi said that despite his respect for AlGhanim, he did not trust minister Al-Shamali who had been ignoring their letters and demands for months.

“No vessel, oil tanker or bulk carrier, can depart without customers clearance. They can’t enter Kuwait either,” a second shipping source said. The country has two commercial ports, Shuwaikh and Shuaiba, and two other oil terminals, apart from the largest Mina Al-Ahmadi, which is also home to its biggest refinery.

Kuwait is among the world’s top crude oil exporters with biggest customers mostly from Asia. It has a 930,000 barrels per day (bpd) of refining capacity.

Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC) is trying to secure staff not taking part in the strike, in order to complete

clearance documents for the shipments, an oil official said. The customs union pledged to continue the strike as long as its demands were met.

Kuwait is currently witnessing a wave of strikes by many government employees, after the cabinet approved last month better employment conditions for oil sector workers. “The strike will affect clearance at the airport and land customs, as well as the border between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia,” courier service DHL said in an emailed statement to its clients in Kuwait.

“Exports from Kuwait will also be affected, and only conveyable non-documents and documents that can be transferred via passenger channels at the airport will be able to move,” DHL added.

Meanwhile, chairman of Kuwait Labor Union (KLU) Fayez Al-Muttairi said that KLU supports customs employees’ strike and described it as a ‘brave step.’ “KLU has always urged the Civil Services Commission (CSC) to stop ignoring labor demands,” he added.

SHAKOURA: Bahraini anti-government protesters carry a woman overcome by tear gas yesterday in Shakoura, Bahrain, west of the capital, during clashes with riot police that erupted at the end of a procession marking the third day since the funeral of a teenager allegedly killed by police fire. — AP

Bahrain begins reform steps snubbed by Oppn MANAMA: Officials in violence-wracked Bahrain began work yesterday on proposed political reforms that include boosting the powers of parliament, but the steps were dismissed by an opposition leader as too little after more than eight months of clashes in the Gulf kingdom.

The package of changes would transfer some new powers to elected lawmakers, but leaves intact the sweeping controls of Sunni rulers. Bahrain’s majority Shiites began protests in February seeking more rights and demanding an end to the monarchy’s grip on the country’s affairs.

The reforms are likely to be approved, but they appear unlikely to ease a crisis that has left about 35 people dead and delivered a serious blow to the economy of the strategic island nation - home to the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. The official Bahrain News Agency said the prime minister met with government officials to discuss the reform package. The final report will be submitted later for approval to Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al

Khalifa. The proposed reforms include allowing parliament to vet Cabinet ministers. They also call for a review of voting districts - which Shiite leaders claim are gerrymandered to undercut Shiite political strength.

Shiite’s account for about 70 percent of Bahrain’s population, but say they have faced decades of discrimination such as being blocked from top political and security posts.

The main Shiite political party, Al Wefaq, walked out of national reconciliation talks in July. Months earlier, their 18 members in parliament had resigned en masse to protest crackdowns that included hundreds of arrests and Shiite workers purged from jobs.

The Wefaq leader, Sheik Ali Salman, scoffed at the proposed reforms as doing nothing to reduce the powers of the 200-year-old dynasty. He said the measures “keep Bahrain as a dictatorship, not a democratic state.”

“We can go and ask the people of Bahrain,” he told reporters. “Do they want a referendum to decide whether to have an elected government or not?” — AP

Gunmen attack mosque in Tripoli TRIPOLI: A group of more than 200 heavily armed gunmen attacked a mosque in the Libyan capital and ransacked the tombs of two imams, witnesses said yesterday.

“They arrived shortly after 10:00 pm (2000 GMT, Sunday night), between 200 and 300 of them, in pickups fitted with heavy machineguns. They took off at about 1:00 am,” said Mahmud Rahman, a resident of Tripoli’s northeastern AlMasri district.

“They forced open the mosque’s door and then started to dig up the tombs of imams Abdel Rahman elMasri and Salem Abu Seif, and made off with their relics,” said Rahman.

An AFP journalist, visiting the mosque and its adjoining Quranic school, said Muslim holy books had been burnt. “They had beards and were in military uniform. They must have been Islamic extremists wanting to make trouble. They want power, they want to control Libya,” said a teacher at the school, on con-

TRIPOLI: Birds fly above the destroyed Sidi al-Hamed shrine in the Gargaresh district of the Libyan capital Tripoli yesterday. — AFP dition of anonymity. pneumatic drills and other heavy “They were very well organised. tools, according to witnesses.

Men sealed off the perimeter of the Libya, which practises a modermosque and were communicating ate form of Islam and whose leader with walkie-talkies,” he said. Last Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in week, a Muslim cemetery in the August in an anti-regime revolt, western district of Gargaresh and awaits the formation of a new govanother near Tripoli airport were ernment at a time of ethnic, regionalso ransacked, apparently with al and religious tensions. — AFP

Economic ‘security’ vital for Asia: Kuwait Continued from Page 1 Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, expressed gratitude to HH the Amir for sponsoring “this crucial Asian event, saying in part, “Your sincere interest in the aspirations and affairs of the Asian nation will serve the causes of the peoples of Asia, and these issues will be included in the agenda of the meeting.”

Asian nations should seek to rise to the challenges and address issues of common interest. The extraordinary events happening in our nations warrant efforts that match the volume of these challenges, Sheikh Mohammad said, stressing that conferees should seek practical plans to meet aspirations of the Asian peoples.

“Economic security” should top the development strategies of the Asian nation, he said, adding that the forum would be an opportunity for these countries for exchanging dialogue, perspectives, experiences and notions for realizing the common goals of the Asian countries.

Sheikh Mohammad indicated that Tajikstan would chair the next forum, and expressed hope that the conferees, through their agenda, would find means for ensuring prosperity for the Asian nation.

For his part, the Thai Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, the coordinator of the forum, Nonsrichai Julappong, extended congratulations to Kuwait on the assumption of the Chairmanship of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

He also expressed appreciation for hosting the 10th ACD Ministerial Meeting. “I would like to take this opportunity to extend our congratulations to Your Highness the Amir, the State of Kuwait and its people on the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Independence of Kuwait.”

The Thai official, in his capacity as the ACD coordinator, also thanked Iran for “the hard work and accomplishments during its chairmanship.”

“We are here today to renew our commitment to take stock of where we are and to set direction for our future cooperation for the benefit of our region, “ he said, recalling that foreign ministers from 18 Asian countries, 10 years ago, agreed on the creation of the ACD, to strengthen “Asia’s competiveness, by utilizing the diversity and rich resources in the continent as well as increasing the capability of Asia as a key player on the global arena.”

He commended Kuwait’s proposed theme, “towards a better future for Asian Cooperation, which is highly appropriate.” He added, “We are convinced that under the capable leadership of Kuwait, this theme could be translated into reality and practical implementation.”

In his statement, the Thai official indicated at the negative ripples reaching Asia from the global economic crisis, noting that Asia should “seize the opportunity for strengthening closer coordination and cooperation to propel Asia toward becoming a more active player and reinforce our relevancy in the world arena.”

Being the world’s largest and most populous continent with more than four billion people or 60 percent of the world population with high purchasing power, Asia represents a region of great potentials in all aspects. He called for “Making use of our diversity by handling our diverse strengths in a way that they complement each other and bring benefits for all. “In this regard, the goals set forth in the 10th ACD Meeting will help guide us toward promoting ACD as an active result-oriented forum. “We should strive to increase knowledge and understanding among Asian countries through learning and sharing experiences of success and failure in our cooperation in order to build better and strong Asia for our common endeavors.” The Thai official called for cooperation from diverse parties in the Asian countries, namely the society, the governments and private sectors, to enhance the role of the ACD. — Agencies

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Issues

China’s buildup has US worried

By Phil Stewart hina’s faster-than-expected military buildup has alarmed the United States and its Asian allies and could help the Pentagon gird against deeper defense cuts threatened in some corners of Congress.

But even though the sophistication of China’s People’s Liberation Army has exceeded US military forecasts, there is a recognition within the Pentagon that some of its most-cited conventional capabilities are still in their infancy. China’s first aircraft carrier, a refurbished Sovietera vessel known as the Varyag bought from the Ukraine, began sea trials in July. Chinese sources said Beijing is also building two indigenous carriers, a claim the US military believes is misleading at best.

Admiral Robert Willard, commander of US forces in the Pacific, told Reuters that while China might be pursuing procurement or some other embryonic action on an indigenous carrier, it would be premature to say “a keel is laid.”

“The only ship that anyone has seen and that they have discussed with any level of fidelity is the Varyag, this particular ship that has floated,” Willard said in an interview. But the refurbished Soviet-era carrier is not yet fully operational. China, the last permanent member of the UN Security Council to get carrier capability, will not be able to effectively field an aircraft carrier with any combat aircraft aboard for years, according to Pentagon estimates. A Pentagon assessment to Congress noted Brazil’s navy offered to provide China training in carrier operations. “However, Brazil’s limited capabilities in this area and the extensive problems with Brazil’s own carrier program raise some questions as to the implications of the offer,” it said.

C

NOT TEN FEET TALL Then there is question of China’s stealth fighter jet, the J-20, which did its first test flight during a visit by the US defense secretary to China in January. Despite the attention given to the J-20, the Pentagon does not expect it to achieve an effective operational capability before 2018.

There are also questions about how effective its stealth capability may be. The J-20’s test flight proved its stealth design but did not reveal other attributes to help it avoid detection that might come later, sources say.

“China faces several hurdles as it moves toward J-20 production, including the mastery of high performance jet engine production,” the Pentagon report said.

The United States has had a proper stealth fighter since Lockheed Martin’s F-117 Nighthawk made its first flight 30 years ago. That aircraft was retired from service in 2007.

Prior “low-observable” US aircraft date back to the 1950s with the U-2A high-altitude reconnaissance plane.

The PLA is also still some way from mastering the ability to mount large joint force operations, which will be needed to make the most of newfound capabilities grabbing headlines. The US military has spent the past decade of war honing joint operations that weave together teams and skills from across its armed forces-a hard-won but potent tool. The US Navy’s top intelligence officer warned before retiring earlier this year against overestimating Chinese military capabilities. “I don’t view them as 10 feet tall,” Vice Admiral David Dorsett said. “Have we seen large joint sophisticated exercises? No ... They are at the front end of developing their military capability.”

At the same time, the US military believes China appears on track to field a modern, regionally focused military by 2020. A comprehensive strategy to maintain the US edge in the Pacific will require investment, a tough challenge in an era of budget cuts. The Pentagon now counts a base budget, excluding war costs, of over half a trillion dollars. China downplays its defense spending but acknowledged in March a 12.7 percent rise in 2011 defense outlays to 600 billion yuan ($94 billion).

Still, the US military, while expressing confidence in future funding for the Asia-Pacific region, is not parroting some of the more volatile China rhetoric seen in parts of Congress. “I know some folks like to sugarcoat the terms in describing China as a rival or competitor but the fact is Communist China is an enemy of democracy,” David Rivera, a lawmaker on the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, said in a recent hearing on Taiwan. The US military’s estimates of China offer a more mixed view. This year’s assessment noted China’s lack of operational experience and large amounts of antiquated hardware but said the PLA was “steadily closing the technological gap with modern armed forces.” — Reuters

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

Tusk’s win a democratic landmark

By Timothy Heritage oviet dictator Josef Stalin likened imposing communist rule on Roman Catholic Poland to saddling a cow, but establishing political stability has also proved no easy task since the cow unsaddled communism in 1989. Centre-right leader Donald Tusk’s success in becoming Poland’s first postcommunist prime minister to secure a second successive term is not just a reward for steering the country through the 200809 global economic crisis.

It also sends a signal of relative political stability and maturity in the European Union and NATO member state that, although it has prospered in the last two decades, it has often found the transition to democracy difficult and divisive.

“The ruling party and coalition for the first time in Poland’s post-communist history has been re-elected and that shows the consolidation of democracy in Poland,” said Jacek Raciborski, a political scientist at Warsaw University.

Tusk’s re-election is a welcome sign of stability for the EU at a time of crisis. He favours deeper EU integration- resisted by some EU states-and supports the strategic goal of euro membership for Poland. His success also offers some continuity for Europe after a string of defeats for ruling parties in elections this year in EU states including Ireland, Portugal, Latvia and Denmark. But above all it is a landmark for Poland’s political system after years of acrimony and divisive politics that meant no party had held on to power in the five preceding elections since the first partly free elections in decades were held in 1989. “This is a sign of maturity. The political system has stabilized,” said Krzysztof Bobinski, head of the Unia & Polska think tank. “We now have two big main parties who slog it out, and the days are gone when we had lots of parties fighting to get into parliament. For the first time the voters have decided to let sleeping dogs lie and stick with those who are considered a safe pair of hands.”

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PROGRESS SINCE 1989 The infighting and rivalries of the 1990s and 2000s were hard to foresee in 1989 when the Solidarity trade union took on the ruling communists in partly free elections, a concession at talks forced on the communists by national strikes. Even the most optimistic Solidarity supporters failed to predict the size

of the defeat they would inflict on the communists after decades without free elections, robbing them of any legitimacy and hastening the collapse of communism across eastern Europe.

Solidarity won all the 161 seats it was allowed to contest in the lower house and all but one of the 100 seats in the Senate.

As a reporter in Poland at the time, I was witness to the euphoria and a sense that Poland was entering a new era.

But Solidarity soon collapsed into squabbling and divisions and more than 100 parties contested the first fully free election in 1991. No party won more than 13 percent of votes.

Since then, new rules have come into place preventing parties that win fewer than five percent of votes entering parliament. Coalition rule is still the norm, but politics has become

more stable. “perhaps the difficulties were natural and should have been expected in the circumstances, but we have come a long way since 1989 and what has been achieved in this election is a sign of this,” said a Civic Platform insider.

CHALLENGES FOR TUSK It is not all good news for Tusk, who has won respect rather than fired people’s imagination with his pursuit of cautious economic reforms that have kept Poland out of recession.

Not only does he face economic challenges such as reining in a large budget deficit but also fewer than 50 percent of Poles bothered to vote. Some backed him only to prevent the return of his right-wing rival, outspoken former premier Jaroslaw Kaczynski— Reuters

A dialogue without cooperation

By Reaven D’Souza he purpose of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), initiated by Thailand almost 10 years ago is yet to be realized. From a group of just 18 nations in 2002, the ACD has grown to a grouping of 31 nations today. Asian nations from as far as Japan to Kuwait and as diverse and varied from Mongolia to Bahrain, are seeking to find commonality and interdependence.

What distinguishes this grouping from other regional groupings such as Gulf Cooperation Council, Asean or even SAARC is difficult to comprehend. Will one more forum to meet and deliberate provide results?

Several bilateral treaties of cooperation between Asian nations promoting trade and commerce, cooperation, travel and tourism and even military cooperation exist. How much will a collective treaty seeking to promote interdependence, expand trade and financial markets within Asia, and transform the Asian continent into an Asian community, the main objectives of the ACD will be achieved is difficult to predict.

Turning ACD into an organization would be a commend-

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able achievement as part of the Kuwait Declaration.

Kuwait’s exemplar foreign relations with the region should also help in building bridges between Asian nations. The Kuwait Declaration should also go further in seeking to incorporate the other 20 Asian nations into this forum.

What is holding them back from joining ACD is something to ponder about.

Dialogue over dispute is always commendable. But an Asian Cooperation Dialogue that has little more than half the Asian nations as members would do little to achieve the objective of its purpose. Among the several cooperation areas Asian nations should seek to achieve is peace between themselves, to amicably solve disputes and to mediate in case of disputes, there is much left to be desired on these fronts more than poverty alleviation and agriculture cooperation. 10 years is a good enough time to do some stock taking and review progress. Substantive work has been done in the ACD forum but what about the results. Asian nations are so diverse and distant that many of the areas of cooperation do not justify a forum. With the larger issue of peace and stability missing in the ACD doctrine prosperity may be a long way off.

Profiles

‘Untangling’ the economic policies ne of the 2011 Nobel Economics Prize winners said yesterday his work tries to “untangle” the relationship between central bank actions and the rate of inflation. Princeton University economist Christopher Sims, co-winner with New York University’s Thomas Sargent, said he has developed statistical tools that have been useful in unraveling the effect of monetary policy on the economy.

“These methods have been used in many countries, and one of the things that have given them credibility is they tend to give consistent results,” he said.

“The main contribution of this work is to provide a way to untangle the relationship between interest rates and inflation, so we can see what the effect of interest-rate policy changes are on the price level and inflation, and separate that from the reverse causality that makes central banks react to inflation by changing interest rates.”

“I was very surprised,” Sims said of receiving the notification of the award. “We jumped right out of bed, because we imagined it would be a very busy morning,” he said, adding that at first his wife couldn’t find the talk button on the phone when the Nobel representatives contacted him “so they called back 10 minutes later.”

Sims, who also has a PhD from Harvard, is Princeton’s Harold H. Helm ‘20 Professor of Economics and Banking, and has been a faculty member at the New Jersey university since 1999.

Sargent is the William R. Berkley Professor of Economics and Business at New York University and the Donald L. Lucas Professor in Economics, Emeritus, at Stanford University. He is also a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford. “Sargent and Sims have both made seminal contributions that allow researchers to specify, empirically implement, and evaluate dynamic models of the macroeconomy with a central role for expectations,” the Nobel committee said.

Sims conducted research with Ben Bernanke, the current Federal Reserve chairman, who also was a professor at Princeton.

Among his areas of research is “rational inattention,” or how people overlook information that is freely available to them. “Everyone ignores or reacts sporadically and imperfectly to some information that they ‘see,’” he wrote in a

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(Left) American economist Thomas Sargent and (right) Princeton economics professor Christopher Sims. recent paper.

“I page through the business section of the New York Times most mornings, ‘seeing’ charts and tables of a great deal of information about asset markets. I also most days look at ft.com’s charts of within-day movements of oil prices, stock indexes, and exchange rates once or twice.

But most days I take no action at all based on this information I’ve viewed.”

While economists seek models to determine how people process information, Sims wrote that “‘rational inattention’ models introduce the idea that people’s abilities to

translate external data into action are constrained by a finite... ‘capacity’ to process information.”

Sims is the sixth Princeton faculty member to win the economics prize, the most recent of which went to Paul Krugman. Sargent worked on structural macroeconomics, which can be used to analyze permanent changes in economic policy.

While the pair worked separately, their work is complementary and “has been adopted by researchers and policymakers around the world... (and their methods) are essential tools in macro-economic analysis,” it said. —AFP

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Okazaki ‘starving’ for goals OSAKA: Japan striker Shinji Okazaki promised to lift the gloom following a string of poor displays by his side in today’s home World Cup qualifier against Tajikistan. The pint-sized VfB Stuttgart player said he had recovered from a knee problem and would be back amongst the goals as the Blue Samurai look to take a firm grip on Group C. “I score goals for a living,” Okazaki, who has scored seven goals in five matches under coach Alberto Zaccheroni, told the Japanese media yesterday.

“I’m starving for goals but it’s all about the team. I’m just a forward. Scoring goals is my job.” Japan disappointed in last Friday’s 1-0 friendly win over Vietnam, but Zaccheroni dismissed talk of a crisis in front of goal.

“Yes we have only scored three goals in our last three matches,” the Italian told a news conference on the eve of the clash with Tajikistan in Osaka.

“But we’re ready. We made a lot of chances against North Korea and we had our chances against Uzbekistan too. It’s not as if we have not been scoring in my 15 games as coach.”—Reuters

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Cleverley signs for United

Hussey given short rest MELBOURNE: Australia is taking no chances with veteran batsman Michael Hussey ahead of the team’s tour of South Africa, deciding to give him the week off from domestic competition.

Cricket Australia said yesterday that the 36-year-old Hussey, who just returned from Champions League Twenty20 duty with the Chennai Super Kings, will not play in Western Australia’s first-class match beginning today against Tasmania in Perth.

The match is scheduled to end on Friday, the day Hussey is expected to fly to South Africa.

Australia will play two T20 matches - the first on Thursday - three limit-

ed-over internationals and two tests in South Africa - the first beginning Nov. 9 in Cape Town, the second Nov. 17 in Johannesburg.

Hussey, who is not part of Australia’s Twenty20 squad, was named man of the match in all three of Australia’s test matches in Sri Lanka, where the visitors won the first test and played to draws in the others.

“His (Hussey’s) workload has been significant,” Cricket Australia general manger Michael Brown said in a statement. “Looking at all the coming international fixtures, it was decided that it is best for Michael if he sits out this week.”—AP

MANCHESTER: Tom Cleverley signed a four-year deal with Manchester United yesterday, tying the highly rated midfielder to the Premier League champions until the summer of 2015. The 22-year-old Cleverley broke into United’s first team at the start of this season and earned a maiden call-up to the England squad, but has been sidelined in recent weeks with an ankle injury. “ Tom is one of the brightest prospects in the English game,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “For a young boy, he has a good footballing brain which, when coupled with his energy and ability, makes for a player with a fine future ahead of him.”Cleverley, who spent last season on loan at Premier League side Wigan, has been touted by some as a long-term replacement at United for the recently retired Paul Scholes.

“Having grown up at the club, I’d love to be able to make a contribution to United winning more trophies,” said Cleverley. Last season United won its 19th English title.—AP

Brewers rally to down Cardinals

TOKYO: Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany waves as he appears before the fans during an event at the Nissan Motor Co. headquarters in Yokohama. —AP

F1’s reigning champ savors second title YOKOHAMA: Newly crowned 2011 Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, the youngest racer ever to win two straight driving titles, can’t afford to sit too long on his laurels - his next race is less than a week away. But, he says, that doesn’t mean he can’t spare some time to savor his achievement.

As his Red Bull racing team packed up and headed off for South Korea, Vettel took a day off yesterday to do what any 24-year-old on the top of his game - and the top of the world - might be expected to do. Bask in his new title.

“We had a little bit of a celebration last night,” the affable German said before greeting a mob of Japanese fans.

“But not too much because this week we go to Korea.”

Vettel, who said he spent Sunday night at an Irish bar singing karaoke with his teammates, has good reason to be pleased with himself.

With four races still to be run, his third-place in the Japanese GP on Sunday sealed the drivers title in what has been an overwhelmingly dominant season for him. And with nine races won so far, he is still in contention to equal the season record 13 wins marked by countryman Michael Schumacher.

Vettel is also just two pole positions away from the season record on that front as well - now 14, set by Nigel Mansell in 1992.

“Obviously, it was a fantastic day for us,” he said of the race. “When we crossed the line it was certainly a big relief.”

Though the Japanese GP title was won by McLaren driver Jenson Button, Vettel demonstrated his steely will-towin by defending his early lead by essen-

tially running Button off the road with a sharp turn of the wheel. He appeared to be gunning for the checkered flag again as the race went down to the wire, but settled for the safe third-place finish.

“I got a radio call that the priority was to finish the race,” he said. In any other race for Vettel this year, third would have been a huge letdown.

The ending on the Suzuka track was his second worst of the year - he finished fourth in Germany, in July - and has been in the top-two every other race.

His accomplishments have prompted many F1 fans to group him among the greats of the sport along with such drivers as Jackie Stewart, Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Alain Proust - all of whom also took multiple championships.

“He’s had the most phenomenal of years,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “He has raised the level.”

Vettel started winning at age 21, when he took the 2008 Italian Grand Prix for Toro Rosso. That was another recordbook moment - no driver that young had ever finished first. It was also a sign of better things to come. He won four races for Red Bull in 2009, then five in 2010 to claim his first drivers’ championship.

Celebrating Vettel’s success, thousands of Germans in his hometown of Heppenheim turned out for champagne showers, fireworks and free beer. More than 100,000 revelers welcomed Heppenheim’s hero back last year after he won his first title.

“Sometimes you have to pinch yourself,” he said. “I’m a normal person. It has been an incredible season. We have four more races and we want to get the best we can.”—AP

PAYS, KSSC laud jet ski team KUWAIT: Head of the Kuwait Sea Sports Club currently participating at the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) tournament was congratulated by the Deputy Chairman and Deputy Managing Director of the Public Authority for Youth and Sports Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, as the Kuwaiti team won a total of fifteen medals so far, including six gold, six silver and three bronze medals.

“Sheikh Talal applauded the great

spirit of competition expressed by the Kuwaiti competitors which enabled them to achieve unprecedented results in jet ski spor ts”, said Abdulqader Al-Najjar in a press statement from the US state of Arizona where the tournament is being held.

Al-Najjar also received praises from KSSC President Major General Fahad Al-Fahad, in which he commended the team’s efforts. The KSSC plans to hold a huge reception ceremony on Friday when the team arrives back to Kuwait.

Kuwait rowing team heads for 14th Asian tourney KUWAIT: The National Rowing left yesterday for Seoul, South Korea, to participate in the 14th Asian Rowing Championships on Oct 13. A statement by the Kuwait Sea Sports Club (KSSC) said that the tournament would include teams from China, Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, North Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Kuwait,

Qatar, and host South Korea.

The aim of the participation is to develop the skills of the Kuwait team by competing with other Asian counterparts, said KSSC, adding that the tournament would prepare the team for the Arab Rowing Championship in Doha, Qatar, next December. —KUNA

MILWAUKEE: It’s one thing for a team to say it won’t be beaten by the Milwaukee Brewers’ dueling duo of MVP candidates, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder.

As the St. Louis Cardinals found out in Sunday’s Game 1 of the NLCS, actually keeping those two quiet isn’t so easy. Back-to-back big hits by Braun and Fielder powered a rapidfire fifth-inning rally, helping the Brewers come back to beat the Cardinals 9-6 for a 1-0 lead in the series. Braun was thrilled he and Fielder could play such a critical role in the comeback, but knows one big day isn’t enough to make a team as tough as the Cardinals back down.

“Obviously when both of us are going good it becomes far more difficult to pitch to us, but I don’t think it’s intimidating,” Braun said. “These guys over here are not going to be intimidated by anything. We’ve played them often enough to know that they’re a great team, they know it’s going to be a good challenge.”

Braun launched a 463-foot homer in the first inning - a two-run shot and added a two-run double during a six-run burst in the fifth. Fielder hit a two-run homer and the typically light-hitting Yuniesky Betancourt added another two-run home run to cap it.

The midgame turnaround came so fast that the crowd wasn’t done cheering Braun’s big hit when Fielder went deep. “I don’t even know if I heard the ball come off Prince’s bat,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said.

Meanwhile, it was an off day for Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols. He was 1 for 4, grounding into a double play with runners on first and third and no outs in the seventh. A run scored on the play, but the inning could have been much bigger.

“We’ve lost some tough games and we bounced back,” Pujols said.

“We did it against Philly, we did it the

last two weeks of the season when we needed a win, I mean, we’re too good of a ballclub. This is a long series.” At least for one game, the bitter NL Central rivals avoided any onfield confrontations in their first postseason matchup since the 1982 World Series.

That’s despite an already tense atmosphere that gained some steam when Brewers starter Zack Greinke let it slip on Saturday that some of his

dugout Sunday, but he said it was nothing out of the ordinary.

“They’re yelling from the dugout some, but most teams do that,” Greinke said. “Everyone always makes fun of me grunting when I throw a fastball. It’s kind of funny sometimes, but no big deal.”

The atmosphere was tense even before the first pitch, as La Russa was showered with boos during pregame introductions. He calmly tipped his

MILWAUKEE: St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Ryan Theriot leaps over Milwaukee Brewers’ Prince Fielder (28) to turn a double play on a ball hit by Rickie Weeks during the sixth inning of Game 1 of baseball’s National League championship series.—AP teammates don’t like Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter - a comment that drew a stern rebuke from St. Louis manager Tony La Russa.

Greinke hinted that he heard a few comments from the Cardinals’

cap to the crowd.

La Russa said afterward that he hoped the tension wouldn’t overshadow the competition - although he said he had a sense that some fans and media members would be disap-

pointed if there aren’t any repeats of the on-field confrontations the teams have had in the recent past.

“I don’t want our players and their players to be egged on, and I don’t think they will,” La Russa said. “We’re going to play as hard and good against each other as we can.”

Game 2 is at Miller Park late yesterday. Shaun Marcum starts for the Brewers against Edwin Jackson. “We’ll come back out,” Cardinals star Lance Berkman said. “The same thing happened to us in the first game against Philly. We were able to regroup.”

The Brewers and Cardinals split an 18-game series evenly this season, a sign of what has been one of baseball’s most intense rivalries in recent years. The Cardinals’ success against the Brewers in the final month of the season was one of the main reasons they climbed back into playoff contention.

St. Louis won six of its last seven games against Milwaukee, including a three-game sweep at Miller Park.

The animosity between the two teams spilled into this week, when Greinke told reporters Saturday that some of his teammates don’t like Carpenter because of his “phony attitude.”

And it looked as if the two teams were in for more fireworks in the first inning. La Russa said he got an umpire’s warning after Jaime Garcia hit Fielder with a pitch, right after Braun’s homer. But the Brewers said they didn’t think the pitch was intentional, and La Russa said the team’s recent history probably affects the umpires’ attitudes.

“I certainly can’t fault the umpire,” La Russa said. “But, you know, you can’t go out and argue those things, or you get thrown out. I didn’t say anything. What I would have said is, if you watched the way Jaime pitched that whole inning, every fastball he threw was in that same area.”—AP

Tigers trying to avoid more obstacles ARLINGTON: The Detroit Tigers have already lost two starting outfielders for the water-logged AL championship series.

Now they will try to avoid losing a second game against the defending American League champion Texas Rangers before the series switches to Detroit without a break between games.

After the ALCS opener won by Texas 3-2 in a game that was twice delayed by rain, Game 2 was postponed Sunday night because of the expectation of more wet weather and rescheduled for late yesterday afternoon. “Just another obstacle,” Tigers catcher Alex Avila said.

Soon after officials called off Sunday’s game, manager Jim Leyland said Magglio Ordonez will miss the rest of the postseason because of more problems with his right ankle.

The Tigers, already without Delmon Young (left oblique), later released results of X-rays and a CT scan that showed Ordonez had refractured the ankle, which was surgically repaired in July 2010. Ordonez missed more than a month this summer because of problems with the ankle, then came out of the twiceinterrupted ALCS opener.

“We’re a real resilient team. Do I like this? Obviously, no. Do I like losing Delmon? Obviously, no,” Leyland said. “But we’re a tough team. We’ll figure something out, and we’ll get through this.” The Rangers and Tigers will lose their travel day with Game 3 still set for Tuesday in Detroit.

Derek Holland pitches Monday for the Rangers against Max Scherzer, who gets an extra day after his 1 1-3 innings of relief in the Tigers’ AL division series clincher Thursday night against the New York Yankees.

Holland planned to use the extra time to rest, review video of himself and the Detroit hitters and go through all his other pre-start routines, from playing a hockey game on his Xbox to watching a chunk of the

movie “For Love of the Game.”

“Getting this extra day of rest is the more important thing, especially to clear up some of the sinus stuff that I’ve got going on,” Holland said, later stressing that his sniffles were no big deal. “I can just kind of relax and watch more video. Maybe I’ll pick up something that I didn’t see before.

So that’s a good thing to have, too.”

The ALCS opener was stopped by rain twice in the top of the fifth inning Saturday night for a total of 1 hour, 50 minutes.

Ordonez, who had walked to load the bases during a 13-minute resumption of play between the delays, was replaced by a pinch runner when the game restarted for good.

“Magglio had just been talking three or four days ago about how he felt great, how he felt as good as he’s felt for a long time,” Leyland said.

“When the trainer came in during the rain delay and told me, I was almost flabbergasted, to be honest with you. ... It doesn’t appear that there was any significant movement or anything that did it. “ The rain delays Saturday night were the first at Rangers Ballpark since May 24. This season was played during one of the hottest and driest summers in North Texas, including 27 games when the temperature was 100 degrees or more at first pitch.

With the forecast for more rain Sunday night, officials were wary of a repeat of what happened Saturday.

“We felt with the forecast that we had that we didn’t want to experience what we did last night. ... With the forecast for this evening, it appears that it’s going to be a duplication of what we saw,” Rangers president Nolan Ryan said. “The one thing we’re concerned about is the integrity of the game and not put either team in a situation where possibly the elements could affect the outcome of the game.”

Both of Detroit’s playoff series

ARLINGTON: Texas Rangers’ Neftali Feliz throws a pitch during the ninth inning of Game 1 of baseball’s American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers. —AP openers this season have been plagued by rain with ace Justin Verlander on the mound.

Verlander threw one inning and 25 pitches in the division series opener at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 30 when that game was suspended by rain. The right-hander who won 24 games in the regular season came back and started Game 3, winning as he threw 120 pitches with 11 strikeouts over eight innings.

The likely AL Cy Young winner threw 25 first-inning pitches again Saturday at Texas, and had 82 in four innings before the first delay.

Though Leyland had planned to bring Verlander back, that changed after the second delay since it had been about two hours since his last pitch when the game finally resumed. Rick Porcello, Detroit’s scheduled Game 4 starter, had two scoreless innings after replacing Verlander.

Leyland had indicated he could possibly alter his planned rotation, but said Sunday he was sticking to the original plan for Scherzer to be followed by Doug Fister and Porcello.

Verlander would pitch Game 5 in Detroit scheduled for Thursday. “He’ll pitch Game 5 under any circumstances,” the manager said.

Leyland stuck to a similar decision in the last series, when Verlander was never considered to pitch in relief in the ALDS finale and was ready to go on regular rest for his start against the Rangers.

As for Ordonez, he was re-signed to a $10 million, one-year deal by the Tigers last December after he broke his ankle sliding into home plate midway through the 2010 season. He struggled early this year, then missed a month before returning to the lineup in June. After hitting a career-low .255 with five homers and 32 RBIs in 92 games during the regular season, Ordonez was 5 for 13 in the postseason. “I saw him in the training room in between the rain delay. As far as how bad it was, nobody really knew how bad it was,” outfielder Ryan Raburn said. “That was unfortunate for us.

He’s a veteran presence in the lineup we’ll definitely miss. We’ll need other guys to step up like we have done all year.”—AP

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

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Canadiens shoot down Jets WINNIPEG: The NHL returned to Winnipeg with a cold reminder of the challenge that lies ahead. It did little to dampen the warmth brought on by a massive civic celebration.

As the clock ticked down Sunday in Winnipeg’s 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the fans at MTS Centre rose to their feet and gave the Jets a standing ovation that was 15 years in the making.

“That’s pretty incredible,” said forward Mark Scheifele, who played his first NHL game. “In Barrie, when we’d lose, people would be leaving halfway through the second period. Definitely to hear that, to get a standing ovation when we lose, it just shows that we’re going to have fans behind us regardless.”

Indeed, it appears the honeymoon will last a long time between the fans and a young team that has work to do in order to make good on coach Claude Noel’s assertion it can qualify for the playoffs. Last season in Atlanta, the franchise finished 12th in the Eastern Conference last season and all but four players who dressed for the Jets on Sunday were part of that team.

A couple glaring turnovers were costly against the opportunistic Canadiens, who bounced back from a season-opening loss in Toronto. Ultimately, the Jets were unable to harness much energy from an amped-up crowd following a pregame ceremony that included a tribute to Rick Rypien and a loud rendition of O Canada.

The players also had endured a long nine-day wait after the end of the exhibition season and as much hype as any of them have ever faced for a regular-season game.

“It was a pretty unique situation,” captain Andrew Ladd said. “It’s still not an excuse and we have to come up with a way better performance than that. But definitely a different situation and something that you know you’re not going to have the chance to do this again. It’s pretty disappointing with the outcome.”

Carey Price had a solid game for Montreal with 30 saves, and Mike Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec, Yannick Weber, Travis Moen and Max Pacioretty scored for the Canadiens.

The roof was nearly blown off the inti-

mate arena when Nik Antropov scored the first goal for the reincarnated Jets early in the third period. Amid growing tension with Price looking unbeatable, Antropov made it 2-1 by driving hard to the net and shoveling a rebound behind the goalie with Brett MacLean parked in front.

A surge of momentum followed as Winnipeg poured on the pressure in an effort to tie it, but Weber made it 3-1 while Dustin Byfuglien was serving an interference penalty and the Jets never recovered.

“I thought it was a weak call,” Byfuglien said. “I have a feeling it kind of (changed the game), but we’ve still got to go back to work after it happens.”

Montreal was a hand-picked opening night opponent for the Jets - “We thought it would be a terrific matchup,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman - but it didn’t play the role of gracious guest. Price was particularly sharp and the Habs took advantage of Johnny Oduya’s two turnovers to build a 2-0 lead.

The first ended up on the stick of

Cammalleri, who quickly beat Ondrej Pavelec with a nice wrist shot at 3:05 of the first period. Plekanec made it 2-0 at 14:17 of the second after winning a puck battle with Oduya.

“We gave up some free pizzas in the middle of the ice,” Noel said. “The first one ... that’s exactly what good players do.

Turnovers result in goals. One chance, and it’s in the back of your net.”

The return of big-league hockey to Winnipeg had fans celebrating in the streets hours before the puck was even dropped. Horns honked on the downtown streets and strangers high-fived on the sidewalk - many of whom had dug deep in their closet to pull out vintage Jets sweaters.

The sold-out crowd inside the 15,004seat building - the smallest in the league included Bettman, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and a number of former players from the original Jets. And the atmosphere was raucous from the moment a pregame video on the scoreboard ended with the

words “It’s Time.”

Oilers 2 Penguins 1 Meanwhile in EdmontonRyan NugentHopkins made an impact in his NHL debut.

The first pick in this past summer’s NHL draft scored the tying goal for Edmonton with less than five minutes left in regulation, and the Oilers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 in a shootout on Sunday night.

“Going into the game I was really nervous, but I tried to use that to my advantage,” said Nugent-Hopkins, who played his first NHL regular-season game. “It felt pretty good. ... it was really exciting. But, I’m more excited about the win.”

Ales Hemsky scored the shootout winner and the Edmonton Oilers started off the season with a win. Kris Letang scored for the Penguins, who were without Evgeni Malkin.

The center left after the pregame skate with what appeared to be a lower body injury.

Pittsburgh got points in all three stops of a Western Canadian road trip to start the season. The Penguins beat Vancouver and Calgary before coming up just short in Edmonton.

“We got five out of six points,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. “I like that. We got some wins in tough places. We’ve played a lot of hockey already and I think that showed in this game. A lot of guys got taxed. But we’re happy with our start.”

Nugent-Hopkins got his first NHL goal as he pounced on a loose puck in front of the Penguins net and slid a backhand shot past Penguins starter Brent Johnson at 15:05.

Oiler Ryan Smyth took an elbowing major soon afterward, but Edmonton was able to kill the penalty.

“It was hormone hockey,” Oilers coach Tom Renney said. “I guess you have to expect that. Our team hadn’t played in a while and we had some guys playing their first ever NHL regular-season game. They were almost over-excited. We turned the puck over a number of times in the first two periods. But we started to play a little better and started to share the puck better.” Both teams hit posts in overtime, but couldn’t score. Pittsburgh scored early in the first EDMONTON: Oilers’ Magnus Paajarvi, (91) (left) is defended by Pittsburgh Penguins’ period on the power play. Letang’s point Kris Letang, (58), during first period NHL hockey action. — AP shot seemed to go right through Edmonton goalie Devan Dubnyk at 3:13.—AP

Johnson speeds to victory in Kansas KANSAS CITY: Carl Edwards kept complaining that his car was tight. It wouldn’t turn in the corners and nothing his team did seemed to work.

He had come to Kansas Speedway after a pit road speeding penalty cost him a chance to win at Dover, brashly proclaiming that he’d make up for his mistake with a victory. But as the laps wore on Sunday, and his car kept getting tougher to handle, that looked more and more unlikely.

“I had a hint in the first corner. I drove down in the first corner, I said, ‘Man, this is not good,’” Edwards said.

“That’s the worst the car has felt in a race for a long time.”

After falling a lap down, some fortuitous caution flags got him back on the lead lap, and his team finally got the car to cooperate enough for Edwards to drive it through the field. He never had enough to challenge Jimmie Johnson for the race lead, but it was good enough to finish fifth.

And it gave Edwards the lead in the Chase, the lead that really counts.

“We’re lucky,” Edwards said. “We had two cautions that were timed perfectly, so that was a big deal. We’ve messed up enough in the past that I’m pretty proud of our ability to take our bad days and keep plugging along. We messed up some races, some points races, in the past, and I believe we’ve learned from that. It’s a little test when you go through this to see if someone melts down.”

Edwards said he felt as if he had won the race, given all the problems he had. The reason Johnson won is he didn’t have any problems.

The five-time defending Cup champion stormed to the front early, weathered every late caution and held off Kasey Kahne in a green-white-

NHL results/standings

checkered finish for his first victory since April.

It was enough for Johnson, who was 10th in the standings before a second-place run at Dover, to climb all the way to third in the standings. Johnson still trails Edwards and Kevin Harvick, who finished sixth and is one point off the lead, but he’s knocking on the door.

“I think he should just pack it up. It’s over. He’s too far back,” Edwards said jokingly. Johnson is just four points out of first place. In the revamped points system, that essentially means he’s four spots on the racetrack behind Edwards as the series heads to Charlotte.

There are six races left, plenty of time for Johnson to complete another charge. “I look at this year, there’s probably three or four opportunities to win that come to mind that we just didn’t take advantage of,” said Johnson, who hadn’t won since Talladega. “I messed up, we had pit road issues, a lot of little things went wrong.

“The competitor in all of us, we’ve known we’ve been close,” Johnson said.

“We want to win.” Johnson was headed for an easy one most of the afternoon.

He led 197 laps, at one point building a 12-second advantage over second place, before a series of yellow flags bunched up the field.

The final caution flew for Jeff Gordon, whose engine blew with three laps left. Johnson chose not to pit before the sprint to the finish, but still managed to drive away from Kahne and Brad Keselowski on worn out tires.

Keselowski, who won the Nationwide race Saturday, wound up third and climbed into fourth place in the Chase standings.

“It all comes back to having a good team,” Keselowski said. “Good teams have good cars, they’re the best at the

end, the fastest at the end, they have good pit strategy and they’re strong through adversity, and I just have a really good team.”

Tony Stewart spent most of the afternoon trying to chase down Johnson, and at times appeared to have the car to do it. Stewart had climbed 17 spots to sixth after about 50 laps, and at one point told his team triumphantly over the radio, “I’m in a hurry ... I’ve got things to do.” A series of mistakes near the end cost him, though.

Stewart chose to pit when Gordon brought out the final caution, but carried too much speed down pit road and slid through his stall. By the time his team backed him up and changed tires, Stewart had shuffled back to 17th and he crossed the finish line in 15th.

Stewart won the first two races of the Chase to vault into the points lead, but he struggled all weekend at Dover and finished 25th. He’ll now head to Charlotte eighth in the standings, but he’s just 19 points out of first place and still harbors a realistic chance of rallying. Matt Kenseth is fifth in points after his fourth-place run. Kurt Busch dropped two spots to sixth and Kyle Busch is seventh after his top-10 finish.

They’re all chasing Johnson.

The most dominant driver in NASCAR started 19th and quickly drove to the front, then set it on cruise control the rest of the afternoon. Stewart tried to challenge him, and a few other contenders tried to work fuel strategy, but the late yellows took that out of the equation.

Johnson passed Keselowski for the lead after a caution with 27 laps remaining, and then held off the field during the green-white-checkered finish.—AP

LOUDON: Matt Kenseth spins sideways out of Turn 2 as Carl Edwards passes during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race. — AP

NHL results and standings on Sunday: Montreal 5, Winnipeg 1; Edmonton 2, Pittsburgh 1 (SO). (SO denotes shootout)

Pittsburgh Philadelphia NY Rangers NY Islanders New Jersey Buffalo Toronto Montreal Boston Ottawa Florida Washington Tampa Bay Carolina Winnipeg

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L OTL GF 2 0 1 10 2 0 0 5 0 0 2 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Northeast Division 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 8 1 1 0 5 1 1 0 5 0 2 0 8 Southeast Division 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 4 1 1 0 6 0 1 1 4 0 1 0 1

GA PTS 8 5 1 4 5 2 2 0 3 0 3 5 3 3 11

4 4 2 2 0

0 3 5 9 5

2 2 2 1 0

Western Conference Central Division Detroit 2 0 0 8 3 4 Nashville 2 0 0 7 4 4 Chicago 1 1 0 6 4 2 St. Louis 0 1 0 2 4 0 Columbus 0 2 0 4 7 0 Northwest Division Minnesota 1 0 0 4 2 2 Edmonton 1 0 0 2 1 2 Vancouver 0 0 1 3 4 1 Calgary 0 1 0 3 5 0 Colorado 0 1 0 0 3 0 Pacific Division San Jose 1 0 0 6 3 2 Los Angeles 1 1 0 5 6 2 Dallas 1 1 0 4 6 2 Anaheim 1 1 0 3 5 2 Phoenix 0 1 0 3 6 0 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the standings and are not included in the loss column (L)

All Blacks hit by further injuries at World Cup AUCKLAND: Pride and penitence were mixed with pain in the aftermath of weekend Rugby World Cup quarterfinals which left four survivors nursing injuries of varied severity and four teams dealing with defeat with degrees of resignation.

New Zealand’s 33-10 win over Argentina, which earned a semifinal against archrival Australia, had a grim sequel when flyhalf Colin Slade and fullback Mils Muliaina were ruled out of the tournament, deepening an injury crisis that began when it lost star playmaker Dan Carter.

Muliaina fractured his left shoulder and Slade tore a groin muscle, forcing New Zealand to test against its vaunted resource of quality players.

Flyhalf Stephen Donald and winger Hosea Gear had both accepted the end of their international careers when they missed selection in New Zealand’s initial World Cup squad, but have now been called back to test duty.

Donald, who will join the English club Bath in November, has played 22 tests but has struggled to reach the standard that test rugby demands of a flyhalf and is already associated with one of New Zealand’s most galling losses to Australia.

New Zealand’s game unraveled when he came on as a replacement for Carter in a Bledisloe Cup test in Hong Kong in October last year. The All Blacks surrendered an early lead and went on to lose 26-24, their only loss of that season.

The loss of Carter and Slade leaves Aaron Cruden, who missed initial World Cup selection and has played only seven tests, as New Zealand’s new first-choice flyhalf.

“Have we got the depth? We’ll find out in the next two weeks I guess,” coach Graham Henry said. “Where we’re lucky is that the guys who’re coming in have played test match football.

“They’ve been with this group in the last 12 months. They’ve been here, they know the players, they know the environment we live in and they know the rugby we’re trying to play, generally speaking. “ England center Manu Tuilagi and All Blacks winger Cory Jane took the role of penitents Monday, publicly apologizing for off-field misbehavior. Tuilagi was briefly detained by police Sunday after leaping from a ferry as it prepared to dock at a downtown Auckland jetty and swimming to shore.

The 20-year-old Tuilagi was returning from scenic Waiheke Island on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbor, where some England players chose to wind down after Saturday’s 19-12 quarterfinal loss to France. He was quick to apologize to embarrassed team officials, but fined 3,000 pounds ($4,700) by England’s Rugby Football Union for his action.

“I’m really sorry,” Tuilagi said in a statement. “It was a silly thing to do and I apologize to everybody for any inconvenience caused.”

England manager Martin Johnson, under fire after a series of off-field indis-

cretions from his players during the tournament, described Tuilagi’s actions as “an irresponsible thing to do.” “Manu has been disciplined internally and I have warned him about his future conduct.”

Jane also apologized for his drunken night out with teammate Israel Dagg 72 hours before the All Blacks’ clash with

Argentina. He said he made a “stupid choice” to go out drinking before such an important match.

“After making a poor decision the other night and having it thrown all over the paper this morning I knew I had to go out there and play well (against Argentina),” Jane said.—AP

AUCKLAND: Argentina’s Felipe Contepomi reacts after his team’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinal loss to the New Zealand All Blacks in this file photo. —AP

Male runner collapses at Chicago Marathon, dies CHICAGO: A 35-year-old North Carolina firefighter who was running for charity died Sunday after collapsing during the Chicago Marathon.

Greensboro Deputy Fire Chief Clarence Hunter said that William Caviness was running to raise money to help burn victims, but declined to talk further. He did read a statement from Chief Gregory Grayson.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Caviness family in this tremendous loss of Capt. Will Caviness. The Greensboro Fire Department family is grieving this great loss and will strive to support the family through this difficult time.” Hunter said that the department would not have anything further to say until yesterday, after talking to the Caviness family.

Race medical director Dr. George Chiampas said the North Carolina man collapsed on the course about 500 yards from the finish line. He said medical personnel were able to get his heart beating again but he died 1 hour, 45 minutes after he was attended to at the race.

“We extend our condolences and thoughts and prayers to the family,” race director Carey Pinkowski said. Chicago police spokesman Darryl Baety said the runner collapsed to the ground around 10:30 a.m. while running on city’s near

South Side. He was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center around noon. The Cook County medical examiner’s office said an autopsy is planned for late yesterday.

Chiampas said five to six emergency medicine doctors in addition to EMS personnel were stationed nearby, and there was “an immediate response, within seconds.” It was the second time in five years that a runner died at Chicago’s marquee race. Chad Schieber, a 35-year-old Michigan police officer and father of three, died during the 2007 marathon, and hundreds of participants collapsed or vomited in scorching, near-90 degree heat. An autopsy blamed his death on a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse, and coroners said tests showed no evidence he was dehydrated.

After Schieber’s death, organizers improved communication between various agencies and the runners. They also added more water distribution points and medical aid stations.

The race-time temperature was 64 and reached the high 70s on Sunday afternoon, the fourth time in five years the weather was unusually warm. Even so, Chiampas said only 54 people were taken by ambulance to the hospital this year, compared to 100 in 2010 and 85 in 2008 under similar conditions.—AP

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Britain will have to go to second Olympic qualifier

NEW YORK: Derek Fisher, president of the NBA players’ association, talks with reporters after leaving a meeting between NBA players and owners. —AP

NBA, players in danger of cancellations NEW YORK: Derek Fisher left a meeting with NBA officials and, as he has all summer, reported no breakthrough on a new labor deal. Do that again, and the start of the season is expected to be called off.

Negotiators for owners and players will meet again Monday, the deadline Commissioner David Stern set for when there must be a deal to avoid canceling the first two weeks of the regular season, scheduled to begin Nov. 1.

The two sides met for more than five hours Sunday, but didn’t even touch perhaps the biggest issue dividing them.

“We’re not necessarily any closer than we were going in tonight, but we’ll be back at it tomorrow and we’ll keep putting time in,” said Fisher, the union president.

Neither side offered any specifics, but a person with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press they did not discuss the split of revenues.

The person was granted anonymity because the details were supposed to remain private.

When they last met on Tuesday, league officials asked the union if they would consider a 50-50 split of basketball-related revenues.

The players, guaranteed 57 percent under the previous collective bargaining agreement, rejected that and said they were not prepared to go below 53 percent.

The salary cap system is the other big issue remaining. Numerous other items remain untouched because the negotiators have spent so much time seeking compromise on the main two.

Fisher also said the union would

postpone a regional meeting scheduled for yesterday in Los Angeles so he and other officials could remain in New York for more talks. He and executive director Billy Hunter had been scheduled to fly out in the morning, and he had sent a letter to players encouraging them to attend for an update on the negotiations.

“We feel like our time, and our guys would want our time, to be used in meeting and try to get closer to getting a deal done,” he said. “So instead of going forward with that meeting, we’re going to put it off and then we’ll reschedule it accordingly depending on what happens tomorrow and into the week if we continue to meet.”

No further talks had been expected this weekend. On Friday, a person close to the union told AP that players had been seeking a session before the deadline, but were told it came with a precondition of agreeing to the 50-50 revenue split.

The NBA later confirmed it wasn’t prepared to move above a 50-50 split but still was open to discussing other issues, but that the union had declined.

Stern, Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver, owners Peter Holt of San Antonio and Glen Taylor of Minnesota, and senior vice president and deput y general counsel Dan Rube met with Hunter, Fisher and vice president M aurice Evans of the Wizards, and attorneys Jeffrey Kessler and Ron Klempner. Stern wouldn’t comment on Sunday’s talks beyond saying they would meet again late yesterday, adding they had an agreement with the players not to provide any details. —AP

Roddick sends Lu packing SHANGHAI: Andy Roddick rallied to beat Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan 6-2, 3-6, 62 yesterday in the first round of the Shanghai Masters.

The 10th-seeded Roddick won the first set easily, but Lu picked up his game in the second set, rushing the net repeatedly and hitting 15 winners to eight for the American. The former US Open champion then broke Lu twice in the third set to close out the match.

Roddick was beaten by Lu in five sets in the fourth round of Wimbledon last year, the last time the two players met. But the Taiwanese player made too many mistakes yesterday, committing 50 unforced errors, including seven double-faults. “He plays so high risk,” Roddick said. “Overall, I thought it was pretty good, save four games.”

The 29-year-old Roddick has struggled to regain his form this season, losing in the third round at Wimbledon and pulling out of the French Open with an injury. His ranking has slipped to No. 15.

Last week, he lost in the first round of the China Open in Beijing, falling in straight sets to Kevin Anderson of South Africa in a loss he later called “unacceptable.”

“It’s been tough. It’s been, I think, the toughest year I’ve had. I feel like I’ve been starting and stopping a lot,” Roddick said. “You know, I’m going to probably have to adjust how I go about things a little bit more. Running myself into a wall with work and everything else, I don’t know that I can do that without getting hurt. It’s happened numerous times this year. I might have to work smarter from now on.” Also, Bernard Tomic of Australia overcame 25 aces from Anderson to beat the South African 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3. Tomic won despite converting only one of 12 break points in the match.

“He’s so tough because his serve, he gets his corners and gets you out of the court,” said Tomic, who reached a career-high ranking of 49 this week.

“Playing a lot of these guys, they serve

one style. He serves every serve and serves well. You can’t really get on his serve.”

David Nalbandian of Argentina beat Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-5, 6-4, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria defeated Marsel Ilhan of Turkey 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, and Albert Montanes of Spain beat Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (5).

The Shanghai tournament, the only Masters event on the ATP tour ’s autumn Asian swing, has been hit by a number of withdrawals this year. Topranked Novak Djokovic pulled out to recover from a back injury and No. 3 Roger Federer is taking a six-week break to rest “nagging injuries.”

Robin Soderling, Juan Martin del Potro and Gael Monfils have also pulled out.

Andy Murray, winner of two tournaments in the past two weeks, and Rafael Nadal, however, are both playing this week. Murray won the title in Shanghai last year, beating Federer in the final. —AP

TOKYO: The British men will have to take the long route to the London Olympics. China finished a surprising third in qualifying at the world gymnastics championships yesterday night, the first time they’ve finished anywhere but first at a major competition since the 2004 Olympics.

Still, it was enough to dump Britain’s men down to 10th place - and out of the running for the eight spots at next summer’s London Olympics that are available here.

Japan finished first in qualifying with 364.291 points, followed by the United States (361.583) and China (359.126). Germany, last year’s bronze medalists, were fourth and Russia fifth.

“Of course we want to get the best score,” Chen Yibing, who has two gold medals from the Beijing Olympics and six from the world championships, said through a translator. “But it’s competition. It happens sometimes.”

At least the Chinese get a do-over here, with team finals Wednesday night. Britain will now have to wait until the January test event at the O2 Arena to try and qualify for the London Olympics, something they and everyone else - desperately wanted to avoid. Britain has not qualified to send a full men’s team to an Olympics since 1992.

“We don’t really fancy canceling Christmas to work through the holidays and compete in the test event,” Britain’s Louis Smith said. “But if that’s what we have to do, then we have to do it.” And the British have no one to blame but themselves.

After finishing a best-ever seventh at last year’s worlds, Britain melted down in spectacular fashion over its final three events. Daniel Keatings fell on both high bar and pommel horse, the event on which he won the European title in 2010, and Kristian Thomas made major errors. Britain had to count four scores of 13.633 or lower in the last three events.

Compare that to the Americans, who counted only one score below 14.3. “It wasn’t exactly like it was technical errors, it was just flukey errors,” Keatings said, clearly exasperated with himself. “I can’t really explain what happened. But I’m annoyed it did happen.”

Even after high bar, where Keatings and Ruslan Panteleymonov peeled off and Thomas had several stalls, an Olympic spot seemed safe. The British rebounded with one strong effort after another on floor, posting the third-highest team score, and wrapped up the meet on pommel horse, typically one of their best events.

But Thomas stalled as he went into his dismount and had to put his feet on the horse, drawing a gasp from the crowd. Thomas let out a moan as he walked off the podium - and probably gave another when he saw his score of 12.333.

Teams drop their lowest score, however, and Britain was anchoring the event with Keatings, the 2010 European champion on pommels, and Smith, the bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympics. But Keatings’ hands slipped as he worked between the pommels, sending him spinning onto his back and then tumbling to the mat.

That brought up Smith. With Britain’s Olympic hopes hanging in the balance, the pommel horse specialist needed to wring every possible tenth he could out of his routine, the toughest done in Tokyo so far, and he was almost flawless.

Most gymnasts grind their way through horse, simply praying to stay on the apparatus. But Smith is so fluid he’s almost hypnotic, and the elegance of his routine masks its difficulty. He displayed perfect control as he worked his way around the pommels, the slap of his hands on the horse the only sound in the silent arena.

When he pressed into his final handstand, his teammates exhaled, and he finished with a flourishing pirouette. He flashed a big smile as he saluted the judges and screamed, “Yes!” as he trotted off the podi-

um. Smith’s 15.6 gave the British 348.742 points - putting them in sixth place, just 0.017 points ahead of Spain. “That was very stressful,” Daniel Purvis said. “Well done for Louis. He was last up, we needed a big score and he came through. That was great.”

It would not be enough. France passed the British in the next qualifying session, Russia knocked them down to eighth place. And the

TOKYO: China’s Zou Kai performs on the parallel bar during the men’s qualifying of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships. —AP Chinese hadn’t even taken the floor yet.

China has produced regular golds since a dismal showing at the 2004 Olympics, winning the team title at the Beijing Olympics and all but one of the seven individual medals. It added a fourth straight title at last year’s worlds, along with golds on still rings, parallel bars and high bar. With four members of that team here in Tokyo (a fifth, Yan Mingyong, is the alternate), a similar gold rush was expected.

But the Chinese didn’t look all that imposing Monday night. They weren’t bad, and they had no major errors. Aside from a few routines here and there, however, they didn’t seem to have their usual swagger.

“I’m not so surprised,” Chen said. “The result was not so good.”

Scoring starts over in the team finals and the format changes, with three gymnasts competing on each event and all three scores counting. And Germany’s Philipp Boy said he fully expects to see a different China - the China of old.

“With the final, China is very, very strong,” said Boy, who watched Monday night’s competition in the stands with his teammates. “They have three persons on each apparatus who are very, very strong. I don’t think about (catching) Japan and China.” —AP

Molder captures first tour title SAN MARTIN: Br yce Molder won the Frys.com Open after the longest playoff this year on the PGA Tour. Molder made a 6-foot birdie putt on the sixth extra hole Sunday at CordeValle to outlast Briny Baird and capture his first tour victor y in his 132nd attempt.

“It’s a little surreal right now,” Molder said.

“That’s a lot of golf today.” Tiger Woods managed to make news when a fan ran toward the seventh green as he was putting and tossed a hot dog in his direction. The 31-year-old man was arrested and never came close to Woods. “I guess he wanted to be in the news,” Woods said. “And I’m sure he will be.”

It was the 17th playoff this year on the PGA Tour, setting a record dating to the modern era that began in 1970. Baird looked like a winner when he chipped in from short of the 17th green for eagle in regulation to take a one-shot lead. In the group ahead of him, Molder rolled in a 12foot birdie putt on the 18th to close with a 7-under 64, which got him into the playoff.

Baird, who now is 0-for-348 in his 12 years trying to win on tour, shot a 4-under 67. He twice had birdie putts on the 18th in the playoff to win, missing from 8 feet and 12 feet. Molder had three chances to win with eagle putts on the 284-yard 17th, missing from 20 feet, 15 feet and 12 feet, all from about the same line.

They finished at 17-under 267, and then looked as though they would never finish.

Bud Cauley, the 21-year-old who turned pro this summer, shot 66 and finished third to earn $340,000, which looks as if it will be enough for him to earn a card next year without having to go through the qualifying tournament.

It was the second straight week that a player won for the first time after a long drought. Kevin Na won in Las Vegas after 210 tries. Molder was regarded as a sure thing when he left Georgia Tech as a fourtime All-American, but nothing comes easily on the PGA Tour. And as he found out in

fading sunlight, noting comes easily in a playoff.

On the fourth extra hole, Molder drove into a hazard on the 18th. He hammered out a shot to the front of the green, and hit a beautiful lag from 80 feet to escape with

SAN MARTIN: Bryce Molder holds the trophy on the 18th hole after winning the Frys.com Open golf tournament in a playoff against Briny Baird. —AP par. “It wasn’t an easy shot. It certainly wasn’t heroic,” Molder said. “I knew if I could get a decent club on it, it would go somewhere where I was looking.”

Woods had three rounds in the 60s for the first time in more than a year on the PGA Tour, although he finished 10 shots behind in a tie for 30th. It a year lost mainly to left leg injuries, it was his ninth and final

tour start. Cauley left Alabama this year to turn pro, and it appeared to be a smart decision. He is projected to be the equivalent of 114th on the money list with two tournaments remaining. He at least gets into the McGladrey Classic next week.

Cauley would be only the seventh player since 1980 - and the first since Ryan Moore in 2005 - to earn a full PGA Tour card without ever going to Q-school. Cauley was among five players tied for the lead at some point in the final round. As usual at CordeValle, this tournament was always going to be decided over the final four holes, which offer to eagle possibilities with the par 5 at No. 15 and the tees moved forward on the 17th, making it play 284 yards over the water.

Shane Bertsch surged into the lead alone with an eagle at No. 15 to reach 15 under, only to miss a short putt on the next hole.

He failed to make another birdie and tied for fourth with a 64. Ernie Els also tied for fourth. He went bunker-to-bunker on the 15th and had to settle for par and closed with a 68.

Ultimately, the duel came down to Baird and Molder, two players looking for their first PGA Tour win on a course that tests the nerves because of so many possible swings in momentum. Molder birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine to take over the lead, and appeared to be playing safe by laying up on the 15th and making par.

His 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th spun 270 degrees around the cup.

In the group behind him, Baird reached the 15th green for a two-putt birdie to get within one stroke, then put himself in position for the win with a drive that narrowly cleared the water on the 17th and stayed on the bank. Trying to get up-and-down to tie for the lead, he chipped in for an eagle the second straight day he made eagle on that hole - for a one-shot lead. Up ahead, however, Molder recovered by rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole to catch him. —AP

Top tennis players to discuss grievances

SHANGHAI: Andy Roddick of the United States celebrates after winning a point during his match against Lu Yen-hsun of Taiwan at the Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 tennis tournament. —AP

SHANGHAI: The top men’s tennis players may still meet this week in Shanghai to discuss their grievances with the ATP tour despite the absence of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Andy Roddick said at the Shanghai Masters yesterday he hopes other players are still “passionate” about the problems and open to discussing ways to resolve them. Roddick has been among the most vocal proponents for a collective response to the top players’ complaints about the tour, notably the length of the season and the number of tournaments players must enter. The issues came to a head during the rain-soaked US Open. Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Roddick voiced concerns about the conditions of the courts and the condensed schedule that forced Nadal to play three matches in three days. “Obviously, you need the top players involved,” Roddick said, adding that Djokovic and Federer are just “a phone call away.” “I don’t think we’re storming offices, but I think the sentiment is still there,”

Roddick added. “I think it would be dumb of us to rush anything. If something like this does happen, we need to be smart about it and take our time and make sure that it’s well thought-out and not be kind of reactionary. But, you know, there is a discussion going on.”

Roddick has floated the idea of forming a players’ union similar to those in other major pro sports. And Murray said last month that a strike couldn’t be ruled out if something isn’t done to address the packed tournament calendar.

“You have to have a voice in order to get it accomplished,” Roddick said. “Whatever our individual interests are and what we want changed, nothing is going to happen unless we’re on the same page.”

Murray has been one of the busiest players on tour this autumn, winning two straight tournaments before coming to Shanghai. Nadal is also playing for the second straight week after reaching the final at the Japan Open. — AP

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Belgium in crunch Euro clash against Germany

MOSCOW: Russia’s players run during a training session at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. Russia will play their Euro 2012 qualifying soccer match against Andorra today. —AP

Russia one point from qualifying MOSCOW: A draw against visiting Andorra yesterday will be enough for Russia to qualify for next year’s European Championship.

Russia leads Group B with 20 points, followed

by Ireland with 18 and Armenia with 17.

Andorra hasn’t earned a point in nine matches, but the Russians still remember the loss in Slovenia two years ago when they also needed a draw in the second leg of the World Cup playoffs but fell 1-0 and were eliminated.

If Russia loses, Ireland could claim the automatic spot by beating Armenia in Dublin.

“We’ve made a very important step toward Euro 2012 but the task is yet to be fulfilled,” Russia coach Dick Advocaat said after his team’s 1-0 win in Slovakia on Friday.

Goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev backed his coach. “It’s not the end of the campaign yet,” he said. “We cannot underestimate Andorra, but I hope it’s in our hands to finish off in real style and take three points from the last game.” “No celebrations so far,” said Advocaat, who will be without a pair of suspended defenders - Alexander Anyukov and Konstantin Zyryanov. Yuri Zhirkov is also a doubt with a leg injury.

Ireland is without captain Robbie Keane after the Los Angeles Galaxy forward picked up an adductor muscle injury in Friday’s 2-0 win in Andorra.

In the absence of Ireland’s record scorer with 51 international goals, fit-again Stoke striker Jonathan Walters could come in as a replacement. Shane Long and Simon Cox could also be contenders up front alongside Kevin Doyle. Center back Richard Dunne is available again after serving a one-match ban but left back Stephen Ward is suspended.

Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni is not surprised to see Armenia challenging for a place at Euro 2012. “The Armenian players play in strong leagues, and some of our players play in the (second-tier League) Championship (in England). If you think about it, it is no sur-

prise,” the Italian coach said.

“We must play with 100 percent mentality and 100 percent attitude and 100 percent concentration, and be careful of silly mistakes. We are in this position because of one or two silly mistakes against Russia, for example. “Armenia is a very, very strong team. They have scored more goals than us and we must pay attention.” And Armenia is hoping to make history by advancing to the playoffs of a major event for the first time if they beat Ireland. “You may win a match or two by chance,” Armenia coach Vardan Minosyan said. “But we’ve won five so far. I cannot say 100 percent that we will win (on Tuesday), but we have potential for it. The quality of our game gives us a hope.” Armenia lost 1-0 to Ireland in the qualifying opener last September but has improved much since then. The team won its last three matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding only one.

“We have just one important game left ahead and we will do our best to win,” said Armenia striker Yura Movsisyan, who set up three goals in the 4-1 victory over Macedonia on Friday. “Our team takes the match very seriously - we have excellent players who are ready to push themselves to the limit,” said Ruben Airapetyan, president of the Armenian football federation. “If God also slightly helps us we’ll succeed.”

Armenia will be without injured defender Robert Arzumanyan, who strained a muscle in his right leg on Friday, but defender Hrayr Mkoyan will be back from suspension.

If the Irish finish second in the group, they will qualify for the playoffs - just like they did two years ago ahead of the 2010 World Cup. On that occasion, Ireland was controversially beaten over two legs by France following a hotly disputed late strike by William Gallas in the second leg in Paris, with Thierry Henry handling the ball in the buildup to the defender’s goal.—AP

DUESSELDORF: Belgium coach Georges Leekens said his players “will need guts” if they are to seal a place in the playoffs and ruin Germany’s perfect record in 2012 European Championship qualifying today.

Anything less than a win in Duesseldorf against a Germany side that has already qualified after winning all nine games in Group A, will give Turkey a chance to reach the playoffs as the runner-up.

Turkey is one point behind second-place Belgium and expected to easily beat Azerbaijan in Istanbul today. Belgium has not beaten Germany for 57 years, and its last win on German soil was a 3-0 win in Duisburg on May 16, 1910.

“We will need guts since we have nothing to lose,” Leekens said. Germany coach Joachim Loew made it clear his side will be out to win, and won’t be thinking about helping other teams.

“The target is winning 10 from 10 games, but not to give Turkey a present,” said Loew, who complimented his players on maintaining their concentration on winning all their qualifiers. Germany won 3-1 in Turkey on Friday, but Loew is looking for improvement against Belgium.

“I wasn’t fully happy with the Turkey game.

There were a few things that we must improve upon. We played very well, but we weren’t as convincing as we were in games before ... We were the better team, we displayed competence, intelligent play and confidence on the pitch, but we need to work on a few things to be better again,” Loew said.

“Belgium has the chance for a playoff in their own hands so they’ll be highly motivated.” Midfielder Mario Goetze has been excused but Mesut Oezil is training again after recovering from an Achilles problem that kept him out of the Turkey game.

“If Mesut comes through training this evening and is passed fit by the medical staff, he’ll play from the start,” Loew said yesterday.

Midfielders Ilkay Guendogan and Toni Kroos joined Germany’s squad on Saturday, but defender Jerome Boateng and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger are doubtful, while striker Miroslav Klose is ruled out.

“There’s still a question mark over Basti.

We’ll have to see how he gets on in training. I decided this morning that Klose won’t play.

He’s still experiencing pain in his knee,” said Loew, who added that Boateng is still affected by “a small muscular problem” picked up in the Turkey game.

Loew expects Belgium will be a tougher

opponent than Turkey. “They’re better going forward than Turkey so they’ll pose more questions of our defense. They’ll be looking to create chances up front. The team has a good mixture of youth and experience, with some very good technical players,” Loew said.

“Belgium are very good going forward, so we’ll have to be careful.”

Bayern Munich teammates Thomas Mueller and Mario Gomez both highlighted Germany’s will to complete qualification without dropping a point for the first time. “ We’ll do everything we can against Belgium to win the game,” said Gomez, with Mueller adding: “I want to play a good game so I can read more positive reviews in the newspapers.”

Eden Hazard, one of the stars of the French league, is doubtful for Belgium with a tender ankle after being stamped upon during his standout performance in the side’s 4-1 win over Kazakhstan on Friday.

“The chances that he makes it are about 60 percent,” Leekens said. “ We have to see whether that is good enough to put him in the starting lineup.”

PARIS: (From left) Djibril Cisse, Samir Nasri, Loic Remy and Gomis Bafetimbi are seen during a training session ahead of Euro 2012 Championship qualifier match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.—AP

Scotland has injury headaches

TBILISI: Angelos Charisteas (right) controls the ball as Fanis Gekas of Greece look on during a training session at the Mikheili Meskhi stadium.

Greece will face Georgia for a Euro 2012 Group F qualifying soccer match today. —AP

Greece plan to attack Georgia in qualifier ATHENS: Needing only a draw and missing several key players, Greece will be heading to Georgia looking for a victory in the team’s final European Championship qualifier yesterday. The 2004 European champions are favored to win Group F after beating Croatia 2-0 Friday. The Croats host Latvia. “We’re in great shape. We will play for the win because if to aim for a draw, you normally end up losing,” Greece midfielder Costas Katsouranis said. “That’s what happened to the Croatians.”

Greece, which is looking to qualify for its third straight European Championship, will be missing key defenders Avraam Papadopoulos and Vassilis Torosidis through bookings and injuries. Striker Georgios Samaras, who ended an 11-month goal drought and scored against the Croatians, is also suspended.

“We are not worried about missing players. We’ve shown that other players can come in and fill in any gaps,” Katsouranis said.

Greece coach Fernando Santos issued a late call up to Yiannis Skondras and Stelios Malezas to fill in at the back. And Angelos Charisteas, who scored the winning goal in Euro 2004 final, could see a return after a 16month absence, covering for Samaras up front. The 31-year-old Charisteas has been dropped since Santos took over from Otto

Rehhagel after Greece’s elimination from last year’s World Cup. But Charisteas has regained some consistency since leaving the Bundesliga and returning to Greece this season to join top-flight club Panetolikos.

Greece leads Group F with 21 points from nine matches, while Croatia follows with 19.

Israel, Latvia, Georgia and Malta are all out of contention.

Santos appeared cautious before the Greek squad departed for Tiblisi on Monday for its match the following day. “We have some difficulties,” Santos said Monday ahead of the team’s departure for Tbilisi. “We are well prepared and I’m certain the players know what they have to do to get the result we want. “It won’t be easy.”

Georgia coach Temuri Ketsbaia spent most of his career playing and coaching at clubs in Greece and Cyprus, apart from his playing spells at Newcastle and Dundee. The 43-yearold Ketsbaia, who speaks fluent Greek, said he was obliged to do the visitors no favors.

“This match has great significance for the Greeks. They need a victory in order to go directly to the final part of Euro 2012,” Ketsbaia. “But we intend to be victorious.”

Ketsbaia has a full squad, missing only injured 19-year-old Spartak Moscow midfielder Jano Ananidze.—AP

Leekens already has to do without Bayern Munich defender Daniel Van Buyten, who is suspended for the key match against an opponent he knows after picking up a yellow card against Kazakhstan.

“With Van Buyten we both had added length in defense and the possibility to score off set pieces,” Leekens said.

The Belgium coach will likely bring in St. Petersburg’s Nicolas Lombaerts at the heart of the defense alongside Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany. Hazard told UEFA’s website it would be “the biggest match of my career” if he plays.

“I believe in us. We could have won at home to Germany but one mistake killed us. If we hit our peak today, and avoid those little mistakes, then we certainly stand a chance,” he said.

Despite its array of players in some of the world’s best leagues, Belgium has yet to come back to the standing it enjoyed in international football two decades ago. A victory and a place in the playoffs would go a long way in boosting confidence. “It would be the biggest surprise of the year,” Leekens said.—AP

MADRID: Scotland coach Craig Levein must contend with a raft of injury problems ahead of his team’s 2012 European Championship qualifier at Spain today.

Kenny Miller is the major doubt for the Group I game in Alicante as he struggles with a groin injury that sidelined him for the 1-0 win against Liechtenstein.

“Where to start?” said Levein when asked about the injury situation yesterday. “The most doubtful will be Kenny. He hasn’t improved from Friday until today. I’m not definitely ruling him out but he would be the most doubtful.”

Craig Mackail-Smith, who scored the winner against Liechtenstein, has a back problem, captain Darren Fletcher has an ankle knock and winger Barry Bannan has a gash on his heel.

“I am more hopeful with (Mackail-Smith and Fletcher) than Kenny but as yet I can’t give any definitive answer,” Levein said. “Barry will do a little bit today. His problem is whether he can get his boot on so it doesn’t open up the injury again, it is in an awkward place. The doctor had to put some glue on it to hold it together.” Against Spain, Scotland must at least match Czech Republic’s result at Lithuania to make the playoffs.

“It’s going to be a difficult match and we will probably be defending for the majority of the match,” Levein said. “I have no doubt that the defenders will need to be our best players and our goalkeeper will need to be on top of his game but ultimately we need to make chances and score goals, or a goal.”

Spain has dominated the group with seven consecutive victories and is going for its 14th straight win in competitive fixtures.

The world and European champion’s last tournament defeat came in the first match of the 2010 World Cup - a 1-0 reverse against Switzerland. That was only a passing hiccup - Spain won its next six matches to lift the cup for the first time.

Del Bosque says he will rotate his squad against Scotland, with Valencia left back Jordi Alba expected to make his debut and goalkeeper Iker Casillas rested in favor of either Jose Reina or Victor Valdes.

“We are going to try to give everyone a chance,” said Del Bosque, who is focusing on refining his squad for the finals in Poland and Ukraine. Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol is definitely out after breaking his cheekbone in training Sunday.

Athletic Bilbao’s Javi Martinez is an option in defense, while Thiago, Pedro and Santi Cazorla could all start. Czech Republic trails Scotland by a point and will secure a playoff spot with a draw at Lithuania if Scotland loses to Spain.

“It’s clear that if Scotland wins (at Spain), they will advance. But I don’t think that’s going to happen,” said captain Tomas Rosicky. “And we will win in Lithuania. We have to win and that’s our goal.”

Bordeaux midfielder Jaroslav Plasil will be back in contention after returning from suspension, but Tomas Hubschman misses out after receiving a red card against Spain on Friday.—AP

EURO 2012 qualifiers table LONDON: A look at today’s final Euro 2012 qualifiers and who is likely to take the final qualifying and playoff spots: * Denotes already qualified for the finals Moldova San Marino

Group A Germany* Belgium Turkey Austria Azerbaijan Kazakhstan

P 9 9 9 9 9 9

W 9 4 4 3 2 1

D 0 3 2 2 1 0

L 0 2 3 4 6 8

F 31 20 12 16 10 6

A 6 12 11 17 25 24

Pts 27 15 14 11 7 3

With Germany through, second spot is between Belgium and Turkey and Turkey look to have the better chance of finishing second as they host Azerbaijan and Belgium travel to Dusseldorf to play Germany.

Group B Russia Ireland Armenia Slovakia Macedonia Andorra

9 9 9 9 9 9

6 5 5 4 2 0

2 3 2 2 1 0

1 1 2 3 6 9

11 13 21 6 7 1

4 6 8 9 13 19

20 18 17 14 7 0

Russia look set to win the group with winless Andorra travelling to Moscow while a point will secure second place for Ireland who play thirdplaced Armenia in Dublin. However, Armenia will finish second if they win.

Group C Italy* Estonia Serbia Slovenia N Ireland Faroe Islands

9 10 9 9 9 10

7 5 4 3 2 1

2 1 3 2 3 1

0 4 2 4 4 8

17 15 13 10 9 6

2 14 11 7 10 26

23 16 15 11 9 4

9 9

2 0

0 0

7 9

8 0

16 49

6 0

With the Netherlands already through, Sweden will qualify directly as the best runner-up if they beat the Dutch in Stockholm. Hungary could finish level on points with Sweden if they beat Finland and Sweden lose, but they cannot finish higher than third as Sweden have the better head-to-head record against Hungary.

Group F Greece Croatia Israel Latvia Georgia Malta

9 9 9 9 9 9

6 6 4 3 2 0

3 1 1 2 4 1

0 2 4 4 3 8

12 16 11 9 6 4

4 7 11 10 7 19

21 19 13 11 10 1

Greece need just a point from their visit to Georgia to win the group as they have a better head-to-head record against Croatia, but if they lose and Croatia beat Latvia at home, Croatia will steal top spot. Either way neither can finish lower than second and at worse, will be in the playoffs.

Group G England* Montenegro Switzerland Wales Bulgaria

8 7 7 7 7

5 3 2 2 1

3 3 2 0 2

0 1 3 5 4

17 7 10 5 3

5 5 10 10 12

18 12 8 6 5

With England qualified as winners and Montenegro assured of a playoff spot, there is only pride at stake when Wales travel to Bulgaria and Switzerland play Montenegro in Basel.

Estonia, who have completed their fixtures, could reach the playoffs for the first time, but if Serbia win in Slovenia, they will go into the playoffs instead. Italy, already through, should sign off with a win over Northern Ireland in Pescara.

Group H Portugal Denmark Norway Iceland Cyprus

Group D France Bosnia Romania Belarus Albania Luxembourg

All eyes will be on Copenhagen where either Denmark or Portugal will win the group. The loser’s consolation could be winning the spot for best runner-up and also qualifying directly for the finals.

9 9 9 10 9 10

6 6 3 3 2 1

2 1 4 4 2 1

1 2 2 3 5 8

14 16 12 8 6 3

3 7 8 7 13 21

20 19 13 13 8 4

France face Bosnia in the group decider in Paris and a win or draw will see the Euro 2000 champions safely through. France were too strong for Bosnia when they beat them 2-0 at home last year and another French win is probable.

Both are assured of a playoff place at least.

Group E Netherlands* Sweden Hungary Finland

9 9 9 9

9 7 6 3

0 0 0 0

0 2 3 6

35 28 22 16

5 9 14 16

27 21 18 9

Group I Spain* Scotland C Republic Lithuania Liechtenstein

7 7 7 8 7

7 7 7 7 8

5 5 4 1 0

7 3 3 1 1

1 1 1 1 2

0 2 1 2 1

1 1 2 6 5

0 2 3 4 6

20 13 7 6 6

23 8 8 3 3

10 5 6 14 17

5 7 7 9 17

16 16 13 4 2

21 11 10 5 4

Reigning champions Spain will be seeking to end their qualifying campaign with a perfect record with a win over Scotland, but if the Scots can stage an upset in Alicante or at least match what the Czechs achieve against Lithuania, Scotland can make the playoffs.—Reuters

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

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Rijkaard has tough Thai test to retain Cup hopes

SAO PAULO: Challenged by Atletico Goianiense’s Marino (right) Corinthians’ Adriano (left) controls the ball during a Brazilian soccer league match. —AP

Corinthians regain Brazil lead SAO PAULO: Corinthians routed Atletico Goianiense 3-0 to retake the Brazilian league lead on Sunday in a match that marked the long-awaited debut of former Brazil striker Adriano.

Corinthians came into the weekend trailing Vasco da Gama by two points, but the Rio de Janeiro rival relinquished first place after a 3-0 loss at Internacional.

Argentine playmaker Andres D’Alessandro scored a goal and set up another for Inter. penner In a thriller at Rio, Flamengo rallied to defeat rival Fluminense 3-2 behind two late goals by Argentine playmaker Dario Bottinelli, came off the bench to score with long-range shots four minutes apart just before the final whistle.

Adriano played his first match since rupturing his left Achilles’ tendon just days after being acquired by Corinthians in March. Still out of shape, he entered the match in the 79th minute to a huge ovation from the crowd.

“It was gratifying to hear the crowd,” Adriano told local reporters. “With time I’ll be able to gain my space and help Corinthians. I’m not in my best physical condition yet.”

The victory gave Corinthians 51 points, one more than Vasco and four more than Sao Paulo and Flamengo.

Corinthians played the late match knowing a victory would jolt it to the lead again for the first time in five rounds. It had led the competition for 17 straight weeks before being surpassed by Vasco.

Defender Leandro Castan opened the scoring Sunday with a header in the ninth minute at the packed Pacaembu stadium in Sao Paulo. Striker Willian made it 2-0 with a shot from the top of the area in the 37th and playmaker Alex added the third with an angled shot from inside the penalty box in the 42nd.

The result snapped Atletico

Goianiense’s six-match unbeaten streak and left the club in 12th place in the 20team standings.

Corinthians is seeking its fifth Brazilian league title, the first since it won the championship led by Argentine striker Carlos Tevez.

Vasco allowed three second-half goals in its loss to Internacional at the Beira-Rio stadium in Porto Alegre.

D’Alessandro put Inter ahead with a shot from just inside the area in the 49th, then made a cross that led to the second goal, scored by defender Indio in the 76th. Midfielder Tinga closed the scoring from close-range in the 89th to move Internacional to seventh in the standings. Flamengo twice trailed Fluminense at the Engenhao stadium in Rio, but Bottinelli came through with two powerful long-range shots late in the match.

He scored on a free kick in the 86th, when the ball hit the crossbar and bounced off goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri before crossing the line. Then he netted the winner in the 89th with a right-footed shot that found the far corner.

Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini had scored Fluminense’s second goal.

Also Sunday, striker Borges scored his league-leading 20th goal to give Santos a 1-0 win over Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Palmeiras at the Vila Belmiro stadium in Santos. Santos got the win despite playing without striker Neymar, who is with Brazil’s national team, and injured midfielders Elano and Paulo Henrique Ganso.

On Saturday, Botafogo missed a chance to move closer to the leaders by drawing 2-2 with Bahia at home, despite playing with an extra man since the first half at the Sao Januario stadium in Rio. Botafogo had a chance to win five minutes into second-half injury time, but a header by former Brazil midfielder Renato struck the post. — AP

SEOUL: Thailand can put a huge dent in the World Cup ambitions of Saudi Arabia and coach Frank Rijkaard when they meet in the group stage of Asian qualifying today.

The top-two teams from each of the five, four-team groups progress to the final round qualifying, and after earning just one point from its opening two Group D matches, Saudi Arabia can’t afford to lose in Bangkok to an improving Thailand team.

Rijkaard, former coach of Barcelona and the Netherlands, was appointed by Saudi Arabia in July and charged with leading the Asian powerhouse to a fifth World Cup. An opening goalless draw in Oman was followed by a 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Australia last month. Thailand lies second in the group after a narrow loss at Australia and a 3-0 home win over Oman.

“It won’t be easy, but we can win this match,” Thailand coach Winfried Schaefer told Associated Press. “We can go to the next round. I told my players this. Our dream is the World Cup, it is not easy but that is our target.

“I hope we can play at the same level as we played against Oman and Australia. Then we have a chance.” Since taking over in July, Schaefer, who led Cameroon to the 2002 African Nations title, has been praised for the team’s improvements “I told them that if they play well for the national team, everyone in the world will be able to see them,” the German said. “The players are confident and we have worked hard on fitness and tactics. W are not afraid.” Schaefer, who spent five years coaching in the UAE, knows that the pressure is already on his opposite number Rijkaard.

“He is a big-name in playing and coaching, but the mentality in Arabian countries is different,” he said. “The team is under pressure after losing to Australia in what was a very good performance from Australia.”

The Socceroos control the group and, along with Jordan, is the only team to have maximum points from the opening two games. A win against Oman in Sydney would give coach Holger Osieck, whose team thrashed Malaysia 5-0 in a Friday friendly, one foot in the final round.

A third straight loss would also virtually end the chances of Oman and its French coach Paul Le Guen, another big-name boss under pressure. We should all know that Australians are a big power,” said Le Guen, a former Lyon, Paris St Germain and Cameroon coach. “See

how they dominated against the Malaysians. I have asked the players to have a never-saydie-spirit and fight till the end in this crucial match.”

Australia, without English Premier League stars Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer, is expecting a tougher test against Oman than Malaysia.

“They’ll obviously come and try to park the bus a little bit, but they’ll be quick on the counter and have some athletic players on the wings and up front. We’ll have to be focused and ready,” captain Lucas Neill said. “It’s impor tant we do that because, not only is it a good

replaced by Abdulla Masfar. The team is also still coming to terms with the death last month of young winger Theyab Awana in a car accident. In the other Group B game, thirdplaced Lebanon host second-placed Kuwait.

Arsenal striker Park Chu-young may be struggling for playing time in the Premier League, but has scored six goals in his last three games for Korea, two coming in Friday’s 2-2 draw with Poland in Seoul.

“I am training hard and just trying to take the opportunities when they come my way,” Park said. “We need to stay focused against UAE and make sure that we get the right

SEOUL: Hyun Young-min of South Korea’s FC Seoul (left) fights for the ball against Wendel Geraldo Mauricio E Silva of Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad during their AFC Champions League match in this file photo. —AP habit, but we need the win and it will give us one foot into the next round.”

Former Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz is enjoying better results with Iran, with four points from the opening two matches to lead Group E from Bahrain on goal difference.

“The two rivals meet in Tehran. Bahrain is a dangerous team with good players,” Queiroz said. “However, we know the way the Bahrainis play and want to beat them.” Indonesia has been in disarray and needs to defeat thirdplaced Qatar at home in Jakarta.

The UAE is another team yet to earn a point and faces a tough trip to Group B leaders South Korea. After the second defeat at Lebanon, coach Srecko Katanec was fired and

result.” Asian champion Japan will expect to take three points in Group C when bottomplaced Tajikistan arrives in Osaka. Most eyes will be on the clash between the two teams expected to tussle for second place as North Korea, with three points, hosts Uzbekistan with four. There is also a crunch match in Group A. Jordan has six points and with successive games against bottom team Singapore could build an unassailable lead at the top. If so, the match between China and Iraq, both teams have three points, in Shenzhen will be crucial. Iraq’s hopes of reaching the next stage have been hit by FIFA’s recent ruling that all home games must be played on neutral territory due to security concerns. —AP

Elite coaches’ reputation on the line PARIS: Enticed to the Middle East by bumper contracts and the intrigue of new frontiers, Zico and Frank Rijkaard head a list of elite coaches whose reputations are on the line in Asia’s 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Iraq coach Zico and his Saudi Arabia counterpar t Rijkaard reflect the changing sporting landscape of a region thrust into the global spotlight by Qatar’s sensational victory in the race to

host the 2022 World Cup. The prospect of a first ever World Cup in the region has fired local imaginations, and highprofile coaches with European experience have been among the most notable beneficiaries.

Zico and Rijkaard are both tied to lucrative salaries, while former Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz’s contract at the helm of the Iran national team is worth around $2 million a year.

Neither Zico, Rijkaard nor Queiroz has ever coached in the region before and all inherited teams bruised by disappointment at the Asian Cup, where Iran and Iraq fell in the last eight and the Saudis limped out in the group phase.

The opening two matchdays in round three of the labyrinthine Asian qualifying tournament served to confirm the region’s competitiveness,

with Australia and Jordan the only sides from the five fourteam groups to win both games.

Furthermore, for coaches new to the region, working in the Middle East presents a unique array of challenges. Iraq, for instance, must play all their future home matches in Qatar, after FIFA decreed that facilities in the recently war-torn nation were unfit for international football. — AFP

Argentina set for Venezuela test

MOROCCO: Mbark Boussoufa of Morocco (left) vies for the ball with Danny David Mrwanda (center) and Juma Said Nyoso (right) of Tanzania, during their qualifying soccer match for the African Nations Cup. —AP

Morocco, Sudan take final places African Nations Cup JOHANNESBURG: Morocco and Sudan were confirmed on Sunday as the last two qualifiers for next year’s African Nations Cup finals as the 16-team field for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon was completed.

Morocco made sure of top place in Group D with a 3-1 win over Tanzania in Marrakesh while Sudan qualified without kicking a ball. They had been beaten 2-0 at home by Ghana on Saturday but had to wait until the completion of Sunday’s matches before being confirmed as one of the two best runners-up who qualify along with the 12 group winners.

Libya picked up the other runners-up berth on a dramatic Saturday when all but two places were finalised. Morocco took a 21st-minute lead through Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh before Adel Taarabt, who had been restored to the side after walking out on the team in mid-year, and Mbark Boussoufa scored in the second half to take the north Africans to 11 points.

They finished three points ahead of 2010 World Cup finalists Algeria and the Central African Republic. Algeria beat the

Central African Republic 2-0 in Algiers with first-half goals from Hassan Yebda and Foued Kadir but are among several heavyweights who miss out on next year’s finals.Manchester City’s Toure brothers, Kolo and Yaya, scored the goals as the Ivory Coast finished with the only 100 percent record in the Nations Cup qualifiers. Yaya Toure’s stoppage-time goal gave the Ivorians a modest 2-1 win over Burundi in Abidjan on Sunday to ensure six wins out of six in their group.

The Ivorians had already made sure of their qualification berth by the halfway mark of the campaign.

Kolo Toure opened the scoring in the 77th minute but Burundi equalised through Dugary Ndabashinze with five minutes left only to have a credible result snatched from them on the stroke of full time. In the same group, Rwanda won their first game of the campaign with a surprise 1-0 away triumph in Benin.

Meddy Kagere scored after just seven minutes. In Sunday’s other match, qualified Senegal beat Mauritius 2-0 away with goals from Dame Ndoye and Papiss Demba Cisse. — Reuters

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina are gradually emerging from their Copa America nightmare and are gunning for Venezuela today as they seek three World Cup qualifying points to add to Friday’s impressive start against Chile.

After the albiceleste sent the Chileans packing 4-1, with Gonzalo Higuain netting a hat-trick and Lionel Messi also hitting the target, new coach Alex Sabella said it was as if a dead weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

Barcelona’s Messi produced one of his best displays in the national shirt and after he capped the performance with a goal, Sabella, who succeeded Sergio Batista two months ago, said it was time to put to bed claims the superstar cannot replicate his scintillating club form at international level.

“This goal will be important for Lionel to lay to rest this apparent collective psychosis that he can’t do the business with Argentina,” Sabella insisted.

Sabella, who led Estudiantes to the Copa Libertadores two years ago, is tasked with leading Argentina through to the 2014 finals in neighbouring Brazil, but, beyond that, with making the two-time world champions a team to be feared once more.

Since a 1993 Copa success, seven coaches have come and gone without achieving senior level silverware. The qualifying programme is the first step for Sabella and his charges to show

that they have the right blend.

The task is made easier in principle by the absence from the qualifiers of already-qualified Brazil, meaning the Argentinians can go about their business fully focused on winning the group in the absence of the five-times world champions. Venezuela will be a test on their own turf, having played some attractive football in reaching the Copa semis for the first time.

Four years ago, Argentina won the World Cup fixture 2-0 though they only just managed to qualify after some erratic showings with Diego Maradona taking the helm mid-campaign.

This time they have the bit between their teeth after thumping Chile although there will be no underestimating the Venezuelans even though the albiceleste will be reinforced by the return from injury of Martin Demichelis and from suspension of Javier Mascherano.

Venezuela went down to Ecuador in their opener and coach Cesar Farias, eulogised by President Hugo Chavez for his Copa exploits, admitted that “they deserved to beat us.”

Now the Venezuelans have to dig deep at Puerto La Cruz as they bid to lose their unwanted tag of being the only South American side never to reach the finals.

“The qualifiers are not just about one game, and we have to bounce back from the loss and get points on the board,” said Farias.

Copa America winners Uruguay, having

BOGOTA: Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos (left) greets star striker Radamel Falcao during a training session. Colombia will face Bolivia in a 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer game in La Paz today. —AP

begun with a promising 4-2 home win over outsiders Bolivia, now meet Paraguay, the team they beat to land the continental crown in July.

Veteran Diego Forlan is warning that the test in Asuncion will be one of the most difficult of the tournament. “We know today will be tough.

They’ll be playing at home and we know they have good players so it will be a hard one for us,” said Inter Milan’s Forlan, who needs one goal to become his country’s all-time top scorer.

“They always give us a tough workout and as this one is in Assuncion it will be no exception.”

Paraguay got their campaign off to a rocky start in losing their opener away to Peru who, after a shocking 2010 qualifying programme, came third at the Copa America.

Peru will hope to keep their recent promising form going as they head for Chile while Colombia make their bow with a trek to face Bolivia at altitude in La Paz’s Estadio Hernando Siles, where four years ago they managed a goalless draw. There are four automatic regional qualifying slots up for grabs plus one via the playoffs. —AFP

Matches on TV (Local Timings)

WC2014 Qualifying - Asia North Korea v Uzbekistan Al Jazeera Sport 1

10:00

Australia v Oman Al Jazeera Sport +2

11:30

Thailand v Saudi Arabia Al Jazeera Sport Global

14:00

Singapore v Jordan Al Jazeera Sport +2

14:30

Indonesia v Qatar Al Jazeera Sport 1

15:00

China v Iraq Al Jazeera Sport +6

15:15

Lebanon v Kuwait Al Jazeera Sport Global

17:00

Iran v Bahrain Al Jazeera Sport 1

19:00

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Britain will have to go to 2nd Olympic qualifier Page 17

EAST RUTHERFORD: Seattle Seahawks defensive end Chris Clemons (91) forces a fumble by New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) during the first quarter of an NFL football game. —AP

Raiders whip Texans, Patriots win NEW YORK: The Oakland Raiders just won, baby. A day after owner Al Davis died, the Raiders pulled off a fake punt he would’ve loved and found a way to gut out a 25-20 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Michael Huff intercepted Matt Schaub’s pass in the end zone on the final play to secure the win.

Coach Hue Jackson dropped to his knees on the sideline, covered his face with his hands and cried as his team celebrated the bittersweet victory.

Sebastian Janikowski kicked four field goals, three from at least 50 yards. He was one of those unorthodox moves Oakland was known for under Davis, becoming only the third kicker drafted in the first round when the Raiders took him in 2000.

“He was looking over us,” Janikowski said. “I was feeling good and hitting everything in warmups.”

Stadiums around the league obser ved a moment of silence before the early games to honor Davis, who died at his Oakland home on Saturday at age 82. The Raiders (3-2) wore black decals on the backs of their helmets with “AL” written in silver letters. Schaub threw for 416 yards and two touchdowns but missed star receiver Andre Johnson, who sat out with a right hamstring injury. The Texans (3-2) still had a chance to win with under a minute left, facing a thirdand-23 from the Oakland 39.

Patriots 30, Jets 21 At Foxborough, Mass., BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns for New England. Tom Brady had another strong game, completing 24 of 33 passes for 321 yards and one touchdown as the Patriots scored at least 30 points for the 13th straight regular-season game.

Meanwhile, New York’s Mark Sanchez had another tough one, passing for just 166 yards against the team that entered with the NFL’s lowest-ranked defense. One week earlier, he threw for 119 yards in a 34-17 loss at Baltimore. In the last meeting between the Jets and Patriots, Sanchez outplayed Brady in New York’s 28-21 playoff win on Jan. 16, adding to the fierce rivalry between the AFC East teams.

Bills 31, Eagles 24 At Orchard Park, N.Y., Fred

Jackson had 196 yards from scrimmage and linebacker Nick Barnett had two of Buffalo’s four interceptions. After scoring on a 31-yard interception return in the second quarter, Barnett sealed it by grabbing Michael Vick’s tipped pass intended for Jason Avant with 1:49 left at the Bills 26.

Jackson scored on a 5-yard run and finished with 111 yards rushing in helping the Bills (4-1) match their best start since 2008. The Eagles (14) have lost four straight and are off to their worst start since 1999, coach Andy Reid’s first season. Vick went 26 of 40 for 315 yards and two touchdowns, but was undone by a career-worst four interceptions. He added 90 yards rushing to pass Randall Cunningham for most career yards by an NFL quarterback.

Packers 25, Falcons 14 At Atlanta, Aaron Rodgers threw for 396 yards and a pair of touchdowns, leading unbeaten Green Bay back from a sluggish start. The highscoring Packers (5-0) trailed 14-0 early in the second quarter and were held without a touchdown in the first half by Atlanta (2-3), which was trying to make up for an embarrassing 48-21 loss to Green Bay in the playoffs last season.

But after settling for three field goals by Mason Crosby, Rodgers finally got rolling. He connected with James Jones on a 70-yard touchdown that gave Green Bay its first lead late in the third. Then, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Rodgers connected with Greg Jennings on a 29-yard scoring play that stretched the lead to 22-14.

Saints 30, Panthers 27 At Charlotte, NC, Drew Brees found Pierre Thomas wide open on the right side for a 6-yard touchdown with 50 seconds left to lift New Orleans (4-1). Brees threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns, including a nearly flawless final drive in which he completed 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards to take back momentum after Cam Newton and the Panthers (1-4) had taken their first lead early in the fourth quarter.

The Saints’ defense finally sealed the win, letting the Panthers reach only midfield before Newton’s desperation heave downfield fell incomplete for the game’s final play.

Newton threw for 224 yards and

two touchdowns, including the goahead 5-yard scoring pass to Greg Olsen for a 27-23 lead with 12:32 to play. He also scored on a sneak late in the third.

Chargers 29, Broncos 24 At Denver, Philip Rivers overcame an interception and a fourth-quarter fumble to lead San Diego despite Tim Tebow’s best efforts to rally Denver from a 16-point deficit.

Tebow threw for one touchdown and ran for another after replacing Kyle Orton to start the third quarter, and had one final shot for the win before his pass fell incomplete in the end zone on the final play.

Nick Novak kicked five field goals and Ryan Mathews ran for a careerbest 125 yards for San Diego, which takes a 4-1 record into its bye week.

Denver (1-4) is full of questions heading into its break, chief among them: Is this Tebow’s team or was this just a temporary fix? Orton was 6 of 13 for 34 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.

49ers 48, Buccaneers 3 At San Francisco, Alex Smith threw two of his three touchdown passes to Vernon Davis and Frank Gore ran for a score in his second straight 100-yard rushing game for San Francisco (4-1).

Carlos Rogers returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown and tight ends Davis and Delanie Walker each caught TD passes of 20plus yards in the Niners’ third straight win since blowing a late lead in a Sept. 18 overtime loss to the Cowboys.

Josh Freeman never found the flow that made him so effective in the rout here last November and the Bucs (3-2) were a step behind in a short week after beating the Colts on Monday night.

Seahawks 36, Giants 25 At East Rutherford, NJ, backup Charlie Whitehurst threw a goahead 27-yard touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin, and Brandon Browner returned an interception 94 yards to clinch it for Seattle.

Whitehurst, who replaced the injured Tarvaris Jackson in the third, led the Seahawks (2-3) on an 80yard TD drive, capped by his pass to a wide-open Baldwin with 2:37 left on a play that the Giants (3-2) seemed to stop after defensive end Osi Umenyiora jumped offside.

The Giants, who had staged fourth-quarter rallies to win their last two games, mounted another late drive and had first-and-goal at the Seahawks 5 after consecutive completions of 41 and 19 yards to

Victor Cruz. A procedure penalty on first down pushed the ball back to the 10, then Eli Manning’s pass tipped off Cruz’s hands, bounced off Kam Chancelor and was picked off at the 6 by Browner.

Chiefs 28, Colts 24 At Indianapolis, Matt Cassel threw for 257 yards and four touchdowns, and Kansas City scored the final 21 points against winless Indianapolis. Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston each caught two TD passes to give the Chiefs (2-3) their first win at Indianapolis. The 17point comeback matched the biggest in team history.

With the injured Peyton Manning watching from the sideline, Curtis Painter had a brilliant first half. He was 12 of 17 for 237 yards with two TDs and a quarterback rating of 152.2 as the Colts (0-5) built a 24-7 lead. But Cassel found Breaston for a 16-yard TD pass just before halftime and Bowe on a 5-yard score with 40 seconds left in the third quarter to get the Chiefs within 24-21. Then, with 5:15 left in the game, Breaston caught the 11-yard go-ahead score.

Steelers 38, Titans 17 At Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger tied a team record with five touchdown passes -

NFL results/standings Buffalo 31, Philadelphia 24; Kansas City 28, Indianapolis 24; Minnesota 34, Arizona 10; Seattle 36, NY Giants 25; Pittsburgh 38, Tennessee 17; New Orleans 30, Carolina 27; Cincinnati 30, Jacksonville 20; Oakland 25, Houston 20; San Francisco 48, Tampa Bay 3; New England 30, NY Jets 21; San Diego 29, Denver 24; Green Bay 25, Atlanta 14.

American Football Conference AFC East W L T OTL PF Buffalo 4 1 0 0 164 New England 4 1 0 0 165 NY Jets 2 3 0 0 121 Miami 0 4 0 0 69 AFC North Baltimore 3 1 0 0 119 Pittsburgh 3 2 0 0 102 Cincinnati 3 2 0 0 110 Cleveland 2 2 0 0 74 AFC South Tennessee 3 2 0 0 105 Houston 3 2 0 0 127 Jacksonville 1 4 0 0 59 Indianapolis 0 5 0 0 87 AFC West San Diego 4 1 0 0 120 Oakland 3 2 0 0 136 Kansas City 2 3 0 0 77 Denver 1 4 0 0 105

PA 120 119 125 104

PCT .800 .800 .400 .000

57 89 94 93

.750 .600 .600 .500

94 95 115 136

.600 .600 .200 .000

New Orleans Tampa Bay Atlanta Carolina

109 133 150 140

.800 .600 .400 .200

San Francisco Seattle Arizona St. Louis

Washington NY Giants Dallas Philadelphia Green Bay Detroit Chicago Minnesota

National Football Conference NFC East 3 1 0 0 83 3 2 0 0 127 2 2 0 0 99 1 4 0 0 125 NFC North 5 0 0 0 173 4 0 0 0 135 2 2 0 0 94 1 4 0 1 111 NFC South 4 1 0 0 157 3 2 0 0 87 2 3 0 0 104 1 4 0 0 116 NFC West 4 1 0 1 142 2 3 0 0 94 1 4 0 0 96 0 4 0 0 46

63 123 101 132

.750 .600 .500 .200

111 1.000 76 1.000 98 .500 106 .200 125 125 130 132

.800 .600 .400 .200

78 122 121 113

.800 .400 .200 .000

including two to Hines Ward. Other than a slight limp when he ran, Roethlisberger appeared to have no issues with his sprained left foot, also hitting Mike Wallace, Heath Miller and David Johnson for scores as the Steelers (3-2) ended Tennessee’s three-game winning streak.

The five TD passes tied a singlegame team record Roethlisberger already shares with Mark Malone and Terry Bradshaw. Tennessee’s Chris Johnson ran for a score but finished with 51 rushing yards on 14 carries. The Titans are 3-2.

Vikings 34, Cardinals 10 At Minneapolis, Adrian Peterson powered in for three first-quarter TDs to build a lead large enough even Minnesota (1-4) couldn’t lose it. Peterson rushed 29 times for 122 yards and Donovan McNabb jogged in for a score, too, as the Vikings (1-4) made it 28-0 less than 121/2 minutes into the game.

Kevin Kolb had three turnovers for the Cardinals (1-4) and finished 21 for 42 for 232 yards and one touchdown pass, a performance so shaky the Vikings were able to confidently run down the clock after stumbling through the second and third quarters. This wasn’t a productive afternoon for either former Philadelphia quarterback, from McNabb’s bounced passes to Kolb’s errant throws.

Bengals 30, Jaguars 20 At Jacksonville, Fla., Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes and Bernard Scott scored with 1:56 remaining for Cincinnati (3-2). The Bengals took advantage of Matt Turk’s 22-yard punt into the wind to set up the winning score, a touchdown needed because Mike Nugent missed an extra point in the first half.

Dalton hooked up with Jermaine Gresham on a fourth-and-6 play to keep the short drive alive, then found Andre Caldwell for an 8-yard gain. With the Jaguars (1-4) expecting a pass on third down, Dalton handed to Scott, who weaved his way into the end zone to make it 23-20. Jacksonville had a chance to tie, but Blaine Gabbert fumbled a bad snap and the Bengals ended up with the ball. Cincinnati also scored on a fumble return on the final play. —AP

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Egypt slumps to 19-month low

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EU, IMF, ECB mission chiefs meet Greek Finance Minister Page 25

Abu Dhabi sees economy growing up to 5% in 2012 Page 24

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LONDON: British musicians Miss Dynamite (5th L) and Charlie Simpson (6th L) join unemployed young people as they stand in line outside a job centre in central London during a photocall for the Battlefront Campaign, raising awareness of the large number of young people who are currently unemployed in the UK yesterday. —AFP

Europe postpones key debt summit British PM urges a ‘bazooka’ approach BRUSSELS: Europe’s leaders postponed yesterday a key summit on the debt crisis, buying more time as they decide what to do about Greece now that their banks also need a financial leg-up. Greece completed an audit which will be key to determining whether it gets further bailout funding, but its finance minister said Athens now expects a deeper writedown of its debt in a second rescue that Slovakia threatens to block today.

As the debt crisis claimed its first bank, with France and Belgium bailing out Dexia, European Union president Herman Van Rompuy announced that a two-day meeting of leaders scheduled for October 17-18 has been put back to Sunday, October 23.

In between times, there will be an extra gathering of finance ministers from the 27 EU states, and more talks among the 17 from the eurozone. The finance ministers were not due to meet again until November 7-8. Van Rompuy’s goal, following talks Sunday between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on recapitalising banks, is to come up with a “comprehensive” solution to the nearly twoyear-old emergency.

In other words, to try and address everything from a stalled second Greek bailout, with a bigger debt write-off by private creditors, to the terms for a possible long-term rewrite of EU treaties to bind eurozone states to a common fiscal policy. “Further elements are needed to address the situation in Greece, the bank recapitalisation and the enhanced efficiency of stabilisation tools,” Van Rompuy said in announcing the delay. It comes amid growing pressure from the United States and other nations who are worried about instability spreading from Europe. The magnitude of the threat was highlighted in the decision by France, Belgium and Luxembourg yesterday to rescue Dexia, whose balance sheet of half a trillion euros is bigger than the entire Greek banking system.

Only three months after the lender passed European stress tests, guarantees put up by the three states amounted to 90 billion euros.

The EU wants to be able to say it has done its bit when the Group of 20 (G20) industrial and emerging powers stages its summit in France on November 3-4. British Prime Minister David Cameron warned that “time was short”

and urged eurozone leaders to adopt a “bazooka” approach, in an interview with the Financial Times yesterday. In a letter to G20 partners released later in the day, Van Rompuy said the EU would also demand from the world’s top economies “a constructive contribution to face the global economic challenges.” Without announcing concrete details on the European bank recapitalisation plan, Sarkozy promised in Berlin on Sunday a “lasting, global and quick responses before the end of the month.” But the EU is still waiting to debate recommendations by international auditors re-assessing the sustainability of some 370 billion euros of state debts in Greece.

This at a time when squeezing out more austerity is triggering daily protests on the streets of the Greek capital. After a first, euro110-billion-bailout in May 2010, which the auditors have placed on hold, a second, similar deal was agreed in July-with banks also expected to write off debts to the tune of another 50 billion.

Yesterday, Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the talks with the auditors were concluded, and that Athens expects the private creditors, who initially accepted a 21-percent loss, to write off more of their holdings of Greek government bonds.

Experts have predicted that at least half of the debt would have to be written off in order for Greece’s finances to become stable. In exchange for defaulting on some of its loans, Greece wants watertight assurances it will not be kicked out of the eurozone.

The EU is also waiting for the Londonbased European Banking Authority to put figures on the banks’ recapitalisation-which the IMF and others say will run to at least 100 billion euros. Meanwhile, Slovakia is threatening to torpedo approval of a revamp for the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), which was agreed at the July summit to give the fund the firepower it needs to cope with the second Greece bailout and shoring up banks.

The four-party coalition in Bratislava was holding urgent talks in a last-ditch effort to secure a parliamentary vote on expanding the EFSF. Malta, the only other holdout in approving the EFSF, was due to vote later yesterday. — AFP

Dana Gas eyes entry to Syria, Algeria, Libya DUBAI: UAE energy firm Dana Gas is still negotiating terms to enter into the Syrian and Algerian markets while it is also looking at opportunities in Libya, its chief executive officer told a local newspaper yesterday.

“Dana Gas has done joint studies with Algeria’s Sonatrach to (figure out how to) offer more value to the local market,” Dana Gas CEO Ahmed al-Arbeed was quoted as saying by daily Al-Ittihad newspaper.

He said their efforts to enter the Algerian market started a year and a half ago. On possible entry into Syria, the talks are at an advanced stage, he said, with Dana Gas bidding against seven other

competitors, but he added that it was up to the Syrian government to make further announcements. “We tried to enter the Syrian market twice (before)”, Arbeed said, adding that Syria is an important country for Dana due to its strategic location next to Iraq. He did not comment on the impact on Dana’s plans of six months of anti-government demonstrations in Syria demanding the end of the presidential family’s 40year rule.

Efforts to enter these three new markets are part of the company’s strategy to capture business in neighboring markets and increase its gas production to 500 million cubic feet in the next three years. —Reuters

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business

Oman sees balanced budget, plans development bonds Economic growth projected to be 5% in 2012 MUSCAT: Oman, which briefly saw protests earlier this year, is expected to balance its budget and keep economic growth on track, while benefiting from a $10 billion aid package, Omani Finance Minister Darwish al-Balushi said yesterday.

“Oil prices have been supporting us.

Although we anticipated at the beginning of the year a deficit, we think we will be able to break even, in spite of the additional spending the government has announced during the course of the year,” Balushi told reporters on the sidelines of an investment forum.

Balushi said he expected a $10 billion aid

GCC spent $4.5b on interiors in 2010

Mercedes-Benz among the ‘Best Global Brands 2011’ KUWAIT: Mercedes-Benz continues to be regarded as the world’s most valuable premium automotive brand.

In the latest ranking by respected brand consultancy Interbrand Zintzmeyer & Lux, ‘Best Global Brands 2011’, the three-pointed star brand again took twelfth place - as it did last year - and is therefore the most valuable European brand. Its brand equity has risen to $27.455 billion, an increase of 9 percent compared to 2010.

Mercedes-Benz’s brand equity has therefore risen continuously since 2009. The study’s authors attribute

this success to customer satisfaction with the brand, which is higher than that of all other automotive brands.

What’s more, the model initiative launched two years ago is enabling Mercedes-Benz to successfully respond to the market’s demand for ground-breaking, sustainable transport solutions.

Interbrand conducts the ‘Best Global Brands’ study every year.

Leading CEOs regard it as the benchmark for measuring the value of international brands. The study identifies the 100 most valuable brands in the world.

Al Tijari announces winners of Al Najma daily draw KUWAIT: Commercial Bank of Kuwait held the Al Najma Account draw on 9th October 2011. The draw was held under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry represented by Abdulaziz Ashkanani.

Adha and on the 19th of June which is the date of the bank’s establishment.

With a minimum balance of KD 500, customers will be eligible for the daily draw provided that the money is in the account one week prior to the daily draw or 2

The winners of the Al Najma Daily Draw are :Fadi Mohammed Humoud Amina Abdulla Abbas Al-Falah Fowziya Habib Haji Al-Ibrahim Mahboub Eslam Noor AlEslam Ramadan Helmi Ali Ahmed

The Commercial Bank of Kuwait announces the biggest daily draw in Kuwait with the launch of the new Najma account.

Customers of the bank can now enjoy a KD 7,000 daily prize which is the highest in the country and another 4 mega prizes during the year worth KD 100,000 each on different occasions: The National Day, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al

package from Gulf Arab oil exporters to begin flowing in the first quarter of 2012. “Basically it’s going to be used to create jobs for Omanis,” he said. The government of Sultan Qaboos bin Said, a US ally who has ruled once-tranquil Oman for 40 years, promised a 1 billion rial ($2.6 billion) spending package in April after nearly two months of protests inspired by rolling Arab revolts against autocratic rule. Since then there has been no significant unrest.

Economic growth was projected to be 5 percent in 2012, after 5.5 percent in 2011, Balushi said. Analysts polled by Reuters in September forecast 4.0 percent growth in 2011 and 4.2 per-

KD 7000.

KD 7000.

KD 7000.

KD 7000.

KD 7000.

months prior to the mega draw. In addition, for each KD 25 a customer can get one chance for winning instead of KD 50.

Commercial Bank of Kuwait takes this opportunity to congratulate all lucky winners and also extends appreciation to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for their effective supervision of the draws which were conducted in an orderly and organized manner.

KUWAIT: INDEX, the Middle East and North Africa’s largest and longest established Interiors and Design Exhibition, yesterday announced findings from a report with Ventures Middle East.

The report reveals that GCC projects spent $4.5bn on interiors and fit-outs in 2010, and expect to increase spend by more than a quarter (26 per cent) this year. The report, which focused on the four key pillars of the real estate sector - commercial, hospitality, residential and retail - shows that interiors account for up to 30 per cent of costs for GCC projects.

“The GCC real estate market is showing positive signs for the interiors market. With existing projects at or near completion and countries around the region expanding specifically in the commercial and hospitality sectors, there will continue to be a strong demand for interiors and fitouts,” said Paula Al Chami, Event Director for INDEX. “Another trend we see is companies shifting focus from starting fresh projects to managing existing projects to make them more attractive, which is where interiors will play a key role.”

Of the key sectors in the GCC, the growth of the hospitality sector leads with an expected 230 per cent increased spend in 2011 of US$1.8bn as hotel groups aggressively expand across the region. The UAE, which led all GCC markets with an interior spend on hospitality of $406m in 2010, will more than triple its growth in 2011 with an increased spend on interior contracting and fit-out nearing $1.3bn.

In the competitive retail sector, $243m was spent in the UAE in 2010, making it the largest retail market for interiors in the GCC. Overall in the GCC, spend on interiors continues to grow in the retail segment with an increased spend of 71

per cent expected in 2011 versus last year’s spend of $384m. For the commercial sector, which now sees companies focussing on property management rather than new projects, GCC spend on interiors is set to increase 36 per cent to $1.5bn over last year’s spend of $1.1bn. The UAE’s commercial sector remains strong with a 16 per cent increase in spend this year versus 2010’s spend of $709m. Reflecting this growth is the fact that between 2010 and 2012, 19 million m2 of office space will have become available for interiors and fit-outs in the UAE. The UAE remained the largest market in the GCC for the residential sector in 2010, with interior spends of US$1.1bn, a trend that continues into 2011. Overall GCC spend on interiors in the residential sector was $2.5bn.

The report also said that from GCC real estate contracts issued from May to July this year, the value for interiors and fit-outs is estimated at over $700m.

Al Chami added, “For the past 21 years INDEX has provided an important platform for architects, designers and specifiers to source interior design solutions from over 800 companies from 49 countries. INDEX will take place across an increased 10 halls at the Dubai World Trade Centre from October 22-25, 2011.”

INDEX 2011 will evolve its profile by introducing a brand new line up of six product-specific shows under the INDEX brand including Furnishings*, InRetail, Kitchen & Bathroom, Lighting, Outdoor Living and Textiles.

The new product-specific shows at INDEX will showcase an impressive line up of top international manufacturers and brands, bringing their latest products, trends and design innovation to this region. The exhibition will also showcase 20 national pavilions, providing product specification by country.”

cent next year after an estimated 4.1 percent in 2010.

Oman, which has the lowest government debt among Gulf Arab oil exporters, plans to issue about 150 million rials in development bonds this year.

There are no plans to issue sovereign debt internationally, Balushi added. The sultanate based its 2011 budget on a projected oil price of $58 per barrel and expected expenditures of 8.1 billion rials and a deficit of 850 million before the unrest started. The Reuters poll forecast a surplus of 5.0 percent of gross domestic product for 2011. — Reuters

Oman eyes oil price at $90-$100/bbl in 2012 MUSCAT: Non-OPEC oil producer Oman sees oil prices at a range of $90 to $100 per barrel in 2012 and is not expecting any major changes in the market, a senior government oil official said yesterday. “We’re expecting the same range to continue next year, from $90 to $100,” said Nasser bin Khamis Jashmi, undersecretary at Oman’s ministry of oil and gas, on the sidelines of an investment forum.

“We don’t see anything that will drastically change the market next year... What we’d like to see is something different but it’s whatever the market dictates,” he said. The small oil producer expects to exceed its crude oil production target by at least 5 percent in 2011 to reach up to 920,000 bpd this year, giving its oil revenues, crucial for its budget, a boost.

“There are fundamental demand and supply factors which we think should hold for next year. But there are also other factors, geopolitical issues and other factors which might affect,” Jashmi said. Oman’s crude oil production rose 3 percent in the first eight months of the year, while its exports edged up by less than 1 percent, finance ministry data showed.

The sultanate produced a total of 188.78 million barrels of crude in the period from January 1 to August 31, with average daily production rising to 881,900 barrels per day (bpd) from 858,200 bpd in the same period of 2010.

The country’s exports rose to 177.19 million barrels in January to August from 175.92 million barrels in the corresponding period last year. Its biggest customer was China, accounting for almost 45 percent of Oman’s crude exports, followed by India and Japan. It sold at an average price of $100.99 a barrel in the first eight months. The price for August only was at $107.84 a barrel, down from July’s $109.20 a barrel.

The country based its 2011 budget on a projected oil price of $58 a barrel. The country’s natural gas production rose by 5.4 percent to 23.029 billion cubic meters in Jan-August period, the data showed.

Oman, which is in talks with BP over the development of its first major unconventional gas project, has also been in talks with Iran to import gas for domestic consumption.

“We’ve been discussing with Iran to import gas to Oman and we will continue to discuss that, for Oman requirements,” he said. But Jashmi downplayed remarks by an Iranian official last month who said talks were progressing on shipping Iranian gas to Oman and then on to India via a seabed gas pipeline.

“There is a discussion about a gas pipeline to India but we have not reached that stage of serious discussion,” Jashmi said, adding talks involved private entrepreneurs and not the ministry. “It’s mainly the call on Iran, if they finalise that agreement.” — Reuters

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Philippine peso Egyptian pounds

.2741620 .4284190 .3711320 .2998270 .2660350 .2709570 .0056240 .0024970 .0746720 .7275090 .3877820 .0731300 .7123860 .0063610 .0462720

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2756000 GB Pound/KD .4306660 Euro .3730800 Swiss francs .3014000 Canadian dollars .2674300 Danish Kroner .0501240 Swedish Kroner .0409040 Australian dlr .2723750 Hong Kong dlr .0354140 Singapore dlr .2143580 Japanese yen .0035950 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0750650 Bahraini dinars .7313250 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0735130 Omani riyals .7161230 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Irani Riyal - Transfer Irani Riyal - Cash

3.630 5.639 3.163 250.950 3.547 215.200 35.600 3.662 6.369 8.949 0.271 0.273

.2794470 .4366780 .3782870 .3056070 .2711630 .2761780 .0057330 .0025450 .0761120 .7415340 .3952580 .0745400 .7261200 .0064830 .0471640 .2777000 .4339480 .3759220 .3036960 .2694680 .0505060 .0412160 .2744510 .0356840 .2159910 .0036220 .0056960 .0025290 .0031880 .0036980 .0756370 .7368980 .3927860 .0740730 .7215800 .0064430

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 73.896 76.141 719.760 736.020 75.456

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

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 49.500 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.453 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.268 Tunisian Dinar 194.660 Jordanian Dinar 391.330 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 185.900 Syrian Lier 5.982 Morocco Dirham 33.946 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 277.000 Euro 374.780 Sterling Pound 434.060 Canadian dollar 269.590 Turkish lire 150.400 Swiss Franc 302.400 Australian dollar 272.100 US Dollar Buying 275.800 GOLD 303.000 153.000 79.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

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 Norwegian krone Omani Riyal

SELL CASH

276.000 736.290 3.880 271.200 543.800 36.800 50.900 167.800 48.410 377.000 36.260 5.860 0.032 0.239 0.241 3.730 393.050 0.187 89.710 46.100 4.260 218.000 1.794 48.700 719.120

SELL DRAFT

274.500 736.290 3.670 269.700

216.100 46.457 375.500 36.110 5.635 0.032

302.300 5.600 9.160 75.380 276.800

Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 434.000 276.800

Sterling Pound US Dollar

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd Rate for Transfer

Selling Rate

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

276.750 269.445 433.420 375.385 300.620 733.760 75.325 75.965 73.760 389.560 46.449 2.508 5.644 3.172 3.676 6.363 678.847 3.700 9.030 5.825 3.615 91.930

Currency

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

278.73 273.03 307.98 378.67

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Jordanian Dinars Syrian Pounds Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

276.800 3.160 5.635 2.520 3.680 6.410 75.465 73.965 735.900 46.450 437.800 3.190 1.550 393.300 5.750 378.700 273.500 3.690

Al Mulla Exchange

UAE Exchange Center WLL Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro

436.19 3.67 3.691 5.633 2.512 3.534 3.173 75.35 736.28 46.46 393.80 719.38 76.33 73.91

438.00 3.62 3.705 5.930 2.600 4.200 3.220 75.65 736.00 48.40 392.50 719.50 76.60 73.95

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co. Currency

Currency

718.940

3.185 6.375 76.160 73.920 216.100 37.470 2.510 434.000

GOLD 1,715.490

10 Tola

391.310 0.186 89.710 3.540 216.500

3.210 6.580 76.590 73.920 216.100 37.470 2.615 436.000 41.700 302.800 5.600 9.290 198.263 75.480 277.200 1.220

280.00 273.00 303.80 380.00

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal *Rates are subject to change

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

276.450 375.300 433.800 269.500 3.635 5.640 46.495 2.513 3.653 6.373 3.175 736.150 75.300 73.850

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business

Asian shares up after France-Germany pact Dealers remain cautious

HEFEI: Chinese investors play cards as they monitor stock prices at a securities firm in Hefei, in eastern China’s Anhui province yesterday.

Chinese shares closed down 0.61 percent at their lowest level since April, 2009, with the Shanghai Composite Index, which covers both A and B shares, down 14.43 points at 2,344.79 on turnover of 39.9 billion yuan ($6.3 billion). — AFP

Dubai’s MAF eyes sukuk ABU DHABI: Dubai’s Majid Al Futtaim Holding, sole franchisee of hypermarket chain Carrefour in the Gulf, is to set up a sukuk programme as market volatility continues to thwart its plans for a conventional issue, an executive told reporters yesterday.

MAF completed roadshows for an offering from its $2 billion medium term notes programme in June but chose not to issue a bond because of unfavourable market conditions. “The next building block is to add a sukuk programme, the sukuk market is more stable,” Daniele Vecchi, senior vice president, group treasury, at MAF, said on the sidelines of an Islamic finance conference.

“We will start working on it fairly soon,” he added. Vecchi also confirmed the company still planned to tap the conventional market when conditions permitted. “We are ready if the market is ready. Right now the liquidity position of the company is strong and there’s no pressure to issue bonds. Markets are still volatile.” MAF raised a $1 billion loan in July to help repay debt and provide the company

with additional funds after its bond issue was abandoned. MAF is planning to expand its Carrefour franchise to Iraq and Lebanon in the next year, taking the total number of MENA states in which it operates to 13.

“We are planning Carrefour openings in northern Iraq this year and Lebanon next year,” Vecchi said. However, MAF’s development activity in Syria and Egypt had been curtailed by the political unrest in the two countries this year. “The country is recovering but not fully recovered,” Vecchi said of Egypt.

“Business is quite strong and we are assessing our options.”

In a supplement to its MTN programme, filed on 29 September with the London Stock Exchange, MAF said that it had slowed down the pace of investment in both countries during 2011. “The progress of these projects will be determined on the basis of political developments as well as on the basis of the projects’ ability to meet the Group’s own risk management policy and investment criteria,” it said. — Reuters

KUWAIT: Venkat Menon (left), Burgan Bank’s Chief Operations officer receiving the award.

Burgan Bank wins international platinum star for quality award KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced that it has won the prestigious International Platinum Star for Quality award from Business Directions, an organization which recognizes companies that implement and promote a strong culture of quality.

The platinum award highlights Burgan Bank’s continuous commitment to the provision of optimal levels of quality control and to the application of industry best practice methods thatsupport the delivery of a trusted banking ser vice. Burgan Bank’s award was announced during the 36th International Star for Quality convention.

Adrian Gostuski, Burgan Group Chief

Operations Officer said “Burgan Bank is proud to have won the International Platinum Star for Quality award from Business Initiative Directions. The award demonstrates the Bank’s best-in-class operations, services and quality standards.”

Venkat Menon, Burgan Chief Operations Officer said “The Platinum Star award reflects Burgan Bank’s application of industry leading quality solutions which support our customers’ financial needs”.

Achievement of the Platinum Star award builds on Burgan Bank’s attainment of the International Gold Star for Quality in 2008 and marks the Bank as an industry leader in the Banking sector.

Burgan Bank announces lucky winners of Yawmi account KUWAIT: Burgan Bank announced yesterday the names of the five lucky winners of its Yawmi account draw, each taking home a prize of KD 5,000.

The lucky winners for the five daily draws took home a cash-prize of KD 5000 each, and they are: 1. Abdulazize Ayash Alazmi 2. Rania Umer Sundal 3. Forozan Bazyar 4. Mohammed Karim Hassan Jaber 5. Mohammad Naser Mansour Alsaffar The newly re -launched Yawmi Account is better, easier and faster than any day before. With its new and enhanced features, the Yawmi Account has become more convenient, easier, and faster for customers to benefit from. Now, customers will be eligible to enter the draw after 48 hours only from opening the account. Customers are also required to deposit KD 100 or equivalent only to enter the daily draw, and the coupon value to enter the draw stands at KD 10.

The newly designed Yawmi account

has been launched to provide a highly innovative offering along with a higher frequency and incentive of winning for everyone. Today, the Yawmi account is a well understood product, where its popularity can be seen from the number of increasing account holders.

Burgan Bank encourages everyone to open a Yawmi account and/or increase their deposit to maximize their chances to becoming a daily winner. The more customers deposit, the higher the chances they receive of winning the draw.

Opening a Yawmi account is simple, customers are urged to visit their nearest Burgan Bank branch and receive all the details, or simply call the bank’s Call Center at 1804080 where customer service representatives will be delighted to assist with any questions on the Yawmi account or any of the bank ’s products and ser vices.

Customers can also log on to Burgan Bank’s www.burgan.com for further information.

HONG KONG: Asian shares were mostly higher yesterday after France and Germany announced an agreement to support Europe’s banks while US jobs data also supplied some unexpected good news. Dealers remained cautious after Wall Street finished last week with a loss and Fitch downgraded Italy and Spain’s debt ratings.

Sydney closed 0.92 percent, or 38.1 points, higher at 4,201.0 after adding 3.8 percent last week-its biggest weekly gain in more than a year, while Seoul closed 0.38 percent, or 6.67 points, up at 1,766.44. Singapore also closed higher, rising 1.06 percent at 2,668.30 points, while Hong Kong, which surged around nine percent in the previous two sessions, ended flat, edging up 4.05 points, to 17,711.06.

But Shanghai lost 0.61 percent, or 14.42 points, to close at 2,344.79 in the first trading day after the week-long Golden Week holiday. Tokyo and Taipei were closed for public holidays.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel put on a united front after talks in Berlin on Sunday and vowed a response to Europe’s debt crisis within weeks.

Without announcing concrete details, Sarkozy said there would be “lasting, global and quick responses before the end of the month”, amid rampant fears of a crippling credit crunch.

The announcement comes a few weeks ahead of a G20 summit in Cannes, and Sarkozy said Europe must “arrive at the (meeting) united and with the problems resolved”.

It also came amid concerns that France and Germany, the two main powerhouses of the eurozone, were at odds over the best way to recapitalise the region’s banks.

Germany, the effective eurozone paymaster, wants banks that are under pressure to turn to investors for funds before appealing for national or European cash.

It wants the EU’s 440-billion-euro ($589-billion) European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) bailout fund to intervene only as a last resort.

But France, fearful of losing its top-notch AAA

credit rating, would rather dip into European funds than its own coffers. However, Sarkozy said Sunday that “agreement is complete”.

“An economy is not prosperous without stable and reliable banks,” he told reporters after the talks.

Merkel also said the two sides had “decided on doing what is necessary to recapitalise (the) banks in order to assure the granting of credit to the economy”. Also on Sunday, Belgium and Luxembourg said they had reached a deal to dismantle troubled bank Dexia, the first victim of the eurozone crisis. Belgium’s finance minister said Brussels had, in accordance with French wishes, agreed to guarantee 60 percent of the so-called “bad bank” assets, compared with 36.5 percent for France and 3.5 percent for Luxembourg.

The news from Europe added to upbeat data from the United States, which showed the economy created a better-than-expected 103,000 net nonfarm jobs in September.

The Labor Department also revised upward the two previous months’ job creation numbers, indicating that employment in the faltering economy had more momentum than previously believed.

The July net new payrolls totalled 127,000, not the 85,000 initially estimated, while August was revised from zero to 57,000.

However, Wall Street dipped Friday after a three-day winning streak. The Dow shed 0.18 percent, the S&P 500 fell 0.82 percent and the Nasdaq lost 1.10 percent. Wellington-based ANZ bank strategists said in a note: “Some optimists are hailing an end to the risk of recession for the US, but given this data is volatile and prone to large revisions, we’ll not make any significant judgements from one outturn.”

Putting downward pressure on markets was Fitch’s decision Friday to cut it ratings on Italy and Spain, citing the increasing pressure they face as the eurozone crisis makes it harder for them to raise cash. “The downgrade reflects the intensification of the eurozone crisis that constitutes a significant financial and economic shock which has weakened Italy’s sovereign risk profile,” Fitch said.

European markets rose yesterday with London’s FTSE 100 index adding 0.20 percent to 5,314.09 points in early trade, the Paris CAC 40 gaining 0.23 percent to 3,102.55 points and Frankfurt’s DAX 30 was up 0.17 percent to 5,685.72 points. The single currency was at $1.3587 against the dollar, from $1.3375 late Friday in New York, and at 104.28 yen, from 103.10 yen.

The dollar was at 76.74 yen, from 76.73. Crude prices were higher, with New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in November, rising $1.40 to $84.38 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for November delivery gained $1.17 to $107.05. By 1100 GMT gold was at $1,663.70 an ounce, up from $1,653.97 at 1045 GMT on Friday.

In other markets: Indian shares jumped 2.0 percent or 324.69 points to 16,557.23. Leading vehicle maker Tata Motors rose 7.4 percent to 170.55 while the third largest software outsourcer Wipro rose 4.42 percent to 348.55. India’s top property firm DLF rose 4.74 percent to 228.8.

Manila ended 0.78 percent, or 31.32 points, higher at 4,040.58. SM Investments dipped 0.8 percent to 506 pesos, Alliance Global gained 2.8 percent to 9.40 pesos and Philippine Long Distance Telephone added 0.5 percent to 2,160 pesos.

Indonesian shares 0.74 percent, or 25.40 points, to 3,451.05. Car maker Astra jumped 1.4 percent to Rp 64,150, Bank Mandiri rose 4.2 percent to Rp 6,250 while Telkom fell 0.7 percent to Rp 7,200.

Kuala Lumpur shares fell 0.21 percent, or 3.01 points, to end at 1,397.04. Gamuda fell 2.3 percent to 2.95 ringgit, Genting lost 0.4 percent to 9.09 and RHB Capital shed 1.7 percent to 6.53. Malayan Banking gained 0.2 percent to 8.20 ringgit and Axiata Group added 0.6 percent to 4.82.

Wellington closed 0.32 percent, or 10.61 points, lower at 3,372.85. Telecom fell 1.5 percent to NZ$2.56.

Bangkok rose 1.54 percent or 14.00 points to 923.17. Banpu gained 18.00 baht to 556.00, while Siam Cement added 10.00 baht to 275.00. — AFP

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business

KSE price index ends day in red GLOBAL DAILY MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) closed on mixed note as pending earnings reports misleading the investors. Non of blue chip stocks released their 3rd quarter results after 10 days passing of announcement period that end in November 15, 2011.

Market Indices Global General Index (GGI) ended the day up by 0.51 percent, at 181.34 point. Market Capitalization was also up for the day, reaching KD 29.57bn. On the other hand, KSE Price Index closed at 5,847.6 point, shedding 4.60 points (0.08 percent) to its previous close.

sector’s index adding 0.98 percent. International Resorts Company was the biggest percentage gainers in the sector, clocking an 7.25 percent climb and closing at KD 0.037, its highest level since July 17, 2011. Elsewhere in the real estate sector, Mabanee Company continue gaining for the third session in a row, adding 3.61 performance to close at K D0.860, its highest level since July 07, 2011.

Also within the real estate sector, Abyaar Real

closed up by 1.89 percent at KD 1.080.

Non-Kuwaiti stocks led the pack of decliners, with their index ending down by 0.62 percent.

Gulf Finance House lost 3.90 percent of its value, closing at KD 0.037. Global Services Index closed almost flat after blue chip stocks, Zain and Wataniya, within the sector closed unchanged. In the early trading hours, KSE stated that trading is halted on Agility stock till the company clarifies media reports saying that the firm is competing

Estate Development Company witnessed increased interest, with 17.84mn shares changing hands making it the top trading stock for the day.

The scrip closed flat at KD 0.029.

Banking stocks too were notable advancers, with the sector index claiming a 0.61 percent climb. Gulf Bank added 2.00 percent to its share value and closed at KD 0.510. Furthermore, heavyweight National Bank of Kuwait (NBK)

for a supply contract for a Canadian military base in Kuwait. No clarification was out till the end of the session.

Market Breadth During the session, 98 companies were traded.

Market breadth was skewed towards decliners as 33 equities declined versus 28 that advanced.

Daily Trading Activity Total volume traded was down by 22.72 percent with 192.56mn shares changing hands at a total value of KD 26.18mn (2.52 percent higher compared to Sunday’s session). Investment sector was the volume leader, accounting for 26.47 percent of total shares exchanges. Abyaar Real Estate Development Company was the session’s most traded stock with 17.84mn shares exchanged. The same sector was the value leader, having 23.94 percent of total traded value.

Top Gainers and Biggest Decliners In terms of top gainers, Kuwait Commercial Market Complexes Company was the top gainer for the day, adding 7.58 percent to its share value and closing at KD 0.071. On the other hand, Manafae Investment Company shed 7.14 percent and closed at KD 0.065, making it the biggest decliner in the market.

Sectors-Wise On a sector-by-sector basis, three out of the eight sectors inched higher during the day. Real Estate stocks spearheaded advancers, with the

Oil News The price of OPEC basket of twelve crudes stood at $103.22pb on Friday, compared with $101.63pb the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

Egypt slumps to 19-month low D U B A I : Eg y p t ’s b e n c h m a r k slumped to a 19-month low after clashes between militar y police and Coptic Christians in Cairo left 24 people dead and more than 200 injured, while Saudi Arabia’s index rose for a fourth session.

Cairo’s bourse opened 5 percent lower in its biggest decline since the Egyptian Exchange reopened following a seven-week shutdown due to the popular uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak.

The index closed 2.3 percent lower a t 3 , 9 3 8 p o i n t s, i t s l e ve l s i n ce March 2009.

I n S a u d i A ra b i a , i n s u ra n ce stocks rallied as upbeat sentiment in world stocks lent support. The benchmark rose 0.6 percent.

“There is volatility and an uncertainty trend for the market ahead of the Q3 results,” said Tarek AlMadi, an independent Riyadhbased financial analyst. Saudi Re of Cooperative Insurance jumped 8.6 percent, accounting for the largest exchange of shares. Sanad climbed 0.7 percent. “ Th e l e a d e r s to c k s a n d t h e insurance stocks are the top-picks for the speculative and long-term investors, because of their high liquidity,” he said. “ The market will take the cue from results of the leader stocks like Sabic and AlR ajhi and then the speculative trading will start on the rest of the stocks.”

S a u d i B a s i c I n d u s t r i e s Co r p (SABIC), the world’s largest chemicals producer, gained 0.5 percent.

Yanbu National Petrochemical climbed 1.1 p e rce n t .

Petrochemical stocks were supported by gains in oil prices, which

impact their bottom line.

U S N ove m b e r c r u d e w a s u p $1.44 at $84.42 a barrel, after hitting $84.72 earlier. Banks also rose with Samba Financial Group up 1.2 percent. But bellwether Al-Rajhi Bank ended flat. World stocks and t h e e u ro ro s e ye s te rd ay a f te r German and French leaders promised to announce fresh steps to tackle the euro zone debt crisis by the end of the month.

In UAE, property stocks fell as Emaar Properties shed 1.5 percent.

Dubai’s index dipped 0.6 percent.

A n a l ys t s p o l l e d by R e u te r s expect Emaar’s net profit to drop by a b o u t 3 7 p e rce n t . B u i l d e r Arabtec slipped 2.3 percent. Abu Dhabi’s Aldar Properties declined 1.8 percent and Sorouh Real Estate shed 1.9 percent.

“Especially with real estate companies in UAE, I don’t think we will see any positive surprises,” said Shakeel Sarwar, head of asset management at Securities & Investment Co (SICO) in Bahrain. “ The sec tor is going through a consolidation phase and the view r i g h t n ow i s l o n g te r m .” A b u Dhabi’s benchmark eased 0.07 percent, extending 2011 losses to 8.2 percent.

In Qatar, the index climbed 0.2 percent as banks suppor t.

Commercial Bank of Qatar gained 0.9 percent, Qatar Islamic International Bank rose 1.4 percent and Qatar National Bank climbed 0.1 percent.

The Gulf state’s banks are expected to post strong third- quar ter earnings as government spending boosts consumer confidence and banks increase lending. — Reuters

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BUSINESS

Russia ready to help Europe recover from its debt crisis MOSCOW: Russia said yesterday that it was ready to help Europe recover from its debt crisis as soon as its leading nations put aside their differences and came up with a clear rescue plan. President Dmitry Medvedev’s top economic adviser said after talks with Spanish Finance Minister Elena Salgado that the two sides discussed Russia’s participation in a bond purchase plan.

But Kremlin aide Arkady Dvorkovich heaped further pressure on EU giants France and Germany by noting that Russia would only commit to a rescue once a firm plan is in place. “ We expec t the European countries to announce a concrete, clear crisis exit strategy,” news agencies quoted Arkady Dvorkovich as saying.

“If support from Russia and other BRICS (Brazil, India, China and South Africa) nations is needed within the framework of this strategy, we are ready to render such support,” Dvorkovich said.

There was no immediate comment from the Spanish minister and Dvorkovich made clear that “until such a strategy is announced, it is premature to talk about” Russia’s involvement. The Moscow talks were held on the sidelines of a UN Millennium Development Goals meeting that was also attended by Russia’s former finance minister and current global financial institution representative Alexei Kudrin. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed on Sunday to come up with a response to the eurozone debt crisis within weeks. Berlin and Paris reportedly dif-

fer over how to go about recapitalising banks that are facing massive losses from sovereign debt holdings in deeply troubled nations such as Greece but Sarkozy and Merkel insisted Sunday that there were no differences between them.

Dvorkovich also made clear that Russia had no intention of supporting a financial transaction tax proposed by European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

The plan has been slammed as ineffective by critics who argue that traders would simply avoid the added cost by using other global markets.

“We are not against France and Germany introducing this tax. But we will not be supporting collective decisions that include Russia,” Medvedev’s aide said. Russia has previously signalled its readi-

ness to expand its eurozone debt holdings in nations with firmer financial standing.

Kudrin himself said at the end of September that Russia would stay away from the bonds of risky countries such as Greece while “slowly growing” its holdings in more stable EU countries.

Kudrin was ousted as finance minister after Medvedev announced plans to cede his presidential cede to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

But he still serves as Russia’s representative to some world bodies and may yet play a role in Putin’s new Kremlin administration next year.

Dvorkovich said last week that he expected to join Medvedev’s new government after Putin’s expected return to the Kremlin in March presidential polls. — AFP

EU, IMF, ECB mission chiefs meet Greek Finance Minister Greek bank stocks tumble as Proton Bank rescued

SYDNEY: A lone couple use the automated Qantas check-in amidst numerous flight cancellations caused by labour unrest at Sydney Airport yesterday. Embattled carrier Qantas was forced to cancel or delay nearly 80 flights despite aircraft engineers calling off strike action after the airline threatened to withhold pay. — AFP

Qantas cancels flights over threatened strike SYDNEY: Embattled carrier Qantas was forced to cancel or delay more than 70 flights yesterday despite aircraft engineers calling off strike action after unions said the airline threatened to withhold pay. Line maintenance engineers, who check aircraft on the tarmac, were planning to stop work for four hours as part of a labour dispute in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

But just hours before walking off the job the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) cancelled the strike, saying Qantas management threatened to withhold up to seven hours’ pay for the time not worked.

“The airline is playing dirty pool with our members by threatening them for taking lawful industrial action,” ALAEA Federal Secretary Steve Purvinas said. “To ensure our members are not unfairly disadvantaged by Qantas management’s last-minute curve ball, we have decided to reassess our position on today’s planned action.

“We are currently seeking legal advice and if necessary we will launch legal action against the airline for unlawful adverse action against our members,” he

added in a statement. Despite the backdown, Qantas said it was too late to change flight plans for the day and that the cancellations and delays announced earlier would remain.

“They have called off the strike late and we have plans already in place.

Unfortunately, it is too late to relook at those plans,” a Qantas spokeswoman said.

The Qantas website showed 35 domestic flight cancellations and another 34 services delayed or brought forward.

Several international flights will also be affected, with delays of more than two hours on some services to London via Bangkok and Singapore, Frankfurt via Singapore, and to and from Auckland.

Unions are locked in protracted contract talks over pay and conditions with Qantas, which has said it will slash 1,000 jobs as part of its new Asia focus, with baggage handlers and other ground staff also striking in recent weeks.

On Friday, Australian police said they were investigating alleged death threats against chief executive Alan Joyce, while the airline has said managers had been sent menacing letters and strike-breaking workers bullied. — AFP

WOLFSBURG: In this Feb. 24, 2011 file photo, a worker wraps a protective liner around a Volkswagen Tiguan at quality control portion of the production line in the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, Germany. — AP

ATHENS: EU, IMF and ECB mission chiefs met Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos yesterday to conclude weeks-long talks on a key aid tranche, sources close to the negotiations said.

Without the next 8 billion euro aid installment Athens could run out of cash as soon as midNovember, risking a default that would drag the euro zone deeper into a debt crisis already shaking financial markets worldwide.

“We are working on the assumption that meetings will wrap up today,” a source close to the talks told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The EU, IMF and ECB mission chiefs, known as the troika, are then likely to conclude their visit by issuing a joint statement on Monday or Tuesday. Back in Brussels and Washington, they will prepare reports for euro zone finance ministers and the IMF’s board, who will decide on the aid tranche.

“There are some technical details remaining that need to be worked out. This will take place today or tomorrow morning,” a Greek finance ministry official said. “It is possible that we will not need another meeting with the troika.” The inspectors resumed their review of Greece’s finances and reforms at the end of September, nearly four weeks after suspending talks over disagreements on the steps required to put the country’s finances back on track.

Senior officials from the so-called troika of EU, IMF and ECB inspectors said last week they wanted more details on the impact of plans to slash the public sector workforce and increase taxes before concluding their review.

The leaders of Germany and France promised on Sunday to unveil a new comprehensive package for solving the euro zone’s debt crisis by the end of the month. But they offered no details

ATHENS: A man tries to avoid the rain as he walks in front of a branch of Proton bank in central Athens, yesterday. Greece has activated a rescue fund set up under the country’s international bailout package to restructure Proton Bank, leaving it fully owned by the fund. — AP and papered over differences on how to shore up European banks.

Greece’s central bank said yesterday it had activated a rescue fund to save Proton Bank, effectively nationalising the lender, which is under investigation for possible violation of the country’s money-laundering laws.

Greek bank stocks tumbled 11 percent on Monday on concerns that other banks may fol-

Qatar sees inflation of less than 2% in 2011 DOHA: Inflation in Qatar should remain below 2 percent this year despite planned public sector salary increases worth over $8 billion, an economic adviser to the Gulf Arab country’s Amir said yesterday.

The world’s top liquefied natural gas exporter, spared the popular unrest that has hit other parts of the Arab world, returned to annual inflation last December after a protracted period of deflation. “We hope it will be less than two percent this year,” said Ibrahim al-Ibrahim, economic adviser to Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa alThani, told reporters on the sidelines of an event in Doha.

Qatar has promised to hand out salary, pension and benefits increases for state and military employees worth as much as 30 billion riyals ($8.2 billion). Analysts polled by Reuters in September expected that this would help bring average inflation to 2.7 percent in 2011 and 3.5 percent next year. “(The increases) may be inflationary, but at the same time, they are needed. The salaries of Qataris have not increased in the past several years, despite the decline in purchasing power of the riyal,” Ibrahim said.

“We cannot neglect to do the things that are needed because of inflationary fears. The main fear is that certain people with monopoly power will use it in order to raise prices, and this is what we are trying to control,” he said.

Consumer inflation in Qatar climbed to at least a 20month high of 2.1 percent in August as transport prices edged up. Economic growth in the tiny Gulf state, whose population enjoys the world’s highest per capita income of $88,200, is expected to surge 18.9 percent in real terms this year.

The government, one of the top investors globally through its sovereign wealth fund, plans to spend over $125 billion in the next five years on construction and energy projects. — Reuters

Petroceltic to sell stake in Algeria field LONDON: Irish oil and gas firm Petroceltic is in talks about selling a further stake in its Algerian gas field to oil majors, the company’s chief executive Brian O’Cathain said in an interview. “We’ve been in discussions with a number of major players who are currently active in Algeria with a view to bring in another partner because it’s such a large development,” O’Cathain told Reuters yesterday.

The company said it was looking to sell an 18.375 percent stake in the Ain Tsila gas field in south-east Algeria, having sold Italian utility Enel an 18.375 percent interest in April in a deal worth up to $183 million. “There’s lots of interest. They’re all majors, they’re all very large companies,” he said, adding that any announcement on a deal was not likely

until the end of the first quarter next year. Algerian state energy company Sonatrach holds a 25 percent stake in the field alongside Petroceltic, which has 56.625 percent, and the state firm has a pre-emption right over any deal, said O’Cathain.

The company announced positive results from a flow test carried out on the field earlier on Monday, boosting its shares by 11 percent to trade at 6 pence per share at 0856 GMT and valuing the company at about 142 million pounds ($222 million).

“It goes along way to addressing any concerns that we and our investors might have had about whether the field is going to be commercial,” said O’Cathain. Mirabaud Securities analyst Richard Savage said the results were at the top end of his

expectations and should help cement investor confidence in the economics of the Ain Tsila project.

Petroceltic plans to submit a field development plan for the project to the Algerian government by the end of January next year, with first gas likely in 2016 and expected to be exported to either Spain or Italy.

Completion of its tie-up with Enel, which is awaiting government approval, was still on track for some time in the third quarter of this year, Petroceltic said, following which it would receive initial proceeds of over $95 million. It also signed a $30 million loan facility with Macquarie yesterday, which O’Cathain said was a “security blanket” should there be any delay to the Enel deal completing. — Reuters

low small lender Proton in using a rescue fund.

“After the use of the rescue fund for Proton Bank, there are concerns that other banks might follow, which would have a negative impact for their shareholders,” said an Athens-based bank analyst who declined to be named.

Another Greek analyst said investors were also concerned by the risk of a bigger haircut on Greek government bonds. — Reuters

Gold rises after EU banks pledge LONDON: Gold rose more than 1 percent yesterday as the dollar fell versus the euro after France and Germany pledged to strike a proposal to recapitalise euro zone banks, while traders remained cautious ahead of further details of the plan.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said after talks on Sunday that they aimed to come up with a sustainable answer for Greece’s debt problems and agree how to recapitalise European banks. Spot gold was up 1.4 percent at $1,659.80 an ounce at 0915 GMT. Prices of the precious metal have been choppy since they plunged as much as 20 percent in September from the record highs they hit early in the month.

Strong physical demand after Friday’s price decline and as Chinese buyers returned to the market after a week-long holiday also helped support prices, as did worries that the latest plan to tackle the euro zone debt crisis could prove short-lived. “At the moment, near-term direction does look very, very mixed, but on a longer term view, you still have to be positive given what we are seeing coming out of the physical markets, particularly in Asia,” said Credit Agricole analyst Robin Bhar.

“Clearly (recent) very extreme volatility called into question gold’s role as a safe haven, which should be characterised by low risk and low volatility,” he added. “But as a form of insurance (it is attractive).” “People are thinking the newsflow is only beneficial in the short term. Europe still has to get its act together on a much longer-term basis.”

Unusually for an asset that usually benefits from losses in assets seen as higher risk, like stocks, gold climbed along with equity markets yesterday.

European shares were lifted by the Franco-German plan to tackle the debt crisis. The fillip lent to risk appetite by the proposal also lifted the euro 1 percent versus the dollar, while oil climbed. A weaker dollar tends to benefit gold, as it makes dollar-priced commodities cheaper for other cur-

rency holders.

France’s Sarkozy said he and Merkel were in “total agreement” on the recapitalisation of European banks, even though officials in Paris and Berlin have made clear in recent days that the countries are far apart. “While a detailed plan was lacking, we view any progress on bank recapitalisation as a positive for gold,” said UBS in a note. “Typically liquidity concerns and funding issues are not gold’s friends.”

US gold futures for December delivery were up $24.80 an ounce at $1,660.60.

Data released by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Friday showed money managers, including hedge funds and other large speculators, scaled back bullish bets in gold futures and options for the eighth time in nine weeks. China’s financial markets reopened after the week-long National Day holiday. The popular gold forward contract on the Shanghai Gold Exchange rose more than 1 percent to 341.90 yuan per gram, or $1,674.50 an ounce.

“The decline in gold prices recently has attracted retail interest as China’s Golden Week holiday draws to an end,” said HSBC in a note. “Dennis Lau, director of sales operations for Chow Sang Sang Holdings Intl, the largest listed jewelry maker and retailer in Hong Kong, mentioned in an interview that more gold buyers are attracted to the gold markets this year following the plunge in gold prices,” it added.

“Sales during Golden Week were 50 percent higher from a year earlier as buyers took advantage of the price decline. Due to positive retail buying, we remain upbeat on gold prices.”

Premiums on gold bars in Hong Kong remained around $3 per ounce, as physical stockpiles were running low, said dealers.

Other precious metals also benefited from the weaker dollar, with silver up 2.2 percent at $31.83 an ounce.

Among the more industrial precious metals, spot platinum was up 1.8 percent at $1,512.49 an ounce, while spot palladium was up 4.1 percent at $606.85 an ounce. — Reuters

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business

Shareholders agree Spanish banking takeover MADRID: Spain’s fifth biggest bank, Banco Pastor, said yesterday its takeover offer for smaller rival Banco Popular has been accepted by the target bank’s majority shareholders.

Their agreement effectively seals the all-share deal, worth a reported 1.36 billion euros ($1.8 billion).

The three major Banco Pastor shareholders representing a combined 52.28 percent of the equity “have accepted the terms of the offer,” Banco Popular said in a statement. The three shareholders are corporate foundation

Fundacion Pedro Barrie de la Maza with 42.17 percent, Amancio Ortega, who owns the textile giant Inditex, with 5.06 percent and Tesalia with 4.04 percent.

Banco Pastor and Banco Popular shares were suspended from trading on Friday when they announced the takeover was being discussed.

The offer consists of: 1.115 new Banco Popular shares in exchange for each Banco Pastor share.

Based on the latest Banco Popular share price, that would value Banco Pastor’s outstanding shares at 1.08 billion euros. 30.9 new

Banco Popular shares for each mandatory covertible bond in Banco Pastor. According to the daily El Pais, this part of the offer is worth another 277 million euros.

The Bank of Spain and the government have put pressure of Spanish banks to merge so as to lower costs and strengthen their balance sheets to cope with bad loans that piled up after the 2008 property market collapse.

The financial restructuring has already cut the number of savings banks from 45 to 15 through a series of mergers. Banco Pastor was

one of five Spanish banks that in July failed European Union stress tests to assess the ability of lenders to withstand a prolonged recession.

Shares in both companies were suspended before the announcement Friday. At the time Banco Popular was trading up 1.30 percent at 3.565 euros while Banco Pastor had gained 4.80 percent to 3.03 euros.

Banco Popular had total assets worth 130 billion euros ($174 billion) at the end of last year, compared to 31 billion euros for Banco Pastor. — AFP

Abu Dhabi sees economy growing up to 5% in 2012 Performance helped by diversifying economy

NEW YORK: In this Oct. 4, 2011 photo, trader John Panin, center, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Stock markets in Europe and Asia perked up yesterday, after a weekend meeting of the leaders of France and Germany provided a promise of action on Europe’s debt crisis. — AP

Washington protests march into second week WASHINGTON: Hundreds of protesters marched in Washington on Sunday, angered at what they said was the US government’s willingness to bail out rich corporations while neglecting the nation’s hard-pressed citizens.

The Occupy DC movement, a fledgling activist group which set up a makeshift headquarters at McPherson Square on K Street one week ago, showed signs of growing as people from across the country headed to join them in the capital. More than 200 demonstrators marched to Freedom Plaza, near the White House, and a second demonstration saw a similar crowd head towards Malcolm X Park in northwest Washington. “There are a lot of people in this country who cannot afford to educate their children and live in an educated society. I don’t want to live in a third world country,” said Lana Ferree, a science teacher from Pennsylvania. “We don’t need huge corporations, just jobs.

But the government is all about Exxon and Wall Street,” she added.

Occupy DC’s website states the movement is built on the example of Occupy Wall Street, whose activists have continuously camped out in a New York park

since September 17. Both groups are angered at rising inequality in the United States, in the wake of the global financial crisis. “Our focus is on the economy, corporate corruption of our political system, and the negative effects of corporate personhood,” Occupy DC, which has deliberately avoided appointing a spokesman, says on its website.

Anthony Allen, 38, a salesman and father of two who lives in Washington and has been at McPherson Square since Thursday, said “the fact that nothing is going right” in the US economy, had led him to protest. “I’ve been waiting for this to happen for the last two years, because our system of government is not working,” he said as he handed out information leaflets to new arrivals at McPherson Square. “This is an eclectic group. I met a guy who managed a couple of Wal-Mart stores and another person who is going to get kicked out of their apartment next week.” President Barack Obama said Thursday that the anti-Wall Street protests in New York and beyond were an expression of public anger and frustration over the antics of bankers and a moribund economy, with unemployment at 9.1 percent. — AFP

India’s Maruti appeals for strikers’ eviction NEW DELHI: India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki called yesterday for authorities to evict 1,500 striking workers who have seized control of one of its plants, amid allegations of sabotage and violence.

The Japanese-controlled company, which sells nearly one out of every two cars in India, said the workers had been staging a sit-in strike at its Manesar factory in northern Haryana state since Friday.

Tensions have been high at the plant for months with work stoppages costing the company at least $240 million in lost output. “The workers are keeping the facilities under siege,” a Maruti spokesman, who asked not be named in line with company policy, told AFP, calling it a “grave law and order problem”.

“We need the police to evict them, we’re telling the (Haryana) state government to evict them. We can’t get into fist fights with the workers.”

Six years ago, a protest in the same region at Honda Motorcycle, owned by Japan’s Honda Motor, led to clashes with police that resulted in at least 100 workers being injured. Maruti is 54 percent owned by Suzuki Motor Corp and India is critical to the Japanese company’s fortunes as it is its biggest overseas market.

The new confrontation-which began just a week after employees returned to

work following a 33-day lockout-sent Maruti’s shares tumbling by nearly four percent to 1,073.20 rupees. The shares have shed nearly a quarter of their value since the start of 2011. Analysts say they are watching the unrest closely as labour stability is a key to India’s attractiveness as a low-cost manufacturing investment destination.

Manesar, which employs 2,000 workers, normally produces around 1,000 to 1,200 of Maruti’s top-selling Swift and AStar hatchbacks and SX4 sedans daily.

The company said that the number of cars produced at its second car plant was also cut by around 1,000 to 1,800 on Monday as workers who went on sympathy strikes at nearby Suzuki-controlled plants disrupted supplies.

The Maruti spokesman said the firm was able to “rescue” 500 workers from the Manesar plant during the past few days who did not want to be on strike while 1,500 remained inside. He added the company had fired 15 workers and suspended 10 others who allegedly beat up other workers who refused to join the strike.

“The striking workers attacked coworkers, supervisors and executives in multiple incidents of violence, and damaged factory property,” a company statement said. — AFP

NEW YORK: This photo shows 1 State Street Plaza, home of Fitch Ratings, Sunday in New York. — AP

ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi’s economy is expected to expand by up to 5 percent next year, not far from the long-term target rate of 6 percent annually, and the government will continue spending to support growth, a government official said yesterday.

The United Arab Emirates member, which sits on 10 percent of global oil reserves and accounts for 90 percent of UAE oil output, felt the pinch of the global financial crisis in 2009 after crude prices tumbled from 2008 record highs.

With an oil price recovery in 2010, the economy, which depends on oil production for 57 percent of gross domestic product, picked up speed again.

“For this year, the real growth will be about 4.5 percent. Next year, I will assume it will be the same level-4.5, 5 percent,” Mohamed Omar Abdulla, Undersecretary at Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development, told Reuters on the sidelines of an economic forum in the UAE capital.

Abdulla said growth was being helped by efforts to diversify Abu Dhabi’s economy and that sectors other than oil were now accounting for about 50 percent of growth in the emirate.

A Reuters poll last month predicted the UAE as a whole would expand 3.8 percent this year and at the same rate next year. The 2012 forecast was cut from 4.0 percent predicted three months earlier because of worsening global conditions.

Abu Dhabi has run a budget deficit for the past two years, partly due to a doubling of spending on development in 2009 and after its $10 billion bailout of fellow emirate Dubai after a property bubble burst in 2008.

But Abdulla, while declining to give specifics, said the emirate would continue spending actively on education, health and infrastructure. He said some spending plans were being adjusted “in response to the circumstances around us”, but that “the strategy

course we have many plans in terms of infrastructure.”

Abu Dhabi spent 245.5 billion dirhams ($66.8 billion) last year, 6 percent less than in 2009, government data shows. The emirate, which accounts for some 71 percent of UAE

ABU DHABI: Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (R) and Borg Brend (C) an official of the World Economic Forum, listen to the speech by United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed during the opening session of the World Economic Forum in Abu Dhabi, yesterday. — AFP will be the same, to support growth”.

“The spending ... will continue in general.

The government of Abu Dhabi will continue to spend as usual on the economy and of

fiscal spending, did not publish its 2011 budget plan. Its budget deficit more than halved to 57.1 billion dirhams, or 9.2 percent of GDP, in 2010. — Reuters

Global crisis could roil Lat-Am export markets BUENOS AIRES: The global economic crisis is worrying officials in Latin America, who fear the effects of a decline in demand for the region’s raw materials, particularly from China, analysts said. As the biggest customer for Latin America’s raw materials and commodities, China spends billions of dollars per year as the biggest customer for unprocessed goods, from copper to gold to soybeans.

But China may be less eager to purchase Latin American commodities to fuel its industrial machine amid global economic uncertainty, experts say. The first signs of possible trouble came last month, which saw precipitous declines in the price of wheat and corn, which each fell by 23 percent, and the price of soybeans, which declined by 19 percent.

The price of copper, for which Chile is the world’s biggest exporter, has plummeted by some 25 percent. The crisis “has already affected us,” said Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera. “Over the past few weeks, the price of copper has lost approximately one dollar, or about 25 percent of its value,” he said recently.

“It is clear that the region is vulnerable with respect to global demand, no one is going to escape the crisis currently going on in Europe or in the United States,” said Rodrigo Aguilera, an expert with the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The European Union is the world’s biggest buyer of Chinese exports, worth about $380 billion in 2010, and analysts fear a collapse in demand which could trigger a loss in demand for raw materials by Chinese factories, including exports from Latin America.

A report published last week by the Fitch ratings agency also noted the slower economic activity in China, which it said could have an impact on revenue for the countries of Latin America which could lead to a monetary or balance of payments crisis.

China’s rise in bilateral trade with Latin America is the greatest of any region in the world-an astonishing 18-fold increase over the past decade, thanks mostly to exports of raw materials from the region including minerals and foodstuffs.

China also in recent years has become Brazil’s largest trading partner, overtaking the United States, and in 2010 was the largest investor in the South American giant, pumping in some $30 billion.

For China, Brazil is an important source of raw materials-oil, iron ore and soybeans account for 80 percent of Chinese imports and 90 percent of its investments in the largest Latin American economy.

But the export of manufactured products, which most economists say is the cornerstone of healthy economic development for emerging countries, is beginning to stagnate. Belen Olaiz of the Abeceb economic institute in Buenos Aires said it is “difficult to predict what that magnitude of the impact will be.” But she was heartened that in his estimation so far that the drop in demand for primary materials from Latin America so far has been relatively slight, “considering the magnitude of the global economic crisis.” — AFP

Toyota Fortuner 2012 — ‘Lights, camera, action, and more...’

KUWAIT: The luxurious, advanced and dynamic Toyota Fortuner has just received a facelift for 2012. The sevenseat SUV features the new front end that includes new headlights, bumper and grille, along with different tail lamps, rear bumper and wheels. The highly satisfying experience of driving the new Fortuner with two engine choices 4000cc - 6 Cylinder 4x4 - 235hp and 2700cc - 4 Cylinder - 158hp 4x2. Fortuner is also popular with car sales of the SUV market segment; it provides fresh leadership in SUV world.

The Fortuner 2012 is a genuine 4WD. Designed and built to deliver excellent driving performance both on and off road, added to that refined features that

lets you fine-tune your quality of life. The roomy cabin is a multi-functional space that can be quickly rearranged to accommodate changing combination of people and gear. Three rows of seats that accommodate up to seven adults. The powerful air-conditioning system gives control of the comfortable cabin climate, the rear cooler blower switch and vents for the second and third rows and they are integrated in the ceiling.

The Toyota Fortuner 2012 is designed with a luxurious wooden interior, New aluminum wheels and a spruced up interior with higher quality materials. A new instrument cluster and uprated equipment options also heighten its attractiveness.

‘Le Huffington Post’ to launch in France PARIS: The Huffington Post said yesterday it will launch a French edition in partnership with newspaper Le Monde, as the influential news and opinion website continues its push to expand outside North America.

The new site, the web publishing giant’s first non-English language venture, will merge with a Le Monde-run website, Le Post, and launch in the second half of November at www.lehuffingtonpost.fr, the companies said. “It will be entirely run by French journalists. It will be rooted in the French culture,” site founder Arianna Huffington told AFP. “France has a very thriving social media culture, with some absolutely amazing bloggers, and also a great journalistic culture. So from the beginning

we saw The Huffington Post as bringing together the best of traditional journalism with the best of new technologies and new media.”

The move comes after The Huffington Post launched a British edition in July as it seeks to push into international markets following its acquisition in February

by Internet company AOL for $315 million (232 million euros). The Huffington Post’s blog-led model, offering a lively mix of news, entertainment and opinion submitted by academics, entertainment figures and politicians, has proved immensely popular. Traffic to the site hit 35.6 million unique visitors in June-the first time The Huffington Post surpassed the website of The New York Times in terms of traffic. — AFP

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TECHNOLOGY

Sierra Leone gets fibre optic link to Internet FREETOWN: Sierra Leone will secure its first fiber optic connection to the outside world yesterday with the arrival of the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable in the capital Freetown. Sierra Leone, which is still recovering from a devastating 11-year civil war that ended in 2002, is part of a dwindling group of countries still wholly reliant on highly expensive satellite bandwidth for internet connections.

Numerous studies have identified cheap and fast Internet as a factor that can boost a countr y ’s economic

growth. “The vessel that carries the fiber optic cable is currently within the shores of Sierra Leone,” Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Information said in a statement. It added the vessel would dock and lay the cable later yesterday at a landing station by Lumley Beach in western Freetown.

When complete, the 17,000-km (11,000-mile) ACE cable will run from France to South Africa, connecting 23 countries. The cable was launched by France Telecom as part of a consortium with telecom operators in participating countries. Sierra Leone, along

with neighboring Liberia, missed out on previous fiber optic cables laid down the West African coast, such as SAT-3.

“At that time we had a civil war, we didn’t have the opportunity to articulate the arrangement to have a landing station here,” said Senesie Kallon, deputy director general of Sierra Leone’s National Telecommunications Commission.

At present, Internet access in Sierra Leone is currently slow or expensive, and often both. According to the National Telecommunications

Commission, the country as a whole has just 155 Megabits of bandwidth, less than would ser ve a small American or European town.

The World Bank estimates that bandwidth in Sierra Leone costs 10 times the level in East Africa and 25 times the US price. Barely one percent of the 5.4 million population have access to Internet services. The World Bank is providing $30 million to fund the connection of Sierra Leone to the cable offshore.

“There was an opportunity to connect Sierra Leone to ACE in 2011 and if

the country were to miss that it wasn’t clear there’d be further opportunities,” said Vijay Pillai, the bank’s country manager in Freetown.

The International Telecommunication Union said in August that nine African countries remain wholly dependent on satellite I nternet.

Alongside Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Guinea, Liberia, Sao TomÈ and PrÌncipe and the Seychelles all lack fiber optic connections to the wider world. —Reuters

BlackBerry reports problems in Europe, Middle East

KOREA: A South Korean woman walks past advertising for the Samsung Electronics mobile phone Galaxy S II LTE in Seoul. —AFP

Samsung: Android phone launch delayed ‘for Jobs’ SEOUL: South Korea’s Samsung Electronics said yesterday it delayed the launch of a smartphone based on Google’s latest Android operating system as a gesture of respect for legendary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

Samsung-the world’s number two mobile phone maker-and Apple are at loggerheads in a series of patent lawsuits over the technology and design of smartphones and tablet computers.

The Korean company had been due to unveil a Galaxy Nexus smartphone using Google-backed Android software and designed to challenge Apple’s market-leading iPhone at an event in San Diego today. “The launch was delayed because we thought it’s not the right time to announce it fol-

lowing the passing of Steve Jobs,” a spokesman for the company told AFP. Jobs, 56, died on Wednesday after suffering from cancer.

Last week Apple unveiled its iPhone 4S, which will be available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Britain on October 14 and in another 22 countries including Italy from October 28.

But Samsung said it would seek a ban in France and Italy on sales of the new iPhone, citing what it called two patent infringements regarding mobile technology. The South Korean firm also said it would file preliminary injunctions in other countries. Samsung will announce a new date and venue for its smartphone launch later.—AFP

Netflix keeps DVD-by-mail, streaming on one website NEW YORK: Netflix said yesterday it will keep its DVD-by-mail and Internet streaming services on one website for US subscribers, abandoning plans announced last month to completely separate the services.

But Netflix did not change the new pricing announced for the two services, which upset some subscribers and reportedly led to numerous cancellations. “US members will continue to use one website, one account and one password for their movie and TV watching enjoyment,” the company said in a statement.

Netflix acknowledged it had made a mistake in announcing on September 18 that it would break up its two services by putting its DVDby-mail business on Qwikster.com.

“Consumers value the simplicity Netflix has always offered and we respect that,” Reed Hastings, Netflix co-founder and chief executive, said in the statement. “There is a difference between moving quicklywhich Netflix has done very well for years-and moving too fast, which is what we did in this case.”

The reversal followed a consumer backlash at the idea of using a sepa-

rate website to rent DVDs and a hike in prices, and marked the second time in as many months that the Netflix CEO has apologized to subscribers. Netflix announced in July that combined online streaming and DVD-by-mail services that previously cost $10 per month was jumping to $16 monthly. Subscribers can also opt to sign on for one service or the other for $8 a month.

Hastings apologized in September for the handling of a price hike, but made no change to the pricing scheme.”I messed up. I owe ever yone an explanation,” Hastings said in a letter to subscribers posted on the Netflix blog late Sunday.

“It is clear from the feedback over the past two months that many members felt we lacked respect and humility in the way we announced the separation of DVD and streaming, and the price changes,” he said.

“That was certainly not our intent, and I offer my sincere apology.”Netflix shares leaped 7.5 percent higher to $125.99 in early trade in New York.—AFP

LOS GATOS: This April 13, 2011 file photo shows the Netflix company logo seen at Netflixheadquarters. —AFP

LONDON: Large numbers of BlackBerry users across Europe, the Middle East and Africa have been cut off from Internet and messaging services, phone companies in the affected regions said yesterday. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd gave few details beyond a brief statement saying that customers were “experiencing issues,” but telecommunications companies in the Middle East and Europe laid the blame at the Canadian company’s door.

Khaled Hegazy, Vodafone Egypt’s spokesman, said “there is a problem with the servers in Canada which is affecting service” in the region. He said they expected it would take about another four hours to resolve the issue, which first appeared to crop up at about 1000 GMT (6 am EDT). The extent of the outage wasn’t clear. Vodafone UK said that customers across Britain appeared to be unable to access BlackBerry Messenger, a freeto-use instant messaging program which has helped make the handset popular with young people.

Across the affected regions, BlackBerry Internet access appeared to be sporadic.

Some users were able to send and receive messages, while others using the same service provider couldn’t. Among the companies reporting problems were Qtel Qatar, Etisalat in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai-based Du, Zain Kuwait, and the Bahrain Telecommunications Co. The outage occurred as RIM’s co-CEO Jim Balsillie and other executives were in Dubai for the annual GITEX electronics show. Balsillie earlier in the day unveiled a new service at the show that will soon let users of some of its latest BlackBerry phones share documents, web links and other information with others by tapping their smartphones together. —AP

NEW YORK: File photo shows a BlackBerry showing AT&T service available on a subway platform . —AFP

Big demand for new iPhone in Australia SYDNEY: Australia’s top telecommunication companies said yesterday they had received unprecedented pre-launch interest in the updated iPhone, days after the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs. The iPhone 4S hits the Australian market from Friday, but phone networks began taking orders over the weekend. Telecom giant Telstra said there had been huge interest. “ Tens of thousands of customers have already registered their interest in iPhone 4S-more than any other iPhone launch to date,” a spokesman said, without revealing figures.

Optus said it had seen solid demand, despite the device disappointing some analysts due to its similarity to the earlier iPhone 4, released last year.

“We are really pleased with the response from customers since the Optus iPhone 4S pre-order site went live on Saturday,” said a spokeswoman.

“We cannot divulge volumes at this stage but are happy with the number of preorders to date and due to higher stock levels than previous years we are confident we can meet customer demand.”

Pre-orders began in the United States on

Friday, with AT&T announcing it had sold more than 200,000 in the first 12 hours, which it described as “extraordinar y demand”.

The iPhone 4S looks the same as the iPhone 4 but the new smartphone is faster than its predecessor, has a better 8megapixel camera and features new software such as the Siri personal assistant. In addition to its stand-alone appeal, sales are expected to benefit from the enormous outpouring of sympathy for Jobs, who died last week aged 56, after years battling pancreatic cancer.—AFP

Mitsubishi Heavy ‘targeted by over 50 computer viruses’ TOKYO: Japanese defense contractor Mitsubishi Heavy has been hit by over 50 separate computer viruses in a series of cyber attacks so far this year, a report said yesterday. One of the infected computers contracted 28 types of virus, including ones that could have been prevented with existing anti-virus software, the Yomiuri Shimbun said, amid concerns over the security of defense information. The defense ministry plans to tell Mitsubishi Heavy to file detailed reports on its cyber security measures, the newspaper said.

Mitsubishi Heavy is analyzing 83 computers hit by the attacks and has found more than 50 kinds of viruses, significantly more than the eight strains that the company announced on September 19, the newspaper said. The company declined to comment for the Yomiuri story, citing an ongoing police investigation, while Mitsubishi officials could not be reached yesterday a national holiday-for immediate comment.

Japan’s defense minister said in September there was no indication that sensitive information had been stolen as a result of the attacks on the firm’s computers, which came to light in August.

The Yomiuri reported earlier that the attackers might have used Chinese-language script in creating the viruses. China has been accused of spearheading online attacks on government agencies and companies, allegations Beijing has always denied. In June, Internet giant Google said a cyber-spying campaign originating in China had targeted Gmail accounts of senior US officials, military personnel, journalists and Chinese political activists. After US defense contractors were targeted by cyber attacks earlier this year, Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn claimed that a foreign intelligence agency was behind an attack that stole classified information on a top secret weapons system. —AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: File photo shows Apple chief executive Steve Jobs introducing the iPhone 4 during the keynote address at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. —AFP

Apple says iPhone 4s sales over 1 million in first day WASHINGTON: Apple said yesterday that preorders of the new model of its hit iPhone 4 topped one million units in the first 24 hours.

Worldwide advance orders for the iPhone 4S, said to be much faster than its predecessor and with improved video and photo capabilities, set a record for an Apple product, the company said. “The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched,” said Philip Schiller, Apple senior vice president, in a statement.

The smart phone, which will sell for

between $199 and $399, depending on memory capacity, will be available in Apple stores in the United States from October 14. It will be available in 22 other countries, including much of Europe, by the end of October.

The 4S was launched on October 4, one day before visionary Apple co-founder and longtime Steve Jobs died following a long battle with cancer.

His health failing, Jobs had stepped down as chief executive in August and was replaced

by Tim Cook, who presided over the launch of the new iPhone. —AFP

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health & science

WHO chief accuses ‘big tobacco’ of dirty tricks Companies use lawsuits to subvert laws: Chan

CALIFORNIA: Looking a lot like a horse, but with stripes similar to a zebra, the faces of an okapi calf and her mother show signs of their real relative, the giraffe at the San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California. The mother, Makini, gave birth on September 4, 2011 to the 37th okapi born at the Safari Park and the first female born in 11 years. Okapis are the only living relative of the giraffe and have similar large, upright ears and a prehensile tongue that helps them strip leaves from trees in their native habitat of the Ituri Forest in Central Africa. —AFP

MANILA: The World Health Organization’s chief yesterday urged governments to unite against “big tobacco”, as she accused the industry of dirty tricks, bullying and immorality in its quest to keep people smoking. WHO director-general Margaret Chan accused cashed-up tobacco firms of using lawsuits to try and subvert national laws and international conventions aimed at curbing cigarette sales.

“It is horrific to think that an industry known for its dirty tricks and dirty laundry could be allowed to trump what is clearly in the public’s best interests,” Chan said at a WHO meeting in the Philippine capital yesterday. Chan cited legal actions by the tobacco industry against anti-smoking measures in Australia and Uruguay, saying these were “scare tactics” intended to frighten other countries from following suit.

“It is hard for any country to bear the financial burden of this kind of litigation, but most especially so for small countries,” she said. “Big tobacco can afford to hire the best lawyers and PR firms that money can buy. Big money can speak louder than any moral, ethical or public health argument and can trample even the most damning scientific evidence”. Chan called on the countries at the forum of Western Pacific nations to fight back. “I urge all these countries to stand firm together, do not bow to pressure... we must never allow the tobacco industry to get the upper hand,” she said.

Chan pointed to successful efforts in the Philippines to increase taxes on tobacco products, saying that the WHO was “gearing up” to support other countries that took such measures. Chan did not specify how the WHO would help countries in their efforts to combat the tobacco industry. But the WHO has for many years called for bans on cigarette advertising and promotion, as well as restric-

MANILA: A man points at proposed cigarette packaging by the World Health Organization (WHO) showing various ailments caused by cigarette smoking, displayed at the WHO office in Manila yesterday.—AFP tions on smoking in public places and higher taxes. In Australia, Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s government is aiming to introduce world-first legislation that would force all cigarettes to be sold in plain packaging from January 1 next year.

However Philip Morris has launched legal action, claiming Australia’s plans violate international trade obligations and warning it expects billions of dollars in compensation if plain packaging goes ahead. Australian Department of Health Secretary Jane Halton told the WHO forum in Manila that her government was determined to push through

Chemical makers say BPA no longer used in bottles WASHINGTON: Makers of the controversial chemical bisphenol-A have asked federal regulators to phase out rules that allow its use in baby bottles and sippy cups, saying those products haven’t contained the plastichardening ingredient for two years. The unusual request from the American Chemistry Council may help quash years of negative publicity from consumer groups and head off tougher laws that would ban the chemical from other types of packaging because of health worries.

For now, the industry says concerns over bottles and spill-proof cups are unnecessary. “All the evidence we have is that those products have been off the market for several years,” said Steven Hentges, the American Chemistry Council’s director for BPA issues. “We’re trying to bring clarity and certainty that BPA isn’t used in baby bottles and sippy cups today, and it won’t be in the future.”

BPA is found in hundreds of plastic items from water bottles to CDs to dental sealants. Some researchers are convinced that ingesting the chemical can interfere with development of the reproductive and nervous systems and possibly promote cancer. Consumer health groups hailed the move as a “win for moms and dads” but pressed for removing BPA from more products.

“The writing is on the wall for BPA,” said Mike Schade of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. “We hope to see a major transition away from BPA in canned food in years to come.” The chemical industry’s petition points out that the six leading makers of baby bottles stopped using BPA in 2009. And none of the 13 major

Fungus could wipe out Philippine bananas MANILA: A disease that has ravaged banana plantations across Southeast Asia could wipe out the Philippine industry in three years unless the government finds a cure, a growers’ group warned yesterday.

The disease, called Fusarium wilt, is caused by a fastspreading fungus that kills the plant, said Stephen Antig, executive director of the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association.

“So far, it has already infected 1,200 hectares (2,950 acres) of banana plantations locally, although that figure can go higher,” Antig told AFP. “If we can not contain this and it remains unchecked, then in less than three years our banana industry will die.” The Philippines is the second biggest exporter of bananas in the world behind Ecuador with about 70,000 hectares of plantations, according to the association.

The banana sector is also the country’s fifth largest export industry, directly employing 280,000 people, it said. “Losing this industry will have a huge impact on our economy,” Antig said. The Philippines exports the Cavendish variety of banana, which is the most popular type around the world, according to Antig. He said the disease wiped out the then-popular Gros Michel bananas in Central America and the Caribbean in the 1960s. The disease also destroyed Cavendish plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia in the 1990s. Traces of the fungus were found in controllable levels in the Philippines five years ago, Antig said. But a more virulent type of the fungus emerged last month and quickly began spreading through plantations in the southern region of Mindanao, where most of the country’s banana exports come from, he said. Antig urged the government to fast-track the creation of a research institute to enable local growers to develop a fruit variety that is resistant to the disease.— AFP

BPA producers, which make 97 percent of the global supply, sells the chemical to bottle makers.

The group represents BPA producers including Dow Chemical Co., Bayer and Momentive. The companies maintain that BPA is safe and the decision to petition the FDA was not influenced by science. The FDA regulates chemicals used in food packaging. It is illegal for companies to use substances not covered by FDA rules.

Agency spokesman Douglas Karas said the industry information is “consistent” with its own research, suggesting regulators would approve the request. The FDA typically takes comments on petitions for 60 days before making a decision.

The industry move also appears designed to head off state -level efforts to ban BPA across the US On Wednesday, California became the 11th state to pass a law banning bisphenol from baby drink containers.

Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New York and a halfdozen other states have passed similar laws in the past two years. “This move eliminates the need for state and federal governments to spend further time and effort on a matter that has no practical outcome,” the group said in a statement.

Consumers Union, a nonprofit advocacy group, pointed out that “the industry collectively spent millions of dollars over the last five years” lobbying against the BPA state bans. “The chemical industry’s action doesn’t go far enough. They need to get on board with a national ban on BPA in all food and beverage containers,” said Ami Gadhia, the group’s senior counsel.

Legislation introduced by Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and

other federal lawmakers would ban BPA nationwide in all canned food, water bottles and food containers.

Those products are not addressed in the industry’s petition. The vast majority of canned goods in the US are sealed with resin that contains BPA to prevent contamination and spoiling. Canned food manufacturers have used the chemicals since the 1950s. The practice is approved by the FDA. But some manufacturers have responded to concerns by switching to alternatives.

Heinz uses BPA-free coatings for its Nurture baby formula cans, and ConAgra and General Mills have switched to alternative sealants for some canned tomatoes.

The chemical industry says BPA is the safest, most effective sealant. The federal government has been grappling with the safety of BPA for nearly three years.

The FDA revised its opinion on BPA in 2010 saying there is “some concern” about the chemical’s impact on the brain and reproductive system of infants, babies and young children. Previously the agency said the trace amounts of BPA that leach out of food containers are not dangerous. The FDA said dozens of animal studies linking the chemical to tumors and abnormal growth are not applicable to humans. The government is spending $30 million to study the chemical’s effect on people. About 90 percent of Americans have traces of bisphenol in their urine. While older children and adults quickly eliminate the chemical through their kidneys, newborns and infants can retain it for much longer.

Scientists pushing for a ban on the chemical argue that BPA mimics the effects of the hormone estrogen, interfering with growth.— AP

Siberian region ‘confirms Yeti exists’ MOSCOW: A Russian region in Siberia yesterday confidently proclaimed that its mountains are home to yetis after finding “indisputable proof ” of the existence of the hairy beasts in an expedition. The local administration of the Kemerovo region in the south of Siberia said in a statement on its website that footprints and possibly even hair samples belonging to the yeti were found on the research trip to its remote mountains.

“During the expedition to the Azasskaya cave, conference participants gathered indisputable proof that the Shoria mountains are inhabited by the ‘Snow Man’,” the Kemerovo region administration said in a pressrelease. The expedition was organised after Kemerovo’s governor invited researchers from the United States, Canada, and several other countries to share their research and stories of encounters with the creature at a conference. “They found his footprints, his supposed bed, and various markers with which the yeti marks his territory,” the statement said. The collected “artifacts” will be analyzed in a special laboratory, it said. Yetis, or Abominable Snowmen, are hairy ape-like creatures of popular myth, that are generally held to inhabit the Himalayas. But some believe Russia also holds a population of yetis, which it calls Snow

Men, in remote areas of Siberia.

Kemerovo region’s Shoria is a sparsely populated territory in Western Siberia that has historically been a territory of coal and metal mining. The region, the administrative center of Kuznetsk coal basin, has pursued the elusive Yeti for several years as it tries to develop

tourism into its mostly industrial economy. Considering the latest findings, the region may “create a special research center to study the Yeti” in the regional university and “create a journal” dedicated to the science of the Yeti, the administration’s statement said. —AFP

PUERTO GAITAN: A Llanero (Colombian herder) pulls the tail of a steer in an attempt to knock it over during a “Coleo” competition in Puerto Gaitan, Meta department, center Colombia on Sunday. Coleo is a sport practiced in the flatlands or Llanos covering much of eastern Colombia and southern Venezuela. It involves two riders that chase a steer -or a bull- down a narrow track of sand that is two to three hundred meters long.—AFP

with its plan, despite the “subversive tactics” of tobacco companies. “We stand ready to repel the assault of big tobacco but we acknowledge it will be a big fight,” Halton told the WHO delegates.

WHO documents released at the forum said that 3,000 people die each day from tobacco use in the Western Pacific region.

This covers an area with a population of 1.6 billion people, including China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and many South Pacific island nations.— AFP

News in Brief Mega beats Mimi for world’s biggest virus PARIS: A virus found in the sea off Chile is the biggest in the world, harboring more than 1,000genes, surprised scientists reported yesterday. The genome of Megavirus chilensis is 6.5 percent bigger than the DNA code of the previous virus record-holder, Mimivirus, isolated in 2003.

Viruses differ from bacteria in that they are usually far smaller and cannot reproduce on their own, needing to penetrate a host cell in which to replicate. But M chilensis is such a giant that it surpasses many bacteria in size and is genetically the most complex DNA virus ever described. It was taken from sea water sample closed to the shore of Las Cruces, Chile. Its host organism is unknown.

DNA viruses include pox viruses and herpes viruses, but M. chilensis “doesn’t seem to be harmful for humans,” said Jean-Michel Claverie, of France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). The study appears in a US journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Bird flu kills 2 in Indonesia DENPASAR: Two children have died of bird flu in Indonesia, the first deaths there from the virus in several months, hospital staff said yesterday. A 10year-old boy and his five-year-old sister died at the Sanglah hospital on the resort island of Bali on Sunday, said Dr Ken Wirasandhi, a member of the hospital’s bird flu unit. “The patients’ conditions drastically deteriorated” after they were admitted on Friday with high fever and tested positive for the H5N1 virus, he said. “They came to us in a state of shock and despite our best efforts, they couldn’t be saved,” he added. Officials say they are still investigating whether the siblings had come into direct contact with birds. Indonesia is the country hardest hit by the virus. According to the World Health Organization website, as of March, H5N1 had killed 144 people in Indonesia since 2003. The virus typically spreads from birds to humans through direct contact, but experts fear it could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, with the potential to kill millions in a pandemic.

Obesity: US lightens up, but just a little WASHINGTON: The percentage of Americans who are overweight or obese fell slightly in the third quarter of this year, but they still make up a majority of the population, a Gallup poll showed Friday.

Some 36.6 percent were a normal weight, up a percentage point from a year earlier, while 35.8 percent were overweight, down from 36.0 percent, and 25.8 percent were obese, down from 26.6 percent. Black Americans, the middle-aged and those earning less than $36,000 a year remained most likely to be obese-but even in those categories, said Gallup in a statement, the trend was either stable or declining. “Although the majority of Americans are still overweight or obese, it is an encouraging sign that obesity rates are trending downward in the US and among demographic subgroups,” the pollsters said.

Gallup based its findings on random telephone calls to 90,070 adult respondents in the three months to September 30. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus a percentage point. It defined obese as someone with a body mass index of 30 or more, overweight as 25 to 29.9 and normal as 18.5 to 24.9.

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Oil slick hits NZ coast as clean-up hampered TAURANGA: Oil from a stranded container ship began washing up on New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty yesterday, as bad weather hampered clean-up efforts and attempts to salvage the crippled vessel. Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) said “fist-sized patties” of oil from the container ship Rena, which hit a reef last Wednesday, were found on Mount Maunganui beach, one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

By late yesterday, a six kilometer (3.7 mile) stretch of coastline was contaminated with a tar-like toxic ooze which smelled strongly of petrol, and the pollution has also reached Matakan Island, a sea bird nesting site. MNZ said it was inevitable that the slick, formed when an estimated 20 tons of oil leaked from the stricken vessel, still stuck fast on a reef 22 kilometers offshore, would contaminate more beaches in coming days.

Officials closed affected beaches and warned people to avoid the oil, saying clean-up teams would swing into action at high tide today, when the strong winds driving the slick onshore were expected to ease for a period. “If we rush to clean all the oil off the beach now we will just be back there in a few hours to do it again, which isn’t the best use of our resources,” it said.

But locals, who have criticized the speed of the oil slick response, began their own clean up, shovelling the viscous sludge into plastic bags then dumping them above the tidal zone on a coastline littered with dead fish. Matthew Morrow, a keen surfer who has lived in the area for 10 years, said he had joined about 40 people and felt devastated when he saw large blobs of oil that “looked like black jellyfish” marring the beach.

“It’s just sad,” he told AFP. “It’s disgusting, tragic...it seems to be up to the public to deal with it.” The spill has already killed a number of sea birds, with seven Little Blue penguins and two shags receiving treatment at wildlife rescue centres after being found covered in oil. MNZ said it had also received unconfirmed reports of oil-coated seals in the huge bay at the top of the North Island, which is also home to whales and dolphins and has a shoreline dotted with sensitive wetlands.

Officials fear New Zealand will face its worst maritime pollution disaster in decades if the Rena breaks up and sinks, spewing a further 1,700 tons of heavy fuel oil into the sea. Salvage workers prepared for the worst as stormy weather bore down on the area. They lashed down shipping containers on the vessel’s deck and moved the fuel from damaged tanks at the front of the ship to more secure ones at the back, installing covers designed to seal it in if the Rena ends up on the sea bed.

MNZ said an evacuation plan was in place to airlift the 36-strong salvage crew from the ship if necessary, while sensors had been installed to monitor whether stress from rough weather was beginning to tear the hull apart. The agency said late yesterday that there were “no obvious signs of deformation of the vessel”, which was battered by heavy seas and wind gusts the official metser vice reached 90km/h (56mph).

The salvage team had hoped to remove the oil before the bad weather arrived but MNZ said safety concerns meant that the operation had to be suspended after about 10 tonnes had been pumped onto a tanker moored beside the ship.

It said it needed at least two days of uninterrupted pumping to clear the oil from the vessel. The metservice predicts strong winds will continue on-and-off until Friday. Further complicating the operation, authorities said four shipping containers on the Rena were full of the hazardous alloy ferrosilicon. Some 250 people, including specialists from Australia, Britain, Holland and Singapore, have joined the oil slick response team, with 300 defence personnel on standby and expected to help the shoreline clean-up.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said oil could wash up on the coast for weeks to come. He refused to comment on an NZ Maritime Union allegation that an MNZ inspection of the Liberian-flagged Rena before the accident revealed errors in its charts. Joyce said two investigations were underway that would examine all aspects of the accident, including whether any of the crew had been drinking when the ship crashed. —AFP

BAY OF PLENTY: A clean-up crew dispose of oil washed ashore from the stricken Monrovia-flagged container ship “Rena” on New Zealand’s Mount Maunganui beach. Oil from a stranded container ship began washing up on the shore of New Zealand’s pristine Bay of Plenty, forcing beach closures at the popular tourist spot, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) said. —AFP

Woman suspected of removing fetus from mother MILWAUKEE: A Milwaukee woman abducted a young pregnant mother and removed her fetus just days before the baby was due, killing the mother and her unborn child, according to authorities. The suspect arrested after she tried to pass the baby off as her own. Milwaukee police said the 33-year-old suspect removed the full-term baby from Maritza Ramirez-Cruz’ uterus “by force,” but did not elaborate.

The suspect called 911 on Thursday saying she had given birth at home and that the baby wasn’t breathing, police said. An autopsy and investigation led police back to the suspect’s home Friday where they found the 23-year-old mother’s body in the basement. The woman was arrested but has not been charged in the case. Family members told W TMJ-T V that

senses' harmony ... with life

Ramirez-Cruz was due to give birth Oct. 16 to her fourth child, a boy, whom she and her husband had already named Omar.

Ramirez-Cruz’s husband, Christian Mercado, told the station that his wife had mild contractions Thursday morning and left the house around 9:15 am to run an errand. Mercado went to work but asked her to call him if she wanted to go to the hospital. Mercado said that around 11 a.m. he called his wife but got no answer.

Family members searched for her and, more than a day after Mercado filed a police report, authorities called to say a body had been found that matched her description.

The case has been for warded to the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office for

Al Seef Hospi A Al-Seef Hospital tal Visiting Vi isiting Doctors Pro Program ogram

review, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said there was no evidence that the two women knew each other and he said “fetal abduction” is extremely rare. Similar cases of women taking an unborn child from a mother’s womb were reported in Massachusetts and Oregon in 2009, in Pennsylvania in 2007, in Illinois in 2006 and Missouri in 2004.

In the Oregon case, a woman was indicted on an aggravated murder charge, accused of cutting a fetus out of another woman whom she met searching for baby clothes on the Internet. The charge alleges Korena Roberts, 27, attempted to kidnap the baby of Heather Snively, 21, and rob her, and tried to conceal the crimes. — AP

17 th - 2 th 4 Oct

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Birthday Greetings

Happy birthday darling Darlene Amanda, many happy returns of the day. May Almighty God bless you with good health. Best wishes from you loving mother, Zamina.

MGTYA celebrates 142nd Gandhi Jayanti

M Wish you a happy first birthday Messi. Best wishes from father Kumar and mother Sumitra.

Announcements

ahatma Gandhi Telugu Youth Association (MGTYA) held their 2nd anniversary with celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s 142nd Jayanthi on 6th Thursday at Indian Carmel School Auditorium. The function started with lighting the lamp by chief guests Dr. P.V. Sridhar and Aziz, G.M. from Shifa Al-Jazira Hospital.

Dr Sridhar expressed his joy for being a part in 142nd Jayanthi celebrations of Bapuji, known as Father of the Nation.

Mani Sannapaneni, president gave the opening speech by welcoming all the

participants and expressed his sincere thanks to all the friends, well-wishers for their continuous support for the association activities to help the handicapped and poor students back home in Andhra Pradesh. Also thanked main sponsors Skynet Prasad and Sadhu Narayana (food sponsor) to make the event in a grand manner. The cultural program started with patriotic theme dances followed by filmy dance and Chekka Bhajana by leading dance groups; Fusion Dance Academy (Imran, Shamsher & Kumar).

Break House (Stedison Charlie), Heart

Beats (Lalson &Anoop), Desi Strikers (Mabela Suvarna) & Sri Krishna Chekka Bhajana (Chandra & Sankar Reddy).

Patriotic dances were emotionally received by the audience with thundering applause and thoroughly enjoyed foot tapping other dances too. Souvenir was released by all village committee representatives and Mahatma Gandhi Association committee members. The event was well crafted and anchored by Balaram Naidu with the help of Divakar Oleti and Malepati Babu.

In the vote of thanks note, he appreci-

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.

ated and thanked all the sponsors and congratulated the committee core members K. Nannaiah, Polarapu Babu, D. Kishore, S. Penchalaiah, Palagiri Sivareddy, K. Ramana, Paleti Prasad, D. S. Achari, Yegi Venkatesh & Medamalli Seenu for making this program a grand success.

Kuwait Times sponsors

‘Most Beautiful Egyptian Child’ contest 99 finalists

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. So step forward to grab this opportunity to show your caliber and entertain. Dance, music, art or any special talent- now is your chance to showcase it - and be part of this year’s Talent Hunt & Tulu Parba. Talent Hunt event is open to all Tuluvas.

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: Sathyanarayana- 66585077 Sanath Shetty67712409.

Brain Bang Calling all students aged 11 and above, Support Group for Accelerated learning under the umbrella of FOCC (Friends of CRY Club, Kuwait), BRAIN-BANG invites you to join us in our fortnightly Friday Class from 11.45 am to 13.45 pm in Salmiya starting October 7th for the next 6 months. Successfully running for the seventh consecutive year.

Areas of development are : lMemory tools to Understand and Learn Better lTools and Techniques to empower your mind lActivity, fun, games and worksheet based assignments lPractical Experiments lMind Gymnastics lApplication of Learning Techniques to conventional study. Register before October 5th 2011.

Limited seats. Register early to avoid disappointment. Website: www.focckwt.org E-Mail: brainbang@focckwt.org Phone no: 25660835/25618471/97677820 Annual competition Tulu Koota Kuwait has great pleasure in inviting its valuable members to Tulukoota Kuwait annual competitions on 14th October 2011. It’s a unique opportunity to our members & their children to showcase their talent at the varied competitions. There will be singing, dance, fancy dress competitions for all age group, cute baby photo contest etc. Competitions will be held on Friday 14th October from 10 am onwards in Indian Community School (Senior Girls), Salmiya. For details, competition rules and registrations please contact 65044521, 65013887, 66958848, 97834578 Or visit our website www.tu1ukootakuwait.org or mail us at secretary@tulukootakuwait.org.

By Sherif Ismail

T

IOMF Kuwait presents family enlightening program

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OMF (Indian Orthodox Mercy Fellowship, a charitable organization of St Gregorios Indian Orthodox Maha Edavaka, Kuwait) is organizing a family enlightening program and counseling with the subject “Vision & Mission of Christian Family Life”. This will be led by Rev Fr K J Varghese, Clinical Pastoral Counselor of St Gregorios Counseling Centre, Parumala Seminary and Jiji

Thomson IAS, Principal Secretary Government of India. The public program will be held on following days. 13Oct. 2011 Thursday 7:30 to 9:30pm Central School, Abbassiya, 15-Oct. 2011 Saturday 7:30 to 9:30pm - St. George Chapel, Abbassiya, 20-Oct. 2011 Thursday 7:30 to 9:30pm - Central School, Abbassiya. For free counseling please call Rev Fr K J Vaghese 94057411.

KGA Alemao Memorial Football Tournament

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he 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

St Peter’s Mar Thoma Church harvest festival

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he Harvest Festival of Kuwait St Peter’s Mar Thoma church will be held on October 14 at the Integrated Indian School, Abbassiya Kuwait. The Hon. Indian Ambassador has kindly consented to inaugurate the function at 10.45 am and the Parish Vicar Rev Chacko Thomas would preside the meeting. A day-long program is arranged with a variety of entertainment programs including musical concert, food sales, Games etc. A souvenir will be released to commemorate the occasion. All are cordially invited.

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.

he ‘Bawabat Al-Masreyeen’ (Egyptians Gate) Facebook page in Kuwait launched a course in operating the Photoshop program which deals with editing pictures and preparing designs.

There is also a contest for the picture of the most beautiful child among Egyptian community children in Kuwait.

The contest started on the 29th of September. The results will be announced on Saturday, October 15 wherein, Toqa Mustafa, superwiser of compitetion says the top three winners will grace the Kuwait Times office to be awarded for their prizes which include free lunch/dinner date at Swiss-Belhotel and a luxury wristwatch (First Prize), free lunch/dinner at Swiss-Belhotel and a food processor (Second Prize); free lunch/dinner at Swiss-Belhotel plus a coffeemaker (Third Prize). It is worth mentioning that the Gate began dealing with the community’s problems two weeks ago, as it presents them to concerned officials, and the most important problem is that of Egypt Air so far. Photo album available on website: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.281930285159021.76191.19121369 7564014&type=3

Galleries in Kuwait Sultan gallery established 1969 to promote Arab contemporary art. Sabhan, Sadeer company. Block 8, street 105, building 168. 24714325 ext.

110 Dar Al-Funoon, Behbehani Compound, House 28- near the Christian Church off of Gulf Road. Tel: 22431338 Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, Shaab, next to Shaab Leisure Park. Tel: 22400963

AWARE Surra Street, Block 3, Villa 84. Tel: 25335260/80 or www.aware.com.kw The Strip, across Al-Seif Palace Jibla Tel: 99666533 www.theexhibition.com.kw Located on ‘The Strip’ Across from Al-Seif Palace Jibla, Kuwait Tel: + (965) 9-406-6226 Fax: + (965) 2-534-4061 Email Address: info@the-exhibition.com.kw

Konkani drama

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uwait 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

K’s path to hold 2nd annual charity golf tournament

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’S PATH (Kuwait Society for the Protection of Animals and Their Habitat) in association with Gulf Bank, will hold its 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday, 29th October 2011 at the Sahara Golf Club.

The tournament is a fundraising event with all proceeds going towards K’S PATH programs.

“Our 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament builds upon the encourag-

ing response that our first such tournament received last year”, says K’S PATH Chairman Ayeshah Al Humaidhi. “There’s a growing community of golf lovers in Kuwait and our fundraising tournament is an opportunity for families and friends to have a great time while supporting a great cause. We’d like to thank Gulf Bank and Sahara Golf Club for their contribution to this much-awaited fundraising tournament.”

Taking the format of a 4-man Texas Scramble with exciting prizes for the winning team and a special ‘nearest the pin’ prize, the tournament will tee off at 8.30 am at Sahara’s lush green golf course. Sahara Club members, and nonmembers, are invited to join the tournament for varying fees. Those who don’t play golf are welcome to join as spectators (at a lesser fee) and root for teams at Sahara’s grand terrace overlooking the

golf course. The tournament will be followed by an award ceremony and lunch.

To register, email golf@kspath.org or visit www.kspath.org K’S PATH’s 2nd Annual Charity Golf Tournament tournament celebrates the spirit of sportsmanship and drive to transcend challenges, virtues reflected in K’S PATH’s organizational philosophy to champion animal welfare and habitat protection in Kuwait.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

W H AT ’ S O N

Shiyas Group delegation visits German embassy

Embassy Information

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amza Shiyas, Chairman & Managing Director, Shiyas Group, Senior lawyers Abdullah E AlObaidli and Ablulaziz A Alyaquot along with the Indian lawyers J K Alva (Udupi Court), Rehna Mohammed Shaffer(High Court of Kerala), Kareem Niza, Filipino Legal desk in charge, Celine Joseph, Editorial Chief Pravasi daily Newspaper and Anfal Bloshy from Administration visited the German Ambassador Frank M Mann and convey their sincere greetings on the auspicious occasion of the national day of the Republic of Germany.

The German Ambassador expressed optimism that these relations with Indian people would strengthen the national economy and create better conditions for investment. He added that India and Germany enjoy cordial & Co operative relations and expressed his willingness to extend these relations to the mutual benefit of the countries.

On behalf of Shiyas Group, Lawyer Abdutlah presented a gift expressing his vision towards Germany.

The photo shows Hamza Shiyas, Chairman & MD, Shiyas group, Senior Lawyer Abdullah E Al-Obaidli, Adv J K Alva, Adv Rehna Mohammed Shaffer, Celine Joseph, editorial Chief and Anfal Bloshy, Administrator.

EMBASSY OF ARGENTINA In order to inform that 23rd of October 2011, will be Argentine national election where all Argentinean citizen residents permanently in Kuwait can vote only if they are registered at the Electoral Register of the Argentine Embassy. The procedure of inscription ended on 25 of April 2011. To register it is necessary that Argentinean citizens should come personally at the Argentinean Embassy (Block 6, street 42, villa 57, Mishref ) and present the DNI and four personal photos (size 4x4, face should be front on white background). For further information, contact us on 25379211. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF BRITAIN The Visa Application Centre (VAC) will be closed on the same dates above. The opening hours of the Visa Application Centre are 0930 - 1630 Application forms remain available online from the UKBAs’ website: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk or from the Visa Application Centre’s website: www.vfs-ukkw.com. And also, from the UK Visa Application Centre located at: 4B, First Floor, Al Banwan Building (Burgan Bank Branch Office Building), Al Qibla area, opposite Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City. For any further inquiries, please contact the Visa Application Centre: Website: www.vfs-uk-kw.com E-mail:info@vfs-uk-kw.com Telephone:22971170. The Consular Section will also be closed on the same dates. For information on the British Embassy services, visit the British Embassy website: www.ukinkuwait.fco.gov.uk nnnnnnn

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merican General Trading and Contracting WLL celebrated Onam. The celebration started with the lighting of the lamp by President Sheila S Gittens and Managing Director Lionel B Gittens and the General Manager Ajay George. The arrival of Mahabali added color to the celebration.

Children attend Navami pooja

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. nnnnnnn

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andhanam School of Dance and Music conducted Navami Pooja at Vijayadhashami in Mangaf, Salmiya and Abbassiya classes. On 6th October 2011, the pooja was conducted at early morning in Salmiya, and many children and parents attended and new students started their dance learning from Guru Kalamandalam Krishnendhu. The pooja was also conducted in the evening at Rhythm Hall Abbassiya for more students to take part on the occasion. The pooja sessions were co-ordinated by Nayana and Bindhu and they briefed that new teachers would be joining shortly and also mentioned about opening new classes in other locations soon.

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 (Al-Babtain) 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 on October 26, 2011 (Wednesday) Diwali. nnnnnnn

EMBASSY OF KENYA

KALA holds ‘Onaakhosham 2011

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erala Art Lovers Association, (Kala, Kuwait) “Onaakhosham-2011” was inaugurated by chief guest K.N.Balagopal MP. During his inaugural speech he said, “Although Kerala is becoming wealthier day by day, it’s a pity to say that Kerala state is losing all its traditional, ethnic values and cultures

along with taunting nightmares like unending harassment of women. Peace and harmony has been washed away from the community. Keralites are alienated from their mother tongue and culture with the globalization. This is the true picture of Kerala Today.”

Kala president Sam Pynumood

presided the cultural meeting which was held at Indian Community School, Khaithan. Indian Embassy First Secretary H K Mohan, John Mathew, Malayil Moosakoya, Pancily Varkey,Vijayan Kaarayil, Chessil Ramapuram, Sajitha Scaria and R Ramesh delivered felicitations. The meeting was followed by a

variety of colorful cultural programs including Keralite traditional programs.

In the afternoon a delicious Onasadya was served. Kala General Secretary R Naganthan welcomed all who attended the full day program while Joint Secretary Saji Thomas Mathew rendered the vote of thanks.

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

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk nnnnnnn

Tulu Parba Merit scholarship

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ulu Koota Kuwait is pleased to announce its Merit Cum Means Scholarship Award to be awarded during Tulu Parba which will be held on 4th November 2011 in American International School Auditorium, Maidan Hawally.

Tulu Koota Kuwait firmly believes in the great value of education and is strongly committed to helping needy students to achieve their educational goals. Application accepted from minimum one year valid members children studying either in State of Kuwait or in India, scoring high grades

at X and XII standard Board Examination held during Academic year 2010-2011. Contact Tulukoota Kuwait Welfare officer Suresh Shyam Rao on 65976789 or email: shyamson@yahoo.com to submit the copies of marks sheet & proof of income with the application. Candidates obtaining high grades but not eligible for merit cum means scholarship shall be honored with Merit Certificate and Medal. For further information please contact: Harish Bhandary Tel. 50264416

Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

EMBASSY OF SPAIN The Embassy of Spain will be closed on October 12 on the occasion of the Spanish National Day. On the occasion of the elections for the Congress and Senate in Spain on the 20th November, the Spanish Embassy encourages Spanish citizens resident in Kuwait to check the electoral list at the Embassy between 3-10 October. On the weekend (7-8 October) there will be a special consular service between 9:00am and 12:00am. All Spanish citizens interested in voting from abroad have to send to Spain the request for receiving the electoral documents in Kuwait. This application form can be downloaded from www.maec.es

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Years

00:45 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 01:40 Planet Earth 02:35 My Cat From Hell 03:30 Untamed & Uncut 04:25 Maneaters 05:20 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 06:10 Animal ER 07:00 Monkey Life 07:25 The Really Wild Show 07:50 Natural Born Hunters 08:15 Jeff Corwin Unleashed 08:40 Breed All About It 10:05 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 11:00 Animal Cops Houston 11:55 Pit Bulls And Parolees 12:50 Clinically Wild: Alaska 13:45 Planet Earth 14:40 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 15:30 Monkey Life 16:00 The Really Wild Show 16:30 Natural Born Hunters 17:00 Jeff Corwin Unleashed 17:25 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 18:20 America’s Cutest...

19:15 Weird Creatures With Nick Baker 20:10 Dogs/Cats/Pets 101 21:05 Planet Earth 22:00 Karina: Wild On Safari 22:55 Untamed & Uncut 23:50 Your Worst Animal Nightmares

00:00 00:30 01:05 01:50 02:40 03:20 03:30 04:00 04:30 04:50 05:05 05:25 05:35 05:45 06:05 06:20 06:40 06:55 07:05 07:25 07:40 08:00 08:10 08:20 08:40 08:55 09:15 09:25 09:40 10:40 11:25 12:15 12:45 13:15 14:10 15:40 16:30 17:15 17:45 18:15 19:10 20:00 20:45 21:15 21:45 22:40 23:30

00:05 00:55 01:45 02:35 04:15 05:05 05:50 06:15 07:00

Keeping Up Appearances Keeping Up Appearances The Weakest Link Holby City Blackadder II Doctor Who Confidential Doctors Keeping Up Appearances Balamory Gigglebiz Me Too Charlie And Lola Buzz & Tell Balamory Gigglebiz Me Too Charlie And Lola Buzz & Tell Balamory Gigglebiz Me Too Charlie And Lola Buzz & Tell Balamory Gigglebiz Me Too Charlie And Lola Buzz & Tell Keeping Up Appearances The Weakest Link Dalziel And Pascoe Doctors Eastenders Holby City Keeping Up Appearances Dalziel And Pascoe The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Holby City Dalziel And Pascoe The Weakest Link Doctors Eastenders Holby City The Fixer Blackadder II

Gok’s Fashion Fix Come Dine With Me What Not To Wear Antiques Roadshow Gok’s Fashion Fix Gok’s Fashion Fix James Martin’s Brittany Come Dine With Me Daily Cooks Challenge

07:30 Daily Cooks Challenge 08:00 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 08:25 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 08:50 Rhodes Across Italy 09:35 Come Dine With Me 10:25 James Martin’s Brittany 10:45 Antiques Roadshow 12:30 Bargain Hunt 13:15 Daily Cooks Challenge 14:40 Bargain Hunt 15:25 Antiques Roadshow 17:10 Come Dine With Me 18:00 Raymond Blanc’s Kitchen Secrets 18:25 The Hairy Bikers Ride Again 18:50 Rhodes Across Italy 19:35 Come Dine With Me 20:25 Antiques Roadshow 22:10 Bargain Hunt 22:55 Design Star

00:00 BBC World News 00:30 World Business Report 00:45 Sport Today 01:00 BBC World News America 01:30 Asia Business Report 01:45 Sport Today 02:00 BBC World News 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 Hardtalk 07:00 BBC World News 07:30 World Business Report 07:45 BBC World News 08:30 World Business Report 08:45 BBC World News 09:30 World Business Report 09:45 Sport Today 10:00 BBC World News 10:30 World Business Report 10:45 Sport Today 11:00 BBC World News 11:30 Hardtalk 12:00 BBC World News 12:30 World Business Report 12:45 Sport Today 13:00 BBC World News 13:30 World Business Report 13:45 Sport Today 14:00 GMT With George Alagiah 14:30 GMT With George Alagiah 15:00 BBC World News 15:30 World Business Report 15:45 Sport Today 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 The Hub With Nik Gowing 20:30 World Business Report 20:45 Sport Today 21:00 World News Today With Zeinab Badawi 22:30 World Business Report 22:45 Sport Today 23:00 BBC World News America 23:30 Hardtalk

00:20 00:45 01:10 01:35 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:35 05:00 05:10

Droopy: Master Detective The Flintstones Johnny Bravo Duck Dodgers King Arthur’s Disasters The Scooby Doo Show Popeye Classics Tom & Jerry Popeye The Jetsons The Flintstones Looney Tunes Pink Panther & Pals Tex Avery

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

TV PROGRAMS 05:35 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:55 07:20 07:45 08:00 08:25 08:50 09:15 09:40 10:05 10:30 10:55 11:20 11:35 12:00 12:15 12:40 12:55 13:20 13:45 14:15 14:40 15:05 15:30 15:55 16:20 Doo 16:45 17:10 17:35 18:00 18:25 18:50 19:00 19:25 19:50 20:15 20:45 21:10 21:35 22:00 22:25 22:55 23:05 23:30 23:55

Yogi’s Treasure Hunt The Garfield Show New Yogi Bear Show The Scooby Doo Show Tom & Jerry Looney Tunes Popeye Classics 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 Popeye Classics Looney Tunes Wacky Races 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 Puppy In My Pocket The Garfield Show The Flintstones Pink Panther & Pals Looney Tunes Yogi’s Treasure Hunt Top Cat Wacky Races Tom & Jerry The Scooby Doo Show Dastardly And Muttley Tom & Jerry Johnny Bravo Dexters Laboratory The Garfield Show Scooby Doo Where Are You! The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop

00:05 Robotboy - Elements 00:30 Squirrel Boy 00:55 George Of The Jungle 01:20 Cramp Twins 01:45 Chop Socky Chooks 02:10 Best Ed 02:35 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 03:00 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 03:25 Generator Rex 03:50 Adventure Time 04:15 Flapjack 04:40 Chowder 05:05 Powerpuff Girls 05:30 Ed, Edd n Eddy 05:55 I Am Weasel 06:20 Squirrel Boy 06:45 Cow & Chicken 07:00 Eliot Kid 07:04 Cow & Chicken 07:12 Eliot Kid 07:25 Angelo Rules 07:50 Best Ed 08:15 Flapjack 08:40 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 09:05 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 09:30 Courage The Cowardly Dog 09:55 Cow & Chicken 10:20 I Am Weasel 10:35 Adventure Time 11:00 Ben 10 11:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 11:50 The Secret Saturdays 12:15 Samurai Jack 12:40 Ben 10: Alien Force 13:05 Codename Kids 13:30 Skunk Fu! 13:50 My Gym Partner’s A Monkey 14:15 Flapjack 14:40 Ed, Edd n Eddy 15:05 Camp Lazlo 15:30 Chowder 15:55 The Grim Adventures Of Billy & Mandy 16:25 Cow & Chicken 16:50 Courage The Cowardly Dog 17:15 I Am Weasel 17:40 George Of The Jungle

THE THREE MUSKETEERS ON OSN ACTION HD

18:05 Casper’s Scare School 18:30 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 18:55 Ben 10: Ultimate Alien 19:20 Generator Rex 19:45 Star Wars: The Clone Wars 20:10 Hero 108 20:35 Bakugan: New Vestroia 21:00 Total Drama Action 21:25 Adventure Time 21:50 Billy And Mandy 22:00 Ben 10 22:25 Bakugan Battle Brawlers 22:50 The Secret Saturdays 23:15 Samurai Jack 23:40 Megas XLR

00:00 Backstory 00:30 World Sport 01:00 The Situation Room 02:00 World Report 03:00 World Business Today 04:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 05:00 Anderson Cooper 360 06:00 World Sport 06:30 World View 07:00 World Report 07:30 Backstory 08:00 World Report 09:00 World Report 10:00 World Sport 10:30 Inside Africa 11:00 World Business Today 12:00 American Morning: Wake-Up Call 12:30 News Special 13:00 World One 14:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 15:00 News Stream 16:00 World Business Today 17:00 International Desk 18:00 The Brief 18:30 World Sport 19:00 Prism 20:00 International Desk 20:30 News Special 21:00 Quest Means Business 22:00 Piers Morgan Tonight 23:00 Connect The World With Becky Anderson

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 Extreme Fishing The Future Of...

Dirty Jobs Ultimate Survival Mythbusters How It’s Made How Stuff’s Made Dirty Jobs Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear The Future Of...

How It’s Made Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings LA Ink LA Ink Ultimate Survival Extreme Fishing Swamp Brothers Cash Cab Us Wheeler Dealers Fifth Gear The Future Of...

Mythbusters Cake Boss Border Security Auction Kings How Stuff’s Made How It’s Made Cash Cab Us LA Ink Animal Cops South Africa Pit Bulls And Parolees

00:05 The Tech Show 00:30 Kings of Construction 01:20 Stunt Junkies 01:45 Monster Moves 02:35 Brainiac 03:25 The Gadget Show 03:50 The Gadget Show 04:15 How Stuff’s Made 04:45 Kings of Construction 05:40 One Step Beyond 06:10 Nextworld 07:00 Scrapheap Challenge 07:55 When Aliens Attack 08:50 The Tech Show 09:15 Weird Connections 09:40 The Gadget Show 10:05 The Gadget Show 10:35 Nextworld 11:30 Sci-Fi Science 11:55 How Stuff’s Made 12:25 Monster Moves 13:15 When Aliens Attack 14:05 One Step Beyond 14:30 Stunt Junkies 14:55 Kings of Construction 15:45 Weird Connections 16:10 Scrapheap Challenge 17:00 Brainiac 17:50 Sci-Fi Science 18:15 The Tech Show 18:40 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 19:30 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 20:20 NYC: Inside Out 21:10 The Gadget Show 21:35 The Gadget Show 22:00 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 22:50 Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman 23:40 The Gadget Show

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

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

09:00 09:10 09:20 09:30 09:40 10:05 Cody 10:30 10:50 11:15 11:35 12:00 12:25 12:45 13:10 13:30 13:55 14:55 15:20 15:45 16:10 16:35 Cody 17:00 17:25 17:50 18:15 18:45 19:35 20:00 20:25 20:50 21:15 21:35 22:00 22:25 Cody 22:50 23:15 23:35

Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jungle Junction The Hive Handy Manny Imagination Movers The Suite Life Of Zack And Phineas And Ferb Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Hannah Montana Suite Life On Deck Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Phineas And Ferb Fish Hooks Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Wizards Of Waverly Place Good Luck Charlie Fish Hooks Shake It Up Suite Life On Deck Good Luck Charlie Wizards Of Waverly Place Jake & Blake Hannah Montana Sonny With A Chance Good Luck Charlie Shake It Up The Suite Life Of Zack And Sonny With A Chance Wizards Of Waverly Place Jonas

00:25 Kendra 00:55 The Soup 01:25 Byte Me: 20 Hottest Women Of The Web 03:15 25 Most Stylish 04:10 Sexiest 05:05 Extreme Hollywood 06:00 THS 07:50 Behind The Scenes 08:20 E! News 09:15 Giuliana & Bill 10:15 15 Most Infamous Child Star Mugshots 12:05 E! News 13:05 The Dance Scene 14:05 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 14:35 Giuliana & Bill 15:30 E!es 16:25 Behind The Scenes 16:55 Khloe And Lamar 17:55 E! News 18:55 E!es 19:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians 20:55 Chelsea Lately 21:25 Giuliana & Bill 22:25 E! News 23:25 Chelsea Lately 23:55 Keeping Up With The Kardashians

00:30 A Haunting 01:15 The Haunted 02:05 Ghost Lab 02:50 A Haunting 03:40 A Haunting 04:25 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 05:15 The Will: Family Secrets Revealed 06:10 Mystery ER 07:00 Forensic Detectives 07:45 Murder Shift 08:35 Mystery ER 09:20 Real Emergency Calls 10:05 The Prosecutors 10:50 FBI Files 11:40 Murder Shift 12:25 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 13:15 Disappeared 14:00 Mystery ER 14:50 Real Emergency Calls 15:35 The Prosecutors 16:20 Forensic Detectives 17:10 Murder Shift 18:00 FBI Files 18:45 Real Emergency Calls 19:10 Mystery ER 19:55 Street Patrol 20:20 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 21:10 Disappeared 22:00 Nightmare Next Door 22:50 I Almost Got Away With It 23:40 Couples Who Kill

00:00 Ultimate Traveller 01:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 02:00 Word Travels 02:30 Market Values 03:00 Cycling Home From Siberia With Rob Lilwall 03:30 Finding Genghis 04:00 Which Way To 05:00 Endurance Traveller 06:00 Ultimate Traveller 07:00 Don’t Tell My Mother 08:00 Word Travels 08:30 Market Values 09:00 Cycling Home From Siberia With Rob Lilwall 09:30 Finding Genghis 10:00 Which Way To 11:00 Endurance Traveller 12:00 Ultimate Traveller 13:00 Meet The Amish 14:00 Banged Up Abroad 15:00 Graham’s World 15:30 Eccentric Uk 16:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 16:30 Somewhere In China 17:30 The Best Job In The World 18:00 A World Apart 19:00 Meet The Amish 20:00 Banged Up Abroad 21:00 Graham’s World 21:30 Eccentric Uk 22:00 Weird & Wonderful Hotels 22:30 Somewhere In China 23:30 The Best Job In The World

00:00 02:00 18 04:00 06:00 08:00 10:00 12:00

Carrie-18 Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassin’s BallRocky II-PG The Three Musketeers-PG15 Shanghai Knights-PG15 The Next Karate Kid-PG Collateral-PG15

FLASH OF GENIUS ON OSN CINEMA 14:00 16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00

Shanghai Knights-PG15 Altitude-PG15 Collateral-PG15 Luster-18 Kiss Of Death-PG15

01:15 Mr. Nice-18 03:15 Make It Happen-PG15 05:15 Winx: Secret Of The Lost Kingdom-PG 07:00 Mee Shee-PG 09:00 Flash Of Genius-PG15 11:15 The Karate Kid-PG 13:45 Easy Virtue-PG15 15:30 Stone Of Destiny-PG15 17:15 Three Investigators-PG15 19:00 Shrek Forever After-FAM 21:00 Last Ride-PG15 23:00 Peter And Vandy-18

00:00 Seinfeld 00:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 01:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 01:30 Neighbors From Hell 02:00 Seinfeld 03:00 Friends 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 05:30 Malcolm In The Middle 06:00 Coach 06:30 Weird Science 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Friends 09:00 Malcolm In The Middle 09:30 Traffic Light 10:00 8 Simple Rules ...

10:30 Coach 11:00 Weird Science 11:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:30 Two And A Half Men 13:00 Friends 13:30 Malcolm In The Middle 14:00 Coach 14:30 Traffic Light 15:00 8 Simple Rules ...

15:30 The Daily Show Global Edition 16:00 The Colbert Report Global Edition 16:30 Weird Science 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Friends 18:30 Friends 19:00 8 Simple Rules ...

19:30 Raising Hope 20:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 22:00 Bored To Death 22:30 Entourage 23:00 Party Down 23:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

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 16:00 17:00 18:00 18:30 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30

Desperate Housewives Boardwalk Empire Scoundrels Revenge Eureka Good Morning America The Good Guys Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Martha Stewart Show The View Desperate Housewives Revenge Live Good Morning America Eureka The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Grey’s Anatomy Private Practice House Scoundrels The Good Guys

Psych Any Human Heart Boardwalk Empire Desperate Housewives Revenge Terriers Psych According To Jim Coronation Street

08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Burn Notice Terriers Desperate Housewives Revenge According To Jim Coronation Street Burn Notice Psych According To Jim Coronation Street Burn Notice Grey’s Anatomy Private Practice House Any Human Heart Terriers

01:00 Mindhunters-18 03:00 Rocky II-PG 05:00 44 Inch Chest-18 07:00 Deceit-PG15 09:00 The Lost Future-PG15 11:00 The One-PG15 13:00 Ballistica-PG15 15:00 The Lost Future-PG15 17:00 Staten Island-PG15 19:00 Long Weekend-PG15 21:00 Kiss Of Death-PG15 23:00 The Haunting Of Molly Hartley-PG15

00:00 The Country Bears-PG 02:00 Without A Paddle-PG15 04:00 Dr. Dolittle-PG 06:00 Dr. Dolittle 2-PG 08:00 How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days-PG 10:00 Coming & Going-PG15 12:00 For Love Or Money-PG 14:00 Married To It-PG15 16:00 The Country Bears-PG 18:00 Away We Go-PG15 20:00 Post Grad-PG15 22:00 PJ Gallagher: Just Jokes-18

01:00 03:15 05:15 07:00 09:00 11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 18:45 21:00 23:00

Riding In Cars With Boys-PG15 The Associate-PG15 Skirt Day-PG15 Up In The Air-PG15 Little Man Tate-PG The Associate-PG15 Simon Birch-PG Up In The Air-PG15 The Cake Eaters-PG15 The Remains Of The Day-PG15 American History X-18 The Informant!-PG15

00:45 Ghost-PG15 03:00 2012-PG15 05:45 Cinema Verite-PG15 07:15 Moon-PG15 09:00 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore-PG 11:00 Preacher’s Kid-PG 13:00 Hurricane Season-PG15 15:00 Our Family Wedding-PG15 17:00 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore-PG 19:00 Jonah Hex-PG15 21:00 Last Ride-PG15 23:00 American History X-18

00:00 Turandot-PG 02:00 Ed-PG 04:00 Turtle Hero (1)-FAM 06:00 Turandot-PG 08:00 Turtle Hero (2)-FAM 10:00 True Story Of Puss’n Boots-PG 12:00 Arthur And The Revenge Of Maltazard-PG 14:00 My Fair Madeline-FAM 16:00 Babe: Pig In The City-FAM 18:00 True Story Of Puss’n Boots-PG 20:00 Adventures Of A Teenage Dragonslayer-PG 22:00 Babe: Pig In The City-FAM

00:00 01:00 02:00 02:30 11:30 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 15:30 16:30

The Ultimate Fighter RWC Weekly Highlights Aquabike World Rugby World Cup Aquabike World Trans World Sport RWC Weekly Highlights Speedway FIM World Aquabike World Le Mans Series Highlights Rugby World Cup

18:45 Rugby World Cup 21:00 WWE SmackDown 23:00 WWE Tough Enough

00:30 Spirit of Yachting 01:00 FEI Equestrian World 02:00 Euro 2012 Qulaifiers 03:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 04:30 Golfing World 05:30 ICC Cricket World 06:00 Trans World Sport 07:00 RWC Highlights 08:00 AFL Highlights 09:00 European Challenge Cup 11:00 NRL Full Time 11:30 European PGA Tour Highlights 12:30 Euro 2012 Qulaifiers 14:30 Premier League Snooker 18:00 Spirit of Yachting 18:30 FEI Equestrian World 19:00 RWC Matchday 19:30 RWC Highlights 20:30 NRL Full Time 21:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 22:00 Futbol Mundial 22:30 Premier League Snooker

00:00 European Challenge Cup 02:00 Darts Grand Prix 04:00 World Hockey 04:30 Super League 07:00 Golfing World 08:00 European PGA Tour Highlights 09:00 ICC Cricket World 09:30 Darts Grand Prix 11:30 Trans World Sport 12:30 ICC Cricket World 13:00 Golfing World 14:00 Super League 16:30 Pro 12 Celtic League 18:30 NRL Full Time 19:00 Golfing World 20:00 Beach Volley Ball 20:30 Futbol Mundial 21:00 Euro 2012 Qualifier 23:00 ICC Cricket World 23:30 NRL Full Time

00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 14:30 15:30 17:30 18:00 19:00 20:00 23:00

Speedway FIM World WWE Tough Enough WWE Vintage Collection WWE SmackDown UFC Unleashed UFC Unleashed WWE NXT WWE Smackdown Power Boats F1 Power Boats F1 Super Formula Le Mans Series Highlights WWE SmackDown V8 Supercars Extra Speedway FIM World UFC 136 Prelims UFC 136 UFC The Ultimate Fighter

00:00 Investigating History 01:00 Ice Road Truckers 02:00 Engineering Disasters 03:00 Lock N’ Load with Ermey 04:00 IRT: Deadliest Roads 05:00 Ax Men 06:00 Investigating History 07:00 Ice Road Truckers 08:00 Engineering Disasters 09:00 Lock N’ Load with Ermey 10:00 IRT: Deadliest Roads 11:00 Ax Men 12:00 Investigating History 13:00 Ice Road Truckers 14:00 Engineering Disasters 15:00 Lock N’ Load with Ermey 16:00 IRT: Deadliest Roads 17:00 Ax Men 18:00 Investigating History 19:00 Ice Road Truckers 20:00 Pawn Stars 22:00 American Pickers 22:30 American Pickers 23:00 Lock N’ Load with Ermey

R. Lee

R. Lee

R. Lee

R. Lee

Classifieds TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

ACCOMMODATION

Furnished sharing accommodation available for Indian families in a CA/C flat having internet & satellite, rent KD 75, Hawally - Shara Muthanna near Sultan Center & Hawally Stadium. Contact: 97919485. (C 3679) Accommodation available for family near Kuwait City, Dar waza Abdul Razzak, Rabiya Building.

Contact: 97560488 / 22440534. (C 3681) Sharing accommodation available in Abbassiya near Highway Center for couple (KD 80) or for bachelor men or lady (KD 55). Contact: 99645213.

(C 3684) 11-10-2011 Room for rent in Farwaniya behind Crowne Plaza Hotel near Dar AlQuran, Pakistani and Indian bachelor. Contact: 66490857 / 50129393.

(C 3676) 10-10-2011

FOR SALE

Galant-2008 model for sale, well maintained, semi super deluxe model, color: silver grey, engine: 2400 cc, automatic gear, accident free, sun roof, ABS, airbag, cruise control, 6 disc CD player, passing till June 2012. Asking price: KD 3,100/- only serious buyer contact: 65561277. (C 3680) 11-10-2011 Motor cycle Honda Africa V-Twin 750cc, 99 model, 20,000km only, American owned, with all spares, KD 850/-. Call: 99434036 / 66274034.

Email: jeevesej@yahoo.com (C 3675) 10-10-2011

MATRIMONIAL

Inviting proposals for Orthodox girl 27/159 employed in MOH Kuwait from parents of professionally qualified Godfearing boys. Contact Email: george421975@yahoo.com (C 3683) 11-10-2011 RC boy 27, Engineer in a reputed company, seeks alliance from similar or equivalent qualified girls working in Kuwait.

Contact Email: elsyvarghese@hotmail.com (C 3677) 10-10-2011

CHANGE OF NAME I, SHABBEER holder of Indian Passport No. G5123333 son of AHMED BASHA do hereafter known my name as SHABBEER AHMED. (C 3678) 10-10-2011

I, HAZEEM MOHAMMAD ZAID S/O MOHAMMAD ZAID holder of Indian Passport No: Z1842542 hereby change my name to HAZEM MOHAMMAD ZIAD SHOASHAH. (C 3674) 8-10-2011

Foreign insects, diseases got into US FRESNO, California: Dozens of foreign insects and plant diseases slipped undetected into the United States in the years after 9/11, when authorities were so focused on preventing another attack that they overlooked a pest explosion that threatened the quality of the nation’s food supply.

At the time, hundreds of agricultural scientists responsible for stopping invasive species at the border were reassigned to anti-terrorism duties in the newly formed Homeland Security Department a move that scientists say cost billions of dollars in crop damage and eradication efforts from California vineyards to Florida citrus groves.

The consequences come home to consumers in the form of higher grocery prices, substandard produce and the risk of environmental damage from chemicals needed to combat the pests.

An Associated Press analysis of inspection records found that borderprotection officials were so engrossed in stopping terrorists that they all but ignored the country’s exposure to destructive new insects and infections - a quietly growing menace that has been attacking fruits and vegetables and even prized forests ever since.

“Whether they know it or not, every person in the country is affected by this, whether by the quality or cost of their food, the pesticide residue on food or not being able to enjoy the outdoors because beetles are killing

off the trees,” said Mark Hoddle, an entomologist specializing in invasive species at the University of California, Riverside.

Homeland Security officials acknowledge making mistakes and say they are now working to step up agricultural inspections at border checkpoints, airports and seaports. While not as dire as terrorism, the threat is considerable and hard to contain.

Many invasive species are carried into the US by people who are either unaware of the laws or are purposely trying to skirt quarantine regulations.

The hardest to stop are fruits, vegetables and spices carried by international travelers or shipped by mail. If tainted with insects or infections, they could carry contagions capable of devastating crops.

Plants and cut flowers can harbor larvae, as can bags of bulk commodities such as rice. Beetles have been found hitchhiking on the bottom of tiles from Italy, and boring insects have burrowed into the wooden pallets commonly used in cargo shipments.

Invasive species have been sneaking into North America since Europeans arrived on the continent, and many got established long before 9/11. But the abrupt shift in focus that followed the attacks caused a steep decline in agricultural inspections that allowed more pests to invade American farms and forests.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, the AP obtained data on border inspections covering the period from 2001 to 2010. The analysis showed that the number of inspections, along with the number of foreign species that were stopped, fell dramatically in the years after the Homeland Security Department was formed.

Over much of the same period, the number of crop-threatening pests that got into the US spiked, from eight in 1999 to at least 30 last year.

The bugs targeted some of the

nation’s most productive agricultural regions, particularly California and Florida, with their warm year-round climates that make it easy for foreign species to survive the journey and reproduce in their new home.

A look at the damage: No fewer than 19 Mediterranean fruit fly infestations took hold in California, and the European grapevine moth triggered spraying and quarantines across wine country.

The Asian citrus psyllid, which can carry a disease that has decimated

Agriculture specialist John Machado, with US Customs and Border Protection, spots a wooden crate that a pest had bore into during an inspection in Oakland, California. — AP

Florida orange groves, crossed the border from Mexico, threatening California’s $1.8 billion citrus industry.

New Zealand’s light brown apple moth also emerged in California, prompting the government in 2008 to bombard the Monterey Bay area with 1,600 pounds of pesticides. The spraying drew complaints that it caused respiratory problems and killed birds.

Officials spent $110 million to eradicate the moth, but it didn’t work.

The sweet orange scab, a fungal disease that infects citrus, appeared in Florida, Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, which all imposed quarantines. Chili thrips, rice cutworms and the plant disease gladiolus rust also got into Florida, which saw a 27 percent increase in new pests and pathogens between 2003 and 2007.

The erythrina gall wasp decimated Hawaii’s wiliwili trees, which bear seeds used to make leis.

Forests from Minnesota to the Northeast were also affected by beetles such as the emerald ash borer, many of which arrived in Chinese shipping pallets because regulations weren’t enforced.

In all, the number of pest cases intercepted at US ports of entry fell from more than 81,200 in 2002 to fewer than 58,500 in 2006, before creeping back up in 2007, when the farm industry and members of Congress began complaining. —AP

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines RJA JZR THY ETH UAE DHX ETD FDB GFA QTR AFR JZR JZR JZR KAC BAW KAC FCX KAC KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC UAE IRA QTR ABY QTR ETD GFA IRA MEA MHK JZR MSR UAL RJA KAC FDB QTR VOS KAC KAC

Flt 642 267 772 620 853 370 305 67 211 138 6700 529 505 555 412 157 416 201 206 302 332 53 352 284 855 605 132 125 6130 301 213 619 404 711 201 610 982 640 512 57 140 93 562 546

Arrival Flights on Tuesday 11/10/2011 Route AMMAN BEIRUT ISTANBUL ADDIS ABABA DUBAI BAHRAIN ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA PARIS ASSIUT LUXOR ALEXANDRIA MANILA / BANGKOK LONDON JAKARTA / KUALA LUMPUR BAHRAIN ISLAMABAD MUMBAI TRIVANDRUM DUBAI COCHIN DHAKA DUBAI ISFAHAN DOHA SHARJAH DOHA ABU DHABI BAHRAIN LAR BEIRUT BAGHDAD / NAJAF DAMASCUS CAIRO WASHINGTON DC DULLES AMMAN TEHRAN DUBAI DOHA DUBAI / KANDAHAR AMMAN ALEXANDRIA

Time 0:05 0:35 1:15 1:45 2:25 2:55 2:55 3:10 3:15 3:20 3:25 3:35 5:50 6:10 6:15 6:30 6:35 7:00 7:15 7:50 7:55 7:55 8:05 8:10 8:25 8:55 9:00 9:10 9:10 9:30 9:35 10:25 10:55 11:00 12:45 13:20 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:50 14:15 14:15 14:20 14:30

SVA VOS KAC QTR ETD UAE GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY RBG JZR FDB ALK JZR KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC KAC JAI FDB OMA MEA MLR MSR DHX KLM UAE JZR GFA QTR UAL AIC JZR MSR DLH AXB JZR BBC PIA

500 77 746 134 303 857 215 510 777 239 127 3553 213 63 227 177 104 166 502 542 618 786 614 774 674 790 572 61 647 402 1405 618 372 443 859 183 217 136 981 981 135 612 636 389 539 45 205

JEDDAH NAJAF ABU DHABI / DAMMAM DOHA ABU DHABI DUBAI BAHRAIN RIYADH JEDDAH AMMAN SHARJAH ALEXANDRIA DEIREZZOR DUBAI COLOMBO / DUBAI DUBAI LONDON PARIS / ROME BEIRUT CAIRO DOHA JEDDAH BAHRAIN RIYADH DUBAI MEDINAH MUMBAI DUBAI MUSCAT BEIRUT COLOMBO / DUBAI ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN AMSTERDAM DUBAI DUBAI BAHRAIN DOHA BAHRAIN CHENNAI / AHMEDABAD BAHRAIN CAIRO FRANKFURT KOZHIKODE / MANGALORE CAIRO DHAKA LAHORE / PESHAWER

14:30 15:00 15:05 15:15 16:50 16:55 17:15 17:20 17:25 17:35 17:40 17:50 17:50 17:55 18:00 18:00 18:35 18:40 18:45 18:50 18:55 19:00 19:20 19:25 19:25 19:30 19:35 20:00 20:10 20:15 20:50 20:55 21:00 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:35 22:00 22:05 22:10 22:50 23:00 23:10 23:30 23:45 23:55

Airlines DLH AIC PIA THY ETH UAE FDB DHX ETD QTR AFR RJA GFA JZR KAC BAW FDB KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY KAC IRA QTR ETD GFA QTR IRA KAC MEA KAC JZR VOS KAC JZR JZR MHK KAC JZR MSR RJA FDB KAC

Departure Flights on Tuesday 11/10/2011 Flt Route 637 FRANKFURT 976 GOA / CHENNAI 240 SIALKOT 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 371 BAHRAIN 306 ABU DHABI 139 DOHA 6700 DUBAI / HONG KONG 643 AMMAN 212 BAHRAIN 200 DAMASCUS 545 ALEXANDRIA 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 745 DAMMAM / ABU DHABI 561 AMMAN 511 TEHRAN 856 DUBAI 126 SHARJAH 101 LONDON / NEW YORK 604 ISFAHAN 133 DOHA 302 ABU DHABI 214 BAHRAIN 6131 DOHA 618 LAR 165 ROME / PARIS 405 BEIRUT 541 CAIRO 776 JEDDAH 78 NAJAF 501 BEIRUT 212 DEIREZZOR 238 AMMAN 712 NAJAF / BAGHDAD 785 JEDDAH 176 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 641 AMMAN 58 DUBAI 789 MEDINAH

Time 0:40 0:50 1:10 2:15 2:45 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:05 5:00 5:10 7:00 7:10 7:15 7:40 8:25 8:40 9:05 9:15 9:15 9:40 9:50 9:55 9:55 10:00 10:15 10:20 10:40 11:25 11:45 11:55 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:00 12:05 12:10 12:20 13:30 13:40 14:20 14:30 14:35 14:40

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

UAL KAC KAC SVA KAC QTR KAC JZR VOS JZR ETD QTR UAE GFA ABY RBG JZR SVA FDB ALK JZR KAC KAC JAI FDB JZR KAC KAC OMA MEA MLR MSR DHX KLM UAE GFA KAC FCX QTR KAC KAC JZR KAC UAL MSR

982 673 617 501 773 141 613 538 82 182 304 135 858 216 128 3554 266 511 64 228 134 283 361 571 62 528 343 351 648 403 1405 619 373 443 860 218 381 102 137 301 205 502 411 981 613

BAHRAIN DUBAI DOHA JEDDAH RIYADH DOHA BAHRAIN CAIRO BAGHDAD DUBAI ABU DHABI DOHA DUBAI BAHRAIN SHARJAH ALEXANDRIA BEIRUT RIYADH DUBAI DUBAI / COLOMBO BAHRAIN DHAKA COLOMBO MUMBAI DUBAI ASSIUT CHENNAI COCHIN MUSCAT BEIRUT COLOMBO ALEXANDRIA BAHRAIN BAHRAIN / AMSTERDAM DUBAI BAHRAIN DELHI BAHRAIN DOHA MUMBAI ISLAMABAD LUXOR BANGKOK / MANILA WASHINGTON DC DULLES CAIRO

14:45 15:10 15:35 15:45 16:05 16:15 16:20 16:40 17:00 17:05 17:35 17:45 18:05 18:15 18:20 18:30 18:30 18:35 18:40 19:10 19:10 19:30 20:20 20:35 20:40 20:50 21:00 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:50 21:55 22:00 22:05 22:25 22:30 22:30 22:30 22:35 22:45 22:55 23:05 23:40 23:40 23:50

34

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

stars CROSSWORD 465

STAR TRACK

CALVIN & HOBBES

Aries (March 21-April 19) Although you will find an overall increase in your finances this month, you may also find an increased urge to spend. Less is sometimes better—every month may not fare so well. Savings and investments should take uppermost attention now. Consider that your financial earnings could be best found in the medical or health food fields. At this time, you may consider travel to a foreign land, especially if your job is in import-export. There is a greater than usual interest in social connections and the arts. Seeing both sides of an issue—and figuring out resolutions to opposing views—take on more importance in your life. The ideal partnership, the perfect balance, the highest standards of truth and beauty are some of the things that quicken your pulse now.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Meeting yourself in another person is a subject you may ponder today. Relationships—romantic, business, social—are the areas where this may be played. Coming to know the other person and what causes ties that bind two people helps you to a better understanding of yourself. It’s easy in theory, but it’s only in practice that it comes to mean anything real—so practice until you get it right! You will be able to use your finely tuned skills and expertise to solve problems and feel successful. Figuring things out, spotting the fly in the ointment and separating the sheep from the goats begin to take on a special appeal for you. Seeing both sides of an issue and figuring out resolutions to opposing views take on more importance in your personal life now.

POOCH CAFE ACROSS 1. (computer science) A computer that is running software that allows users to leave messages and access information of general interest.

4. A clique that seeks power usually through intrigue.

9. Informal terms for money.

13. Of flax, hemp, or jute, so as to promote loosening of the fibers form the woody tissue.

14. With the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe.

15. The content of cognition.

16. A particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography).

18. The elementary stages of any subject (usually plural).

20. English writer (born in Scotland) of children's stories (18591932).

22. A mound of stones piled up as a memorial or to mark a boundary or path.

23. A member of an agricultural people in southeastern India.

27. Take in solid food.

30. The syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization.

35. A white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily.

36. Any organic compound formed by adding alcohol molecules to aldehyde molecules.

39. Tall feather palm of northern Brazil with hard-shelled nuts yielding valuable oil and a kind of vegetable ivory.

41. Stem of the rattan palm used for making canes and umbrella handles.

43. An associate degree in nursing.

44. Verse in the meter used in Greek and Latin poetry consisting of strophes of 4 tetrametric lines.

45. A coffee cake flavored with orange rind and raisins and almonds.

49. A small pellet fired from an air rifle or BB gun.

51. A silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite.

52. Open to or abounding in fresh air.

53. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium.

55. (Jungian psychology) The inner self (not the external persona) that is in touch with the unconscious.

59. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

60. The 7th letter of the Greek alphabet.

61. Not established by conditioning or learning.

63. A conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures.

64. An interest followed with exaggerated zeal.

65. Deficient in amount or quality or extent.

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

DOWN 1. Confederate general during the American Civil War who was defeated by Grant in the battle of Chattanooga (1817-1876).

2. United States baseball player (born 1925).

3. The function or position properly or customarily occupied or served by another.

4. A white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light.

5. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

6. A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk.

7. A drug combination found in some over-the-counter headache remedies (Aspirin and Phenacetin and Caffeine).

8. A chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints).

9. Deciduous South African tree having large odd-pinnate leaves and profuse fragrant orange-yellow flowers.

10. Give advice to.

11. A facial expression of contempt or scorn.

12. Earn on some commercial or business transaction.

17. According to the Old Testament he was a pagan king of Israel and husband of Jezebel (9th century BC).

19. Any of a number of fishes of the family Carangidae.

21. The blood group whose red cells carry both the A and B antigens.

24. Someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike.

25. A genus of Mustelidae.

26. A public promotion of some product or service.

28. Thickening of tissue in the motor tracts of the lateral columns and anterior horns of the spinal cord.

29. The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet.

31. South American wood sorrel cultivated for its edible tubers.

32. Goddess of the dead and queen of the underworld.

33. Type genus of the Alcidae comprising solely the razorbill.

34. Large tropical butterfly with degenerate forelegs and an unpleasant taste.

37. The basic unit of money in Western Samoa.

38. Enthusiastic approval.

39. Small terrestrial lizard of warm regions of the Old World.

40. A small cake leavened with yeast.

42. An island in the Aegean Sea in the Saronic Gulf.

43. A small digital computer based on a microprocessor and designed to be used by one person at a time.

46. An ancient city in northern Portugal.

47. Cubes of meat marinated and cooked on a skewer usually with vegetables.

48. (Babylonian) A demigod or first man.

50. A Chadic language spoken south of Lake Chad.

51. A public promotion of some product or service.

54. A unit of absorbed ionizing radiation equal to 100 ergs per gram of irradiated material.

56. The compass point that is midway between north and northeast.

57. A periodic paperback publication.

58. Goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment.

62. A trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) After a busy weekend you are ready to return to the work world. Time away from regular responsibilities gives you new insight and renewed appreciation of just where you are in life. A business luncheon goes well today. Do something physical before returning to work this afternoon—it can give you a lot of extra energy as well as sharpen your mental activity. This afternoon you may become involved in some part-time activity that could bring you substantial earnings. Refinement and relationships are the keys to emotional satisfaction for you now. Harmony and beauty are deeply satisfying—and the lack of them can be emotionally unsettling. Emotions and the feelings of those around you may be very clear this evening.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

NON SEQUITUR

You seem to be in charge of some new project today. A solid plan needs developing very early. Make it as simple and practical as possible, especially if there are going to be several hands in the making of the end result. If you need a loan, today brings high probabilities of having a loan granted to you. Refinement and relationships are the keys to emotional satisfaction for you on the home front. Discussions about education may draw your attention and you give thought as to how society goes about educating the young. Close personal ties to people are a focal point for your feelings—marriage and other partnerships could be a key arena for this. You may become more actively involved on a social level, taking a bigger part in collective events.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Real estate investments offer lucrative rewards but at some risk.

You will be spending most of your time today studying such investments. Talking to co-workers and looking at houses after the workday is over may put you in a good position for finding that future home for which you and your loved one(s) have been searching. This is also a good time to secure your professional position. Family and home are the big focus now. Old familiar patterns will undergo permanent changes. Time flows in one direction only and you are determined to create the most positive of times. You are appreciative of your place in life and you aim to show your appreciation to your loved ones. Romance, recreation and creativity take on an inspirational quality this evening.

ZITS

Virgo (August 23-September 22) Your mind is quick and sharp and your words are the only tools you will need today. Tune up your lie detector and cull out the working partners or co-workers that want something for nothing. You have insight into what is real and a careful tongue that will help you get your message across in the most successful of ways. Secrets have a short half-life around you—you have them out in a wink of an eye. You are brilliant when it comes to insights into other people’s psychologies or your own. There are plenty of opportunities to get into some deep conversations with those you love this afternoon. You enjoy finding new avenues of inner growth and this may include taking a creative or continuing education class with your loved one. Your intuition can guide you.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) You may not feel as though you are as clear with your instructions to others . . . perhaps you are not as familiar with some product as you would like. Consider a little research as well as requesting some hands-on study. This makes it much easier to explain or answer questions. There are also times that you get so busy you may not realize you have not been clear. Take turns to ask questions and discover how you can clarify or enlighten others. Take time to write down one or two words that will help you remember where you were when you do become distracted or interrupted. There are good practical job-related thoughts and ideas this afternoon. Ideas for enlarging your living space may include some recently learned building techniques.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) There is a growing self-confidence and outgoing attitude—the constant inward examination and learning will soon come to a close. You have a growing sense of direction and self-worth and will find the urge strong to reach out and establish yourself. There is a period of great social involvement—especially with neighbors and brothers or sisters now. Learning and teaching seems to satisfy an important need and being more in touch with other people gives you a sense of belonging. You may have the urge to overspend or indulge too much just now. Careful—you could be guiding a young person today and may want to set an example. You will prosper by diving in and following a plan to help you accomplish your goals—making your dreams real.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

To

Yesterday’s Solution

You may find that both your personal growth and your career depend upon how you can handle some sensitive material that may be coming up now between co-workers. You will benefit from analytical insights, getting to the truth of a matter, penetrating. Your mind is clear and your thoughts will bring a sharp focus to any difficult situation at this time. It should be easy to organize your thoughts—communication of all kinds can be furthered. Your thoughts count now—use your mind—communicate. Take time for a lunch break away from your business—whether you are at home or in an office. Organize periods of recreation with family and friends. By organizing your time creatively, you can accommodate your needs and those of others.

A period of great mental activity and heightened communication with others begins now. Intellectualism, the idea of being smart as a fox, has a special appeal to you just now. Mental discipline and patience are outstanding as you enter into a new cycle. Thinking things through, accounting for all the details and making careful measurements keep your mind active and involved. An interest in health and work may come to the top of your to-do list. Once you set yourself to a task, it is virtually impossible to distract you.

The more you want to turn a dream into a reality, the more successful you become. Others could use you as a mentor! Checking off your accomplishments as the day moves along gives you a feeling of achievement.

Yesterday’s Solution Yester

Aquarius (January 20- February 18) You are in a mood of self-enjoyment and can appreciate your own better qualities today. Circumstances can throw you into positions where you must use your mind and deal with communications— repair of radio or computer equipment or detective work. You may deal with education, psychology, spiritual enlightenment or teaching principles and techniques. Creative ideas will have greater meaning just now. You may be very expressive in speaking or communicating. Others will understand just what you mean. You love to communicate and discuss ideas with other people. Your ideas are usually fair and impartial, especially when it comes to other people and the social scene. You are at your mental best today.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Word Sleuth Solution

This is a significant day; the energies are not too lazy or too stressful. There is time for accomplishing tasks or setting things up to work in your favor. Educational matters may be high on your priority list now. You may even be considering the job of tutoring someone else in order to make a little extra income. Intense—passionate feelings and drive will be at your command for a long time. You want to accomplish things and get others to do the same. Take time to smell the flowers. You could find yourself driven to dig and search deep within the human passions, deep in the psyche. Close personal ties to other people are a focal point for your feelings—marriage and other partnerships could be a key arena for this.

Finances are boosted tonight.

A

y

e niv rsar n

Years

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 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

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Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

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Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

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Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

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22547272

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23729596/23729581

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22635047

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22613623/0

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25710444

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22621099

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22655539

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25343406

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22562226

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25739272

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25620111

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22636464

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24726446

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25322030

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25654300/3

Dr. Foad Abidallah Al-Ali

22633135

Soor Center Tel: 2290-1677 Fax: 2290 1688

info@soorcenter.com www.soorcenter.com

Dr. Kamal Al-Shomr 25329924 Physiotherapists & VD Dr. Deyaa Shehab

25722291 22666288

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Dr. Fozeya Ali Al-Qatan

Dr. Latefa Al-Duweisan

25339330

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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

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Years

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M o v i e s Shirley MacLaine

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scar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine will be honored with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the group announced on Sunday. MacLaine, 77, will be presented with the prestigious honor from the Los Angeles-based US film arts and education institute on June 7 in a ceremony to be broadcast later on TVLand, AFI said in a statement. She will be the award’s 40th recipient. “Shirley MacLaine is a powerhouse of personality that has illuminated screens large and small across six decades,” Howard Stringer, chairman of AFI’s board of trustees, said in a statement.

“From ingenue to screen legend, Shirley has entertained a global audience through song, dance, laughter and tears, and her career as writer, director and producer is even further evidence of her passion for the art form and her seemingly boundless talents.” MacLaine, who won a best actress Oscar in 1984 for

Indian music maestro Jagjit Singh dies at 70

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ndian musician and composer Jagjit Singh, who won generations of fans by reviving the traditional genre of “ghazal” tunes, died yesterday in Mumbai at the age of 70, hospital officials said. Singh, dubbed “The Ghazal King”, had been in intensive care for three weeks after undergoing surgery when he fell seriously ill with a brain haemorrhage. Ghazals are a poetic form of singing that originated in the Middle East and spread to India from the 12th century. They were traditionally reserved for the elite, but Singh popularized the form in the 1970s and 1980s by pioneering a modern ghazal sound and using Western instruments alongside Indian classical ones.

“Terms of Endearment,” is also an outspoken activist, writer and believer in reincarnation and extra-terrestrial beings.

Her views have won her both respect and a good measure of ribbing.

She made her Hollywood debut at age 19 with Alfred Hitchcock in “The Trouble With Harry.” MacLaine was first nominated for an Academy Award for best actress in 1958, for “Some Came Running.” Nominations for “ The Apartment” in 1960, “Irma La Douce” in 1963 and “The Turning Point” in 1977 followed, before she finally won in 1984.

Last year’s AFI honoree was Morgan Freeman. MacLaine’s half-brother, Warren Beatty, received the award in 2008.

Director John Ford was the first AFI honoree in 1973.—Reuters

Day after wedding, McCartney announces tour dates

T

he day after he tied the knot with American heiress Nancy Shevell, ex-Beatle Paul McCartney announced 11 extra dates for his “On the Run” tour ending in his native town of Liverpool, England, on Dec 20. His third marriage looks unlikely to slow the 69-year-old down, with his first ever gig in the UAE on Nov 13 to coincide with the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 race.

McCartney then travels to Italy, France and Germany, heads back to Britain for a night at London’s O2 Arena on Dec 5, takes in Sweden, Finland and Russia before ending the year with a concert in Manchester on Dec 19 and Liverpool the next day.

“Playing live is one of the most exciting parts of my job,” the musician said in a statement released yesterday.

“My audiences seem to get better each year and the band and I love the buzz and feedback that they give us. I can’t wait to see you all for some wild nights of rock n’ roll and partying.”

McCartney married Shevell, 51, on Sunday in London and the newlyweds celebrated with a low-key reception at his home in the city. The “Hey Jude” singer also recently unveiled his first ever ballet score, “Ocean’s Kingdom,” in New York. —Reuters

Paul McCartney and his wife Nancy Shevell wave to fans as they leave Marylebone Register Office on October 9, 2011. — AFP

“Unfortunately, he expired this morning,” said Mohan Rajan, spokesman for the private Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. As well as spreading the appeal of ghazal in India, Singh sang and composed for Bollywood, the Hindi-language film industry. Singh will be best remembered for his music in the films “Prem Geet” (Love Song) in 1981 and “Arth” (Meaning) the following year.

He last sang in the low-budget film “Khushiyaan” (Happiness), which is due in cinemas on Friday. Jagjit Singh was born to a poor family in the north Indian state of Rajasthan on February 8, 1941. He took to singing at an early age and like millions of other migrants, travelled to Mumbai, then known as Bombay, to make his fortune.

DJ Shadia

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ew events trigger as much excitement as a MINI celebration and this month’s DRIVE OUT LOUD is no exception. Taking place from 27-28 October 2011, hundreds of MINI owners from across the region will take part in an exclusive evening gathering at the Aloft Hotel at the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre on Thursday, 27 October and participate in the largest regional MINI convoy from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on Friday morning, 28 October. They will then join the general public for a full day of track drives, stunt

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n the final weeks of his life, Michael Jackson slept with a toy doll on his bed, was so heavily drugged that he sometimes slurred his speech and his big comeback tour was plagued with problems. That was the picture that has emerged of the King of Pop’s private life during the first two weeks of the manslaughter trial of Jackson’s in-house physician, Dr Conrad Murray. As bizarre as some of the revelations might be, they may add to Jackson’s legacy as a genius whose stature has risen since his death in June 2009 at age 50, pop culture experts said.

Jackson’s odd, sometimes pathetic demeanor-largely forgotten in the worldwide grief over his death but on display again during Murray’s televised trial-may make him even more beloved by his fans.

“Lets face it, we’re interested in this case because it is about Michael Jackson,” said

Bob Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University. “But the fact that he is gone also considerably changes how people perceive and emotionally engage in this kind of thing. The dead are the ultimate underdogs,” Thompson said.

The most dramatic development in the trial so far has been a recording played for jurors in which Jackson speaks almost incoherently and slurs his words.

Prosecutors say Murray made the recording after giving Jackson a drug treatment as a sleep aid. Medical examiners found the singer’s death resulted from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol combined with sedatives. “I think that has introduced an element of pathos to Michael Jackson,” Thompson said. “That slurred speech, he was saying, ‘I was deprived of my childhood. I want my money to go to a children’s hospital.’ How do you argue with something like that?”

Beat Antenna

shows, driver trainings, competitions, urban art, lifestyle and lots of other fun MINI festivities at the renowned Dubai Autodrome.

Not content with hosting the region’s biggest ever MINI festival, the iconic brand will also wow crowds with a live evening concert featuring the very best of homegrown Middle East music talent. As the sun sets, the stage will come alive with performances from leading Emirati hiphop rap duo Desert Heat, 2010 Middle East Music Award winner DJ Shadia from

Jordan, Colombian singer/songwriter Fatiniza, Indie Rockers Beat Antenna and Dubai’s biggest music export Hamdan AlAbri for a powerful blend of Soul, Jazz and R&B. Sarah Klippert, MINI Manager in the Middle East said: “MINI is known across the globe for championing events that embody the very notion of creativity and attitude. DRIVE OUT LOUD is the perfect example of this. The event is designed to inspire passion and creativity and bring like -minded people from across the

Dolls and babies When prosecutors showed the jury a photo of a doll on the bed where Jackson’s lifeless body was found hooked up to an IV, it made headlines. Photos of Jackson’s bedroom show he had several pictures and a poster of babies. The singer, who often said he was drawn to children because he never had a childhood himself, was tried and acquitted in 2005 of molesting a young boy.

Stacy Brown, co-author of a book called “Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask,” said the singer had collected dolls for years and had many at his Neverland Ranch in central California, where he also had theme park rides and a zoo. “In the grand scheme of things, especially as it relates to him, I don’t find it to be odd to have that doll there,” Brown said. “If anything, I would expect there to be more.”

But for Jackson’s fans, a more disturbing

revelation may be that the perfectionist “Thriller” singer appeared to be struggling during the strenuous preparations for his sold-out, 50-date London comeback tourhis first for 12 years. Jackson missed rehearsals in Los Angeles and those close to him had concerns about his health a week before he died. Tour director Kenny Ortega testified that on June 19, Jackson was too weak to rehearse and that he needed psychological help.

Brown said the picture of Jackson painted at trial “has only added to what’s been going on since his death. “And that is his image has been rehabilitated-something that he might not have been able to do had he been alive.” —Reuters

Desert Heat

region together to celebrate the iconic brand. How better to conclude such an event? A live music concert that supports homegrown talent to create the ultimate MINI experience.”

Guests attending the event will also be the first to experience the new MINI CoupÈ, the first-ever two seater MINI and the fifth model to join the brand’s portfolio. With all the fun and go-kart handling that is expected from MINI, the sportiest model yet allows new buyers the chance to enjoy the full MINI experience.

DRIVE OUT LOUD is open to the public anyone who is a MINI enthusiast, not just MINI owners. Tickets are now on sale for AED100 from Virgin Megastores and online at www.virginmegastore.me and www.timeouttickets.com. To find out more information about the festival, including the programme of events and concert information, log onto: http://facebook.com/MINI.MiddleEast

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Asia’s moviemakers embrace 3D revolution A

3D horror movie set in a public toilet block is part of a revolution underway in the Asian film industry as low-budget 3D productions take on the big studios at their own game. At the 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), audiences have been lining up to see the likes of multi-million dollar 3D productions “The Three Musketeers” and the re-imaged version of the local monster hit “The Host”. But there’s also been a groundswell of support for two debut features that use the same cutting edge digital technology to help entertain at a fraction of the price.

“Budget doesn’t matter, it is story that matters in cinema and it’s the same when you are using 3D,” said South Korean Choo Sang-rok, director of the 3D feature “Persimmon.” Choo’s edgy horror movie, which had its world premiere at BIFF-Asia’s largest film festival, was shot on a budget of around US$2 million. And while the James Cameron-directed extravaganza “Avatar” with an estimated budget of US$300 million may have awoken the world to what can be achieved with 3D technology, Choo has opted for a far more modest production.

For starters, the film is shot mostly inside a public toilet block. “Persimmon” follows the fortunes of five people who become trapped inside the toilet block and are left at the mercy of the ghost who has lured them inside. The director says it is based on a common urban myth in Korea and it was the confined space in which it is set that first made him think of using 3D. “Technically, when you are working with 3D it is better to work in a deep and narrow space rather than a wide open space so it is a medium that suits this story,” said Choo.

“I think 3D, in my film, brings the audience into the film. It makes them feel what the actors feel.

And you don’t need to have a big budget to do that. I wanted them to feel they were trapped in the bathroom with the actors.” Choo believes

advances in digital technology are expanding the filmmaking landscape for smaller productions as much as they are for the major blockbusters and that there is an audience out there for both. “The biggest attraction is it takes you from movies you watch to movies you actually experience,” he said.

“The spectators can actually participate in the movie as well.

“You don’t have to focus on the budget. You can focus on getting the audience involved in the movie and that’s why the future of low budget 3D movies is looking good.” Veteran Chinese filmmaker Tsui Hark has also been in Busan to collect the Asian Filmmaker of the Year Award and he was quick to point out just how large the potential for 3D is in the region. In the world’s fastest-growing movie market, with receipts rising by 61 percent to US$1.47 billion in 2010, China’s cinema owners have embraced the 3D revolution.

Tsui, currently working on the 3D feature “The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate”, told a press conference he estimated 4,000 of the nation’s 10,000 cinema screens were geared up to screen 3D films. The IHS Screen Digest Cinema Intelligence report, released in August, said global 3D ticket sales soared to US$6.1 billion last year-up from US$2.5 billion in 2009.

That would have come as good news for South Korean director Park Hong-min. His debut 3D feature “A Fish” also made its world premiere at BIFFand it is a low-key film that ended up costing him only US$100,000 to make. The thriller, which follows a man’s search for the wife who has left him to become a shaman, uses the nuances of digital technology more than relying on any lavish, jawdropping effects. “When I first started thinking about making a 3D film I thought about all the special effects but I wanted to use it to exaggerate what people are seeing in more normal situations and to then blur the lines between fantasy and reality,” said the director.Park said 3D technology was a format more independent filmmakers

were exploring, even though in the beginning they might have to work through a process of trial and error. “At the moment, for small filmmakers, we don’t have a lot of knowledge about how 3D films are made,” said Park. “You have to figure it out for yourself. I spent nine months in post-production and I never really turned my computer off. I had to solve all the problems myself.”But this is my first 3D feature so I knew I had to take everything on-and 3D is becoming more and more a

part of the film medium.”BIFF continues until Friday and closes with the announcement of its main New Currents award for Asian filmmakers, and with the world premiere of the drama “Chronicle of My Mother” by Japanese director Masato Harada.—AFP

Photo shows South Korean director Choo Sang-Rok posing during an interview at the 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

— AFP

Bjork: A

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movie shot secretly in Myanmar is in the running for a major award at Asia’s top film festival this week with its director saying he wanted to portray the “real” state of life in the country. “It is about the truth of Burma,” said Myanmar-born director Midi Z of his first full-length feature, “Return To Burma.” “It is reality cinema.”

The film is among 13 wildly diverse productions from 12 countries vying for two New Currents awards at the 16th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), open to first or second-time Asian filmmakers and carrying prizes of US$30,000.

Midi Z revealed he had shot 90 per cent of the film in Myanmar and had sneaked his cameras and a small crew into the country after finding official regulations for filming “just far too restrictive.” “It is very personal,” Midi Z said of the film, the title of

which uses Myanmar’s alternative name.

“Most of the film belongs to my own experiences.” “Return to Burma” charts the story of how a man returning to the country of his birth finds the situation has not changed in the years since he left, despite what he had imagined. The director was born in Myanmar but left for Taiwan when he was 16 to further his studies.

Other countries represented in this year’s New Currents include Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Iran, and the collection of films reflects the “incredible diversity and talent” of Asian filmmaking, according to veteran Taiwanese director Yonfan, who heads the awards jury. Filipino director Loy Arcenas has produced “Nino”, a family drama set within the world of opera, and said he had focused his attention on how human beings behave.

KUWAIT: After months of anticipation, OSN the leading Pay TV network in the Middle East and Africa launches its latest brand new channel, OSN Yahala! HD. The channel is now the home of the very best in premium Arabic entertainment, drama and films to OSN customers across the region in stunning high definition.

The channel launches tonight at 20:00 KSA with the first, feature-length episode of the most hotly anticipated OSN original production, the first ever Gulf musical comedy series Hindistani. The series was shot in India and features a prominent Gulf cast and all the glitz and glamour that Bollywood has to offer in sensational high definition.

OSN has also acquired a raft of innovative Arabic commissions and fresh and edgy OSN original productions including Hareem Al Sultan, Sola featuring legendary

“To me that is the most exciting thing about life,” said Arcenas. “It is a small film but that is the beauty of this award-it gives small filmmakers a chance to find an audience.” Topics covered by other productions in the running for the awards include “The Passion of a Man Called Choe Che-u” by director Stanley Park, a historical drama looking at the life and times of a 16th century Korean priest, and “Starry Starry Night” from Tom Lin Shu-yu, based on a Taiwanese fairytale about two children who run away from home. The award winners will be announced on Friday, the final day of this year’s festival.—AFP

singer Asala, the greatest new and exclusive star-studded comedies from Kuwait and hilarious acts from the Ajyal Theatre Company including the popular Arabic & Broud.

David Butorac, CEO of OSN said: “OSN YAHALA! HD will be an extraordinary channel packed with premium imaginative and innovative Arabic entertainment. OSN is dedicated to quality and we are incredibly proud of all the programming that is featured on this brand new channel.”

The new high definition service will be available to subscribers in all OSN packages; non-OSN subscribers will have the opportunity to view the channel on freeto-air for a limited period only.

s a child growing up in Iceland, Bjork would compose music in her head as she walked to school. The cadence of her footsteps became the rhythm. The dramatic landscapes of her homeland became the inspiration.

In her new album, Bjork says she fuses that natural world with iPad apps to invent a music genre she calls an “appbox.” “Biophilia” - and a host of applications representing tracks on the album were released yesterday and are meant to immerse listeners in a complete audiovisual experience.

Speaking to The Associated Press ahead of the launch, Bjork said she sees “the structure and shapes of songs” during the creative process. That led her to work with a team of iPad app designers and musicians to chart out visual representations of the songs. The beauty of Bjork’s stark volcanic homeland courses through the new work, and the singer said the link between the environment and music is “effortless and natural.”“My accompaniment has always been nature” Bjork said during a recent interview in a boho Reykjavik theater attic. In addition to traditional album form, Biophilia is being released as “mother app” for iPad, and within it, individual apps give a new dimension to tracks on the album with interactive visuals.

But Bjork assured fans that they don’t need an expensive iPad to enjoy the work, describing the app technology as “more like an accessory.” “The music on Biophilia has to be able to stand on its own.”And despite the iPad twist, Biophilia’s music is vintage Bjork. With titles like “Virus,” “Crystalline” and “Solstice,” the album embeds nature at its very heart an enduring feature of Bjork’s work.

“For me, to connect nature to music is a very effortless and natural connection” Bjork said. Her homage to lightning, “Thunderbolt,” is “almost sort of superhero macho, about the thirst for miracles which we all have.”

She described “Moon” - one of the standout tracks - as “slightly melancholic, slightly possessed. That idea about death and rebirth which maybe the ladies feel more than the gentlemen.”

The songs, when mapped out as algorithms for iPad users, also function as basic music lessons. “I kept thinking that this project would be for children, like music school” said Bjork. So “Thunderbolt” has a written structure that resembles arpeggios, while “Mutual Core” contains allu-

sions to Iceland’s volcanic rock strata that teach simple chord progressions when viewed on an iPad. “It sounds really complicated” Bjork said, “but I’ve seen some kids play with the apps and once you touch them and play with them it’s actually quite simple.” Biophilia’s Icelandic identity has been infused with international touches. Bjork called on musicians like London-based duo 16bit; Germany’s Current Value; Spain’s El Grinch and long time collaborators Matthew Herbert and Iranian-born Leila Arab - whom Bjork describes as “an incredible sonic sculptor” - to finish the beats on the album. Many of the sounds on the album have been created as a fusion of old and new, with a decidedly low-tech pipe organ and gamelan getting a 21st century upgrade to make them compatible with Bjork’s writing process.

“They can receive digital information, you can plug them into a touch screen” she says. The inclusion of a giant Tesla coil to generate not only shocking electricity bolts but also a distinct musical crackling, was a particular hit during what Bjork describes as a “low budget” version of her Biophilia show in Manchester, England this summer. The full version of the show will play at Reykjavik’s stunning new Harpa music hall in October and November.—AP

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

New Legoland park

in Florida will keep kids busy

A Lego model of the space shuttle and launch pad.

A life size Lego model of a tourist with binoculars.

A model of the United States Capitol building. marveling at the cool Lego models scattered throughout the park and taking full advantage of the opportunities to get their hands on them, visit a castle, shoot lasers and ride four rollercoasters that range from mild to mildly wild. (The Legoland folks call them “pink-knuckle” rides.)

But there’s a special area for toddlers, too, and parents will certainly linger in the amazing Miniland USA area, which features the skylines of New York and other big cities, as well as Florida landmarks, all constructed from Legos. The Miniland is the heart of this and the other four Legoland parks around the world, including one near San Diego.

“Every Lego model you see in the park is made with standard Lego pieces,” says Bill Vollbrecht, the self-described “Lego nerd” who designed the park.

“We don’t have special pieces made; they are standard brick sizes, the standard colors that kids can buy in the kits at the store. We don’t modify, change or do anything different.

Because we want to show what you can do with them.

This is the ultimate With a little help from Ford employees, The toy box.”

The new Florida LEGOLAND Florida ‘edition’ Ford Explorer, rolls off park is the largest the assembly line at the Chicago Assembly Plant, of the Legolands, in Chicago. The car made an appearance at the covering 150 acres plant before making its way to the soon-to-open on the site of the LEGOLAND Florida theme park just outside old Cypress Orlando. The Explorer which is made of 382,858 Gardens, which Lego Bricks, was built at Lego North American was the state’s first Headquarters in Enfield, Conn., and took 2500 theme park when it opened in 1936. hours to design and build. —AP he first thing you’ll do upon entering Legoland Florida is walk up to the nearest oversized Lego model and touch it: Is it really made out of those little plastic bricks that are as much a part of American childhood as skinned knees and ice cream cones?

The answer is yes. And thankfully, they’re all glued together to withstand abuse from the rambunctious kids and curious parents who will be visiting Florida’s newest theme park, opening Oct 15. Situated in little Winter Haven, 45 minutes from Disney and the other Orlando-area attractions, Legoland Florida is aimed at kids from 2 to 12.

Those in the upper half of that demographic will get the most out it,

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Known for its lush gardens and water ski shows, Cypress Gardens fell into disrepair and financial trouble over the years, changing hands several times and battered by a hurricane before it closed for good in 2009. Then Legoland came to town.

Legoland planners incorporated the gardens into the new park, as well as the water-ski shows on Lake Eloise and the bleachers and pavilions on its

“The challenge for us was how do we take our standard castle and clusters that we have in every other park and incorporate them into this while keeping some of the existing buildings. We fixed what we could, we tore down what we couldn’t; we added new, we modified old.”

Says Vollbrecht: “What first started out as challenges became amazing opportunities.”

A Lego model of downtown New York. banks. Legoland’s version is a piratethemed water-ski and stunt show that will be staged several times daily.

Sixteen mature live oak trees were moved and replanted as planners tried to maintain the Old Florida feel of the place. A huge, majestic banyan tree, planted in 1939, is in itself worth a stroll through the gardens, thick with lovely native Florida foliage. Also left over from Cypress Gardens days were two of the four rollercoasters - including the only wooden coaster at a Legoland park anywhere - and “Island in the Sky,” a 100-foot rotating platform ride that offers a bird’s-eye view of the entire park.

“We came in there and said, ‘Wow, you can’t buy this from scratch,’” says Ian Sarjeant, the senior project director.

The park is divided into 10 zones, including Fun Town, where families can get a closer look at how Legos are made; Lego Kingdoms, with a whimsical, interactive ride through the castle; Lego City, where kids can drive a car by themselves on scaled-down streets; and the Imagination Zone, where they can build and mess with more big Lego models. Some of the coolest models outside of the Miniland are the life-sized African animals that populate the Safari Trek ride in the Land of Adventure area.

Of course, the park conveniently serves as one big commercial for Lego toys, and parents probably won’t get away without plunking down the credit card for souvenirs. To facilitate that, the park has helpfully included one of

the largest Lego stores in the world, and other retail opportunities abound throughout. Concessions are available everywhere, including the signature Legoland dessert, “Granny’s Apple Fries.”

Park planners are aggressively marketing in the Orlando area, hoping that families drawn to the area by the Mouse will take a side trip, and offering season-pass deals for those who live closer. One-day admission to Legoland is $55 for those under 13 and A bust of Albert Einstein, made from Legos is seen older than 59, and outside the entrance to Lego Technic at Legoland $65 for everybody Florida in Winter.—AP photos else.

Windsor, England; Carlsbad, Calif; and The park’s success depends on Gunzberg, Germany, followed. A new whether the Lego brand is strong park in Malaysia is scheduled to open enough to motivate tourists to get in a next year. The company is operated by car and take a day trip away from the the United Kingdom-based Merlin Orlando area, where there are more Entertainments. The park is expected than enough attractions - including to employ about 1,000 people.

Disney and Universal - to keep families busy for an entire vacation, said Steve Baker of Baker Leisure Group, a themepark industry consultant. Cypress Gardens and its successors haven’t Legoland florida: Located in been able to do that in recent decades.

Winter Haven, Fla., about a 45“It’s the same old problem - locaminute drive from Orlando; tion, location, location,” Baker says. “I http://florida.legoland.com/ or think if anybody was going to do any877-350-5346. Opens Oct 15. thing out there to bring it back to life, Open 10 am to 5 pm most days; Legoland has the best chance. It’s a solcheck online calendar for occaid, good product, the owners are firstsional closures and longer hours. class and they know what they are Geared to families with children doing. They will put the time and monages 2 to 12. Tickets $65 for ages ey into it to make it a success.”

13 and over; $55 for ages 3 to12 The first Legoland opened in and over 60. —AP Billund, Denmark, in 1968. Parks in

If you go...

Future unknown for

US ghost town bought by he saloon is long empty. The roadside jail cells, rusted and worn. Even the swing sets peek from behind knee-high brush after decades of neglect. This tiny exclave just west of South Dakota’s badlands is officially an old ghost town. But its future is shrouded in new mystery. “We don’t know what’s coming,” said Kathy Jobgen, 50, the only employee remaining at the only business still in town: the US Post Office.

The town of Scenic - once a popular stop for people traveling to Rapid City from the badlands to the east or Pine Ridge

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A person sits outside of the Longhorn Store in Scenic, SD. Reservation to the south - was recently purchased by an unusual buyer for less than $800,000. The Iglesia ni Cristo church, established in the Philippines in 1914, bought the town and surrounding acreage from longtime resident and area rodeo legend Twila Merrill, who had gathered the land bit by bit over several decades.

The church isn’t divulging its plans for the property. A person answering the phone at its offices in Daly City, California, said he couldn’t

share any information, as did staffers of church spokesman Bienvenido Santos.

“They’ve got a non-disclosure agreement, and I’m a signatory to that,” said David Olsen, the real-estate agent who represented Merrill’s family in the sale.

He was only comfortable offering bits of detail - the saloon and other boarded-up buildings still standing along Main Street will stay, he said - but he said he couldn’t give specifics. “The gas station will be open for business again soon enough,” said Olsen, of Coldwell Banker in Rapid City. The church purchasers are “interested in it being a benefit to the community.”

The church, which translates in the language Tagalog to Church of Christ, has been steadily spreading west since it was founded in the Philippines by Felix Manalo, a former minister of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church who experienced what he claimed to be a call similar to those of ancient prophets. He died in 1963.

Often described as one of the fastestspreading international religions, its foothold in the Philippines grew from about 1.4 million followers in 1990 to 1.7 million in 2000, according to the 2011 figures released by the National Statistics Office in Manila. Iglesia ni Cristo rejects the Christian doctrine of trinity and believes Christ is one of several prophets.

The church is focused on the end times, believes Manalo is a prophet and considers the Catholic Church apostate.It has a divisive reputation. The church’s backing has been viewed as crucial in Filipino presidential elections, and it has been accused of organizing bloc voting in that country. It also is known for its secrecy, rarely commenting on its activities.

So far, there has been no church activity in Scenic to hint at what’s to come - no construction permits have been sought or nor have any development plans been presented to

the county. The lack of information surrounding the sale has some neighbors uneasy and rumors are circulating among the scattering of residents.

“They bought it sight unseen,” said Shirley Kudrna, whose father-in-law was born on a ranch about seven miles (11 kilometers) east of Scenic in 1916.

“Some people say maybe they’re a cult,” said her father-in-law, Tony Kudrna, 95, who has lived on the ranch nearly his whole life.

The church has expanded to more than 5,000 congregations in the Philippines, and more than 600 abroad in more than 60 countries and territories, according to the Manila Times. It has held neighborhood events to praise the hospitality of the communities where it has purchased land to build homes and churches, including Los Angeles, Orlando, and Union County, New Jersey. Other congregations are established nationwide in more than 40 states, according to the church’s website. Dozens are listed in California, 10 in Washington state, 12 in Texas and seven in New York.

Jobgen said she’s hopeful the church will make for a good neighbor. “I’m excited about the possibilities,” said Jobgen, who also runs the Jobgen Ranch with her husband. The intersection of flourishing religion and foundering town is perplexing: In 1915, the state Highway 44 pit stop of Scenic enjoyed its largest population of 155 residents, according to records kept by the South Dakota State Historical Society.

At its peak, the town that’s pure Old West had two restaurants, three gas stations, two bulk filling stations, a hotel, a school, a bank and a post office. Tony Kudrna’s sister worked at one of the restaurants, he recalled. To travel from his homestead to the comparatively bustling town, he went by horse-drawn wagon.

The remnants still dot the 12 acres (five hectares) that qualify as deserted town. The buildings that remain are padlocked closed and have plywood over their windows and doors, but the flavor of the time is still very much present: The sign above the Longhorn Saloon is lined with aged cattle skulls and emblazoned with the structure’s year of construction - 1906. The wooden general store is adorned with rusted wagon wheels and a carved sign that reads: “ASHES TO ASHES DUST TO DUST- IF WE DON’T HAVE IT - IT ISN’T A MUST.” Merrill, a rancher and rodeo regular, began buying Scenic property in 1963. Olsen said her health began to fail about two years ago, and as cancer took hold, Merrill was forced to put the land - 46 acres (19 hectares) in total on the market.

It languished for two years with a $3 million price tag. In July, Olsen stepped in and dropped the cost to $799,000. Suddenly, prospective buyers stepped forward from all over the world, said Olsen, estimating that he took more than 500 phone calls and 200 emails about the property. He appeared on television programs in Australia, London, Montreal, Chicago and Atlanta, he said. The offer from the Filipino church was one of several. “It was Twila’s decision as to who she chose,” Olsen said. “She seems to be real happy with it.”

What happens next is not known publicly.

Olsen said the property will be cleaned of dilapidated buildings and overgrown brush, but he said the buildings at the town’s heart will remain. Not even Merrill and her family know more than that, he said. “They do not know the plans,” he said. “They’re as eager as everybody else.” —AP

The Longhorn Saloon in Scenic, SD. —AP photos

Roadside jail lock-ups remain along Main Street in Scenic, SD.

Swings hang in tall grass at a playground in Scenic, SD.

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LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

Book reveals secrets behind celebrity­fashion buzz hy have we seen a dozen paparazzi photos in the last few weeks of celebrities wearing Current/Elliott’s leopard-print “Stiletto” jeans? Surely it’s not a coincidence that Sarah Jessica Parker, Nicky Hilton, Mandy Moore and Isla Fisher all have the same jeans. More likely it’s because a publicist “seeded” them, meaning the jeans were gifts to famous fashion influencers. And there was a lot more of the same thing at Sunday’s Emmys, where recipients and presenters aplenty were probably wearing loaned or gifted apparel and accessories.

Seeding is just one of the machinations of celebrity dressing explained in “Will Work for Shoes: The Business Behind Red Carpet Product Placement,” a new book by former fashion publicist Susan J Ashbrook.

Ashbrook, who lives in LA, was a pioneer in the product placement game in Hollywood, founding her company Film Fashion in 1994. For 14 years, she played matchmaker between fashion companies and celebrities, engineering red carpet moments and paparazzi opportuni-

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ties that helped raise brand awareness and sales at Escada, Stuart Weitzman, Lanvin and others. “In Middle America, people still come up to me and say, ‘You mean celebrities get dresses for free?’” says Ashbrook, when asked if the public knows how much money and how many products change hands before Katie Holmes, Fergie and Jessica Simpson appear in Us Weekly or In Touch carrying the same high-end handbag.

But the book isn’t so much a memoir as it is a how-to guide for getting products on celebrities, whether they be of the Hollywood or hometown variety.

“Celebrity marketing can work for a tire store in St Louis just as well as it can for Armani,” says Ashbrook, who moved to LA from Chicago to become an actress but landed in fashion, first as director of public relations for designer Richard Tyler.

“Even in small-town USA, you have your own VIPs, whether it’s the mayor, a tennis coach or a football star. You can use examples of what the big brands do, and do it on a smaller scale,” says Ashbrook, who sold Film Fashion to PR

powerhouse Rogers & Cowan in 2008.

“Louis Vuitton used to host these salon dinners with editors and designers. If you’re the owner of a bookstore in a

small town, you can host a salon dinner of your own and create a buzz for your store that way.”

Of course, Ashbrook also shares a fair amount of star-studded dish. Here’s a cheat sheet on the PR maven and her book: Bragging rights: Dressing Kim Basinger in a pistachio-colored Escada gown for the 1998 Oscars. The dress, finished just minutes before Basinger got in her car to go to the show, raised the profile of the brand internationally. And jump-starting bridal designer Monique Lhuillier’s career by pairing her with Britney Spears. When Spears wore a Lhuillier gown to wed Kevin Federline, even Newsweek took notice of the fashion moment.

Trade secret: Offered gift certificates to celebrities to get them to shop at maternity wear retailer A Pea in the Pod — $5,000 for A-listers, $2,500 for B-listers.

Dish: Holly Robinson Peete took a free baby crib in exchange for having her nursery photographed for a weekly magazine; Sarah Jessica Parker said “no

way.” Monique Lhuillier wouldn’t give Jamie Lee Curtis a gown gratis to wear to the Oscars in 2004 because she didn’t feel the actress fit her demographic.

Curtis bought the dress and wore it anyway.

Low point: Oscar red carpet dressing got so competitive one year that Ashbrook found herself sitting alongside another publicist in a Beverly Hills hotel lobby until 2 am waiting for actress Ziyi Zhang. Both Ashbrook and her competition were vying for the actress to wear their clients’ shoes. The experience inspired the title of the book, “Will Work for Shoes.”

Words to live by: “Many bad girl celebrities get you more publicity than good girl ones”; “Gifting and bartering product is less expensive than paying for an ad or endorsement.” “Will Work for Shoes: The Business Behind Red Carpet Product Placement” (Greenleaf Book Group Press) by Susan J Ashbrook. $17.21 at Amazon.com —MCT

India Fashion Week

Models display creations

by Nida Mahmood.

Models display creations by Charu Parashar at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week Spring Summer 2012 in New Delhi, India, yesterday.

—AP photos

Models display creations

by Divyam Mehta.

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Asia’s moviemakers embrace 3D revolution

Years

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

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In these photos Pakistani artists perform a drama at a theatre in Karachi.—AFP photos

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ombs and burqas may be no joke, but standup comics in Pakistan defy death threats to poke fun at Taliban militants with an irreverent humor popular among an increasingly frustrated middle class. With national newspapers and television screens daily swamped by stories and images of suicide bombings and assassinations, the country’s young breed of funny men are attempting to turn the nation’s collective sadness into satire. Saad Haroon and Sami Shah, both 33, have cultivated thousands of fans online, abroad and at home in Karachi-the southern financial hub consumed by gangland warfare that has killed more than 1,000 people this year.

Attacks in Pakistan attributed to Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked Islamic years. “You hear all over the news there’s terrorism in Pakistan,” Haroon says in his stand-up act “Terrorists”. I don’t believe it for a second, because I watch American movies and I know where terrorists meet. Terrorists always meet in a place called-’the bathroom’...” “Have you ever seen a Pakistani public bathroom? No self-respecting terrorist would ever go inside!” he quips.

Educated in Hong Kong and the United States, Haroon, the son of a textile industrialist quit the family business after the Al-Qaeda 9/11 attacks 10 years ago to found an improvisational comedy troupe.

“I thought this is the lowest point, we need comedy.” But the attacks and the subsequent USled invasion of Afghanistan triggered a freefall of violence in nuclear-armed Pakistan, spotlighting the Islamist threat that still emanates from its tribal badlands. One of the worst attacks was the bombing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s motorcade in Karachi in October 2007 that killed around 140 people, two months before she was assassinated in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Shah was working as a television news producer at the time, but the experience of seeing the destruction caused by those with such a nihilistic agenda strangely switched him on to comedy. “I was covered in blood. I was just very angry after that. I was livid... and the very next week I did the stand up show. Ridiculous after 140 died, but it was the only way I knew how to process my anger,” he said. US university-educated Shah, whose main job is as creative director for an advertising agency in Karachi, admits however that the ongoing onslaught of violence is engendering widespread resignation that is hard to poke fun at.

“I do think it’s not healthy for a country to give up this way. I can’t find funny in desperation. Never make fun of the people below you.” And other taboos remain on the stand-up circuit. “You can’t make a joke about the army. You’ll never make a joke about the MQM,” said Haroon, referring to the largest political party in Karachi, accused of having violent elements caught up in the city’s brutal street killings. The military is revered and feared in equal measure across Pakistan-held up as the only functioning national institution that binds the nation together, but with an intelligence arm often accused of collusion with militant groups.

Religion can be joked about only lightly, as Haroon showed with his most popular production yet-a music video cover of Roy Orbison’s song “Pretty Woman” entitled “Burka Woman”. Haroon decided that it was okay to make fun of the allenveloping black Muslim veil, despite a welter of controversy when France banned the wearing of the burqa in public. “My love for you it grows, every time I see your toes. Nail polish, Rrrrrrr,” goes one line. “With your kajal (kohl) eyes, my mystery prize,” it continues, sexualizing the garment meant to cover women’s bodies from view.

“For me it was just an interesting way to talk about it,” said Haroon, who admits the song caused offence within his own family. “And that’s ok, because at least we’re talking about it,” he added. In a country where many writers struggle to make ends meet, Haroon took a risk in turning to comedy, but has cultivated enough of a following at home, in Dubai and the United States to make it a full-time occupation.

It’s even more of a risk in light of the death threats the comedians receive, but both brush them off as mostly online rants by the bored. “If they’re taking the time to write you don’t have to do anything. It’s the ones who don’t write that you have to worry about,” said Shah. Causing offence lends itself to obvious criticism. But in a country where conspiracy theories run in the blood, some argue that comedians like Haroon and Shah reinforce the bloody status quo. “Such comedies, in my opinion, are a disguised campaign to block change which cannot grow in a climate of confusion and willful escape from fundamentals of the state,” wrote BA Malik of Islamabad in the daily Dawn newspaper earlier this month. “Laughter in a house of fire is insanity. Any arguments to the contrary?”

Haroon has. He defends the comedian’s role as an essential bulwark against the relentless tide of violence weighing on the national psyche. “When it gets really depressing, if there are more people who go home at the end of the day laughing and being happy and sleep better, that is literally the end goal for me. Just be happy,” he said.—AFP

Plastic fantastic for

Filipino Superman fan

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Philippine man obsessed with Superman has gone under the knife in a bizarre attempt to transform himself into his comic book hero, a report said yesterday. Herbert Chavez, 35, has had plastic surgery repeatedly over the past 16 years to get Superman’s famous cleft chin and defined nose, according to ABS-CBN television. He also had silicone injections for fuller lips, and thigh implants to achieve a more muscular look, the report said. AFP was unable to contact Chavez yesterday but a Facebook page under his name showed dozens of photos of what appeared to be him and posts explaining why he resorted to plastic in an effort to become a Man of Steel.

“I decided to look like Superman because since I was a kid, I want to be like him, and I know that having a look like Superman will make me happy and contented as long as I don’t hurt anyone,” a message posted yesterday said. Chavez wrote that while he did not have special Superman-like powers, he hoped to inspire people by showing them that they could achieve what they wanted in life through hard work. A picture of Chavez apparently before his transformation showed a dark-skinned youth with typical features, a

stark contrast from his now pale complexion and slicked back Superman hair.

He did not disclose his day job, but while Superman’s alter ego Clark Kent was a clumsy newspaper reporter, ABS-CBN said Chavez worked as a beauty pageant trainer. On his Facebook page, he described himself as an avid fan of cosplay-a sub-culture where enthusiasts and hobbyists dress up in costumes to portray their idols in big gatherings and conventions. Chavez said he also did charity work and some television appearances, and Facebook posts showed him mingling with friends dressed as Justice League characters. Chavez’s story provoked a range of criticism on his Facebook page, with at least one person telling him pointedly that he looked like a mannequin. Others said he did not at all resemble Christopher Reeve, the American actor who played Superman in the 1980s or Brandon Routh, who took over the role in 2006. — AFP

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s make-up artists and hairdressers circle her, Huda Naccache calmly discusses the media frenzy sparked by her appearance, clad in a skimpy bikini, on the cover of an Arab-Israeli magazine. The long-limbed 22-year-old, who comes from the mixed Israeli and Arab port city of Haifa, doesn’t see the cover shoot for Lilac magazine as anything out of the ordinary. For her, it was simply another part of a campaign in the run up to the Miss Earth competition in Thailand this December, where she will represent Israel. But the cover shoot was the first time an Arabic magazine here has put a model in a bikini on its cover, and the first time an Arab-Israeli model has been featured on a front page in so little clothing.

The image in question featured a defiant-looking Naccache in a black-sequined bikini, an open white shirt draped over her shoulders and her thumbs hooked in the sides of her bikini bottom. “Miss Huda Rocks This Earth!” blared the caption in English.

The media buzz was immediate, but Naccache brushes it aside with a flick of her long, dark hair.

“I have a family that supports me very much and had no objections whatsoever to me appearing on the cover in a bikini,” she says, seated in front of a mirror in a white and red string two-piece, prepping for another shoot. “My father was very pleased when he saw it for the first time,” she adds.

“He said it was very beautiful and wished me good luck.” Tall and willowy, with strong eyebrows and graceful cheekbones, Naccache easily fits the profile for the modeling world. But much of Israel’s Arab minority still holds deeplytradition-

al values, so even though Naccache has appeared on the cover of Lilac magazine in the past, it wasn’t until she stripped down to a bikini that the media began to pay attention.

After the edition hit the newsstands, it prompted a string of articles and a lengthy television report on Israel’s Channel 10 news station. Some in Israel even dubbed it the “Arab bikini revolution,” in reference to the wave of uprisings that have swept the Middle East, suggesting Naccache was taking on conservative Arab social norms. The Channel 10 report featured lingering shots of Naccache’s multi-page spread in Lilac, before asking the mother of another ArabIsraeli model what she thought about the pictures. The woman shook her head. “I would never let my daughter have her picture taken in a bikini,” she said.Naccache has mixed feelings about the attention. “Even though the media coverage was great, it all had a certain point of view they wanted to prove,” she told AFP. “They cut out all the parts where they didn’t like what I said.”

Much of the coverage focused on the fact that Naccache is Christian, suggesting a Muslim model would have faced greater cultural hurdles. It is a charge she roundly dismisses. “I am the first Christian to wear a bikini on the front page, but there were two Muslim models who did it,” she said. “That says it all, and there’s really no need to elaborate.”

Lilac’s editor Yara Mashour defends both Naccache and the cover shot, saying her magazine has been pushing boundaries since it was established in 2000 in Nazareth, home to the biggest ArabIsraeli population in the Jewish state. “Huda, in my opinion, is probably the only Arab model in this country who is a true professional. She has world-class qualities,” she told AFP. “We both liked the idea of having a new sort of cover for the magazine, with a different look,” she said, adding that Naccache’s religion was irrelevant.

“It had nothing do with religion at all,” she said. “And since her cover, Arab girls from all sorts of different backgrounds have been coming to me and offering to do something similar.

Mashour said despite the buzz, the reaction from the Arab-Israeli community had been fairly positive.—AFP

Naccache poses for an AFP photographer during a photoshoot at a studio in Haifa.

— AFP photos